Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 4 - Chapter 5.7

  WITNESSING DIVINITY

The rematch is set to start thirty minutes after the one that ended in a Repetition Draw with the players switching offense and defense.

“Yaichi. Snack run.”

“Let’s go!”

I join Big Sis on a quick dash to the convenience store across the street from the association and we stuff a shopping basket completely full of all the snacks and drinks we can find. Then we sprint back to the Player’s Room.

Pros and Sub League members thrust their hands into the snack bag before the door shut behind us. Everything was gone before I knew it.

I wolf down bread and rice balls like a little kid, downing energy drinks between breaths.

We’re in for a long night, so our tired brains have to have enough nutrients to make it through.

Everyone knew coming in that it could turn into an all-nighter. Mr. Oishi, still up at the monitor, lit a cigarette—but no one’s complaining. It’s already past 11:30 at night.

“The rematch starts at midnight …… Does Kannabe-sensei’s youth give him the edge?” Big Sis asks me as I take a rice ball with salmon flakes, my favorite kind, out of its wrapper. It’s not that simple though.

“Good question. Physical endurance and Shogi endurance don’t work the same way ……”

It goes without saying that playing takes a physical toll.

But mentally is where Shogi really hits hard. Then there’s the pressure that comes with playing on a big stage.

“I doubt the Meijin feels any pressure at all in a match like this. Unfortunately for Ayumu, this is his first time in a Qualifier. Nerves could’ve powered him through the last match, but now fatigue has had a chance set in during the break ……”

“Let’s see how much magic Cinderella Boy’s got left,” Mr. Oishi says smugly in a cloud of smoke.

Back from his own break, just looking at Mr. Shinokubo’s face is enough to know he’s exhausted.

“Allow me to explain how this rematch will be played. Waiting time for the player with the least amount remaining will be restored to one hour, and the difference will be added to his opponent’s waiting time as well. This additional time will play an important role.”

“Especially since they’re both worn out ……,” Ms. Rokuroba adds in a tired voice, but she fixed her makeup during the break. What a professional ……

With the whole of Japan watching on the edge of their seats, the Meijin gets the rematch underway with his opening move.

They keep the pace up, playing quickly since they’re low on time.

The Meijin’s strategy of choice in this decisive match is–––.

“Y …… Yagura?!”

That’s–––Ayumu’s favorite playing style.

“He’s charging forward using his opponent’s best strategy with hardly any time on the clock ……?”

“But, wouldn’t it make more sense to use this the first time? Why’d he go with Ranging Rook?”

“Trying to pull off a yagura on defense? Don’t you think that’s stretching it a little too far?”

“Nah, that couldn’t be it. I mean–––.”

Kansai’s Shogi pros exchange their theories. None were more than guesses, but each one sounds convincing in its own way.

So basically: total disarray.

Still feeling the 6 Six Silver shock, no one trusts their own interpretations let alone knows what’s going on in the Meijin’s head.

Trying to follow the mystery unfolding on the board has chipped away everyone’s concentration and drained their Shogi endurance. No human being could get a good read. All of us in here are watching the monitor, confused out of our minds like people just learning how to play ……

Then.

“Hah …… Ghahahaha!! I expect nothing less from a god!! Nothing less from a true all-rounder!!”

Ayumu’s high-pitched laugh comes out of the speakers.

“Behold! My ultimate god-slaying technique ……!!”

Ayumu builds a yagura opposite the Meijin’s. Double Yagura. It’s the perfect sword Ayumu has built up all this time, his strongest weapon.

And now–––Ayumu is pushing it to an even higher level!

“That formation …… It couldn’t be?! The gangi—Snowroof?!”

“He’s pullin’ an 8 One Diver!!”

Ayumu transformed his yagura defense into something else entirely.

Its name–––Snowroof!!

“I thought we were heading for Rapid Attack Yagura …… Gotta hand it to these two, they’re not one-trick ponies,” Mr. Oishi says, lighting a second cigarette with a grin on his face.

Created by a legendary Shogi player named Zean Higaki in the 1800s, it’s a Ranging Rook strategy that is often paired with Fourth File Rook. What’s Ayumu trying to do ……?

The Meijin makes a minor adjustment after seeing Ayumu’s strategy by changing to a Kikusui Yagura.

In a defensive move, Ayumu shifts his formation even further.

However, the Meijin decides to go back to a regular yagura.

At first glance, it looked like a wasted move …… But once it was over, only Ayumu’s formation was getting in his way.

“Stealing the lead like that so quickly sure ain’t easy ……,” says Mr. Oishi in disbelief.

The Meijin scored some points in the mid game as the two fought for position–––.

Once everyone came to that conclusion, Mr. Shinokubo’s voice comes out of the speakers, “Isn’t …… the Meijin in a bind here?”

