【Chapter 02: The Defeat of the Abstract Queen (Day 58)】

"I lost."

Watching the crown of my opponent's head as she bowed and said those words, I—Utakata Tsukino—exhaled deeply.

It felt like I hadn't breathed in hours. Official matches are always pregnant with tension, more or less, but today's was exceptional. Belatedly, I felt sweat clinging unpleasantly to the nape of my neck.

I managed to survive.

For a while now, ninety percent of my post-match thoughts have been this. Not the sweet satisfaction of "I won," but the relief of "somehow I didn't lose," or "I managed to survive," comes first.

As a result, what remains after the match is not a "loser and a winner," but a "corpse and a casualty."

After exchanging a few sporadic comments in a post-game review that tasted of nothing but bitterness for both of us, I got my things together and left the Sendagaya Center Building. Just as I was about to head straight for the station, someone suddenly tapped my shoulder from behind.

"Excuse me, you're Utakata Tsukino-san, right? The Female Genryu!"

A high-pitched, bubbly voice. Combined with my post-match exhaustion, I honestly found it burdensome to even turn around, but I am still a humble servant of the Shogi world. Spreading Shogi culture is also an important duty. I instantly plastered on my business smile, turned to face the person in "response mode," and then—

"Just kiiidding."

—Simultaneous with receiving the Showa-era baptism of having my cheek poked with a finger, I deeply regretted it.

That's right. "This person" has been doing things like this since way back.

"...Why are you here, Master?"

"Jeez, you're as cold as ever, Tsuku-chan."

A woman of a certain age responded to my sullen face with an extremely light tone.

Marisa Tatsumi. You wouldn't imagine it from her flashy looks and high exposure, but she is a former female Shogi player.

With her metal accessories jangling noisily, she continued.

"Besides, haven't I told you countless times to stop calling me Master? I'm not active anymore."

"Ah, that is right, 'Auntie'."

"Yeah, let's stop that one even more. Sonically speaking."

The around-thirty woman suddenly went deadpan. However, I responded with a perfectly logical retort.

"But the relationship between Mari-san and myself, if we remove the master-disciple aspect, is 'Aunt' and 'Niece,' so—"

"By all means, please call me Mari-san, Tsuku-chan."

"Haa."

In the past, she used to laugh and accept "Auntie" or "Master." People are difficult.

By the way, "Tsuku-chan" is my nickname, mainly used among relatives. It apparently originates from when I was a toddler with a lisp and couldn't say my own name, "Tsukino," very well, constantly saying "Tsuku no wa ne, Tsuku no wa ne" (Tsuku is, Tsuku is).

...They say the soul of a three-year-old stays until a hundred, but I never expected it to be dragged out until this age.

I wish she would at least call me "Tsukino" as a master rather than an aunt in public places, but that request of mine was rejected with the single phrase "It's not cute." Not cute, she says.

Well, I have no intention of condemning her for that now. I decided to move the conversation forward.

"Mast— It is rare for Mari-san to be at the Shogi Hall."

"Hm? Ah, I had a bit of business in Sendagaya for my current job. Then I remembered Tsuku-chan had a match, so I just dropped by."

"Is that so? Thank you for going out of your wa—"

Just as I began to bow deeply to express my gratitude, Mari-san cut in.

"You're playing some boring Shogi, Tsuku-chan."

"────"

Those weren't the words of my usual lighthearted aunt—Mari-san—but the words of the "Master" who taught me everything about Shogi. I gulped down my saliva and responded.

"You were... watching?"

"Well, somewhat."

Mari-san waved her smartphone lightly as she spoke. I turned my paling face away, but she didn't loosen her pursuit.

"The fact that Tsuku-chan has an overly solid style has been true since way back, and that in itself is fine."

"In that case..."

"But that is..."

Mari-san directed a severe gaze at me, one she rarely showed even during her time as my master.

"...Predicated on the condition that 'it is accompanied by a firm conviction'."

"............"

Unable to retort, I gripped my left upper arm with my right hand. Mari-san sighed, "Good grief."

"I didn't have any complaints up until around the Female Genryu tournament, you know. Tsuku-chan's 'Tsuku-chan-ness' was coming out in a good way, and the results followed."

"............"

"But I guess it was after that. That Tsuku-chan's style started to wobble."

"............ ...Yes."

I admitted it with a voice that sounded like it was being squeezed out. Perhaps sensing that I was struggling to verbalize my worries, Mari-san suggested we go into a nearby cafe for now.

I nodded, and while organizing my thoughts, followed her into the shop as urged.

After taking our seats and finishing our orders, I once again poured my heart out to Mari-san.

"As you say, Mari-san... until a little while ago, I had no doubts about my own Shogi style."

"I know. Even though Tsuku-chan has called me Master since way back, your style doesn't resemble mine at all."

"I believe that is partly because Mari-san is too free..."

"Ah-ha-ha, I'm probably the only female Shogi player in history, past or future, to commit Nifu (Two Pawns foul) five times in official matches!"

"That is not a laughing matter at all."

Even though the criticism from both outside and within the family must have been quite strong at the time. Since the person herself is always like this, I don't know whether to respect her or be exasperated...

"Well, never mind about me. Where did that hesitation of yours come from?"

"About that..."

Just as I started to speak, the Azuki Milk Latte I had ordered arrived.

"Fufu."

At the arrival of my favorite Japanese sweet, even I temporarily forgot my worldly worries, my eyes sparkling. Then, next, the staff member placed the condiments I had ordered—even paying an extra charge in advance—on the table with a slightly bewildered face.

"And here are your fresh milk, honey, maple syrup, and stick sugar."

"This is Chōjō (Peak). Thank you very much."

(T/N: Literally means "Summit" or "Peak." Which makes sense considering her shogi background (striving for the top).

I bowed my head politely with a smile. While Mari-san laughed nostalgically, "There it is, Chōjō," at my catchphrase, the staff member left with a business smile, saying, "Please take your time."

As I diligently performed my "usual" sweetness-increasing operation on the Azuki Milk, Mari-san urged me on with a "So?"

"Why has the great, rare genius female Shogi player, Utakata Tsukino-sama, lost her form?"

To that question, I licked a mouthful of the extra-sweet Azuki Milk before responding.

"Um, lately, the number of people watching my matches has increased explosively. Various things have started being said on the internet and such..."

"Seems like it. Ah, but you know..."

Just as Mari-san was about to continue, the "Tropical Big Thunder Parfait" or whatever she had ordered arrived. ...It's huge. I stared at it with dead eyes and pointed out.

"Looks like it would give you heartburn."

"No, I don't want to hear that from you of all people."

Mari-san retorted while looking at the sweeteners I had used. ...Well, to each their own.

She restarted the topic from earlier while tearing down the parfait ice cream part so robustly that it made me nervous just watching.

"Is Tsuku-chan the type to care about SNS reactions and stuff?"

I shook my head vigorously at that question.

"No, not at all. However, there was a point raised that even I could not overlook."

"What?"

"The suspicion that my Shogi style is like that of an AI... Shogi software."

"Ah, that sort of thing."

Mari-san stopped her hand eating the parfait and groaned in exasperation.

"That's been around since I was active. Suspicions of cheating using Shogi software and the like."

"Yes. I was also cast with some suspicion of that."

"And? Are you actually doing it?"

"As if."

"Right?"

Mari-san began carrying the parfait to her mouth again as if she knew it all along. While being saved a little by that immense, unconditional trust, I continued my story.

"That in itself is groundless, so it didn't cause much of a flame war. Truly Chōjō."

"That's good then. But, so what's the problem?"

To Mari-san's reasonable question, I answered while sighing deeply, deeply.

"Due to that incident, I myself have started to become conscious of AI again."

"Ah..."

Mari-san reacted as if she understood. I continued my confession.

"I do understand the concerns of those who pointed it out. My style is a route that pursues 'deriving the optimal solution through accumulated learning,' after all."

"That can be said for all Shogi players, though. Well, but in Tsuku-chan's case, that tendency is certainly doubly strong. It's like your personal preferences and habits are almost not reflected in your strategy."

"Yes. And the completed form of that thinking might be AI. But if that's the case..."

"You started thinking, 'Is it okay for me to stay like this?' or something like that?"

"It is embarrassing, but yes."

"You're young, huh."

After saying that and laughing karakara, Mari-san immediately followed up with a mysterious self-correction, "No, I'm young too though." I ignored her solo comedy act and continued.

"And so, as a result of starting to grope for something called 'a style unique to me' at this late stage..."

"You ended up a boring Shogi player who just broke her existing form, is that it?"

"Ugh..."

I hung my head. It's been like this since long ago. I'm great at proceeding toward a "set answer," but when asked for "my own answer," I'm at a loss. I can finish summer homework on the first day, but "Independent Research" is the one thing that never progresses. That was the human being known as Utakata Tsukino.

