Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 8 - Chapter 1

“I’ve got it. Let’s go to Kyoto.”

I blurt out those words just as cherry blossom trees were in full bloom.

My apprentice and I were working through some long-sequence Shogi puzzles when it hit me.

“To …… Kyoto?”

My apprentice sitting next to me, Ai Hinatsuru looks up from the Shogi magazine open in front of us with a curious look in her eyes. The tatami room window is open, letting both sunlight and a warm spring breeze inside.

“Yeah, Kyoto. You’re still on break, right?”

“For about another week, yes ……”

It’s the first time in a while that Ai, a fifth grader this April, has had a long vacation.

Unlike her Master, Ai is a model student who not only gets good grades but finished her spring break homework straightaway and has spent her time researching Shogi, hanging out with the Grade Schooler Practice Group girls and basically taking advantage of her last time off as a fourth grader.

And, just like the school year in Japan, the Shogi world calendar starts in April. So, as long as they’re not involved in any title matches, Shogi pros are in the middle of a long vacation too.

The grueling placement matches are over.

Even better, I’ve been promoted to the C-1 Division and defended my title as Dragon King Ryuo.

Add in the fact that I met both my apprentices during that time, and this past year has been really busy.

I need some time to reset and get ready for another year of new battles and the research grind. A quick trip to Kyoto with my apprentice while she’s on spring break wouldn’t be a bad idea.

My train of thought reaching that point, I ask Ai, “Have you ever been to Kyoto?”

“Umm …… I don’t remember much, but I think so. I’ve visited all the big tourist spots in Japan.”

“Suppose I should’ve expected that considering your mother owns a famous inn.”

“But, but … I really don’t remember anything! I want to go to Kyoto with you, Master!!”

Tossing aside the Shogi puzzle magazine, one of her favorite things in the world, Ai starts chanting, “Kyoto! Kyoooto!”

So cute♡

“I want to go to Kiyomizu Temple! Oh, and the Kamo River, too! And …… and Honnoji Temple! I really want to see Honnoji!”

“Sure, sure,” I say, watching my apprentice bounce around like an excited puppy. “But, we already have somewhere to go this time.”

“Uwhee? Where ……?”

“First, Arashiyama.”

It’s one of the best-known tourist spots in Kyoto …… No, in all of Japan.

“We’re going to a temple there called Tenryuji.”

“Tenryuji?”

Ai must not have heard of it before because she’s practically got question marks in her eyes.

There are seriously tons of temples in Kyoto, so I don’t blame her. But Tenryuji is famous enough that I’m sure she’d recognize a picture if she saw it.

“Do we have something to do there?”

“There’s a title match going on. Yamashiro Ouka.”

“Ah ……!”

Out of all six women’s titles, Yama shiro Ou ka (山 城 桜 花) is the only one that has the character for flower, the ka at the end. It’s the elegant and graceful title.

“When it comes to Shogi players, who live most of their lives indoors, Shogi is about the only thing that can get us to go outside. It’s not like we have dates to go on.”

“……………”

“Hm? Did I say something weird?”

“No. Not really.”

Is it because she’s getting into the higher elementary grades? Ai’s got a very grown-up look on her face that’s impossible to read.

“Since this will be my first time seeing a Women’s Title Match in person, I’m sure there’ll be plenty for me to learn. I would like to go to gain valuable experience for the future.”

“Of course, there’ll be lots to learn.”

Caught off guard by my apprentice using formal wording out of nowhere, I collect my thoughts and explain why it’s held in Kyoto in the first place.

“The Yamashiro Ouka Title Match is unique. It’s fun to go and just watch.”

“Unique ……?”

“For starters, it’s three total matches. There’re only two title matches set up like that in both pro Shogi and Women’s Shogi combined, Yamashiro Ouka and Women’s King.”

There are more if you include newcomer and amateur tournaments, but pros don’t use that format because winning two in a row would seal the deal. For comparison, the Ryuo Challenger Match has three total matches.

“Next, the second and third matches take place two days in a row.”

“It would be hard enough playing league matches twice in two days …… But, it must be exhausting playing for a title like that!”

The matches themselves are over real quick and you have to have nerves of steel to get over a loss in Match Two and play a decent game. Of course, it’s physically demanding as well.

“But I’d have to say the fact that Match Two and Match Three get played out in the open at some of Kyoto’s most famous sites is what makes the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match really special.”

“In the open? So people are there watching the match?”

“That’s right. You went through something similar at the Mynavi Preliminaries, so think of it like that but on a bigger stage.”

A whole bunch of matches happen at once during Mynavi Preliminaries.

Except, there’s only one happening at the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match and both players are decked out in gorgeous kimonos in front of beautiful scenery. It’s designed to draw as much attention as possible.

It certainly helps that there are tons of foreign tourists in Kyoto. The number of people watching is on a completely different scale compared to regular matches.

Cameras go off every second and the players can hear what the audience is saying.

Under conditions like that, it’s easy to tell who has the mental fortitude to take the Yamashiro Ouka title and who doesn’t.

“But …… Why play Shogi in those conditions?”

“Kyoto itself is the focus for the Ouka title. Think of it like a collaboration between the traditional Japanese sport of Shogi and the city, using the title match to boost tourism.”

“Now I get it!”

Growing up at a traditional Japanese-style inn, Ai is sensitive to the word tourism.

“Since Shogi matches last a long time and players don’t move much, it’s the perfect photo op for everyone!”

“Very true. Shogi doesn’t offer the exciting sights and sounds of usual sports, but that becomes a good thing when the sites and displays are part of the event.”

From a foreigner’s point of view, all these traditional things in the same spot might be artistically appealing.

“Although the first match is in Tokyo, people in Kyoto use the matches to promote the city. It becomes one big show, which is rare for title matches.”

“That sounds like fun!”

Ai’s got Yamashiro Ouka fever.

I take my smartphone off its charger and check the schedule.

“We could be in Kyoto before their lunch break if we leave now …… Okay! Grab your things and meet me at the door in 40 seconds!!”

“Master! Let’s hurry!”

And so, we left on a spring trip to Kyoto.

“We’re here!”

“Well, that didn’t take long at all.”

