Chapter 1: A First-Class Method

Monday morning. I walked toward school, my life feeling as mundane as ever.

I was still feeling the fatigue from the tournament, but more than that, I felt a massive sense of accomplishment.

"U-Um... Good morning, Mikado-senpai."

I heard Raizaki Natsu’s voice from behind and turned around. There she was, looking absolutely battered, greeting me with a pale face and slumped shoulders.

"Oh, morning. Good for you, actually making it to school."

"Well... I did promise..."

Since we won the Yellow dragon tournament, we’d secured our spot in the Prefecturals and taken the title of West District Champions.

After the win, Takebayashi Tsutomu-senpai had given us a speech.

'The Prefecturals are going to require even more trust than before! So, until then, we need to deepen our bonds and fight as one!'

It was a bit heavy on the "guts and spirit" side of things, but Takebayashi-senpai had made it our first mission to get the shogi club members to actually get along.

Naturally, that meant Natsu’s truancy was off the table. Takebayashi-senpai had been very firm about her at least showing her face at school. That’s why she was here so early.

"You seem pretty low energy. Are you okay?"

"A-Ah, yes... Um, I’m always like this in the morning... plus I have a headache..."

Natsu forced a smile, trying to hide her obvious discomfort.

Was it the result of too much concentration, or just plain old exhaustion? Well, considering the sheer level of focus she'd been unleashing during the latter half of the tournament, it was no wonder her head hurt.

I had a bit of a headache myself, actually.

"Man... you were like a witch back then, Natsu. Your intensity was incredible."

"Augh... that's embarrassing. Please forget about that."

"Why? You looked cool."

When I said that, Natsu’s face turned bright red and she looked away.

"...T-Thank you..." she murmured in a voice so quiet it almost vanished.

During the tournament, I’d tried to clear my mind and not focus on it, but looking at Natsu in her school uniform now... she really was as beautiful as a doll.

I shouldn't judge people based on their looks, but she was so charming that it felt like a waste for her to be a shut-in.

"...Oh, right. The Yellow dragon tournament's individual matches are today, aren't they?"

"Yes. It sounds like Tojo Mika-senpai is competing."

It was Monday, but the regional Yellow dragon tournament was still ongoing. Sunday was for the team matches, and Monday was for individuals.

Mika was representing Westgasaki High alone in the individual bracket. I was jealous that she got a legitimate excuse to skip school, but being all alone in that fight must be lonely in its own way.

Especially right after the team matches.

"We couldn't enter this time, but since we won the team tournament, we'll be able to participate in the next individual matches."

"Do you plan on entering if there's another one, Natsu?"

"Of course. Thanks to you, Senpai, I managed to break through my wall. I want to see how far I can go now."

That was Natsu for you—high aspirations and a huge capacity for growth. I couldn't afford to slack off either.

"...Excuse me. I’m going to go buy some headache medicine at the convenience store. See you later."

"Are you sure you're okay? If it's really bad, you should just rest..."

"No. I’ve spent my whole life making excuses and resting. This time, I’m going to be stubborn and stay."

What a spine. Natsu had a surprisingly headstrong side to her.

"All right. See you later then."

"Yes!"

With that, I parted ways with Natsu and headed toward school.

◇

After parting with Mikado-senpai in front of the school, I didn't head to the convenience store. Instead, I sat down on a nearby bench.

I pulled out my phone and instinctively started an online shogi match.

(...I just wanted to walk to school with him. If I said that out loud, he’d probably be mad at me.)

My headache was real, and I really did intend to go to school afterward.

But I’d already started a match out of habit.

(Oh, a 6-Dan... I would have struggled against this person before.)

My opponent was a high-ranked player, just like me.

The 5-Dan to 7-Dan range was often called the 'Devil’s Den.' It was packed with "information junkies"—players who utilized the latest strategies and tactics.

Aside from the monsters at 8-Dan and above, this was the hardest wall to climb. In fact, I’d been stuck at 7-Dan for a long time.

—But things had changed for me.

At yesterday's regional tournament, Mikado-senpai had given me the push I needed to break out of my shell.

That sensation of drowning in razor-sharp thought, that omnipotent feeling of reading moves unconsciously... it was still lingering in my body even today.

To the current me, a high-ranked player wasn't scary at all.

Ten moves, twenty, thirty. With every move, the precision of my play increased. It felt wonderful. I could feel my skill level rising, a growth I usually couldn't perceive.

I don't know how much time passed.

Before I knew it, the word 'VICTOR' was displayed on my screen.

"—You’re strong, aren't you?"

"Eeeek!?"

My back went rigid. The sudden voice from behind made me nearly drop my phone.

I turned around to see a young woman. She looked a little older than me, but probably not yet twenty. She had striking white hair.

She was leaning against the back of the bench, sliding closer as she peered at my phone.

She might have been watching the whole match.

"Oh, I’m sorry. Did I startle you?"

"W-Who are you...?"

"Just a lady passing through."

"..."

She was a bit too baby-faced to be called seductive, but far too 'enchanting' to be called childish. The self-proclaimed "lady passing through" gave me a gentle smile and leaned her face closer to mine.

As I caught a glimpse of her eyes through her shimmering white bangs, I gasped.

(Wait, heterochromia...?)

One eye was a dark crimson that felt like it could drag you into an abyss; the other was a beautiful silver that held no spark of emotion. The colors that made her up were as vivid and striking as a field of poisonous flowers.

"Oh, Bishop Exchange? How very modern."

The woman sat down on the bench beside me and let her gaze drift to my screen.

Then, she pointed at the screen with her gloved hand.

"The Knight jump was the key."

"...You can tell?"

"Yes. Once the Silver retreated, you used the edge to start the fight all at once. That feels pretty great, doesn't it? When that Bishop you couldn't use suddenly starts working."

My eyes lit up at her words.

Research was something that no one was supposed to understand. It was something you kept to yourself. Your opponent was always an enemy, and there was never anyone standing by to praise your moves.

And yet, she had understood it at a single glance.

"Is the Bishop Exchange your specialty too?"

"Hmm."

When I asked, she placed a finger on her chin, appearing to search through her memories.

Then, as if she'd finally remembered, she tilted her head slightly.

"I don't think I've ever played it."

"...Huh?"

I didn't understand.

"But just now, you sounded like you knew exactly how it felt..."

"I just remembered an acquaintance who played it. I don't really understand shogi that well."

I was stunned. "Wait, you don't play?"

"I play. I just don't understand it very well. Just like you."

Her tone shifted, and her words became suddenly provocative. Even so, I could tell she was just a beginner.

And so, a thought popped into my head and out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"...Heh. Is that so?"

—Oh, why didn't I notice it then? Why didn't I realize how 'unnatural' it was that I was talking to her so 'naturally'?

I reached out my hand toward the poisonous flower—

"Then, would you like to play a game with me?"

"...With you? Me?"

"Yes. Oh, I’ll set up a room that doesn't require an account. If you have a phone, we can start right now."

The woman seemed to consider it for a moment.

"And besides... if you play with me, you might understand shogi a little better, don't you think?" I said with a smile.

I wasn't angry. I just wanted to correct her since she seemed to think I didn't understand shogi.

"I see. Then I suppose I'll accept your offer for one game."

The woman’s lips curled into a smile. In the blink of an eye, she had her own phone in hand—heaven knows where she pulled it from—and our match began.

◇

—The regional Yellow dragon tournament wasn't over.

Even if the heat of the team matches had cooled, there was something unsatisfying about a main course without dessert.

Or perhaps, this was the real main course.

"I resign..."

"Thank you for the game."

Day two of the Yellow Dragon West District Regional Tournament. This new festival, held after the storm of the team competition, was the 'Individual Tournament.'

Because the Yellow Dragon was unusual for accepting team entries, most participants had signed up as part of a team.

However, in the world of amateur shogi, it was all about the individuals. In tournaments like the Amateur Ryu-oh or Amateur Meijin, the ones who fought to reach the level of pros were always those in a 'last man standing' scenario.

The Yellow Dragon was no exception.

Many believed the true 'King of the West' wasn't decided in the team matches.

A total of forty players. In a venue packed to capacity, they fought to decide the representative for the 'Sun-Drenched Whirlwind.'

"I-I resign."

"Thank you for the game."

One by one, players were eliminated, and gaps began to appear in the crowd.

Among them, one player was racking up an overwhelming number of wins.

"She won again...?"

"She's way too strong..."

Despite being a girl, she was crushing adults one after another with the momentum of someone far beyond high school level.

Focused, never letting her guard down, she radiated a heat so intense even her sweat seemed beautiful as she secured victory after victory. She was a true powerhouse.

The name of the girl, the sole representative of Westgasaki High, was Tojo Mika.

Her rise was too steady to be called a 'new star,' yet too fresh to be called a 'reigning queen.'

Tenryu Kazuki was gone. So were Maicho Reina and Seiya Narita. In an Yellow Dragon West District bracket where the top seats had been vacated, it was only natural for Mika to dominate.

(And here I was looking forward to a rematch, but none of the finalists from the other day are even here.)

Mika regretted losing the chance for a do-over.

There were no enemies left. Not the Westgasaki members like Natsu or Aoi, and certainly not the 'Emperor of Self-Destruction' himself, Watanabe Mikado.

To the Mika who had survived that fierce team battle, the 'heat' of this tournament wasn't even reaching her chest.

"You look quite confident."

"...Does it show?"

The man sitting across from Mika placed his pieces with a relaxed smile.

It was the finals. Until now, the spectators had known who would win, but now everyone held their breath.

Her opponent was someone who had beaten Mika before. To be precise, back in middle school, Mika had lost to him in a come-from-behind defeat after a careless mistake ruined her overwhelming advantage.

