Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 5 - Chapter 4.2

  WALTZ

“…………… Ugh ……… I don’t feel so good ……”

I wake up with the worst headache the next morning.

“Damn it …… Those geezers …… They must’ve spiked my drinks during all that excitement last night ……”

I looped through the tables of local leaders a few times, and each time they’d say, “Come on, just one cup,” hand me some rank-smelling juice, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

There must’ve been alcohol in there because the room was spinning by the end of the night.

Worried about me, Ai pulled me all the way back to my room only to find–––the room was different.

“W-What’s this ……?!”

A futon had been laid out on the floor for me. That’s fine. This is an inn. They do that for all their guests.

The problem was …… There was only one futon, but two pillows.

And one of them was the pillow that Ai used when she lived here.

The culprit was clearly on the inside …… Well, there’s only one suspect.

“Awh, Mom! Don’t embarrass me like this!!” Ai had said, sounding angry and turning bright red. But, she stayed right next to me and twiddled her thumbs while looking right up at me to ask, “T-This …… Is a no-no, isn’t …… it?”

That it is.

Even drunk, I knew it wasn’t okay. Absolutely not. I wouldn’t even dream of being that physically close to a little girl, and so many bad things would happen if I actually did in the real world.

“But …… We’re legally bound as Master and apprentice now, so …… s-sleeping in the same futon would be …… okay? Don’t you …… think?”

No, no I don’t.

And I don’t think a relationship between a Shogi Master and apprentice has anything to do with sleeping in the same futon in the first place.

“…… Awwhh ……”

Ai looked reluctant to leave even though she was saying, “It’s a no-no,” to herself as she drifted out of my room.

“Was that a bit mean? …… Oh, no, no! W-What am I saying ……”

Am I still a bit drunk?

“Maybe a shower will clear my head ……”

Since it’d be a waste not to try out the hot spring while I’m here, I take a dip, too. Once I dry my hair, I head back to my room to find the futon gone and breakfast waiting for me.

Everything is being set up by the owner–––Mrs. Hinatsuru. Sitting on her ankles on the floor, she places her hands on the tatami mat and greets me with a polite bow when she sees me come in.

“Good morning.”

“Ah …… Morning.”

“Did you enjoy yourself last night?”

“Enjoy what?!”

“…… Yes, I don’t blame you. I myself felt it may be a bit rushed.”

Sounding a bit on edge, Mrs. Hinatsuru sets all the food out on a small table for me.

I don’t have much of an appetite …… At least, I didn’t until I saw the food. I can’t explain it, but my mouth is watering.

“This morning’s breakfast is rice porridge. Please add as much of this sauce as you like.”

Everything laid out, she says, “I shall return once you’ve finished,” and leaves the room.

I pick up the wooden spoon and scoop some of the porridge into my mouth.

“…… This is pretty good!”

It’s normal rice porridge …… But it’s somehow really, really good.

Of course the rice is soft and warm, but adding the sauce gives it an extra zing that’s perfect for me.

There’s a small menu card sitting on the tray, so I pick it up and have a look.

“Let’s see …… Bonito broth with a pinch of fish oil from the Noto Peninsula for flavor. That makes sense …… Hm?”

It looks like there’s something written on the back of the card.

I flip it over and see one word written in clumsy letters.

“Sorry.”

It doesn’t say who it’s from, but I know. The person who cooked all this food–––Ai’s father.

“…… Well, I guess this porridge is good enough to call us even.”

Good food makes people more forgiving. That bad headache from the alcohol finally clears up.

Mrs. Hinatsuru comes into my room again the instant I take the last bite, almost like she was watching for the perfect moment.

“I shall assist you with your kimono.”

“Huh? That’s all right, I can do it myself–––.”

“I insist.”

“…… Okay.”

I have no say. Giving up, I let her dress me.

This kimono isn’t like the one last night. It’s the kind people wear for title matches, so that’s a relief but …… There’s nothing to do while she’s getting all the folds in place for me. I strike up a meaningless conversation to keep this from getting too awkward.

“Um …… What’s Ai doing this morning?”

“She’s currently eating crab.”

Crab for breakfast …… Well, she loves that stuff. Crabby♡ I can just see my apprentice smiling with her cheeks stuffed full of it. So cute.

…… But, it’s strange. Part of me feels like my apprentice got stolen away by crabmeat. Ai would normally come wake me up before starting to cook breakfast …… But now she’s happily chowing down on crab this early in the morning …… 

As I was feeling jealous of a crustacean …

“……… Are you angry?” Mrs. Hinatsuru, her hands pinning my kimono in place, stops to ask.

