Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 11 - Chapter 4.2

  AFTER LETTING GO

“I have to go with my eyes closed?”

“Yes. I want it to be a surprise.”

Yaichi extends his hand to me as I stand hesitant in the doorway.

“It’s not all that far away. Now … come on.”

It’s pitch-black outside. A darkness like nothing a girl who grew up in the city like me has ever seen before has its gaping maw open wide on the other side of that door.

“……………”

I reach out, sliding my fingers to fit into his extended hand, hesitate for just a moment …… and close my eyes.

Yaichi gently guides me forward.

But it’s still scary. Walking around in a place you’ve never been with no idea where you’re going.

“It’s all right. We’ll take it slow.”

Trusting only that voice and the feeling of my hand in his, I put one foot in front of the other–––––.

A whole year went to waste with me going in and out of the hospital after I failed the Sub League Entrance Exam.

Yaichi rose to a level far out of reach during that one year.

Ayumu Kannabe 1-kyu.

Yaichi Kuzuryu 2-kyu.

By the time I entered the Sub League at 6-kyu, those two were rising through the ranks in the East and West respectively, but always had each other in their sights. Yaichi wasn’t stagnant anymore after breaking through that wall.

My winning percentage against him in our versus matches at home had fallen to around 30 percent by that time. What’s worse: the more waiting time he had, the more I lost.

I could hardly win at all in the Sub League either.

Kyu-ranking members play three matches during regular activity days. However, my body was always burning up and my vision cloudy by the time the third match came around …… With the fear of that pain seizing my heart again at any moment hanging over me like a dark cloud, I was in no shape to be playing Shogi.

Most people like a fragile glass ornament and kept their distance. Finding someone to practice with was always a struggle.

Meanwhile, Yaichi was traveling further and further away without me now that he had broken through the wall.

–––What am I supposed to do?! Somebody, tell me what to do!!

Master would always try to comfort me whenever my temper got the best of me after a loss.

“Ya got nothin’ to worry ’bout, Ginko. Just get stronger bit by bit. Yer still 10 years old, yeah?”

–––I’m already 10 ……

Being told to take it slow did nothing for me. By all rights, I should’ve gotten into the Sub League when I was seven …… Now, three years later, I didn’t feel like I was making any progress.

The way that I dealt with that pressure was–––.

“Ya wanna enter a Women’s Tournament?”

“Sub League members are permitted to enter the Queen and Women’s Throne League, yes?”

“’At’s true, but ……”

I knew this went against Master’s old philosophy: Sub League members should stay out of the limelight and keep their noses to the grindstone in the shadows.

“The Shogi gods’ll hate ya for it.”

That was always his argument. Every single time.

That’s why I prepared some ammunition of my own.

“The Sub League only meets twice a month, which doesn’t give me enough meaningful matches. The Sub League is so much more competitive than when you were there, Master. Other members are doing practice sessions with professionals, but I’m never invited because I’m a girl. Even when I do find an opponent, I can never get any honest feedback!”

“…… So, ’at’s goin’ on, too.”

It was that easy.

And so, I entered the Mynavi Women’s Open Challenge Matches during summer vacation as a fifth grade elementary school student.

“Ginko, you’re going to be in the tournament to become Queen?”

Yaichi and I were playing a practice match in the kid’s room when he asked me that question out of nowhere.

“That’s right. It’s summer vacation, so I’ll get bored without something to do.”

I lied to him. The reason was simple: he passed me up and I hated it.

“What will you do if I get a title first?”

“Hmmm …… Brag!” my older younger brother apprentice said without looking up from the board. That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I wanted him to hurt, to feel pressure.

Yaichi was a first-year junior high school student at the time.

He put on a black jacket uniform with a clipping collar and spread his wings to reach 1-dan.

His Shogi seemed stronger every time we played, and there were whispers in the Kansai Shogi world that Yaichi might have a chance to become the fourth junior high school professional in history.

On the other hand, Kanto utterly dominated the Shogi world as a whole back then. Yaichi’s perverse defensive style went against the prevailing standards like yagura and Side Pawn Capture, so he was treated like a sideshow attraction.

That was the reason why Ayumu Kannabe 2-dan, whose playing style coincided with modern Shogi’s strong defense into concentrated attacks way of thinking, was considered the brightest up-and-coming player. Actually, I think there was a good chance Kannabe-sensei would’ve become a professional in junior high school by the slimmest of margins if only he had promoted to 3-dan one month earlier.

However, no new heroes arrived on the scene.