That is precisely why I started Shogi admiring my free-spirited female Shogi player aunt, finally achieved some results, and just as I was finally gaining a little confidence in myself... this happens again.

For now, I'm still clinging on with narrow victories, so in terms of match results, it hasn't fallen into a critical situation. But if this slump accelerates, even that will be in danger. And once I completely collapse, I have a premonition that I will never be able to crawl back up again. In fact, I saw countless Shogi players like that during my time in the shoreikai training group.

Before I knew it, Mari-san had finished eating the giant parfait. Startled, I looked at my Azuki Milk Latte, and I had only drunk enough to wet my lips at the start. I hurriedly put my mouth to it, but it had turned completely lukewarm. I kind of want to cry. It's sweet and delicious, though.

Then, perhaps because I had a face like it was the end of the world, Mari-san softened her tone.

"Tsuku-chan, you know, you've been lacking 'Playfulness' since way back. Just like Nee-san."

A person who is a lump of playfulness said something. Seeing my expression, Mari-san cackled.

"That's a face saying 'A person who is a lump of playfulness is saying something,' isn't it?"

"Ugh...!"

I groaned, having the bullseye hit. Mari-san looked me straight in the eye and continued.

"Of course, being serious and reckless is Tsuku-chan's virtue, you know? But for your current worry... when tackling a vague problem like 'individuality,' I think it's vital to broaden your perspective."

"Broaden my perspective, is it?"

"Yes. Look, for example, when exploring a dark maze, a flashlight is convenient, but if you're going to explore a grassland at night, a lantern that illuminates the surroundings widely is more suitable, right?"

"!"

"The point is, you have to switch your methods between when your destination is clearly fixed and when you're searching for something vague."

It was a very Mari-san-like expression that struck simply at the truth. Indeed, that is exactly my current predicament. I have fallen completely into tunnel vision.

I trembled involuntarily, moved by the revelation granted by my master for the first time in a long while.

"...Master, that is Chōjō."

"Ahaha, I got a Chōjō. But not Master, Mari-san."

While warning me like that, Mari-san suddenly grabbed my hand placed on the table with that same momentum. I was startled by the suddenness. Mari-san, however, looked at me with a serious gaze and continued.

"So, about that. If Tsuku-chan thinks she wants to 'broaden her perspective' right now, there is a part-time job perfect for you... would you be interested?"

...? H-Huh, I feel like the conversation is starting to tilt in a weird direction...

"A-A part-time job? Um, well, come to think of it, what job does Mari-san do no—"

The moment I asked that, Mari-san's smartphone placed on the table vibrated.

The message displayed on the lit-up screen happened to enter my field of vision.

<Usa-kun> <I arrived. Where r u rn?>

(Usa? Who is that?)

At least it's not someone I know, but there's no point in prying too much into my aunt's human relationships.

Mari-san released my hand, retrieved her smartphone, and picked up the receipt with the same momentum.

"Ah, sorry Tsuku-chan. I have to get going soon."

Mari-san stood up while getting ready in a hurry. I responded while being taken aback.

"Y-Yes, I do not mind, but in the end, Mari-san's job is..."

"Ah, details next time! See ya then, Tsuku-chan!"

"Well then..."

Mari-san started walking away busily pata-pata. —But, after advancing a few steps, she looked back once and told me with a frank smile.

"Playfulness, playfulness! In the end, what is vital in life is the balance between work and play! Right, Tsuku-chan!"

Yes, dropping a very "her" parting line, my master left.

"...Yes! It is Chōjō, Master!"

When I replied, she quickly finished at the register and left the cafe busily while talking to someone on the phone.

As for me, since my Azuki Milk Latte was still in the middle of being drunk, I decided to stay alone for a little while longer. Since it was just a window seat, I followed Mari-san's figure with my eyes absently for a while. She looked around restlessly while talking on the phone just outside the shop. Apparently, she is meeting someone. A business partner, perhaps?

Watching over Mari-san while thinking such things, she seemed to have found the person she was waiting for and waved her hand. And that partner she met up with was—

"...Eh?"

—A blond boy in a school uniform. Moreover, of all things, as soon as they met up, she ruffled his head roughly; they seemed strangely intimate. ...U-Um...

(...An around-thirty woman who places weight on 'playfulness'... with a young boy... intimately...)

............ ...I feel like I saw something I shouldn't have. I really, really do. ............

I abruptly returned my gaze from outside the window and stared blankly at the foliage plants inside the shop.

............

A-Azuki Milk Latte is delicious. Yes, Chōjō, Chōjō.

＊

Twenty minutes from Sendagaya on the Sobu Line. I got off at Ogikubo Station and started walking trudgingly toward my home.

For a while, I even had vehicle pick-ups and drop-offs as a countermeasure against the press, but things are completely peaceful now. I'm almost never called out to by people on my way back and forth. Well, people probably don't remember the face of a plain high school girl they only saw briefly on the news for a period of time.

Besides, I am taking countermeasures—if I can even call them that—by disguising myself in my own way.

I wear my hair up and put on a cap.

Honestly, it's presumptuous to even call it a disguise, but it is surprisingly effective. The reason being, usually... during matches or in front of the press, I always wear my hair down, so it seems the public impression of me is tied to "long black hair." That's why, conversely, simply hiding my hair erases the individuality of "Utakata Tsukino" considerably.

That is why today, too, I was walking leisurely through the "Ogikubo Suzuran Shopping Street" toward my home without being called out to by anyone.

"'Playfulness' is lacking... huh."

I ruminate on my master's point as I go on my way home. Setting aside the tea with my master, the fact that I go straight home after finishing a match like this feels like it shows the "lack of playfulness" in the human being that is me, making me feel a bit depressed, and I unconsciously let out a heavy sigh.

Ah, on a day like this, I want to eat sweets to my heart's content... Just as I thought that, I realized I had forgotten to procure today's "post-dinner sweets." Come to think of it, I had run out of my favorite stockpiled sweets too. I have no choice but to stop by a convenience store, but having come this far, there are no shops that stock sweets to my liking on the shortest route home.

(It cannot be helped, let's take a slight detour. Um, I believe from this alley...)

Thinking that, I turn onto a path I don't usually take. In a way, it's fresh scenery. Even though it's my local area, it's a road outside my daily routine. Basically, there is no reason to go out of my way to... ............?

"...A cafe?"

A street with nothing, just houses and multi-tenant buildings standing together—in the middle of the road I had assumed to be so, a signboard I didn't recognize jumped into my eyes. I approached to check it.

"...Board Game, Cafe?"

It appeared to be a board game cafe named "Kurumaza." Was it built recently? If a cafe opened around here, there's no way I, a sweets lover, wouldn't have noticed...

"Well, I suppose the main subject is board games rather than food and drink."

Honestly, I don't quite understand the business format of a "Board Game Cafe," so I don't know. If it's something close to a manga cafe, it's probably not a shop one enters for gourmet purposes.

I gazed at the signboard for a moment, but well, since it's a shop unrelated to me, I was about to leave the spot────when suddenly, my aunt's voice echoed in my head again like a divine revelation.

"Tsuku-chan, you know, you've been lacking 'Playfulness' since way back."

"Tsk!"

I stopped my feet abruptly. ...Playfulness... ...Honestly, while Master's advice was very grateful, I couldn't visualize the concrete form of "playfulness."

Nightlife, playing with fire, playing around with men. There are words expressing a wide variety of "play" in the world, but all of them are too far removed from the current me. Having lived solely for Shogi, I didn't feel like I could enjoy them well. But...

"...Board, games... is it..."

............

And then, before I noticed. I had already started climbing the stairs of the building.

＊

"H-Hellooo."

Is this originally a furnished cafe property? I pushed open the strangely elegant and old-fashioned door and stepped across the threshold of the board game cafe "Kurumaza." At the same time, I immediately regretted it a little.

The inside of the shop was unexpectedly neat and clean, but there were no customers. While heavy congestion is troublesome, a restaurant with zero customers has its own high hurdles.

Just as the thought of turning back crossed my mind, a voice suddenly called out from the back.

"Ah, w-welcome!"

With a greeting that clearly conveyed his agitation at the unexpected arrival of a customer, a person who appeared to be a clerk came out pata-pata.

It was a slender young man wearing glasses. Is he about the same age as me? The nameplate on his apron says "Tokiwa."

"Uhh, ahh... there was no... reservation, right. U-Um, is it for one person?"

Despite being in the service industry, he was a very unreliable young man who didn't seem used to people at all. But conversely, that was something to be grateful for to me, who was nervous. Somehow, I felt a strange familiarity.

Since he started fiddling with the bridge of his glasses in a nervous manner, I was also induced to touch my own—the fake glasses I put on just before entering the store as a desperate additional disguise. A brief silence ensued. ...What is this, are we communicating via glasses right now? No good, let's speak.

