「As always, you are popular with little girls.」 (Oki)
「You are no different, Oki. By the way, did you buy an 'Ema' (prayer plaque)?」 (Kuzuryu)
「Yes. I wrote: 'I hope to snatch the King of the Board title.'」 (Oki)
During my first shrine visit of the year (Hatsumode), I ran into Kuzuryu, who was surrounded by elementary school girls. This happens whenever we come to the neighborhood shrine. We are both Kansai-affiliated professionals based in Fukushima, and both titleholders, so opportunities to meet arise often for one reason or another. No, well, actually, I had already done my initial visit. I only came now to check up on Kuzuryu.
「...Oki, do you decide beforehand the margin by which you will win or lose?」 (Kuzuryu)
「My saying 'I cannot answer that question' is, in itself, the answer.」 (Oki)
「Do you not get bored?」 (Kuzuryu)
「No. Recently, training my disciple has become enjoyable, so it is no longer as tedious as before.」 (Oki)
Kuzuryu asked his questions in a hushed voice, out of earshot of the "Elementary School Girls' Association" members. Man, just ask these things via LINE or email. What? His disciple Ai monitors him, so he cannot send messages like that? ...Does that "Little Demon King" unlock his phone and inspect its contents regularly? She truly is a Demon King.
「Master Oki, Happy New Year」 (Charlotte)
「Oh, Charu-chan is polite and wonderful. Happy New Year. ...By the way, it seems Sora-san is not here today, is she? Is that why you look so relieved?」 (Oki)
「Stop implying I am running away from my fellow disciple. Huh? Why are you readying your camera!? To whom do you intend to send the picture!?」 (Kuzuryu)
「...To Kogui-san?」 (Oki)
「Stop that, seriously, please!」 (Kuzuryu)
After snapping a photo of Kuzuryu surrounded by elementary school girls in kimonos, I went to draw a fortune slip (Omikuji). Some Shogi players do not draw them, while others keep drawing until they get "Excellent Luck" (Dai-Kichi), but I naturally draw just once. However, I do draw one every time I visit a shrine.
『Why, Sir, do you always draw 'Middle Luck' (Chu-Kichi), both last time and this time? It is such an ordinary result it cannot even serve as a joke.』 (Ai)
(Quiet. At least financial and health luck seem good, so I will keep it.) (Oki)
『A man with no redeeming features other than money and health.』 (Ai)
(That is more than enough, is it not?) (Oki)
By the way, Tenai went to the shrine on January 1st with Hiromi-san, and since I did not invite her, she is not here now. I was invited to go with them, but I returned to my family home and visited the shrine with my parents. Honestly, I can only thank my parents in this life. They supported a gloomy, solitary child like me who was immersed in Shogi all the time during elementary school.
『You were playing Shogi around the clock even before entering elementary school, Sir.』 (Ai)
(I wanted to make as dazzling a debut as possible, but by the time my strength reached '1-dan' in the Apprentice Association, I was already in junior high.) (Oki)
『But you achieved a dazzling debut in the end, didn't you? Your efforts bore fruit.』 (Ai)
(...I desperately wanted to achieve that with my own strength alone, however...) (Oki)
Afterward, I watched Charu-chan and Mio-chan shout in unison: "Japanese-French Alliance!" Kuzuryu remarked, "...Elementary school girls are truly dazzling." What caught my attention, however, was that Ai (the disciple) was grinding her wooden clog into Kuzuryu's foot the entire time. It must have been agonizing, yet Kuzuryu maintained a breezy, refreshing smile. Is it possible he is a "masochist"? A masochist strictly for little girls?
I considered going to Kuzuryu's house to visit the "Elementary School Girls' Association," but I recalled that Ai would later break a Shogi board and end up half-naked (according to my prediction of events), so I decided to withdraw. My presence would be merely a nuisance. Now, had the result of the match between Sora-san and Karaka-san been decided?
