Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 5 - Chapter 1.1

  OASIS

“Alooooha~♪”

The heat of the Hawaiian sun on my face after nine hours cooped up in a plane, I’m practically jumping for joy.

Yes–––Hawaii!

The island where it’s always summer–––Hawaii!!

A match hasn’t been held outside of Japan in a full five years and it’s the first match of this year’s Ryuo Title Match! In Hawaii!!

“So, Ai. What d’you think of these sunglasses? Nice, right? Right?”

“Ku-ru! Very cool, Master!! They’re perfect!!”

“Ha ha ha. Will the locals think I’m one of them?”

“Fwee~♪”

My apprentice tries to whistle like an American but fails miserably. Adorable.

Then, an ice-cold voice came down to rain on our parade.

“……Pathetic. We’re in Hawaii. Get over it.”

“B … Big Sis ……”

My younger “big” sister, the dual title holding Ginko Sora, also known as Naniwa’s Snow White, is glaring icicles at the two of us but–––.

“…… Even in Hawaii, you wear your school uniform?”

“I’m a Sub League member in junior high school, so why wouldn’t I? This isn’t a vacation.”

Big Sis, wearing her mostly black sailor-style school uniform, has a matching black parasol open above her head as if outright refusing to let the strong Hawaiian sun touch her skin.

Her almost mystical appearance is getting a lot of attention from the locals. People all around us are calling out things like “Whoa!” and “Fantastic!” She’s sticking out like a sore thumb.

“Sorry about all of us forcing our way onto your trip, Yaichi.”

Big Sis isn’t the only one. Actually, Keika and Master Kiyotaki came along for my match in Hawaii too.

Even worse, Master Kiyotaki has decked himself out with sunglasses, a polo shirt, Bermuda shorts, and plastic sandals. Since this is Hawaii, he just looks like a tourist, but he’d look like a really shady geezer wearing that getup in Osaka.

By the way, a Shogi magazine hired Big Sis to do commentary and paid her way over here.

Master, Keika and Ai all paid out-of-pocket (I paid for Ai though).

Originally, I was planning to come here by myself and have Ai stay at Master’s place. She was fine with it at first, at least until she found out Big Sis would also be here. 

“I’m going, too, no matter what!”

With no idea what to do, I went to Master for advice and he said, “Might as well all go, eh?” One thing led to another, and now the whole Shogi family is on vacation …… I can’t really complain though.

Keika’s been a really big help since we started planning everything back in Japan. I don’t know the first thing about going abroad and she prepared a lot of things for me.

Even though she has her own important match coming up …… 

“I really am sorry about all this, Yaichi. But I, I just wanted to come to Hawaii with you ……”

“Keika ……”

She was that worried about me ……?

Could this possibly be …… love ……?!

Just as that thought crossed my mind.

“You see, one of my friends who went to college? She went abroad with her boyfriend when the two of them graduated. She came back, gave me souvenirs and wouldn’t stop talking …… That’s right, Keika. You don’t have a boyfriend, do you? … Shogi is just a Japanese game, right? Then you’ll never get a chance to go overseas …… My my, you poor girl …… On an endless loop ……”

“………”

“But I …… I! Here I am in Hawaii, ha-ha-haaaaaa! In your face!!”

Keika’s broken.

“Ai! Ginko! We came all this way, so let’s go have some fun?! There’s plenty of money … locked and loaded!”

“Huh? K-Keika …… Ain’t that my credit card ya’re talkin’ about ……?”

“You’d just use it to put some cute clothes on 2-D girls anyway. In that case, make some real world purchases for your daughter, apprentice and granddaughter apprentice.”

“N-NooooOOOO! I was gonna get Miss Nitta’s SSR limited outfit with thaaaaaat!!”

Master’s broken, too.

“The Kiyotaki Shogi family is lively as always. I’m rather jealous.”

“Ch-Chairman ……”

A voice comes in from off to the side while I’ve got my head in my hands and look up to see the Japan Shogi Association’s chairman and Eternal Meijin status holder Seiichi Tsukimitsu 9-dan.

A man who has had many thrilling battles against my challenger for this Ryuo Title Match, the current Meijin. His name is all over the Shogi history books, a blind prodigy–––.

“…… You’re, wearing sunglasses?”