A quick ride on the Kanjou Line from Fukushima to Osaka Station and it’s barely 30 minutes to Kyoto Station on an express train.

“Now, how to proceed from here.”

“Another train?”

“Well, let’s see ……”

There’s still plenty of time.

While it’s not the fastest option, there’s something I want my apprentice to ride.

“Since we’re here, why don’t we take the Randen?”

“Randen?”

“The Keifuku Dentesu Railway’s Main Arashiyama Line, or Randen for short. It’s fun.”

Taking my apprentice’s hand, we walk into Kyoto proper.

Warm spring sun fills the air.

It’s been warm for a couple of days now, so the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Pink petals ride a sudden breeze and flutter down onto Ai’s hair.

“Spring has sprung!”

Gently holding these springtime presents in the palm of her hand, Ai puckers her cherry-blossom-colored lips and blows them back into the air.

I watch the petals dance and say, “I hear it’s still cold in Tokyo.”

“Mom and Daddy said it’s chilly on the north coast!”

She’s probably thinking about how cold it is in Ishikawa Prefecture where she was born.

Ai takes my arm and hugs it close to her body.

“I saw on TV that there’s a cold front hovering over eastern Japan, so the cherry blossoms over there won’t bloom for a while yet!”

“I’m glad they’re blooming here in time for the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match …… After all, the Ou (桜) in Yamashiro Ouka is the character for cherry blossom.”

The air is so comfy and warm that I’m getting drowsy just walking around.

“…… If I knew it was going to be this nice out,” I mumble with a hint of regret.

–––I should’ve invited Ai Yashajin along …… 

Ai Yashajin, my second apprentice who the girls have nicknamed Ten-chan, has advanced all the way to the Challenger Match of the Mynavi Open Women’s Shogi Tournament and could win her own title.

But the person she’ll be playing in that Challenger Match is playing to defend the Yamashiro Ouka title today.

Having her come all the way out here just to watch would just taste bad.

That’s why I didn’t even try. Even if I did, I doubt she would’ve come.

But, even so …… We’re a small, three-person Shogi family. It would be nice to get outside and experience all this together.

I want to show that lonely girl what spring looks like …… 

Whether or not Ai Hinatsuru understands where my thoughts are going, she looks at me and says, “Let’s come back next year with Ten-chan!”

“…… Yeah, let’s. Thanks, Ai.”

I’m so lucky to have such a kind apprentice. Moments like this remind me just how glad I am that I took her under my wing.

The train station comes into view as we are talking.

Seeing the station and the train next to it–––.

“! Woooow ……!”

Her eyes light up.

There aren’t many trams in Japan at all–––but one of those street-faring trains is sitting right there.

“See? Isn’t this going to be fun?”

“For sure! A dong train!”

“?!”

W …… well, they do have a lower-pitched bell, so some people do call them dong trains, but …… but still!

“Wow! Master, just listen to that dong!! Dong! Dong!”

“…… Ai, umm–––.”

“Uwhee? Is something wrong?”

“No, but …… How should I put this? Maybe …… you could, I don’t know …… Use better wording–––”

“???”

Ai looks like I just gave her brainteaser, leaning so far to the side her body looks like a—?—question mark.

“…… Double dong?”

“No!!”

Why does she think combining the two dongs makes it better?!

We arrived at Arashiyama while this back and forth was going on.

“Oh wow! So this is Arashiyama!”

Ai is just so impressed looking at the mountain from Togetsu-kyo Bridge that she can’t contain her excitement. 

She keeps saying, “It’s so pretty!”

The Katsura River is flowing beneath our feet.

This scenery has been written about in every possible way for centuries.

That being said, the ancient Japan vibe certainly isn’t as strong as it used to be.

It’s impossible to overlook all the souvenir shops between the historical sites or the continuous stream of tour buses shuttling in tourists who never stop taking selfies.

Streets in Kyoto are already some of the narrowest in Japan, which puts the traffic jams here on a level of their own.

“That’s a lot of tourists …… Maybe we should hurry on past,” I suggest once I get an Apprentice at Arashiyama picture. But Ai puts her foot down, which is unusual for her. 

“B-b-but! I want to buy souvenirs for my friends!”

“There’ll be time on the way out.”

“Awww!”

Ai tears her sorrowful eyes away from a souvenir shop. Man, that’s cute.

But she was back to her usual self in no time.

That’s because the road into Tenryuji Temple is jam-packed full of souvenir shops.

Since the number of tourists around plummets after we get away from Togetsu-kyo Bridge, we get to walk at our own pace down wide and open streets.

“It’s decently warm today, so why don’t we get some green tea ice cream?”

“Green tea!♡”

It’s synonymous with Kyoto. Walking down the streets while snacking on green tea flavored snow cones, ice cream, smoothies or whatever is lots of fun.

I take a few pictures of Ai licking her green tea ice cream cone and enjoying every bite on our way to the temple and we arrive in no time.

It’s impossible to miss because of the massive boulder with characters that spell out Tenryuji sitting out front.

“Temples host matches, too! I thought they always happened at inns or hotels.”

“Shogi can be played anywhere there’s a tatami room big enough for it. You might be surprised how many matches happen at temples.”

On the flipside, we have to stay and eat someplace else outside of the temples … more often than not.

While that’s inconvenient, of course, the history behind the settings and the quiet atmosphere make up for it. Lots of great matches take place inside of temple walls.

“Tenryuji Temple hosts quite a few title matches. The temple itself is a world heritage site and the grounds have been used as movie sets before.”

“In movies?!”

“Toei Uzumasa Movie Village is close by. Don’t you remember Filming Studio Station on the Randen?”

“So, that’s why!”

Kyoto’s various charms are working their magic on Ai. She’s hooked.

“Master, let’s hurry up and go inside!”

“Why don’t we walk around Sagano Shrine a bit first? We won’t have any time for sightseeing as soon as any of the association staff spot us.”

Looping away from Tenryuji Temple, we make for Sagano Shrine.

“This shrine is said to be good for people looking for relationships or to have kids.”

“!!”

“There is a divine stone statue on the grounds called the okameishi. Legend has it that any wish you have will be granted within a year with just one touch. Since we’re already here, why don’t we go pay it a visit?”