The Shogi world felt stagnant to me back in those days. The Meijin always seemed to have at least three titles in his possession, and many felt that the overall level had declined.

In fact, it was the generation right beneath the Meijin that had declined, making his strength appear otherworldly and drew attention not just from the rest of the Shogi world, but from society as well.

Books written by the Meijin lined the bestseller shelves at every bookstore and younger players replicated everything he did, from his playing style to his researching habits. Garnering the love of the Shogi gods came to mean doing everything the Meijin was doing, which resulted in an explosion of Static Rook research.

A stable Shogi world ruled by a god.

That’s just how overwhelmingly powerful the Meijin was at the time …… People were only partly joking when they said they thought that age would last forever.

… Though there were some changes.

The first big one came about when Ranging Rook started employing the Bishop Exchange 4th File Rook strategy, one where the Ranging Rook player would initiate a Bishop Exchange.

This was revolutionary because Static Rook party members had been taught Bishop Exchange against Ranging Rook for eons. That trend destroyed what was common sense.

And the other big change …… A professional Shogi player lost to a computer for the first time that year.

Those circumstances in professional Shogi laid the foundation for the rest of society to shift its attention to Women’s Shogi.

To put it simply: I think the world was looking for a new hero to replace the Meijin.

A young person with the power to change Shogi’s image, like an idol.

That’s why I started attracting more fans with each win in the Preliminaries after making it through the Challenge Matches.

“Just who is that girl?”

“She’s, you know, what’s-her-face? The youngest grade schooler to ever be the Elementary Meijin. That girl from Osaka ……”

“Haven’t heard about her in forever. So … she was in the Sub League.”

“Cute and strong. You know what, I’ll sponsor her.”

“Yeah, me too. I was going to put all my money into Tomayon, but I’ll support her instead.”

Mynavi Women’s Open Preliminaries.

People can choose to privately sponsor individual players during that tournament. The one who received the most sponsors …… wasn’t the high school–aged, idol-esque Women’s Amateur Meijin turned Women’s League player Tamayo Rokuroba.

But rather the elementary school–aged girl facing her.

Me.

“Th-This can’t be allowed …… No one ………… No one told me some silver-haired loli was going to be here ……!”

Tamayo Rokuroba ground her teeth together as she writhed in pain. I’m certain that, when all was said and done, I absorbed a lot of her popularity.

However, I couldn’t have cared less.

–––Ahhh! This is so much fun!

I was basking in the joy of playing Shogi the way I wanted to play it for the first time in far too long.

Unlike the Sub League, players in the Women’s League don’t focus on shutting down whatever strategy their opponent is trying to do before they can do it. Neither side cares what the other does. Both players do their own thing until one side claims victory, even without a climactic battle.

I could play 10,000 matches that way and never lose.

“That little girl, she’s seriously strong ……!”

“She’s dominating everything, popularity and skills!”

“If this keeps up and she does take the title …… we could be witnessing history ……”

After the preliminaries, I was friendly and open with the journalists who rushed up to talk to me.

Master always said I was still in trainin’ …… but he saved every article written about me, and business was booming at the classroom because his first apprentice was on TV. So I felt no filial piety toward him whatsoever.

Simply put, I was full of myself.

… With no idea of what kind of retribution was waiting for me.

Retribution came first in the form of a monster in the form of a human being.

Ika Sainokami.

I ran into that amateur monster in her first year of junior high school during the second round of the finals.

“Eee-he-he-he-he! Ahhh ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaa!!”

“Ngh ……! S-So fast ……!!”

“Oh, I like you, little Whitey! I’ve never gotten this into it with a girl before!”

The very first time I sat across the board from her in the Kanto Association’s special arena in Sendagaya, I could tell she was far more dangerous and erratic than anyone else.

Even though she was clearly coming up with everything on the fly, her skill with a Rook and the worldliness she produced was unparalleled. It was all I could do to keep her Shogi circus in check.

Each of her moves were played instantaneously. The problem was that all my predictions were off the mark. She reached for pieces I never expected, almost like she was seeing things that I wasn’t. A familiar dread started taking over me.

–––Could she be …… the same as Yaichi and Ayumu ……?!

I played fast just to keep up with her, but there was no matching that monster’s speed and my waiting time dwindled away.

I assumed that that was all part of her plan, but–––.

“Tch! I was so close, so-so-so-so close …… Damn you piss me off so much, Whitey! Graaaaaaaaahhhhh––––––!!”

The monster wasn’t the least bit interested in my waiting time.

