Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 9 - Chapter 5.1

  CINDERELLA

“The appointed time has arrived. Sora-Queen, please begin the match.”

Both the girls silently lower their heads at the same time the observer makes the announcement.

There are so many flashes enveloping them that, even through a screen, it’s blinding.

I watch it all happen over the live Internet feed from my place as the analyst next to the big board set up in the main chapel hall.

There’s a projector set up on the altar as well as the big board for me to use. Just, wow ……

“And there we go! The third match is underway!”

Completely unfazed by how unprecedented the situation is, commentator Tamayo Rokuroba women’s 2-dan makes her entrance even more dressed up than last time.

Apparently, she asked the chapel staff to do her makeup and coordinate her dress, so she stands out even more than the players going for the title. It’s the same as a bridesmaid outshining the bride at a wedding.

Ms. Rokuroba is known as the Practice Session Crusher in the Shogi world. It’s kind of scary how well the nickname Wedding Crusher would fit her in everyday life.

“I really couldn’t get my fill of commentating on the second match, so Tomoyon☆ is back for more! Kuzuryu-sensei and I will light it up on the big board … so let’s all live it up!!”

Yeah–––!! Audience members are pumping their fists.

It feels like an idol rave in here. But this is supposed to be a holy place ……

“Well, it sure looks like we’re raring to go in here, but how about the players in the arena? Is that apprentice of yours down on herself after losing twice in a row?”

“I’m sure she’s extramotivated for this match because it’s in her hometown. She hasn’t been able to show what she’s capable of so far during the title match, but I hope she doesn’t hold anything back now that she’s in a do-or-die situation.”

“We’re going to be up here providing commentary nonstop until the very last move! Now, let’s see what the very first one is!!”

The first move hers, Big Sis leans over the board with a completely blank look on her face and stares down her formation.

“……”

She opens her Bishop Path with perfect form.

“That’s Ginko for you, the girl never changes. Even with two wins, she still opens with the usual salt-flavored seasoning. Well, now, what’s our defender gonna do about this tight spot she’s in?”

With that, Ms. Rokuroba looks right at me and brings this up.

“Though, I’ve got to say that the boardside looks a bit different for today’s match, don’t you think?”

“For sure. A grade schooler working as the match recorder happens every now and then, but …… I don’t think there’s ever been a time the journalist working beside them was too.”

“The challenger is in elementary school as well. Kuzuryu-sensei, wouldn’t you rather be in there breathing in the same CO2 those kiddos breathed out than be up here by the big board?”

“Excuse me, Ms. Rokuroba …… Would you please not say things that would give off the wrong impression–––?”

“What, what? Didn’t you say something like: If I could be reborn, I’d want to be one the bean plants grade schoolers grow in science class in the Shogi Association’s yearbook?”

“I said no such thing!! What lunatic would actually want to be reincarnated like that?!!”

“Then, was it: as the seat on a little girl’s bicycle? You know, the ones that have the streamers coming out of the handlebars.”

“Just an ordinary pediatrician!!”

Since I only do a job that doesn’t directly help anyone, playing Shogi, I wanted to at least do something to help future generations in my next life! But, despite my noble answer, people all over the place point to it and saying: See? He’s a lolicon and It’s true. Seriously, it’s been one misunderstanding after another. Even the audience doesn’t know how to react. I wonder why.

“…… All right, unlike the Ryuo’s peculiar fetishes, this match is proceeding about as orthodox as it gets. Sora-Queen has advanced the Pawn in front of her Rook, meaning she’s playing Static.”

I could just be imagining things, but ……

As soon as Big Sis moved that Pawn, it was like all the air got sucked out of the chapel. A here we go again kind of vibe.

But.

All the air comes rushing back in with Ai’s next move!

“Wha–––.”

Ms. Rokuroba and I have no idea what to say. Even the crowd is watching in stunned silence.

Ai advanced it. She’s advanced that piece.

The Pawn in front of her Bishop.

“Bishop Head Pawn?!”

“…………”

Big Sis’s face on the screen didn’t budge at all. On the flipside, Sota’s eyes are practically sparkling from his seat at the boardside table.

“Th-There it is–––!! Challenger Ai Yashajin Women’s League 2-dan has reached into her bag of tricks and pulled out her trump card, the defensive Bishop Head Pawn!! Now things are getting interesting!!”

Compared to Ms. Rokuroba’s flaming intensity, my back breaks out in a cold sweat that won’t be stopping anytime soon.

