Setting the Scene

“… Yes. That’s a cape.”

 THE MATCH BEGINS

The whole floor is a replica of the Black Corridor in Edo Castle (apparently it has one) and is divided into the Onjyoudan no Ma or “Throne Room,” Ongedan no Ma or “Lower Guard Room” and Fuyou no Ma or “Lotus Room.” The Throne Room is one step higher than the others. Only the most skilled players are allowed to use it: it’s practically a holy site for the Kansai Shogi world. It’s also home to the window where a certain Master of mine relieved himself.

“Humans follow land.”

“Land follows sky.”

“Sky follows Taoism.”

Scrolls written by well-known Shogi legends from long ago hang in the alcoves around the room. Sir Ayumu, sitting on his ankles in the lower seat with his cape collar standing up around his ears, is already in front of the only Shogi board in the Throne Room and elegantly sipping tea from a cup with a saucer in his hand. I’d expect nothing less from royalty.

“Ohh …? So you’ve come without fear?”

“I pretty much have to. It’s a match.”

I go around to the upper seat and sit down on a thin floor mat. Then I take off my wristwatch and put it on the tatami mat beside me while getting comfortable. I take a fan, handkerchief, glasses and water out of my second bag after that.

It’s much easier to sit on a mat that I’m used to, so I have the association send one of the mats whenever I have to play someplace else. My legs tend to fall asleep if it’s one of those expensive, fluffy types and I can’t have that.

Every Shogi player has their own pre-match rituals.

Wiping off their glasses, closing their eyes to focus, bringing in their favorite pot and cups to drink tea like Ayumu. Oh, and there are some who bring their own air purifier (one equipped with minus-ion technology). It’s not a problem, as long as they’re not all that loud.

A long table is set up next to the board for the record keeper. It’s their job to document the match and keep track of time. They also set up the board and place the mats for us.

Sensing that it’s about time, I say, “Should I line them up?”

“Proceed.”

Sliding my match glasses on, I reach for the box of pieces on top of the board and take them out of the silk covering inside. It’s a higher ranking player’s job to get the pieces out and put them away.

I use the established pattern to line up my pieces.

There are two styles for exactly how to put the pieces into place: Itou and Ohashi, with Ohashi being the standard. I use Ohashi, by the way, and of course Ayumu doesn’t use either, choosing his own original style.

The record keeper sees that all pieces are in place and announces.

“From Kannabe-sensei please.”

“God Cauldron please.”

After the usual exchange with the record keeper (ignored per usual) both of us close our eyes to gather our thoughts in the last minutes before the match. My brain is already moving a mile a minute.

“It is time. Please begin the match.”

“Ready when you are.”

Both players bow and Sir Ayumu makes the first move. Then, he removes the cape. Keeping it on until the first move was Ayumu’s style of etiquette, basically his way of showing respect. Personally, I’d rather he didn’t. It’s startling.

I make the second move right away.

Since the order for today’s match was determined beforehand, I came up with my strategy at home. Both of us proceeded at a blistering pace, focused only on getting our pieces in the right places as quickly as possible.

Our battle formations take shape on the board.

Ayumu looks up at me with a fearless smile, gracefully moving his fingers as he slides his pieces across the board.

“Heh-heh-heh … Are you capable of laying siege to the Silver walls of my Citadel?!”

That’s just a simple yagura.

“Kannabe-6 dan, yagura formation …”

Ayumu’s got fire in his eyes, absolutely exuding energy while the journalist sitting next to the record keeper writes everything down like nothing unusual is going on. This is surreal.

Yes, a Shogi journalist.

Today’s match is an important league match that determines who’s eligible to compete for the Throne title. Today’s results will not only be in Shogi magazines, but in mainstream newspapers as well. You know that small corner of the newspaper that shows Shogi standings? It’ll go there.

Ayumu is currently undefeated. His path to the title match becomes almost assured with a victory today.

On the other hand, I lost every match so far and I’ve already been disqualified for this league next season. This match is just a formality, for show.

However, a type of paramount philosophy exists in the Shogi world: A match that may be a formality for you could be valuable to your opponent, so defeat them at once!

Since Ayumu’s dreams of winning the title would disappear should I win today, that philosophy fits my situation to a “T.” I should take Ayumu down here and now. And–––.

“… I’ve had enough of being called Kuzu Ryuo,” I whisper to myself as I move my own king into a yagura-style fortress.

 UNFORESEEN! KANNABE-STYLE 1 FIVE LANCE

Moves have come one after another following the standard Aiyagura (meaning both of us are doing the yagura strategy) style by the book.

After twenty moves of the same song and dance that took up no time at all, everything up to move ninety-one was as standard as standard could get. Yagura is déjà vu all over again.

