Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 1.2

  HOME VISIT

“Good afternoon. I am Miss Ai Hinatsuru’s new homeroom teacher, Misao Kanegasaka.”

The woman standing in the doorway has an aura that just screams teacher. Even her suit looks smart. One glance is enough to know she’s extremely intelligent and straight as an arrow.

Age-wise …… early twenties, maybe?

“N-Nice to meet you! Thank you for coming today!”

Stuttering a little bit from the shock of this sudden change of events, I give a proper bow to make sure I don’t bring shame to my position as Ai’s guardian. She cannot, under any circumstances, find out that Ai was bouncing on top of me like riding a horse only a few minutes ago. It’ll all be over if she does.

Scanning my body from head to toe, Kanegasaka-sensei says, “While I hate to cut the pleasantries short, I wish to speak with Ai’s guardian, Yaichi Kuzuryu. Is he here?”

“He’s me.”

“………………… Huh?”

She tilts her head, but I say my name loud and clear to hide how nervous I really am.

“I …… My name is Yaichi Kuzuryu, Ai Hinatsuru’s guardian while she lives in Osaka!”

“Guardian? You are her guardian? Not his son but actually him?”

“Yes.”

“Pardon my rudeness but …… How old are you?”

“I turn 18 this year.”

“So you’re 17 right now? Which would mean you’re still a high school student, yeah?”

Her formal tone as good as gone, she is staring at me with so much suspicion it’s not even funny.

Though it’s really getting on my nerves.

“I may be on the young side, but I have a job and a steady income. I pay rent for this apartment myself and am financially capable of supporting Ai!”

“Yes! I’m being provided for very well! I’m very happy here!”

Ai, standing right beside me, backs me up with a few salvos of her own. My chest is suddenly getting hot.

I still have a lot of growing to do as a Shogi Master.

Honestly, Ai does all the chores around here.

Despite knowing that I’m not providing enough for her, I absolutely can’t back down now.

Ai living with me in this environment is the best thing for her growth as a player. I’ve raised her as a live-in apprentice over the past year believing that with all my heart. What’s more, now is an extremely important time in her career because she just entered the Women’s League.

Ai’s environment … it’s up to me to protect it!!

“Oh …… So, that’s how it is. I see, I see.” Our determination must’ve come across because Kanegasaka-sensei goes back into formal mode and says, “It is true that Miss Hinatsuru’s grades and living conditions are well within acceptable parameters. It seems I have no choice but to acknowledge that fact.”

“See? What did I tell you?”

“I thought it unusual that a girl her age living away from her parents would conduct herself as maturely as she does. Therefore, I was looking forward to meeting the person responsible for her well-being on today’s home visit. Your age caught me off guard ……”

“That’s all right. I’m used to people making assumptions when they find out how young I am.”

“So? What is your relationship to Miss Hinatsuru, Mr. Kuzuryu? Her cousin perhaps?”

“I’m her Shogi Master.”

“Let’s see, I’m sure I have the number for Fukushima Ward’s Children’s Welfare Services in here somewhere–––.”

“Wait, would you please! Don’t call them without understanding the situation first!”

About to take out her smartphone, I desperately push Kanegasaka-sensei’s hand back into her purse and start explaining.

“Yes, I’m young, but I have the ability to take an apprentice! I’m a pro!!”

“What exactly would a professional handler of elementary school students do?”

“That’s what I’d like to know!!”

Who said a word about that?! What kind of pro even is that?!

“P-Pardon me …… I got caught up in the moment there.”

I got so angry at being called a professional loli-con that I yelled at my apprentice’s homeroom teacher.

Relax, relax. Get angry and I’ll lose. I must explain everything as calmly and clearly as possible ……

“Why don’t you come inside rather than standing here in the doorway? It would be easier to show you what I’m talking about rather than just say it out loud.”

“………… Lead the way.”

It took her a few seconds to make up her mind, but Kanegasaka-sensei puts her bag down on the floor and starts taking off her shoes.

I use this window of opportunity to whisper into my apprentice’s ear.

“…… Ai. Listen ……”

She stretches up on her tiptoes to lean in close. I bend down a little bit and issue orders.