Playing what she was thinking at the speed it came to her was all she cared about.

I didn’t understand that then and instead committed all the waiting time I had left into delivering the finishing blow.

–––There!! That’s it! My victory is right there!!

Then the incident happened.

Ika Sainokami played exactly as I expected, using no time at all. Then she captured one of my pieces and swiftly snapped it down onto a piece stand.

My piece stand.

“…………… Huh?”

“Ah rats. Blew that one. Damn it, wrong one.”

The monster surrendered like she had lost all interest in the match.

Violating the rules by putting a captured piece on your opponent’s piece stand had never happened before.

At first, I thought I had Ika Sainokami backed so far into a corner that she panicked and put a piece on my stand by mistake. Cornered players are apt to violate the rules by accident.

Except the deeper I read into the board …… I came to realize that I had been out-read.

“Ah ……?! Th-This variant was hidden ……?”

Judging by the formations, I was certain I was in position to win.

Then, the move that was supposed to seal my victory …

An opportunity to counter my advance lurked just a few moves later. Ika Sainokami was trying to make that formation appear on the board.

–––She read it?! Long before I could …… Using no time at all?!

I sat there, staring down at the board in disbelief as Worldly Thunder leaned under me and, craning her neck around so far that I’m amazed her bones didn’t snap, spat this out, “Too slow, faker.”

That’s how I realized I had won the match … but lost the Shogi.

To this day, I still hate myself with a passion for feeling safe in the knowledge that that match was mine for even one moment.

Next were the semifinals.

It was my first league match against Machi Kugui-Yamashiro Ouka.

But both of us understood one thing.

This match was for revenge.

“Your day of torment is finally at hand.”

“I’ll crush you once and for all,” I told her loud and clear, but it turned out to be easier said than done.

Machi the Tormentor used Ranging Rook Anaguma to hold out to the point that I only needed one move to checkmate her. She had become much stronger and slyer than she was on that day back at the Kansai Association.

“I have been done in once again. Even with the title to my name, I cannot hold a candle to you in battle, Ginko.”

After her surrender.

At a surprising level of peace with her loss, the now third-year junior high student Yamashiro Ouka uttered the strangest thing.

“By the by, Ginko. As a congratulatory gift for your advance to the challenger match, why don’t I propose a perfectly fitting nickname for you?”

“Nick …… name?”

“Nicknames naturally form for strong players, yet …… As I have told you, I wish to become a journalist, and would love nothing more than to boast that I was the one to bestow a nickname upon a player!”

“Don’t bother. I–––.”

Don’t need one.

She blurted it out before I could finish. Right in front of the other journalists no less.

“Naniwa’s Snow White …… Satisfactory?”

She grinned like a fox that had magically transformed itself into human form as those words came out of her mouth. The curse that will haunt me until the end of time.

See? Didn’t I tell you?

I hate her and still consider her to be my biggest threat.

The Eternal Queen was waiting for me at the challenger match, Rina Shakando.

“Kousuke, that scoundrel,” she said with obvious excitement in her eyes. “Though he claims to have no interest in women, he was raising a jewel at his side the whole time …… Dishonest as ever, that man.”

The legend of Women’s Shogi and the same person who first implanted the idea of being a female professional in my head started lining up the pieces with the same giddiness as someone who had just received a new outfit and couldn’t wait to put it on.

“Snow White. I shall take the liberty of appraising your talent.”

Shakando-sensei’s Shogi style was old, her formations archaic.

Yet, the defensive shifts she created from those outdated formations bordered on artistic and were completely different from any Women’s League player I had ever faced.

–––She must be taking cues from formations that only she can see ……

Players who have fought for a long time develop consistent themes in their playing style. Call it secret research if you will.

There’s no doubt that her secret research is the reason why the Eternal Queen has been consistently competitive for so long.

–––Play along and I’ll get swept up into her plan …… I’ll lose!

I resorted to a Sub League playing style for the first time against a Women’s League opponent. Deciphering her target, I crushed her advance before it could take shape!

“…… Superb. At long last …… I’ve found one, at long last ……”

The Women’s Legend happily ran up the white flag, but I spoke to her before our review session got underway.

“Shakando-sensei.”

“What is it?”

“How does my talent compare to Ayumu …… to Kannabe 2-dan?”

“Arrogant.”

“……”

“My beloved apprentice has the makings of divinity. His talent is not to be compared with one teetering on the cusp of becoming a professional.”

I thought I was being scolded at first but, in fact, it was a compliment in disguise.

“You think …… I could be a professional ……?”

