Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 5 - Chapter 3.5

  AFTERNOON SKY

The waterworks were going before I knew it.

“…… Keika ……”

Rivers barreling out of my eyes.

Everything I’ve kept caged up inside is getting washed out all at once, the tears keep coming.

It’s like I’m back to the crybaby I used to be, crying out Keika’s name like some toddler.

“Keika ……… Keika ………!”

Keika fought for me.

With her own Shogi life in the balance.

A match that determines her destiny.

But she didn’t play to join the Women’s League–––she played for me.

She did all that, but I …… I ……!

“H-How …… could I have been this stupid ………?!”

Not only to Keika.

Big Sis came all the way to my apartment and said she wanted to help me.

And the one who cheered me on more than anyone else, Ai.

I need to talk to them, right now.

I want to apologize.

“……!”

Unable to sit still anymore, I make for the door and go outside in the old T-shirt and sweatpants I’ve been wearing in my room.

Where to, I don’t know.

Keika is still in Tokyo.

Big Sis and Ai … who knows where they are.

But the one thing I do know is they aren’t in my room. So, I can’t stay here.

Early evening, already?!

Having been a while since I went outside, the air is cold and brisk …… My lungs feel cleaner with every breath.

Then … I notice.

“……?”

There’s a paper bag hanging from the door knob. Like always.

There’s a container inside, and just like always, it’s stuffed full of warm food–––.

“Warm? ……!!”

Keika is up in Tokyo for the match.

Which means …… the one who made this has to be–––.

“……!!”

I got so angry at how stupid and pathetic I am that I bit down on my lip hard enough to taste blood.

If it is who I think it is, then the food in here would be ……!

I open the container and try a little of the fried eggs and handmade onigiri rice balls inside.

The flavor is the same as what I ate in that park close to the association.

“……… Ai.”

No doubt about it.

The one who made this and brought it all the way to my door–––was Ai.

The notes from Keika must’ve been because she thought I wouldn’t take the food if I knew.

She wanted me to be as comfortable as possible but still find a way to be useful …… She’s been doing everything she could to help me this whole time. All for her piece of trash Master and wanting nothing in return.

The food is still warm.

That means she might still be close!

“Ai ………!”

I practically fly down the apartment stairs.

Nearly tripping over my feet a few times, I race through the early evening shopping district.

My out-of-shape body is screaming for me to stop.

Legs cramp up and my lungs feel like they’re about to fall apart.

One of my untied shoes falls off, but I couldn’t care less and keep running.

A total sputtering mess, just like my Shogi right now, I keep on going.

Then–––.

In the busy street cast in red by the falling sun …… I see an angel.

She doesn’t have wings, but her back is glowing clear as day.

“………… Ai ……”

A small frame swaying side to side as she walks toward the station.

The instant I saw her.

“Ai!!”

I shout as loud as I can.

That small back jumps in surprise …… 

Then slowly turns to me.

Once I see that face–––.

A fresh wave of tears builds up in my eyes.

Even stumbling forward, I can see this glowing angel.

I sprint toward her as fast as my legs will go.

Now looking my way, Ai starts running toward me, too.

Even though it’s been so long since I ran like this I could face-plant at any second.

Still going forward, I land on my knees and–––.

Looking totally pathetic, I embrace the elementary school girl as she wraps her arms around me.

The people passing by look at me like some alien from outer space, but they can say whatever they want. I don’t care.

The important thing …… The most important thing is right here in my arms.

“I’m sorry, Ai ……”

Thinking I was protecting her, that was just a convenient excuse. I was only trying to protect myself. I was the one pulling all the strings. The only thing I ended up doing was blaming her for my losses.

This girl saved me …

During my losing streak … when my spirit was about to break … when the weight of the title Ryuo was crushing me to death.

That’s why I swore to myself I would raise her.

And I …… 

“Ai …… I’m sorry! So, so sorry ……!!”

“Master ……”

Still in my embrace and me apologizing on an endless loop, Ai says, “…… Master ………… I, I have something to tell you ……”

“Hm?”

“Two days ago …… I was promoted to C-1.”

“……!!”

That came as such a shock I gulped down all the air in my throat.

A Practice League member getting promoted to C-1 means–––she can join the Women’s League at 3-kyu.

But Ai’s voice is shaking even though her dream has come true.

“Master, may I …… may I become a Women’s League player ……?” Ai whispers, her whole body trembling in my arms. “Because if I do …… I’ll always, always be your apprentice …… Is that …… okay with you ……?”

Master and apprentice relationships in the Shogi world aren’t set in stone while the apprentice is in the Sub League or the Practice League.

If the apprentice drops out of those leagues, the relationship gets erased like it never happened.

On the other hand, once they turn pro …… The relationship becomes permanent.

So–––.

Eyes glistening with tears.

Scared to hear the answer, Ai asks.

“Will you …… take me as your real apprentice ……?”

The answer’s obvious.

“I won’t let you go. Not again.”

Saying so, I hug her even tighter.

Evening in the shopping district.

Lights coming on in the bars around Fukushima Station, we swear to become Master and apprentice forever.

Not exactly a sacred atmosphere.

But …… I feel like it’s the best one for us.

We’ll start over from right now.

We’ll start walking right here.

Not alone, but together.

“Master …… I can’t … breathe ……”

“Ah! …… Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m really happy ……”

I loosened my grip out of reflex, but she tightens hers. Tiny hands wrapped around my neck pull me closer as she rubs her cheek against my chest.

After a bit, we both let up …… and separate enough to look each other in the eyes.

“…… E-he-he. I’m crying.”

Tears rolling down her smiling cheeks, she wipes them away with her sleeve.

I take care of the last one with my thumb, stand up and take her hand.

“Now, let’s go home. It’s gotten a bit messy though.”

“……”

“Ai?”

I’m pulling, but she’s planted to the spot.

“What’s wrong? Should we go get your stuff at Master Kiyotaki’s place first?”

“…… It’s … not that ……”

She looks up at me like she’s really hurting.

“…… People will say bad things about Master if I live with you ……”

“Ai, you knew ……?!”

“……”

Nod. A small, tiny nod.

She knew that people were roasting me for living under the same roof with a grade school girl who’s completely unrelated to me by blood.

Even if no one said it to her face, a quick Internet search would show everything.

This little girl was getting blasted by adults hiding their real names on the net.

But Ai never said a word about it to me. Keeping it locked up inside her like her own secret, she focused all her energy on finding some way to help me.

She used that tiny body of hers as a shield to protect me from the negative comments.

She did all of that and I …… I ……!

“You have nothing to worry about. I’ll be the one to protect you from now on.”

“Master ……”

“I will protect you, no matter what. I won’t run away again.”

I drop to my knees once again, embrace her and swear to her.

I thought I was all alone in pitch black darkness.

But I wasn’t.

I just …… had my eyes closed.

Too scared to look at reality, I shut myself up in my room and stared at the simulated Shogi world on my computer screen. Of course it was dark. I had my eyes closed.

But the world outside my room is so bright now that they’re open.

There are so many people around me who worry about me, want to help me …… Who think of me as necessary.

“Let’s go home. Home to our room.”

“Yes! Master!!”

Standing up, I get a good grip on her hand as the two of us walk back to the apartment.

The afternoon sky is full of warm light …… Expanding out forever and ever, it holds the two of us like a glove.

I don’t hear that sound anymore.