Just as I thought Tinei had rushed toward me after her victory against Sora Ginko, she surprised me by delivering a punch with all her strength. I am not sure if she softened the blow or if she is simply too light, but I felt no pain, though I am certain she suffered greatly during that match. Observations suggest that the effect of "Diversion Shogi" was enormous, and her perspective on the board was different from usual.
... As I expected, playing a style that deviates from the norm introduces noise into one's thought process and alters the viewing angle. As a means to forcefully change one's shogi level, special rules are an excellent tool. However, they create huge waves of disturbance, so I will not use them again.
『Since you completely ruined the shogi perspective she was used to, it's natural for you to take a punch. It's fortunate it wasn't a kick to a sensitive area.』 (Ai)
(Don't say terrifying things. But if there was a button that raised the win rate from 20% to between 10% and 100%, everyone would press it, wouldn't they?) (Ōki)
『I was the one who modified the button, which originally ranged between 0% and 50%, to be between 10% and 100%, remember?』 (Ai)
(Ah, yes. In that regard, I have nothing but gratitude for Ai.) (Ōki)
「You should be grateful. Thanks to that punch, I'll overlook the crime of having set something up for me. If you have prepared any other tricks, confess them now.」 (Tinei)
「There is nothing left, so relax. Starting tomorrow, the fluctuation range of your strength will widen, so we have no choice but to work on correcting that.」 (Ōki)
「So that's how it is. Fine, if you want to set something up, it's okay to do so anytime.」 (Tinei)
Despite fighting that grueling match, Tinei seems remarkably energetic. In contrast, Sora-san is staggering heavily even after the match ended. She suffers from an intractable, unknown illness, and although I only heard snippets from Kozuryū, combining that with my knowledge of the original work, I realize she has a heart condition. I believe it is a congenital heart disease, but I do not know the exact details.
... In the original work, there was a description of her heart stopping, so acquiring physical fitness seems difficult for her. Regarding the Third-Dan League (Sandan League) next season, if Kunogi does not withdraw, it will be a league gathering Sora-san, Kunogi, and Tinei together.
This is assuming Tinei doesn't stumble at the 2-Dan stage, but since she managed to defeat Sora-san, who is close to advancing to 3-Dan, it should be fine. In fact, my worry is more focused on whether Sora-san will be able to advance to 3-Dan. Although she has already "awakened" (developed), so I am not too concerned.
There is still a possibility that Kunogi will be promoted to 4-Dan this season, but the trio of Sakanashi-san, Kagamasa-san, and Karaka-san achieved six consecutive wins in the opening, while Kunogi lost to all three and now has a record of three wins and three losses. He has already entered the danger zone.
『The confrontation with Kagamasa-san immediately after the loss to Karaka-san, and suffering two consecutive defeats, had a huge impact. Karaka-san, who caused this sequence, is not to be underestimated.』 (Ai)
(The group that achieved a perfect score will only clash with each other at the very end. Until then, they might cooperate among themselves.) (Ōki)
『That is very likely. Can we call that the experience of years in the Third-Dan League?』 (Ai)
(Kunogi, who is not good at maneuvering outside the shogi board, was probably their first target.) (Ōki)
If I think about it, Sakanashi-san might even surpass Kunogi in endgame playing strength. I recall that Sakanashi-san took third place in this year's Tsume Shogi puzzle solving competition. ... Incidentally, first place went to President Geikō with a perfect score. As for me, I did not participate due to scheduling conflicts. But I plan to participate with Tinei next year.
The staggering Sora-san left the playing hall leaning on Kozuryū's shoulder. The match between Tinei and Sora-san was long, and Kozuryū, who was explaining the game on the large board, must also be tired, but he must exert himself as Sora-san's attendant.
「Hold on, my apprentice sister. Come on, let's go back.」 (Kozuryū)
「... Un (Okay).」 (Sora-san)
Honestly, a sight like this is enough to spread rumors that they are dating. ... However, the old Sora-san would have tried to stand alone in such a situation no matter the cost, so her ability to rely on others now is a good thing.
On the way back, we rode in the car driven by Akira-san, and Tinei and I sat in the back seat. Suddenly, Tinei's small body slumped, and she rested her head on my knee. This is behavior she never usually exhibits, but upon looking closely at her, she had already fallen asleep, meaning she had reached her limit. Despite her appearance, she is still only ten. A fifth-grade elementary school pupil.
『You have lost the eligibility to call Kozuryū the King of Loli (King of Little Girls).』 (Ai)
(Be quiet. He was the one who received the "lap pillow" from a young girl (JS). I am playing the role of the pillow, and I gained no benefit whatsoever.) (Ōki)
『I will permanently record in the data that my Master thought: "An elementary school pupil's head is lighter than I expected."』 (Ai)
(Stop. That is merely a completely innocent impression. It really is light.) (Ōki)
「... I am truly grateful to you, Ōki-san.」 (Akira-san)
Akira-san suddenly spoke in a serious tone while checking Tinei's sleeping face in the rearview mirror. ... It seems Akira-san knew about the dream of the three people—Tinei and her parents—for her to become the Shogi Queen, and she profusely thanked me. It is a moving story. If Akira-san were not staring at Tinei's sleeping face and stopping at every red light to take pictures of her, the scene would have been very emotional.
I looked again at Tinei, whose head was resting on my knee. With her small body, undertaking a full title match must have been incredibly taxing. She has the Trainee League (Shōreikai) and school as well; she is many times busier than any ordinary elementary school pupil. ... Looking closely, Tinei's cheek looks very soft.
(Will she wake up if I touch her cheek now?) (Ōki)
『Control yourself, pervert. The driver in the front seat might shoot you, how dare you even think that?』 (Ai)
(... I apologize. That was truly a disgusting thought.) (Ōki)
『You only realized that after I warned you? Don't you feel your obsession with little girls is escalating? Should we visit a hospital?』 (Ai)
(Stop treating me like a patient. ... By the way, it is time for the new young girl to appear, isn't it?) (Ōki)
『Changing the subject by talking about another girl? You mean Ayumu's younger sister, the second-year middle school student? Calling her a "loli" is questionable. A middle school girl suffering from "Adolescent Delusions" (Chūnibyō) and a fifth-grade pupil—things are getting complicated.』 (Ai)
The reason I call Kozuryū by his family name and Ayumu by his first name is that Ayumu has a sister. Well, by that logic, I should have called Kozuryū by his first name too, since he has siblings, but unlike Kozuryū's siblings, Ayumu's sister will be joining the Trainee League. She will become fully involved in the world of shogi.
Tinei's "lap pillow" time did not last long. The distance from the wedding hall in Kobe to Tinei's family home in Kobe was not far. The trip took less than 20 minutes by car.
I had hoped to see Tinei wake up in a panic, but she was in deep sleep and her eyes were drowsy, so she caused no fuss, and Akira-san carried her in her arms. Akira-san carrying Tinei in a "princess carry" style looked like a very beautiful scene.
I would like to say we finished a stage, but the hard part for Tinei begins now. First, we must restore her state from instability to stability, and as for her changed perspective, she has no choice but to get used to it. Trying to revert it to its former state will be useless.
In fact, whether in shogi or otherwise, when things go wrong, building a new state is often faster than trying to recover the old one, and it is better for the future, too. Fundamentally, I intend to return her to the days of multi-play (playing several games simultaneously).
Soon, the time will come to pass the challenge of "Playing against ten people at the 8-Dan level." A higher level than that cannot be requested in online shogi, so it is only left for "Ai" and me to handle the matter.
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