Oh, Master. King Rook Check.

If someone were to ask what that job is, the easy answer would be a person who plays Shogi.

But, what exactly does playing Shogi involve?

Is it participating in league matches?

Is it teaching someone how to play?

A lot of things go into playing Shogi, so there’s a lot of work for Shogi players to do.

At the same time, all that work comes down to one thing: the fans. Without them, the job Shogi player wouldn’t exist.

There are pros because there are fans. It’s never the other way around.

Which means the most basic job for Shogi players is to increase Shogi fandom.

This is a story about exactly that, the most basic job for a Shogi player.

It took place …… Yes, about one month after Ai came to Osaka.

A few days after the battle with Big Sis on the yakiniku grill, the whole thing started on one sunny morning–––.

Someone’s trying to get me out of my warm and comfortable bed in my room.

–––But, who ……?

My name’s Yaichi Kuzuryu. I’m a pro Shogi player.

Rather than go to high school after I turned pro in junior high, I moved into my own apartment after being a live-in apprentice and training at my Master’s place for many years.

I’ve been living on my own for almost a full year now, but …… Someone’s calling me Master right now for some reason.

And she sounds like a little girl …… Her voice chirping like a happy little bird.

Which is why, rather than wake me up, those comforting sounds send me off into a deeper sleep ……

“…… Nghh.”

“It’s nice outside. A beautiful day to play Shogi!”

“Ngghhh ……”

Slowly but surely, I’m starting to wake up.

That’s right.

I took an apprentice of my own recently, didn’t I?

Not only that, but one who lives with me the same way I lived with my Master for training ……

And that apprentice …… is a little girl still in grade school–––.

“Maaasteeer. Get – out - of – bed! Please – get – up – right - now!”

Shake, shake.

Tiny hands rock me back and forth.

I think she’s trying to wake me up, but …… There’s no strength there at all, and her little mitts are warm and squishy …… A nice little massage sending me back to dreamland ……

My apprentice Ai Hinatsuru makes a cute little oosha sound as she climbs on top of me and rocks back and forth using her full body weight.

Ahhh …… This feeling ……… I could get used to this ……

“……… Five more minutes ……”

“That’s what you always say, and you never can get out of bed!”

Guilty. Sorry about that.

…… But, I can’t help it. Most pro Shogi matches start at 10 in the morning but usually go late into the night.

Also, we just follow standards in the morning, so it doesn’t matter if we’re groggy because there’s still time to fix any mistakes. But, getting sleepy in the late game is the fastest way to lose a match.

That’s why most players are night owls …… It’s a direct result of our line of work, not an excuse, okay …………? grumble.

“Munch, munch …… Keika, you’re so good at making breakfast ……”

“Grr ……”

The hands rocking me back and forth suddenly stop.

Ai’s adorable tippity-tap footsteps leave my room only to come back with those same cute little steps a few moments later.

“Wake up, Master! Breakfast is waiting for you!! The yummy yummy breakfast your apprentice made just for you is getting cold!! Get – up!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The metallic sound of something metal banging against a frying pan.

She must have brought it from the kitchen. Clang, clang, clang! Clangclangclangclang!

It keeps going for a bit, but–––.

“Haaa …… Haaa …… Haaa ……”

“…… Zzzz.”

“Grrrr~~~~!”

It’s going to take more than a little girl whacking away at a frying pan to spook my stubborn inner night owl.

Suddenly Ai says in a clear, quiet voice, “Kuzuryu-sensei. You are out of waiting time, so please adhere to one-minute Shogi rules for the remainder of the match. 50 seconds. One, two, three, four–––.”

“Whaa!!”

Burst!

I jump out from my covers, wide awake. This is no time for snoozing!!

“H-how much time is left?!”

“None. Seven, eight, nine–––.”

“P-Pieces! Where are the pieces ……!? Uh, 2 Eight Silver!!”

The move should count if I say it out loud when there isn’t time to physically move the piece on the board!

…… But I don’t see my opponent, the match recorder or even a board in front of me where I landed next to my bed.

“Huh? …… What gives? What about the match ……? T-The one-minute Shogi ……?”

“Good morning♡ Master.”

My apprentice is standing there, looking down at me with a grin and says hello.

“……… Ai, you know ……”

“Ehehe♡”

I give the little prankster a piece of my mind.

“How many times have I told you that countdowns give me a heart attack and not to do that?!”

“Master, you are the one with an important meeting at the association today and told me to get you up no matter what I had to do!”

“Y-Yes, I did say that, but …… there are other ways to get me up!”

“Such as?”

My apprentice shoots back in her cute little voice and I do my best to squeeze some answers out of my groggy head.

“Well, you could …… softy rock me back and forth.”

“I did.”

She did, didn’t she ……?

“How about making noise with a frying pan?”

“I did.”

“A wake-up kiss?”

“I did that, too.”

“Huh?! You did?!”

D-Does that mean …… I’ve been kissed by a grade school girl?!

Isn’t that a crime ……? Then again, the fact that I’m living with a little girl is probably against the law already ……

Just as the fear was sinking in.

“Kidding! I didn’t do that.”

She spins in place before sticking her tongue out at me.

“…… Should’ve known.”

Relief floods through my veins before I could get angry at her. I swear, grade school girls aren’t good for the heart ……

I put my hand on my chest to catch my breath as Ai hides her face behind the frying pan.

“…… That’s for when you’re wide awake ……”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“N-Nothing at all! Master, you dara!!”

She’s angry at me ……

By the way, the word dara is from Ai’s hometown in Ishikawa Prefecture. It means something along the lines of idiot and piece of crap. It works in so many ways, so it’s easy to use!

“More importantly, Master, what is going on today?”

Returning to her normal self, Ai pokes her head halfway out from behind the frying pan and asks.

“Oh …… That.”

I get to my feet and start thinking through today’s schedule.

“I don’t know too much myself. I’m supposed to show up at the association around 10 and talk to some higher-ups.”

“People in charge?”

“Yeah. The chairman’s secretary insisted ……”

The association chairman, Seiichi Tsukimitsu 9-dan, is a top-tier player who holds the title Eternal Meijin.

Since he’s also my Master’s older brother apprentice, you could say there’s no way for me to go against his wishes no matter what.

Not to mention the fact that his secretary, ex-Women’s League 1-dan Sasari Oga has so much power and influence of her own that people call her the Shadow Don. Being a title holder doesn’t change the fact that I’m a bottom of the barrel pro who’s only played for a little more than a year. I can’t say no to her either.

It’s the weekend.

With Ai going to the association’s classroom to play Shogi, as her Master I have no excuse not to go to work, too.

“…… Anyway, let’s eat and head to the association together.”

“Yes! Master!”

“Good.”

Giving my apprentice a cool nod, I gently ask her, “What did you make for breakfast this morning?”

“Curry!”

“Uhh ……”

Will I make it to the association without passing out from spicy deliciousness ……? This morning of thrills has me sweating nonstop ……

Ai arrived at the association along with Kuzuryu-sensei, but the two parted ways as her Master made for the offices on the third floor. It didn’t take long for the girl to find her friends in the classroom.

The Grade Schooler Practice Group was composed of four girls, each in elementary school.

Joining Ai was her classmate, Mio Mizukoshi; a girl who lived in nearby Kyoto named Ayano Sadatou and the youngest of the group, the French-born Charlette Isoir.

The four girls were close, often spending nights at Kuzuryu-sensei’s apartment to play Shogi. Despite their young age, each could hold their own on a Shogi board.

They played to their heart’s content at the classroom again today.

Then, once they started getting tired of Shogi: “Shogi word chain game!”

Once Mio announced their next activity, “Yay!!” the other three excitedly chimed in.

Shogi word chain–––a game in which the next word must begin with the last syllable of the previous word. The game ends when one player says a word that ends with the letter N.

