Yamashiro Ouka Title Match 2

“Uh-huuuh.”

Ryou Tsukiyomizaki, now sprawled out on the floor and picking wax out of her ear, flicks the stuff off her fingertip and tells me exactly what she thinks.

“Was kinda boring if you ask me.”

Say what ……?

“I mean, come on. You’re just bragging about how you’ve got Ginko and Small Fry here fawning all over you. Just listening made this rabbit food taste even worse.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Fawning ……? How am I supposed to take that? This past year has been rough, and I wanted to give you an idea of what I’ve had to endu–––.”

“Oi, Small Fry. Get this obi tied up right.”

“Ah …… Sure.”

Ai pops her head out from behind my back like a scared bunny rabbit and slowly, cautiously inches her way over to Ryou. I wasn’t done talking!

“Master, please turn your back!!”

“R-Right!!”

Ai snaps and I spin on my heel in a panic.

Flp, flshh …… Sounds of fabric being shuffled around followed by a very comfortable sounding nhh …… come from behind me. Ryou sounds like she’s enjoying this ……

“You can look now.”

Still scared, I turn ever so slowly toward my apprentice–––and see Ryou dressed in full kimono standing there.

…… Stunning.

All the seductively loose folds …… become overwhelmingly beautiful when they’re in the right places like this.

She didn’t get the nickname Aggressive Archangel for nothing. If someone said she actually was an angel while dressed like this, I’d believe them ……

Ryou twists her body, flexing her arms to see how well everything fits and turns to Ai in surprise.

“…… Small Fry. You’re pretty good at this.”

“Do you think so?”

“Damn straight. Nothing seemed to fit right all morning, but now I can barely tell I got it on. Thanks!”

With that, Women’s King Ryou Tsukiyomizaka elegantly glides her way back to the arena.

After a few moments of mesmerized silence–––.

“Wow ……”

Finally, she remembers how to make words.

Tenryuji Temple’s Sogenchi Garden.

“It was designated the country’s first Site of Special Historic and Scenic Importance by the government for maintaining 700-year-old scenery in modern-day Japan. The central pond named Sogenchi is surrounded by a path that allows visitors to see it from many angles and the garden incorporates Arashiyama Mountain itself into the view.”

It’s said that a famous Zen Master named Soseki Muso built the garden.

And, that the same Zen Master built plenty of extraordinary gardens all over the country.

“The name for the garden actually comes from when Mr. Muso drained the pond and supposedly found a stone monument that had Sogen Itteki or not a drop to waste carved into it.”

“Master …… That’s amazing ……♡”

“That’s what it said on their website, anyway.”

“Give me back my admiration!”

“It’s fine. Shogi players like us have to memorize an almost lethal amount of standards as it is, so there’s no need to remember anything we can just look up online.”

Shogi players need as much free space in their brains as possible. Therefore, unnecessary knowledge just gets in the way for Shogi players. I’m not making excuses. It’s the truth!

The match is taking place in Tenryuji Temple’s Grand Hall with a view of the garden.

The garden is great, but the Grand Hojo Hall is one heck of a building.

There’s a set of fusuma-style sliding doors with a dragon flying through the clouds painted on them that divide the room into east and west. Just standing in here feels like there’s a huge dragon staring at you the whole time.

Of course, this area is usually off-limits to visitors, but it was chosen to host Match Two of the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match.

Now, visitors can walk through the surrounding hallway and see the match and the garden at the same time. It’s quite a sight.

Even for foreigners and tourists who don’t understand the rules, seeing two beauties in kimono playing Shogi and staring daggers at each other seems to be enough to perk their curiosity. There’s a pretty big crowd.

People involved with Shogi like us can’t just walk in there willy-nilly, so the staff prepared a separate room with a tablet set up for us to watch the match in real time with updates from the match recorder.

Since Ai and I had already done a loop of the temple grounds, we decided to go track the match in there.

“Now then, this is an extremely important series match …,” I say to my apprentice as we look at the board displayed on the monitor. “Ai. What do you see?”

“Um …… Let me think.”

She leans in close to the monitor and starts analyzing. “…… Here, here, here ……,” she mumbles as her body starts swaying back and forth.