"I'm sorry, Tojo-san. I'm not strong enough to hold back against you, so I’ll be striking your weaknesses aggressively."

Weaknesses—yes, Mika had a clear weakness.

A rigid, orthodox style that was far removed from modern shogi. It wasn't like Takebayashi Tsutomu’s 'Sturdy Shield'; it was just a shogi that prioritized stability above all else.

Therefore, it was easy to counter and the procedures for doing so were simple.

Mika didn't have any variety. No matter the match, no matter the opponent, she played the same orthodox lines.

While Mika believed that very consistency was her strength, the reality of the competitive world proved that versatility was the key to victory.

The general consensus was that since their skill levels were similar, the man’s ability to exploit her weakness would give him the edge.

"Yes, please do. I’ve only just learned this myself, after all."

The moment the match began, Mika’s hand reached for a spot completely different from her usual starting point.

It wasn't a Pawn, or a Rook, or a Gold or Silver.

...It was a move that anyone who played online shogi would have seen at least once.

Mika... grabbed her King.

"—My hand might slip a little."

Mika returned a defiant smile to the bewildered man.

That move—the only person in the world allowed to play that move was him.

Running at full speed right next to death. No fear, no regret, stepping over everything as the King himself charges forward.

—The 'Self-Destruction Style.'

The top-ranked online player, the Emperor of Self-Destruction, had once answered the question of why he developed that tactic with a single sentence:

—'There is nothing more troublesome than a life that moves of its own accord.'

"...What?"

The man looked at the board as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

It wasn't a provocation, and it wasn't a joke. The shadow that overlapped with Mika’s hand was a sense of déjà vu the man couldn't ignore.

—Mika was using the 'Self-Destruction Style.'

◇

Raizaki Natsu’s evolution wouldn't stop. It couldn't stop.

The debt I owed to the boy who had saved me twice was already decided.

One day, I’ll beat him. One day, I’ll surpass him. Even if it was a lie, I had to keep telling myself that, or I wouldn't feel like I could walk a step further today than I did yesterday.

That’s why I was supposed to be much stronger now than I was during yesterday's tournament.

I was supposed to be pushing myself toward that growth.

"Eh...? ...What?"

It felt like my full heart had been forcibly swapped out for an empty vessel.

I was in shock.

No, shock didn't cover it. I couldn't even process the result I was looking at.

Did I die while I was sleeping? Did the world change in the blink of an eye? Or was this a painless poison?

By the time I realized 'it' was circulating through my whole body, we’d been trading small blows for about fifty moves.

But that bubble of interaction had slowly expanded in my throat, and the moment it went—pop—everything was over.

I didn't remember it well. ...I really didn't remember it well.

It was as if the impact was so great my memory had just deleted it. It should have been an unforgettable sight, yet I couldn't recall a single detail of the final position.

That was how overwhelming the gap was... I had been 'planted' with a defeat.

"W-Who are you? Who on earth are you!?"

Pale-faced, I scrambled back, putting distance between myself and the woman.

The word 'strong' has different levels. If you struggle against someone, you think they're strong. If you lose without being able to do anything, you think they're strong.

But the person I just fought didn't fit into those categories.

Had I even been playing shogi just now?

"Mmm~! That was a wonderful flavor. Your moves are lovely."

As if she’d literally eaten my playstyle, the woman lightly licked her lips in satisfaction.

"And I can feel the pure dedication in every little detail. You might be just my type."

"I-I didn't ask for that! Answer me! Are you really an amateur...!?"

A talent that couldn't possibly fit within the bounds of a mere 'hobby,' a threat that felt like even the word 'pro' was an insult—

The woman gave me a quiet smile in the face of my desperation.

"Ah, that's right... I suppose I haven't introduced myself properly yet."

Suddenly, I felt a wall being erected—one so solid it was hard to believe it came from that same smile. I let out a small whimper.

The distance between us, which had been so close just a moment ago, had turned into a personal space so fortress-like that I felt I must never step into it.

I felt something between us. A 'past' I hadn't even touched stoked my fear further.

I’d seen her somewhere before.

I usually only care about myself. I don't care about the shogi world, I don't watch tournaments or title matches. But even so, there was a sense of déjà vu in the back of my mind.

"Let me tell you my name."

Countless flashes and shutter sounds echoed in my head. A girl with calm, serene eyes sitting there without shedding a single tear. Everyone looking at her with fear in their eyes.

The fragments of memory that raced through my mind like a funeral procession turned my blood to ice.

Back then, one of her eyes had been hidden by her bangs. It hadn't been this red.

I was standing in front of someone truly terrifying. I was facing an opponent who was truly 'something else.'

She stood up, looking down at me. And then—

"Nice to meet you."

The chirping of birds and the rustling of trees—everything vanished the moment she pressed a finger to her lips.

"My name is Mizuki Yumeno. I'm the weakest female pro."

It was the name of the female shogi player called the strongest in history.

◇

The day after a big event always feels like time is moving faster than usual. Maybe it’s just the lingering excitement.

It was already past 3:00 PM, and I was facing a lonely after-school afternoon.

I wondered if Natsu had made it to school okay. Her headache had looked pretty bad, but we weren't in the same grade, so I couldn't go check on her directly.

Actually, that was a lie. I was just too embarrassed to go see her. If it’s not my own territory, I’m just a timid loser. ...I need to get over that someday.

"Oh."

"Oh, hey."

I accidentally made eye contact with Sakuma Hayato as he was leaving. I gave him a nervous greeting.

Hayato shot me a glare before turning away toward the shoe lockers.

He’d hated me since the day I joined the club, and the tournament hadn't done anything to improve that relationship.

But I didn't mind it.

Liking or hating someone is a visceral reaction. Trying to force it is like trying to trick your own brain. Once you feel that way, it’s hard to change.

I followed after Hayato and stood in front of my own locker.

—There was a small, folded piece of paper inside.

A love letter in this day and age? No way life was that convenient. I picked up the paper and headed back toward the clubroom without even opening it.

—As I walked down the hall, with the shouts of the sports clubs echoing in the distance, I opened the paper with one hand and glanced at it.

‘Come to the clubroom after school. If you don't, I’ll tell everyone about your past and the Tennoji Dojo.’

I let out a heavy sigh as I walked. I was a little annoyed.

"...This is exactly why I didn't want to go public."

I reached the clubroom and opened the door without hesitation.

There were no club activities today. Since the tournament had just ended, Takebayashi-senpai had told everyone to take the day off and rest.

However, the lights in the clubroom were on.

As soon as I opened the door, a pink-haired girl came bouncing over.

"Good job today, Mikado-cchi!"

Aoi gave me her usual greeting. I paused for a beat before responding.

"...Good job, Aoi."

"Nyahaha! What’s with that face, Mikado-cchi? You’re totally stiff!"

"...Do I look that way?"

"You do! You look soooooo nervous! Did something scary happen? Aoi will listen to your troubles anytime!"

Aoi flitted around me, her expression changing a thousand times a minute.

This was the Aoi I knew. The one I’d met for the first time. For some reason, this didn't feel like an 'act' to me.

"...If you don't have anything else, can I go?"

"Wait."

Aoi stopped me as I turned my back.

"...I played around too much. Let’s get to the point."

This time, Aoi’s tone was completely different. The mocking curl of her lips contrasted with a distorted expression that felt like she was putting on a performance. It was grating.

Her eyes looked like she was terrified of something; as an attempt at intimidation, her emotions were all over the place.

Hey, Aoi. Is that really the face of someone who’s about to blackmail someone?

"I'll get straight to the point—Senpai, I want you to quit the shogi club right now."

Aoi said it in a quiet, restrained voice.

I wondered what she was after, and it turned out she just wanted me to quit. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded considering it.

I haven't staked my life on this club, and quitting wouldn't mean I’d stop being friends with Mika or Natsu.

If we could settle this without fighting, that was one way to handle it.

But it’s not in my nature to let a piece be taken for free.

"...Can I ask why?" I asked bluntly. I didn't know if she’d answer, but everything has a reason.

"Because I want to be the Captain."

The answer was surprisingly simple.

"Captain?"

"Maybe you don't know. Do you know why this club doesn't have a faculty advisor?"

Now that she mentioned it, it was true. We didn't have a teacher in charge.

Takebayashi-senpai always handled the paperwork and did everything for the tournament.

Normally, there should be a teacher. It was strange that Takebayashi-senpai did it all.

"Since you were in the tournament, you must know what’s happening in the shogi world right now."

"..."

I didn't know the details. But I knew the facts.

The disappearance of a hero. The vacancy left by the disappearance of a major figure in the shogi world had sparked a revolution.

To fill that single empty seat, new stars—little heroes—had begun to emerge.

They were called the 'Second Generation,' and they were already making a name for themselves across the country as the ones who would shape the future of shogi. The recent surge in shogi’s popularity was likely a byproduct of their success.

...Well, it’s not like I was ignoring the world’s excitement. I just didn't think it had anything to do with me.

"The birth of a hero is the ultimate goal for any dojo. There are countless sponsors and organizations looking to expand their influence by riding that wave. ...And Westgasaki High is being sucked into that as a cash cow."

The scale of what Aoi was saying far exceeded my expectations.

"This club only has seven members right now. But in a few years, hundreds of students from various dojos will be graduating middle school and flocking here."

"And what would their goal be?"

"There’s only one goal. ...Students who perform well in this club can get a recommendation for the Shoreikai."

"...!"

Aoi’s words made me realize the gravity of the situation.

The Shoreikai—the professional training organization that served as the gatekeeper to the pro world. It was a pit where geniuses fought for survival.

