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 THE RYUO’S WORK IS
NEVER DONE!
VOLUME 2

SHIROW SHIRATORI

This novel and all contents herein are the intellectual property of the author, SB
Creative Inc., and all other copyright holders. It may not be reproduced, copied,
adapted, broadcast, printed, or digitally distributed (including broadcasts of any
kind) without the copyright holders’ consent.

Cover, opening artwork, and all illustrations

Shirabii

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
Record 1:
Living in the Kuzuryu Shogi Family Tree
Kobe
Mansion
Rival
A Summons
The 17th
Yashajin
Another Ai
Request
Girl’s Night
Record 2:
New World
First Shinken Match
Perfect Shogi
Grade Schooler Practice Group Again
Pink Panther
Tells
A Lesson for Beginners
Cake
Record 3:
Today, in Class 4-2
Apprentices
Moment of Truth
Raising Apprentices
Stone Door to Heaven
Record 4:
Complete
Master and Apprentice Contract
Little Devil on the Scene
Flawless Composure!
Light that Went Unseen
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Record 5:
Number One
Ryuo and Meijin
Ray of Light
Shogi Family
Epilogue
Afterword
Review Session

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 PROLOGUE
Amateur Meijin.
Out of all the titles that amateur Shogi players can receive,
this is the most prestigious.
People who earn this crowning title receive all sorts of
honors, but a match is the most valuable of all.
A chance to play against a god–––a commemorative match
against the pro Meijin, the one who stands at the pinnacle of
professional Shogi.
The Meijin plays without a Bishop, but of course, this isn’t
just an ordinary game.
The commemorative match that year took place in Kansai.
The professional Meijin arrived at the Kansai Shogi
Association’s holiest of arenas, the Onjyoudan no Ma, fully
dressed in traditional Japanese clothes normally worn for
title matches.
The amateur Meijin arrived at the professional arena one
hour in advance and sat next to the Shogi board to adjust to
his surroundings before the match got underway. It was all
part of his plan. His opponent may have been a professional
Shogi player, but losing with a Bishop handicap would be
embarrassing beyond measure. The man’s desire to win
radiated from his very being.
With a young member of the Sub League taking a seat next
to the board to fulfill his duty as the recordkeeper, the same
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Professional League match procedures were followed as the
match got underway.
The amateur Meijin was perfect in the early game. Using
his one-piece advantage at every turn, he followed his
research to the letter into the mid-game.
He even rode the waves of battle, maintaining his lead all
the way into the late game. His well orchestrated all-out
offensive was designed to end the match in a furious burst
that wouldn’t allow the pro Meijin to unleash his full
potential.
Then, the Meijin attacked with a Knight from a completely
unexpected angle.
That one move turned the match on its head.
“It couldn’t be ……?”
The amateur Meijin groaned after mulling over the
situation for exactly fifteen minutes.
The more he read the board, the more he came to realize
that he had no chance to win the match despite having the
upper hand until that very moment. He had been out read,
plain and simple.
The man’s head, hovering over the board, fell with a
deflated flop.
“…… There’s nothing left. I have lost.”
The man made a few moves to set the scene before
surrendering. Knowing that he left a beautiful record behind
made more of a lasting impression than the agony of defeat.
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Everyone who played against the Meijin felt the same way
after a match.
“You nearly had me,” the pro Meijin said with a smile.
While he admitted that the advance nearly reached him, he
spoke with the brimming confidence that came from perfectly
predicting the attack.
The two players conducted their own review session and
exchanged ideas in the few minutes before reporters,
cameramen and the like were allowed into the arena.
Early game, mid-game and the late game …… With each
revealing how they read the board and comparing their
strategies, the two were engrossed in their own world of
discovery.
“Marvelous,” the pro Meijin said with admiration.
He emerged victorious, but the man’s reading skills were so
precise he could hardly believe his opponent was an amateur.
To the point that he felt it was a waste for him to stay that way
……
“I would be more than happy to take you as an apprentice
should you ever consider testing into the Sub League.”
“Thank you so much for the offer. But my daughter is very
young ……”
He had no intention of turning professional. The man said
so himself.
He may be on top of the amateur world, but still lost to the
top professional with the Bishop handicap. Even if he were to
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try to join the professional ranks, his limit was in plain sight.
Reason being, he had been overwhelmed by the Meijin sitting
in front of him even though he was more than a Bishop
ahead ……
He couldn’t chase the elusive dream of professional Shogi
because he had to support his wife and young daughter. And
even if he succeeded, he could see just how far his talent
could take him.
“But, should my daughter be interested in becoming a
Shogi player when she gets older, then–––.”

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 LIVING IN THE KUZURYU SHOGI
FAMILY TREE
My apprentice, Ai Hinatsuru, and I, Yaichi Kuzuryu, start
every day with Shogi puzzles.
“Ai. Are you ready ……?”
“Y-Yes!”
One book of Shogi puzzles is laying on the tatami mat.
The two of us are sitting side by side in front of it.
My grade school age apprentice is leaning forward with her
hands on the mat in front of her, tiny body rocking back and
forth as if psyching herself up for battle.
I pinch the corner of the book cover between my thumb
and forefinger–––.
“Okay? Ready …… Go!!”
I flip the book open like a gunman whipping out a pistol.
The first puzzle looks like it came right out of a match. It’s a
late-game scenario that could show up in any match.
I’d be embarrassed to call myself a pro if my apprentice
solves this one first. It only took me a glance to figure it out.
“I got it! From 3 One Bishop to 2 Five Gold, fifteen moves
to checkmate! Next!”
“Yes!!”
The first point is mine. I turn the page. The next puzzle is
kyokuzume, where the Rook, King and Bishop are all in a
diagonal line.
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 This situation would never happen in a match but–––.
“Oh, I know! From 5 Six Gold to 2 Two Rook. Nineteen
moves to checkmate! I think!!”
“Gah …… Next!”
Competing with my apprentice like this is a recent
development.
Ai was always looking over the other side whenever I tried
solving a Shogi puzzle, muttering “Ah!” and “Owwh!” to
herself the entire time. She obviously worked them out before
I did. Looking at them upside down too.
So, I forget exactly when we started sitting next to each
other and solving puzzles together, but it developed into a
competition to see who could solve them first like right now.
You may be thinking: what’s the Ryuo, a person at the
pinnacle of the Shogi world, doing competing against a fourth
grader? But you have to remember, this elementary school
girl is a miracle child, a god in human form. Judging her by
mortal standards is pointless.
The two of us are neck and neck after solving ten puzzles.
“All right! Last one! Here we go!!”
“Yes!”
Turn the page and––– Whoa! What the heck is this?!
“It’s just a simple nyugyoku type, right? I’ve got a Rook, a
Silver and a Promoted Pawn to attack with, and the Bishop
and another Gold in the waiting area …… Looks like this will
be over real quick. Hmm? That’s different ……”
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 “…… Here, here, here …… Herehereherehereherehere–––.”
Crap. Ai’s engine kicked into high gear. Got to hurry.
There aren’t too many options for the first move, so if I
start with the least likely–––.
“I solved it! Move 3 Eight Silver, take it away and place
Gold behind the King, and the Bishop in the ninth column to
protect against the other Bishop, move the King to 2 Eight to
take the Gold and 3 Eight Knight–––.”
“That’s uchifu.”
“Oh no?!”
“I got it! Rather than 3 Eight Knight, 4 Nine Knight to 2
Eight Knight. Twenty-three moves to checkmate!!”
“Gah, rats. That’s right, uchifu ……”
The way my solution was going, I’d need to put the King in
checkmate with the Pawn in my waiting area, a move known
as uchifutsume.
But that would break the rules, just like having two Pawns
in the same vertical column, called nifu.
“Haaa, I knew that the 4 Nine Silver would get in the way
from the start, but to think the Pawn that blocked it would get
in my way at the end …… Fell into that trap hook line and
sinker ……”
“Dodging traps feels great♡”
“It’s amazing the author brought this scenario to life with
only six pieces considering you need to block opposing pieces
twice as well as how they resolve to sacrifice the Knight to
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make it all work. Haaaa …… Truly amazing. A masterpiece.”
I can only sigh and marvel at this point. Sure, losing to my
apprentice hurts but it’s all thanks to her I found this
wonderful Shogi puzzle at all. Thank you!
Ai looks just as happy, walking on cloud nine with that last
one solved.
“Doing puzzles like that one makes me want to make my
own ……♡”
“I know what you mean.”
Shogi puzzles are an art form.
There’s so much more to them than regular puzzles. The
first step is figuring out what the author had in mind (their
intention), and then resolving the rest gives you the same
rush and satisfaction as reading a good novel.
“But I can’t recommend making puzzles as part of your
training.”
“Why not? Solving them is just fine ……”
“Once you start making one, all the time in the world won’t
be enough.”
They can be solved in a flash. But making them takes a
long, long time.
It’s not all that strange for one to take about ten years to
make, and some of them required thirty or some unbelievable
number of years to complete. And making one won’t even net
the author a single yen.
I’ve heard many stories about Shogi puzzle authors who
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spent so much time on it that they grew old, their wives
divorced them, they lost custody of their children,
bankrupted their businesses and ended up having their lives
in checkmate rather than the opposing King in the puzzle. It
just ain’t worth it.
“Plus, there doesn’t seem to be a connection between the
ability to create Shogi puzzles and being good at playing
actual Shogi.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Have you ever seen a match end as cleanly and poetically
as a puzzle solution?”
“Umm …… Nope (>-<)”
The more moves required, the more artistic the puzzle is,
the further from reality it gets. Kind of like a fantasy novel.
But that’s exactly why they’re so darn interesting.
“Just look at the nyugyoku puzzle we just did. If the King
reaches the ninth row in a match––– the deepest row in
enemy territory, it’s nearly impossible to put in checkmate.
And I’ve heard that most of the famous Shogi puzzle authors
are only about as good as amateur 1-dan players.”
“But they can make puzzles like that?!”
Solving puzzles and playing Shogi are completely different.
There are many top pros that don’t include Shogi puzzles in
their training regimen because “real checkmates aren’t that
clean.”
In that case, what’s the best way to practice and how much?
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I have no clue.
Studying the ins and outs of Shogi more than anyone else
doesn’t mean you’ll be better than everyone else.
The Shogi path is unforgiving. There’s so much we still
don’t know.
“Listen Ai. It’s not about simply solving all the Shogi
puzzles you can and playing as many practice games as time
allows, but finding the right balance that’s most effective for
you. Always keep that in mind.”
“Master, Master! This one is really interesting!”
“I told you to listen, didn’t I …… Ohh? A Defenseless King?”
It’s a type of puzzle where the King doesn’t have a single
piece defending it.
Sure, it looks simple enough, but it’s already in enemy
territory like the last puzzle. So it’s really difficult to force
checkmate.
Let’s see …… First, place the Rook at 2 Eight–––.
“It’s fifty-nine moves until the Gold reaches 2 Four. The
sequence starting on move thirty-six, moving the Pawn all the
way to 2 Four Rook on thirty-nine, is particularly satisfying.”
“You’re amazing, Master! That took you what, two
seconds?!”
“I’m a bit peeved you didn’t wait for me to start solving it
……”
“Tee-hehe♡”
Ai sticks her tongue out at me. Damn cute. Makes me want
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to give her a treat for no reason at all.
“I see this author’s name all the time …… How do you read
those characters? Gekkou?”
“That’s the chairman.”
“Who?”
“The chairman. Seiichi Tsukimitsu.”
“…… Chairman?”
“Chairman of the Japan Shogi Association. He’s at the top
of all pro Shogi players. You know, the 17th Meijin?”
“S-Sorry …… I, um, don’t know many pro players other than
you, Master ……”
Ai started playing Shogi only four months ago.
And it was seeing my match that got her into it in the first
place. She spent three months doing the Shogi puzzles and
playing over the Internet after that, so she taught herself how
to play. Her talent is astounding and her skills are on the rise,
but she is still just a beginner. I’ve got a lot to teach her.
“So, Master, what’s the plan for today? A practice group?
Or are you going to go out somewhere?”
“I’ve got work to do. And you’re coming with me, Ai.”
“Work? But it’s Saturday, a stay home day …… And I’m
coming with you? What kind of work is it?”
I answer my apprentice’s question as I pull a suit out of my
closet.
“A lesson.”

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 KOBE
“Oh wow! So this is Kobe?!”
Kobe, San-nomiya.
Surprised by all the people once we got off the train, Ai
looks up at me with twinkling eyes. She’s acting like a kid on a
field trip.
“It’s so close to Osaka! The trip didn’t take any time at all!!”
“Because it’s just a twenty-minute ride on an express train
from Osaka Station.”
Since the association headquarters and my apartment are
just outside Fukushima Station, one stop away from Osaka on
the Kanjou Line, the whole trip only takes about thirty
minutes once you factor in the time it takes to change trains.
The association’s location is fantastic.
“Ai. Your hand.”
“Y-Yes!!”
I take her hand once we’re through the turnstile. Ai only
just moved here from the north coast. Getting separated
would be bad.
“I know it’s a bit embarrassing, but deal with it, okay?”
“I promise I’ll never let go!!! Never, ever again!!!!”
“N-never ……?”
That would be a problem ……
“Look! Look, Master! There’s people and stores all over the
place!”
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 “Kobe is always like this on weekends. There are a few
European-style buildings a short walk from here, modern
temples and Chinatown in Nankinmachi too.”
“European-style! Chinatown!”
This part of the city, Sannomiya, is particularly busy
because there are so many popular tourist spots—meaning it’s
really crowded. Doesn’t help that spring is peak tourist
season.
Even among this throng of humanity, Ai stands out like a
sore thumb.
She’s squeezing the daylights out of my hand with one of
hers and holding up a shingen-bukuro (a small purse that
matches traditional Japanese clothing, just big enough to hold
a fan—Shogi players use them during title matches because
they’re so convenient) with the other hand. People walking by
us are rubbernecking for a closer look.
First off, she’s very cute. That’s all it takes to overwhelm
other people.
Add in Ai’s innocent and naïve personality, and everything
she does makes people want to shower her with affection like
a puppy.
That slight lisp in her voice. Her expression changes in the
blink of an eye. She’s cute no matter what she does.
“…… Crazy. This is so crazy …… I can’t resist ……”
“Huh? Master? What’s so crazy?”
“Uh, um ……”
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 Crap. I got so caught up in how damn cute my apprentice is
that I forgot about work and took her sightseeing. We even
stopped at a café that I hadn’t planned on while I was off in la
la land, and now we’re eating cake ……
“Oh! It’s the cake, right?! It is crazy good!!”
“Yeah …… That’s exactly what I meant ……”
“Haa …… Being with you, drinking tea in Kobe. It’s like a
dream! I’m so happy ……♡”
Also, the fact that she doesn’t realize just how cute she is
makes it all the more difficult to defend against it. It’s the
Defenseless King. Everything gets washed away by that
cuteness. Nothing is more vulnerable than this.
“…… Ai. Can you listen for a second?”
“Oh! Master. You’ve got some frosting on your cheek.”
“Huh? Where?”
“Here!”

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 The fourth grader leans over the table, reaches out toward
her Master and scoops the bit of whipped cream off his cheek
before sticking it in her mouth.
“He-he♡”
She smiles like she’s having the time of her life. Is she
trying to kill me?!
P-Please, I’m begging you, you’re a sitting duck like this ……
I will my weakening spine to wake the hell up and teach my
apprentice a thing or two about city life.
“…… Are you listening, Ai? Bad people tend to gather in
crowded places like this in Osaka and Kobe. Cute little girls
like you, Ai, are easy targets. Never come to these places
unless Keika or I are with you, okay?”
“Sorry, Master. I couldn’t really hear you. Can you say that
again?”
“Like I said, cute girls like you are easy targets for bad
people, so you need to keep your eyes open–––.”
“E-he♡ E-heh-heh♡.”
For some reason, my apprentice happily puffs out her
cheeks as I’m trying to warn her. So damn cute.
“Listen you …… Something bad is going to happen if you
don’t take me seriously. Cities are dangerous places, so you
always need to be careful.”
“Oookay!”
At least I got that answer out of her, but she’s frolicking her
way to my side of the table with that poufy smile of hers still
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on her face. Her cuteness is overflowing. For the love of all
that’s sacred, make it stop!!
A lot of people that play Shogi aren’t interested in much
else, my apprentice included. Actually, Shogi is about the only
thing they’re interested in.
“Big Sis had quite a few problems herself–––.”
“!!”
A jolt ran down Ai’s body at the mere mention of Big Sis.
My elder “sister” apprentice, the two-title holder Ginko
Sora, stands out of the crowd like you wouldn’t believe.
Not only do her silver hair and white skin turn her into a
beacon in the sunlight, her perfectly balanced face makes her
look like a fairy or something. More guys have hit on her than
I can count and she’s had a few stalkers too. They always
seem to mistake me for her boyfriend whenever that happens,
causing me a lot of pain. But really, I don’t know how much of
this I can take.
“…… Master.”
“Yeah?”
“Me and that girl …… Which one is higher?”
Higher?
As in which one of the two of you stands out more?
“That’d be Big Sis of course. Her looks make hearts skip a
beat and her face is pretty much everywhere. Only natural:
she’s Naniwa’s Snow White after all.”
“…… Master darabuchi.”
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 Ai’s piping mad. I don’t blame her, bringing up the
opponent that has driven her to tears in Practice League
matches. Must’ve been too much for her.
Having a higher-ranking rival in the same
Master/apprentice line has triggered her competitive spirit. It
happens even when not playing Shogi.
That competitive spirit …… That’s what I like to see!
But please, leave me out of your fights, okay!!
“So then, Master. You said we had work today? Was it to
explore Kobe?”
“Of course not …… We have a lesson. A lesson, got that?”
I let out a long sigh, take a swig of coffee and explain what
pro Shogi players do for work.
“We basically do two kinds of jobs, matches and
promotion. Matches are playing Shogi. Promotion is meant to
introduce people to the game, like being a judge at Shogi
tournaments, giving instructional lessons at regional events
and doing commentary on TV shows or signing autographs
…… What I’m saying is that there’s a lot to do for promotion
besides playing Shogi, but the most important one is
instructional matches. To put it another way: teaching
amateurs how to play.”
“And those are lessons?”
“Yeah. We’re here today to give someone that lives close by
a lesson. Someone who’s helped me out a lot over the years
requested one.”
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 I did not come here to give a grade schooler the Kobe
grand tour.
“That’s big for Sub League members whose main sources of
income are recording Shogi matches and giving lessons. Part-
time jobs aren’t allowed, strictly speaking. It’s a great source
of income for people from the middle of nowhere like
me–––.”
“Money?”
Ai freezes like a statue.
“Um …… People pay money to learn how to play Shogi
……?”
“Of course. Professionals get money for doing a job. That’s
what pro means.”
“……”
Clatter! The fork in Ai’s hand falls to the table.
Then, shaking, Ai says–––.
“I …… I …… I ……”
“What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t paid Master any money!!” Ai yells in the middle
of the café, her face pale as a ghost. Right in the middle of all
these tourists.
Everyone in here is looking at us with shock in their eyes.
And they seem really interested in the two of us …… Maybe
suspicious would be a better word.
Crap. I’m sweating buckets.
“No …… Ai. Don’t worry about that. Money isn’t a problem.”
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 “B-But! Master has been teaching me everything there is to
know! Like how to do this, and the way to do that ……”
People around us are whispering to each other.
“Everything there is to know?!”
“But she’s still so young ……”
“Shouldn’t somebody report this to the police?”
Crap, crap, crap!
“And me living with you costs money, doesn’t it?! I, I’m
living in Master’s room! The two of us are living together!!”
“J-Just calm down, okay? Don’t be so loud, alright?”
They’ll call the police …… yeah?
“Ghaa?! B-But what can I do?! How, how can I make the
money to pay you ……?”
“No, wait. Would you listen to me?”
“I, I guess …… I have to pay with …… my body ……!”
“That was on purpose?! You’re trying to give people the
wrong idea, aren’t you?!”
I pull the trembling grade schooler, fumbling with the hem
of her skirt, away from the table, pay the bill and take her
outside.
Then I explained to her as calmly as possible.
“…… See here. Shogi players don’t take money from
apprentices. Not usually, anyway.”
“They don’t?! W-Why not ……?”
“No parent would ever take money from their own kids,
right? It’s the same way with apprentices. So, you don’t need
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to worry about money, Ai.”
Students that come to a Shogi classroom to learn how to
play and apprentices that want to become professionals are
treated very differently.
The entire Shogi world considers apprentices that commit
themselves entirely to the game to be their own children.
That’s exactly why only children with enough skill get taken
as apprentices.
“Also, your parents are sending me money every month.
Your allowance comes right out of that.”
“…… It does?”
“It pays for any clothes and any whatnots you need too.”
It’s true that I’m getting money from Ai’s parents.
I told them not to worry about it, but they wouldn’t take no
for an answer. “At least let us pay for everyday expenses!” It
would be rude to reject that kind of offer.
So, I did give in, but I’m putting all of it into a savings
account for Ai.
She can use it to buy a really nice kimono to wear for her
first title match in the Women’s League. A professional good
enough to compete for multiple titles can never have enough
kimonos.
And I will see to it that Ai becomes that kind of
professional.
“Just make sure to say thank you over the phone next time
you talk to your parents, okay?”
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 “I will!”
“Oh, man …… We’ve wasted so much time on this nonsense.
Hurry up!”
“Right behind you, Master!!”
After taking her hand again so we don’t get separated, Ai
and I took off at a sprint.

MANSION
“Oh, wow, wow …… This mansion is huge ……”
“He said he had one of the old European-style mansions
near the port moved out here.”
Made from bricks, it sits on a hill overlooking the town,
which is filled with unique Western buildings.
You can see all the way out over Kobe to the ocean from
the front door. Can’t beat this view.
“That being said, he’s made quite a few changes. Installing
a tatami room for Shogi matches is a given, but he also turned
the roof into a beer garden.”
“Beer garden!!”
She sounds surprised, like she doesn’t completely
understand …… But, growing up at an inn with a hot spring,
I’m pretty sure she gets the gist.
“So, who lives in this place?”
“A novelist.”
“Really?! Master, I’ve never met an author before!”
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 “Is-Is that right ……?”
“What kind of books does he write?”
“…… Romance novels, I guess …… For adults ……”
“How wonderful!!”
“……”
I really don’t know how to describe the master of this house
to my sparkly eyed apprentice.
His name is Dan Onizaka.
The romantic novels he writes …… are bestsellers in the
sensual novel genre.
His most famous work is called Net and Meat.
As for the content, I’d like to avoid going into too much
detail, but I think you’d understand what a book with a
beautiful woman strung up like a slab of meat on the cover
would be about.
To be blunt–––he’s a master S & M novelist.
“Well, he used to be a grade school teacher, but apparently
he would turn his classes into a study hall so he could write
……”
“Wow!”
To think he was writing S & M. That little anecdote became
legendary.
“But, Master. Why do you know an author who lives in a
big mansion like this?”
“Onizaka-sensei is a Shogi enthusiast and, as I said before,
he helped me out a lot when I was in the Sub League.”
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 We call people who are particularly fond of games like
Shogi and Go enthusiasts. Once they find a favorite player,
they take his or her lessons as a way to support them.
In sumo wrestling terms: tanimachi. They’re patrons.
Apparently, Ai’s grandfather was like that as well.
“He’s been supporting me like a benefactor since I first
started learning under Master Kiyotaki. He heard that I took
an apprentice and said he’d be delighted to meet you.”
“Meet …… me?”
“Yeah. So, you’re the one taking center stage today, not
me.”
“I am?!”
“Your first job.”
Gently teasing my surprised apprentice, we step through
the front gate.
Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about bringing an
elementary school girl inside this mansion owned by a man
who writes scandalous novels …… Well, probably safer than
someone who writes light novels. All those guys have Lolita
complexes.
Onizaka-sensei prefers mature women, most of his
heroines are widows and he comes off as a normal friendly
geezer despite writing what he does, I reassure myself as I
open the front door and …… Right there in the entrance way!!
“Master! Look at that wooden horsey!”
Ai immediately spots the triangular torture device with a
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horse’s head on the front and jumps for joy. I’m on the verge
of panic.
“Oooh! There’s a whip on the wall over here! Oh, wow! It’s
so thick! Hey, hey, Master. We can pretend we’re cowboys!”
“……Yes, we could.”
“Huh, what’s this, Master? It’s all bumpy. And there’s
something weird sticking up at the bottom. What is this?”
“L-Let’s go to the back room! It’d be rude to keep Onizaka-
sensei waiting! Okay?!”
“Oh-oh! M-Master! This thing dances when you press the
button?!”
“Just get moving!!”
I take the dancing bumpy thing from Ai’s hand and chuck it
far out of sight before the two of us follow a red carpet to a
room at the back of the mansion.
Then I scream at the grinning geezer sitting in the corner,
“Onizaka-sensei! What was all that?!”
“All that? How do you mean?”
“The wooden horse, the whip, that bumpy thing! Why did
you put all of that in the front hallway?!”
“I did a little redecorating.”
“When?!”
“This morning.”
“You did that on purpose?!!”
Perverted geezer! Lining up all that stuff for an elementary
schooler?!
| Azura Ren |
 “Master? Is there something wrong with putting the horsey
in the front hallway?”
“You should never leave toys around!!”
“I thought a kiddo would get a kick out of them.”
Oh, she got a kick out of them all right! That’s the problem!
“Oh, okay, that’s enough chitchat. I’m itching for a game.”
“……”
Onizaka-sensei cheerfully starts setting up a Shogi board. I
can’t stay mad at him, not after seeing his innocent side. I
turn to face my patiently waiting apprentice to address her.
“…… Ai. You remember what I taught you, right?”
“Y-Yes!”
Once she takes a fan out of her purse, Ai sets it down in
front of her knees and bows as low as she can with both hands
on the tatami mat. Then, she introduces herself.
“I’m Ai Hinatsuru, a member of the Kansai Shogi
Association and the Kuzuryu Shogi family tree. It’s a pleasure
to make your acquaintance!”
“So, you’re Ai, eh?”
Onizaka-sensei’s gaze falls tenderly on Ai as my apprentice
introduces herself without stuttering. I swear, that’s the face
of an old man about to give his granddaughter some money.
“All right then. Shall we start without a handicap?”
“Sure! Ready when you are!!”
“You got spunk, kiddo,” said Sensei, narrowing his eyes as
he made his first move. Seriously, any kid would be happy to
| Azura Ren |
call him grandpa when he’s like this. How could anyone so
warm and friendly write perverted novels? Weird.
By the way, Onizaki-sensei is amateur 4-dan …… At least on
paper. I’d say he is actually closer to 2-dan.
This disparity is because of his services to the
association–––he donates so much money to help promote
the game that they decided to promote him as a thank you.
Doing that for famous people is an important part of the
association’s diplomacy.
On the other hand, Ai is a genuine amateur 4-dan.
She can hold her ground against 5-dan players now. People
that hold amateur 5-dan are in a class strong enough to
represent entire prefectures in tournaments. Since most of
her experience has come from Shogi puzzles and playing
against people on the Internet, Ai doesn’t know how to read
between the lines during a match, let alone hold back.
That’s why she put Onizaka-sensei in checkmate with ease.
“Whew, you’re good! I don’t stand a chance without a
handicap.”
Even after losing, Sensei chuckles and says, “One more!
Can I ask you to take away your Bishop?”
“S-Sure! Ready when you are!!”
A new match was underway as soon as the pieces were set
in place. However, Ai doesn’t have the Bishop in her ranks
this time.
And not having a Bishop affects a lot more on the board
| Azura Ren |
than just being one big piece down.
“……?!”
Ai had to catch her breath as Onizaka-sensei advances
much faster than before. A smirk crawls across his lips,
curling deeper than I ever thought possible.
“Surprised, are you? I’m pretty good at playing with a
handicap.”
Onizaka-sensei has been playing against pro players and
Support League members for decades.
In other words, he’s played hundreds of matches as the
shita-te, the lower player.
Therefore, he has far more experience playing with a
handicap than in even matches, against the best and brightest
of the Shogi world no less. No one is better at playing as a
lower player than him. Every single pro and Women’s League
player Onizaka-sensei has helped out over the years,
including Big Sis and myself, have suffered at the hands of
this hypocritical geezer in handicap matches.
I can’t remember who it was, but they gave him the perfect
alias–––Uwate-Killing Demon.
“So, what’d you think? Can’t overlook my style, now can
you?”
“Keh ……!”
“Then again, being good with a handicap is nothing to hang
your hat on.”
This match turned into a heated battle mostly because Ai
| Azura Ren |
isn’t used to being the uwa-te or upper player. Her not
wanting to lose in front of her master is only compounding
the pressure, I’m sure.
Was this too much ……?
But she’ll be playing more matches as the upper player as
she climbs up the Practice League ranks. It’d be better to have
her go through baptism of fire here and now.
With those thoughts in my head and my eyes glued to the
board, someone else comes into the room and takes a seat
next to me.
“I will be observing for a while.”
“Ah, sure ……”
I nod without even thinking.
It’s a man about Onizaka-sensei’s age dressed in traditional
Japanese clothing.
While not very tall, he’s distinguished. Being this close, I
can almost feel his presence on my skin. He’s got an air that
only a man who’s been through many trials and tribulations
could possess … There’s no doubt in my mind he’s spent most
of his life competing. Strange people who don’t identify
themselves pass through Onizaka-sensei’s mansion all the
time. Maybe he plays Go? I doubt anyone that plays mahjong
or chess would dress like that ……
I wanted to ask, but I restrained myself because it’s rude to
start a conversation next to the board in the middle of a
match.
| Azura Ren |
 “Now, now. With this many pieces on my side, that King
should be as good as mine ……”
The late game has arrived and Onizaka-sensei is in the lead.
Ai’s defenses have been decimated, and now her only hope
of victory is to advance her King into enemy territory.
However, that’s going to be extremely difficult. One slightly
wrong move and this match’ll be over on the spot–––.
“…… Here, here, here, hereherehereherehereherehere ……
Yes!!”
Ai confidently advances her King with a path in mind.
Once she safely advanced across the board, she promptly
put the lower player’s King into checkmate.
“Woah …… You’re good! Really good!”
Onizaka-sensei tosses some of his captured pieces onto the
board to signal his surrender. He’s got a smile on his face, but
I’m sure losing in that fashion has him burning up inside.
“You’re a head above the rest once the pieces start clashing.
Never thought I’d lose from that position. I’m stunned ……”
“Uh, umm …… If you had moved to this piece here, I would
have lost ……”
“…… You’re a nice kiddo, Ai.”
The elderly gentleman next to me and I watch them start a
review session for a moment before he strikes up a
conversation in a quiet voice.
“For one so young, a girl even, to defeat a grown man
benefiting from a handicap …… Mr. Onizaka informed that me
| Azura Ren |
a talented child was coming today, but I had no idea she’d be
this good.”
“That’s because she is talented.”
“Doesn’t having that talent at your mercy frighten you?”
“Very much so. Yes.”
My body leans in by itself as I agree with every word he
says.
“I’m always worried that I might do something that slows
down her progress or wastes her talent. I’m constantly
wondering …… if there’s a better way to teach her.”
“However I do believe you possess the same talent as she.
Why not raise her the same way you developed your own
talent?”
“Everything would be so much easier if that were the case
……”
I massage my forehand and reveal what’s been tormenting
me. I could never say this stuff to someone in the Shogi world.
After all, there are things you can only say to people you don’t
know.
“There are many different ways to improve. There’s no
guarantee that studying Shogi as much as you can will bear
fruit.”
“You don’t say ……”
“But, you’ll never get better without studying. In that case,
you’ve got to find the right amount of studying for you
personally, but everyone is different. In the end, I think that
| Azura Ren |
only the players who figure out what works for them will rise
to the top of the Shogi world. That’s what makes teaching so
difficult. She might regress because of how I teach.”
“Is that so?”
“But I don’t have an answer. I’m not cut out to be a Master
……”
“Your concern shows that you care.”
“But I have to produce results. It’s that kind of world.”
“Is it now ……?”
The elderly gentleman folds his arms across his chest and
looks to the floor, deep in thought.
“……To consider such details while still so young …… Now I
understand why that honorable man was so insistent ……”
“What?”
“I have witnessed something wonderful today. Now, I shall
take my leave–––.”
With those few words, the elderly gentleman left the room.
His farewell was so smooth that I lost my chance to ask him
his name.