“Da-da-da-daaaaaaan! Upgraded from yagura to anaguma!! Defense +2000 points!!”

Striking a pose straight out of Vanguard with a piece sandwiched between his fingers, Ayumu strengthens his defense further still, completing a wall around his king on the left edge of the board. That formation is called yagura anaguma. I don’t know anything about this +2000 defense points thing, but it’s solid as a rock.

Of course, I’m not just twiddling my thumbs.

Aiyagura matches are known for players splitting their forces into well-defined offense and defense groups before the battle truly gets underway. A build up, build up, kaboom! kind of match.

“Now then … What to do, what to do,” I whisper, tapping my chin with my open fan. The board is saturated with pieces. Careful not to break the balance of my own line, I move my Bishop to the front lines to use the projectile weapon to probe the enemy for openings.

“Heh! A bold move.”

Ayumu retaliates immediately by advancing a Pawn to the space directly in front of my Bishop to force it back.

I take a deep breath and retreat my Bishop. This is all according to plan, of course. It’s all to get Ayumu to launch an attack and time my counter to stop in his tracks. The classic bait and switch.

“As you wish …”

Ayumu picks up a piece and strikes another Vanguard pose (a victory pose, maybe?).

“Heed my call, fly Pegasus!”

Accepting my invitation, he sends his right side keima, Knight, to the front lines and ignites the flames of war.

This is going so well that I couldn’t help but smile.

“You know what they say … Pawns feast on the high-flying Knight.”

“That’s high-flying Pegasus, if you please.”

Attacks never stop once they get underway. I need to break the line of Pawns advancing like a tsunami with my own Pawn wall. Known as Shogi’s skin, the Pawns break apart as muscle and bone collide.

“Silver Sword! Feel the wrath of my blade!”

Ayumu slices forward with his Silver.

I match him blade for blade–––taking his Silver and making it my own. Silver, you’re mine!

This should be the part where Ayumu takes my Silver with his Rook but …

“Haaaaaaa ………!!” Ayumu lets out a long breath and reaches for his next piece … the kyousha, Lance!!

“Behold!! My secret technique–––Right Wing Holy Lance!!”

“Ugh?! Th-this is …!”

One look at the sharp Lance bearing down on me like a spear on the right side of the board makes my blood run cold.

He sacrificed his own Silver for this attack! A Silver Sword and Spear combination, sacrificing the blade to strike in quick succession!

So he’s willing to throw pieces away to break through …

I anticipated that Ayumu might try this when I was preparing for the match.

But! There’s a lot more pressure going against the real thing!

“T-The … Kannabe-Style 1 Five Lance …!”

“It’s the Right Wing Holy Lance!!”

Sir Ayumu fervently rebukes. Either one is fine by me.

“Kannabe 6-dan’s next move is the highly anticipated Kannabe-style 1 Five Lance …”

The journalist completely ignores Ayumu’s objections as well. However, he’s clearly writing with a burning passion.

The Kannabe-style 1 Five Lance is a new strategy developed by, you guessed it, Sir Ayumu himself. This technique has become the driving force behind his ascent through the Throne League: completely different from a guy who lost every game like me! (Tears.)

Claiming to be a Knight and all, Ayumu has a really good sense of how to use Lances. The utmost caution is necessary once he’s got one in hand. And by the way, Lance is just another way to say Spear, so he’s not just pulling names out of thin air. I think. Maybe.

“Hmmm …”

Taking his Lance would be really easy. Easy, but …

We Kansai Shogi pros have researched how to defend against this technique the moment it was first used in an official match. I’m confident in my studies, otherwise I wouldn’t have drawn it out.

The days of Kansai Shogi players being called hardheaded outlaws are over. We ain’t going to be out-researched by those Kantoers!

Then again, I’m sure Ayumu and those guys to the east have been researching the strategy even further. Ayumu has absolute confidence in his technique, otherwise he wouldn’t use it so much in official matches.

I have a plan … But, I need to take my time, carefully read the board and make sure that there are no holes in my prepared strategy.

“Hmm ……………… Now then. What to do.”

I take a deep breath and let my butt hit the floor mat, take off my glasses, lean against the armrest and let my mind set to work.

Click-clack. Click-clack. I open and close my fan, establishing a rhythm like a metronome to help me think.

Read.

Read.

Read, read, read …

“………… That’ll do.”

Sitting back on my ankles in perfect posture, I make my move. “Whoa?!” The record keeper and journalist exclaim as they lean in for a closer look.

I–––didn’t take Ayumu’s Lance.

I left it there, sharp tip still stuck in the side of my forces.

Instead, I took Ayumu’s Pegasus–––the Knight he sent out first: a move that should be catching him by surprise.

