Chapter 2: Toward the Path of Supremacy
The day after my showdown with Aoi, I headed to school as usual.
I’d just received an email from Chairman Suzuki this morning, saying that the contract with Aoi was proceeding smoothly.
I know what you’re thinking—how did a loner like me end up exchanging contact info with a big shot like the prefecture’s chairman? The truth is, he’d approached me on the way back from the Yellow Dragon Tournament and asked to exchange info himself.
As for the situation with Aoi, I’d heard about it from Mika before the tournament.
Poverty, being backed into a corner... there were rumors floating around, but the biggest reason Mika had judged her to be dangerous was her 'intent to kill.'
Aoi usually goofed around with that high energy, but Mika had naturally sensed the murderous intent radiating from deep within her, and she’d realized that it would eventually be directed at her.
Problems like these seem massive during adolescence. They aren't the kind of things you can solve with oppressive authority or half-hearted consolation.
Fundamentally, people resort to those kinds of actions because they feel they have no other choice; scolding them for it isn't going to change their lives.
That said, I didn't owe Aoi anything. We hadn't even known each other that long, and she’d never shown any sign of wanting to be friends like Mika or Natsu had.
But even if I didn't have an obligation, I had a reason.
I’m not a saint who can save everyone, but I’m not a fool who abandons his teammates. Cutting loose a key member right when we’re about to fight the prefectural tournament together was out of the question. My own dream wouldn't come true.
So, I figured this was the only place to set my stones.
—Anyway, I’m relieved that Aoi’s problem seems to be heading toward a resolution.
Aoi apparently emailed Mika an apology immediately afterward; Mika forgave her after telling her she owed her one.
Now we can finally unite as a team for the prefectural tournament.
"U-Um, afternoon..."
I opened the clubroom door while delivering my usual 'gloomy loner' greeting.
I might have grown a bit as a person through the recent tournament, but when my brain isn't running at full capacity, this is all I’m capable of.
"Ah..."
When I entered the room, Aoi, who was already sitting there, glanced at me with a slight blush.
"M-Mikado-chi, good work-cchi! It’s a nice day today, isn't it-cchi!"
Aoi was clearly flustered, but she tried to force the words out, approaching me with her usual high energy. To top it off, she was using the 'weather' dialogue deck.
I get that it’s awkward after yesterday, but she was acting way too suspicious.
"Ah, Mikado-senpai, good work."
"Good work."
I gave a slight nod to Natsu as she came in through the door behind me, then turned back to Aoi.
"Anyway, Aoi, your way of talking is back to normal. Did you give up on that other way?"
"Wh-Wait—?!"
"That other way of talking?"
Aoi’s face flushed bright red at my words. Natsu looked confused, a question mark practically floating over her head.
"Ah, right, Natsu didn't know. Actually, Aoi doesn't usually use '-cchi' or '-ssu,' she talks normally—"
"Nooo! Mikado-chi is saying funny things again today-cchi!! Aoi-chi has absolutely no idea what you’re talking about-cchi! Nyahahaha~!"
Aoi used all her strength to clap her hands over my mouth.
"Ah—!!"
"Wh-What is...?!
Suddenly, Natsu’s mouth dropped open as she pointed a finger at Aoi.
"Aoi is touching Mikado-senpai’s mouth! No fair! I haven't even done that yet!"
"Wh-What are you say—"
"Hah! Don't tell me Aoi is aiming for Mikado-senpai too...?!"
"N-No?! That’s not what this means! I mean, I don't have any impure intentions like that at all!"
"Aoi, you’re forgetting your first-person pronoun and your sentence endings."
"!! Mikado-chi is so mean~...!"
"Hey, don't leave me out! What’s this about pronouns and sentence endings?! And why are you two so close?! What happened yesterday?!"
"Aaah—! Jeez—!!"
My teasing had turned the conversation into a chaotic mess with no one to play the straight man, and Aoi was clutching her head and screaming.
However, things weren't about to settle down—.
"My, you all seem to be having fun."
Tojo Mika was standing there, having opened the clubroom door to check on the situation.
"Boy, oh boy, talk about a disaster area."
"...Mikado-senpai, you’re definitely enjoying this, aren't you?"
Well, I was just wondering if this is what a harem feels like. Aoi owes me a lot, so surely I’m allowed to indulge in a little mischief?
Mika walked right past me.
"Aoi~? I believe you owe me a favor, don't you...? So why are you acting so friendly with Mikado-kun~...?"
Right, Aoi owes Mika a favor, too.
"Hiiieee...! S-Sorry-ssu!!"
As Mika approached her with a smile, Aoi apologized and scrambled away from my side.
Even though they used to be enemies, having Mika hold something over her was a big blow. Considering that card will be played at every opportunity from now on, Aoi really did make a 'bad move.'
"Tojo-senpai is as scary as ever."
"You think so?"
Maybe it’s because I’m used to being looked at coldly by everyone around me, but to me, it just looked like the two of them were playing around.
Besides, the malice was gone.
I haven't been in this club long, but I felt like the prickly tension that used to hang in the air had finally softened.
"Oh, I forgot to ask yesterday. Tojo-san, how did the Yellow Dragon Tournament go for you?"
"Hmm? Oh, I won, of course."
"...Seriously?"
Tojo Mika answered so casually, as if it were a given. She’s strong.
"...Tojo-senpai really is tough-ssu..."
"Of course I am. And apparently, there was someone who was trying to take me down?"
"U-Uuuu, uuuuuhhh...!"
When Mika turned her gaze toward her, Aoi shriveled up, a look of profound awkwardness on her face.
She can’t act superior anymore. Poor thing. ...But there’s nothing I can do.
Because I can't exactly act tough toward Mika either.
◇
This was a few days prior, at twilight, after the regional Yellow Dragon Tournament tournament had ended.
A figure burst out of the Ryutei Dojo, where the team had been holding a review session.
"Don't fuck with me!!"
Asuka kicked a nearby trash can in a fit of rage.
It was in front of the Ryutei Dojo’s entrance. There was no one around, and the trash can clattered across the silent pavement.
The scraps of paper inside scattered everywhere, and the can rolled for several meters, making a loud metallic noise as it hit some nearby objects.
Asuka didn't even watch it; she simply stomped away from the Ryutei Dojo.
—In her hand, she clutched a piece of paper with the words 'Expulsion from Branch' written on it.
(Worst, worst, fucking worst...!!)
Deciding that they didn't need a troublesome ace, the Ryutei Dojo had permanently banned Asuka, using her recent problematic behavior as the trigger.
(You’re all just a bunch of hacks who couldn't even grow without me! Who do you think you have to thank for getting this far? It’s because I was here, because I was the one leading and pulling you along...! And yet, you all pay me back for my kindness with betrayal...! Shit...!!)
Asuka bit her nails, looking for something to take her emotions out on. But now that she was out in the desolate outdoors, there was no one to lash out at.
Naturally, her target became fixed.
The face of a single man flashed through Asuka’s mind.
(...If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have had to go through this...!)
It was the culprit who had defeated her at the Yellow Dragon Tournament. The man who had once been inferior to her, the man she’d cast aside as incompetent—Watanabe Mikado.
