Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 17 - Chapter 3.6

  OPENING MOVES

There is a room called Chairman’s Office at the Shogi Association in Sendagaya.

It’s the only room reserved for the use of a single person in a building that can hardly contain all the players and staff that frequent its halls. That person is of course the one for whom it is named, the chairman of the association …… However, it rarely served that function.

“My time is split between Kanto and Kansai, and my eyes can’t take in the splendor, yes? What point is there in having all the extravagant decorations if I can’t see them?”

Seiichi Tsukimitsu had no interest in all the pricey renovations the previous chairman had made to the room and it had been used as a meeting room since he took the position.

In fact, a certain player had been interviewed there so many times that the room itself had been dubbed something else entirely. Today, however, it was playing host to its intended occupant and his guests.

“Marvelous,” remarked an enthralled Rina Shakando Women’s 8-dan as she observed one of Ai Hinatsuru’s matches in the Nebula Tournament on the big-screen TV left behind by the previous chairman.

Since the Nebula Tournament was recorded for TV, the results were kept secret until the matches were broadcast.

Being on the board of directors, Rina had access to the results beforehand. However, she had deliberately taken herself out of the loop and had sworn those around her to secrecy.

This was all in an effort to enjoy the Women’s Players Matches in the same manner as Shogi fans.

“There is no other word to describe her play. That’s five consecutive victories against professional opponents. Not to mention matching Static Rook players tit for tat and elegantly forcing them into checkmate. What an invigorating sight!”

“I’ve heard this style—9 Six Pawn Double Wing Attack—originally came from software. As an old-guard Shogi player myself, it feels so unnatural …… But it seems Miss Hinatsuru’s creativity is putting it to good use. That is no easy task.”

“Yes! The essence of that child’s Double Wing is far different from the one I know. There’s no connection with the Twisting Rook style that defined Shogi in the 1970s and 80s. The opening remains a Double Wing, but it can evolve into a Bishop Exchange Reclining Silver or even a Snowroof. It wouldn’t surprise me if she also played yagura using the same concepts.”

“You seem to be onboard her bandwagon.”

“And you aren’t, Seiichi? Considering her love of Shogi puzzles.”

“Indeed. She seems to be creating her own originals, as well. The Ryou apparently forbade it, but others have told me about her work. Each shown with an extraordinary gleam.”

The level of trust these two had built over the years came across in the ever-polite Seiichi’s jolly tone. Most people wouldn’t believe the chairman could speak in such a way.

The air in the room, however, was terrible.

Seiichi spoke up as if something had dawned on him.

“Oh yes, Ms. Oga. Have you served Rina …… no, Ms. Shakando a cup of tea?”

“One forgot,” said the chairman’s secretary, Sasari Oga Women’s 1-dan, in a voice many times colder than normal before leaving the room with a loud slam. Her return was announced by yet another door slam moments later.

She had a plastic bottle of tea in her hand.

“Here. One hopes black tea is okay.”

Rina’s broad smile never wavered even as the 600 milliliter bottle was unceremoniously placed before her.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Rina responded. “My own apprentice seems unwilling to prepare tea at all today for some reason.”

“I had forgotten,” said Ayumu Kannabe 8-dan flatly, his face void of any expression.

Both Sasari and Ayumu made no attempts to conceal their foul moods despite standing directly behind the people they served. Seiichi seemed to find their behavior more entertaining than anything else and got the conversation back on track.

“I must say …… Five straight Double Wing Attack matches, is it now? Thinking back, that announcement at her Conferring Ceremony may have been the true opening move.”

“Opening move?” came Sasari’s puzzled voice.

Rina offered an explanation in Seiichi’s place.

“An elementary school student, a girl no less, delivered an open letter of challenge to professional Shogi players in a public setting. Of course the world took notice. Now that child is using her first-move advantage to bring her best strategy, the Double Wing Attack, into play …… Now, are professionals able to avoid it?”

“Ah ……!”

“She must have been planning this for some time. He-he. Off-the-board tactics on this scale are truly a thing of beauty.”

“The more Ai …… Miss Hinatsuru plays the Double Wing, and the more she wins with it, the less professionals are able to force a different formation. Even with the opening move, advancing the Pawn in front of their Rook becomes the only option. If they don’t ………… Suppose they win with something else, everyone will only say they ran away from the Double Wing ……”

“That alone is a loss for professional players.”

Rina brought Sasari’s thoughts to a conclusion in a few words.

Despite having said so herself, Sasari still couldn’t believe it.

She had been able to watch Ai Hinatsuru from the time the young girl first registered with the Kansai Shogi Association. The thought that such an earnest child would employ off-the-board tactics like this ……

“…… I might end up going along with a Double Wing Attack even if I were a Ranging Rook specialist,” Seiichi added quietly.

Winning by sliding the Rook across the board would draw criticism that he had avoided the opponent’s best strategy. Lose after denying the Double Wing, and the resulting avalanche would be brutal beyond words.

“Say I had resolved to play a completely different strategy beforehand, distress from the pressure once the match actually began might be too much to handle.”

In an extremely fast-paced format, that distress would continue until the very last move.

A league player, Seiichi Tsukimitsu was very familiar with just how disadvantageous an unstable mindset was during a match.

“I also expect Miss Hinatsuru has a plan in place for if and when players go out of their way to avoid the Double Wing Attack. An ambush of sorts that would be hard to identify at first glance.”

“More than likely, yes. Yet another challenge in a string of challenges …… Show it once, and professionals lose their lone escape path. A one-off ambush would suffice for such a role.”

“Intolerant as always, Rina.”

“He-he. The pot is calling the kettle black, Seiichi.”

“…… If I may, Master. One point remains uncertain,” interjected the other A League player in the room as if competing for his Master’s attention.

“And that is?”

“These victories are only possible in a fast-paced format and with her ace formation. Given those conditions, could she truly be acknowledged for surpassing professional players?”

“Precisely. Wonderfully put, my darling apprentice.”

Rina paid no mind to the other people in the room as she placed her hand on Ayumu’s and nodded.

“Many victory stars alone will not suffice. She must veer away from established history and then overcome it.”

“History ……?”

For the still 20-year-old A League professional, the concept was well over his head.

“Similar to the way Naniwa’s Snow White cleared the 3-dan division?”

“I, too, am at a loss for what move to make.”

Seiichi broke into the conversation between Master and apprentice.

“She is the granddaughter apprentice of my own younger brother apprentice, after all. Even if that were not the case, the Kiyotaki line stands out like a sore thumb.”

“Kousuke is just doing the best he can …… But he seems destined to fall all the harder the more effort he commits to a certain end.”

“Indeed. That is one of his most charming attributes.”

“He-he-he. Still adorable after all these years. Ah, Kousuke ……”

Ayumu had been completely left behind.

“……………”

He became more and more irritated as the two veteran players continued chatting away.

The poor boy …… Sasari thought to herself as sympathy for his situation cooled her head ever so slightly.

That is why she was able to hear footsteps approaching from outside the door.

“He has arrived.”

The room immediately tensed.

There came a soft knock and then the door swung open.

“I apologize for calling you here today,” said Seiichi as the strongest player in Shogi history stepped through the frame.

“There is a matter on which I would like to hear your thoughts. Please relax as if using this room as you normally do …… Meijin.”