YASHAJIN
So, I went a few days later.
“…… What even is that?”
Kobe, Nada Ward.
An exquisite manor stands in an expensive residential area at the base of Mt. Rokkou. Practically a fortress. A mountain in its own right.
“T …… this is Kobe? This whole thing is on one plot of land ……?”
“Oi.”
“?!”
A voice snaps like a whip behind me. I turn around and see a woman wearing a black suit and sunglasses standing at attention.
A young, beautiful woman with a good sense of style … However, she’s clearly not some friendly neighbor. This could be bad.
“Yaichi Kuzuryu-sensei …… Are you not?”
“He’s my twin brother.”
“Funny.”
The sunglass-wearing beauty grabs my shoulder and steers me through the front gate before I could squeal in a fright.
“Sensei has arrived!”
The other side of the gate may as well have been a different world …
A whole group of people in black suits and sunglasses are standing on either side of the gravel path that travels through the front lawn. Every single one of them is bowing, their hands on their knees, and saying, “Welcome, Sensei!!” at the same time.
I thought this kind of thing only happened in movies ……! It’s terrifying ……!
What’s more.
Boom! Boom! Thundering echoes that don’t belong in expensive residential areas ring out.
“T-Taiko drums?!”
–––It’s said that really fancy inns would greet players and customers with Taiko drums when they would “camp” overnight for title matches back in the old days of the Shogi world.
But never in a million years did I think I’d show up at some average guy’s place to give a lesson and hear Taiko drums instead of the doorbell. Then again, there’s no way this is just some average guy’s place!
“Sensei, the lord of the manor awaits. Please go inside.”
“I’m feeling a little queasy.”
“Go.”
“Okay ……”
I start to walk and am ushered forward from behind.
What was waiting for me on the other side of the tiger pelt laying on the floor as a doormat was–––.
“How wonderful to see you again, Kuzuryu-sensei.”
“?! You’re ……!”
“Kouten Yashajin, lord of this manor.”
It was the elderly gentleman I talked to at Onizaka-sensei’s mansion.
“I apologize for not introducing myself at Mr. Onizaka’s residence.”
In that moment, the real reason Onizaka-sensei contacted me clicked.
It wasn’t so that he could meet Ai. Well, I’m sure that was part of it but–––.
“…… You were watching me, rather than my apprentice, weren’t you?”
“Both Chairman Tsukimitsu and Mr. Onizaka spoke very highly of you.”
“They did ……?”
“Indeed. Both claimed that there could be no better instructor for my granddaughter. Please, if you’ll follow me–––.”
I follow Mr. Yashajin down a completely spotless hallway. I briefly considered making a run for it, but after noticing that the sun-glassed beauty was right behind me, I realized that was impossible.
Mr. Yashajin comes to a stop up ahead, right in front of a traditional sliding door that depicts an angel and a demon.
“Allow me to introduce you to her, my granddaughter, Ai.”
“Ai?”
He slides open the door to reveal–––.
A girl that’s about the same age and size as my apprentice Ai.
However, her personal aura couldn’t be any different–––a black Ai sitting there.
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