LADY AI SETS A CURFEW
“Welcome home, Master! Where were you, I wonder?”
After thoroughly enjoying Nanzenji’s famous boiled tofu and landing a new gig writing my maiden release, I feel like I’m walking on clouds as I come back to my new apartment. My apprentice is waiting for me at the door with an all-knowing grin on her face.
Ahhh …… This brings back memories ……
Yep. This kind of thing happened all the time with Ai Hinatsuru at the old apartment ……
Nostalgia washes over me as I focus as hard as I can to keep my voice steady and maintain eye contact.
“A-A practice session ……”
“A practice session. I see.”
Ai Yashajin nods deeply with that smile still plastered on her face. She then tilts her head like a cute little angel.
“And? You must’ve gone pretty far since you’re getting back so late. Where did you go?”
“Ky- …… Kyoto ……”
“Kyoto! That is pretty far. I wonder, what top-level Shogi player could possibly convince a dual title holder to go all the way out to Kyoto for a practice session, hmm?”
“Um …… i-it was with Machi Kugui, but she insisted that we have a true Kyoto dish afterward, so we stopped at a famous inn to have boiled tofu. They even had tatami rooms. And–––.”
“A futon laid out in the room next door.”
“NO!! We played Shogi and had dinner, that’s all!!”
Even I started doubting my memory for a second there, so I shout my rebuttal to convince us both.
“Is that true?”
“Y-…… Yes. It’s true!”
I’m not lying. So it’s true. If I’m not lying, then it must be true ……
“………………………………………”
Ai crosses her arms while staring me straight in the eyes. Then she leans in for a whiff (I don’t smell like anything, but she has some kind of sweet perfume on) and uncrosses her arms before saying.
“I don’t care. You can have women on the side if you want.”
“Um, what ……?”
That’s not something a grade schooler should say, and all I did was have a practice session with Machi. Not to mention that Ai Yashajin isn’t my wife or my lover. We’re just Shogi Master and apprentice.
“Look, I don’t like being restrained either. Both of us are the type to prioritize work over a social life, and I don’t get jealous like Ai Hinatsuru and Ginko Sora do.”
There are so many comments I’d like to make about what she just said that I don’t know where to start.
But her face is 100 percent serious as she points directly between my eyes and declares, “However! You’re only allowed to stay out for matches or work. Otherwise, you will be eating here every night. Your curfew will be …… Yes, 9 o’clock sounds about right.”
“Say whaaat?! 9 o’clock?! What am I, a teenage girl?!”
My curfew back at Master’s place wasn’t even that strict.
“Actually, I should be the one who decides your curfew! What gives you the right to set mine, huh?! Who is whose Master?!”
“Look over there.”
Ai juts her chin toward the kitchen.
There, …… sitting at a table with food piled high in the dark kitchen, is a maid mumbling to herself ……
“All of those hours at a hot stove …… All of those hours at a hot stove …… All of this food …… All of it made just for you …… All that time, all that effort, all of it ……”
“Dah! Sorry, Akira! I’ll eat it all! I’ll eat it all and enjoy every single bite!!”
So now I have a 9 o’clock curfew.
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