Volume 1 prologue (1/2)
”Master's OO…is so hard…”
Three months after I, 16 years old, became the Ryuuou, I had an elementary school girl as my first disciple. Due to various reasons, we're living together.
”Hooo…it's really hard…”
The nine-year-old disciple is seated before me, the round cheeks dyed a sakura pink, bringing her cheeks to the master's Ou, moaning like a puppy.
She's a cute, angelic girl.
Faced with such purity, innocence of a girl who could be considered a really young girl, my stiff self-caused me to feel really guilty, but I had no intention to back off.
This stubbornness is basically violence.
”Nn…”
My first disciple-Ai Hinatsuru, lets out a warm breath, showing the deepest part of her before me, luring me in.
She proceeds with a bold technique that was atypical of an elementary school kid.
But this action is really…
”…Is this okay? Ai?”
I see my young disciple make this decision, and ask her again.
Ai-
Nods silently, s.h.i.+vering a little…
A little tentative, I finally make up my mind to accept that invitation.
”Here I go…”
”Y-yes…!”
I reach out towards the deepest part of my disciple's zone.
And right when my fingers are about to touch there-
”Ah! Th-this is no good after all!!”
Ai shouted, her body quivering on its own.
She's rather fl.u.s.tered as she let me reach into an unexpected place. That reaction makes me feel good.
”Master, that…wait…”
”No can do.”
I coldly stop her. I can't wait for this kind of thing.
”There's no such thing as 'wait' in professional Shogi.”
”Hii…!” Ai gives me a look of someone on the verge of tears.
It's no wonder she's showing such a reaction when she let me fork on both the O-Sho and the Rook at the same time.
April, in Osaka.
It was the season where the Sakuras have already bloomed In Osaka Park, and started to scatter. Whenever the warm Spring winds blow, countless petals flutter onto the ground like snow.
The visitors viewing the flowers around us look surprised,
”…What are they doing?”
”…Shogi? At this place?”
”That cute little girl's able to play Shogi too…”
”Anyway, did they bring that all the way here? That chessboard looks very heavy…”
”Hey, isn't that the pro player Yaichi Kuzuryuu?”
Some Shogi fans have realized my ident.i.ty, and aim their cellphones at me.
Ai and I are under the most magnificent Sakura Tree at the Nis.h.i.+nomaru Garden. We came here early to book our spot and play Shogi, so Ai's fluttering hair has some Sakura petals on.
I sweep away the petals that have landed on the chessboard, and point at the chess clock at the side of the chessboard, prompting my disciple to take action.
”Hey, time's going to run out if you don't hurry, you know?”
”Uumuuuuu…!”
And then she continues to attack hard in a manner different from a typical elementary school kid, but unable to withstand the attacks of the Ryuuou as she was in an overwhelming disadvantage, and could only admit defeat.[1]
”…I lost.”
She looks really regretful, saying that.
And then, she points at my King and the many defensive pieces around it.
”You're too much, Master! Really cruel! How am I supposed to attack when you defend the king so much?”
”Didn't I tell you? You're not gonna beat me if we're playing on equal terms.”