(What the hell is he...?! He was such a coward, he was so weak... There's no way he could have won the whole thing with a perfect record! No fucking way!)
Every time she remembered those eyes, that expression—they were all things she didn't recognize. Back in middle school, he was more timid, he lacked confidence, and above all, he was weak.
The sight of that man giving off an aura of dominance and defeating one powerhouse after another felt like nothing but a bizarre dissonance to Asuka.
(...Cheating. Yeah, he must have cheated. That’s why I lost. It wasn't real skill; there's no way it was skill. He’s weaker than me, so he shouldn't have been able to win. There's no way he could beat me...!)
People see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear, and believe what they want to believe.
Above all, Asuka’s thoughts were dominated by an event from middle school. Since then, she had found it impossible to believe in anything about Mikado.
—'That guy, you know? He betrayed you.'
The words that had served as the trigger flashed through her mind. A single sentence that caused a rage powerful enough to make her throw everything away.
"I won't forgive him..."
With a hatred deep enough to color everything she saw with the hue of madness, Asuka vowed revenge.
Even while knowing it wasn't right, the hatred swirling within Asuka was directed toward that man.
(Him... the one who took everything from me... This time, I’m going to take everything from him...!)
With the Yellow Dragon Tournament prefectural tournament approaching, she lit the fuse for a new wave of turmoil.
Even while feeling like she was forgetting something important—Asuka listened to his words and let her emotions explode.
◇
Activities in the Shogi club were always driven by self-initiative.
Since the club currently only had seven members, playing matches against one another too often would lead to everyone getting used to each other's moves, slowing down their overall growth.
Because of that, inter-club matches were limited to about once a week. The rest of the time was dedicated to researching new strategies or using AI analysis to sharpen individual skills.
Today, the Shogi clubroom was as quiet as ever. Aside from the clicking of mice and the occasional clack of pieces on a board, silence filled the air.
However, there were only four of us in the room right now—me and the three girls. The Sakuma brothers were supposedly running late, and President Takebayashi was taking the day off.
In the midst of this unusually lonely atmosphere, I sat with sweaty palms, staring intently at my smartphone screen.
The app I had open was Shogi Wars. I had just reached a ninety-nine-game winning streak, and the battle for my target—my one-hundredth consecutive victory—was about to begin.
<[Insane] Some unknown amateur powerhouse called the Emperor of Self-Destruction is on a tear lol Part 28>
Anonymous 611
: He’s actually at ninety-nine wins... Just thinking about him going for a hundred today makes me nervous.
Anonymous 612
: The match started! Wait, is his opponent an 8-Dan?!
Anonymous 613
: Forget 8-Dan, isn't that the rank #2 player, "Self-Destruction Hunter"...?
Anonymous 614
: It IS the second-ranked Self-Destruction Hunter! The Emperor’s being sniped—!!
Anonymous 615
: Whoa, this is a literal clash of the titans!
Anonymous 616
: Emperor of Self-Destruction vs. Self-Destruction Hunter.
Anonymous 617
: Matching with the top ranker at the very end lol.
My opponent was indeed one of the top-ranked players in Shogi Wars: "Self-Destruction Hunter."
He was an 8-Dan on the app, ranked second in the ratings right behind me. On top of that, he was the only player I had a double-digit losing record against.
Our current record stood at forty-one wins and nineteen losses. I had lost nineteen times to this person who was clearly out to get me.
It wasn't that he possessed overwhelming strength like Tennoji. Nor did he have the rock-solid, stable playstyle of Tojo.
He was just... difficult to play against. He always played the exact moves I hated most. To be honest, he understood my tendencies so well it made me wonder if he was a stalker.
Regardless, I wasn't fond of playing against him. It wasn't that I thought he was a bad person; I just didn't enjoy the matchup.
Self-Destruction Hunter studied Shogi for the sole purpose of defeating me. His entire research philosophy was built around the idea that as long as he beat me, nothing else mattered. I had felt that intensity in every one of our past battles. I mean, the name "Self-Destruction Hunter" was a pretty big giveaway...
Honestly, if you focus all your research on defeating a single person, it’s possible to win even if there’s a gap in overall skill.
But that also means you stop being able to win against anyone else.
It’s like if I studied only how to counter Tennoji; I might beat him, but I’d start losing to the general masses.
But this guy was serious. He was researching purely to take down the Emperor of Self-Destruction. He carried a weapon forged specifically to butcher me.
And I happened to match with him right as I was on the cusp of a hundred-game streak.
"Interesting..." I muttered, beginning the battle.
Anonymous 638
: Came to watch the top rankers go at it.
Anonymous 639
: Those moves are fast lol.
Anonymous 640
: Both players making instant moves from the start. Lmao.
Anonymous 641
: So fast.
Anonymous 642
: Are both starting with Static Rook?
As if we were reading each other's minds, our play followed the same path.
In the matches leading up to this one, I had won every single game using the "Self-Destruction Style." Self-Destruction Hunter had likely been watching.
In that case, I wouldn't play the "Self-Destruction Style" yet. He had undoubtedly prepared a counter for it. I was under no obligation to show off a strategy I knew he’d planned for. I would defy his expectations, rattle him, and take the win at the very end.
That was how the Emperor of Self-Destruction fought.
Anonymous 650
: By the way, the Emperor’s rating is 2998 right now. If he wins this, he’ll break 3000.
Anonymous 651
: >>650 No way, that’s monster territory lol.
Anonymous 652
: Oh? This symmetrical position... Is it gonna be... the Side Pawn Picker?
Anonymous 653
: Hunter will definitely take it. He’s the type who doesn't flinch, whether it's an aerial battle or a fight at the King’s head.
Anonymous 654
: Whoa, he took it! He took it!!
Anonymous 655
: Hunter picked the Side Pawn!
Anonymous 656
: Side Pawn Picker is such a high-octane brawling strategy! What’s the Emperor gonna do?
Self-Destruction Hunter pushed his Rook pawn for an early exchange to set up a fast-paced attack, then snatched my side pawn as if luring me in.
The opening was the "Side Pawn Picker."
The Side Pawn Picker is known as the representative of "rapid attack" strategies. It's prone to early exchanges of major pieces and intense mid-board collisions. Pieces are left "floating" and vulnerable all over the place; if you mess up your formation even slightly, you can lose in an instant.
In other words, I wasn't allowed a single mistake.
From Hunter's perspective, this was a preemptive strike. He judged that even if I played perfectly, the nature of this "aerial battle" increased the chances of me slipping up.
In that sense, choosing the Side Pawn Picker for this match was the "correct" move.
However, it was also... the "wrong" move.
Anonymous 667
: What?!
Anonymous 668
: He took it?!
Anonymous 669
: The Emperor took the side pawn too!
Anonymous 670
: Whoa! It’s the Double Side Pawn Picker!!
Anonymous 671
: D o u b l e S i d e P a w n P i c k e r.
Anonymous 672
: Seriously? Double Side Pawn Picker? That’s just pure chaos!
Anonymous 673
: Playing a Double Side Pawn Picker when a hundred-game streak is on the line? Is he sane? lol.
