Review Session

“Welcome home! Master!”

…… Come again?

☗ Apprentice, by Force

Let’s sort a few things out.

There’s a little girl in my room, a room that should have been empty, looking at me with sparkling eyes.

An extremely cute girl.

As for age … Probably in elementary school. The backpack over her shoulders is a pretty good hint.

She’s sitting on her ankles right in front of me, delicate arms and legs tucked away in perfect posture and staring up at my face with puppy dog eyes in the entrance way. There’s a pull-string bag at her side.

Look familiar …? No.

So an elementary school girl who I’ve never seen before is, for some reason, in my apartment.

I have, by the way, been living in this two-bedroom apartment ever since I graduated from junior high.

One room would’ve been enough, but I ended up with this one because Big Sis seemed to like it. First of all, I’m not sure why she tagged along on my house hunt at all, but I really don’t understand why her opinion carried more weight than mine. It’s my place, yeah?

But enough about that.

I need to focus on the grade schooler in front of me right now.

Wait a sec. I’ve got a funny feeling she said something really weird just a moment ago …

“Well, ummm … You are? And why are you in my room?”

“Yes! You’re Yaichi Ku! Kujuryuryu!”

Stuttering!

“A-are you all right? Your tongue is gonna have a hernia at this rate …”

“… I’m aright …”

Looks painful.

Tears in her eyes, she waits for her tongue to recover and says “Kuju … Kuzryu …” over and over, trying to say my name. Hang in there, kiddo!

Then——.

“Kuhyu … Ku … Kuju … Sensei, right?!”

She threw in the towel!!

“That’s me, yeah …”

This might take forever if I took a dig at her now. And forever gets me nowhere. So I just nod.

But I’m surprised.

As the youngest title holder in history, my picture gets circulated all over the Internet. I still get stopped on the street every now and then. You’re that Shogi kid, right? Brighten up, would ya? Well screw you.

But this little girl just called me by my full name, even adding “sensei.” That’s the first time that’s ever happened outside of the Shogi Association, not that she can say my full name, but hey.

That word from a grade schooler I’ve never seen before is actually quite a shock.

“I’m here to become your apprentice, like you promised!!”

Huh?

“What? … My apprentice? Come again?”

“Yes! Um … yes!!”

“Me? I made a promise to take you as my apprentice? You?”

“YES!!”

“I did? When?”

“Huh? U-um … last year … during the Ryuo Title Match …”

“…?”

“… Don’t you remember?”

Her anxious voice in my ears, I reflect back on that fateful day three months ago, the title match——.

☖ Ryuo Title Match, 7th Round

Three wins and three losses. The Ryuo Title Match taking place at a high-class Japanese-style inn near a hot spring in Wakura, Ishikawa Prefecture had reached full set, the final match was about to begin.

I won the right to make the first move via the Shogi piece flip, fourth time this match, and I tried to get away from conventional strategy as the title challenger.

The current Ryuo accepted my challenge, choosing to meet me head on. The early game escalated into an unprecedented clash of the titans as we went blow for blow, strength against strength.

Oddly enough, the match took place on December 24th and 25th—Christmas.

Ryuo matches take place all around the country, each requiring two days to complete.

The facilities are usually equipped to seat around 200 people near the live commentary booth, but given the day … They doubted that many would show up.

But their doubts turned out to be groundless.

Ninety-nine percent men, ninety-seven percent wearing glasses. Inside that inn where Ginko, there to provide commentary, said there were “only men in glasses,” Shogi nerds from around the country braved the blizzard and Christmas to come together one after another.

About 800 souls, with no need for wives, kids or lovers as long as they had Shogi, united as one like the Shogi gods had bestowed them a Christmas present, their eternal wish to see an extremely entertaining and competitive match that could rewrite history had been granted with a white Christmas backdrop.

“Pro Shogi player declares my offensive advantage in waiting room analysis! But my opponent turns the tables right off the bat!” It was that kind of back and forth match where no one knew who would come out on top.

And then, the final stages.

