ANNOUNCEMENTS
I watch the press conference in the corner of the room after the match finished.
“The Shogi Association of Japan would like to announce that Lolihome Ltd. has been selected to carry out the construction of new association buildings for both Kanto and Kansai.”
Ms. Oga explains the details while handing out packets to each of the reporters in attendance. Normally, the chairman would be here too, but he isn’t around.
“Although official approval will have to wait for the next Players Meeting, preparations have been made to enter a binding partnership. President Ikeda, please provide specifics.”
“I am the president of Lolihome, Akira Ikeda.”
Akira boldly takes the microphone from Ms. Oga and steps up to center stage like she owns the place.
However, her being a woman and being so young has the reporters questioning her credibility. The company name certainly doesn’t help ……
“As a real estate company that fully supports women in the workplace, we have come to prominence only recently. Our rise was so quick, in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had never heard of us before.”
She must be reading the room, because Akira has dropped her usual gangst- …… a-hem, aggressive tone.
“Furthermore, all our administrators are women. You may be curious how, despite the fact that over 90 percent of our employees are female, we have managed to ascend so quickly in the male-dominated real estate industry …… The answer is simpler than you might think.”
“……?”
The reporters look back at her, confused.
“The answer? It is because Shogi is heavily incorporated in our training program!!”
“Whoooa ……!!”
Akira’s sheer enthusiasm draws everyone in like a magnet.
“We apply an overarching sense learned through playing Shogi to predicting the real estate market, late-game endurance to sales, and a positive mindset. A fighting spirit that never gives up on a last-second turnaround is an absolute necessity for any businessperson. Shogi contains every necessary skill to survive in the business world. We strive to become the Meijin of Real Estate with the lessons Shogi has taught us.”
Questions start pouring in from all over the room.
“Do you also play Shogi, President Ikeda?!”
“Whenever I have the time, yes. I frequent the Kansai Shogi Association’s classroom. As for my ability …… Well, not quite 1-dan, if I’m being honest. My best strategy is the Move Loss Bishop Exchange.”
“Very specific ……”
“She genuinely plays Shogi ……!”
The Shogi world gives people who know how to play special treatment. Despite their company name and how fishy Akira seemed at first, she’s suddenly been accepted as one of the group.
…… Her newfound good graces wouldn’t last if they ever found out she was a lolicon-esque, underhanded cheater who ranted at the grade schoolers whenever she lost, but hey ……
“Shogi taught me what is truly important, everything that matters ……”
Getting teary-eyed, Akira says that phrase before ramping up the power in her voice to declare.
“Yes! Our passion for helping women succeed has led us to propose a new Women’s Title League for the Shogi Association!!”
WHOOOOAAA! The room erupts.
Reconstructing the association buildings was a big enough surprise, but even I’m stunned by this news.
“A new Women’s Title?! There hasn’t been a story this big since the Women’s Throne Title was announced!”
“That will bring the total to seven, just like the professionals!!”
“What’s the format?! The prize money?! The name of the title?!”
“The title name has yet to be determined. However, what is set in stone is that the scope will exceed both Queen and Women’s Throne. In other words–––”
Akira pauses for dramatic effect.
“Women’s Placement Matches. I promise here and now that we will make this a reality.”
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Excitement is spreading like wildfire in here.
“We will also make our VR technology available for those who wish to use it for matches.”
“A virtual-reality arena?!”
The metaverse is trending right now, and the regular reporters latch onto that buzzword like hungry wolves on the prowl.
Akira lifts a headset and says, “(Shogi software equipped with deep learning is difficult to introduce privately, so …) We have created an environment where players can use Shogi software equipped with deep learning available around the clock. Also, we have a Shogi Relocation Plan for those looking for affordable housing with increased amperage to allow for the latest GPU.”
“Wh-Why go to such lengths ……?”
“Our company philosophy at Lolihome is to inspire growth. Although we are still a young company taking baby steps in a big world …… we would love the opportunity to grow strong alongside the players in the Women’s League.”
With that, Akira puts down the microphone.
And the last person to take it up is–––the winner of today’s match.
“I have been asked to chair both the creation of Women’s Placement Matches and the renewal construction for both association buildings in the East and the West. I understand if some may feel affronted that a Women’s League player such as myself has taken this post, however ……”
Shakando-sensei explains why she was chosen for the role.
“Chairman Tsukimitsu is an active player, in A League to be exact. He has a great deal of expectations on his shoulders. I, on the other hand, have but one title and free time to my name. What’s more, my grasp on said title is akin to a candle on a blustery day. The real prospect of attending this conference without it laid heavily on my mind …… Luckily, the flame managed to last this night, as you can see.”
That gets a good laugh out of the crowd.
The sequence of Ms. Oga, Akira and now Shakando-sensei has whipped them into a frenzy like a string of perfect moves.
“…… A press conference with only women, huh? Even the chairman stayed away. Well done …… Was it Ms. Oga’s idea? Or maybe–––”
Everything lined up perfectly for the press conference. A little too perfectly.
There wouldn’t be anywhere near as many media people here if the Women’s Legend Title Match wasn’t getting so much publicity, and Shakando-sensei wouldn’t be in talking shape if she had lost her title. Not only would it leave a bad taste if the newly dethroned Women’s Legend made an appearance, but all the journalists would be too hung up on the birth of Naniwa’s Snow White 2.0 to listen to what any of them had to say.
This is the first good news to come out of the Shogi world since its most recognizable player, Ginko Sora, went missing.