Just to be safe, Big Sis moves her King to build a defensive position on the left.

She’s totally calm. Sighing, I say, “…… Sora-Queen has chosen to draw out the match.”

“Miss Yashajin’s opponents have all chosen to use a rapid attack strategy whenever she’s used this in the past, right? You think she’s ready for it?”

“I’m sure she has a plan. She must’ve figured out how to deal with a stalling opponent ……”

But, it was Big Sis who put her plan into action first.

Ai attempts to throw off Big Sis’s formation by doing a Bishop Exchange knowing full well that it will set her back, but Big Sis’s response is just as astonishing.

Taking the Bishop she just claimed off her piece stand, Big Sis deploys it–––at 7 Seven!!

“Huh?! Right in the middle of her own formation?!” yells Ms. Rokuroba, her eyes open as wide as her boobs are big. “She only just got that Bishop, and she’s already put it back in her own territory?! Isn’t that move loss on her part?”

“No, it’s not! Putting the Bishop at 7 Seven is an aggressive move that disrupts the defender’s formation. She can’t just let it sit there, so the defender is almost forced to deploy her own Bishop at 3 Three to compensate.”

Now that that Bishop is deployed, Ai is in a position where she constantly has to do Bishop Exchanges or else she’ll always be moved behind. That hurts.

“Ah, I see …… Ginko came with an anti-Bishop Head Pawn strategy of her own! Yes?”

I knew she would. But I never saw 7 Seven Bishop coming ……

Ai takes a few moments to think and ends up deploying her Bishop at 3 Three. There was nothing she could do.

Now, about what comes next.

–––If Ai doesn’t have a way to counter it …… this Shogi is as good as over.

Feeling in control now that the 7 Seven Bishop ace up her sleeve was on the board, Big Sis starts calmly, systematically building up her formation.

Ai’s options are rather limited now, but everything must be going according to plan because she reaches for the board mere seconds after Big Sis makes her move. My heart keeps jumping into my throat.

Her piece of choice: Silver.

Seeing it come down and how she’s lined up her pieces, I couldn’t keep from yelling.

“Th-This formation is–––!!”

Ai’s strategy for handling a long match. It’s….!

4 Two Silver style–––Bishop Exchange Opposing Rook!!

That’s when the arena microphone picks up Ai’s voice.

“Isn’t this a nice strategy?”

Her fingers still on the Silver, Ai looks straight into Big Sis’s eyes and grins from ear to ear as she says, “I got it from him.”

“……”

Big Sis’s face hasn’t changed since the moment Bishop Head Pawn got played against her, but it looks like her eyes are quivering ever so slightly.

Ms. Rokuroba peeks over at me and says, “Miss Yashajin said so just now, didn’t she?”

“Said something?”

“By the way, Kuzuryu-sensei? I feel like I saw this formation in a match recently.”

“Y-You have?”

“…… I’m pretty sure it was your match against Oishi-sensei, Kuzuryu-sensei.”

“W-Well, Bishop Head Pawn on defense was originally designed to set up Opposing Rook. That way, you can actually use the Pawn that’s already making its way across the board …… Which also lines up with what my Gokigen Third File Rook (temporary) tries to accomplish, so of course the formations would look similar ……”

“Okay, we’ll go with that explanation for now.”

The only reason I used a 4 Two Silver strategy in the first place is because it’s easy for me to work out of that formation. It’s not a sequence that some 10,000 people would find advantageous. Even Ranging Rook party members have their own tastes when it comes to strategy.

I admit that part of me hoped that Ai would use this formation.

I also tested it against the best Ranging Rook party member out there in a real match to prove it could work against any opponent when played correctly.

At the end of the day, Ai is the one who decides what to use. She would only use this formation if she has the confidence to pull it off.

But, choosing to use it in such an important match–––

“…… Looks like we have a lot in common after all,” I whisper quietly enough that no one else can hear me.

Seriously, I’m happy enough to fly right now.

Masters pretty much have to push their apprentices out into the Shogi world by saying: The only way to get stronger is to find your own path. So having an apprentice who uses my style is nothing short of a miracle. Ai Yashajin is my miracle.

Attempting to stir up even more excitement out of the revved-up audience, Ms. Rokuroba says, “It took a few matches, but this series finally got interesting! The challenger’s new style of Bishop Head Pawn and Sora-Queen’s stunning decision to deploy a Bishop deep in her own territory! What’s more, this strategy was born out of a bond between Master and apprentice! Openings don’t get much more astonishing than this! Who will emerge victorious?!”

