THE FORMER RYUO
There are some differences between the Kansai Association Building and the Kanto Association Building here in Sendagaya.
The best arenas are on the 5th floor in Kansai, but they’re on the 4th floor here. There’s a special arena all the way in the back, but I’ll be playing in what’s called the large hall today.
The doors that separate the Takao, Kimine, and Unkaku arenas are all taken out to make one big space, and it’s amazing how many boards are lined up in here.
There’s a match in the special arena as well as other league matches going on at the same time as my Emperor League Preliminary Match.
———W-Whoa …… The room is so full ……!
It was overwhelming to see how many people were here for the final match of the Women’s Legend League, but there are at least twice as many crammed in here now.
I pass 3-dan division members working as match recorders, Shogi journalists gathering material for their articles, and so many others as I weave my way through. The air in here is stifling …… and the matches haven’t even started yet.
———Will I ever get used to this ……?
Sora-sensei played her last match of the 3-dan division and her first match as a professional here in Sendagaya.
Just how strong is her will? Those words in the taxi I rode here weren't exaggerating one bit ……
“………… Pardon me ……,” I say to no one in particular and sit down at the board reserved for the highest-standing players. Of course, in the lower seat.
It’s my opponent’s standing that got us assigned to this spot, not mine.
That does mean I get to use a very nice board and an expensive set of pieces, but …… I would’ve preferred to have the match someplace that doesn’t stick out so much. It’s hard to concentrate being so exposed ……
It sure doesn’t help that he …… is playing right next door.
“Good morning, Miss Hinatsuru. As your match has been selected for live coverage today, may I take a photograph for the blog?”
“Oh, go ahead.”
I turn around to see Kugui-sensei dressed in her journalist suit.
What I didn’t expect is who’s standing behind her.
“Uwhee?! A-Aya———”
“I will assist with the coverage today. I look forward to working with you.”
She steps beside Kugui-sensei and greets me like we’ve never met before. But she winks from behind her glasses.
———It’s not summer vacation yet …… But she came here for me?
My chest twinges with the realization that my friend skipped school to come all the way to Tokyo out of the kindness of her heart.
“……. I look forward to it, too. I promise to play great Shogi today!”
I can do this.
All the pressure goes away in the blink of an eye knowing I’ve got a friend here. Now I can play my own Shogi. My frozen fingertips feel warm again ……!
But that burst of confidence gets crushed like a paper balloon one second later.
“Good morning!!”
Every single player and Sub League member in the large hall say all at once. The air in here tightens like someone flipped a switch.
They’re all looking at———
“Same.”
A man.
He looks to be in his fifties.
Probably about the same age as Grandpa-sensei …… But there’s something that couldn’t be more different about him.
Presence.
“……!”
Takeru Usui 9-dan.
———Before Master …… He was the Ryuo ……!
It was hard enough to breathe in here before. Playing Shogi would’ve been almost impossible.
But …… even that stifling air felt comfortable compared to this arctic chill.
Just breathing it in makes me wonder if my lungs will ever work again.
Usui 9-dan walks over to our board. Then he takes a look up and down the rows of boards in the large hall before mumbling under his breath.
“………… A graveyard, plain and simple.”
———Graves?
He doesn’t even acknowledge me as he sits down and starts getting settled.
How do I greet him? We had to have seen each other before, and there’s a chance he remembers me. In that case, saying nice to meet you would be rude.
But———
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say with a bow.
Even if I did speak with him as the daughter of the inn’s owner.
As a player …… This is our first time playing against one another.
“My name is Ai Hinatsuru. I look forward to our match today!”
“So it’s you. The kid who cried because pros are too weak.”
“……!!”
Those words come at me so strong that I want to run away.
All the professionals I’ve faced before …… they never had animosity toward me or at least they never showed it.
Assuming that would be the case again today left me open, and the realization sparks a mix of fear and fury so strong it makes my vision shrink ……
“The real kicker is that you want to turn pro without passing the Sub League. Think getting a few victory stars with the Double Wing like that Master of yours did makes you stronger than pros, do you? Laughable!”
“……”
“Well, so are the pros who lost.”
After the match recorder’s piece flip makes Usui 9-dan the defender, he says loud enough for the whole room to hear.
“Come. I’ll make you bawl loud enough to hear next door.”
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