That caught me off guard for a moment.

She’s probably talking about last night’s opening party (?) but …… I’ve never heard her sound so unsure of herself.

“Well …… A bit surprised, sure. But I’m not angry.”

That’s the truth. Actually, part of me is grateful to her.

This is helping me atone for making Ai go through all that.

By no means am I off the hook but seeing her even just a little bit more like her old self makes me happy.

But her mother wasn’t done.

“I owe you an apology, Sensei.”

“If it’s about yesterday, I really don’t–––.”

“I’m not talking about that.”

“Huh?”

“I …… I was certain that Ai would return home within a day or two.”

She continues with a tight grip on my sash.

“How could she not? How could two children, ages sixteen and nine with no family relationship, live under the same roof with only Shogi in common? That arrangement is doomed to fail. I scoffed at the idea.”

“……”

“However, Ai never once told me she wanted to come home. It didn’t matter if we were talking on the phone or corresponding through email, she only talked about you and Shogi ……”

Mrs. Hinatsuru pulls out her smartphone and shows me the messages that Ai sent to her.

Master said I’ve gotten stronger today!

I lost today, but I’ll have Master train me up a bit and try again!

Don’t worry about me. I’m laughing every day in Osaka. Master is with me, so I’m not lonely!

Every day is a dream come true. Thank you so much for letting me become Master’s apprentice!

All of Ai’s messages were packed full of the words Shogi and Master …… 

I got so teary-eyed halfway through that I had to stop reading because the letters were too blurry.

“But! B-But, that’s not how it was! I’m the one that should be apologizing to you, not the other way around ……!”

My kimono still isn’t set, but I drop down on all fours on the spot anyway.

“Ai …… Miss Hinatsuru has cried so many times in Osaka. Her saying that she was laughing every day, that’s a lie. And it was my fault …… My fault because I’m a worthless Master and she ended up getting hurt so many times ……!”

What happened after the third match wasn’t the only time.

Thinking back, Ai was always crying. When she lost to Big Sis, when she lost to Ai Yashajin, when she beat Mio, when she won against Keika …… Ai’s heart has been gashed over and over, and she cried.

“…… She would’ve been laughing and smiling a lot more as a normal elementary school student. But she’s cried so much all because she met me and Shogi …… I was so focused on myself that I wasn’t even there to support her for the match that would have gotten her into the Women’s League, the most important match of her life ……!”

“That’s all fine.”

“……… What?”

“I agree that Ai has most likely cried more than she would have if she were living in this household. There is no doubt in my mind she has shed many, many tears. I can tell as much.”

“Why ……?”

“Why? Because I’m her mother. I can tell when she’s acting like everything’s okay and she’s happy so that I won’t worry about her. I can also understand the reason behind it as well.”

Mrs. Hinatsuru pulls me back to my feet, straightens all the layers of fabric, and starts fixing my kimono in place again.

“We, as parents, are also able to prevent her from getting hurt. However, parents will always revert to protecting their children. Should they fall and cry, we will help them to their feet and soothe their pain. We hold their hands so they never fall in the first place. Children raised in such a manner will never experience the pain, loss and happiness necessary to mature. So–––,” Mrs. Hinatsuru says as she gives my sash a strong tug and finishes tying my hakama pants into place. “That’s why, Kuzuryu-sensei … you are the only one who can get hurt with her, cry with her, then get back on your feet together and keep walking forward together.”

“……!!”

“She’s spent less than a year in that humble apartment of yours, but that time has been far more valuable to her than the years she’s spent living in the spacious, ornate Hinatsuru Inn. The best thing for her is not to be constantly protected by her parents …… but to be fighting alongside you …… Even if that means she gets hurt from time to time.”

Slipping the haori jacket over my shoulders, Mrs. Hinatsuru continues.

“I wanted to give her one last gift as a parent and strengthen her bond with you, to bolster your connection any way I could ……” Now finished, Mrs. Hinatsuru nervously smiles at me and says, “But everything may have been a bit rushed. I offer both you and Shogi my most sincere apologies. Allow me to ask you to watch over my daughter once more.”

She then sits down on her ankles and places her hands on the tatami mat.

“As the owner of the Hinatsuru, it is my duty to protect the future of this inn, to protect its reputation as the best in Japan and to ensure it gets passed down to the next generation. That is both my responsibility and my greatest joy as the owner. However, my greatest joy as a mother …… can only be my daughter’s happiness.”