“Yes, let’s!!!!!” 

She’s chomping at the bit.

I should’ve known she was determined to become a strong Shogi player. Big Sis and I were the same way back when we were little.

Ai goes straight up to the divine statue and starts rubbing it like she’s expecting a genie to come out. After immortalizing this precious moment with a few photos, the two of us leave the shrine and head toward the mountain.

“Uwhee. There’s so much bamboo out here.”

“Very true. Heh heh heh ……”

How’s she going to react when she sees it?

A quick climb and we’re at Tenryuji Temple’s north exit. Except we go right past it and up another hill.

Then–––Ai comes to a surprised halt as soon as that road opens up in front of us.

“A bamboo archway! Oh …… wooow!!”

The sun is high in the sky right before lunchtime, but there’s enough bamboo on both sides to block out the rays.

“Bamboo Grove.”

You could say it’s Sagano’s biggest tourist attraction, but it doesn’t cost any money to go inside. Anyone can come and go as they please. That’s just how deep the history in Kyoto runs.

“I …… I’ve seen this place on TV!!”

Looking more impressed by this than anything else all day, Ai looks up at the sky through the bamboo stalks.

“Beautiful …… The air, the light, everything is green ……”

“Yep. Sure has that I’m in Kyoto feel to it.”

This place shows up in commercials all the time.

There are so many foreign tourists here that taking a picture without someone else in the frame is easier said than done. But, with a little luck and great timing, I get a nice Apprentice at Bamboo Grove picture. A very nice one!

All …… of my pictures have a grade school girl in them …… 

No, no. I’m just documenting my apprentice’s growth.

I don’t have any ulterior motives for taking pictures of a little girl. Ai’s parents (especially her mother) have been asking to see her smiling face a lot recently.

“Master, did you get a cute picture?”

“Y-yeah. A perfect one.”

“Let’s take one together this time!”

Ai goes up to the closest foreigner and says, “Footo puriizu!” 

They must have understood because they take a picture of the two of us.

Then they come up to her and say, “Hey sweetie, can we have a picture with you too?” and suddenly Ai is in the middle of their photo. She’s so cute I bet she looks like a Japanese doll to them. 

“Me too, me too!” Even more foreign tourists gather around and the next thing I know Ai is the star of an impromptu photo shoot.

Ai’s cute charms break language barriers …… 

“That’s one cute little sister you have there.”

I try to figure out how to respond to one of the foreign guys talking to me, but Ai says from my side.

“Hii izu mai masutaa! Doragon kingu!!”

“???”

…… That’s got to be confusing. Sorry.

Finally, the photo rush is over. Able to catch a breath, we retrace our steps back to Tenryuji Temple’s north gate.

… And get spotted by association staff the moment we step onto the grounds.

“Ah! Ryuo!”

“And Hinatsuru-sensei! Welcome, welcome! Please, right this way! Don’t be shy!”

It’s only been a year since she left the north coast.

This child who’s only played Shogi for a year and a half is now in a position to be called sensei.

That’s proof enough that the Shogi world revolves around talent.

The association employee leads us to the staff break room. I ask him about the match along the way.

“Has lunch break started?”

“Yes, it has. The challenger went to break during her turn a little early.”

“I see ……”

The rules say it’s fine for a player to use their own waiting time to start the break earlier than scheduled. I bet it’s easier to think things over in a private room rather than in front of the board.

Especially for someone as hotheaded as she is …… 

“Hello. I’m Yaichi Kuzuryu. Pardon me.”

“P-Please pardon me! Women’s League member, Ai Hinatsuru!!”

We stand in the staff break room doorway and announce ourselves in big voices.

Everyone is expected to introduce themselves like this whenever they travel to local title matches to do research on their own time. It’s important for members of the Sub League and Practice League to introduce themselves by saying their Master first. Since this is the first time Ai has come to a title match that I’m not playing in, I spoke a bit more formally than necessary to show her how things are done.

Adults tend to like kids with good manners.

Sure enough, all the geezers in Kyoto’s Shogi world take to her right away, offering her yatsuhashi, nikki ame and all sorts of candy and juice.

“Well, if it isn’t the Ryuo,” says a man dressed in traditional Japanese clothing sitting next to an analysis board when Ai and I come close.

Seiichi Tsukimitsu 9-dan. The Shogi Association chairman.

“Miss Ai Hinatsuru as well. How great of you to join us.”

“Th …… Thank you for having me! I’ve come to do research!!”

“Very admirable.”

The chairman is blind, but still looks in Ai’s direction and compliments her while smiling with his eyes.

Taking a look around, I notice something’s different.

“Huh? Did Ms. Oga go somewhere?”

Sasari Oga, the chairman’s secretary and retired Women’s League 1-dan, usually follows the chairman around like a shadow. It’s weird not seeing her with him.

“She is working as the match recorder today.”

“Ms. Oga is? That’s unusual.”

It’s not all that strange for retired players to be match recorders or Shogi journalists, but for her to spend time away from the chairman is just bizarre.

“She was born in Kyoto, you see. The locals will be much happier to see her in the spotlight than myself.”

“Ahh, I see.”

“The match recorder receives almost as much attention as the players themselves. I thought local Shogi fans would like an opportunity to see her in her element, so I assured her that I would be fine by myself.”

“But, did Ms. Oga protest? She didn’t cry or anything?”

“She said, One would rather die than be abandoned, in a very serious tone.”

That’s a hundred million times heavier than what I was thinking …… 

“T-That’s Ms. Oga, alright. She’s committed her life to you ……”

“I would prefer that she not shackle her own future for my sake.”

It’s not the chairman’s fault that …… Well, maybe it is if you look at the bigger picture.

“But she’s doing what she does because she wants to.”

“That puts me in a difficult position. She should not need to rely on me forever. As the saying goes, Let your darling children travel. Surely, Ryuo, you wish for your own apprentice to grow strong under her own steam, do you not?”

“Well, yes, I do, but …… Ai is already a full-fledged member of the Women’s League. She doesn’t rely on me much at all anymore.”

The chairman looks in Ai’s direction.

