Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 9 - Chapter 4.3

  THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE

On the morning of one specific match.

In a still empty Player’s Room in the Kansai Shogi Association, two people met face-to-face.

“Miss Hinatsuru. Have you made preparations for writing your article?”

The journalist Mato, with her long black hair tied up in a bun and a camera on her shoulder, kindly asked Ai Hinatsuru as the young girl inspected her voice recorder.

A little nervous, Ai answered, “Yes, I have! Um, I’ve played a few practice matches with Ten-chan and researched with her for a little while, too ……”

“Then you have been collecting material. Excellent.”

Mato nodded, giving her journalist understudy a small grin.

“Though I’m aware your Master has already informed you, please ask as many questions as you like today, no matter how insignificant they may be. This is your last training exercise before the one that counts, so clear up any insecurities you may have today.”

“Thank you so much!” said Ai in a loud, clear voice before jumping into her first question. “…… Ummm, what should I call you, Sensei?”

“There is no need for the Sensei title while working as journalists. Addressing me as simply Ms. Mato is just fine.”

“B-But ……”

Ai Hinatsuru is an elementary school student who just became a member of the Women’s League.

By comparison, Mato held the Queen Yamashiro Ouka title in the same league. That level of informality was a difficult hurdle for her to clear.

“You may come up with your own way to address me if you wish.”

A smile flashed over her lips as Mato reminisced about the time when she herself entered the Women’s League as an elementary school student before cutting to the chase.

“Our job today is not as journalists, but to manage the Internet coverage over a blog. However, both roles require transforming a Shogi match into text, so it is best to approach them the same way.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“It is not uncommon for professional players and Women’s League players to write articles. There are even times when a player will write an article covering their own match. Those are called self-commentary articles.”

“Self-commentary ……”

“Exactly. Strong players are often asked to write books detailing strategy, autobiographies, their own columns in magazines or newspapers and other literary opportunities increase as well. With potential like yours, Miss Hinatsuru, it would be wise to build up that sort of skill as soon as possible.”

“Thank you very much! I will do my best!!”

“Transforming matches into the written word improves your teaching ability, gives physical form to strategies you only vaguely understand as a concept and increases your Shogi skill in many other ways. Entering and exiting the arena at your leisure and the ability to freely ask questions during the review session are both special privileges that match journalists enjoy. Be sure to take advantage of them.”

“I will!!”

“…… However, the greatest advantage a player can gain by writing articles lies elsewhere.”

“Huh?”

“Miss Hinatsuru, who do you wish to win this year’s Queen Title Match?”

“Well ……”

Pondering whether she should say anything at all for a moment, Ai decided to answer honestly.

“Um, I think …… I want Ten-chan to win …… After all, she’s my little sister apprentice …… And I know she works harder than anyone because I’ve seen it with my own eyes ……”

“…………… Is that so? Then, that’s why Keika is ……”

“Uwhee? What …… about her?”

“Do not worry. You will know soon enough.”

Mato donned a gentle expression.

“I apologize for speaking to you so much thus far. Do you have any concerns at this point, Miss Hinatsuru?”

“Well, um …… I didn’t get much of a chance to go into the arena during the first match …… And, after Ten-chan lost, I couldn’t ask any questions about it ……”

“I can relate. It takes a great deal of courage to dig into a friend’s Shogi loss.”

“…………”

“Please treasure that feeling.”

“Huh ……?”

Certain she was about to be reprimanded for not collecting enough material, Ai tilted her ear closer to Mato as not to miss a single word of her unexpected advice.

“Understanding the subject of your article better than anyone else…. That is the first step to becoming a Shogi journalist. If you only write what the player him- or herself tells you, self- commentary will suffice. So, why do we write articles in the first place ……? Try to understand what the readers want to know about featured players. The meaning behind articles.”

“An article’s …… meaning?”

“Why we Women’s League players write articles. That is to bring a new, special perspective that even the players themselves didn’t realize about their own match.”

“Something they didn’t notice ……?!”

“Each player has their own personality–––a playing style if you will. There are instances in daily life where you may not notice something, but another set of eyes will pick up on it right away, yes?”

“……!! Now I get it ……!!”

“However, they become nothing more than assumptions about said person without understanding exactly who they are. Which means that we cannot restrict our material to match records alone, but also must observe them both during and outside of matches.”

Making her point, Mato pushed her glasses back into place as she continued.

“I have spent many years writing about Yaichi Kuzuryu-Ryuo, so I’m confident I understand who he is on a deeper level despite your living with him, Miss Hinatsuru.”

“?!”

“Care to test my theory?”

That obvious challenge got Ai’s blood pumping as she rose to meet it head on. 

“Mrghh!” She puffed out her reddening cheeks. “Okay, then–––.”

Picturing the real Kuzuryu-sensei in her mind, Ai posed this question.

“Are you really going to marry Charlette, Master?”

“O-Of course I’m not~. But, Charlette keeps saying she wants to be my bride, you know~? She’ll start crying if I say no~. It’s not that I actually want to~.”

“?!”

Words failed Ai in an instant. She could picture her Master saying exactly that!!

“W-Well …… Between Auntie, Charlette, Ten-chan and me, who’s number one?!”

“Number one? That’s obviously you, Ai~. Because you are my one and only first apprentice~.”

“Master, you dara!! That’s not what I’m as- ……… Gasp?!”

––– Just now, Ai thought Mato-sensei actually was Master!!

Shock coursed through her veins. This was just like talking to the real Yaichi Kuzuryu ……!!

From his indecisive and try-to-please-everyone way of answering to his tone of voice, even Mato’s facial expressions were the splitting image of Kuzuryu-sensei.

–––That’s not just some impression …… It’s like Master has a twin!!

Learning that someone who had been observing Kuzuryu-sensei much longer and in greater detail than herself existed, Ai felt a sharp twinge of jealousy at first, however–––.

–––There’s …… So much I need to learn from her!!

Invigorated, Ai nearly shouted.

“U-Umm!”

“What is it?”

“Master Mato …… May I call you that?!”

“Heh. Fine by me.”

And so, a new Master-apprentice relationship was born.