Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 2 - Chapter 1.3

  RIVAL

Ai left to use the facilities, so I used the opportunity to talk with Onizaka-sensei.

“So, what did you think? How is Ai?”

“I think she’s got game sense. Maybe better than little miss Ginko.”

“Better than Big Sis?! D-Don’t you think that’s a little much ……?”

My elder “sister” apprentice, Ginko Sora holds two women’s titles, Queen and Women’s Throne, while holding a 2-dan ranking in the Sub League. She’s the best woman in the history of Shogi.

She herself may be a bit peeved that her flawless victory record earned her the alias Naniwa’s Snow White, but to think that Ai could be even more talented than her ……

“Yeah, but she’ll never overtake Miss Ginko at this rate.”

“Come again? …… Why is that?”

“Cause she doesn’t have a rival.”

Onizaka-sensei declares.

“That’s how it is everywhere. No one ever got good on their own. Shogi is a game for two after all. It’s that competition that drives people past their limits for the first time.”

–––Competition.

I couldn’t help but feel that he brought up something extremely important that I didn’t even notice.

“It’s important to have fun. You know what they say: ‘enjoyment is the best talent.’ But talent won’t make you good. It’s the desire to get stronger that brings out potential. And it’s that desire that makes you feel threatened when a rival might surpass you.”

“Feel threatened?”

“There aren’t any kiddos Ai’s age in Kanto or Kansai at the moment that can challenge her. But little Miss Ginko was lucky enough to have someone.”

“But, Big Sis has no rivals. Even her enemies in the Women’s League can’t–––.”

“Not a lady. You.”

“Me?”

“Very much so. Back when the two of you were runts …… You still are runts in my eyes, but that’s beside the point …… Back when you were Ai’s age, little Miss Ginko and yourself competed all the time and got better, no? I remember it like it was yesterday. The two of you sitting across the board from each other in this very house, driving each other to tears and fighting with everything you had. Those were the days.”

Sensei glances around the room as if taking a trip down memory lane.

“Little Miss Ginko has only ever had one goal, Ryuo Yaichi Kuzuryu.”

His face turns serious.

“Everything that she’s doing to become a pro isn’t because she wanted titles or to be the first in history. It’s to fight you on an even field. That’s why she’s chosen to follow the most difficult path.”

It’s true, I was the first to enter the purgatory known as the Sub League. Big Sis tested in a year later.

I pretty much followed a set path, entering the Sub League because I wanted to be like my Master, but Big Sis had the option of going into the Women’s League after the Practice League. All this time I thought that she joined the Sub League simply because Master recognized that she had enough talent to become a professional Shogi player.

Never once did it cross my mind that I might have influenced her decision ……

“But Ai though, she’s just a fledgling that idolizes you, toddling along in your footsteps. There’s no competition. That’s why she’ll never surpass little Miss Ginko the way things are now.”

“……”

“There’s nothing wrong with doting on an apprentice. Teaching all the ins and outs is how Masters show they care. But Masters also show their affection by throwing their apprentices into the fire.”

As someone who’s been involved in the Shogi world for so many years, Onizaka-sensei’s words carry a lot of weight.

I was very moved by his speech, but ……

“Master, Master! There was a broken necklace on the bathroom floor!”

That feeling instantly disappeared the moment I saw my apprentice come back holding a broken necklace with a golf ball–sized, white pendant in the middle. I snatch it out of her hands and hurl it straight at the perverted geezer.

“So how was it? Playing against Onizaka-sensei?”

“He’s really good with an advantage!”

By then it was long past time to go.

Later Ai’s competitive juices were still flowing, even after we left the mansion and made our way back to the train station. Her cheeks are still red from a match.

Now that I think about it, I don’t think she’s been that into a match since she came to Osaka.

But then again, it wasn’t anywhere near as intense as her match against Big Sis for the Practice League entrance test. Meanwhile, Onizaka-sensei’s words are stuck in my head like mud that just won’t go away.

However, I’m with my apprentice. I can’t let her see me worry, so I put some pep in my voice and say, “Got a nice chunk of change too. So why don’t we go to Chinatown and eat something good before heading home?”

“Chinese!!”

“Want anything specific?”

“Crab dumplings!!”

“Crab dumplings it is. Good, aren’t they?”

This girl loves crab. She also likes the kani kakoi crab formation strategy.

“Cra-bby! Crab, crab, crabby♪” 

Watching her dance around, snapping her fingers in the air like scissors this way, part of me thinks I don’t need to be strict and send her to the Shogi wolves. She’ll get plenty strong growing up as a carefree, naïve spirit, and that might be the best thing for her–––.

My smartphone buzzes just as that thought crossed my mind.

“Master? Someone’s calling you. Shouldn’t you answer?”

“It’s fine. The number isn’t registered.”

Taking a quick look at the screen, I have no idea who is calling so I just put the phone back in my pocket.

“This happens all the time. Strange phone calls.”

“People you don’t know call you on your phone?”

“Yeah. While I have no idea how they get my number in the first place. Some people avoid the association and contact me directly to do TV spots without an appointment, sometimes it’s a prank call and others: it’s your regular Shogi fan. It’s pretty much always one of those. One guy asked me how to beat anaguma with a shiken bisha, Fourth File Rook, not too long ago.”

“Pros have it so tough ……” 

“You can say that again. That guy should’ve asked someone who plays Ranging Rook.”

“……”

I received a threatening call from one of Big Sis’s diehard fans saying, “Break up with Ginko! ‘Cause someone’s gonna die if you don’t! Me!!” a while back ……

I told him, “Somebody’d die if they were dating that! Me!!” and hung up right away. I wonder if that guy is still alive.

“Hmm …… This guy just doesn’t know when to quit.”

“He just keeps calling (>-<).”

The answering machine picks up each time I ignore it, but he dials again rather than leave a message. Haven’t dealt with anyone this insistent in a long time.

It’s gotta be some shady character with a few screws loose in the head. A Ranging Rook player for sure.

It’s getting on my nerves, so I decide to pick up. I answered in a way that would let them know I’m not happy.

“Yes?”

“Good afternoon. Am I correct in assuming this is Mr. Yaichi Kuzuryu’s cell phone?”

“Well, yes but ……” 

Hearing a calm male voice on the other end of the line douses my fire a bit, but I can’t let him walk all over me.

Since my own apprentice is right here (mouthing “Go get him, Master” and trying to strike an intimidating crab pose), I decide to be a good example on how to deal with annoying phone calls and speak as calmly as possible.

“And who might you be? Isn’t it common courtesy to introduce yourself first?”

“Why yes, how rude of me. My name is Tsukimitsu.”

“Tsukimitsu? Could you be more specific?”

“The Japan Shogi Association chairman, Seiichi Tsukimitsu.”

The phone falls from my hand.

“Master? You, um, dropped your phone.”

I stand there for a moment absolutely stunned as my apprentice looks at me in disbelief before I finally pick it up. My hands are shaking ……