“How would you react, Miss Hinatsuru, if you were told something similar?”

“Well ……”

She thinks it over for a few seconds.

“I would do what Master asks to give him a false sense of security before finding proof that he’s seeing another woman.”

A shiver crawls up my spine as the chairman turns back to me and says, “Though, I must say,” with a smile. “Your timing is truly impeccable, Ryuo. She is waiting for you.”

“Come …… again?”

“Would you be willing to pay the challenger a visit?”

“Visit ……? As in, go to the break room? During lunch?”

“Precisely,” the chairman nods before he leans in and says quietly so that only I can hear, “because this match needs to be more competitive. You will see what I mean.”

“The heck’r you doin’ here, Trash-heap?!!”

That woman was halfway through her box lunch when she spits fire at the mere sight of me.

The Challenger–––Women’s King Ryou Tsukiyomizaka.

Since her mind was somewhere else when Match One of the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match was played in Tokyo, she got completely destroyed and is now against the ropes.

So, yeah, I wasn’t expecting a Yo, Yaichi! Nice to see you! by any means, but …… I didn’t think she’d be this bad.

If I were going to give this scene a name, it’d be Restless Youth.

She never wears any hakama over pants whenever she puts on a kimono, so she already looks like one of those women of the night …… But, with her obi sash hanging loose and those long legs out in the open like this, she looks more seductive than beautiful.

Just to be clear …… Very seductive.

I can’t have my grade school–aged apprentice seeing this, so I block Ai’s view with my back. She must be scared because she’s almost hiding behind me and has a good grip on my shirt.

Cautiously, very cautiously, I ask, “Y-you’re not drinking, right ……?”

“I ain’t gonna knock one back today. Not with all those people watching.”

…… Today?

“I can never get used to this freakin’ kimono. I loosened it up a bit so I could eat without getting squeezed half to death, but meh ……”

“Which is how this happened ……”

Men’s kimonos get tied with a sash around the waist, so they’re not that bad compared to women’s ones. They can be uncomfortable to wear while eating because the sash gets tied just under their boobs.

At that rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’d loosen the obi to get a breath of fresh air.

Even male pros strip down a bit during break time, so this wasn’t exactly a bad idea, but …… 

“Ehh, I can just get this all fixed up later. There’s gotta be an attendant around somewhere.”

“This is a temple, remember? You think there are any?”

An inn is one thing, but the chances that someone who knows how to put on a female kimono is just hanging around are pretty slim. A priestess, maybe?

“If anyone here would know how to fix that kimono, it’d be Machi. But, asking your opponent to fix year clothes would probably taste bad ……”

“Hah! I’d rather go back out there and play like this!”

“Oh, no, no! You can’t do that!! Think about what would happen if you showed up looking like this after I was in your breakroom during lunch!! Rumors would spread like wildfire!!”

“You better own up, Trash.”

“Own up to what?!”

This truly bizarre back-and-forth keeps going until–––.

“Uh …… umm ……”

Ai pokes her head out from her hiding place behind me and says in the tiniest voice, “I, I can tie obi ……”

“Not bad, Small Fry! You’re a lot more useful than that Master of yours.”

Ryou is thrilled.

“I’ll even tip you if I get this title. How’s 500 yen grab you?”

That’s all ……?

“Excuse me, Tsukiyomizaka-sensei? Don’t forget that this girl here is already a member of the Women’s League …… One that you’ve played against before ……”

“Shut it, useless Trash! Learn something from your pint-sized apprentice and make yourself handy. What’re you even doing here, anyway?”

I’d love to leave right about now.

While part of me regrets coming to Kyoto at all, I just know I’ll get an earful from the chairman if I back out now. I can already see it.

Pushing forward is hell, and hell is waiting if I go back …… Meaning, going forward would be the lesser of two hells.

“But, what could I possibly do? Giving any Shogi advice would cause all sorts of problems and I’d be labeled as a cheater for helping you. But I can’t do anything other than Shogi ……”

“Tell me a funny story.”

“Hoooow?!!”

Listen, just because someone lives in Osaka doesn’t mean they can come up with something hilarious on the spot!

But, in the end, I know she just wants distraction.

“It’s your fault if I lose, got that?”

“That’s a bit much, don’t you think ……?”

The title match is over if Ryou loses today.

The wonderful people of Kyoto City have spent the last year making sure everything is ready for a third match. All their time and planning will go to waste if she can’t pull out a win.

I don’t know what the Match Two board looks like right now, but judging from Ryou’s mood, I’d say things aren’t going well for her.

It’s not every day she sighs to herself and complains left and right.

“Besides, Machi’s got too much of an advantage in Kyoto. Anything and everything goes her way. The location, the dress, even the food …… I’m away, simple as that.”

“……”

I honestly do feel sorry for her about that.

Machi Kugui was born and raised in Kyoto. Add in the fact that her family descended from nobility, and there’s no person alive worthier of holding the title Yamashiro Ouka.

Basically–––no one wants anyone else to hold that title.

Of course, nobody’s going to say that to Ryou’s face.

Even so, I bet she can feel that vibe through her skin in a big match like this one. People in Kyoto are experts at getting their true feelings across without words anyway.

So long as Ryou isn’t totally oblivious,

…… Is it okay for me to become Yamashiro Ouka?

Or: Screw it!! I’ll take that big, fat title you love so much and shove it in all your faces!!

She’s feeling one way or the other.

No matter which one though, it won’t help her Shogi at all. Strong emotions of any kind make reading the board next to impossible.

Ryou points at her boxed lunch with the chopsticks in her hand and says, “What …… is this stuff? Like … vegetarian? I get that it’s healthy or whatever, but it does nothing for me ……”

“I can relate to what you’re saying.”

I also feel sorry for her about this.

There are tons of options for lunch whenever matches take place at inns or hotels, but we have to take whatever’s available when we play at temples, shrines or civic centers.

Ryou is unusual among Women’s League players because she eats a lot during matches. Probably, she can’t focus without a full stomach.

Little things like that can have a big effect on matches.

Not that Machi, who eats next to nothing, anticipated that weakness and had any control over today’s menu.