“Finally, I found one who can make my dream into reality.”

Shakando-sensei gazed over at me with adoration.

Just then, the first of countless footsteps from a tsunami of reporters rushing through the hallway outside reached my ears.

“Your forays into Tokyo for league matches will increase once you have a title, yes? If you are keen, come to my castle for practice sessions. I have ties with many professionals and shall invite them to join us.”

“……!! Thank you so much!”

My world expanded with every victory.

The allure was too much for me to resist after spending the bulk of my life trapped in a cage.

“Our first session shall be …… in June … on this date, perhaps?”

Opening a pocket calendar, Shakando-sensei made a proposal.

“June? Pardon me, Shakando-sensei. The Queen Title Match will start in April and is scheduled to last until July–––.”

“Claim three straight victories and the title match will conclude by mid-May, yes?”

“……!”

“Please do not disappoint me. I would hate to cancel a practice session that I have only just entered into my calendar ……”

Like a child sitting in front of a sweet, sweet pastry, I couldn’t look away.

The 7th Mynavi Women’s Open Queen Title Match.

The first of five matches was scheduled to take place in Mito, the Thorn Princess’s hometown.

“Well, hello. I haven’t seen you since, what? The Elementary Meijin finals?”

Queen and Women’s Throne.

The possessor of the top two women’s titles, Azami Hanadachi-Dual Title was the one who provided commentary during my victory in the Elementary Meijin Tournament.

“I never thought I’d be playing the Sub League member Ginko Sora in a Women’s League Title Match. Well? Think you’ll ever be a professional?”

That was probably meant to be a casual taunt.

The fact that I, the challenger, was getting all the attention rather than the title holder might have gotten under her skin.

Lining up the pieces, I answered.

“It won’t be that easy.”

“……!!”

That proved to be a counterpunch that nailed Ms. Hanadachi where she was vulnerable.

To me, the title of Queen was just a key to moving up in the world.

The icing on the cake was that I had to defeat a strong opponent, the Thorn Princess of all people, in three straight matches.

That’s what I intended it won’t be that easy to mean. I had no hard feelings against my opponent whatsoever.

However, all the fuss off the board made her despise her elementary school–aged opponent and put fire in Ms. Hanadachi’s veins. What’s worse, her taunt missed the mark.

I was solely focused on the battle before me.

Ms. Hanadachi was trying to fight invisible opponents as well.

The Thorn Princess plays defensively. Winning that way is extremely difficult when your heart is filled with turmoil.

The result was practically set in stone before the match began.

Being granted offense by the piece flip, I only needed a handful of moves to win the match. My victory became the top story on the news that night and into the following morning. The headline was:

Naniwa’s Snow White Defeats the Queen in Convincing Fashion!

There were many more reporters on hand for the second match because it was held in Tokyo. The Shogi world was having a field day.

The only one paying attention to the match was probably me.

Knowing she couldn’t afford to waste her turn on offense, Ms. Hanadachi forced an attack far too soon and crumbled when it fell short.

Professional and women’s players I had never met before talked about me in magazines and smiled as they talked about me on TV …… On the other hand, Master and Keika were worried sick about my condition, babying me in hopes that my body would hold up long enough to finish the title match.

Then, the third match.

Taking place in my hometown of Osaka and the Queen title within reach, the frenzy had reached its peak.

The location was changed at the last minute because there wasn’t enough space for all the reporters at the Kansai Association’s largest arena. That match at a high-class hotel in Tenmabashi couldn’t have been called Shogi.

News vans surrounded the hotel. All the TV cameras. Plus, all those Shogi fans and ordinary people pushing their way inside to catch a glimpse of Naniwa’s Snow White made that impossible.

Important people like the prefectural governor and mayor of Osaka came into the arena before the match began and during the break—all for a chance to have their picture taken with me.

Only me.

“……………………”

They treated Ms. Hanadachi in the upper seat like nothing more than an object on the floor. She silently sat there the whole time, staring down at the board and getting called an obstacle.

“Hey! There’s no room in here! Quit shoving!!”

“Queen! I can’t get behind you, so could you please scoot up a little bit?!”

“Tsk …… Her head’s in the way.”

“When’s the match over? Snow White’s got her beat on look already, so why don’t we just call it now?” (ha-ha)

“Snow Whiiite! Smile, smiiile!”

The reporters, ignorant of Shogi manners and lacking common human decency, treaded on the hallowed ground behind the upper seat just to get a picture of my face. They sat flat on their bottoms in the tokonoma alcove to get a better camera angle, stepped on the sleeves of the Queen’s kimono and took picture after picture with those loud shutters.

