Tragic Morning

“Cha sit here.”

Wheeh?

“Masta, soft knees.”

“Haaaa …………! Hah, wheeeh …………”

“Pway Shogi wight here!”

Apparently, little Charlette has declared that she’ll “play Shogi right here” after climbing onto my knees.

What is this cute little creature?

That’s really, really cute. She’s even calling me “Masta”? What is she? An angel?

Of course, I do not have a Lolita complex.

Absolutely, one hundred percent no. Older women is where it’s at, I’m well aware. Little girls do nothing for me.

But ………… What the heck is this? What’s with this sweet lightning bolt in my chest?!

“O …… Okay then. Would you … l-l-like to play on my lap …?”

“Pway Shogi!”

Snap, snap. An angel sitting on my knees starts lining up pieces on the board.

KER-CLAP! A much louder snap came from the next board over, as if to drown out the cute little clicks. KER-CLAP! Enthusiastic echoes bounced around the room.

“Ai. Easy on those pieces, the neighbors will complain.”

“Sure!!”

KER-CLAP!!

“I just told you to quiet down, didn’t I?”

It could be because her master is right next to her, but Ai is raring to go, facing down Mio with her bright red cheeks puffed out. She’s even playing a bit more aggressively than usual.

“So Charlette, why’d you start playing Shogi?”

“NARUTO!”

“Huh?”

“The Naruto manga series. She was inspired by a scene where the characters play Shogi.”

… I don’t remember that scene.

I got a little concerned, but apart from the fact that Charlette couldn’t reach the edges of the board, she plays a pretty good game. She’d compete with the amateur 3-dans, no joke.

“Masta, gimme at one.”

“There you are.”

I pick up the piece she wanted. We’re already working as one. Snapping sounds coming from the next board are getting even louder. They must be close to the end of the match.

We do a quick review session after the first games conclude, switch partners and start up again.

Mio versus Ayano and Ai versus Charlette plus me.

“Let’s give it our all, Charlette?”

“Oui!”

“… Master darabuchi.”

There it is. Dara showed up again. Just what the heck does it mean?

Ai’s even more ramped up than before, snapping the pieces down with enough zeal to scare Charlette. Meanwhile, I’m sweating buckets, praying that this angel on my knees doesn’t start crying …

Mio’s got her head in her hands, staring at the board now that Ayano has her in check next to us.

“That’s not good! Funasshi …”

“Funasshi?”

“Ah, it means she is out of Pawns,” Ayano explains.

Being out of Pawns = fu ga nai = lack of Pawns = fu nashi = Funasshi.

How the heck should I know?

“Hey, Ayanon. What mascot did you think would be the best at Shogi? Think it’d be Sho-chan (the Japan Shogi Association’s mascot)?”

“Kumamon has 1-dan.”

… Looks like Mio and Ayano are having a good time.

 ENDLESS SHOGI

“Shouldn’t you three be heading home?” I reluctantly say with Charlette still sitting on my knees.

“Oh. I’m fine,” said Mio as she pulled her backpack toward her and opened the fasteners, “because I brought my pajamas and toothbrush with me.”

That’s not the point.

“Hold up, hold up … What do you mean fine? Your parents didn’t give you permission to stay over all night, did they?”

“They said staying at a pro Shogi player’s place was all right.”

“Big Sister Machi said I should take advantage of this opportunity to stay overnight at the Ryuo’s residence.”

“Cha’s okay too!”

“………… Ai.”

“Sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry!!”

My apprentice lowers her head so fast I thought she might go through the floor.

Supposedly, staying overnight was their plan from the start.

“…… Well, all right then. But I’d like to talk to your parents first. Could you write down your phone numbers for me?”

“Wahoo–––!!”

Sure enough, I found out all three of them had permission from their parents after making the calls. More parents seem to be open-minded about Shogi nowadays.

I think I’ll message Keika while I’m at it.

“Help! Three of Ai’s friends are here and want to stay overnight! Grade schoolers have taken over my room and I don’t know what to do!!” … And sent.

Heh-heh-heh. Now if Keika’d drop by to spend the night as well, the two of us will get closer!

