Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 2 - Chapter SS

REVIEW SESSION

“I have purchased a car.”

That day, I stuck my head into the Player’s Room only to see Yamashiro Ouka Machi Kugui (such a long name) spacing out in front of one of the computer monitors and that topic came up while we were shooting the breeze.

“Got a license not too long ago. Figure my parents can’t complain if I used my title winnings to purchase it.”

Machi comes from one of Kyoto’s noble families, so she was raised to be a proper “lady.” She says her house is right next to the old Imperial Palace. Personally, I’m jealous that she has a chauffeur who’ll drive her anywhere, but I guess that being a nineteen-year-old girl she wanted the freedom that comes with having her own car. 

“I just went and did it!” she says with a beaming smile on her face.

“But you know, most Shogi players don’t drive.”

“Awhh, must be because they only think about Shogi and get into accidents.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Machi?”

“Concerning that matter, there should be no problem. I was fine today.”

“So, you drove here, to the association today? Once you’re done, let me have a look.”

“But of course.”

Machi takes out her keychain, shaking it while saying, “Say, Ryuo. Why not come for a drive if you have time to spare tonight?”

“Huh?!”

“There’s a place I’d like to see. It may be morning by the time we get back though.”

“Ah …… out all night?!”

“Oh, but then again, Ryuo. You live with that young apprentice of yours, yes? You couldn’t possibly be absent for a full night.”

“It-It’s fine! My Master would be more than happy to look after her!!”

“You sure?”

“Yes!! Morning return, so what? Bring it on!!”

Therefore, I dropped Ai off at Master’s house (he was thrilled, Ai not so much) and set off for an all-night driving date with Machi except–––.

“…… Why’s Ryou here too?”

“Eh? Got a problem with me bein’ here? Want me to swing open the door and kick you out?”

For some reason, Women’s King Ryou Tsukiyomizaka is in the car with us.

“And, while I go’cha here, what was up with that Shogi, eh? Mercilessly takin’ all my pieces like that in a Title Match? For real? The two of you like that? No sense of warrior’s pride or even a human heart? Well?”

“That’s Big Sis, nothing to do with me–––.”

“Cut the crap. You two siblings are hoggin’ all the glory. That really pisses me offfffff!!”

Ryou vents her pent-up frustration with a flurry of complaints and one kick after another. Owch!!

“Don’t you see this, Machi?! This girl, she’s dangerous! Far too violent!! Let’s ditch her at the nearest convenience store!!”

“Now, now, both of you. The three of us should be having fun, no?”

Machi just kept driving the small, hybrid car in really high spirits. It’s a cute, orange one.

And right now, I’m sitting next to Ryou in the back seat of said car.

I wanted to ride shotgun, but Machi said she “couldn’t focus on driving while someone was next to her.” So now I’m back here, trapped in a cage with this wild animal.

“…… But, yeah. Cars make things so much easier. Three people could never fit on a moped.”

“You have a car, Ryou?”

“I ain’t even got the paperwork. Been drivin’ a moped since high school though.”

“Well then, you’ve got that license, don’t you?”

“………”

Why aren’t you saying anything?

“Huh? You have a license, right Ryou? Y-You’re okay, right? A titleholder being picked up for driving without a license would be nothing to laugh at ……”

“Shut it. I got one now.”

Now ……?

“Oh yeah, Kuzu. How’s that apprentice thing workin’ out for you? Don’t tell me you’ve already called it quits?”

“I took on another one.”

“Another one?!”

“Fortunately both of them are going full speed ahead, but they butt heads quite a bit, being my apprentices and all …… Sure, that really can’t be helped considering there aren’t many people in Kansai, but it’s still hard to watch. But really, Keika has it worse on so many levels ……”

“Awhh, Keikaaa. She just can’t seem to break through that last wall.”

“She ain’t half bad, either. Wonder if it’s because she started Shogi so late?”

A dark cloud suddenly moved in.

“We’re here.”

Machi stops the car at some observation point near the top of a mountain.

“Whoa ……!”

Ryou and I couldn’t hold back our amazement as we got out of the car parked right up against the guard rail.

I can see all of Kyoto’s night skyline from here. It’s amazing.