There can be no mistakes.
–––Did Shakando-sensei lose on purpose …… to build up hype for today’s press conference?
“No! There’s no way ………… Right?”
Shakando-sensei is strong, but strong enough to pull that off against Ai as she is now? There’s no way she’s that good ……
I try to shut that thought down as soon as it crosses my mind. Then.
My smartphone buzzes.
“Hm? …… HMM?!”
Doing a double take at the name that pops up on the screen, I step outside the room and answer the call.
The voice coming out of my phone …… is high-pitched and a little nostalgic.
“You’re there, aren’t you?”
The mastermind makes her entrance.
“…… Sure am. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because you can’t keep a secret,” the speaker–––Ai Yashajin—says in a patronizing tone. So, the usual way.
She must be watching the press conference from someplace else.
Having all the speakers be women and scheduling the press conference right after the third Women’s Legend Title Match in Osaka all had to be her idea.
–––Did …… did she set it up this way so that I would see it?
“I know she doesn’t look it, but Akira is a brilliant manager. She’s well liked within the Yashajin Group and adapt at incorporating my ideas, as well.”
“…………”
“She will act as a direct link with the association for the foreseeable future. Lend her a hand if anything comes up. I’m too busy right now to do it myself.”
“I’m not exactly sitting on my thumbs, either.”
Her tone is the same as always, but …… I can tell she is running on fumes. Ai Yashajin usually mixes in a lot of quips, but there hasn’t been one yet today.
I was told not to look at her match records, so I haven’t. The thing is that I can’t avoid hearing about the results.
She lost the opening matches of both the Queen and Women’s Throne series matches, and the fact that two Repetition Draws have happened in the first three matches is big news right now.
Her opponent is the second-ever woman to make it into the 3-dan division. The popular opinion is that she’s having an easy time against a grade school girl, but ……
“…… There are so many questions I want to ask you, but I’ll keep it to one.”
“That’s fine. As long as it’s just one.”
“Good.”
I take a deep breath and let it rip.
“Are you taking care of yourself? I know for a fact that you’re strong enough to beat someone in the 3-dan division. So stay healthy, okay?”
“…………”
“Fatigue is the biggest enemy when you’ve got two title matches going on at the same time. Sometimes you’re better off getting some good rest than forcing yourself to come up with a second-rate strategy. If your arms feel like lead, go to bed. Understood?”
“…… That’s what you wanted to ask me?”
“Yeah. Since Akira is over here doing presidential things, that means you are fighting all these battles by yourself, right? Are you taking time to relax? Do you have much energy?”
“I feel energized now.”
Somehow, Ai’s tone sounds a bit brighter than it did when she first called. She’s also being more open and honest.
Feeling relieved, I try to get more information out of her, but–––
“Oh, this is my stop. Bye-bye.”
“Hey?! I narrowed it down to one question because you said I only get one, but I’ve got a whole mountain of things to ask you!! Call me once things settle down–––”
She hung up. The call is over.
But I think I heard an announcement right before the line went dead. Something about a center over a loudspeaker? Was she riding a train just now? It was really quiet if she was ……
“Yeesh! She has to have it her way whatever she does ……”
I put my phone back in my pocket and think about what to do next …… Time to go.
The press conference is still going on. Akira has pulled out the VR headset for a demonstration, but Ai Yashajin calling when she did means there’s nothing important left on the agenda.
Just like when I came in, I choose the route with the least number of people on the way out, but–––
“Leaving so soon? Ryuo.”
I get spotted just like before.
Well, spotted might not be the right word. He can’t see, after all.
“Chairman ……”
Apparently, he recognized my footsteps while sitting on the sofa waiting for Ms. Oga to come back.
–––A monster. Yep.
The A League Placement Matches are about to start. I bet his senses are honed to a sharp point right now. He might only be using his mental Shogi board to do research. These little moments between events could be invaluable practice time for a busy man like him.
I completely understand why he didn’t bother going to a press conference about virtual reality.
The world contained in this man’s head is so much vaster than a VR toy could ever hope to create.
–––Master had a scary air about him when he was in A League, too ……
The air at home was always tense when Placement Matches started. That prickly vibe was a major part of my training years.
“A League players don’t like sharing the same space.”
Mr. Oishi’s words have a lot more weight now.
Yeah …… A battle will start if two of these monsters are in the same room even without sharing a Shogi board.
Ayumu promoted into that league, but the air doesn’t crackle between us yet. Whether that’s a good or a bad thing, I’m not sure.
“Aren’t you going to say a few words to your apprentice?”
His voice gently slides me back into the moment, and I answer, “I think it’s better to give her some space right now. Getting torn down like that …… The same thing happened to me against the Meijin in Hawaii.”
The Shogi sense I had built up to that point got ripped out by the roots.
Ai used research and her late-game abilities, the areas she had the most confidence in, but still got crushed. Like Master, like apprentice. We even lost in the same way.
“She has to get back on her feet on her own steam. Isn’t that right?”
“Quite.”
It seems like that explanation convinced him. He was, after all, there at the time.
“Well then, what about your Master? I believe that Kousuke has been wanting to see you.”
“………… I have some work to do in Tokyo. I won’t make it in time if I don’t leave right now ……”
“That is unfortunate.”
The chairman shrugs.
Then, sounding genuinely sorry, he says.
“A growing family faces many challenges, yes? Not that I have faced them myself, but …… He has never been sure how to do so.”
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