Ms. Hanadachi endured all those atrocities in silence and completely lost the ability to say anything to me, let alone look me in the eyes.

Then, once the match began all I had to do was use the advantage having the first move provided me to align my pieces to attack for the Throne Princess to collapse in tears on the spot.

“I lost.”

Making that announcement was her final duty as a title holder, as well as the only words she said that day.

Thus, the bland and boring title match was over.

The rest of society, on the other hand, was over the moon. That match was ironically dubbed the battle of the century and so many articles were written that no one could hope to finish reading all of them.

Ms. Hanadachi came back to challenge me many times after that, but …… she became more unhinged with each passing year and each match we played.

Next came her long leave of absence.

Though, after getting married and having children …… she seemed much brighter when I fought against her for the first time in years during last season’s Women’s Throne Title Match. She was much stronger as well.

I think that was the first match that I got to play against the real Azami Hanadachi.

“Oh, I lost again! But that was a great match, don’t you think?”

Those words bounced happily off the Thorn Princess’s tongue during our review session, and I nodded, saying yes from the bottom of my heart.

Going back to the moment I first claimed the Queen title.

Since the match was held in Osaka, the association assigned Kansai Sub League members to work as supporting staff.

Hiuma was the match recorder.

And in charge of moving pieces for the big four analysis was Yaichi Kuzuryu 1-dan.

Apparently, the commentator and analyst didn’t do their job all the way to the end because everyone could tell I was going to win by the mid-game. The audience was filled with people who wanted to see Naniwa’s Snow White more than the Shogi match itself. From what I’ve been told, the big board was changed out with the screen showing different angles inside the arena halfway through the match.

… Which meant there was nothing for Yaichi to do during the late-game …… He must have been part of the avalanche of reporters that came into the arena the same instant Ms. Hanadachi surrendered.

Thinking back, I thought I heard him call out Ginko at one point.

But there were too many camera clicks and shutter flashes happening at the time to know for sure. I could have been hearing things.

“Sora-Queen. Would you please accompany me next door for your solo press conference?”

I stood up without doing a review session.

Shuffle, shuffle! The sea of journalists and reporters parted before me, and I walked down the path they created.

All of the association staff sat on their ankles and bowed their heads to me as I passed.

–––So this is what it’s like being a title holder ……

It was the first time I saw the view from the top of Women’s Shogi. I was instantly enthralled. What I saw was more than enough to wrongly convince a single elementary school girl that the authority that came with her title was the direct result of her own abilities.

I was the Queen lording over all her subjects present in the room.

Then there was Yaichi, sitting on his ankles in the corner looking up at me.

I ……

Loved how it felt.

Well? Aren’t I amazing? How do you like me now?

I just looked down my nose at Yaichi without saying a word before passing right by him on my way to the press conference.

Without holding hands, all by myself.

The next morning I found Yaichi eating breakfast alone in the back corner of the hotel’s cafeteria.

He looked lost for words as I approached.

“Ah ……”

“Hm?”

Of course, I sat down in the seat across from him at the table.

Room service was available to me free of charge because I was a participant in the match, but I wanted to eat with Yaichi instead. We always ate together at home, so this was the normal thing to do. I was sure that he felt the same way and was about to complain that he had started eating without me.

However–––.

After a quick look around the room, Yaichi sat up straight and looked me square in the eyes before addressing me as politely as possible.

“Good morning to you, Big Sis.”

…… I thought he was joking around.

Because, seriously, he had never once called me Big Sis before. Nor had he ever used such a polite tone.

Oh, I see.

You’re trying to poke fun at me because I’m a title holder now. Is that it? Sure. I’ll play along.

“Good morning, Little Bro. I see you finally learned some manners. Very prudent of you.”

“Thank you. You look especially charming this morning. Are you going to make your debut as Queen?”

“Yes. I’ll be talking to journalists right after breakfast.”

I answered with elegant grace. Aren’t I truly amazing? Keep the compliments coming.

I then told him that I was scheduled to make ceremonial visits to the prefectural governor and mayor of Osaka, to be on TV, as well as receive numerous awards and accolades that day. I bragged on and on.

Yaichi listened to every word, waiting for me to finish before he said, “Congratulations. This present is for you.”

“Oh. Thanks.”

Butterflies dancing in my stomach, I took the bag he held out and opened it up.

The box inside contained …… A silver brooch.

–––So cute!!

It was the first present Yaichi had ever given me.