I was almost out of time when I discovered a way to put the King in check once and for all, but my whole body started shaking. I couldn’t stop it.

One more move.

With one move, and this match was as good as mine. I thought it through over and over to make sure. Everything should be in place.

——I won?

Once it hit me, I couldn’t make them move.

My fingers were shaking so bad I couldn’t pick up the piece.

“…?!‘”

That had never happened before. Sure, I’ve been nervous plenty of times, fingers trembled then too. But shaking to the point that I couldn’t hold onto one …

Even if I didn’t move the piece myself, I could’ve just said the move and I’d win.

But even that was too much.

“…! ……!!”

No words came out.

I was so nervous that forcing my vocal cords to move was nauseating. I reached for the cup of water at my side in hopes of moistening my throat, but my jittery hand knocked it over.

—Calm down. One move and I’ve got this.

I stood up, keeping my face as calm as possible. I left the stage looking composed, but sprinted for the toilet once I was out of the room and dove for the sink, heaving.

I barely ate anything for lunch, didn’t have much of an appetite, so my stomach was mostly empty. Even with everything out, the nausea didn’t go away.

“… Gahh! … Ugh … uphh ……”

I could’ve counted my remaining minutes on one hand. If I didn’t get back soon …

Thinking about it only made me more anxious, eyes spinning as knees gave way. I couldn’t even stand up anymore.

—One more move.

—Make one more move, and I become Ryuo …

42 million yen, fame at the top of the Shogi world, advancing to 8-dan, were all mine. And my name would forever be etched into Shogi history.

Each one of those thoughts made my stomach roll, my eyes spin.

Not knowing which way was up, I crawled out of the restroom.

Walking back to the arena wouldn’t even take thirty seconds. But now, that long hallway may as well have been connected to the moon. My Japanese-style robes were soaked with sweat and heavy as lead.

— … Is time going to run out on me?

Just when I thought it would.

“Um.”

Someone spoke to me.

Whoever it was knelt next to my crawling body and said.

“Have some water.”

“!!”

A cup of water was held out at my eye level on the floor. That person put hands against my cheek and tilted my head back, letting the water flow into my mouth. That cold water seeped into my entire body.

“Ahh …”

The shaking and nausea were suddenly gone. Like magic.

I’m pretty sure I talked with that person, exchanging a few words after that, but my head was already back at the match. I knew I didn’t have much time left.

“… Thanks.”

Leaving that word behind, I stepped back into the arena—

And I became the Ryuo.

☗ Entrance Test

“… Might you be … the one who gave me water?”

“Y-Yes! That was me!”

Nodding her head up and down frenetically, the little girl squeezes her fists just above her knees.

“Is that right?”

…… I don’t remember a thing.

Hmmm. Well, I remember talking with somebody, but as for who it was or what we talked about, I don’t have a clue.

“And? I promised to make you my apprentice?”

“Well … Um. …”

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t … use those words exactly but …”

She’s beating around the bush.

Maybe she’s twisting my words to fit what she wanted to hear? Maybe what I really said was along the lines of a casual, “Hello, I’ll teach you how to play Shogi” type of promise.

“What were my words, exactly?”

“‘I’ll do whatever you want if I win the title.”’

Promised the world, didn’t I?

Did I really say that? Well, yeah, probably. Titles are the most important thing to pro Shogi players. We’d sell our souls to the devil just to get one. Granting some kid’s wish would be a piece of cake. Heck, if the Shogi gods came to me and said, “Eat poop and I’ll grant you a title,” I’d eat it. No question.

But … why would she want to be my apprentice of all things?

And I literally just made up my mind not to take apprentices just a moment ago.

“Okay. I’ll keep my promise.”

“Really?!”

“But, only after you take a test.”

“Test …?”

“Because I want to see what you can do,” I say and walk to the tatami room.

Being an apartment close to the Shogi Association headquarters where a young pro and his senior apprentice often play against each other and host practice sessions, the tatami room is the designated Shogi space.

“Please, come in. Sorry about the mess.”

