Ayumu's match against Kiyotaki-sensei proceeded according to the original story, with Kiyotaki-sensei winning. Although he eventually fell to Class C1, he retracted his decision to retire and announced he would continue playing. Since Ayumu safely ascended to Class B1, it was confirmed that Kuzuryu, Ayumu, and I would not face each other in the upcoming ranking league. We probably won't meet the following year either, provided we all promote again.
When I presented her with a White Day return gift, I felt shy and asked her, 「Open it after we get home.」 However, she opened it immediately, causing me to groan slightly in embarrassment.
In any case, she seemed pleased with the gift, so I suppose my choice was a success. Although it was a diamond necklace, it was slender and modest in size, making it suitable for daily wear; she has worn it every day since.
A few days before the main tournament final, I decided to go to Kyoto. The reason was the Yamashiro Ouka Tournament held there—the same tournament Kuzuryu went to watch in the original story. There was one difference from the original: the current title holder, Koumeihan-san, had already lost in the semi-finals of the MyNavi Women's Open. In the original story, her loss to Ten'ai occurred in the final match after the title matches had concluded.
「...Do you feel upset?」 (Ōki)
「No, not at all. Even though she lost to Ai, their level of play was nearly equal. Watching a title match involving someone I might face in the future is not a waste of time.」 (Tenai)
「Well, the Yamashiro Ouka Tournament has a special, distinct nature. Besides, since it is spring in Kyoto, it would be a waste not to enjoy some sightseeing as well.」 (Ōki)
In the match between Ai (the disciple) and Koumeihan-san, the latter attempted to build an Anaguma castle as usual, while Ai waited with extreme patience, preparing for the castle's collapse. The Anaguma is a fortress that is easy to counter if anticipated, and Ai had likely researched it extensively with Kuzuryu. After exchanging offensive and defensive moves over the Knight on square 2-4, the Anaguma lost its inherent defensive strength the moment Ai successfully promoted her Bishop on square 1-2. After that, victory belonged to Ai, thanks to her customary skill in the endgame.
That was a painful loss for Koumeihan-san, and I feared it might affect the current title tournament, but she won the first round exactly as she did in the original story. Since that match was a complete self-destruction by Tsukuyomizaka-san, I cannot say for certain that the impact of Koumeihan-san's loss to Ai didn't manifest in some way. However, I expect the second and third rounds to proceed almost exactly as they did in the original story.
I brought Ten'ai along for the sole purpose of letting her experience the atmosphere of a women's title match. She has attended my title matches several times, but the atmosphere at a women's tournament is different. I would have preferred a tournament other than the Yamashiro Ouka, but this is the only women's tournament scheduled right before the Queen Tournament.
After meeting Ten'ai at the Fountain Square (which is scheduled to be removed soon), we traveled via the Hankyu Line from Umeda to Katsura, then continued on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line to Arashiyama. We then crossed the Togetsukyo Bridge to reach our destination, Tenryu-ji Temple. Walking slowly while enjoying the scenery, it takes ten minutes to reach the Togetsukyo Bridge and another ten to reach Tenryu-ji. Kyoto is teeming with tourists at this time of year; walking even a little is exhausting. A recluse who does nothing but play games and Shogi really shouldn't have come to a place like this.
「It's hot today. How about we buy some matcha soft-serve ice cream? Do you want some, Ten'ai?」 (Ōki)
「I do, but don't you have to buy ice cream here too?」 (Tenai)
「Ice cream and soft-serve are not the same thing! Well, they are somewhat similar.」 (Ōki)
Just as I was about to buy the matcha soft-serve, I ran into Kuzuryu at that very spot. I had expected we might cross paths somewhere today, but not right here!