Cheap, for sure.

But, to me, it was more dazzling than any precious stone mounted in a piece of high-end jewelry.

He must’ve saved what little money he made as the match recorder to buy it for me …… I wanted to put it on and show it off to the world immediately!

Yaichi shyly looked into his lap and said, “But I’m sure you’ll get much better presents than this one ……”

“Obviously. But, I suppose I could wear it. After all, it’s from my little bro.”

Looking at that glittering snowflake-shaped brooch filled me with relief.

–––Yaichi is helping me celebrate my title ……!

I clipped the brooch right onto the hairband I had gotten from Keika, put it back on my head and went off to speak with journalists with extra pep in my step.

All of them loved it, telling me it was perfect for Naniwa’s Snow White.

“That brooch looks great on you!”

“It’s so cute I could just die!!”

Every compliment only served to inflate my already bolstered ego …… But I never revealed who gave it to me. I wanted that to be a secret between us.

Bathed in a seemingly endless string of camera flashes, I started coming up with my next plan.

For starters, I wanted to gift Master and Keika with a vacation of some kind.

Hmm …… That’s it! I can bring Yaichi along with me to Shakando-sensei’s practice session! Ayumu will be there too, so it’s perfect. I’ve got $50,000 worth of prize money to pay for it. We can take the bullet train, just the two of us ……

Except Yaichi continued to be extremely polite even after we were back at home and kept referring to me only as Big Sis.

Something had changed … permanently.

Gears had shifted in a direction I had never wanted them to go and were driving toward a destiny that I couldn’t change.

Toward something I never wanted … at a terrifying speed.

The Shogi world also underwent rapid changes as I advanced through the Mynavi Women’s Open.

The introduction of Internet coverage.

Shogi fans young and old had been playing matches over the Internet for years, so they were already open to the idea.

Then came the fanfare that the Queen Title Match brought with it.

Experimenting with Internet coverage during the title match produced surprisingly high returns. It wasn’t the younger generation that grew up with the Internet, but rather middle-aged and elderly people who normally had reservations about the World Wide Web who made the largest contribution.

Internet Shogi coverage is profitable.

Several IT companies signed contracts with the Shogi Association and a studio was constructed at the Kansai Association in almost no time at all.

More opportunities to work as commentators and analysts meant more income for professional and Women’s Shogi players alike. There were no objections.

Internet coverage advanced by leaps and bounds.

Yaichi and I had to watch Master challenge for the Meijin title on TV only a few years prior, but now the arena had become a very open environment.

Those conditions combined with the increasing popularity of smartphones and social media resulted in an explosion of casual Shogi fans: people who wanted to know what professionals ate, their faces and personalities …… a new type of fan more interested in elements of Shogi that happened off the board.

And the person who drew the most attention from that crowd was–––Naniwa’s Snow White.

“We would love for Ginko Sora-sensei to enter the Women’s Throne League as well!”

A Women’s title that had only recently been introduced.

The Shogi Association Chairman at the time and the director of a company that sponsored the infantile league came to the Kansai Association to speak with me mere days after I became Queen.

He massaged Master’s shoulders and spoke with a tone akin to molasses.

“C’ooon, Kooousuke. Joining the league would be the best thing for her too, riiiight?”

Glancing at me sitting in the chair right next to Master, that elderly man who was once a dominant player with an Eternal Title to his name was so overly friendly it was sickening.

“But, Ginko …… She is also a member of the Sub League. A title is a heavy burden to bear. Askin’ one so young to take on even more weight ……”

“A Sub League member, you say.”

A disturbing grin creeped across the then-chairman’s face.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you also have another apprentice in the Sub League, nooo? Oh, and your daughter is in the Practice League, dreaming of one day being a Women’s League member, yeeees? If, hypothetically, regulations were to change …… Would it be too much of shock?”

“Chairman! My second apprentice and daughter have nothin’ to do with–––“

“…… It’s okay, Master. I was planning to join anyway.”

“Ginko!”

I participated in the amateur preliminaries for the Women’s Throne League and progressed all the way through like clockwork.

The only thing was that it wasn’t anywhere near as much fun as Mynavi.

I don’t have a clue what Master did after that day.

However, A-ranking Seichi Tsukimitsu, who had always kept himself distanced from association management, volunteering to join the board of directors while continuing his career, sent waves through the Shogi world.

“I can’t brin’ meself ta shake hands with dat chairman no more. We feel a new chairman, one from Kansai is necessary. A man dat’s got more integrity dan anybody an’ stronger dan anybody.”