“All I’m asking you is to improve the atmosphere so I can enjoy something while scarfing down this tasteless rabbit food. Entertain me.”

Who died and made you king?

But–––.

“Food, hmm ……”

Word has it that Shogi has become popular enough that a manga was recently made about the food players eat during matches, so more people are asking us about that.

Commentators always need to have a few stories prepared to fill time during title matches, so I have a small stock ready to go at all times.

Yes, yes.

There is one story I have about food and Shogi.

“Let me tell you about what happened about a month after Ai came to Kansai–––.”

“Wheeew~~ ……! That was another long day of Shogi.”

“Long day.”

Ai and I stretch in unison after a full day of practice matches at the Kansai Shogi Association’s second floor classroom and give our exhausted minds and bodies a break.

April. Osaka.

I–––holder of the Shogi world’s top title of Dragon King Ryuo—Yaichi Kuzuryu am with my first apprentice, a little girl who just started the fourth grade.

Ai Hinatsuru.

Originally from a traditional style Japanese inn on the north coast, this grade schooler came all the way down here by herself and, after many twists and turns, ended up living with me in my apartment not too far away from the association.

Long story short: she’s my live-in apprentice.

That’s how I’ve ended up living like a father of one at the age of 16. I have to figure out what my apprentice wants for dinner each night …… But the thought of going home and cooking right now is such a drag.

“Ai. What’s your favorite food?” I ask as I put the Shogi pieces back in their box. 

My apprentice makes scissors with her fingers as she says, “Cwabby!”

“Crab, huh? It’s not in season, though ……… Oh, what about yakiniku?”

“I love it! I could eat it every day!”

“That settles it! Let’s go chow down on some meat for a pick-me-up before heading home!”

“Yaaay! Meat! Meat!!”

Yakiniku is a style of Japanese BBQ where you get to cook beef, pork or chicken at a grill built into the table.

And Ai can’t wait to go. She’s bouncing around like an explosion of happiness.

Yep! She’s adorable.

I don’t have a Lolita complex or anything, but there’s nothing more precious than a happy little girl. Not in that lolicon way, though.

“But, just the two of us going would be kind of lonely, don’t you think? Mind if I invite some other Shogi players along?”

“Sure! Food tastes better with company♪”

“You got that right! I’ll run up to the Player’s Room real fast.”

Only then, once I went up to the third floor and poked my head inside the Player’s Room and saw who was there, did I realize I’d made a terrible, horrible mistake.

That’s how these things work. You don’t realize how bad your move is before you make it. Only after you take your hand away does it hit you …… 

“……”

“……”

“……”

The three of us are silent, sitting in a booth at a restaurant called Sumibi Yakiniku Koyan, which is only a five-minute walk away from the association.

By three of us I mean it’s me, Ai–––and Big Sis.

All because Ginko Sora-dual title, my elder sister apprentice who is actually younger than me but joined Master Kiyotaki’s Shogi family tree before I did, happened to be in the Player’s Room when I stopped by, our fun yakiniku dinner filled with laughter and funny stories turned into a silent staring contest.

On a side note, our conversation on the way here consisted of, “Big Sis, what did you do t ……”

 “Shogi.” 

The end. 

What is this: purgatory ……?

What’s worse.

“…… Hey. That girl sitting over there ……”

“Holy?! That’s Snow White ……?!”

“Who’da think that borin’ guy she’s with is ……?”

People at the tables around us start whispering amongst themselves the moment we sit down.

Big Sis has an immensely popular nickname: Naniwa’s Snow White. So many people have heard of her she’s more like an idol in Osaka than a Shogi player.

She gets looks that would put real idols to shame. Skin white like snow and her silver hair make her stand out in a crowd. What’s more, she’s so talented that she claimed the two highest Women’s Shogi Titles, Queen and Women’s Throne, when she was still in grade school. Now in her third year in junior high, her perfect record in Women’s League matches ever since her debut four years ago sounds like something out of a storybook. Big Sis is pretty much a living legend at this point.

I’m not half bad myself, turning pro in junior high and becoming the youngest Ryuo ever, but Big Sis’s beyond human persona overshadows me at every turn. Not that I really care …… It’s fine, okay?!!

“Uh, um ……”

The one braving this uncomfortable, icy atmosphere is Ai.

“Master? Are you sure it’s okay for us to eat here? Everything looks so expensive ……”

“No problem. He made bank last year.”

Big Sis, not me, answers like I’m obviously going to pay for everything.

By the way, every top Shogi player’s total prize money each year is made public. The fact that I, as the Ryuo, make XX hundred thousand yen with each victory and all the money I’ve won in tournaments is available for anyone to see. In other words, Big Sis knows exactly what I’ve got in my wallet.

“His winnings from the Ryuo Title Match come in this year, so he could lose every match and still have more than 40 million yen. Even if he loses his title, just playing in big matches like that gets you something like 5 million, right? Must be nice, being rich. Anyone could keep their own grade school girl pet with that kind of money.”

“…… I wasn’t asking you, Auntie.”

“Who do you think you’re calling Auntie, pipsqueak?”

Butting heads already, these two.

For Big Sis and Ai, who haven’t liked each other since the moment they met, talking like this is like opening a Shogi match with 7 Six Pawn and 3 Four Pawn. In other words, the gloves come off whenever these two are in the same room and I wish they’d cut it already.

“E-easy there, Big Sis. In terms of our Shogi family tree, you are Ai’s aunt so to speak ……”

“Even so, I’m not Auntie. She should be addressing me properly as Sora-sensei or at least Miss Sora, yes?”

“I won’t.”

“Pipsqueak ……”

“Easy there, easy. Eaaasy, easy, easy,” I cut in between them. We could solve this so easily with Shogi if we were at my apartment or the association, but things could get ugly way too quick without any pieces around.

“Sorry, Big Sis. You see, Ai … she’s only just become my apprentice and still has a lot to learn about common sense in the Shogi world …… I’ll make sure to teach her right as soon as we get home. Okay?”

“……”

Big Sis puckers her lips, which she almost never does, and slams me like a kid.

“You’re covering for her?”

“I-I wouldn’t say covering …… But, it’s the Master’s job to teach their apprentice, right?”

“…… Hmh.”