RIVAL
Ai left to use the facilities, so I used the opportunity to talk
with Onizaka-sensei.
“So, what did you think? How is Ai?”
“I think she’s got game sense. Maybe better than little miss
| Azura Ren |
Ginko.”
“Better than Big Sis?! D-Don’t you think that’s a little much
……?”
My elder “sister” apprentice, Ginko Sora holds two
women’s titles, Queen and Women’s Throne, while holding a
2-dan ranking in the Sub League. She’s the best woman in the
history of Shogi.
She herself may be a bit peeved that her flawless victory
record earned her the alias Naniwa’s Snow White, but to think
that Ai could be even more talented than her ……
“Yeah, but she’ll never overtake Miss Ginko at this rate.”
“Come again? …… Why is that?”
“Cause she doesn’t have a rival.”
Onizaka-sensei declares.
“That’s how it is everywhere. No one ever got good on their
own. Shogi is a game for two after all. It’s that competition
that drives people past their limits for the first time.”
–––Competition.
I couldn’t help but feel that he brought up something
extremely important that I didn’t even notice.
“It’s important to have fun. You know what they say:
‘enjoyment is the best talent.’ But talent won’t make you good.
It’s the desire to get stronger that brings out potential. And
it’s that desire that makes you feel threatened when a rival
might surpass you.”
“Feel threatened?”
| Azura Ren |
 “There aren’t any kiddos Ai’s age in Kanto or Kansai at the
moment that can challenge her. But little Miss Ginko was
lucky enough to have someone.”
“But, Big Sis has no rivals. Even her enemies in the
Women’s League can’t–––.”
“Not a lady. You.”
“Me?”
“Very much so. Back when the two of you were runts ……
You still are runts in my eyes, but that’s beside the point ……
Back when you were Ai’s age, little Miss Ginko and yourself
competed all the time and got better, no? I remember it like it
was yesterday. The two of you sitting across the board from
each other in this very house, driving each other to tears and
fighting with everything you had. Those were the days.”
Sensei glances around the room as if taking a trip down
memory lane.
“Little Miss Ginko has only ever had one goal, Ryuo Yaichi
Kuzuryu.”
His face turns serious.
“Everything that she’s doing to become a pro isn’t because
she wanted titles or to be the first in history. It’s to fight you
on an even field. That’s why she’s chosen to follow the most
difficult path.”
It’s true, I was the first to enter the purgatory known as the
Sub League. Big Sis tested in a year later.
I pretty much followed a set path, entering the Sub League
| Azura Ren |
because I wanted to be like my Master, but Big Sis had the
option of going into the Women’s League after the Practice
League. All this time I thought that she joined the Sub League
simply because Master recognized that she had enough talent
to become a professional Shogi player.
Never once did it cross my mind that I might have
influenced her decision ……
“But Ai though, she’s just a fledgling that idolizes you,
toddling along in your footsteps. There’s no competition.
That’s why she’ll never surpass little Miss Ginko the way
things are now.”
“……”
“There’s nothing wrong with doting on an apprentice.
Teaching all the ins and outs is how Masters show they care.
But Masters also show their affection by throwing their
apprentices into the fire.”
As someone who’s been involved in the Shogi world for so
many years, Onizaka-sensei’s words carry a lot of weight.
I was very moved by his speech, but ……
“Master, Master! There was a broken necklace on the
bathroom floor!”
That feeling instantly disappeared the moment I saw my
apprentice come back holding a broken necklace with a golf
ball–sized, white pendant in the middle. I snatch it out of her
hands and hurl it straight at the perverted geezer.
“So how was it? Playing against Onizaka-sensei?”
| Azura Ren |
 “He’s really good with an advantage!”
By then it was long past time to go.
Later Ai’s competitive juices were still flowing, even after
we left the mansion and made our way back to the train
station. Her cheeks are still red from a match.
Now that I think about it, I don’t think she’s been that into a
match since she came to Osaka.
But then again, it wasn’t anywhere near as intense as her
match against Big Sis for the Practice League entrance test.
Meanwhile, Onizaka-sensei’s words are stuck in my head like
mud that just won’t go away.
However, I’m with my apprentice. I can’t let her see me
worry, so I put some pep in my voice and say, “Got a nice
chunk of change too. So why don’t we go to Chinatown and
eat something good before heading home?”
“Chinese!!”
“Want anything specific?”
“Crab dumplings!!”
“Crab dumplings it is. Good, aren’t they?”
This girl loves crab. She also likes the kani kakoi crab
formation strategy.
“Cra-bby! Crab, crab, crabby♪”
Watching her dance around, snapping her fingers in the air
like scissors this way, part of me thinks I don’t need to be
strict and send her to the Shogi wolves. She’ll get plenty
strong growing up as a carefree, naïve spirit, and that might
| Azura Ren |
be the best thing for her–––.
My smartphone buzzes just as that thought crossed my
mind.
“Master? Someone’s calling you. Shouldn’t you answer?”
“It’s fine. The number isn’t registered.”
Taking a quick look at the screen, I have no idea who is
calling so I just put the phone back in my pocket.
“This happens all the time. Strange phone calls.”
“People you don’t know call you on your phone?”
“Yeah. While I have no idea how they get my number in the
first place. Some people avoid the association and contact me
directly to do TV spots without an appointment, sometimes
it’s a prank call and others: it’s your regular Shogi fan. It’s
pretty much always one of those. One guy asked me how to
beat anaguma with a shiken bisha, Fourth File Rook, not too
long ago.”
“Pros have it so tough ……”
“You can say that again. That guy should’ve asked someone
who plays Ranging Rook.”
“……”
I received a threatening call from one of Big Sis’s diehard
fans saying, “Break up with Ginko! ‘Cause someone’s gonna
die if you don’t! Me!!” a while back ……
I told him, “Somebody’d die if they were dating that! Me!!”
and hung up right away. I wonder if that guy is still alive.
“Hmm …… This guy just doesn’t know when to quit.”
| Azura Ren |
 “He just keeps calling (>-<).”
The answering machine picks up each time I ignore it, but
he dials again rather than leave a message. Haven’t dealt with
anyone this insistent in a long time.
It’s gotta be some shady character with a few screws loose
in the head. A Ranging Rook player for sure.
It’s getting on my nerves, so I decide to pick up. I answered
in a way that would let them know I’m not happy.
“Yes?”
“Good afternoon. Am I correct in assuming this is Mr.
Yaichi Kuzuryu’s cell phone?”
“Well, yes but ……”
Hearing a calm male voice on the other end of the line
douses my fire a bit, but I can’t let him walk all over me.
Since my own apprentice is right here (mouthing “Go get
him, Master” and trying to strike an intimidating crab pose), I
decide to be a good example on how to deal with annoying
phone calls and speak as calmly as possible.
“And who might you be? Isn’t it common courtesy to
introduce yourself first?”
“Why yes, how rude of me. My name is Tsukimitsu.”
“Tsukimitsu? Could you be more specific?”
“The Japan Shogi Association chairman, Seiichi
Tsukimitsu.”
The phone falls from my hand.
“Master? You, um, dropped your phone.”
| Azura Ren |
 I stand there for a moment absolutely stunned as my
apprentice looks at me in disbelief before I finally pick it up.
My hands are shaking ……

A SUMMONS
The Kansai Association’s Player’s Room is a long, thin
rectangle.
Located on the third floor, it’s always filled with pro
players, Women’s League players, Sub League members and
journalists burning the midnight oil. It’s a place where
members of the Kansai Shogi world come together to practice
and encourage each other in practice groups.
Big Sis and I are in here doing just that, playing practice
Shogi.
“Say, Big Sis.”
“…… What?”
Each of us only has ten seconds to make a move, so the
clicks come one after another as I look up at her face and try
to make it seem like I’m striking up small talk.
“How often do you work with the Practice League these
days?”
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason in particular.”
“Then don’t ask.”
Conversation over. But I can’t give up now.
| Azura Ren |
 I couldn’t get everything Onizaka-sensei said yesterday out
of my head even after I got home.
Just how am I supposed to raise Ai?
Masters also show their affection by throwing their
apprentices into the fire.
His words reminded me of something I heard about in the
past.
There was a time when it was said that Shogi Masters only
played against their apprentices twice.
The first was when they first took them as an apprentice. It
was to measure their abilities firsthand.
The second was when they retired from the Sub League
without going pro.
And it’s said that the Master let their apprentice win.
You may not become a professional, but you’ve improved
so much since you started.
It was a confidence booster——all so they could make a
fresh start in a new world.
Big Sis and I have each played thousands of matches
against Master. It’s considered common practice for Masters
to take a hands-on approach in teaching their apprentices
these days.
But I love this story because it just hits you right in your
feelings.
I understand this now that I’m a Master myself. Making an
apprentice fend for themselves is much more difficult than
| Azura Ren |
giving them special treatment.
Unfortunately, pro Shogi players are extremely isolated.
There’s no one that can help you in the middle of a match. No
one can get better if they’re always protected.
Only those with self-driven strength to improve can
become strong.
That’s why I have to expose Ai to the harsh reality of this
world but ……
There’s this one …… huge obstacle in the way.

–––Ai is just too damn cute.

She makes me wonder if creatures possessing that level of

cuteness should be allowed to exist in this world. There’s a
phrase that means even putting it in your eye wouldn’t hurt,
and truer words have never been spoken. Just looking at her
makes all my problems go away. In that case, even if my eye
gets crushed with her inside it, it’ll just heal right away. Now
how could that hurt? Now isn’t that the ultimate image?
But she’s more than just cute.
Ai does housework. She’s not selfish. She always tries her
best and is damn cute for it.
“Is there anything you’d like?”
When I asked her, she fidgeted a little bit before saying, “I
want to play Shogi with you, Master ……”
How about that? Just what is this cute creature? She’s just
| Azura Ren |
too lovable! No matter how strict anyone tells me to be with
her, it’s just not possible! How could you help but give her a
treat?!
That’s why I’ll always instinctively hold back and never be
able to push her to the edge, and I bet Ai will never get that
I’ll win no matter what it takes! feeling playing against me. A
Master can never be a rival.
That’s where Big Sis comes in.
Knowing her, she’d push Ai to tears without a second
thought. Ai’s thirst for revenge after the Practice League test
will bring out her best, for sure. A grudge match like that will
become a duel to the death.
“Then again …… Big Sis might ……”
“…… Hold up. Huh? What are you blabbering about?”
There’s absolutely no way that Big Sis would help out with
Ai’s training even if I asked her. There’s nothing in it for her.
Plus, she always tries to break her opponent’s spirit,
practice match or not. There’s a very real risk that she’d
destroy my precious apprentice.
That’s a problem. A big problem.
So, I decided I would try to figure out the secrets behind
how she became this superwoman Shogi machine for the time
being. That might give me some ideas.
“Big Sis, how’d you get so good at Shogi?”
“Playing Shogi.”
“Well, yes, I get that, but there’s something more, right?
| Azura Ren |
Doing Shogi puzzles, replaying Shogi records, a certain way
that you studied?”
“Playing Shogi.”
“B …… But just doing matches all the time, don’t you hit a
wall at some point? I’m trying to ask what to do at times like
that ……”
“Play Shogi.”
“You’re right. Playing Shogi is the best answer. But, you
know, what about those times when nothing seems to work no
matter what you do? When that happens–––.”
“Play Shogi.”
“What if you’re in a slump–––?”
“Play Shogi.”
“I was stupid for even trying to ask ……”
“Wanna be laid out on the slab?”
Tempers flaring, our match became just as fiery.
Stubbornly pressing forward, our hands are moving so fast
they bump into each other over and over again as I squeak
out a victory. How’d you like that, Ginko!
“Ryuo.”
“Yes?”
A voice came from behind me as if someone had been
waiting for our match to finish.
As to the certain someone that called me out of the blue, it
was–––.
“…… Ms. Oga?”
| Azura Ren |
 “One’s name is thus.”
Sasari Oga. A female association staff member, a secretary
to be exact.
She used to be a Women’s League player, but had to retire
as a 1-dan.
She’s in her early twenties if I remember right, but her bad
win-loss record forced her out of the league. The same is true
for the main leagues, but the world of women’s Shogi is fierce.
“Ryuo. I apologize for bothering you during practice
but–––.”
“Oh, yes. It’s about that, right?”
I stand up from my chair and Big Sis glares at me.
“So, you’re just going to win and dash?”
“My apologies, twin title holder. The chairman summons.”
“Well, you heard her.”
“…… Drop dead.”
I turn my back on Big Sis’s curse and follow Ms. Oga out of
the Player’s Room. Winning and dashing feels awesome.

THE 17TH
“Excuse me …… Ms. Oga?”
“One’s name is thus.”
Not really sure how to ask, so I tried to get some
information out of the woman who was walking in front of
me.
| Azura Ren |
 “Well …… it’s, you know? I was just wondering if you could
tell me anything before I speak to the chairman to, you know,
put my mind at ease a little bit ……”
“One is not privy to that information.”
Shot down right then and there.
However, I know for a fact she’s lying.
“Don’t be like that. There’s nothing in this world you don’t
know about, isn’t that right? You’ll tell me, won’t you?”
“……”
Ms. Oga stops walking.
Since her position as the chairman’s secretary sends her
back and forth between the Kanto and Kansai branches of the
Shogi Association, rumor has it she knows exactly what’s
happening in the Shogi world at all times.
Also, her position allows her to review all documents that
the chairman needs to see due to special circumstances.
The chairman has so much faith in this former Women’s
League player, who knows everything from the public face to
the inner workings of the Shogi world, that it’s rumored she
does most of the job herself.
All this leads to her nickname—the Shadow Don.
“Then I propose an exchange of information.”
She said with a quick turn to face me. Exchange? What
information?
“A survey that involves you, Ryuo, has been secretly
making its way around the association staff and registered
| Azura Ren |
players.”
“About me? What kind of survey?”
“Predicting who will become your bride.”
“Come again?”
“There are three candidates: your Master’s daughter, your
elder sister apprentice and your elementary school aged live-
in apprentice. Here is the data thus far.”
Ms. Oga holds out her smartphone like it contains every
secret in the world.

Keika Kiyotaki: 2 Votes

Ginko Sora: 17 Votes
Elementary School Girl: 163 Votes

Well, looks like the elementary school girl is way out in front.
“Huh? What the heck is this?! Just what kind of survey is
it?! And why is the elementary school girl crushing the
competition?!”
“It’s designed to find your best match: your relationship
with the candidates, how the candidates treat you and what
type of woman you find most attractive. Those elements were
all considered to achieve these results. It is one’s assessment.”
“So that means everyone thinks I’ve got a Lolita complex?!
The entire Shogi Association?!”
“I’m saying nothing of the sort, only that it’s possible to
draw that conclusion from the collected data.”
| Azura Ren |
 “What other conclusions are there?!”
“So? In reality, who would you choose?”
Ms. Oga asks as she leans in close to me. I can feel her
breath on my face.
“A-A little space please …”
“Heh-heh. So, one’s feminine wiles were too much for you
……?”
“No, it wasn’t that.”
“Now I see. So, it’s true you only show interest in
elementary school girls.”
“Why’d you jump to that conclusion?! What grounds do
you have?!”
“Keep your voice down. We’re in front of the chairman’s
office.”
“……”
As the Shadow Don ignores me, I shut up and she knocks
on the door before announcing our presence.
“This is Oga. I’ve brought the Ryuo.”
“Come in.”
A crisp voice comes from inside the office. Ms. Oga opens
the door and I step into the chairman’s office.
And inside that room–––I stand before a legend.
“It’s been far too long. I don’t believe we’ve spoken since
the Ryuo crowning ceremony.”
“I-It nothing! I, I failed! To keep up …… correspondence
……”
| Azura Ren |
 “Please relax. I haven’t called you here today to scold you.”
A living, breathing legend directs me to a sofa and says with
a tint of humor in his voice, “And besides, you outrank me
now, yes? Ryuo Yaichi Kuzuryu.”
“Not even close …… Please, don’t even joke about that
Eternal Meijin …”
Eternal Meijin–––only people that have held the title of
Meijin, one of the Shogi world’s titles that ranks as high as
Ryuo, for more than five consecutive seasons are allowed to
keep their title when they retire.
There have only been seventeen of them since Soukei
Oohashi in the early 1600s–––and the man in front of me is
number seventeen.
Be that as it may, he is still very much a pro Shogi player
with an A ranking.
He should be about the same age as my 50-something-
year-old Master, Kousuke Kiyotaki 9-dan, but his lean frame
makes him look barely a day over thirty. Simply put, they
don’t look the same age at all …
Moonlight.
That’s how people describe the chairman’s playing style.
His beacon of light first appeared on the Shogi scene when
he became the second junior high school pro Shogi player in
history. He then proceeded to advance through C2, C1, B2, B1
and A rankings in all leagues without losing a match and was
approved as the fastest and youngest Meijin ever.
| Azura Ren |
 Attacking like moonlight seeping through the cracks of a
wall, he always found the fastest way to checkmate.
It’s said that pro players hoped for a quick death rather
than to hold out against the chairman when he went on the
attack.
That’s because it’ll leave behind a beautiful record.
But his sense of aesthetics goes far beyond other players.
He’s even thrown in the towel, joking that he “let the fastest
checkmate get away” before in a must-win match.
He introduced speed into a Shogi world that valued strong
defense above all else, a genius that practically built the
foundation of the modern Shogi scene by himself. None other
than Seiichi Tsukimitsu 9-dan.
But the god that granted him this light also took light away
from him at the same time.
Blind Shogi Prodigy.
What’s even more impressive and awe-inspiring when
talking about Seiichi Tsukimitsu than becoming the youngest
and fastest Meijin in history is the fact that despite being
blinded by an illness in his twenties, he still maintains his
position as a top Shogi player.
Even professionals who have a Shogi board in their mind
struggle to defeat another pro without being able to see the
board all …… It might be better to say damn near impossible.
But he took on that impossibility with a crisp, calm face and
continues to compete at the A level to this day. While the
| Azura Ren |
current Meijin has a considerable lead on him in terms of
titles, there are many who still swear that Seiichi Tsukimitsu
is the best to ever play the game.
What would a living legend like him want with me–––?
“I would like you to accept an apprentice.”
…… Did I hear that right?
“She’s the granddaughter of a man who has made many
generous contributions to the Shogi world for many years.
The girl is nine and in the fourth grade.”
“W-Wait just a minute please! Why me ……? Why would
you ask me?!”
“You like them, right? Elementary school girls.”
“Wha-wha-wha-what are you talking about?! I’m not like
that at all?!”
“I’m only joking. He made the request.”
Joking around with a stoic face like that’ll give me a heart
attack. Please, no more …
“It seems the girl in question refuses to become an
apprentice to anyone without a current A rank or title in their
possession.”
“R-Rather high demands ……
There are only three people registered with the Kansai
Association with titles right now: the man in front of me,
Chairman Tsukimitsu, Worldly Maestro King Mitsuru Oishi,
and me, the Ryuo.
Now if we were talking Women’s Titles, Big Sis has two of
| Azura Ren |
them and there’s Yamashiro Ouka and Machi Kugui, but they
don’t even seem to be part of the equation. Well, Big Sis
couldn’t take an apprentice anyway because she’s in the Sub
League.
“My duties as chairman keep me very busy, so accepting an
apprentice would be rather difficult. Mr. Oishi is currently on
a ritual journey through Kyushu to prepare for his A rank
league placement matches. He’s unreachable.”
“Oh … Is it that time of year again?”
Mr. Oishi has been going on these temple treks ever since
his Sub League days and has become something like a
seasonal clock for the Kansai Shogi world.
The league that determines who will challenge the current
Meijin–––the placement matches start in June.
There aren’t many matches at all in April and May, so it’s a
long spring break for pro Shogi players.
“That and Mr. Oishi isn’t the type to take an apprentice.”
“So, me?”
“I heard that you recently took an apprentice of your own.
An elementary school girl at that.”
“Well, yes but …… I don’t think I could handle another ……”
Ai is a great girl, a Shogi whiz kid that can cook and clean.
Basically, she’s the super apprentice. But even still, she’s in
elementary school girl, so I need to be very attentive. The fact
that she is a live-in apprentice further complicates things.
Like a much younger sister … Nah, I’d say it’s more like I
| Azura Ren |
suddenly have a daughter.
Trying to imagine adding another one into the mix is
making me dizzy. And there’s no doubt that everyone would
think I’ve got a thing for little girls …… I deny it, but more girls
keep showing up …… I can’t talk my way out of that one ……
“Please don’t think on this too hard.”
The chairman asks the impossible with a face as crisp as
the moon in the night sky.
“A two-hour lesson once or twice a week at her residence in
Kobe will suffice. Consider it an extra lesson on your
schedule. That’s not much of the change, is it?”
“Two two-hour lessons a week ……”
“Just until the placement matches in June, or even until
she takes the Practice League test in May. That is fine. She
can be registered as my apprentice on paper.”
“……”
It’s bound to work out okay … Right?
It’s practically unheard of for someone to take a live-in
apprentice like Ai these days. A “dry” relationship between
master and apprentice where the only connection is on paper
and they never play against each other is actually pretty
common. If I fit her into my lesson schedule, it won’t be that
big of a deal.
“They’re offering a bonus for accepting the job. I will
handle the public side of things, but would you be willing to
meet the girl at the very least?”
| Azura Ren |
 “…… Understood. I’ll go have a look for myself.”
I can’t possibly say no to the chairman if he’s going to push
this much. He’s cleverly cut off all my escape routes.
This conversation would turn out to have a great impact on
my life as well as the Shogi world as a whole …… but I had no
idea at the time. No one could’ve ever predicted what was
about to happen.
Except for one person–––Seiichi Tsukimitsu.

YASHAJIN
So, I went a few days later.
“…… What even is that?”
Kobe, Nada Ward.
An exquisite manor stands in an expensive residential area
at the base of Mt. Rokkou. Practically a fortress. A mountain
in its own right.
“T …… this is Kobe? This whole thing is on one plot of land
……?”
“Oi.”
“?!”
A voice snaps like a whip behind me. I turn around and see
a woman wearing a black suit and sunglasses standing at
attention.
A young, beautiful woman with a good sense of style …
However, she’s clearly not some friendly neighbor. This could
| Azura Ren |
be bad.
“Yaichi Kuzuryu-sensei …… Are you not?”
“He’s my twin brother.”
“Funny.”
The sunglass-wearing beauty grabs my shoulder and steers
me through the front gate before I could squeal in a fright.
“Sensei has arrived!”
The other side of the gate may as well have been a different
world …
A whole group of people in black suits and sunglasses are
standing on either side of the gravel path that travels through
the front lawn. Every single one of them is bowing, their
hands on their knees, and saying, “Welcome, Sensei!!” at the
same time.
I thought this kind of thing only happened in movies ……!
It’s terrifying ……!
What’s more.
Boom! Boom! Thundering echoes that don’t belong in
expensive residential areas ring out.
“T-Taiko drums?!”
–––It’s said that really fancy inns would greet players and
customers with Taiko drums when they would “camp”
overnight for title matches back in the old days of the Shogi
world.
But never in a million years did I think I’d show up at some
average guy’s place to give a lesson and hear Taiko drums
| Azura Ren |
instead of the doorbell. Then again, there’s no way this is just
some average guy’s place!
“Sensei, the lord of the manor awaits. Please go inside.”
“I’m feeling a little queasy.”
“Go.”
“Okay ……”
I start to walk and am ushered forward from behind.
What was waiting for me on the other side of the tiger pelt
laying on the floor as a doormat was–––.
“How wonderful to see you again, Kuzuryu-sensei.”
“?! You’re ……!”
“Kouten Yashajin, lord of this manor.”
It was the elderly gentleman I talked to at Onizaka-sensei’s
mansion.
“I apologize for not introducing myself at Mr. Onizaka’s
residence.”
In that moment, the real reason Onizaka-sensei contacted
me clicked.
It wasn’t so that he could meet Ai. Well, I’m sure that was
part of it but–––.
“…… You were watching me, rather than my apprentice,
weren’t you?”
“Both Chairman Tsukimitsu and Mr. Onizaka spoke very
highly of you.”
“They did ……?”
“Indeed. Both claimed that there could be no better
| Azura Ren |
instructor for my granddaughter. Please, if you’ll follow
me–––.”
I follow Mr. Yashajin down a completely spotless hallway. I
briefly considered making a run for it, but after noticing that
the sun-glassed beauty was right behind me, I realized that
was impossible.
Mr. Yashajin comes to a stop up ahead, right in front of a
traditional sliding door that depicts an angel and a demon.
“Allow me to introduce you to her, my granddaughter, Ai.”
“Ai?”
He slides open the door to reveal–––.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 A girl that’s about the same age and size as my apprentice
Ai.
However, her personal aura couldn’t be any different–––a
black Ai sitting there.

ANOTHER AI
“Just so you know, I’ll never call you Master.”
That was the first thing she–––the young girl dressed in
black–––said to me.
“Make no mistake. You’re just a lesson professional
grandfather is paying to teach me. I can’t stand the thought of
a bottom-of-the-barrel Shogi player that happened to claim a
title out of sheer luck considering himself to be my Master.”
“……”
Never would’ve thought such a cute girl would be so
cheeky.
Then again, I’ve run into more sassy kids who are caught
up in their own fantasy world than I can count. It happens to
every kid with Shogi talent, their abilities go to their head. All
the ones that grow up to become pros never let their ego get
popped, instead they bludgeoned their opponents with it. I
know how to deal with them.
Taking my glasses and fan out of my second bag, I turn to
Mr. Yashajin for confirmation.
“I’m allowed to be strict with her, yes?”
| Azura Ren |
 “By all means.”
With her guardian’s permission granted, I test the floor
cushion that was placed in front of the Shogi board.
Then, I take my big pieces, the Rook and the Bishop, off my
side of the board and put them in the piece box.
“A two-piece handicap? That’s fine by me, but it won’t even
be a challenge.”
“Ah, good point. A two-piece handicap wouldn’t be a
challenge at all.”
I take both of my Lances off the corners of board and put
them away in the box.
“Now then, show me what you’ve got.”
“?!”
Her face twitches for the first time, as if the anger boiling
inside of her just set her whole body alight.
“D …… Don’t treat me as some child?! Do you seriously
think you stand a chance with a four-piece handicap?!”
“Stop talking and come get me.”
Ignoring her, I make the first move.
“! …… Prepare to die.”
Whispering something scary under her breath, lady Ai
vents her anger by sliding her first piece with authority.
Neither of us take much time to think as the match
progresses. It’s all standard, completely by the book.
“…… I see. You’re well-versed on how to play handicap
matches.”
| Azura Ren |
 “Of course I am. See? I’m already in victory position.”
“Are you? So, you think you’ve already won?”
“Don’t act tough just because you’re a pro. Just what do you
think you can do?”
“Let’s see ……”
I take a moment to contemplate the Shogi records in my
head.
The ones that come to mind are all from before I turned
pro …… Records from my time in the Sub League.
For the most part, Practice League and Sub League match
records aren’t made public. That’s because their non-pro
records aren’t considered to be worth much.
However, there are diamonds hidden in the rough.
All you could ever need to know about how to play
handicap matches against superior or inferior opponents are
contained in Practice League and Sub League match records.
In handicap matches, the prodigies from all over Japan
play a completely different game from those played by
amateurs. So many strategies that never make it into standard
practice come to life all the time there.
I found one of those hidden diamonds and tried my hand.
“I can do this.”
“……?!”
Ai’s face twitches, shocked by a change she’d never seen
before.
I thought she was just a bratty kid, but that reaction tells
| Azura Ren |
me she’s trying really hard. That’s kinda cute.
“I can do this, too.”
“Huh? …… Huuuh?! That move …… is it allowed ……?”
I get a sadistic kick out of throwing the board into chaos.
Ai’s fingers start trembling with every unexpected move I
make.
“So? Having fun yet?”
“Ugh …… kh, gah ……”
It’s not just players in the Sub and Practice Leagues.
Professional players play thousands, tens of thousands of
handicap matches as the upper player.
I haven’t even been a pro for two years, but with all my
time in the Sub League, I have quite a bit of experience with
these matches. Pros have played with a handicap so much
more than amateurs, there’s no comparison.
And there are ways to utterly destroy lower players.
“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted a challenge?”
“Ngh ……! N-Not yet!”
Biting her lip to bear the shame, Ai flicks her long black
hair over her shoulder with those thin fingers before
squeezing her fists together with a moan.
This pretty girl plays extremely pretty Shogi.
A straightforward playing style unbefitting her twisted
personality. Simple, by the books Shogi. She must’ve been
lucky enough to have a great teacher that drilled the standard
formations into her head when she was younger.
| Azura Ren |
 But there’s a downside. Relying on the standard too much
means that she’s defenseless once the standards no longer
apply.
Her style is too pretty. I don’t feel any stubbornness, any
willingness to be dragged through the mud and emerge
victorious coming from her.
My apprentice makes loads of mistakes in the early and
mid-games only to turn the match on its head in the late
game. This girl is the exact opposite. She’s studious, but
there’s no depth. In other words, she has no talent.
–––That’s all she’s got ……
Now that I’ve got this Ai’s skill level figured out, I move in
to end the match.
“!! There ……!”
She blocks my first attack, face tense with fright.
Standard strategy for handicap matches is all about
attacking.
There’s nothing that tells you how to defend.
That’s why amateurs who rely on the standards start to fall
apart as soon as the match veers away from what they know.
Then, their spirit breaks once the counterattack hits.
“……”
I watch Ai’s head slump. She’s staring into her lap and I
could swear I heard her spirit snap.
Seeing a bratty young lady fall off her high horse is a pitiful
sight.
| Azura Ren |
 No matter how much she whined, how much trash she
talked, one look at the board clearly showed how weak she is.
I doubt that she’s ever felt more ashamed in her life.
–––But she’s suffered enough. Might as well put her out of
her misery with a clean, swift end …
With that thought in mind, I started an all-out offensive.
Ai’s defensive formation was soon riddled with holes after
taking the full force of a pro’s attack.
She’s moving pieces into place to fill them with weak,
trembling fingers, but that’s only delaying the inevitable.
I’ve delivered a fatal blow, and there’s no way to prevent
that now.
“…… I ……”
So, she’s about to admit defeat.
I was sure she was going to throw in the towel. Her spirit
broke long ago.
But.
“I’m …… not done yet!”
“Hm?”
She looks up from the board and locks eyes with me. Sharp
eyes, glowing with demonic tenacity.
Those aren’t the eyes of someone who’s given up.
Ai’s spirit, which I thought was broken, was actually still in
one piece.
That is to say–––.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 “I …… can still fight!!”

Ai uses every single one of her captured pieces to keep my

attack at bay.
It wasn’t long before I looked at what the board had
become and gasped.
“?! When did ……?”
I have no idea how she did it, but her defensive formation
recovered, despite being under siege this whole time.
It’s not a standard defense, not by a long shot.
Her Golds and Silvers that would protect the King were
scattered all over the place by my bombardment, and yet Ai’s
formation is strangely solid.
It’s crooked and looks paper-thin, but the pieces protecting
the King are bound together by some mysterious force, as if
symbolizing her strong will.
–––So she used my offensive to rebuild her defense?!
No, it’s more than that … She is setting up so she can cut off
my attack and counter it!
This skill ……
“Defensive Shogi, huh?”
That was when I first realized I had completely misread
Ai’s talent.
It’s not that she has good offense or has in-depth
knowledge of standard strategy.
It’s just the opposite.
| Azura Ren |
 There are some Shogi players who can harness surprising
strength when under attack.
Thanks to a certain manga, these people have recently
become known as defenders, extraordinary players who can
find ways to use their opponent’s attack strategy against them.
It’s all about skilled prediction and calculating as quickly
and precisely as possible. A kind of sixth sense that allows
them to deny their opponent’s plan, pulling the board into
chaos with brute force.
All of these skills are necessary so one can emerge
victorious when forced to defend.
However, the most important thing of all is–––having the
ironclad mental fortitude to never give up even when the
going gets tough.
Mental prowess, having the nerves to press on without fear
of getting hurt even when staring down the face of the blade,
being brave enough to walk through a hail of bullets. A spirit
strong enough to take damage and still fight to the bitter end
of an intense Shogi match.
In the end, that’s unbreakable spirit.

Ai Yashajin has an unbreakable spirit.

–––This girl …… is good!!

Pull back the plating known as standard and you’ll find
something stronger, fiercer and that shines more beautifully
| Azura Ren |
than any plating–––a sparkling jewel.

REQUEST
Be that as it may, I regrouped my own forces and put Ai in
checkmate under no uncertain terms. Love has no place on a
Shogi board.
“Sob ……!”
“I’ll buy that you know what you’re doing, but your skills
have a long way to go.”
“……!!”
Cheeks glistening with tears, Ai slams a handful of pieces
onto the board and glares at me like an angry demon.
Then I snapped my voice like a whip when she stood up to
leave without saying a word.
“Manners!”
“Shut up!! I hate you!!”
Mr. Yashajin had watched the match without saying a
word, but of course he couldn’t let that slide.
“Watch your mouth, Ai! Do as Sensei tells you.”
“…… How could you, grandfather?!!”
Now on her feet, Ai leaves the room with tears pouring
down her face. The young woman in sunglasses takes off after
her with a start, but Mr. Yashajin stays seated on his ankles
and lets out a long sigh.
Once I put all the pieces back in the box, I lower my head
| Azura Ren |
to the elderly gentleman in hopes that I haven’t made a big
mistake.
“…… I’m sorry, sir. I might’ve pushed her a bit too far ……”
“No, that was acceptable,” he said in a clear voice. Then,
“Haaa ……,” he sighed again as if he has a lot on his mind.
“…… I wanted to ask a Women’s League player to teach her at
first.”
“She didn’t go along with it, did she?”
“Not in the slightest. She claimed that Women’s League
players were too weak ……”
A lot of people say that.
Specifically, many bratty kids like her and middle-of-the-
pack amateurs have no problem with calling Women’s League
players who are stronger than themselves “weak.” It all boils
down to the odd idea that playing against one of them will
make them weaker and they refuse to take lessons from any
of the Women’s League players.
Those people will never become good and, even if they did,
they have some serious issues as people. They’ll never get a
date, that’s for sure. Probably play Ranging Rook …… Nah,
playing style has got nothing to do with it.
“My presence seems to intimidate middle-level players,
that’s what I found while instructing her, and more veteran
players are too lenient with children Ai’s age … I believe that a
young, strict teacher such as yourself will be the best thing for
her.”
| Azura Ren |
 “Well, if you really think so ……”
“So, Sensei. As for becoming Ai’s instructor ……”
I think she has an interesting talent. I’d love to see how far
it takes her.
But I need to focus on training my first apprentice, Ai.
While this arrangement might just mean adding a few lessons
a week, dealing with that kind of kid just isn’t possible.
I’ll turn it down.
But just as I was about to say so.
“…… She has dealt with more than her share of
misfortune.”
Mr. Yashajin managed to squeeze the words out while
staring at his knees.
“After both of her parents passed away in the same
accident, I have taken it upon myself to look after and raise
her as her grandfather …… but I have gotten soft in my old
age, and I’m afraid I may have spoiled her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that ……”
Learning that both Ai’s parents had passed away shakes me
to the core.
“All she ever wants to do is play Shogi, and I have allowed
it. Unfortunately, that resulted in her playing mostly by
herself and hardly ever allowing anyone else to approach
her.”
“By herself?”
Those words cause another tremor.
| Azura Ren |
 “She didn’t get that good by playing against someone else?”
“That’s correct. She is the only one at this residence who
can play and I’ve been informed that she keeps to herself
while at school, although I believe she has played over the
Internet or against a computer a few times.”
“She came that far on her own ……?”
The fact that she acquired all those skills playing Shogi
against herself, that’s the biggest shock of all.
It’s very rare that someone goes pro just by reading Shogi
books and studying match records. It’s also true that that’s the
only way for people out in rural areas to get stronger when
they aren’t fortunate enough to have an opponent.
Those who do make it that way tend to distinguish
themselves with unusual skills and senses.
Could that be what’s behind Ai’s talent ……?
“She has all but ceased listening to me and I, myself, am too
afraid of being despised by my own granddaughter to take a
stronger stand with her … While it shames me to admit it, the
girl will only listen to those who can best her at Shogi at this
point. From the moment she approached me to ask for a
proper Shogi instructor, I immediately wanted to find a
professional Shogi player to become Ai’s role model. Not just
for Shogi, but to teach her how to be an adult.”
“…… Why is she so devoted to playing Shogi?”
“Because her parents taught her how to play.”
The one thing that her deceased father and mother left to
| Azura Ren |
her was Shogi. That’s what Mr. Yashajin tells me.
“Her parents met at a Shogi club in Tokyo while studying in
university. The bond they forged while sitting across the
board is what led to their marriage. They wasted no time in
teaching their only daughter how to play and would often
spend nights playing together as a family unit. Ai’s happiest
memories were made playing Shogi on those nights. That and
……”
“And?”
“She may feel that people will eventually disappear from
her life, but the Shogi board and pieces will always stay by her
side.”
“……”
That’s an even sadder reason than I could’ve imagined.
Shogi is the best tool to bring people together. It’s possible
for two people who understand the game well enough to have
a conversation over the board. That’s why games like Shogi
and Go have been nicknamed hand dialogue.
Let’s say I read some Shogi match records dating back to
the 1600s.
Looking through them, I’d be able to tell what each player
was thinking and what they were trying to accomplish
without too much difficulty. Looking at where they used their
waiting time would also give me a good idea as to what they
were feeling during the match, internal wavering and so on.
Reading records like this makes it possible to converse with
| Azura Ren |
the dead.
But …… Playing Shogi as a way to maintain a connection
with the dead, I think, will end up hurting Ai more in the end.
If strengthening her bond with her deceased parents is why
she wants to get better at Shogi, is she being weighed down
too much by her past?
Once that thought crossed my mind–––the only answer I
could get was that I wanted a little more time to think about
accepting a position as Ai’s instructor or not.
“Kuzuryu-sensei ……”
Mr. Yashajin called out to me as if clinging to the last ray of
hope. He’s tearing up.
“I beg of you, please take Ai under your wing. I beg of you
……”
The elderly gentleman started groveling on the spot,
putting his hands together and repeating “I beg of you” over
and over.
What I saw kneeling before me wasn’t a rich or influential
person, but a wizened old man who was only thinking about
his granddaughter.

GIRL'S NIGHT
I quickly, yet respectfully, declined Mr. Yashajin’s offer to
drive me home and exited the manor through the many
archways created by the small army of people in black suits
| Azura Ren |
bowing on either side of the path. “Thank you, Sensei!!”
Another rousing chorus. It almost feels like a graduation
ceremony. I might cry.
Then.
“Chairman!”
I called Mr. Tsukimitsu the instant I was clear of the
manor.
“Just what the heck was that?! I don’t know how the family
got that rich, but I don’t think I want to?!”
“I would prefer you not say things that could damage their
reputation,” says the one worthy of the 17th Eternal Meijin
title in a cool voice. “The Japan Shogi Association is a public
organization. Under no circumstances would connections to
elicit groups of any kind be allowed.”
“But! That was so obviously–––!”
“While I cannot deny that the elderly Mr. Yashajin once
owned a well-known gambling institution in the Kobe area, he
has long since retired. After submitting foreclosure
documents to the police, his company now operates in several
industries including construction, entertainment, security, as
well as designing and producing new Pachinko machines.
Several former police officers hold board member positions
throughout the company. I would like to make that perfectly
clear.”
Adults can be real dirty ……
“So then? Are you willing to make an addition to your
| Azura Ren |
lesson schedule?”
“…… I played against her just to see for myself.”
“Oh?”
“While I admit she’s very talented, the girl hates my guts. I
made her cry.”
“I see. She seems to have taken a liking to you. I knew I
could count on you.”
“Did you hear anything I just said?!”
“Out of all the professionals sent to their manor, you are
the first to even speak with her.”
“……”
“I await your favorable reply, Ryuo.”

