Grade Schooler Practice Group
“………… Ah ………… Wha ……?”
I woke up to the sound of my fork hitting the table.
Apparently, I passed out with the fork still in my mouth. Curry that was piping hot in front of me has cooled off to the point that a thin layer has formed on the surface.
“How how … long was … I out …?”
“Heehee.”
Ai already finished her curry and is now sitting with her head propped up on her hands with her elbows on the table, looking right at me. There’s a smile on her lips that’s as infinitely deep as this curry’s flavor …
I dove back into the curry like it had become my new obsession after that. While I didn’t get “carried away” again after the first bite, my fork-holding hand never slowed down. Swallow one mouthful and bring up the next without using any time at all. This happened over and over until every speck of the dark curry disappeared from my plate.
I ate it all.
I’ve never felt anything like this full-body psychedelic hug of happiness ever before.
What in the world is this … I know, curry, and this isn’t curry …
“D-Did you … S … Spike this with anything …?”
“Oh, no no. I didn’t put anything like that in. Heeheehee.”
“Tomorrow … I wanna eat more tomorrow … and the next day … Forever …”
“Sure! The leftovers will be even more delicious tomorrow♪.”
Would I wake up after eating something like that …?
“H … How was the classroom today? Make any friends?” I ask my apprentice as I gulp down some water and try to still my beating heart. Who would’ve thought curry could be so exhilarating …
Ai went from looking like the Bodhisattva Miroku’s archaic smile to a much cloudier expression with those words and looked down at her feet.
“………”
“Something wrong?”
“… Master.”
Don’t tell me she’s been bullied in the classroom? It’s pretty common for people to gang up on strong newcomers. Even Big Sis had to deal with the Crush Ginko Sora Group.
That’s why I wanted to make sure Keika was with her …
“Umm … Well …”
Ai works up the courage to say what’s on her mind, looks me square in the eyes and makes a bizarre confession.
“P-Practice session! Can we have one here?!”
“… A practice session?”
“Yes!”
She looks back at the floor and tries really hard to explain her reason in a tiny voice.
“Y … You see, I, um … told people I was staying with you, Master … and, well, um …”
“It sounds like someone said I want to see where the Ryuo lives! and one thing led to another. Is that what this is about?”
“Of course! You know that’s fine any time, right?”
“M-Master … Thank you so much!!”
“Ha-ha-ha. Board, pieces, chess clock. If you need anything at all, let me know,” I proudly declare to my cute apprentice and pound my chest.
Thump!
At this point in time, I had no idea of the repercussions that hosting a grade school girl practice group would entail.
Not yet anyway.
☗ Grade Schooler Practice Group
Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.
“Master. No one will be here for an hour yet.”
“Oh? I … see.”
The day has arrived.
Since my apprentice’s friends are coming over to the apartment today, I’ve been on edge ever since I woke up. Yes, me.
Three girls are coming. Two of them are the same school grade as Ai and apparently already in the Practice League.
Ai had been hard at work in the kitchen making everyone sandwiches for lunch until she looked at me sitting next to the 8½-inch Shogi board in the tatami room with a curious look on her face and asked, “Master … Why are you wearing a suit at home?”
“Ah, would traditional Japanese clothes be better?”
“Normal ones are fine …”
“Don’t you think everyone’s a little late? Did they get lost?”
“There’s still plenty of time.”
“It might be a good idea to go meet them at the station——.”
No sooner did I say that and Climb to my feet than …
Ding dong ♪
“Oh! That’s them for sure!”
Ai takes off her apron and rushes to the door, her feet thumping all the way.
I quickly straighten my posture sitting on my ankles on top of the floor mat and start lining up old match records in front of my 8½-inch Shogi board. Sort of a We-always-practice-Iike-this, what-of-it? type of setting. Usually, I use a gridded cloth for these things to keep the noise down.
“Thank you for having us!”
“Thank you for having us!”
A very energetic greeting.
Two girls appear behind Ai.