There’s no doubt in my mind that once she gets taken in by Charlette’s cute and pure innocence she’ll say, “Haaa … I’d love to have a baby like her … Any good people around …? Someone good at Shogi who’ll always love me, has a high social standing, and holds one of the seven great Shogi titles …” That would be me!!

“Oh, and Ai. Are we okay for dinner tonight?”

“There’s curry.”

Nope, not happening.

“L-Let’s order something! Pizza?! Sushi?! Eel?! Just name it!”

“Cha wants tagoyakki!”

The Angel wishes for takoyaki. I placed the order and ran out to pick some up.

Four girls eating together can be summed up in one word: lively.

“Munch, munch … Mio, I think you made the right move, promote the Rook at 2 one!”

“I felt the same way at first. But it would have been a mistake. Ai, your thoughts?”

“Um, I thought about that move too … But I think 3 Five Knight would be better ……”

“The Knight?!”

“Just like that?!”

“3 Five Knight followed by 2 Four Rook, take it with 2 Four Knight, 2 Eight Rook, line up with the 2 Five Rook and promote the other, and then move the Bishop to 4 Four and take that with the Knight …”

“To 4 Four Bishop?!”

Instead of talking about girl’s manga or fashion, these grade schoolers are calling out places on a Shogi grid over dinner. They can’t talk about Shogi with their school friends or family members, so everyone’s really getting into it.

Once we were done eating, it was right back to the Shogi boards.

These girls have been playing since this morning without getting bored. Considering it’s already evening, they’ll keep playing forever if I don’t stop them.

Waiting for the best opportunity to cut in, I speak up while the Grade Schooler Practice Group was reviewing their latest round.

“That’s enough Shogi for today. It’s time to start taking baths and getting ready for bed.”

“Okay!!”

Then immediately they start lining up pieces again.

“Hey, hey, what do you think you’re doing?” I ask and–––.

“Playing to see who gets to take the first bath!”

It took two rounds of matches, but they all eventually got in the tub.

But all four came back for more Shogi after changing into pajamas. They won’t stop playing.

“Okay, okay. Enough’s enough. It’s time for bed.”

“Sure!!” the grade schoolers energetically respond and start lining up pieces again.

When I ask them why–––.

“Playing to see who brushes their teeth first!”

“Playing to see who gets to use the hairdryer first!”

“Playing to see who sleeps where!”

This’ll never end.

… Then again, I used to be like this too, so I can’t insist. Big Sis and I used to decide everything we did with a game of Shogi.

On the other hand, if they don’t actually get some sleep soon … Just as that thought crossed my mind …

“Sensei. May I ask you something?”

“Hm? What is it, Ayano?”

“Would it be possible to play against you, the Ryuo, in an instructional match? I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity.”

“That’s fine, under one condition … You go to bed when we’re finished, okay?”

I’d like to see how much they’ve improved today, and this is a good chance.

Laying out futons in the tatami room, we set up Shogi boards fanning out with me in the middle and start a four on one instructional match. Charlette plops down in front of my Shogi grid cloth. How precious!

“What are the handicaps?”

“Fo … No, two pieces please!”

“Two pieces!”

“S-Same for me!”

I take my Rook and Bishop off the boards facing Mio, Ayano and Ai. For Charlette, I’m only using the King, Golds, Silvers and Pawns in a six-piece handicap.

Personalities come out during instructional matches.

There are some pros who refuse to go easy on their opponents, while others lose on purpose to give the less experienced players confidence. There are even a few who will let their opponent win if they follow standard strategy but will crush anyone who challenges them to a contest of strength.

There are some pros who are usually really nice, but become hot-blooded when teaching others. Cool-headed millennial players like myself can’t help but wonder why they get so into it.

True beginners like Charlette are one thing, but I won’t lose on purpose to someone already ranked. However, I take a lot of pride in giving kind words of encouragement during the review session.

I do just that after thoroughly dismantling all three of my two-piece handicap opponents.

“Mio, I like your aggressive attacking style. But you should try to fix your habit of attacking without thinking about the overall balance. Going on the attack is fine, but don’t leave any pieces stranded. Okay?”

“Y … Yes! Thank you!”