"U-Um, I have no reservation, and I am alone. ...Or rather, um, I am a beginner to this thing called board games itself; will that be alright?"

When I rattled that off a bit fast, perhaps my anxiety was conveyed, because immediately the young man—Tokiwa-san—smiled warmly, his previous suspicious behavior vanishing.

"Of course. Rather, you are very welcome. Here, please take this seat."

Being told that, I was guided to a seat. It seems to be originally a table for four. While I was placing my luggage on one of the chairs, Tokiwa-san went to the counter and prepared water and a wet towel. Watching him idly as I sat down, he was muttering something mumblingly.

"Why is that Gal late only at times like this..."

...It seems another employee is late. Certainly, although there are few customers, it was strange for a cafe of this scale to have only one clerk.

Tokiwa-san, having brought the water and wet towel, explained the shop's system.

"Basically, the system here is the same as a normal cafe. There is no seating charge in particular; as long as you order food or drink, you may freely play with the board games in the shop."

"Is that so. Ah, then for now, this Gyokuro tea... with sugar and honey."

"Yes, certainly—yes?"

"Ah, of course, if there is an additional charge for sweeteners, I will pay it."

"Eh, ah, y-yes. I have received your order. P-Please wait a moment."

Saying that, the clerk returned to the counter. While I idly observed the state of the shop, a few minutes later, he brought the tea and sweeteners. Moreover, thankfully, the sweeteners weren't just one of each, but a whole tray containing several.

"Here is your Gyokuro tea. Um, please help yourself to the stick sugar and honey."

"Wow, thank you very much. Chōjō, Chōjō."

"Cho...?"

While the clerk tilted his head, I poured stick sugar and honey into the Gyokuro with a warm feeling and initiated small talk.

"By the way, how long has this shop been open?"

"It has only been about two months since opening. So both I and the other staff are still inexperienced..."

"Is that so. Um, are you always alone as the clerk?"

"No no, basically it's a two-person shift system including me, and depending on the day the manager is here too, but..."

There, he exhaled heavily.

"The manager tends to be away from the shop to begin with, and on top of that, today even my partner is currently late..."

"T-That sounds somewhat difficult."

It seems to be quite a 'black' labor environment. Hearing that, I feel a little sorry that he is currently attending solely to me.

"U-Um, it is late to ask, but was it really okay for me to come to the store alone?"

I worried that perhaps the intended use was to come with friends and "rent" board games and a table.

In response, Tokiwa-san, perhaps sensing my anxiety, smiled back brightly.

"Of course, you are very welcome. In the case of a solo customer, it is possible to play with us staff, join a table with other customers, or depending on the case, play single-player games."

"Ah, then, today..."

"Yes, if you don't mind, I will serve as your opponent and explain the rules; how does that sound?"

"Yes, that is Chōjō."

"Chōjō..."

"Ah, no, I mean, please treat me well."

"Yes, understood. Then for today, I, Tokiwa, will serve as your opponent. Um, and you are..."

"Ah, I am Uta—"

I almost introduced myself smoothly up to there, then hurriedly stopped myself. I'm not particularly wary of Tokiwa-san, but since I'm wearing a light disguise, revealing my real name now would be awkward. Thinking that, I instantly course-corrected my self-introduction.

"Uta—Please call me Utamaru."

"An unexpected Rhymester."

Even for a spur-of-the-moment alias, that was a stretch. Surely there was something else. Honestly, I felt like crawling into a hole, but Tokiwa-san smiled gently immediately after his retort.

"But it's good, 'Utamaru'-san. I think it's very easy to call. Ah, then please call me 'Banjō' instead of Tokiwa."

"Eh?"

At my confusion, Tokiwa-san responded while scratching his cheek shyly.

"It's like my nickname at this cafe. Turn Tokiwa upside down (Tokiwa -> Banjō), and you get Banjō. Haha, it's embarrassingly simple, isn't it?"

"N-No, not at all..."

"But look, when enjoying a game, whether digital or analog, don't you feel like handle names or nicknames are more natural?"

"Eh? Ah... certainly, that might be true."

Especially in my case, a match using my real name inevitably evokes "Shogi Matches." In that sense, as he says, "Utamaru" might have been a name with just the right distance.

To me having regained my composure, Tokiwa-sa—Banjō-san was looking at me with a very gentle smile. ...Yeah.

(...How should I put it, for better or worse, he is a 'good person' to the core, isn't he, this person.)

For someone not used to people at all, he is sensitive to my anxiety and confusion, and it conveys well that he is being considerate from the heart, albeit clumsily.

Honestly, one could say he's the type who would struggle to survive in the world of competition. To the eyes of the female Shogi player Utakata Tsukino, he inevitably appears vulnerable.

But on the other hand, as just Utakata Tsukino—

("How is it, Tsukino-chan? Is Shogi fun?")

Suddenly, the scene from my childhood when my mother first played "Animal Shogi" with me crossed my mind.

I relaxed my shoulders and directed a natural smile, welling up from within, toward him.

"Then, I look forward to playing with you, Banjō-san."

"Yes, Utamaru-san."

The two of us exchanged greetings and smiled at each other. Banjō-san then asked me.

"Now then, Utamaru-san, do you have any requests for a board game you'd like to try?"

"Requests... is it?"

To me not quite getting it, Banjō-san supplemented.

"Ah, no, it's not a difficult topic at all. Let's see, for example, frequent requests from beginners are things like 'I want luck elements,' or 'something where conversation gets lively,' or 'I don't want to use my head too much,' that sort of feel."

"Ah, I see. If that is the case, as for my preference..."

I spoke my preference as my heart dictated.

"I like to silently exhaust my intellect and slaughter each other on a battlefield where luck has been eliminated."

" is your profession a tactician or something?"

I realized Banjō-san was backing away slightly. Shoot. I inadvertently let my obsession with Shogi show too much. Today I was supposed to be here to learn "Playfulness."

As expected, Banjō-san voiced his consideration with a slightly difficult face.

"If it comes to that, in the extreme, I'd want to recommend 'Shogi'..."

He started saying something that defeats the purpose. What kind of tragedy would compel me to play Shogi at a board game cafe I entered to take a break from Shogi? I hurriedly patched up my preferences.

"Ah, b-but, since I am also here to open a new door today, rather than following my preferences completely, if you could shift it slightly, I would say that is Chōjō..."

"Ah, I see. Understood. In that case..."

Saying that, Banjō-san went to the shelf where a massive amount of board games were stored, and came back bringing one box about the size of a monthly manga magazine.

"How about this, 'Splendor'?"

Even if asked how it is, I have no material to judge yet. Banjō-san seemed to understand that too and continued with an overview.

"'Splendor' is a game that uses cards and chips with various jewels depicted on them."

Saying that, Banjō-san took out the cards and chips actually used from the box and let me examine them. I didn't know what to look for, but the chips I picked up tentatively had an unexpectedly heavy and fine texture, which surprised me. It's good that the tools are authentic. Even with Shogi, while magnetic Shogi sets and online Shogi each have their wonderful points, using an authentic board and pieces truly straightens one's spine and increases immersion.

Banjō-san continued the explanation.

"I'll leave the detailed explanation for later, but basically, this is a game where you use these various chips as currency to buy cards and earn points."

Banjō-san explained politely, mixing in pointing checks of the explanation parts.

"However, both these chips and cards are taken from a common field. So..."

"I see, that is where the bargaining with the opponent is born. Like fighting over the chips and cards we both want."

"Exactly. Utamaru-san, you catch on fast."

Banjō-san murmured as if genuinely impressed. Of course, there's probably an element of lip service, but even so, there was no falseness in his words, and strangely, I didn't feel bad about it.

Banjō-san continued, looking a bit excited, "By the way."

"In this game, there is a system called 'Reserving Cards,' which corresponds to 'reservation' in real-life shopping. It's a system used when there's a card in the field you absolutely want, but you don't have the funds yet, but you definitely don't want anyone else to buy it... Basically."

Banjō-san emphasized "Basically." Thinking a little about that intention, I voiced what I came up with: "Ah."

"Conversely speaking, does that mean there is also a strategy to preemptively seize a card the opponent desires by reserving it?"

"Yes, yes! That's it! That's amazing, Utamaru-san!"

Banjō-san showed an innocent excitement that made his initial suspicious behavior seem like a lie. I don't know why, but this person seems unbearably happy that my understanding of the game is high. He's really a strange person. But well, I'm like this about Shogi too, so I can understand.

As I was feeling heartwarming, Banjō-san continued further.

"Not limited to this, but in board games, moves that hinder the opponent's advantage are sometimes called 'Cuts.' It's one of the important tactics, and in a 'two-player battle' format like this time, that tendency becomes especially strong, because..."

As a female Shogi player, this didn't even need to be said. I took over the rest.

"In a two-player match, obstructing the enemy works directly to one's own advantage. Naturally, one should aim for it actively. On the other hand, in games where three or more people compete, a little caution is likely required. If one pours their energy into obstructing someone, the one who benefits most is actually the third party."