The challenge was that all words must involve Shogi. Simple enough …… However, these players possessed extensive knowledge of the game and have been trained to read to several moves ahead. This battle promised to be extremely high caliber!

Mio sent the first sparks of battle flying.

“Sho gi!”

The first move of today’s Shogi word chain was Shogi.

As far as opening moves go, this was as standard as 7 Six Pawn. (Of course, there are times they opt not to employ this opening, but it makes other players’ sequences harder to predict, which in turn makes their own next move harder to plan.)

“Gi! Ummm, gyoku (King)!” Ai answered in almost no time at all.

“Ku, ku, ku …… kuraidori (King’s Head Vanguard Pawn advancing a Pawn to 5 Five)!”

Mio squeezes an evil laugh into her response. In Shogi terms, it was the equivalent of charging forward with Pawns to start the battle as quickly as possible.

“Ri? Ri, umm …… Ehh, umm ……”

Ai paused, taking a long moment to think–––.

“Ten seconds.”

“Huh?! There’s a time limit?!”

“It’s a 30-second Shogi word chain game,” Mio answered flatly and continued counting down the seconds.

Suddenly under pressure, Ai started wracking her brain at a furious pace.

Ayano stepped in to offer advice with time quickly slipping away a moment later.

“Ai. Master. Your Master.”

“Ah! Ryuo (Dragon King)! Ryuo’s uo!”

“Uchifu dume (Pawn Drop Mate).”

“Meriken mukai bisha (American Opposing Rook)!”

“Sha? Hmm …… Shagami yagura (Squatting Yagura)!”

“Huuuh? What’s that? Is that real?”

“It is. It’s the same as the Kikusui Yagura.”

Charlette did her best to follow Ai and Mio’s back-and-forth argument but sought help from Ayano by tugging on her sleeve.

“Kiwqu suui yaara?”

“Silver at 8 Eight, Knight at 7 Seven, with the King surrounded at 8 Nine.”

“Ohh ……?”

Charlette, with her lower kyu ranking and less-than-perfect grasp of the Japanese language, could only tilt her head in confusion despite having the formation described to her.

As for the game, Ai was still trying to find a response.

“Ra, ra, ra …… Uwhee? Is there one?”

Just as she was about to give up, Mio offered a hint.

“Sure there is. Like a stamp? A little s-t-a-m-p?”

“Whaaa?”

“What all the professional Senseis use when they sign autographs.”

“…………?”

Ai had seen her Master writing on square pieces of thick paper before and raced to recall all the details. Yes, there was something undeniably cool about her Master at work …… And other meaningless thoughts crossed her mind before the answer shown through like a beacon.

“Ah! Rakkan!”

“That ends with N, so you lost, Ai.”

Only then did the indignation of falling into her opponent’s trap truly set in.

“…… Arggh!! No fair, Mio! You made me say it!”

“Muh-ha-ha! The world of competition is an unforgiving place, trainee Ms. Ai Hinatsuru.”

“Okay then. It looks like it’s going to be really hard to join the Women’s League ……”

Ai had jumped headfirst into the Shogi world only recently.

Apparently, she still had much to learn.

Ayano offered some comforting words.

“While I believe Shogi skill and word games have nothing to do with each other, losing is something you want to avoid no matter what you play.”

“For sure! My Master always tells me, Be the best at everything you do!”

“You’re even the fastest at eating lunch in our class, Mio,” Ai said with a grin.

Though happy at first, Mio’s face turned dark mere seconds later.

“But I get too sure of myself playing Shogi and I end up losing in a flash. I’ve got to stay cool like you and Ayano if I’m going to get my winning percentage up ……”

“Shogi is a game of turning the tide.”

Ayano regularly spoke with a deeper meaning behind her words.

Ai solemnly added, “The other day, I was playing against Master and lost to a One Step Checkmate at the very end ……”

“Instant death!”

“Inswant dweth!”

Mio giddily squeaked and Charlette mimicked her.

Ai put her hand to her chest and said, “I just get so anxious when I’m about to win, my heart beats so fast ……”

“Don’t you mean to say,” Mio interjects as she peeks up at Ai’s face from below, “you always get butterflies whenever you sit across the board from Kuzuryu-sensei?”

“N-no I don’t! …… I’m used to it now ……”

“Speaking of Kuzuryu-sensei, why did he come to the association today? He doesn’t have a match or practice group, right?”

“Master didn’t sound like he knew much about it himself …… Something about the chairman’s secretary? She wanted to talk to him ……”

Ayano and Mio froze at the mere mention of the chairman and exchanged concerned glances.

“Did he do something bad?”

“Could it be that, maybe, you living with him is a problem after all?”

“Whaaat?! W-What am I supposed to do then?!”

Ai’s skin was losing color fast, but Mio couldn’t pass up this opportunity and said with a grin.

“I mean, think about it. You two are living like mixed roommates, right?”

Charlette’s puffy cheeks tilted to the side.

“Mwixed woommates?”

“Unmarried men and women living together.”

Ayano’s explanation made Ai’s entire face flush red.

“I-I’m a live-in apprentice! Roommates … we’re not like …… Hehee♡”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks for the juicy story.”

Mio had gotten used to Ai’s quirks in the weeks they had known each other and let that pass.

Speaking calmly, Ayano asked, “All joking aside, why is he here today?”

“A job request, maybe? I mean, he’s the Ryuo. Surely they want him to do commentary for a title match or to be on TV.”

“All commentators for the Meijin Title Match this year have been announced.”

“Then it’s got to be the Mynavi Queen Title Match! The Queen right now is Kuzuryu-sensei’s older sister apprentice, right? He can give more details than anyone else.”

“A good point. As the two have lived under one roof for ten years, they must have many stories and know many secrets about one another.”

“Dragon King and the Queen. It’s like a perfect set!”

“Very true!”

The two girls shared a nod before Ayano asked a sullen Ai, “If I may, Ai. Why are you in such a bad mood?”

“I’m not in a bad mood. I’m not in a bad mood at all!”

Ai puffed out her cheeks like rice cakes and snapped back at Ayano, denying her observation on no uncertain terms.

That’s when Mio saw her chance to put the nail in the coffin.

“Which reminds me. Ai, I saw the two of them eating together at the restaurant downstairs the day you came back to Osaka. They looked like they were having a great time, sitting side-by-side!”

“…… Master darabuchi ……”

Ai’s mood was indeed plummeting from bad to worse.

It was then, at the worst possible time, that Kuzuryu-sensei walked into the classroom.

Finishing up at the office, I came down to the classroom to find my apprentice and her friends having a rather intense conversation.

I’m pretty sure I heard my name come up ……

“Masta!”

The happy little girl trying to climb up my leg is the youngest of the group, Charlette.

“Uwhee?! N-Nothing! We haven’t said a word about you!!”

Ai panics, denying things before I can ask questions.

Why? What’s got her so worked up?

“……Well, it doesn’t really matter.”

“Masta, hug!”

“Okay, okay. Up you go ……”

Charlette pleads, so I pick her up and hold her with both arms.

“Huuug♡”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, her squishy cheek presses up against mine.

It’s so soft and warm, like a little marshmallow. Kids are the best ……♡

Wait, no, no! This is no time to get distracted.

For I was just assigned a next-to-impossible mission only a few moments ago in the office–––.

“Oh, Mio and Ayano are here, too. Can I talk to both of you for a minute?”

“S-Sure!’

“Yes.”

Both girls, the same age as Ai, stand up straight and answer right away. They’re members of the Practice League and in Shogi training, so they show the same respect for me as they would for a teacher.

“Cha’s here twoo?”

“That you are. Okay, would you listen, too?”

“Wei!”