Anonymous 674
: Love how he’s down for a brawl even at 99 wins.
Immediately after he took my side pawn, I took his back. That must have been an unexpected move, because Self-Destruction Hunter—who had been playing instantly until now—paused for a split second.
An escalation from a rapid attack to a total brawl; it was a "no-guards" slugfest known as the "Double Side Pawn Picker."
I had never used the Double Side Pawn Picker in an actual match before. I had always felt that in this specific opening—which was basically a pure battle of memorized research—my personal strengths wouldn't shine.
But with my current skills, I could combine it with the "Self-Destruction Style" to turn it into a conceptual battle. The real fight started now.
"Phew...!"
My hands were shaking from the tension. I had to make sure I didn't misstap.
The game had branched from the Side Pawn Picker into the Double Side Pawn Picker. Right at the start of the opening, both Rooks had moved across the board to snatch the side pawns.
The Double Side Pawn Picker is a fight with no armor. It's like stepping onto a battlefield without a single piece of protective gear. Choosing this path usually implies an absolute confidence in victory.
How did Self-Destruction Hunter see me? How far ahead was he looking?
Anonymous 685
: Oh?
Anonymous 686
: Hunter broke from the book moves!
Anonymous 687
: He pulled his Rook all the way back to the bottom rank. What is that? A misstap?
Only a few moves into the established book procedures, the path was abandoned.
Sensing that I was trying to lead him into a trap, Self-Destruction Hunter quickly rejected it, throwing away the "best" move to deviate.
However, it wasn't like the evaluation had swung in my favor. The moment I countered his Side Pawn Picker with the Double Side Pawn Picker, the evaluation had already dipped slightly negative for me. His "bad" move had simply balanced the scales.
But it was a "bad" move with meaning. A deliberate choice.
With that one move, Hunter had forced me onto his turf. He had manipulated the board into a specific, non-standard position that only he had researched.
"...Heh."
An involuntary smile escaped my lips as the joy of fighting a strong opponent welled up within me.
As our reads piled up in that fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of his underlying psychology.
I could sense a cheerful grin through his moves, an emotion that was a mix of anticipation and tension transmitted through the timing of his play.
Are you smiling too, Self-Destruction Hunter?
Anonymous 690
: He switched! The Emperor switched to an Opposing Rook!
Anonymous 691
: The Emperor switched his Rook tooooo!
Anonymous 692
: Both of them are switching their Rooks?!
Anonymous 693
: Switching from a Double Side Pawn Picker to a Double Swinging Rook is too funny lol.
Anonymous 694
: Those Rooks are flying all over the place lmao.
Anonymous 695
: What is this chaotic mess of a match?
Hunter and I read the depths of each other's thoughts, anticipating the patterns of the coming attacks and moving to defend.
It was a battle where neither side would yield an inch. Pushing, pulling—neither of us would allow even the slightest lead to pass to the other.
We dropped our exchanged Bishops into our own camps to set up counters, preparing to repel any offensive line the other might take.
Before I knew it, the opening had transformed into something else entirely.
Anonymous 701
: Huh? Since when did this become a normal game of Shogi?!
Anonymous 702
: It suddenly looks like a regular game again lol.
Anonymous 703
: We were watching a Double Side Pawn Picker just now, right? lol.
Anonymous 704
: What is this? How does that even work? www.
On the surface, it looked like a normal game, but it never would have reached this state without the preceding chaos.
At first, I went for a book match, assuming he had prepared a counter for the "Self-Destruction Style." Hunter used that to initiate a Side Pawn Picker, and I changed the opening to the Double Side Pawn Picker to pull him into my world.
Hunter realized he was being pulled in, so he made a non-standard move to break the book, and I followed up by constructing a new position in the minimum number of moves to avoid falling into his trap.
From there, Hunter must have become wary of my intentions. He stopped attacking and settled into a counter-attacking stance. And thus, the game had returned to a seemingly normal state.
It might have looked like a pointless detour, but there was one thing that was now fundamentally different.
And that was—in this specific formation, the "Self-Destruction Style" would work.
Anonymous 707
: He moved!
Anonymous 708
: The Emperor’s King is moving up! Here it comes!!
Anonymous 709
: Oh man, here we go.
Anonymous 710
: There it is, the devil’s strategy.
Anonymous 711
: S e l f - D e s t r u c t i o n S t y l e i s h e r e!!
Anonymous 712
: The Emperor’s strongest strategy.
Anonymous 713
: He’s finally getting serious.
Anonymous 714
: Surprisingly, not many people know this, but this is an undefeated, "strongest" strategy that has never lost a single game.
Anonymous 715
: Can Self-Destruction Hunter break it?
The moment my opponent dropped a Bishop, I pulled my King up, marching him forward and forward.
I don't mean to brag, but the "Self-Destruction Style" had yet to be defeated. As it stood, it was a perfectly invincible strategy.
The moment I moved my King, Self-Destruction Hunter must have realized something. He abandoned his patient counter-attacking stance and began a ferocious assault.
Anonymous 718
: Hunter suddenly started attacking!
Anonymous 719
: He moved the moment the Emperor’s King stepped up lol.
Anonymous 720
: He’s so on guard against it lol.
Anonymous 721
: He’s panicking!
Anonymous 722
: I can feel his strong will to not let the Emperor reach the middle of the board lol.
Anonymous 723
: Looks like even Hunter has some kind of plan for this.
Showing moves that saw right through my goal, Self-Destruction Hunter rained down a massive barrage of attacks from above to punish my King, who had advanced to just before the middle rank.
As if declaring that raw mass was the ultimate power, he unleashed a torrential downpour of pieces, which I caught head-on.
Anonymous 724
: Where the hell are they even fighting?
Anonymous 725
: Right at the King’s head lol.
Anonymous 726
: He’s gonna go bald! He’s definitely going bald from this!
Anonymous 727
: Hunter’s offense is amazing, but the Emperor’s defense is just gross lol.
Anonymous 728
: Stop fighting at the King’s head like it’s no big deal.
Anonymous 729
: Does this guy not feel fear? lol.
He really was the Self-Destruction Hunter. He had initiated his attack before I could fully transition into the Self-Destruction Style, setting up a formation that prevented me from having my way.
I was forced into a battle at my own King's head, repeating a cycle of desperate offense and defense while using my King's life as a shield.
If I could break through here, I could achieve an "Entering King" and win easily, but Hunter’s assault was so relentless it seemed unlikely he would allow it.
Unlike the match with Aoi, my "castle" wasn't finished. It was because he had caught on before I could build it. Hunter’s reads had seen through my every intention.
But reading a person’s moves isn't a privilege reserved for you alone—
Anonymous 730
: Both of them are under thirty seconds!
Anonymous 731
: Hunter has 45 seconds, Emperor has 29 seconds.
Anonymous 732
: Ah?! AHHHHHHHHHHH—!!
Anonymous 733
: Hunter’s time-attack is here!!
Anonymous 734
: Hunter 44 seconds, Emperor 23 seconds.
Anonymous 735
: Wait, is this bad...?
Anonymous 736
: It’s over...
