Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 15 - Chapter 2.1

  THE BATTLE OF NANZENJI

The pieces are closing in from all sides. It’s as if a spider were entangling me in her web.

–––Haven’t seen that sequence before. What could she be after ……?

I start reading with the same intensity as a league match. Plenty of people like to experiment with new ideas during a practice session, but this sequence is timed out so perfectly that it makes me think she’s spent time working on it quite a bit already.

Mid-game.

Both of us have played past our research and entered unfamiliar territory where skills called talent and instinct become more important than reading the board.

And my instinct says: go for it.

If we clash now, I think I can win. I advance to force an engagement, but–––.

“Hm?!”

The web of entangled pieces bends but won’t break. I can’t hide my shock at just how strongly they’re linked together. Is there any other Women’s League player out there who can hold their own in a contest of strength against a pro during the mid-game?

“…… Strong.”

My opponent must’ve heard that slip out of my mouth because she is smiling sweetly like she did. The glossy fabric of her kimono along with that tantalizing perfume in the air have seized control of our arena.

I’m in the middle of a match, but …… she is absolutely breathtaking.

“Tee-hee.”

We make eye contact, and a full smile appears on her lips.

A dangerous one, too …… A smile that sounds the alarm. The most dangerous thing, however, is that she seems to be acutely aware of her smile’s true power.

Her beauty draws me in like a magnet. I have to tear my eyes away from her to refocus back on the board.

If I didn’t …… that beautiful smile would completely take over my train of thought ……

“Pardon me,” I say and remove my jacket. Even though it’s January, my whole body is soaked with sweat.

I start peeling back my opponent’s advance bit by bit.

All the while, she is stripping my formation down like ripping away layers of clothing. How vexing.

Momentum ebbs and flows like waves, our defenses tremble with every blow.

“………… Ah ……”

I’m not sure who took that breath. Our formations collide yet again, pieces melding together on a board that has dissolved into one single entity.

Bursts of ecstasy surge through my brain with every second that ticks by. The kind of late-game that devours everything on the board is underway. Her breathing is just as ragged as mine.

Seeing my chance, I take all the power that I have been building up and unleash it in one final blow ……!!

“Whew ………… I have been defeated,” my opponent for this practice session–––––Yamashiro Ouka Machi Kugui says after a long, deep breath and bows her head. Then she makes eye contact one more time and says, “This satisfaction is unparalleled.♡ Obliged for the Shogi match, Ryuo-san.”

After our review session, Machi bows her head again.

“Aye, my apologies for requesting that you come to Nanzenji Temple.”

“Don’t worry. I’m the one who asked for a practice session in the first place.”

With that, I bow back to her. I’ve still got adrenaline pumping through my veins after going all out …… Intense.

Nanzenji Temple.

If someone were to ask where Kyoto’s Shogi roots run deepest, this is the place. The strongest players of 60 to 70 years ago began a series of memorable matches that is called the Nanzenji Wars. People still talk about those battles to this day.

“Though I’m surprised we ended up at this upscale inn next to the temple, I was sure we were going to be playing in a building on the grounds ……”

“As there are places within Zen temples to which my gender is denied entrance.”

“Ah, I forgot. Women still aren’t allowed inside these older temples.”

Temples tend to be the go-to places to stay for overnight Shogi practice sessions, and Machi and I went on one back when we were in elementary school. So I just assumed we’d be doing that again this time, too.

“And, never in my wildest dreams did I think you’d be wearing a kimono! Seriously, a kimono at a practice session?! Don’t you think you got a bit too psyched up?!”

“Te-he-he. As New Year’s events are numerous, I nary have the chance to take it off.”

W-Well, that’s what it’s like to be born into nobility …… People would stop and stare at beautiful women dressed in elaborate kimonos walking down the street in any other city, but seeing one during New Year’s just feels right in Kyoto.

Machi stands up and twirls in place.

“Well? Does it suit me?”

“Sure, it does.”

“Would you be so kind as to give me applicable feedback?!”

This bombshell of a Kyoto beauty pouting and puffing out her cheeks makes my heart leap. Adorable ……

“Be sure to …… observe me in great detail, would you not?”

A woman who has been watching me …… no, watching my Shogi for years and years jokes.

It turns out that it’s been snowing outside and I only just now noticed. A soft, sparkly white blanket covers the landscape as far as the eye can see. Tranquility fills the air.

–––…… The timing should be about right.

Slipping my arms back into the jacket I took off, I fix my posture.

“I must admit …… when I invited you to this practice session …… I did have an ulterior motive.”

“…… Oooh?”

Machi’s eyes narrow as if sizing me up. Her aura changes so fast, it’s like she flipped a switch.

The woman in front of me isn’t Machi the Tormentor anymore, but her other face.

“I’d like to ask you a favor.”

“Pertaining to?”

“You’ll play against Ai, right? In the Women’s Legend League. When you do …… I’d like you to tell me how she’s doing. If she’s her usual self or not …… And, um ……”

“If she’s being persecuted in Tokyo, yes?”

“……………”

“I don’t mind in the least. As I am curious about Ai myself. Not to mention that I have been asked for a similar favor by both Ayano and Charlette already.”

“They have, huh ……?”

Ayano Sadatou is Machi’s younger sister apprentice.

Her friends suddenly disappearing one by one must’ve hit her hard. Plus, it was looking like Charlette was going to join the Practice League with me as her Master, but …… I called it off. We haven’t spoken since.

It’s my responsibility to resolve the situation. Right now, though–––.

“Was that the only favor you wished to ask of me, Ryuo-san?”

“No ………… There’s one more.”

She asked me as if she already knows what it is.

And, judging by that tone …… she already knows the answer?! My brain kicks into overdrive, and I have to will my voice to remain steady as I play my next move. My approach.

“Do you know where my older sister apprentice is right now?”

“Unfortunately, no.”

Shot down using no time.

My vision goes black in an instant. My spirit shatters more completely than in any Shogi loss and more thoroughly than I thought possible …… I can’t even stand up.

“I ………… I see ……”

Then, as if toying with my emotions, Machi continues, “However, I do possess several promising leads.”

“!! You do?!”

I reach out and grab Machi’s delicate shoulders like a drowning man desperately grabbing for a tree branch overhead.

“Do you really?! Do you actually have an idea where Ginko–––”

“Ow ……”

“Ah! S-Sorry …… I lost myself for a second ……”

Her eyes begrudgingly glued to my hands as I let go, she says, “Leads, yes. Though I cannot make any guarantees, I do believe them to be quite promising …… Just my intuition speaking, of course.”

“That’s plenty! Even …… just showing the way …… is enough ……!!”

A single star shining in the night sky. That’s what it feels like right now.

At last I can move forward. Just those few words were all it took ……

“That being said, the Women’s Legend League has reached a fever pitch and I must defend my title of Yamashiro Ouka come spring. I have neither the time nor the energy to partake in a wild goose chase ………… especially when said wild goose has hurt me in the past.”

“……”

“Therefore, I shall name my condition.”

“C-Condition? Sure, anything …… As long as it’s in my power, just name it ……”

No sooner are those words out of my mouth than Machi slides open the door to the next room.

“This–––is my condition.”

“Is that ……?!”

My whole body starts burning up the second I see what’s behind the door.

There’s …… a white, fluffy, square thing right there–––.