「Hello. How is Sora-san's match going?」 (Oki)
「Hello, Master. If you are asking about the 'Entrance Exam,' Sora-san is in dire straits.」 (Tenai)
「Hoh? ...Ah, she is indeed on the verge of resigning.」 (Oki)
「Everyone stopped analyzing seriously and started playing casually.」 (Tenai)
I entered the "Professional Players' Room," where Tenai—who had become a permanent fixture there—was analyzing Sora-san's match. Tenai had achieved eight consecutive wins, promoted to "1-dan," and would soon have opportunities to face Sora-san (2-dan). Although they played once during the exam, a rematch between high-ranking players in a short period is not rare, especially if both are in good form and competing for promotion.
「Yo, as expected of a titleholder, you arrive late like an executive.」 (Kagamizu)
「Kagamizu-san? You are conducting a teaching match? You look quite relaxed.」 (Oki)
「Despite my appearance, I am on edge inside. I do not possess an indomitable heart like yours, Oki.」 (Kagamizu)
「Stop talking as if my heart is made of steel.」 (Oki)
In the players' room, which could hardly be described as spacious, Kagamizu (3-dan) was conducting a teaching match (with a handicap) against a lower-ranked player. He is currently in the top tier of this season's "3-dan League," positioned to qualify in second place if he maintains his momentum. However, this man's problem is that he always reaches a good position only to fail at the very end.
Next season, Konogi and Sora-san will join, along with Karaka-san (a former Shoreikai member, 3-dan). Practically speaking, this could be considered his last chance, yet he finds time for teaching matches. That is why people say he is the kindest person in the Shogi world. He is the only one whom even his rival competitors wish would become a professional (4-dan).
In the match between Sora-san and Karaka-san, Sora-san was suffering a one-sided beating. If memory serves, Karaka-san brought the "Exit Piece" he received upon leaving the "Apprentice Association" and placed it on the table. Despite the different circumstances, this constituted a heavy-caliber psychological attack. The psychological aspect of Shogi is critical; there is a famous story that became almost a rule, when the current Meijin shaved his head like a monk to unsettle his opponent, winning that "Head-Shaving Match."
...By the way, Kuzuryu will face this exact situation in this year's "Imperial Rank" (Tei-Ei-Sen) match. If I were in his shoes, I might have burst out laughing upon seeing the opponent's head. It is fortunate I did not qualify for that tournament this year.
『That is exactly why they say you have a heart of steel.』 (Ai)
(Really? Is that so? Regardless, I am looking forward to this year's 'Imperial Rank' match. The final outcome remains unknown, and no one knows how things will end.) (Oki)
『Considering Kuzuryu's rate of evolution, he will likely snatch the title easily with three consecutive wins, right? Ah, Sora-san resigned. The match concluded with a swift and effortless defeat.』 (Ai)
(Oh. I recall the description was "The poison has spread," and indeed, it was a loss by a large margin where the advantage was drained from her slowly and gradually until the end.) (Oki)
「And so, Karaka-san returns to the 'Apprentice Association' (Shoreikai).」 (Tenai)
「He has four chances, correct? Looking at his records so far, it is strange he has not become a '4-dan' (pro) yet; the probability of him turning professional is not low.」 (Oki)
「The probability... is 'not low'? I believe he could pass through quite easily, but...」 (Tenai)
「Because there are no certainties in the '3-dan League.' Even professional players would all say they never wish to return to that place. Except for me.」 (Oki)
「...Except for you, Master?」 (Tenai)
「I have a desire to fight inside the hell of the '3-dan League' once more. Although I am confident every current 3-dan member would refuse my presence among them.」 (Oki)
I sat opposite Tenai with the Shogi board between us and had her search for the "Fatal Move" (the move that caused the loss) in Sora-san's match today. When we discussed the "3-dan League," Kagamizu-san, sitting nearby, smiled bitterly. Yet, the mere ability to smile—however bitterly—in such a situation is proof that he, too, possesses decent mental fortitude.
It seems the next season of the "3-dan League" will be a grueling battle as well. And if Tenai is to participate in this league, perhaps it will be in the season after next, right?
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