Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 17 - Chapter 4.6

  TAXI DRIVER

Today is a special day.

“………… I’m heading out.”

It’s still early. Fully dressed and ready to go in the dim morning light, I whisper to myself in the starkly empty front lobby.

Today is the first preliminary match of Group E in the Emperor Tournament.

It’s my first time ever playing in a tournament for one of the seven professional titles, and I’m leaving home extra early so nerves don’t get to me …… on several levels.

“Wait right there, Ai.”

“………… Mom?”

I get told to stop in the empty lobby.

Since Mom is in the stable stage of her pregnancy, she’s been working here and there. I see her sometimes, but …… this is the first time she’s talked to me on the morning of a match. Well, morning is the busiest time for the staff at an inn.

“I hailed a taxi for you today. Take it.”

“A taxi?”

I wanted to yell don’t go over my head like that at first.

“But …… the professional senseis take the train, so if I show up in a taxi …… They’ll hate me even more than they already———”

“Ai.”

She glares down at me with eyes as cold as ice above her baby bump.

“Aren’t you taking your opponent too lightly?”

“Huh ……?”

“He’s none other than the former Ryuo, Takeru Usui. If you’d like to increase your chances of beating him even slightly, you’ll preserve your stamina by taking that taxi. Am I wrong?”

“……!”

This will be my first time playing a match with four hours of waiting time, so I’ve done everything I can to make sure I’m in the best possible shape.

But Mom was right …… I’ve been so focused on making a Professional Entrance Exam a reality that I was overlooking the match right in front of me.

But thanking her is just too hard, so I look away and ask her.

“…… Do you know Usui-sensei?”

“Of course. I attended him personally …… when he stayed with us as the title holder—as is expected for the owner of any establishment. Though, you probably only saw the challenger Yaichi Kuzuryu at the time.”

Agh ……

“I’ve interacted with hundreds of thousands of guests, and Usui 9-dan stands out from each and every one of them. He …………”

Mom stops herself in the middle of the thought.

She never reveals information about her customers, even to her own daughter.

“…… As you have undergone training to inherit my position as owner one day, you’ll surely notice on your own. Do not forget to watch your opponent closely during the clash.”

“Okay!”

This time, I look up into Mom’s eyes, and her belly, to nod.

“How is the baby?”

“Energetic. Maybe a little too energetic. They’re kicking up a storm from the inside every day.”

“Uwhee?! B-But, doesn’t that hurt?”

“Well, yes. But———”

Phew …… Mom’s face relaxes and she adds.

“There’s nothing more reassuring for a parent than to know their child is healthy. Now, go out there and start kicking up your own storm.”

I climb into the taxi that pulled up in front of the inn.

“Where to?”

“To Sendagaya …… Um, do you know where the Shogi Association Building is?”

“I sure do! My daughter goes there all the time. To the classroom on the second floor.”

I was about to say something back when.

“……?!”

I see something unbelievable …… on the window next to the headrest.

A professional Shogi player’s autograph.

“I-Is that …… a real one?”

“You know what it is? Well, I happened to drive Ginko Sora 4-dan to her pro debut match.”

Sora-sensei …… was in this taxi ……

Coincidences like this don’t just happen. Did Mom set this up?

“Sota Kunugi gets all the headlines nowadays. It’s like e-e-everybody forgot that Naniwa’s Snow White still exists,” complains the taxi driver.

And before I can ask anything else myself, he starts rambling.

“She sat right where you’re sitting now, miss. She had the same quiet air about her, too. The kind that makes it hard to strike up a conversation …… But it wasn’t the same don’t talk to me aura that celebrities have. How can I describe it ……?”

“Divine?”

“Yes! Like something that ought not be touched. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do.”

It’s especially true for Sora-sensei but …… I think all Shogi players take on a divine air of some kind on their journey to an important match.

I admired that sacred aura but still reached out to touch it. I got hurt …… but have no regrets.

Having no regrets, no matter what, is my goal moving forward.

“About this autograph ………… Did Sora-sensei choose the wording?”

“Sure did. I asked her if she would do an autograph for my daughter, and that’s what she wrote. I did a little research afterwards, and it turns out this is pretty rare, isn’t it?”

“Yes. She chose to write Infallible. The impression I have of her is that she likes to write popular sayings in the Shogi world rather than her own words.”

I take that message on the window to heart.

Rather than the mindset of someone on their way to a big match …… it sounds like they're fighting against a whole world full of absurdities.

What kind of burden was she carrying?

I have no idea.

But it’s probably very different from the one I have.

On the other hand, I think I understand her a bit better now that the world is against me.

“We're here.”

The taxi pulls up to the association entrance.

Today there are two matches in this building that matter a lot to me.

Mine, in the large arena.

And in the special arena———

“Oh yes. May I ask you your name, miss?” asks the driver as he gives me the bill.

“Ai Hinatsuru …… I’m a Women’s League Shogi player.”

“Oh, sorry. I’m sure my daughter would’ve recognized you on the spot. I’ll look you up as soon as I’m done for today.”

Words won’t come out, so I just bow my head. I might disappoint him. Compared to Sora-sensei who always faces everything head on, I probably come across as a big coward.

“Miss Hinatsuru …… May I ask you a question?” the driver askes hesitantly. “Sora 4-dan will come back, won’t she?”

“Yes! Of course, she will,” I answer without missing a beat and look up at the association building.

That is the only thing that’s certain right now.

“No matter where she goes, I’ll drag her right back here.”