Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 6 - Chapter 1.2

  FIRST MOVE CEREMONY

“My sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, apprentices one and all. May ya have a wonderful new year.”

The one greeting all the Kansai players and media people assembled in the Shogi association’s Black Corridor on the fifth floor is a frail, eighty-year-old man.

Kansai Shogi Association Director–––Tatsuo Zaou 9-dan.

Probably the highest authority in the Kansai Shogi world, he’s been nicknamed the Don of Naniwa.

Not only was he once a titleholder and a member of the A League, he is also famous for making Shogi puzzles, as well as for his singing career and stints as a pro wrestling commentator in his younger days. This man has done pretty much everything under the sun.

In fact, the position of Director was created specifically for Zaou-sensei, which should make it obvious just how important he is to the Kansai Shogi world.

“…… Master. That man up there, is he a really high-ranking person?”

“…… That’s right. You haven’t met Zaou-sensei before, have you Ai?”

Ai taps me on the shoulder from behind and I quietly explain.

“…… He’s my Master’s Master’s elder brother. So, that makes him my great uncle and your …… great-great uncle, I think.”

“…… Master’s Master’s Master’s …… Big brother? Oh, wooow ……!”

“Yeah. He’s the top of our Shogi family tree and also the oldest active pro. Talk about an amazing person.”

Not to mention, my Master’s Master already passed away.

It’s extraordinary enough that he’s still alive and playing Shogi, but he’s also in my league, C-2. All of humanity is surprised at this point.

“…… Though, at his age, his Shogi skills and physical endurance can’t keep up. He announced that he’ll retire after this season’s Placement Matches.”

“He will ……? It’s sad to see him go ……”

“……… Yeah ……”

To tell the truth, there’s a reason I can’t feel sorry to see him retire but …… Telling Ai would just complicate things, so I’ll keep my mouth shut for now.

Zaou-sensei’s upcoming retirement seems to be hanging over the whole room even though the new year is just getting started. The older players look so depressed that it’s almost painful.

The elderly Don looks across the room and flashes a grin.

“What are all ya’ll in mournin’ fer? It’s New Year’s, so let’s ’ave some fun.”

Those words turned into the ceremony’s opening bell.

For today is January 5th, First Move Ceremony day.

It’s exactly what it sounds like, a ceremony where pro Shogi players make their first moves of the year.

“I’m looking forward to our matches this year.”

“As am I. How about one to start us off ……?”

People start pairing up, saying hello and then going to one of the many Shogi boards lined up around the room.

Now then, who should I go against ……? Just as I was looking around, Zaou-sensei waves me over and says, “Ryuo. Take this upper seat.”

“What?! But, Sensei, that’s your seat ……”

“I ain’t playin’. Ma’ knees and ankles can’ take sittin’ down much no more.”

He sticks up a thin arm that would look more at home as a tree branch in an ancient forest and shakes it back and forth before making for the exit.

When it comes to Go, they can play in chairs for league matches. Those players can stay active into their nineties but …… the Shogi Association has insisted that all league matches take place on tatami mats, so it’s nearly impossible to last that long in the Shogi world.

“I’m ’eadin’ downstairs to getta jump on things. Kousuke, join me.”

“Yah, yah. I’d be glad to keep ya company.”

Master Kiyotaki follows the Don out of the room with a big grin on his face. Both of them love Shogi, but they love beer even more.

“If only Seiichi were ’ere.”

“Mr. Tsukimitsu is the chairman, ya know. Probably didn’t have a way to get outta bein’ at the Kanto First Move Ceremony.”

“’At boy ain’t suited fer ’at kind a work. Can’ see nothin’, poor guy …… And all he’s got fer company are ya spiritless whippersnappers.”

“Yes, yes, Sensei. Let’s talk over a few beers, yeah?”

“Now ya speakin’ my language ……”

My Master helps Zaou-sensei go down the stairs to the fourth floor, his steps weak and feeble. I know they’re prepping the New Year’s party downstairs, so there are plenty of beer and snacks down there already.