Anonymous 737
: The Emperor is out of time! Just play something! Anything! Fast!
With only a tiny amount of time left, the game shifted from "how do I checkmate the King" to "how do I make the opponent run out of time."
This was both the worst part and the ultimate fate of Shogi Wars.
Hunter’s moves became faster and faster, raining down a relentless assault to punish my King, who had exposed himself on the front lines.
If I hadn't gone for the Self-Destruction Style, it wouldn't have come to this.
Anonymous 745
: Under fifteen seconds left.
Anonymous 746
: The Emperor is gonna lose.
Anonymous 747
: Is the Emperor actually gonna lose this?
Anonymous 748
: Is the Emperor finally getting a black mark?
Anonymous 749
: Nooooo he’s gonna loseeeee.
Anonymous 750
: Hunter 36 seconds, Emperor 8 seconds.
The relentless time-attack continued. Every time I defended, my remaining time ticked away. Trapped in a desperate situation, I found myself unable to do anything against Hunter’s fierce onslaught.
However, did anyone notice? The evaluation was slowly, bit by bit, tilting in my favor.
Of course, Hunter likely realized this. He had likely judged that he could still win regardless.
But his attack was an overextension. He was playing moves that forced me to respond just to bleed my time, but that was a strategy predicated on the assumption that my time would actually run out.
My remaining time dwindled. Eight seconds, seven seconds—the sound of my life being shaved away echoed in my ears.
But at that same moment, Hunter ran out of attacking pieces.
"There."
At the exact moment his offense sputtered, I abandoned the defense of my King at the last possible second.
You left an opening, Self-Destruction Hunter—
I wasn't aiming for a time victory from the start. My goal, from the very beginning, was to checkmate your King.
Anonymous 758
: The Emperor made his move!!
Anonymous 759
: Six seconds left!!
Anonymous 760
: There’s no way he makes it in time lol.
Anonymous 761
: No way, no way! Impossible!
Anonymous 762
: What is he thinking? lol.
Anonymous 763
: Is he playing with no-time?!
Anonymous 764
: The Emperor’s no-time moves have started!!
Anonymous 765
: So fast?!
Anonymous 766
: What is this speed?!
Anonymous 767
: FAST!!!!!!!!
Anonymous 768
: Is this the Emperor’s true power?!
◇
There is a single moment when a human can surpass an AI.
It is that one "big picture" move derived from human sensibility and intuition. In other words, "instinct."
The ability to make an immediate judgment outside the bounds of human knowledge—this unreliable capacity known as the sixth sense—changes in accuracy based on the experience and skill of the individual.
Just as that genius professional player surpassed the AI for a fleeting moment, we amateurs also harbor that potential.
Shogi is a game decided by skill, but the "best move" in any given situation is a right granted to everyone, no matter who they are.
It’s simply that those with more skill are better at picking the move that is closer to the correct answer. That’s all.
In a state of extreme, sharpened concentration, one can grasp the certain, correct move in an instant.
Anonymous 774
: Is he seriously trying to checkmate him?!
Anonymous 775
: This is so fast, what the hell lol.
Anonymous 776
: He’s playing like ten moves per second lol.
Anonymous 777
: Is this a test for graduating from humanity?
Anonymous 778
: Hunter is fast, but the Emperor is like twice as fast.
Anonymous 779
: Stop these non-human battles lol.
I had read through every one of Hunter’s checkmate patterns while I was defending, and now I reproduced the sequence assembled in my head at high speed.
Check, check, check, check—! A relentless stream of checks fell upon Self-Destruction Hunter.
You made a bad move, Hunter. Your winning line was to focus purely on defeating me, not on a time-attack.
You can't defeat me now that you've let yourself be blinded by an easy victory. This might be Shogi Wars, but what we’re playing is fundamentally "Shogi."
Three seconds left. The defeat by time-out loomed right before my eyes.
But even from here, I’m going to checkmate you, Hunter—!
Anonymous 780
: One second left!!!
Anonymous 781
: One more second!!
Anonymous 782
: There’s only one second left!
Anonymous 783
: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Anonymous 784
: Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh lol.
Anonymous 785
: 0 seconds lolololol.
Anonymous 786
: It hit 0!! lololol.
A clash that lasted only a moment, one where I forgot even to blink. It was faster than light, stronger than a war god—a ceaseless exchange of blades on a tiny board.
While the sound of my pounding heart felt slower than anything else, my hand finally stopped.
—'VICTORY'—
That was what was displayed on my screen.
Anonymous 791
: HE DID ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!
Anonymous 792
: No way, he actually won lol.
Anonymous 793
: P e r f e c t V i c t o r y.
Anonymous 794
: I thought today’s match was on another level, but the opponent was Hunter?! And it’s a hundred-game streak?!
Anonymous 795
: Uohhhhhhhh! This is unprecedented!! The Emperor is insane!!
Anonymous 796
: I never want to play online Shogi if people like this are out there lol.
Anonymous 797
: He actually broke a 3000 rating lol.
Anonymous 798
: Who’s gonna stop this guy? lol.
Anonymous 799
: Someone put this monster in the Hall of Fame.
Anonymous 800
: Every top ranker must be shaking right now.
I had defeated Self-Destruction Hunter and finally achieved the milestone of a one-hundred-game winning streak.
(YEAAAAAAHH!!!)
...I screamed in my head so those around me wouldn't hear, while physically thrusting my right arm into the air in the quiet clubroom.
"Um... Mikado-kun?"
"What’s up with you?"
The two of them stared at my bizarre behavior, having no idea what was going on. However, it seemed Raizaki was the only one who understood what had just happened.
"A-Awa-wa-wa-wa..."
She was flustered to an extreme degree.
"What? What is it? Explain yourself, Raizaki."
"Wa-wa-wa-wa..."
"You’re acting like an alien or something," Aoi said.
"What’s going on, Mikado-kun?"
Since the two of them were now looking at me, I spoke up, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Uh, well, I just reached a hundred-game winning streak in Shogi Wars..."
""WHAAAT?!""
Tojo and Aoi shouted at the same time.
"What do you mean, a hundred-game streak?! I’ve never heard of such a thing! When did you do it?! Just now?!"
"Senpai, you’ve stopped being human!"
Unable to withstand the pressure of the two girls closing in on me, I showed them my phone screen.
"I-It’s true... It says a hundred-game winning streak..." Aoi muttered.
"Wait, look! Isn't your rank '10-Dan'?!"
"...Huh?"
"S-She’s right! Mikado-cchi’s rank is '10-Dan'! Aoi’s never seen that before!"
It was true. Somewhere along the line, my rank had changed from 9-Dan to 10-Dan.
I didn't even know Shogi Wars had a 10-Dan. I’d always thought 9-Dan was the highest, so I didn't even know it existed.
Anonymous 820
: Lmao, the Emperor’s account is '10-Dan' now.
Anonymous 821
: 10-Dan?!?! lol.
Anonymous 822
: It really is lol.
Anonymous 823
: A rank that doesn't exist in Shogi is here!! lol.
Anonymous 824
: Congrats on the Hall of Fame.
