There is something called the "Elementary School Star Tournament," and most people who become professional players in middle school have generally won it. Kuzuryū Yaichi was also the youngest winner of the Elementary School Star Tournament when he was in the third grade, having defeated Kannabi Ayumu in the semi-finals and Tsukiyo Mizusaka Ryū in the final match. Most who turn professional in middle school have excelled in Shogi tournaments since elementary school, or even earlier.
But this man was different. His name was Ōki Haruo, the man who won the Middle School Star Tournament when he was in his first year of middle school. Strangely, he had no record of participation in any previous tournament.
In August of the following year, Ōki joined the training group (Shoreikai) holding the 1-kyu rank. He then achieved 24 consecutive wins, passed the Third-Tier League in a single season, and did so with a perfect winning streak as well.
It was not long before whispers began to circulate about him using the word "invincible."
The next time Ōki—who had swept everyone and won the Middle School Star title—appeared was in the Shoreikai entrance exams. At this point, the assessment that he possessed strength equivalent to the Dan-ranked players in the association was overturned. The slight errors he had made a few months earlier vanished, and he began making extremely precise, flawless moves.
It was not long before someone started calling Ōki, who entered the Third-Tier League undefeated and continued to win undefeated, by the title of "The Invincible Master."
(Isn't the title "The Invincible Master" at this timing a bad thing? And will we truly be able to defeat that Master?)
(Don't worry, Master. It is almost a shame that this match is not an official one.)
(However, the Master is competing against the three of us—myself, Ayumu, and Kuzuryū—in three rapid-play matches, as part of Nico Nama's planning? How did the Master agree to this?)
(The trio—Kuzuryū Yaichi, who won the 6th group qualifiers of the Ryūō Battle, Kannabi Ayumu, who has the highest winning percentage among young players, and Ōki Haruo, nicknamed "The Suspicious Invincible Master"—are garnering attention as the next generation of players.)
(Wait, the last one! Who is calling me The Suspicious Invincible Master!?)
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As part of a program for a streaming platform, the three of us challenged the Master: myself, who safely passed the Third-Tier League; Kuzuryū Yaichi, who won the 6th group qualifiers of the Ryūō Battle; and Kannabi Ayumu, who is advancing in the Ranking League (Group C-1) with a perfect winning streak.
Naturally, I will be the first player, but if I win the first game, the entire concept of the program will fail.
After repeatedly asking the staff whether winning was truly allowed, the Master appeared. He seemed to have heard what we said, as he stated with one word: 「I look forward to playing.」 Then, he left.
(Will we truly be able to win? My knees are trembling and won't stop.)
Although it was not an official match, both of us sharpened our resolve and sat facing each other across the Shogi board. Alright. "Ai," I leave it to you.
(Should I start giving you instructions from the first move? You can play freely up to a certain point.)
(Oh dear. Well, I'll just assemble the Yagura [one of the defensive castle formations], and then I'll switch to you.)
(In that case, there will be no accidents 100%. )
Since it was a rapid-play match, the thinking time was 30 seconds with ten additional one-minute thinking periods, in the (NHK) style. Honestly, the NHK style is considered a very short time limit.
(I thought I would continue playing by making one move in exactly ten seconds, because just building the Yagura won't be fun.)
But the Master moved the Rook [Castle piece], so I couldn't build the Yagura, damn it. Anyway, I moved the King next to the Bishop and played in the Ibishia Anaguma [a defensive style where the King is fortified in a corner of the board] style, starting with the Boat Castle [a rapid defensive formation]. Since moving the Rook wastes one move, my fortified castle will be easier to complete in exchange for that wasted move.
When the Master saw that I had transitioned to Anaguma, he started the attack, and when I tried to ignore it, "Ai" stopped me.
(The situation is still equal, but ignoring this attack will make our position slightly worse, and it seems difficult to compensate for that against the Master.)
(What a rarity for "Ai" to confirm that compensation is difficult. Moreover, is it difficult for a supercomputer to compensate against the Master?)
Well, it claims to be a supercomputer, but perhaps its actual capability is much weaker than real supercomputers. While I was thinking this, "Ai" began to dismantle the Master.
(My goodness, this supercomputer is too strong in complex middle-game battles.)
"Ai" violently stripped away the Master's defensive pieces with a fierce, highly aggressive assault.
The Master, no longer able to hold out, launched a desperate attack hoping to find a way out, but my response to that attack was so ordinary that I could have easily executed it even if I were playing myself.
Although it was an attempt to shape a position, "Ai" was a monster, mercilessly snatching the attacking pieces.
In the end, the Master saw move number 93 (Gold Pawn on square 7-9) and resigned.
Perhaps it was a bad sign that the Master had exhausted all their thinking time, while I hadn't used the bonus thinking time even once. Well, it was an entertainment program, and I was told winning was fine, so I guess it was a permissible match to win.
In the post-match analysis with the Master, I agreed with the notion that his early attack was not good, and thus my turn ended. After that, I cheered on Kuzuryū and Kannabi, but they both lost easily.
When I saw that, I realized something.
(Wait, wasn't the Master and Kuzuryū only supposed to meet in Kuzuryū's defense match for the "Ryūō" title? This is a premature and serious defeat! I'm afraid this breach of the original storyline will affect Kuzuryū's morale and his chances of winning the title.)
(Do not worry, Master. Both of them collapsed due to uncharacteristic mistakes in the opening of the match, resulting from the rapid play and pressure. Therefore, there is no issue.)
(So, is there a possibility that this loss might prevent Kuzuryū from winning the Ryūō title?)
(There isn't. Therefore, please proceed and participate in the Ranking League with peace of mind. What truly threatens to breach the original storyline is that Kuzuryū Yaichi is about to pass the Group C-2 League in one season.)
(Hmm? I have a dilemma: I want him to fall behind in the Ranking League because of this loss, but I want him to win the Ryūō title. Well, it's natural for him to dedicate resources to the Ryūō Battle if he is advancing in it, so it's probably fine.)
The original story seems to be collapsing in various ways already, but the Shogi world today is dominated by peace. It must be dominated by peace.
What did I feel after defeating the Master? I know nothing about it. I was just astonished and impressed by "Ai's" moves the entire time.