“Zaou-sensei is really getting up there in years ……”

“I hate to see him go, but retiring is probably the best thing for him ……”

Small conversations break out around the room as people watch the Don make his exit. Then, they start sitting around the boards.

On a side note, the First Move Ceremony in Kanto has a lot more structure. They use only one board and the players change out one move at a time to play a single match of Shogi. In Kansai, we always just put a bunch of boards out and play against whoever we want.

Basically, we wing it. That’s Kansai.

“All right, who’s going to be my opponent?”

I, the Ryuo, plop down in the upper seat of the board in the middle of the room and wait for someone to sit across from me.

Normally, people line up for a chance to play against a titleholder. Oh, great. The year just started and I’m going to be exhausted right off the bat. It’s tough being the popular one, real tough.

…… At least, I thought it would be.

“…… You’re not going to?”

“No, man. I mean, come on ……”

“It’s just …… You know?”

And other conversations just like those are going on all around me. Lots of eye contact, but no one’s coming.

What is it? What is this you know they’re talking about?

It seems like all the players in their twenties that used to like making life hard on me are taking a step back, almost like they’re trying to keep their distance.

Are they intimidated by my title? But I was Ryuo all last year too, and I had opponents coming at me one after another saying things to each other like, “Let’s go see how the Ryuo does it!” I got hit with all the latest trends in a single day right at the start of the year and took a lot of damage, which ended up kickstarting my muddy eleven-match losing streak …… Something’s weird this year.

“What about Big Sis and Keika ……?”

I crane my neck and see both of them playing against amateurs on the lower floor in the Ongedan no Ma. Each is surrounded by a crowd, so they seem to be pretty popular over there.

–––Am I …… that unpopular?!

Just as I was getting worried.

“Um! One match, please!!”

“Oh, sure!! Of course, I’d be happy to–––.”

My spirits leap, grateful to have an opponent at last. But … they come crashing back to earth once I see who’s sitting there.

“What? Ai, really?”

“Yes! Because you don’t look like you have an opponent.”

“Well, not yet, but ……… Hmm ……”

“What’s wrong? Am I not …… good enough for you?”

“It’s not that at all …… I just want to play against someone I don’t normally get a chance to go against.”

“Yeah, yeah. There are better opponents out there for you, Ai. Like a Ranging Rook party member, perhaps,” says a newcomer as he plops his hand down on Ai’s head.

Worldly Maestro–––King Mitsuru Oishi.

“Hop along, kiddo. I’ll step in for you.”

“You, Maestro? Right off the bat?!”

“Happy-go-lucky, don’t you think?” Mr. Oishi says he kneels on the tatami.

“Whoa! Looks like the King is going against the Ryuo!”

“Kansai’s top two facing off so soon? This year’s going to be something special!”

…… Good grief. I know we attract attention, but this is ridiculous.

I wanted to take things slow and ease into this year, but my opponent is who he is. Might as well sit up straight and dive right in!

Just as I was getting into the spirit–––.

“…… Ai? I’m going to play against Mr. Oishi, so please let him sit down ……”

“No, I won’t! I refuse to get up!!”

Ai puts her arms around the Shogi board, crouching down real low and yells at the top of her lungs.

“You’ve been so cold recently, Master! You don’t pay any attention to me at home anymore …… At first, I thought you were just tired from the Ryuo Title Match …… But back when I was nine, you’d always tell me how cute I am and teach me something new every night no matter how tired you were. Have you lost interest in me now that I’m ten?!”

Murmur murmur …… 

“Welp ……”

“So, the rumors were true ……”

“Better stay away from that guy!”

People at the First Move Ceremony take yet another step back. Exactly what have people been saying?!

“Oh, come on, Ai! This year just got started, and people are going to get the wrong idea if you say things like that!!”

“That’s not my problem! Darabuchi!!”

A journalist comes up behind Ai as she was calling me a foul word from her hometown and gets her attention.

“Miss Hinatsuru. Would you be willing to play a match against Miss Ai Yashajin?”

“Huuuh?! M-Me, against Ten-chan ……?”

“Yes, please! I want to write a story about the two new elementary school–aged members of the Women’s League for this year’s first front page! Fresh faces to go along with a fresh year!”