She’s in her own Shogi world right now.

Reaching her conclusion, Ai says, “I think Tsukiyomizaka-sensei has claimed an advantage after the lunch break. The anaguma …… Kugui-sensei’s formation is still intact, but she doesn’t have a way to attack anymore ……”

“I see. Then, what would be your next move?”

“1 Four Pawn …… I think.”

Ai has chosen to deploy a Pawn over the top of the King to attack the anaguma’s weak point head-on.

It’s sort of like bringing a sword down on a fully-armored opponent’s helmet with a powerful, two-handed strike.

“You would do that? Take the strongest move with the shortest route to victory?”

“Yes.”

“30 points.”

“Whaaa ……?”

She looks up at me with surprise in her eyes.

Me saying that the strongest move was only worth 30 points must have thrown her for a loop. Me not complimenting her plan of attack also probably came as a shock.

“If this match were one and done, you’d be right.”

I explain my reasoning.

“But, this is a big match in a series. Say you win the first one, you won’t win the title without winning the next as well. That being the case, you want to inflict as much damage as possible, don’t you think?”

“Damage ……?”

“Leave lasting scars on your opponent’s heart. The kind that won’t heal overnight.”

“B-But …… Master said etiquette was necessary for Shogi …… that we shouldn’t make opponents suffer any longer than we have to ……”

“That’s what we tell amateurs.”

That’s my way of telling her: You aren’t an amateur anymore, without saying it out loud. I need my apprentice to take on a tournament Shogi player mindset.

“Pros always have to fight against the same opponents … which makes increasing your chances of victory by making your opponents dread playing against you a valuable skill as a pro. Don’t you think so?”

“…………”

She doesn’t respond.

Looks like it will take time for a girl as straight-laced and kind-hearted as Ai to accept what I just told her.

She might not be able to accept it at all.

But–––.

“Margins in the pro Shogi world are paper-thin. The same is true for talent. Even effort is like that. Only wins and losses are cut and dried. A single piece of paper–––one thin line being higher or lower can change someone’s life forever. You’re better off not fighting at all if you aren’t willing to start stacking.”

Because it’s obvious what’ll happen.

“…… Is Tsukiyomizaka-sensei trying to add to her stack right now? In this match ……?”

“Yes. She’s not giving Machi an opportunity to surrender. Instead, she’s drawing out the match to make her squirm in front of a live audience. Whether Machi loses heart or gets angry, she won’t be able to keep a cool head in the next match, which gives Ryou the advantage.”

Machi Kugui is known as Machi the Tormentor.

Extremely good at twisting opponents into submission once she has an anaguma in place, she tends to draw out matches to make her opponents squirm and suffer for as long as possible. That’s how she got the name.

But right now, Ryou is the one tormenting the Tormentor and, in effect, making the agony of defeat sting ten times worse than normal.

Games like Shogi and chess are called mind sports, but they share a key difference from their athletic cousins like baseball or basketball.

There are many different reasons a person or a team can lose playing sports.

Of course, mental condition plays a role, but most problems can be traced back to something physical. Perhaps teamwork was the issue, or the coach made a bad call.

On the other hand, there is only one reason for a Shogi loss: I was weak.

Since there’s nothing to blame but yourself after a loss, there’s nowhere for the pain to go. I doubt there’s any worse feeling on earth than the moment you realize you lost a Shogi match.

“Do …… do we have to go that far? Breaking our opponents’ hearts …… That’s just so ……”

“That’s what it means to play for real. People can’t cross blades with actual swords and expect to walk away without getting cut, right? We don’t leave physical wounds playing Shogi, all the damage is done on the inside. After all, you have to break an opponent’s fighting spirit to get them to throw in the towel.”

“B-But …… those two. They’re best friends …… aren’t they?”

Yes. Very close friends.

“That’s exactly why they want to win against each other more than anyone else. Because they’re good friends.”

The fact that they’ve known each other so long makes it that much more important …… Lose, and they’re faced with living the rest of their lives in fear that the other is stronger.

