Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 9 - Chapter 4.5

  THREE WORDS

Ai Yashajin, tracking the match on her cell phone since the very beginning, had been hit with one surprise after another.

“What …… is this? This Shogi ……?”

Yaichi, a Static Rook party member, was playing Ranging Rook and the renowned Ranging Rook player Mitsuru Oishi was playing Static Rook.

That itself was bizarre enough, but–––.

“Kuzuryu’s Rook went beyond the fifth file to the third. This doesn’t appear to have been a mistake.”

“He has already veered off from every single one of the 100,000 match records the association has in its database.”

Even the letters themselves that lined the comments section seemed to be in disbelief.

Yaichi once used Gokigen Central Rook against Jin Natagiri 8-dan in the past, and utterly dismantled his Static Rook Extreme Rapid Battle strategy.

However, doing so required Yaichi to execute three consecutive gentei aigoma, a situation in which there is only one correct piece to defend with, in the late game in order to win. That miraculous sequence allowed him to overcome early game shortcomings with an explosive push at the end.

On the other hand, this Shogi couldn’t have been more different.

“What are you trying to do?! What Shogi are you playing ……?!”

Ai Yashajin thought back to what she heard in the graveyard.

Yaichi had said he wanted to convey something to her with his Shogi.

What was the meaning behind this bizarre strategy?

Was this his way of pressuring her into finding a strategy uniquely her own during her series of matches with Ginko Sora?

“But this …… This is too much ……”

Even if he got his message across, Ai doubted this new variant would be enough to defeat his opponent.

After all, the man Yaichi was trying to defeat using Ranging Rook was none other than Mitsuru Oishi.

–––He threw the match? But ……

“Today’s match is taking place in the Kansai Association’s Onjyoudan no Ma Arena.”

“Kansai’s two titleholders are facing off. One, the Worldly Maestro. The other is the young man sliding his Rook in front of him.”

“This is their first league match.”

More comments appeared every time the board on the screen was refreshed.

“Many are questioning Kuzuryu’s concept in the Player’s Room.”

“What’s this strat even called? Third File Messed Up?”

As far as Ai could tell, Yaichi was already behind from a formation standpoint. All of the comments accompanying the match record supported her assessment.

“However, Oishi cannot rest on his laurels. Only after victory has been claimed can he do that.”

“Kuzuryu entered the arena an hour before the match was scheduled to begin this morning. He offered to take the place of the Sub League member charged with preparation and wiped the board himself. That shows his extraordinary commitment to this match.”

“Both players are undefeated in the White Conference. Whichever wins today will face the Red Conference champion for the right to challenge the Crown.”

“Okito-Crown is on the verge of taking Oishi-King’s title. That title match is so competitive it has resulted in two consecutive stalemates. Oishi can ill afford to let this Crown League match slip through his fingers either.”

Though short, the comments also conveyed the atmosphere in the arena.

“Kuzuryu, leaning over the board, has removed his jacket and rolled the sleeves of his collared shirt up to his elbows.”

“His air is tense, as though the late game is close at hand. His moves are not the only sign. This is a much different Kuzuryu than usual.”

“Kuzuryu continues to endure.”

“High-ranking players offered their own comments on formations, saying Hm? Backwards? and Whoa. That’s youth for you! with a smile.”

The Yaichi in the comments was constantly suffering.

Except, as the moves went along …… Ai began losing confidence in her formation assessment.

Piecing together Yaichi’s true intentions as his target became clearer each turn, the young girl began to see the board in a whole new light.

–––That’s what he’s trying to do?! Could he …… He wouldn’t!!

Her suspicions began showing up in the comments.

“Oishi has chosen now to take time to consider his options.”

“Kagamizu 3-dan, who has been playing a practice match in the Player’s Room, commented, He may have turned the tables, before adding, …… No, there’s a chance the defender has had an advantage from the beginning.’”

“Oishi pulls his armrest in close and concentrates entirely on reading the board.”

“Kuzuryu now holds the waiting time advantage.”

“……!!”

Ai’s heartbeat steadily intensified, like an unruly bass drum.

She could feel it on her sternum, getting stronger with each passing moment as its heat reached all the way to her fingertips. Her pulse became so strong it shook the smartphone in her grasp, the screen shaking with each beat. Ba-thump ba-thump!