“This is Hawaii.”

“One selected them.”

The chairman’s secretary and (retired) Women’s League 1-dan Sasari Oga puffs out her chest with pride. On a side note, it’s a good thing the chairman can’t see because their clothes match. Of course, their sunglasses do, too. Looking at them, I doubt anyone who didn’t already know who they are would think their relationship was strictly professional.

Since the chairman is old enough to be her father, he looks like someone who’s having a fling behind his wife’s back …… Ms. Oga’d probably be happy if somebody made that mistake though.

“But, Chairman, Sir …… You’re, um, blind, right?”

“I can tell a slight difference between light and dark. Hawaii’s sunlight is quite strong,” the chairman answers with a smile. 

I see …… 

“Now, Chairman. This area is quite dangerous so keep a tight hold of one’s arm. The natives have been eyeing us for quite some time now, perhaps we’re being targeted. This is a foreign land, we must be alert for danger at all times.”

“Oh? Is that right?”

“Yes. This place doesn’t look safe in the slightest.”

Of course, it’s nice and peaceful here.

The chairman normally holds onto Ms. Oga’s shoulder to go from place to place. But all the sunlight seems to have gotten her excited because she’s clinging to his arm like a full body hug. Those sunglasses aren’t doing anything to hide the giddy look on her face. Little devil …… 

A little ways away from the Kansai Shogi group, the always mild-mannered Meijin is standing in the middle of a throng of reporters with a cheery smile on his face.

Our ride to the hotel is in a fancy limousine! Damn!

All five of the Kiyotaki Shogi family members sit across from each other inside but there’s room for more. Ai, sitting next to me, looking back and forth between my face and out the window, seems like she’s having the time of her life.

“Master, Master! The sea and the sky are so blue!”

“Very much so. Hawaii is something else.”

“If only Ai came too! Then everyone’d be here!” Keika says.

“She’d never come to something like this. Knowing her.” Big Sis adds under her breath.

They’re talking about my second apprentice, Ai Yashajin. I invited her but ……, “Huuh? Why do I have to go?”

All I could say was, “Oh, okay ……” and let the subject drop.

But, I’ve got to say–––.

“Being an international match, don’t you think there are a lot of Kansai people around? The chairman, Ms. Oga, Master, Big Sis, Keika, and even Ai …… The observer is from Kanto, but the assistant observer and the match recorder are both from Kansai. Add in the fact that the journalist Ms. Mato is from Kansai and pretty much everyone in the arena for the match will be from around the Osaka area. Then again, you guys are here on vacation and bought your own tickets but ……”

Normally, title matches take place somewhere in Japan.

If it’s in the eastern half, then it’s mostly Kanto people and pros around the match. The same is true for Kansai pros with the matches that take place in the west.

Except this match isn’t in Japan. The personnel and schedule were all up to the media coverage and the association.

“I don’t think it’s all that strange that a lot of people connected to me are here because I’m the title holder. I kinda feel sorry for the Meijin, having to come all the way to Osaka to catch the plane ……”

“Soft,” Master and Big Sis snap right back at me.

“Title matches start by makin’ with the atmosphere. Matches lastin’ two days with a boatload o’ waitin’ time like this one get decided by who’s more relaxed and fights the best.”

Master has fought on the Meijin Title Match stage twice, so his words hit home.

“Movin’ pieces around ain’t the only battle to be fought durin’ title matches. All the travelin’ and the party the night before are part o’ it too. A ton o’ your opponent’s fans’ll be at the party and try thinkin’ what it’s like to have all the cameras in the arena trained on the guy across from ya. It’s hard to keep yar cool with all that tension in the air. Bein’ surrounded by friendly faces’ll help protect ya. Tactics, plain an’ simple.”

Master …… I thought he only came along to have a good time, but he was thinking that far ahead …… 

Big Sis, with her multiple titles, chimes in. “That’s right. Why do you think we took time out of our busy schedules to join you on this trip? Stop taking in the sights and focus on the match.”

“……… Okay.”

Yes. The battle has already begun.

I’d been feeling like a tourist, but no more. Sitting up in my leather seat, I do a quick stretch and concentrate on how to deal with the strongest challenger ……!

But that renewed focus completely disappeared not ten minutes later.

