Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter 5.02

  GRADUATION TRIP

The fifth Women’s Legend League match is happening directly between east and west.

Right in the middle of Japan: Gifu!>

“Man, talk about the boonies.”

Ryou doesn’t hide how annoyed she is as we finally step out of Gifu Station.

“Hey ……! Watch what you say. There’s no telling who might hear ……”

“Who cares? I don’t know anyone this far out in the middle of nowhere.”

“You guys stick out way, way too much in the countryside!!”

Every single person does a double take as a dark-haired Kyoto beauty, a delinquent (and also a beauty) and a (dashing) man in a white cape pass by. I’m such a fish out of water being the only normal-looking person in this group and our group stands out more than the golden statue of the feudal era daimyo Nobunaga Oda in the station square. Just what is with that anyway? All that gold is a little much ……

We have come to Gifu a full day behind the players and staff. Scheduling played a part in it, but the biggest reason is so no one else finds out what we’re doing here.

Once we grab a taxi, I take out my smartphone and pull up the match broadcast.

“It’s already started ……”

“Past matches in the series would indicate this one may be over quickly, as well. We must make haste,” says Machi.

An old hotel called Jurokurou is hosting the match.

“According to the blog …… the building is located right along the Nagara River. It has a rich history, and you can even get on cormorant fishing boats from right inside the hotel. It seems like the players went on those boats before the opening night party yesterday.”

Ryou slaps her knee and suggests, “Perfect! We sneak on to one of those boats after the match, take the hag out for a ride and we all live it up out on the ocean. How’s that sound?”

How does it sound? Like a terrible idea.

Ryou is in vacation mode, but Ayumu is the complete opposite. He hasn’t said a word since we left Tokyo. Even now, sandwiched between Ryou and I in the back seat of the taxi, he’s a nervous wreck.

“Ayumu.” I address my anxious friend. “You may have caught on because we didn’t try to stop you when you said you wanted to go to Gifu no matter what, but–––”

“………….”

“To put it simply, I think you have a chance.”

“……!!”

Ayumu grabs my shoulders to get me to talk faster.

“But just because there is a chance doesn’t mean it’s going to work. That’s the way relationships are. My Master and Shakando-sensei are living proof.”

“…………”

Sir Ayumu deflates with disappointment like a sad puppy. That was cute ……

“Because there is a chance, I want you to stay out of sight until the match is over. There’s no telling how Shakando-sensei will react if she sees you …… And this match is very important for my apprentice.”

“Naturally.”

Suddenly, with the strength of someone completely different, Ayumu Kannabe declares without a moment’s hesitation, “Master would never acknowledge some barbarian willing to destroy the sanctity of an arena.”

Jurokurou is right in the middle of Kawaramachi, a touristy little town at the foot of Gifu Castle. We find a sweetshop on the other side of the road and go sit at one of the tables on the second floor. Apparently, the owner of this place is a local celebrity and also one of Machi’s acquaintances.

“You have a lot of friends in high places, Machi.”

Players have a free pass to get into a match venue. However, should three title holders and an A Rank pro suddenly show up, the place would go nuts. One wrong move, and we might end up distracting the players and affecting their Shogi.

“The good news is that the commentary is taking place at a different inn that’s ten minutes away on foot. Even if someone does find us here, we won’t get volunteered to do analysis because it takes so long to get there.”

“The commotion should not become an issue in that case.”

Machi nods as she pours tea for all of us.

“Exactly. By the way–––”

Indulging in a local fish-shaped pastry, I change the subject.

“I came here for two reasons. First, to see my apprentice’s title match all the way through to the end and second, to get an answer for Ayumu’s proposal.”

“I have come to assist my younger sister apprentice, who is working as a journalist for this match.”

“I …… am concerned for Master’s well-being,” Ayumu manages to say without looking up. “This is Master’s first sojourn in this particular lodging. As this old building shows signs of having been remodeled many times over, the substantial number of stairwells will prove difficult for her disabled leg …… Even if I cannot reside within the arena with her, I would at least prefer to be within range to help should a situation arise ……,” says Ayumu, clearly worried about Shakando-sensei’s safety.

