Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 17 - Chapter 2.2

  HISTORY

“My most sincere apologies. You would have been able to speak with me long beforehand had we not faced one another in the Women’s Legend Title Match.”

I make my professional match debut in a week.

Today I’ve come to talk with a player I respect.

The woman with more experience playing against professionals than anyone———Rina Shakando-Women’s 8-dan.

“You have surely been toiling all by your lonesome, Ai Hinatsuru.”

“N-No! I owe you the apology for not coming to congratulate you on your appointment to 8-dan! Um, this is …… Kanazawa’s signature confectionery, Choseiden!”

“Pay it no mind. Praising me is rather difficult in your position, as you are aware.”

It’s unusual to see Shakando-sensei showing this much emotion as she clinks the cup while stirring her tea.

“Why, it is almost as though my promotion to 8-dan was purposefully synced with losing my title! A message from the board of directors saying leave the titles for the youth, is it not?!”

My taking the Women’s Legend Title from her left Shakando-sensei without one for the first time in 30 years.

Would it be right to treat a person who has achieved so much like a regular Women’s League player?

After a lot of deliberating, the board of directors decided to gift her with the rank of 8-dan …… At least, I think that’s what happened. Whether the recipient thinks it was a gift, I’m not so sure ……

Once she takes a sip of tea to calm down, the world’s first woman to have the rank of 8-dan starts again.

“…… Though I must say I cannot complain about attaining the same rank as my apprentice. I chose to accept. That chairman’s power of persuasion cannot be taken lightly ……”

Her 8-dan apprentice is A League player Ayumu Kannabe-sensei, who she has dubbed God Cauldron because of the characters in his last name.

He is always at Shakando-sensei’s side as her assistant. A lot has happened between them recently, but it seems like they’ve gotten through it and became closer because of it.

I still see the scene that unfolded after the fifth Women’s Legend Title Match whenever I close my eyes.

If I could become an apprentice like that …… It’s my dream.

Even if I know it’s impossible.

“Where is God-sensei? Is he not here today?”

I look all around the room, but I don’t see him anywhere. Shakando-sensei puffs out her cheeks and answers in a frustrated voice.

“We had a spat.”

“Whaaa?!”

“The first spat of my life. Apparently, it irks him that I take too long on the phone.”

“Take too long …… on the phone?”

Why would God-sensei be angry at her about that?

“Ayumu had expected progress toward marriage from the very beginning …… In other words, for us to become lovers.”

I thought so, too.

After that last Women’s Legend Title Match …… I saw them from the arena window. It looked like they had such a strong bond and love was in the air.

They walked together, happily hand in hand, like going down the aisle.

But Shakando-sensei adds with a sigh, “He claims that he has already waited nine years and cannot bear to wait a single second more, but Shogi has been the center of my life for more than three decades at this point. Changing after all this time isn’t so simple, now is it?”

“Um …… Aha-ha ……”

“Have a spat with your own Master, oh Women’s Legend Hinatsuru?”

“?! I, um———”

I look down but can’t stop all the words from coming out. So many memories of him flood my mind.

“………… I did. Many.”

“I see.”

Shakando-sensei answers gently with a kind smile.

“You loved him, yes? Truly.”

“……………”

I just silently nod.

It’s not past tense, though. I …… still do.

But if I say it out loud, it’ll only cause problems for Master. Right now …… that’s scarier than anything.

“I do not know every detail of the process my own Master, Sadatoshi Ashigara 9-dan …… the gambler known as the Demon of Hakone underwent for his Entrance Exam.”

Shakando-sensei brings it up herself. It’s almost like she read my mind.

“But …… his diary was left in my possession after he passed away.”

“His diary?”

“Gamblers played Shogi with money on the table. Thus, they kept meticulous records of to whom and how much they have won or lost. My Master continued doing so after joining the Professional League, including the time when he underwent the exam.”

“……!”

“That said, it is merely a ledger. Nothing more than a collection of numbers and match records. His family left it in my care, but I believe you may have more use for it.”

“A-Are you sure?! It has to be really valuable ……”

“Do not get your hopes up, understand? As I said, the vast majority of its pages are a ledger …… And this is not the first time it will be used by another party.”

Huh?

Wait, doesn’t that mean———?

“There was a time in which the feasibility of an Entrance Exam to become professional was explored. My Master’s diary was referenced.”

“……!”

I spring to my feet only to hear the harsh reality.

“However, a route to professional status without traversing the 3-dan division never materialized. The proposal was crushed beneath overwhelming opposition.”

“It …… was ……?”

According to Shakando-sensei———

When the Shogi Association was reorganized into a public entity, the Sub League’s age limit became a problem.

Shouldn’t everyone have a chance to become a professional Shogi player if they seriously pursue it ……?

There were two proposals to solve the problem.

The first was a way to skip the Sub League: a Professional Entrance Exam.

The other was a way to join the 3-dan division: the 3-dan Entrance Exam.

Both had happened at some point in the past, so the board of directors had a formal meeting to discuss it …… But none of them supported the Professional Entrance Exam. Not one.

They surveyed professional players and members of the Sub League, too, but zero people supported skipping the Sub League. So the proposal was thrown out before it made it to the floor of a Player’s Meeting.

On the other hand, most of the directors and players liked the idea of a 3-dan Division Entrance Exam and the system was created without much fuss at all …… That’s Shakando-sensei’s explanation.

“You are aware of the specifics for the 3-dan Division Entrance Exam, I assume?”

“Yes. First, you have to win a national level amateur tournament———”

Then you have to participate in Sub League regular activities to face active members. Win enough victory stars, and you’re allowed to join the 3-dan division.