I look up at my opponent with a How’d you like that, Ayumu?! look in my eyes when …

“Haa … This color, this aroma. I do declare tea to be British royalty’s finest accomplishment …”

You’re the tofu shop owner’s son from the suburbs, are you not?

But I felt uneasy the moment I saw the self-proclaimed nobleman take an elegant slurp of tea. Is that a poker face? Or did he see this coming a mile away …?

It doesn’t matter. I’ll get to enjoy his stunned royal face the moment he figures out what I’m really after!

“… May I see the record?”

“Here you are.”

Taking a look at the paper the record keeper handed to me, I was stunned to learn that the last move took forty minutes. My move.

“No way!”

It felt like ten minutes tops, but time flies when you’re reading the board. I don’t blame Ayumu for drinking tea at all.

The Throne League allows four hours of waiting time. Using twenty minutes at this time would have been all right, but forty is way, way too much. Now I’m far behind in waiting time ……

“Pardon the intrusion.”

It’s almost lunchtime, so one of the staff members comes to ask us what we’d like to order. They’ll get it delivered.

“Kannabe-sensei. What would you like to eat?”

“Let me think … Yes. I would like to dine on Phoenix Easter Egg Chaos today.”

“Chicken and eggs on rice, all right.”

Sir Ayumu pretty much always gets the same lunch, so the staff had no trouble understanding that order.

“And for you, Kuzuryu-sensei?”

“Ah, nothing for me.”

Sir Ayumu looks surprised.

“Will you not dine?”

“I was thinking I’d eat out today.”

“I see …”

Sir Ayumu looks at me with the eyes of the only Chihuahua left unsold at a pet store. He might be a bit nervous about eating by himself at the Kansai Association, away from home.

But I can’t just ignore my apprentice (temp.). Sorry, Ayumu.

 LUNCHTIME

“Oh! Still going strong.”

She’s got her Match Card between the board and the piece stand like a real veteran and a chess clock right next to the board. Someone must’ve brought one in and taught her how to use it during one of her many matches.

She’s playing against a girl I see in the classroom all the time. Her big eyes and short, chestnut-colored hair stick out, as does her competitive nature. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say she is about as old as Ai. Being about the same age, both girls are playing their hearts out.

“Let’s see …”

Careful not to break their concentration, I quietly make my way toward them and look at the board.

Their game is in the final stages, formations in shambles on the board. That battle must have been intense.

“… Gahhh, I don’t know anymore! This’ll work!”

Ai’s opponent gives up reading the board as time ticks down and she makes a move. She’s decisive.

Now her turn, Ai, “……… Here, here, herehereherehere ……!”

Rhythmically whispering to herself, she tries to read her way to victory. Even her body is rocking back and forth.

… It’ll take a while, but there is a way to put her opponent’s King in checkmate.

Pros can tell at a glance, but anyone can miss a shorter route to the King during a match.

Now then, can Ai find the right moves in the middle of a live game?

“… Here!!”

Ai reaches for her captured pieces and, with a sharp breath, snaps it down onto the board to put the opposing King in check.

“What?! … Ummm …”

The girl fretted for a moment, faced with a move she never expected. After reading the board as long as time would allow, she grabbed her King as if reaching through water and then slid it to the side–––but that King was already dead.

Ai had anticipated the move and forged ahead taking no time at all. Her opponent realized that checkmate was only three moves away and threw a piece.

“… I lost—.”

“Th-thank you for playing me!”

Pausing to take a breath, the girl started talking to Ai with a bright smile on her face.

“You said your name is Ai Hinatsuru, didn’t you? You’re really good! Where’d you come from? Are you joining the Practice League?”

“Um … I, I’m going to take the test soon …”

“You are?! Then we can play again!”

She’s back to being a normal grade schooler, her competitive fire disappearing the moment the match came to a close. Only kids can flip that switch so fast.

“Ai.”

“Ah! Master!”

I’m sure the girls would have fun chatting away, but my lunch break will end if I let them be.

“Good game. That was a nice bit of reading you did there.”

My apprentice (temp.) looks up at me with happy puppy dog eyes: “Yay yay♡” after I pat her head and give her a compliment.

“You’ve gotta be hungry by now? Wanna go grab a bite?”

“Yay!”

“Go get your Match Card starred. Hers too–––.”

One of the classroom’s rules is that the winner takes both cards to get starred. I look at Ai’s opponent and see–––.

“……!!”

She’s frozen solid, staring at me with her green Match Card clutched in her fingers.

“Um, hello? She needs your Match Card–––.”

“You … you’re Kujuryouryouou … Right?”

Are grade schoolers not capable of pronouncing my name or something?

“Ahh, yes. It’s Kuzuryuo.”