"Ooh..."

Before I knew it, Banjō-san was staring at me, explaining indifferently, with sparkling eyes as if worshipping a god.

I was startled. What is with this person? Does he usually explain to people with such bad memories?

Perhaps noticing that I was slightly taken aback, he cleared his throat to adjust his tension.

"S-So, like this, this work is a strategy game with almost zero luck elements, but due to things like the timing of cards appearing in the field, luck intervenes only about ten percent. Also, it's not a game for enjoying conversation, but it doesn't force silence either. How does that sound?"

It was a gameplay style that shifted just a half-step away from the preferences I had indicated.

I smiled and responded to him.

"It looks interesting. I would definitely like to try it."

"Is that so! Then let's do it!"

Breaking into a smile like a child, Banjō-san began preparing happily. He really must like board games. It was a smile that made me feel happy too. But...

"By the way, are you strong at this game, Banjō-san?"

"Ah, well. Since I play this work with many customers due to my job, inevitably my experience value is high. And honestly, this game is a type where knowledge gaps show quite a bit..."

"Knowledge of standard tactics connects directly to strength in board games, after all."

"Yes, exactly. Actually, Utamaru-san, you use austere words every now and then, don't you?"

While continuing preparations, Banjō-san, with his unchanging smile, fired a line that—for me, could not be ignored.

"Ah, but please rest assured. At first, I won't play too ruthlessly."

That was certainly the correct consideration for a board game beginner.

However, for me... for the female Shogi player Utakata Tsukino who has survived the cutthroat world of Shogi, it was a statement akin to stepping on a tiger's tail.

Somehow maintaining my smile, I lightly objected to Banjō-san.

"Does that mean—you are saying you will go easy on me? On this me?"

"Eh? Ah, no, rather than going easy, um, well..."

Banjō-san stopped his preparations and became flustered. I continued with my artificial smile pasted on.

"Fufu, if it is about me, please do not worry. By all means, please give it your all."

"Eh? No, but, as I said earlier, in this game experience is overwhelmingly..."

"Banjō-san."

"Y-Yes."

"Your all, please."

Receiving my serious gaze, Banjō-san looked utterly troubled, then gulped, and responded as if giving in.

"...I-If that is your wish."

"It is Chōjō."

I responded with a smile. After all, seriousness is best for any competition. However, since I wanted to slightly alleviate this tense atmosphere, I layered on a joke-mixed provocation to Banjō-san.

"Fufu, even if I win, please do not be discouraged, Banjō-san."

"Haha, you said it, Utamaru-san."

Banjō-san laughed refreshingly. ...I feel sorry for him as he seems like a good person, but as long as it is a competition, even if it's play, I have no intention of losing. I raised a secret battle cry in my heart.

After that, I listened to the detailed rule explanation of this game from Banjō-san.

I confirmed that there were fewer luck elements than I thought, and on top of that, I accurately organized the logic of this game and the points to hold for victory in my head.

Yes, it is interesting. The work of "devising strategy" like this outside of Shogi is very fresh.

But, precisely because of that, my analysis progressed too much, childishly so. I no longer feel like losing.

"Then, shall we begin, Utamaru-san?"

"Yes. Please treat me well."

I bowed deeply as a courtesy for the start of the match. Banjō-san was a little bewildered, then smiled and bowed, saying, "T-This is very polite of you." Yes, he is a good young man after all. However...

(That is why I am sorry. That I will cloud that smile in a few dozen minutes.)

Even so, this is already a world of death matches. As long as we have both drawn our real swords, the option to "go easy" no longer exists.

Once the game started, I attacked like a raging fire. Making full use of the "Reservation System" which is the vital point of this game, while being admired by Banjō-san saying "Utamaru-san, you really catch on fast!", I obstructed his moves again and again, while smoothly organizing my own field, steadily walking the path to an unshakable victory. And then, exactly twenty-three minutes later—

"I lost."

Before I knew it, a declaration of resignation, bitter, bitter, and oozing with frustration, just like in a Shogi match, had been made.

────From my mouth.

............

Huh!?

While I was significantly shaken, staring at the board—the cards on the table—and starting to spin a "brain post-game review" at high speed, Banjō-san followed up with a wry smile.

"That was amazing, Utamaru-san! You brilliantly executed a high-level strategy that one wouldn't expect from a first match..."

"But I lost."

"W-Well, that is, it's a board game, so shall we say the luck of the moment..."

"Earlier, you said the luck element in this game is about ten percent, Banjō-san."

"Y-Yes, well. But, um, that ten percent worked to my advantage this time..."

"Banjō-san."

I interrupted his words there, raised my face, and looked him straight in the eye.

"A winner's humility is sometimes an insult to the loser, you know."

"............"

Perhaps losing to the pressure, Banjō-san adopted a solemn expression. Seeing that, I immediately came to my senses.

(No no, strictly speaking, this is a 'play' match; what kind of logic am I bringing up?)

Immediately, my face became hot. The fact that I lost even though I played seriously was so shocking that I inadvertently lost my composure. My true self came out. How embarrassing.

I hurriedly began an apology.

"Ah, um, I am sorry, that just now was—"

"...Certainly."

"Eh."

However, Banjō-san was nodding at something, looking deeply convinced all by himself.

"When Takanashi-san acts all triumphant, it's somewhat irritating, but it's also refreshing, I guess."

"? Takanashi-san?"

I wonder who that is. As I floated a question mark, Banjō-san suddenly looked me straight in the eye and responded.

"Thank you, Utamaru-san. Your point just now was very helpful."

"Eh, ah, no..."

While I was bewildered, Banjō-san raised a peace sign, looking unaccustomed to it himself, and declared.

"Therefore, 'Splendor' is my win. Y-Yay, V-sign V-sign!"

Banjō-san showing an incredibly awkward smile and finger movements. At that sight, I involuntarily burst out laughing.

"Jeez, what is that, Banjō-san."

"S-Sorry. I am still in the process of searching for my own way of celebrating..."

Saying that, Banjō-san reflected mumblingly, "Anyway, I shouldn't use Takanashi-san as a reference..." ...He is truly an interesting and kind person. And, in various ways, I think he is someone with many parts I should learn from right now.

That applies to his humanity, of course. But also regarding a certain kind of "style."

(In fact, his strategy was wonderful. The way he took a buffer against the slight luck element was clearly more skillful than me. That is certainly a way of thinking not found in Shogi, and that is why it is fresh.)

There was a sensation that a normally unused part of my brain was being stimulated. This might be really good. I feel like the "Playfulness" I lack, which my master spoke of, is here.

Perhaps caring about the way I felt frustrated, Banjō-san proposed.

"Then, regarding that just now as practice, shall we play one more match?"

That was a very attractive invitation. But...

"No, thank you, but I will pass."

"Ah, did it not suit your tastes?"

"No, not that. Precisely because it was so fun, I want to try even other forms..."

There, I smiled a little bashfully and responded.

"I wanted to try playing with you."

After saying it, I felt embarrassed thinking, Isn't this a bit like a confession to him personally...? However, as for Banjō-san himself...

"That is great!"

Looking not shy at all, he responded with his eyes simply, purely sparkling.

"Board games are fun, aren't they!"

"Eh?"

Actually, although not a confession, my words included goodwill toward Banjō-san personally. However, he didn't seem to receive it at all. He just seemed unbearably happy that a new customer had realized the charm of board games. That was his demeanor.

I couldn't help but giggle at his way of being, and responded to him.

"Yes, that is right. It is fun... I feel like I could come to like it."

"Is that so, is that so!"

Banjō-san laughed, looking happy from the bottom of his heart. While quickly cleaning up "Splendor," he checked with me.

"By the way, Utamaru-san, how is your time today?"

"Ah, um, if it is about another hour and a half..."

"Understood. Then, shall I select a few that can be played in a short time?"

"Please do. Ah, may I look at the shelves together with you?"

"Of course. By all means."

Lining up next to him who was innocently happy, we looked at the board game shelves together. As always, I didn't know what was what, but when I picked up a box attracted by the visual or title, Banjō-san would explain the contents concisely and happily as if to say "You have a good eye."

Among them were games where the player count started from five, or the required time was "half a day," which didn't match what we were looking for at all, but even so, Banjō-san absolutely never started with a negative; he spoke of the game's charm very concisely to attract my interest, then closed the topic saying "Let's definitely play it next time."

Honestly, as someone striving for the promotion of Shogi, his vivid explanation skills are something I want to emulate.

I was truly impressed from the bottom of my heart.

"Banjō-san's explanations are all very concise and easy to understand; they are wonderful."

"Eh?"

At my evaluation, he showed a surprised expression for a moment, then began to laugh a little shyly.

"I am happy to hear you say that but... but that is probably all thanks to my colleague."

