Ryuo and Meijin

 NUMBER ONE

Once we got home and I had my apprentice’s cooking for the first time in a while, Ai was setting out teacups on the low table in the tatami room and saying “Master” over and over.

“Master. Master, Master. Maaaster.”

“Yeah? Something wrong?”

“Just saying hello! E-heh♡”

A-dor-a-ble.

“Ughh …… whoaaaaaaa ……!”

I couldn’t stop my spirit’s cry of joy from leaking out. She’s just so cute. Way too cute. I’d love to pat her head and give her a piece of candy, do anything for her. Give her a big hug and …… Wait, wait, wait! I gotta be more careful?! That’s the first step down the Loli path?!

Calm down. Cool your head. This is just the affection a Master feels for their apprentice, that’s all it is ……

“Um …… Master? Were you lonely …… when I was gone?”

“Very. You have no idea.”

“E-heh♡ E-heh♡”

My apprentice sits down on her ankles next to the table, hiding her face like she’s embarrassed. So cute!

I can’t imagine what it would be like not having her here anymore.

It wasn’t all that long ago that I was living on my own, fighting all by myself …… But that feeling of emptiness when my apprentice was gone, I’ve never felt anything like it before.

But then again.

Even though Ai is back here, that same kind of emptiness is still clamping down on me.

“…… Ai. Can we talk?”

“What is it, Master?”

“Something very important.”

I hurt her by hiding things.

That’s why I want to say everything up front. I won’t be making that mistake again.

“Well, do you …… want a younger sister?”

“………?”

Her eyes went blank.

“In other words, basically …… it’s about the girl you played against this afternoon, Ai Yashajin–––.”

“!!”

Flinch! Her whole body just snapped away from me. She’s on high alert ……

“…… If I took her as an apprentice, would you object?”

I said it.

I really didn’t know what I wanted to do about Ai Yashajin until just now, when the words came out of my mouth.

But, I just couldn’t let her go off on her own after all. I think that’s the worst thing I could do. But, it’s not because of what Akira said.

Her playing style intrigues me. I can’t help it.

“…… But she’s already Mr. Chairman’s apprentice, right?”

“Yes, well …… That’s true but ……”

I scratch my head but say as clearly and firmly as possible.

“I’ll take her. By force if I have to.”

“…………”

Ai stays seated, but deftly turns away. Her back to me, she says, “…… Who is number one?”

“Huh?”

No idea what she meant, I ask for clarification and she repeats herself.

“Master, who is number one to you?”

Say what?! What kind of question is that?

Ah, is she talking about who my first apprentice is?

“That’s you, Ai.”

“…… Really?”

“Of course. Who else would it be?”

“That Ai, or Auntie …… Ginko-sensei. Or Keika ……”

Big Sis? Keika? They’re my sibling apprentices, not apprentices.

And Ai Yashajin would be the second in my apprentice lineage, so of course she would be number two. As long as Ai Hinatsuru doesn’t leave, it’ll always be that way.

“What’re you so worried about? No matter how many apprentices I take …… Hypothetically, okay? Only hypothetical.”

Half of a very angry face appeared over my apprentice’s shoulder and I had to scramble to clarify myself.

“I don’t plan on taking any more but …… Hypothetically speaking, no matter how many apprentices I take–––number one will always be you, Ai.”

“……”

Ai, her back still to me, doesn’t say anything.

But, her toes are wiggling back and forth and the curls in her hair are swishing side to side like a dog’s tail. Is …… she happy? She is, right?

“So …… Ai? About taking another apprentice–––.”

“…… How many matches did you play with her?”

“Come again?”

“How many games of Shogi did you play?”

“H-How many ……? Not very many at all. I basically just had her play against people in the city …… If I had to guess, I’d say we played maybe twenty games tops–––.”

“No maybes!!”

“Whoa?! Ahh, ok, weeell …… There was the first game, and then at the classroom, one, two, three, four …… E-Eighteen all together? At least, I think so ……”

“Okay, play nineteen times with me right now.”

“Huuuh?! R-Right now?! I have a league match tomorrow–––.”

“Okay, then once that match is over! Anyway, Master has to play the most matches with me!!”