“It’s scary, and for people destined to battle for supremacy like Shogi players, it casts doubt on who they are. Wild animals are nothing but livestock once they’ve been broken.”

“Live …… stock ……?”

Giving up on the climb to the top might make things easier.

But people like us would also have to give up being released from the desire to win we’ve had for as long as we can remember.

The thing is, we know that winning is the only way to do that.

Describing the darker side of the human spirit as a desire for competition may be egotistical, but it makes it possible to survive in the Shogi world.

Your heart will break in no time if you don’t accept it.

…… No.

We might all already be broken. Justifying tearing an opponent’s heart to shreds by saying, As long as it’s for the competition, probably isn’t right on a human level.

Which would make Ai’s reaction correct as a human being.

But I still have to change this kind, gentle girl’s heart bit by bit.

My only other option would be to let her go, and that’s not going to happen–––.

“Never forget this, Ai. The ones you have to stamp down first are the ones closest to you.”

“…………”

Many different emotions pass through her big, round eyes …… Mostly strong refusal mixed with little glistening specks that look like tears.

The closest ones to her now would be the other Practice Group girls and Keika and Ai Yashajin. Big Sis is trying to become a full pro but will end up playing against her in league matches sooner or later. After that, it’s only a matter of time before younger opponents appear on the scene. Ai has to turn them all into livestock that produce victory stars for her.

–––Maybe I should drive the point home a bit more?

I open my mouth to say the words that will push my innocent apprentice into the wicked world of competition.

But, before I could.

She seems to have relaxed into her own.

“Chairman ……”

Chairman Tsukimitsu silently shows up at my side with a very satisfied smile on his face.

Of course, there’s an association staff member leading him. He wouldn’t be out walking around by himself.

“Well done, Ryuo. How in the world is it that one can create such a difference between morning and afternoon sessions of a Shogi match?”

He’s talking about Ryou.

“I’m … not sure. I didn’t do anything special …… Just talked with her for a bit.”

Maybe Ai’s adjustments to her kimono made the difference?

“Ah, yes …… Being able to draw this level of Shogi skill out of her with a few well-chosen words is an ability fitting of a someone who has already raised players to Women’s League members in such a short amount of time like yourself.”

The chairman nods several times as if thoroughly impressed.

Being complimented like this makes me feel like maybe I have a gift for this teaching thing. It’s really weird ……

Then again, both the Ai’s have talent that blows everyone else their age out of the water.

“If I may ask, what are your plans for Match Three tomorrow?” asks the chairman.

There won’t be any dramatic comebacks this time.

Everyone, including the players, knows it.

The media people have started writing their pieces for the final match and the staff have started their preparations as well.

I take a moment to think it over and answer the chairman.

“I haven’t decided anything yet, but I would like to see the match if I can.”

“Then, why don’t I arrange for an extra room to be prepared at our hotel? In exchange, I would like for you and Miss Hinatsuru to provide commentary.”

“Yes. I’d be glad to.”

Players visiting title matches are almost duty bound to help out in some way.

Going back to Osaka wouldn’t take that long, but the best way to truly get a feel for a title match’s vibe is to stay on site.

“Ai, you want to stay here too, right?”

“Huh? I, um ……”

She doesn’t know how to answer.

The match is still going on, but we’re making plans like it’s already over …… Machi has done a lot for Ai since she came to Kansai, so she might be refusing to acknowledge our verdict right off the bat.

But, sympathy and competition are two separate things.

She needs to make absolutely sure to separate them.

That’s what makes competition so cutthroat. If she can’t weather this kind of emotional pressure, she’ll never claim a title. No chance.

“Ai. What are you going to do? Go home by yourself?”

“…… No. I will stay with you, Master ……”

Then, the very moment she squeezes those words out of her throat ……

“I am defeated.”

Yamashiro Ouka Machi Kugui–––throws in the towel.

Victory stars even at one apiece, the battle is back to square one.

After the match.

This is normally when review sessions would happen, but players in the Yamashiro Ouka title match move to a different room to talk to the press first.

Ai and I find a spot in the back of the room to watch for our own future reference.

Someone representing Kyoto City journalists asks questions from within the wall of media people.