“What? Kannabe-sensei is at a disadvantage no matter how you look at it ……,” Ms. Rokuroba said what everyone was thinking, but Mr. Shinokubo shook his head and explained.

“I agree that Kannabe’s formation makes it difficult for him to attack. At the same time, breaching said formation would also be extremely difficult. That’s particularly advantageous for him.”

“An advantage? But, Kannabe-sensei is known for his offensive play style …… Right?”

“Indeed, his attacks are razor-sharp, but that’s only because his defense is perfect. He’s able to attack more aggressively than anyone else because of the hundreds of hours of research holding up an imposing defense.”

“N-Now I see …… With solid defense like this, the Meijin doesn’t have many options to work with ……” Ms. Rokuroba mulls it over out loud.

Just as Mr. Shinokubo said, the Meijin looks stumped by Ayumu’s overwhelming defensive strategy.

Watching his next move, Big Sis quietly yells, “He’s going for an anaguma … now ……?!”

“…… He can’t find a way to press the attack. It looks like the Meijin wasn’t expecting that move.”

Now the lack of time is on Ayumu’s side.

The Meijin may have taken the lead, but the only option he has in the face of Ayumu’s strong defense is to put up his own guard. There isn’t enough time to come up with a new plan of attack.

The gap between them closes in a hurry.

“I can’t believe it but …… With the way things are playing out, Ayumu’s a little ahead ……”

Shogi doesn’t have a clear point system that shows which player is winning.

That’s why each player has their own way to determine who is in the lead.

But it’s not an exact science.

It’s common for players to lose when they think they are ahead or to emerge victorious when they think they are about to lose. Taking it a step further, not knowing who’s in the lead happens way too often.

But they still play on without knowing if they’ll win or lose.

Those are the people–––we call competitors.

……… I stake everyone on this move ……!

I’m sure that’s what Ayumu said in the middle of the monitor. He’s striking that Vanguard pose with a piece between his fingers.

“There’s that pose!”

“No way?! H-Has he figured something out?!”

The energy in the Player’s Room is through the roof.

The piece in Ayumu’s grasp–––a Rook!!

He takes the strongest Major Piece and, “Ex!! CALIBERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR–––––––––!!” Ayumu slices forward just like that legendary sword.

“Subway Rook?!”

“Is he trying to nyugyoku ……?!”

“Seriously, 8 One?!”

The Rook slides between several pieces, moving from the fourth column to the first like going through a tunnel. It aligns with a Lance, transforming into a double-layered rocket.

Ayumu had been building a rocket behind that solid defensive wall!

“That’s too reckless! There’s nothing on his piece stand?!”

“His opponent only has a Pawn.”

Big Sis erupts at Ayumu’s plan, but I can tell it’ll get through by a hair. They’re playing one-minute Shogi. The first one to mess up will lose.

Ayumu fires off the Lance to clear a path for his King.

That Lance, Ayumu’s most beloved piece, rolls out the King’s red carpet!

TAKE ‘EM DOOOOOOWN!! 

For the glory of royalty! 

HOLY COW!! 

Did it get through?! 

Can’t be stopped. 

The Meijin’ll block it, you’ll see. 

Direct hit. 

Has the torch been passed?! 

The White Knight’s got this.

So many comments fill the monitor, I can’t read them all. Talk about chaos.

But most of them are rooting for Ayumu.

The young Knight will slay the overlord.

It’s playing out like the classic stories about heroes everyone grew up wanting to be. Epic stories about the legendary heroes.

Now thousands and thousands of people are cheering for Ayumu, wanting to see a new story unfold before their eyes.

The next eighty moves revolve around Ayumu’s advancing King, making its way across the board as both players fight against each other and against the one-minute time limit.

Ayumu has committed every single one of his pieces to making sure his King arrives.

The Meijin is desperately fighting to stop it but …… With his own King well protected in an anaguma, Ayumu has more firepower.

Mr. Oishi then says in the shortest, clearest terms, “He’s in.”

Ayumu’s King arrives where the Meijin’s started out, 5 Nine.

Nyugyoku complete.

Normally, it’d be impossible for Ayumu’s King to be checkmated now.

We’d just be waiting for him to put the Meijin’s King in checkmate. Normally.

However–––Ayumu’s opponent isn’t normal.

“He’s pushing a King back from the ninth row ……”

“That’s … inconceivable ……”

People in the Player’s Room don’t have the energy to raise their voices anymore. The sequence unfolding right in front of them, this transcendent Shogi, has left them slack-jawed and staring at the monitor.

The analytical board isn’t moving. Can’t move. There’s no way to see what’s coming next.

There was a time when I pulled off a nyugyoku  in a match against the chairman and pulled back.