Anonymous 825
: Is it because he got a hundred wins?
Anonymous 826
: >>825 No, it’s probably because his rating broke 3000.
Anonymous 827
: The management is crazy for setting a rank for a 3000 rating, and the Emperor is crazy for actually reaching it.
A first hundred-game streak, and a first 10-Dan. Both were perfect milestones for a celebration.
I felt a fleeting sense of joy as I shared small, forced high-fives with Tojo and the others.
"Um..."
"?"
Raizaki slithered into our circle.
"I don't know if I should say this, but the Emperor reaching 10-Dan is blowing up on Shogi social media right now. It’s already become an online news article."
"What..."
Following Raizaki's suggestion, I searched my name, and the Emperor of Self-Destruction hit the top results instantly.
<[Breaking] Top Online Shogi Ranker "Emperor of Self-Destruction" Achieves Unprecedented 100-Game Winning Streak and Promotes to 10-Dan in Shogi Wars>
"W-Wow..."
I had gone for the hundred-game streak with a light heart, but it had turned into a massive festival...
"T-This is incredible. You’re a celebrity now, Mikado-kun."
"Ahaha..."
To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing to be the center of such a huge commotion.
I had just been quietly aiming for a hundred wins; I never thought so many people were watching.
I mean, it was the evening of a weekday...
"This is really heating up," Aoi noted.
"At this rate, I wonder if the news will spread beyond the community?" Tojo added.
"No, surely not... I mean, it’s just a small event in our niche world..."
In the first place, the only people who would care about this were those who actually played or were interested in Shogi. And even then, it would only be understood by people who knew Shogi Wars.
I was the one who achieved it, but it was a record set in a very narrow world. It wasn't like I’d done something in a real tournament, so I didn't think it would lead to much excitement.
However, that prediction was betrayed faster than a blink.
"Ah, Mikado-senpai, you’re trending."
"What?"
Peeking at Raizaki's phone, I saw that although it was near the bottom of the list, the word "Emperor of Self-Destruction" was indeed trending.
The quickly posted article already had over ten thousand likes, and the number of shares was in the quadruple digits.
"No way..."
"Hoo-hoo! Mikado-cchi’s popular!"
"It looks like several professional players commented on the article, which caused it to spread all at once," Tojo said.
Opening the reply section of the article, Tojo showed me a flood of comments, including names of some very big figures I recognized.
I felt like a truly amazing person had appeared.
I play Shogi Wars too, but I don't feel like I could ever reach 10-Dan.
I’m starting to think the person inside is a pro who’s close to us.
10-Dan... if this is an amateur, it’s absolutely terrifying.
They were all comments from active professional Shogi players.
"You’re being praised to high heaven!"
"Mikado-senpai is being noticed by pros, so cool..."
The reaction was so massive I felt like I was looking at someone else’s life. It was such an unrealistic sight that it didn't sink in that they were actually talking about me.
Among the scattered posts were theories like "the Emperor is actually pro player so-and-so" or "it must be amateur powerhouse so-and-so who’s beaten pros before," and some even suggested "it could be the pinnacle of amateurs, Kaito Tennoji."
True, if it were Tennoji, these results would make sense. Even to me, he was a formidable foe, and I still hadn't forgotten that struggle.
But unfortunately, the identity of the Emperor was just me—a pathetic, gloomy loner. I’m sorry I don't have the charisma of someone like Tennoji...
"Ugh, all these wrong theories are making me feel itchy..." Raizaki muttered.
"After all, the Emperor is a mysterious amateur powerhouse, right?"
Tojo and the others stared at me with smirks on their faces.
"W-What?"
"...Hey, Mikado-kun. Why don't you make an SNS account?"
"What?! An account...?"
"Yes, yes. An account, an account," Raizaki chimed in.
Tojo and Raizaki looked like they were plotting something, and I felt overwhelmed by their pressure, unsure of their true intentions.
"I-I mean, no. I usually just use SNS to browse; I don't really post anything... and I don't know how to make an account anyway."
"Then let’s make one now! I’ll teach you how! And then you have to follow me back!"
"Wait! Raizaki, that’s cheating! Mikado-kun is going to be mutuals with me! Right?"
So that was their goal...
"You two are so greedy. In that case, Aoi will make the account for Mikado-cchi instead. Oh, you don't need to thank me. In exchange, just give Aoi's account a little follow..."
Aoi slid in from the side.
"Hey! Don't try to get ahead of us!"
"Don't try to take the first spot with Mikado-senpai for yourself! Even I’ll get mad at that!"
"What! You two are already friends with the Emperor on Shogi Wars, right?! Then you can at least let Aoi have the SNS!"
"That’s a completely different matter!"
"Exactly! This should start with me, since I’ve known Mikado-senpai the longest!"
"You only played against him online! I’m the one who’s known his face the longest! We’re in the same class!"
"The class doesn't matter! And Aoi’s known him as long as Tojo-senpai has!"
...And so, the three of them began arguing without me.
I mean, I didn't care who I followed, and it wasn't like I had a rule about only following one person.
I slowly raised my hand holding my phone and spoke to the three girls who were still bickering.
"Uh, I’ll follow whoever stops fighting first."
"I stopped!"
"Yes! Done! I stopped!"
"I wasn't even fighting!"
Welcome to the Westgasaki High School Easy-Mode Heroine Club.
◇
Although it felt like I was being railroaded into it by Tojo and the others, I spent the next while working on setting up my social media account with the help of the three girls.
"Um, guys..."
"What is it, Mikado-kun?"
"Well, you're kind of..."
"Oh, you should definitely make the header image brighter-cchi!"
"Right..."
"Let’s go with a profile that says absolutely nothing! Let them wonder!"
"Got it..."
I sat in my chair, staring at my phone, while the three of them crowded around me, pressing in so close they were practically clinging to my back as they fired off instructions.
I could have sworn I felt the soft sensation of chests being pressed against me in the chaos, but I told myself I was surely just imagining things.
Following their lead, I tinkered with the profile, settings, and layout. After about thirty minutes, I had successfully created a brand-new account for the 'Emperor of Self-Destruction.'
"It’s done-cchi!"
"The transformation is complete!"
"Thanks for the help, you three."
"No need for thanks," Tojo said with a sly grin. "In exchange... you know what to do, right?"
"Oh, right. I just need to follow you guys, yeah?"
As soon as I said it, all three of them lit up.
Notifications immediately buzzed on my phone as they followed me, and I quickly followed each of them back, making us mutuals.
"Yes...!"
"Mutuals... with the actual Emperor of Self-Destruction..."
"I'm so moved-cchi...!"
I gave a wry smile as the three of them reacted in their own distinct ways.
Just making the account had wiped me out... but thanks to them, I understood how to use the app. For now, the Emperor's account was official.
"By the way, how am I supposed to prove this is actually the Emperor's account?"
"If you just post your SNS handle on your Shogi Wars profile page, that’ll be proof enough," Raizaki suggested.
"Oh, right. That’s a simple fix."
Following Raizaki’s advice, I opened Shogi Wars and copy-pasted my new handle into my profile bio.
Then—it happened just seconds later.
