“Quiet, everyone! A very important match is about to start.”
The person leading them is Ai Hinatsuru’s former homeroom teacher, Misao Kanegasaka-sensei. She asked me to come to the school and teach Shogi to her class a while back. Apparently, those kids wanted to come cheer me on so badly that they managed to get this classified as an educational field trip.
It’s a great story filled with a lot of heart, but that’s not the way the other people here see it.
“A miniature cheering squad ......”
“Even the Challenger’s Master, Ms. Shakando, is showing restraint and staying outside the arena, but this ......”
“The Loli Crown does what he wants, apparently.”
I always get called the Loli King because I have the Dragon King Ryuo title, but this is the Crown Title Match. So the Shogi people here have adjusted. I only wish they’d show as much consideration for me as they do for the sponsor.
“The time to begin has come. Lo- ...... Kuzuryu-Crown. Please begin the match.”
Even the observer is convinced I’m a lolicon. I’m not sure if I have the home advantage at all, but that doesn’t change what I have to do.
―――I WILL win this match.
I don’t hesitate at all to advance the Pawn in front of my Rook for my opening move and open the Bishop Path on the fifth move because I wholeheartedly believe this is how the title matches of the future will look.
The formation I want to play―――Bishop Exchange Double Reclining Silver.
And, just like Ayumu did during the first match, I waste no time moving my King to safety on the left side of the board.
“Very well ...... I shall meet you!!”
Static Rook players don’t care if they’re on offense or defense when the formations are the same. Being able to win on either side has a unique term in the Shogi world:
A double slap.
“Die for a second time, Demon King of the West!!”
Ayumu rushes straight in to attack the opening in front of my King. Considering he won with nyugyouku last time, I don’t blame him.
That’s why using his strategy against him is the natural choice for me.
“Trying to force my advance before it begins, are you?! Then I shall crush you beneath my feet!!”
As if donning the persona of a Knight on his way to dethrone the King (me), he puts me in check at the 62nd move.
That’s where I seal the match for day one.
With the seal move done, I head back to my room and change into a yukata. Then, it’s off to the hot spring because I want to enjoy tonight's meal without being a sweaty mess.
“Ah, Ry- ...... Crown. Did you visit the bath?”
On my way back to my room, I happen to bump into a local journalist from Sannomiya, Kobe.
He wrote a fantastic article about Ai Yashajin a while back, so I open up as a way of saying thank you.
“Yes. The water was great. It’s no wonder Arima Onsen is so popular.”
“If I may ask, is Miss Yashajin here to cheer you on? She does live nearby, after all.”
“Cheer for me ......? I doubt it.”
“That’s too bad. I was hoping for a chance to do a follow-up interview, but I haven’t been able to reach her at all.”
I bow my head. While I hurt for him, I totally get what Ai is thinking.
“Speaking of this hot spring, the men’s and women’s baths switch after dinnertime. In other words, you just bathed in the same water as the elementary school-aged girls who came to root for you earlier today.”
“That would explain all the youthful energy I have right now. Ha-ha!”
This conversation happened. I won’t try to deny it.
But the newspaper headline the next morning was:
“Kuzuryu-Crown Recovers Energy by Bathing in the Same Water as Grade Schoolers After the Sealing Move!”
Just why ......?
While that headline could be easily misunderstood, I could clearly see each and every sequence during the match.
No sooner had Day 2 started than Ayumu unleashed a barrage of big pieces and Golds in a valiant attempt to crush my King. Each one, however, misses by a hair.
On the other hand, I manage to invade and overwhelm his side of the board with Pawns just as Awaji once did to me.
“Kgh ............ I am defeated.”
The match was as good as over before the lunch break, but Ayumu kept thinking both before and after it ...... Then he threw in the towel without making another move.
Looking at me, a title holder so dominant that the challenger wouldn’t even try to hold out, people start whispering back and forth.
“H-He’s too strong ...... Is he actually a demon king ......?”
“...... Is the Demon King that strong, or is the offense locked to win when playing Bishop Exchange ......?”
“...... Well, it looks like players starting on defense won’t be playing Bishop Exchange for a while ......”
The only pieces I moved much at all were my King and the Pawns.
Ayumu finished me off with keen late-game skill, but I didn’t let him get to that stage this time. Hey, I’m not just going to lay down and take that kind of punishment.
It goes without saying that the newspapers will pick up on that for their headlines―――
“Little Girl Power Unleashed! Challenger Blocked to Perfection!!”
“Are Grade Schoolers the Key to Defending the Crown? Overwhelming the Opponent With the Smallest Pieces!!”
Just why ......?
This article also came out.
“Kuzuryu-Crown’s third apprentice, Charlette Isior, is currently honing her skills in the Kansai Practice League in hopes of joining the Women’s League someday. She joined her friend, Ayano Sadatou, on an after-school trip from Kyoto to Arima Onsen to cheer on her dear Master on the second day of the match. Once she heard that he was going to win early in the afternoon, she said, ‘Cha is gowing to bwathe with Masta!,’ which resulted in quite a scene.”
Unfortunately, there was an error in the article. I never took a bath with Charlette.