Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 2 - Chapter 1.1

  KOBE

“Oh wow! So this is Kobe?!”

Kobe, San-nomiya.

Surprised by all the people once we got off the train, Ai looks up at me with twinkling eyes. She’s acting like a kid on a field trip.

“It’s so close to Osaka! The trip didn’t take any time at all!!”

“Because it’s just a twenty-minute ride on an express train from Osaka Station.”

Since the association headquarters and my apartment are just outside Fukushima Station, one stop away from Osaka on the Kanjou Line, the whole trip only takes about thirty minutes once you factor in the time it takes to change trains. The association’s location is fantastic.

“Ai. Your hand.”

“Y-Yes!!”

I take her hand once we’re through the turnstile. Ai only just moved here from the north coast. Getting separated would be bad.

“I know it’s a bit embarrassing, but deal with it, okay?”

“I promise I’ll never let go!!! Never, ever again!!!!”

“N-never ……?”

That would be a problem ……

“Look! Look, Master! There’s people and stores all over the place!”

“Kobe is always like this on weekends. There are a few European-style buildings a short walk from here, modern temples and Chinatown in Nankinmachi too.”

“European-style! Chinatown!”

This part of the city, Sannomiya, is particularly busy because there are so many popular tourist spots—meaning it’s really crowded. Doesn’t help that spring is peak tourist season. 

Even among this throng of humanity, Ai stands out like a sore thumb.

She’s squeezing the daylights out of my hand with one of hers and holding up a shingen-bukuro (a small purse that matches traditional Japanese clothing, just big enough to hold a fan—Shogi players use them during title matches because they’re so convenient) with the other hand. People walking by us are rubbernecking for a closer look.

First off, she’s very cute. That’s all it takes to overwhelm other people.

Add in Ai’s innocent and naïve personality, and everything she does makes people want to shower her with affection like a puppy.

That slight lisp in her voice. Her expression changes in the blink of an eye. She’s cute no matter what she does.

“…… Crazy. This is so crazy …… I can’t resist ……”

“Huh? Master? What’s so crazy?”

“Uh, um ……”

Crap. I got so caught up in how damn cute my apprentice is that I forgot about work and took her sightseeing. We even stopped at a café that I hadn’t planned on while I was off in la la land, and now we’re eating cake ……

“Oh! It’s the cake, right?! It is crazy good!!”

“Yeah …… That’s exactly what I meant ……”

“Haa …… Being with you, drinking tea in Kobe. It’s like a dream! I’m so happy ……♡”

Also, the fact that she doesn’t realize just how cute she is makes it all the more difficult to defend against it. It’s the Defenseless King. Everything gets washed away by that cuteness. Nothing is more vulnerable than this.

“…… Ai. Can you listen for a second?”

“Oh! Master. You’ve got some frosting on your cheek.”

“Huh? Where?”

“Here!”

The fourth grader leans over the table, reaches out toward her Master and scoops the bit of whipped cream off his cheek before sticking it in her mouth. 

“He-he♡” 

She smiles like she’s having the time of her life. Is she trying to kill me?!

P-Please, I’m begging you, you’re a sitting duck like this …… 

I will my weakening spine to wake the hell up and teach my apprentice a thing or two about city life.

“…… Are you listening, Ai? Bad people tend to gather in crowded places like this in Osaka and Kobe. Cute little girls like you, Ai, are easy targets. Never come to these places unless Keika or I are with you, okay?”

“Sorry, Master. I couldn’t really hear you. Can you say that again?”

“Like I said, cute girls like you are easy targets for bad people, so you need to keep your eyes open–––.”

“E-he♡ E-heh-heh♡.”

For some reason, my apprentice happily puffs out her cheeks as I’m trying to warn her. So damn cute.

“Listen you …… Something bad is going to happen if you don’t take me seriously. Cities are dangerous places, so you always need to be careful.”

“Oookay!”

At least I got that answer out of her, but she’s frolicking her way to my side of the table with that poufy smile of hers still on her face. Her cuteness is overflowing. For the love of all that’s sacred, make it stop!!

A lot of people that play Shogi aren’t interested in much else, my apprentice included. Actually, Shogi is about the only thing they’re interested in.

“Big Sis had quite a few problems herself–––.”

“!!”

A jolt ran down Ai’s body at the mere mention of Big Sis.

My elder “sister” apprentice, the two-title holder Ginko Sora, stands out of the crowd like you wouldn’t believe.

Not only do her silver hair and white skin turn her into a beacon in the sunlight, her perfectly balanced face makes her look like a fairy or something. More guys have hit on her than I can count and she’s had a few stalkers too. They always seem to mistake me for her boyfriend whenever that happens, causing me a lot of pain. But really, I don’t know how much of this I can take.