“Ho-ly COOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!”

I step outside the limousine and take a look at where the match is going to be held: one of Hawaii’s five-star hotels.

Being top of the line, the hotel has its own private beach. Birds are flying freely in and out of an inner garden behind the front desk, which is right in front of the pool, and the white sandy beach is just behind that in front of the deep blue ocean.

How can I keep a cool head seeing all this at once? Not happening.

“Wah-HOOOOOO––––––––!!”

Master charges out toward the beach in his plastic sandals and yelling at the top of his lungs. I follow right behind him with Ai in tow. Keika mumbles some complaints under her breath and pulls Big Sis along with her after us. Then we all take a picture together in front of the ocean.

“All right, Kiyotaki family. Smile~.”

Ms. Mato works the camera like a total pro, taking pictures of all of us doing the shaka, Hawaii’s hang-loose hand sign. The association didn’t have enough money to assign a cameraman, so that duty fell to Ms. Mato along with maintaining the blog. She’s going to be busy.

“I would like a picture of the participants here on the beach. Oh, and since the match is in Hawaii, please wear Hawaiian shirts instead of suits.”

So the Meijin and I change into colorful aloha shirts and pose in front of Diamondhead Mountain doing the shaka and smile for the camera.

The distance opponents maintain during title matches varies case by case.

I’ve heard the mood can turn sour pretty quickly if the players don’t get along or have a history against each other, but the air can turn competitive even if the two are friends.

As for us …… Nothing special.

Since we’ve barely met, there’s no need to exchange words or shake hands, but he doesn’t feel like an enemy. The Meijin has been smiling the whole time too.

…… Could it be that since I’m so much younger it’s hard to flip the switch?

Here I am, standing next to a legendary player but I don’t feel any competitive fire. If anything, it’s more like a shrug.

After splashing around on the beach for a while, the hotel staff showed us to our rooms.

“If the Ryuo group would please follow me down this hallway.”

Players in title matches talk with the media in joint sessions, but the organizers go to great lengths to make sure the two don’t cross paths anywhere else.

The hotel had it all planned out, sending my group and the Meijin’s group down different paths at different times.

Our rooms are so far apart that there’s no way we’d run into each other until the actual match starts. It’s a little detail, but very much appreciated.

“The chapel on the hotel grounds also hosts wedding ceremonies. It’s been very well received by our Japanese guests,” our guide explains as we pass by a small stone church facing the inner garden.

She then says that famous people often like to have a small ceremony with their family and close friends here before having the reception back in Japan.

Big Sis is making a face like Okay? And? But the rest of the girls look really excited all of a sudden.

Keika’s face is melting with glee as she says, “How …… wonderful♡. Getting married in a place like this, what could be better than that ……? ♡”

“Ah, why don’t we make a reservation–––?”

“A pike through your skull.” 

“Darabuchi.”

…… What? Just joking. Well, about eighty percent serious, but still.

Right behind us, Ms. Oga is whispering into her boss’s ear, “Chairman~ …… One would love to get married here~♡,” with a quiet, enticing voice. 

“Well then,” he responds. “I shall see what I can do to find a good match for you.” 

“……”

Serves you right, Shadow Don. Heh-heh-heh.

We get into an elevator on the other side of the inner garden and then I part ways with everyone else because they’re staying on a different floor.

“This room is set aside for the Ryuo,” says my female guide in fluent Japanese as she explains all the features in the room. She almost looks Japanese too, maybe a second or third generation American?

I’ve got a double room even though I’m staying here by myself. She tells me it’s because the single rooms are more cramped.

“This room has the best ocean view in the entire hotel. Please, step out onto the terrace and see for yourself.”

A burst of blue light and a gentle breeze flow into the room the instant I open a large white window.

It’s all bright blue ocean.

Stepping outside, Diamondhead is off to the left. This room has the most Hawaiian view imaginable. So this is what ocean view means ……!

Coming to Hawaii was worth it just to see this! I sigh … beside myself.

“Haaa ……”

“Ohh, woooow!!”

An extremely familiar voice right beside me …… But one that shouldn’t be there. I jump half out of my skin and look down.

There’s my apprentice, holding onto the railing and leaning out over the terrace.

“Huh?! Ai, how long have you been here?”