Putting Charlette back down on the floor, I turn to face the four girls at once.

Ai takes it on herself to ask questions for the group.

“Master. What did that secretary want you to do?”

“Yeah. That’s what I was going to talk about ……”

I clear my throat and pause for dramatic effect–––.

“Junior …… Shogi idols?”

Just as I thought, their minds all scrambling to understand a word they’ve never heard like someone’s using a strategy they’d never seen before. I can see it in their eyes …… Well, basically it’s a What are you talking about? kind of look.

Ai says, somewhat coolly, “Master. What’s that?”

“Yeah, well …… There are still some parts that I don’t understand myself, but ……”

Ms. Oga laid out the astonishing plan for me back in the office.

Now I have to explain it all in a way that grade schoolers can understand.

I haven’t even had time to process everything ……

“…… You all know that Shogi’s gotten pretty popular recently, right? People are calling it the Shogi boom.”

“Yes. I’ve seen professional Senseis on TV quite a bit lately,” says Mio right away in her usual ball of energy style. Ayano adds her own insight to further clarify the situation.

“I have heard that Shogi-watching fans are increasing.”

Ai tilts her head, confused.

Considering she’s only been playing Shogi for four months, she probably hasn’t heard that term before.

“Shogi-watching fans?”

“Rather than playing Shogi themselves, watching fans enjoy watching pros play and follow their favorite players’ activities. It’s like how people go to sporting events just to watch. We call them watchers for short.”

“Huh?! What’s so fun about Shogi if you don’t get to play?”

“Actually, watching makes me want to play it even more.”

Ai sounds totally surprised and Mio agrees with her.

These two are the textbook player type …… Of course they’d have that reaction because they’re Shogi playing fans.

Even pros have trouble accepting Shogi fans who never play Shogi. Since those people are in the minority, I think it’s fair to say it’s more fun to play, but–––.

“The fact that they are not the only ones shows that the number of Shogi fans is increasing.”

“Just as Ayano said, there are more ways to enjoy Shogi now than ever.”

I count them on my fingers.

“People spend whole days watching title matches on the Internet, play Shogi on their smartphones, read about it in manga or books–––.”

“Cha learn Showgi in manga!”

Yep, yep.

Born in France, Charlette first found out about Shogi from the manga Naruto. From watching title matches to clearly unrelated things like that, there are many ways to get into Shogi.

For example, the people who grew up watching the anime Hikaru no Go are actually more familiar with how to play Go than they are with Shogi.

Ayano says, “It seems that the number of children in foreign countries who are learning how to play Shogi like Charlette is also increasing. The Shogi boom is happening all over the world!”

She’s right.

Unlike decades ago, the Shogi world is looking up.

It was looking like video games would spell doom for the sport for a while, but some

The driving force behind all of it is, of course, the man who stood at the top of the Shogi world for many years: the Meijin.

That’s not to say Women’s League players who rock their own style and have the looks to pull it off like Naniwa’s Snow White and the Aggressive Archangel aren’t major influences as well.

“Unfortunately, the attention is going to Kanto so we here in Kansai aren’t feeling the boom at all. That’s something the Kansai Association higher-ups are trying to fix.”

Let me explain.

While there is only one Shogi Association, it has two separate branches east and west.

They are the Kanto Shogi Association located in Sendagaya, Tokyo, and the Kansai Association here in Osaka’s Fukushima Ward.

Shogi players have to choose one to serve as their main arena.

Go with the one in Tokyo and become registered as a Kanto player. People who choose to play Osaka become registered as Kansai players. Of course, I’m Kansai.

The thing is that most newspapers and TV stations are in Tokyo. So all the TV spots and newspaper articles usually go to Kanto players.

Which means that Kanto players are the ones getting famous and all the fans on the bandwagon who want to meet big-name players go to Tokyo ……

“Now that I think about it, there weren’t all that many people in the classroom today. Nobody got angry at us for playing Shogi word games,” says Mio as she glances around the room.

Ai, still looking confused, adds, “But, Master. What does that have to do with us becoming idols?”

“Basically, the higher-ups have decided that the best way to get a Kansai Shogi boom going is to form a group of grade-school–aged idols who are all trying to join the Women’s League.”

“Okaaay.”

The lightbulb really isn’t coming on for my apprentice.

Not that it did for me either, but I absolutely cannot let her know that. I keep going, trying to convince myself just as much as the girls.

“Just imagine how much coverage we’d get if a group of cute girls playing Shogi were to get famous. We’d have the TV crews and journalists coming in and out of here all the time. Think of all the publicity!”

“Like how everyone was rushing to see pandas at the zoo!”

“It sounds like a good plan.”

Everything clicks for Mio and Ayano in the blink of an eye.

Grade schoolers sure are sharp these days ……

“……… The higher-ups have already made up their minds. Please ……”

It takes everything I have to get those words out.

The discussion in the office …… No, that wasn’t a discussion. More like a lecture before receiving orders.

Ms. Oga knows so much about the association’s inner workings that people are actually scared of her enough to call her the Shadow Don.

With the stockpile of secrets she’s built up over the past few years as a shield, no one can go against that woman ……

Despite all my fears, the girls seem pretty receptive to the idea.

“Well, we’re already trying to join the Women’s League, right? Why not? Let’s try!”

“I have no objections.”

“I will too, if that’s what Master wants me to do ……”

“Cha’ll be an idowu!”

“Thank you ……! Everyone, thank you ……!”

I’m all tears at this point.

All the relief and gratitude flooding through me blocks my train of thought, so Mio took it from there.

“Well then, we’d better figure this out first!”

“Figure what out?” asks Ayano with an inquisitive look, but Mio answers like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Our name! Our unit needs a name! Nothing can start without a name, right?! Don’t you think so, Charlette?”

“Wei!”

Mio nods at Charlette before turning to me with sparkles in her eyes and says, “Kuzuryu-sensei! Does our unit already have a name?!”

“W-Well …… Yeah, there is already one in place, but ……”

I trail off.

I’m worried that telling these girls what the office came up with for the group name might kill their enthusiasm.

Ai timidly speaks up.

“It’s something like SOG81, right?!”

“It’s …… Uh, a bit more, you know … dignified I guess.”

“Dignified ……? Ah! Something like GOD 8 Four Pawn, isn’t it?!”

“Not quite like that–––.”

She’s right that the defender playing 8 Four Pawn, a strategy called the King’s Fist, is a dignified strategy. As for the GOD part, no comment.

Then again, the idea of dignified when it comes to Shogi strategies is extremely abstract and there wouldn’t be enough pages in the world to try and explain it in further detail so I’m just going to let that pass.

“So, perhaps we are Team Bishop Exchange 4th File Rook?”

“Oh! Static Rook Party and Mio and Friends!”

“I-It’s got …… more to do with Kansai.”

Ayano, who plays Ranging Rook strategies, and Mio, a member of the Static Rook party, each suggest names they would like, but unfortunately neither are right.

The key word here is Kansai.

Charlette comes up to me and starts tugging on my shirt as if asking for a clue to a brainteaser.

“Kanshy?”

“A unit name that has to do with Shogi, is dignified, and also involves Kansai? Hmm ……”

Mio is thinking so hard that her head tilts all the way down to her shoulder, pinning hair in place.

Then.

Mumble …… Ai says something.

“……… Glico Gleaming Girls …”

“Hey!”

We can’t use that?!

“Uwhee?! D-Did I say something strange?”

“I don’t know why, but I just had to point it out!”

All of the girls take shots at Ai when all she was trying to do was innocently try to awaken Kansai Shogi’s first legendary unit.

“Come on, Kuzuryuu-sensei! What’s our name?! Just tell us, please!”

Mio breaks through the awkward vibe.

She’s right. There’s no point drawing it out any longer.

