Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 7 - Chapter 1.5

  B-2 DIVISION 8TH MATCH

–––Why’d I go an’ do that ……?

Several days after the Shogi Family Celebration.

The events of that day still tormented Kousuke Kiyotaki as he played a placement match at the Kansai Shogi Association.

His opponent had just been promoted to B-2 the previous season, Kanto’s promising young player Yuuya Kobotoke 6-dan.

The man was ten years older than his own apprentice, Yaichi, but reaching B-2 in his twenties was proof of his potential. Record currently sitting at 6 wins and 1 loss, his placement put him in a favorable position to compete for promotion at third from the top.

Kousuke was, of course, devoting his full attention to the match, however–––.

“……… Haaa.”

Crossing his legs, he scratched his head and let out a long sigh.

Evening meal break long since passed, the witching hour late at night had arrived.

Thoughts of all varieties were beginning to seep into his lethargic and fatigued brain.

What truly afflicted him were memories of angrily yelling at his apprentice in front of their guests at the celebration.

Why did he say what he said given where they were ……? Why did he get angry in the first place? Kousuke couldn’t figure it out for the life of him.

“Focus up, now! Focus!”

Scolding himself out loud, Kousuke shifted his attention back to the board.

–––Won’t make much difference, though. This match is already mine.

Today’s match had evolved into a contest of yagura castles, which was Kousuke’s specialty. The ebb and flow of offense and defense had stretched on for many hours, but now victory was finally within his grasp.

Yuuya was already setting the scene for surrender and now was the time to make the memorable check to seal the match.

–––That there, this here, and …… Yah, that’ll do it with one move.

He couldn’t deny that things didn’t come as easily as when he was younger.

It took him longer to physically recover from long matches and there were times when his mental Shogi board got stuck in the middle of complicated sequences and he’d missed a checkmate or two.

If only he possessed the same kind of late game abilities that his granddaughter apprentice Ai Hinatsuru had at her disposal …… Jealousy had crept in from time to time.

–––But, it’s all good once the engine gets goin’. I can still stop these youngens in their tracks!

Kousuke saw many veteran Shogi players lose matches that they had a ninety-nine percent chance of winning on one extremely bad move in the late game back when he was new to the professional ranks.

These were not the same as bad moves when the veterans just overlooked something or read the board incorrectly.

It was worse because they’d have a momentary lapse and forget how certain pieces worked or pick up the wrong piece from their piece stand …… Losing in ways that only elderly Shogi veterans could.

“It’s all right …… Everything’s all right,” Kousuke whispered, reassuring himself in many different ways.

Age hadn’t taken a toll on him yet. He could still dominate an up-and-coming twentysomething like he was doing right now. Not only would today’s victory provide the foothold that would keep him in B-2, it would also send a message to his rivals watching his match on the live feed. Kousuke’s still in his prime. They would all know it after today. What’s more, all of the trust he had built up as a pro would get a considerable boost with this victory.

Kousuke looked up from the board and addressed the match recorder.

“Kagamizu. How much I got left?”

“One hour and fourteen minutes.”

“Alright …… Thank ya.”

That was more than enough time to read all the way to checkmate.

–––I’ve won for sure. Except, I can’t let my guard down.

Readjusting his posture to sit on his ankles, Kousuke focused on the board for one last read.

And–––.

“Oh?”

A move he hadn’t seen before caught his eye, a fantastic move.

––– Overlookin’ a beauty like that …… It’d be the perfect way to finish this.

Kousuke thought with a grin and decided to change course. This finishing blow would be tonight’s exclamation mark, a blaze of glory that would simultaneously restore his relationship with his apprentice and raise his spirits.

“Huuh?!”

Yuuya looked at the board several times in disbelief once Kousuke snapped the piece in place.

However–––the young man gave no signs of surrender.

Confused, Kousuke set to reading the board one more time.

“Agh ……?!”

It felt as though every drop of blood in his body had vanished.

Checkmate in one.

What Kousuke thought to be his crowning moment actually was an extremely bad move that left him open to checkmate.

“………… Pardon me,” said Yuuya Kobotoke in a wispy voice as he put Kousuke Kiyotaki’s King into checkmate with an apologetic look in his eyes.

“……………”

Kousuke looked to the heavens and placed his hand on his piece stand, signaling his intent to surrender.

The victory that was in his grasp had slipped through his fingers …… by making a mistake that could only be explained by forgetting how pieces work, a truly pathetic way to lose.