Don of Naniwa Tatsuo Zaou 9-dan, who had been the voice of Kansai in the Shogi Association for decades, specifically nominated Tsukimitsu 9-dan to take over.

The Meijin himself was the first to recognize Chairman Tsukimitsu from Kansai in his new position and his support sent waves across Kanto.

With the new chairman in place, there was a great deal of turnover on the Shogi Association Board of Directors.

“Though Sora-Queen is a title holder, she is first and foremost a member of the Sub League. Not to mention, she has yet to complete a level of education required by national law. Rather than making public appearances, her training and studies should take priority at this time.”

The number of journalists and reporters hounding me for interviews dropped off dramatically thanks to Chairman Tsukimitsu’s declaration.

It was at about the same time that one Women’s League player quietly retired.

Sasari Oga Women’s 1-kyu.

I didn’t interact with her very often because she lived in Kyoto, but she was Master’s younger sister apprentice, the youngest in his line. Therefore, she was my aunt.

Keika and a friend of hers in the Practice League named Sen Kouzui decided to throw a retirement party for her.

“Why are you quitting?” I asked Ms. Oga when I finally had a chance to sit down and talk with her at the party.

Rather than get angry at the extremely blunt question, Ms. Oga gently explained in terms that the child I still was could understand.

“There are a few reasons …… But you winning a title is a big one.”

“Huh?”

Someone else abandoned Shogi all because I had won a title?

It still didn’t make sense to me, so Ms. Oga went into more detail.

“One joined the Women’s League when one was a first year in junior high school. That was earlier than most, so expectations were high …… One could probably hold out a while longer. However, a girl far younger than myself made an awe-inspiring debut and rose to the top. Once one realized there was no hope of overtaking her, carrying on became too painful.”

“You’re quitting Shogi …… because of me?”

…… I was beyond shocked, almost floored.

Of all the things that were transpiring because I had won the title, that truth hung heaviest on my shoulders …… All I wanted to do was make Yaichi squirm ……

“Please don’t look at me like that, Ginko. Learning one’s limits so early on may actually work out for the best. Because one may have found something even more important.”

“What could be more important than Shogi?”

“Plenty of things.”

“Like what?”

“Love, marriage, those sorts of things.”

Thus, Sasari Oga Women’s 1-dan (she was ceremoniously promoted when she retired) left her Shogi career behind to search for something new.

Set out to find something else important to her.

…… Or … at least I thought she was leaving on a journey, but I saw her at the Kansai Association the next day. And when I asked, “What are you doing here?”

She answered, “One has been hired as the chairman’s secretary! One looks forward to working with you, Sora-Queen.”

Compared to how she looked during her time in the Women’s League, Ms. Oga was brighter and seemed to be genuinely enjoying life.

Green with envy, I decided to congratulate her.

“Go burst with happiness.”

Unlike the suddenly perky Ms. Oga, having the title I’d always wanted made my life far from easy.

Sub League. School.

As well as Women’s League matches and duties as a title holder.

These burdens were far heavier than I imagined and proved to be an immense strain on my feeble body.

The absolute worst was having to travel long distances.

Yaichi, who had always been with me wherever I went up to that point, was gone.

“…………… So bored.”

I rode on many planes and bullet trains with my lonely left hand hanging at my side. Long rides that used to be more fun the longer they were when we were together now bordered on torture …… Collecting pennants from all the places I went became the one thing I looked forward to during my travels.

Playing matches and fulfilling my duties after that robbed me of any energy I had left. Even after being graciously invited to Shakando-sensei’s practice session, I didn’t enjoy as much of it as I wanted.

Even when I limited myself to just work, Shogi fans would spot me immediately because of my hair and I’d get dragged into doing fan service.

I was overworked, plain and simple.

If it hadn’t been for Keika’s constant help and support, I would’ve surely collapsed. Though she’d never say it, I think the reason Keika was stagnant in the Practice League for so long was because she prioritized me over herself.

If I suffer retribution because the Shogi gods are angry at me, that’s fine.

–––But …… What if I’m the reason Keika never becomes a Woman’s League player ……?

That thought alone was more painful than anything else.

Yaichi joined the 3-dan division at around the time I got through the Women’s Throne Preliminaries and into the finals.

“Congrats. I’ll treat you downstairs.”

I took Yaichi to Twelve after the regular activities were finished on the day he was promoted. The Dynamite C Set for me. Yaichi had the Extraordinary Pork Beauty.