Normally, you need a 4-Dan diploma and a recommendation from a professional player to even take the exam. If a high school club could open that door for you, it would be a massive advantage.

"Plus, apparently there are scholarships and grants. If you get in, you can stay in the Shoreikai for free. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?"

"...Are you having money problems?"

"A little. Believe it or not, I live alone. My parents died when I was little, so I work part-time to get by. But at this rate, my job takes up all my time and I can't study shogi. ...Even if I made it into the Shoreikai like this, I wouldn't be able to afford the monthly fees."

Whether it was because she'd already moved past the sadness or because she’d accepted her fate, Aoi spoke flatly, without trying to appeal for sympathy.

Those eyes, the weight of those words—there was no doubt that this was the real Aoi Rena.

I see. So that was why she wanted to be the Captain and get the results.

Still... the Shoreikai, huh? That’s a huge goal. I failed there when I was a kid, so I know better than anyone how hard it is.

"...So, is your dream to be a professional, not a female pro?"

"Yeah. A pro."

I’d suspected as much, but hearing her actually say it was something else.

'Female Pro' is a professional category reserved only for women. Created to help promote the game, it’s a separate category from the regular pro ranks and the two never overlap.

In terms of skill level, it’s somewhere between the Training Center and the Shoreikai.

If Aoi’s dream was to be a female pro, she could probably achieve it if she entered the Training Center and got decent results. That was true for Mika and Natsu as well.

But Aoi specifically said Shoreikai.

Which meant, of course—a full Professional Shogi Player.

"Are you serious?"

"I am. Totally."

The level of a pro is on a different dimension from a female pro. The difficulty and the odds are incomparable.

After all—in the history of Japan, there has never been a single woman who became a professional shogi player.

"It was my brother’s dream. To be a pro. So my dream was to be the commentator on the big board when he played. Just the assistant, though."

"A commentator... so you originally wanted to be a female pro."

"I guess. Maybe I did. ...But that’s a distant dream now. I forgot it. I don't care anymore."

Aoi looked like she was frustrated with herself. She clenched her fist and stared out the window with disappointment.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you pity me. Forget I said anything."

"I wasn't going to pity you anyway."

"Good. I’m glad. Then, back to the point. —Watanabe Mikado, I want you to quit right now. You understand why, right?"

Aoi glared at me with clear hostility.

"Because you didn't like me being the Captain?"

"Yeah."

"So, before I joined, were you targeting Mika?"

"I won't deny it. The President is graduating this year, and Raizaki Natsu... well, she was a shut-in. Tojo-senpai was the only one in my way."

The Sakuma brothers were being naturally excluded. I thought they were plenty strong.

"But then an outlier like you showed up and added another obstacle. And because the President said all that stuff, Natsu started coming to school. ...Seriously, more enemies is the last thing I needed."

"Enemies...? Aren't you just deciding that on your own? We’ve fought together as teammates, and we’re going to keep fighting together."

"You’re the type to spout pretty words, huh? I thought you were just a negative loner."

"That’s rude... I like to think I’m always living life positively."

"Heh, so you’ve got the guts to joke around? Well, you might be introverted, but you’re not exactly a pushover."

"Actually, I’m surprised at how dark you are, Aoi."

"...Enough small talk."

As if to show her resolve, Aoi glared at me in silence, demanding an answer.

If Aoi really stood before me as an enemy, I would use every means at my disposal to defend myself. I would protect myself, no matter what happened to the other person.

But Aoi’s eyes were still looking at a 'person.'

"...This is a cliché, but I’ll ask anyway. What if I refuse?"

"I'm not without a plan. I can do a lot of things, and I have a lot of dirt on you. For example, what’s written on that paper—what you did at the Tennoji Dojo in the past."

I was curious about how Aoi knew about my past, but I’d set that aside for now.

"No matter what obstacles you remove, you'll eventually hit the wall of shogi skill. If you can't break through that, removing me won't matter."

"That’s fine. I’m studying every day. I just need to stop worrying about my spot being taken."

"Come to think of it... when Mika and the Sakumas were arguing about making me the Captain, you jumped in and said you’d do it. Was that your real intention?"

"Yeah. You can take it that way."

No provocation would work. There was an icy coldness in Aoi’s heart.

"I see..."

I felt hostility and killing intent from Aoi. But I didn't feel 'malice.' Not the greed-soaked malice I felt from Asuka.

She was just doing it for her own goals, nothing more, nothing less.

"Fine. If you want to spread my past around, do it. If you want me to quit, make me. But I’m like you—I’m not betting my life on shogi for nothing. If I’m forced to quit by some kind of pressure, there’s no telling what I’ll do next."

"..."

Aoi went silent, looking a bit overwhelmed by my pushback.

You’ve got the wrong opponent, Aoi. Unlike you, I’m at rock bottom. I’m a loner, I don't have friends, and I don't have a social circle.

Even if my past gets exposed now, it won't hurt me at all.

"...Don't underestimate me. You’re a loner, just like you look, right? Since when can you talk so tough?"

"Just this once."

"...I’m not stopping. I’ve already prepared the stage."

I shook my head at Aoi’s words.

"I’m not the kind of guy who’ll just hop onto whatever stage someone else built. If we’re going to settle this, we should do it right here, right now."

"You think you’re in a position to refuse?"

"Do you think you’re in a position to stop me from refusing?"

Neither Aoi nor I would back down. The deadlock looked like it would last, but I was the one who broke it.

"...Well, when in Rome. This is the shogi club, and we’re club members. That means there’s only one thing to do."

I pulled the shogi board and piece box from the shelf and handed the chess clock to Aoi.

"One match. If you win, I’ll quit quietly. But if I win, you quit."

"..." Aoi fell silent.

"I’m the one suggesting the match. Of course, I’ll give you a handicap. ...Let’s see. My time limit will be ten seconds, and yours will be unlimited. How’s that?"

"...Are you serious?"

"Totally. Is that a problem?"

"...Just because you beat me once, you think you can mock me?"

"I’m not mocking you. You weren't playing seriously during the multi-board match, were you? And you went undefeated in yesterday’s tournament. It’s obvious you’ve been holding back."

Yes, Aoi was holding back. I’d realized that from the yellow Dragon results.

Even if she wasn't the Captain, she hadn't lost a single game until we won. Even Mika had lost once, but Aoi was undefeated.

That’s not something you can do with just 'okay' skill.

"And I was told something when I first joined. The President said, 'Aoi is the second strongest in the club after Mika.' At the time, I just accepted it, but then I realized Natsu is in this club too. And yet the President ranked you second. ...Oh, right, the President was undefeated in the Yellow Dragon too, wasn't he? Man, I don't know who’s hiding their strength in this club anymore."

I spat out the words with a laugh.

Aoi set the clock aside and sat down as I began placing the pieces.

"...Do you really think you can beat me with such a ridiculous handicap?"

"It’s not about whether I can win or not. You wouldn't accept the match otherwise, right? I’d prefer no handicap. But you wouldn't take the bait. I’m sorry, but I don't feel like being dragged through the mud by some scheme or false accusation."

As I spoke, I quietly drew that 'thought' toward me.

"—If you’re someone aiming to be a pro, then settle this where it belongs: on the board."

I spoke clearly, and for a split second, the look in Aoi’s eyes changed.

Then, her lips curled into a smile, and she looked up at me with a triumphant expression.

"...I’ll hold you to your word. You lose, you quit. Got it?"

"Yeah. I’m a man of my word. But don't worry, Aoi. I won't lose, and I’ll save you, too."

"I have no idea what you’re talking about. Fine. Let’s start."

I nodded, and Aoi pressed the clock. The match that would decide who quit was underway.

◇

Ever since I lost my parents and my younger brother in a traffic accident when I was a child, I started playing shogi as if possessed by a curse.

I’d always liked shogi. Since my brother was aiming to be a professional, I’d wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a female pro.

Playing shogi with him was fun. My daily life was full of color. Whether that dream came true or not, it was supposed to be a normal, steady path.

But after I lost my family, I started playing shogi as if I were wading through a swamp in a state of severe intoxication.

Like a bubble rising from poison, or an insect that had lost its limbs—my very existence was born from a filthy, worthless desire. I couldn't affirm myself, so I pushed toward an uncertain dream.

Aoi Rena... apparently, the character for 'Re' refers to a pure and transparent interior, while 'na' carries the meaning of a wish.

—All those gifted with the surname 'Aoi' shall grow up more energetic and bright than anyone else, illuminated by the sun.

My parents gave me the name 'Rena' with the hope that I would grow into a child with a beautiful and pure heart.

—An ugly face reflects in the mirror.

A clumsy smile that looks manufactured. A crazed tone that lacks any empathy. Where in this is the beautiful and pure heart?

Every time I looked in the mirror, I felt like vomiting.

The irritation and anxiety of being chased by something, legs moving through a pathless void in a desperate attempt to escape.

My heart grew stagnant, my interior rotted away, and only hideous emotions came to the surface whenever it was convenient.

I felt a terrible loathing for the fact that my current self was betraying my parents' wishes.

That was why I... started calling myself 'Aoi.'

Because I wasn't worthy of my name. Because I didn't want anyone to call me by it. Deep down, I was imposing an arrogant form of penance or atonement upon myself, and I hated for that to be exposed.

I never liked talking big about 'becoming a pro.'

I knew people would see it as reckless, and I knew the pain of being belittled for having no talent all too well.

However, I knew that if I wanted to get stronger, I needed someone to teach me.

—It was during the latter half of elementary school. I heard of a place not too far away called the 'Tennoji Dojo,' an excellent school that had produced many strong players.