“E … excuse the intrusion …”

I point my finger, directing her to one of the floor mats and she cautiously settles in.

Getting a good look at the petrified girl sitting on her ankles, I gotta say, she’s really cute.

Yes, she’s got a good face, but I can’t help but marvel at how polite she is.

Even now, her legs are tucked in nice and tight with her arms folded in her lap. Any Shogi player would be instantly taken with that perfect posture. That’s pretty rare among kids nowadays.

“But, how did you get inside? Wait, the door was unlocked, wasn’t it?”

“S-Sorry! I just …”

A young pro hangs around here; the door is usually unlocked so that anyone can drop in whenever they please. The only thing inside worth stealing would be my Shogi board. Trying to carry that thing out of here would stick out like a sore thumb too.

“And … I thought … Waiting outside might cause trouble for you …”

“Good point.”

Imagine what my neighbors would think if they saw some strange little girl standing outside my door. What a considerate girl! I already get warnings for “strange clicking sounds at all hours of the night” from neighbors …

“Anyway, must’ve been really hard, figuring out where I live?”

“Your address was written on the Thank You postcard you sent out to my family’s inn, Sensei.”

“Ahh, now that you mention it—.”

I remember sending cards to a lot of people after becoming Ryuo because Master told me to.

“Huh? In that case, your parents own that inn?”

“Yes! My name is Ai Hinatsuru, from the Hot Spring Inn: “Hinatsuru”! I’m in the third gra … ah, fourth grade this spring!”

“So … a third grader.”

“I’m nine! I’ll turn ten this year!”

Really, her age is surprising.

Manners like that and still only in single digits …

“That’s quite a trip, from your family’s Inn all the way here. You came by yourself?”

“Yes! I took the Thunderbird train.”

The Thunderbird, an express line that connects Osaka with the northern coast. If I remember right, it’s a straight shot from Hinatsuru to Osaka station. No need to change trains even once along the way.

Then it’s just one stop on the Kanjou Line from Osaka station to get here. Not that much of an adventurer … But still.

“You must have some really nice parents, letting you travel like this.”

“Y-Yes! They … are very … understanding …”

“They … what now?”

Suddenly, I get the feeling that she’s beating around the bush again…

Considering they lent out their facility for the title match, her parents must love Shogi. Maybe they really buy into that “Let your darling children travel” type of thinking.

“Yeah, but still. I would’ve liked a heads up that you are coming all this way. Nearly jumped out of my shoes when you showed up out of nowhere.”

“Um … I-I-I wrote a letter asking you to take me as an apprentice, but without any reply …”

“…”

I take a very awkward glance toward the mailbox on my front door. It’s practically bursting at the seams with envelopes and junk mail.

Emptying the thing out would be such a pain in the ass … The association always contacts me by email so …

“Y-you did? Sorry about that. Yeah.”

Well, in the end it doesn’t matter if this girl is lying or not.

I have no intention of making her my apprentice either way.

And I highly doubt that I, a teenager at heart, could properly raise one. I don’t have time to worry about anyone else. And I sure as hell don’t want to pee on the floor after losing to an apprentice.

I’ll find another way to keep my promise, but I have to get her to give up on this apprentice thing first.

“Now then.”

I take my Shogi board out from the closet and place it in front of Ai Hinatsuru.

“Th-this is a really nice board!”

“Be gentle with it, okay? I’m still paying off the loan.”

Together with the Shogi pieces, the whole thing cost about as much as a new car.

It’s about eight-and-a-half inches thick, plus the four legs holding it up, so it’s tall enough to hide almost half the grade school girl sitting on her ankles when put directly in front of her.

Now that Ai is physically intimidated, it’s about time to intimidate her mentally.

“I’m a professional Shogi player. Pros can only take on apprentices capable of becoming pros themselves one day.”

That’s not necessarily true, but she doesn’t need to know that now.

“So, I need to see if you have that much talent with my own eyes. Okay?”

That’s a pretense.