“…… Find an excuse to get away and call Keika. I don’t think I can handle this by myself ……”

Ai makes a sharp bow before saying, “Oh, I need to go make tea!” much louder than she needed to before disappearing into the kitchen.

I take Kanegasaka-sensei into the tatami room.

“! …… Oh? And this is ……?”

Stepping inside, she sounds thoroughly impressed.

Since I’d already prepared for tonight’s practice group session, beautiful, legged Shogi boards are lined up around the room. Talk about good timing.

“This is where Ai and I work. The most important part of our job is the league matches that take place at the nearby Kansai Shogi Association, but we host practice sessions and do research here with our colleagues on a regular basis in order to win those matches.”

“For …… Shogi?”

She sounds confused.

“Miss Hinatsuru mentioned it before, but …… Shogi is just a game, right? That clicky board game that senior citizens do on porches to pass the time, that Shogi?”

“Yes, that Shogi. And yes, it is a game. The same way that baseball and soccer are games.”

“……”

“And just like them, Shogi has an organized professional system as well. I moved to Osaka at the age of six to live with my Master in order to join the professional Shogi world.”

“S-Six?!”

“Yes. I was born out in Fukui, you see. From there, I spent 10 years living in this neighborhood as Kousuke Kiyotaki 9-dan’s live-in apprentice.”

“From that young of an age ……?”

“Plenty of professional athletes start their career as teenagers, yes? It’s just like that. To be more specific, Shogi players ranked from 4-dan to 9-dan are professionals. Our records and standings determine our income.”

“…… All right. I understand what you’re implying.”

It sure seems like she gets it. Bringing her to this room was the right decision.

“And? What is your dan ranking, Mr. Kuzuryu?”

“I’m the Dragon King Ryuo.”

“Are you trying to be funny?”

She’s seriously ticked off. Why ……?

“In what world does someone introduce himself as the Dragon King? Perhaps you’ve read too many comic books? Or are you still in a rebellious phase? I really should call the Child Welfare–––.”

“I-It’s not a joke! The Shogi world has several titles that rank above dan …… I mean, you must’ve heard of the Meijin, right?! Right?!”

“Of course, I have. He is mentioned in textbooks.”

Seriously? That guy is amazing ……

“I’ve beaten that Meijin before!! Here’s the proof!”

I start taking Shogi magazines off the shelf one by one and show her articles covering my Ryuo Title Defense and Ai’s Women’s League debut.

“Interesting …… It seems that you being famous in this Shogi world and Miss Hinatsuru being active at the age of 10 were true after all ……”

“So, you understand?!”

“Howeeever!!”

She cuts me off, her voice snapping like a whip.

“I couldn’t care less how skilled you are or how many tens of millions of yen you earn each year! To be clear, the problem is that a 10-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy are living together on their own.”

“…… I understand your concern.”

Here comes the moment of truth.

I look Kanegasaka-sensei straight in the eyes and give my answer.

“But, the fact remains that Shogi is both a mental sport and a valuable part of Japanese tradition and history. The relationship between Master and apprentice is the foundation of the system that has been perfected over 1,400 years. It survives to this day because no selfish desires and other impure motives exist whatsoever!”

“Then, there is nothing nefarious going on here?”

“Of course not! We only play Shogi!”

“Can you swear that the Master/apprentice relationship will not transform into a romantic one?”

“Of course!”

“Then you can say with absolute certainty that Miss Hinatsuru has never straddled you in bed like some cheesy adult comic, that she has never invited her elementary school friends over to receive your instruction only for things to get out of hand and you haven’t promised to marry an underage girl, correct?”

“O …… Of course!”

“Was that a stutter just now?”

“Nope, not at all.”

Keikaaaaaaaaa!!! Save meeeeeeeee!!!

Just as my heart called out, I hear.

Ding dong.

“Ah! Coming, coming, coming! I-If you’ll excuse me for a moment!!”

I dash out of the tatami room before Kanegasaka-sensei can say anything and head for the front door.

Ai, who’s been making tea in the kitchen, tries to get my attention as I fly by but there’s no time.

The situation is dire. I’m only a handful of moves away from being checkmated.

–––But, with Keika here …… She’ll find a way out of this ……!!

Praying for a miracle, I reach out and fling open the front door only to see–––.

“Cha’s hwere to pway!”

It’s over ……