After the confrontation between Ai and Tenai concluded, and during the break, I offered small instructional matches to some of the girls from the Girls' Shogi Study Group (JS-ken).
(This is Mizukoshi Mio, who will be going abroad, and this is Sadatomi Ayano, the girl interested in male relationship literature.)
(What do you think of this method of memory retention? In any case, both girls are quite strong.) (Ai)
Mizukoshi is strong enough to engage in a fierce struggle (mutual striking) with Ai. She was supposed to lose to Ai with a Dropped Lance handicap soon, but considering how much Ai has progressed, perhaps she has already lost.
Given that they usually receive instructional matches from Kuzuryū (nicknamed the Loli King) and that both have official professional masters, they are much stronger than other children their age. Well, they are also members of the training association, so it would be strange if they weren't capable of playing at this level.
On the other hand, Charlotte-chan is lovely. Just incredibly lovely. Little girls with blonde hair are beautiful, aren't they? I completely understand why Kuzuryū wants her as a wife. As for her Shogi level? If her strength is equivalent to the 1st Kyū Amateur rank at this age, she can become a professional player regardless of the path she takes. Moreover, these girls will continue to receive instructional matches from Kuzuryū. At the very least, their growth will continue as long as they are young.
After the instructional matches concluded, I decided to take the opportunity to enter the "Good Mood" bathhouse. Fortunately, Tenai also entered the bathhouse with the girls from the Girls' Shogi Study Group (JS-ken), and as a master, I am happy to see friendship blossoming among them.
Well, if Kuzuryū and I enter the bathhouse together now, Asuka-san won't be able to come and scrub Kuzuryū's back. Therefore, I said I would bathe later and stepped outside. The Kyobashi area has many different shops, so there will be no shortage of ways to pass the time.
After wandering around and spending some money here and there, I returned to the "Good Mood" bathhouse to find Ai stepping on Kuzuryū, and Sora-san stepping on Kuzuryū's head. What impeccable timing!
「Where have you been, Master? Due to your absence, I was forced to witness the exaggeratedly strange and perverted behavior of the Loli King.」 (Sora-san)
「I was out shopping. In any case, shoulder pain is an occupational hazard that affects all professional Shogi players, so there's nothing we can do about it.」 (Ōki)
「... And do you also suffer from severe shoulder pain, Master?」 (Tenai)
「My allocated playing time is short, and I don't look down at the Shogi board much (I don't bend over it frequently), so mine isn't that severe.」 (Ōki)
It seemed that Tenai was observing Kuzuryū with a cool, detached gaze after exiting the bath, while Akira-san was styling her hair. Clearly, she did not participate in that amusing scene.
As for Sora-san, she was looking at Tenai and me with a face that reflected the end of the world. While I wondered about the reason for this expression, I heard Sora-san's whisper.
「... This is the other Shogi Alien (the other genius).」 (Sora-san)
Kuzuryū, who was beneath Sora-san, apparently did not hear her whisper, as question marks formed above his head. However, the whisper clearly reached my ear. The "other Shogi Alien"? Does she mean Tenai?
... She must have heard from Iyo-shi Gyokushō about Tenai's simultaneous (multifaceted) matches. What a blabbermouth that man is. This means she might also be aware of Tenai's participation in the Mynavi Women's Open. Even if she didn't know, she could easily guess.
「Right, since we are all here, why doesn't Tenai play a match against Sora, the two-time titleholder?」 (Ōki)
「Stop it. They will play anyway in the Apprentice Guild exam.」 (Kuzuryū)
「...!!」 (Sora-san)
(The sharp look on Sora-san's face became frightening just now. Was she that aggressive toward me?)
(No, she is simply afraid of the Shogi Alien coming from below. She also became cautious after you, Master, mentioned that she will play in the Apprentice Guild exam.) (Ai)
(Ah, if Tenai is going to face Sora-san in the exam, that means there is no option but to apply for the 1st Kyū rank test in the Apprentice Guild. But that's fine; she shouldn't play with her now. It would be bothersome if Tenai lost here and developed a strange complex of hatred against Sora-san.)