“Hehehe♡”

She playfully sticks her tongue out before dashing back into the room like she was running away from me. Then she dives face first onto the bed.

Yeah. That was cute.

She doesn’t usually want this much attention. She must be really happy to be here in Hawaii.

Now that I think about it, she seemed pretty happy when we went to Kobe, too.

“Master, Master! The bed is so bouncy! And the bathtub is huge!”

“They sure are. This is a nice room, don’t you think?”

“So nice, Master! So, so nice!”

“Ha-ha-ha. You can stay in rooms like this once you have your own title!”

“…… I, I want to stay in this room, too,” (glance) she says with a pillow in her arms, looking up at me with just the top half of her face lifted off the bed. So darn cute!

How could anyone turn down a request from such a cute apprentice?

“You can use this room anytime I’m not around. I’ve got to do some interviews and meet some important people with the Meijin real soon, so I’m sure Keika and Big Sis will take you out somewhere. Probably shopping, yes? Tell Keika she can keep her shopping haul in here if she doesn’t have any room for all the bags as well.”

“…… Yay.”

That’s a strange reaction. Sounds happy, but not really. Huh? Did I make a wrong move somewhere?

The woman who led me up here hasn’t said anything, just watched with a happy smile on her face before asking, “Is she …… your younger sister, perhaps?”

“Huh? Ahh, something like that–––.”

“I’m not his little sister! I’m his live-in apprentice!”

The guide tilts her head at words that most Japanese people probably wouldn’t understand.

“Live-in …… apprentice?”

“Two people who live in the same place but aren’t connected by blood! Our bond is much stronger than that!”

“………………”

That smile disappears from the (female) guide’s face.

Oh crap, she’s got the wrong idea …… Wait a minute, isn’t America a heck of a lot stricter about pedophiles and that kind of stuff-ff-ff-ff?

“No! It’s not like that! She is my student, I teach her Shogi …… Suchu-dento! Aiam tei-cha-! Ai! Explain exactly how it is to her!!”

“Awa-ru-mu hazu onri-wanbeddo in jyapan!”

“Wha? Umm …… Ai? What did you just say …… Gahh?! She’s looking at me like a criminal over here?! Seriously, what did you say?!”

“You said to explain exactly how it is, Master. So I told her that our room only has one bed in Japan.”

“Why’d you have to tell her that?!”

I might not even get to play the match if rumors that Japan’s Dragon King brought a little girl into his hotel room start going around!

One slipup now and I’ll forfeit the match because I’ll be in jail …… Heck, I won’t be able to go home?!

“O-Oh, that’s right! Tip! I need to tip you ……?!”

The only option left is to get on her good side with some money!

I pull out my wallet, but Ai says in a calm voice.

“That’s okay, Master. She’s on the hotel staff. You only need to tip the housekeepers who change the sheets, the waiters in the cafeteria, and people like that.”

“That’s right! You’re so little but already so knowledgeable.”

The hotel staff member looks impressed by Ai’s unexpected familiarity with the system.

Overjoyed to find a new topic, I jump right in to keep it going.

“Actually, this girl grew up at a traditional Japanese inn with an onsen—a hot spring ……”

“Is that so? Which one?”

“In Ishikawa Prefecture …… Umm, it’s on the north coast, a place called Hinatsuru–––.”

“Are you serious?! T-the Hinatsuru?”

“You’ve heard of it?”

“Ofuko-su! Anyone in this industry who doesn’t know the Hinatsuru Inn still has much to learn.”

She nods at me like it’s common knowledge. Is that inn that famous?

“In that case, this young lady here …… is next in line to take over for that legendary Okami-san?”

The hotel staff member starts trembling as she says the Japanese word meaning female owner, okamisan, with an English accent.

So even people in Hawaii know who Ai’s mother is ……? I don’t stand a chance. She’s untouchable.

“I am Ai Hinatsuru. My pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Ai sits up on the bed, sitting on her ankles in perfect posture and bows down so gracefully it’s hard to believe she’s only a fourth grader. She’s the splitting image of her mother, which sends a cold chill down my spine.

Meanwhile, the staff member looks like she’s speaking to an angel from heaven. “If you have time, please come greet my manager ……!” she says, shaking Ai’s hand.