"Whoa!"
Suddenly, my phone started vibrating like a swarm of angry bees. Bzzzt! Bzzzt-bzzzt!
"Just as I thought—a total notification flood-cchi," Aoi said. "Mikado-cchi, you’d better turn those off. If you leave them on, that thing’s gonna be buzzing all day and night."
"You’re kidding..."
I dove into the settings to disable notifications and headed back to my profile. The follower count, which had been at three just moments ago, was already skyrocketing: five, ten, fifteen... it was growing exponentially.
I figured I should probably say something to break the ice.
"Uh... since it's my first post, should I just keep it simple and announce that I made the account?"
"Simple is best," Tojo agreed. "Yeah, I think that works."
With her approval, I drafted my first post.
Part of me was worried that no one would like it or comment, since it was my very first tweet, but…
@Zimetsutei28
I made an account.
Is this for real? Not a fake?
Wait, is it the real one?!
It’s the man of the hour!
Is it really him?!
The handle is on his Shogi Wars profile, so it’s legit. Holy crap...
Followed! Congrats on 10-Dan!!
Is it true you’re the high schooler who got publicly executed with a Shogi board in your classroom?!
The moment I posted, a flood of over thirty comments rushed in. Simultaneously, the follower count surged upward in a near-vertical line.
My followers went from three to over five hundred in just ten minutes, and my "I made an account" post—which was stating the obvious—already had over a thousand likes.
"There. That should do for the basics," Tojo said. "You’re free to post whatever you want now."
"Thanks. I'm still not used to this, but I'll try to keep it active."
"You shouldn't post your game records too often, Mikado-senpai," Raizaki warned. "You’re a celebrity now; people might start trying to counter you."
"Good point... I'll keep that in mind."
Just then, the bell rang to signal the end of club activities. It was time to head home.
"Speaking of which, those brothers never showed up today. Aoi, do you know anything?"
"Ah... no, Aoi doesn't know a thing-cchi..."
"What? Keeping secrets now?"
"No, it's just..."
Aoi looked troubled at Tojo’s question, offering neither a confirmation nor a denial.
"Well, I'm sure they'll be here tomorrow," I said. "Tojo-san, don't pick on Aoi too much."
"...If you say so, Mikado-kun, I'll drop it."
Tojo gave up on the interrogation, seemingly unable to argue once I stepped in.
The current Aoi was more or less on the straight and narrow. If she was keeping her mouth shut, it meant she had a reason—or perhaps it was something difficult to talk about. If that was her judgment, I had no intention of prying.
With that small seed of unease lingering in the air, we began our trek home.
—However, the Sakuma brothers did not return to the club after that.
<[Insane] Some unknown amateur powerhouse called the Emperor of Self-Destruction is on a tear lol Part 30>
Anonymous 103
: The Emperor starting social media has things popping off.
Anonymous 104
: Our Emperor is being exposed to the masses...
Anonymous 105
: Lmao, there are some big names in his follower list.
Anonymous 106
: Emperor, please enter a real-life tournament! I’d totally go watch!
Anonymous 107
: The Emperor sounds like a legit student in real life, so don't stalk him too hard.
Anonymous 108
: Changing the subject a bit, are people who are strong at Shogi also good at planning strategies in real life?
Anonymous 109
: >>108 It depends on the person, obviously, but if they’ve mastered a strategy game, their cognitive abilities are probably pretty developed. ...Though the Emperor basically just reads your mind.
Anonymous 110
: The Emperor’s ability to see through people is legit terrifying.
Anonymous 111
: Everyone who’s played against the Emperor says they never want to do it again.
Anonymous 112
: Honestly, the Emperor is probably the type of person you should never make an enemy of in real life.
◇
Around the same time, the Sakuma brothers, who had been absent from club activities, had traveled to meet a certain person.
They were at a cape slightly removed from the residential district. Beyond the yellow 'KEEP OUT' tape, a girl stood by the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast lake, looking melancholy.
Actually, it was questionable if "girl" was even the right word to describe her.
"Long time no see, Sensei," Hayato called out to her without hesitation.
In reality, he was desperately feigning composure to hide the fact that his heart was racing with tension.
"...Hayato, is it?"
The girl turned halfway to look at him.
She was a golden-haired beauty wearing a beret and a student’s cape. She looked young enough to be mistaken for an elementary schooler, yet she possessed the expression of a powerhouse—one that felt utterly devoid of human warmth.
She possessed a sense of "otherness" so intense that even Hayato couldn't bring himself to look her in the eye.
"Good thing I came here. I figured you'd be here this time of year, Sensei."
"It isn't a place I visit that frequently."
"But you’d come today, wouldn't you?"
"..."
The girl fell silent, letting out a deep breath. Just a few inches away from her lay a bouquet of blue-violet flowers.
Hayato maintained his distance, waiting a beat before he spoke again.
"Look... this is serious. I have a favor to ask you, Sensei."
Hayato lowered his head to the girl without a moment’s pause.
It was the first time he had bowed like this since the days of the Training Group, when he had underestimated this girl—who was serving as a temporary instructor—and had been utterly demolished by her in return.
The girl brushed her hair back. Even though Hayato’s head was down, she spoke as if she could see the expression on his face.
"You have a wicked look about you. Are you plotting something?"
Hayato’s face froze for a second, but he kept his posture, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Heh... Well, I wouldn't be coming to you if I wasn't plotting something, Sensei."
"Moving me for a personal matter means you students are stepping into this world. Do you understand that before you speak?"
"...I'm fine with that. This is a bit of an emergency."
As if making a wish to a demon, Hayato raised his head, a look of certain victory on his face.
"Fine. Speak. I'll at least listen."
◇
Ten days had passed since then.
The Westgasaki Shogi Club was operating as usual—or rather, it wasn't. There were only four of us in the clubroom, including me.
Specifically: Tojo, Raizaki, Aoi, and me. We had been the only ones attending for a while now.
The Sakuma brothers had shown their faces a few times early on, but they hadn't said anything of substance, and they hadn't shown up at all for the last few days.
President Takebayashi seemed to be absent from school entirely; we hadn't heard a peep from him. However, a completed registration form for the Prefectural Tournament had appeared on the President's desk the other day, so at least we knew we were still going.
Even so, that didn't do anything to ease the girls’ anxiety. They felt an ominous sense of dread regarding the boys' continued absence.
At first, we figured they’d show up eventually and continued our activities, but the unease only grew.
Tojo and Raizaki began to look visibly worried, wondering if they were intentionally skipping for some specific reason.
The discord we had been feeling finally reached a breaking point.
As expected, it was Tojo who snapped first.
"...I’ve had enough."
Tojo, who had been holding her phone to her ear trying to call President Takebayashi, finally turned her frustration toward Aoi after failing to get through yet again.
"I’ve been holding back because Mikado-kun told me to, but this is the limit. Aoi, you know something, don't you? Why aren't the President and the others coming to the club?"
"..."
Aoi remained silent, looking guilty.
While she might not have known the full story, it was clear she had bits and pieces of it. However, she kept glancing at me and kept her lips tightly sealed.