“W-What? Is there something you’re trying to say?”

“Oh, no. What’s wrong with you liking little girls like some lolicon?”

“Look, I’m not like that, okay?! My apprentice just happens to be in grade school, that’s all!!”

“Which would you take as an apprentice, given the choice? A junior high school student or an elementary school student?”

“Huh? The grade schooler, of course.”

“……”

“No, no, no! Who wouldn’t?! Everything in the Shogi world revolves around talent, yeah?! That means the younger, the better, yeah?! Besides, I was six years old when I became an apprentice and you were four, Big Sis! In kindergarten!”

Thunk! That was loud.

Looking around, it seems that Ai dropped the menu she was holding and it hit the floor. It’s not all that bright in here, but I can tell that she’s pale as a ghost.

“M-Master ……”

Shaking like there’s no tomorrow, Ai takes hold of my sleeve and yells.

“Am I …… am I too old for you?!”

The whole restaurant freezes over.

“J-Just barely, but I’m …… still in single digits, and I’m not very tall so I might still be able to fit into kindergarten clothes …… Ah!! Oh no, I’ll be turning ten soon ……!”

“Hold up. Wait just a second, Ai. That’s not what I was talking about–––.”

“Master! I’ll, I’ll do the best I can! I’ll be just like the cute little girls Master likes! I’ll put off my birthday so I can stay younger that much longer!! I’ll do anything, so please …… Please ……!!”

“Okay! Alright!! Nine-year-olds are just fine!!”

“…… Really?”

“Yes, really!! I love grade school girls!!”

“…… As dates, too?”

“T-That I do. Nine-year-olds are already young ladies if you ask me.”

“E-he-he♡ I love you too, Master!”

Ai dives into my chest, smiling from ear to ear with tears in her eyes.

Big Sis is looking at me like what’s left of a smooshed bug on the side of the road. The restaurant staff and other customers are staring right along with her. Yakiniku restaurants are supposed to be hot, but it’s got to be below freezing in here.

I’ll never be able to eat here again, will I ……? I liked this place, too …… 

“Enough of this pointless banter. I’m ordering.”

Completely unfazed by all the wide-eyed stairs in our direction, Big Sis grabs the menu and thinks for a few moments before summoning a waitress.

“Excuse me. Could I get three servings of the top roast, three of the special boneless ribs, three of the outside skirt cut, three square cuts of rump, three servings of beef guts …… make it four, three Chateaubriand tenderloin and three bowls of rice and one bowl of stone-roasted Korean bibimbap rice. Three extra plates, too. Also, three servings of mino rumen, heart and cheek meat each. Oh, and three orange juices. That’s all for now.”

Hungry, are we?

“Hey, uh, Big Sis ……? Are you sure it’s a good idea starting off with top roast and boneless ribs? They’re pretty fatty.”

There’s a Shogi word called overplay, which basically means doing too much. It’s better to start with something light, like tongue.

“Huuh? I’m starving here, so let me eat something I can feel. Oh, excuse me, waitress. Three black-marbled sirloin steaks as well, please.”

“I’m saying you ordered way too much already!! Listen when someone’s talking to you!!”

“What’s wrong with ordering meat at a yakiniku restaurant?! A few pieces of marbled sirloin are nothing to a title holder!!”

“Marbled, marbled, enough! You might as well slide your Rook too, going out on a limb like that!! You’re Static Rook party so stick to the standards, not some marbled offshoot!!”

“Food has nothing to do with Static or Ranging Rook! What’s a Static Rook party member supposed to eat, anyway?!”

“S …… Static …… steaks?”

“Huuh? What kind of meat is that?”

“Ummm …… The hindquarters? Or something ……?” I say while glancing at the menu.

There is a note explaining that rump is the soft meat on the hind legs. It also says that cow pelvises are shaped like an H. So that’s why it’s called an H bone. I learned something new.

Plates of raw meat start arriving at our table while the argument rages on.

“Wow! Everything looks so good!!”

“Look at all those yummy white streaks!”

I can tell Ai is getting excited. One look at all those tenderloins and ribs glinting like powdered snow in this dim restaurant is making my mouth water.

“I’ll start grilling.”

Naniwa’s Snow White grabs the nearest set of tongs and starts laying out the cuts of meat on the wire mesh grill top. Not to be outdone, I start doing the same. Ai’s hands are too small to hold the tongs, so she’s eagerly watching the meat cook from her seat.

That’s when the trouble starts.

Big Sis doesn’t know the meaning of the word patience. She’s the type of person who likes to cook as much meat as possible by filling up every available space on the grill.

On the other hand, I prefer to slowly cook each and every piece to grilled perfection. There’s a charm to that perfect piece of meat fresh off the grill. You can’t just line up slices of meat on the grill and hope for the best.

It’s that difference of opinion that sends sparks flying.

“Yaichi, your efficiency needs work.”

“Okay then, Big Sis. Maybe you should update your technique? You know, people haven’t mixed meats on the grill like that since the 1960s.”

“Oh yeah? Why are you grilling so slow? There’ll never be enough ready for the three of us like that. Don’t waste space.”

“You’re the wasteful one, Big Sis. Seriously, you’re such a newbie at this it’s embarrassing.”

“Huuh? Are you blind? Just look at this perfect formation and tell me what’s being wasted.”

“Right there. That space.”

“Where?”

“Right there, see?”

“Tell me, would you?”

“…… Like – I – said!”

I switch my brain from yakiniku mode into Shogi mode and say, “That skirt cut sitting at 5 Six was clearly a bad move! Get it out of the way ASAP and advance the rib up from 5 Two.”

“But, the rib can only move up the fourth column, yes? Doing that would make a meat tower on the fourth column, and I can tell just by looking that it’s a terrible formation. Nothing can move in a jam like that.”

“What are you talking about?! Moving that rib to 5 Six would make the fatty oils drip onto the flame and make it bigger, yeah? Then heat would reach the meat from 3 Six to 6 Four. Everything would cook faster, so we could get them off the grill before things get jammed up.”

“Huuuuh? Counting on dripping oil to cook meat faster? That doesn’t make any sense! What are you supposed to do if the oil doesn’t drip? It’s a bad formation, simple as that.”

