Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 5 - Chapter 2.2

  PIECE FIREWORKS

That day, Ai Hinatsuru hardly said a word since morning.

“What’s wrong with you? You were so gung ho during the Challenge Matches, remember?”

“…… Huh? Oh, yes ………… E-he-he ……”

Ai Yashajin, sitting in the seat next to her, tried to strike up a conversation, but Ai Hinatsuru only answered with an unconvincing smile.

“……?”

The dark-haired girl could tell something was amiss but chose not to pry. She didn’t even ask about Yaichi’s whereabouts even though he was supposed to be there with them.

Fourth floor of the Tokyo Shogi Association: Unkaku.

A long scroll with Mynavi Women’s Open painted in big letters hung in the alcove of an arena the two girls were setting foot in for the first time.

“Th-thank you for …… Huh?! Ai, what are you doing ……?!”

Ai Hinatsuru was in mid-bow, starting to greet the people already inside when she froze on the spot ….

Because she was shocked … that Ai Yashajin walked right into the room and sat down in an upper seat as if it had her name on it.

The Sub League member working as the match recorder was just as taken aback …… But the young Yashajin didn’t seem the least bit concerned as she looked down over Hatomori Shrine from a nearby window.

It wasn’t long before Ai Yashajin’s opponent, Karen Noboryou Sub League 2-kyu, entered the arena.

“…… I don’t see my seat.”

Karen, dressed in her high school uniform with the orange name tag that identified her as a Sub League Member pinned to her chest, stood in place with a knapsack over her shoulder.

Agitation permeated from her voice and body language.

Ai Yashajin stayed seated as she addressed her opponent.

“You’re ruining the view. Stop standing there and sit down already.”

“You’re in the Practice League, yes? And I’m older than you. Did no one tell you the higher-ranking player sits in the upper seat?”

“This is a Women’s Shogi Tournament, right? In that case, the leagues don’t mean anything. I just sat down because the seat was open …… But, I’ll let you have it if you want it that badly.”

“Not much of a taunt.”

Karen set her knapsack down on the floor and took a seat. Although she was wearing a smile, her anger came through loud and clear when she snatched and opened the piece box, the upper player’s responsibility, before Ai could reach it.

Although it got off to a rebellious start, pieces were lined up on Ai Yashajin and Karen’s board as they prepared for the match to begin.

On the other hand, the last person …… Ai Hinatsuru’s opponent …… had yet to arrive.

Just as the final minutes were ticking away, and the staff members were getting antsy–––.

Twp! Twp! Twp! Thunderous footsteps echoed through the halls, growing louder and louder until the sliding door was flung open with incredible force.

“…………”

The final participant took a quick glance around the arena. “Tsk!” She snapped her tongue loud enough for everyone to hear.

“…… Why do I of all people have to play an even match with a grade school brat ……?”

The woman drags her feet across the room, carrying only a fan clutched in her left hand, and plops herself down in the only remaining unoccupied upper seat.

“Two grade schoolers, and some high school chick in the Sub League …… Heh! Being trapped in here with all these kids is gonna make my Shogi suck.”

Although she herself was a high school student only last year, the competitive aura pulsing around her shut down any arguments before they could start.

Ryou Tsukiyomizaka, Women’s King.

Nicknamed the Aggressive Archangel, she was one of the best players the Women’s League had to offer.

Since she was the Mynavi Challenger last year, Ryou had been seeded through the Preliminary Matches and was favorited to win the whole tournament. She may have lost to the current Queen, Ginko Sora, in three consecutive title matches, but no one doubted her prowess.

Of course, Ai Hinatsuru knew how prestigious an opponent she was about to face.

She also knew that Ryou often came to the Kansai Shogi Association’s Player’s Room and was relatively close to her Master, Yaichi.

That’s why she thought––– …… Master will praise me for sure if I can beat her …… 

Large eyes gleaming, Ai glared at her opponent with no reservations.

“…… And of course, the brat decides to stare me down before proving herself. She’s got that same look in her eyes the Kuzu does, the one that pisses me off.”

Starting to legitimately despise the elementary school girl staring at her without even saying hello, Ryou addressed the girl.

“Hey. Start linin’ up your pieces, got it?”

Flipping the piece box upside down, the individual pieces scattered across the board with soft wooden clacks. The Women’s King then started snapping them into position without aligning her breathing with her opponent. Not to be outdone, Ai slapped her own pieces onto the board with just as much vigor.

Ai Yashajin listened to the chaos unfolding beside her and thought–––She’s too eager to win …… This could be bad.

However, Ai Yashajin didn’t say anything. Defeating the Sub League member sitting across from her would require her full attention.

Ryou and Ai Hinatsuru’s pieces in place, the match recorder hastily executed a piece flip that resulted in Ai being awarded the first move.

Then–––.

“It’s now time to begin the matches. Please proceed.”

“When you’re ready.” Three voices overlap. 

Ryou remained silent, glaring at her opponent.

Ai Hinatsuru took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

“Haaaa––– …… Nh!!”

Tensing her lips, Ai advanced the Pawn in front of her Rook.

Ryou answered with exactly the same move, advancing the Pawn in front of her own Rook, using almost no waiting time whatsoever. Seeing that, Ai advanced the same Pawn again without a second thought.

