Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 17 - Chapter 2.4

  NEBULA TOURNAMENT

My debut match against a professional player is going to happen quietly in the back corner of the Shogi Association building.

“The Nebula Tournament, yeah? I’ve played in that.”

Rin Koiji Women’s 4-dan was not only gracious enough to sign up to be the match recorder for my match today, but also to meet me in a burger shop in Sendagaya two hours before it begins. We start chatting about our experiences the second we sit down.

Rinrin-sensei had a Women’s Title for one season.

She’s lived through a lot of what I’m going through right now, so she’s been secretly supporting me like this.

“The tournament is sponsored and put on by CS Broadcasting’s Shogi/Go channel. The waiting time in the preliminaries is short, like only 25 minutes. Once that’s gone, you only have 30 seconds to make a move. But hey, that’s pretty normal for televised stuff, yeah?”

“So that it can fit into a time slot?”

“Yep, yep, yep. That’s right.”

Rinrin-sensei keeps talking even as she picks up onion rings like Shogi pieces, with just her fingertips.

“Well, the prelims aren’t put on air, though. The main tournament matches are televised, but players only get 15 minutes of waiting time.”

“15 minutes ……”

“But they do get ten one-minute sets of consideration time once that time’s up. You know what that is, right, Ai?”

“K-Kind of ……”

Even with that, I’ll have to play fast. One little mistake will be fatal.

“Make it through today’s prelims, and you’ll wind up in the lowest of eight blocks in the tournament. It’s designed with the Paramas Method———”

“Para-mas?”

“The system that’s set up like a big staircase. You have to face the one who’s waiting on the next step. Instant death style.”

Staircase ……? Instant …… death?

Most of that went over my head, but the path will open as long as I win, right?

“Also, there are two recording sessions a day for the main tournament, so you’ve got to play in the afternoon if you win in the morning. That’s why it tends to be the up-and-comers with momentum and amateurs used to playing fast who make it through the blocks.”

“Two matches a day ……”

That reminds me of the MyNavi Women’s Open.

Professionals typically only play one match a day because they have so much waiting time. Women’s players and amateurs, on the other hand, play many matches in a day …… which means I might have an edge there.

Then again, I’ve heard some professionals prefer this system, too.

“That’s also, like, what dan-ranking members of the Sub League do. Play two matches a day.”

Yes.

I’ll definitely be playing against senseis who just got promoted to 4-dan after leaving the Sub League.

Some of them are actually more skilled than veteran 9-dan players even though they’re ranked lower, so I don’t think they’ll be easy to beat.

My chances …… might be less than one percent.

But those are the matches I absolutely can’t afford to lose.

What would happen if someone who announced they wanted to go pro without doing the Sub League were to lose to a 4-dan who just finished it?

People would never listen to that person again, ever.

“The winners of the eight blocks go to the finals. To get that far …… Ai, you’re gonna have to win 13 matches in a row, counting the prelims.”

“13 matches in a row …… against professional senseis?”

Since eight players make it to the finals, I’ll have to win 16 in a row to win the tournament.

I won the Women’s Legend Title, but I lost three matches during the league season. I’ve also never won a tournament without losing before.

Someone who couldn’t even beat 10 Women’s League players in a row now has to beat 13 professionals one after another.

Anyone would say that’s impossible.

Which is why …… I need to go do it.

“Beating 16 in a row would mean I could win a tournament where all professional players are eligible, right? No one could ignore me if I did it, right?”

“……!”

An onion ring slips through Rinrin-sensei’s fingers and lands on the tray.

“That’s …… your plan? Do you …… like …… have the confidence to actually …… pull it off?”

“Confidence ………… Well …… Honestly, I don’t know.”

I lined up the records of today’s opponents.

Playing through their matches, I couldn’t really tell if they were strong or not. None of their moves really jumped out at me.

It might be different once I’m sitting across from them, but———

“But I think playing fast will be my best chance to win. The only times I could pressure Master were when we played fast.”

“Ha-ha!! Any grade schooler who can honestly say they pressured Yaichi Kuzuryu has what it takes to win the Nebula Tournament, hands down.”

That’s the first time I’ve seen Rinrin-sensei smile since we got here.

Now that he has two titles, Master has even more trust than the Meijin in the Shogi world. That’s especially true in Kanto. The players here almost seem afraid of him, dubbing him the Demon King of the West. Being so good and young has that effect.

But Master’s kindness doesn’t come across at all.

“Um ……”

“Yeah?”

“How is Tama …………… Rokuroba-sensei?”

“Fuming. Whadda you expect?”

“…………”

“You’ve gotta figure out for yourself why that is,” says Rinrin-sensei, but it’s obvious.

What I said on my own at the Conferring Ceremony caused all sorts of problems for her. There’s no other reason …… And no guarantee she’ll ever forgive me.

Even if I do become a professional some day.

“Welp, I’ll be off! Got to start prepping for the match.”

Rinrin-sensei stands up with her empty tray. I look up to offer to join her …… but stop myself in the nick of time.

