Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 15 - Chapter 5.1

  SERIOUS

“………… I got my period.”

It’s the last day of the Women’s Legend League.

And I, Tamayo Rokuroba, am the closest I’ve ever been to a title match in my life. But now I have to qualify for it in the worst condition possible.

“P- …………………”

The elementary school girl stops making breakfast when I say this and just stands there.

Then, very carefully, she asks me, “D-Does …… it hurt?”

“Well ………… you’ll know for yourself soon enough ……”

I feel anemic. Standing up is enough to make me dizzy.

No appetite, my stomach kills. And my mind won’t finish thoughts. I’m bloated everywhere. Sitting on my ankles is going to hurt so much …… Even my fingertips don’t feel right ……

So, yeah, I’m in no shape to be playing Shogi.

“Awwh. I was starting to think …… this year would finally be the year, too ……”

Just when I thought I finally had enough luck to win in the end no matter what the world threw at me …… it bites back in the worst way possible.

Well, wait.

I was probably done for already after losing to those two lesser players after beating Ryou.

I wouldn’t say I had dreams of grandeur …… But I was cocky, for sure. If I’d known this was going to happen, I’d have played to win the safe way rather than trying to strut around like that ……

“………… Um, Sensei? What about breakfast ……?”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t feel like eating anyway.”

I flop back into bed and pull the covers up over my head.

Somehow my hands and feet still feel like ice. Shivering ……

“I should just forfeit …… There’s no way I can play decent Shogi like this. It will be a humiliating defeat, everyone will start saying the pressure got to me, I’ll get annoyed, blah blah blah …… Besides, no one seriously wants me to challenge for the title anyway. They won’t even notice if I don’t show up at the arena, either! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha ……… Haaa ……”

“…………”

The elementary school girl doesn’t say anything.

Totally silent …… she does the strangest thing.

She goes around the room, pulling food out of the refrigerator and off the shelves and lines it all up on the table.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I didn’t want to eat–––,” I say as I poke my head out from under the covers but swallow my words.

I mean, the stuff she’s lining up is ……”

“……! Hey, that’s ……”

“Yes. Ingredients that you’ve gathered from all across the country, Rokuroba-sensei.”

The elementary school girl starts pointing at each of them and explaining what they are.

“This miso-seasoned fish was a gift from Ubaguchi-sensei. Kayunita-sensei’s husband gave you those soumen noodles. The rice, the meat, these vegetables, those fruits and drinks …… It’s not just food, either. Clothing, those bed covers, almost everything in this room is connected to someone in the Women’s League, right?”

“H-How did you know–––?”

“Everyone knows. You secretly order things from their side businesses and give them free publicity on social media …… Everyone knows what you’re doing.”

It’s not like that.

Shogi fans like pinpointing things in pictures on social media.

That’s why I thought it would be fun to put things I got from other Women’s players in the frame. That’s all there is to it.

I didn’t have some master plan. I’m just entertaining myself on social media.

It’s for the likes, that’s all–––.

“Do you remember the day when you came with me to the association, Rokuroba-sensei?”

“Ahh …… I did do that, didn’t I ……?”

“Ubaguchi-sensei and Kayunita-sensei were there in the Women’s Player’s Room that day. Are you curious why they were there on a day when they didn’t have matches?”

That’s right.

I thought it was weird when I passed by them in front of the elevator. It didn’t make any sense.

The elementary school girl tells me the reason.

“They saw me working with food that you ordered from them on your social media and wanted to thank me for it! They also apologized for the way that they were treating me, too!”

That …… happened ……?

“And then …… all of us talked about what an amazing person you are. How you help others post videos …… and find other ways besides Shogi to make money. Everyone knew …… They also know that you’re donating so much of your hard-earned money to the Women’s Shogi Association ……”

They do?

I was sure that they were trashing me behind my back.

But …… for it to have been the exact opposite is ……

“So many things are being said about Women’s Shogi players, but you …… you shield them all as Tamayon …… People are mean to you all the time, but you can still accept what they say with a smile and navigate through it ……”

Just stop.

It’s not like that. I’m no superwoman–––.

“They said that since I’ve started living with you, then I must actually be a good person. ………… I was so, so relieved to hear that …… But you had no idea, did you, Rokuroba-sensei?” says the elementary school girl as if she’s cross-examining me on the witness stand.

“I moved to Tokyo …… but I didn’t learn a single thing by myself …… I wouldn’t have even made it to the board on my own ……”

I want to argue.

Say that she’s wrong. Tell her that it’s because she tried so hard.

But I can’t.

There’s a hot spot welling up in the back of my throat …… If I try to talk, it’ll break ……

“So …… So!”

The elementary school girl continues her tirade because I can’t say a word.

Just like the way she absolutely dismantled those software users with her late-game prowess, she’s stomping all over my weak heart when it’s down.

“Everyone wants you to be in the title match! Seriously: everyone does!! They all think that you deserve to have a title, Rokuroba-sensei!!”

Tears start pouring down the elementary school girl’s face as she winds up to deliver a knockout blow.

“The only one who isn’t serious is you, Rokuroba-sensei!!”

“………………”

Well, this is weird.

All those aches and pains are gone …… I can move just fine.

The fighting spirit that has been snoozing inside me is back with a vengeance. Pain? What pain?

I’m on fire.

Burning so hot that I kick the covers right off.

I have to play Shogi right now, and nothing is going to stop me.

So make something clear to the teary elementary school girl in front of me.

“…… You know what that means, right? My winning puts you further away from the title match.”

“I know that!”

Ai roughly wipes the tears away with her entire forearm and glares at me.

“I’ll win, too! You won’t get your chance at a title if you lose!”

“Heh.”

I almost snorted through my nose at this little puppy trying her best to be intimidating.

If two players in the Women’s Legend League finish with the same number of victory stars, they do a playoff match to determine the Challenger.

If I win and she does …… Ai and I will be tied.

It means we’ll have another chance to face off, fair and square.

I’ll battle against Ai Hinatsuru at her best.

That …… is a match I absolutely have to play.

“We both win, we do a playoff. Once that happens, we should go right to the association and have them broadcast our match live!”

“YES!!”

–––Yep, she doesn’t get it.

I watch the simpleminded elementary school girl celebrate with glee and whisper silently to myself: Thanks. If it hadn’t been for you …… I wouldn’t have reached the board, either.