Tenai succeeded in defeating Shakado, relying on her accumulated experience, bringing her record in the Shoreikai to one win and one loss. Adding this to her previous record, she now has a total of 6 wins and 2 losses, meaning she needs another 6 wins and 2 losses to achieve promotion to Dan rank. Rising through the regular ranks (Kyu) in the association does not seem overly difficult, but the conditions for promotion to Dan remain undeniably stringent and harsh.
Behind the scenes, I was engaged in a confrontation with the Meijin as part of the Pan-O (King of the Board) title match. I entered the second round leading with a clean victory, but I experienced some tense moments; "Ai" adopted the Anaguma (Bear-in-the-hole) strategy and patiently endured the Meijin's relentless attacks until securing the win. Despite my absolute confidence in his abilities, he has recently begun to lean towards playful display and showmanship. Is he truly alright?
「If I defeat you, Master, will you grant me one request, no matter what it is? Even if you don't make that condition, I will always play with the intent to win seriously, right?」 (Tenai)
「Well, having a condition like that will increase your seriousness in the game. In the Furigoma (piece toss), five pawns landed face up (showing the promoted side), so you will play first (Sente).」 (Ōki)
「...If you intend to concede the first move to me from the start, there is no need to perform the toss at all. Also, I will not let you retract your earlier words; Akira has recorded everything.」 (Tenai)
「...Rest assured, I will not go back on my word.」 (Ōki)
Personally, I am excited to see which of us will succeed in clearing the "Third Gate" through this confrontation. We sat facing each other across the Shogi board, and after arranging the pieces, I performed the toss. Incidentally, Tenai knows very well that I am capable of manipulating the toss to produce the result I desire.
...In fact, there are many association members and amateurs capable of manipulating the toss result. With practice, anyone can achieve this to some degree, which is why referees in professional matches ensure the toss is performed with complete spontaneity to guarantee fairness. Nevertheless, deviations occur, and you may find a specific player getting the first move repeatedly.
Tenai began as the first player (Sente), and when she played Pawn to 7-6, I initiated conversation. This opening reminds me of the first round of the Pan-O battle.
「Do you remember the game record (Kifu) of the first round of the Pan-O match?」 (Ōki)
「Your match was very recently, and of course, I remember it well.」 (Tenai)
「I was the first player (Sente) and played Pawn to 7-6. The Meijin responded as the second player (Gote) with Pawn to 3-4. So, what is the next move?」 (Ōki)
「Pawn to 2-6. ...Master, do you want me to reenact that game record?」 (Tenai)
As I played Pawn to 3-4 as the second player (Gote) and voiced the move, Tenai grasped my intention and played Pawn to 2-6 as expected. Tenai continued to play coolly, mimicking the "Twisting Rook" (Hineri-Bisha) strategy that "Ai" had executed. Well, I am happy she remembers the details accurately, and grateful she is trying to read the meaning behind the reenactment.
...If things continue this way, Tenai will simply win. True, I promised to grant any request, but I do not truly wish for that to happen.
「If we continue like this, I will win, you know? Is it alright not to change course?」 (Tenai)
「It is fine; play the next move. Or have you forgotten it?」 (Ōki)
「I haven't forgotten! The records of my Master's title matches are engraved in my head, including the commentary and analysis!」 (Tenai)
At the forty-fifth move, when I played Pawn to 7-4 and met it by taking the pawn, Tenai's hand stopped. She held her head with both hands and began shaking it violently from side to side. How amusing.
In my match against the Meijin, "Ai" jumped the Bishop to 6-4 at this moment, and in response to Gold General to 7-3, sacrificed the Bishop for promotion. It is the spark of battle that Tenai could not possibly forget. Her hesitation here means she is conflicted: should she take a different path from mine or not?
Tenai thought for a moment, then with an expression of determination, took the pawn with the Rook, saying: "Same with Rook." Well, if there are choices in this position, they are limited to Bishop to 6-4 or taking the pawn with the Rook at 7-4.