“That’s …… okay with me but ……”

Ai cautiously glances at the girl sitting in the corner of the room, Ai Yashajin a.k.a. Ten-chan because the kanji she uses for her name—天—can also be read that way.

“No.”

She shoots down the proposition right away. Ai Yashajin has always hated big crowds, and the only reason she came to the ceremony was because it’s part of her job as a Women’s League member …… But that doesn’t mean she’ll pretend to like being here. I let out a long sigh and try to convince her.

“You already came all this way, so why not? You’ll be interviewed and get a few nice pictures out of it, too.”

“I-I …… want to play Shogi with you, too, Ten-chan …… It’ll be fun,” Ai Hinatsuru chimes in, almost jokingly.

The journalist, who has a really kind air about him, practically throws himself into a deep bow.

“My paper is based in Kobe. Nothing would make me happier than to feature a local rising star like you, Miss Yashajin!”

“…………”

Ai glances around the room looking for someone to take her side, but unfortunately her caretaker and bodyguard Akira, who almost always comes to the association with her, is currently engaged in a fierce battle with grade school kids at the Shogi boards. I don’t think she’ll have time to come to her lady’s rescue. Apparently, she’s developed a new strategy: Hold captured pieces as not to let your opponent see them! Now who’s the kid ……?

Seeing my apprentice growing more irritated by the second, I do my best Master voice.

“Ai. This is work.”

“…… Understood, Sensei.”

Saying sensei with a strong hint of sarcasm, Ai Yashajin gets up and walks to an open board. Ai Hinatsuru jumps up with a start and rushes to catch up to her.

Cameras engulf them as soon as the two girls sit down at the board.

Since Ai Yashajin has made it into the best eight at the Mynavi Finals and had already been promoted to C-1 in the Practice League, she joined the Women’s League with a 2-kyu ranking once her registration was complete at the end of last year.

She set a new record that day: youngest ever to join at ten years and zero months old.

That erased Ai Hinatsuru’s record of ten years and one month that was set when she joined the Women’s League back in November. Both ascended to the ranks at blinding speed, but it will be Ai Yashajin’s name in the history books just because she happened to be born two months later.

Age is the best way to measure talent in the Shogi world.

Of course, the article will focus mainly on Ai Yashajin.

“You continue to trample your way through the Mynavi Women’s Open, Miss Yashajin. At this rate, you could very well achieve the Mynavi Dream. Do you believe you can do it?”

“As long as I can play to my full potential.”

“So, you’re confident you can win as long as you play your best?”

“I intend to hold nothing back.”

She didn’t so much as stutter through the whole thing, cool as a cucumber as she answered the questions.

Perfect, textbook answers …… But I can tell it’s all an act. It feels like she’s just going through the motions.

This journalist, who’s interviewing Ai for the first time, luckily took it the best way possible.

“I see …… Well, I must say that Kobe’s Cinderella is just as fiery during Shogi matches as she is during interviews!”

“Huuh?! Wh-who is this Kobe’s Cinderella?! Are you talking about me?!”

So much for being calm, cool and collected. She’s a fireball now.

Ai Hinatsuru had been waiting patiently on the other side of the board but sounds jealous when she speaks up.

“Awww! You’ve got a great nickname, Ten-chan, and I don’t have one! No fair!!”

“Great?! What’s so great about a nickname that sounds like some washed-up enka singer who can’t sell a single record?!”

“Excuse me. Please write this in your article: Shogi’s magic has turned me into Cinderella. I want to find the glass slippers before the spell breaks …… Ones that belong to the queen, my slippers.”

“Have you lost your mind, Sensei?! Don’t barge into my interview and create some gross Lolita poem!! You, journalist, do not print that! Is that clear?!”

“You’re so lucky, Ten-chan!! Master is making poems about you! I’m so jealous!!”

“There’s nothing to be jealous about!!”

The air is suddenly filled with a kiddie argument and rounds of laughter from the adults nearby.

The ceremony started out all gloomy and depressing, but now it’s starting to feel more like Kansai.