"Your colleague, is it?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, she is late today. How to put it, that colleague is, um... originally someone who really has absolutely zero interest in board games."

"Eh, even though she is a board game cafe clerk?"

"Yes, even though she is a board game cafe clerk."

"It's really troublesome," he continued, but his face was very gentle.

"When I try to explain board games to her, naturally, ingenuity becomes necessary in the way I speak."

"Ingenuity..."

"Keep explanations concise. Emphasize positive points. Absolutely do not bring up difficult vocabulary. Only perform detailed explanations after sufficiently drawing interest, things like that I guess."

"I-I see."

It seems he is gaining very wonderful learning from this job. ...Well, I can't help feeling there is a problem with the fact that the object of that learning is a colleague rather than a customer.

Anyway, it was a good story. I thanked him.

"I am obliged (Itamiirimasu) for the very helpful story."

"I-Itamiirimasu?"

Banjō-san reacted to my slightly unique word choice. He asked while making small talk.

"Utamaru-san, you use somewhat unique phrasing, don't you?"

"S-Sorry. Rather than a habit, it stems from my living environment..."

Well, rather than Shogi, I have a feeling it was imprinted on me half in jest by that aunt during my childhood.

Banjō-san replied with a smile.

"No, I just thought it was simply cool that such words come out naturally. Even though you're probably not much different in age from me."

"Ah, I am seventeen."

"Then we're the same age."

Banjō-san smiled happily. Then, in the flow of that conversation, I inadvertently said something careless.

"In that case, I think Banjō-san, working while attending high school, is the admirable one..."

"Ah, no."

Banjō-san denied it, looking a bit awkward.

"I'm not attending high school right now."

"Ah..."

I messed up, I regretted immediately. It was a mistake I absolutely wouldn't make usually, but the flow of the conversation just now was, how to put it, a trap. Even so, it was too careless.

As I was chewing on a bitter bug, Banjō-san, being considerate, followed up.

"B-But please don't worry about it at all. In the end, I dropped out by my own will...!"

"Ah, that means, I see, you have some other dream..."

"N-No, it's not really like that either."

Mistake two. Today's me is too careless, isn't she? Ah, jeez...

As I held my head in my mind, Banjō-san continued.

"A-Anyway, you could say I dropped out with conviction on my part too..."

"T-That is right! Surely it isn't like you dropped out carrying some problem!"

"Eh, ah, no, actually it was a dropout after getting into trouble quite intensely..."

Mistake three. If it were a baseball strike count, I'd be out. I want to die already.

As I was covering my face with both hands in the real world now, not just in my mind, Banjō-san broke the ice with an apologetic wry smile.

"Wait, ahaha, that just now was no good. I still have a long way to go."

"Eh?"

"See, the point about board game explanations earlier. The part about being concise and saying positive elements. I totally didn't follow that just now, did I?"

"Ah..."

"If Takanashi-san were here, she would have gotten super angry at me. Close one, close one."

"Banjō-san..."

I feel slightly relieved by him speaking mixed with jokes. To me like that, he continued gently.

"Now then, leaving my 'Cringe Dropout Episode Muddy Hell Arc' for another opportunity."

"What is that title, I am incredibly curious!"

"Fufu, right? But too bad, you can only hear this story starting from your tenth visit."

"What a skilled businessman."

Banjō-san laughed jokingly. I was saved from the bottom of my heart by that smile again. He is truly a kind person.

He cleared his throat once as if to return the conversation to the original track.

"That aside, let's play the next board game, Utamaru-san."

"Oops, that is right."

I had almost forgotten. As if teasing me, Banjō-san provoked.

"The wounds of defeat should have healed by now, right?"

"You said it, didn't you?"

I also responded provocatively to that.

"Next... no, I will not lose ever again. I'm actually strong at this kind of thing."

"Haha, that's scary. Then I must respond with my all too."

"That is Chōjō. From here on, I will win every battle and show you I can break your nose (pride)."

Funsu, I breathed eagerly through my nose.

Having learned from the first match earlier, the current me no longer has blind spots. In that case, well, I am slightly sorry to Banjō-san, but for the sake of recovering my self-esteem, let me demonstrate my matchless prowess to my heart's content from here on.

Ah, how pitiful, kind-hearted gentleman, Banjō-sama.

──And so, after the two of us diligently played board games for another hour and a half.

There was—my figure, having been magnificently humbled with total defeats in every battle.

............ Whyyy?

"Ah, it's about time. Shall we leave it around here?"

"Eh? Ah, ahh, yes..."

As urged by Banjō-san, I stood up from the seat with a massive amount of question marks floating above my head.

............ Eh, I took the title of Female Genryu a little while ago, right? Even today, albeit barely, I came here after winning against a skilled female Shogi player, right? And yet, total defeat?

"............"

"Then, the bill is 1,100 yen for two drinks."

Before I knew it, I was in front of the register. Still in a daze, I managed to respond.

"...Um, I'll pay with PayPay."

"Certainly."

I held my smartphone over the small reader Banjō-san held out. The electronic voice that usually even seems cute sounded stuck in my ears today.

Once the payment was finished, Banjō-san spoke the standard line.

"We look forward to your next visit."

"Eh? Ah, yes. That is right. I must get my revenge, after all."

"Y-Yes, indeed."

Banjō-san responded awkwardly. As for me, checking the balance displayed on my smartphone, I was holding my head in another sense too.

(However, my purse is not warm enough to visit a cafe every day...)

As a practical problem, my allowance is the average amount for a general high school girl. My income from Shogi is entirely managed by my parents. Of course, necessary expenses around Shogi are paid out as "expenses," and that's why I've never been particularly troubled for money until now.

But naturally, I don't have the nerve to boldly declare board game cafe fees as "expenses" to my parents.

(But within the range of my allowance, even once a week is a bit tight...)

I began calculating mumumu again.

Then, perhaps misunderstanding something from my appearance, Banjō-san bowed his head very apologetically.

"U-Um, well, I was truly sorry for today."

"Eh?"

"That... Utamaru-san was such a talent, or rather your absorption of the rule explanations was truly like 'sound responding to a strike,' so as a single board gamer, I got super hyped leaving work aside, so to speak..."

There, Banjō-san scratched his cheek shyly.

"As a result, I completely forgot to hold back... Truly, I was disqualified as a clerk."

He continued as if ashamed from the bottom of his heart, saying he wanted to crawl into a hole.

Well certainly, if you think about it, a board game cafe that sends a customer home after beating them in every one-on-one game is pretty extreme. That might be a disqualification as a mere clerk. But...

I smiled kusu and responded to that.

"I was happy. That Banjō-san faced me seriously, even crossing the boundaries of work. Rather, thank you very much. It was truly fun."

"Utamaru-san..."

Banjō-san showed a slightly relieved face. How to put it, he is really a person not like a "clerk." There was no "scent of business" from start to finish. That, to me... is a truly preferable thing. Is that why?

Before I noticed, I had let slip more honest thoughts than necessary.

"Besides, I love people who can face what they 'like' seriously."

"Eh?"

...Seeing Banjō-san's blank reaction, I went blank too.

Then, a few seconds later... my cheeks began to heat up gradually. W-What am I saying? To a member of the opposite sex of the same age, face-to-face, boldly saying something like I love your personality...!

"Ah, no, wro— um."

I tried to course-correct in a panic. And at that instant, suddenly the bell at the shop entrance rang kara-kara. Someone seems to have visited.

"Ah, welco────oh, it's Takanashi-san."

Banjō-san changed his attitude blatantly upon seeing the visitor. I guess she is the other employee or something.

Looking, a cute high school girl with pink hair was puffing out her cheeks cutely.

"Ugh, total buzzkill. If you're gonna do it, keep up the customer service act to the end, Banjō. Like 'Welcome home, Master'."

"No, our shop isn't that kind of service style usually."

"Eh? I do it quite a bit. Just for the vibes."

"Please don't change our shop's genre on Takanashi-san's vibes... Wait, look, right now, a real customer is visiting."

Banjō-san looked toward me. Since I had already finished paying and was on the verge of leaving, there was no need to be introduced, but I bowed to her.

"I am Utamaru."

"Yikes, that's Shoten. Is your naming sense god-tier or what?"

(T/N: "That's Shoten," she's referring to the famous comedy program. The host for many years was Katsura Utamaru, which is why she makes the connection to Tsukino's alias "Utamaru.”)

The object of association was unexpectedly old-school. While I laughed vaguely, she came on strong.

"I'm Takanashi Mifuru. Nice to meet ya, Uta-chan."

"N-Nice to meet you, Takanashi-san."

"Wait, Uta-chan, sorry okay? I was late."

"Eh?"

"Cause like, because of that, I let a cute girl play alone with a Cheese Beef guy (Chi-gyu), right?"

"Who is a Cheese Beef guy, who."

"Then Banjō, what's your favorite menu item at Sukiya?"