For the first time today, Ryou Tsukiyomizaka seemed interested in her opponent.

“A Double Wing, eh? Is the brat showing some spunk by starting a rumble? Or is this the Master’s monkey see monkey do?”

“…………”

“Fine by me. Don’t get much of a chance to go against Static Rook players like me in the Women’s League. Should be entertaining at least ……!”

With those words, Ryou advanced her own Pawn another space forward.

The two then collided, their pieces like the claws of two ferocious carnivores locked in a brawl, digging deeper and deeper into each other’s flesh–––.

The battle ended exceptionally early, before the afternoon lunch break.

“………………… I, lo …… st ……”

The one struggling to squeeze out an admission of defeat–––was Ai Hinatsuru.

Total defeat.

She was unable to stand her ground, let alone put up a fight. It was that kind of match.

Ai had rushed forward with her King still sitting in the starting position with nothing for defense.

By the same token, Ryou left her King sitting as well and decided to meet the advance head on. Backing down from an Aerial Battle, one of her specialties, against an elementary school girl was simply not an option, so almost all of her moves were made in less than ten seconds.

Ai fought back with speed, matching her pace.

It became a game of chicken, seeing who would flinch first in this high-speed duel …… But Ai’s hand began hovering over the board and she was overpowered.

Reading speed and depth are Ai’s strengths.

She has won hard-fought matches against opponents who win with experience by processing an overwhelming amount of information.

While she’d never say it out loud, Ai had a great deal of confidence in her abilities. She could keep up with Yaichi when the two of them did Shogi puzzles together, typically arriving at the correct answer at his speed or faster.

–––I can beat anyone when it comes to reading speed and accuracy!

Ai was certain of it, though she’d never say so.

All competitors firmly believe that they are the best. If not, they wouldn’t trust what they read and would always lose.

However, Ryou deviated from the sequences Ai was reading many times during the match … At the turn of a hat.

And once Ai read a new sequence, she was awestruck.

–––This one …… is better than the one I followed?!

She’d never experienced that feeling before …… 

“Having a hard time believin’ your eyes, huh? Never been out-read by another woman?” Ai looked up from the board with a start. Ryou hit the nail right on the head.

“Your readin’ is too shallow. You look into all the options that pop up and end up wastin’ time. You read a lot, sure, but most of it’s garbage.”

“……”

“People tend to trip up when their opponent plays somethin’ they never expected. You might have won like that up until now, but it won’t work on me. Want to know why? Because I cut out all the worthless sequences and only follow the best. Any idea why I can do that?”

Ryou bears her pointy teeth as Ai listens without saying a word.

“’Cause I’ve got sense. That little thing called Shogi talent.”

Ai wasn’t the only one.

Every player who has ever lost against Ryou Tsukiyomizaka in this fashion became painfully aware of a talent gap separating them.

Blown away by Ryou’s pure speed and faced with a wall of talent that could never be cleared, many of them quit Shogi altogether.

The difference between those born with wings and those born without becomes painfully obvious when big pieces collide in mesmerizing Aerial Battles. That’s how Ryou became known as an angel.

An angel that ends lives.

An angel of death. Simply put: the Grim Reaper.

That’s the Aggressive Archangel–––Ryou Tsukiyomizaka.

“Hah! Here I was thinkin’ you were some prodigy ‘cause you beat Ika. That’s all you got? A review session isn’t worth the time without anywhere to go over,” Ryou says as she slides her hand across the board, snatching up the pieces and putting them back in the box.

While only a coincidence, it was strikingly similar to what Yaichi did the previous night …… And gouged out a piece of Ai’s already reeling heart after the loss.

“…………!”

Ai didn’t respond. She just sat on her ankles, stared into her lap, and dug her fingers into her knees. Determined not to let the enemy see her cry, she bit down on her lip in a desperate attempt to hold back the tears.

Every piece already back in the box, Ryou got to her feet and pointed her fan right at Ai’s face.

“Oi. School kid.” As if looking down on Ai from the top of a mountain, she said, “I fought that Master of yours in the Elementary School Meijin Finals. No handicaps, got that?”

She was referring to the Elementary School Meijin Title Match eight years ago–––.

Although she lost to Yaichi, a boy two years her junior, that particular title match is still remembered as one of the best of all time.

All four participants who made it to the semifinals became professional Shogi players or joined the Women’s League, showing just how much talent was on display for that year’s Elementary School Meijin Title Match.

Ryou Tsukiyomizaka possessed a wealth of talent …… and is remarkably strong.

“Tell me, what’s the handicap when you play against that Master of yours? No Rook? Two-Piece?”

“………”

“Then again, he ain’t that scary without a handicap anyway. The Meijin’s goin’ to put him in his place at the bottom of the barrel where he belongs. Hah! Losin’ three in a row, that’s too weak! He’d probably lose with a No Bishop handicap on his side, yeah?”

“……!!”

Ai bit down even harder on her lip to endure the pain, hands shaking as they clutched her knees.

However, there was nothing she could say.

Skillwise, she wasn’t in a position to talk back …… And saying anything now would put her Master in an awkward position.

That’s why she stayed silent. However, she glared daggers at Ryou Tsukiyomizaka with fire in her eyes.

Staring down on her with a bitterly cold eyes, the Women’s King simply said, “You’re out of your league. Scram.”