Motherly love shines through with every word she says.

“Yaichi Kuzuryu-sensei.” At last, Mrs. Hinatsuru bows all the way to the floor and says in a kind voice, “Please walk this path together with my daughter. Please …… Forevermore, together.”

The match was scheduled to start in fifteen minutes by the time she left my room.

There’s an unwritten rule that says both players need to be in the arena ten minutes early, so I’m really crunched for time.

“Crap! I’m gonna be late ……”

Shingen bukuro pouch in one hand and fabric rustling underneath me, I race out of the room, around a corner …… and see a thin leg stick out right in front of me.

“Whoa?!”

I catch myself just before I fall on my face.

There’s only one person in the world who would do this.

“Come on, please stop, Big Sis! It’s easy to trip in these pants!”

“………… Tsk.”

She snaps her tongue, clear as day. Yep, she wanted me to trip …… What if I’m late because of her ……?

Then again, I knew this was coming.

Considering what Big Sis is like, I doubt she’d leave it at that. Back when we were kids, she’d trip me on asphalt and throw big rocks at me until I cried.

Her pulling that on me right now would be a big problem …… That’s what I’m afraid of.

“Your collar.”

“Huh?”

“…… Fix it already.”

She reaches around my neck and straightens the collar on my jacket because it had been sticking straight up.

“……!”

Well, this is surprising.

Memories of that night come flooding back with her face so close to mine …… 

My heart is slamming against my ribs. I have to apologize, right now.

“Big Sis! I–––.”

“You’ll be late. Get going.”

“Okay, may I have some time to talk with you after the match is over?”

“……… I’ll think about it.”

She answers just above a whisper, turning away at the same time.

“Thank you!”

I take off toward the arena, gliding through the air like I grew wings.

Journalists are lined up at the front of the room waiting for me when I step inside the arena. All of their cameras level at me in unison as I get closer. An endless stream of flashes and shutter clicks wash over me. I feel like I just walked into a firing squad.

“Good morning.”

I make a quick bow and walk inside the room.

The Meijin is already here, sitting in the lower seat and cleaning his glasses. Once I make another bow, I sit down in the upper seat. Another avalanche of flashes surrounds us. All the journalists crammed in here have pushed the association members all the way to the edges of the arena. Looking around, I only know a few faces: Chairman Tsukimitsu, his secretary Ms. Oga and the journalist Ms. Mato. That’s all.

Then, ten minutes pass without much of anything to say or do.

–––Wait a second …… This is the first time I’ve thought about Shogi since I got up here …… 

I only just now realized it.

There was so much going on that I didn’t have time to think about Shogi. My head is just a blank canvas …… Although that’s a cool way to put it, it just means I’m going in without a plan.

–––Meh, no big deal. I’m on defense anyway.

Any other time, I’d realize how far behind I am already and start panicking.

But today for some reason, I feel optimistic. I want to start playing right now, like a kid who can’t sleep the night before a vacation.

“Oh, it’s time.”

“9:00 a.m.,” Chairman Tsukimitsu calmly says from the observer’s seat.

I’m used to observers making this grand announcement: “Please begin the match” or something like that and try to keep from sounding nervous. I knew the chairman was different.

“Now, let’s enjoy some tea and begin the match, shall we?”

A prominent pro Shogi player who’d been through so many high-stakes battles himself, he wasn’t trying to rattle us with a joke. He’s telling us to relax because this battle is going to be long and hard, so using our energy on pre-match jitters would just be a waste.

The Meijin grins, and I can’t help but curl the corners of my mouth up right along with him. Our breathing aligned, we lower our heads.

“…… When you’re ready.”

Countless flashes go off and the shutter clicks drown out our voices. The exact opposite of silence …… But I’m already in the zone, concentrating on the match so everything going on around me sounds distant.

Amidst all that, the Meijin’s hand looks like it’s dancing on air as he reaches toward the board to make the first move.

Flittering like a feather, his right hand takes hold of the Pawn in front of his Rook and advances straightforward. That movement is so sharp and crisp I thought the tip of the piece might shatter the square on the board. I immediately know what I’m going to do.

The Meijin’s offense–––Double Wing Attack.

“…… So, that’s what it’s going to be? All right then.”

Just like he did in the first match, he’s trying to use one of my specialties against me.

Of course, I accept the challenge. How could I not? I advance the Pawn in front of my own Rook.

The thing about the Double Wing early game is that the players mirror each other’s moves.

That makes it kind of a waltz, me matching the Meijin move for move, keeping pace with his dance step for step.