Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 7 - Chapter 3

  THE KIYOTAKI CLASSROOM

“Word is that Mr. Kiyotaki’s started something peculiar.”

Rumors like that started circulating through Shogi circles about ten days after Master floated the idea of doing family practice sessions.

“Like, he’s inviting newbies over to his house and feeding them.”

“So then, he’s trying to get info out of the dirt-poor Sub League members?”

“Nah, he’s just on his way out the door in the pros, so he’s trying to advertise his own classroom. Don’t you think?”

“I saw him walking around Denden Town in Nipponbashi yesterday.”

“Oh yeah? I saw him dressed up like some hip-hop dancer at the association.”

“Maybe all the losses got to be too much, and he flipped his lid?”

All of those rumors made it back to me.

…… What is going on here?

“Master sent out a message saying that he wanted to reconsider doing family sessions, so I thought he called it all off.”

“Did Grandpa-sensei start doing a different practice session?” Ai doesn’t understand what’s going on, so she’s moping around saying, “I wish he’d invite me if he were doing one ……”

Even if that’s what it is, there’s too much that doesn’t make sense.

The thing is that you get ridiculed for losing streaks in this world. Draw too much attention and the rumor mill goes into overdrive. I know that better than anyone.

I got roasted during my skid right after claiming the Ryuo title, when I was losing to the Meijin in the Ryuo Title Match, got called loli-con or worse when I took apprentices …… My pro Shogi career has been filled with unjustified attacks since it began. The loli-con stuff is just cruel. I guess winning so much breeds haters ……

Which is exactly why I’m not believing a word of these rumors until I see some proof.

“…… Either way, it might be a good idea to go check on him.”

“Yes! I want to see what his new practice session is like!”

“Who in the world did he find to work with him?”

“Do you think they’re Sub League members?”

“It’s the hip-hop dancer thing I can’t wrap my head around. If you’re going to make up stories, fine, but at least come up with something believable.”

The Hawaiian shirts he bought in Hawaii: that I would get. But I can’t even picture him dressed up like that.

And so, we went over to his place on a Sunday morning and–––.

“We’re home!”

“Oh! So, ya two dropped by?”

Some guy dressed up like a hip-hop dancer–––––––––!!

“Surprised? Just had a thought and asked the young’ens to teach me Shogi startin’ from square one.”

As hard as it is to believe, the guy looking as cool as a cucumber is actually my Master.

His whole outfit is coordinated with cool colors and an oversized flannel shirt … with a hood! Look up hip-hop in the dictionary, and this is exactly what you’ll find.

No one would think this middle-aged man walking over tatami mats in oversized cargo pants was really a pro Shogi player in his fifties. Even his accessories of choice are too good to believe.

What happened to my Master ……? Can people change this much so quickly if a hole pops open in their brain somewhere ……?

Still trying to process everything, I take a look around.

The tatami room is crammed wall-to-wall with boards and the Sub League members surrounding them rank from dan all the way down to the lowest kyu guys. There are even some damn good amateurs not associated with the pros in here.

And, there’s a scroll written in Master’s vibrant letters hanging in the alcove.

“Let youth shine through.”

…… Shine? It’s blinding …………

Not just youth …… Other things, too …………

“Stop starin’, would ya? I wanted to break outta my old Shogi senses that were holdin’ me in the past ……,” Master shyly scratches his nose and says. “Just didn’t know where to start. So I decided to spice up my look. What do ya think? It don’t mean much comin’ from me: I think I look pretty cool, man.”

“Y …… you’re off the hook, yo!”

I can’t keep this up.

“B-But …… Where’d you get those clothes?”

“They were in the back of my closet.”

“Mr. Kagamizu?!”

Hiuma Kagamizu 3-dan has shoehorned himself in behind one of the Shogi boards in the tatami room. “Haa ……” He makes a shy yet noble smile and warmly says, “I totally understand Kiyotaki-sensei’s desire to change …… So I gave him the clothes I used to wear back when I played Shogi on the street.”

Huh? Come again?

Shogi??? On the street????

“Pulling those clothes out for the first time in years brought back so many memories …… Reminded me who I was back then, how I felt …… All my dreams of big money and success the day I left my hometown in Miyazaki live on in that apparel ……!”

This guy is a lot weirder than I thought …… Mr. Kagamizu never talked like this before ……

I hear someone lightly thumping their way down the stairs as all this was going on.

“Ah! Yay! Yaichi♡”

“Sota, too?! …… What’s that cable for?”

“I’m getting a new computer hooked up upstairs. Can you believe this house didn’t have Wi-Fi?! How can you get anything or do anything without Wi-Fi?! It’s like they were living in the nineties!”

“…… Were you in Nipponbashi yesterday, by chance?”

“Yep! Kiyotaki-sensei and I went to buy computer parts. He said I could get anything I wanted, so I built a beast that can run all sorts of software at the same time!”

Sota gives me the Wi-Fi ID and password before going back upstairs.

Once he did, a different Sub League member calls us from the front door.

“Kiyotaki-sensei! Today’s instructor is here!”

“Great! Let him on through!!”

Instructor?

I turn toward the front wondering just who it could be …… Only to find that today’s instructor was standing much closer than I expected. Seriously, I can feel his breath.