“I’m baaack.”
Getting home to my apartment a little after eight o’clock at
night, I open the unlocked door and hold up some food I
picked up on the way home as I call inside.
“Keika? Thanks for looking after the place while I was out.
I picked up some good sushi so let’s chow wooooooooah!?”
What I saw in my own room was,
–––a clearly uncomfortable and grimacing Keika,
–––my apprentice with her head buried in a blanket,
sobbing like mad,
–––and Big Sis sitting on her ankles next to the Shogi
board in full battle mode.
| Azura Ren |
 All at once.
“Umm …… What’s going on here? Did someone open a
portal to hell, because there’s something demonic about the
air in here ……?”
“Hmm.”
Keika presses her finger against her lower lip, deep in
thought, and tilts her head to the side before answering. “A
girl’s night?”
“I don’t claim to know the first thing about girl’s nights, but
I don’t think they involve my elementary school–aged
apprentice shoving her head under a blanket with the
waterworks going full blast, do they ……?”
Because if they are, girl’s nights are even scarier than hell
……
“Hey, Big Sis.”
I ask the girl obviously behind this miasma of pain and
suffering, Ginko Sora.
“Why are you in Osaka?”
“……”
Maintaining silence, Big Sis–––is dressed in a full kimono.
A very flashy one at that, with crimson sleeves and scarlet
hakama pants. It only enhances her natural beauty, making
her drop-dead gorgeous. Someone dressed like that clearly
doesn’t belong in this cheap two-room apartment.
Kimonos like that are normally saved for special occasions
like coming-of-age ceremonies, but Women’s League players
| Azura Ren |
will wear them for extremely important matches.
In other words, title matches.
Big Sis is currently in the middle of five matches to defend
her Queen title. Or, at least, she should be.
“Didn’t you leave for Shizuoka yesterday? Shouldn’t you be
staying at Fugetsurou Inn? And why are you still wearing
that? Don’t tell me the match is already over?”
Big Sis couldn’t answer.
While Women’s League Title Matches end in one day, it’s
almost unheard of for Big Sis to make it back to Osaka on the
same day. Even moreso was the fact she came back without
changing, making this freakishly unusual. What in the world
happened ……?
“Yaichi. Here.”
“?”
I take a look at the article Keika has open on her
smartphone, which she handed to me.
Queen Ginko Sora dominates the title challenger! Claims
first match without needing two minutes of waiting time.
Challenger, “Women’s King” Ryou Tsukiyomizaka
surrenders before lunch break. Shortest title match on
record.
Oh, wow ……
“Snow White is too strong haha.”
“A princess? More like a demon king ……”
“My precious Archangel broke (tear)”
| Azura Ren |
 “Ryou’s spirit snapped in the early game after losing so
much ground ……”
“There’s a notice on the public blog that says:
circumstances prevented a review session. Does that mean
Ms. Tsukiyomizaka couldn’t even finish it? Too much of a
shocked mess to continue?”
“Here’s something from the scene. The only one to appear
at the big board for the review session was Queen Ginko
Sora. She even shook hands with fans after giving her own
recap (^-^)/”
“Looks like those circumstances were all on Ryou after all.”
“So Lady Gin is now a perfect 48-0 against the Women’s
League. She’ll reach fifty victory stars in a row in no time at
this rate.”
“She should have to give a handicap next time <– I’m
being serious here.”
Reading all the Shogi fans’ tweets gave me a pretty good
idea as to what happened.
But there are still a few things I don’t understand.
1. Why did Big Sis come back wearing her kimono?
2. What’s the meaning behind using two minutes of waiting
time?
I get out my own smartphone and pull up the Mynavi
Women’s Open public access site and take a look at the match
record. Since they post the men’s and women’s title match

| Azura Ren |
records for anyone to see for free, the best of the best are only
a few clicks away. Why not have a look for yourself?
“Let’s see here …… Big Sis had the first move, and she went
with–––.”
Snap!
I heard a piece hit the Shogi board and look in that
direction. Big Sis just made the same move as the record on
my phone.
“…… Is that an invitation?”
“……”
She didn’t say anything, but I can practically feel the
burning energy from her fingertips, itching for a battle but
nowhere to go.
So I sit across the board from her and make the second
move–––just as the challenger had done.
“…… Now I see. Ryou led the match into yokofu dori: Side
Pawn Capture. That means that a wrong move somewhere
brought the match to an end.”
Side Pawn Capture is one of the Static Rook strategies that
turns the early game into a brawl.
“Because Side Pawn matches tend to hinge on who has
spent more time studying …… Ah! That’s the change she went
with. Okay, so then ……”
Ryou’s twenty-fourth move was the cause.
This particular strategy was considered Defensive
Advantage by the Pro Shogi Leagues two weeks ago, but the
| Azura Ren |
Kansai (West) Sub League determined it to be Offensive
Advantage just last week. They turned the standard on its
head.
Ryou, living in Kanto (East), didn’t know she was using an
outdated standard. Big Sis’s understanding was one week
ahead. That determined the match.
Apart from the 3-dan league where Sub League members
with that rank go head-to-head, and the yearly trip for
everyone with 2-dan and below, there’s almost no interaction
between Kanto and Kansai.
And since that annual trip hasn’t happened for the past
couple of years, any research done by 2-dan and below league
members wouldn’t have crossed the barrier between east and
west. In other words, everything stays under wraps.
So, the only way to get your hands on their latest research
is to play against the Sub League members yourself. Ryou
didn’t have the option because she is part of the Kanto
Women’s League. She forged ahead using an old standard
with no idea that a new counter strategy had been discovered
in Kansai.
––– It’s not skill, but knowledge that wins in this era.
If you were to say that’s just the way Shogi is played
nowadays, that would be the end of it. However, whether it’s
okay to show that side of Shogi to the fans during a title
match is a quandary all pros share …
“So that’s what the two minutes was for? Finish the match
| Azura Ren |
with the next move or draw it out into a hard-fought battle.”
“…… Big Sis didn’t say anything, but her silence tells me
that I’m right; as well as the fact that she is still dealing with
that quandary right now.
“Haaa ……” I let out a long sigh.
Putting on a serious face and fixing my posture, I tell her, “I
think you made the right decision, Big Sis. As a professional,
you should always use the latest information to your
advantage. Even if it would bring a title match to an early
end.”
“……”
“I would’ve made the same decision if I were in your shoes.
Considering how much Side Pawn Capture strategies keep
changing, Ryou was naïve if she thought what worked two
weeks ago would still be valid.”
I’m sure she’s cursing that naïveté right now. Hopefully she
doesn’t break anything …
Well, at least that explains what Big Sis is doing in my
apartment. To be blunt–––.
“You didn’t get enough, did you?”
“……”
The match came to an end just as her competitive spirit
was kicking in, but it had nowhere to go. That’s why she came
back to Osaka right away: to play against me. She made a
beeline for the bullet train, long sleeves swaying at her sides,
to get to my apartment as soon as possible. Big Sis’s
| Azura Ren |
unworldly need for satisfaction is coming across loud and
clear. It’s all because she considers me to be her personal
punching bag. Ever since we were little kids.
But I had somewhere to be and wasn’t home, so she played
against Ai in my place instead. I’m sure by that point she
didn’t care who it was, she just had to play Shogi. Since the
ones who were actually there aren’t saying anything, I turn to
Keika and ask her, “So? What handicap did my apprentice
have when she got crumpled up like this?”
“It was just the Rook at first.”
“…… At first?”
This had such an ominous ring to it, I couldn’t help but ask.
“Ai wanted to play an even match. But Ginko wouldn’t have
it and insisted on a Rook handicap. They eventually agreed on
te naori, with the original handicap being the Rook but–––.”
“Ah …… ah …… ah …”
Te naori means that the handicap is adjusted according to
the win-loss record. Big Sis would play without her Bishop if
Ai won, but would take out both Lances if Ai lost.
However–––Ai had already lost at that point.
I got a good grasp of how the matches went from then on.
“How far did it drop? Four?”
“Six.”
“Six, huh …… That’s quite a shock.”
That means that Ai lost to a four-piece handicap–––Big Sis
played without her Rook, Bishop and both Lances. The way
| Azura Ren |
my apprentice is now, she should have no trouble contending
with Big Sis when she’s two pieces down.
So why, why is it that Ai got steamrolled?
According to te naori rules, Ai had to win three times to
force an even match with that starting point. But she was so
focused on having to win three in a row that she lost her cool
at that point. I bet she couldn’t concentrate on the current
match and lost without putting up much of a fight. Once that
happened, a little voice inside her head kept saying “I’ve got
to get that one back!” and she stopped thinking straight,
which resulted in her ultimate demise.
Keeping a cool head is far more difficult than mastering
Shogi techniques. It’s rare for any pro to lose their skills with
age, but plenty lose their mental edge.
Ai was driven back into a corner and faced with a four-
piece handicap match that she absolutely had to win, only to
have her confidence and pride shattered when she lost ……
“So then, she’s embarrassed to look her master in the face
after such a pitiful showing?”
“That may be part of it, but I don’t think it’s the main
reason.”
Keika reaches down to take a King from the Shogi board.
Looking closely, there’s a small nick on the surface.
“Ai was so angry at herself that she bit it in despair–––.”
“Oh, and left a bite mark on it? She thinks I’d be
angry–––.”
| Azura Ren |
 “Her tooth came out.”
“Come again?”
“And here it is.”
Whoa.
A cute little white tooth falls out of a handkerchief into
Keika’s hand and she shows it to me.
“It’s a baby tooth and it made a clean break, so I think she’ll
be fine but …”
“Well …… she’s a girl after all.”
She doesn’t want me to see her with a hole in her teeth. But
isn’t it pretty rare for a nine-year-old to still have baby teeth
……? Should I put it under her pillow tonight ……?
“But Ai fought really hard. She got right back up no matter
how many times she lost–––.”
“That was just reckless. No one gets better by having their
confidence destroyed. Ai, are you listening?”
Since my apprentice was hiding her head in the blanket, I
had no choice but to talk to her motionless bottom.
“Don’t let all those victories in the Practice League go to
your head. If you don’t figure out how to win with a handicap
on your side, higher ranking players will wipe the floor with
you and you won’t be able to do anything about it. You get
that now?”
Ai’s talent is like a vast plot of land that has more potential
than anyone else has.
But as of now, there’s only a rickety little house standing on
| Azura Ren |
that land. One strong gust of wind, and it’ll collapse. She
needs a strong Shogi foundation before her talent can come
into play.
Now that I’ve lectured my raw apprentice, I lighten my
tone and offer her a treat.
“Now, you must be hungry after all those matches? I
brought home some sushi, so eat up. I even got some of your
favorite crab ones? The crab rolls with miso?”
“……”
A thin little arm shot out from under the blanket. I placed
one of the crab rolls on an open hand and it disappeared
under the blanket just as quickly. She apparently still has no
intention of letting me see her without that tooth.
“……! ……!!”
“Ah, sorry. The wasabi might burn a little.”
Thump! Thump! My apprentice’s legs vigorously pound the
floor. Well, she seems like herself. That’s a relief.
“…… There’s no rush, Ai. You can improve little by little,
that’s fine.”
I gently stroke the lump in the blanket that (I’m pretty
sure) is her head.
“Oh, and Big Sis. I realize you still have energy to burn
after the match ended so quickly, but would you please not
use my apprentice as a punching bag?”
Big Sis said nothing. Just keeps munching on sushi.
“Seriously! What am I supposed to say to her parents if
| Azura Ren |
their precious daughter, whose future they entrusted me
with, were to get crushed by someone in the same Shogi
family no less ……? My apprentice isn’t your toy, Big Sis ……!”
“There’d be no point if her spirit broke before she started
getting really good at Shogi,” said Keika, as if taking a walk
down memory lane. “Speaking of that, Yaichi. Do you
remember any of the girls you made friends with at the Shogi
Association’s classroom or at the house and then they never
came back again?”
“Now that I think about it …… yeah? A few.”
“They stopped coming because Ginko destroyed each of
them.”
Now what was that for?
“Ginko always jumped in after your games ended and beat
all of them and used no waiting time. Normal kids would get
frustrated by the gap in talent and quit Shogi right then and
there.”
“I bet ……”
Big Sis and I are two years apart. I’m older, but Big Sis
became Master Kiyotaki’s apprentice two weeks before I did,
making her Shogi history longer than mine. Hence, the “big”
sister. I’m pretty sure I lost the first time we played.
But people outside our Shogi family don’t know that, and
kids about my age had their confidence blown to smithereens
after losing to Big Sis despite being older than she was.
“As for why Ginko did what she did–––.”
| Azura Ren |
 “I already know. It was her way of saying: ‘You’re not old
enough to play with girls,’ right?”
“…… So that’s how you took it.”
“Huh? I don’t think there’s any other way to take it, is
there?”
Keika lets out a small sigh as if to say, “good grief” and
pops another piece of sushi into her mouth, enjoying the
flavor for a moment before continuing.
“People like me who knew the extent of their talent going
in can put up with that. But pretty much every kid plays Shogi
thinking they’re the best in the world, don’t you agree?”
“Well, yeah.”
Pros are exactly the same. We’re just really big kids, all of
us.
“But then there’s ‘losing to a girl.’ That hurts just a little bit
more, doesn’t it?”
“Even for girls?”
“Lose to a boy and it’s an oh well, couldn’t be helped kind of
feeling. That’s just how it is. I don’t think that’s a good thing
though ……”
There’s a gap in Shogi skill between men and women of the
same age.
There shouldn’t be one because it’s a game that takes place
between the ears … But it would be difficult to deny that it’s
there. That’s the truth, although there are anomalies like Big
Sis that turn up every once in a while.
| Azura Ren |
 “That’s especially true for girls who are trying to get into
the Women’s League. They’ll always be competing against
other girls, so they always think, ‘I can keep going!’ even after
a loss. But losing to a younger girl? All the excuses disappear.”
“……”
“That’s why they pull out all the stops and fight tooth and
nail to win. But it hurts so much after a loss that they can’t
recover when losing against girls. They’re rivals. I think that’s
why Miss Tsukiyomizaka was in so much pain, so she couldn’t
do a review session.”
Moistening her throat with a sip of tea, Keika makes a face
I’ve never seen on her before and whispers.
“A woman’s enemy is always other women.”

The girl’s night from hell came to an end once all the sushi
was eaten.
Keika was the first to leave, saying, “It’s getting warm at
night,” followed by the still silent Big Sis, long kimono sleeves
swinging at her sides as she went to the door. Ai didn’t come
to see her off. I could only see her little bottom sticking out
from under the blanket from here in the doorway. Adorable.
Big Sis slipped on her wooden pokkuri sandals and stepped
outside before she said a single word,
“Yaichi.”
“Yes?”
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 “She’s getting worse. That one.”

With that, Big Sis closes the door.

Her silver hair sparkling in the streetlights along with those
words hit me like a curse, impaling my eyes and heart like
needles.
“… No …”
I stood in the doorway as her sandals’ wooden clops faded
away.

Ai is …… getting worse?

“But, that couldn’t be ……? …… But ……”

Then I had an idea. Something that’s been making me
worry.
Ai came to Osaka to learn how to play Shogi from me.
It’s the perfect learning environment …… but that’s exactly
why I started thinking maybe the environment is a little too
perfect.
Maybe she’s too used to always having friends to play
against, her Master to always teach her and having fun every
day. Maybe she’s getting complacent, thinking things are fine
the way they are.
And getting complacent is a competitor’s first step to
failure.
Those who can’t push themselves harder and harder every

| Azura Ren |
day will fall from grace before they know it. No matter how
bright someone’s talent shines, it’ll fade away without the
constant drive to improve.
Onizaka-sensei’s words pop into my head.
A rival.
That’s what Ai doesn’t have. That’s why she can’t get better.
“In that case–––.”

I made a call to confirm that I would teach Ai Yashajin the

next day.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 NEW WORLD
“… Why would you tell me to come to a place like this?”
Ai Yashajin arrived in Osaka the following Saturday.
Clothed in a black outfit like what she had on when we first
met, a woman in a black suit is with her.
I asked them to meet me in front of Tennouji Zoo. With
good view of Tsutenkaku Tower: it’s one of Osaka’s signature
landmarks.
Dressed in casual jeans and a T-shirt, I smirk and say, “I
thought a trip to the zoo might help us get to know each other
better!”
“Akira. Notify the police.”
“At once.”
The woman behind her–––the same woman in black who
talked to me when I first went to Ai’s manor, pulls out her
smartphone and starts dialing without a second thought.
“K-Kidding! Just joking! We’re going to play Shogi, what
else?”
“I’d prefer it if the only joke you made was your face.”
“You know how players usually open the Bishop Path in
the first few turns? Let’s open the path to our hearts.”
“Gross.”
“……”
A few harsh words and my spirit is close to breaking.
I’m so used to being around friendly grade schoolers like
| Azura Ren |
my apprentice and her friends these days that dealing with a
cold, prickly one like her really hurts.
Then again, I’m used to Big Sis walking all over me. This is
nothing new.
“Well? Are we supposed to play Shogi at the zoo? Are we
going to use the animals as pieces?”
“We’re not here for the zoo … But we’ll probably see some
very unusual creatures.”
“Meaning?”
I turn my back on Ai’s irritated, sharp-tongued question
while putting on sunglasses and a baseball cap. “Follow me,” I
say and start walking.
“Where are we going? The zoo entrance is over there.”
“Forget about the zoo and keep up.”
Facing away from the zoo, I walk toward Tsutenkaku
Tower.
The woman in a black suit (named Akira, I think) must’ve
figured out where we’re heading because she anxiously says,
“Oi, Sensei. Don’t tell me ……”
“We’re here.”
It’s a long tunnel beneath elevated train tracks. I come to a
stop right in front of the dim arcade’s entrance.
“Jyan Jyan Alley.” I’m pretty sure it has an actual name but
I don’t know what it is.
“… Huh? What is this dirty street?”
“This area is known as New World. Think of it as Osaka’s
| Azura Ren |
deepest underground.”
With Tsutenkaku Tower standing right overhead, this used
to be Osaka’s greatest Shogi hotspot.
“Up until about ten years ago, Kansai’s …… no, western
Japan’s largest Shogi classroom was beneath the tower. The
best unregistered players from all over the country came here
every day to sharpen their skills.”
“In this tiny little dump?”
“It’s smaller than it was, but the name is still here. Follow
me.”
We head into the alleyway. It’s pretty dark, even in the
afternoon. Ai hesitates for a moment but eventually comes
inside with Akira protecting her every step of the way.
Although the area is trying to change its vulgar image to
something a bit more tourist friendly, there are plenty of
drunk people mixed in with the visitors even on Saturday
afternoon. Most of the establishments around here are bars.
There are kebab places and restaurants where you can grill
meat right at the table too. And right next to a shady-looking
place with live softshell turtles, in a street-side aquarium, is
what we came here for.
“…… This place’ll work.”
I stop outside of a Shogi parlor called Twin Kings Club.
Since the outer wall is all glass, you can watch the matches
from outside the building. There are a surprising number of
people inside.
| Azura Ren |
 Ai looks a little uncomfortable, but I wave her up to the
glass.
“Take a look. This is a lot more fun than a zoo, right?”
“It’s all just old people …”
She stands on her tiptoes, trying to get a better look at the
matches on the other side of the glass. Seeing her focus so
hard, her forehead and the tip of her nose pressing up against
it, makes me smile. She may act all grown up, but she is still
in elementary school.
“So? Think you can take them?”
“…… Humph!”
Watching the level of play on the other side of the glass, Ai
flicks her hair over her shoulder and says with all the
confidence in the world, “They’re all pushovers. You had me
come all the way to Osaka for this? Well, I might as well beat
a few of them before going home.”
“That’s the spirit.”
But I was smirking on the inside.
Careful not to let her in on that, there’s something I need to
confirm before we go inside.
“Hey, you have any money on you?”
“An untraceable Black Card, yes.”
Actually using that would scare the crap out of me.
“…… Akira, was it? Do you have any paper bills?”
“Several have been prepared. The lord of the manor has
instructed me not to be frugal with money. It’s at your
| Azura Ren |
disposal.”
“All right then. Please pay the entrance fee. That, and can I
have a few 1,000-yen bills? Also, any old receipts would be
great too.”
“The bills are no problem …… But, what are the receipts
for?”
Rather than giving a direct answer, I pull some scotch tape
and an empty cigarette box out of my pocket. Ai doesn’t hide
a suspicious frown.
“You smoke? You’re underage.”
“Nah. We need it for this.”
I roll one of the bills I got from Akira into a thin cylinder
and wrap it with a receipt, text on the inside, tape it all in
place and it looks like an ordinary cigarette. I roll up four
more and put all five into the empty box.
“That should do it. Take this.”
“I don’t get the point …… What am I supposed to do?”
“You’re going to issue shinken.”
“Shin …… ken?”
“Basically, you’ll be betting on Shogi matches. 1,000 yen is
the buy-in. Lose and that’s what you pay. The strongest
players around here won’t even sit down unless there’s money
on the table.”
That’s the reason all these Shogi parlors started popping up
in Jyan Jyan Alley.
Shinken players in the underground scene all over the
| Azura Ren |
country came here looking for money and a good battle.
Laws have really clamped down on betting in recent years,
but there was a time when these shinken players made more
money than pros. Heck, it’s said that millions of yen could
change hands in a single match. 1,000 yen would seem like
time-killing pocket change to the people back then.
But now making a sizable bet would get the police involved
and they’d shut down the whole establishment. That’s why
they jump through these hoops to disguise the money.
“Show the cigarette box to issue a shinken match. Win and
you’ll get a roll. Lose, and you give one to your opponent.
Keep playing until that box is empty.”
“And what if it gets full?”
“Then I have nothing to teach you. I’ll sign you up to take
the Practice League test tonight.”
“Ohhh? Then you’ll be out of work in a few hours.”
Ai snatches the cigarette box from my hand and follows
Akira inside.
I squeeze the brim of my baseball hat and put it down over
my eyes to hide my face before joining them.

FIRST SHINKEN MATCH

Just as I expected, the smell of cigarettes and alcohols was
practically ingrained inside Twin Kings Club.
“… This is worse than middle-of-nowhere Mahjong
| Azura Ren |
parlors,” Akira says under her breath.
I’ve never been that far into the outskirts, but I bet she’s
right. This is pretty bad, even for Shogi parlors.
Dirty words are flying back and forth inside and the staff
really doesn’t care that people spill ramen or their cheap sake
over the boards. Or when thoughtless people put out their
cigarettes on the piece stands.
Akira handed a crisp bill to the old man sitting behind the
counter.
“Sir. One child and two adults, please.”
“……”
The old man took the entrance fee, but didn’t smile back,
let alone say “thank you.” The look in his eye makes it crystal
clear that he thinks women and children just get in the way.
“…… What do I do now?”
“Normally, you’d get a Match Card about now, but ……”
People here assigned themselves a rank. With no Match
Cards to speak of, it looks like the system here is completely
up to the customers.
This Shogi parlor caters exclusively to shinken players.
“Well, not much of a problem, is it? Since this place is full
of pushovers, you can beat everyone here, right?”
“Well, yes, that’s true …”
“Akira and I will pretend to play Shogi over there while we
keep an eye on you. Go find someone that looks bored toward
the back and challenge them to a shinken match.”
| Azura Ren |
 “… Fine.”
Looking like she’s about to take her first steps into a
haunted house, Ai does as she was told and walks to the back
of the Shogi parlor.
Plenty of people are in the middle of a match, but there
was one person without an opponent and looking very bored.
Leopard pattern clothes. A head of hair like broccoli. And
eyes twinkling behind golden-framed colorfully-tinted
sunglasses that sparkle like a wild animal. A leopard, in the
flesh. No, a panther. What path in life would lead someone to
turn out like that?
However, there was something bothering me a heck of a lot
more–––.
“Oi, Sensei. Is that …… an old lady? Or perhaps …… an old
man?”
“…… A little of both, probably.”
Those are women’s clothes. The famous Osakan leopard
print dress. But this is Osaka, and the possibility it’s a man
wearing a leopard-skin dress with permed hair can’t be
ignored. This is New World. Seeing people from all walks of
life isn’t unusual down here.
“There’s a possibility it’s a creature that escaped from the
Tennouji Zoo …… But it’s highly unlikely that an elderly
woman would come to a Shogi parlor. I say it’s a male.”
“But don’t forget, old ladies tend to go inside men’s
restrooms quite a bit in Osaka.”
| Azura Ren |
 While she and I were having one of the most pointless
conversations ever, Ai holds up the cigarette box right at
Panther’s eye level.
“Care to play without a handicap?”
“… Have a seat.” A voice that is husky from beer and
cigarettes. The gender is still a mystery. After a rougher-than-
necessary Pawn flip, Panther is on offense. The battle began
as soon as Ai pressed the switch on the chess clock.
Then, Panther makes a surprising move right off the bat.
As soon as both of them opened their Bishop path, “Gah,
oopsy.”
Panther did it.
The practically unbelievable–––8 Six Pawn!

| Azura Ren |
 “?! …… Ummm?”
Ai’s eyes go wide as her face gets drawn into the board like
a magnet.
I don’t blame her.
Advancing the Pawn in front of the Bishop is one of the
worst moves you can make. For someone that’s learned the
“correct” way like Ai, this probably doesn’t feel like Shogi
anymore.
I, however, have seen this before.
“Kakutou fu, huh ……”
“And what is that?”
I couldn’t help but grin as Akira took off her sunglasses to
give me an inquisitive glare.
Quickly wiping it off my face, I lower my voice and give her
some details.
“It’s a Ranging Rook style sneak attack. The full name is
kakutou fu senpo, Bishop-head Pawn Strategy.”
“Tofu?”
“Like I said, Bishop-head – Pawn. Panther moved the
Pawn in front of the Bishop forward, yes? It’s a move people
normally wouldn’t think to make.”
Bishops have a round head–––basically, it’s that Pawn’s job
to protect the Bishop since it can’t move straight forward.
Moving it out of place for no reason exposes that weakness to
the opponent.
| Azura Ren |
 If this happened over the Internet, the other player would
think it was a miss click. That’s how bad it is.
“My, my …… That was stupid. Guess there’s nothing to do
now but exchange Bishops before it’s too late.”
Panther sticks a finger through that overgrown broccoli
head of hair, scratching while bemoaning the mistake and
sends the Bishop forward.
“……”
Ai looks suspicious but takes said Bishop to complete the
exchange.
Akira turns to me with a worried look in her eyes and asks,
“What’s happening? Is my lady in a favorable position?”
“She is. In a regular match, anyway.”
“Meaning?”
“This is where kakutou fu gets interesting.”
Ai keeps going like normal. In other words, I don’t think
she realizes what her opponent’s miss click means.
All the while, Panther keeps saying things like, “Oh my,
young’en, have you no mercy?” and “Not again! All these little
mistakes are piling up like hot peppers,” and moving pieces
around as if running away from Ai’s advances.
But that led to a strange shift on the board.
I’m not exactly sure when, but Panther is suddenly on the
offensive after opening with a bad move and constantly
defending for so long.
The tides have turned.
| Azura Ren |
 “Huh ……?”
The board was already favoring Panther by the time Ai
noticed something wasn’t right.
“?! What, why?! What’s going on here ……?!”
If she can steady herself, hunker down and focus on the
battle, there’s still a chance she could come back.
But Panther didn’t give her that chance. –––Panther is
good!
“Can’t tell if it’s an old man or woman by looking, but that
playing style is reckless. Like a wild animal really ……!”
“What, what even is that?! What has …… that freak done to
my lady?!”
“It’s a ploy.”
“Ploy …… meaning?”
“To be blunt, pulling a fast one on your opponent.”
“Does that violate the rules? If so, I know the perfect place
to mount a panther head.”
“It’s not, it’s not! Ploys don’t violate any rules whatsoever!”
I start to panic as Akira reaches for something at her waist
and move to stop her. As for what’s hidden beneath her suit, I
don’t know and I don’t want to know.
“… In that case, aren’t there better names for this technique
than a ploy?”
“You have a very good point there. But then again, they
didn’t get that name because of the user’s intent—more so
how the victim feels when they fall for it … Well, they don’t
| Azura Ren |
work on pros. If they did, that person has no right to call
themselves a pro.”
And Ai Yashajin still isn’t a pro.

PERFECT SHOGI
In the end, Panther ended up beating Ai to a pulp five times
in a row before she came back to us with the empty cigarette
box tightly clenched in her fist. She stomped the ground in
frustration the moment we left the Shogi parlor.
“How?! Everyone playing at the front were total pushovers
……!”
“Of course they were. They’re meant to draw in customers.”
“… How do you mean?”
“Places right on the road like this have weaker players sit
at the front on purpose.”
“Why do that?! It just makes the place look bad!”
“What is the best moment in all of Shogi?”
“Huh? When you win, isn’t that obvious?”
Ai’s answer makes me grin.
I don’t know what I would’ve done if she said, “When
locked in a close battle” or something studious like that just
now. Probably just stared at her in disbelief. The two of us
might have more in common than I thought.
“The best moment in Shogi is when you completely destroy
your opponent. That’s true for the strongest pro all the way
| Azura Ren |
down to the weakest amateur. There’s nothing better than
saying, ‘You could’ve had me here!’ during a review session
after wiping the floor with some weakling. It’s the best feeling
ever. That’s why everyone wants to feel that way. And that’s
also why Shogi parlors like this one want lots of weak players
to come.”
I point to a sign at the Shogi parlor’s entrance.
“It’s written right there in black and white: Unranked pay
half price for service.”
“……”
“Seriously. It triples their profits.”
It’s the same thing my Master does it his own classroom:
lose the first game against new customers on purpose to give
them confidence. He even made it so that he only lost by one
move.
The only one he completely flattened in their first match
was Big Sis, and that was only because her talent caught him
off guard. Apparently he once said, “I thought she was goin’
for the kill. Thought I had to end it before she got me.”
He was an A ranking 8-dan at the time, but a four-year-old
girl spooked him. Ginko Sora was that girl. What a monster.
“In a place like New World where lots of shinken players
gather to beat up on weak players for pocket change, Shogi
parlors employ lots of strategies to draw in the weaker ones
that become their meal ticket.”
“… So, you’re saying I got suckered into it? Fooled by these
| Azura Ren |
…… people that hang around in this dirty place ……!”
Considering how much pride Lady Ai has, I’m sure it hurts,
but five consecutive losses make her own weakness
impossible to ignore.
She may be a bit cynical about it, but Ai is genuinely trying
to learn from her failure.
The losses aren’t breaking her spirit, but rather lighting it
on fire. That’s good. It means this girl is a competitor after all.
“Your Shogi knowledge is outstanding.”
Taking off my baseball cap disguise, I start talking to Ai
while she shakes with anger.
“Very fluid, pristine Shogi. The way you learned how to
play must’ve been effective. I can see those teachings in every
move you make.”
“F-flattering me now will do nothing–––.”
“But that’s exactly why you fall into so many traps. You’re
easy to trick. Go just a little off the beaten path and you’re not
sure what to do next. Plus, you’re easily distracted by an
opponent’s grumbling, provocations and empty threats off the
board. Shogi skill isn’t the problem, it’s all in your head.”
“……!!”
She probably didn’t expect me to say that. Her shocked
eyes are looking up at me.
“I’m not telling you to learn any ploys because they won’t
work in the pro Shogi world. Falling for them once is fine, just
as long as you learn from your mistakes and never fall for
| Azura Ren |
them again.”
The thing about ploys is that you get a huge advantage if
they work, but get completely stonewalled if they don’t. They
are an all-or-nothing kind of strategy. Basically, strategies
that only work if your opponent makes a mistake. And those
mistakes crack their spirit.
Ai’s talent is defensive.
Being able to absorb the opponent’s assault, bring it to an
end and come back to win is considered by many Shogi pros
to be the ideal playing style.
You must be perfect to win as a defensive player.
“That’s why I’m going to demand perfection from you, Ai.
Perfect Shogi.”
“Perfect …… Shogi …”
“I have nothing to teach you about the basics. You can learn
the standards on your own … But competitive tactics aren’t
written in any book or match record. You can only learn them
by playing against other people. That’s what I want you to get
out of playing in the underground Shogi world.”
Wherever there’s light, there’s shadow. Wherever there is a
public face, a world behind the scenes must exist.
Perfection can only be achieved by knowing both inside
and out.
I’m going to show this young girl the dark side of society
and Shogi. Rather than have her shine a theoretical beam of
light on the board and search for truth in the game like with
| Azura Ren |
my apprentice, I’ll teach her the psychological side: the
anxiety, worry and surprises that come with a live opponent.
I’ll teach her how to manipulate someone’s spirit with
Shogi.
“If you do that–––no one will ever stand a chance against
you.”

GRADE SCHOOLER PRACTICE GROUP

AGAIN
“I’m hooome.”
I stopped by one of New World’s fried kebab places to pick
up some food before going home. I was greeted by the excited
voices of a few elementary school girls coming from the back
of my apartment.
Mio’s head pops out of the tatami room as she calls out,
“Ah! Kujuryu-sensei is back!”
The acting leader of their practice group, Mio Mizukoshi is
in the fourth grade, like Ai. Also she’s my apprentice’s first
Shogi friend: she’s a little ball of energy.
What’s more, the two are in the same class at school. It’s all
thanks to Mio that Ai’s move from the north coast was so
stress free, and she’s adjusted to Osaka so quickly. Such a
good girl. Still she can’t correctly pronounce my name though.
“Grade Schooler Practice Group.”
It’s a practice group made up of Ai and her three closest
| Azura Ren |
Shogi friends.
It’s a simple gathering where the four of them come to this
apartment to play Shogi two or three times a month.
Unfortunately, neighbors started giving me strange looks and
people say I have a Lolita complex (it’s worse on Internet chat
rooms) because of these sessions. It hurts.
But I’m fine with it! I don’t care what they call me as long
as my apprentice is improving!
The main thing is that all the girls here know that I’m not
like that ……!
“Keeping your eyes on the board, everyone? I brought back
a ton of kebabs, so dig in when you find a good stopping
point–––.”
“Masta!”
Ahh, an angel♡
A golden, fluffy blur flies toward my legs as I lift the bag of
kebabs out of the way.
Charlette Isoir, six years old now.
She’s a mind-blowingly cute little girl who goes to a school
for French kids in Kyoto as well as a Shogi classroom over
there.
She may be a little behind everyone else in terms of Shogi
skill, but she’s a doll, tries really hard and is just so darn cute.
“Masta. Cha has a reqwest for Masta. Okay?”
“Ah! Charlette–––.”
“Wait, wait! We’re not done talking about it yet!”
| Azura Ren |
 Ai and Charlette’s guardian of sorts, Ayano Sadatou, comes
barreling out of the room to chase down the angel.
Charlette is being surprisingly forward today. “Unf, ummf,”
and making cute little noises as she tries to climb up my legs.
Just what does she want to ask? She’s so cute I kinda want to
grant her wish, no matter what it is.
“Master, to tell the truth …… Charlette, um ……”
Ai is trying to say something, but it looks like she can’t put
it into words. The look on her face is really strange. Besides
being puzzled, there are some shades of anger and irritation
in there too.
I set the bag of kebabs on top of the shelf by the door and
pick Charlette up, holding her so I can look at the golden-
haired angel right in the eyes and ask.
“What is it, Charlette?”
“Um, you see? You see?”
She seems embarrassed yet excited at the same time, like
she’s about to tell me a big secret. Then, she finally says it.
“You see, Cha? Can Cha …… be Masta’s apwentice?”
Say what?!
“Charlette …… you want to be my apprentice?”
“Yep!”
“And, you want to live with me?”
“Yep!!”
She nods really hard in my arms. That smile of hers is so
cute I swear it could melt right off her face. Such a little angel
| Azura Ren |
……
I want nothing more than to give her a big hug, yell, “I’ll
make you the happiest girl on earth!!” and take her as my
apprentice right here on the spot. However, I come to my
senses in the nick of time. Whew, that was close ……
Both she and Ayano go to Kayaoku 7-dan’s classroom over
in Kyoto.
It would make a lot more sense for her to be her apprentice
instead–––.
“Ayano. What about Kayaoku-sensei ……?”
“For the most part, Master Kayaoku lets students do what
they want.”
Like a machine, Ayano answers my question right away.
She’s got a good head on her shoulders.
“She told us that she’d be happy to be our Master, but she’ll
put in a good word for us if there’s a different professional
we’d like to ask.”
“Well, that’s nice of her.”
“Very much so! I love my Master,” Ayano proudly declares
with a look of love and admiration in her eyes. Just from that,
I can tell Kayaoku-sensei is a very good teacher.
She’s also connected to my Shogi family tree, four
generations to be exact. Currently a member of the Women’s
League and the titleholder, she’s one of the best in Kyoto, and
that’s saying something because many titleholders live there.
She’s the leader of the pack, if you will. Then again, we have a
| Azura Ren |
women’s titleholder among us too (grimace).
But that’s not important.
“I …… can’t take you as my apprentice.”
“Wha?”
I guess she didn’t think I’d say no. Her whole body flinches
and her eyes fly open in shock as if I had just slapped her
across the face. And I could swear that a bit of relief passed
across Ai’s worried eyes as she watched.
“Cha …… can’t to be Masta’s apwentice?”
“…… No. It’s not possible.”
“Why?! Why not?!”
She wraps her arms around my neck, clinging to me and
asking “Why?!” again and again like a broken record. Those
big blue eyes of hers are tearing up.
Her pure-hearted disappointment feels like a knife in my
chest.
“You said yes to Ai, but why no to Cha?!”
“Charlette ……”
Ai heard everything, but the tiny voice that came out of her
mouth sounded like she did something wrong.
Here’s the reason why Ai got a yes, but Charlette got a no.
Simply put: discrimination—the distinct difference in
talent between them.
Charlette is still only six years old, but that’s not the issue. I
mean, I was six when I moved in with Master to become his
apprentice and Big Sis was four when she got accepted. Youth
| Azura Ren |
is often treated like potential in this world. It’s certainly a
positive.
So, what doesn’t she have?
As of now: skill, the will to train and–––talent.
I came to the decision that Charlette doesn’t have enough.
It’s said that skill is everything in the Shogi world. Without
skill, you can never succeed. I can’t drag someone down this
path knowing they won’t have a chance to succeed and be
happy.
Of course, everyone has a shot. I might just be blind to her
true ability.
If I started training her now, she could go on to be a big
success in the Women’s League. I can’t completely rule that
out.
But that’s where I’m not good enough. Someone with Ai’s
level of talent and determination might be able to improve
just by being around me, but ……
No.
Even with Ai’s talent and determination, I’m still …… the
truth is, I can’t help her improve on my own.
“She’s getting worse.” Big Sis’s words that night killed my
confidence.
“…… I just can’t take you as an apprentice, Charlette.”
I repeat myself.
But if I leave Charlette like this, that innocent spirit of hers
will be forever scarred. And it won’t just be Charlette, Ai’ll be
| Azura Ren |
cut pretty deep too. Who knows what effect that’ll have on
her.
–––I’ve got to find a way to avoid that at the very least.
I need to turn Charlette’s request down and yet have her
leave happy–––is there even a way to pull that off?!
I read the situation for just a few seconds worth of waiting
time and come up with a move that just might work …
“I can’t take you as an apprentice. But–––.”
“Bwut ……?”
Charlette looks up at me with big, watery blue eyes that
could burst at any moment as I set up to hit this problem right
out of the park!