I decided to go there, stepping firmly over the threshold of the Tennoji Dojo to get even a little closer to becoming a pro.

A total of over a hundred disciples, a high degree of flexibility that respected the students' autonomy, and a classic yet commanding presence that continued to produce results... or so I’d heard.

But the reality of the prestigious Tennoji Dojo was desolate. It was so empty that the birds might as well have been the only ones chirping.

At the time, I only caught a fleeting glimpse of the face of the boy who was leaving just as I arrived.

"What is it? A prospective student?"

"Ah, yes... Um, this is the Tennoji Dojo, right...?"

"It is. You saw the sign, didn't you?"

"I, well..."

Rumor had it the dojo was bustling with the voices of students every day, but the day I went to enroll, there was no one.

In fact, there wasn't even a trace that students had ever been there.

The nameplates on the wall by the entrance indicating ranks had all been stripped away. The only one left had been taken by the boy I just saw.

What on earth had happened before I arrived...?

Later, when I heard the truth from the head of the dojo, Tennoji Gensui, I could only snort at such an absurd story.

Apparently, just a few months prior, a boy one year older than me who wanted to be a pro had entered the Tennoji Dojo.

That boy was overflowing with talent. At first, he played the kind of childish shogi where you win some and lose some, but one day, he stopped relying on talent alone.

I don't know how he did it, but from that point on, he started racking up wins, overwhelming the other students.

And his style was abnormal. It was as if he were planting fear in them, charging forward without any regard for his own safety.

Children of the same age would challenge him again and again, fueled by rivalry, but every time they suffered such pathetic defeats that it was hard to watch. One after another, the students began to cry.

Even after that, the boy continued to coolly defeat students who were higher ranked than him. His terrifying style left most of the students so psychologically scarred that they stopped coming to the dojo. Within just a few months, everyone had quit.

And today, that boy—the only one left in the dojo—had decided to quit as well, simply because there was no one left to play against.

In other words, the boy I’d passed earlier was the culprit behind that terrifying shogi.

The nameplate the boy had taken... had 'Watanabe Mikado' written on it.

At the time, I was still an elementary schooler, so I couldn't believe a story about a kid driving a dojo to destruction. I remained skeptical.

However, after that, every time I entered a tournament, people who found out I was from the Tennoji Dojo would ask me about the 'Tennoji Dojo Destruction Incident.'

At first, I brushed it off as just a rumor or a made-up story, but as more and more people asked, I gradually understood that the incident had actually happened.

The boy was eventually kicked out of the South District and moved to another district within a few days.

Everyone who had experienced his power firsthand had quit shogi, and no one besides me even knew his name.

—Years passed, and I became a middle schooler.

At this time, I was extremely poor. I spent my days watching my bank balance dwindle, feeling like the light of my life was being snuffed out.

I wanted to start working early, but there was no way I could get a normal part-time job at that age. I managed to scrape together funds by doing live-in housework for relatives.

At the same time, I ran out of time for shogi and naturally ended up quitting the Tennoji Dojo.

Eventually, I used what I’d learned at the Tennoji Dojo to enter a major tournament and won for the first time.

My unconventional style, which wasn't bound by standard theory, was something I’d learned from my master, Tennoji Gensui. I’d refined it in various ways to work against modern strategies, creating my own style.

To be honest, I was happy when that style proved effective in modern shogi through my victory.

Before I knew it, people started calling me a 'trickster,' and I received several invitations to the Training Center.

But since I was living on the edge, I couldn't afford to spend any more money, so I turned them down.

That was when I heard the rumors about Westgasaki High.

This school, where two solitary geniuses like Tojo Mika and Raizaki Natsu were already enrolled, was apparently caught in the middle of a conflict between two major organizations. It seemed the school itself was involved.

It didn't go beyond the realm of rumor, but apparently, students who achieved great success under the school's name would receive various future grants.

I’d secretly listened to adults talking about complicated things like good locations and connections to newly built dojos, and I decided to enroll in this school.

My savings were completely gone by this point, but it was closer than other schools, the rules were somewhat flexible, and from a financial standpoint, I had no other choice.

...By this point, I’d lost all room for error.

My emotions were so messed up that even the decisions affecting my life were made vaguely. Sometimes I forgot what I was seeking or chasing.

After that, I enrolled in Westgasaki High, joined the shogi club, and ended up fighting Tojo Mika on my first day.

However, despite my intention to fully demonstrate the strength I’d gained at the Tennoji Dojo, I realized the extent of her power in that first match.

It was as if I’d been placed in shackles. I couldn't do anything I wanted to do and suffered a pathetic defeat. That was when a clear wall was born between us.

I challenged her again and again, but the result was always the same.

Our reading ability and situational awareness shouldn't have been that different, but there was an overwhelming gap in our shogi skill.

At this rate, I’d never surpass Tojo Mika. To stand out and succeed, I had to be the Captain, but at this rate, she would definitely be the one.

As the tournament approached and my anxiety grew... my thoughts finally crossed the line.

—Oh, I see. I just have to make her quit.

The high-pitched sound of a bell, like a wind chime, echoed in my head.

It was a beautiful sound, unlike anything I’d ever heard.

◇

"Fine. Let’s start—"

The moment I pressed the clock, the buzzer started to sound.

A duel between me and Senpai. A battle with our membership on the line.

Unlike me, who had no time limit, he only had ten seconds. If he didn't move within that time, he’d lose instantly.

Senpai glanced at my face, then slowly took about seven seconds to make his first move.

"...You really won't regret this?"

"I won't."

I replied with a smile.

Since that day, the sound of the bell has echoed in my head from time to time. Even when my heart aches or my head feels like a mess, when that bell rings, my doubts clear and I feel good. I feel refreshed.

"You've got it bad," he murmured, looking quietly into my eyes. Then he looked at me with a puzzled expression as I did nothing. "Aren't you going to move?"

I let out a little chuckle.

"...I guess you really are just a shogi idiot with no brains, Senpai." I told him the truth. "Your time limit is ten seconds, but mine is unlimited. In other words, as long as I don't move, the match won't end, no matter how much of a disadvantage I'm in. Do you understand what that means?"

"..."

I’d heard stories about 'Shinkenshi'—professional gamblers—in the past.

Back before chess clocks were common, if they were about to lose a match for money, they’d sit and think until the sun went down. Eventually, their opponent would lose patience, and the match would be declared void.

Nowadays, matches without time limits are rare. Unless something unusual is going on, time limits are a given in shogi.

That was why the moment I heard his handicap, I was certain of my victory. That was the only reason I’d accepted his challenge.

"The moment this match started, you had no chance of winning."

If there were even a slight chance of losing, I wouldn't have accepted the match in the first place.

You really underestimated me, Senpai—

"Oh, so you were worried about time? ...Then don't worry. I’m prepared to stay as long as it takes."

"Eh...?"

With that, Senpai pulled a huge pile of snacks and drinks out of his bag.

"I forgot to mention, but I asked the President to let me stay overnight at the school just for today. I thought staying in a public facility might be reckless, but the President agreed immediately. He said he even got special permission from the school since it's a club activity."

Senpai spoke quietly, in a calm, flat tone.

I felt like I’d been hit in the head with a blunt object.

"Eh... ha...? W-What are you saying...?"

"I’ve already used the bathroom, so I’m fine. So don't worry, feel free to stall as long as you want. Well, if I really can't hold it, I’ll just have to go right here... Hahaha."

I was terrified by the man in front of me, who was calmly saying such unbelievable things.

"A-Are you crazy!?"

"Hahaha... Whew. Don't look down on me, Aoi Rena. Who’s the idiot who brings sanity to a fight against madness? You’re doing something crazy, so it’s only natural for me to fight back with my own brand of crazy."

"I-I don't understand what you mean...!!"

It’s a bluff. It’s a ruse. My brain tried to stay calm, but I couldn't help but feel that his behavior was genuine.

Because his eyes...

"Oh, and sorry, but I’ve recorded this whole conversation. Of course, I have no intention of making this public myself. ...But, if you decide to scrap this match and try to trap me some other way, I won't hesitate to use this recording as a weapon."

Senpai pulled his phone out of his pocket, and it really was recording.

The recording time was already over twenty minutes, which meant he’d been prepared before he even got here.

"Why... How..."

"Why? Did you really think I’d come here without a plan? You wrote in a letter that you’d expose my past. Do you think the person you’re threatening would just walk into enemy territory like an idiot? No one would do that."

He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But to me, it didn't feel natural at all.

"I set the stage before you could. That’s all."

"I-It’s impossible...! You couldn't have done that...!"

"Just because you make the first move doesn't mean you'll win. In a match, the first and second players aren't all that different. Even a shogi beginner knows that."

Senpai pressed his advantage relentlessly against my panic, his eyes flashing with a strange intensity.

...I could only stare in a daze.

"What’s wrong? Why aren't you laughing like you usually do? ...I’ve got my life on the line here too. I’ll dance on a minefield if I have to."

I realized, all too late, that I had touched a nerve I should never have touched.

◇

Was it my actions, my behavior, or my words? Whatever the reason, Aoi was panicking.

I had no chance of winning unless I brought this to a shogi match. So, I was going to crush every other option she had.

"Are you in the mood to settle this on the board now?"

"..."

Aoi bit her lip, looking frustrated. She glared back at me as if she’d been outsmarted.

Clear agitation, caution, and wariness. Now Aoi wouldn't be able to pull any clumsy tricks.

The scenario up to this point must have been etched into her mind as a total failure. Any sloppy move would be seen through, and any attempt to find a loophole would be met with a counter. That’s what she’d learned.