“First, I would like to speak with the victor of today’s match, challenger Tsukiyomizaka-women’s king. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

“I believe we can all agree that today’s win was a convincing victory.”

“Yeah.”

“A far cry from the first match …… No, even from this morning. The change was so dramatic, it was almost as though someone else was playing. What was the secret to your turnaround?”

“…… You sayin’ I cheated or something?”

“Not in the least, because I know that’s impossible. I’m simply inquiring into what you specifically did during the lunch recess to spark your comeback.”

“I had a guy over.”

“…………… You what?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I had a guy over to give me a spark. The food was terrible so I had to have fun somehow, don’t you think?”

Whisper, whisper, whisper ……

No one was expecting such a lewd response. The media people are talking to each other in hushed voices while association staff are going red in the face.

“Yeah, Kuzu the trash heap–––Yaichi Kuzuryu-ryuo brought that grade schooler apprentice of his into my room and the three of us lived it up. Oh yeah, Kuzu’s small fry of an apprentice is darn good at retying obis. I’ll have her do it again tomorrow. End of story.”

Ryou shuts down the interview out of the blue and glances my way with a twinkle in her eye and lips curled into a grin.

Well, she isn’t lying.

She did demand that I entertain her, and I did my best to fill that request by digging into my stock of stories and telling one. The three of us did have a good time, that’s true.

It’s also true that Ai adjusted her kimono.

But, putting it like that …… It sounds like we were the reason her kimono got messed up in the first place!!

“…… Ai. Go walk around in the garden for a bit.”

“Uwhee?”

Though confused, Ai does what she’s told and leaves the room.

The media will eat her alive after the interview if I don’t get her out of here right now …… More to the point, she’s such an honest girl that she’ll say every little detail …… Misunderstandings will pile up into one big disaster ……

“W-Well then …… Kugui-Yamashiro Ouka, may we proceed with your interview?”

An association staff member must have sensed the impending danger and steps in to change the subject. The Kyoto journalist clears his throat and starts asking questions again.

“This match certainly didn’t end as you had hoped it would.”

“The early game went swimmingly, but sequences broke down from the mid-game onward.”

“The match transformed into one ill-suited for your preferred strategy, the anaguma.”

“In the face of such ruthless play, I had no choice but to submit. Now, I must acknowledge my opponent’s skill and shift my mindset to focus on tomorrow.”

“That match will decide the title. Are you confident you can defend it?”

“From a record standpoint, the two of us stand on equal footing. Though, from a home and away perspective, I possess the advantage. As this will be a match out in public, I plan to harness the energy of my supporters to play at a level beyond my normal capabilities.”

“What would you like to say to all of your supporters in Kyoto?”

“I wholeheartedly believe the Yamashiro Ouka title should not leave Kyoto’s borders. Yamashiro Ouka does not belong in the hands of one born outside Tokyo’s urban core. For if it did, the name would need to be changed to Asakusa Kagetsu, would it not? The association need not go through such a hassle.”

The room fills with laughter for the first time.

I can tell Machi is used to these press conferences, making sure everyone leaves with a smile on their face. She’s already processed the damage from this loss and moved on.

Looking around the press conference …… It would seem that Ryou’s attempt to take a big slice out of Machi’s heart missed its mark.

However, the two players never looked at each other once during the entire press conference.

Claiming that I needed to run to the men’s room as an excuse to get out of that press conference, I bump into a familiar face in the hall.

“Ms. Oga.”

“Yes. It is one.”

Rather than her usual suit, she’s wearing a fancy kimono.

What’s more, I barely recognize her without her glasses. She must be wearing contacts right now.

But, her choice of words makes it plainly obvious that she’s Sasari Oga.

“Great job out there today. It’s been a while since you’ve worked as a match recorder, hasn’t it?”

“It has indeed. I was quite nervous.”

Since players in training and Women’s League members are required to work as match recorders for league matches, Ms. Oga knows how to do them even though she works for the association now.

But, a lot has changed since she was active. Tablets are much more widespread, time management works differently and many smaller things don’t work the way they used to.

Match recorders might look like they’re just sitting around during matches, but their job is actually really difficult.