“I can’t take you as an apprentice, but …… I can take you as a

bride!!”

Ai’s eyes go wide, her jaw falling halfway to the floor the
instant those words come out of my mouth. For some reason,
Mio and Ayano are turning pale.
Meanwhile, Charlette blinks those big eyes a few times and
tilts her head.
“…… Bwide?”
“Yep. Bride. My bride.”
“Cha, can be Masta’s bride?”
“That you can!”
“Wha♡”
| Azura Ren |
 She’d been on the verge of tears just a second ago, but now
she’s happily rubbing her cheek against my chest.
“You see? Bwide is much better than awpentice for Cha!”
“Isn’t it?! So much better?!”
“Pwomiss kiss! Mwahh♡”
“Hahaha! Such a precious bride I have. But remember, not
till after you graduate high school, okay?”
I joke around with Charlette, responding in kind when I
suddenly feel my apprentice’s eyes looking right at me as if to
say, “What the hell does that mean?!”
Hey, I’m good at dealing with spoiled kids.
Have a look for yourself! Now bask in the Dragon King’s
resourcefulness and all its glory!
“Master darabuchi! Lolita complex!! Loli King!!”
Huh? This is a disaster.
“Offering to marry a little girl that just started elementary
school, what are you thinking?! Pervert!!”
“J-Just calm down, Ai!” She’s right! Spitting at the heavens
will just get spit in your eye!!
Mio and Ayano rush in to restrain my first apprentice. How
did it end up like this?
Then again …… since I was so quick to turn down Charlette,
it’s going to be a lot harder to bring up Ai Yashajin.
What’s worse, judging by my apprentice’s reaction to this
whole thing, she wouldn’t be open to the idea of me taking
another apprentice at all …… Actually she might outright
| Azura Ren |
refuse (me taking a bride even more so).
It’s true that apart from being my apprentice, Ai lives with
me. She’s in a position where any decision I make about the
living situation also affects her. Thinking about it like that,
taking an apprentice or a bride without getting her
permission beforehand might be out of bounds, maybe even
dangerous.
Well, it’s not like I’m taking Ai Yashajin as an apprentice
anyway. She’s just a short-term student, so that’s fine ……
right? Right?!

PINK PANTHER
With all that on my mind, Ai Yashajin’s next lesson at New
World took place the following Saturday.
“Looks like that Panther …… hasn’t come in yet.”
We’re at the same place as last time, Twin Kings Club. The
wild animal of a human being that beat Ai to a pulp using
kakutou fu, wearing a leopard skin dress last time, isn’t
around, and I tell you, this whole place feels different. Even
in New World, you don’t come across someone with that kind
of presence every day.
“So, what now? Should I play against you?”
Ai asks, but I shake my head no.
“Go issue a shinken match to someone that looks like they
know what they’re doing. Someone in the back, you hear?
| Azura Ren |
Also, call me Sensei, got it? Sen-sei.”
Only newbies are up at the front of the Shogi parlor.
Chances are that people sitting at the back without an
opponent are so strong that no one wants to play them
shinken style.
“Humph!” Ai mutters in distaste, but she does what she’s
told and goes to find an opponent. After what happened last
time, I’m sure she’s painfully aware of how good the people
here really are.
Ai eventually found an old guy sitting in front of a Shogi
board and reading a copy of Shogi Weekly Magazine.
She pulls out the empty chair and says, “Hey …… hey,
mister?” Flipping her hair back over her shoulder, she leans
in close to his ear and whispers, “Would you play with me?”
Wow, she could have worded that a little better …
“……”
The old guy peaks over the top of his magazine, slack jawed
by the elementary school girl’s invitation. But once he saw the
cigarette box next to the piece box and Ai lining up the pieces,
he figured out it was a shinken invitation. He then folds up
his magazine, plops it on the seat next to him and says with a
smirk, “Should I leave out my Rook?”
“You must be joking.”
Not only did Ai immediately reject the old guy’s offer of a
handicap, she picked up five of her own Pawns to do the
Shogi equivalent of a coin flip to see who goes first.
| Azura Ren |
 “……!”
The old guy glares at her.
Flipping the Pawns is the upper player’s job. Basically, Ai
just countered his I’m stronger than you taunt with the taunt
of her own. An elementary school girl with guts like that?
That’s talent in and of itself.
Once the pieces came down, Ai got the first move.
“When you’re ready.”
Ai didn’t give her opponent a chance to breathe before
making the first move, confidently lifting her chin at the same
time. She went with the Orthodox, opening the Bishop Path.
Now it’s the old guy’s turn.
“No crying when you lose now …… heh.”
His move was–––4 Four Pawn!

| Azura Ren |
 “?!”
Ai does a double-triple take and is unable to believe that he
would do such a thing. Maybe she thinks that was a mistake?
The old guy grins.
“Here you go, have a freebie. Come and get it.”
“……”
Ai freezes on the spot and tries to get a read on what her
opponent is trying to do.
–––Was this a handicap he was putting on himself after
she rejected the proposal?
–––Or was it …… a ploy?
I had to stop myself from whistling, seeing him make that
move while I pretend to play Shogi with Akira.
“Haven’t seen that in ages. It’s Pac-Man.”
| Azura Ren |
 “Pac-Man?”
Akira adjusts her sunglasses, clearly surprised to hear a
very un-Shogi like word.
“Isn’t that …… a videogame?”
“I think that’s where the name comes from, but it’s a kind
of sneak attack.”
It’s where the defensive player appears to offer up a Pawn
to their opponent, a strange strategy that makes it seem like
they’re at a disadvantage no matter how you look at it.
But it’s a ploy that goes much deeper than that.
I use the board in front of me to show what can happen
with Pac-Man.
“Should the offensive player take the bait like a Pac-Man
chomp, the whole board gets thrown into chaos like this.
Formations change at the drop of a hat, so the one who has
spent more time studying has a tremendous advantage.”
However, pros can overcome whatever changes come their
way. It’s safe to say that anyone who can adjust to this
strategy on the spot has what it takes to join the professional
ranks.
“Just out of curiosity …… what happens when the offensive
player doesn’t take the bait?”
“The game returns to standard protocol. While that is an
option–––.”
I reset the pieces on the board and speak with hopeful
expectation.
| Azura Ren |
 “As for me, I’d rather take it and go for chaos.”
I don’t know whether my excitement came across or not.
But Ai took the Pawn, snapping her Bishop down with
authority. The old guy’s lips curled into an even deeper smile.
“Aw-ah, there it goes … All right!”
Here comes the chaos.
In a battle where all the big pieces throw their weight
around, one wrong move and the tides of battle can go
roaring in the other direction and ultimately lead to defeat.
“Kh ……!”
Ai presses her palm against her eye, biting her lip as she
makes a painful face and bears it.
But the old guy looks as cool as a cucumber. It’s because
he’s already done his homework. He thinks all he needs to do
now is follow the same pattern he’s been studying without
thinking too much. That’s the advantage of this strategy.
Unfortunately for him, that look of comfort steadily
disappeared with each passing move.
“What is with this brat ……?! Dammit! By now it should be
…”
It was because this little girl that fell into his trap refused to
accept her fate and he kept falling into the traps she set for
him. The old guy wasn’t just surprised: he’s in shock.
A fluke–––no, it’s not. Ai saw everything coming.
“………”
Ai kept her hand over one eye, but looked up at her
| Azura Ren |
flabbergasted opponent with the other in a paralyzing glare.
She must be getting information not only from the board,
but from her opponent’s reactions as well. She’s the exact
opposite of my apprentice who goes into her own little world
in front of the Shogi board. Interesting.
Then.
“How about–––this!”
Ai moves a piece with a high-pitched click.
Perfect.
Ai, perfectly absorbed, deflected: a strategy she’d never
used before. Calm, collected, reading, acute senses and a
strong will to win above all else made it possible.
“… Nice!”
I couldn’t help but pump my fist in triumph under the
table.
Perfectly absorbing an attack by itself can break an
opponent’s spirit. Think of it like when an enemy you can’t
inflict a single point of damage on shows up in an RPG: a
role-playing game. Don’t you want to throw down the
controller? It’s the same feeling.
“Tsk! …… Looks like this is as far as I go.”
The old guy tossed a piece in defeat the moment Ai went on
the offensive.
His defensive formation hasn’t even been touched. In fact,
you could say that the real battle was just about to start. But
Shogi is a game where you lose the instant you think you can’t
| Azura Ren |
win.
“… You’re quite good, young lady.”
“Thanks. I know.”
Ai accepted the compliment with a resolute smile on her
face. Once a brief review session came to a close, the old guy
said, “Go buy yourself some juice,” as she elegantly took the
rolled-up one-thousand-yen bill and placed it into her
cigarette box.
Akira looks at me as if she were the one that just pulled off
the victory.
“He-he-he. Now that’s what I call skill! My lady would
never lose to any of the scum in this trash heap without
getting startled by some outrageous outfit!!”
“I agree that her talent is on a different level. Yes.”
There was never any question about that.
“However, it’s necessary for Ai to toughen up mentally so
that she won’t get rattled, no matter what strategy her
opponent tries or how bizarre their clothes.”
There was once a Meijin Title Match where the challenger
shaved his head as a way to psych himself up in what would
become known as the Cue Ball Match.
The Meijin at that time was so stunned by his opponent’s
shiny head that he lost the first match. However, he came to
his senses as the man’s hair began to grow back and
eventually defended his title.
“That Meijin admitted after the match that if his opponent
| Azura Ren |
had continued to shave his head, he might’ve been in trouble.
That should prove that mental toughness plays a large part in
Shogi matches.”
“Actually, I would like to ask if opponents shaving their
heads is really that shocking?”
I admit that it also proves that many players in the Shogi
world are that sensitive.
“But, then again, it doesn’t really matter what your
opponent looks like once the match gets under …… way ……?”
I realized what I was saying was a lie as the words came out
of my mouth. It was because I couldn’t concentrate on Shogi
for the moment—I caught a glimpse of the beast walking
through the front door.
The Panther–––had become the Pink Panther!
Ai spoke, more afraid than surprised.
“W …… Why is it a pink leopard pattern?!”
“… To get attention?”
The desire to become fancier and even more glamorous is
in every Osakan’s DNA. The Panther must have evolved …
“Anybody up fer a round? Made a killin’ at the horse races
today, so I’ll take on anyone and their mother.”
“… I …… I will face you!”
Ai sits across a Shogi board from the Pink Panther. Her
opponent gladly accepts and starts lining up pieces. Going
right into battle, huh … That grade schooler has nerves of
steel.
| Azura Ren |
 But yeah, that pink leopard pattern dress … Even those
glasses have pink frames …
“That’s not good. I’m too concerned about its gender to
focus on the match …”
“W-Well …… This …… this is training!!”
Akira’s voice is trembling, but nothing rattles her. This is
one opponent not to be taken lightly.
“I’m gonna flip ‘em, ‘k?”
After thoroughly trouncing Ai last time, the Panther flips
the pieces and claims the first move with an amazing stroke of
luck.
Once again, Panther goes for kakutou fu.
Keeping her guard up this time, Ai doesn’t do the Bishop
exchange, but it goes without saying that Panther was ready
for that.
“Yeesh, cheeky li’l one. Comin’ with power, eh?!”
Since Ai didn’t go for the Bishop exchange, Panther
advances the Bishop before strengthening the offensive
advantage with the left-side Knight.
“Ugh ……!”
Closing the Bishop Path not only cut off her Bishop, but Ai
also couldn’t deploy her left-side Knight. It’s like trying to
fight with your left hand tied behind your back. That’s just
what her opponent wanted.
But Ai won’t break that easily.
Quite the opposite. Being forced into this formation stoked
| Azura Ren |
her defensive talent into a burning flame. With all those
matches against tricky opponents under her belt, she’s
leveling up right before my eyes ……!
“……”
People start gathering around them. Their match is at such
a high level that the onlookers don’t say a word, only marvel
at the jewel in front of them.
“You ain’t half bad, girl …”
Despite having the first move and an early game advantage,
Panther’s attack got cut off. That husky, tobacco-laced,
genderless growl of a voice complimented Ai.
“Perfectly absorbin’,” said the woman once called New
World’s Leopard. “My all-out offensive is no small feat!!”
Panther is an old lady!
Ai was so stunned by the revelation that her next move was
horrible and lost soon after. Can’t blame her though.

TELLS
“So …… What’s new? How’ve you been?”
Back at home, dinner time.
Everything that’s happened, Charlette the other day and
with the other Ai at New World, has left me feeling like I
haven’t spent enough time communicating with my
apprentice. So I took the initiative and broke the ice myself.
Ai didn’t stop eating as she answered with a smile.
| Azura Ren |
 “I’ve been figuring out people’s tells recently!”
“… Oh?”
Not the response I was expecting, but Ai seems like her
usual energetic self. Talk about a relief. I advance the
conversation.
“What kind of tells?”
“Mio always makes sounds like “whaa” and “oof” whenever
something catches her by surprise but suddenly becomes very
quiet when her formations recover.”
“Ahh. Yes, yes.”
Making those sounds is a tell, an uncontrollable habit, that
everyone picks up at some point while playing Shogi.
Beginners usually keep it simple like “Ehh?” or “Oh yeah,”
but more advanced players eventually start saying things like,
“I see, I see to shining sea.” Mammoth!
“Ayano takes off her glasses, so she can’t look at me
whenever she’s planning to do a surprise attack in the early
game.”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh.”
A meticulous habit, sounds like something Ayano would do.
Rather than worrying about her opponent seeing her
expression, she’s making sure that she doesn’t get startled by
seeing changes in their face. That’s adorable.
“Keika starts twirling her hair around her fingers whenever
her defenses get weak.”
“Ah! Now that you mention it, she does do that.”
| Azura Ren |
 Everyone has these nervous tics. Even high-level players
with years of experience under their belt have them.
That includes titleholders. Some might fiddle with their
long kimono collars when the opponent makes an unexpected
move or their hands might start shaking, sometimes even
start coughing uncontrollably when they see a path to victory.
Even if they’re aware of their own tells, there’s just no
stopping them.
That’s the thing about people when they concentrate as
hard as they can, habits start popping up without even
realizing it.
As a competitor, it’s important to keep a cool head and
recognize these habits when they come up. As her Master, it
makes me happy to see that Ai’s perception has expanded
beyond the board.
“Anything else? Find anything interesting?”
“Yes, I have.”
She sets down her bowl and chopsticks to say, “Master rubs
his pants with both hands whenever he’s hiding something.”
“Come again?”
My chopsticks clatter to the table. Ai didn’t even bother
looking at them, instead she keeps her eyes trained on me,
observing … Then, without blinking:

“Master …… what are you hiding?”

Holy crap, this is terrifying.
| Azura Ren |
 “Huh? Me? H-Hiding something?”
“You are, aren’t you?”
“No, no, no, no! Why would I?! W-What would I need to
hide anyway?! Not that I could if I wanted to, living in this
tiny room with you–––.”
“You’re rubbing your pants.”
“Yikes?!”
I was! I had no idea! No idea at all!!
“You are hiding something …… yes?”
“……”
My palms, they’re dripping with sweat …
My palms tend to start leaking when I get nervous, to the
point that I once dropped a piece in the middle of a match.
Therefore, I always wipe my hands with something out of
sight to prevent pieces from slipping, letting my opponent
know my last move was horrible and my formation is weak or
when I’m about to go on the offensive. It started out as a way
to avoid those mistakes, but it’s become a habit of mine.
Only two people have ever figured that out, Big Sis and Sir
Ayumu. What’s more, they only figured it out recently, and
I’ve been playing against them for years. To think that Ai
would recognize it in less than two months …
She’s …… horrifying!!
“Please be honest with me. It’s not too late.”
“Hm? You keep saying I’m hiding something, but it’s really
not ringing any bells.”
| Azura Ren |
 I somehow manage to sit up straight and play innocent,
averting my eyes from hers to avoid getting startled again.
However, my apprentice doesn’t let up the pressure and
moves in again. It’s like she always knows the best move to
make. This is intense ……!
“That’s a lie. You’re hiding something.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because Master always looks up and to the right when he
lies.”
“What?! I do?!”
“No.”
She was bluffing ……!!
“But …… you flinched, didn’t you?”
That I did. I most certainly did.
I had been looking over her right side and was just about to
look left to throw her off, but I fell right into that trap.
W-When did she learn this technique?! Aren’t you growing
up a little too fast, Ai?!
“…I’m not angry, so please tell me the truth.”
I swear, there’s a dark aura drifting in from behind her
that’s threatening to overtake me like enemy cavalry. I can
hear the horses twp twp twp … She looked angry from the
start …
“R-Really? You’re not mad?”
“No. I’m not mad.”
Then she says, smiling ear to ear.
| Azura Ren |
 “But I’m about to be.”
Several hours later–––.
After enduring every one of my apprentice’s secret
techniques and being put in check more times than I can
count, I managed to get through the evening without telling
her about Ai Yashajin.
B-But …… I think it took a few years off my life …

A LESSON FOR BEGINNERS

“… Did you not sleep at all?” said Ai with a stunned face the
instant we met up for her next lesson.
“…… I can’t …… take anymore …… too much to explain ……
just can’t ……”
“Huh?”
“That’s not important, now go play! Take down the Panther
today no matter what, got that?! I have my own life-
threatening battles to worry about?!”
“W-What’s gotten into you? You’re making no sense at all
…”
Although a bit taken aback by my outburst, she spits out the
words, “And I’m going to win, you don’t have to tell me!”
before going to challenge New World’s Leopard.
Once their match gets underway, Akira and I are left on our
own as always.
“………”
| Azura Ren |
 “………”
“………”
“… Um.”
“Yes?”
“We paid to get in too, so why not play? The two of us.”
“By play, you mean?”
“Shogi, of course.”
What else is there?
“But …… I don’t know much of the game.”
“I’ll teach you if you’d like. First, this is how you line up the
pieces–––.”
“That much, I know.”
Sounding a little peeved, Akira starts snapping the plastic
pieces onto the board.
“Humph …… See? Perfect, like I said,” she says to me once
she finished with a look of accomplishment on her face.
“Your Rook and Bishop are switched.”
“………”
The usual response at times like this is, “Ah! My mistake,”
or, “Oh, so they are.”
Akira, however, said this while slowly removing her
sunglasses: “Don’t you get to choose which side they’re on?”
Holy ……
Freely choose where the Rook and Bishop line up?! Where
did she come up with that?! New age or something ……?!
“Umm …… no, you’re not free to choose. The Rook goes on
| Azura Ren |
the right and the Bishop goes on the left.”
“Set in your ways, aren’t you?”
Akira voices her discontent but switches the Rook and
Bishop to the correct spots.
“All right, let’s get started …… Akira, do you know how the
pieces move?”
“Don’t take me for a fool. How long do you think I’ve
looked after the young lady? I’ve mastered them all
perfectly.”
Our match started like that, but broke down almost right
away.
“The Silver can’t move to the side.”
“… But I want it to.”
“It doesn’t work that way.”
“………”
“Trying to hide it from me won’t work either! Put it back
and think of another move.”
“It’s defective. The rules are in the way. The Gold and
Silver are too hard to tell apart.”
That’s a hurdle that all beginners must clear. The second
one would be differentiating how the Promoted Rook and
Promoted Bishop move.
“Remembering the difference is impossible, so they should
all be one or the other.”
“Please take that up with the association directly.”
“You are the Ryuo, yes? That makes you one of the
| Azura Ren |
association’s bigwigs, does it not?”
“I have no power whatsoever. Think of me more like a
decoration.”
A titleholder’s authority is completely different from the
power wielded by the association. I’m just one of many
professional Shogi players and my lineage is just a tiny branch
of the Kansai Association, which is overpowered by the one in
Kanto. Having fewer people means less influence, and the
icing on the cake was my Master relieving himself from the
association window, which made whatever clout I had
disappear like the morning fog.
“Please, don’t get hung up on it. Everyone makes that
mistake at first …… and, just between us, pros mix those
pieces up sometimes too. (ha-ha)”
“And they still call themselves professionals? (grimace)”
“Work with me here, will you?!”
Just to be clear, pros don’t mix up how Golds and Silvers
move, except when deploying one or the other from their
captured pieces back onto the board. Always double-check.
“Just remember how the pieces move, okay! Silvers can’t
move left, right or straight back! Golds can’t go diagonally
backward in either direction!”
“I can’t be expected to remember so much new
information! I’m doing the best I can!”
Oops. I gotta be more careful.
Kids soak this stuff up like sponges, but remembering how
| Azura Ren |
pieces move is a big hurdle for adults. We’ll never get off the
ground if she gets frustrated now.
It’s an especially big hurdle for women …… However, there
is a way to get her interested.
“…… Oh? But you see, Akira.”
I take a deep breath, put a smile on my face and say in a
lighter tone.
“The Silver is actually an elephant.”
“Have you suffered head trauma?”
“It’s just a metaphor! An example to show you how it
moves!!”
I point out the directions a Silver can move on the board.
“Take a closer look! See? Like this!”
“Uh-huh.”
“Its trunk and front legs stick out into the spaces!”
“Uh-huh.”
“Now, doesn’t that look like an elephant?”
“… Are you sure you haven’t suffered a blow to the head?”
“Just admit it, will you! That’s obviously an elephant?!”
I’ve had it with this woman! This conversation is going
nowhere!!

| Azura Ren |
 “You’re the one that started talking about elephants for no
reason. Bringing up animals in the middle of a Shogi game
confused me.”
“I’m not the one that came up with that explanation.
Actually, the Silver moving like an elephant has an important
role in explaining Shogi’s roots.”
“Oh?”
“No chess piece moves like a Silver. There are however
pieces in India’s Chaturanga and Thailand’s Makruk that do.
There are ‘elephant’ pieces in Chinese Chess, Xiangqi, and
Korean Chess, Changi, but they move differently. That’s why
it’s theorized that Shogi originated in India and most likely
came to Japan via Southeast Asia.”
There are other theories, but I like this one because the
Silver’s movements are easier to explain this way.
“People trained the elephants in India and Thailand to
fight alongside them in war. Since Shogi is a game based on
war strategy, it makes sense that they would be included.”
“There are elephants in Africa as well.”

| Azura Ren |
 “Ha-ha, that there are. Then, Shogi could have originated
in Africa, but the Silver still moves like an elephant. Don’t
forget, el-e-phant!”
“You’re quite vocal …… like an elephant.”
It took everything I had to get her to remember that the
Silver can’t move side to side or straight back to get the match
back up again. But we couldn’t finish because she face-
planted on the third hurdle for beginners: “Only the Knight
can jump over other pieces.”
Oh, and Ai got thoroughly destroyed by Panther five times
in a row again today.
“… And it was going so well too …”
Or at least she claims it was, so she’s probably figured
something out.
“My lady, we must leave now or else we’ll break curfew.
Let’s be on our way!”
Akira ushers Ai along with a bit sharper tone than usual. I
bet she’s frustrated with Shogi at the moment, so I ask a
question to get her to realize how much progress she’s made
today.
“Just one last question about how the Silver moves to
review. What animal is it modeled after?”
“… A hippopotamus?”
Her face has “honest mistake” written all over it. We’ve got
a long way to go.

| Azura Ren |
 CAKE
I trudge my way through the street at dusk on my own after
saying goodbye to Ai and Akira.
I really should pick up something for my apprentice
waiting at home …… But always bringing back the same
kebabs would be suspicious. Heck, she’s already suspicious.
“… Could swing through Nanba.”
I usually go through Doubutsu-en Mae Station, but I decide
to go in the opposite direction tonight. Nanba has got all kinds
of things, and I can just go to Umeda if nothing looks all that
good.
“But, yeah. What would make a grade schooler happy
anyway?”
I haven’t got a clue, so I decided to consult with someone
comparatively closer to a grade school girl, a girl in junior
high.
I take out my smartphone.
Since there was a message waiting for me, I open it up to
have a look. It’s from Sir Ayumu in Kanto, a picture with the
heading: “Your thoughts on this garment?”
It looks like he took this picture of himself in a dressing
room somewhere, posing for the camera. There’s a feathered
robe around his shoulders. First a cape, now feathers ……
Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing that thing,
but seeing someone else wear it is pretty funny. So, I typed an
| Azura Ren |
off-handed response: “Nice! Wear it to our next match (^_^)”
and called it good. Then, I went into my phone history and
tapped on Big Sis’s number.
“Yes?”
“Ah, hello? It’s me.”
“What?”
“You like sweets, right Big Sis?”
“… I don’t hate them.”
She sounds a bit cautious, but I press forward with another
question.
“Are there any good sweet shops around?”
“Where are you?”
“Nanba. I’ll take the train to Umeda later.”
“Well …… let me think.”
She pauses for a moment, like she’s thinking back on
something, before an avalanche of words comes through the
speaker.
“There’s a place in Umeda, Shu Hatakeyama. Their ‘Fruit
Overload☆Milk Crêpe’ is apparently making waves. The
magaz …… the rumors say that the shop itself is perfect for a
couple’s night out. Also, it’s pretty late but the Hilton should
be serving their ‘Afternoon Tea Set.’ They’re pretty hard on
the wallet but apparently their portions are big enough to
have for dinner. If you’re around Dojima, Itodanidou’s roll
cake is where it’s at. They have a few baked pastries that are
good for a couple of days, but you can sit and look at the river
| Azura Ren |
and eat at the restaurant too. If you’re thinking around the
association, there’s a place near the intersection in front of
Shin Fukushima Station that serves cake with all you can
drink coffee. It’s great because you can get on the train right
away and they’re open until late. It’s not like I know so much
because I want to go there and looked it up myself, it’s all
these girly girls in my class that keep talking my ears off.”
“… But you know your stuff?”
“Hardly,” says Big Sis, as if she couldn’t be bothered to talk
about cakes and pastries. “So? What’s this about? I just
finished up preparing for my second match with the Women’s
King for the day after tomorrow, so I could go for some
sweets if you’re paying. I travel tomorrow so can’t do anything
then, but I could keep you company right now–––.”
“Nah, today’s lesson went a little long, so thinking of buying
something for Ai.”
“Drop dead, Kuzu!!”
The conversation ended with an angry beep. No need to get
all boiled up. What could I possibly have said just now that
would make her tell me to go to hell?
All right, the closest one to here would be …… Itodanidou’s
roll cake?
I get directions from my phone and set off to pick up a
surprise for my apprentice.
Buying two might be a good idea.
There’s a certain princess who might need a peace offering.
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 TODAY, IN CLASS 4-2
“Kujuryu-sensei is acting weird?”
“Uh-huh ……”
Kita-Fukushima Elementary School, in Osaka’s Fukushima
Ward.
The school is in the same shopping district where Ai lives
with her Master.
And in the fourth year, class two classroom, young Ai
Hinatsuru approached her classmate Mio with a downcast
look on her face in hopes of getting advice.
“How so?”
“… He started to do new lessons recently … But I think he’s
hiding something.”
Ai spoke as if the dam that keeps her worry at bay had
broken. She unloaded everything at once.
“You see? Master says that it’s all old men where he goes to
teach. But, you know? When I washed his clothes the other
day …… they smelled like women’s perfume. And you know
what else? He doesn’t wear a suit when he goes there, just
regular clothes. And they’re fancier clothes than when we go
out together. He comes home later every time he goes and he
got scared when I asked him if he was hiding something ……
See, Mio? What do you think it could be?”
“A woman.”
That extremely confident declaration didn’t come from
| Azura Ren |
Mio, but the girl the top of the class’s social pyramid, Mihane.
“That happens all the time in comics and movies, and it’s
always another woman. He’s cheating, cheating for sure.”
Mihane’s opinion held sway over every girl in the class. Her
word was final. The other girls standing around them started
nodding, saying “For sure,” and agreeing with everything
Mihane said.
“T-That couldn’t be! Kujuryu-sensei could never get a
girlfriend!”
Mio offered a counter argument to Mihane’s opinion.
Keeping an eye on Ai as the girl slipped even further into
depression, Mio put power behind every syllable as she
declared, “He’s not exactly the cutest boy, not even close! His
fashion sense is horrible! And he doesn’t care about anything
other than Shogi!!”
“………”
“Ah! I-I didn’t mean it like that, Ai! I don’t think Kujuryu-
sensei is uncool or ugly or anything like that?! But in
general–––.”
“That’s exactly my point. Men that can’t resist women fall
for the weird ones so fast it’s not even funny!”
“………”
“C-Calm down, Ai! You look like you’re about to kill
someone?!”
“Huh?!”
Only then did Ai notice that her intimidating aura was
| Azura Ren |
making most of the girls around her cry.
Class 4-2 was on the brink of pandemonium for a brief
moment.
“S-Sorry …… was I that scary?”
“Your eyes, they looked like they belonged to an assassin
…”
Ai had spent many hours in battles of life and death against
adult men over a Shogi board. Normal elementary school girls
can’t take that kind of intensity and end up crying.
Having been around Shogi players competing at the highest
level, her aura was overwhelming. Mio, a full-fledged fourth-
grade girl, nearly had an accident when she took it head on.
“… I’m really sorry, everyone. But, I’m fine ……”
“Really? Ai, are you really sure you’re okay?”
“Yep! Oh, and Mio?”
“Yeah?”
“Doesn’t your father work with medicine and stuff like
that?”
“Yeah. Papa works for a pharmacy.”
“Do you know how to buy a truth serum?”
“… What?”
“Think my allowance will be enough?”
“Uh …… Umm? Ai ……?”
She was serious. Her eyes were burning.
Mio was utterly shocked.
Ai would surely drug Kuzuryu-sensei’s food at this rate.
| Azura Ren |
Should the current Ryuo’s blind passion result in an
elementary school girl poisoning him, the Shogi world would
come to an end. The tabloids would have a field day
speculating about what had actually happened. The
association’s darkest hour was upon them.
I-I must do something! I have to find a way to get her
mind off this, because if I don’t …
Mio thought about it as hard as she could and came up with
an idea.
“Oh, I know! Why don’t we go to a different Shogi
classroom today rather than the association?”
“In the city ……?”
“Yep! It will be fun to go someplace different! Have you
been anywhere else, Ai?”
“I’ve been to Master’s Master …… my Grand Master’s
classroom, the Noda Shogi Center—but nowhere else.”
“There are Shogi classrooms all over Osaka! I’ll take you to
the one where I started playing! We can invite Ayano and
Charlette too! Let’s play until the sun goes down!”
“Uh …… Uh-huh.”
Ai couldn’t help but nod along with Mio’s infectious energy.
Master said that Osaka is dangerous …… That I shouldn’t
play anywhere other than the association or Grand Master’s
place without getting his permission first, but …
Ai hesitated for a moment, unsure. However, she quickly
realized that she didn’t have to be.
| Azura Ren |
 Because–––.
Master is going places without telling me!