「Well, that's true. Furthermore, Sora doesn't seem to be in the mood to accept a friendly training match.」 (Tenai)
「We have played enough today, let's go back. On that note, I'll be leaving. I randomly bought some food, so everyone, please help yourselves.」 (Ōki)
It was a productive day, as I managed to confirm the extent of Ai's strength progression, although her playing style remains inconsistent. As for Sora-san, my relationship with her has been poor from the start; or rather, we simply do not get along. We barely talked at all. Given her aggressive demeanor, she won't be able to speak with me normally anymore.
(I am looking forward to the Third Dan League (Sandan) next year. This is the league where trainees compete to determine who will become a professional.) (Ai)
(Yes. The Third Dan League takes place immediately after the Queen Title match. If Tenai manages to seize the Queen title... that will certainly have a huge impact on the overall Shogi scene, and the person who will benefit the most from that impact in the Third Dan League must be Hyōma Kagamisu.)
I loved the character of Ginko Sora (Sora-san) in the original work (the novel), and I belonged to the "Elder Sister Faction," and I was absolutely delighted when she became the "Grand Hero of Justice" in the story. Seeing her in reality, she is so beautiful that I hesitated to speak to her. During the training period, I thought extensively about how her relationship with Kuzuryū would develop... When did it start? When did Sora-san's feelings and her relationship with Kuzuryū become unimportant to me?
(As a human, you can clearly see who is easier to deal with: the person who spreads antagonism and isolates herself (like Sora-san), or the person who cares for others and is considerate (like Kagamisu-san). This applies to both genders.) (Ai)
(Honestly, Kagamisu-san has also looked after me, and I truly wish for him to become a professional player. This is something I desire, even if I know the feelings of Ginko Sora (Sora-san) and her role in the original work; I also want Kagamisu-san to advance.)
(Before that, isn't there a problem about whether Kōnogi and Sora-san can achieve promotion (to professional status) before the original schedule for the Third Dan League, due to Tenai's joining the Apprentice Guild?) (Ai)
(It is fine if the two are delayed in turning professional by about one season. How many more chances do they think they will get? The important thing is that Kagamisu-san moves up to the Fourth Dan rank (the rank at which a player becomes professional).
(You are checking this season's results in meticulous detail, aren't you?) (Ai)
(I am worried that the changes that occurred because of me might prevent them from getting an extension for remaining in the Guild by achieving a winning record.)
Due to Tenai's joining the Apprentice Guild, the biggest adjustment to the original plot will occur in the results of Sora-san and Kōnogi, who are in the Guild. Both might not be able to become professionals at the timing that occurred in the original story.
However, both are in a very comfortable position and have plenty of time. I personally passed through the Apprentice Guild with lightning speed, but at least I didn't make this many enemies just for being strong.
... My biggest concern is Sora-san's remaining age (she has a maximum age limit before which she must become professional), but well, isn't she supposed to be okay? After everything that has happened, she won't die before Kuzuryū, right?
「... What does "Shogi Alien" mean?」 (Tenai)
「Hmm? That's a word Sora-san invented; you shouldn't worry about it, should you? Most likely, she meant me.」 (Ōki)
「Ah, so that's the meaning. Something along the lines of: someone extremely brilliant at Shogi?」 (Tenai)
「Personally, I really don't want that word (which resembles a sarcastic nickname) to spread.」 (Ōki)
Tenai has her attendant, Akira-san, so I shouldn't have to escort her all the way, but I do return to the mansion with her sometimes. Then, did Tenai also hear that whisper (that Sora-san uttered)?
... If the arrangement of the matches in the Third Dan League (Sandan) changes, does that mean the dramatic trigger for Sora-san's awakening (flag for her evolution) will also be broken?
I do not want to deliberately do anything to break that trigger, but it is unlikely that she will fail to awaken just because Tenai joined the Apprentice Guild. Perhaps I should overlook the matter of promotions for now and assume things will be fine.
Kagamisu-san is also in a very good position this season; I hope he can secure his transition to professional status this season, regardless.
....
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