Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 15 - Chapter 3.3

  KUZURYU’S NOTEBOOK

My second meeting with Machi takes place in a café on the shore of the Kamogawa River.

“How about something simple for the title, such as Kuzuryu’s Notebook?”

The Kamogawa River is famous for all the couples who sit along its banks even in the middle of winter. This café, which has a clear view of them, also happens to be where Machi brought me to do a piece for a magazine article she was writing at the time.

Apparently, the picture of us spoon-feeding each other this café’s signature green tea parfait like an overly lovey-dovey couple was a huge hit. It flew off the shelves all around Kansai. Even the wrath of Big Sis and Ai, who bought the magazine for some reason, can’t tarnish the good memories I have here.

However, this meeting is so up-tempo that I don’t have time to bask in memories that hurt so good.

“Isn’t that …… too simple?”

I let Machi know I’m not happy with the title.

“I understand that coming up with the title isn’t easy because the book I’m planning to write isn’t based on strategy alone. But, you know? I don’t think anyone would bother picking it up without something a bit more specific on the cover.”

After all, I’ll be committing my heart and soul to my debut, this maiden release. I won’t let it be published with a simple title like that!

It seems like Machi was expecting that complaint.

“Indeed… which is why we will add a subtitle to it. As in Shogi, the publication world has its own standards that we follow.”

“A subtitle? Like what?”

“I have a few suggestions ready–––.”

Machi opens her notepad and begins reading down the list with vigor.

“My editor-in-chief suggests Kuzuryu Notebook: That Time I Took a Grade School Girl as a Live-In Apprentice and Won a Surprising Number of Matches After Dropping 11 in a Row While Becoming Super Popular with Grade School Girls.”

“I’m writing a book about Shogi, right?”

“A book about Shogi, yes. Why bother asking such an obvious question?” asks Machi, surprised.

I’m the one who’s surprised!

“Because the word Shogi isn’t in the subtitle but Grade School Girl shows up twice!! Is that what your editor is after?! Just what do they think I am at the office, huh?! Depending on your answer, I’ll be writing to a lawyer instead of writing a book!!”

“Your reputation is typical. That of a typical loli- …… professional Shogi player.”

“You were about to say lolicon just now, weren’t you?”

By the way, when I say office, I’m talking about the editorial department of the Japanese Shogi Association, and its editor’s office is in the basement of the Kanto Shogi Association Building in Sendagaya. In other words, these title suggestions are a direct reflection of what they think of me ……

“………… For now, may I hear your other ideas?”

“My editor-in-chief’s second suggestion is Kuzuryu’s Notebook: What If a Grade School Aged Live-In Apprentice Read the Trash Dragon King’s Research. Call it If-Dora for short. Any thoughts?”

“How is that any different from the one before? I can’t even tell if it’s a book or not anymore.”

Her boss literally found a way to call the author trash, too.

“I really think the best option would be to forget the subtitle and come up with a better main title–––.”

“Loli Notebook, perhaps?”

That’s the part you keep?!

“All right, fine! We can keep it as Kuzuryu’s Notebook! Simple is best! That’s the best one, isn’t it?!!”

“Indeed. I have been saying so since the start.”

“The start? …………… Ah!”

I finally connect the dots when I see the isn’t it obvious? look in Machi’s eyes.

“I get it. This is one of those standards, isn’t it?”

“Te-he-he.” My skillful editor grins like a fox and says, “That one is entitled: use absurd suggestions in order to have your original idea approved.”

“Yeah, yeah …… You got me hook, line and sinker! That’s how you can keep calling me a lolicon when you don’t think it’s true at all!”

“You are free to think so.”

“Hah! Hah! Hah! You got me good!”

Now that the pressure of choosing a title is off, I finally reach for my spoon to take a bite out of my untouched parfait, but–––.

“Here.”

Machi scoops out a spoonful and puts it in front of my lips before I can.

“Huh? Um, this is a bit much ……”

“Editorial support.”

Oh? Editors do this for authors, too? Man, what a great job …… I think to myself as I take a bite. Sweet ……

“We promised to return here without work on our last visit, but it turns out we came back for work reasons once again.”

“…… Well, that sounds like us, don’t you think?”

Machi and I first met over 10 years ago at the Elementary Meijin Tournament.

Apparently …… I went to comfort her when she was crying after I beat her in the semifinals. I was so nervous before the finals that I don’t remember doing that, though.

“I’ll show you some cool Shogi, so please don’t cry,” is what I said …… apparently. That sounds like a pickup line if you ask me.

Even though we are two years apart in age, we became friends after that and traveled back and forth between Osaka and Kyoto to play Shogi. Ryo Tsukiyomizaka joined us sometimes.

But that relationship changed almost right away.

Machi joined the Women’s League. I was still in the Sub League, so I had no choice but to call her Sensei in public. And then–––.

“Starting today, I will be working as a journalist under the pen name Mato.”

I still remember the shock of seeing her, then a junior high school student, dressed up in a business suit and talking like a professional.

“Please allow me to cover your career, Mr. Kuzuryu.”

The aura pulsing from her eyes was overwhelming …… All I could do was nod.

“Back then, I was amazed at how many jobs you were doing, but …… Didn’t someone try to stop you? Playing for a title while also writing articles at the same time couldn’t have been easy.”

“My Master is quite open-minded when it comes to these things. In fact, he was my strongest supporter.”

“Ahh …… So, how is the Sage?”

“Far more of a handful after retirement, to be honest. He has always been more interested in writing articles than playing Shogi itself.”

“Ayano has been talking about becoming a journalist for a long time, too.”

Machi’s Master, Kayaoku 7-dan, has written hundreds and hundreds of articles and is actually more well-known as a writer than a player. That’s why the Shogi world has dubbed him the Sage. Anything else, and he would write so many bad things about people once he got an idea in his head that it’s not even funny …… Though he seems to have the wrong idea about me.

“But whoever you end up with is going to be one lucky guy, Machi.”

“Huh?!”

“I mean, he’s going to get taken out to the best restaurants every single time. First it was boiled tofu and now we’re here at this café. These meetings are so much fun they might as well be dates, yeah?”

“He-he …… Then perhaps third time is the charm for returning here without work? ………… Next time for sure.”

Machi jokes as she runs the head of her long spoon across her lips.