“Fufu! Here I am☆”

A-ranking pro Shogi player Jin Natagiri 8-dan.

“Yoooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu––––––!!” I scream, jumping back in horror.

Dubbed the Switch Hitter, he’s an all-rounder who trains with the Meijin himself.

But, on a more personal level …… he’s an all-rounder who swings for both teams, if you catch my drift.

“Wha?! Master! Why are you yelling like that?!”

“Don’t be so rude, Yaichi.” Master scolds me for panicking. “Natagari 8-dan is a full-fledged A-level pro and known as one of the best researchers in the Shogi world. Always willin’ to share a thing or two with low dan pros and Sub Leaguers, he plays practice matches with ’em out of the goodness of his heart whenever he’s in Kansai for a match. He deserves a lot of respect. That’s why I invited him here.”

Mr. Natagiri adjusts his long bangs while Master introduces him.

“Oh, it’s no biggie …… I just like young men.”

“I see. Surroundin’ yarself with passionate youth is what keeps ya young at heart, yeah?”

No, he meant exactly what he said!

When this guy says like he means like in that way!!

I try to convey that message with my eyes, but Master is nodding along with Mr. Natagiri as if he believes every word the man says. I can’t take this.

“Realizin’ somethin’ at yar age that took me until now to figure out …… I can see why the Meijin wants to practice with ya. Please, impart yar passion on all of us!”

“Fuu♡”

I don’t think Master will ever figure out that the new world Mr. Natagiri is part of exists no matter how old he gets.

Not that I want him to.

“I’ve always been quite interested in Kansai’s young ones, so this is a win-win ……… And of course, I’ve been interested in you too, Kiyotaki-sensei. Fufu. Uh-fufufufufufu ……”

The Switch Hitter looks around the room like he’s appraising merchandise.

Ai and I decide to hang back and observe the practice session to make sure that Mr. Natagiri doesn’t try to impart the participants with anything more than passion.

Sota comes down from the second floor as everyone gathers around one board.

Dan-ranking Sub League members take turns against Mr. Natagiri as he breaks down the latest trends for the up-and-coming players in easy to understand chunks. Very well done.

The thing is that Master keeps asking questions and Ai starts joining the discussion.

Everyone here was nice enough to welcome her input rather than just shoot her down because she’s in grade school. So, she’s not afraid to speak her mind and I think she’s getting a lot out of it. Master and Ai look like they’re having a blast ……

Watching all that from outside their circle ……

“What a great atmosphere, don’t you think?”

“Keika ……”

“I had had some doubts that this would all work out when he came to me with the idea. I’m sure that Father was also a bit scared of working with Sub League members.”

Scared ……?

“There was a generational wall between them. But, once everyone’s desire to improve broke it down, more young players than I ever imagined opened up to him. After Mr. Kagamizu and Sota said they were staying the night on the very first day, more and more people kept showing up, and I kept getting asked to cook ……”

It looks like Keika has been cooking in the kitchen this whole time. She still has her apron on standing next to me and I can smell fresh rice wafting out of the kitchen.

“I know people are saying this and that about Father right now, but I love this atmosphere. This version of my father is so much better than when he was suffering on his own. If it’s Shogi that’s keeping him awake at night, I can be right there with him.”

Shogi has always been at the center of this household, meaning Keika was always the odd one out.

Just when she thought she could join everyone, Master brought up retiring. Hearing him say that had to cut pretty deep. I’d be willing to bet that Keika is the one who’s been suffering the most after that award ceremony until now.

It’s true that everyone gathered here has skill levels and rankings all over the map. There are even a few girls here.

I can understand people criticizing this strange and slightly bizarre setup.

But they all have one thing in common.

A strong love for Shogi.

Seeing something important that is dying off in the pro Shogi world today, I’m almost jealous.

“…… I’m sure this’ll work out. After all, no effort goes unrewarded,” I say, meaning every word.

At the same time …… I feel like, as someone aiming for the top, I shouldn’t get involved with these practice sessions. I do feel left out, but the Shogi world isn’t forgiving enough to let me worry about it.

“Wheeeew …… I’m exhausted, but that was a lot of fun!!”

Ai sounds rejuvenated somehow, coming over to me after concentrating on Mr. Natagiri’s lectures all the way to the end.

“Umm …… Master? May I join these practice sessions? Grandpa-sensei said I could invite the other girls to join in, too ……”

“Of course. I can rest easy knowing you’re here.”

While it’s not for me, I think this is the perfect environment for my apprentice.

While yes, it does worry me that Mr. Natagiri has claimed the seat right next to Mr. Kagamizu (who would look right at home in a fashion magazine), he’s a full-grown adult and can handle himself. Who knows, he might make a few new (deeper level) discoveries himself.

“…… Well, Master. I’ll excuse myself.”

“Ah. I ain’t gonna see ya out but be careful on yar way home,” says Master Kiyotaki without looking up, rolling his shoulders sitting at the board after challenging some Sub League members to 10-second Shogi practice matches.

“I invited a Shogi software programmer to drop by tomorrow, so we can hear what he has to say. This practice session’ll keep goin’ 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Drop by anytime!”