“Stars above and stars below spreading out as far as the eye can see …… Stunning ……”

“Kyoto at night is nothing to ignore, am I right?”

The three of us look out over the night sky, leaning against the car and drinking the canned coffee we bought at a convenience store on the way up. It almost feels like one of those glorious youth moments that Shogi players almost never have.

Ryou says under her breath, “…… Look at all the stars ……”

“Does it make Shogi boards feel small?”

“Not a bit. Makes ‘em feel even bigger,” Ryou flashes a bold grin in my direction and drinks the last of her coffee after saying that.

While it’s a relief to see that she’s back to her usual self–––.

“Just like the stars that reside on Shogi boards.”

Those words sparked an inferno.

“What? Machi, you got a screw loose? Shogi boards don’t have stars.”

“But of course they do.”

“Nada. Not one.”

“I’m telling you, they do. Isn’t that right, Ryuo?”

“Huh?! You’re asking me?!”

“They have stars, yes?”

“No—they—do—not. Have you totally lost it? How many years have you been playing now? Ain’t that right, Kuzu? Boards don’t have stars.”

“Huh? Ummm …… I wonder ……?”

Crap. I really can’t remember.

Goh boards have stars (black dots), that much I’m sure. They’re there for a reason.

But there’d be no point for a star on Shogi boards …… right? I think ……

“Either way, you guys. It doesn’t really matter either way, does it? We can just check a board once we get home so–––.”

“Oh, but it does. O-Ryou, would you be willing to bet your winnings from the Women’s King match? This car says that I’m right.”

“Say what?!”

Ryou and I scream at the same time.

Machi looks just as aloof as ever as she escalates the situation.

“I’ve got the key right here. Should you win, O-Ryou, the car is yours. Drive it on home if you wish. Ryuo and I shall walk.”

Me, walk?! All the way back to Osaka?!

“Hey …… Machi, hold up. I ain’t got a license or nothin’. And–––.”

“What’s this? Are you running away? You’re absolutely sure there are no stars on a Shogi board, yes? Then this is your chance for a free car, is it not? Is the Women’s King so much of a coward that she won’t claim a free piece that’s there for the taking? Well? Weeell?”

“Then why don’t I just take it off your hands, eeeeeehhh!!?”

Ryou pulls out her wallet, takes out a bank card and slaps it down on the hood of the car. Then she turns to me and says, “Oi, Kuzu. Get Ginko on the phone.”

“Seriously?! She went to sleep hours ago! Big Sis always turns in early!!”

“Exactly. She cuddles a board like a teddy bear in bed, right? That’s perfect.”

“I-I can’t deny that sometimes she falls asleep while playing through a match record and spends the night next to a board, but this is a horrible idea! She’ll kill me!! She hates getting woken up!!”

“So, either get put six feet under by me an’ Machi here or let Ginko do the honors later. What’ll it be?”

“Ryuo, would you prefer to fall from this cliff? Or perhaps be run over by a car? Then again, being rammed by said car over that cliff would be better?”

They’re serious. Both of them, they’re actually serious.

“D …… Don’t say I didn’t warn you, got it ……?”

Preparing myself for the worst, I take out my smartphone and start dialing with trembling fingers.

It took about twenty calls but–––.

“…… What?”

“Ah! S-S-S-S-So sorry to call you so late at night! You were sleeping …… weren’t you?”

“…… Like I said, what?”

Her voice, it’s terrifying.

“U, umm …… about Shogi boards, and if they have stars on them are not …… Could you check for me ……?”

“……Why would you ask me that?”

“Y-You see, Machi and I drove out to look at the stars …… Ah! Ryou is here too! And the two of them got into an argument over whether Shogi boards have stars or not ……”

“……”

“Um, Big Sis? Are there stars ……?”

“Don’t know. Are there not?”

Beep. Buzz …… buzz ……

“Um …… I didn’t get a clear answer, but Big Sis says, Are there not? ……”

“Hah!!”

In that moment, Ryou looks triumphantly into the starry night sky and says, “Looks like her days on top are over!”

I’m not sure if it’s Big Sis’s era of dominance or Ryou’s bank card that’s coming to an end ……

It’d be better for you to see the answer with your own eyes.