“You still don’t get it? I’m saying you should think about how the meats work in tandem and spread out the formation. Yeesh, no wonder journalists always say you focus on skirmishes but not the big picture.”

“Ohhh? Is that something someone who holds out so long in the late game that opponents get annoyed into making mistakes should be saying?”

“Well, I happened to win a title that way.”

“I have titles, remember? Two of them to be exact.”

“A title’s worth is measured in numbers.”

“True. But maybe you should say that once you have more than one.”

“Anyway, I’m going to work some worldly magic on that wasteful formation of yours!”

“This is my territory, got it? The Sora Zone. Reach beyond that line and I’ll knock you out.”

True to her word, she blocks my tong with her own as soon as I reach over the grill. Two tongs collide in the air like clashing blades as the real battle gets underway ……!

“The meat is ready, so I’ll get it off the grill, okay?”

Left out of our intense debate, Ai leans forward with her chopsticks at the ready and starts plucking the meat off the grill and onto smaller plates one by one before deploying new pieces onto the grill like pieces off a piece stand. She’s surprisingly good at rolling with the punches.

Then, she looks up at me with pleading eyes.

“Master. I’m so hungry (>-<)” 

“Hm? Oh, sorry, sorry. Go ahead and eat.”

“Yaaay!” she says with glee and smacks her hands together. 

Big Sis and I call a temporary truce to our never-ending debate, pick up chopsticks and dig in.

As for the flavor–––.

“Hnn! That’s good♪”

“…… Not half bad,” Big Sis mumbles, her face a blank slate.

She’s constantly going to inns and hotels all over Japan to defend her titles. Those places always use the best ingredients to serve top-of-the-line dishes, so Big Sis has a surprisingly good idea what fine dining tastes like for a girl in junior high school. If she says something is good, you can take that to the bank. I’d love to eat here again …… But, that just won’t happen …… 

Just as I was bemoaning my fate and chewing the meat between my teeth, the cutest little squeal happens next to me.

“Owwchee!”

“Something wrong, Ai? Are you okay?”

“Too hooot ……”

“Hey, now, don’t burn your mouth. Let the meat cool off a bit before you eat it, okay?”

“I whill.”

It seems my apprentice has a sensitive tongue. So cute.

Keeping her promise, Ai starts blowing on the next piece with little puffs of air with a hint of desperation in her eyes. Cute. My apprentice is adorable.

Then, once the steam had died down, she timidly puts it in her mouth.

“And? Is it good?”

“Yep! ♡”

My apprentice looks up at me with a smile that could very well melt off her face at any moment and gives me a big nod. Her legs are swinging back and forth beneath the table like a happy puppy wagging its tail. So damn cute.

That smile is enough to keep me full for a long time.

I’ve always come to yakiniku restaurants determined to eat as many pieces of meat as I possibly could, but now I want my apprentice to have as many as she can handle.

“Alrighty! Keep that grill burning!!”

I roll my shoulders and pick up my tongs.

Some pieces of meat are ready, but they’re scattered among others that need more time on the grill.

To make matters worse, there are holes where meat was already taken off which is messing up the formation and the smoke coming off other pieces is making it hard to see.

But, it’s a pro’s job to sort through the chaos ……!

“Here we go! I’ll grill you up but good!!”

“Yaichi …… Was that supposed to be a pun like Static steaks? Do you think yakiniku is just some game? Your formation is literally burning up.”

“Don’t look now, Big Sis, but your loin at 8 Three is burnt to a crisp.”

“Promote. Promote it now.”

She means flip it over. 8 Three loin promotes.

Bursts of flame erupt from every corner of the grill. It’s time for lightning quick decisions. We follow the yakiniku standards to the letter in a furious round of give-and-take! Intense!!

“Eat this, Big Sis! Move-Loss Loin Exchange!”

“Naïve, Yaichi! Gutless yakiniku will never hold out.”

“Big Sis, all those mino cuts won’t protect …… Huh!! T-That’s–––a Mino Castle?!”

At some point during this back-and-forth, Ai starts frowning and looks up at the two of us with a very sour look in her eyes.

“It’s impolite to play with your food!!”

“S-Sorry ……”

Once we’d mostly eaten our way through what Big Sis ordered to start with, we could finally sit back and relax for a bit.

“Whew. I was worried for a bit there, but we finished the job pretty nicely.”

“My tummy is sooo full (>-<)” 

Ai gently rubs her bulging stomach as she makes the cutest little groan. She looks like a cute little toddler.

By the way, give the final shove in the Shogi world literally means to take down the opponent’s King. Generally speaking, it can also mean to finish what you start.

In this instance, it means to clean your plate. Back when I was a live-in apprentice, Keika always said, “Finish every bite, even what you don’t like.” Unfortunately, Big Sis would always shove whatever she didn’t like onto my plate.

“Man, that was good …… But, I’d like something else after all that meat.”

I open the menu and think for a bit.

“Alright, mixed veggies and chilled noodles should hit the spot. You want anything, Ai?”

“Umm ……………… Pudding, please!”

“Is it just me, or were you looking at my hair instead of the menu when you said that?”

There happened to be cold pudding on the menu anyway, so I order that. Capping off the meal with a cold treat sounds pretty good.

“Anything for you, Big Sis? There’s sherbet ice cream.”

“Three Mangalica porkchops. Pork liver, too.”

“Are you seriously ordering more meat?!”

“I should be the one asking you why you’re ordering vegetables at a yakiniku restaurant. Are you brain-dead? Go harvest some in the fields if you want a salad so bad.”

What are you, a kid?!

“Come on, Big Sis. Shouldn’t you have at least something green? Eating too much meat can take years off your life, you know?”

“Why should I care? I won’t live that long anyway.”

“Why is it only people who think like that end up living long lives? You’ll probably keep those titles ’til you’re past 70.”

“……”

She doesn’t say anything. Rather, she screams hurry up and order with her eyes.

Winning a verbal argument with Big Sis is impossible, so I summon our waitress and place the order. She must be a veteran because she replaces the wire grill with a fresh one at the same time.

The meat and mixed vegetables I ordered arrived after a few minutes. Pudding, too.