“O-Okay, okay! I will! We’ll play nineteen games as soon as I get home tomorrow!!”

“That’s a promise?! I won’t forgive you if you break this one?!”

Ai spins back around and starts lining up pieces on my Shogi board as if reserving it for our promised matches.

Seeing my apprentice’s renewed craving to play Shogi tells for sure that what I did to teach her was the right choice.

Losing to Ai Yashajin must have lit her competitive fire.

So, she wants an edge over her, even if it’s just one more match against me.

No doubt! This is directly because of my teachings! Master knows best!

“…… Ai, you’ve grown!”

“Huh? It’s only been a week since I ran away ……?”

What happens when you don’t see an elementary school girl for three days? They grow like weeds. Very, very quickly.

I swear! Grade schoolers are the best!! …… That didn’t come out right, a bit to Loli-ish. I gotta be more careful ……

But anyway, kids grow up just fine on their own. Especially the strong ones.

So, Ai Yashajin will be just fine, even if I’m not with her.

Once she becomes an apprentice to one of the best players around, just as she wanted, she’ll probably join the Women’s League in no time. As the chairman’s apprentice, as the Shogi world’s princess.

But.

I just can’t accept that ending as it is.

That’s why I’m going to break into the castle and rescue the princess. Take her out from right under the king’s nose. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to do something that Sir Ayumu would call evil, an insolent, diabolical act.

The Ryuo’s work is never done.

 RYUO AND MEIJIN

Final round of the Throne League, 5th match.

It’s already been determined that I no longer qualify for this league and will soon drop out of it. As for the chairman, he has the necessary record to stay in the Throne League, but not enough to proceed to the playoffs that will determine who challenges the titleholder. This match is meaningless for the both of us.

And to said meaningless match, I–––

“Kuzuryu-sensei?! T-Those clothes ……!?”

A Sub League member working as the recordkeeper almost stood up in surprise the moment I step into the Onjyoudan no Ma, the Throne Room.

I tip my head in a casual greeting, get situated in the lower seat and take my fan and watch out of my second bag.

“Is it because he’s playing against the chairman?”

“…… That’s one heck of an aura! The Ryuo has arrived ……!”

Other players with matches in the Throne Room today whisper among themselves behind me. All of them understood the meaning behind wearing traditional clothes to a match other than when a title is on the line.

The true meaning behind this attire–––an absolute refusal to lose. On my honor as Ryuo.

It wasn’t long before the sliding door opened to reveal my opponent, a figure standing tall and sharp as a katana.

“Oh ……”

Miss Oga was right next to him like a shadow, but I doubt she needed to say anything for the chairman to realize what I’m wearing just by the sound of the fabric.

There was a time when he was in title matches almost every day, so I’m sure he’s very familiar with it.

“Chairman.”

I address my opponent from the lower seat.

“What is it?”

“I have a request.”

Miss Oga snaps at me.

“Ryuo! Right before a match is hardly the time or the place to–––.”

“Let’s hear what he has to say,” the chairman cuts her off and gestures toward me.

I take a moment to swallow the built-up spit in my mouth and say.

“If …… If I win this match, I would like your permission to take Ai Yashajin as my apprentice.”

“She has already been registered as my apprentice, yes?”

“……”

I had an answer ready for that. A well thought out, logical answer.

But for whatever reason I couldn’t say it and instead reply.

“I want her. No matter what it takes.”

The chairman gave a simple, quiet nod in response.

“All right then.”

Then, he said this.

“Shogi shall decide.”

“…… Yes!”

The chairman silently made his way to the upper seat as Miss Oga lined up his pieces on the board, per her role as his assistant.

However, the chairman usually moves the pieces himself during the match unless something goes very wrong. Just to make sure, he always announces his move before physically moving the piece. That way, what he says takes priority over the move itself in case he grabs the wrong one by mistake.

Blind people can still play Shogi, and become extremely good. Blind players have made their mark in every era of Shogi history.

One example would be the man who created the Ishida-style Ranging Rook strategy, Kengyou Ishida.

Another one would be Kengyou Ishimoto, the man who beat Edo’s Last Master, Souho Amano, without a handicap.

And in the modern era–––the Eternal Meijin, Seiichi Tsukimitsu.