But the true surprise was set for after the lunch break.

Lunch time during title matches is also known as photo op time.

Since media people won’t get another chance to take pictures until after the match is over, they flood into the arena to claim their spots just like in the morning and wait for the players to make their entrance.

Except the first to come back this time wasn’t one of the players: it was the journalist.

In other words, Ai Hinatsuru.

“…… Pardon me!”

There’s no need for match journalists to come to the arena during lunch because they can come in any time they want, but Ai completely missed her chance last time and didn’t get to see the end of the match.

Making sure she doesn’t make the same mistake twice, Ai returns to the arena 20 minutes early and opens her article notebook.

The match recorder Sota is next to arrive. He sits down next to Ai.

Then Big Sis makes her entrance five minutes before the match is scheduled to restart and every camera goes off in one instantaneous flash. All the cameramen are trying to get a shot of Big Sis and Sota in the same frame.

–––So, it doesn’t matter how much talent Ai shows on the board, the world wants pictures of Ginko and Sota……

As association staff and other people with clearance dine on the full course wedding meal in the chapel’s reception hall that became our break room, I can’t help but feel empty inside.

I don’t want Big Sis to lose.

But Ai Yashajin’s parents are watching this match from heaven …… I want her to be at her best. I want the world to see exactly what her talent and effort can do.

–––Make them notice with results!

I mentally send her away while looking at the screen that was originally installed for newlywed couples to tell their life stories via slideshows but is now displaying the arena.

I sent it, but ……

“…………… Huh?”

My heart starts racing the instant I realize something is very very wrong.

The very person I want to have a good match is the only one who hasn’t come back to the arena yet. This has never happened before. She was back in the arena before anyone else for the first and second matches ……

Has there been an accident?!

“Excuse me! Has anyone seen Ai ……? Does anyone know where the challenger is–––?!”

She may be my apprentice, but I can’t just go barging into her break room.

Other people sitting at different tables start looking around too, but just as they do….

“Huh?”

“Huuuh?”

People looking at the screen start making noise.

What’s going on? I turned around only to see …………. And scream.

“Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat–––?!”

Ai is back in the arena.

Rather than a kimono, she has a white dress on instead.

Ai, who’s refused to wear any color but black since her parents died …… is wearing white?

She’s even got glass slippers on her tiny feet.

“…… The real Cinderella?” I hear Ms. Rokuroba mutter at the same table as me just before she drops her fork with a mouthful of Kobe beef on the prongs.

Ms. Rokuroba has worked as a commentator for many title matches so, in a way, she’s experienced more of them than most pro players. The only exceptions might be the Meijin and Ms. Shakando.

Yet she’s standing here totally floored by what’s displayed on that screen—by Ai, a schoolgirl in the fifth grade.

–––I thought she was being too well-behaved. So, this is what she had planned!

Akira is an accomplice, no doubt about it.

That dress looks just like the one I saw at the manor, except it’s a bit shorter now. That must be to make it easier for her to sit on her ankles.

As everyone in the arena is dumbfounded by the girl dressed more like a dancer than a bride, Ai Hinatsuru cautiously breaks the silence from her seat as journalist at the boardside table.

“T-Ten-chan? That dress ……?”

“I changed. Traditional clothes are so heavy and distracting, it’s hard to focus on the match.”

Sliding off her glass slippers, Ai steps up onto the tatami mat and answers flatly.

“I chose to wear Western-style clothes because that way I play my best. The Queen Title Match rules say that kimonos are required, but they don’t say anything about changing. And––,” Ai playfully lifts her right arm to show her wrist and says, “I don’t need to worry about sleeves.”

“…………”

Big Sis is silent. She’s been staring down at the board the whole time.

Sota grins from his spot at the boardside table before saying to Ai Yashajin with unmistakable excitement, “It’s time to begin again.”

“I see.”

Her skirt-like dress flowing with every step she takes on her way to her seat, Kobe’s Cinderella flicks her black hair over her right shoulder like the flap of a bird’s wing.

“Now–––first, I’m going to take back the first move I lost in the second match.” Almost as if she were extending an invitation to Big Sis, Ai reaches across the board and says, “Come. I’ll dance for you.”

The click of a piece hitting the board echoes through the arena like the opening bell to a ball.

Countless camera flashes follow right after it, enveloping the real Kobe’s Cinderella, who finally made her entrance in the third match of the series.