「...Mr. Oki, is it true that Miss Tenai's talent is inferior to the woman we saw earlier?」 (Ishi – Driver/Attendant)
「She was back then, do you follow? As for now, I suspect they are equal. She may not have caught up in actual playing strength yet, but I believe she will surpass her very soon.」 (Oki)
「Hmm? Isn't Shogi talent something one is born with?」 (Ai)
「Indeed. It is an innate power. However, there is no logic that dictates such power cannot develop and grow, is there?」 (Oki)
Tenai, the youngest participant, concluded her match against Kakubayashi, the oldest, in record time. As Tenai played her moves instantly without pausing to think, Kakubayashi quickly blundered, bringing the game to an end just as it entered the middlegame. Afterward, Tenai proceeded to another room to take photos with her personal sponsors.
Since she advanced to the qualifier finals, applications for Tenai's personal sponsorship opened once more. Although Mynavi takes a 20% commission from the revenue, Tenai retains the remaining 80% if she wins, meaning she grossed a massive sum from today's match alone. Given that her family is extremely wealthy, she has no need for the money, but as for Ai... Is Ai's family similarly affluent?
(Not merely 'wealthy'—she is obscenely rich. Did you not know? She is the only daughter of the owner of Hinatsuru Inn, the most luxurious and historic ryokan in Japan. Her parents used to transfer monthly allowances to Kuzuryu just to cover her expenses.) (Ai)
(Ah, that's right. I remember now. She was saving those funds to purchase the kimono she intends to wear for title matches.) (Oki)
Regardless, commanding such a massive number of sponsors implies that Tenai and Ai possess a commensurate level of charisma. This is crucial; if the situation is already like this at such an early stage, their popularity is bound to skyrocket at a frantic pace. Consequently, they stand to earn a fortune.
(What does the Master—who decided to become a pro Shogi player solely for the money, just to play and goof off—have to say as he watches two little girls nearly earn five million yen in a single day?) (Ai)
(My next target is the "Ban-Ou" [King of the Board] title.) (Oki)
(So your second title target is the "Ban-Ou"? Does that mean you intend to intentionally lose the challenger determination tournament for the "Oza" [Throne] title later this month?) (Ai)
(No? I intend to win the challenger determination match, become the official challenger for the title, and then suffer a clean, crushing defeat with four straight losses.) (Oki)
The battle for the «Oza» title is set to evolve into a full championship match beginning in September. The current holder is the «Meijin» (Great Master), while the «Ryu-Ou» (Dragon King) campaign begins in October. ...In the original storyline, the 99th title achieved by the Meijin was the «Kisei» (Shogi Sage). This implies that if the Meijin fails to retain his current «Oza» title, the «Ryu-Ou» match will no longer serve as the decisive battle for his landmark 100th title.
I am unsure precisely how these details unfolded in the original narrative, but as it stands, the Meijin possesses 98 titles, holding both the «Oza» and «Ban-Ou». To ensure the «Ryu-Ou» remains the stage for his 100th victory, the optimal course is for me to become the challenger for the «Oza» and lose to him. By doing so, I can rectify the disruption caused when I seized the «Kisei» title.
(The original storyline has already been torn to shreds; is there really any point in patching it up now?) (Ai)
(Yes. I snatched the «Kisei» title on a whim, out of sheer excitement, and I have begun to fear that I may have broken the "flag" for Kuzuryu's awakening and growth. Personally, I do not wish to disrupt that trajectory, so I reasoned that I must at least preserve the context of the "100th Title.") (Oki)
(In short?) (Ai)
(It all depends on my mood.) (Oki)
(You are truly a terrible person, don't you think? However, since the opponent is the Meijin, did you not wish to test him yourself, Master?) (Ai)
(If I relied solely on my own ability, I would be a player who needs several seasons just to clear the third division, would I not? But yes, I do want to fight him. Therefore, I will attempt to fight the «Oza» battle using my own strength.) (Oki)
The plan moving forward requires me to become the challenger for the «Oza», allow the Meijin to win and claim his 99th title, and then leave him to contest the «Ryu-Ou» for his 100th. Fortunately, given this year's schedule, if he defends his «Oza» title with a clean, swift victory, he will secure his 99th title before the first round of the «Ryu-Ou» begins.
Since he is destined to defend his title and reach number 99, it follows that he will lose the «Ban-Ou» title that precedes it. I will be the one to seize that «Ban-Ou» title, establishing myself as Oki, the Double Crown.