Furthermore, even though players can get up from the board to use the restroom and whatnot, match recorders pretty much have to stay board-side and maintain perfect posture throughout the whole match.

I’m sure that Ms. Oga was quite nervous today.

–––It’s too bad she has to go through it all again tomorrow ……

Match recording is like intensive training for players in training and Women’s League members, but Ms. Oga doesn’t have to get stronger anymore.

Thinking I’d help her relax a bit, I tease her.

“Oh, I heard you moaned and groaned about being the match recorder for the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match when the chairman asked you.”

“……………”

I thought she’d have a snappy comeback, but–––.

She silently stares at her feet as tears started building in her eyes. Huuh?!!

“S-Sorry! Sorry, I’m so sorry!!”

I jump in to comfort Ms. Oga as she starts crying her heart out. Then concerned staff members who came to investigate start whispering back and forth.

“The Ryuo made another young lady cry ……”

“The challenger said somethin’ weird went down with him in her break room over lunch at the press conference.”

“First grade schoolers, now young adults …… I heard the Ryuo was one of them lolicon guys.”

“He probably just wants to knock up some young ladies to get more younger ones.”

“Sounds about right.”

“Somebody heard him talking about livestock a little bit ago.”

“That settles it.”

There are some weird misunderstandings going around in Kyoto!!

“M-Ms. Oga! Please, stop crying ……!”

“Wahhha …… Hic! B-But …… But ……!”

“If you’re worried about the chairman, he told me that things just don’t feel right without you around!”

“…… Eh-hehe♡”

The tears are gone!! And that was kinda cute ……

She really must have a thing for the chairman.

I don’t get many chances like this, so I decide to ask her how they met.

“If I can ask, Ms. Oga, how long have you and the chairman been together?”

“T-Together …… Well, being officially together is still somewhere down the road, but ……♡”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant.”

She’s still got her head in the clouds.

“Your Master was Sakai 9-dan …… My Master and Chairman Tsukimitsu’s Master’s last apprentice, right? I know that the chairman became your guardian after Sakai 9-dan passed away. Did you know him before you joined that Shogi family?”

Should someone’s Master die while they’re still in training, some players decide to find a new one while others keep the first Master’s name as is and have someone else, a guardian, fill that role.

Ms. Oga did the latter.

The thing is that the Sakai Shogi tree is huge, and the chairman is a busy man. Considering he was willing to take up a guardian position, there has to be another connection there somewhere ……

It turns out my instincts were right on the money.

“One’s grandfather was the leader of the chairman’s–––Meijin Seiichi Tsukimitsu at the time–––fan club. He still represents the club today.”

“Ah, the fan club’s president.”

“He also works as a representative for the Kyoto Shogi Promotion Federation and is also in charge of one of its branches … though his main occupation is owning and operating a drugstore.”

In other words, he’s a staple of Kyoto’s amateur Shogi scene.

Most likely, he’s directly involved with the Yamashiro Ouka Title Match. I don’t blame Chairman Tsukimitsu for giving her an opportunity in the spotlight.

…… Not that that person was particularly happy to get it.

“So, you’ve known the chairman for a long time then?”

“But of course. He was present for one’s birth.”

Now that I think about it, the chairman would’ve not only been an active player, but he also had the Meijin title around the time Ms. Oga was born.

Surely, he would have met the family of his own fan club’s president and would have been close enough to them to be invited to a special event like that.

“Oh, I see. But, there’s no way you remember that, right?”

“Quite clearly, actually.”

Come again ……?

“How could one ever forget the first day she was held in the chairman’s arms? While one does not remember the temperature of her first bath, one shall never forget the warmth within his arms.”

“Uhhh …… what? You remember …… being born ……?”

“In that moment, one knew. Ahh …… I was born to be held in this man’s embrace♡ From that moment on, one has devoted her life to that the great man.”

“………”

Okay then.

She’s been a bit off since she was born.

The Shinkyogoku shopping district.

Ai and I are walking through the streets that follow alongside the Kamo River.

“Ha-ha-ha. There aren’t any flutes or drums in the air, but this vibe is pretty special.”

