Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter 2.7

  SPRING RAIN

It’s drizzling outside, but I don’t know when it started.

“Women’s …… Placement Matches ……”

After leaving the press conference, I slowly walk over to a big window to look at the garden outside.

There’s too much information to process right now.

The fact that both Shogi Association buildings are going to be rebuilt means that the scenery I know is going to change in a big way.

Especially when it comes to the Kansai Association ……

“If they are already looking at new sites, that means it won’t be in Fukushima anymore, doesn’t it? Where will the new one be? Kobe? But that seems too far away from Kanto ……”

The association building has always been one train stop away from my home. If it moves, my daily life as I know it will never be the same.

Even the classroom might be affected.

–––Everyone else, too. They’ll …… Oh, right. Father and I are the only ones left ……

Yaichi, Ginko and even Ai Hinatsuru …

All of them moved out from under the Kansai Association Building’s shadow a long time ago.

––– …… It’s just me that’s left hanging.

The Shogi world is moving forward. All the physical things of the past are getting crushed in its wake. I thought the number of titles would be constant forever. So much for that. Even the buildings themselves are about to change.

Just as the younger generation is looking at these changes with hope for the future, I’m sure there are some in the older generation whose spirits have been broken trying to keep up.

–––Which one am I ……?

“Keika. Hey, Keika!”

“Huh? Ah …… What is it, Father?”

“How many times do I hafta tell ya to call me Master while we’re workin’?” remarks my father, looking neat and tidy now that he’s changed out of his kimono and into a suit. He seems completely unphased. Did he already know what was going to happen at the press conference?

“’At can wait though. Would ya track Ai down? There’s the dinner party I gotta get goin’ to.”

“Ai? If you call her, she’ll …… Oh, right, it’s still in the safe ……”

Father keeps all the players’ devices in a safe in his room until the match is over because that’s part of the observer’s job. He’s only just giving Shakando-sensei her phone back right now.

“Whad’ya think, Rina? Playin’ against Ai.”

“She is a kind and studious child. In terms of talent, I believe she may be the best Women’s League player I have ever fought. It is only a matter of time before she claims a title of her own.”

I don’t know how, but Shakando-sensei seems more energetic now, after that intense match and a long press conference, than she normally does.

Like the young girl I glimpsed during the match–––

“It wouldn’t surprise me if she became the first to hold the new title in the works. Her, or perhaps another Ai ……”

“Yashajin, ya mean? She’s my granddaughter apprentice, but I gotta admit she scares me just a bit.”

They’re still talking behind me as I head into the building to look for Ai Hinatsuru.

To make a long story short, I find her almost immediately.

She doesn’t want to talk with anyone right now, no doubt.

Since she wasn’t in her room or the break room …… that really left only one place to look.

“Ai.”

She’s in the garden getting drizzled on.

No one found her up until this point because they all assumed she’d stay out of the rain.

That small challenger, still in her kimono and draped in the agony of defeat, quits looking at the sky and turns to face me.

“………… Keika?”

“Sorry. My fath- …… that old beard wants to return your phone!” I say as brightly as I can muster.

Because …… that sullen face staring at me looks to be in so much pain.

“That was an amazing press conference, wasn’t it? New Shogi Association buildings, and even Placement Matches for the Women’s League!”

Women’s League matches are all tournaments, so losing one match means your schedule gets wiped clean.

A whole year can go by without even playing ten matches. I’m living proof ……

“Everyone has always griped about not having Placement Matches, how they’d be so much stronger if only we had them like the pros! I might have twice as many matches each year now. Then again, if I start winning as much as you do, I’ll never have any time for myself–––”

Once I start talking, the words don’t stop.

Yes, it’s true that I want the extra pay by playing more matches.

But Women’s League players don’t get paid that much per match to begin with. That’s why what we’re really fighting over is a place to get stronger: league matches.

“Knowing that I played more actual Shogi during my time in the Practice League is just too sad.”

Oh …… I see now.

Talking to Ai makes it easier to accept all these changes in the Shogi world.

–––I’m changing, too.

“The real shocker is the sponsor, don’t you think?! Akira is the company president! That girl has to be the mastermind, though, no matter how you look at it. I understand that she’s still underage and there’d be a major conflict of interest if she took a leading role, but don’t you think she could’ve given us a heads up?”

Even I am moving forward.

So Ai can probably zoom into the future. One loss won’t even register as a speed bump for her.

Assuming that to be true, I keep talking away …… but.

“………… Ai? Hey, Ai? What do you think?”

“I wanted to settle it ………… Here …………”

“Huh?”

“I should’ve had it! I had to show everyone how strong I’ve gotten! But I couldn’t do anything ……!!”

SPLASH!

Ai stomps on a puddle like a toddler having a temper tantrum. She hasn’t heard a word I’ve said.

“I couldn’t lose this match no matter what!! I …… I have to keep pressing forward faster and faster!! But I …… I ……!!”

“Ai ……”

“I had to play so well that Sora-sensei would be too jealous to send messages anymore! But I got out-read in the late-game?! Why am I so weak?! DARA!!”

“Ai …………”

Is it okay to say this is just part of growing up?

A desire for a title has bloomed from a happy-go-lucky little girl who played just for fun.

A thirst to keep winning more and more.

Then, there’s the confidence she has in her own talent. Even looking at it objectively, I have to admit that her late-game skills are above and beyond the Women’s League. Her knowledge of the latest formations and study habits are impressive, too.

But …… If she thinks she’s gotten strong enough to sweep Shakando-sensei in a title match, then hasn’t that confidence crossed the line into arrogance?

Wait.

Her eyes aren’t focused on Shakando-sensei right now …… Not even close.

The letters I read at the opening night party.

Ginko’s words might’ve triggered her more than I thought. In that sense, I share some of the blame for this situation, but–––

“………… Isn’t this when the Master is supposed to step up? Yaichi ……”

Ai, on the verge of losing her mind, continues howling into the darkening sky like a small, wounded beast.

The drizzle picks up into a full-blown spring downpour right before my eyes.

The cherry blossoms were so beautiful, but the last of their petals are being washed away.