“…… Your group name will be ……”

“Please be good, please be good ……!”

With all their piercing gazes locked onto me, I tell the grade schoolers.

“Uhh ……?”

Uh-huh. Yep.

That’s the same reaction I had.

“Naniwa Street …… As in the street the association is on?”

“It’s a play on words, with an actual street and way.”

No light bulbs are flickering on for Mio and Ayano, either. Charlette seems to be having trouble understanding the words themselves, so she doesn’t know what to say.

Ai asks another question to try and figure things out.

“Master. Why was that name chosen?”

“…… The higher-ups made the decision, not me.”

I don’t think it’s a good name at all to tell the truth.

But what can I do about it? I was told that’s the name, so that’s what we’re going to go with!

“You can’t win against authority!”

Mio hits the nail right on the head.

“Well, I’m sure we all have our own ideas, but …… But! Let’s do our best for Kansai Shogi!”

“Yeah!”

Well said!

We might have empty piece stands when it comes to being idols, but …… That doesn’t mean the pieces we have can’t move forward. Things will work out as long as we all work together!

I pose a question to everyone.

“So, do any of you have any talents?”

“Shogi.”

“Shogi.”

“I can play Shogi.”

“Yes. That’s true. I should’ve figured.”

Shogi is all these girls do.

“Cha can do Wanging Wook!”

“And that’s great. But, that’s also Shogi.”

“Ooh?”

Charlette’s attempt at a self-intro falls flat and now she looks a bit sad.

That’s when it happens.

“Master ……”

Ai speaks up, sounding like she put a lot of thought into this.

“Actually …… I can do impressions!”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!”

Who knew this girl had a hidden talent like that?! I sure didn’t!

“Hey-hey! You did grow up in an inn!”

“I would love to see your funniest impression, Ai!”

Mio and Ayano start slowly clapping in unison.

What Mio said is true, Ai grew up as the only daughter at a Japanese-style inn with an onsen hot spring. She’s in line to take over as the manager. And her mother and current manager was strict with her so she could become just that.

There’s a pretty good chance she taught her how to entertain as well ……!

“Okay …… A-hem. Here I go!”

“Yaaay!”

Ai clears her throat and starts getting into it. The tension is building up and we can’t wait!

“I’ll do an impression!”

“Yaaay!”

“A Shogi Wars impression!”

“Yaaay!”

“Craaab Castle!”

“……”

All of us watching her are at a loss for words like she just splashed us with cold water.

The Crab Castle is a strategy …… And that pose has some impact, but ……

“What’s wrong?”

My (very confident) apprentice is standing there with her hands over her head making scissors with her fingers like an actual crab and I waste no time encouraging her.

“So cute! Full score!!”

“Squee♡ I love you, Master!”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! Why don’t we stop by Dohtonbori to eat some crab on the way home?!”

“Crwabby!”

My little crab is adorable. I could just eat her up.

“Cha, mwitten cwab!”

Charlette strikes the same crab pose before taking hold of my leg. I’ll go bankrupt buying mitten crab. But, yeah, they’re cute, so I’ll treat everyone!

Mio and Ayano seem a lot less enthusiastic and say coldly, “Enough with the Master-apprentice comedy routine. We need to find real talents other than Shogi if we are going to make it as idols.”

“I agree. Let’s be serious.”

“Huh?! B-But, I was being serious ……”

Ai is genuinely shocked. Looks like she needs to increase her repertoire.

Several ideas came up about it.

Unfortunately, all of us really only know the ins and outs of Shogi. Since 99 percent of our brains are devoted to it, being asked to come up with something else out of the blue is very hard.

Just when we were all out of ideas, “You know? Wouldn’t the fastest way to figure out how to become an idol be asking a real one?” says a frustrated Mio, on the verge of giving up like a bored kid.

Heh! Heh! Heh!

Reading what will happen next is what a pro Shogi player like me does.

I saw this coming.

Which is why I prepared an ace in the hole ……! All the conversation up to this point was just to stall for time ……!!

“I invited a special guest to speak with all the members of Naniwa Suji Shogi Street!”

“Ohhh!”

“When it comes to Shogi idols, she’s the one!”

I yell and point to the doorway where the person who sent me a message saying, “I’m here,” not two minutes ago should come through at any second.

“Naniwa’s Snow White, Ginko Sora-dual title! Right this way please!”

“…………… Thank you.”

And, with perfect timing, Big Sis makes her entrance.

Unsure why everyone’s so excited, she looks a little scared. Well, I didn’t exactly say why I wanted her to come.

“The Queen is here!”

“Genuine! A genuine idol is right in front of us!”

These girls can’t handle any more excitement.

Mio and Ayano are thrilled to meet the double Women’s Title–holding player they admire so much.

To think they were running on fumes just a second before she got here ……

“You’re the best, Big Sis! Naniwa’s Snow White never lets me down! You can ensnare the hearts of grade schoolers just by showing up!!”

Big Sis hides half her face behind her fan and says, “…… I’ve never once referred to myself as Naniwa’s Snow White or an idol at any time ……”

“Did everyone hear that?! This is what I’m talking about! What Sora-sensei is saying is that idols don’t have to do anything to make other people believe they’re special! Wow, the real ones feel different. They’re in a whole league of their own.”

“This is annoying, so can I go?”

“Come on, Big Sis, can’t you take a jok–––?”

“Please, go right ahead. You can go anywhere you want, we don’t mind at all.”

Before I could pacify Big Sis, my apprentice Ai jumps in.

Tsk! Big Sis snaps her tongue and stares down at her with the chilling glare that has to be somewhere around absolute zero and spits, “…… Run along, Pipsqueak.”

“Why would I, Auntie?”

Ai, don’t pick a fight!!

“Okay, okay, okay, let’s just cool our jets. Both of you need to respect boundaries and give each other space, okay? Get too close and you’ll explode.”

“Huh? What are you talking about, Yaichi? I don’t even see Pipsqueak around.”

Not to be outdone, Ai fires right back.

“You’re the one who shouldn’t get too close to Auntie, Master!! You’re forbidden to get within 200 meters of her!”

“How would I play against her?!”

“You don’t need to!”

Watching our Shogi family squabble from a safe distance, each member of the Grade School Practice Group has their own thoughts.

“…… You know something? Watching Ai stand right up to Sora-sensei like this makes me think beating her in a match is hopeless ……,” Mio remarks.

“She certainly has what it takes to be a competitor,” adds Ayano.

“Cha, Cha wants to pway Shogi with the Quween!” Charlette, happy to see Big Sis for the first time in a while, says with glee.

I tell her as gently as possible, “Now Charlette, the Queen won’t be playing Shogi today. She’s here to teach you how to sing and dance.”

“Wanna sing!”

Now she’s even more excited.

Even more annoyed, Big Sis says, “What? I won’t sing, ever.”

“The higher-ups already decided ……”

“Do you even have a song ready? Where are we going to perform?”

“Well, the projected plan they gave me has us performing our debut song on national TV on the New Year’s show Kohaku, but ……”

“Going to have them show off their lungs by singing Oushou King at some neighborhood singing competition, are you?” says Big Sis, almost snickering through her nose.

By the way, that song is based on a Shogi player who lived here in Kansai. It was a smash hit back in the day.

Many people say it helped promote the sport by telling the story of all the hardships that he and his wife faced, but the song turns so dark in some places that others say it hurt Shogi’s image rather than helped.

…… Well, idols wouldn’t sing it anyway.

In other words, Big Sis is making fun of me. Just because I’m being too modest …… Just because Shogi fans like her more …… Come on, Big Sis, put yourself in my shoes why don’t you ……?!

While the pain I’m in gets completely ignored, “I think it’d be more fun to perform on Namba Grand Kagetsu’s stage rather than on TV at Kohaku,” (says Mio).

