Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 6 - Chapter 4.2

  DOUGUYA SUJI SHOPPING AVENUE

“Look there, Master! Comedians! Those are Yoshimoto comedians!!”

“Yeah. They sure are.”

The weekend after the Loli-Con Assassin Gear nearly got me killed.

I brought my two apprentices to the area just outside the Nanba Grand Kagetsu Performing Arts Center.

“That’s the stage where NMB48 does their concerts! It’s so big!! This-is-so-much-fun!!”

Now that I think about it, this might be the first time I’ve ever brought Ai Hinatsuru to any of the touristy areas in Osaka. We’ve been too busy playing Shogi.

“What are you so excited about? Is this place supposed to be famous?”

Ai Yashajin sounds bored out of her mind. Genuinely surprised, I ask, “Do you …… seriously not know about Yoshimoto or NMB? Living in Kansai?”

“I only watch public television and CS Go and Shogi broadcasts.”

“W-Well, that explains it ……”

That’s the Lady. Stoic to a fault.

“Whatever the reason, you owe me an explanation. Why did you specifically say: Come to Osaka without Akira, and bring me to these pointless places?”

“Easy there. I’ve been so busy with the title matches and association events, don’t you think? So, I thought it’d be a good idea to have an honest-to-goodness day off with my apprentices. Think of it as a reward for getting into the Women’s League, a present.”

“Reward? This is a punishment. And are you sure you should be out here with us at a time like this?”

“Hm? How so?”

“Ginko Sora. She might be promoted to 3-dan today, right?”

“I’m forbidden to set foot inside the association on days the Sub League is in session. Big Sis’s orders.”

“…… If we’re going to waste a day anyway, I’d rather be watching the match. Sota Kunugi might be getting promoted, too ……”

While Ai Yashajin complains at every turn, Ai Hinatsuru is bubbling with energy.

“I couldn’t be more excited! Three of us have never gone anywhere before!”

“When you put it like that …… yeah.”

“For sure! I couldn’t wait …… See?!”

My first apprentice holds up a basket stuffed full of sandwiches.

“I thought it would be fun if we ate these together, so I got up early to make them! Am I a good girl?”

“…… A very good girl.”

“Um~meow♡”

Rather than fight against my apprentice bobbing her head in front of me like a cat wanting to be petted, I gently stroke her soft hair. She happily narrows her eyes just like a real cat.

I’m supposed to be pushing her out of the nest, but it feels like I’m spoiling her more now than I was before …… There was the Loli-Con Assassin Gear incident, and the little things are getting worse …… I need to do something before it’s too late …… 

Ai Yashajin’s eyes are as cold as ice as she watches me pet her older sister apprentice like a cat.

“Well? What are we here for?”

“I didn’t bring the two of you here today to watch comedians or idol groups. Our destination—is over there.”

I point to a road on the south side of Namba Grand Kagetsu.

It’s the entrance to the shopping arcade with a big sign overhead with Road in bright red paint.

“That’s where we’re going today, Sennichimae’s shopping street Douguya Suji.

“Douguya …… Suji?”

“A place where you can buy anything under the sun.”

My two apprentices start getting cold feet, but I usher them under the sign and start explaining the stores as we go.

“See that one there? It’s a floor cushion store.”

“Floor cushions?!”

“That place over there makes the curtains that go up in front of bars and restaurants. Right across the street from it is a store that makes red lanterns and next door to that makes signs.”

Basically, places that sell anything a bar owner would need are lined up right next to each other.

“Fuwawa! That pot is huge! That’s what restaurants use!!”

“Ohh …… You can design your own plastic food samples? This could be fun after all ……”

Ai Hinatsuru has zeroed in on the cooking equipment while Ai Yashajin looks interested in the plastic food restaurants put in the front window to advertise their menu. They try to act all grown up but they’re still kids at heart. Adorable.

“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re not here for those either. This way.”

Taking my reluctant apprentices’ hands, I steer them down a side street.

“Well, this street has seen better days …… Who exactly is waiting for us down here?”

“Shogi gods.”

“Huuuh?”

Ai Yashajin cocks her head, confused.

That’s when my other apprentice starts looking left and right as if she noticed something.

“What …… is that smell? It’s weird ……”

“! You’re right …… Is someone burning incense around here?”

I tell my apprentices what it is as they look around with their cute little noses twitching up and down.

“That’s what wood smells like.”

“Wood?”

The aroma hovers around the shop like a cloud.

Tentsuji Gobanten.

“Do they sell …… Go boards?”

“What are we doing at a Go shop? Any Shogi gods around here would be fake!”

“Board shops typically make ones for Go and Shogi.”

There’s no one out on the sales floor, but that doesn’t stop us from going inside and calling out to the back.

“Sensei? You’re around, right? Where are you?!”

…… No response. It’s like no one’s here.

Ai sounds nervous as she grabs hold of my shirt. “Maybe …… they went out?”

“Nah, I made an appointment. And it’s almost time to start working, so she wouldn’t be drunk–––.”

“Druuunk?”

My second apprentice sounds skeptical.

The narrow store is cramped inside but has a row of majestic, legged Shogi boards lined up on display. The bigger boards they have out are for Go. Then there are the stone containers and piece stands, Go stones and Shogi pieces …… Nothing has a price tag.

Every single one of them is a rare gem worth more than you’d expect from a shabby little shop like this.

“Maybe in here ……?”

I put my hand on a sliding door that leads to the back and pull it open–––.