APPRENTICES
“What kind of place is this? So rusty.”
“Sh!”
I scold Ai Yashajin as she looks around the Shogi
classroom, spewing complaints left and right.
She’s not wrong …… It’s just there’s no one here.
“We’re in the business district. Most of the clientele are
office workers, so no one’s here yet.”
“Okay …”
Careful not to make eye contact with the person at the front
desk, I pay the entrance fee and get everything set up as
quickly as possible. Maybe it’s because of my disguise, but no
one recognized me this time either. I don’t want to think it’s
because I’m just not that popular.
New World was closed today, so we decided to go to a
Shogi classroom in Higashi Umeda for today’s lesson but–––.
“I’ve heard that lots of skilled amateurs who are good
enough to appear on the national stage come to this place, but
I should’ve known it would be mostly empty now on
weekdays …”
It’s bright in here and everything is clean, completely
different from our usual place …… But there’s no point in
| Azura Ren |
coming to a classroom if no one is there.
“So, what now?”
“What the heck. Let’s play.”
“What? Then what are we doing here?”
“For the atmosphere.”
I guide the rather perturbed Ai to a seat and start lining up
plastic pieces on a heavily used Shogi board with all sorts of
scratches and blemishes on the surface.
“I want to see how far you’ve come. No need for handicap.”
“! …… I’m ready.”
She made the first move and guided the match into a
Bishop Exchange, making all sorts of intricate moves far
beyond the average grade schooler one after another.
I take my time, thoroughly analyzing each move before
going on the offensive and crushing her to a pulp.
“Kh ……! T-There aren’t any moves left ……”
“Nope. Good game.”
Once Ai forces those words out and admits defeat, I’m once
again struck by how talented she is.
“But yes …… You’ve gotten better. I thought you would, but
I didn’t think you’d improve this much so fast.”
“… What’s that supposed to mean? Saying that after
winning by so much. Sarcasm?”
“Far from it.”
I force a smile and say, “It only feels like a lot because
you’re reading the board the same way I was. Let me tell you,
| Azura Ren |
elementary schoolers that can read the board like a pro are
hard to find. Harder still, an elementary schooler who is good
at defense–––.”
That’s when it hit me, how strange those words were.
Yes. Children that can defend are unique.
Just like my apprentice, Ai, most children want to attack.
It’s just how they are … So it’s hard for me to believe that a kid
who almost never played against another person would
naturally become a defensive player.
Talent–––. This quandary is too big to solve with just one
word, but she most definitely has it.
“Ai, you …… Did you learn how to play Shogi from your
parents?”
“… I did.”
“What were they like? Were they really good at the game,
perhaps?”
“……”
“I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve seen your style of Shogi
somewhere. Strong defense …… but it’s not like the King is
protected by a fortress. It’s pretty rare for amateurs to pull
that off while playing Static Rook …… And I hardly ever see
an elementary school girl do a Bishop Exchange, even in
Practice League. Typically, that’s what a pro would–––.”
That’s when I noticed that Ai was looking down into her
lap, as if trying to endure something during my rambling.
“Ah! S-Sorry. If you don’t want to think about it, you don’t
| Azura Ren |
have to say anything …… I’m sorry.”
“…… It’s not that, I can’t talk about them ……”
Her voice is heavy, eyes still glued to her lap.
Now I’ve done it …… How could I be so careless?
Asking that kind of question is no different from driving a
stake into Ai’s heart.
She’s a little girl, still in elementary school, and I asked her
about her dead parents ……
“…… My mother, she was all right but not that strong ……,”
said Ai, barely above a whisper. “But my father was the
amateur Meijin.”
“H-He was? Then he must’ve been amazing ……”
Still in shock at how badly I messed up, it took all I had to
get those words out.
…… If he was an amateur Meijin, then there should be a
record of his matches somewhere. I should check the old
match records and Shogi magazine articles next time I’m at
the association. I might find some answers.
Yashajin …… amateur Meijin …… While I know I’ve heard
that name somewhere before, I couldn’t bring myself to press
Ai for any more answers and silently started a review session
for the game we’d just played. That’s all I could do, just move
pieces around with her. Even without words, we can
communicate our feelings as long as we have Shogi pieces.
Snap.
Snap.
| Azura Ren |
 Intermittent echoes bounced around our private Shogi
classroom.
Our silent review session continued for a while, but once
we ran out of places to review, Ai said under her breath, “…
She’s late. Akira.”
“Probably having trouble finding a parking spot. And the
streets around here make no sense ……”
“Maybe ……”
Then, Ai suddenly asks with vigor, “So, can you teach me
how to move the pieces?”
“? That’s what I’ve been doing.”
“Not that way. I’m asking how to make that clean snap,
Kuzu.”
“Watch it. I’m your instructor, call me Sensei.”
“Fine, fine, Kuzu-sensei.”
Ai can be such a brat, but I can tell she is making an effort.
Doesn’t act like it …… But, she’s a good girl.
“Like this, see? Hold the piece like this and …… like this.”
Snap! A rich echo shoots through the air. Even a worn-out
plastic piece like this can make that sound in the hands of the
pro. Armatures sound completely different.
“Like this?”
Clink. That sound was adorable.
“At least try, would you?”
“I am trying!” Ai angrily snaps at me, her face bright red.
“I’m trying …… but I can’t press down because of the pieces
| Azura Ren |
that are in the way …”
“Just put it down on the piece behind it.”
“Huh!? Is that allowed ……?”
“Pros do it all the time. Haven’t you heard sn-snap! while
watching a match or during a replay before?”
“… It sounds like that?”
“Yes, it does. It’s because the player puts the piece on top of
the one behind it and slides it into position. That’s why there
are two snaps.”
“Okay then. Like this?”
C-clink. I don’t know how, but that was even more adorable
than before.
“You are …… surprisingly clumsy.”
“I have a name you know.”
“Well, what should I call you? My lady?”
“………”
She looks off to the side, mumbling under her breath, “…
You can call me Ai.”
“Ah, that’s a no can do.”
“Huh?! I’m giving you permission to call me by my first
name?! Who do you think you are, refusing an honor like
that?! Trash! Kuzu trash kuzu!!”
“That’s my apprentice’s name! Your name, age and gender
are the same!!”
“………!”
Ai puckers her tiny lips and suddenly falls silent.
| Azura Ren |
 Then she asked me a question as she carefully searched for
the right words.
“The Ryuo’s apprentice, I see. And what series of events led
the Ryuo to come and take such an apprentice?”
“It wasn’t a series of events, more like a straight line. We
first met at the title match, but I completely forgot about it.
Then she showed up at my place out of the blue, and now we
live together–––.”
“You what?! L-live together?! Your apprentice is a girl,
yes?!”
“A girl, but she’s still in elementary school. And yes, live-in
apprentices are rare these days but ……”
“Heh, humph …… What do I care. I really don’t care at all!”
Ai made absolutely sure I knew she “didn’t care” before
flicking her long black hair back and saying, “So? She’s good?”
“Very.”
“………!”
“But, you’re better in terms of early game knowledge.”
For now––– I managed to swallow those words before they
came out.
I’ve seen Ai Yashajin’s playing style up close and personal
for a while now …… Her talent is on par with my apprentice.
Ai Hinatsuru plays offensive Shogi.
With an ability to read the board that borders on abuse, she
charges her opponent and ruthlessly strikes them down in the
blink of an eye. What’s more is that her amazing memory
| Azura Ren |
allows her to recall any pattern she’s seen before, even if it’s
just once. Combining that memory with her reading skills, she
can read faster and deeper into the match every time she
plays.
On the other hand, Ai Yashajin plays defensively.
With sophisticated early game strategy and the ability to
analyze the entire board in minute detail, she can steadily
build herself up to a point as if it were second nature.
Plus, now that she’s polished her courage and
gamesmanship by going to Shogi classrooms and parlors
around the city, she can keep a cool head no matter what
ploys or tricky strategies come her way. To be more precise,
she’s learning how to use an opponent’s own moves against
them. In other words, a counterpunch. Now that’s powerful.
If Ai Hinatsuru is the ultimate blade, Ai Yashajin is the
ultimate shield.
Who’ll come out on top when these opposites in terms of
playing style and personality collide? I can’t wait to find out.
I can’t wait, but …
“… How am I going to explain this ……?”
“Huh,” I hear Ai say in a slightly apprehensive voice as I
put my head in my hands and suddenly lean over the board.
Why did I lie like that back at the beginning ……? But my
apprentice changes whenever I say another girl’s name,
becomes ice cold …… and she won’t make any curry for me
……
| Azura Ren |
 “What if I tried like this?” Kr-link. “Hmm ……” Clack.
“Huh? That’s strange ……” Click.
“What?! You cut that out! I’m trying to think here, so would
you please be quiet?!!”
“What’s the problem with practicing Shogi in a Shogi
classroom?!”
I snap at her, and she snaps right back at me. There’s no
one else here, so the guy behind the counter doesn’t say
anything.
“How many times are you going to have to make those
weak clicks to figure it out?! It’s like this!!”
I stand up and circle around behind her–––.
“Grab the piece with your fingers like this.”
“?!”
Standing right behind her, I wrap my right hand around
hers. Shudder! Her shoulders jump.
Then, it hits me.
Her hand …… is tiny.
I always forget because she talks like an adult and plays a
great game of Shogi, but Ai is still in elementary school.
One who’s lost both her parents and only has her
grandfather left. A very sad girl ……
“What …… should I do with my hand ……?”
“Oh. Yeah, like I was saying …… like this, okay? Just like
this ……”
Snap!
| Azura Ren |
 It sounded like a kernel of popcorn just popped the board.
“… Got it?”
“Y-Yes ……”
I can’t see her face since I’m standing behind her. Can’t see
her ears or neck either because her long black hair is in the
way but …… her hand feels surprisingly warm under mine.
“I got it …… But one more time, just to make sure–––.”
“Hi there!!”
Then.
An energetic kid’s voice shattered the tranquil atmosphere
in the classroom, echoing back and forth.
“Mister, I brought some friends from school today! Are
there two open tables?!”
“Open, heck, only one is taken ……”
“Yay! We’ve got the place to ourselves! Come on everyone,
let’s go♪”
“Thank you, sir.”
“H-Hello ……”
“Thank you.”
Even more high-pitched voices followed the energetic one.
All of them girls’ voices.
And pretty young at that, tiny––– yes, elementary school
girl voices.
I hear them coming in from behind me, chatting amongst
themselves as they come inside. Zing! The floodgates open,
releasing a river of sweat down my back.
| Azura Ren |
 “It looked rather small from the outside, but it’s bigger than
I thought in here.”
“You’re right. And it’s so clean too ……”
“Let’s pway lots of Shogi!”
Every single one of the voices sounds familiar. Actually I
knew who they belonged to right away.
I knew …… but I didn’t want it to be true.
My body, however, reacted immediately. In addition to
never-ending chills and a deluge of sweat, my knees start
shaking.
“Is something wrong? Your hand is very sweaty.”
She looks up at me, eyebrow raised in suspicion.
I look like I’m going to cry, probably. She flinches the
moment our eyes meet.
That’s when …
“Huh? Isn’t that guy–––?” one of the girls says in a curious
voice.
Then …… I felt their gazes hit me like a truck.
I slowly look over my shoulder, neck creaking like a
machine that ran out of oil, and see–––.
“… Master?”
My apprentice was looking right at me.

MOMENT OF TRUTH
“It’s not what it looks like.”
| Azura Ren |
 Those were the first words to shoot out of my mouth.
My apprentice is looking at me, standing in the doorway of
the classroom and slumping like a string-less puppet, all light
gone from her eyes.
Her pupils are huge. Holy crap, that’s terrifying.
“T-This is …… work! Work that the chairman himself asked
me to do, so I had no choice but to give this girl lessons. I had
to take this job–––.”
“Had to …… had to hold her hand?”
“I-I’m not!!”
I shove Ai’s hand out from under mine.
So here I am, my hands in the air like a bank teller during a
holdup, facing my apprentice and unable to think out of pure
shock. But I have to keep talking. I don’t think I’ve ever been
under this much pressure, not even when forced to react to a
move I didn’t see coming with only seconds to read the
situation.
“I, I-I-I-I wasn’t holding her hand! She asked me to teach
her how to snap the pieces down onto the board so I did what
I had to do …… It was part of the lesson! I only touched her
hand because the lesson called for it!!”
“Lesson?”
My apprentice said in a flat, monotone voice with her
insanely dilated pupils locked onto me. She didn’t blink, not
once.
“Master …… You said that your new student was a bald old
| Azura Ren |
man, didn’t you? I don’t see any bald people. And your
student doesn’t look like an old man. That’s a girl, right?
That’s a girl about my age, yes? And a cute one too, yes? Is
holding hands with cute girls part of your lessons, Master? Is
that the kind of work the Ryuo does?”
“No, yes. Would you listen?”
“Why did you lie? You know that people only tell lies when
they feel guilty, don’t you? It means they know they’re doing
something wrong, so they lie, yes? Master lied when I said
that I wouldn’t get angry so tell me what you’re doing with
that girl, which means that Master definitely did something to
make you lie to me about doing things like holding hands and
being too friendly with another girl you liar, liar, liar,
liarliarliarliarlairliar.”
“R-Really, we’ve only been playing Shogi! What do I have
to do to get you to believe me?!”

| Azura Ren |
 “I will torture you.”
My apprentice’s
declaration harkened back
to the Middle Ages.
“Since Master won’t be
honest anymore, I will get
answers with pain and
fear. It’s not something I
want to do, but Master lies,
so I don’t have a choice, do
I? As much as I hate to do
it, I’ll ask Auntie for
help–––.”
She’s going to tell Big Sis
about this?! Don’t even
joke about that!!
“H-Hey, Ai! Would you
please say something! Tell
her that this is just a Shogi
lesson, as you have no
intention of becoming my
apprentice and–––.”
“Ohhh? So, this
ordinary, airheaded girl
with a tooth missing is
your apprentice, Sensei?”
| Azura Ren |
 “?!”
Ai Yashajin then steps right into my chest, more than likely
on purpose, with a devilish smile on her face and starts
stoking the fire.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Ai
Yashajin. As you have seen, Yaichi-sensei has been teaching
me all sorts of ins and outs. Isn’t, that right? Sensei♡”
“Ai …… Yashajin. Ai ……?”
“That’s right. So, we both have the same name. Is that a
coincidence? Or is it perhaps …… He got bored of the first Ai?
What a cruel teacher you have!”

| Azura Ren |
 No-no-no NOOOOOOO!
What the hell is this little
brat saying?!
“H-He’s not bored of
me! I’m Master’s whole
world!!”
“Ohhh?”
The Ai standing against
me runs her small hand
down my cheek and says,
“He seems to be head over
heels for me now? He just
said I’m better than you a
moment ago.”
“Hey?! That didn’t
mean–––.”
“That’s not true! Master
always says the food I
made for him is delicious,
and he said that I’m cute
today!”
“Lip service, to be sure.
He’s just making you do
chores.”
“He cleaned out my ears
last night after my bath!
| Azura Ren |
My head was in his lap!”
“It’s dangerous for children to do that on their own. He’s
treating you like a child, that’s all.”
“Grrrrrhhh~~~~!!”
“Ummmm, uh …… I-I shook his hand at the association’s
classroom!”
“Why are you butting in?”
“I, I just want everyone to calm down, you know ……?”
Thank you, Mio. I appreciate you trying to come to my
defense, but it’s doing just the opposite. If looks could kill,
Ai’s eyes right now would be lethal ……
“Master has pushed me down when I was naked before!!”
“He what?”
Of course, everyone else’s heads snap around with a
shocking claim like that. Ai Yashajin’s whole body froze like a
statue.
“Masta said he’d make Cha his wife too.”
Then, lady Ai looks up at me with suspicion the instant she
heard the angel’s innocent claim, “… Could it be, that you have
a Loli ……”
“Stop, stop, stop, stop! Everyone, stop talking right now!
Cool your jets! Shut your mouths, please! And you, behind the
counter! Don’t move!!”
The man sitting at the front flinches; his hand hovering
behind his back just inches away from a telephone. I’m onto
you and I’m not letting my guard down!
| Azura Ren |
 “Okay …… I can explain what Ai just said. Back when she
first came to my apartment, she forgot to bring a towel into
the bathroom, and I bumped into her when she came out to
get one, thus knocking her down …”
Actually it was a desperate attempt to keep Big Sis from
seeing that there was a naked elementary school girl in my
apartment, but Ai Yashajin looked deflated after hearing my
explanation and says, “That’s all? An accident like that?”
“Yes, yes, yes! An accident! Just a simple accident! It’s not
like I’m completely interested in Ai’s body or anything like
that–––.”
I got that far when I suddenly gulped down the air in my
throat.
My apprentice is looking right at me; tears rolling down
her cheeks like waterfalls.
It’s just like in Shogi. You don’t recognize a bad move until
you’ve made it.
“Ah …… No, it’s just, you see …… I’m only saying that I’m
not interested in elementary school girls in that way, not that
I’m not interested in you, Ai. Actually I agreed to teach her
because I’m interested in you, so that’s …”
“M–––.”
M?
“Master, you
JERKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
She screams.
| Azura Ren |
 Then Ai spins around and races out of the classroom,
crying at the top of her lungs.
“Ah! Wait, Ai?! Crying and running is dangerous!”
“P-Please excuse us!”
Mio almost tripped over herself as she races off in hot
pursuit as Ayano politely bows and then grabs the confused
Charlette and takes off after them.
“Huh,” said the little girl, unable to comprehend what just
happened.
“Humph, how noisy. Just brats after all.”
Ai Yashajin steps away from me, flicks her black hair over
her shoulder before taking a seat in her chair like nothing
ever happened and picks up a Shogi piece.
“…… Just now, a group of elementary schoolers just raced
out of here at breakneck speed … Did something happen?”
said Akira with no clue what had just transpired as she came
into the classroom. I heard her, but I’m still in shock.

RAISING APPRENTICES
It’s impossible to do a lesson like this. Once I explained the
situation to Akira, I dashed out the door and made a beeline
for my apartment.
“Ai!”
I yell my apprentice’s name as soon as I get in the door.
Then, I spot a memo sitting on top of the low table in the
| Azura Ren |
tatami room.

“I’m leaving.”
“Seriously?!”
Tremors roll down my spine once I got a good look at what
was written on the back of the print-out page.
She ran away?! She actually left?! I rush to check her stuff,
but her backpack and school textbooks are gone.
“S-She …… she’s really gone for good ……?”
Glancing outside, the sun has pretty much set. The thought
of an elementary school girl wandering the streets of Osaka at
night with nowhere to go makes my guts feel heavy, as if a
whole lot of lead was coursing through them.
I have to get her back here, every second is a second too
late. But where did she go? Where should I look? Who should
I call? The association? Or the police ……?
Just as the guilt and an even stronger panic were building,
my cell phone rang.
It’s Keika. I hit the “accept” button and–––. “Ah, Yaichi? Ai
just showed up at our doorstep ……”
“Thank God! Oh, thank you, thank you! I’ll come pick her
up right away!”
“You don’t need to.”
“Huh?”
“At least, that’s what I was told. That’s why I called.”
“D-Did Ai say that ……?”
| Azura Ren |
 “No. My father did.”
“Master said that?!”
“That’s right. He pretty much adores her. I think he wants
to keep her around for a while. He’s probably lonely because
both you and Ginko left at almost the same time. So, you don’t
need to come pick her up for about a month–––.”
“I’m coming right now!!”
I won’t listen to the nonsensical ramblings of a geezer.
Cutting the connection, I run out onto the streets of Naniwa
and flag down a taxi.
Once I got to Noda Station, one stop down the line from
Fukushima Station, in less than ten minutes, I raced down a
street, too narrow for a car to pass through all the way, to an
old Japanese-style house at the end and burst through the
door.
“I’m home!”
This is the house where Big Sis and I trained until a year
and a half ago. I spent more than half of my life inside these
walls, so it feels more like home then my parents’ place.
The silver lining in this whole mess is that Big Sis is out in
Tendou City, Yamagata Prefecture for a title match right now.
The match took place today, and it looks like she’s not back
early this time. If she did make it back from that far away, I’d
have to seriously consider the possibility that she’s not
human.
“Ai! Are you here?! I came to pick you up!!”
| Azura Ren |
 I walk straight to the back of the house, open the sliding
door to the tatami room, and see a stocky human shape
appear, a shape that’s holding a teapot.

My Master.
“So, ya came.”
“Of course I did! Now, where’s Ai?!”
“Over here.”
Master waves me into the room.
I step inside, but my apprentice isn’t here. Just my Master,
grunting as he lowers himself to the floor at the back of the
room.
“… Where is she?”
“Ai said she don’ wanna see ya. So, I ain’t gonna let ya.”
“Master!”
“Calm down, Yaichi. Have a seat.”
“……”
Master’s dignified words force me to bottle up my anxiety
and obey. For me, a direct order from him is absolute.
Master starts pouring tea into cups as I sit on my ankles in
the lower seat and he pushes one in my direction.
“Have a drink.”
“… Where is Ai?”
“No need to worry, she’s in this house. Playin’ Shogi with
Keika in the kids’ room on the second floor right now.”
That’s the room that Big Sis and I used to share.
| Azura Ren |
 I want to see my apprentice as soon as possible … But, it’s a
big relief knowing that at least she’s safe.
With that out of the way, other thoughts suddenly start
weighing on my mind.
Even if I went to her, I have no clue how to clear up this
misunderstanding.
But wait, is it a misunderstanding? It’s true that I never told
her that I was teaching Ai Yashajin and it’s true I said she was
the better Shogi player.
If I went to see Ai now … what could I possibly say?
Seeing the lost look on my face, Master quietly starts
talking.
“I got a pretty good idea what happened … I think. From
everythin’ that Ai and Mr. Tsukimitsu have told me anyway.”
“From the chairman?”
“Whenever Mr. Tsukimitsu has a job for ya, he always gets
my opinion first.”
“I didn’t know that …”
That’s the chairman for you. Even when it comes to making
arrangements, he’s the Meijin.
Professional Shogi players are all self-employed, and rivals
at that. Anyone who considers throwing their hat into this
world is horrible at working with others to begin with. It’s
necessary to keep that in mind when trying to work with
people like us.
But, that wasn’t all there was to it.
| Azura Ren |
 Master mumbles something deep under his beard before
taking a deep breath and starting to speak with conviction. “I
was gonna wait to say this until ya were at least A class but …
ya already have a title and took an apprentice, so what the
heck. I was–––.”
He gulps down his tea and said something that I never saw
coming.

“Ya see, I was gonna have Mr. Tsukimitsu take ya on as an

apprentice.”

… Huh?
“Me …? The chairman’s apprentice? What do you mean by
…?”
“I didn’t think I could raise ya.”
“… Because Big Sis was already here …?”
Was it impossible to take on not one but two strangers’
children as live-in apprentices in this day and age?
That was the first thing that popped into my head, but
Master shakes his head no.
“Because ya had something that I didn’t. Talent, to be
blunt. Talent that blew others out of the water even.”
“……?”
“I knew back when we played our first game. I knew that
this kid would be a pro no later than graduatin’ junior high.”
“B-But, I had to have been, what, Amateur 2-dan back
| Azura Ren |
then? That’s long before anyone decides to try to go pro or
not–––.”
“I knew,” Master declares. “Actually, talent sticks out the
most in beginners. Anyone can learn skills through willpower,
but not talent. That’s somethin’ ya’re born with.”
“Talent …”
“Ya felt it too, yeah? When you played against Ai.”
“…… Yes.”
Ai first picked up a Shogi piece three months ago.
The only opening move she knew was advancing the Pawn
in front of the Rook …… No skills to speak of, and no
experience whatsoever, a blank slate.
However, Ai’s Shogi was overwhelming.
Double Winged Attack, a full power play. It started off with
a very unusual move, taking a Rook with the Bishop. From
there, Ai used two Rooks and kept a pro’s attack at bay. Even
pros have a hard time with the Double Winged Attack, but she
effectively played with two Rooks, a pattern that almost never
shows up in match records.
Then she counterattacked in a way that I never saw
coming. In an instant she realized that my offensive would
come up short by the slimmest of margins. It wasn’t out of
reckless desperation either. She read the board in the blink of
an eye and even set up traps: a truly ferocious attack.
How could this girl, who hadn’t even handled Shogi pieces
for most of her life, pull that off?
| Azura Ren |
 In a word–––talent. That’s the only way to explain it.
“I felt that the very first time I sat across the board from ya.
Felt that this kid could be the one to end Shogi.”
–––End Shogi.
Simply put, it means to understand everything that there is
to know about Shogi. To find a sequence that guarantees
victory. It’s the highest compliment any Shogi player can give
to another, and even has a divine feel to it.
Gulping down the spit in my mouth, I ask, “I-Is that true …?
For Big Sis as well …?”
“I thought she could make some noise as a Women’s
League player. She had spirit and spunk in spades.”
Master grins at me and takes another swig of tea.
“I was pretty sure I could turn ya into a pro. I could, but
that’s as far as I could take ya. I couldn’t teach what comes
after that.”
“What comes … after?”
“How to act like a titleholder.”
“……!”
“How to prepare for a big match. Sealin’ techniques. Copin’
with matches that last two days. How to interact with fans,
sponsors and the press as the face of the Shogi world,
participatin’ in events, dealin’ with mounting pressure during
winning streaks, how to remain in peak condition with all that
kinda stuff goin’ on … Playin’ as an ordinary pro is one thing,
but competin’ at the top level is a whole other animal. Not just
| Azura Ren |
on the board either. Your day-to-day life completely changes
into another world.”
I know exactly what he’s talking about …… Every fiber of
my being can relate.
I went from being a bottom-of-the-barrel rookie pro all the
way to the top of the Shogi world when I became the Ryuo.
The sudden change threw me for a loop …… I may be
exaggerating, but it really felt like my life changed. The
changes outside of the game had the biggest impact on me.
However, that impact affected my ability to play.
Actually it was those changes that got to me and I couldn’t
win at all ……
“But ya see, I can’t teach ya what to do in that situation. I
thought that ya needed to know how to act and how to
prepare to be at the top while ya were still a kid, and I didn’t
fit the bill. What’s more, I was worried that I’d waste yer
talent by showin’ ya how to play my way. Many sleepless
nights …”
Master folds his arms across his chest and looks up at the
ceiling.
“Should I sharpen yer skills, push ya out of yer comfort
zone, or build ya up as much as I could …? I didn’t know how
to handle talent like yers. I didn’t have it to begin with, you
see,” he said with a dreary voice. “So I went to speak with Mr.
Tsukimitsu ‘bout the time you entered the Sub League. It was
‘cause I thought someone with talent like yers could raise ya
| Azura Ren |
right.”
“S-So … what happened?”
“He refused.”
“……”
Well, that’s a shock to the system.
“I’m gonna say this here and now: Mr. Tsukimitsu
acknowledged yer talent. He didn’t reject ya as an apprentice.
He refused because he thought it’d be better for ya to stay as
my apprentice. I still remember his words.”
“What did he say …?”
“He came to you with a childhood dream of becoming
your apprentice. Please respect that feeling, treasure and
nurture it.––– ”
Wham! The shock felt like I got punched in the head and a
spreading fire ignited in my chest at the same time.
How an apprentice …… feels. …
“That’s when it hit me. I thought I’d been doin’ all this for
my apprentice, but actually I was tryin’ to run away. No, more
than that … I was jealous of this kid that had what I didn’t,
and I might’ve been tryin’ to put space between us.”
Listening to Master’s words made me think back on what I
had done.
Every decision I made was to help Ai. There’s no mistaking
how I felt.
But then again, did I ever consider Ai’s feelings?
“Then Mr. Tsukimitsu told me somethin’ else: The Meijin’s
| Azura Ren |
apprentice doesn’t necessarily become the next Meijin–––.”
Master looks up into the air as if basking in nostalgia.
“So that’s how it is, I thought to myself. And then faced it
head-on …”
There’s more to instructing than just teaching all the ins
and outs.
Once you sit in front of the board, you’re on your own.
No matter who your Master is, you fight by yourself. You
get stronger by yourself.
In that case, what a Master can do is–––.
“That’s when I gave it my all, and managed to face the
Meijin not once, but twice … Never could claim the title
though.”
Lead by example. Show the apprentice what it looks like to
get stronger.
That might be the most important lesson of all. At the very
least, it was for Big Sis and myself.
Seeing Master battle the Meijin.
Seeing Master wearing traditional clothes.
Watching him gallantly walk into the arena. Big Sis and I
had no doubt he was the coolest person in the whole world.
Big Sis was so excited that she grabbed my hand and said,
“That’ll be us. We’ll wear kimonos, for sure! For sure, for
sure!” repeatedly like a broken record. There were nights
when she couldn’t sleep and brought magazines and colored
pencils over to my futon and the two of us lay sprawled out,
| Azura Ren |
drawing pictures of our future selves wearing kimonos. It
even showed up in our dreams.
After that, when Big Sis was eleven she wore her first
kimono.
And me, I got to wear a kimono when I was sixteen. I got to
borrow the very same one of Master’s that I had idolized since
that day …
“I tried to run away from my apprentice,” Master
whispered as if he were disappointed in himself. “Yer
apprentice may have run away from ya, but everything ya did,
ya did for her. So, I don’t think ya’ve done anythin’ wrong.”
“Master …”
“You wanted to set up a rival for Ai, yeah? Someone she
could get stronger with together. Someone like Ginko was for
you.”
“……!”
Heat starts building in the back of my eyes.
I was so happy that Master understood what I was trying to
do. And just as happy to learn that he had walked down the
same path …… happy that I made the right decision, and also
reassured.
“Keika and I’ll take care of Ai for the time bein’. Ya’ve got
nothin’ to worry about. So, give it all ya got!”
I take hold of the now lukewarm tea and wet my throat. All
to make sure my next words came out loud and clear.
Then, I sit up straight and lower my head.
| Azura Ren |
 “… Thank you so much!”
Even so, my words weren’t as loud and clear as I’d hoped.

STONE DOOR TO HEAVEN

“Oh, Yaichi. So, you came after all.”
Master’s talk was over, but I still couldn’t figure out what to
do about Ai. I’d been pacing at the bottom of the stairs for a
few minutes when Keika’s voice came down.
She waves me up the stairs, so I head up as quietly as
possible.
“We took a bath, and I dried her hair once everything was
ready for school tomorrow. I just checked on her and she’s all
tucked into her futon. Felt like old times.”
Keika used to do the same kind of thing for Big Sis and me
all the time.
…… But damn it—Ai getting to take a bath with Keika …
I’m so jealous …… I got to go in with Keika just once, way
back when I was in early elementary school … She was in high
school at the time, but her body was well on its way to
becoming the picture of divinity it is now … Wait! This isn’t
the time to be thinking about that! What the hell am I doing?!
“What’s wrong, Yaichi? You look a bit restless.”
“Huh?! I-I, um … Can’t really say …”
“To Ai?”
No, to you, Keika.
| Azura Ren |
 …… But I don’t blame myself. Keika’s skin is still glowing
pink from the bath, and the shirt she’s got on is thin enough
to catch some glimpses of the holy hills. Whatever soap she
used smells absolutely amazing and, though I may be the
Ryuo, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m a teenager with
hormones …
“I turned off the lights, but Ai might still be awake. Would
you like to talk?”
“…… No. Now’s not the right time.”
The events of the day are catching up with me, I use the
last of my energy to take a seat on the stairs.
Keika sits down behind me and gently strokes my head.
Her warmth, it’s like all the tension and fatigue built up in
my muscles is melting away, I can feel it …
Back when I was living here, Keika would sit next to me on
the stairs and comfort me just like this when I cried after
losing to Big Sis.
I’m a lot bigger now than I was then, so she can’t sit next to
me anymore, but this feels just as it did back then.
It’s like, as long as Keika is there to comfort me, I feel like I
could recover from anything, no matter how bad it is ……
“… Did Ai say anything?”
“Master is a liar! She’s pretty hung up on that point.”
“I see ……”
“So, you’re taking on a new apprentice?”
“I agreed to take on a new student on the condition that she
| Azura Ren |
wouldn’t become my apprentice. She’ll be the chairman’s
apprentice, probably. I was hired to get her ready for the
Practice League entrance test, nothing more.”
“What’s she like?”
“An elementary school girl, Ai’s age.”
“… It might be a good idea not to mention that to Ginko.
Especially since she’s in the middle of title matches ……”
“Oh yeah, how’s that going?”
“I think it just ended.”
“Just ended? Really? Ryou really hung in there.”
Both of us knew who won without saying another word. Big
Sis did: no ifs, ands or buts about it.
“Hung in … It might be better to say Ginko didn’t give her a
chance to surrender …”
“?”
Keika didn’t say another word but pulled out a smartphone
instead. She hands it to me and I look at the screen.
It’s the record for the match. Judging from the first
moves–––.
“Ryou used anaguma ……?!”
The words fell from my mouth in surprise.
Anaguma kakoi is a playing style where the player moves
their King to the very corner of the board and builds a rock-
solid defense around it. Ryou Tsuyomizaka is known for
ignoring defense altogether and attacking head on (her
nickname is the Aggressive Archangel for a reason). So this is
| Azura Ren |
the last strategy I’d expect the Women’s King to use. Actually
it’s much more fitting for her friend and rival Yamashiro
Ouka—Machi Kugui (aptly nicknamed Machi the Tormentor),
who is really good at it.
The two of them go against each other in league matches
and quite a bit for practice, so Ryou is always the one trying to
break through an anaguma.
Since it’s not impossible for her to use it herself, this was
probably Ryou’s ace in the hole that she was keeping warm
for a special occasion.
And she pulled it out to use on Big Sis–––however …
“The formation was just fine, but Ginko completely ignored
it and instead took all of Miss Tsukiyomizaka’s offensive
pieces one by one.”
“Ouch ……”
We call that Burning the Anaguma. She was the one that
was tormented.
“That’s one way anaguma users tend to lose, but to have it
happen during the title match …… Yeah.”
“All that preparation and pulling out her trump card, but
not being allowed to give up when all was lost like that ……”
Reading further and further into the match record, Ryou’s
pieces start dropping like flies and Big Sis’s piece stand fills
up and starts to overflow. The anaguma defense was left
untouched, sad and alone.
Then came the time to surrender.
| Azura Ren |
 There’s a comment next to the record that says that once
Big Sis took Ryou’s last offensive piece, she said, “My piece
stand is full, so I’ll put it on the tatami mat.”
Ryou surrendered as soon as she saw that happen.
Misery. That one word says it all.
Someone uploaded a picture of the scene just after she
threw in the towel on the match blog. It showed Ryou sitting
next to the board in a full kimono, with her head clutched
between her knees. Pure sorrow. Her spirit is broken.
Hopefully it doesn’t carry over into the third match …
“But …… this is cruel. Like, inhumanely cruel ……”
“It’s almost like something outside the match got under her
skin and she needed to vent. She doesn’t go this far unless
something other than Shogi was on her mind. That’s the thing
about Ginko: her emotions come out on the board when she
plays.”
“Just not on her face, right?”
“Wasn’t she like this when she played against Ai?”
“Oh yeah … She went right for the spirit then too …”
Keika then spoke as if trying to find the right words. “Yaichi
… You didn’t do anything to irritate Ginko, did you?”
“Do you think I have a death wish?! Seriously, Big Sis turns
into a grumpy bear just coming out of hibernation before
matches. I’m too scared to get close.”
“That’s what I thought …”
“And I’m doing what I can to help her out in my own way.
| Azura Ren |
I’m staying out of her hair by not contacting her during title
matches so she can focus. Even if I do need to say something,
I keep it as short as possible, you know? Aren’t I the best little
brother apprentice in the world? It wouldn’t hurt you to
compliment me more, Keika.”
“Yes, yes, the best, the best.”
“That’s all?!”
Keika tilts her head to the side, mumbling, “Now why
doesn’t it cross your mind that that’s when she could use
some company?” with a slightly confused look on her face.
Why? Because bears coming out of hibernation devour
everything in their path, yes? That’s why it’s best to give
space, yes? What other option is there?
“If that’s the case, I’ve only got one other idea.”
“And that is?”
“Yaichi, you’ve been secretly seeing Miss Tsukiyomizaka,
haven’t you? I wonder if Ginko is having a hard time dealing
with that.”
“Secretly ……? All that happened was I talked with her and
Machi in the association’s Player’s Room. That’s it.”
“Now I see. Miss Kugui too … That’s why Ginko is twice as
angry! Miss Kugui is at the match to provide commentary.”
“???”
Why would Big Sis be angry at Ryou and Machi ……? Could
it be because they made her wear that bunny outfit for the
Women’s League Fan Club event?!
| Azura Ren |
 But, I’m sure she wore her sailor style school uniform on
that day. She wore it because it was determined that the fans
wanted to see her in the uniform rather than a bunny
costume.
“Don’t make Snow White wear such a thing!”
“She can wear a bunny suit anytime, but her days in the
school uniform are running out.”
“Then again, mature ladies in school girl outfits are more
……”
These are just some of the things the fans had to say. Got to
give the fans what they want, after all!
“Well, all the dots connect if you think about it that way ……
but I think that Ginko was sending a message to the two of
them by tormenting Miss Tsukiyomizaka as she used Miss
Kugui’s favorite strategy right in front of her, saying ‘I’ll teach
you what happens when you try to take what’s important to
me.’ It does sound like something she’d do …”
What’s important to Big Sis?
Oh, her titles. It’s true that she’ll get a considerable
advantage if she plants the seeds of doubt in her challengers’
heads by breaking their spirits. Thoroughly dismantling one
opponent will put everyone on notice. That’ll send a message
for sure.
“But for this kind of off-the-board tactic to be the only way
she can express herself …… That poor girl ……!”
Keika mumbles something strange and wipes the corner of
| Azura Ren |
her eye.
“Anyway, Yaichi. Could you stop meeting those two girls
behind her back? Ginko will never calm down at this rate.”
“Say what? Why does me talking to Ryou and Machi bother
her that much? I don’t get it. We’re basically coworkers, so of
course we’ll bump into each other.”
“…… Haaaaaaaa~ ……” Keika lets out a long, extremely deep
sigh before poking me in the cheek.
“Try to understand this. Things are going to get really bad if
you don’t turn over a new leaf real soon. This whole problem
with Ai started because you’re so loose with other girls. To be
blunt, your lack of standards brought this on.”
“W-What does that have to do with this–––?”
“Quite …… a …… bit,” she says, twisting her finger deeper
into my cheek.
You are the one I love the most, Keika, it’s always been you
…… Please! Understand how I feel!!
“Let me put it this way, Yaichi. How would you feel if I
went out for tea with a man you didn’t know?”
“I’d punch a few teeth out to start with!”
“That’s what this is about.”
Ah, now I get it.
Even I can understand after having it put that way.
Ai must idolize me like the picture-perfect big brother.
Someone like what Keika is to me.
No matter what the truth is, I realize that me simply
| Azura Ren |
teaching another girl Shogi behind her back was enough to
hurt Ai’s feelings.
Not logically, but how she feels in her heart.
Since it’s not logical, it can’t be understood. Wow, feelings
are complicated ……
“It’s just like Shogi.”
“Yep, like Shogi.”
I know it’s a puzzle that can never truly be solved. But, that
doesn’t stop me from trying. Feelings and Shogi are a lot alike
…… Then again, we compare everything to Shogi. It’s because
that’s all we know.
“Hehehe,” Keika gently laughs and places her hands on my
shoulders to help her stand.
“You want to spend the night?”
“Nah. I’ll go home.”
I stand up too.
Then, I stop in front of the sliding door to the room where
Ai is sleeping.
“Ai.”
I say through the door.
“You might not believe me right now. But …… you’re what’s
important to me.”
I put what I was feeling in my heart into words.
There was no answer. Ai might be listening. Then again,
she might already be asleep.
But, I put my heart out there.
| Azura Ren |
 I left Master’s house believing that somehow she
understood.

