Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 18 - Chapter 5.03

  Gone Without a Word

“…………… What …… is this …………?”

This isn’t going the way I expected at all and I’m confused.

Ten-chan is always creative in the early-game, and she always shows off her talent in the fastest way possible.

That’s why I thought she’d set a trap for me since I had the first move.

But …… I never even dreamed this would happen.

Moving her Pawn at the far end is such a mystery to me. That's like passing her turn.

If that weren’t enough, I get far enough ahead to change out the Pawn in front of my Rook on her side of the board.

―――It's too big of a price to pay …… just to block a Bishop Exchange.

The formation settles on the Double Wing Attack, one of my favorites.

That’s why I’m confused. No matter how I look at the board, I’m ahead in every way.

“…………?”

I spend a bunch of waiting time reading the board, but the nagging feeling that something is off doesn’t go away.

It’s not because I’m behind, though.

There are just too many fun sequences to consider.

“Ngh ……!”

It’s actually Ten-chan who’s hurting. That big white forehead of hers is all sweaty. It’s almost like we’re in the late-game right now.

Is she trying to do something special?

―――Or ………… did she make a mistake?

I look over at the clock on the boardside table. I’ve used a lot of time, but Ten-chan has used more.

“Hmn!”

I slap my cheeks with both hands to make myself focus.

―――I can’t let my guard down! Save as much time for the late-game as possible!

If Master’s older brother’s predictions about Awaji’s playing style and capabilities were right ……

And if Ten-chan has mastered them ……

Taking the lead in the early-game is impossible. That means I have to set up the board to make it easy for me in the late-game.

But …… a little voice whispers into my ear.

―――Couldn’t I just press this advantage all the way to a win ……?

It’s probably my one and only chance.

Things might take a turn for the worse if I let it slip by ……

“……………………… Here …………”

Caution is going further and further out the window every second.

Confidence swells up to take its place. The urge to strike is taking over ……

“………… Here ………… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here, here, hereherehere―――”

I know I shouldn’t, but being on the hunt is so much fun that I couldn’t stop myself.

The fear of having to quit Shogi today if I lose is gone without a trace. All that’s on my mind now are all sorts of sequences branching out from the formation in front of me.

I lose all track of time ……

“Hereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere ……”

Next thing I know, I’m alone in the arena.

It’s lunch time …… But I couldn’t stop my train of thought from plunging deeper into the board.

“Haaaaaaaa――――――……”

I take a really big breath.

So big that I lean all the way over the board like I’m about to dive into it and then unleash everything all at once!

“Hereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere――――――”

“The match has resumed.”

Keika’s voice makes me look up with a start.

Ten-chan is back at her seat, leaning on the armrest and reading the board, too.

An hour, including the lunch break.

I found an answer after reading as much as I possibly could―――and I’m going for it with everything I’ve got!!

“CHOMP!!”

I stuff the onigiri rice ball I bought on my way here into my mouth to get some nutrients and make my decisive move while still chewing!

“Fwhhh!!”

The battle starts now.

The first move advantage lets me charge out with guns blazing.

“Hereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere!!”

Our pieces collide with snaps all over the board.

But it’s the sound of my attacks systematically wiping out Ten-chan’s defenses.

“Ngh ……!!”

A groan makes it through her clenched teeth.

―――It’s working!

Ten-chan is definitely taking damage. I push even harder now that I know I’m racking up points.

―――My attack …… will break through!!

“…………… You should’ve stayed happy as Ginko Sora’s spare ………… I wouldn’t have had to go this far if only that was enough for you …………”

“Spare?”

I look up before I realize it and meet Ten-chan’s eyes.

There’s a dark fire …… burning inside them.

“Do you have any idea what it's like being the one left behind?! Every single one of you always comes and goes without a word, always! You do your own thing, meanwhile it’s the rest of us who get hurt!”

All of us in the arena are part of the same Shogi family tree, so Ten-chan doesn’t bother trying to be nice.

“How is it fair for the ones left behind not to win, huh?! There’s no point in working hard if there’s no justice in this world! If the gods won’t play fair, then I’ll make them! Otherwise―――,” says Ten-chan, her burning eyes now glistening. “Otherwise ………… Yaichi is going to be miserable …………”

“……!”

I bite my lip.

I understand what Ten-chan is trying to say.

I …… can’t help it.

―――But you already rejected it!!

Attacking my heart as a distraction right before an important move is all part of her strategy. Whether that’s how she actually feels or not, my reading ability will suffer if I’m still thinking about her words rather than the board.

That’s why I stopped trying to put myself in her shoes.

I have to turn this boiling blood into fuel for the next stage!

“I hate taking what’s given to me! I want to take it myself! Even destiny!!”

“Then that’s what I’ll give you.”

Ten-chan does something unbelievable the second she says that.

“Huh ……? ………… Whaaa?!”

After our verbal back and forth, I was sure my eyes were playing tricks on me when I first saw it.

“?! ……?!”

Nothing changes even after I rub them.

T-Ten-chan …… just moved a big piece that was serving as the pillar of her defenses right up to my closest attacking piece and left it there for free!

―――Sh-She’s giving me her Horse?! Has she lost her mind?!

“Here’s destiny, Ai Hinatsuru.”

I stare down the Horse held out to me like a sacrificial lamb, but Ten-chan is as calm as can be.

“One called a death flag, see?”

“…………”

I can’t not take the piece …… and swiftly add it to my piece stand.