“Shogi comedy sounds like fun,” Ayano agrees.

Seems like Mio and Ayano would rather form a comedy duo than sing. There’s a comedy boom going on, too. I don’t blame them.

“Want to give it a shot?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

“I’m Miiiio!”

“Ayano.”

“And together we are–––.”

“Mirror Match!”

Okay, here we go ……

“Sketch: Ranging Rook.”

As soon as Ayano finishes announcing the title, Mio puts her hands together like offering up a prayer and says, “Time to be worldly! I’m going to be worldly today! …… Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap!”

“You’re the match recorder!”

………………

“Well?” asks Mio expectantly.

“Moving on, we need to figure out what to do for the debut song–––.”

“What?! Not even a giggle?!” Mio interrupts me.

I was trying to be nice and let that slide on by like it never happened, but Mio seems to think I ignored the joke she put her heart and soul into making. Ah, kids ……

“Cha? Cha didn’t get it ……”

“Basically, it’s funny because the title Ranging Rook and using the word worldly makes the audience to think of a player, but it turns out to be the match recorder doing a piece flip. Though I’m not sure if I’m right.”

“??? Ohh?”

Charlette is still looking confused as ever and Ai’s explanation was total overkill. My apprentice is starting to scare me.

Even Ayano says, “It appears that the road to comedy stardom is even harsher than Shogi ……!” with a tremor in her voice.

Well, we figured out that idols need to have a song!

“We can come up with lyrics ourselves. It’s the music that’s a problem,” I say, crossing my arms and giving it some thought before bringing up my idea.

“Big Sis, as Naniwa’s Snow White, do you think you could get in contact with Naniwa’s Mozart?”

“Why do I have to be the one to ask Taro K-sensei? I’ve never met him.”

“You’ve both got the Naniwa part ……”

“Want your head on a pike?”

Taro K has served as a consultant for many years on the hit late-night show Detective! Night Scoop! here in Kansai. I was thinking that if he would be willing to write some music for us, that alone would be enough publicity to draw a crowd ……

“All right, then. We’ll plan on not having a song–––.”

“Whaaat?! How can we be idols without a song?!”

“Without one, we are simply elementary school students who play Shogi ……”

Mio is obviously against the idea and Ayano gets right to the heart of the matter.

“What do you want me to do about it? Asking a pro to write will cost lots of money. The Kansai Association doesn’t have the kind of money Kanto has to work with ……,” I trail off.

“Ai. Work your magic, work your magic.”

Mio nudges Ai’s side with her elbow and whispers in her ear.

My apprentice then looks at me and says like a cute little kitten, “Master. I wanna sing♡”

“Then I guess there’s no choice. I’ll use the 5 million yen I won from the Ryuo Title Match to–––.”

“Wake up.”

Smack!

Big Sis whacks the back of my head with her fan just as I was reaching for my wallet.

“Ow! W-What was that for, Big Sis?!”

“Spoiling her.”

“Huuuh? How so? I’ll have you know I’m very strict with her. Right, Ai?”

“Yes! Master is very, very strict!”

“See?”

“But, he’s also the nicest in the world!!”

“My apprentice is the most respectful in the world!!!”

“Ehehe♡”

I pick up my apprentice and spin her around for everyone in the classroom to see. She holds her arms out like an airplane, loving every second.

I’ve been working her as hard as possible while being scared she might hate me for it, but …… I’m so glad she understands how I feel! I’m so happy! There’s nothing …… to be scared of anymore ……!!

As for Big Sis, “Stupid Yaichi …… You are an embarrassment to the whole Shogi family …………… Drop dead ……”

Apparently, she’s jealous of the Kuzuryu Shogi Family’s strong bonds. Good grief.

Still up in the air in my grasp, Ai tilts her head and asks, “So, what are we going to do for our debut song?”

“Thinking about it logically, we’d never finish one in time even if we started writing it now. The debut stage is already booked for Sunday.”

“That’s tomorrow!”

Mio lets out the biggest squeal of surprise yet today as Ayano turns to me so fast her glasses nearly fly off her face to ask, “Wh-why did you agree to such a demanding schedule?!”

“The higher-ups made the call ……”

“Yaichi, stop using that as an excuse for anything and everything.”

Ignoring Big Sis’s comment for the time being.

“The problem is, how are we going to get people to come?”

“M-Master …… I think there are plenty more problems than that ……”

Even with my precious apprentice taking shots at me in the most hopeless of situations, I’m not giving up.

After all, I am the Dragon King Ryuo, Yaichi Kuzuryu.

Carrying on the Kansai tradition of gritty, dragged through the mud but never say die Shogi, I’m one man who doesn’t throw in the towel ……!

“First off, we’ll add special coupons to the concert tickets–––.”

“For a handshake, meet and greet event?”

“Nah, for an instructional match. We are trying to increase the number of Shogi fans, remember?”

After answering Mio’s question, I hear.

“Just how many matches must we play ……?”

Ayano’s face goes pale.

“I’ll just die from being dead-tired if 1,000 people show up ……”

Mio’s already tired as it is.

Thinking I’ll put their fears to rest, I recount my own experience.

“Well, no one would expect you to play against 1,000 people. Big Sis and I played against 500 at once a while back and that was rough to say the least.”

“500 at the same time?!”

“How did you line up that many boards?!”

Memories she’d rather not relive going through her head, Big Sis explains.

“Boards were set up in a square at the Osaka Castle Hall. Yaichi and I were on the inside, running from board to board.”

“Playing that much would certainly have cracked your fingernails ……”

“Fingernails don’t crack.”

Hearing that, Ai looks up at Big Sis and says. “Ohh? So then, it wasn’t as bad as you’re making it sound?”

“Knees, however, do crack ……”

“Gaaaaaaasp!”

Grade schoolers, terrified.

“I rarely ever get any exercise, but I ran around as fast as I could so much that day that my kneecaps got stress fractures …… What I would’ve given to mount all the organizers’ heads on pikes ……”

“That wasn’t Shogi, but a whole new kind of extreme sport ……”

Instructional matches, especially simultaneous ones are a battle of endurance.

More often than not, the body gives out before the brain ……

“But, yeah, no one would put grade schoolers like you through hell like that. There won’t even be enough room for 1,000 people anyway.”

“Enough room where?”

“Your debut concert as Naniwa Suji Shogi Street will be right here in the Kansai Association’s second-floor classroom on the very stage where we keep the big board!”

“That’s tiny!!”

“Right over there?!”

I nod enthusiastically at Mio and Ai’s stunned looks. Enthusiasm is all I’ve got left.

“Yes. Your first stage is waiting right there. The four of you being up there at the same time will be a bit of a squeeze, so keep the dancing to a minimum, okay?”

“We won’t be allowed to move during our debut concert as idols ……?”

“Can’t have you running into each other and falling off stage, right? There will be a railing, but ……”

After hearing my answer to Ayano’s question, I guess Big Sis must’ve felt sorry for her because very sympathetically she says, “Having railings at your first concert, that’s certainly something new ……”

Just above a groan.

Ai stares at the stage and adds with a tremble of fear.

“Um …… Master? Don’t you think the commentary space is too small ……?”

“What are you talking about? 30 people can fit on that stage during match title commentary.”

Mio takes my side.

“Add in the classroom space, and 100 people would probably fit.”

“Ah, that’s a no go. The classroom will be open as usual.”

“Wha?”

Ai and Ayano are getting paler by the moment behind Mio.

“A live concert right next to customers playing Shogi ……”

“What a horrible distraction ……”

“An instruction match comes with the ticket. We need a place to play.”

Big Sis, who’s been snapping her fan open and shut during the conversation, speaks up.

“What about goods? If you’re going to have an event, why not make as much money as possible?”