We sat side by side at the counter, the first time the two of us had eaten together by ourselves in ages. In fact, it had been so long since we were together by ourselves somewhere other than Master’s house that I was a little nervous.

Yaichi had changed after I won the title.

The happy-go-lucky aspects of his Shogi were gone. The way he spoke and even his face were completely different.

Seeing his sharp, wolf-like contours in profile made my chest feel tight, but I didn’t know why …… So I looked away.

It felt like I was burning up from head to toe.

Of course, part of it was the pain of knowing he had reached the 3-dan division before I did.

But …… What was it?

Why were my cheeks so warm ……?

“W-Well, you did pretty good for an idiot, don’t you think?” I said as I got another glass of water. I don’t remember how many of them I drank that day.

Now a second year in junior high, Yaichi was slated to participate in the second 3-dan division season, which would take place later that year. He would have three chances to become a professional before high school.

“Getting into the 3-dan division at 14? Isn’t that a little too good? Plus, you promoted just in time to get into the October season. Master is probably thrilled.”

Except … the few words Yaichi spat out after that were anything but happy.

“I was too late.”

“Huh? Too late ……? You have three chances to become a professional while in junior high, right?”

“I’ll never have a chance to face Ayumu in the 3-dan division ……”

I guess that must’ve been more important to him than becoming a professional as a junior high student. Ayumu was still in the 3-dan division at that point, but Yaichi seemed certain that he would promote.

And he was spot on.

A month later–––Ayumu Kannabe 4-dan made his debut.

It had been 14 years since the last time anyone made it through in one season. A legendary feat that only five people under the current system have been able to accomplish.

Meanwhile, I had reached 1-dan at long last.

Many people say: reaching 3-dan in the Sub League is the halfway point.

This boy whose Shogi seemed dull and even clumsy to me when we first played …… he reached 3-dan, the goal I was striving to achieve long before I did.

When I found out that younger brother, who I thought was weaker, poorer than I, had suddenly passed me and was now chasing someone else.

For the first time, I realized my own mistake.

If the Shogi gods got somethin’ against ya, ya ain’t never gonna turn pro.

How heavy those words were.

The seasons changed.

Autumn began, and Yaichi’s first 3-dan division got underway.

I claimed the Women’s Throne title a month later. The Shogi world and society at large welcomed the birth of Ginko Sora-Dual Title, but I had come to my senses.

That year came to a close and the following spring arrived.

Yaichi missed his chance to promote, but he went right back in for a second shot at the 3-dan division.

Now a junior high school student myself, I defended my titles wearing a sailor-style school uniform for the first time. The number of cameras increased further still, and the words sailor uniform began to follow me around.

I defended my Queen title with three straight victories.

Surmounting an extremely physically and mentally strenuous summer, I finally began to adjust to junior high school, as well as simultaneously becoming a Women’s Title Holder and a Sub League member by the time September came around.

Then the fourth junior high school Shogi professional in history was born. 15-year-old Yaichi Kuzuryu 4-dan.

I was at the Kansai Association when I found out what had happened on the last regular activities day at Kanto’s Association in Sendagaya.

“Miss Sora! A comment on Kuzuryu 4-dan’s promotion!”

“Do you have any words for your younger brother apprentice?!”

Reporters swarmed around me once regular activities concluded. I fielded their questions, but …… I just knew something had gone past the point of no return.

“…… I sincerely hope that Kuzuryu-sensei claims a title of his own and I will be devoting myself to following in his footsteps.”

This time, it was my turn to call Yaichi sensei.

The only difference being that this stage was in public.

Yaichi moved out of Master’s house as soon as he graduated from junior high.

I, too, made the decision to live with my parents at around the same time. Staying behind by myself, it was lonely. I felt like I’d been abandoned.

Everyone knows what Yaichi went on to accomplish after that point.

The youngest title holder in history.

The apex of the Shogi world–––Dragon King Ryuo.

I watched Yaichi’s ascension filled with emotions far from envy.

So …… It was true.

I knew it all along.

He’s a Shogi Martian.

Accepting the truth was easier now that I understood he and I were different life forms.

…… And so now, looking back on the past as I’m being led through the darkness by the hand, I realize just how many bad moves I made when I had choices to make.

What if I hadn’t gone against Master’s orders and held onto his hand ……? Would I be in this much pain? Would I still want to walk down the same path?

Tell me, Yaichi ……

Did I make a mistake ……?

But I want you to know I thought everything through as hard as I could.

I made those mistakes because I was still a child ……

The path I thought was the best …… Turned out to be a dead end ……