"I understand that you aren't hiding this out of malice," Tojo continued. "But I hate secrets. The Prefectural Tournament is right around the corner, and the club's leadership is M.I.A.? That’s unacceptable. We haven't even decided on our team order yet!"
Tojo’s voice rang out through the room. Raizaki followed up immediately.
"And we're completely lacking information right now. We know nothing about our opponents at the Prefectural level... nothing about the other districts. Who’s participating, what their favorite strategies are, who they might put in the Captain slot... we know absolutely nothing. If we go into the tournament like this, it’s going to be a disaster."
They both made perfectly valid points.
"Aoi... I mean, but..."
Aoi only looked away. Her expression suggested she was caught between wanting to speak and feeling like she absolutely shouldn't.
She was clutching her phone tightly in her hands—
◇
<Thread for discussing the [Yellow Dragon Tournament / Team Tournament] Part 91>
Anonymous 268
: The incident about the West District Captain cheating is blowing up in another thread.
Anonymous 269
: >>268 First I've heard of it. What are you talking about?
Anonymous 270
: That guy Watanabe Mikado who was cheating during the tournament. It’s super suspicious. I don't know the details, but apparently he made his debut and crushed Tenryu Kazuki...
Anonymous 271
: >>270 It wasn't a crushing victory. Tenryu had the advantage until the end, and then the guy suddenly pumped out a series of AI moves to flip the game.
Anonymous 272
: So he used an engine because he was about to lose? That’s literally the lowest of the low.
Anonymous 273
: These topics are everywhere lately because AI is so advanced. It’s common in online tournaments, but I guess it’s finally happening in real life too.
Anonymous 274
: Wait, this guy won all his matches as Captain? No way lol.
Anonymous 275
: He shouldn't even be allowed to play in the Prefecturals.
Anonymous 276
: Is he seriously a total unknown debut player? Has he never even entered a district tournament before?
Anonymous 277
: >>276 Totally unknown. That’s why I reported him.
Anonymous 278
: It hasn't become a huge scandal yet because it was just the districts, but a nameless player suddenly beating last year’s amateur title holder is suspicious no matter how you look at it.
Anonymous 279
: If Tenryu had lost because of a fatal blunder, I could understand, but this was clearly a win based on skill, which makes no sense. If he’s that strong, his name should have come up long ago.
Anonymous 280
: I reported him too.
Anonymous 281
: You can tell just by looking at the record; those aren't human moves. Confirmed AI.
Anonymous 282
: >>281 Ah, so the moves themselves look like software-assisted engine play? Then he’s definitely out…
◇
Tojo gently took Aoi’s hands, kneeling down so she was at eye level with the younger girl.
"Listen, Aoi. If you know something, please tell me. I’m sure it’ll help more if you just say it. I promise I won't be mad at you, no matter what it is."
"But..."
"I'll take all the responsibility. If there's a problem, we're supposed to face it together as teammates, right? So, please? You don't have to carry everything on your own anymore."
Encouraged by Tojo’s words, Aoi glanced at me for a split second before slowly opening her mouth.
"I... I don't really know much about the President. But Hayato-cchi and Kaito-cchi said they were going to do everything they could to make sure we get to go to the Prefecturals... So I think... they're busy dealing with 'it'..."
"Dealing with it...?"
The way her voice trailed off made it clear how conflicted she was. She really didn't want to say this.
"I-It’s this..."
Finally, Aoi gave in and showed us her phone.
On the screen was a message board, filled with comments from anonymous users heatedly discussing someone.
—When I looked closer, I realized they were talking about me.
"...Huh?"
"Wait, what is this...?!"
The posts were claiming that Watanabe Mikado had cheated during the tournament. No... they were full of vile insults directed at a "cheater."
What stood out most was the thread title: <That newbie Watanabe Mikado seems to have been cheating in the tournament lol>.
And there wasn't just one comment; there were dozens, hundreds. If there was this much activity here, it had likely spread elsewhere.
Most of the comments were derogatory, expressing disappointment that Watanabe Mikado had resorted to foul play.
Hardly any of the comments were in my defense.
"Mikado-kun... cheating...?"
Tojo was the only one who could find her voice in the face of such a shocking revelation.
SLAM—!
"...?!"
Suddenly, Raizaki, who was standing next to me, slammed her fist onto the desk with incredible force.
Raizaki, who usually had the best temperament of all of us and never lashed out at objects, had just slammed the table in silence. We all stared at her, eyes wide with shock.
"I'm going to kill them."
She said only that before starting to stand up.
"Raizaki-san..."
"Calm down, Raizaki-san."
"No."
Without even grabbing her bag, Raizaki started to walk toward the exit. Her face, needless to say, was flushed with pure rage. She was radiating a murderous intent that made it seem like she really might go through with her threat.
"...Wait."
I grabbed her arm to stop her.
"...Let go of me."
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm going home."
"And then?"
"I'm going to find the people who posted this and make sure they face the consequences."
"I see. But just wait a second."
"I don't want to...!"
"Acting out of pure anger won't end well. I'm happy that you're angry for my sake, but please, just take a breath."
My calm words seemed to grate on her nerves. Raizaki shook her arm free and exploded.
"...How am I supposed to stay calm?! Look at these posts! This... this is blatant defamation!!"
"I get it."
"Cheating?! They’re saying you cheated?! Do they have any idea how much of your life you've poured into Shogi, Mikado-senpai?! Do they have any idea how much training you had to do to reach that level of skill?! To call that cheating... it's unbelievable! There are some things you just don't say, even as a joke!!"
She continued to shout, her voice cracking as large tears welled up in her eyes.
"...Yeah. I understand exactly how you feel."
"Do you really?!"
"I do. It's about me, after all. So please, just calm down. I’m just as angry as you are."
"Then how can you be so calm—!!"
"...Just listen to him. Calm down."
Tojo stepped in, gently hugging Raizaki from behind to soothe her.
"I feel the same way, Raizaki-san. ...Thank you for being angry for him. But it's okay now. Let's just take a breath, okay?"
"............I... I'm sorry..."
Raizaki seemed to regain her composure as Tojo stroked her hair, and she slumped back into her seat.
However, Tojo’s own voice was laced with a controlled fury. She was clearly struggling to keep her promise not to get mad at Aoi, but her anger was seeping through the cracks.
"...Now, would you mind explaining what this is all about?"
In the heavy, tense silence, Aoi swallowed hard and finally spoke.
"Yes... Actually, Aoi was the first one to notice this board. On the morning of the day I tried to make Mikado-cchi leave the club—"
As Aoi tried to speak honestly, Raizaki-san, who hadn't known about that particular detail, turned pale and cut her off.
"Wait a second. Did you just say you tried to make Mikado-senpai leave the club? What do you mean? I never heard about that."
Likely still on edge from the previous revelation, Raizaki directed a piercing gaze toward Aoi.
"Uh, well, that was..."
"That’s in the past," I said. "And it’s already been settled. It’s nothing you need to worry about, Raizaki-san."
"...It’s really settled?"
"Yeah. Really. So, let’s get back to the main topic."
With my prompting, Aoi continued, looking slightly awkward.