“Ayano, you’ve also got a good feel for Shogi. But why not try some new strategies? You’ve already got good instincts, so believe in yourself and branch out. Keep at it!”

“I-I will!”

“Ai. What was with that lazy match? Again!”

“S-Sorry! I don’t have any excuse!!”

“Play like that again and I’ll renounce you as my apprentice, clear?”

Mio watches Ai and I start lining up pieces again while Ai has a look of surprise on her face and asks, “U-umm … Weren’t we supposed to go to bed, after that match …?”

“Anyone who wants to sleep can go ahead and sleep!!”

“Yikes!”

“If you want to get stronger, find a strong opponent and keep playing. Ai, do you want to get stronger?”

“Yes, yes I do!! Ready when you are!!”

Seeing Ai lower her head, the other grade schoolers line up their own pieces.

“I … I want to get stronger too!”

“I do as well!!”

“Cha too!”

“All right, all of you, listen up! Ten instructional matches until morning. Here we go!!!”

“Yeah!!”

We played a hell of a lot of Shogi after that.

 TRAGIC MORNING

That sound wakes me up.

“………… Nh? Already … morning …?”

We must have kept playing until everyone collapsed from exhaustion and ended up sleeping in a pile in the tatami room. Charlette is right in front of me, her innocent sleeping face in my line of sight and one of her tiny hands clinging to my shirt.

I give one of her angelic cheeks a gentle poke. Jiggle. Warm and satisfyingly squishy.

“………… So this is love …………”

No sooner were those blissful words out of my mouth than ka-sha! I look up toward the noise and see–––Big Sis holding her smartphone.

“Ah ………… Big Sis? What … are you doing …?”

“Preserving evidence.”

“Hollup.”

Hold up–––it’s not what it looks like–––is what I wanted to say, but Big Sis’s fingers dance across the screen before I can make any excuse.

“The Shogi world has a new title: Loli King has just been born … I’ll message everyone that needs to know, okay?”

“DOOOON’T! Please don’t seeeennnndddd!!”

That’ll be my alias for all eternity! I’ll be known as the Loli King forever!!

“This is a practice group! We were doing research!!”

“Researching little girls?”

“No, no, no! Not research on little girls, research with little girls! That’s important!!”

“Both sound sick to me.”

“I realized that the moment I said it, but!!”

I can’t deny that this looks bad, really bad. That’s why I’m desperate.

“But why?! Why are you here, Big Sis?! We didn’t make any plans for versus today–––.”

“Keika called me. Said she got a message from you, bragging that you didn’t know what to do now that three little girls had taken over your room, and asked me to check on you, that something seemed fishy.”

“KEIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

Mio and Ayano start waking up, rubbing the sleep from their eyes as I lament on top of the futon, then their eyes suddenly shoot open.

“Fmuu … heh?! Oh, wow! A-Are you … S-Sora-sensei?!”

“Th-that’s really her! That’s the real Lady Snow White of Naniwa!!”

“……”

Big Sis gives them an annoyed glance, but there’s no anger. She’s extremely shy and not good at dealing with children. Without Shogi, she’d have zero communication skills. Then again, the Shogi world is full of people like that.

Amazed at their situation, waking up to find their two-women’s-title-holding idol right standing over them, Mio and Ayano rush Big Sis in a frenzy, asking for autographs and handshakes. Big Sis silently obliges with a handshake.

Ai and Charlette woke up soon after. Groggy, Ai looks up at Big Sis and says, “Ah! Auntie!!” while Charlette wipes the drool from her chin on Big Sis’s clothes, stressing her out to the max.

And that stress was all pointed at–––.

“Kuzu Loli King … Couldn’t you just die …”

“… Yes. My apologies. I’ll go die now. Sorry.”

Me. All of it. Yes, yes. Checkmate, checkmate.

Big Sis made two demands, the first being that the Grade Schooler Practice Group came to an immediate end and two, she said, “You need to be reconditioned. The two of us will practice Shogi at the association for three days straight starting tomorrow.”

With that, the elementary school girls’ Shogi sleepover came to an abrupt end.

“Can I come again?!” Mio askes, smiling innocently on her way out the door, but all I could do was give her a vague smile in return.