So, her next words were—

"...F-Fine. I get it. I’ll play you."

After many twists and turns, I finally got her onto my turf.

Madness has no color, but sanity does. Once things have been layered so many times that everything turns black, intellectual strategies won't work.

A cornered rat will bite a cat. That’s one of the cards in my hand, but it’s not limited to me.

There’s no telling what Aoi might do if she’s pushed too far. Completely crushing her chances of winning would only lead to her exploding or giving up.

So I always leave a path to victory. All I have to do is block the exits. After that, it’s a pure contest of shogi skill.

And besides, when you go for the kill, it has to be instant. For that, a settlement on the board carries a certain amount of pride for both sides.

Aoi’s way of winning is easy. All she has to do is flip the board over. A physical solution is pretty meat-headed, but it’s the right answer in this situation.

But Aoi can't do that, and neither can I.

—Because we both have our pride as shogi players.

A pure passion for the board. The feel of the pieces after playing thousands or tens of thousands of games will never leave your memory, no matter how much it fades.

She’s done all this for shogi. If it weren't for shogi, Aoi wouldn't have used this method in the first place.

That’s why you can't betray shogi.

Well, if my opponent were the type of person who’d flip the board over, I wouldn't have used such a roundabout plan. I would have just crushed them head-on.

"If I win at shogi, that’ll solve everything easily, right?"

"Yeah. It’s a very simple match."

"Fine. ...Then get ready. —I’m stronger than you, Senpai."

Aoi had finally made her move, her resolve firm.

I moved immediately in response. Actually, I had to. I only had ten seconds, after all.

In response to my move, Aoi quickly pushed her Rook’s pawn forward. She looked like she was playing 'Static Rook,' but then she sent her Rook flying into the air.

"A Floating Rook...?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Aoi gave a little chuckle and pushed her edge pawn, then moved her Bishop to form her strategy.

She moved her major pieces early on, creating a strange formation. But the method Aoi used was more than enough to catch me off guard.

"—The Duck, huh?"

"It’s not exactly rare these days, is it?"

Aoi was using the 'Duck' strategy. Known as the 'Duck Castle,' it’s a type of surprise tactic where you use your major pieces boldly.

This strategy has been around for a long time. While it’s sometimes played by amateurs, it’s almost never seen among professionals.

The reason is simple. If your opponent handles this kind of surprise tactic correctly, it’s over.

Surprise tactics are only effective when your opponent doesn't know how to handle them—a 'first-time kill' of sorts.

In other words, they’re only effective against beginners or intermediate players. To someone who’s used to playing shogi, a surprise tactic is nothing more than a welcome treat.

But—

"Do you think this is a B-class strategy?"

Aoi had formed her offensive shape and started to castle her King on the left.

The strategy was similar, but it wasn't a Duck Castle. The formation was closer to the 'elmo Castle' that AI likes to use.

"Unlike the 'Demon Killer' or 'Edge Bishop Mid-Rook,' the Duck requires a high-level offensive. A low-ranked player can copy the shape, but connecting a thin attack is almost impossible for even a 2-Dan or 3-Dan."

Yes, in the end, the strength of any strategy depends on the skill of the person using it.

Aoi’s formation was a Duck, but her piece coordination was entirely different. She opened her Bishop’s diagonal, prepared to pressure the 7th file, and jumped both of her edge Knights to aim for a central breakthrough.

This wasn't the B-class 'Duck' strategy you usually see.

"There’s a lot to read, isn't there? I wonder if you can handle it in ten seconds?"

Aoi’s attack wasn't limited to one thing; she was launching a 'B-Men Attack,' a pincer movement.

With only ten seconds, I couldn't read through all these attacks at once.

Aoi had probably chosen this strategy with that in mind.

"—Interesting."

I murmured softly, then grabbed the King I was supposed to be castling—

◇

'<Crazy> Some unknown amateur powerhouse called the Emperor of Self-Destruction lol Part 21>'

Anonymous 428

: The Emperor of Self-Destruction himself descended upon Shogi Wars this afternoon.

Here’s the game record.

https://shogi-sensou/kifu/Zimetsutei-vs-Takatuki_Tenma

Anonymous 429

: >>428 ...Wait, what? What is this? A bugged record?

Anonymous 430

: >>428 Lol, the King is charging.

Anonymous 431

: >>428 THE. AERIAL. CASTLE. ACTIVATED.

Anonymous 432

: >>428 This is insane.

Anonymous 433

: >>428 Lol, that Tenma Takatsuki is being completely toyed with.

Anonymous 434

: >>428 He goes for self-destruction and ends up winning. He really is the Emperor of Self-Destruction. His play is so perfect he doesn't self-destruct.

Anonymous 435

: >>428 That style is terrifying for both the one doing it and the one on the receiving end.

Anonymous 436

: >>428 This is the ultimate expression of the 'A mid-board King is hard to catch' theory…

◇

The legendary hero, the shogi player Kutsuna Tatsuhito, once said this:

—Shogi is a dialogue.

Just as strategists gauge an opponent's intentions and feelings during a war, one can understand the heart of another through the moves they make on the board.

I had to see it through. I had to find it.

A person who claims they want to save someone, only to crush them and walk away, is nothing but third-rate.

The pieces moved slowly across the board. The battle lines between us remained blurred.

In the midst of this intersection of conflicting thoughts, Rena was the first to make a move.

"How long are you gonna keep up this creepy setup? If you won't move, then I'm coming at you!"

"Go ahead."

Wary of her aggression, I hadn't yet committed to a specific formation. Fed up with my deliberate pace, Aoi suddenly launched a fierce assault.

She flooded the center—or so it seemed. In reality, she was angling to trap my major pieces.

I managed to calculate a response within the ten-second limit, trying to guide my hunted Rook to a safer, more open space. Seeing this, Aoi immediately pivoted, launching an attack on my King on the opposite side of the board.

—She’s like a trickster.

"Hey, hey! If you just stay on the defensive, you’re gonna lose in a heartbeat!"

Aoi repeatedly exploited the time pressure, keeping my thinking time locked at ten seconds.

Naturally, to maintain that pressure, she had to play without hesitation. With her infinite time bank, she had likely read the board to this exact point before launching her offensive.

I tightened my defenses to ensure my King wasn't taken, but each move ended up as an over-correction.

I protected my head, and she slashed at my legs. I protected my legs, and she went for my arms.

Her playstyle, which relentlessly targeted precise weaknesses, was a non-standard technique born solely to toy with people.

"This style... don't tell me..."

"Finally noticed? My instructor was Tennoji Gensui. That’s right—just like you, Senpai, I’m an alum of the Tennoji Dojo."

"...!"

The exchange of pieces favored Aoi, whose play was perfectly balanced. On the other hand, if I tried to retreat poorly, I’d never get an opening to counterattack.

Aoi saw through that and refused to give me a moment’s peace. The high-speed assault continued.

The ten-second buzzer wailed. Six seconds, five, four—the sound of my life being shaved away echoed through the room.

"Tch..."

I managed to place my piece just within the limit.

"Soft. Everything about your play is soft, Senpai."

The moment I moved, Aoi created a line to trap my major piece.

The buzzer wailed again.

The moves, the method of attack, and the unique board construction... it was the exact same "protean" style used by the First Generation deity known as a genius of his era—Tennoji Gensui.

"So, this is you playing for real."

"That’s right. My shogi comes from the lineage of geniuses—a forced induction into a battle of pure skill. This style, which no one could imitate and no one could overcome, is what I snatched away from Tennoji Gensui."

With eyes filled with the certainty of victory, Aoi snatched my Rook.

"No matter how strong you are with joseki, no matter how deep your research goes, once it becomes a battle of pure skill, I'm the one who wins—!"

Behind her, I could see the faint silhouette of that legendary genius—Tennoji Gensui.

"...The golden child of the First Generation, huh."

"The shogi of those who were forgotten is a sad thing. No one looks at it today; no one plays it. That’s because more 'attractive' joseki are always within arm's reach."

Aoi never let her attack falter. Finally, she took my other major piece, the Bishop.

"That’s why no one can keep up with my play. No one can prepare for it. They just end up as corpses, sighing with regret for the rest of their lives. That’s the future waiting for you. That’s the end of the line for anyone who underestimates me."

How ironic. They mistake the growth they gained by ignoring history for actual strength. In reality, they're nothing more than amateurs who happened to pick up a powerful weapon.

Aoi was a natural-born hunter who had made a living preying on such people.

"As your junior disciple, let me deliver the final blow. There is no awe to be found in a beast with its limbs torn off."

"I've only lost my hands so far."

"If you have time for tough talk, you should spend it thinking about your next move—!"

Aoi used the Rook and Bishop she had stolen from me to begin ravaging my formation.

"Ahahaha! Look at you! You haven't even built a proper castle!"

Confident in her victory, Aoi mocked my King as it sat exposed in the middle of the board.

My hand held a Gold, a Silver, and a Knight. My minor pieces were sufficient. Aoi was out of Pawns and showed no signs of an Entering King strategy. In a situation that looked utterly desperate, I suddenly let out a breath.

—The conditions have been met.

Lowering my gaze, I offered a thin smile. I gripped my King and pushed it further forward.

"—?"

An early escape for the King is worth eight moves. Aoi likely thought I was fleeing out of fear of her attack.

—Unfortunately, you're wrong.

While Aoi was busy collecting the dropped pieces, I gripped my King and advanced even further.

"...Eh? Wait, what...?"

Dissonance. Yes, the feeling of something being 'off' must have been swirling in her mind.

A messy formation, an unnecessarily aggressive grab for space. A King that refused to hide in a castle no matter how much time passed.