That’s exactly why Big Sis, a current Sub League member, is involved in organizing association events.

We do need to have goods ready.

With a little luck, we could make several times more money off the gift shop than from selling tickets.

“Alright, we’ll have all the members sign autographs beforehand …… I could add some of my signed fans as well. There are plenty of them in stock.”

“Aren’t your fans already on sale, Kuzuryu-sensei?”

“They don’t sell. One of the shop workers said that yours are the worst-selling fans signed by a title holder ever with his head in his hands.”

Ai’s hand shoots into the air as soon as Ayano finishes her explanation.

“I’ll buy a full box!”

“I truly have the kindest, most well-mannered apprentice ever!”

Big Sis closes her fan and starts spinning it between her fingers as she asks Ai, “And where are you planning on keeping them?”

“At Master’s apartment, why?” my apprentice answers with a grin.

Mio and Ayano flinch at the same time.

“They’re back home!”

“That would not qualify as a sale ……”

“It’s a recall.”

Humph! Big Sis snorts her nose. I just know she’s looking down on me because her fans sell out the moment they reach the shelves. She can’t make enough to meet demand.

“Cha! Cha want Masta’s fwan!” says Charlette, happily bouncing up and down. The kind heart of a six-year-old makes me happy ……

I go ahead and ask without a second thought, “You’re such a good girl, Charlette. Would you be mine?”

“Oui!”

“No, Master,” Ai says with a smile. She didn’t miss a beat.

Sensing the immediate need to appease my apprentice to dispel the black aura surrounding her, I take back what I just said.

“Nah, that was just a joke–––.”

“That’s still a no, okay?”

“…… Yes.”

Sorry, part of me was serious. I’ll get rid of that part …… I promise ……

“So, what are you going to have them do Yaichi? Sing? No singing?”

“How about we go to a karaoke place right now and practice some popular songs?”

“I have tutoring tonight,” says Mio.

“Cha, Cha’s gwonna sing Momotawo!”

“I-I can sing the songs from chorus at school, but …… I’m not very good ……,” says each of the girls in turn, but.

“………… No, that won’t be necessary,” I answer them.

Piece stands are empty, and we don’t have time to practice singing or dancing. Things look bleak.

But, I’ve come back from the brink enough times to become the Ryuo!

I have just come up with a way to turn the tides and make this production a success.

“Master? Do you have an idea ……?”

“It’s true that Ms. Oga ordered me to produce a junior Shogi idol performance and to pursue a spot on this year’s Kohaku with their debut song ………… However!”

It’s time to unveil my come-from-behind grand slam!!

“A performance doesn’t necessarily mean a song. We will perform–––a match!!”

The association classroom is crammed full of more people than I was expecting.

Crammed full might not be the best way to put it …… It’s a crowd of elderly people who came to play Shogi only to find that there was a special event going on and they decided to pull up chairs and wait.

Alright. These numbers are passable.

–––Now all we have to do is make them happy they came ……

Watching Naniwa Suji Shogi Street from the doorway that leads to the emergency exit stairwell off to the side of the stage, my nerves start getting to me. Will this generation know what idols are?

Ai, a bit more dressed up than usual, is standing in the middle of the stage and greets the customers.

“H-Hello everyone!”

That starts the sequence.

“We are!”

“Junior Shogi idols!”

“Nawiwa Shwogi Stweet!”

The girls say their parts one after another.

Then a small scattering of applause comes from the audience.

…… Why don’t old guys know when to clap ……?

It’s hard to tell if they’re enjoying themselves or not. This delay is terrifying. The girls might have to press forward no matter what the audience’s reaction is ……

For better or worse, Ai seems so nervous that she’s not looking at them at all.

“T-Today …… Thank you so much for coming to our debut performance!”

Charging through the script up to that point, she shouts, “Now please enjoy ten-second blind Shogi!”

“Please follow along!!”

Tadada♪

Timed up with music I’ve heard somewhere before–––.

“Welcome to the association classroom. I, Ginko Sora, will be providing commentary. Please take some time out of your Sunday to enjoy a contest of skills with us.”

Big Sis appears at the side of the big board greeting the audience in a way I’ve heard somewhere before as well.

First up, Ai’s introduction.

“On offense is Miss Ai Hinatsuru. Apprentice to Yaichi Kuzuryu-ryuo, she currently ranks E-2 in the Practice League and is a member of class 4-3 at her elementary school. Particularly good at Shogi puzzles, her ability to checkmate and avoid being checkmated far exceeds her peers. Miss Hinatsuru is a fresh face in Kansai with great potential.”

Next, she introduces Mio.

“Her opponent today will be Miss Mio Mizukoshi on defense. Apprentice to Kazurou Kuresaka 7-dan, she ranks E-1 in the Practice League and is also a member of class 4-3 in elementary school. She is an all-rounder, capable of playing both Static Rook and Ranging Rook. In fact, she and Miss Hinatsuru are classmates at the same school.”

Big Sis’s introduction moves along swimmingly until she wraps it up.

“These two will be facing each other today. Please enjoy yourself and stay to find out who will win.”

A quick bow, and Big Sis moves to the right side of the big board.

“Now, allow me to introduce today’s analyst, Yaichi Kuzuryu-ryuo. Sensei, welcome to the stage.”

That’s my cue.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Taking my place on the left side of the big board, I look Big Sis in the eyes as we start set up to do analysis.

“Today’s offender, Miss Hinatsuru, is your apprentice, correct?”

“Yes. Fate recently brought her to me, and I took her under my wing.”

“What is your impression of her?”

“Hmm. Well, in one word, cute.”

“…… Lolicon.”

“Huh? Did you just call me a lolicon?”

“I did not.”

I’m pretty sure she did ……

I know there’s nothing like that in the script. Big Sis is already stirring up trouble.

While I’m worried about how bad things will get, trying to put a stop to her will bring this event to a grinding halt. My only choice is to work some warnings into the conversation.

“What are your impressions of the defender, Miss Mizukoshi?”

“Mio is the group’s leader. Always smiling, she’s the one who makes everyone feel at home whenever the girls have a practice session at my apartment. She’s pretty cute, too.”

“Adding to your collection, I see ……”

“Say what?!”

Big Sis presses forward, making her own additions to the script all without losing her radiant smile.

“What do you expect to see between these two during the match today?”

“Good question. They both are basically Static Rook party members, so I think they’ll stick to the strategies they know best considering they’ll be playing blind Shogi.”

“Yagura, Bishop Exchange, Side Pawn Capture or perhaps Double Wing Attack …… Which do you think we’ll see?”

“Well, Double Wing Attack would be fun to watch. Then again, that’s what I like to play. Hahaha!”

Blind Shogi puts a lot of pressure on the players but doesn’t require much at all from the commentators. That’s why we can take it easy and laugh like this. Grade schoolers are playing, so there are bound to be tons of mistakes (like losing track of pieces and whatnot). Who knows: this kind of thing might catch on.

Big Sis nods and continues.

“Let’s hear a quick word from the players before getting started. First, the offender Miss Hinatsuru. Please tell us your thoughts on Miss Mizukoshi and how you plan to play.”

“Uh, um!”

Ai is trembling like mad.

“Mio …… Ah! M-Miss Mizu! M-Mizukoshi is the first friend I ever made at the association! And, um …… I-I’ll …… I’ll be using Static Rook!”

“Do you think you’ll win today?”

“I’m nervous with Master watching like this, but I’ll do my best …… to make him proud of me!”

She stuttered her way through it, but Ai manages to finish the interview.

Then, Big Sis turns back to me and says in a much icier tone than before, “…… There you have it. What do you have to say, Sensei?”

“Yep. Isn’t she cute?”

“Drop dead kiddy-lover.”

“Huh?!”