But I made the decision to go in reverse.

I won that match because he never thought I’d actually do that.

That’s not what’s happening with this King.

Once the Meijin realized there was nothing he could do to stop Ayumu’s nyugyoku , he forced it to arrive at a slightly different point.

Then he drew Ayumu’s King deep into his territory …… and set a trap.

By the time Ayumu saw it and tried to pull back, it was already too late. The nyugyoku , the retreat, the Meijin planned it all.

No one has seen Shogi like this.

Watching sequences that have never appeared in their wildest dreams play out on the monitor, everyone is stunned. Even Mr. Oishi is staring at it with a stick of ash between his fingers.

“God ……,” someone whispers.

They weren’t praying for one or the other to win though.

They simply said the name of the person playing Shogi right now–––the one trying to win the match at hand. That’s all.

Pushing back Ayumu’s King, the god set to work putting the isolated piece in check.

Ayumu holds out by deploying pieces from his piece stand.

But–––.

“Kannabe only has the four Major Pieces left on his stand. They’re worthless for defending his King. The sequence is set in stone.”

“Will he surrender ……?”

“No, I don’t think he can.”

Mr. Shinokubo shakes his head from side to side. Then, as if taking a trip down memory lane, he says, “It doesn’t matter if there’s no time and his spirit is shattered, Kannabe will keep playing …… Right now he’s fighting on instinct alone. A Shogi player’s most basic instinct is to refuse defeat ……”

One-minute Shogi has gone on for over one hundred turns now and the pros watching it are starting to think it’ll go on forever …… to wonder if they’ll be able to watch this battle for the ages unfold until the end of time.

But the game of Shogi doesn’t last forever.

Even if it looks like it will last for eternity, the end will come.

203rd move.

Ayumu sees the Meijin put his King into check.

“……”

Shuts his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. It’s like he’s trying to calm the storm of emotions raging in his heart.

“Fifty seconds …… One, two, three–––.”

The match recorder starts the countdown.

Ayumu pulls a stick of chapstick out of a pocket on the inside of his cape, slides it across his lips and says his last words.

“I have been defeated.”

In that moment, a duel that will go down in Shogi history spanning a combined 345 moves came to a close. A full eighteen hours have passed since they got started.

Over on Nico Live:

“Chapstick surrender.”

“Royalty has style.”

“That’s royalty for you.”

Clap, clap, clap, clap. 

“That Meijin’s too good.”

“God.”

“I saw god.”

“God.”

“The Eternal Septuple is in the bag!”

So many letters race across the monitor I can’t see the players.

The hashtags Chapstick surrender and Ryuo Title Match start trending on Twitter as the buzz starts making its way across the country.

At 4 o’clock in the morning.

Japan is alive with excitement.

But–––it’s quiet enough in the Kansai Association’s Player’s Room to hear a pin drop.

“…………”

I’m sure that Kanto’s Analysis Room, the Katsura no Ma, is pretty much the same.

After watching consecutive matches that they would probably never be able to play themselves, everyone’s feeling worthless to the core.

It’s …… not as simple as jealousy.

It’s like having your reason for living nullified, your confidence shot.

Mr. Shinokubo and Ms. Rokuroba are standing there on the monitor, looking just like everyone else. Their usual confidence and energy is gone as the two of them stare at the big board.

“Shinokubo-sensei ……? Where …… was …… the deciding move?”

“Wellll …… Right now …… I’m not too sure, myself ……”

“2 Three Lance.”

“Huh?”

Big Sis whips her head around next to me.

Her ash-colored eyes have I don’t believe you written all over them.

But I knew.

Ayumu lost the match over sixty moves before he threw in the towel, on the 142nd move.

If he had just taken the Meijin’s Silver by moving his King to 3 Six instead, he would’ve won. Ayumu just didn’t have time to read that far ahead during one-minute Shogi.

But …… I knew.

The Ryuo’s got to be shaking right now.

Might as well kiss Kuzuryu goodbye.

I stand and stare as those comments rolling across the monitor. My eyes on him, I try to figure out what’s going through Ayumu’s mind right now.

Went up against a god, gave everything he had and went beyond his own limits–––only to come up short. How that kind of defeat feels.

There’s no fear.

No surprise or shock.

Just …… quietly shaking in doubt. That, and intense burning in the chest that’s never been there before.

“…… If that wasn’t enough ……”

Extinguished cigarette butt still between his fingers, Mr. Oishi starts posing questions to no one in particular.

More talented than anyone.

More experienced than anyone.

Works harder than anyone.

Has a stronger fighting spirit than anyone.

And … absorbs the latest research from the best young players to grow faster than anyone, this Meijin–––

“Then who can beat this guy?”

Nobody had an answer.

But–––