「L... I'm finished...」 (Tenai)
「Good job. Your opponent in the qualifier final is Kanoba. Are you ready?」 (Oki)
「I'll be fine; there is a lunch break coming up. All I had to do there was stand and smile, nothing more.」 (Tenai)
Tenai looked a bit tired after the photo session. However, she is at an age where she answers "I'm fine" even when asked while exhausted. Still, despite her fatigue, she is accustomed to simultaneous play where the focus is on minimizing errors, so I believe she will truly be alright.
All eyes turned to two matches in the qualifier finals: Ai versus Saijin, and Tenai versus Kanoba. Just as in the first round, Saijin arrived late to intentionally shorten her thinking time. The difference from the original story was that the countdown started from the very first moment. Just how much is that girl underestimating her opponent?
「Mr. Oki! What is happening in Miss Tenai's match?! The hall has been buzzing with whispers since the first move...」 (Ishi)
「Kanoba opened with the 2-6 Pawn. This caused a stir because she declared a Static Rook strategy despite being a Ranging Rook specialist. However, after both sides opened their Bishop diagonals, Tenai seized the initiative on the fourth move using the 'family heirloom sword': she pushed the 2-4 Pawn, leaving the diagonal open and unprotected.」 (Oki)
「You mean the White Bishop Head Pawn? Is... is that a guaranteed win method?」 (Ishi)
「It is not a guaranteed win, but it is a strategy that highly likely leads to a chaotic, open battle. The website where Tenai plays is teeming with this type of messy brawl. ...Tenai has fought over two thousand matches with this formation since the clash began, whereas Kanoba has virtually no experience with it.」 (Oki)
「...The conclusion?」 (Ishi)
「Tenai will win.」 (Oki)
Meanwhile, the match between Tenai and Kanoba evolved from Tenai's White Bishop Head Pawn opening. Both players successfully promoted their rooks to Dragons and entered a mutual attacking race. The scene resembled a fistfight between amateurs, though in reality, one side was indeed an amateur elementary school student. The pace accelerated amidst this chaotic clash, and Kanoba moved to strip away Tenai's defensive pieces, but...
「Too slow.」 (Tenai)
Tenai muttered a single word, then completely ignored Kanoba's attack and commenced the endgame sequence to finish the King. I seemed to have forgotten that the microphones pick up sound during the match. The situation had not yet reached checkmate, but it was at the step immediately preceding it. For Tenai's King to be under any real threat, the opponent would need two free moves, but that was now impossible.
Kanoba resisted fiercely in the end, but Tenai tightened the noose with precision and secured a majestic victory, guaranteeing her advancement to the main tournament. Now, how did things unfold in the match between Saijin and Ai?
「Has Ai entered byoyomi [countdown] as well? ...Good grief. To be forced to play one-minute Shogi in such a complex position is pitiable.」 (Oki)
(There is a forced mating sequence against Saijin's King. The first move is Gold General to 5-2.) (Ai)
(Eh? Ah, that is correct. And she has already played Gold to 5-2.) (Oki)
At first glance, the match between Saijin and Ai appeared extremely complex, yet Saijin's King was actually in a forced mate position. Ai successfully read that with absolute precision within one minute and secured the win. Her endgame strength is truly demonic—or rather, it rivals AI software. Judging by the game record (Tch) predicted based on the final position, Ai is a player terrifyingly specialized in turning tables.
As for Keika, she won while weeping, just as in the original story. It was a fateful battle; the loser would be unable to become a professional player. The fact that both sides knew each other well only added to the cruelty and bitterness of the situation.
With this, the advancement of the trio—Tenai, Ai, and Keika—to the main tournament was confirmed. Only twelve people qualify in this year's Unified Qualifiers, and all three succeeded in securing their seats on that list. I can finally feel a measure of relief.
Since today also happened to be Kuzuryu's birthday, the moment Ai said, "I dedicate today's victory to my master," Kuzuryu embraced her in front of the crowd. Visually, the scene was "unacceptable" no matter how much one tried to embellish it. Yes, it was emotionally moving, but Kuzuryu was wearing a formal suit and looked like a fully grown adult. What struck me most, however, was Sora's gaze, which watched them with a coldness reaching absolute zero.
The next goal is for Tenai to pass the Shoreikai entrance exam. This is something a master cannot interfere with, so I can only pray. If she fails the "1-Kyu" exam, she faces the penalty of waiting a full year to try again, which is harsh. However, Tenai was the one who strongly desired to take the 1-Kyu test, and she became strong for this very purpose. I want to believe she will not suffer three consecutive losses against Shoreikai members.
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