Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 6 - Chapter 5.1

  THE YOUNGEST VERSUS THE FIRST IN HISTORY

“I lost.”

Only when my opponent lowers his head do I notice I’ve been holding my breath.

“…… Thank you for the match.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I return the bow.

Sub League members with a kyu ranking play three matches during the Sub League’s Regular Activities. Dan members play two.

Who we play gets announced right before the match, so I don’t know exactly who I’ll be facing for my second match …… But, considering how few people are in the Kansai Sub League, it’s not too hard to guess.

My first match ending in victory, I stay sitting next to the board even as my first opponent walks away.

Normally, I would go relax between matches. But today, there’s no telling where reporters are lurking. I’ll be safe in the arena.

Actually, it’s the other way around. This is the only safe place for me now.

“Eight wins in a row …… Twelve wins, four losses …… Fourteen wins, five losses …… Sixteen wins, six losses …… Eighteen wins, seven losses ……”

I count the records needed to become 3-dan in my head.

The first time, I was one win away from promotion when I was eleven and four.

But that chance slipped through my fingers with the fifth loss …… I’ve been stuck, spinning my wheels and watching chances go by all the way up to my current seventeen and seven record.

This will be my last chance.

I hunch over next to the board, sitting there like a wounded bear trying to recuperate, and tell myself over and over again, “One more. I just need to win one more …… Don’t think about losing ……”

The 3-dan division has two seasons per year.

Since they start in April and October, getting promoted in May does me no good because I’ll be waiting around until October for a new season to start. I won’t be allowed to play in the Sub League in the meantime.

–––If this chance gets away, the next one …… 

“Ya hear? Kunugi won again.”

“That’s seven in a row …… The kid’s a beast.”

“Wins like a heartless killer, too. Just when ya think ya’ve got a check path, ya’re king’s dead.”

“I wish he’d just hurry up and go pro. We don’t stand a chance against him ……”

“One more win and he’s in the 3-dan division, right? He’s got it in the bag, so don’t worry. I mean, his next opponent’s gotta be–––.”

“Quiet! She can hear you ……”

Other Sub League members finished with their matches are talking about me.

Right now, the record for the youngest 3-dan is thirteen years, eight months old.

Sota Kunugi is still eleven.

If he makes it to 3-dan before April, he’ll have two seasons in the 3-dan division before graduating from elementary school. A chance to become the unheard of Grade School Pro as well …… 

“……… I could ……”

–––I have a chance to become the first female professional ever.

Putting it into words, how much is that worth? It just means misery for me.

There’s only one way to get rid of that misery.

The time for my second match has come.

“Ginko. Let’s have a good match.”

Still in exactly the same spot I was when the first match ended, a voice high enough to belong to a girl comes up to greet me. The voice I expected to hear.

Its owner–––Sota Kunugi slowly sits down on his ankles as he talks to me.

“This will be our first time playing without a handicap, won’t it?”

“…… It will.”

“I can’t wait.”

Lining up the pieces, it’s my job as the more experienced Sub League member to do the piece flip. All five of my Pawns land upside down, meaning Sota will go first.

Our last match was half a year ago. Playing without a Lance, I lost as the upper player.

Ginko Sora 2-dan versus Sota Kunugi 1-kyu.

Looking back even further, when Sota Kunugi entered the Sub League at 6-kyu–––I was 1-dan.

–––Stupid Shogi Martian …… 

I can’t think of this boy as a fellow earthling. He has another sense that I don’t, one that allows him to have a bright mental Shogi board that moves pieces around at lightning speed and lets him feel the relationships between every piece. He doesn’t need to read, he just knows.

––– …… So unfair. Cruel.

Yes. The Shogi gods play favorites.

Because they didn’t let me be born as a Shogi Martian …… They give talents to one and nothing to the other. Then, they make them fight for their own entertainment. That’s the only explanation.

Last time I was down a piece.

I lost the match and have been stuck at 2-dan while this Shogi Martian climbed all the way up to 2-dan without losing a single match.

That winning streak is still going.

All Naniwa’s Snow White’s white victory stars against Women’s League players look fake. This kid chosen by the Shogi gods stole real white victory stars from other Shogi Martians and is now sitting across from me.

All to take my stars. To take my last chance away from me.

“Please begin your matches.”

Battles erupt all at once at the supervisor’s signal.

Sounding like he doesn’t have a care in the world, Sota lowers his head and says, “Ready when you are.”

“…… I’m ready.”

I switch on the chess clock.

Sota is on offense.

Not wasting a moment, he opens his Bishop Path with a light flick of the wrist like he’s feeling no pressure whatsoever.

I hold my breath for several seconds and clench my skirt with my right hand.

A voice echoes through my mind.

I think you should use Ranging Rook.

For a moment, I thought I just might.

Shogi isn’t a trend.

For that one moment, I wanted to commit everything to what that voice had to say.

However.

“……!!”

I reach out and grab a piece, snapping it down hard enough to cancel that voice out.

–––Pawn in front of the Rook, 8 Four Pawn.

A move that announces my Static Rook intention and gives my opponent his choice of formation. It’s stepping forward with my arms wide open and saying: Come and get me.

–––I’m the stronger player. Problem?

If you’ve got more talent. If I’m inferior as a living being.

–––I’ll surpass you in spirit and tenacity ……!

That’s Kansai Shogi. It’s stubborn and muddy, but it’s my Shogi.

“……… Ohh ……?” Sota Kunugi mumbles between his teeth, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

Then he chooses to use those itty-bitty fingers that still have that infantile flimsiness.

The strategy that this child who was already destined to walk among the Shogi world elites selected was worthy of their company.

Orthodox Shogi that remains unchanged despite the trends in modern strategy–––yagura.