"Cheese Beef Bowl."

"No, you're literally a Chi-gyu. Hilarious (Ukeru)."

"Don't find it hilarious. And wait, aren't you mistaken about who to apologize to for being late, you Gal?"

"Ah-, Banjō is noisy, creepy, hopeless."

"Hey, your retort is excessive self-defense."

W-What am I being shown right now? Even though it has only been about a minute since Takanashi-san appeared, the two are exchanging rapid-fire banter so much that I'm already full.

I floated a social smile, and while turning my body softly toward the exit, I announced.

"W-Well then, I will take my leave..."

Then, Banjō-san came to see me off, looking a little flustered.

"U-Um, there are many other fun board games besides what we played today, so if you are interested, um, I would be happy if you visited again casually!"

"Y-Yes. When I have time and money to spare, at that time, by all means..."

Since my financial situation practically prevents frequent visits, I tried to leave while muddying the waters vaguely like that.

However, disregarding even such a flow of leaving with her free-spiritedness, Takanashi-san casually threw out a further topic.

"So, what did Banjō and Uta-chan play today, and who won how many times?"

"Eh? Ah, no, that is..."

At that question, Banjō-san looked awkward. I sighed once, floated a business smile, and answered her.

"It is embarrassing to say, but we played about five games, and it was my total defeat. Now, I will take my lea—"

"Eh, for real? That's hilarious. Isn't Uta-chan too much of a noob? lol"

"...Excuse me?"

And there, inevitably, I stopped my movement to leave.

"W-Wait, Takanashi-san!"

Banjō-san, noticing my annoyed appearance, tried to stop her, but Takanashi-san continued without caring at all.

"No, cause like, Banjō is super weak at board games, right? To lose in a row to him lol"

"Eh? Weak? Banjō-san is?"

That is a story I cannot ignore. I looked at him blankly. After glaring at Takanashi-san looking very dissatisfied, he explained to me mixed with a sigh.

"Well, against her—against Takanashi-san, certainly my winning rate is low."

"Heheh."

Takanashi-san puffed out her chest. But immediately Banjō-san continued with an annotation.

"But that's because I basically go easy on her. Or rather, listen to this, Utamaru-san. This person, unlike you, actually gets angry if I play seriously."

Perhaps gaining momentum from talking that far, Banjō-san entered complaint mode.

"Moreover, this person abuses 'Ah, Wait! ,' you know! But well, since she's a beginner, everyone lets it slide thinking it can't be helped, then suddenly she hits us with idiotic dice luck! So it's not actually that I am weak..."

(T/N: In the board game section, "Wait!" is used for taking back a move. In English board game communities, this is often called an "Undo" or a "Take-back."

"Ahaha, the trash otaku's excuses are painful! Ah, sorry, Uta-chan was the weaker one, right? lol"

Hilarious, Takanashi-san continued to laugh loudly geragera. ............

While receiving that ridicule, I opened the door of the shop with a look saying it was unbearable to listen to.

"Ah, Utamaru-san! I-I'm sorry, Takanashi-san is...!"

"Huh, Uta-chan is going home already? I wanted to play about one game together too."

To me trying to leave, Banjō-san offered an apology, and Takanashi-san threw out further naturally provocative lines.

Toward those two—I looked back with my best "artificial smile."

And before I knew it, I had spat out a line disregarding my own financial circumstances.

"Then, it would be Chōjō if you could grant me a match at this time 'tomorrow' again—both of you."

＊

To give you the conclusion first: for the next three weeks or so, I continued to suffer a streak of consecutive losses against these two.

It goes without saying that I would lose "normally" to Banjō-san, as I did the first time. But on top of that, Takanashi Mifuru-san was, without a doubt, a natural enemy for me.

Just as Banjō-san testified, she really does pummel you with "Wait!" requests and sheer "Luck." This strength operates on a concept that simply doesn't exist in Shogi, leaving me helpless. And given my personality, I couldn't exactly pull a "Wait, wait!" in return.

Furthermore, while I requested "No going easy" from Banjō-san, Takanashi-san forced the exact opposite—"No getting serious"—upon him. As a result, Banjō-san turned into a "Gal's Familiar," adopting a playstyle where he supported Takanashi-san and attacked only me.

Naturally, in a three-player game, this meant Takanashi-san was practically unrivaled.

Strange as it may seem, however, this wasn't unpleasant at all. In fact, if we focus purely on the "fun of the game," one could even say it was better having Takanashi-san at the table.

How should I put it? Her personality is suited for "play" down to her very roots. She rejoices when she wins, sulks when she loses, and makes a lively clamor during the game. truly, she is the polar opposite of me. That is precisely why she was the perfect opponent for a "change of pace from Shogi."

On the other hand, I also loved the two-player matches with Banjō-san, like the one on my first day.

Spending a peaceful afternoon on a holiday, sipping delicious tea, facing him across the board, and engaging calmly in intellectual games... For me, this time was a "treasure," reminiscent of when I first started learning Shogi.

...Well, that includes the part where I eventually lose and feel frustrated from the bottom of my heart.

No, technically, thanks to the whims of luck, there were rare occasions where I did manage to secure a victory.

Naturally, in those moments of triumph, my spirits would soar. I’d head home feeling incredibly good, thinking, Today I am fully satisfied. I won't visit the board game cafe for a while.

But at night, while soaking slowly in the bath, Banjō-san's face would somehow drift into my mind like steam. And from there, the feeling would shift to: "Somehow, I feel it is difficult to call that a complete victory."

Those who place themselves in the world of "pros"—not just in Shogi—tend to prioritize "winning percentage" over the long term above all else. Of course, I am one of them.

In that sense, simply "winning by chance" against Banjō-san did not mean my skill had truly surpassed his. That was my view.

As a result, by the time I rose from the bathtub with a splash, the flames of a new fighting spirit towards the next victory were already blazing in my chest.

Consequently, I would show my face at the board game cafe the very next day, get beaten black and blue as a matter of course, and then fire up my competitive spirit for victory once more... I had fallen completely into a negative loop.

My visits to the board game cafe had become a complete habit.

And so, during payment one day, a remark that struck a critical weakness came out of nowhere.

"Say, Uta-chan, are you actually a pro at something or what?"

"Eh—?"

In that instant, I inadvertently let the blood drain from my face. For a moment, I thought my identity as the female Shogi player Utakata Tsukino had been exposed. However, it seemed Takanashi-san's intention was something else entirely.

"I mean, I know it's weird for a clerk to say this, but you spend a crazy amount here, don't you? Uta-chan, you're here like, four times a week. So I figured you must be someone with some serious income."

"Ah, is that what you meant?"

It seems I haven't been outed as the Shogi player Utakata Tsukino, but she is sharp. This person is, in fact, someone I cannot let my guard down around in many ways. Just the other day, she suddenly tried to take off my disguise hat, saying, "Uta-chan, wouldn't you be cuter without that?" ...Truly, she is unreadable.

I decided to dodge the issue of my expenses with a vague excuse.

"Um, putting aside whether I am a pro or not, I simply work a well-paying part-time job."

However, this excuse turned out to be a bad move in a different sense. The moment I said "well-paying part-time job," Takanashi-san's eyes sparkled, and she bit.

"Wait, fr?! What is it? Hook me up—"

But then, Banjō-san, who seemed to have been listening to the conversation nearby, reported towards the back of the store with a flat tone.

"Store Manageeer—, it looks like Takanashi-san wants to quit her job heeeere."

"Wait, hey, Banjō! Jk, jk! Manager! I loooove this store—"

Takanashi-san noisily retreated into the back of the register area. This is chōjō—most excellent. I finished my payment and escaped the situation by quietly leaving the store.

After walking for a while after leaving the shop, I checked the electronic money balance on my smartphone and let out a deep sigh.

In reality, her observation had struck a truly painful spot.

Since my earnings as a female Shogi player are managed by my parents, and my personal wallet situation is merely that of an average high school girl, the expense of visiting a board game cafe four times a week is brutal. Too brutal. Currently, I am in a situation where I am fiercely chipping away at the pocket money I have saved up until now.

Furthermore, as a female Shogi player, the waste of time is nothing to sneeze at either. You could say I am cutting into the time I should originally be dedicating to Shogi study.

However, regarding this point, it isn't much of a problem yet—or rather, it would be safe to say it is acting positively for me at the moment.

Perhaps this is due to the keen eye of Mari-san, my aunt and master. Thanks to visiting the board game cafe and learning "play," my recent performance in Shogi has been excellent. Some online articles have even gone so far as to write that I have "completely regained my form."

Honestly, regarding this, even I do not fully understand "what exactly acted on what." However, it is a fact that my mental condition is better than before.

The time I used to spend in agonizing anguish over my Shogi slump with no answers has now been replaced with time spent worrying, "Setting aside the absurdly anomaly that is Takanashi-san, how shall I win against Banjō-san?"

