Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter 2.3

  VISITOR

“It’s a Double Wing Attack …… Shakando-sensei didn’t avoid it.”

The third Women’s Legend Title Match starts with my apprentice taking the first move.

This makes three Double Wing matches in a row, but there’s something very different about this one.

“Now it’s Ai who’s using the latest style. Maybe she felt the time was right …… The way she’s playing just screams I’m going to win this right now! ……”

While I know I shouldn’t be looking at my phone while walking, curiosity gets the better of me as I stare at the screen and mumble on my way to the venue.

The match is taking place at a high class hotel in Tenmabashi, Osaka. It normally doesn’t host regular women’s Title Matches, but one very big title match did take place here before.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I doubt I’ll ever forget it.

“That day, Mr. Kagamizu was the match recorder …… It was my job to move the pieces on the big board for the commentator …… And she won her first title ……”

“You there, shady guy.”

I haven’t been on the premises even five minutes, but I’ve already been spotted.

Worse, by the Worldly Maestro.

“M-Mr. Oishi?! You came?”

“How could I miss this? It’s Ai’s first title match, and the Kiyotakis are workin’ as observer and match recorder. Stuff this interesting doesn’t pop up every day.”

He’s the type of guy who holes up in the bathhouse/Shogi classroom he runs except for his own matches. I guess even he couldn’t resist coming to watch Ai’s match in person.

Mr. Oishi gave Ai and I a crash course in Ranging Rook while we worked part-time for him at his bathhouse way back when.

Now that former student of his has become a challenger and is one win away from claiming her own title. The climactic battle is happening in Osaka. It makes me happy to know that he’s willing to close the bathhouse to come watch.

“I’d have brought Asuka with me if it weren’t a weekday.”

“She became a college student this spring, right?”

“She found a university with a strong Shogi club and passed the entrance exam on her own. Shogi’s the only thing she’s ever needed help with.”

“Asuka is in college …… What about the Practice League?”

“With Practice League Director Kuruno bein’ a Ranging Rooker and all, he’s been treating her well.”

Kuruno-sensei did a ton for Ai, too, though she doesn’t play Ranging Rook. The thing is that it feels like I’d lose something if I point that out.

“Right after high school is the same time Keika joined the Practice League, too. I’ve heard they’ve been dropping by each other’s places, getting trained up in Shogi and some advice while they’re at it.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” I say, meaning it on two levels.

Since the Kiyotaki Shogi family lost members almost overnight, the fact that Asuka has been dropping by is huge.

“But I gotta say, the Kuzuryu line is sure high hoggin’ the spotlight. The Master is the youngest dual title holder ever, this Ai is playing for her first title and the other apprentice of yours is in the running for two titles, isn’t she?”

“Ai Yashajin’s matches aren’t technically title matches. They’re more like two winner-take-all series.”

“Looks like those titles’ll be staying with your line even after Ginko gave ’em up.”

“It’s too early to say for sure. Her opponent is in the 3-dan division, after all.”

“Aren’t you going to watch her matches?”

“She’s made it unmistakably clear that she doesn’t want me there …… She even forbade me to look at the match records until the series are over. Seriously, now that we’re finally living toge–––”

“Hm?”

“L-Living up to our full potential as Master and apprentice!”

“Heh. Just as the saying goes, no kid knows how dear she is to her parents. Reminds me a lot of Asuka, to tell the truth.”

Whew! That was too close!

I’m hiding the fact that Ai Yashajin and I are living together. Not that there’s anything going on, but I just can’t find the right way to say it ……

“There’s him, too. Sota Kunugi.”

Mr. Oishi doesn’t seem to pick up on the fact that I’m sweating bullets and keeps talking.

“That grade schooler …… Nah, junior high schooler now, eh? He hasn’t lost since his debut in the Ryuo Tournament at the beginning of the year. He’s right on the verge of being a big deal.”

“I’d be more surprised if he weren’t winning so much.”

Sota is good enough that he could hold his ground just fine if he got thrown into A League right now.

What’s more is that there aren’t anywhere near as many players in Kansai as there are in Kanto. That means that you play against the same people all the time in the qualifiers. We all know everyone’s style so well that upsets are hard to pull off.

