Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter 2.2

  TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Women’s Legend, Third Title Match.

I reunite with a certain girl when she comes down from Tokyo for the pre-match inspection in Osaka.

“Keika!”

She spots me from her place among staff and reporters and rushes toward me as if she were blazing a path through the ocean.

I smile, put out both hands, and greet that tiny girl with open arms.

Greet her with the words I’d already picked out.

“Welcome home, Ai.”

“…… I’m back, Keika.”

The tiniest of shy smiles appears on that little challenger’s face.

Ai Hinatsuru Women’s 2-dan clings to me like a puppy for a few moments before awkwardly stepping back. Her face is as red as can be.

Her youthful mannerisms are exactly like they were the day she left Osaka ……

“E-he-he. This is embarrassing …… Coming back to Kansai so soon after everything that happened when I left ……”

“Oh, not at all.”

“Huh?”

Ai hasn’t changed one little bit.

With one exception.

“You must’ve been through a lot. Standing so tall …… So bold ……”

She had such long, flowing hair when she left Osaka.

After taking care of her dark locks so well for so long, Ai cut them all off.

I still remember the shock when I first saw her profile picture during a broadcast of one of her matches.

–––Ahhh, it’s no good ……

I came here bound and determined to smile the entire time, but my eyes are watering so much it’s hard to keep this girl in focus.

“………… I’m so sorry, Ai ……”

Seeing her in person like this …… the tears just won’t stay back ……!

I do the best I can between sniffles to beg for her forgiveness.

“Sorry …… I’m so sorry …… If only I’d been a stronger Women’s League player …… If I’d joined the league sooner, if I had more connections in Tokyo …… I wouldn’t have had to send you off all by yourself like that ……!”

“Keika! Ummm …… Please don’t cry, Keika ……!!”

Ai takes both my hands.

“Tamayon-sensei …… Rokuroba-sensei has looked out for me the whole time! Natagiri-sensei has had title matches, but he also found time in his busy schedule to train me up ……! It’s all because you and Grandpa-sensei asked them!”

Ai tells me all about her experiences in Tokyo.

Even all the Women’s League players who gave her the cold shoulder in the beginning have warmed up to her.

She’s even made two new friends, Tsubasa Gakumeki Women’s 1-kyu and Rin Koiji Women’s 4-dan.

And how she has Tamayo Rokuroba Women’s 2-dan to thank for all of it.

“That’s great …… It seems like leaving you with her was the right decision after all.”

Ms. Rokuroba’s reputation is split.

In Kansai she’s been called the Practice Session Crusher or ridiculed as the Pro Women’s League Player. To be blunt, I thought so, too. Ginko doesn’t like her much, either, but I think there’s a separate, bigger reason in her case.

Even so, Natagiri-sensei couldn’t have given her a stronger vote of confidence, and he’s devoted his life to Shogi.

“There is so much more she can learn from Tamayo than me, I assure you. By all means, have her live in the same room here in Tokyo.”

What he meant went over my father’s professional Shogi player head, but those words were all it took to convince me to entrust him with Ai.

Because it sounded to me like he understood the reality of being a Women’s Shogi player ……

The move turned out to be perfect.

Though the last thing I expected was for Ai’s skill level to explode through the roof.

She didn’t just win the first and second matches, she dominated them.

And now, here she is within reach of claiming a title in Osaka, which would almost perfectly re-create how Ginko took her first Women’s Title of Queen.

–––She claimed the Queen Title in the sixth grade, too …… It’s too perfect to be a coincidence.

This is even the same arena. It seems like I’m not the only one who thinks destiny is at work here. The usual crowd of Shogi journalists and reporters are having to fight for space with crews dispatched by local news stations.

All are here hoping to witness the second coming of Naniwa’s Snow White.

“Oh, that’s right.”

I smile and wipe the tears away.

“I had a little something prepared for you to mark your first title series.”

“Huh?! A present?!” she asks with glee, her eyes sparkling. “What is it?! Keika, what did you get for me?!”

“He-he-he. You’ll find out …… At the opening night party, okay?”

“Ah! Could it be one of those? The things that go in the arena alcove–––”

“Oh, heavens, no. Something much better …… I hope that one wasn’t too much of a bother.”

“No, not at all! Looking at it during a match makes me gig- …… Helps me feel refreshed!”

“…… Go ahead and burn it if it’s in the way. I’m serious.”

The right mindset? Rather than motivating his granddaughter apprentice, now she’s having to be nice! That old beard, I swear ……!

I’ll go give him a piece of my mind right now.

Scanning the room, I spot him greeting the other player involved in this title match at the other end.

“Kousuke.”

“Rina ……”

The two of them exchange bashful looks.

“…… Strange turn of events, don’ ya think? My granddaughter apprentice facin’ ya in a title match ……”

“He-he. We are getting on in years, yes?”

“Ya haven’ changed at all, Rina. Yer just like ya were back then …… Nah! Ya’ve only gotten more beautiful!”

“And you, too, Kousuke–––”

“More manly, am I?”

“Why, no. You’ve become much more adept at flattery!”

Just looking at Shakando-sensei laugh like a little girl, I have a hard time believing she’s a title holder with her back against the wall after losing two straight matches.

–––She’ll be titleless with one more loss. Isn’t she scared?