“Moving on, let’s hear from the defender, Miss Mizukoshi. Would you tell us your impression of Miss Hinatsuru?”

“Of Ai? She’s real strong! Early game, middle, late, she’s good at all of them. But, I won’t lose ……”

“Any aspirations for today’s match?”

“Umm, pieces! …… I’ll show everyone how I can make the pieces come alive!” says Mio, clearly proud of herself for making it to the end of the interview.

“…… Is her goal. What do you think, Sensei?”

“A bit unconventional, but that fits with how Kansai players play, don’t you think?”

“She may have bit her tongue a little.”

“Yep. It would’ve been a cunning move if she did it on purpose, but Mio can be a little spacey. So, it was just adorable!”

“Loli-King ……”

“Hey?!”

“Providing the countdowns today are Miss Ayano Sadatou and Miss Charlette Isior. If you please.”

“An earlier piece flip determined Miss Hinatsuru will make the first move. There is no waiting time. Each player must make a move within 10 seconds.”

“You wose if time up!”

Ayano is calm and focused but Charlette is having so much fun she can barely contain herself. It’s like she can’t wait to hit that chess clock. Relax, okay ……?

Ai and Mio put on blindfolds and get in the zone.

Checking to make sure everyone is ready, Ayano starts the match.

“Please begin.”

“Ready when you are!”

Ai and Mio exchange a quick greeting.

Now! It’s time for the show!!

With all of us working together, we can make this into the best performance ever!!

“2 Six Pawn.”

“8 Four Pawn.”

“2 Five Pawn.”

“8 Five Pawn.”

“7 Eight Gold.”

“3 Two Gold.”

“2 Four Pawn.”

“Take with Pawn.”

“Take with Rook.”

“2 Three Pawn.”

“2 Six Rook.”

“7 Two Silver.”

“3 Eight Silver.”

“6 Four Pawn.”

“7 Six Pawn.”

“8 Six Pawn.”

…………………… Yeah.

It’s quiet in here. This is Shogi, after all.

And, since it’s blind Shogi, both players can’t play if they can’t hear what the other one says.

So, naturally, the audience is being careful not to make a sound ……

Taking it a step further, there aren’t any snaps or clicks because there aren’t any pieces …… There’s nothing interesting from a visual standpoint either because it’s just two blindfolded girls looking down into their laps and sitting in chairs. I’m not sure if this surreal sight counts as a performance at all …… My confidence as the producer is nothing more than ground dust at this point …… But.

“Sensei, if you will.”

“Oh, right.”

Big Sis pulls me out of my train of thought, and I focus on the big board. I have to move the pieces to catch up to where they are in the match.

I hear Ai and Mio say, “Take with Pawn” and “Take with Rook” as I was doing that. Exchanging Pawns in front of the Rook means this match could get pretty intense.

Working with Big Sis, we get the big board caught up to where the girls are and I say, “Looks like we have a Double Wing Attack.”

“Your favorite strategy ……”

“T-That’s right.”

Offensive Double Wing Attack is my strategy of choice and also how my first match with Ai went.

There are some players who purposely choose to use strategies the match commentator is good at during public matches like this one.

Commentators can’t add meaningful insight for strategies they don’t use themselves, so those players are doing the commentator a favor and helping them entertain the audience. Now, these two girls have grown up enough to do the same thing ……

“8 Seven Pawn.”

“8 Two Rook.”

“3 Six Pawn.”

“3 Four Pawn.”

“5 Eight King.”

“6 Three Silver.”

I was only reveling in my apprentice’s kindness for a few seconds, but the match charges on.

“Their pace is surprisingly fast.”

“For sure.”

Big Sis and I are so busy updating the big board that there’s no time for commentary or analysis.

“3 Five Pawn.”

“Take with Pawn.”

“3 Seven Sliver.”

The two say their moves back and forth using no time at all, almost like their sizing each other up in an intense stare down. Plenty of people in the audience look absolutely stunned that the girls can keep track of all this information at once–––.

“Everything so far has been standard.”

“So they don’t have to think before making moves.”

The moment Big Sis adds that tidbit.

“………………”

Mio, who’d been racing through moves up to this point, pauses to think for the first time. Why ……?

“Hm? She must have something in mind.”

“Fibe, six, seben, eit–––.”

My voice overlaps with Charlette’s countdown.

Then, Mio yells her next move with some extra oomph.

“8 Eight Bishop Promotes!”

“Whoa!!”

That move is so decisive that it caught me, the analyst, by surprise!

Ai, cautiously, “…… Take with Silver.”

“4 Two Silver!”

“Wohaa ……!”

“Quit making sounds and start providing analysis, Kuzuryu-loli-king,” Big Sis snaps at me before commenting on Mio’s sequence. She’s impressed, too, by the sound of it.

“She initiated a Bishop Exchange on defense all of a sudden ……”

“She did. The 4 Two Silver was particularly creative. She must have prepared that one at home getting ready for the match.”

I figured Ai would use the Double Wing, but ……

It turns out Mio was expecting the same thing and came up with this sequence ahead of time!

“3 Four Pawn.”

Mio tries to keep Ai on edge by saying her move as calmly as possible.

But, she’s not letting up at all, piling on the pressure like a shark smelling blood in the water.

“4 Four Pawn.”

“4 Six Silver.”

“5 Four Silver.”

“…… 7 Seven ……… Silver.”

Ai is struggling.

“Does this mean that Miss Mizukoshi goaded Miss Hinatsuru into using her own favorite strategy?”

“It certainly looks that way. That move puts the Defender in a favorable position.”

Mio’s voice is bubbling over with energy.

“4 Three Silver Forward.”

“6 Six Silver.”

“3 Four Silver!”

“7 Seven Knight.”

“5 Two Gold.”

“5 Five Silver Right.”

“4 Three Silver Right.”

“7 Five Silver.”

Ai is trying to break out of the sticky situation by gathering pieces into a strong push.

She’s probably thinking that having a clear mental Shogi board will give her an advantage, the more complicated the formations get.

But–––.

“Miss Hinatsuru has taken the offensive.”

“Not quite …… Mio is letting her attack.”

I don’t think this attack will hit home.

Mio must not think so either because she is playing like she’s setting up for something else ……

“4 Two King.”

“3 Eight Gold.”

“5 Four Pawn!”

“4 Four Silver.”

“Take with Silver.”

“……”

Ai’s hand, or should I say her voice, stops.

She’s racking her brain to find the decisive move she so desperately needs.

“Five, six, seven–––.”

Ayano’s countdown puts Ai under even more pressure to find the answer. On a side note, the two girls are splitting the countdown job with Charlette doing it for Mio and Ayano doing the same for Ai.

“7 One Bishop.”

Big Sis makes a soft gasp and says, “She sent in her Bishop.”

“It looks like she’s going to exchange it for the Rook, but that’s a risky move.”

Just as I said.

“6 Two Rook.”

Mio didn’t seem anxious at all as she initiated the exchange herself.

Then, just like that–––

“Take with Bishop Promote.”

“Take with Gold.”

“7 One Rook.”

“4 Six Pawn!”

“Agh?!!” Ai screams.

Mio’s counterpunch landed beautifully.

But there should be more where that came from.

“That was a very strong move, but an even stronger one is on the way. As to where she’s going play that Bishop–––.”

Now it’s my turn to show my skills as an analyst.

Glancing at Big Sis, I say.

“If I don’t get it right, I’ll …… give up on you, Ginko!”

“Wh-What are you talking about? ……… Idiot ……”

“Master, you dara!!”

Commentator and player are angry at me.

Hmm. This may be just an event, but maybe I pushed the envelope a little too far ……?

Well, my joke may have fallen flat, but my prediction comes true.

“1 Four Bishop!” Mio declares with gusto.

Her newly deployed Bishop leaves Ai numb.