On the way home.

Make sure you call her today. Not a message over social
media or a text to her phone, but an actual phone call! Even
if Ginko doesn’t pick up the phone, leave a message. Do not
forget, promise?! Promise me?!
Since Keika was so insistent, I take out my phone and start
dialing Big Sis’s number once I left the station.
“…… I really don’t think she’ll pick up but, okay.”
The match itself ended a few hours ago, but the
competitors have to stay in the arena to interact with fans and
talk with reporters, so they’re pretty busy. There’s also an
after-party.
“Knowing her when she’s like this, there won’t be a review
session but … Oh?!”
Surprisingly, my call went through practically the second I
touched the call button.
It’s almost like she already had the phone in her hand.
Maybe she was reading something?
“What?”
“Big Sis? I just heard you won the match.”
“So?”
“I, um …… wanted to be the first to say congratulations.”
| Azura Ren |
 Keika flat out demanded that I say it like this, so I did.
“……!!”
I heard something like a gulp on the other end. Then–––.
“…… Th …… Thanks ……”
Her response was barely louder than a mouse. Sounds like
she’s actually happy.
“Oh, and Big Sis. There’s something I wanted to ask you
……”
While I’ve got her on the phone, I explained that one of the
kids I’m teaching played like someone I’ve seen before but I
can’t quite place it and ask for her opinion.
“It’s a defensive style, but rather than keeping the King
under lock and key, they strike a good balance between a thin
defense and a strong attack. Do you know any pros who do
that with a Bishop Exchange?”
“Yes.”
“You do?!”
“But I’m not telling.”
“Huh?”
“……Yaichi, you jerk.”
Click. She hung up on me.
Just when I thought she was in a good mood, she gets angry
at the drop of a hat. I can’t figure it out.
“… Just like Shogi,” I quietly whisper under my breath,
looking up at the sky as I approach my apartment.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 COMPLETE
“Come to get whooped again? Yer tiny, but ya got more spunk
than most.”
Ai didn’t respond to Panther’s taunt when we arrived at
New World’s Shogi parlor and she starts lining up her pieces
with beautiful snapping sounds. She must’ve been practicing
at home after that day because the sound has definitely
changed.
But that wasn’t all that changed.
“Just watch.”
Ai whispered to me just before we came inside.
“Because I’m winning today.”
Those words had an odd ring to them.
It wasn’t that she was trying to psych herself up–––more
like she had seen the future and knew that she was going to
win.
Once the pieces were flipped, Ai was put on the defense.
Panther started the mind games with a light verbal jab.
“Ya sure? Ya can have the opening move if ya want?”
“I don’t mind,” said Ai, cool as a cucumber as she switched
the chess clock on. “The second move is more convenient for
me.”
“?”
Panther donned the look of a cautious carnivore
encountering a new animal for the first time, but slowly
| Azura Ren |
opened the Bishop’s Path in the end.
Ai responded in kind as Panther advanced the Pawn in
front of her Bishop, per usual. Just as I thought, she’s using
kakutou fu again. Ai doesn’t look the least bit surprised.
It was Panther’s turn to do that.
Because Ai took Panther’s Bishop with her own on the next
move.
“! She initiated a Bishop Exchange …… On defense?!”
That move sent a shockwave through the gallery.
“O-Oi, Sensei?! What’s going on?! Why is everyone up in
arms?!”
“…… Your lady just passed on her own turn.”
Akira yanks at my elbow in surprise and I give her a very
general explanation. I doubt she’d understand how shocking
this is if I went into detail.
Kakutou fu is a well-known ambush strategy. So well
known, in fact, there are many counter strategies to deal with
it. However, I’ve never seen this one. Thinking about it
logically, that move doesn’t give any kind of advantage at all—
puts her at a disadvantage actually. That’s what that move
does.
Even so, Panther’s face turns paler with every move
thereafter.
“Ugh ……?! Why in the heck?! How ……? It ain’t supposed to
go like this ……?!”
While Ai made every move with natural precision, Panther
| Azura Ren |
began to doubt her own. Even her hand seemed heavy,
clumsy.
Unable to figure out what Ai was after, she didn’t know
what moves to make.
“There’s no way! That scatterbrained strategy shouldn’t
work, not in a million years! B-but somehow …… Somehow
I’m losin’?!”
I get why Panther is growling like that. She hasn’t made any
mistakes …… Then again, this isn’t that level of a match
anymore. It’s not as simple as keeping up the attack.
Ai has created chaos on the board, so much so that her
opponent can’t tell the difference between a good move and a
bad move.
An unidentified strategy creeps its way across the board.
It’s like–––an imposing darkness.
“…… I’m spent! Ain’t nothing left I can do!” said Panther,
throwing in the towel as the rest of the parlor watches in awe.
“Whoa ……!” Voices stir in the crowd. In that moment, the
crown of the wild was passed to a new owner.
Panther vigorously scratched at her scalp beneath her full
head of permed hair, a sour look on her face as the two
started a review session. It goes without saying that they’re
talking about the move that Ai passed on.
“And here I thought ya were tryin’ to throw me for a loop
…… Girl, ya’re quite the competitor.”
“Maybe I am.”
| Azura Ren |
 Ai brushed off Panther’s compliment like it was nothing,
but I could tell.
She wasn’t trying to simply shock her opponent.
That was no cheap trick. The Shogi match that took place
on that board was much deeper and only part of a much
bigger plan. Even if amateurs couldn’t tell, a professional like
me definitely could.
“…… She’s ready,” I mumble to myself, knowing that our
lessons have come to an end.
She has a potent imagination and the skill to bring it to life
on the board. The final piece she was missing, mental
strength that comes from playing against other people, has
fallen into place. Now that those two are working together,
her Shogi is complete. Her talents now cast a massive dark
shadow over the board: that’s her Shogi style.
Looking at the completed Ai, I have no doubt.
This girl, just like my apprentice, was blessed by the Shogi
gods.

MASTER AND APPRENTICE

CONTRACT
The following weekend. The Practice Leagues regular
activities day.
Sensing that time was now, I brought Ai Yashajin to the
main office at the Kansai Shogi Association.
| Azura Ren |
 “Nervous?”
“Hardly.”
She already has a pretty face, but dressing head to toe in
black makes her stand out like a sore thumb at the
association. Walking through, I thought I could hear whispers
saying, “The Ryuo’s brought another little girl in ……,” and “So
it’s true, the guy really has a thing for ……,” but I’m sure it was
all in my head.
And Ai isn’t getting attention just because of her looks.
Personally trained by the Ryuo, she’s about to become the
Eternal Meijin’s apprentice.
How could anyone like that not be the center of attention? I
heard one staff member who was particularly on the ball
mutter, “Should I get her autograph now?” That may have
been a joke on one hand, but not entirely.
“Now then, Kuzuryu-sensei. Miss Yashajin will participate
in the Practice League activities starting today. The
supervisor, Kuruno-sensei, has already been informed.”
“Thank you.”
Arrangements for Ai’s entrance test have already been
made and it was set up so that she could join the Practice
League activities as soon as I gave the green light.
All we have to do is finish the necessary paperwork before
the Practice League gets started.
“Just to confirm, Chairman Tsukimitsu will be registered as
her Master, correct Ms. Oga?”
| Azura Ren |
 “Yes. One has made it so.”
I ask so as to make sure and the chairman’s secretary Sasari
Oga answers.
Finally, I turn to the girl about to become his apprentice
and ask for the last time.
“You don’t have any complaints about Chairman
Tsukimitsu, right? Just as you wanted, he’s in A Class Pro and
even holds the title of Eternal Meijin. I don’t even deserve to
be mentioned in the same breath.”
“………”
“What’s wrong? I’m not good enough for you, right?”
“……Yes. That’s right.”
She glares up at me and unloads everything at once.
“You’re just a C-2 class player who was lucky enough to
claim a title out of sheer luck, whose winning record has
dropped below thirty percent, the trash Kuzuryu! How could
the likes of you be worthy enough to be my Master?! Don’t
ask such obvious questions!! Kuzu!!”
“Y-You don’t pull any punches, do you ……?”
Well, it’s all true so I can’t say anything back.
“That person is fine. A Master is just a name on a piece of
paper after all.”
Ai answers, talking as if she outranked me. This brat is a
real piece of work, but all talented kids are that way. So, that’s
a positive in the Shogi world. Even the people in the room
have looks on their faces like “Just what I’d expect from the
| Azura Ren |
chairman’s future apprentice.”
Then everything was signed–––Ai Yashajin officially
became part of the Tsukimitsu Shogi family tree.
“So, you’re the chairman’s apprentice ……,” said Ms. Oga as
she stared down at Ai.
“You can refer to one as Mrs. Tsukimitsu if you wish.”
“Huh? Why?”
Well, she’s on high alert.
“I don’t know about all this chairman and Eternal Meijin
and whatnot—but why isn’t he here to greet me in person?”
“Probably because he doesn’t want to run into me. We’ve
got a league match coming up.”
No matter how nice and friendly two players are, they do
their best to avoid each other before matches.
They stop participating in practice groups until the match
is over, keep it to a quick “hello” if they happen to see each
other at the association and stay at opposite sides of the room
if they’re at the same dinner or party.
That’s what matches are to pro Shogi players.
Relationships, lifestyle, work …… All of them revolve
around Shogi. Ms. Oga looks at me and says, “The chairman
asked me to deliver a message to you, Ryuo. I thank you for
your efforts thus far. However, I plan on playing at full
strength during our match so don’t hold this against me.”
“Sounds just like him.”
A diversion …… But not quite. He’s probably trying to
| Azura Ren |
prevent me from getting a little too motivated before the
match. This will be our first league match. Even my
competitive juices are flowing.
“Please deliver my response to the chairman. You did so
much for me ever since I started training, so it’s about time I
show you my gratitude.”
Yes. For me, this is a gratitude match.
Because I’m playing against someone who very nearly
became my Master.

LITTLE DEVIL ON THE SCENE

“This is Ai Yashajin. She’ll be taking the entrance test today.”
Yoshitsune Kuruno 7-dan introduces Ai as the Practice
League activities were starting to get underway. She lifts her
chin up, looking around the room as if she owned the place as
he introduced her.
“She’s a fourth year elementary school student from Kobe.
Also, Seiichi Tsukimitsu 9-dan is her Master.
Zing!! A shockwave blasts through the members of the
Practice League all sitting side by side.
The very fact that she was the association chairman’s, the
Eternal Meijin’s apprentice meant she had that much
potential.
The air in here is electric, like when a strong rival first
shows up.
| Azura Ren |
 Then I spot my apprentice sitting in the very corner of the
arena. Seeing her for the first time in a while, and looking
happy at that, my eyes hover on her for a moment but–––
“!!”
She spots me, her big eyes opening even wider before, “……
(Humph!)”
She’s still angry ……
An apprentice …… showing her master an angry puffy face.
Quite the shock. One hit and my spirit feels like it’s going to
snap.
But there, in her hand–––.
“Isn’t, isn’t that …… The fan I gave her ……?”
The one I gave her on her own entrance test day, the one
with Courage written on it is tightly clasped in Ai’s tiny hand.
It’s like she’s saying she can’t completely sever the bond we
have …… My spirit recovers in the blink of an eye, seeing my
resolute apprentice warms my heart. She’s–she’s so cute ……!!
What’s the Ryuo doing …… rejoicing over this grade
schooler’s slight gesture? I snap at myself, knowing full well
how pitiful it is. But I don’t blame myself for worrying about
how she feels. What I’d give to be able to open her little heart
and read her like a book …… Am I sick?
“Do you …… think Ai’ll forgive me? You think she’ll still call
me Master? Or do you think she’s completely done with me?
…… Hey, Akira, what do you think? Hey, come on, tell me.”
“Ugh …… T-This is too nerve-racking ……! I-I can’t watch
| Azura Ren |
……!”
Akira came here to act as Ai Yashajin’s legal guardian, but
she’s in rough shape. Both hands are clamped over her ears
and she’s got her eyes shut tight (no sunglasses of course,
we’re inside the association). She reminds me of what Big Sis
is like when she rents horror movies and watches them in a
dark room, even though she hates being scared. But that’s the
only time she looks cute to me. She squeals in fright, grabs
hold of my arm, that sort of thing. If only she’d always watch
horror movies.
“Speaking of which, looks like Big Sis …… isn’t here today.
That’s a relief.”
She showed up at my apprentice’s entrance test as an
examiner, but she’s in the middle of the title match right now.
She wouldn’t have time to be bothered with someone trying to
join Practice League. Talk about luck.
So, I thought this entrance test would go off without a hitch
but–––.
The test taker herself destroyed that possibility right off the
bat.
“Is this a joke? Why do I have to play against the league
doormat?”
The moment that Ai learned that her first opponent during
the test would be the Practice League’s lowest ranking
member (F2), she immediately voiced her displeasure to the
one in charge, Kuruno-sensei.
| Azura Ren |
 Of course, this ticked off every other member of the
Practice League, turning the atmosphere sour.
Everyone in here plays against each other all the time,
meaning everyone’s bonds are tight. Insulting one like she
just did is the same as picking a fight with all of them.
“This isn’t worth my time. Could you put me up against a
stronger opponent?”
Apparently, Kuruno-sensei got a kick out of Ai’s request
and responded with a hint of irony in his voice.
“Well, you seem quite confident.”
“I am. Confident enough to take on a Women’s League
player here and now.”
“Well, in that case all you have to do is keep winning. You
only need to win thirty-nine times in a row starting now and
you can join the Women’s League. Or perhaps you aren’t
quite that confident?”
“! …… I see. Fine then.”
“Nh. That’s a good girl. Now, let’s get started.”
That’s Kuruno-sensei for you. As a Ranging Rook player, he
can make decisions on the fly, a handy skill when it comes to
handling bratty kids. If it were me up there, I’d have gotten
into an argument and lost for sure.
A little boy in elementary school was assigned to be Ai’s
first opponent. Since he’s F2, I’d say he’s comparable to an
amateur 2-dan.
Once the pieces were flipped, it was determined that Ai
| Azura Ren |
would go second.
“When you’re ready,” each said.
Once greetings were exchanged, the boy opens the Bishop
Path for his first move and Ai follows suit. Next, he advances
the Pawn in front of his Rook and the match progresses along
the orthodox early game strategy …… Or at least I thought it
was.
Because on the fourth move, Ai flicks the Pawn in front of
her Bishop forward.
“Kakutou fu on defense ……?!” I whisper without realizing
it as I keep a close eye on the match.
By and large, kakutou fu is an offensive strategy. Ai has
faced it many times before, whenever Panther was on offense.
She must’ve figured out a way to use the kakutou fu strategy
while on defense.
“……?”
The little boy playing against her clearly doesn’t know what
to think. His eyes keep darting between Ai’s face and the
board, the look on his face saying: Did you mean to do that?
He kind of looks sorry for her actually.
A nice, honest boy …… But kids like him have a hard time
in this competitive world.
Sure enough, he played right into her hands and was forced
to surrender in the blink of an eye.
“I …… I lost ……?”
He tilts his head back and forth trying to come to grips with
| Azura Ren |
what just happened. I don’t think he knows where things
went wrong, pretty sure he’s thinking he made a bad decision
once the ambush started but …… It’s not that simple.
“S …… She’s overpowered. Yeesh ……”
Once again, Ai’s talent astounds me.
That wasn’t a simple ambush arrangement.
Not only has Ai acquired an in-depth understanding of the
kakutou fu strategy, she realized it could be employed by the
defensive player and brought it to life on the board.
If this girl named Ai Yashajin becomes a full-blown
professional player …… she may revolutionize early game
strategy.
Yes, that match triggered that kind of premonition. Her
talent is on a whole other level ……
“Nh. I see, I see. You have an interesting playing style ……
Now let’s see how you do in a handicap match.”
With that said, Kuruno-sensei calls on a higher ranking-
player–––a member of the Practice League in C2, just one
step below the Women’s League: Keika Kiyotaki.
Ai sits down in the lower seat across from Keika. The match
conditions were announced as soon as the two of them had all
their pieces set up on the board.
“Now then, Keika. Play without a Lance.”
“Yes, sir.”
Keika nods and removes her left Lance, placing it in the
piece box.
| Azura Ren |
 “Huh?”
Ai watches and says the most unexpected thing I’ve ever
heard.
“Shouldn’t I be the one to remove a Lance?”
“!!”
A hair-raising flash of anger passed through Keika’s
normally warm and friendly eyes for a second there.
Ai made a preemptive strike in the mental war …… No, not
quite. That was just one of the rude comments that she
normally says without thinking ……
“Haaa ……”
Keika has played against countless bratty kids during her
time in the Practice League, so this kind of taunt doesn’t even
faze her. Her mind is like a fortress. Once she closes her eyes
and takes a deep breath, she nods.
“…… Okay. I’m ready.”
“Ready when you are.”
They exchange words and Keika slowly extends her hand to
make the first move. That snap echoes throughout the room.
It was a calm, well thought out move.
However, Ai’s even calmer still. Brazenly so.
“Ohh? So that’s how you’re going to play?”
Ai takes a look at Keika’s opening formation and says, “As if
she’s the one in C2.”
Keika didn’t react to those words out loud. At the very
least, she didn’t let her reaction show. Her eyes are glued to
| Azura Ren |
the board.
Keika spends several moves strengthening her formation.
Rather than charging in headlong to meet Ai’s challenge,
she deviates only slightly from the standard style for
advantaged players in handicap matches to meticulously
build up to a certain point. Now that’s cunning.
However, Ai was even more cunning.
“Nooow then ……”
Ai casually moves a piece into position and Keika’s eyes fly
open.
“!? ……? W-What is this ……?”
Ai didn’t move to attack her King, instead choosing to move
in on the opposite side. Confused, Keika ignored Ai’s
offensive and committed more pieces to protect her King but
……
“Ah ……!!”
She couldn’t help but hold her head in her hands when she
realized what Ai was really after.
The sequence that Ai put into play is called Massaging.
It involves taking your opponent’s pieces and using them to
cut off their attacks.
Rather than pointlessly slam your forces against a wall, the
main idea is to whittle down your opponent’s ranks until you
gain an advantage. Think of it as massaging your opponent’s
formation rather than trying to beat it like a drum. As a
bonus, moving your King into their territory for nyugyoku
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becomes an option once all their offensive pieces are off the
board.
“Nhh?!”
Kuruno-sensei’s eyes go wide.
“Extremely clever …… How would an elementary school
girl who’s never set foot in the Practice League learn how to
play like that ……?”
I took her to the Shogi parlors downtown, hehe☆. I can’t
exactly say that though.
Ai controlled the match the rest of the way.
Each of Keika’s few remaining offensive pieces were taken
from the board one by one, almost as if her clothes were being
ripped off one after another as her formation was thoroughly
dismantled. She couldn’t even find a chance to surrender.
Just like what happened to Ryou at the hands of Big Sis.
“Ah …… Ugh ……”
Keika then put Ai in check as if it was her dying wish but,
“Humph.”
Ai barely used a second of waiting time to take a Pawn
from her piece stand and snap it down on the board, finger
bending backward, to block the attack.
I knew you were going to do that.
That’s what she wants Keika to think, putting the pieces
down like that. Don’t embarrass yourself any more than you
already have. Give up.
“Kh ……! I-I lost ……”
| Azura Ren |
 Overwhelmed by Ai’s display, Keika lost the will to keep
fighting and throws in the towel.
Rather than doing a review session, she says a quick,
“Excuse me,” stands up and leaves the room holding a
handkerchief over her mouth. Her eyes were red.
She may have been down a lance …… But losing to an
elementary school student testing into the Practice League
like that puts her in one heck of a bind.
That, and soon she’ll be too old to join the Women’s
League. Losing a star like this really hurts ……
“I beat two. Who’s next?” says Ai as if it were nothing.
She doesn’t look tired at all, even after playing two
matches. Playing in this kind of atmosphere, there’s no way
she isn’t tired, but she’s not letting it show. She’s strong.
“Nh. Well then, for the last match–––.”
Kuruno-sensei looks at all the Practice League members
around the room until his gaze stops in front of one young
girl.

FLAWLESS COMPOSURE!
“Miss Ai Hinatsuru.”
“Yes!”
“Please play a match against Miss Yashajin. Determine the
match with the piece flip.”
“…… Yes!”
| Azura Ren |
 A piece flip–––in other words, Kuruno-sensei has seen
enough to determine that Ai Yashajin’s abilities are on par
with my apprentice.
That, and most likely her talent too.
“…… Ai, against the new girl ……?!”
“W-Which one’s better ……?”
The mood in here just flipped like a switch.
Everyone here knows that my apprentice is on a whole
other level but also they are fully aware that the new Ai is
extremely talented as well.
So, which one is the better player? Everyone wants to see
the match so bad that they can’t focus on their own.
Everyone’s glancing over at the board between the two Ais,
their eyes drawn to it like magnets. The Shogi world is a
world of talent and skill. Everything revolves around those
who have a lot of both.
There’s a hint of frustration in Kuruno-sensei’s voice as he
whispers into my ear.
“…… You always seem to bring in the most interesting kids.”
“No, this one wasn’t me, but the chairman ……”
I start trying to explain the situation, but I don’t want to
miss a single move of the match. This conversation can wait.
My apprentice leans forward, focusing all of her body
weight onto each piece she puts onto the board while Ai
Yashajin boldly puffs out her chest and casually lines up
pieces on her side. It’s like their Shogi styles, their very
| Azura Ren |
personalities are on display.
“Pardon me.”
The Ai already in the Practice League picks up five Pawns
and flips them all at once. Rather than getting a few words in
edgewise, the other Ai grabs the water bottle at her side and
takes a quick drink.
The pieces land–––three right side up and two upside
down. My apprentice is on offense.
“When you’re ready!”
“When you’re ready.”
Ai Hinatsuru practically throws her head down in a bow
while Ai Yashajin is showing all the poise of a titleholder
rising to a challenge and responds in kind. Then, she quietly
turns on the chess clock.
“Suuuu …… Haaaaaa …… Okay!”
My apprentice takes a deep breath and makes the first
move–––of course, the 2 Six Pawn in front of the Rook.
In response, Ai Yashajin advances her 3 Four Pawn to open
the Bishop’s Path.
She moved that piece like reaching for a piece of bread at
breakfast, nothing to it at all.
The moment Ai Hinatsuru saw that, she immediately opens
her own Bishop Path.
I’ll beat you at your own game, no matter what formation
you choose!
She’s issuing a challenge.
| Azura Ren |
 Ai Yashajin’s face didn’t budge as she moved the Pawn in
front of her own Rook without using any waiting time,
declaring a war of Rooks. My apprentice plays Static Rook,
meaning that should go in her favor. Is Yashajin going to
attack head on?
As the two combatants try to feel each other out, Mio
makes her way over to me and pulls at my sleeve. She must’ve
been left out of this round of matches because there’s an
uneven number of participants today. Then she asks.
“…… Is that Side Pawn Capture?”
“I don’t think so …… It’s looking like–––.”
I was tripping over my own words when it happened.
Ai Yashajin’s hand flew across the other side of the board.
She grabs Ai Hinatsuru’s Bishop and puts it on her piece
stand and snaps down her own Promoted Bishop in its place.
It’s a Bishop Exchange.
But not just that, it’s–––.
“Move-Loss Bishop Exchange?!”
“For real?!!” Mio exclaims in surprise.
The strategy that Ai Yashajin is trying to use is the same
one that took down the Panther, one that requires her to pass
on one move …… Basically, she’s losing a turn.
This Move-Loss Bishop Exchange is known as a specialist
strategy, so it never shows up in a match between amateurs.
Only a handful of pros use it, most notably Kanto’s A Class
Unicorn Takanobu Shiraishi 9-dan, but also Chairman
| Azura Ren |
Tsukimitsu and Fumiaki Shamori 8-dan in Kansai, and–––.
“As one of the few uses of the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange,
what you think of this match? Yaichi Kuzuryu-ryuo?”
“…… It’s too soon to tell.”
Just as Kuruno-sensei said, I’m one of the pros that uses
the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange.
Now why is it that so few pros use the strategy?
It’s because using it requires your brain to work in a
completely different way compared to other strategies.
“I can’t say yet because there’s a part of the Move-Loss
Bishop Exchange strategy that even I don’t completely
understand ……”
“Y-You’re the Ryuo, and you don’t know?! In that case, why
do you use it?!” Mio askes in surprise.
I carefully choose my words to help her understand that
this strategy can’t be understood.
“Do you know which player has the advantage in modern
Shogi, offense or defense?”
“The offense, right?”
“Okay then, why do you think they have the advantage?”
“Because they’re on offense?”
“Miss Mizukoshi, that is not an answer.”
“Nmh ……” Mio’s face contorts in thought after Kuruno-
sensei’s rebuke.
“Ummm, I think …… Because they have one more move
than the player on defense? Is that right?”
| Azura Ren |
 ““Exactly!””
Kuruno-sensei and I give her full points for that simple
answer.
To put it in the most basic terms, they can adjust their
formation one more time than their opponent. Anyone could
understand that it’d be weird for them not to have an
advantage, right?
And it’s true. With the exception of 2008, offensive players
have a higher winning percentage than ones on defense in all
league matches. Even individual players, excluding a few
specialized ones, have a better winning percentage when they
make the first move.
The first turn has that much influence on Shogi–––
however …
“The Move-Loss Bishop Exchange is a strategy that
requires the defensive player, who was already a move
behind, to forfeit yet another move. Basically, it means the
offensive player is two moves ahead.”
“That’s way far behind!”
“Right. Thinking about it logically, passing on a turn when
you’re already one move behind isn’t going to fix anything ……
But take a look at that board and tell me what you think.”
I point to where the two Ais are playing.
Ai, playing on defense, has advanced her right Knight and
nearly pulled into an evenly balanced formation–––.
“……?!”
| Azura Ren |
 The Ai on offense had been playing at a brisk pace, but the
hand that was flying across the board is now frozen in place.
“Here. This is the moment that makes Move-Loss Bishop
Exchange work ……! Since the formations are even during a
normal Bishop Exchange, the common consensus is that the
offensive player has the advantage. But a completely different
type of Shogi emerges because the defensive player is one
move behind!!”
“On defense …… Her Pawn in front of the Rook is one
space behind her opponent’s, right?”
“It is. Now if you look at it from the opposite direction, you
could say that the defensive player is forcing the offensive
player to attack ……!”
Just one move.
A strange moment comes to pass when the offensive player
doesn’t have a good move to play, all because the defensive
player passed on their turn. There isn’t a good way to attack
here.
Since the offensive player doesn’t have a promising move,
there should be one for the defensive player.
That’s what the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange strategy all
comes down to.
For that reason, it’s possible to say that Move-Loss Bishop
Exchange is the pinnacle of Static Rook defensive Shogi.
“Then, once the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange started
showing up, people started to understand that there is
| Azura Ren |
acceptable loss and unacceptable loss in Shogi. Not limited to
terms of game flow, a whole new flat way to look at the game
came into existence.”
“Acceptable loss.”
That discovery is the true merit behind the Move-Loss
Bishop Exchange.
Discovering this one strategy led to a full-fledged
rethinking of how turn loss actually works. They could even
be acceptable loss hidden in the old standards. The Shogi
world had been stagnant, but people started combing through
the classic material for new discoveries all over the place.
Whew, Shogi never gets old, don’t you think?
“…… I still find it amazing that Ai can use the Move-Loss
Bishop Exchange …… No amateur should be able to play it, so
I doubt she’s had an opponent use it on her ……”
She told me that her father taught her how to play Shogi.
That father was the amateur Meijin. It’s pretty safe to assume
he had near pro-level skill.
“Then again …… Shogi starts when you have an opponent.
With so few people using that strategy and the pros, she
couldn’t have gotten experience with it as an amateur …… So
where in the world did she pick it up ……?”
There’s still a lot I don’t know about Ai Yashajin’s Shogi
history. Sure feels like it.
Speaking of Ai Yashajin, her face hasn’t changed since the
match began. Using no waiting time at all, she’s been
| Azura Ren |
advancing at a swift pace.
Meanwhile, my apprentice Ai looks like she’s in a serious
bind, her face all twisted.
Any Bishop Exchange requires the brain to work in
overdrive. Since both players have a Bishop on their piece
stand early in the game, they have to keep their formations
closely knit together to make sure they don’t give their
opponent an opening. These matches typically end up with
each player mirroring each other’s moves, leading to the exact
same formations on offense and defense.
It’s a nerve-racking battle where both players have a gun
loaded with a bullet called Bishop pointed right at each other.
All Ai Yashajin has to do is stick to what she knows, it is the
early game after all. However, Ai Hinatsuru has to fumble
around to find the best move.
That requires a lot of Shogi endurance and waiting time,
both of which were starting to take a toll on her.
“Kh …… Haaa …… Haa ……!”
Egg-shaped drops of sweat are rolling down my
apprentice’s face. Her breathing is ragged too.
Going against the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange isn’t easy, so
the fact that Ai got this far on her own power is astounding.
However, she has a clear disadvantage in this match.
And she’s aware of that. This is the kind of match where
you can rely on standard knowledge and what you faced in
the past, but she’s losing precious time and endurance right
| Azura Ren |
now.
Even so, my apprentice found a promising sequence on her
own and followed it without making any critical errors as the
match progressed. Talk about brainpower. There’s a point
that professional Shogi players in this position spend lots of
time to build up to, and this little girl has gotten to that point
out of sheer talent.
The two combatants have arrived at–––.
“Double Reclining Silver in a Move-Loss Bishop Exchange
…… Heh.”
“Um …… Kujyuru-sensei? If I remember right, this
formation, when both players are mirroring each other, I
think …… Wasn’t it determined that the offensive player’s
victory is assured?”
“That’s with a normal Bishop Exchange. There is no
consensus on what happens during a Move-Loss.”
And it might be a bit much to say victory is assured to the
offensive player. Advantage would be a better word. Still, it’s
a scary situation to be in ……
Ai moves her Rook to the fourth column. She’s applying
direct pressure to the enemy King with a Silver, Knight and
now her Rook in an obvious power play with some serious
muscle.
However–––.
“4 Eight Rook in a Double Reclining Silver situation ……”
“W-What kind of formation is that?!”
| Azura Ren |
 “Recent research says that the defender has the
advantage.”
“Whaaat?! Like, how?!”
I don’t blame Mio for her outburst.
Offense and defense are mirroring each other. Since the
offensive player already has a turn advantage, common sense
says that they would have the upper hand. On top of that, the
offensive player has the advantage in a normal Bishop
Exchange with thoroughly researched standard sequences at
their disposal.
But, as pro Shogi players gain experience and study more
and more matches, the defender tends to outlast their
opponent. This Move-Loss Bishop Exchange strategy is one
heck of a mystery.
“That being said, even pros on the defensive in this
situation won’t win all that often.”
“Why is that? The defender has the advantage, right?”
“It’s true that they do on paper. But, that’s only if they
perfectly defend against their opponent’s attack. There lies
the problem. If they make one mistake during the offensive
player’s continuous onslaught, they lose right then and there.”
There is a path, a path to the goal called victory.
But that path is a mere strand of rope at the top of a cliff.
Losing your balance for a mere instant will send you tumbling
into the valley below.
That’s exactly why it’s difficult to pull off in a real match.
| Azura Ren |
 That’s also exactly why so few Shogi players use the Move-
Loss Bishop exchange. If you’re not confident enough to play
the perfect game, it won’t work.
Also–––no human is perfect.
“Here …… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here, here, here,
here, here, here, here, here, here, here––––––.”
Ai Hinatsuru’s whole body starts rocking back and forth
ever so slightly.
Pouring every second of waiting time she had left into the
turn, she read the board as long as possible. Her incredible
talent known as end-game strength has started spreading its
wings.
“Here, here, here,
hereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere–
She raises her head as if taking a deep breath and keeps
going all the way until her eyes meet the ceiling, still thinking
as hard as she could.
Looking away from the board allowed her to focus on the
mental one inside her head as she read further and further
into the match. She’s got this divine aura about her right now,
like a priestess receiving a message directly from heaven.
Then–––.
“–––Here!!”
4 Five Pawn!
And the match starts up against that Pawn’s advance.
Of course, Ai Yashajin makes the same move. She’s back on
| Azura Ren |
defense. Leaning in over the board, she’s got one hand
pressing against one eye while the other eye glares daggers at
my apprentice.
“Here we go ……!” whispers Kuruno-sensei and Mio has her
eyes glued on the match. This is the point of no return.
As if the long thinking time were the calm before the storm,
the two girls’ hands start flying across the board at breakneck
speed.
“What’s going on?!”
Ayano, who had finished her own match, peers over Mio’s
shoulder to get a better look at this one. Other members of
the Practice League and even the Sub League start gathering
one after another to see for themselves. Apparently this
match is far more engaging than any of their own.
Talent is a bright light.
The brighter it shines, the hotter it burns, the more intense
the flames–––the more people get drawn in.
Even if they get burned in the process ……
“Nm!!”
Ai Hinatsuru fires her bullet deep into enemy lines with
more vigor than ever before, like gunpowder igniting at her
fingertips. A definitive 7 One Bishop!!
“She dropped the Bishop in!”
“Huh?! Why there of all places?!”
Many shocked voices filled the air once they saw Ai’s
decision.
| Azura Ren |
 Everyone is scrutinizing her move because they know it’s
extremely risky to put it there as the offensive player. Not
only is its line of fire limited, but that Bishop will almost
certainly get taken on the next turn.
It’s just that Ai didn’t have any other options. She’s
sacrificing the Bishop so that her Rook can plunge deep into
enemy territory, exposing a target to get a better window for
an attack. Ai Hinatsuru is absolutely sure she can win the
battle once the blades start clashing, so this is just like her.
She used up all of her waiting time to plan this out.
However–––.
Ai Yashajin didn’t follow that path. Instead, she makes a
move that stuns everyone around them.
“She pulled back her Rook?!”
No one predicted that Ai Yashajin would choose to allow Ai
Hinatsuru to promote her Bishop uncontested. It’s like
lowering the castle drawbridge as if to say, Come and get me.
She’s fearless.
That’s an astonishing move.
“Nh ……?! I never thought I’d see something a professional
wouldn’t think of show up in a match like this ……”
Kuruno-sensei complimented her defensive strategy, not
because it was a good move, but more because he recognized
that Ai Yashajin is far more courageous than the average
elementary schooler.
As for how good that move actually is, I’d have to say–––.
| Azura Ren |
 “Whaaaaaat ……? Does, does she think she can hold that off
……?”
“A-A Promoted Bishop is on the board ……”
Just as Ayano said, Ai Hinatsuru managed to promote her
Bishop in enemy territory without losing anything. Not only
that, she dropped the Silver right next to it, effectively
creating an offensive staging area right in the middle of her
opponent’s defenses.
Meanwhile, Ai Yashajin–––.
“Humph ……”
Almost laughing through her nose, she casually advances
her Gold, reducing her King’s defense.
Come on, hit me with your best shot. Taunting by lowering
her guard.
“Wow …… Never, ever have I seen a child able to solely
focus on defense to this degree ……”
Even Kuruno-sensei, who has spent years teaching children
how to play the game, can’t hide his surprise at Ai Yashajin’s
bend-but-don’t-break playing style.
Mio and Ayano have been in shock this whole time.
“Th-this is anyone’s match now, isn’t it?! Who’s going to
win?! Have you figured it out?!”
“I have no clue ……”
This was supposed to be a Practice League entrance test,
but members of the Practice League can’t understand the
match that’s unfolding in front of their eyes. That’s how
| Azura Ren |
intricate and complicated this game has been since the start.
It’s proof of the talent pouring out of them.
Ai Hinatsuru attacks.
Ai Yashajin defends.
Two polar opposite playing styles clash, unleashing a
ferocious tornado across the board.
However–––.
“?! Kh …… Why ……?!”
The pressure gets to Ai Hinatsuru, words falling from her
pink lips. She leans over the board, squinting as if she’s lost
depth perception.
The enemy King was in her grasp, but now it’s agonizingly
just out of reach.
I’d bet anything that she’s never felt this level of impatience
before.
Up until now, no matter how far she strayed from the
standard during the early game, she could win as soon as the
battle started. Her unnaturally fast reading ability allowed her
to overwhelm her opponent once the pieces started colliding
and she’d win in one fell swoop.
Unfortunately, Ai Yashajin wasn’t letting that happen.
The young Yashajin was always able to figure out what my
apprentice was trying to do and went in a different direction.
The path to victory she saw in that moment disappeared like
a mirage the next. All the planning she did became useless,
resetting every turn.
| Azura Ren |
 Kuruno-sensei lets out a long sigh and says, “Her reading
isn’t panning out …… We may have found Miss Hinatsuru’s
kryptonite.”
“Yeah. Ai has always played Shogi like a wrestler who
throws their opponent out of the ring with sheer arm strength
once they get a good grip on them. But that style won’t work
on an opponent that won’t let her grab them.”
Ai can read fast and deep. But there’s a weakness to such a
direct reading style in that it’s easy for her opponent to see
what she’s thinking.
And when that happens, it’s not difficult to break away
from that sequence.
Ai Yashajin forms a line around her King and absorbs Ai
Hinatsuru’s assault.
That defensive line is a far cry from a strong formation.
Extremely well-balanced, but paper-thin at the same time.
The black haired young girl isn’t adorned by thick, heavy
armor–––but an elegant, beautifully woven dress.
Ten-i Muhou.
It’s an expression that means flawless composure.
More specifically, it refers to an angel’s celestial robe in
that there are no seams. It’s perfect just the way it is.
And just like that expression, there are no seams in that
defensive line …… A weakness or a vulnerable point to attack
simply don’t exist.
It’s thin …… But unbelievably beautiful with unequaled
| Azura Ren |
defensive strength. An angel’s celestial robe that doesn’t
belong in this world.
And, the girl wearing that robe–––.
Come and get me.
She reaches out and moves a piece like an invitation.
I’ll dance for you.
Ai Yashajin smiles, flicking her black hair off her forehead
at the same time. Like an angel. Like a demon.
My apprentice makes her decision.
“…… Okay!!”
Psyching herself up, Ai Hinatsuru jumps her Knight
forward and sacrifices her Promoted Bishop to launch a
head-on assault.
The Rook she had waiting in the fourth column makes its
long-awaited advance to the enemy lines and promotes. The
big guns are out. Should they misfire, they’ll be captured and
she’ll lose. This is a make-or-break attack in every sense.
The assault hits home, and Ai Yashajin’s King has finally
been exposed.
But she didn’t even blink, moving to attack Ai Hinatsuru’s
defensive line, replacing the pieces she lost while protecting
her King at the same time. My apprentice took it all in stride,
placing a Pawn in front of Ai Yashajin’s King on her next turn.
Even now, the girl in black didn’t break a sweat.
Whoosh …… As if swinging her leg forward, getting ready to
dance, Ai Yashajin slides the Gold out from in beside the King
| Azura Ren |
to the side.
Enemy forces are right on the King’s doorstep, but she
moves the defenses away ……?
“……?! ……?”
Ai Hinatsuru looks down at the board, neck outstretched
and a look of bewilderment in her eyes as she blinks over and
over, until.
“Yes!!”
She pushes her Pawn directly into the King’s defenses with
gusto. What a move! The air in here is on fire! Intense!!
“She’s got a Check Path?!”
“Now …… How’s she gettin’ out of this one?”
A Check Path is exactly that–––a path to checkmate.
If Ai Yashajin doesn’t block it with her next move, this
match will end. It’s like Ai Hinatsuru is one space away from
bingo.
I can’t say for sure if she’s on a Check Path or not, but I do
know one thing: anything can happen.
Its neck and neck …… A real skin-of-your-teeth kind of late
game.
I almost forget to breathe as I watch Ai Yashajin manage to
fend off the Pawn and move that Gold from earlier up
another space and attack my apprentice’s Promoted Rook.
Talk about a competitor! That takes serious guts!
“S-She blocked the attack, using that?!”
“Geeze …… Just, wow— ……”
| Azura Ren |
 The Practice League members–––Ai included–––are all
dumbfounded. No one saw that move coming.
“?! ……?!!”
My apprentice’s eyes go wide, her face mere inches above
the board. It couldn’t be! is written all over her face.
Stunned that her prediction was off, her train of thought
came to a screeching halt right in the middle of reading the
board.
“Nh! She’s ……”
“Yeah.”
Kuruno-sensei and I exchange a few short words.
We’re professionals, unfazed by the unexpected. Both of us
knew immediately the effect that move would have.
However, a single good or bad move doesn’t necessarily
determine who wins the match. Sometimes it’s a mistake,
rather than the best move at the time, that leads to victory.
“…… Here, here, here, here,
hereherehereherehereherehereherehere …… Yes!!”
Coming back to herself in the blink of an eye and reading
the board until the absolute last moment, Ai Hinatsuru sends
her Gold directly into Ai Yashajin’s King.
Check.
My apprentice reads the board in a straight line. Like a
beam of light, she finds the fastest, shortest route forward.
On the other hand, Ai Yashajin reads in twists and turns,
ducking out of that route.
| Azura Ren |
 Picture a massive black hole using its immense gravity to
bend light to its will. That’s Ai Yashajin, the girl dressed in
black moving her King to narrowly avoid the laser-like attacks
bearing down on it every time.
Ai Hinatsuru’s Gold, Silver, Knight, Promoted Knight and
Promoted Rook all moved in to attack the enemy King. Heck,
it would blow the robe off entirely if there were no seams to
tear. A concentrated blast of fire meant to drown out the
darkness once and for all!!
“That’s gotta be checkmate? That’s checkmate, right?!”
“No! It’ll come up a hair short ……?”
“Whew …… This is too much ……!!”
Practice League members are up on their knees to get a
better view of the battle between the two girls. Kuruno-sensei
is usually very strict about that, but he says nothing. The
board is a stage. Everyone is mesmerized by their dance and
can’t look away.
Bullets falling like rain, Ai Yashajin continues her graceful
dance, dodging every volley.
The Knight’s skirt gets torn away, the Silver sleeves are
blown off, the Gold hairpin is flung from sight. The pieces
descend on her from all directions like a storm of flower
petals, dying beautiful deaths on the board one after another.
It’s the most beautiful scene in the world, and only Shogi
players can witness it.
Her defensive dress was in shambles, but the King inside,
| Azura Ren |
her body didn’t have a scratch on it.
Move eighty-nine. Ai Yashajin’s King didn’t have a single
piece left around it.
–––Completely defenseless.
Even so, Ai continued to dance unscathed. That ironclad
spirit of hers hasn’t broken. Heck, it hasn’t even shaken.
The naked King continues the elegant waltz.
Boldly.
Flawlessly.
Then–––.
“…… Aahh ……”
For a moment, a look of resignation passes over my
apprentice’s face.
Ai Yashajin’s King escapes to the wide open right side of
the board like a dancer leaving the stage at the end of a
musical number. Ai Hinatsuru has read the board enough to
know that victory has slipped through her fingers. That she
has lost.
The next twenty or so moves were nothing more than her
setting the stage and coming to grips with her fate.