I can tell that it means so much more to him than the answer to his proposal right now.

Moved by my stoic friend’s answer, I look at the last one of us.

“And? Why’re you here, Ryou?”

“Wanna die?”

Once she smacks me in the arm, she crosses those long legs of hers and answers while shifting around like there isn’t enough room for them under the table.

“………… Yeah, I get that I’m the only one who hasn’t got a good reason for coming. There isn’t anything to do in Gifu anyway ……”

“So you say, O-Ryou, but you seem to frequent Kansai without any particular reason as well.”

“Shh!”

Be quiet! She’s about to say something good!

“I don’t have a reason for coming. But, you know? Coming along on a trip together for no reason at all …… Ain’t that what friends do?”

“……!”

Friends.

To think I’d live to see the day I heard that word come out of Ryou’s mouth ……

“People have labeled us as Shogi buddies or something ever since we were the best four in the Elementary Meijin Tournament, but I think there is a bond there. ’Cuz seriously, you guys are the only people I ever talk to outside the association building. I get a lot of hate, you know?”

“And I as well, Archangel,” says Ayumu as if trying to comfort Ryou. The thing is, though, he’s wearing a cape ……

But …… Ryou starts as she looks up at the ceiling.

“It kinda hit me during my title match against Machi. I’m sacrificing friendships …… all ’cuz I play Shogi.”

“O-Ryou ……”

Their relationship returned to normal after Machi defended her title.

Except that was only because they both maintained the titles they already had. What if Ryou had taken Yamashiro Ouka from Machi?

The bond they had would’ve been severed forever.

“Now they’ve got that, what do you call it….? Women’s Placement Match League starting? We’re gonna be ranked whether we like it or not. Every Women’s player will be given a number. If I’m not number one, then I ……!”

WHAM!!

Putting the teacup she had in her hand on the tatami floor, Ryou squeezes out these words, “…… I don’t know about you, Machi, but from where I’m sitting, fat chance we can carry on like old times once it starts up. So long as we got numbers over our heads, being buddy-buddy’ll be too much for me ……!”

I can relate so much that it hurts.

So long as you’re number one, there’s no problem.

Any other number …… That’s when pain and jealousy kick in.

Worse, it doesn’t go away until the next season of Placement Matches. If you don’t claim the top spot then, you have to wait another year. If not, then the next year ……

It’s an endless cycle of burning pain that never stops.

So long as we remain competitors, anyway.

“Machi and I ain’t the only ones. Trash and Ayumu’re going to clash in a title match or in A League sooner or later. Like hell we can keep giving each other a helping hand like this, yeah?”

No one could tell her otherwise.

But deep down …… Part of me just can’t go along with Ryou’s logic.

Yes, Shogi is important.

Learning about Shakando-sensei’s past taught me that Shogi gets in the way of everyday life for adults, too. I also learned that there are people who use Shogi as a tool to get rich or as a method to knock others down, too.

–––But isn’t friendship completely separate from that?

Aren’t there things in this world just as important as Shogi? Can’t I have them and play Shogi at the same time?

Like how Big Sis and I confirmed each other’s feelings ……

Isn’t there a smarter way to go about our lives?

After all …… we’re not just Shogi-crazed little kids anymore.

“That’s how important Shogi is to us, yeah? One loss could have us cryin’ for days …… All we think about is how to beat the other guy. That’s a disease. I’ve tasted failure plenty of times, but I know this disease ain’t ever going away.”

Ryou’s words are the exact opposite of how I think.

It sounds to me like she wants to go back to what life was like in grade school.

“So, yeah …… I wanted to head out and mess around one last time, the four of us. Ayumu came up big time for me in the Sub League. This is my way of showing gratitude. If you wanna kill time ’til the match ends, I’m there.”

Ryou grins as she wraps her arms around Ayumu’s neck.

“Oh, and to throw you a cheer-up party if you get rejected!”

“…… The same,” comes Machi’s solemn voice. She’s staring into the empty cup in her hands. “This seems to resemble …… a graduation trip of sorts.”

For some reason, this gorgeous scenery that the four of us have never seen before starts to feel nostalgic.