Sure, I may be only winning thirty percent of my matches and in the middle of an eleven-game skid, but I’d never lose to a grade schooler. It may be a little harsh, but I’ll beat her, making her cry and give up on the whole thing. That’s the plan.

“Since I need to know exactly what you can do, we’ll play without any handicap.”

“Sure! Ready when you are!!”

What’s this? I thought to myself.

Even under all this pressure, this girl sits up straight and replies with a beaming smile.

Her mettle and posture pass with flying colors.

The windows should be closed, but it feels like a soft breeze blew through the room just now.

☖ Aigakari (Double Wing Attack)

We pull the amber brown pieces out of the box and start setting them up on the board one by one.

Just by looking at how fluid her movements are, it’s pretty easy to guess about how much experience the girl has playing Shogi.

The little girl sitting here: Ai Hinatsuru’s dexterity is, “This there … And that one there!” … in a word, hapless.

With no sense of the proper etiquette, she’s just setting them as fast as she can. It’s probably just nerves, but she’s having trouble keeping the pieces inside the lines on the board. This match is in the bag.

Pieces in place, I say, “You may have the first move.”

“Okay! R-ready to start when you are!!”

“As am I.”

The match begins as we both lower our heads.

Now then, how does she play?

“Heep, haaa ………………………………… aa!”

Ai takes a deep breath and puckers her lips, concentrating with all her might and moves the fu (Pawn) in front of her hisha (Rook) one space forward.

“Ohh? A static style?”

There are two main styles of Shogi, the “Static Rook” and “Ranging Rook.”

In layman’s terms, the “static” style is for people who like to plan everything logically, step by step. The blood type “A” personality if you will. “Ranging” is for people who like to rely on their gut feelings, a type “B.” Sis and I are static, by the way. Our Master is too, so that’s probably why he’s pretty particular about it, much more so than his choice of restrooms.

So I respond by mirroring her move, moving the Pawn in front of my Rook one space forward.

Third move. In no time at all, Ai presses her finger onto the same piece, moving it another space forward with authority.

This is——.

“… Double Wing Attack?”

During the seventh Ryuo title match, the one played at Ai’s family’s inn, I played the same style.

Both players lead with the Pawn in front of their Rook, the simplest and most aggressive pattern there is but furthest from standard strategy. It’s like both players are sitting ducks, throwing axes at each other.

That’s a Double Wing Attack.

So this elementary school girl is challenging the Ryuo to a contest of strength … Okay.

“How weak does she think I am …?”

The words come tumbling out of my mouth before I realize it as I move my own pawn another space forward.

Shogi is dialogue.

There’s a saying like that.

Shogi players aren’t just pushing pieces around. Once they reach a certain level, having a conversation over the board becomes second nature.

“I’m confident my strength is enough! Please don’t hold anything back!”

“Know your place, cheeky kid … All right then. I’ll play along. Bring it!”

Our past four moves went a little like that.

There is no standard strategy for Double Wing Attack, we’re already in uncharted territory.

As expected, I took a big lead in the early stages. Using subtle movements and a pro’s insight, I tear her front line to shreds and start advancing on her King.

“Ah … ugh …”

Ai, pinned down and groaning, is on the verge of tears.

Completely skipping over the middle stages, I move to finish this as quickly as possible. Happens all the time in Double Wing Attacks.

“That’s it.”

Getting a good handle on what my opponent is capable of, I try to think of the fastest way to put the nail in the coffin and position my pieces to go in a no-holds-barred overkill style. I drive her King all the way back to the last row with my heavy hitting pieces just to make sure victory is mine. Then, I hit the gin (Silver).

And of course, Ai raises her defenses against such an onslaught. She should.

But—.

“…………… Here ……… Here ………………… Here ……”

“Huh?”

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

As soon as she saw my move, the girl about to cry suddenly had fire in her eyes.

“Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, hereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere———.”

We’d been keeping a pretty good tempo until her hand froze in midair, nose floating just above the pieces on the board, her whole body ticking back and forth like a metronome and she starts whispering to herself.