Meat for Big Sis. Veggies for me. Since our orders are as different as Go and Shogi, there’s no reason to fight. Peace has come to the grill.

…… Or, at least I thought so.

“Master, hey Master.” Ai, swinging her legs while chowing down on her frozen pudding (yummy♡), looks at the veggies I’m roasting on the grill and asks, “What do Shogi Senseis eat during their matches?”

“Well, all I can really say is everyone is different.”

Taking a spoonful of Ai’s pudding, I explain what pro Shogi players like to have on the menu.

“I’ve usually got so much nervous energy that I don’t eat much of anything for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Too much food at night makes me sleepy …… A few sugary snacks here and there give my brain enough nutrients to keep working.”

“Snacks♡”

“Delicious, aren’t they? The important thing is to efficiently replenish the sugar in your body. Sir Ayumu actually imports blood orange juice from overseas.”

“Oh, I see. No one gets sleepy drinking juice!”

I bet he’s not thinking that deep into it. Chances are he just liked the sound of the word blood and went with it.

“He and I are pretty similar, but there are some people who eat so much that you wonder if they’re going to be okay.”

“Playing Shogi can make you hungry.”

“I’ve seen players order extra chicken for their fried chicken set lunch, ate puffer fish stew the morning of a title match, order two set lunches for some reason …… Oh, and one person I know only eats curry.”

What’s more, they spend more than half of their match journals talking about curry so it’s hard to tell when they’re talking about Shogi.

“Big Sis. Why do you think they’re always getting curry?”

“Beats me. I think they said something about how all the spices keep the brain moving ……”

Yeah right.

“They’ve been observers for my title matches several times, but it’s such a pain because all I hear is try the curry, just try the curry over and over again ……”

“But Jinya Curry, I’d eat any day.”

Everyone in the Shogi world knows about Jinya Curry.

It’s a super special recipe that the famous Tsurumaki Onsen Hot Spring Spa in Kanagawa Prefecture only serves to players and association staff during title matches.

“But you need to be real careful ordering lunch during title matches. That’s important. Hotels and inns like to put their own spin on things so sometimes you’ll be going huh? when something completely different from what you ordered shows up.”

There’s nothing scarier than seeing “~~~ Style ~~~with sides” on the menu.

Looking at it like that, ordering curry all the time might not be a bad idea. Curry is curry no matter where you go. Obvious, sure, but that’s the most important thing.

“Big Sis, how do you decide what to order during title matches? Have any sure-fire suggestions?”

“Meat.”

That was fast. She never wavers.

“You’ve always loved meat, haven’t you, Big Sis? That’s why you grew up to be so aggressive …… Take a good look, Ai. This is what happens when you only eat meat, so make sure to eat your veggies, clear?” I say half-jokingly (which also means half of me is serious), but Big Sis didn’t take my joke as well as I thought she would.

“And you’ve grown up only eating greens, yes, Yaichi? Just like a little rabbit, remember? Put a perfectly good piece of meat in front of you … and nooooothing! You wouldn’t even touch it!!”

“What’s got you so worked up ……?”

That’s all I could say from under Big Sis’s overwhelmingly intimidating aura. Vegetables are good for you, so what’s the problem ……? I’ve been living on my own for a while now, so I’m trying to eat healthy …… 

My apprentice looks up with a smile at Big Sis, who’s flaming bright like the pork chops on the grill, and says between bites of her pudding, “That’s because the meat didn’t look good.”

“Want a pike through your skull?!”

Big Sis tears into the grade school girl rivaling the pillars of flame bursting into the air with each drop of oil, but Ai isn’t fazed. 

Pudding in one hand, she says with all the confidence in the world, “Younger meat is softer and more delicious. Older meat is harder to eat because it gets hard and smelly.”

“Huuuh? Maybe if it gets too old, but meat when it’s matured to just the right age is so much better than when it’s young. Everyone knows that.”

“That’s not true. The younger the meat, the juicier and more flavorful it is.”

“Clueless pipsqueaks should keep their mouths shut. Matured flavor reigns supreme. You think so too, right Yaichi?”

“Say what? M-me?!”

The flames are coming my way!!

“That’s not how it is, right Master? The younger the better is what you like, isn’t it? You said so before, didn’t you?”

“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about, Yaichi. After all, you’re not one of those lolicons, yes? You are normal, right?”

“Uhh …… what? Why do you bring up lolicons just now?”

“Just answer.”

They snap in unison, leaning into my face at the same time.

“Younger is better. Right, Master?”

“Matured is better. Yes, Yaichi?”

I’m cornered.

Young meat, or meat that’s mature.

………… I really don’t care either way …… 

Huh? Whaat? I’ve never thought about meat being young. I just eat the meat that gets served, so how should I know how young it was?

But, judging by the serious looks in their eyes, I won’t be getting out of here without giving an answer.

“Well …… I guess matured would taste better, don’t you think? Even vegetables need time to grow, otherwise they’re too bitter.”

“!!”

In that moment, Big Sis’s face sparkles brighter than I’ve seen it in years, while Ai looks like she’s fallen into a hellish pit of despair.

Grinning from ear to ear, Big Sis snatches a piece of meat with the tongs.

“That’s absolutely right. Now, Yaichi, eat some meat. Take a bite out of a nice, mature piece of delicious meat.”

“Nah, I’ve had enough already–––.”

“I said eat.”

“Yes.”

I swallow the piece of fatty pork shoved into my mouth. I think I’m gonna puke …… 

My apprentice follows up the attack, her eyes tearing up as she puts the nail in my coffin by screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Master, you dara! Big fat liar!! You just said younger is better!!”

“D-Did I?”

“You said that you would date younger!!”

“Say what?! Why would I ever go out with meat?!”

The heck is she talking about?! Grade schoolers have such wild imaginations!!

“Here, have more meat. Yaichi. More, more.”

“Master, you liar!! Cougar lover!!”

Big Sis is shoving meat I don’t want in my face while my apprentice is ranting just inches from my ear and the whole restaurant is staring right at us–––.

I’ve had enough yakiniku to last a lifetime!!

*This short story first appeared in GanGan GA Magazine