Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 17 - Chapter 1.3

  CONFRONTATION

The whole of Japan was beginning to discover him.

“There he is!”

“Kunugi 4-dan!”

The reporters who had gathered in front of the Kansai Shogi Association building raised their cameras en masse, all aimed at a handsome boy in a school uniform with a neatly clipped collar.

The sound of shutters going off spread like waves in every direction.

However the cheers from throngs of middle-aged women drown out the clicks.

“So-chaaan!”

“So adorable!”

“Look over here!”

Ladies of Osaka had flooded the narrow sidewalks of Naniwa.

The scene harkened back to Roman foot soldiers inundating city streets in an overwhelming display of strength.

Several begin spilling over the guardrail and into the street with their phones held high in their pursuit of a clear picture. As for the cars honking at them to get out their way, the Osaka ladies couldn’t have cared less.

Afternoon talk shows had become the epicenter of this ever-widening So-chan boom. There was no doubt that his streak of victories following his debut had fueled the fire.

But, moreso than his Shogi skills, it was the personality of this boy named Sota Kunugi that struck a chord with the world …… more specifically, the housewives.

The idle son.

Smart, virtuous and easy on the eyes.

His devotion to a classical art like Shogi at the young age of 13 drew many comparisons to Kabuki actors, but the fact that he didn’t walk around with a chip on his shoulder like many Kabuki actors did raise him to full-blown celebrity status.

Stories about him had completely hijacked morning, afternoon and evening news programs throughout the Kansai area. Professional and Women’s League players who had become regular contributors during the Ginko Sora boom not too long ago were now speaking about Sota on TV nonstop despite barely ever having spoken to the boy themselves.

“The youngest ever! Twenty-five consecutive victories after debuting as an elementary school student! And we’ll be bringing you the latest updates about the flawless Sota Kunugi 4-dan live from Kansai! Accompanying me today is everyone’s favorite Women’s League player, Tamayo Rokuroba Women’s 2-dan.”

“Hello, hellooo~☆ Look who’s in Kansai for the first time, ever!”

Tamayo had a tendency to come off as overbearing, but her high energy and willingness to talk the ears off anyone were a perfect fit for Kansai television.

In an ironic twist, her fight with Ai Hinatsuru had become a spark that propelled her career even further.

“Would you look at this crowd, Ms. Rokuroba. Now that the historical record of 28 straight wins is in sight, it seems the whole of Japan is tuning in!”

“Don’t forget that he’s playing against a member of the Women’s League today. Even counting back when he was in the Sub League, this is probably his first time! We’ll have to see if that bit of pressure comes into play.”

“But aren’t professional players head and shoulders above Women’s League members? If that’s true, then isn’t it safe to assume the streak will continue to 26?”

“Oh, no, no! Not at all.”

“Really?”

“Kunugi-sensei’s opponent today, Empress Ika Sainokami, isn’t just some Women’s League member. Her record against pro players is by far and away the best of anyone in our league. Her winning percentage …… is 60 percent!”

“Whaaat?! Does that mean she’s better than over half of the professional players?”

“That it does! It just so happens that one of the pro players she bested is the one and only Naniwa’s Snow White, Ginko Sora 4-dan!”

“She beat the first female professional Shogi player?! Then why in the world is she still playing in the Women’s League?”

“Well, there’s the Sub League and a whole bunch of Shogi world regulations, bu-u-ut.”

It was a blatant appeal to the audience, hinting that there wasn’t enough time to explain the entire reason now, so she should be invited back as a regular on the show. However, that kind of business savvy went over very well with the Kansai crowd.

“With a win today, Empress Ika Sainokami will become the first Women’s League player …… No! The first woman to ever take part in a tournament for any of the seven professional titles! Today will go down in Shogi history no matter who wins!!”

———I’m making plenty of news, Mr. Kagamizu.

As Sota placed all of his electronic devices inside a locker in the Player’s Room on the Kansai Association building’s third floor, he wished there were a way to have Hiuma Kagamizu hear all the noise outside.

Sota hadn’t seen him since the party for Ginko’s 4-dan promotion and Hiuma’s retirement, nor had he heard from him.

“…… Hmph. He’s the one who up and left for retirement in his hometown, so it’s the standard for him to be the one to contact me, isn’t it?” he mumbled stubbornly, but his true feelings weren’t as resolute.

Sota was reluctant to talk about Shogi after Hiuma had given up hope of ever becoming a professional after his efforts came up short. Sota was aware of it, as well.

His solution was to play a little bit better every match and start making headlines.

That way, news of his achievements might reach Hiuma where he now lived in Miyazaki. Hiuma might reach out to him after seeing Sota’s match records because his inner Shogi player’s spirit wouldn’t be able to resist …… Pulse quickening, Sota checked his messages one last time. And, seeing nothing, his shoulders sunk with disappointment. This cycle had happened 25 times already.

——— But …… Today isn’t so promising.

Sota let out a short sigh outside the arena as he arrived.

It was a small room called Minase at the very back of the fourth floor.

Considering the implications of this match, it should be taking place on the fifth floor. The Ryuo Tournament was considered to be supreme in the Shogi world.

There was a reason this out-of-the-way room was selected to host such an important match.

Officially, it was due to media coverage.

Every one of Sota’s professional matches up to this point had been broadcast over a live feed, so there was no reason not to do the same for the final match of Group 6 in the Ryuo Tournament.

However, no live camera, or even an observer, would be present for this one.

———That’s how unpredictable my opponent is, I guess.

