Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 9 - Chapter 1.4

  THE TWO YOUNG ONES OF THE DRAGON KING

“Who …… Who came up with this crazy schedule?!”

The moment the Queen Title Match schedule is presented to us in the Kansai Association’s third floor office meeting room, the little girl dressed in black jumps to her feet and lashes out.

Ai Hinatsuru, sitting next to her, says, “T-Ten-chan …… Calm down ……,” in an attempt to keep the situation under control. But, Ai Yashajin ignores her and presses for answers.

“Three matches are within only 10 days of each other …… The fourth and fifth matches aren’t even set! Is this some kind of joke?!”

“…… One does wish to apologize.”

The person sitting across from us, association employee Sasari Oga, bites her lip and lowers her head.

She has enough influence to be called the Shadow Don, but her usual look of being in total control is gone.

“Many unexpected happenings have occurred in quick succession …… Though it pains me to admit, the situation has exceeded the association’s ability to manage,” Ms. Oga explains with a hint of exhaustion showing on her face.

I can hear Chairman Tsukimitsu talking on the phone on the other side of the door in the next room. They must be using every second of every minute to negotiate with everyone involved.

It’s true that the overlapping of title matches has completely destroyed the association’s schedule. Me becoming the big board analyst for the whole Queen Title Match series is proof enough of that.

Regular league matches can be moved around based on when the players and the match recorder have time, but it’s not that easy for title matches.

There are Shogi journalists, people managing the online coverage, a high-ranking observer, association publicists, the big board commentator and analyst …… So many more people are involved.

“At the same time two consecutive King Title Matches end in stalemates and the Meijin’s 100th title season is upon us, the amount of attention the Queen Title Match and 3-dan division are receiving is far beyond yearly norms …… which has resulted in next to no scheduling flexibility at this time.”

“I understand the situation, but this is my precious young apprentice’s first title match. As her Master, I want her to have the opportunity to be in peak condition.”

Ai Yashajin makes a small humph sound when I say precious apprentice. Meanwhile, Ai Hinatsuru puffs out her cheeks with an angry mmph! Kids are so hard to understand ……

“It is just as you say, Dragon King Ryuo,” Ms. Oga bows her head to me before turning to face the still standing Ai Yashajin. “Under normal circumstances, each match in the series for a title match would have been scheduled and announced far in advance. Though the situation prevented that this time, one truly wishes to apologize to you, Ms. Yashajin.”

“……”

“That being said, we believe this schedule is best for all parties involved. Great measures have been taken in order to assure that the matches will take place in the best possible environment.”

Ms. Oga sounds sincere.

Of the three matches that are scheduled, one is in Osaka and another in Kobe. And one home match for both Big Sis and Ai Yashajin will help keep transportation issues to a minimum.

That’s especially true for the first match, which will happen in a place that is actually more of a home for Ai than Big Sis right here in Osaka.

The second match is a little far away, but we can trust the hosts for that one.

“……………”

Still on her feet, Ai Yashajin closes her eyes and tries with all her might to get her anger under control without saying a word.

Ai Hinatsuru watches from her chair, looking worried.

“This is just my opinion, not based on anything in particular–––.”

Hiding the fact that I just talked with Big Sis the other day, I address my second apprentice.

“As far as Big Sis is concerned, she is about to become the first female member of the 3-dan division. I’m sure she wants to finish the Queen Title Match as soon as possible so she can prepare for that. Women’s League Titles just aren’t all that important to her.”

I glance over at Ms. Oga.

“I’m also sure that the association would like to use her battle against Ai in the Queen Title Match for publicity and then have that carry over right into the 3-dan division, right? There are other story lines going on as well, like the first 3-dan grade schooler and the businessman who got into the 3-dan division through the Admission Exam.”

“While the association is hoping for a publicity boost in that regard, the main concern is Sora-Queen’s health. Therefore, her request was given priority in this matter,” Ms. Oga says flatly.

It’s only natural that title holders have priority when setting the schedule for title matches. If you have a problem with it, just claim the title for yourself.

It’s just …… If Big Sis specifically asked for this schedule, there must be a strong meaning or message behind it.

Closing her eyes, Ai Yashajin says with a tone so cold the room almost freezes over, “…… I see how it is. Basically, she thinks she’ll defeat me three times in a row.”

“…………”

Ms. Oga’s and my silence confirm what she said.

There’s really no point in denying it, and this girl is so smart that she sees right through adults lying to her.

“I’ll win the first three matches anyway, so just schedule them …… I want this over and done with before the 3-dan division starts.”

I can just see her asking for the schedule.

When suddenly, “Ah!” Ai Hinatsuru looks up at me like she’s just realized something important. “So, that’s why the fourth and fifth matches will be at the Kansai Association!!”