The battle ended.

LIGHT THAT WENT UNSEEN

“…… I lost.”

| Azura Ren |
 Placing her hands on the board, my apprentice signaled
that she is throwing in the towel.
Buckets of sweat start rolling down Ai Yashajin’s white
cheeks as soon as she did, long black hair suddenly plastered
to her skin.
Since the winner’s mind has to be going full throttle until
the final moment, it’s impossible to relax right away. She may
have maintained an elegant air, but Ai Yashajin had just
barely come out on top.
On the other hand, Ai Hinatsuru looks more at peace.
Since the loser has time–––time to mentally prepare and
accept the loss from the moment their spirit breaks, they
seem a lot more collected when the match ends.
It also helps that her opponent used an early game strategy
she’d never seen before and perfectly blocked her offensive.
Losing this way doesn’t hurt too bad because you have the
best excuse, “My opponent was really good.” It’s much, much
worse when you let a chance to win slip away and end up
losing knowing you could have won. Those matches hurt, so
much so I don’t want to talk about it.
My apprentice thinks that she never had a chance.
Then again, Ai Yashajin probably thinks the exact same
thing. That she played the perfect game.
“Nh. That was a great match, you two.”
Practice League instructor Kuruno-sensei addresses the
two Ais as the girls sat there in silence.
| Azura Ren |
 “Miss Yashajin, you showed excellent technique. Miss
Hinatsuru, your pursuit was outstanding. Especially towards
the endgame. Though, I must say, it’s unlike you to miss a
checkmate.”
“Huh?” the girls’ voices echo.
The two girls look up at him in shock. Kuruno-sensei moves
the pieces back a few turns and starts to explain.
“This move would have ended the match.”

In that moment, my apprentice’s expression changed in the

blink of an eye.

“Ah ……!”
A simple seven-move checkmate.
Kuruno-sensei had returned the board to the point where
Ai Yashajin advanced her Gold.
Not only was it questionable, it was the worst possible
move she could make. All Ai Hinatsuru had to do was take it,
and checkmate.
“Ah …… Ahhh ……!”
If this had been a Shogi puzzle, I bet Ai would’ve solved it
in a second. Now, holding her head in her hands with eyes
open wide in disbelief at having such a simple,
straightforward Check Path pointed out to her, my apprentice
shakes her head no over and over again.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 She wipes away tears between sobs, but the dam has
already broken.

“…… It was right there …… Right there ……!”

Tears dripping onto the board, my apprentice keeps lining
up the pieces and moving them into checkmate only to reset
and do it all over again.
Ai Yashajin didn’t say anything, just watched the pieces
move with her head down. There’s anger in her eyes, anger at
herself. She didn’t see that Check Path either.
It was a simple one, but neither of them spotted it during
the match.
Opponents synchronizing during a match is pretty
common. It was Ai Yashajin’s careless oversight that caused
Ai Hinatsuru’s mistake. There’s no difference in their skill
level at all. Ai Yashajin won the match, but Ai Hinatsuru
prevailed in the psychological battle on the board.
However, that’s not much consolation for the loser.
Since there was a chance to win, the my opponent was
better than me excuse goes right out the window.
She lost because of her own weakness.
Weak enough to miss a seven-move checkmate.
It’s exactly why she’s sobbing and moaning in pain, that fact
was made clear as day. Knowing that she wasn’t good enough
to see a seven-move checkmate is what’s triggering these
tears.
| Azura Ren |
 She wipes them away with the back of one hand, fingernails
digging into her knee with the other.
“I hate this ……! This hurts ……!”
There’s a great deal of remorse in her voice.
“I-I …… I thought I couldn’t get there during the match ……
Gave up halfway through …… Fell so far behind at the start
that at some point I started thinking I can’t win anyway ……
Master said she’s better, so there’s no way, that same voice
over and over, wearing me down, breaking my spirit before I
knew what happened ……”
Plop, plop. Like her tears hitting the board.
Ai squeezes the words out of her throat, her voice getting
more distant with each syllable.
“I …… I lost ……!”
But then, each word started coming out rougher than the
last.
“If only I’d practiced more …… If only I’d played against
stronger opponents more ……! If only I’d done even more
Shogi puzzles ……! If only I’d focused on Shogi so much that I
didn’t have time to think about anything else ……! If only ……
I’d done more …… I could’ve done so much more ……!! I came
all the way to Osaka so that I could practice Shogi more too
……!!”
There’s no anger or resentment for an opponent after a
loss.
All of it is directed inward, directly at yourself.
| Azura Ren |
 All of that anger is at how weak you are.
That’s why my apprentice is yelling from the bottom of her
heart like this, slapping her knees like so many before her at
this very place.

“I …… I want to be better, stronger ……!!”

All of the professionals, Practice League members, and Sub

League members in the room …… including myself, do
nothing to comfort her.
All of us know that pain.
Every single person that has entered the world of
professional Shogi overcomes it on their own. If you can’t
bear it, you can’t last in this world.
Simply put, playing professional Shogi means you will
continue to lose.
No pro is invincible. All of us are scarred.
All of us will lose, it’s not a matter of if but when. Actually
the better the player, the more they’ve lost.
Players good enough to get to the top play more matches,
and thus lose more matches. The number in the loss column
is a badge of honor.
Even though we all understand this, losing is so painful
that it physically hurts.
It doesn’t go away with age or once you make it into the big
matches, that makes it worse. Losing makes a grown man
| Azura Ren |
want to cry. Nothing is more appealing than running home,
bawling at the top of your lungs and jumping headfirst into
bed to have a good cry. Some people actually do. The urge to
grab a knife and cut off the hand that made such a stupid
mistake is very real.
It’s because Shogi is all we know. If Shogi rejects us, there’s
nothing left.
“……”
My apprentice is learning what that pain is, what it means
for the first time as I silently watch from a distance.
Expressing happiness, sadness or anger while seated in
front of the Shogi board, basically letting emotions take over,
is considered rude. As Ai’s master, it’s normally my
responsibility to take her away from the board and scold her
for this.
But right now, I think it’s okay for her to cry.
It’s okay for the pain to seep into her very being. She can
cry her heart out, bite the pieces and let those tears of sadness
drop onto the board.
People who don’t cry when they lose will never get
stronger.

I wanted Ai to experience this feeling. Teach it to her.

I can teach her techniques. I can teach her how to prepare

mentally as well.
| Azura Ren |
 But there’s no way for Big Sis or I to get her to feel
something at the very bottom of her soul. The only way to do
that is for Ai to meet someone that she absolutely does not
want to lose against under any circumstances, and compete
against them.
An opponent you don’t want to lose against–––only a rival
can fill that role.
“…… Looks like I win,” says Ai Yashajin, her gaze on the
board where her own King was in checkmate. “You may have
had a chance to win, but you let it slip away. In other words,
you weren’t good enough to take it,” says Ai, thrusting the
words out there.
Her lips pale, she’s struggling to control her shaky voice.
“You aren’t on my level. None of the Practice League
Members in this room are. It doesn’t matter that you got in
first, I don’t look up to anyone weaker than myself.”
“…… Humph”
Having seen her talent with their own eyes, no one tries to
argue. They’re all still in shock at her overwhelming might.
However, Ai wasn’t done yet.
“But–––I suppose thinking of you as an opponent would
be all right.”
Those words were tiny, quiet …… Barely above a whisper.
Her pale face had taken on a redder hue than usual.
The response was explosive.
“Ai!”
| Azura Ren |
 My apprentice looks up from the board, reaches out with
her hand still glistening with tears, and grabs hold of her
opponent’s hand and yells, “A review session! Let’s review?!
Please?!”
“…… Fine.”
Ai Yashajin knocks Ai Hinatsuru’s hand away before
grumpily resituating herself. Their conversation started off on
an uncomfortable note, but quickly became an invigorated
discussion.
“Where ‘da heck did she learn Move-Loss?!”
“That move really turned out to be the best?! What about
movin’ like this?!”
The other Practice League members join in, smiles
spreading around the room in no time.
No one’s hesitating to talk to Ai Yashajin anymore, and she
looks comfortable responding to them. Shogi has that power.
A mysterious power that brings people together.
Relieved, I was about to leave the room when–––.
“Master!!”
My apprentice stops in the middle of her review session to
turn and call out to me.
“Umm, ehh …… Uhh ……”
My clumsy apprentice stumbles over words, trying to find
the best ones–––but ends up with the most straightforward
ones possible.
“Once I come home …… Please, teach me to play Shogi
| Azura Ren |
again!!”
Hearing her words from behind my back, I–––.
“…… I’ll be in front of the shops at the usual time.”
I stop walking, but stay facing forward and respond with
only my voice …… I can’t let her see tears running down her
Master’s face.
“The refrigerator is empty. We’ll stop by the supermarket
on the way home.”
“…… Yes!! Master!!”
Shogi is always the best way to make amends.

Once I leave the room, I quickly spot Akira leaning against the
wall with her arms folded across her chest. Her nerves
couldn’t take it, so she left the room well before I did.
Sunglasses are back on. Mafia, 100 percent. A fish out of
water at the Shogi Association.
“Sorry, Akira. They’re really getting into the review session,
so it’ll be a while longer.”
“Humph …… I can kill time, no problem. I’ve got this, you
see!”
Akira then boldly takes a piece of green paper out of her
suit pocket, holding it up between her fingers with a proud
smirk on her face.
“?!! T-That’s ……!!”
A Shogi Association Match Card. 13-kyu ……
| Azura Ren |
 “Heh heh heh …… I was feeling lightheaded and went
downstairs to buy a drink when a young person behind the
front counter addressed me. They apparently recognized my
hidden talent ……”
That’s pandering to customers, happens all the time.
It’s not every day that women visit the association, so one
of the staff members or a part-time Sub League member
worked up the courage to say hello.
But Akira doesn’t seem to understand that, trying to sound
informed by spouting a Shogi term she doesn’t understand
like, “My Static Rook style came alive, a direct approach with
koshikae gin.” She just keeps going, and I doubt she knows
much at all about the Reclining Silver Strategy.
“Oh yes, that’s right. The strategy my lady just employed
…… The Mid-Boss Shop Change, was it?”
“The Move-Loss Bishop Exchange.”
“Yes, that’s what I said!”
Akira sounded more like a girl her age for a moment before
forcing herself back into her usual tone.
“That is your specialty, correct? I’ve heard that almost no
one else uses it.”
“That’s true.”
“Please consider why my lady employed that strategy
against your apprentice, Sensei. Think on it.”
“……The meaning behind, the Move-Loss ……”
That did catch my attention.
| Azura Ren |
 And my suspicions were pretty much confirmed during
that match.
Move-Loss strategies aren’t something that amateurs can
just read about and use in a match. Ai Yashajin’s level is far
too high for that.
She plays with the pro’s touch.
No amount of talent would allow her to do that.
Using the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange requires a special
feel for the game that can only be refined through practice.
Talent only takes shape with a lot of practice.
It’s almost like she’s studied every match when that
strategy was used, playing through the match records over
and over until her fingernails cracked, blood tracing the
pieces over the board ……
Ai Yashajin had to have endured the same level of training.
I can tell. As someone who’s walked down the same path, I
see the signs.
What is it …… that Ai wants from Shogi?
As the only one who truly understands her playing style,
I’m the only one who can truly answer that question.
That’s what Akira is asking, that much I know. Which is
exactly why I answered, “…… Yes. I’m putting a lot of thought
into it.”
“Please do.”
Akira nods.
“One more thing. My lady …… has only worn black
| Azura Ren |
garments since the day her parents passed.”
“………!”
“However, I would like nothing more than to see my lady
adorned in white. While she is the very definition of beauty in
black …… I believe that she would be truly stunning in white.”
Her voice sounded almost dreamlike, trying to stifle
sadness at the same time.
So, I declare with confidence, “I think so too.”
“Yes!”
She wraps her arm around my shoulders and spoke with
glee. She must’ve liked it.
“By the way, Sensei. Are you going home?”
“Oh, I’m not. I need to wait for my apprentice to finish up
……”
“Perfect! To the classroom. I’ll show you how much I’ve
improved!”
“Sure, sure.”
She then played against a 12-kyu kindergartner and
forfeited because she violated the rules, moving her Silver
straight back. She didn’t even hesitate.

She still has a long, long way to go.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 NUMBER ONE
“Master.”
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,
| Azura Ren |
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.
| Azura Ren |
 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.”
| Azura Ren |
 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!!”
| Azura Ren |
 “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.
| Azura Ren |
 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

Next day. I went to the Kansai Shogi Association to play a
league match against Chairman Tsukimitsu.
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.
| Azura Ren |
I came to today’s match–––in a formal kimono.

“Wearing a kimono to a match like this means ……?”

“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
| Azura Ren |
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.

| Azura Ren |
 “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
| Azura Ren |
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.

| Azura Ren |
 That A class
professional spoke as soon
as his assistant and
Women’s League 1-dan
professional Sasari Oga
puts the last piece in place
on the board.
“Sasari.”
“Sir.”
“Would you please hang
it on the wall?”
With those words.
““……!!””
Not only was Miss Oga
surprised, the jaws of
everyone in the room hit
the floor.
Here in the Throne
Room, the holiest location
in the Kansai Shogi
Association, hang three
scrolls.
“Sky follows Taoism.”
“Humans follow land.”
“Land follows sky.”
They were written by
| Azura Ren |
the 14th, 15th and 16th Meijins respectively.
However the set isn’t complete.
There is a fourth scroll in the series. It has already been
written and mounted on special paper reserved for important
scrolls.
However it’s never hung up on the wall for regular
matches.
That’s because the writer is still an active player and no one
has taken his title of the 17th Eternal Meijin.

“Taoism follows nature.” 17th Meijin Seiichi Tsukimitsu

Sasari Oga, Women’s League 1-dan, retrieves the scroll and

hangs it on the wall as if handling a holy artifact. Every player
in the room naturally rose to attention as if paying their
respects, almost like a reflex.
How could they not, the Meijin is the same as a god to the
Shogi world.
And that god sits down in front of me with that scroll at his
back. Like a lake nestled at the very top of the mountain, its
surface completely still. Tranquil.
As for me, sitting on the opposite side of the board, it was
more like an overwhelming avalanche of competitive
prowess. Without my kimono holding me down, I probably
would’ve been blown out of my seat before I knew what
happened.
| Azura Ren |
 Just as I’ve come to fight in a full kimono, the chairman is
putting his pride as the Meijin on the line for this battle ……!
“Ryuo and Meijin ……,” the Sub League member beside the
board whispers with a mixture of awe and envy.
Immediately, he comes back to himself and speaks with
more presence.
“The …… The appointed time for the match has arrived.
Tsukimitsu-sensei has the first move. Please begin!”
“When you’re ready.”
Our breathing aligned, we exchange greetings and the
chairman makes his first move without the slightest
hesitation, announcing it at the same time.
“7 Six Pawn.”
I take a breath and do the same, opening the Bishop’s Path.
As the defensive player, I have been entrusted with the right
to choose my own strategy. And I followed the one that I
settled on even before the match began.

That strategy being–––Move-Loss Bishop Exchange.

My admiration for the man sitting in front of me was the

driving force to learn this strategy in the first place.
I’m not the only one who admires the chairman. There’s no
way anyone raised in Kansai …… No, anyone who has learned
how to play Shogi wouldn’t admire Seiichi Tsukimitsu.
So then why is it that more people don’t play the Move-
| Azura Ren |
Loss Bishop Exchange?
Because it’s too specialized. That’s why no matter how
many people admire the chairman, most people don’t have
enough patience to perfect the craft into a viable option in
battle.
However, I kept using it no matter how many times Big Sis
wiped the board with me. One loss led to another, and
another, and another but I never thought of abandoning it.
My Master plays with incredible power.
The chairman’s style is faster than the speed of light.
I wanted my play style to include both of theirs.
Because I wanted to be–––the best.
“Haa …… Here we go!!”
I straighten my kimono’s collar and psych myself up before
reaching deep into enemy territory to take the Bishop. The
Chairman then took my newly Promoted Bishop, finishing the
Bishop exchange.
Now, the hallowed Move-Loss Bishop Exchange contract is
complete.
In this battle between two specialists, both offense and
defense now have valuable weapons at their fingertips.
It wasn’t long before we arrived at the same point that the
two Ais did. Move-Loss Bishop Exchange Double Reclining
Silver.
Now the real battle begins.
The chairman thought for exactly five minutes and says.
| Azura Ren |
 “4 Five Pawn.”
He sticks out a Pawn, sacrificing it to start the battle in
earnest.
Fighting back the terrifying thought of letting the Eternal
Meijin go on the offensive, I move to strengthen my defense.
His Rook moves in, I block it with a Pawn. He deploys his
Bishop in my territory, but I hold fast. I’ll need solid armor to
outlast an opponent who wins with speed.
But, I have a knife hidden beneath the armor.
Move 52–––5 Five Silver!!
“………!”
The chairman’s expression twitches ever so slightly the
instant I announce my move.
Seconds later, he made a sound like he was appraising a
piece of priceless artwork.
“…… Ohh.”
This was the ace in the hole that I prepared just for today.
The Bishop he deployed on my side of the board is a vital
piece of his final push that goes directly through 5 Five.
Therefore, he can’t take my Silver. What originally looked to
be a defensive move was actually an attack in disguise.
That’s when chaos broke out.
He blocked my attack before moving in again, which I
blocked and followed with my own counterattack. Back and
forth again and again throughout the mid game.
Big pieces colliding, the battle spreading like sparks from a
| Azura Ren |
flame, I endure long enough to get the opening I want and
move to attack the chairman’s King through the back door.
But I paid a hefty price.
Three big pieces are under his control, as is more than half
the board with the overwhelming power he wields. I can’t
read the formation at all. There’s a chance I’ve already lost.
After all, I’m going against the Eternal Meijin. I could’ve
already been struck down without realizing it …… That’s a
very real possibility. He’s done that to so many opponents
before me.
Even so, I don’t break down, don’t give up and keep
stubbornly trudging forward like the muddy outlaw I am.
I can see my apprentice’s hot tears in my heart.
But there’s something else too, another girl’s courage to
keep fighting even when her King’s protection was paper thin.
Those tears and that courage have to take over this Shogi
match. Ultimately, I’m–––.
“I am the Master!”
I roll up my sleeves and take a piece off my piece stand,
slapping it onto the board directly in the enemy King’s path,
pressing down onto the board until my knuckles go white.
Even with a Promoted Rook and Promoted Bishop in my
own territory, on the 126th move–––I put him in check by
deploying a 7 Six Gold!
“…… It’s been a very long time. A long time since I’ve
experienced such a contested late game ……,” said the
| Azura Ren |
chairman, his eyes slightly wider than usual. He hadn’t said
anything beyond announcing his moves during the match up
to this point.
He hadn’t even flinched. But now, even maintaining his
picture-perfect posture, he’s swaying back and forth to
establish a reading rhythm.
He uses a great deal of waiting time as if trying to figure
out what I’m after.
“This feeling …… This full-body rush in my veins during the
late stages of a match. It’s nostalgic …… There was a word for
this, for such an occasion …… Yes–––.”
He continues, whispering to himself when suddenly eyes
that lost light long ago slowly opened and he put a word to
that feeling.
“Intense.”

Light raced across the board a heartbeat later.

RAY OF LIGHT
At move 127.
The chairman’s next move–––deploying a Bishop at 3 one,
check.
“Now— ……!!”
It felt like he’d reached into my chest and ripped out by
heart with his bare hands, like all the blood in my body

| Azura Ren |
stopped flowing at the same time.
–––No way, I’m in checkmate?!
It’s said that players who went against the chairman in his
glory days would throw in the towel when in check, right then
and there, even if they could see a way for their King to
escape.
They trusted the chairman’s ability to read the board more
than their own ……
“…… No way …… But, then again ……?”
I don’t see a checkmate. My King should still be alive.
Should be.
Then again, the person sitting in front of me …… His
records, his titles, his appearance …… His overwhelming
presence is making my fingers go numb.
Shivering and frozen solid, I hear the recorder say my
name.
“Kuzuryu-sensei. Your waiting time has expired. Please
continue according to one-minute Shogi rules.”
“…… Understood!”
There’s no time to wonder anymore.
With my waiting time gone, I keep thinking until the
absolute last moment and still didn’t see a way for him to put
my King in checkmate.
So, I take the Bishop he deployed with the King itself. 3
One King!
“6 Four Promoted Bishop.”
| Azura Ren |
 In check for the second time. The chairman immediately
moves his Promoted Bishop to attack my King. I can’t deploy
anything to protect it. My only choice is to move it back where
it was.
Then, his Promoted Rook slices in, tearing away my
defensive Gold. Now I’m in check for the third time. If I take
it, it’s all over. I waste no time escaping forward.
My destination: enemy territory. Nyuugyoku. Get my King
across the board.
But the checks keep coming.
I avoid the Knight’s long reach in my way by shifting to the
side as soon as it was deployed. His Promoted Rook is in hot
pursuit, but I dodge its attack and take a Lance at the same
time.
The chairman moves the Promoted Rook all the way across
the board right away.
Am I out of options after all? Have I already lost? I shake
off my doubts and continue to dodge newly deployed pieces
one after another until my King finally crosses into enemy
territory.
Then–––.
“…… Yes!”
–––Nyuugyoku complete.
Turn 146, at long last, my King arrived in the ninth row, the
deepest part of my opponent’s side of the board.
Normally, making it this far means my King is safe.
| Azura Ren |
 Since most pieces in Shogi can’t move backward, it’s really
hard to put a King in check once it gets through the front
lines.
Unfortunately.
“2 Eight Silver.”
Almost as if he saw this coming, the chairman deploys a
Silver onto the board using zero waiting time and puts me in
check with the same move. That’s eleven turns in a row!
“?!”
I thought my heart was going to stop the moment that
Silver came down.
At first glance, it looked like it was on its own without any
support. However, the Promoted Rook was protecting it from
across the board.
I can’t …… take it!
“Yes ……!!”
A celebratory whisper leaks from Miss Oga’s mouth. That’s
the kind of thing she ordinarily never allows herself to do, but
she probably got caught up in the heat of battle and just
couldn’t help it.
That’s the kind of impact the chairman’s Silver had.
Getting my King this deep into enemy territory meant that
its movement options were now extremely limited. There’s
almost nowhere to run. And this Silver has now pinned my
King directly between a rock and hard place, trapped in the
corner.
| Azura Ren |
 The board looks like a nyuugyoku-style Shogi puzzle,
where this poetic Silver was destined to put my King in
checkmate from the start–––.
Take it in—my King is dead. Run—and my King is dead.
“…… In that case!”
I just have to charge right into it!!
I slide my King into the second column, directly behind the
Silver. Thinking back to how an elephant moves, the only safe
place now is in the Silver’s blind spot. I can’t even breathe, the
pressure is so intense.
“3 Nine Gold.”
The chairman deploys a Gold in an effort to pin my King
into the corner of the board.
My King, still in the Silver’s blind spot, needs to go in the
opposite direction. So, I bring it around the Silver to the other
opening. 1 Eight King.
That Silver was put in place to hold my King down, but I
found a way to swing by it …… and a way out of the danger
zone!
That’s right.
My King is coming home–––racing back to my territory at
full speed.

“H …… How could such a defensive maneuver be viable ……

?!”
Disbelief erupts from Miss Oga’s lips before she clamps
| Azura Ren |
them shut with both hands in a flash.
It’s practically unheard of for a King to achieve nyuugyoku
only to retreat all the way back again. As a former Women’s
League player, Miss Oga’s mind must be spinning, not sure
what to think. As in, that could never work.
However, this is all I’ve got. Muddy, sure, but my King
should come out alive!
I can see a path to victory, but my heart is beating like mad.
Each heartbeat makes my hands shake and it takes everything
I’ve got to keep them steady. Did I win? I’ve won!
Even so, the chairman turns up the pressure on my King,
voice brimming with vigor.
“1 Nine Silver.”
1 Seven King!
“1 Eight Silver.”
1 Six King!
“1 Seven Pawn.”
1 Five King ……!!
Then, on move 156–––once my King retreated back to the
fifth row, the chairman says, “It seems as though I’m out of
options.”
“Th— …… ou ……!”
My throat is spazzing so much that the words thank you
won’t come out. I lower my head in a deep bow out of reflex.
Only then did I realize I’m sweating up a storm. My hair is
plastered to my forehead. My kimono is twice as heavy after
| Azura Ren |
absorbing so much sweat …… I can’t even lift my head back
up.
This is the first time I’ve survived being in check for fifteen
consecutive turns. Against the Eternal Meijin, no less ……
“…… Haaa …… Haaa ……”
For few moments, the only sound inside the arena was my
ragged breaths. Every other match taking place in here was
already over and I have no idea. I reach out to grab a cup of
water to help calm my breathing …… But my hands were
shaking so much that I gave up on taking a drink and put it
back down.
At long last, the chairman says with the same calm
tranquility as when he announced his surrender.
“Back when I put you in check by deploying a Bishop at 3
One–––.”
“Yes?”
“What would’ve happened if I had defended with the 5
Eight Gold?”
“…… Agh?!”
My head springs up on its own. I worked it out on the Shogi
board in my head and immediately thought less of my victory.
–––Evading my Check Path and finding his own Check
Path ……!

It’s the ultimate counterpunch, opening a Check Path that

would allow him to escape the one I had on him. That one
| Azura Ren |
move would’ve changed everything. It was just that good.
One single move would’ve flipped a match that I thought I
had won into an agonizing defeat.
“Aghh ……”
I look to the heavens, groaning.
I was so focused on my King that I didn’t realize the
chairman had moved his pieces into position to defend. I
didn’t read it at all.
If he’d gone with 5 Eight Gold, the victorious shoe would be
on the other foot.
Basically, I was saved because he made a mistake.
I’d be willing to bet that the chairman realized it as soon as
he started the rush of checks. He had the whole situation
figured out more accurately and long before I did.
I can’t help but think on it again.
––– If he was in his prime ……
–––No, above all, if he could see ……
If that were the case, I would’ve been sliced down in the
blink of an eye. For sure.
While it’s true we can see the board in our heads, it’s not
like we can keep track of the whole thing at the same time.
Focusing on one area makes the big picture go dark.
That’s why players will work out situations in their head
and then check to see what’s on the board, going back and
forth to make sure we’re not overlooking something vitally
important.
| Azura Ren |
 But the chairman can only see what’s in his head.
There’s no way to know just how debilitating that handicap
is ……
So, there I am, mouth half open and staring at the ceiling,
when the chairman grins for some reason and says something
really strange.
“Now then, I finally paid you back for that favor years ago,
yes?”
“Huh?”
This was our first match. I never played against him before
turning pro either.
What favor? Before I could ask, the chairman starts packing
up.
“The defeated shall bow out. Please discuss the rest
amongst yourselves.”
He stands up without making a sound, leaving behind even
more mysterious words before leaving the arena. Miss Oga,
the rolled-up scroll back in its box and in her grasp, gave me a
begrudging glance before shifting her gaze to the corner of
the room.
I follow it with my eyes.
There’s a young girl dressed in black standing there. Wait,
whaaat?
“…… Ai?”
“About time you noticed me, Kuzu.”
The girl who could become my apprentice stares me down
| Azura Ren |
with her usual intimidating glare.

