Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 7 - Chapter 4

  THE LAST MORNING

“Master! Breakfast is ready!”

“Great.”

10th round C-2 division Placement Matches are today–––the finale.

The breakfast that Ai whipped up for me this morning is a full assortment of all my favorites. She went all out.

But, I give her a stern warning as soon as I see karaage fried chicken on the table.

“Ai …… How many times have I told you it’s too dangerous to make fried food on your own?”

“It’s okay! I made these in the microwave, so I didn’t have to fill a pot with oil!”

She tells me that it’s possible to let the oil sink into the chicken skin and then fry them up normally in the microwave, which apparently has a setting just for that these days.

Her well beyond grade school level cooking skills never cease to amaze me ……

“Now I see. These are a lot less oily than the usual karaage chicken is. Actually, this style might be better for breakfast anyway.”

“I really wanted to give it that extra crispiness that only oil can give so you’d be extra crisp for today, but ……”

“…… Thanks. Placement Matches are a battle of endurance. I need to fill up in the morning, so I have enough energy to make it to the end. This will help a lot.”

My apprentice’s superstitions adding a little more pressure, I take my time and start filling up my stomach.

I’ve won all nine Placement Matches so far.

What has me worried is that, including me, four players in C-2 are undefeated right now. Two of them are ranked higher than me and there are tons of people with one loss above me as well, so losing today makes promotion pretty much impossible. Talk about rough.

–––It’s all good. I just need to win. Considering who I’m playing, the chances I’ll promote are pretty high ……

I organize my thoughts while chewing the homemade breakfast my apprentice made just for me.

By the way, there are so many people in C-2 that Placement Matches are usually spread over two days, but L-B and final matches are all played at once.

This is done to prevent any mental advantage someone might get from knowing their opponent’s state of mind during the match. Other divisions do it the same way. So many fates are intertwined between the Kanto and Kansai Associations that the arenas take on a vibe like the Roman Coliseum right before gladiators fight to the death.

In the middle of all that, the Don of Naniwa is playing his final match.

–––Not the most serene way to go out, but ……

Only then did I notice my palms are soaked with sweat and realize how nervous I truly am.

Wiping my hands on my shirt out of my apprentice’s line of sight, I try talking about the food to get my mind off Shogi.

“The chicken is great, but the ohitashi greens in soy sauce are top-notch. Let’s see, there’s spinach, chrysanthemum, and …… Is that parsley?”

I can taste the savory spinach with every bite of the three-green mixture, the parsley adds a little extra crispness to every bite. The chrysanthemum’s aroma adds an extra flare.

The soft flavors help me relax all the way to my core.

“I thought too much fried food would upset your stomach …… And, I need to prepare for your party tonight, so I’ll make sure there’s plenty of karaage then!”

Ai sounds like she can’t wait for tonight to come.

“The whole Grade Schooler Practice Group is coming over after school today to help get everything ready! We’ll be analyzing the match along with you and be ready to celebrate when you get home!!”

The girls had been getting together at the Kiyotaki Classroom all the time recently but decided to have a party over here this time. Was it because I got a little jealous the other day?

I’m so happy—blood could shoot out my nose, but–––.

“There is no such thing as a guarantee in a competitor’s world.”

Holding that happiness back with sheer willpower, I calmly say to my apprentice, “The difference between victory and defeat in the pros is always paper-thin. You can’t let your guard down until the moment your opponent throws in the towel.”

“S-Sorry ……”

All Ai’s excitement disappears before my eyes.

“You’re under a lot of pressure, and here I am, your apprentice, making a big fuss …… You’re right. Getting ready to party before the battle even starts is weird ……”

“Yeah. No match is set in stone. The only thing you can do is get yourself as ready as possible and go into battle at your best. Just like what I’ve been doing for today.”

Keeping my strict master face intact, I say, “…… Which means, be as ready to party as possible, got it?”

“……!! Yes!! Master!!”

Her eyes, so close to tearing up, suddenly shine.

I give her a gentle pat on the head as I go over all my reasons why I’ll win in my mind …… All so her party preparations don’t go to waste.

Zaou-sensei is retiring because sitting on his ankles hurts.

In a battle of attrition like Placement Matches, he should be dying by the end. Surely, he’ll be in no shape to play Shogi.

Then, there’s the difference in our rating.

I’ve got more than 500 points on him.

–––Statistically speaking, I should be able to take him even with a piece handicap in his favor ……

Making a mistake is what scares me. If I’m going to lose, it won’t be from getting outplayed.

Which is exactly why …… I absolutely can’t let my guard down.