「What is the matter? Despite your big talk, you made a mistake, didn't you?」 (Ōki)
「...You rely on empirical rules (intuition gained from experience) in your play, don't you? I would also play Bishop to 6-4 in this position. However, if I merely follow the same path you took, Master, I will never be able to surpass you no matter how much time passes! And I play Shogi to surpass you!」 (Tenai)
「...Is that so? Well, there is no need to hold back now. The developments following your taking of the pawn with the Rook (Do-Hisha) will proceed as follows: King to 2-2, Rook to 7-6, dropping Pawn to 7-3, Pawn to 1-6, Gold General to 6-3, Pawn to 6-5, Pawn takes Pawn, dropping Pawn to 6-4, Gold General to 7-4, Pawn promotes to 6-3, Silver General takes Promoted Pawn, Gold General to 4-5, Gold General to 4-3, Rook to 2-6, Silver General to 5-4. This result is not in favor of the first player (Sente). The moment you initiated with Pawn to 7-4, your position was slightly disadvantageous. That is why I did not choose this path which barely improves the situation.」 (Ōki)
When I asked Tenai about her intention, she replied that she would not walk the same path as me. If we assume the "Second Gate" is reaching a state where experience instantly shows you the best move, then the "Third Gate" is the ability to break free from and transcend that experience. This time, I forced Tenai to break free, but there are those who spend their entire lives relying solely on those empirical rules.
(And those who cannot remember their experiences, taking a long time to recall each move, end up as miserable records of aging players. ...This time she managed to break free, but experience is an entity that constantly grows. One could say this "Third Gate" will continue to chase her for the rest of her life.) (Ai)
(It is fine if she cannot break free; I am personally a human who lost to experience and have no right to say anything. From now on, I will work on endowing Tenai with "reading power" and analytical skill.) (Ōki)
(Tenai's future goal, then, is to escape the "Third Gate" that constantly pursues her, while attempting to breach the "Fourth Gate": reaching the state of Kuzuryu, who reads the board in his waking hours and in his sleep. Breaching this Fourth Gate may require physical growth, perhaps not occurring until after puberty.) (Ai)
(Well, it seems arduous for the body of an elementary or middle school child. It also negatively impacts daily life, and gradually getting used to it is unavoidable.) (Ōki)
Afterward, thanks to "Ai's" advice, I managed to win my match against Tenai. Good heavens, the situation was dangerous. Had "Ai" not shouted and intervened to stop me, I would have been forced to fulfill any request for Tenai. After boasting by reciting the moves "Ai" had read, it would have been shameful to be on the verge of losing. "Ai's" restraint truly saved me.
After the match ended, I explained my current situation to Tenai to some extent. I believe she had already realized what I am, and that I play according to the directions of another persona within me.
Even if Tenai had chosen my exact path, I had prepared other gates and challenges for her, but I feel relieved that I did not have to reveal them. Those methods truly resemble human experiments, and continuing to converse with another persona inside your head could lead to madness.
(Master is already mad, and the idea of cloning personalities is in itself psychopathic thinking and the work of a madman, even without any extra effort.) (Ai)
(Shut up. I am well aware of that. It differs from my case; it is creating a split personality from scratch. So I say it is good that I did not have to reveal those methods.) (Ōki)
(Just revealing them is something unbecoming for Tenai...) (Ai)
「Listen, do not stop doubting the "best move" your experience dictates to you, alright? But be careful, for excessive doubt can destroy your Shogi style as well.」 (Ōki)
「...That is very difficult, isn't it? Do you mean I should always search for a new, innovative move, and if I find nothing superior to experience, only then resort to the move it dictates?」 (Tenai)
「If you can manage that, then that is best. Well, continue with trial and error.」 (Ōki)
With this, Tenai's preparations are complete. I am eager to watch the final match against "Ai" (the disciple).
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