Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 1 - Chapter 5.3

☗ PRACTICE LEAGUE TEST

“This way. It will take place upstairs.”

I met Ai’s parents at the association’s front door and led them up to the fifth-floor arena where her Practice League Test was going to be held.

By the way.

I know I’ve been saying “Test,” “Test” quite a bit, but there is no actual “Practice League Test Day.”

It’s just added into the normal sessions called “Regular Activities.”

And if the examinee performs well, they can join right then and there.

“So, don’t think too hard. It’s okay—play just like normal, all right?”

Keika, who already holds a C2 rank in the Practice League, offers Ai some kind words to help her relax.

Ai is sitting on her ankles in the corner of the room and looks very very nervous. The fan I left next to her pillow is tightly clenched in her fist.

Currently, there are thirty-nine men and women who belong to the Kansai Shogi Association’s Practice League, most of whom are elementary and middle school students.

Nine of them who are trying to become Women’s League Players are a little older than the rest.

Keika is the oldest at twenty-five, but I’d say most are in high school. The only elementary schoolers are the two who came to the Practice Group at my apartment, Mio and Ayano, and of course Ai.

“Nh. Good morning, everyone.”

The man in charge of the Practice League, Yoshitsune Kuruno 7-dan, says a quick hello and takes attendance.

With that out of the way, he pulls out a “Big Board”—a whiteboard with a Shogi grid printed on it and magnetic Shogi pieces—to do a quick strategy lecture and gives the Practice League members a life lesson.

Today’s lecture went like this.

“Tell me, what kind of things do each of you do to get better?” Kuruno-sensei asks the rows of Practice League members in a kind voice, looking at each of them in turn.

The grade school members answer first. “Play matches every day!” “Solve lots of Shogi puzzles.”

“Nh. Playing matches, solving puzzles, there are many ways to improve. But the most important one is to keep building. For example,” he continues, “for people who have difficulty maintaining correct posture, try sitting on your ankles throughout your first match today. Then try to maintain it well into your second match during the next session. Then through the end of the second match during the following session …… Keep building like that and you’ll be far better than you were when you started before you know it. This is called effort.”

No sooner did Sensei say that then each of the elementary schoolers hastily fixed their posture. It’s so cute how they follow directions right away.

“There’s someone taking the test to join our ranks today. I’d like all of you to focus. Build on what you’ve learned. Show her that the Practice League is not just another classroom.”

Suddenly the center of attention, Ai froze like a statue. Keika forced a smile and gently rubbed her back.

“Now then, I’ll announce today’s matchups.”

Once he was finished saying who was facing whom with what handicap, the Practice League members went straight to the Shogi boards and started lining up their pieces at once. Desire to get started is radiating out of each and every one of them. Even my fingers start moving on their own.

With only one left uncalled, Kuruno-sensei turns his attention to Ai.

“Miss Hinatsuru, you play at a 3-dan rank in the classroom downstairs, yes?”

“Y-yes!”

“Nh. Then let’s see what you can do against Miss Sadatou without a handicap.”

Ai’s first opponent will be Ayano Sadatou, one of Ai’s Practice Group friends.

She may only hold an F1 rank as a new Practice League member, but I saw her play during the Grade Schooler Practice Group. She has a great feel for Shogi.

An even match with no handicap. Ai was assigned the second move with the flip of a piece.

“Now, please get started.”

“Ready when you are!” they both say at once.

All the participants bow to each other at the call of their instructors and every match gets underway. The electric chess clocks hum to life as the first clacks ring out from the Shogi boards.

“Whoa ……”

Ai’s father lets out something like an impressed sigh. Even her mother is watching intently.

The bubbly, excited atmosphere is gone, as are the young, innocent expressions from each child’s face. It’s gotta be strange for someone seeing this for the first time. A bunch of young assassins who are trying to kill each other’s Kings are here now.

Now then, about Ai’s match——.

“Would you look at that. Ai’s got a chance to take the lead.”

“Huh?” her parents respond in unison, looking to me for clarification.

“Ai’s opponent is being overly cautious and set up her defenses too soon. That actually opens up a weak spot in her formation. It’s not big enough to bring the whole thing down but ……”

But, it’s more than enough for Ai.

“…… Nhh!!”

Ai rams her Bishop into the formation to bring it all down—using no time.

“Huh?!”

Ayano is stunned by Ai’s decision to use one of her big pieces in a suicidal attack run right off the bat.

“I-I have no choice but to take it!”

She has that look in her eyes and takes the Bishop. That opened the floodgates to an all-out onslaught.

Seizing her chance, Ai used absolutely no waiting time as she systematically cornered Ayano’s King all the way into checkmate.

She found a tiny hole in the wall and forced it open with an attack as ferocious as a storm surge.

“There …… There are no options left …… I’ve lost ……”

Still not sure what hit her, Ayano lowers her head in a daze.

Ai’s brain is still working so fast that, “thankyou!” her words blended together. Ai practically throws her head down. Even her cheeks are flushed red with excitement.

Surprised to hear a match coming to an end, the nearby kids start talking in a frenzy.

“For real?”

“Over already?”

“Baby Dragon is a beast ……”

Only 34 moves were made. Matches normally last for nearly 100, so that one was incredibly short.

Ai’s father is just as surprised.

“D-Did she win already?! Ai?!”

“Your daughter’s determination won the match. She took advantage of her opponent’s momentary lapse before she was ready to fight.”

“Determination?” Ai’s mother says in her prickly tone. “Shogi is a board game, is it not? How could a player’s determination affect the outcome?”

“It’s true that Shogi is a board game.”

Twenty years ago——when the current, unquestioned ruler of the Shogi world claimed all seven titles, a journalist asked him, “What is Shogi to you?” This was his answer.

“Shogi is——just a game. However, as long as two people are facing off, mental elements such as overconfidence, fear and other emotions will always play a part.”

Even in this match, if Ayano had just taken a deep breath and analyzed Ai’s attack without getting rattled, there were many opportunities to take the upper hand.

But she got swept up in Ai’s big piece sacrifice and extremely fast pace, which caused her to make a bad move and ultimately lose this extremely short game.

Heck, Ayano had the first move in an even match. She would’ve had the advantage by attacking first. Being unable to do so means she lost her determination right then and there.

“You’re very good, Ai …… Too good ……”

“B-But I nearly lost a few times …… Went a little too quick ……”

The two of them start doing the review session and, “Ohh ……?”

A person behind them who came in for a closer look let out a curious breath.

Ai’s approach was just that impressive. The final formation on the board put her talent on full display.

That talent of hers attracted another talent.