"At the time... Hayato-cchi was there too—"
It happened just as Aoi turned on her heel to leave.
"You know, for the record... I am your senior."
Hayato’s voice was barely a murmur, but Aoi heard him. She gripped her smartphone tight, spinning back around to crowd into his space again.
"Oh? Then as my 'senior,' are you gonna solve this problem for us?"
"Huh?"
She shoved the screen right under Hayato’s nose.
"...Hey, what the hell is this?"
Hayato’s eyes went wide. He reached out as if to snatch the phone away, but his hand stopped just inches from the device.
"Scroll down!" Aoi commanded.
"Fine. I'm looking."
The second she gave him the go-ahead, Hayato grabbed the phone, his face contorted with intensity as he flicked through the screen.
It was a thread filled with posts accusing Mikado of using Shogi software during the tournament—denouncing him as a cheater.
"That guy... cheated...?"
"That’s what they’re saying," Aoi replied flatly.
"Don't give me that bullshit! If he actually pulled some crap like that, I’d kill him myself! We were there—we know better than anyone that everyone was clean before the match!"
"Don't yell at me about it. I'm just telling you what’s being written. Maybe he was acting suspicious or something?"
Hayato stared at the screen, his breathing heavy, until he finally seemed to force himself back into a state of calm.
"...And what, you want me to do something about this? I thought you were trying to kick Watanabe out of the club?"
"I am. But that’s a separate issue. I don't care if he’s innocent or not, but I won’t stand for people mocking us for being on a team with a cheater."
"God, you’re such a calculating woman. You’re not cute at all."
"I wasn't exactly planning my life around being 'cute' for you."
Hayato shot her a side-eye, his expression hardening.
"...Fine. I’ll see what I can do on my end. But listen—don't go dragging Tojo into this, you hear me? If this blows up, the club is finished. And don't you dare say a word to the guy himself."
"I won't. Besides, he’s already 'retired' anyway."
"Yeah, whatever. My brother and I will move on this. You guys just focus on getting strong enough to actually win the Prefectural Tournament."
"Mind your own business. You're weaker than me anyway."
"...For now, maybe."
◇
"I see... so that’s what happened."
After Aoi finished explaining the situation, I leaned my head against my hand, lost in thought.
So, Hayato was the one who told her to keep quiet. That explains why the Sakuma brothers have been so busy lately.
Still, I never imagined a day would come where I’d be indebted to Hayato twice.
"I'm sorry for keeping it from you..." Aoi murmured, looking down.
"It’s alright. Thank you for telling us. I understand the situation now," Tojo replied, nodding gently.
Raizaki, on the other hand, looked like she was at her wit's end. She snapped her head up, eyes blazing with more fury than anyone else in the room.
"Let’s file a disclosure request! Find out who's behind this!"
A manhunt for the culprit. In terms of Shogi, it was the "standard move." This was blatant defamation, a move with zero benefits and a hundred harms. The logical step was to unmask the perpetrator and clear his name immediately.
But the world is irrational. In Shogi, the "standard move" is usually the best one, but in reality, that's not always the case. Justice takes time to prevail.
And time was the one thing they didn't have.
"No. We’re not doing that,"
"Why not?! Are you just going to let them get away with this?!"
"I agree with Raizaki," Tojo added. "We should go to the police, or at least the school faculty. We have to rip this out by the root to solve it."
The root, huh? I thought. Yeah, it’d feel great to just tear the whole thing out.
But life is rarely that simple.
"Thinking about who did it is a waste of time. When you’ve got this many people posting, tracking them down one by one is just an exercise in futility."
This was a twisted setup.
Even if "Watanabe Mikado" was the perfect target for a cheating scandal, it was nearly impossible to coordinate this many voices in such a short time.
It was a fabrication. There was no evidence. And yet, the sheer volume of people jumping on the bandwagon and convincing themselves I was guilty was staggering.
I wasn't an internet expert, but I knew enough to see the signs of professional manipulation.
They were being sloppy on purpose. It felt like a trap—an invitation for me to sue, to take action.
What’s the motive for dragging me down like this? What are they aiming for? What does the "mastermind" gain if I launch a legitimate counterattack?
Every action has a motive. If this were just jealousy or someone blowing off steam, the method was too sophisticated, yet the execution too amateurish. If I actually sued, the whole thing would fall apart for the culprit.
That meant the culprit wanted me to sue.
...Which meant Hayato’s warning to Aoi started to make perfect sense.
"Then what are we supposed to do...?" Raizaki asked, her voice trembling.
"Nothing. We focus on the club and keep practicing for the Prefectural Tournament."
"Are you serious...?! The posts are still increasing! If we leave this alone, it's only going to get worse!"
"That’s why those brothers are moving behind the scenes, isn't it? Our job is to stay focused and sharpen our skills."
"But...!"
Raizaki clearly couldn't accept it. Tojo, too, voiced her objection to my proposal.
"...Usually, I’d agree with you, Mikado-kun, but I have to disagree this time. Leaving this alone won't make it better. This is clear defamation. The 'best move' is to sue and resolve this properly."
"No. You're missing the point, Tojo-san."
"What...?"
Tojo looked genuinely bewildered—a rare sight.
"Even if I launch a legitimate counterattack, the person who did this won't stop smiling. This whole setup is so obvious, it’s basically begging us to sue."
"But why would they want that...?"
"Because if we turn this into a major incident, I’ll be put under investigation. And in the eyes of the public, that's the same as a 'grey' verdict. ...Which means there’s a chance my eligibility for the Prefectural Tournament would be revoked."
"Oh..."
Exactly. Moving now would be a blunder. For a normal person, it might be fine, but we had a tournament on the horizon.
The sloppiness of the attack was the bait for a trap.
"The accusation is that I’m cheating. If we turn this into a legal matter, everything goes into a holding pattern while they 'investigate.' That would directly interfere with what the Sakuma brothers are trying to do under the radar. ...And if we can't compete in the Prefectural Tournament, who stands to gain the most?"
Tojo stepped back, the realization dawning on her.
"The Yellow Dragon Tournament is one of the biggest tournaments in history, right?"
"...Yes. It has massive corporate sponsorship. The prestige of winning is on a completely different level compared to other tournaments."
"Then the motive becomes even clearer. The timing is perfect. They’re aiming specifically to knock us out right before the Prefectural match."
At the very least, Sakuma Hayato had realized that much. That was why he hadn't told the rest of them—to ensure they focused on making it to the tournament.
"So, just like Hayato said, the best move is to keep our heads down and keep getting stronger."
"...The royal road cannot be defeated by the wicked path," Tojo murmured.
"Then we'll just have to walk the path of the conqueror."
In a detached voice, I handed Aoi’s phone back to her.
Pure anger might dull the pain, but it doesn't help with calm judgment.
I didn't consider myself a saint who felt nothing when being falsely accused, but I desperately tried to maintain an objective perspective.
"Raizaki, Tojo-san... Aoi. Thank you for getting angry for my sake."
At that moment, the bell signaled the end of club activities, and the tension in the room eased slightly.
I gave a small, wry smile.
"Don't worry. I never said anything about taking this lying down."
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