Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 18 - Chapter 2.03

  Preparations

“Maria, bring that one there. Yes, the indigo.”

In Nerima Ward, at the largest clothier in all of Tokyo.

Rina Shakando Women’s 8-dan gives orders to her precious apprentice in a massive, 500 square foot room with textiles of every color laid out in all directions.

“This fabric will not do. A terrible match for Ayumu’s skin tone …… Bring that one there. Ahh, now this could also do nicely! My word, how can I possibly choose when so many patterns fit that young man like a glove?!”

This store, Shiraito Gofuku, is famous for supplying lots and lots of professional and Women’s League Shogi players with kimonos.

The previous owner was a prominent member of W. University’s Shogi Club. Rokuroba-sensei, who attends the same university, told me that their success got their foot in the door inside the Shogi world and players keep going back.

The previous owner’s son is in charge now. He timidly comes forward and says.

“Shakando-sensei, you have accumulated a rather large bill already ……”

“I could not care less.”

The Eternal Queen laughs it off.

“My apprentice is making his title match debut. If now is not the time to spend lavishly, then I do not know when is. Seven kimonos for a 7-match series …… No! As the Crown Title Match uses a two-day format, I must have differing attire for each day! I’ll take fourteen full sets.”

“But there’s no guarantee the match will last until the seventh―――”

“It shall.”

She cuts him off quickly, almost like that was the one thing she wouldn’t discuss.

“A mere fourteen sets still will not suffice. The Meijin orders a new kimono for each and every title match he takes part in, correct? Surely he keeps more than 100 of his kimonos at your establishment.”

“Yes. We built a storage unit for him specifically.”

A-A whole unit?!

“I’ve received instructions from the Meijin to take you there afterward. He wishes for his dear friend Kannabe 8-dan to have a kimono that suits him.”

“Their body type is nearly identical, yes. Nearly everything there should fit ……”

Receiving a kimono from the Meijin is an honor that would make any Shogi player jealous …… At least, I think so. But Shakando-sensei doesn’t look so sure.

“Losing the Challenger Match to Ayumu must have left him immeasurably crestfallen. Imagine wanting to attend the match so badly that he would give clothing just so that at least something of his was at the Crown Title Match. He-he-he ……”

“He did look heartbroken during the review session, which is unusual for the Meijin.”

Telling her what I saw that day seems to brighten her mood quite a lot.

“He must feel that he has unfinished business with your Master after the last series. At this very moment, the Meijin is hosting a practice session with Switch Hitter at his vacation home in hopes of preparing a 7-match series for Ayumu.”

“I heard. Natagiri-sensei was very excited about it. He said he couldn’t wait for some male company for the first time in forever when he left.”

By the way, Rokuroba-sensei was furious with him, saying the whole thing was cheating.

God-sensei left Tokyo the day after he won the Challenge Match to join them at the Meijin’s summer home.

I bet he’ll stay cooped up in there right up until the Crown Title Match starts. There won’t be any time to get a kimono made.

That’s the real reason why the Meijin offered to give Ayumu one of his.

―――Shakando-sensei probably wanted to choose it with him ……

But the men are absorbed in Shogi. I think that is what’s making Shakando-sensei say such mean things about the Meijin. She’s lonely.

“The strongest Shogi players of this age have formed a party and embarked on a quest to slay the Demon King, none other than your Master. He certainly is strong enough to have earned that moniker. Which do you think shall prevail?”

“………… Well …………”

That’s a hard question. The toughest of toughies ……

I want Master to win, naturally.

But ……

“………… I don’t know. But I want it to be close …… to last for a full seven matches.”

“Ample opportunity for each to find and exploit the other’s weaknesses if it does indeed last to the seventh. You truly are a competitor to your core.”

“I-I didn’t mean ……!”

“He-he-he. Apologies, apologies. With my apprentice taking part in a title match, I feel as though I’m walking on air. Forgive me, will you please?”

“Shakando-sensei. I would like to get your advice on―――”

“You have met Bruno, yes?”

“…… I have.”

The Kanto director asked me for a favor. Shakando-sensei is also registered with the Kanto Association.

―――Then she already knows ……

Should I agree to it or turn him down?

I came all the way out here today to get some help with that decision, but―――

“Ginko was very much the Silver that is in her name.”

“……?”

“Direct and unable to shift sideways or retreat backwards. However, she could be coaxed into moving at angles and was an easy piece to use due to her tremendous power. Though she was also a pitiful piece that was taken the moment it entered enemy territory due to overworking her frail body.”

I have no idea where she’s going with this. But she’s the one who asks me the next question.

“Ai Hinatsuru. How do you perceive yourself?”

“A Pawn, I guess?”

I’d love to say I’m a Rook or a Dragon but …… If Sora-sensei is a Silver, I barely even qualify as a Pawn.

Surprisingly, Shakando-sensei shakes her head no.

“You are no longer on the board, but the hand manipulating the pieces. This is because rather than take the path laid out before you, you have elected to follow your own …… Leaving the path predetermined by the immense organization known as the Shogi Association.”

“……!”

“Following a path indicated by another is simple, no matter how challenging said path may be,” says the woman who changed the course of history without looking up from the beautiful fabric in her hands. “By the same token, taking your own path is a much more difficult task, even if the path itself is not as challenging. Ginko and I have constantly averted our gaze from that fact ……”

I highly doubt that the path I’m trying to take right now is any more difficult than the one she took.

“Paths open if you are strong.”

I believed that and focused only on getting stronger.

Yes, what I’m trying to do is hard, but that’s because I’m still in grade school and don’t have any experience …… That’s why I thought Shakando-sensei would tell me the answer.

But Sensei gently lets me know that I can’t be that naive anymore.

“Please understand that I have nothing left to teach you. In fact, I believe a businessman’s advice would be more applicable. The owner of the establishment, for one.”

The owner stops to think for a moment after being suddenly dragged into the conversation.

“Perfect victories aren’t good when it comes to sales and negotiating. It leaves a bad impression. It’s better for the other party to walk away feeling like they got the win.”

“So, losing …… is winning?”

“Precisely. How well you can lose is the key to successful salesmanship.”

“How very interesting. I, for one, could never follow that advice.”

Shakando-sensei laughs and adds with a big grin.

“Shogi players are not cut out for business. All we think about is seizing victory!”