——Stop now of all times? No way …

Did she figure out my attack was coming in too strong? Then again, I highly doubt this girl has the skill to hold off a professional’s advance. This match is as good as over.

“Hereherehereherehereherehereherehere …………… Uh-huh!!”

Sitting up and more determined than ever, the tiny girl leans over the large Shogi board, reaches all the way out with her hand, and moves a piece into place. A sharp snap of wood on wood fills the room, echoing higher and higher.

“Huh?”

Sound dribbles out of my mouth the moment I see the move Ai chose to make. It wasn’t to shore up her defense.

Instead—she moved to attack.

That move sends a shockwave across the board that shatters my false sense of security and nearly blew the skin off my cheeks.

“…?!”

It looked like a horrible move at first glance.

Answer an attack with an attack? That should blow up in her face.

It’s like she knew that my attack would come up just short, a slash that sent a chill down my spine.

“?! … That can’t be right!”

The more I read what’s on the board, the attack I thought would “never happen” felt more and more like a dagger aimed at my throat.

“Sacrificing the Knight to take the Silver and put me in check, eh? But if I retreat the King to 6-1 position, the Rook at 4-7 will take the Silver at 6-2 … That’s checkmate if the King is there?! And if the Gold goes in, she’d move the Bishop to 8-3 will take it and then put me in check at the same time?! W-what is this girl?”

How far ahead did she plan this out?!

I look up without even thinking and behold the girl seated across from me.

She doesn’t notice my staring eyes. Instead, she’s bent over like a sprinter in mid-race with her eyes glued to the board, body still ticking back and forth.

“……… Hereherehereherehereherehereherehere ……………”

Eyes racing back and forth over the board and no words, only sounds coming out of her mouth, I can tell that she’s playing out a vast number of scenarios and sequences in her mind at an incredible speed.

She’s transcended the board itself.

Thoughts like strengthening her defense and trying to win my favor haven’t even crossed her mind.

“This girl is!”

Ai Hinatsuru is trying to kill me!!

That thought sends a shiver down my spine.

I’m not scared of the idea that an elementary school girl might beat me. Just the opposite. It’s the joy a Shogi player who has spent years researching the true way to play feels when confronted with something completely new on a Shogi board.

And it’s the happiness a competitor feels when presented with a worthy challenge.

“So you know what you’re doing after all.”

I lick my lips, slip on my special match glasses, and go on the attack with everything I’ve got.

There’s no going back. I can’t go back.

Ai’s not going to retreat. A passion, an enthusiasm I didn’t think a cute girl like this was capable of forced my verbal jab in one ear and out the other.

“… Here, here, herehereherehereherehere——Uh-huh!!”

The little assassin sits up and reaches out with her eyes open wide, firing her Bishop at my King like a cannonball. Of course, I return fire. It’s kill or be killed. It will be over the instant someone even thinks about defending.

A no-guard slugfest.

The wooden clicks get louder, each of us predicting faster and faster as we trade blows in a blood-soaked brawl.

I forgot that the person in front of me was a little girl in grade school at some point and crushed her heart with everything I had.

☗ Review Session

“…… I lost.”

Hearing those words, I was dumbstruck.

How much stronger Ai was in the late game than I thought she’d ever be!

Above all I was dumbstruck by how much fun I had during the whole thing.

I haven’t had such a sweet and stimulating time since facing a top-top class pro in a Double Wing Attack in the Ryuo title match.

No one can play Shogi alone, obviously.

So a meikyoku, a match worth remembering, can never happen if either player is much stronger or much weaker than the other.

Both strategies have to clash at full force, both players keep the big picture in mind and continue making the best possible moves so that the victor is decided by the slimmest of margins and the defeated gracefully accepts their fate like a badge of honor.

That’s what a great match requires.

This match wasn’t one. It was too chaotic to qualify for that name.

However, no matter how highly skilled the players—even pros using the latest research—there is such a thing as a boring match of Shogi. A kind of match that cools the heart.