The temple crowd is spilling out into the streets.

Amidst all this hustle and bustle, there are secondhand clothing shops run by young people, fancy cafés, even anime shops and bookstores that cater to hobbyists scattered all over the place. So there’s something for everyone, no matter who they are, to enjoy.

It’s an everyday thing here, but definitely not normal.

A place where new layers of history are added every day–––that’s Kyoto.

“There’s no point heading straight to the hotel from Arashiyama. I doubt we’ll get any time to go sightseeing tomorrow and I think kids your age would enjoy a place like this much more than temples or shrines.”

“Yep!”

Ai nods, takes my hand and rushes into the crowd bubbling with energy.

“I’ve always wanted to come here!”

“Hm? You know about this place?”

“The sixth-graders at my old school always said this place and Kiyomizu Temple were the most fun.”

“Oh …… Does that mean most kids who grew up in Ishikawa think of Kyoto as the big school field trip?”

“I think so. My school’s sixth-graders came here every year.”

Kyoto is the place for special school field trips.

But students who live around Kyoto go someplace else.

“Where did you go, Master, for your big school trip?”

“I was already in Osaka, you see. Students in Osaka usually go to Ise-shima, I think.”

“Ise …… That’s in Mie Prefecture.”

“The beaches are really nice. Spain Town is fun, too.”

The Toba Aquarium is also worth a visit. Porpoises are cute.

“I’ve always thought of Kyoto or Nara as being the destinations for special school trips, so hearing you went to Mie sounds strange.”

“True, true.” Nodding at my apprentice, I say in a lighter tone, “Well then, let’s think of today as the field trip you never got to go on. Are you having a good time?”

“Yes! The best!”

“But it’d probably be more fun to have your classmates along. I know you transferred here for Shogi training, but it must’ve been pretty tough.”

“T-That’s not true! I was a little sad, leaving all my friends back in Ishikawa, but …… I got to go to the same school as Mio, and I made friends with Ayano, Charlette and Ten-chan …… I’m having more fun now than ever! And this trip is so, so much fun!!” says my apprentice in a continuous burst before looking down and whispering in a tiny voice …

“It’s ………… like, a date ……”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“Hyhaa?! N-Nothing!!”

Her face turns bright red for some reason, and she starts pounding on me with her tiny fists.

Then, she changes the subject to distract me.

“The match tomorrow …… How do you think it will go, Master?”

“Good question ……”

I cross my arms and look up the sky.

“The third match will start with a peace flip, so it’s difficult to plan a strategy ahead of time.”

“Because they don’t know who will go first, right?”

“Yeah.”

For the most part, the offender has the advantage in Shogi because they have the first move.

But the defender has the ability to alter the flow of the match kind of like putting your hand out late in a game of rock paper scissors. So, there’s some merit being on defense.

Since the defender using the same strategy as the offender wouldn’t be logical, that almost never happens in a match.

After all, you’d be teaching your opponent how to attack your own strategy.

“Then again, those two pretty much always use the same strategies. Machi uses anaguma on offense and defense more often than not, and Ryou–––.”

“Likes aerial battles …… Right?”

“Yeah. For the most part.”

Ryou Tsukiyomizaka is really good at Side Pawn Capture and aigakari Double Wing Attacks, strategies where the Rook and Bishop fly all over the board in speedy, dynamic fashion.

Speed sends the message I won’t let you make an anaguma. That’s how she’s played up until now.

But her play today sent the message Even if you make an anaguma, I’ll still crush you.

Machi is against the ropes.

“It’s hard to prepare commentary when you don’t know what formations will be used ……,” says Ai, a bit downtrodden.

“You do have a point. But entertaining the crowd in that situation is where pros really show what they can do.”

Crowds in Kansai are known for interrupting commentators to ask questions and usually they’re more interested in funny stories or behind-the-scenes tidbits than in match analysis. They want something more than just high Shogi skill in the commentary–––.

“Which reminds me. Remember that big board analysis ……?”

I think back to the day when I provided analysis for my apprentice’s Shogi match on a big board in front of a crowd for the first time.

Though, it was a bit different from normal commentary–––.