“!!”

The girl tumbles off her chair, listlessly climbs back to her feet and comes up to me.

“Um, I-I-I, um, I’m Miomijyukochi!”

Miss Miomijyukochi, is it?

I take the card from her and look at her name.

“…… Miss Mio Mizukoshi. Yes, you played a good match.”

Complimenting her in my most professional teacher-esque voice, “Hooahh!” Mio makes a strange sound and extends her hand toward me while struggling to stand on wobbly knees.

“U-Umm! M-May I shake your hand?!!”

“Sure. Great job today.”

“Haahh … Haaaaaa ……”

Mio’s face turns red like a steadily increasing pressure gauge.

Many people have asked to shake my hand since becoming Ryuo, but I’ve never seen someone so enthralled. I’m honored … But this is kind of embarrassing. Other people are laughing.

“I’ll never … ever wash this hand again!”

“N-Never …?”

“I’m about to go to the girl’s room, but I won’t wash this hand!!”

“No, please wash, okay?”

I give the just-starred Match Card back to Mio, her head bowed in gratefulness, ask her to keep Ai company and leave the classroom behind.

“Interesting girl, that one. She’s got a pretty good feel for Shogi too. Think the two of you can become friends?”

“……”

“Hm? Something wrong, Ai?”

My apprentice (temp.) was happy and bubbly just a moment ago, but now she’s frowning. All those happy “yays” are gone and she’s whispering something under her breath.

“… I’ve never once gotten a handshake … I’m the apprentice … Crafty little …”

“Huh? Umm … Ai?”

“Master!”

“Y-Yes?”

“Um … Um …………………… Gehh!!”

Out of nowhere, Ai snatches my right hand with both of hers. Then she starts pressing my palm with her thumbs.

What does this girl want to do?

“Well, um … Satisfied?”

“Yay♪”

Grade schoolers, such a mystery …

Stepping outside of the dim building, the spring sunlight was almost blinding. “Ahhhh!” I stretch my arms and ask my apprentice (temp.) a question, “Now then. What do you wanna eat?”

“Ummm … Is there anything you want, Master?”

“Hmm, I’ve pretty much eaten everything all the restaurants around here have to offer.”

“U-ummm, in … In that case …”

“In that case?”

“L-Lunches! … I … made lunches … So …”

“You did? One for me too?”

“Of course!! I woke up early just to make it for you, Master!!”

“Woah …!”

Classic case of the Master being deeply moved by his considerate apprentice (temp.).

Only in the third grade and already such a good, thoughtful girl … I can say that because Big Sis always sends me to the convenience store to pick up her lunch. Even now.

“Then why don’t we eat outside? It’s nice out.”

“Yes!”

And that’s how we ended up going to a nearby park with her still holding my hand.

A short walk away, Kamifukushima Higashi Park is filled with waves of green … That is to say that half of the potted plants someone at the taxi company next door has been looking after have started encroaching into the park, but it just goes to show how little Osakans care about details. Anyway, it’s a small park with a lot of flavor.

We sit next to each other on a bench beneath the sunlight filtering through the leaves overhead and open the lunches that Ai made.

“Onigiri rice ball and fried eggs …?”

“Do you not like them …?”

“No, no. I’m thrilled. I’m not really the type of guy that wants to play Shogi on a full stomach.”

“I’m glad!”

Chomp! Ai holds one of the rice balls in both hands and takes a big hearty bite—except that her mouth is so small that she might never finish it no matter how many hearty bites she takes. Kind of like a cute little hamster. Very cute.

After a good amount of chewing, Ai looks up at me with just her eyes and cautiously asks, “Master, um … H-how is the match going …?”

“Hmm, not bad I think.”

I take alternating bites from the fried eggs and onigiri as I answer. Both are delicious. The rice balls are filled with salmon, my favorite. Maybe she asked Keika about it?

“I’m using yagura and Sir Ayumu got a yagura-anaguma going … Ah, do you know what yagura and anaguma mean?”

“I don’t (>-<)”

“Should’ve figured.”

It’d be faster to explain it to her using the number grid rather than battle formation names, but doing so and exchanging ideas could be considered receiving outside help and violate the rules even though she is in elementary school. I’d be cut down.

“Basically, one is solid and the other is solid as a rock. The one solid as a rock attacks the solid one. That’s where we’re at.”

“And you’re the rock, right Master?”

“No, I’m the solid.”

“Wheh?”

Now her face is solid as a rock. A piece of onigiri filling (salmon) falls to the ground with a soft plop.

She obviously thinks that Ayumu’s got the advantage. Well, can’t blame her. Solid as a rock after all.

“It’s true that his King’s defenses are stiffer and he’s the one on the attack.”