On the other hand, there are some matches that completely ignore the latest research and throw the standard style out the window to become a perverse variation of the game. That, along with crummy matches where both players make mistakes left and right, tend to get the audience fired up.

Just like words that remain unsaid, a style of Shogi that remains unplayed, no matter how much preparation has gone into it, can never inspire people.

Shogi matches that ignite the soul—where both players put their “hearts” into every move—have courage, fighting spirit, pride, but also fear, tenacity, will, passion, hope, despair and grit. They make the soul burn brighter and brighter.

And Ai’s Shogi reminded me what that feels like.

That Shogi could be this intense. That it was this much fun.

Losing became scary once I had the weight of Ryuo on my shoulders and started caring what was written on the Internet as well as what other people thought. For someone like me who avoided confrontation, choosing to play the safe way even against his own Master, it’s been ages since feeling this heat, since I enjoyed playing this much.

Numbed by eleven consecutive losses, my spirit is shaking, burning to the very core. Something is flickering in my chest, I can feel it.

“Uh, um …”

A nervous voice brings me out of my stunned train of thought at the end of the match.

“S- … Sensei, um …”

“Look here.”

“Huh?”

“What would you have done if I made this move?”

“Oh, well, um … this.”

Going back a few moves, we say what we were thinking at the time.

It’s a study method unique to Shogi called a “review session.”

Even pros don’t always make the best moves.

Time and endurance are limited, so the winner is decided by who made the least number of mistakes. We’re human after all.

“Shogi is a game where the one who made the last mistake loses.”

There’s a reason for this saying.

But we can relax during these review sessions, relive the match and see what the best move was without the pressure. We can pursue true Shogi without all the restrictions. It’s the most fun part of playing for me. A bit irritating after a loss though.

“… I see. You’re pretty strong.”

Confirming Ai’s ability to read the board, I’m impressed by her strength in the late game once again.

“Your early and mid-game strategy could use some work, but you have an excellent feel for the late game. You’ve also got a knack for choosing when and how to attack.”

“N-no, not really … um, thank you so much … Hehe♡”

“Do you do Double Wing Attacks often?”

“Often … well, actually, um …”

Ai shyly drops her head and quietly makes a shocking confession.

“This is the only way I know how ………”

“Say what?!”

Blushing, Ai leans forward to hammer her point home even as I shriek in disbelief.

“I saw your title match in person and was amazed! So I started playing Shogi myself! I wanted to play like you, Sensei, so I copied your style.”

“Hold up! … What? So what you’re saying is …?”

Her proclamation throws me for a loop.

The only opening formation she knows is the Double Wing Attack? So her only starting move is to advance the Pawn in front of the Rook? She’s that new to Shogi? What if her opponent used a Ranging Rook style?

No, before that: she started playing after seeing my title match … right?

“So, then … you’ve only been playing for three months?”

“U-um … Yes. Sorry …”

She must think I’m scolding her, giving a dejected apology like that.

No, no, no, no, no. This is … almost headline news.

A grade school girl who started playing Shogi three months ago challenged the Ryuo to a match with no handicap is an incident in and of itself, but the more startling news is that a grade schooler (practically a beginner) with the ability to put the Ryuo against the ropes in the late game even exists.

“Um … Sensei?’

“Eh? Oh, what is it?”

“M-My … My test … um …”

Eyes getting wetter by the moment, she keeps looking up at me only able to say “um” over and over.

“Test?”

“To be … um, your apprentice …”

“Oh, right.”

That’s what this was. Her entrance test. That’s right, that’s right.

I was going to turn her down either way, and completely forgot about it.

“Hmmm. Let’s see …”

Pretend to think really hard, taking her as an apprentice or not didn’t really seem to matter much anymore.

I just wanted to keep playing Shogi with this girl.

“I still don’t know enough to make a decision. So how about another match for now?”

“P-Please!!”

Her face brightening in the blink of an eye, Ai cheerfully starts lining up pieces.

Time absolutely flew by from there, the two of us continued to play Shogi without stopping to eat anything.

Until dawn. All the way through the night.