“…… Master.”

“Yeah?”

“Me and that girl …… Which one is higher?”

Higher?

As in which one of the two of you stands out more?

“That’d be Big Sis of course. Her looks make hearts skip a beat and her face is pretty much everywhere. Only natural: she’s Naniwa’s Snow White after all.”

“…… Master darabuchi.”

Ai’s piping mad. I don’t blame her, bringing up the opponent that has driven her to tears in Practice League matches. Must’ve been too much for her.

Having a higher-ranking rival in the same Master/apprentice line has triggered her competitive spirit. It happens even when not playing Shogi.

That competitive spirit …… That’s what I like to see!

But please, leave me out of your fights, okay!!

“So then, Master. You said we had work today? Was it to explore Kobe?”

“Of course not …… We have a lesson. A lesson, got that?”

I let out a long sigh, take a swig of coffee and explain what pro Shogi players do for work.

“We basically do two kinds of jobs, matches and promotion. Matches are playing Shogi. Promotion is meant to introduce people to the game, like being a judge at Shogi tournaments, giving instructional lessons at regional events and doing commentary on TV shows or signing autographs …… What I’m saying is that there’s a lot to do for promotion besides playing Shogi, but the most important one is instructional matches. To put it another way: teaching amateurs how to play.”

“And those are lessons?”

“Yeah. We’re here today to give someone that lives close by a lesson. Someone who’s helped me out a lot over the years requested one.”

I did not come here to give a grade schooler the Kobe grand tour.

“That’s big for Sub League members whose main sources of income are recording Shogi matches and giving lessons. Part-time jobs aren’t allowed, strictly speaking. It’s a great source of income for people from the middle of nowhere like me–––.”

“Money?”

Ai freezes like a statue.

“Um …… People pay money to learn how to play Shogi ……?”

“Of course. Professionals get money for doing a job. That’s what pro means.”

“……”

Clatter! The fork in Ai’s hand falls to the table.

Then, shaking, Ai says–––.

“I …… I …… I ……” 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I haven’t paid Master any money!!” Ai yells in the middle of the café, her face pale as a ghost. Right in the middle of all these tourists.

Everyone in here is looking at us with shock in their eyes.

And they seem really interested in the two of us …… Maybe suspicious would be a better word.

Crap. I’m sweating buckets.

“No …… Ai. Don’t worry about that. Money isn’t a problem.”

“B-But! Master has been teaching me everything there is to know! Like how to do this, and the way to do that ……”

People around us are whispering to each other.

“Everything there is to know?!” 

“But she’s still so young ……” 

“Shouldn’t somebody report this to the police?” 

Crap, crap, crap!

“And me living with you costs money, doesn’t it?! I, I’m living in Master’s room! The two of us are living together!!”

“J-Just calm down, okay? Don’t be so loud, alright?”

They’ll call the police …… yeah?

“Ghaa?! B-But what can I do?! How, how can I make the money to pay you ……?”

“No, wait. Would you listen to me?”

“I, I guess …… I have to pay with …… my body ……!”

“That was on purpose?! You’re trying to give people the wrong idea, aren’t you?!”

I pull the trembling grade schooler, fumbling with the hem of her skirt, away from the table, pay the bill and take her outside.

Then I explained to her as calmly as possible.

“…… See here. Shogi players don’t take money from apprentices. Not usually, anyway.”

“They don’t?! W-Why not ……?”

“No parent would ever take money from their own kids, right? It’s the same way with apprentices. So, you don’t need to worry about money, Ai.”

Students that come to a Shogi classroom to learn how to play and apprentices that want to become professionals are treated very differently.

The entire Shogi world considers apprentices that commit themselves entirely to the game to be their own children.

That’s exactly why only children with enough skill get taken as apprentices.

“Also, your parents are sending me money every month. Your allowance comes right out of that.”

“…… It does?”

“It pays for any clothes and any whatnots you need too.”

It’s true that I’m getting money from Ai’s parents.

I told them not to worry about it, but they wouldn’t take no for an answer. “At least let us pay for everyday expenses!” It would be rude to reject that kind of offer.

So, I did give in, but I’m putting all of it into a savings account for Ai.

She can use it to buy a really nice kimono to wear for her first title match in the Women’s League. A professional good enough to compete for multiple titles can never have enough kimonos.

And I will see to it that Ai becomes that kind of professional.

“Just make sure to say thank you over the phone next time you talk to your parents, okay?”

“I will!”

“Oh, man …… We’ve wasted so much time on this nonsense. Hurry up!”

“Right behind you, Master!!”

After taking her hand again so we don’t get separated, Ai and I took off at a sprint.