SHOGI FAMILY
“I’ve been here the whole time.”
“S-Since when ……?”
“I came right after school let out, so since about 5.”
So then, that would be about five hours? That’s close
enough to whole time. How could I have not noticed? How
could I have been that focused on the board?
“Well, um …… I was completely zoned in! It was a very
important match!”
“I should say so. A person was on the line.”
“Agh ……!”
Ai glares at me through the top of her eyes and says with a
hint of spite in her voice.
“Why would you do something like this? The two of you
just decide to choose who becomes my Master with a game of
Shogi without getting my permission? What kind of shinken is
that? No Shogi parlor in New World would even think of
going that far.”
…… She’s absolutely right.
But, this was the only way I could think of. Shogi is all I
have, and it’s always been how I’ve settled things.
Everything I’ve ever wanted, I could only get by winning a
Shogi match. That’s what it means to live in the Shogi world.
| Azura Ren |
 “E-Enough about that, take a look at this!!”
I turn over my second bag and take a piece of folded paper
out from inside.
It’s a copy of a Shogi record that I dug up in the association
archives. I found it and made a copy before coming to today’s
match.
It shows what happened during a commemorative match
seven years ago.
The players involved were–––.
“?! This is, father’s ……?!”
Ai takes the copy from me, devouring it with her eyes the
instant she saw who was written in the player slot.
The first was Yashajin with a second name being
Tsukimitsu.
“Yes! And guess what, I was there! I saw the match closer
than anyone!!”
My name was written pretty far away from the players–––I
point to the upper left corner where the recordkeeper signs
their name.

Recordkeeper 6-kyu Yaichi Kuzuryu

That’s my name all right, in my handwriting too.

At that time, I had just joined the Sub League. I would’ve
been right about Ai’s age …… 9 years old or thereabouts. My
memories of those days are pretty much gone …… But that
| Azura Ren |
was my first time being a recordkeeper, so there are a few
traces left.
“This record reminded me of a few things. Like seeing how
your father played against the chairman and what was said
during the review session.”
“………!!”
Ai’s whole body suddenly froze.
As much as I hate talking to her about deceased family
members, this needs to be said.
“This is what your father said to the chairman: Once my
daughter grows up, and if she wants to be a Shogi player,
please take her as your apprentice.”
That’s why the chairman was so invested in her, because
that conversation happened.
“So what I just did was really out of line, and probably
caused you a lot of trouble. Of course, if you want chairman to
be your Master, then I’ll respect that. But, I–––.”
“Stop right there!”
She snaps at me, cutting me off.
“…… Here.”
“Huh? What’s this ……? Shogi Weekly?”
The one and only weekly Shogi magazine in the world that
goes on sale every Wednesday. Ai pushes it in front of my
face.
“This one’s pretty dated, isn’t it? …… Say what?! Th-This is
from–––!!”
| Azura Ren |
 “My father and the chairman’s commemorative match ……
The same game as that match record.”
Ai’s explanation sends a shock through my system.
But there was an even bigger shock–––in what the article
said happened after the match analysis.

“Potential to Surpass the Meijin”

This is what was written after that header.

It looked as though the review session would end with the

amateur Meijin, Mr. Yashajin, simply not being good enough
to win the match.
However, the recordkeeper pointed out a fact that both
players had missed once the review session came to end.
His words turned everything on its head.
“Young Mr. Kuzuryu said the amateur Meijin had an
opportunity for checkmate.”
Who would’ve thought the boy, only nine years old, would
be the one to draw that conclusion.
He was the recordkeeper, Yaichi Kuzuryu 6-kyu.
The boy discovered a chance to put Seiichi Tsukimitsu’s
King in checkmate during the match’s 213th turn.
Tsukimitsu-meijin didn’t look convinced at first, but once
Kuzuryu 6-kyu began to explain, it all became clear. He said
nothing.

| Azura Ren |
 Mr. Yashajin seemed absolutely stunned by the revelation.
“I don’t believe it,” he repeated over and over, looking back
and forth between the boy and the board.
“That settles it, I could never become a professional. Even
a young member of the Sub League saw a checkmate that I
had no clue was there,” said Mr. Yashajin, a look of resigned
acceptance on his face.
Then he turned to the young boy sitting beside him and
said, “However, should my little girl say she wants to be a
professional Shogi player when she gets older …… I would
like you, Mr. Kuzuryu, to become her Master.”
The boy could only shyly nod in response to the amateur
Meijin’s words.

“………”

There were two pictures included with the article: one of the
players and one of me, exactly the same size.
I don’t remember any of this, by the way.
“Ever since that day, father always said to me …… : One
day, you’ll be Mr. Kuzuryu’s apprentice.”
Ai strung words together little by little.
Her eyes focused on the article on the floor in front of me.
“So that’s why even before I knew left from right, I thought
that becoming Mr. Kuzuryu’s apprentice was going to happen
as naturally as the sun rising in the east …… But that Mr.
| Azura Ren |
Kuzuryu didn’t recall a single word.”
“…… I’m so sorry ……”
At long last, I understand why Ai was so picky about who
she would let teach her how to play Shogi. The real reason.

Because I had been chosen from the start.

But I never figured out what she was trying to do, even
completely forgetting the promise I made with her father ……
That explains why she was in such a bad mood that day, she
was probably angry at me …… I thought that was the case, but
this explains a lot. Yep.
“Young Mr. Kuzuryu is amazing! Father said it every
chance he had.”
Ai started speaking again, a lonesome smile on her lips.
“He was elated whenever your rank increased. He’d say
things like: Mr. Kuzuryu is already 3-dan! He’ll be a
professional any day now! and Only in junior high school
and playing against the best? Mr. Kuzuryu is truly amazing!
or Let’s go ask him to take you as his apprentice as soon as
he officially becomes a professional!–––But he died before
that happened ……”
“………”
“I have no idea how, but he got a hold of Sub League match
records and would play through them with me. It must’ve
been his favorite thing in the whole world. He would take the
| Azura Ren |
opponent’s side, and I would play as you. Mother would read
out each move …… We were always around the Shogi board,
the whole family ……”
“Match records ……?”
Normally, Sub League match records get thrown away.
However, the Kansai Shogi Association will post
particularly good matches from the Sub League on the
homepage, so everyone has a chance to be on there if they
have a good day.
Quite a few of my matches were chosen to be uploaded, so
the front office sent someone to record all of my matches.
That’s probably how Ai’s father got his hands on them.
As the amateur Meijin, I wouldn’t be surprised if he knew a
few staff members and recordkeepers personally ……
Nah.
Would it be too much of a stretch to think the chairman
gave them to him himself? My gut says so, and I’m pretty sure
that’s how it went—meaning that the chairman intended for
me to take Ai as an apprentice from the start.
What’s more, he didn’t just order me to take her, but set
things up so that I would want her while testing me to make
sure I was worthy the whole time.
That’s why he put me in check so many times despite
reading his own defeat.
“…… Shouldn’t expect anything less from the Eternal
Meijin. Talk about perspective ……”
| Azura Ren |
 In the end, I was just dancing in the palm of that god’s
hand. From start to finish.
“Okay, I see now. You played through my matches. No
wonder ……”
“I-I didn’t do it because I wanted to?! Father and mother
were just so happy that I went along with it …… I picked up
some strange habits, thanks to you!”
“Sorry ……”
I know that my playing style is off the deep end. Sorry
about that ……
But now it all makes sense.
Why Ai can play the Move-Loss Bishop Exchange.
Why I can relate to her playing style so well.
Why I couldn’t just write her off as some kid, there was a
reason.
“So? Whose apprentice am I going to be?”
“Who …… do you want as your Master?”
“Either of you is fine with me. Master and apprentice isn’t
that big of a deal in the Shogi world, right? It’s just a piece of
paper. As long as there’s a name there, I don’t care who it is.”
“………”
“Well, I bet it’s easier that way. At the end of the day,
everyone is an enemy.”
Shogi is a battle, plain and simple.
Once two people sit across the board from each other, one
becomes the winner while the other becomes the loser.
| Azura Ren |
 As long as you live in this world, as long as you aim to stand
at the top, leaving your mark on others is the only way to
prove your existence.
“Thinking about it that way, it might be better to stick with
the chairman after all. If I became your apprentice, I’d always
be going against your other apprentice in the Practice League,
right? I don’t really care one way or the other, but people
would make such a big deal out of it and that would be a
pain.”
Just as she said, all of us are destined to fight against each
other and inflict many marks.

But–––that’s not all there is to it.

Sure, we’d be enemies but, we’d build the same …… No, we’d
build stronger bonds because of it.
I want to teach her that.
“Ai.”
It finally came to me in that moment.
I finally figured out why I had become so attached to her.
Back when I refused to take Charlette as an apprentice, I
used talent level as the reason—if you’re not good enough,
you could never survive in this world.
But hypothetically, even if Ai wasn’t as talented as she is, I
would probably still want to take her as an apprentice.
It has nothing to do with a promise in the past.
| Azura Ren |
 Or anything to do with how she plays.
Talent, not at all.
I wanted to wipe away the tears of her crying heart with my
Rook.
I wanted to draw a rainbow with my Bishop to cheer up
Ai’s dreary spirit.
I wanted to teach her. Teach her how to become happy
using Shogi. That’s what her parents were really trying to
show her.
“Ai. Would you–––.”
I fix my posture and straighten my kimono as I make a
proposal to the young girl in front of me.
“Would you become a member of my Shogi family?”

“Fam …… ily?”
“Yes.”
I can’t bring the parents she lost back to life.
Those bonds she had are gone forever.
But I can give her new ones.
Master Kiyotaki, Big Sis, Keika, Ai …… By welcoming her
into my Shogi family, I can give her a new family tree.
Other people might think I’m just playing house.
It might be next to impossible to get along at first.
But, with a Shogi board between us, I’m sure we can
understand each other. I saw it happen during that match at
the Practice League. Shogi has that power.
| Azura Ren |
 Just as Ai said, the Shogi master/apprentice relationship
only exists on paper.
People only write their names on the paperwork because
the rules require it. There are some who never talk, let alone
play a game against each other.
However.
“I want you–––Ai Yashajin, to join my family as an
apprentice. Not just an apprentice in name, but a real
apprentice who I can laugh with when times are good and
support when the going gets tough.”
Then, one day, she’ll take off those grieving clothes and
happily twirl a skirt–––I want to be with her every step of the
way, I’m certain of it.
“…… you’ll be Mr. Kuzuryu’s”
Ai clenches her hands together in front of that little chest,
looking lost and a little frightened.
This isn’t the arrogant little princess, nor is it the flawless
Shogi prodigy.
Just a trembling little girl, remembering what she’s lost and
the heartache that came with it.
I take her hand and say.

“Sign with me. I’ll give you a good life …… I promise.”

| Azura Ren |
 EPILOGUE
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Master’s voice echoes through the neighborhood late at
night.
“Ai’s gonna stay ‘ere forever, with
MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!”
I’ve been having Ai stay at Master’s house whenever I’m
expecting a match to run late into the night, but since she’s
been living here after running away from my apartment,
saying goodbye must be much harder this time around. He’s
clinging to my leg.
“Yer a monster! Yer not human at all!!”
“I’m the Ryuo, what of it?”
“UggHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
I leave Master face down, bawling in the middle of the
hallway and head toward the back of the house.
“That’s something else. Has he been like this whole time?”
“He’s doting over her more than an actual granddaughter
at this point,” says Keika with a grimace as we walk together.
Not only does Ai always try her best and she’s really cute,
plus add in that she’s a Shogi prodigy and she’s the absolute
ideal grandchild for any Shogi player. Doting on her isn’t the
right word. No one alive wouldn’t dote on Ai Hinatsuru.
Since that’s obvious, I’ll move on.
“…… Do you think Master knew? About Ai Yashajin and her
| Azura Ren |
father …… And that I was the recordkeeper for that
match–––.”
“I’m pretty sure Seiich …… No, Mr. Tsukimitsu told him
about it.”
Keika was about to call the chairman, the same age as
Master, by his first name but corrected herself. Since she was
late in joining the Shogi world, she probably thought of him
as an uncle or maybe like an older brother for years. The
chairman looks young for his age, too.
“Apparently he asked my father if he thought you could
take on another apprentice. I didn’t find out about it until
recently though. Articles from back then were scrapped long
ago, so I told Ai myself.”
“I see. All right, thanks Keika.”
I didn’t say it, but I’m also grateful to Master. He’s been
watching out for me all this time …… But, I am taking Ai
home with me!
I go to the stairs, toward the kid’s room on the second
floor–––the room that Big Sis and I once shared and Ai is
now using.
But, just as I step onto the first stair, something grabs my
shoulder.
“…… Seriously, Master. This is getting ridiculous.”
I turn.
“I’m not mad.”
Big Sis was standing there, dressed in a full kimono and
| Azura Ren |
smiling ear to ear.
…… Nah. Not quite.
There’s something about that smile that makes me want to
put some distance between us.
“B-Big Sis ……? A-Aren’t you supposed to be …… in
Kanagawa Prefecture today? What about your title match at
Jinya ……?”
“I defended it.”
Those words came flying out of her even though it’s 11
o’clock at night right now.
Normally, there’s a lot to do after successfully defending a
title. Between the press conferences, victory parties and
whatnot, people would spend the night considering how far it
is between there and here. They’d change out of their kimono
at the very least.
She must’ve raced out of the arena and hopped right on the
bullet train home like she did after the first match.
Honestly, I’m worried about Ryou Tsukiyomizaka’s state of
mind after getting destroyed in three consecutive matches on
such a big stage. There’s nothing more embarrassing than
losing like that. Well, it’s official: Naniwa’s Snow White
maintains a perfect 50-0 against Women’s League
professionals. She’s a seven-season titleholder. What a
monster ……
And that monster of the Shogi world is glaring up at me
with a huge smile on her face. Scary.
| Azura Ren |
 “I’m not mad, so tell me. Yaichi, did you take another
apprentice?”
“…… Yes.”
“A girl?”
“Yes.”
“In elementary school?”
“Of course.”
“Drop dead!!”
Big Sis smacks me across the forehead with her fan as she
spits out those words. Turning her back on me, she stomps
her way to a different part of the house. She sure looks mad
to me ……
Keika, who saw the whole thing, looks up at me and slumps
her shoulders.
“Ginko, why don’t you change out of that kimono? There’s a
tasty surprise waiting for you in the tatami room. I made sure
to get some of your favorite Fruit Overload☆Milk Crêpes
from Shu Hatakeyama, okay? Let’s have some,” said Keika as
she followed Big Sis in an attempt to console her.
“Ouch …… Damn. Why’s Big Sis already back here anyway
……? Actually I’d like to know who blabbed to her. Or was it
the Internet? The Internet again?”
I massage the point of impact on my head where the fan
struck and make another attempt to go up the stairs. This
time, I made it to the second-floor.
I come to a stop in front of the sliding door to the kid’s
| Azura Ren |
room and say, “Ai. You awake?”
No answer.
I slide the door open as slowly and quietly as I can–––.
“…… Zzz …… Zzz ……”
My tiny apprentice was making the tiniest snoozing sounds.
She fell asleep holding a large Shogi board. There’s even a
piece clutched in her little hand.
She must’ve been sitting here, waiting for me the whole
night. Her competitive fire has to be stoked. Those tiny lips of
hers quiver as a few words start coming out.
“…… Master …… Shogi ……”
“I won.”
I step lightly on my way over to her and whisper.
“Let’s play Shogi, just as promised. Nineteen …… No. More,
much more.”
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of matches.
Let’s play Shogi. Let’s play more than anyone else.
“…… Ai will always be …… Master’s number one ……”
I gently wrap my first apprentice in a comfy blanket, lift
her up and carry her all the way back to my place.
Back to our place.

“Hello? No going to sleep.”

“Ngh? …… Ah, sorry. My bad, my bad.”
Two days later.
| Azura Ren |
 I sat across the board from my second apprentice.
We’re in the association’s second-floor classroom. We went
to the front office to make corrections to Ai’s Practice League
registration paperwork and then came here to do a lesson
right afterward. Akira is playing against an elementary school
student a few tables away.
Moving pieces across the board, I explain to Ai why I’m
exhausted.
It was all to make sure I could take her as an apprentice.
“…… So, yeah, I didn’t get much sleep at all. A full day of
Shogi after one of the biggest matches of my life, can you
blame me ……?”
“Humph. How pitiful.”
Ai looks up from the board, swishing her long black hair
over her shoulder like a glossy flap of a bird’s wing.
“Needing an apprentice’s permission to take on another
apprentice? Who’s the Master? Aren’t you ashamed as a
professional? You’re a titleholder, but you need to bow to
your apprentice? Isn’t that pathetic?”
“Disgraceful, yep ……”
“Who even cares who is number one? All it takes is a game
of Shogi to make that clear anyway.”
“Indeed. That’s the right answer for any Shogi player.”
“So?”
“Huh?”
“Who is it?”
| Azura Ren |
 Say what?!
Just a second ago …… Didn’t she say she didn’t care who
was number one?
“D-Don’t take that the wrong way?! I-I’m asking which one
of us is better at Shogi?! I’m not asking which one of us you
like more, got it?!”
“I know! I-I know that!!”
“…… Not that it matters.”
Ai turns away with an irritated humph.
“I won’t be calling you Master.” Cheeks red with anger, she
then says, “I’m only here with you because the rules require
it–––it’s what my parents wanted, so I had no choice but to
become your apprentice. I never wanted it, not even the
tiniest bit. So, so ……!”
Sounding a lot like the bratty girl dressed in black when we
first met, but wearing a slightly more charming smile than
that day, Ai turns to me and says:

“Don’t get the wrong idea––––––Yaichi-sensei!”

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 IN PLACE OF THE AFTERWARD:
PASSING BY THE PROFESSIONALS
While I think I’m in the minority when it comes to novel
authors, I spend a great deal of time researching while in the
process of writing my books.
I lost count of how many times I visited the main setting of
the story, the Kansai Shogi Association, as well as the Kanto
Association in Tokyo and the surrounding areas. I’ve been in
the audience for Title Matches, review session seminars and
participated in Shogi festivals along with other attendees.
Money for this research comes out of my own pocket, so I
can’t go all that far ……
But when I go, I meet Shogi professionals and Women’s
League professionals all the time.
Meet–––might not be the best word, as I’m just an
ordinary visitor and disturbing them during what amounts to
their break time wouldn’t be right. I never struck up a
conversation with any of them.
I just passed by them.
I still remember working up the courage to go inside the
Kansai Shogi Association for the first time when I had to stop
myself from approaching a group that came out from inside.
Funae-sensei was at the front of the group, closely followed
by Inaba-sensei and I believe Miyamoto-sensei was with them
as well, but the three professionals were making a beeline for
| Azura Ren |
the front door. They seemed to be on their way to lunch. I
knew it was rude of me, but I couldn’t pass up this
opportunity. I watched them go into a local restaurant. There
are many different places to eat around Fukushima Station,
but very few have a mom and pop at-home feel. “Oh, so that’s
where they go ……,” I thought to myself after obtaining this
valuable tidbit.
I’ve also encountered professionals at the association’s
first-floor restaurant Eleven.
I sat down at the U-shaped counter, ordered an
Extraordinary Pork Beauty and started looking around,
thinking of the best ways to describe this place when I
happened to spot a group of four professionals, two men and
two women, walking in the front door. At that time, they were
customers just like me and I’m not the kind of person to barge
in on their private time.
Eleven has many tables as well, but most of them were
designed for two people. I was intrigued to see what they
would do because I was planning a four-person table scene
for Book 1. In the end, they went to the back corner and
moved two tables together.
I was also interested to see what kind of food professionals
order. In Book 1, Ai orders butter rice. That scene was directly
inspired by what I saw that day.
Tokyo is not the main setting for the series, but I have
walked from Harajuku, through Sendagaya and all the way to
| Azura Ren |
Shinjuku. It was around the time that Dengue Fever was in
the news because some people contracted it in Yoyogi Park.
Wearing long sleeves and doused in bug spray, I set out to
find an out-of-the-way place that many professionals often
visit: Miroku Iori.
It’s a soba-noodle restaurant …… but it looks more like a
Japanese-style bar. The menu is huge, and for some reason
they sell cups of prepackaged fresh blueberries, calling it
“breakfast finger food.” That place has a great deal of
personality.
I was enjoying a fried chicken lunch set (the one that
Maruyama-sensei is famous for ordering with extra chicken),
when the master of fusha, Itou-sensei came in. The staff
called him “Shogi-sensei.” He wasn’t the only one, I saw
several professionals and Women’s League players come in
after that.
It’s a small place and voices carry, so I quickly finished my
lunch and left. Honestly, I don’t remember the food all that
well …… But I did write “delicious right off the bone” in my
notes.
While some of these encounters happened by chance, there
are others that can’t be missed. Go to any one of the regional
Shogi events and you’ll pass by these amazing Shogi
professionals quite often around the arena.
Shogi fans from outside the big cities come to these events
with sparkles in their eyes, to think I could ever get this close
| Azura Ren |
to the Shogi pros I’ve only seen in Shogi World and Internet
videos ……! Each player has their own unique charms.
The one who left the biggest impression on me has to be
Toshiaki Kubo-sensei.
Fans approached him all over the arena no matter where
he was, asking for an autograph or to sign a book. Not only
did he oblige, he looked genuinely happy to do so. He even
shook their hands, that smile still on his face. Honestly, he
looked even happier than the fans themselves. It was a warm,
uplifting sight.
I had a chance to see the one and only Hifumin, aka Hifumi
Katou-sensei, in action at the Tokyu Shogi Festival. But what
happened after this stage talk review session at a book signing
is what left a lasting impression on me. Fans reached out to
Katou-sensei as he made his way to the signing booth and he
gave them all a high five like a pro wrestler heading toward
the ring. Even in the middle of signing, he took time to wish a
kid who wanted an autograph the best of luck and ruffled the
boy’s hair. Always smiling, Katou-sensei is a fountain of
youthful energy.
I also passed by Kazuo Ishida-sensei, who is known for
being a bit spacey, at the Meijin Title Match held at the
Westin Nagoya Castle Hotel not once but twice.
The first time was after I checked in and arrived on the
floor where I’d be staying.
The elevator doors opened to reveal Ishida-sensei standing
| Azura Ren |
there in full traditional attire, including a crest on his
hakama pants. “Whoa!” I said in surprise. He must’ve been
just as shocked, because he stumbled backwards with a loud
“Hmm?!” I’m very sorry for startling you, sir.
The second time was after the match was over. I was
walking around a bread shop next to a place selling souvenirs
in the hotel lobby when Ishida-sensei, his big day over and
back in street clothes, showed up looking famished.
He ordered some bread, but looked puzzled when the clerk
asked him to “put them on a tray and bring them to the
register.” He must not have heard the clerk clearly because he
just stood there, eyebrows high on his forehead and a
confused expression on his face.
My first instinct was to say, “Use a pair of those tongs and a
tray,” but I stopped myself once I saw that Ishida-sensei
figured it out on his own and successfully purchased the
bread he wanted.
I stayed at the hotel that night and went to the first-floor
lounge for breakfast the next morning.
I picked up a newspaper that said “Moriuchi, Meijin Title
Defended,” and started reading it with a glass of orange juice
in my hand when a rather thin young man took a seat at a
nearby table.
It was Masayuki Toyoshima-sensei.
Staying overnight as an observer, he looked much more his
age with a smartphone in one hand, typing away with his
| Azura Ren |
thumb. However, he was quieter and more relaxed than most
people his age. No one around us had any idea that this young
person in their midst was a professional living in a
competitive world.

For some reason, I couldn’t help but feel that this young man
sitting there eating breakfast and using a smartphone with a
remarkably flexible thumb looked like a Shogi player in the
middle of a match.

…… And so ends my essay-esque afterword for this book. My

story about Mr. K in Book 1 was so well received that I
thought I would do another one …… But it sounded like I was
stalking him ……
This episode (?) took place before I had a basic production
schedule in place.
After that, once I had a completed manuscript and could go
to these places and confidently say, “This is for research!” I
was finally able to talk to people in the Shogi world with no
reservations.
I got to do so many things like working with my supervisors
for this series, the members of “Saiyuki,” getting tours of the
Kansai Shogi Association, attending a Title Match with
Kazuki-sensei and Kogeta-sensei who draw the manga for this
story in Young GanGan magazine. Actually, it was right

| Azura Ren |
around the time a story about Shogi started in Jump magazine
and I-sensei happened to be with us.
“Did you know a Shogi manga started in Jump?”
“Oh?”
“Yes, and your No effort goes unrewarded story is in
there.”
“Seriously?! I’d better pick up a Jump on the way home!”
That’s when F-zaki-sensei, who was also there, spoke up
saying, “I ain’t buyin’ Jump! Young GanGan all the way!!
Young GanGan!!” over and over.
As a Shogi fan, that day was pure bliss.
As happy as I was to speak with all the players, I was
overjoyed to get an opportunity to talk with the journalists
who provide us Shogi fans with articles and pictures. To every
single one of you, thank you so much!
When Nozuki-sensei came to Aichi Prefecture and the two
of us went up to Gifu to watch the Emperor’s Cup Soccer
Tournament, I had him wear an FC Gifu uniform and root for
the team along with us the stands. I didn’t think there’d be a
problem with asking Nozuki-sensei, who usually supports
Consadole Sapporo, to do this …… Because, I mean, not many
people come to watch the Emperor’s Cup ……
Nozuki-sensei would like nothing more than to set up a
collaboration between Shogi and soccer during his travels
around the country, showing up at many different stadiums in
the process. Whenever I see pictures of his travels on Twitter,
| Azura Ren |
it’s easy to forget he’s actually a professional Shogi player
rather than a journeyman.
Thanks to Nozuki-sensei’s introduction, I now have
opportunities to speak with soccer journalist and Shogi fan
Gou Ishikawa. He has penned several beautiful articles about
Shogi and soccer for multiple magazines.
Right now, the Shogi world is expanding by the day.
I work in a very small part of it, but even still, I have had
people come up to me and say things like, “You got me
interested in Shogi!” and “Shogi’s really intense, isn’t it!”
Receiving comments like that makes everything worthwhile.
Once you finish reading a fantasy novel, no matter how
much you’d like to go into that world and explore, it’s
impossible to do so.
But with Shogi, you can go right away. The Shogi
classrooms and Shogi parlors in New World that appeared in
this book really do exist and you can play alongside real
professionals at the Shogi associations.
There are interesting things to do “after” reading.
Writing that type of novel has always been my dream.
To my supervisors in Saiyuki, my illustrator Shirabii-sensei,
my editor, the manga artists Kazuki-sensei and Kogeta-sensei,
as well as every single person who has read this book, please
allow me to express my gratitude once again. Thank you so
very much.
In Book Three, I’ll finally get to write a sequence that I’ve
| Azura Ren |
been itching to get on paper since the beginning.
I’ll do everything in my power to make the story more
intense than ever before, something that will make you laugh
and bring you to tears. Please look forward to it.

| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
| Azura Ren |
 REVIEW SESSION
“I have purchased a car.”
That day, I stuck my head into the Player’s Room only to
see Yamashiro Ouka Machi Kugui (such a long name)
spacing out in front of one of the computer monitors and that
topic came up while we were shooting the breeze.
“Got a license not too long ago. Figure my parents can’t
complain if I used my title winnings to purchase it.”
Machi comes from one of Kyoto’s noble families, so she was
raised to be a proper “lady.” She says her house is right next
to the old Imperial Palace. Personally, I’m jealous that she has
a chauffeur who’ll drive her anywhere, but I guess that being
a nineteen-year-old girl she wanted the freedom that comes
with having her own car.
“I just went and did it!” she says with a beaming smile on
her face.
“But you know, most Shogi players don’t drive.”
“Awhh, must be because they only think about Shogi and
get into accidents.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Machi?”
“Concerning that matter, there should be no problem. I was
fine today.”
“So, you drove here, to the association today? Once you’re
done, let me have a look.”
“But of course.”

| Azura Ren |
 Machi takes out her keychain, shaking it while saying, “Say,
Ryuo. Why not come for a drive if you have time to spare
tonight?”
“Huh?!”
“There’s a place I’d like to see. It may be morning by the
time we get back though.”
“Ah …… out all night?!”
“Oh, but then again, Ryuo. You live with that young
apprentice of yours, yes? You couldn’t possibly be absent for a
full night.”
“It-It’s fine! My Master would be more than happy to look
after her!!”
“You sure?”
“Yes!! Morning return, so what? Bring it on!!”
Therefore, I dropped Ai off at Master’s house (he was
thrilled, Ai not so much) and set off for an all-night driving
date with Machi except–––.
“…… Why’s Ryou here too?”
“Eh? Got a problem with me bein’ here? Want me to swing
open the door and kick you out?”
For some reason, Women’s King Ryou Tsukiyomizaka is in
the car with us.
“And, while I go’cha here, what was up with that Shogi, eh?
Mercilessly takin’ all my pieces like that in a Title Match? For
real? The two of you like that? No sense of warrior’s pride or
even a human heart? Well?”
| Azura Ren |
 “That’s Big Sis, nothing to do with me–––.”
“Cut the crap. You two siblings are hoggin’ all the glory.
That really pisses me offfffff!!”
Ryou vents her pent-up frustration with a flurry of
complaints and one kick after another. Owch!!
“Don’t you see this, Machi?! This girl, she’s dangerous! Far
too violent!! Let’s ditch her at the nearest convenience
store!!”
“Now, now, both of you. The three of us should be having
fun, no?”
Machi just kept driving the small, hybrid car in really high
spirits. It’s a cute, orange one.
And right now, I’m sitting next to Ryou in the back seat of
said car.
I wanted to ride shotgun, but Machi said she “couldn’t
focus on driving while someone was next to her.” So now I’m
back here, trapped in a cage with this wild animal.
“…… But, yeah. Cars make things so much easier. Three
people could never fit on a moped.”
“You have a car, Ryou?”
“I ain’t even got the paperwork. Been drivin’ a moped since
high school though.”
“Well then, you’ve got that license, don’t you?”
“………”
Why aren’t you saying anything?
“Huh? You have a license, right Ryou? Y-You’re okay,
| Azura Ren |
right? A titleholder being picked up for driving without a
license would be nothing to laugh at ……”
“Shut it. I got one now.”
Now ……?
“Oh yeah, Kuzu. How’s that apprentice thing workin’ out
for you? Don’t tell me you’ve already called it quits?”
“I took on another one.”
“Another one?!”
“Fortunately both of them are going full speed ahead, but
they butt heads quite a bit, being my apprentices and all ……
Sure, that really can’t be helped considering there aren’t
many people in Kansai, but it’s still hard to watch. But really,
Keika has it worse on so many levels ……”
“Awhh, Keikaaa. She just can’t seem to break through that
last wall.”
“She ain’t half bad, either. Wonder if it’s because she
started Shogi so late?”
A dark cloud suddenly moved in.

“We’re here.”
Machi stops the car at some observation point near the top
of a mountain.
“Whoa ……!”
Ryou and I couldn’t hold back our amazement as we got
out of the car parked right up against the guard rail.
I can see all of Kyoto’s night skyline from here. It’s
| Azura Ren |
amazing.
“Stars above and stars below spreading out as far as the eye
can see …… Stunning ……”
“Kyoto at night is nothing to ignore, am I right?”
The three of us look out over the night sky, leaning against
the car and drinking the canned coffee we bought at a
convenience store on the way up. It almost feels like one of
those glorious youth moments that Shogi players almost
never have.
Ryou says under her breath, “…… Look at all the stars ……”
“Does it make Shogi boards feel small?”
“Not a bit. Makes ‘em feel even bigger,” Ryou flashes a bold
grin in my direction and drinks the last of her coffee after
saying that.
While it’s a relief to see that she’s back to her usual self–––.
“Just like the stars that reside on Shogi boards.”
Those words sparked an inferno.
“What? Machi, you got a screw loose? Shogi boards don’t
have stars.”
“But of course they do.”
“Nada. Not one.”
“I’m telling you, they do. Isn’t that right, Ryuo?”
“Huh?! You’re asking me?!”
“They have stars, yes?”
“No—they—do—not. Have you totally lost it? How many
years have you been playing now? Ain’t that right, Kuzu?
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Boards don’t have stars.”
“Huh? Ummm …… I wonder ……?”
Crap. I really can’t remember.
Goh boards have stars (black dots), that much I’m sure.
They’re there for a reason.
But there’d be no point for a star on Shogi boards …… right?
I think ……
“Either way, you guys. It doesn’t really matter either way,
does it? We can just check a board once we get home so–––.”
“Oh, but it does. O-Ryou, would you be willing to bet your
winnings from the Women’s King match? This car says that
I’m right.”
“Say what?!”
Ryou and I scream at the same time.
Machi looks just as aloof as ever as she escalates the
situation.
“I’ve got the key right here. Should you win, O-Ryou, the
car is yours. Drive it on home if you wish. Ryuo and I shall
walk.”
Me, walk?! All the way back to Osaka?!
“Hey …… Machi, hold up. I ain’t got a license or nothin’.
And–––.”
“What’s this? Are you running away? You’re absolutely sure
there are no stars on a Shogi board, yes? Then this is your
chance for a free car, is it not? Is the Women’s King so much
of a coward that she won’t claim a free piece that’s there for
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the taking? Well? Weeell?”
“Then why don’t I just take it off your hands, eeeeeehhh!!?”
Ryou pulls out her wallet, takes out a bank card and slaps it
down on the hood of the car. Then she turns to me and says,
“Oi, Kuzu. Get Ginko on the phone.”
“Seriously?! She went to sleep hours ago! Big Sis always
turns in early!!”
“Exactly. She cuddles a board like a teddy bear in bed,
right? That’s perfect.”
“I-I can’t deny that sometimes she falls asleep while playing
through a match record and spends the night next to a board,
but this is a horrible idea! She’ll kill me!! She hates getting
woken up!!”
“So, either get put six feet under by me an’ Machi here or
let Ginko do the honors later. What’ll it be?”
“Ryuo, would you prefer to fall from this cliff? Or perhaps
be run over by a car? Then again, being rammed by said car
over that cliff would be better?”
They’re serious. Both of them, they’re actually serious.
“D …… Don’t say I didn’t warn you, got it ……?”
Preparing myself for the worst, I take out my smartphone
and start dialing with trembling fingers.
It took about twenty calls but–––.
“…… What?”
“Ah! S-S-S-S-So sorry to call you so late at night! You were
sleeping …… weren’t you?”
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 “…… Like I said, what?”
Her voice, it’s terrifying.
“U, umm …… about Shogi boards, and if they have stars on
them are not …… Could you check for me ……?”
“……Why would you ask me that?”
“Y-You see, Machi and I drove out to look at the stars ……
Ah! Ryou is here too! And the two of them got into an
argument over whether Shogi boards have stars or not ……”
“……”
“Um, Big Sis? Are there stars ……?”
“Don’t know. Are there not?”
Beep. Buzz …… buzz ……
“Um …… I didn’t get a clear answer, but Big Sis says, Are
there not? ……”
“Hah!!”
In that moment, Ryou looks triumphantly into the starry
night sky and says, “Looks like her days on top are over!”
I’m not sure if it’s Big Sis’s era of dominance or Ryou’s bank
card that’s coming to an end ……
It’d be better for you to see the answer with your own eyes.

| Azura Ren |
 AUTHOR
SHIROW SHIRATORI
Book 2 has gone on sale. Thank you so much for your
support. The match that pulled at my heartstrings the most
appears in the book. While it’s not between professionals, I
get excited every time I see that Shogi match. Nothing would
make me happier than if you got just as into it!

ILLUSTRATOR
SHIRABII
I had a mixture of red and black in mind when I drew the
rival that appears in Book 2, Ai Yashajin. Each of the Grade
School Practice Group girls are drawn with their own unique
color pallets. Ai Hinatsuru, for example, is blue and white.
Yaichi has a lot on his mind, so I tend to think in shades of
gray for him. A great deal of trial and error goes into each
character, but I enjoy drawing every one of them.

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The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done!

VOLUME 2

Story by Shirow Shiratori

Art by Shirabii
Supervision by Saiyuki
RYUO NO OSHIGOTO! 2
Copyright © 2016 Shirow Shiratori
Illustrations Copyright © 2016 shirabii
Supervised by Saiyuki
All rights reserved.

SB Creative
2-4-5 Roppongi Minato-Ku Tokyo, 106-0032 JAPAN

Editor: Annabel LEE

Translator: Andrew GAIPPE
Designer: Erika TERRIQUEZ
Producer: Atsushi YANAI

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