“Playing in that situation sounds like more fun …”

“At the same time, Ayumu’s lost a lot of pieces trying to break my formation by force. The tables will turn the instant I cut off his attack.”

“Can you cut it off?”

“There should be a way. According to my research anyway.”

“Research?”

I talk through a mouthful of origiri to explain what it is to be a pro Shogi player.

“On days that pro Shogi players don’t have matches, they’re hard at work researching their next opponent, looking for weaknesses and studying their battle formations. Prodigy players who show up to the arena and let God guide their hand to victory are pretty much unheard of in today’s Shogi world.”

Then again, there are some people who really show up and play like a god. Like the current Meijin. That guy may as well be God.

“All the research my friends and I did is going into my next move. I’ll cut off Ayumu’s attack this turn … You could say that it’s a victory through detailed research rather than pure ability.”

“……”

Ai is looking at the ground, dead silent.

Did I dash her dreams? She looks at me just as I was starting to worry.

“That’s so cool!!”

“C …… cool?”

“Master, that’s your secret finishing move?! Turning the tide of battle in one turn with a hidden technique that you got from intense training … You’re amazing, Master! The ultimate Drag … Ryuo!”

She was about to say Dragon King, wasn’t she?

“But … well, huh. I suppose if you want to think of it like that …”

“? Did I say something funny?”

“Nah …”

I quickly wiped the corner of my eye so my apprentice (temp.) wouldn’t see.

In pro Shogi matches, where the winner of the standard game, which is close to ninety turns, can be determined by one thoroughly researched move, fans tend to complain by calling it a research lecture or copy Shogi. They really let us have it over the Internet. And of course they do. It’s not that interesting for us, either.

Unfortunately, we don’t live in a nice world where anyone can win without researching.

Most pro Shogi players form teams that we call practice groups, where we use computers to research all kinds of battle styles. There are even some formations we research all the way to checkmate: just one move in an official match—all supported by researching scenarios that won’t show up on the board in hundreds of thousands of matches …

“So, Master, your opponent will give up after your next move, right?!”

“Give up? Well, we’ll be even, or I might get a slight advantage.”

“Oh no! Isn’t your secret technique supposed to end it all?!”

The world isn’t that simple.

“Well, I’d say that being on an equal footing in a match where Sir Ayumu made the first move is putting up a good fight.”

“He’s God Ca … Kannabe-sensei, right? Is he that good?”

“He’s a pro Shogi player.”

“… But he is, a little weird, isn’t he?”

“He’s a pro Shogi player.”

That one phrase pretty much sums everything up.

“Ask ten pros about Ayumu’s skills, and all of them would say something like–––Kannabe? Oh, he’s good. Early game, mid-game, late game, the guy’s got them all covered.”

“So he’s got no weak spots?”

“Oh, he’s got a weakness … I just can’t exploit it right now.”

“Huh?”

“Now then! Let’s head back, shall we?”

I’ve said a little too much. I lick the last bits of rice off my lips and stand up.

“Thanks for the lunch. It was really, really good.”

“E-hehe.”

Ai happily squints her eyes, giddy as I pat her on the head. Damn cute.

“Keika will come get you tonight, so please stay at Master’s place. I’ll swing by in the morning.”

“… Okay!”

Just for a moment, Ai nodded like a good girl.

 MISCALCULATION

The first thing Ayumu did once the match started up again was to drive that pointy spear even deeper into my gut.

“And now, cha–––nge! Evolve from Normal Lance to Golden Lance!!”

Narikyou, Promoted-Lance … Is that what he’s trying to say? He flipped the piece over, so that’s probably it.

The Lance has run me through, so now my King is vulnerable to an attack from behind. It’s a difficult position to be in so soon after restarting.

“Heh …… I have you now! Dragon King!!”

“Who has who?”

“Inconceivable?!”

I saw the attack coming by the slimmest of margins.

I leave the Promoted-Lance right where it is behind my King and take a Pawn from my captured pieces and place it on the board to attack a completely different piece. And that piece would be–––.

“My … Rook?!”

“That’s right!”

His advancing Lance is just a diversion, a jab.

“Ayumu! You’re trying to get me to move my defenses with a jab and then unleash a straight punch! And your fist is none other than this Rook! In other words, with this Rook under control, your attack comes to an end!”

“Heh-heh … Now I see. You are a worthy opponent, Dragon King. I commend you for deducing my strategy! However! Do you honestly believe that your weak forces can contain my strongest piece?!”

“Have you forgotten, Ayumu? Forgotten the piece I took just before lunchtime–––?”

“?! You … You couldn’t mean ……!!”

“Fly, Pegasus! I summon you from the captured ranks to take that Rook!”