In a battlefield where bullets were flying, a King who sat there without ever building a fortress looked full of openings to anyone.

But the fortress had been built long ago.

—Up in the sky.

"What is... that?"

Entering that castle in the sky took only two moves—a time-delay mechanism. The target she thought she was hunting had blended into the enemy lines to complete its march.

I wonder, can the bullets from the ground reach the golden fortress built in the heavens?

"No way... I was the one attacking, wasn't I...?"

Aoi held all the major pieces. She had taken them all, including mine.

But those bullets couldn't reach the 'Aerial Castle' floating in the sky.

Most shogi pieces are designed to move forward. Pawns, Lances, Knights—once they go forward, they can never go back.

That's why there’s a maxim in shogi: 'Force the King to the bottom row.' Because the higher up he goes, the harder he is to checkmate.

"An... aerial... castle..."

"You're wrong. This castle is—offensive."

"Wh—!"

Using the space I had secured earlier, I charged into Aoi’s camp.

The weakness of the 'Duck' is the low profile of its defenses. It doesn't matter if it's a Nakazumai sitting in the center or an elmo castle on the edge; those are ultimately only strong against horizontal attacks.

They aren't equipped to handle an assault that crushes them from above.

"You said this was a battle of pure skill, didn't you? That’s exactly the kind of stage I want most."

"—gh?!"

I utilized the pre-existing pressure of my offensive lines to tear a hole in Aoi's formation.

There are many 'strongest' castles. The Anaguma, the Silver Crown, the Big Four. But the hardest to attack is the 'Aerial Castle' formed by a mid-row King.

However, an Aerial Castle isn't inherently 'sturdy.' It's hard to attack, but the actual defensive strength of the structure isn't that great. It carries a huge risk.

That’s why you use minor pieces to bolster the castle’s strength. You keep raising it until it becomes absolutely impossible to checkmate.

"No way... that exchange of major pieces earlier...!"

"What, you only just realized? That’s right. I threw them away on purpose."

"...!"

If you think about the premise, the choice becomes obvious.

First of all, major pieces aren't very useful for attacking Rena's King. That's because the 'Duck' strategy is fundamentally built on sacrificing major pieces anyway.

The Duck is the pinnacle of balanced formations; there are absolutely no openings in its own territory. No matter how many major pieces you have, you can't even find a place to drop them if there are no gaps.

Conversely, the Duck is weak to concentrated fire from minor pieces from above. The formation is brittle under continuous attack; once breached, it collapses instantly.

So, I didn't bother with major pieces. A cannon with no place to fire is less useful than a pistol. I’ll throw them away as often as I need to.

In exchange, I build a composition for the attack. I prepare to punch a hole through a single point.

To play that role, I just needed to take the space in advance and create a stance where I could attack at any time.

The result is a castle that attacks from the air. A fortress that invades enemy territory.

And once my King enters that castle, he will never be checkmateable again.

"Did you read this sequence? Junior disciple."

"Guh...!"

Panicked by my words, Aoi switched to a reckless offensive to try and reclaim her momentum.

But a reckless attack is just that—forced. If received correctly, it’s nothing.

"Are you reading everything?! In just ten seconds...!"

"A foolish question. Ten-second shogi is my daily bread."

"You’ve gotta be kidding...!"

Aoi refused to believe in my moves, trying to pin me down by creating a pincer from the bottom row.

But that’s soft. An attack like that is basically telling me it’s okay to strengthen my defenses during the sequence.

"Why... why isn't my attack going through...?! I mean, what is this playstyle...?!"

The more she chipped away, the more my hand grew with pieces, making my defense even sturdier.

Then, using the slight turn I gained, I surrounded her in advance so she couldn't perform an Entering King strategy like I did.

Gradually, Aoi’s composure vanished.

"I don't know this style. I've never even seen a pro do this... Is your teacher really not Tennoji Gensui...?"

"No. I don't have a teacher. This style is something I developed on my own."

"Th-That can't be...!"

Aoi used the pieces in her own camp to launch a half-suicidal attack.

I had been waiting for that moment. I abandoned my defense and moved into a no-guard brawl, like dodging a sword clash to land a direct punch.

"Why...?! Why can you play like that?! Aren't you scared?!"

"I'm used to it."

"Used to it? There’s no way! No one would choose to play in a way that looks like they're destroying themselves! There's no way someone would use a... self-destructive... style... like... this..."

Aoi seemed to realize something as she spoke. Her lips trembled, and she dropped the piece she was holding.

"W-Wait..."

Then, with an expression of disbelief and sheer terror, she looked at me.

"Wait... wait... ...Eh...?"

Aoi’s voice, sounding like it was about to fade away, echoed through the clubroom.

◇

A shock wave hit me. A chill ran down my spine, a powerful, violent shock.

"Wait... hold on..."

I didn't even have the leeway to stop my hands from shaking. I looked at the man in front of me with eyes of disbelief and tried to pull away.

But my chair wouldn't go back any further.

"D-Don't tell me... your true identity is... Zi—Zimetsu—"

"I don't really like talking about myself. If the skill and the effort I've put in are real, I can show it all on the board. Saying things like 'I'm actually strong' or 'I could have won' are just excuses to save face."

Senpai leaned forward, his presence sharp and chilling, asserting his overwhelming dominance.

"It's impossible... It's gotta be a lie—"

"Didn't I say so during my introduction? I'm a '9-Dan.'"

"...!!"

—9-Dan. The highest rank in Shogi Wars.

They say even Tojo Mika has never gone above 5-Dan.

In contrast to Mika, Raizaki Natsu—who plays online shogi like a maniac every day and dominates every tournament Shogi Wars holds—is only a 7-Dan.

And yet, there is one person running solo at the front, a mysterious amateur player. The legendary existence called the strongest in the online shogi world—only one player in this world holds the rank of 9-Dan.

Zimetsutei. The Emperor of Self-Destruction. The name of the strongest online player in history.

"I-It’s impossible... I won't accept it! There's no way you're Zimetsutei!"

"..."

Though cold sweat matted my brow, I didn't slow my hand. I desperately tried to corner him, clinging to my advantage in pieces.

But it didn't solve anything. The situation didn't just stay the same; it kept leaning further and further toward his side. With every move, the gap widened.

His moves were like those of a demon.

Simply to win. Simply to take me down.

—It was exactly like the story of the boy I had heard at the Tennoji Dojo long ago.

(No...! I'm definitely the stronger one right now—!)

I forced the unfamiliar mid-row King formation into my head, recalculating over and over to find a weakness.

Every strong player has a weakness.

Even the ones called the greatest of all time always have at least one flaw, and the essence of modern shogi is to prepare measures so that flaw isn't exploited.

No matter who the opponent is, a ray of light will always appear. From the cracks in the play of someone who seems perfect, a light will shine through.

I had won by grasping that light. I had paved my path to victory by striking the opponent's weakness.

"Why... why...!"

The moves were perfect and left no room for argument. An otherworldly reading that felt like he was wiretapping my thoughts. A board construction that looked precarious but had no openings.

The man sitting in front of me had no weaknesses.

"Why is this happening...! I was supposed to be the one attacking! I was supposed to have the piece advantage! So why...!"

Even Tojo Mika has slight weaknesses within her perfect play. If I researched enough to target those, I could make a comeback even if there was a gap in our raw skill.

In a real match, I can accurately identify an opponent's weakness and win. That was the 'talent' granted to me.

And yet—.

'Terror. Anyone who faces him will feel terror. Do you know why, Rena?'

The words of Tennoji Gensui flashed through my mind.

'It is because that boy, Watanabe Mikado, does not play shogi with talent. He builds his moves solely from the joseki of the effort he has piled up himself, playing without following anyone else's path. That is why those who fight with talent are terrified by his abnormality.'

Every human being is supposed to have strengths and weaknesses. If you walk the path of shogi, you're supposed to be good at it.

They say that at first, that boy had talent for shogi too.

But his massacre only began after he stopped relying on that talent.

I don't know what drove him to that. I don't know what kind of training allows someone to cast aside their talent to play shogi.

There was only one thing I understood.

The existence sitting in front of me—was the incarnation of unreason.

"Why?! Why aren't there any weaknesses?!"

"...Weakness? There’s no way I’d have something like that. I play to win."

"Normally, people have them!!"

This was the definition of being beyond comprehension.

Had he finished reading everything long ago? His time hadn't been in danger for a while now. He had been playing every move within five seconds.

I felt his majesty. I felt terror. My body shook with a fear I had never experienced before.

Was the thing I was facing even human?

(No, no...! If I lose here, my dream is over...! Anything but that!)

My thoughts wouldn't come together.

Even though I was supposed to have infinite time, I felt a sense of urgency, like I was being chased.

The sound of the bell ringing in my head no longer functioned as a way to keep my sanity. It was just loud and nauseating.

"If you had shown that desperation a little earlier, the result might have been a bit better."

"Shut up! Shut up!"

My emotions turned into a messy display of disgrace. Only regret and a dark silt washed over the edges of my heart.

Unable to view myself objectively anymore, I let out a move driven purely by emotion.

(I can't let it end here... I have to become a pro... If I don't become a pro, I can't face my family, or Haruto...!)

"..."

(Not yet. I haven't lost yet. It's not over. It starts from here...!)

With a distorted smile, I executed a chain attack from the rear.

However, Senpai had invaded my territory before that, completing a formation that was impossible to checkmate.

(I have to win...! Because if I lose, it's over...!)

Moves so nonsensical they were hideous. An exchange of reckless, blunt moves that held no intent or strategy.

"To end like this...!"

Frustrated, pathetic—my messy emotions overflowed from my eyes and spilled out.