Sota could very well go undefeated until he runs into Kansai’s big three: Chairman Tsukimitsu, Mr. Oishi and I. A winning streak of about 20 matches is well within the realm of expectation.

“If he keeps winning, he’ll end up playin’ against Ika Sainokami in Group 6 of the Ryuo Tournament. The Grade School Pro versus a Women’s Leaguer. The media will have a field day no matter who wins.”

“It’s a clash of the demons if you ask me.”

“I get that Sainokami rubs you the wrong way ’cause of stuff that happened in the past, but personally I’m rooting for her. That tomahawk strategy of hers is pretty darn effective.”

“…………”

Just hearing that name sends a bitter chill down my spine.

It’s the strategy that tore out Big Sis’s spirit. Ika swore to destroy her with it.

But I keep talking like nothing is wrong.

“…… Not that long ago, nobody would’ve expected Normal 3rd-File Rook to surge back into popularity like this.”

“You can say that again. I’m also working on my own variation for somethin’ up my sleeve as a change-up from my ace Gokigen Central Rook strategy.”

“You do?! What kind of variation?”

“Moron. If I told you that, it wouldn’t be up my sleeve anymore, would it? You’ll just have to wait for me to bring it out in a match.”

Mr. Oishi lightly bonks me on the head before leaning in close to whisper.

“Enough about that. How are you so off the grid in Kansai? Where the heck are you living right now, anyway? Keika darn near had a heart attack when you moved out of your apartment and disappeared. Asuka was already reeling from what happened with Ginko, and I had to stop her from filing a missing persons report with the police.”

“Yeah …… I was in a cramming session, writing my book from the beginning of the year …… Now that it’s published, I’ve been going around different bookstores in Kanto to help with sales. There’s been no time to come home ……”

I don’t actually start helping with sales until tomorrow, but I’m not exactly lying, either.

“Sales?” Mr. Oishi says like it’s the last thing he expected to hear. “You’re doing that stuff? I’ve done next to nothing for the book I wrote five years ago, and it’s already gotten several reprints.”

“Amateurs sure do love Ranging Rook ……”

That’s the Maestro for you. Compared to the onslaught of complaints that Akira unleashed onto Kuzuryu’s Notebook, he’s on a different level. Maybe I should have written a book aimed at grade schooler kids after all ……

We arrive at the door in front of the break room while catching up.

Compared to the arena, the air is so relaxed that I can hear people chatting away inside already. That’s typical for title match mornings.

“It sounds like there’s a guest. Do you think they’re a sponsor? Well, I don’t really want to draw attention, so that’s fine by me–––”

Mr. Oishi gets to the door first, but he doesn’t reach for the handle.

“Huh? Aren’t you going in?”

“…… That’s the chairman’s voice.”

Displeasure is written all over the Maestro’s face.

He’s been running away from Chairman Tsukimitsu because whenever they meet, the chairman says something like: It’s about time you took a position on the Association Board of Directors, and puts pressure on him to be more involved.

“Busy as he is, he’ll be gone soon enough. I’ll go have a smoke somewhere til then.”

“I don’t think you have to avoid him so much.”

“A League players don’t like sharing the same space. It leaves a bad taste.”

“Really?”

“Hurry on up here. Then you’ll get it.”

A 14-year member of the A League, the Worldly Maestro casually waves his hand as he sets off in search of a smoking area.

“………… A League.”

Hearing about it reminds me of Ayumu, who’s already up there.

As I only just promoted to B-2, it’ll be at least another two years before I can climb that high.

But after two years, when we’re both in A League …… what’ll happen to our friendship?

And what if Ayumu is already the Meijin by that point ……?

“Ayumu, Ryou, Machi and I …… It looks like the days when the four of us can hang out and laugh, like we’ve been doing since the Elementary Meijin Tournament, are numbered ……”

Do I want the way things are to last forever?

Or do I want to get to the top as soon as possible so we can fight it out for real?

Pursuing the two options could mean that I’ve got a lot of growing left to do as a Shogi player. Still questioning myself, I open the door and walk into the break room.