I like how things are playing out on the board, so I don’t mind having a bit of fun. The record keeper’s cold gaze doesn’t bother me at all!

“What’s wrong, your highness? Your elegant visage is showing some cracks?”

“Kehhhh …!!”

It goes without saying that the Rook is the strongest piece and letting it be taken not only removes a big chunk of your firepower, but it’s also like giving your best weapon to your opponent.

Losing it in the late game is one thing, but losing it in the mid-game pretty much ends a Shogi match. Therefore Ayumu should move it out of the way.

At least he should have.

“Keh … Keh! Keh! … Keh-ha-ha-ha-ha!! At last … the moment I’ve been waiting for!”

“?! … Waiting … for …?”

Ayumu didn’t move the Rook, but another prominent piece–––the Bishop.

“Bishop?!”

He’s abandoning the Rook?! Seriously?!

I couldn’t help but look up at Ayumu.

He seems … surprisingly calm. No explosions of emotion anywhere on his face. And he’s drinking tea again.

My gut’s telling me that I should take that Rook with this move.

Ayumu’s advance can’t go on without it. I should still be able to absorb this attack by the skin of my teeth. I’ve still got a captured Pawn and Silver on my piece stand. I can hold out!

I grab my right leg and squeeze as hard as I can, thoroughly reading the board to make sure my gut instincts are right.

Read. Read. Read …

“………… Okay!”

I had my answer after over an hour of internal deliberation: take the Rook with keima, Knight. How’s that, Ayumu!

“Just as I planned!!”

“What?!”

“Take a gander at your stunned stallion …!”

Ayumu strikes that same Vanguard pose, flips the Bishop over and smacks it back down on the board.

“The one riding on its back–––is death!”

Ayumu’s ryuuma, Promoted-Bishop is headed right for my defensive front. However!

“How naïve, Ayumu! I’m one step ahead of your attack!”

I slide my King out of his Knight’s line of fire.

Shogi’s saying King’s early escape nets eight turns in action! So many of his attack options are now moot!!

“What now?! Can’t keep attacking without your Rook, no … can you?!”

This is when I thought we’d return to the mid-game and regroup, but–––.

Ayumu doesn’t reach for the board, but for his own piece stand. It felt like a pillar of ice shot down my spine the moment I saw him make that move.

“Prepare thyself, for you shall be run through by yet another hidden Lance!!”

Lifting the Lance from his piece stand with the arched-finger dexterity of a pianist, he brought it straight down onto the board. Crap?!

“Dragon Slayer! Georgioooooo––––––os!!”

“Not good …!!”

That move sends a cold shiver down my spine.

Ayumu placed the Lance right behind the Pawn I put down to attack his Rook. Therefore, I can’t block it with my spare Pawn (two players having Pawns in the same column violates the rules)! There’s no way to guard against it …!

“Kannabe-sensei plays a surprising new move, Kannabe-Style 3 Six Lance.”

“I said, Dragon Slayer! Georgios! Weren’t you listening?!!”

Once Ayumu finished telling off the journalist, he points his fan directly at me and says, “What say you, your majesty Dragon King? How does my new tactic Dragon Slayer! Georgios taste?”

“Gh …!!”

I bite my lip and start searching the board.

I want information. What is Ayumu’s next target? Are my formations still intact? Can my King escape with a stronger defensive line? Is there any opening to counterattack–––?

“And by the way, the name is derived from the great dragon-slaying martyr, the knight St. George. It is said that he thrust his lance into the mouth of the dragon that breathed poison before wrapping a girdle that he received from a princess around its neck and leading the beast around like a dog before delivering the final blow.”

I didn’t need that information …

“No! There needs to be an exclamation point after the Dragon Slayer!” Ayumu tells off the journalist, issuing an order. Maybe he’s going for a Swift! (Black Shogi Piece 3 Seven Climbing Silver kind of name?)

He clearly planned this combination. That lukewarm strategy name that some middle schooler would think up is obviously his doing.

Basically … Ayumu’s had this in mind since I put that Pawn down thirty moves ago?

No. Even further back … He’s had this in mind since I started making the yagura formation more than seventy moves ago. He saw this change coming and led me right to it.

If that’s true–––Ayumu has researched all the way to checkmate.

 SETTING THE SCENE

The record keeper announces a chilling truth with burning vigor.

“…… s.”

My “yes” disappears into thin air.

From now on, I only have one minute to make each move. Otherwise, I’ll have to forfeit the match because I ran out of time.

“Thirty seconds— … Forty seconds— …”

The record keeper uses a unique intonation to read off the time.

It’s just past 9 o’clock at night.

Since the match started at 10 o’clock in the morning and we had about an hour for lunch, the two of us have been playing for nearly 11 hours already.