“The last two matches are always at the association ……”

The Women’s League doesn’t have the budget to play anyplace else ……

“While money was indeed an issue, scheduling arenas also presented a significant challenge. Back to the matter at hand ……”

Ms. Oga brings us back to the start of the conversation.

In the end, it’s a timing problem and there’s no way to fix it.

“What is your answer, Ms. Yashajin? Should you refuse the current schedule, we will of course look into alternatives. In the worst-case scenario, this would result in all matches being played at the Kanto and Kansai Associations, but ……”

“This is fine. I’ll accept the schedule,” says Ai Yashajin with her usual arrogant confidence and determination, flipping her silky hair over her shoulder with the palm of her hand like a black wing at the same time. 

Then, she makes a declaration of her own.

“She will have to deal with the short preparation time as well. Actually, she’ll be more focused on the 3-dan division, yes? I won’t be in her line of sight, which gives me the chance to land a punch from her blind spot.”

Ai punches her own palm, making a sound like a firecracker as she spoke.

“If I can get her reeling from the start, all I have to do is keep up the pressure so she never has a chance to get up. I’ll make her regret asking for this schedule!”

“Yes. That’s the spirit.”

As her Master, it’s reassuring to hear her competitiveness coming through.

Ai is in a good spot mentally.

Big Sis is obviously the stronger of the two, but Ai Yashajin doesn’t know how scary she is just yet. That gives her a chance to win.

I’m in a strange position though …… I don’t want Big Sis to be under too much pressure, but I also don’t want Ai to lose ……

“Thank you for your understanding.” Once Ms. Oga makes a deep bow, she turns to me and says, “Moving on … about your request concerning Ms. Hinatsuru–––.”

“……!!”

Even before me, I can tell my first apprentice freezes up on the spot.

Glancing at her, I listen to what Ms. Oga has to say as she dons a very professional tone.

“The board concluded that it would be best to not move forward with it.”

“I see ……”

Dejected, I let out a long sigh.

“I was thinking that Ai seeing the title match from the boardside table as the match recorder would be a valuable experience for her, but ……”

Working as a match recorder has been called the perfect training method for a long, long time because they get to watch the match closer than anyone else.

Though some people dispute just how much someone’s Shogi skill can increase by being the match recorder because of how easy it is to follow matches over the Internet …

That being said, there are tons of people who say they want to record a title match at least once in their lifetime.

Keika gave me one extra piece of advice the day that Ai Yashajin became the Queen Challenger. Which was–––.

“Make sure that Ai is involved in the title match. Get her as close to it as you can.”

That’s it.

She suggested making her the match recorder, and I couldn’t have agreed more. Even Ai Hinatsuru said, “I want to do it!” the moment I asked her about.

I’m sure she wanted to help her younger sister apprentice in some way during the title match and there’s probably some excitement left over from seeing the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match the other day.

Unfortunately, the association’s answer was no.

“U-umm …… Does that mean that I’m not good enough yet?!” says Ai, desperately looking to Ms. Oga for answers. “If I don’t have enough experience, I’ll go record matches every single day! I know there isn’t much time left, but …… but I’ll work very hard! Please …… Please ……!!”

“That is not the issue here.” The young Women’s League player’s straightforward enthusiasm washes over Ms. Oga like an intense spotlight, so she takes a moment to compose herself before saying, “The association has high expectations for you, Ms. Hinatsuru, and we would be more than happy to have your name attached to a title match record. Were this any other title match, your proposal would be accepted with open arms. However ……”

That’s when it all clicks for me.

“Then, the real problem is–––.”

“Yes. The Family Ties Regulation.”

The observer and match recorder have to be from outside the Shogi family trees of both players to make sure everything stays fair. That’s why this rule is known as The Family Ties Regulation.

Of course, Ai Hinatsuru and I know about it.

However, there is one exception.

“In the case that both players belong to the same family, the match recorder may as well …… Sora-Queen is Kiyotaki 9-dan’s apprentice while Ai Yashajin and Ai Hinatsuru are both his granddaughter apprentices. Therefore, it should be possible to treat them as members of the same family tree. That was your reasoning, Ryuo, is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“Unfortunately, we cannot make such an exception.”

“…… Not that the match recorder can do much to help a player during a match.”

“Yes, but rules are rules. The board has made the decision that Shogi family tree only pertains to a Master and their apprentices in this situation.”

“Isn’t there anything you can ……?”

“No. Not in this instance.”

The Shogi Association tends to approve special circumstances, to let customary things just disappear and to be flexible depending on the situation quite a bit.

Just, not this time.

“I do have a proposal on this matter.” Ms. Oga finally smiles like usual and says, “In order for Ms. Hinatsuru to observe the title match as closely as possible, the association has come up with a different offer. Specifically–––.”

“Huh?”

Both Ai Hinatsuru and I tilted our heads at Ms. Oga’s suggestion.

“Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh–––?!”

The shock is just too much to contain. Come again?!