50-50
“I’ll now do the piece flip,” Tsubasa, the match recorder, says while she picks up five Pawns from Shakando-sensei’s side of the board. Her fingers are shaking.
I’m sitting in front of the board in the same kimono I wore for the first match.
This is my first time at this inn. There’s a big river flowing just outside the window. The surface sparkles in the sun. It gets too bright for my eyes, so I gaze out at the cliff on the opposite shore instead.
…… I’m too scared to watch Tsubasa do the piece flip.
“50-50 ……”
The words slip out of my mouth.
I never found a way to defeat Shakando-sensei in the end.
My brain could only come up with one strategy.
So it all comes down to this 50-50 chance. My whole plan might go up in smoke.
The one thing I do know is that I can’t win if I don’t go all in.
“Five Pawns face down.”
“Oooh ……!” the media people respond.
“……………”
I reach behind my head and touch the ends of my hair.
There was a 50-50 chance I would get the first move advantage, and I got it. Now I can play the strategy I have in mind.
–––My gamble paid off. The two to one odds ……
Suddenly my body temperature rises. We still haven’t played the move, but I’ve broken a sweat.
I open my fan and swish it back and forth hard enough that I can hear the breeze.
“Azure sky beyond the clouds.”
The words that I wrote before the beginning of this series flash in front of my eyes. They came out looking really pretty, but…… That’s all. They don’t inspire me to feel anything more.
A little bit of me does regret leaving my most treasured fan in my room.
But I just can’t open it.
If I saw his handwriting now, I just know …… I’d lose my determination.
I cut that weakness out of my life, just like my hair.
–––And now …… I’m finally here, strong enough to fight on the title stage ……
I look over at the alcove and see someone else’s handwriting.
“He-he ……”
I can’t help but giggle. That scroll has been encouraging me since the first match.
The observer clears his throat, almost like trying to scold me, the challenger, for not understanding the magnitude of the moment.
“The time has arrived. Hinatsuru Women’s 2-dan, please make the first move.”
I silently bow my head and take a deep breath.
“Wheeew–––––––– ……… Hm!!”
Focused, I advance the Pawn in front of my Rook.
Shakando-sensei makes the same move after drinking some tea.
Pieces click one by one, almost like a ritual designed to reach one particular formation.
“The latest version of the Double Wing Attack. Just as you hoped …… yes?” she says as if she can see right through me. “The time for tactical maneuvers is at an end. We shall collide at full force. Do not hold anything back.”
The Women’s Legend’s voice gives me goosebumps as she opens her arms wide and waits for me to make a move.
She already has the glow of a young girl–––
“Come–––let us play Shogi.”
“…… I’m ready when you are!!”
And so, the fifth Women’s Legend League Match starts.
The final battle of my first title series.
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