It is the same in that I am burning with an obsession for victory, but why is it? The prospect of playing—no, hanging out with Banjō-san comes with "excitement"; it warms my chest, and I sleep well. Even my mother was relieved, saying, "You look healthy lately." Truly chōjō.

In other words, my visits to the board game cafe currently have only merits, even for my main profession.

...Except for the financial aspect.

"(What should I do...)"

Normally, one would think it better to explain the situation to my parents and beg for an increase in allowance, but in my family's case, that is absolutely impossible. Because...

"(My parents are allergic to 'games' to a surprising degree.)"

Neither of them is a bad parent by any means, but when it comes to "games"—whether digital or analog—they have a tendency to extremely restrict supply to me. This tendency is particularly strong in my mother.

The reason for this is, well, an incident regarding "Shogi" that happened long ago between my mother and her younger sister—Mari-san.

In her childhood, my mother attended a neighborhood Shogi class. With her innate seriousness, she improved her skills rapidly, and within a year, she was seen as a promising candidate for success as a professional player.

However, one day, Mari-san, who started attending the Shogi class on a whim because "there aren't any interesting games lately and I'm bored," achieved a complete victory over her older sister—on merely her third day.

And that miserable defeat naturally broke my mother's passion for Shogi... nay, it completely severed her interest in anything called a "game."

Since then, my mother completely quit Shogi. Meanwhile, the free-spirited Mari-san pushed forward with the tension of "Shogi is pretty interesting, isn't it?" and even reached the level of a professional female player.

............

Yeah, anyone would come to hate games after that.

Though it is my own mother's episode, it is a story that makes me cry no matter how many times I hear it. What is especially tear-jerking is that, despite everything, my mother continued to enthusiastically support Mari-san's career as a female Shogi player, and even now, she supports my life as a Shogi player to the fullest. She is too good of a person.

Especially when I was a child and became interested in Shogi "admiring my aunt," she went out of her way to purchase the board game "Dobutsu Shogi" (Let's Catch the Lion) and played "happily" with me.

...Although my young self at the time had no way of knowing my mother's background circumstances, what a cruel thing I did. Honestly, I still regret it. I mean, consider my mother's love, playing Shogi with her child with nothing but a smile, never letting a hint of that tragic background show. Talk about being a "good person."

But that is precisely why. I want to respect my mother's current stance of wanting to keep a distance from games and "play" in general as much as possible.

So no matter how financially strapped I am—

"Yo, Mom. I'm gonna be hitting up the board game cafe to play around, so gimme some cash."

—There is no way I can say that! What kind of unfilial daughter is that?! That's too devilish!

Therefore, explaining the situation to my parents and begging for pocket money is completely rejected.

That leaves secretly working a part-time job, but...

"(Just where do I intend to squeeze out the time?)"

I am already cutting into my Shogi time to visit the board game cafe. Layering labor hours from a part-time job on top of that would indeed be impossible.

Suddenly, Takanashi-san's earlier remark crosses my mind.

"A well-paying part-time job... huh."

If such a thing existed, I'm the one who would want to know about it.

Almost no binding hours, yet high pay, and no risk of my identity as a Shogi player being exposed.

Just as I was thinking about whether such a convenient job existed—my smartphone vibrated in my hand. Checking it, rarely enough, it was a call from my master—Mari-san.

"Yes, hello?"

<Ah, Tsuku-chan? It's me. Have you thought about what we talked about the other day?>

"? The other day? Um, what was it again? Ah, the advice about me lacking 'playfulness'?"

<No, not that. I mean, regarding that, you've been doing pretty good lately, Tsuku-chan. Like your style of play has become more flexible.>

"Oh, thank you very much. That is correct; thanks to you, Master, I have found some good 'play'..."

<That's great. But the main topic for today isn't that. It's the other matter.>

"The other matter? Um, was there something else?"

I feel like the only thing I talked about with Mari-san the other day was "play."

Seeing that it wasn't ringing a bell, my master continued in an exasperated tone.

"An invitation at parting? Um..."

Being told that, I finally remembered vaguely. That's right, if I recall, she grabbed my hand at that time and proposed something strange. Back then, I was interested in nothing but advice on "play," so I let it slide. If I recall, that was...

As if to support my recollection, Mari-san made a dramatic checkmate move, worthy of her days as a female Shogi player, at this devilish timing.

<Say, Tsuku-chan. Are you interested in a well-paying part-time job?>

＊

The next day. When I went to the location designated by Mari-san, it was such an unexpected place that I inadvertently let my mouth hang open.

"This is..."

It was in my local area, Ogikubo, in the very same multi-tenant building I've been frequenting lately—the one housing the board game cafe "Kurumaza" on the fourth floor.

I checked the map app on my smartphone again just in case, but there was no mistake. This is it.

Ogikubo Interaction Building, 5th Floor.

"(To think Mari-san's company was on the floor above Kurumaza...)"

Both my mother and I only grasped that Mari-san's current job was "being a president" and "being kinda busy," but to think she had an office so close to our home.

After thinking for a moment, I decided to take the elevator to the fifth floor today. For some reason, I felt a little hesitant to pass in front of "Kurumaza's" entrance on the stairs to get to the fifth floor. Not that I'm doing anything wrong, though.

Getting off the elevator and looking around, unlike the fourth floor where Kurumaza used the entire floor, the fifth floor seemed to be composed of about three rooms.

A tax accountant's office, a detective agency. And—the company that is my objective today.

The staffing agency, Roll Worker.

Standing before the inorganic door with the company name written in a simple font, I regulated my breathing.

...I wonder why; despite being in the same building, it was a world of difference from Kurumaza's pop atmosphere. Well, if anything, Kurumaza is probably the outlier. I feel like Takanashi-san mentioned she decorated it on her own accord.

I pressed the intercom installed by the door. Immediately, a voice echoed directly from inside the room.

"Yes, yes, it's oooopen."

"Excuse me."

With a mix of tension, I opened the door and entered. It was exactly the interior of a small-scale office in a multi-tenant building. In the center of the room, there was a long table seemingly for both business and reception, along with about four desk chairs. Further back, a business desk, presumably for the president, was positioned. Mari-san was seated there now. Incidentally, there were no other employees to be seen at present.

Noticing me, Mari-san poked her face out from the side of the computer monitor and flashed a friendly smile.

"Welcome, Tsuku-chan."

"Yes, Master."

"It's Mari-san. Ah, or perhaps, 'President' while we're here."

Saying that, Mari-san stood up and walked toward me. I murmured softly while looking around the room.

"President..."

"Yep, President. How is it, my company?"

"No, well, even if you ask 'how is it'..."

Honestly, it wasn't magnificent, nor were there any conspicuous points to retort to. I'm troubled when asked for an impression, but strictly speaking, there was one place that caught my eye.

"Um, what is that...?"

From the office entrance, the corner deep on the right side was blue. Um, did they call it a blue screen? In front of that wall was what appeared to be photography equipment, and furthermore, there was even a changing box like a fitting room in a clothing store. It gave the impression of taking up quite a bit of space for a small office of this type.

Mari-san responded to my question.

"Ah, that's for profile pictures, or sometimes shooting videos."

"Photos and videos...?"

I instinctively gulped. ...Because I had often heard my mother say, "I'm worried Marisa seems to be doing some shady work."

And now that I've come here, I can't help but think those worries were right on the mark.

A suspicious office in a multi-tenant building. A job she doesn't want to talk about. Invisible employees. A mysterious shooting booth. The tagline "Staffing Agency" which sounds all too convenient, and...

"(When I met her the other day, she was acting awfully close with a blonde boy, wasn't she, Mari-san...)"

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes and stare at Mari-san intensely.

"(Maybe it was hasty to come here lured by the words 'well-paying part-time job'.)"

I'm regretting it already. ...Yeah, for today, I should handle this vaguely and go home.

As I decided that and looked at Mari-san, she seemed to have read all my thoughts and was grinning.

"Tsuku-chan, you're suspecting my job is something shady, aren't you?"

"Ugh. N-No such thing..."

Having hit the bullseye, I averted my eyes. However, Mari-san laughed heartily and followed up with unexpected words.

"You're right. It's gray enough that I can't tell my big sister."

"Eh?"

"However."

Mari-san gave me a light wink.

"I don't intend for it to be a rotten job to the point I can't face you or the sun above."

"Mari-san..."

At my aunt's usual attitude, I stroked my chest in relief. That's right. She's been this kind of person since forever. While she is certainly the free-spirited type, she is a person who properly guards the important lines. That is why both my mother and I have stayed close to her.

Smiling with relief, I asked Mari-san.

"So, what exactly is Mari-san's job...?"

"Ah, yeah, about that. Well, simply put..."

She announced it with a smile, proudly, without shame.

"It's a youth lending business!"

"Ah, I need to stop by the police box before going home today."

"Wait wait wait wait."