Is she putting on a brave face to hide her nerves from the rest of us?

Or …… Has she gotten bored of having a title?

Does someone like that even exist? For me personally, I would die happy if I ever made it into a title match–––

“Keika! Hey, Keika!”

“Wha? Wh-What is it, Father ……?”

“Help Rina …… Shakando-Women’s Legend over to the arena. Be careful, ya hear? Also, call me Master out in public, got it? Master.”

I silently nod. After one more glance in Ai’s direction, I walk over to her opponent.

The one alone at the top.

“It’s been an age since we’ve exchanged pleasantries, hasn’t it?”

“Yes. I apologize for my long absence.”

Defeating this person right here is what allowed me to pass through the sliver of a window I had left to join the Women’s League.

It was the match of my life.

I doubt I’ll ever be able to play better than I did that day. Unlike Ai, I can’t picture myself ever defeating this person one more time.

“Pardon me, Sensei. May I assist ……?”

“Why, yes. Thank you.”

I take the outstretched hand that I once fought with all my might and slowly guide her forward. That’s when it finally hits me: what’s wrong with this picture.

–––Where has Ayumu gone off to?

Her beloved apprentice was at her side, even during our match.

But he’s nowhere to be seen now.

–––A league match perhaps? I can’t think of any other reason why he wouldn’t be here ……

“You will be recording the match tomorrow, yes Keika?”

“Ah ………… Y-Yes! As it will be my first time working as a match recorder for a title match, I will be doing my utmost to prevent any mistakes–––”

“No, no, my dear. The pressure is all mine.”

“What? …… How do you mean? At your title match? Shakando-sensei, you must be joking ……”

Does this woman feel any pressure when her back is against the wall?

“I can ill afford any slip-ups on my part.”

She doesn’t want to look bad? For whom?

The fans who have supported her all this time? For Ai?

–––Couldn’t be me, could it? Or maybe ……?

The inspection lasts all of five minutes.

The opening night party turns out to exceed everyone’s expectations.

Once both players have said a few words and my father, the observer, made a speech, I’m scheduled to get up and speak as the match recorder.

“This will be my first experience recording a title match. I understand how valuable this opportunity is for me and I intend to learn as much as I can.”

The air in here is casual, as parties usually are.

People are chatting away at their tables and barely anyone is looking in my direction. Ai and Shakando-sensei are seated in opposite corners and look fairly relaxed.

Just then some voices make it through the din.

“…… Who signed off on Kiyotaki 9-dan as the observer? That’s gotta cause problems ……”

“…… What happened to maintaining a line between work and private matters, hm ……?”

“…… Before the inspection, too …… Talking ……”

I can’t ignore them no matter how I try. So I take two envelopes out of my handbag with enough force to drown them all out.

“And–––”

It’s time for the present I had in my sleeve for the players.

“I have messages from Sora 4-dan. Please allow me to read them in her place.”

“D-Did she say Sora 4-dan?!”

My bombshell shakes the whole venue.

“Naniwa’s Snow White hasn’t made any public statements!”

“This is her first one since taking a leave of absence, isn’t it?!”

“Now this is what I call a scoop ……!!”

All the media people who were chitchatting suddenly give me their full attention. Cameras and notepads at the ready, it’s quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Everyone’s waiting with baited breath for my next words.

Same goes for the players.

“Ginko ……?”

Shakando-sensei whispers under her breath and urges me on with her eyes.

I take a breath and start reading.

“Shakando-sensei has been kind enough to hone my skills with practice sessions ever since I claimed my titles. Although I have defeated her in league matches, I believe that she won far more during those practice sessions.”

“…………”

Sensei quietly listens to me read Ginko’s message aloud.

“So I believe that I understand Shakando-sensei’s strength better than anyone. And I also believe I know how tomorrow’s match is going to play out. I will be watching the match closely …… to see if my prediction comes true.”

I give Shakando-sensei a short bow to let her know the message is over.

She …… doesn’t say anything.

Instead, she closes her eyes and mulls over Ginko’s words.

“I have played one meaningful match against the challenger, Ai Hinatsuru Women’s 2-dan. It was during her Practice League Entrance Exam.”

I turn to face the other player and start reading.

“It was a handicap match, and I won. I also played her in a practice match with a six-piece handicap and won that one as well. In both league matches and in practice sessions, I have never once lost to Miss Hinatsuru.”

Murmur, murmur, murmur ……

The difference in tone between the two messages is staggering, but it seems like everyone else is more intimidated than Ai.

“Watching Miss Hinatsuru in the Women’s League, I’m surprised how little her style has changed since those days. Nothing but a straightforward rampage like a bull in a china shop. Frankly, I’m astounded she made it to the title match playing like that. So–––”

I pause there for a moment.

Then, doing the best Ginko impression I can muster, I read the last line.

“So I’m a little …… interested to see how far Ai Hinatsuru’s straightforward style of Shogi from back then can grow with my own eyes.”

“…………!!”

Ai’s pupils light up with fiery determination.

But it’s not directed at Shakando-sensei.

“…… Grow straightforward ………… My Shogi ……”

That fire crackles with so much intensity, it’s like she’s trying to melt a glacier.

That’s the moment that I knew.

This girl’s true opponent isn’t Shakando-sensei, but–––.