"...Ugh... hic... sniff..."

—The bell rang out. A nauseating, ringing bell.

This power was my only support. The protean playstyle I learned from Tennoji Gensui, the gambles of the geniuses that no one could imitate. I just wanted to chase the footsteps of the man who proved he was one-of-a-kind. I only wanted to dream that dream.

—The bell rang. It’s loud. It’s loud. It’s loud.

I probably should have gone back. From the day I made that mistake, from the day I started holding emotions that crossed a line. I should have gone back before it became irreparable, reflected, and then just given up.

—The bell rang. I’m gonna puke. I’m gonna puke. I’m gonna puke.

I was just pushing through it. I was moving forward while knowing it was wrong. From the day I cast aside my own dream to chase someone else's, from the day of that accident where I lost everything... my path was definitely wrong.

—The bell rang. It echoed in small, loud increments as if my head were splitting.

The light went out, and the flame that lost its warmth slowly drifted toward death. This must be the divine punishment for my pathetic self, unable to admit my faults. The penalty for one who tried to cut others down for their own sake.

A fleeting dream ends—.

"...You’re strong. Really."

Wiping away my tears, I placed my hand on the piece stand.

On the board, he had a complete winning position. There were no moves left to turn it around. Neither a ray of hope for a miracle nor a dream-like reversal—not a single fragment of either remained.

—It was a total defeat.

"...Ahaha."

A laugh escaped me in spite of myself.

"I never thought... I'd get to fight the real thing in a place like this, Zimetsutei..."

At my words, Senpai just remained silent.

"......I'm sorry. For all the horrible things I did. I won't get in your way anymore. ...No, I couldn't even if I tried. The loser has to quit the club, after all."

I had given up on everything, thrown everything away, and yet I was still holding onto the naive hope that something might remain...

But that was the least I could do.

Because I... did something I should never have done to him, to everyone.

"...It might sound weird coming from me, but I actually had a little fun."

"Is that so. ...I'm honored."

"I never imagined it was actually you. ...But this is the real deal. No doubt about it; only one person I know can play such a reckless style. Ah... I'm a little jealous of Natsu."

The world isn't a place where justice always prevails, but evil always gets its due.

In the midst of all that, even someone as ugly and struggling as me has no complaints if the "strongest" is the one who delivers the final blow.

"...Thanks for the match, Mikado-chi. My—"

Saying that, I gripped a piece to resign.

In that instant, Senpai, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth.

"Why are you trying to resign on your own?"

The words were spoken so suddenly.

"...Huh?"

He looked into my eyes across the board and pointed his index finger at his own head. With a believable tone, as if he understood every emotion I was feeling, he muttered something incredible.

"I told you I was gonna save you, didn't I?"

I felt as if his fingertip had touched the bell ringing in my mind.

◇

"Save me? You...? Wh-What are you talking about—"

"I’m actually pretty greedy, believe it or not. With the prefectural tournament coming up, I can't afford to lose a valuable member."

Ignoring the bewildered Aoi, I quietly stood up.

From outside, I could hear the signal for the sports clubs to finish up. It was almost time for the chime that signaled the end of club activities.

"...Ha, haha. What are you saying? Stop messing with me. Your goal was to kick me out of the club, wasn't it...?!"

Aoi didn't seem to believe me; her face cramped as she slammed her hands on the desk.

"I never said that."

"You did! You said it!"

"I said that if you lost, you’d have to leave. But I never once said I wanted you to leave."

"Then what are you after?!"

I answered her outburst with a sigh.

"Don't make me say it twice. My goal is to save you."

"Stop with the grandstanding. Don't go deciding that I'm someone who needs saving."

"After all that talk about having nowhere to go, you're gonna act tough now?"

"...! A-Anyway, you don't feel any sympathy for me, do you?!"

"Yeah, I don't. That’s why I didn't do this for your sake."

"Huh...?"

Aoi looked at me with a face that said she didn't understand.

"It’s your business if you want to climb the ranks in this club. You have your dream, and I have mine. I'm sure everyone in the shogi club has their own different dreams and goals. I don't have the right to stop that."

That's right. As far as Aoi's dream was concerned, I was just an outsider. I'm not someone who has the right to interfere with people's dreams.

So, I don't have the right to stop her dream. I have no authority to trample on those feelings and suggest a different path.

"However, don't try to exclude others to make that dream come true. Don't try to raise yourself up relatively by kicking others down. That act will eventually eat away at you, just like this situation right now."

"..."

"So, you should stop doing stuff like this. Even if you feel like there’s no other way, even if it's the only means left, a bad move is still a bad move no matter how well you play it."

Aoi let out a deep sigh and offered a lifeless smile.

"You're saying weird things now, Senpai. I lost, so I don't need a lecture. ...Just go ahead and expose me like you promised."

"No, you haven't lost yet. You haven't resigned."

"Oh, right. Did my words earlier not sound like a resignation? For a 'genius' hiding behind a loner persona, you’re quite the sadist. What kind of apology do you want? I'll say 'I lost' or 'I give up' or whatever you want. Did you want to hear those words of defeat from me that badly?"

"No."

"Then what is it?! Do you have some kind of way for me to turn this around from here?! Oh, right—the great Zimetsutei can win even if he flips the board! That’s amazing! If there’s a move like that, I’d love for you to teach it to me! In one move!!"

"There is."

"—?!"

I pointed at the board, finding a new solution for the unfinished match.

"It’s simple. —We’ll make it a Sennichite."

"...Huh? Wh—?!"

Aoi’s eyes widened in shock.

"If the match is a draw, it’s only logical that the bet is off. I told you, right? I won't lose, and you... well, I won't say it a third time."

"Are you kidding me?!"

I wasn't kidding in the slightest.

To make this proposal, I had to back Aoi into a corner while simultaneously creating a position where my own King couldn't be checkmated.

That's why I went for the mid-row King to perform an Entering King, crushing Aoi's will to fight and creating a situation where she thought she could never win.

The rules for Sennichite are simple: if the same position is repeated four times, the match is a draw.

If I had played normal shogi and brought this up to Aoi, there might have been a betrayal where she broke the conditions of the Sennichite to try for a reversal.

That’s why I built a state where I absolutely could not be checkmated. And to force her to accept these terms, I didn't checkmate her, but instead surrounded her King.

Well, the number of moves for a Sennichite isn't exactly the "one move" Aoi wanted.

"So, what'll it be? If you don't accept, I'll just checkmate you."

"...!"

Aoi moved her piece with a complex expression. Even after giving up, she was still grasping at straws; her regrets must still be lingering.

I moved a piece in my own territory.

"...Even if you do this, I won't be saved."

"Maybe not."

We repeated the moves, taking turns.

"If I don't crush you, if I don't get you kicked out, my dream won't come true...!"

"Maybe that's how it feels right now."

Twice, three times, and then the fourth—the moves repeated the same position four times.

Aoi stared blankly at the board, her mouth moving as if she were trying to say something.

"...I..."

"I don't know what kind of plan you had to get me kicked out, but at the very least, I don't have the materials to kick you out, and even if I did, I couldn't."

"...Eh?"

After a brief pause, Aoi let out a dumbfounded voice.

"What do you mean, you 'couldn't'?"

After confirming that the match in front of me was a draw, I finally spoke the truth.

"Imagine if people found out that a newcomer who just joined the club kicked out a promising junior who was about to succeed. I'd be looked at with cold eyes, and I don't even know what the President would say to me."

"............What are you talking about? You told the President."

"I haven't told him anything."

"Eh...?"

Seeing Aoi’s shock, I continued.

"I haven't said a word to the President. I haven't told him anything."

"But you said you got permission from the school to stay overnight..."

"As if. It's a public facility, you know? They wouldn't let a student stay overnight just because of some nonsense they said."

"Wh-Wh...!!"

"Just like you said at first, if you used the infinite time as a shield and never finished the match, it would have been my loss. But it’s 7:00 PM now—the exact time club activities end."

Just as I said that, the chime signaling the end of club hours rang.

Aoi was speechless.

"Y-You’re kidding...! You were tricking me...?! From the very beginning...!!"

"There’s a difference in how words are perceived, and in the flow. I haven't taken any action since the start, and I'm not brave enough to do so anyway. Like I said, I'm a loner; I don't have the courage to ask the President or the school for favors."

"No way... you're lying...!"

"Unfortunately, it's the truth."

Upon hearing that, Aoi lost all strength and collapsed.

"Everything… was..in the palm of your hand..."

Leaving her there, I packed up the shogi board and slung my bag over my shoulder. As I left, I said one final thing.

"You tried to take someone's dream away. Now, you’ll take the penalty of giving dreams to others. At the very least, that'll earn you my forgiveness."

"Giving... dreams...?"

"Make sure you lock up when you leave—!"

"Ah..."

Before Aoi could even process the meaning, I left the clubroom without looking back.

Once in the hallway, I let out a massive sigh. I let the tension drain from my body, as if letting the air out of a balloon inflated with "Zimetsutei" thoughts.

"Phew—... that was a exhausting role."

Hard labor for the first time in a while. And for a loner, that festival of talking was hell. Guiding someone's psychology while playing shogi isn't something a human should do. I’m never doing that again.

As I was thinking that, a girl who had been watching from the shadows appeared.

"Oh, Tojo-san. You're still here."

"...Is it okay? Not kicking her out. I can do it for you."

"You were listening. It’s not necessary. Aoi-san is a teammate."

"I thought you'd say that, Mikado-kun. ...But are you sure? She might come after you again, you know?"

I answered Tojo’s question with confidence.

"I don't think that'll happen. So, Tojo-san, please feel safe coming to the club starting tomorrow."