“N-N-Nice to see you again. I’m Mio Mizukoshi! Th-th-thank you for hosting!!”
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Ayano Sadatou. I’ve been looking forward to today.”
The first is the sporty girl I met in the classroom, Mio.
The second, Ayano, is a tall, lady-like girl I’ve never met before.
“Nice to meet you too. I’m glad to see Ai has made such nice friends.”
I greet them from my seat on the pillow.
“Squee!!”
“He said Ai! Just Ai! No Miss or anything!”
Well, they’re unusually excited. Ai’s face turns bright red. “I-I’m his apprentice! That’s normal! Come on!!”
What’s going on?
I can’t keep up with these grade schoolers … Just when I was getting worried.
Peek.
An extremely cute blonde girl with green eyes pokes her head out from behind Ayano, comes up to me, and gives me a hug.
“Cha, Shaulot Izuoor.”
Come again?
“She’s Charlette Isoir.”
Ayano steps in to translate.
“She attends a school for French children in Kyoto, a first grader. She also comes to my Master’s classes.”
“Cha go, every day!”
Why’s this girl so damn cute? Why won’t my heart stop pounding?
I try to get a handle on the thing slamming against my ribs and start a conversation with little Charlette still clinging to me.
“S … So, Mio and Ayano, you’re already in the Practice League? Who’re your Masters?”
“Kuresaka-sensei!”
“Kayaoku.”
It’s more polite for apprentices to introduce their Master’s name to other people without a title. Mio’s still learning about these things, but Ayano’s already got it down pat. It’s always fun to see different personalities in action.
“Kayaoku-sensei … That would make you Ms. Kugui’s?”
“That’s correct. Machi is my elder sister apprentice. I have heard much about you from her, Kuzuryu-sensei. She wanted me to bring you this.”
With that, Ayano hands me a bag filled with tasty treats from Kyoto.
“Also, this is from my parents.”
“Oh, m-my parents also wanted to give you something as a thank you!!”
“Cha has gwift for you too?”
Cookies and madeleine cakes were thrust into my hands after the Kyoto-style treats. Charlette gave me large acorns with faces drawn on them with magic marker. “Cha’s tweasure!” she tells me.
Saving their presents for snack time at 3 o’clock, we head right for the Shogi board.
There are many types of practice groups.
Some focus on deepening their understanding of one specific battle formation. There are some where participants talk about the latest trends without playing a single match. Some ignore Shogi altogether and just play Monopoly——.
It goes without saying that most practice groups mainly play matches. Participants play as many matches as they can throughout the day. During the matches, everyone says what they would’ve done in each situation and they all exchange opinions.
Practice groups also go by many names.
Master/apprentice family trees form “School Groups,” gatherings in Abeno Harukas are aptly named “Haru Groups,” beer lovers come together for “Keg Groups,” in “Tochigi Groups” all participants are from Tochigi Prefecture, just to name a few practice groups.
So, this will be a practice session made up of nothing but elementary school girls. “Grade Schooler Session” is it? Well, this’ll be legendary …
“Everything you need is already here. Help yourself.”
I’ve got two Shogi boards (equipped with legs) set up in the tatami room. Since match clocks and notebooks (it’s much more common to use regular lined paper for practice groups rather than special record-keeping paper) are all ready to go, so they can jump right in——or so I thought.
“Um, Master … Charlette …”
Ai apologetically glances toward the little blonde girl … So little in fact, that she almost disappears behind the board.
I guess I shouldn’t have gone all out and set up these big boards for today.
“Hmm … It might be a good idea to get a chair or something for her to sit on.”
“How about stacking floor cushions?”
Ayano offered her own floor cushion, but mine are so thin that stacking them wouldn’t make much difference.
“It’s probably still hard for her to maintain proper posture anyway. Ai, why don’t I get your stool in the kitchen for her to sit on——?”
I was just about to stand up when a hand tugged on my shirt.
“Masta.”
“Yeah?”