Ayumu still has one hour of waiting time.

And I have–––zero.

“Fifty seconds—. One, two—, three–––.”

“…!!”

I made my move at “seven.”

Even under these harsh conditions where I don’t have enough time to run to the john, I grit my teeth and keep playing through the pain.

Against the ropes, I keep defending. My nerves are strung out as far as they can go in this hopeless, exhausting battle.

On the other hand, “It’s always my turn!” Ayumu declares, pressing his attack in perfect condition.

The formations are already shifting from Ayumu’s advantage to Ayumu’s victory.

“Heh heh. Perhaps it’s time I strike the final blow and retire to the dining room …”

There is no dinner break in the Throne League. I’ve been thinking nonstop for more than eight hours.

My nerves have already reached their limit, my concentration is fading and now I have to play one-minute Shogi.

–––Where did I slip up?

–––Was taking that Rook a mistake?

–––… Nah, perhaps going with yagura against Ayumu was wrong in the first place …?

Under pressure from the record keeper’s time reading, I’ve got nothing but regrets.

I can keep pointlessly moving pieces across the board.

But … As a titleholder, as the Ryuo, I can’t do anything shameful.

–––Am I really allowed to keep playing like this?

–––But people will tear me apart on the Internet for giving up too soon if I throw in the towel now …

Those were the only thoughts running through my head. Rather than reading the board, I’m trying to figure out exactly how I want to lose.

I’ve lost my will to keep fighting at this point–––the match is as good as over.

I’m pretty sure everyone in the room has already caught onto that. Even the journalist who’d been camping out in the waiting room is back at the table next to the board. All to document the moment I surrender.

–––At least, make it beautiful …

Match records are the only way that we Shogi players can prove to the later generations that we existed. They’re like musical scores for musicians.

It’s okay to lose. I can accept that.

But to be forever remembered as only that level and laughed at until the end of time, that I absolutely cannot accept.

Especially since the journalist will publish a story about this match in the newspaper.

Which means an unfortunate record will be on display for the whole world to see.

I’m going to lose, there’s no way around it. Even if I can’t avoid everyone seeing me in defeat … I can at least make it look like a good loss.

There’s something similar to beheading a samurai at the end of their ritual suicide that we call setting the scene.

The two competitors synchronize their breathing and pretend it had been a heated battle all the way until one move before their surrender.

It’s not fixing a match by any means. Losing with grace is one aesthetic of being a pro. You could say that being beautifully cut down is a technique in a pro’s repertoire.

My mind set, I move to attack Ayumu’s King.

“What’s this?”

Ayumu looks surprised by my decision for a moment but, “Heh … I see. You’ve accepted your fate …,” he whispers with a tinge of sadness in his voice and engages my attack.

I bet all the Shogi fans watching the match on the association’s live coverage on the Internet are shouting things like “It’s the check to remember!” right about now.

Yes. This is the check to remember.

Doing this now means that the journalist can write a record saying, “It was a close match where the victor was in check at the very end.” I’ve set the scene.

All I have to do now is stick my neck out. Just retreat back to my side of the board and find the shortest, most beautiful path to the end and move my pieces to follow through. Knowing Ayumu, he’ll finish me off right away.

–––Please make it painless, Ayumu …

In the moment that thought crossed my mind and I was about to extend my neck, “Huh?”

I happened to glance up as I picked up a piece and caught something unbelievable out of the corner of my eye.

“… Feeeeh?”

A strange sound comes out of my lips in disbelief.

Ai was there.

What’s this? There’s a grade schooler in the arena?

I wonder if my eyes have gotten tired from watching too much Shogi?

“Fifty seconds—. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine–––.”

“Ten!”

Brought back into the moment by the record keeper’s countdown, I panic and make a move.

I was fully intent on setting the scene, but I rushed and moved the wrong piece. I can see the annoyed he’s still going? looks on the record keeper and journalist’s faces, but that’s the last of my worries.

Why?

What’s Ai doing here?

I check the time. It’s already past ten. She should have gone to Master’s house, brushed her teeth and hit the sack a long time ago.

But here she is, in the arena. Those little feet brought her into the Onjyoudan no Ma, plopped into a chair between the record keeper and journalist where the grade schooler is now leaning over the long desk and looking at the board with twinkling eyes.

“Hold up … huuuh? H-hey …”

I look right at her. Hey, hello. Look at me.

But she doesn’t even notice my gaze. She’s completely focused on something else.

Ai’s staring at one thing and one thing only–––Ayumu’s King.

Seeing that little body of hers rock back and forth, I know exactly what she’s thinking.

She’s reading.

Using her entire body. Pouring her body and soul into it.

“… Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here …”

Without showing any sign that she knows I’m looking at her, Ai puffs out her cheeks, her ears bright red all the way to the tips as she single-mindedly searches the board.

Looking for what? That’s obvious.

My victory. More specifically, the path to it.

Ai’s engrossed in reading, searching for that, and only that, on this board drowning in despair.

“… Here, here, hereherehere … No! Then how about … here, hereherehereherehere … Too slow! Faster … There has to be a faster way––––––.”

There’s a simple reason that our eyes aren’t meeting.

I’ve only been looking at my King. Never once thinking of going on the attack, I’ve kept my head down, hiding in my shell like a turtle and just kept defending. I’ve only been worried about my pride as Ryuo and saving face. I’ve been looking down and regretting everything under the weight of my heavy position.

But Ai is different.

She’s got her head up, focused only on Ayumu’s King. She’s looking for a way to attack, not just defend.

Believing in my victory. Believing her Master can win.

“… She’s right.”

This little girl came from far away on the north coast by herself, even ran away from home, all to become my apprentice. To Ai, I’m probably the best in the world, cool beyond belief, invincible Dragon King. Just like how I used to see Master Kiyotaki.

That’s, that’s just it.

I can’t be looking down at a time like this! I can’t just accept losing!!

“So … Shall I play you a requiem?”

Ayumu picks up a piece like a performing pianist and snaps it down at a slightly higher pitch, moving in a way to encourage my surrender. An I’ll still play along with your scene type of move.

“… Sorry, Ayumu. I’ve had a change of heart.”

“What?”

But I refuse his offer, read the board as long as time allowed, and made a move that muddied the board.

I had my King run away, abandoning his vessels in a shameless, ugly move.

I chose a path that pros would rather die than take, an unsightly, embarrassing move that other players will roast me for until I wish I were dead. The kind of move a stubborn outlaw would make.

As expected, the record keeper sends an ice-cold glance my way before grudgingly recording my move. The journalist lets out a long sigh as if annoyed that he’s got more pointless work to do.

As for Ayumu sitting on the other side of the board–––.

“So you’ve chosen to fight against fate … How foolish ………… Keh!”

Pressing down on his right eye, the one with the color contact, he–––.

“… Keh keh keh, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Yes! So it must be! That’s exactly why you are my eternal archenemy! I’d expect nothing less from the evil Dragkin!!”

Holy Knight. Sir Ayumu God Cauldron makes the strongest offensive move possible, the piece hitting the board with the bursting clack! all with a smile plastered on his face. Then, he pinned back his long bangs and leaned out over the board.

Even though there are much safer ways to win, he threw that option out the window and charged directly in for the kill. Royalty are just too damn cool!

“Now! Shall we continue the eternal battle of good and evil that has raged since our past lives?!”

“I don’t know about the eternal part–––,” I say while immediately making my next move with a fearless smile on my lips. “But I’ll keep you entertained until the end of the night.”

Onjyoudan no Ma. Here, at the holiest of sites in the Kansai Shogi world, two players went head-to-head in a battle for the ages. Their hands moved faster and faster like a quickening heartbeat, fierce and intense.

Kuzuryu would make one move using no time, and Kannabe would respond just as quickly. It went against logic. Their pride as contemporary pros prevented them from yielding any ground and kept their minds working at full speed.

“Intense,” the support staff member muttered under his breath, in awe of a game that was ultimately decided by a move that Kannabe made a little too quickly under pressure.

“… To be honest, I was looking for the best place to surrender,” said Kuzuryu in a weak voice once the match had concluded. Those words ring true.

So what gave him the strength to persevere?

“I thought I’d try holding out. As a titleholder … As Ryuo, I was more concerned about leaving behind a record worthy of my title until tonight. As a result, I always looked for the best way to lose once my formation was broken rather than keep fighting. But,” Kuzuryu looked up, bringing his face into the light and declared with no waiver in his eyes, “I’ve come to the realization that leaving behind an unconventional, muddy record is better than a loss. I don’t want to lose anymore, to anyone. That’s all there is to it.”

Kuzuryu took on an apprentice just before the match got underway.

This apprentice was in attendance and watched the match board-side, a little girl in elementary school.

She sat on her ankles, in perfect posture the entire time, continuously believing that her master would find a way to win. Seeing her there may have had something to do with Kuzuryu’s new outlook.

“That could be true. After all, I don’t want my apprentice to see me lose,” the still sixteen-year-old Ryuo said before smiling clumsily at his nine-year-old apprentice.

It may be too early to make any predictions based on this match alone.

However, in my opinion as a writer, I believe the young Ryuo has returned to form. No, he is still in the process of growing stronger, maturing before our very eyes.

(KUGUI)