“Pass that step, and you’re a 3-dan for two years …… So you have four chances to make it through the division. Even if you don’t make it, you can do the whole process over again by winning another amateur tournament ……”

“Precisely. This system essentially eliminated the age limit. At the very least, the full-time employees of the association believed it to be gone.”

Shakando-sensei pauses there and sighs.

“But …… surely you can see the issue already, yes? The number of professional players is still very much limited in this system.”

“And Women’s League players aren’t part of it.”

“Indeed. While retired Women’s League players are a given, those who have ever joined the Women’s League can never return to amateur status even if they resign from the association. That is not the case with former Sub League members.”

People who leave the Sub League with a kyu ranking can participate in amateur tournaments right away.

Dan ranking members have a mourning period after they leave, but even they can play in amateur tournaments once it’s over.

Professional players and Women’s League players, on the other hand, can never be amateurs ever again.

That’s why I’ll never be able to play in another amateur tournament, and never be able to take the 3-dan Division Entrance Exam as a result.

There are lots and lots of other problems, too.

Taking the exam itself costs a lot of money, and 3-dan players have to take time off their regular jobs during the day to work as match recorders.

Mr. Karako quit his regular job so that he could take the exam.

Honestly …… it feels like the system wants something more than just Shogi skills.

“Suffer for Shogi’s sake.”

At least, that’s the message I’m getting.

“It seems odd to me, as well. The thought process of this tribe of Shogi professionals who insist on passing the 3-dan division.”

On paper, it looks like the door is wide open.

But for Women’s League players who don’t have a voice in the Player’s Meetings, it’s still locked. Whether that’s on purpose or not, I’m not sure ……

“One query still remains. Yourself.”

“Me?”

“Ai Hinatsuru. Why are you fixated on a Professional Entrance Exam? With your skill and talent, you are more than capable of clearing the 3-dan division already. Take a leave of absence from the Women’s League and undergo the 3-dan Division Entrance Exam. As a sixth grade elementary school student, time is still very much on your side.”

“……!!”

“Your talent is on par with Naniwa’s Snow White. From a health standpoint, you surpass her. Declaring that you wish to circumvent the 3-dan division entirely sounds naive to my ears.”

She cut me down with words.

Each one hurt that much.

“…… You were aware of that when you made your intentions known, yes? I wish to know what stokes the willpower to face such critiques.”

“………………”

“I won’t press should you wish not to say. However, others surely will. Have an acceptable answer ready for them before then.”

“………… I will.”

Even that kind of basic preparation is too much for me right now.

It’s becoming more and more obvious how short-sighted I’ve been, but there’s still something else I need. So, I work up the courage to ask.

“Um …… may I ask you a question, too?”

“Certainly. Ask whatever you wish.”

“How can you tell what I’m thinking so easily, Shakando-sensei? How can I …… understand other people in the same way?”

“I just know. So long as it’s an opponent I have played a high-stakes match against …… yes?”

It’s possible to understand someone on another level by sharing the board with them.

Lots of players say so.

It’s not like I haven’t experienced that before. There are people I’ve gotten to know a lot better after playing against them, like Ten-chan and Keika.

Also, I thought I knew Mio through and through until we played our hearts out against each other. I learned so much about who she is as a person during that match.

Just …… there are moments in matches when I read so far into the board that I forget about my opponent. I can’t understand what they’re thinking, especially not to the extent that Shakando-sensei can ……

“Ryuo’s fledgling.”

Sensei pulls me out of my thoughts.

And throws me for a loop.

“Henceforth, simply defeating your opponent will not suffice. Nor should your Shogi be intended to break their spirit.”

I can’t just beat them?

What’s that supposed to———

“Strengthen them. Your opponent’s minds.”

“Make them stronger?”

I couldn’t believe my ears at first.

I mean, Shogi is a game about making the other person give up.

But I heard Shakado-sensei correctly.

Strengthen.

“Make them stronger, to the point that they no longer fear change …… Make the inhabitants of the Shogi world want to play against you at the professional stage.”

“…………”

Can I really do that?

So many questions are still swirling around in my head. Even so, I thank Shankando-sensei for her time and leave.

Moving forward is the only choice I have.

…… Immediately following Ai’s departure from Rina Shakando’s shop….

A door connecting to the next room opened to reveal a girl with her hair done up in unique buns that resembled cat ears.

“I thought your patience wouldn’t last until she left,” said Rina with a teasing grin as Maria Kannabe huffed.

“Unlike my moronic brother, one such as I has self-restraint! I would never go against my Master’s direct orders.”

“Is Ayumu still hot under the collar?”

“Enough to cook an egg.”

“What to do with him …… He-he.”

Annoyed with the dreamy look on her Master’s face, the girl who is the same age as Ai Hinatsuru collected her thoughts.

As someone who had chosen to pass through the Sub League in order to become a professional, Ai’s comments sounded like weakness to Maria.

However, her opinion had shifted ever so slightly after hearing Ai speak with Rina.

———Has she perhaps …… chosen an even more treacherous route?

It wasn’t just in the professionals. Ai Hinatsuru’s declaration had set off a firestorm of opposition among the Sub League players and there was no end in sight.

There were even some members who encouraged the others to boycott working as match recorders if and when she appeared in matches against professionals.

Their opinions were set in stone.

———The 3-dan division has become sanctified. Even professionals dare not tread on its ground.

Shogi strength was not the issue.

A different obstacle …… one which could only be called history loomed like a mountain.

Maria thought it would be impossible for a single elementary school girl, even a title holder, to turn it on its head. Particularly now that she understood how rigid the system was as a member of the Sub League, the very bottom of the association’s totem pole.

“Is it …… truly possible that a Professional Entrance Exam can be created?”

“For her? Yes,” answered Rina as she gestured for her apprentice to refill her tea cup.

The first woman to be recognized as 8-dan then explained.

“For she is the one who gave me a tomorrow.”