“Ah?! Agh ……”

“That move there puts the defender at a distinct advantage. Wow, that attack was razor-sharp.”

My apprentice is being pushed up against the ropes, but Mio deserves some praise for that one.

“Five, six, seven, eight, nine.”

“4 Eight Pawn!” Ai shouts, just barely getting it out in time.

“4 Six Pawn.”

Unfortunately, Mio’s calm, instantaneous response has her biting her lip trying to endure the pressure.

“Ta …… Take with …… Rook.”

“Deploy 4 Five Silver.”

The formation is in Mio’s favor.

As long as she keeps driving Ai back into a corner, victory is hers for the taking.

An important part of an analyst’s job is to keep the audience entertained even when the match isn’t interesting anymore.

Big Sis asks me, “I believe you mentioned earlier that the strategy was prepared at home, did you not?”

“I did.”

“And Miss Hinatsuru lives with you, correct Kuzuryu-sensei?”

“Yes. She does.”

I nod without a second thought. Meanwhile, Ai is desperately trying to save her Rook.

“1 Six Rook ……”

“4 Six Pawn.”

“……… 1 Four Rook.”

“4 Seven Pawn Promote.”

“Take with Pawn.”

Maybe it’s because she’s already given up, but Ai calls out her moves one after another. Mio, on the other hand, is starting to use more time to think. She must be searching for checkmate.

“What is your normal practice routine?”

“At home?”

I try to figure out exactly what Big Sis is asking.

Just like Mio, I take a moment or two to think. Making decisions is hard when you’ve got several ways to win at once.

“Hmm ……”

“Fibe, six, seben, eit.”

“Deploy 3 One Gold!”

“…… 3 Four Rook!”

“Huh?! …… Take with Silver?”

“We train mainly by playing matches, but Ai doesn’t know the standards very well yet. So the Shogi ends up strange, or you could say twisted, I guess.”

That same Ai has started rocking back and forth while whispering, “…… Here, here, here, herehereherehereherehere ……” under her breath.

It’s a habit she’s picked up when she’s really focused.

“1 One Dragon.”

“2 Eight Rook!”

“6 Nine King.”

“2 Nine Rook Promotes!”

“5 Nine Lance.”

“5 Five Knight!”

“3 Three Pawn!”

“Huuh?!! Uh, uhh …… Take with Silver?”

“5 Six Bishop.”

“4 Five Bishop!”

“Take with Bishop.”

“4 Seven Knight does not promote.”

“7 Nine King.”

Ai’s slippery sequence prevents Mio from finding the finishing blow.

Big Sis gives me a satisfied nod.

“Oh, I see. The twisted Shogi you’re so good at, right Sensei?”

“Well, Golds and the King often rise up to the fourth row in our matches, but yes.”

“And, you use such twisted techniques with your King and Golds raised against a little girl.”

“Hey, hey, hold up, Big Sis! You’ll give someone the wrong idea, saying things like that!”

“The wrong idea? Heh! Hardly a claim that someone living with a girl in elementary school can make.”

I don’t like where this is headed!!

“Umm ……”

“Fibe, six, seb–––.”

“4 Five Silver.”

“8 Eight King.”

“……!”

“Fibe, six, seben, eit, ni–––.”

“5 Nine Knight Promotes!”

Charlette is counting down a lot now more than she was before. In other words, Mio is using every last second she has to think things through.

Is she against the ropes ……? Just like me ……

“I-I’m talking about Shogi, not grade school girls!”

“What’s this, Yaichi? Running away?”

“Huh? Is Ai making a comeback?”

Rather than respond to Big Sis, I comment on something strange happening on the board.

What’s more, Ai was squirming in pain only a few minutes ago but now she’s sitting up straight and tall.

“6 Four Silver.”

“Uh, um? …… Uh, 2 Two Silver!”

“4 Four Silver.”

“Uhhh ……? Wh-Why would? Huh ……?”

Sensing something’s up, Mio shudders in disbelief. What what? This is strange.

She’s got the look of someone more focused on Where did I go wrong? than What move should I play next? Not a good sign for someone playing ten-second Shogi.

“Ummm, ummm …………”

“Fibe, six, seben, eit, nin–––.”

Right as Charlette was saying nine, the very last instant she could make her move.

“Huh?”

Surprised, Ai jumps to her feet.

“She didn’t!”

“She did, she really did.”

Big Sis and I are stunned. We even forgot we were on stage.

Can you blame us? This is …………

“Huh?! Uhhhh?!!”

Mio doesn’t understand what just happened, so Ai explains it to her as gently as she can.

“………… Mio, that’s Two Pawn ……”

“Agh! Sorry! I lost!”

She throws in the towel the second she realizes what she’s done.

Yes.

The last move she called out put two Pawns in the same column: Two Pawn–––she broke the rule and forfeited the match.

Ayano, staying calm, says in a very clear voice, “…… This match has ended. The offender has claimed victory in 90 moves.”

This is the part when the camera would be getting a close-up of my apprentice and the words spelling out Winner: Ai Hinatsuru if the match were being broadcast on one of the Sunday Shogi TV shows.

As for Mio the defeated–––.

“Awhh ……………… Why’d I have to go and do that ……?”

“……………”

“Horrible …… Just horrible ……”

Her face is so twisted up in pain that tears could start flowing at any second. The word horrible keeps coming out of her mouth on an endless loop.

Sure, Two Pawn happens a lot in blind Shogi …… But it’s just so sad it had to happen to her when she had such a big lead.

“…………”

Ai understands the pain that Mio is going through right now so much that she can’t say anything at all.

This is getting awkward ……

“…… And there you have it. A rather shocking conclusion to today’s match, but ……”

Big Sis shows some rare compassion for the grade schooler.

“Kuzuryu-sensei, do you have any comments reflecting on the match as a whole?”

“Certainly. Though Mio lost due to playing Two Pawn at the end …… Well, both the girls in anguish were really cute, so it’s all good, don’t you think?”

“You’re such a lolicon ……”

“Say what?!”

A few weeks after Naniwa Suji Shogi Street made their debut, I was in a café in Kobe, drinking coffee and telling the person across from me about that legendary stage.

Once I get to the end of the story, the girl sitting on the other side of the table sticks her fork into her favorite pastry, a honey altena, and says, “Humph. The Shogi Association thinks up some truly pointless things.”

She sounds like she couldn’t care less.

Ai Yashajin. Nine years old.

I started giving her Shogi lessons a little while ago on the chairman’s orders.

While she and my apprentice both have the name, Ai, her black clothes and hair along with her lone-wolf personality make them total opposites.

She has no respect for me, the Ryuo, whatsoever. She even takes shots at the association whenever she gets a chance.

I force a smile and try to converse with my scathing student.

“No need to say that. The sales turned out pretty good and people seemed to like it. A few customers loved it, saying it was like watching their granddaughters play.”

“Only elderly people would be interested at all ……”

“I’ll admit there needs to be some fine tuning.” I lean over the table and say, “Which is why I’ve been looking for a fifth member–––.”

“I won’t.”

“The problem is, you and my apprentice have the same name …… But, then again, no one else is a cold, domineering type, so it’ll probably be fine.”

“I just said I’m not doing it. Weren’t you listening? Maybe you should hit your head on the pointy end of a Shogi piece and die to save me the trouble?”

“Yes! A sadistic grade school girl! That’ll be a hit for sure.”

Blending that spice with the four cute but vanilla members of the group should give the performances a brand-new edge ……!

“I said no, didn’t I?! I have zero interest in becoming an idol and, even if I did, I would never consider joining your apprentice and her friends!!”

“But you’re required to join Naniwa Suji Shogi Street if you want to be a member of the Practice League.”

“What? Why?!”

“………… The higher-ups made that decision.”