Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 6 - Chapter 2.3

  THE CROWN ARRIVES IN OSAKA

“Well, hello there, Ginko. Good morning.”

I climb the stairs to the association’s third floor where an older gentleman greets me.

“Mr. Mine …… Good morning.”

He’s the most experienced staff member at the Kansai Shogi Association.

He’s watched over Yaichi and I since we were little with a friendly grin. We call him Principal Mine behind his back.

“You’re early today. Recording?”

“A placement match. The A rank one.”

“Ahh, that one’ll last into the night for sure.”

He feels sorry for me.

Of course, he knows I played pitiful Shogi during the admission exam the other day, but I appreciate that he’s letting it be.

The most important job for any Sub League member is being a match recorder.

Professional and Women’s League matches are always recorded. The one who does it is the match recorder.

It’s boring, watching other people play from right next to the board. As a player, it can be humiliating. But it’s been considered to be the best training for a long, long time now.

Thinking right along with the players, close enough to hear them breath.

There’s a lot to gain from the experience, the stronger the players are, and the match recorder is allowed to join in the analysis during the review session once the match is over.

Compared to Kanto, where there are tons of matches going on, Sub League members in Kansai have to fight for the position. We can’t afford to turn down these opportunities just because recording is boring.

The recorder does a lot more than just write down each move. They’re in charge of tracking waiting time, reading the countdown, as well as prep before the match and clean-up after it. It’s a busy job. Recently, match recorders use tablets as well, so they need to be technologically literate on top of everything else …… 

It’s been two days since I lost to Mr. Karako.

I’ve come back to the association to be a match recorder. To get stronger.

“I wanted to be the recorder for this match no matter what. Everyone wanted it, so we had to settle it with a piece flip ……”

“Oishi-sensei is playing, yes? The Worldly Maestro has a big following. His King Title Defense Match will be starting soon, but all those match recorder shifts filled up right away. Got your eye on Oishi-sensei, do you, Ginko?”

“…… Yes.”

Looking away, I nod.

“Who’s he playing against? I’ve forgotten.”

“The Crown.”

“Ahh …… him.”

Mr. Mine looks like he doesn’t know what to say.

“Yes, that’s sure to be an interesting match. The Crown …… I don’t mean any ill will against him, but it’s very difficult to tell what he’s thinking.”

“…… I will be extra polite.”

“Though, I’m glad you’re the match recorder for that one. Your tea is superb.”

“Thank you …… very much.”

They just make a big batch of tea in Kanto and share because there are so many people. But since the match recorders prepare tea for the players here in Kansai, the quality depends a lot on who makes it. Mess up and the players will demand you make a new pot or, if they get really frustrated, the players will sometimes do it themselves.

It’s just …… I have mixed feelings about being complimented on my tea.

The faster a Sub League member rises, the less time they have to be a match recorder. They get to the pros without having any real idea how to make good tea. Exhibit A: Yaichi.

“By the way. It’s a weekday, so shouldn’t you be in school?”

“It’s the school’s Foundation Day.”

“Is that right? Your school sure has a lot of Foundation Days, Ginko.”

“…… Today is the real one.”

One thing about the Principal is he always knows when I’m lying.

He only lets me get away with it because he likes my enthusiasm for Shogi.

I’ve heard this kind of thing won’t fly in Kanto anymore, but Kansai still values the grit and determination it takes to get muddy. 

“If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

“Yes. Have a good day.”

I lower my head before going to the fifth floor.

First, I line up a board and floor cushions in the middle of the Onjyoudan no Ma and then set up a long desk where I’ll sit to do the recording. Quite the task when you aren’t that strong to begin with like me.

“Whew …… That should do it.”

Next, I get the recording paper, waiting time tracking chart, tablet and everything else I’ll need ready.

The only thing left now is the pieces.

I start pulling out pieces one at a time and wiping them down with a bone-dry cloth.

First up, the King for the upper seat. Then the other King …… There’s a specific order already set in place. No one’s going to get mad at me for not following it, though.

“But …… the Shogi gods are watching.”

Saying that myself without thinking about it, I make sure every surface of each piece is spotless, not just the top and bottom.

Once that was done, I move onto the board.

Never sit in the upper seat to wipe it down, always the lower seat. …… Because the Shogi gods are watching.

The board clean, I set the piece box in the center. That’s when I realize someone’s behind me.

“Ah! …… Good morning.”

In a bit of a panic, I get off the spot and give a deep bow.

A tall, lanky man looks down at me the whole time.

“……”

He acknowledges I’m in the room with a slight dip of his head, not even a word. A moment later, it was like he forgot I even existed, sitting down where I was just a moment ago …… in the lower seat.

The Crown––––––Yo Okito.

He’s a Kanto player, so our paths hardly ever cross.

But, of course I know his face. I knew about him by the time I could crawl.

There are seven major titles in the Shogi world. He has one of them, Crown, and currently holds an A rank. He is among the elite pros.

Considered to be one of the S rank players because of his title and ranking, people think of him as next in line to the Meijin when it comes to Shogi world dominance. A prodigy among prodigies.

But this person fell from that spot once before.

He lost his title, his A rank, his pride and reputation as a player, everything …… Nearly his life, too.

And now, he has returned.

More than just returned, he’s much stronger than before. But at the same time, he seems to have lost a lot more than he did on his first rise to A.

There’s still more than thirty minutes before the match. Feeling awkward, I come up with an excuse to leave my seat.

“…… I’ll prepare tea.”

No response.

––– …… Sure lives up to his quiet reputation.

On my way to the supply room, I take a quick glance through the sliding door. He’s sitting there with his back to me.

Totally silent, I feel like I’m watching a machine boot up as he starts thinking through his strategy.

It’s not Oishi-sensei’s Shogi.

Today, I’m here because I wanted to see this man’s Shogi up close and personal.

There has to be a way to get stronger …… How he went beyond human limits has to be hidden in his Shogi somewhere.