Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter 1.4

  A SPECIAL MORNING

“That isn’t too tight to breathe, is it, Ai ……?” said the mother in a shaky voice as she finished tying the obi sash on her daughter’s kimono.

“It’s fine, Mom! Actually, tighter might be better. I’ll be standing up and sitting down a lot during the match.”

“…… Oh, this is no good. I shouldn’t be anywhere near this nervous ……,” Akina Hinatsuru sighed while staring at her shaky fingers.

In addition to her responsibilities as owner, Akina also ran a hair salon within the inn that specialized in wedding and formal hairstyles. Years of training at beauty school had made her one of the best in the business.

Today, however, her hands were not on the same page–––

“I’m sorry, Mom, for asking you to come do this when you’re really busy,” said Ai, recognizing that her mother wasn’t her usual self today. “But, this is for Shogi …… I wanted you to be the one to help me get dressed for my first match in my first title match series.”

“Ai ………… Yes, that was our promise ……,” Akina answered with a nod while running her fingers through her daughter’s short hair.

It happened right after Ai came to Tokyo. She lived at her mother’s inn, the HinaTsuru, for a short time before coming to share a room with Tamayo Rokuroba.

Confronted with the harsh reality of a three-match losing streak in the Women’s Legend League, the still long-haired and depressed Ai Hinatsuru had spent a great deal of time wandering around Sendagaya and Shinjuku stations.

–––I thought …… there was a chance Master might find me if I was there.

It was her mother who cut those long locks.

And they shared a promise.

Someday, when Ai became a title challenger, Akina would be the one to set her hair.

Although her promise was now fulfilled …… Akina voiced her one regret.

“I would prefer to have hosted your first title match at the HinaTsuru ……”

“There’s nothing you could have done. Even I didn’t think I would be playing in the title match after I lost the first three matches in a row!”

Akina continued to decorate her daughter’s hair while saying everything she would have done differently given the chance.

Ai responded as light and cheerful as possible.

“And besides, Shakando-sensei has had the Women’s Legend titles for 29 years in a row. The first match has been played in Hakone for over 20 years now. It’s tradition and everyone wants to keep it going.”

“…………”

Akina was left speechless by her daughter’s clear-cut explanation.

Ai continued.

“But I want to play a title match at the HinaTsuru next year.”

“……!!”

It was a declaration.

A declaration that she would win the title and be in the Women’s Legend Title Match again the following season. At that time, however, it would be her first as a title holder.

“So, Mom! Keep the schedule open, please!”

“…… Ai ………… You’ve become so strong ……”

Akina pressed a handkerchief to the corners of her eyes.

–––Mom is crying?! I-Is she feeling okay ……?

Ai pretended not to notice the glistening in her mother’s eyes. If she hadn’t …… she would have broken down in tears herself before her battle had even started.

“Oh, and Mom, I’m surprised to see you wearing Western clothes.”

“What kind of a mother steals the spotlight from her own daughter?”

The pair shared a giggle.

“She’s here!”

Fully dressed in traditional Japanese style and perfectly adorned, Ai made her way down the long hallway to the arena and was met halfway by event staff and journalists all raising their cameras in unison.

“Good morning!”

Ai set her feet and answered them with a proper bow. Taking Tamayo Rokuroba’s lessons to heart allowed her to receive passing marks for conduct during her first time on the big stage.

“She’s pretty bold for one so small.” 

“Agreed. She doesn’t look intimidated at all.” 

“That’s the Ryuo’s first apprentice for you.”

“This reminds me of when Naniwa’s Snow White challenged for her first title way back when.”

Whispers reached her ears.

Had this taken place when she first arrived in Tokyo, her head would have surely been on a swivel as she searched for support.

However, the lessons that Tayamo’s words and conduct had taught her became Ai’s shield.

–––Thank you so much, Tamayon-sensei ……!

Ai silently thanked her roommate who was attending a Meijin Title Match with Jin Natagiri. Even though she wasn’t in the room, her words still gave Ai an encouraging push.

Lifting her head, Ai strode down the middle of the rest of the hallway to the arena.

At the end of it–––.

“? Is that ……?”

A woman with a wobbly gait was using the wall to keep her balance. Ai couldn’t believe her eyes.

–––Shakando-sensei? Alone …… without a cane?!

Reflexes took over.

“…… Sensei!”

Forgetting that she was dressed in an ornate kimono, Ai sprinted down the hall to offer her arm to Rina Shakando. Her parents, owners of a Japanese inn, had taught her to always assist people with disabilities. Those lessons were being put to use.

“Sensei. Allow me.”

“Hm?”

Confused by Ai’s offer, Rina paused for a moment.

She smiled a moment later and took Ai’s outstretched hand.

“Thank you. What a kind child you are.”

The two proceeded to the arena walking shoulder to shoulder. Had any title match ever begun like this? Not likely, because a challenger being friendly and offering assistance to the title holder would be thought of as a flatterer and would surely be met with harsh criticism.

However.

“Whoa ……!”

“What a beautiful sight.”

“What better way to start a battle between generations could there be than this ……?!”

The staff and journalists present who witnessed their entrance were deeply touched.

Ai in a kimono and Rina in a fancy, Western-style dress. They crossed the threshold into the arena at the same moment.

The match recorder then slowly guided Rina to the upper seat. Sitting down, the Women’s Legend helped herself to a cup of tea waiting for her beside the board.

“Maria has told me so much about you,” said Rina kindly as she looked over at Ai, sitting attentively across from her.

“Had today not been a weekday, I would have wished for her to accompany me …… But education takes priority before entering high school these days, does it not? A Shogi field trip was considered to be of the utmost importance in my school days. How I long for them ……”

The Women’s Legend struck up a conversation while taking in the view out the window.

“Such sweet nostalgia …… I commuted from here in Hakone to the Women’s League Training Association when I first became an apprentice. Once I became a proper member of the Women’s League and got busy with matches, Master proposed that he and I, along with his family, should move to Tokyo. All so that my bum leg would not cause me unnecessary hardship during transit ……”

“…………”

“Master had a saying. No romance or makeup until you have a title. I was a live-in apprentice to him and scolded for doing my homework when discovered. If I had the time for it, he’d yell that I should be playing Shogi …… Did the young Ryuo ever say such things to you?”

“Ah …… umm, well …………”

“My apologies. You have not come here to listen to the ramblings of someone over the hill like me, yes?”

“N-Not at all! That was, um …… very enlightening!”

“Heh heh. A kind child indeed.”

Rina repeated herself once more in saying that Ai was kind. This time, however, with a much sharper gaze.

Battle was drawing near.

The living legend known as the Eternal Queen placed both her hands on the piece box in the middle of the board between them. Opening it, she whispered to her young challenger, “Now–––let us begin the Shogi match.”