The aunt desperately stopping her niece who was immediately attempting to run to the police.

As I looked down at her with a cold gaze completely devoid of familial love, my master—no, Marisa Tatsumi (29)—offered a defense with teary eyes.

"No, no! It's not like I'm breaking the law or anything!"

"I see. A job that skillfully slips through the loopholes of the law, then. As expected of Master. How clever."

"Phrasing! It-it's not that... Ah, jeez! Look, look at this."

Master ruffled her hair messily, then suddenly turned on the TV installed on the wall for some reason. Then, she played footage that appeared to have been recorded on a hard disk recorder.

What was displayed there was a mundane street interview scene. ...Ah, no, it was somewhat unusual. The person being interviewed was a high school boy, but how should I put it? He was an eccentric, and his remarks were amusing one after another. The celebrities in the studio shown in the corner wipe were laughing uproariously. It seemed to be part of a variety show segment.

After watching it for a while, I gasped and asked.

"Ah, could it be, this high school student is..."

"Yup, a kid dispatched from our agency."

"Ah, so 'youth lending business' means that sort of..."

Seeing that I somewhat understood, Mari-san turned off the TV. While apologizing for the misunderstanding, I continued, thinking, if that's the case...

"Basically, it's an entertainment agency or an extra dispatch company, right? If so, you should have just..."

"Ah, well, that's the slightly gray part of our business."

Mari-san scratched her head awkwardly.

"I think you'd understand if you saw that street interview just now, but openly proclaiming that to be an 'extra' or an 'actor' is a bit of a no-no."

"Haa, true. That was presented as a boy interviewed by chance on the street."

"Exactly. But the talk content itself wasn't really a lie. The dispatched boy really has that personality and those episodes. There are no lies there. Just, well..."

"Only the 'by chance on the street' part is a bright red lie."

"Thaaaaat's right."

Mari-san smiled bitterly. ...I see. Even if it doesn't break the law, it certainly is a job that's hard to tell my naturally serious mother about.

Mari-san narrated further details.

"Aside from that, we dispatch personnel to pad numbers at events or autograph sessions, undertake simple flash mobs, or have someone accompany a client to a restaurant that requires two people for a reservation..."

"Ah... that certainly is 'Personnel Dispatch.' A bit gray, though. But..."

There, I suddenly recalled Master's Shogi style and chuckled.

"It's very like you, Master. Bold and eccentric usage of pieces was your characteristic, after all."

"Thanks, Tsuku-chan. Ah, but keep it a secret from Big Sis, okay?"

"Fufu, I understand."

Well, while there are indeed slightly gray parts, it doesn't seem to be an antisocial job.

Having deepened my understanding of Mari-san's job, I decided to ask again.

"So Mari-san, the part-time job you want to ask me to do is?"

"Right, right, about that. It's a job that pays well and is super simple, perfect for you who has no time, Tsuku-chan."

"Hee, that is chōjō. I was actually just looking for that kind of work."

"Fufu, then that's good. So. The job I want to ask you to do, Tsuku-chan, is..."

"Yes."

"Rental Boyfriend."

"Ah, I'll stop by Bunshun Weekly before going home."

"Wait wait wait! In a sense, wait even more than the police box!"

"Isn't the shadiness of my job suddenly skyrocketing alone?!"

"No, no! Even if I say Rental Boyfriend, it's that, you know? Not the sexual kind!"

"Obviously! Even with that understood, I am still saying NO!"

"Why?"

"Why, you ask...!"

............ ...H-huh? Why is that?

Master didn't miss my momentary hesitation and thrust accurately.

"I said 'Rental Boyfriend' for convenience earlier, but what we undertake is a little different from what the general public imagines."

"...What do you mean?"

"What you're imagining, Tsuku-chan, is like, going on a date together for a day, the customer enjoying a pseudo-romance and paying money... basically like 'Papa-katsu' (Sugar Dating), right?"

"Well... yes. You're saying yours is different?"

"Right. It's the same as the interview or event/autograph session stuff. What we undertake is not pseudo-romance, but purely a boyfriend as a 'shill.' In other words..."

Mari-san paused for a beat, then passionately explained the definition of "Rental Boyfriend" here.

"It's a Rental Boyfriend for 'Mounting' surroundings, with the objective of being 'Anti-Others'!"

"Is that really something to say so proudly?!"

At my retort, Mari-san shrugged her shoulders in a "good grief" manner and let out a pensive sigh.

"Tsuku-chan. There is always a timing in people's lives when a wonderful partner setting becomes necessary."

"W-What is this unprecedented persuasiveness?"

Master cleared her throat with a kohon and continued.

"So that's why, it's a job without as many shady elements as the literal words suggest. Indeed, the main activity is often providing material for SNS."

"Ah, like posting date photos?"

"Yup. Basically a 'Boyfriend Role Extra.' Naturally, there's no sexual contact. I mean, we do thorough background checks first, and if you go far, we collaborate with the detective agency next door to even set up lookouts. By the way, the hours and fees look like this."

Saying that, Mari-san showed me numbers on her smartphone. ...!

"Th-This is, quite chōjō, or rather..."

My eyes inadvertently turned into money signs. That certainly was a "well-paying job." You could call it exceptional. Moreover, if it's just to the extent of taking photos, the binding hours seem minimal.

As I began to consider it, Mari-san added supplementary explanations.

"Recently, one kid who mainly undertook this Rental Boyfriend business left the agency. But demand for it is actually quite high, or rather, it was one of our signature services that also doubled as sales promotion, so I want to replenish it ASAP. Even if I have to add a little extra to the wage or hours, you know."

"I see, so that's why these conditions are chōjō..."

"Yup. And since the business is what it is, a stage name hiding your identity is OK."

It really is perfect for the current me. I inadvertently wavered, but there was still a problem.

"Ah, but Mari-san. This is 'Rental Boyfriend', right? Not 'Girlfriend'?"

"Isn't that obvious? I wouldn't lend out my cute niece to some strange man."

No, well, you are trying to lend me out to strange women... But that's not the point.

"You're telling me to act the role of a male?"

Certainly, a role completely removed from the original "Utakata Tsukino" would be easier for me to move in, but...

"Yes. It'll be fine, Tsuku-chan. You're a beauty, but at the same time, you have handsome features."

Is that something to be happy about? As I worried, Mari-san continued.

"Besides, look, you're good at disguises, right Tsuku-chan?"

"Eh? No, I wouldn't say good, more like I tend to take on the color with just a little tweaking. Especially with my hair; just tying it up changes my physiognomy blatantly."

The fact that I haven't been exposed as "Utakata Tsukino" at the board game cafe yet is proof of that. And...

"Right! That's the most important part! Ah, wait a sec!"

Mari-san suddenly stomped toward the back of the office with rough breathing, and a few seconds later, she returned holding something in her hand.

"This, this! I bought it for the predecessor, but it's the one that ended up unused."

"Haa, a blonde wig... is it?"

I muttered while inadvertently accepting it in the flow. Since Mari-san was implicitly urging me to "wear it," I reluctantly went to the front of the full-length mirror on the side and began putting it on.

During the process, Mari-san continued fluently.

"The predecessor kid dyed his hair on his own because he said it was a hassle. He liked it himself, so that was fine, but this wig was going to waste unused, so it's perfect."

"Haa... a blonde predecessor..."

...Come to think of it, when I met Mari-san last time, I feel like I witnessed her meeting up with a blonde boy. If that was the "predecessor," will my part-time job be inheriting his role—and even his stage name? If so, back then, I believe...

"Oh my, isn't that nice."

While I was thinking that, I had finished putting on the wig before I knew it.

Looking at the full-length mirror in front of me, a handsome blonde youth was reflected there.

I couldn't help but be impressed myself by the sheer degree of transformation, the utter likeness of a different person.

"Wa... amazing. This is, m—"

"Ah, wouldn't 'Ore' be more like it there? For the first-person pronoun."

Indeed. I cleared my throat once, lowered my voice a tone, and tried saying it.

"...This is, Ore (Me)?"

"Excellent!"

Mari-san clapped her hands, pachi pachi. Though I thought it was a bit exaggerated, honestly, I wasn't displeased myself. I was originally a human who tended to take on the color depending on the hairstyle, but wearing a wig like this seemed to easily switch even my consciousness to a different person setting, giving me a mysterious thrill.

Mari-san continued her evaluation entrancingly.

"Just as I thought. Tsuku-chan, cross-dressing suits you too well. With this, you're an immediate asset. Right!"

Saying that, Mari-san slapped my back grandly with a bam, and without even hearing my reply, she concluded the part-time job contract.

"Well then, I'm counting on you. Our company's signature Rental Boyfriend—"

And thus, the president of this staffing agency gave "that name," which I had heard only once before, to me, who had now completely transformed into a handsome blonde youth with a sharp look.

"—'Usa Itsuki'-kun."