"...You did something, didn't you?"

"Nothing major. I don't have many acquaintances, you know. There's not much I can do."

That's right. I just brushed off the sparks; I didn't actually do anything. The rest is up to what Rena chooses.

"...You're amazing. Usually, you don't solve something like this on your own."

Prompted by Tojo, I looked back at the clubroom once more.

"If you lose a match, you're third-rate. But if you only win against the opponent, you're just second-rate."

"Then, what's first-rate?"

I turned a bright smile toward Tojo, who had asked immediately.

"Making them a teammate again."

◇

"...I lost."

Left alone in the empty clubroom, I slumped to the floor like a deflated balloon.

"...Zimetsutei... Zimetsutei, huh... Ahaha... I'm such an idiot..."

Looking back now, everything makes sense.

The change in the attitude of Tojo Mika, the lone wolf who always went her own way. The fact that she recommended Senpai for the Captain position was one thing, but the biggest question was why she hadn't been surprised at all by his tournament record.

Her reaction was like it was a given that he would win. Even for me, who had seen that he had some skill, Senpai's clean sweep was unexpected.

She must have known. She knew that Watanabe Mikado was Zimetsutei himself.

Even Raizaki Natsu, who gives off that aura of not letting anyone close, was stuck to him like glue.

They were supposed to have just met on the day of the tournament, but the way they talked was like they were old friends, which I didn't quite get.

After all, he clearly has a shy personality. I didn't think he had the communication skills to win over someone like Raizaki Natsu.

But if his true identity is Zimetsutei, that’s a different story. That explains everything.

In the end, I thought I had seen into Senpai's true nature, but I hadn't seen anything at all. I hadn't understood him.

That’s why I brought about this result. I touched a nerve I should never have touched and only stopped when I was already past the point of no return.

Now, I have nothing left.

"...I'm going home."

I stood up shakily, checked the locks as he had told me, and left the clubroom.

When I stepped into the hallway, the faint scent of Tojo Mika tickled my nose, and I realized she had been there until just a moment ago.

She had probably heard our exchange.

...I never had a chance of winning from the start.

I was surrounded on all sides, and my retreat was cut off. He had forgiven me, but she probably wouldn't.

After all, Tojo Mika was among the people I was trying to get kicked out.

"I was an idiot until the very end. ...Or maybe those people are just incredible. To think that Zimetsutei was attending the same school... what kind of coincidence is that... How was I supposed to know... sigh..."

I muttered those words to myself as I walked down the hallway.

Everything had been in the palm of his hand. Everything had been part of his plan.

Even if I had performed a miracle and beaten Senpai, I would have been finished by Tojo Mika.

There was no chance of victory from the beginning. No path to winning was left for me. Thinking about it made me realize how foolish I had been.

I guess this was inevitable.

"..."

A good world where evil is destroyed. A beautiful world where justice prevails. In such a place, it’s only right that an outlier like me disappears along with the foolishness I brought upon myself.

Tomorrow, I'll tell everyone the truth and apologize. They might not forgive me, but that’s the least I can do... to take responsibility for my own dream.

"...Even at a time like this, I'm still 'Aoi' [Blue/Gloomy], huh."

Before I knew it, I had left through the main gate and was walking alone down the empty road.

Then, just past the main gate, I heard someone calling my name.

"Heeey! Aoi-kun!"

"...?"

A voice I wasn't used to hearing. No, a voice that was slightly familiar.

A shiny luxury car was parked in the distance, and an elderly man got out and called to me.

"...Ch-Chairman Suzuki...?"

The person calling out to me was Tetsuro Suzuki, the organizer of the recent Yellow dragon tournament and the chairman of the prefecture's shogi association.

"Phew, I was worried you'd already left. If we'd missed each other, I would have been waiting here until morning."

"...Um, what do you want with me?"

"Hmm? You haven't heard anything? That’s strange..."

Seeing that I knew nothing, Tetsuro Suzuki seemed surprised. He took some documents out of the car and showed them to me.

"I can't stay long, so I'll get straight to the point. Actually, I have a favor to ask of you, Aoi-kun."

"Of me...?"

"Yes. To put it simply—I want you to teach shogi to the children who attend my classes."

"Eh...?"

It was so sudden.

"The number of beginners has been increasing lately, and I just can't keep up on my own. I've been looking for an instructor for a while, but the strong amateurs around here are all already part of some dojo, so I can't easily recruit them. That’s why I wanted someone who didn't belong to any dojo, like you, Aoi-kun."

I couldn't quite understand what Tetsuro Suzuki was saying.

Me, an instructor...?

"You live alone after losing your family, right? If you're willing to join us, we can sign a long-term contract same as a regular employee and provide you with enough support so you won't have to worry about living expenses—"

Looking at the documents I was handed, I saw detailed information about the number of students, their average ranks, the classroom's income and expenditures, and the instructor's salary.

It wasn't an amount a high schooler could earn. It was clearly the salary of an adult, a regular employee who had worked for many years.

"What kind of... joke is this?"

"A joke... Hmm, I see. This amount might not be enough for a modern young high school girl. Fine, the workload will increase a bit, but I'll talk to Kawauchi-kun—"

"N-No, that's not what I meant. That's not what I'm asking...!"

I was so flustered that I gripped the documents hard enough to leave a mark and looked up.

"Why... me?"

Until now, I had been busy just working a part-time job. I thought that if I missed club activities, my internal grades would drop, so I showed up every day and stayed until the end, then went home and worked my part-time job until late at night...

I couldn't even study shogi properly except on my days off, and I was reaching my limit as the possibility of becoming a pro decreased with each passing day.

No, there wasn't even any possibility left.

And yet... right now, a hope I didn't know about is sitting in my hands.

What is this—?

"You're the star of the team that led the Yellow dragon tournament to victory. You won against our team, which included Tenryu Kazuki, and took the championship. Besides, you finished the tournament undefeated. That kind of prestige makes you a talent that other dojos would be dying to have."

Saying that, Tetsuro Suzuki placed a hand on my shoulder.

"And I know very well how strong you are. After all, your opponent in the finals was me."

"At that time, you were holding back..."

"...Holding back? Why would I do that? I have my pride as the chairman of the prefecture and the reputation of my dojo at stake. If I lost because I held back, I'd be a laughingstock. I was fighting with everything I had from the start, and you beat that 'everything.'"

I was speechless at Tetsuro Suzuki's words.

Because this man is of the same First Generation as Tennoji Gensui—the generation of geniuses. To think that I had beaten someone like that with my own skill... it was impossible, unbelievable.

"Hmm, It seems I've rushed things a bit. I heard you had a tough club session today; you must be tired, Aoi-kun. We’ll talk more about this another day."

As Tetsuro Suzuki turned to leave, I spoke up.

"Um, is it okay for me to... to receive a dream-like offer like this?"

"Of course. Well, if we sign a formal contract, you'll have to help with things like cleaning up after tournaments, but your main job will be shogi. Please, give some dreams to my children."

"...!"

—'Take the penalty of giving dreams to others.'

The words that had flashed through my mind for an instant made me cling to Tetsuro Suzuki in a panic.

"Wait, where did this offer come from...?!"

"Hmm? Where? You really haven't heard anything? ...This request came directly from Watanabe Mikado this morning."

That was a truly shocking statement.

"What did you just..."

"Like I said, Mikado-kun asked me directly this morning. I was having trouble managing the dojo myself, you see. I had originally invited Mikado-kun, but he insisted that there was someone more suitable than him and recommended you."

"I... I didn't hear anything about that..."

"What, you hadn't heard?! Hmm, did he lie to me? No, I didn't think he was that kind of person... I see... I thought for sure he had talked it over with you, but it seems I was jumpin' the gun."

"N-No."

"?"

The words Tetsuro Suzuki spoke left me stunned.

My lips trembled. I felt like I was going to sob at what he had told me. The words that I had thought were worthless and should be spat upon were actually a move that looked incredibly far ahead.

"...For me... for someone like me... hic..."

Finally, I understood everything. I finally understood all the words he had said.

"A penalty... what a liar... you're such a liar, Senpai... hic..."

Even though I did such horrible things to him, even though I said such horrible things. To think his response would be a move so full of hope.

I had committed a great sin. I had done things that should never be done.

And for that to be returned with something... something so kind...

"A-Aoi-kun?! Why are you crying?! Did I say something wrong...?!"

"No... hic... I'm just so happy... so happy... hic..."

I couldn't stop the tears that were overflowing.

It was as if something had burst; tears spilled out, and a wave of pent-up emotion flowed away.

"...A debt like this... there's no way I can ever pay it back... hic..."

I continued to cry against Tetsuro Suzuki’s chest as he looked on worriedly.

My anxiety about the future, my path to my dream—he had solved it all.

Regret, anxiety... I was supposed to have lived my life carrying all those things, and yet, for some reason, I don't feel them anymore.

This feeling, so white, so warm, so clear, is just incredibly comfortable.

I felt as if all my bad feelings and thoughts were being washed away with my tears.

"Thank you... Senpai... hic... Thank you... hic..."

I kept saying those words until I stopped crying. Even after I stopped, I kept saying them in my heart.

Because I had received a debt of gratitude I could never repay.

Pushing past my insults about his grandstanding, he had made those words a reality. He had given me a proper push back onto the path I thought I could never return to.

—He had truly saved me.

Like a hero, like someone to be admired, he had saved me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

It was the first time in my life that I had truly looked up to someone from the bottom of my heart.

With my red, swollen eyes, I promised to give dreams to the children at Tetsuro Suzuki’s dojo by teaching them shogi every week.

And from that day on, I never heard the sound of the bell in my head again.