The live broadcast had been canceled at the last minute due to various reasons. Keeping the match on the fourth floor could only mean one thing: she was dangerous enough that confinement was deemed necessary.

“Good morning.”

Sota slid the fusuma door out of the way and stepped inside only to find Ika leaning against the wall and picking at straws in the tatami mat.

———Yeesh. If it wasn’t part of my job, I’d never want to play Shogi with her.

It was the worst possible first impression.

Careful not to let anything show on his face, Sota set his belongings down on the mat and politely greeted Ika. She was currently sitting in the upper seat, which would typically belong to Sota as the professional player, but he chose to let her keep it out of seniority.

“So, you’re Ika Sainokami. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Famous yourself, aren’cha?”

After blowing the scraps of tatami off her fingertips, Ika started rolling her shoulders as if warming up for the clash that was to come.

“Never been in Kansai for a league match before and I gotta ask, is ever’body in Kansai pissed at me or something? I mean, I get the evil eye ever’where. Did crushing Ginko get that far under ever’body’s skin?”

“……”

“You and Ginko, you guys went pro at the same time, didn’cha? You must hate my guts and wanna kill me, huh?”

“Actually, no,” Sota answered instantaneously.

“I couldn’t care less about her, to tell the truth. I’m more thankful that you got rid of her, honestly.”

“Hi-hi-hi! That right?”

Ika’s voice fluctuated with glee as her lips curled into a striking crescent moon. Her high-pitched hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi hi-hi-hi-hi-hi-hi squeals of laughter echoed throughout the small room.

“Man, am I happy you get it, So-chan. So happy, I can’t contain myself!”

Dragging her nails across the tatami mat like a cat at a scratching post, Ika’s eyes positively teemed with excitement.

Shoji Karako 3-dan, the recorder for this particular match, had just finished preparing tea and slid the door open just a crack to peek inside. He thought better of it upon seeing that now was not a good time and closed it again.

“…… You monsters can take your time.”

Shoji’s voice never reached Ika’s ears, however. She was far too excited about the shine she was taking to this junior high student and first-time opponent to stop talking.

“And here’s the thing. That silver hair has always, always, ALWAYS been an eyesore, yeah?! Not even a shred of talent, but she just followed Yaichi here, followed Yaichi there, followed, followed, FOLLOWED, FOOOOOOLLOWED HIM EVER’WHERE!! Her stench is STILL all over this building and is DRIVING ME FREAKIN’ CRAAAAZY!!”

“Is that so? In other words———” Sota began as he opened the piece box and started setting up the pieces. “Whoever cares more for Yaichi will win this match. Correct?”

“IHEEEE!”

Ika lifted her eyepatch, revealing the left eye she had kept hidden.

It swiveled left and right at a breakneck speed until …… locking onto Sota’s gaze. “……So, you are a fun one after all, So-chan. That same stench as mine is pourin’ outta you like there’s no tomorrow.”

“I don’t find myself to be the least bit entertaining,” the newly junior high school—aged prodigy snapped back without trying to mask his displeasure. “Besides, Yaichi’s taste in girls has always been horrible! Ginko is too weak to be worthy of him. He should understand couples unbalanced to that extent are doomed to fail.”

“You dooo get it! That white-headed brat is better off gone.”

“Even worse was the piece of work he dated before her …… He’s amazingly good at Shogi, but his carnal preference formula is so catastrophically defective ……”

“Aggh?”

Yaichi would have shouted, “We never dated!” had he been present, but that rumor had already made the rounds within the Shogi world.

That was especially true in Kansai. The story had developed to include Ika advancing on Yaichi’s apartment while only sporting her birthday suit.

Sota took all of it into account to reach his conclusion.

“Yaichi doesn’t need a woman at his side at all! I have to take it upon myself to manage his daily life for his own good!”

“Hi-hi ………… You’re kinda starting to irk me, kid.”

“171 days.”

“Huuuuh?”

Even as Ika looked over at him with her head twisted up at an extreme angle that should have snapped her neck, Sota went into greater detail.

“In the event that Yaichi and I hold all seven titles and we challenge each other for each of them———”

Snap. Snap. Snap.

The two were completely out of sync lining up their pieces, but each was now fully prepared for the imminent battle.

“Should each series be drawn out to an ace match, I would spend 157 days with Yaichi, including travel time. Include regular league matches as well as review sessions lasting past midnight into the calculations, and I could spend 171 days out of the year with Yaichi.”

“………………”

“171 days. Tee-hee!”

Sota giggled with a hint of red in his cheeks.

He was having so much fun that he couldn’t help it.

White fingertips ran across the lips of a strangely crimson hue for a boy his age.

“That isn’t nearly enough! Which is why I have to gain as much notoriety as possible and flood the Shogi world with extra income. Even more titles will be created, and then I can spend every single one of the 365 days in a year together with Yaichi. For now, I’ll settle for beating you,” Ika answered.

“You’re nuts.”

“Quiet, stalker.”

Sota quipped back without missing a beat.

“I’m saying that I want to be with him while following all rules and regulations. What you do is an actual crime. Do you realize that?”

Shoji Karako, who had snuck into the arena, listened from the boardside table as the two players traded verbal blows and silently snarled.

———You both are off your rockers.

However, this is what he actually said.

“It’s time for the piece flip.”

Since all five of the pawns landed face up, the young boy was given the first move.

Sota Kunugi unclipped his collar, boldly opened the Bishop’s Path and declared, “Time to deal with a stalker. I’ll make you understand …… who is worthy of Yaichi.”