Chiba Chess Club.
This is the largest chess club in Chiba Prefecture, and also the location of the official study session.
The opening match of the official tournament will be held here.
As they just reached the outside of the chess club.
Someone waved towards them.
“Yuuki, Gin, over here!”
A big-breasted older sister with long brown hair called out.
Kiyotaki Kaori.
She was also considered Yuuki's senior sister, the daughter of their master Kiyotaki Kokei.
She was twenty-four years old, a gentle woman with a Yamato Nadeshiko type of personality.
Next to her, Kiyotaki Kokei stood quietly.
“Kaori-san, Master.”
Yuuki greeted them.
Kiyotaki Kaori hadn't yet become a professional female player, while Kiyotaki Kokei was a well-known figure who had already retired.
They were clearly not here to participate in this official tournament.
Instead, they were here to cheer for Yuuki.
“Master.”
Sora Gin bowed to Kiyotaki Kokei, then dashed into the chess club.
Seeing this, Kiyotaki Kaori smiled.
“Gin couldn't wait, she went to Tokyo to pick you up, what happened on the way?”
Gin's state was clearly that of being too shy.
Yuuki told Kiyotaki Kaori and Kokei about what happened on the road.
After listening, Kiyotaki Kaori couldn't help but touch her face and show an auntie smile.
“Yuuki has really grown up.”
How could Kiyotaki Kaori, who had watched the two grow up, not know about Gin's feelings for Yuuki?
It was just that Gin had a bit of a tsundere trait, and Yuuki used to be a bit straightforward.
But now.
Auntie smile.jpg
“Alright, let's go in. The official tournament, you haven't played in a long time, any thoughts? I'm not worried about you at all.”
Kiyotaki Kokei said so.
Although he said that.
As a master, if he was really not worried at all, he wouldn't be at the chess club.
“I'll do my best.”
Yuuki said humbly.
After entering the chess club, they separated, two went to the spectator area, and one went to the competition area.
“Yuuki has grown so much.”
Kiyotaki Kaori whispered to herself.
She, as someone who watched Yuuki grow up.
She knew best Yuuki's terrifying talent in Shogi.
He was simply a monster, once he entered the training center, he played against members of the award-winning group without giving them any handicap, and he won.
Before becoming a professional chess player, except for the learning stage and the guidance matches with professional chess players, he was undefeated.
Underdog victories were commonplace, and he completely slaughtered those in his age group.
After becoming a professional chess player, he only lost once, against the 'Meijin'.
And after all, what's so shameful about losing to the 'Meijin'?
In the entire Shogi world, who hasn't lost to the 'Meijin'?
Those who haven't probably haven't qualified yet.
Such a monster, even with a three-year hiatus, facing an ordinary official tournament, probably doesn't need to 'do his best'.
So, Yuuki saying that, would only be out of consideration for someone.
Kiyotaki Kaori was already twenty-four years old, she hadn't become a professional female player yet.
If Yuuki was arrogant, he might inadvertently hurt Kiyotaki Kaori.
He had grown, and the growth was exaggerated.
The official tournament was a win-loss battle (similar to the regular season in a league, and the position was also similar).
The chess players participating were randomly matched to play against each other, after completing one round, they were eliminated based on their winning and losing records.
And the higher-level title matches, were elimination matches.
As soon as Yuuki stepped into the venue.
Immediately, numerous gazes were cast upon him.
Whether it was the official Shogi staff present, the players participating in the official tournament, the Shogi journalists, or the spectators on the sidelines.
It could be said that he was the focus of everyone's attention.
This was inevitable.
The once undefeated genius, the highest topic in the Shogi world.
After losing to the Meijin, he reappeared in the official tournament for the first time in three years.
“Hey, that's...”
“Yes, the Shogi monster from three years ago.”
“He disappeared after losing to the 'Meijin' and only reappeared now.”
“Three years of hiatus, even a genius, probably would have faded into obscurity.”
Whispers of discussion came from time to time.
Sora Gin, sitting in the audience seats, listened to these discussions, her face was terrifyingly gloomy.
On the other hand, the person at the center of the discussion didn't care at all.
After drawing his opponent.
Yuuki sat down in front of a young man in his twenties.
Those who had reached the Shogi world's first dan and above, except for true geniuses, rarely had such young faces.
“Kawai Kenichi, first dan, please be gentle with me.”
“Yuki Yuuki, fifth dan, please be gentle with me.”
After bowing to each other, the match began.
Kenichi, the first dan, was actually hoping for luck.
Although he drew a fifth dan opponent at the beginning.
He had also heard about Yuuki.
He hadn't played chess for three years.
He was completely out of touch with the Shogi world.
In this field where one must strive forward like a boat against the current, or else one will fall behind.
Even if one was a genius, three years of time would definitely be enough to wipe him out.
It should have been like this.
However.
Just after nine moves.
Kenichi, the first dan, completely broke down in this mindset.
Only nine moves, and he was already at a disadvantage.
The person sitting opposite, did not hide his crazy killing intent.
The monster's claws easily tore through his defenses.
The terrifying pressure was like a substance, it came at him like a wave.
He couldn't see any hope of winning.
Kenichi, the first dan, had never felt this way.
Even when playing against his teacher, the pressure never felt this strong.
The crisp sound of chess pieces dropping on the board continued.
Almost as soon as Kenichi, the first dan, made his move, it would be followed by a sound.
‘This monster, doesn't he need to think at all?’
Kenichi, the first dan, had this question in his mind.
Forty-seven moves.
With the rook in Yuuki's hand falling down.
“I give up.”
Kenichi, the first dan, lowered his head helplessly.
A series of surprised exclamations echoed in the venue.
Shogi is a very difficult game to determine the winner, even if there is a difference in strength between the two sides, it usually takes ninety to one hundred and twenty moves to determine the winner.
Not to mention many high-end matches, where two players can play for a day and a night.
A victory in less than fifty moves, that was a complete slaughter.