『Being suddenly called out from behind with, 「Oh, is that Aoki...?」 is really bad for one's heart.』 (Ai)
(It was a surprise. I knew he was here, but I didn't expect to run into him by chance in the middle of a city crowded with tourists.) (Ōki)
『Since neither of you knows Kyoto well, the common line of thought is probably: "When you come to Kyoto, you get matcha soft-serve," isn't it?』 (Ai)
(I suppose so. Oh, Ten'ai has met Ai as well. The atmosphere hasn't become tense yet, but the air is starting to stiffen slightly.) (Ōki)
The atmosphere grew tense, but the simple act of me handing matcha soft-serve to Ten'ai, and Kuzuryu doing the same for Ai, caused the serious mood to collapse in an instant. They are children, after all; they smile the moment they eat ice cream. Matcha soft-serve is truly delicious.
...Kuzuryu quietly continued to snap numerous photos with his phone of the duo, Ai and Ten'ai, as they happily savored their ice cream. To passersby, however, he looked like a completely dangerous individual. Well, I understand his desire to take pictures. Even Akira-san moves with lightning speed to capture photos from various angles.
「Are you going into Tenryu-ji Temple now, Kuzuryu?」 (Ōki)
「No, I'm going to wander around a bit before heading there. If someone from the Shogi world sees me, I won't have any time to sightsee.」 (Kuzuryu)
「...But aren't there already Shogi people right here?」 (Ōki)
「That's true, but to be honest, I think Aoki being here on a sightseeing tour is likely to cause a bigger problem.」 (Kuzuryu)
「That sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. Anyway, Ten'ai and I will head in after a while.」 (Ōki)
After that, we joined up and headed to Nonomiya Shrine. In the shrine precincts lies the sacred "Turtle Rock," a spot of immense spiritual power; it is said that whoever touches it will have their wish granted within the year. Ai was touching it carefully, as if polishing it, but Ten'ai showed no intention of approaching it.
「Don't you want to go and touch it?」 (Ōki)
「I do not wish to rely on deities for anything. Furthermore, it is unscientific. I do not believe my future life will change based on whether or not I touch that rock.」 (Tenai)
「There is also a useful term called the 'placebo effect,' so go and touch it. It is enough to simply wish: 'I want to be stronger at Shogi.'」 (Ōki)
「...No. In Shogi, my master will work to strengthen my level, so I will wish for something else and return.」 (Tenai)
So, I forcibly pushed her to touch it, and Ten'ai began to offer her prayer with a strange intensity. Kuzuryu and Akira-san were snapping photos of them. I felt the urge to take pictures too, but never mind; I'll ask Akira-san for the photos later. Honestly, I think it is truly fortunate that Akira-san was born female. If a man were to take photos of young girls with such a relaxed, smiling face, it would certainly land him in trouble.
Afterward, a photo session took place on the Bamboo Forest Path, and then we entered Tenryu-ji Temple. It was just the right time for a lunch break. Chairman Gekko was sitting at the "Mobile Shogi Board." This encounter had taken place during the holding of the Ki-Ou Tournament.
「Oh, isn't this the Ryu-Ou (Dragon King), and Miss Hinatsuru? And Miss Yashajin as well.」 (Gekko)
「Chairman Gekko. When I am ignored so naturally, I feel like I might cry.」 (Ōki)
The atmosphere of the second round of the Ki-Ou Tournament was heavy because Ai (the Artificial Intelligence) had decided it in a single blow with very few moves. I had asked him not to engage in "pro wrestling" antics (meaning, dragging out the match to make it exciting), so he did exactly this. He is an inflexible and useless AI.
『If you give me instructions not to slack off or concede the advantage from the beginning of the match, it will end like this regardless of the opponent. Would you kindly not blame me?』 (Ai)
(But even so, finishing a title match in only 68 moves is harsh! Although it was a quick match, almost all the time allotted to both of us remained.) (Ōki)
After being ignored (by Ai) and receiving a relatively serious apology from Chairman Gekko, the Chairman issued an order for Kuzuryu to go and cheer for Tsukuyomizaka-san. Naturally, Kuzuryu could not refuse an order from the Chairman, so he headed to Tsukuyomizaka-san's break room. Very well. Let us proceed with our sightseeing tour of Tenryu-ji Temple.
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Read +90 chapters ahead on my p.a.t.r.e.o.n : Raven737