The two of us getting spotted together will only cause more problems for her.

It’s 15 minutes before my match.

I avoided people as much as I could on my way into the association building and came straight to the arena without greeting the employees in the office or stopping by the Women’s Player’s Room.

But a girl my age is going to stick out no matter what.

It’s crowded here today because there are a lot of matches going on. This is my first time showing myself at an event with Shogi people since the Conferring Ceremony.

“…………”

Their gaze feels sharp somehow, different from before.

My nerves make me more sensitive to other people looking at me before matches. I don’t want to be the center of attention, but this is all my fault to begin with. I sit down in the lower seat and close my eyes.

Those oversensitive nerves of mine are picking up the auras coming off the professionals and Sub League players in the room.

Hostility, hatred and ……

———What’s that?

Like interest or excitement …… Is that expectation in the air or are my nerves playing tricks on me?

“Morning.”

It’s seven minutes before the match and I can tell someone just stepped up to the upper seat.

The first professional Shogi player I’ll be facing in a real match.

Keiji Souza 7-dan.

He’s a player in his late 50s who declared himself to be in the Free Class.

Grandpa-sensei is in the same generation, so I’m facing a veteran.

———He doesn’t play the newest strategies …… but I can’t let my guard down.

People call him the Ultimate Bouncer.

That’s because even though he always belonged to C League Class 2, he sent many promising new players crashing back to earth. That includes the Meijin when he was young.

I look up at this man who has been fighting in the professional Shogi world since long before I was born, put my hands on the tatami mat and greet him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Yaichi Kuzuryu’s apprentice, Ai Hinatsuru. I’m honored to be playing against you today.”

“Ahh …… Yes. Likewise.”

Souza-sensei looks uncomfortable as he settles himself onto the cushion. Maybe it’s because the little girl who declared she would beat professional players at her Conferring Ceremony actually has decent manners?

He mutters something through those dry lips.

“………… Kuzuryu ……”

He played against Master in Placement Matches two seasons ago. Master dominated the match with a Bishop Exchange.

That was the first time Souza-sensei had been in danger of demotion, ever. So he changed to Free Class instead.

———He’s afraid of Master, isn’t he?

This is the first time I’ve used off-the-board tactics since joining the Women’s League.

I’ll do anything to win. I threw away my pride. All the trust and friendships I built, too. If it means winning, I'll drink straight out of the gutter.

———Lose, and it’s all over ………… So, I will win!!

The piece flip gives me the first move.

Then, once the time comes, Rinrin-sensei takes a breath and says, “Hinatsuru-Women’s Legend, please begin the match.”

“I’m ready when you are!”

I make a quick, forceful bow and move the Pawn in front of my Rook forward right away.

“……”

Souza-sensei sips his tea before doing the same, advancing the Pawn in front of his Rook. Static Rook players call 8 Four Pawn the Ruler’s Hand. It means they welcome whatever the offensive player wants to throw at them.

I thought that might happen since he’s a higher ranking professional.

Then I move my Pawn another space forward, but I do it as cheekily as possible.

“…… A Double Wing, is it? Against a little girl …………”

More words …… mumbled from those dry lips.

I hadn’t seen any competitive fire in Souza-sensei’s fingertips until now. He snaps his Pawn down at 8 Five hard enough to make echoes fill the room.

“Seems I’ve been taken lightly, too.”

Rather than fear, hearing that makes me feel nostalgic. I’ve been told something similar before.

It was the first time Master and I played Shogi.

The Double Wing Attack was the only strategy I knew how to play back then. But challenging a professional to that kind of contest of strength can be taken as arrogance. It’s like the way asking a veteran player not to take a handicap during an instructional match is considered disrespectful.

I had no idea at the time.

Now I know. That’s why I’m taking advantage of it as an off-the-board tactic.

“Hngh!”

I make my next move so fast that our fingers nearly touch. This match is short on waiting time, but not using any at all is irritating and could be taken as a taunt.

The Double Wing is on the board.

———He took the bait!!

It feels like I’ve got a big fish on the hook.

“The line’ll break if you reel it in right away. Let him swim all he wants to tire him out first,” 

my father once told me while fishing at Nanao Bay, right next to the place I grew up. His voice is in my head as I quickly, but carefully set up my formation without using waiting time.

Souza-sensei’s King is lightly defended, but he starts to attack even though he’s on defense.

Being attacked by a professional player …… It’s scary. Especially when I can’t afford to lose.

But.

———Shakando-sensei’s research went so much deeper ……

All the research I did during the series of five Women’s Legend Title Matches and the experience I gained give me breathing room.

Shakando-sensei reviewed and revised her past matches over and over. Her passion for Shogi never wavered, even though she was a title holder for years and years while working so hard for the Women’s League and raising an apprentice.

I don’t get the same feeling from Souza-sensei.

Arrogance and carelessness are showing up in his formation. There’s no crisp power to his advance, like muscles held back by a layer of fat.

I block it without much trouble at all.