Every move Yaichi played, each comment that came with it, each symbol, word or line that was displayed on the phone’s small screen …… steadily broke into Ai Yashajin’s shut-off soul as it did the same to Mitsuru’s heavily reinforced anaguma. 

Almost like magic.

“Some are now starting to voice their agreement with Kuzuryu’s concept. Has Kuzuryu’s bold new strategy exceeded Oishi’s level of perception?”

“!!”

He’s come from behind! Ai’s grip on her phone tightened before she knew it.

However, one-minute Shogi was now in effect. The match was anyone’s for the taking. Unable to wait for the auto refresh, Ai tapped the button herself every few seconds.

“Oishi unleashes a power play with light fingertips. He is forcing his way forward despite not having enough pieces in place to support it. There?! come the voices of many surprised players in the Player’s Room.”

“Kuzuryu calmly shifts his Rook back. However, his hand is trembling.”

“Moves advance at a furious pace.”

“Kuzuryu’s decisions are lightning quick. Has he read his own victory?”

“A single voice can be heard in the Player’s Room: He’s strong.”

“Analysis boards have already been put away.”

“Though he’s in position for a safe win, Kuzuryu fearlessly advances into the fray.”

More and more comments claiming Yaichi’s imminent victory lined up on her screen. Ai’s heart beat so hard with each one that it felt as though it were about to jump out of her chest each time.

Then–––.

“Oishi sees that move and surrenders.”

“…………”

Although the match was now over, Ai couldn’t look away from her screen.

Nine hours had passed since the match began. The once sunny afternoon had become night.

Ai had sat the entire time without a single drink of water, but she couldn’t care less.

There was something else on her mind.

“This ……… This Shogi, was it …………?” 

A thought had occurred to Ai at one point in the middle of the match.

Was Yaichi trying to test something today?

That strange early game formation, what was it for ……? Who was it created for–––?

“But, he’d never ……… Do something like …………”

However, Ai immediately rejected that idea.

Yaichi was a professional. What’s more, this match was just two away from a title match of his own. This wasn’t some throwaway match he could dedicate to someone else.

It’s true that Yaichi made several promises at the graveyard. 

“I’ll play Shogi my apprentices can be proud of.” 

“I will try to get through to her with Shogi.”

But even so, that meant he would display his own resolve during a match to encourage his apprentice, didn’t it ……?

–––…… Impossible. I have enough on my plate as it is.

Then, she saw it.

“……?”

A comment corresponding to the last move.

It had been empty, but now there were words in that blank space.

The automatic refresh had added another detail to a match already in the books.

“*Review Session*”

“……!!”

The girl’s eyes grew wider with each word her gaze passed over. Then, open as wide as humanly possible, they began to glisten with tears.

The person in charge of the blog had posed this question.

“Who did you want to dedicate this Shogi to?”

When asked, today’s victor–––

Face worn ragged with exhaustion, his answer was uploaded.

“When I was facing a title match, a certain someone said this after playing an extremely important match of her own.”

“‘Today I played just for you.’”

“That’s why, today, I played just for her. Just for that important person.”

“…………!!”

Tears dripped one after another onto the smartphone’s screen.

“I-I don’t believe this ……! How unbelievably ……… stupid ……! A-A professional …… Th-The very best of the professionals, the Ryuo, in this important match …………!” 

Seeing him use something an amateur would …… No, use a formation so utterly unrestricted that even an amateur wouldn’t play it against one of the best players in the Shogi world, even Ai couldn’t believe her eyes. She was certain Yaichi wouldn’t fare well, let alone come away with a win.

But, once she saw that comment …… Ai finally started believing.

Believing that she had been on the right track.

Understanding what Yaichi truly meant when he said believe.

Comprehending just how strong and deep his determination went.

That word didn’t fit his needs.

Yaichi truly believed in Ai’s potential.

This victory and his comments weren’t everything. The match record itself was Yaichi’s way of encouraging her. As soon as that fact clicked, Ai’s tears wouldn’t stop flowing.

She had cried after losing a match before.

But, never once had she cried after watching someone else’s Shogi.

“………… You got through ………… Idiot …………”

Wiping tears away and mumbling under her breath, Ai started lining up today’s match record from the very beginning.

Again, and again. All the way until the sun came up. Nonstop.