Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 3 - Chapter 5.1

  OFF-THE-BOARD TACTICS

“…… What are you doing?”

“Woah!!”

The Practice League is in session.

I was peeking in at their opening lecture on strategy before the matches got underway when a voice from out of nowhere almost made me jump out of my skin.

My second apprentice is glaring down at me, her eyes as cold as ice.

“Ai! D-Don’t scare me like that!”

“I’m the one who’s scared. Scared that someone might see one of the top Shogi players in the world sneaking around a room full of children like some kind of pervert. As an apprentice, I can’t allow you to do such a thing, now can I?”

“Something is clearly wrong with you on a personal level.”

Even Akira, standing behind Ai, piles it on.

Yeesh …… I’d like to be in there with bells on but …… 

But Keika said she didn’t want to see me, so what choice do I have? Hiding and peeking is the only way I can make sure she’s doing alright …… Then there’s Mio and Ai …… There’s a lot on my mind right now.

But I don’t think explaining all that to Ai Yashajin would be the best idea.

She’s a smart girl, so she’s probably picked up on it already. But …… I wanted to show her what family bonds look like by adding her as my apprentice.

Well, those bonds are in rough shape right now. And I can’t admit it! No way!

“So? What are you hiding?”

“You see …… Um …… I, I always keep a close eye on my apprentices like this! You had no idea, did you?!”

“That’s just gross.”

“D-Don’t put it like that~!”

I smile and look up at Ai.

I thought it was a nice smooth grin, but it must’ve been pretty rough because both Ai and Akira jump back like they saw something out of a horror movie.

“I know, okay? You’re not happy being a part of this family. But you still love your master, right? Don’t you? Don’t you?”

“Akira. File the necessary separation paperwork downstairs.”

“Huh?!”

Divorce ……!

“J-Just joking around!”

“Please let your face be the only joke.”

 …… Little brat, saying whatever she wants because she knows she’s cute …… 

“I should be the one asking you what you’re doing out here. You’re late, very late. Get in there and take a seat.”

“I will. Once you get out of my way.”

“…… Go right ahead.”

I step to the side and the young lady walks by with a humph strong enough to knock the dirt out of the door frame. She goes inside without a single glance at her Master.

“Pardon me.”

“Hm? Ms. Yashajin, you’re late,” the head of the Practice League, Yoshitsune Kuruno warns her, but Ai gives him an excuse without missing a beat.

“My apologies. I stopped to clean up some trash on my way here.”

“That’s all well and good, but do it on your own time.”

“I will.”

Ai makes a graceful bow, finds an open spot and sits down on her ankles. Meanwhile, the Master she called some trash is hunched over and depressed out in the hallway.

Since the lecture was pretty much over, Kuruno-sensei starts taking attendance.

Once he confirmed that everyone was there he said, “Hm. Now I will announce today’s matchups.”

Here it comes, the moment when we find out who will play against whom.

“……!”

Glancing around the arena from my hiding spot, I see … The air in that room is so tense it feels like a hawk just snatched a piece of my gut.

The mood is very different in the Practice League today.

The always bright and energetic Mio usually asks a boatload of questions during the lecture, her hand waves every few seconds. But today, she didn’t say a word the whole time. Instead, she just stared at the floor.

Her lack of energy seems to be weighing on Ayano too. She’s over in the corner, making herself small.

And Ai, she looks distracted, like she can’t get comfortable.

But …… Keika is the one at the center of the storm.

Keika, the oldest member of the Practice League, has thrown her friendly persona out the window and is instead intimidating everyone around her with an intense aura.

And she’s obviously doing it on purpose.

She usually helps the kids like a kind older sister and always has a smile on her face, but she hasn’t said a word to anyone today. That look in her eyes, it’s like she’s saying, “Don’t talk to me,” without words.

That alone made the atmosphere in the Practice League feel like these moments were leading up to a duel to the death.

That’s pretty much how it always is in the Sub League, where the members are older and literally have their futures on the line, but it almost never happens in the Practice League where most members are in elementary school.

Usually kids take their cues from how the adults are acting. 

Each one of them looks a bit frightened, but can’t figure out what’s wrong with Keika …… Basically, Keika is controlling the air with an iron fist.

That being said, there is someone who hasn’t been affected by it at all.

“Ms. Keika Kiyotaki and Ms. Ai Yashajin. Even match.”

My second apprentice is set to play against her in today’s first match, but she’s just the same as always.

Her perfect record since entering the Practice League and extremely high confidence combine to make a mental barrier …… Well, that girl’s got nerves like diamonds anyway. Even without her record, I don’t think she’d feel a thing.

Then, her complete opposite–––.

“Ms. Keika Kiyotaki and Ms. Ai Hinatsuru. Even match.”

“……!!”

Ai was visibly shaken as soon as the day’s second round was announced.

On the other hand, Keika didn’t even flinch. It was like she knew this moment had to come and she rose to meet it with a full head of steam.

 …… At least, that’s how it looks to me.

“With that, please prepare for the first match.”

Everyone stands up and moves around the room to find their opponent.

That’s when the incident happened.

My first apprentice found who she was looking for, and the two of them started to go to the nearest board to set up the match. However, just as Ai was about to sit down, plop … Keika sat down directly across from where she was about to land.

“?!”

Everyone flinched.

Keika chose the exact moment Ai was going to sit down to make her move …… No, just a second behind. Strange timing …… 

Keika is clearly focused on Ai, trying to put pressure on her before their match. She’s using off-the-board tactics, plain and simple.

“Ah …… uh ……?”

Ai is frozen in place, one knee down on the floor pillow.

Keika’s already sitting on her ankles on the other side, back straight in perfect posture. She’s there for the duration …… Basically saying, “You move,” with her body language.

“………”

Seeing another open board close by, Ai gives a silent bow and moves away from Keika.

The whole thing only took a few seconds.

However, those seconds were so heavy and painful, they felt like an eternity.

“Ugh ……!”

I can’t take this much tension. Feeling like I was going to puke at any second, I clamp my hands over my mouth and make a run for it.