“Mngh ………… More solid than I thought. Interesting ……”

He breaks posture and crosses his legs to spend time thinking in this match without much time to begin with. It means he’s confident that he can finish me off in the late-game without waiting time as long as he can think things through right now.

I’m sure professional players like him can read a lot.

But!

———Tsukiyomizaka-sensei was faster.

The Aggressive Archangel makes you endlessly face difficult choices in a Double Wing Attack. I’ve never beaten her, not once.

Even if I could read faster than her, Tsukiyomizaka-sensei’s natural feel for Shogi runs circles around my reading ability. Flies circles actually, like she has angel wings.

———Tsukiyomizaka-sensei showed me why relying on reading speed alone was a weakness!

And I could say the same thing about this elderly player sitting in front of me.

“………… Mngh ……”

I keep blocking the moves that Souza-sensei managed to squeeze out of his brain after using all that time without having to use my own.

Waiting time is only melting away on Souza-sensei’s side. His formations can’t gain ground. Impatience and irritation are radiating from across the board.

Once that irritation reached the breaking point.

“…… Let’s settle this!!”

Souza-sensei suddenly lines up for a killing blow.

It’s obvious that he’s underestimated me, assuming that he’d win by using his professional skills to keep up the pressure by skipping the mid-game and going straight into the late-game.

He is certain he’s going to win.

That level of arrogance paired with a strong fighting spirit coming across the board is almost abusive.

But!!

———Kugui-sensei was more …… tenacious!

Machi the Tormentor used everything at her disposal to plunge opponents into despair, on the board and off it. She taught me what was necessary to claim victory.

The Double Wing she played against me in the final Women’s Legend League reminded me so much of Master, I thought he was playing it.

It threw my heart and my moves into chaos.

Compared to the heart-wrenching pain I felt that day, it’s easy to keep a cool head as I shut down each sequence this professional tries to use against me.

“Souza-sensei, your waiting time has expired. Please make your moves within 30 seconds.”

“I know!!”

Souza-sensei can’t hide his irritation anymore and snaps back at Rinrin-sensei. He’s also scratching his head so loudly that I can hear it.

It’s surprising how deep into the board you can read in 30 seconds if you can stay calm and think. But your vision narrows a lot if you lose your cool and it’s easy to miss something.

“Tch ……!”

Souza-sensei’s eyes dart between the clock and the board. I still have over twenty minutes left. He must feel like he’s fighting a fully armored knight in his underwear.

———Which is why he should start playing defensively ……!

I clench my pant leg right above my knee. Hard enough to make wrinkles.

Professionals have a higher gear once they realize their back is against the wall. It won’t be easy to put him in checkmate once he reinforces his formation. Chances are he won’t willingly give up playing against a grade schooler like me. Round 2 starts now, and I have to be ready for anything!

But Souza-sensei plays a move that mocks my resolve.

“Huh?!” I say in surprise without meaning to.

It’s because Souza-sensei chose to press the attack even after it had completely run out of fuel.

Something breaks inside me when I see that move.

“………………”

Plip, plip ……

Tears start coming out of my eyes. I stop and use some waiting time for the first time in the entire match.

But not to consider my next move. I have to wipe off my cheek.

“Wh-What’s wrong?” comes Souza-sensei’s startled voice.

Then he huffs through his nose and starts lecturing me like a teacher would do to an underperforming student.

“Yes, it hurts when you’re about to lose. But crying in front of your opponent is just plain rude. Kuzuryu may be your Master, but you’re part of the Kiyotaki line. If he ever finds out about this———”

“No ………… That’s not it.”

Sniffle! I wipe my nose and accidentally say what I’m thinking.

How I really feel.

“……………… You’re too weak ………”

“Too …… what?”

I reach out over the board.

When I pull it back, both Souza-sensei and Rinrin-sensei gasp in shock.

“Whaaat?!”

I boldly move in for a direct check path against the defending King.

It’s a longer sequence, one that might be missed when there’s a 30-second time limit. People might be surprised if one like it showed up in an amateur or Women’s League match.

But there’s no excuse for a professional not to notice.

“Ch ………… checkmate? An instant death ………… When did?”

Seeing the shock on his face makes my heart turn cold.

———After everything I’ve been through, he asks when?

Is this all? Is this the best professional players can do?

All the time and energy I put into getting to this match.

All the things I sacrificed just to sit here today.

Thinking back on everything …… It hurts so bad that the tears won’t stop.

Shakando-sensei told me to play Shogi that makes my opponent stronger but …… How am I supposed to feel that way? I have no idea.

“………… Too weak, was I ……? You may be right ………”

Souza-sensei’s head drops in disappointment, like a puppet when its strings get cut. He signals his surrender with his hands but stays seated.

We never do a review session.

I played a Double Wing Attack in my afternoon match, too. Just like in the morning, I won with plenty of waiting time to spare.

Even though these matches weren’t broadcast, word of the little girl who cried because her professional opponent was too weak spread like wildfire.