Rather than saying she is Kaito's disciple, it's more accurate to say she is Baal's disciple.
But isn't Baal's disciple also his disciple?
After handing the jade pendant to Ginko, Kaito also let her sit down and asked about her next plans.
He will temporarily stay at the Hinatsuru Residence. However, if Ginko needs it, Kaito will help her handle matters like her schooling, clothes, etc.
Including her parents, etc.
Of course, rather than Kaito handling it, it's better to say Akina will have people take care of it.
Ginko thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
"Akina, arrange a room for her. From now on, she'll live here with me. It's good that Ai will have someone to watch over her."
"Hmm."
Akina smiled and nodded. While having a maid prepare Ginko's room, due to boredom, Kaito took Ginko to the tea room.
That is, the room facing the courtyard where the board was placed.
When Ginko entered, her eyes also focused on that sunset opal board. She couldn't help but walk over and touch it, a look of envy appearing on her face.
She knew that this board was meant for Ai, who had only been learning Shogi for a week or two.
And today, on this very board, a pinnacle human game was played.
But if Kaito had a true opponent, perhaps this pinnacle game could be raised even higher without limit.
"What, do you like this board?"
Kaito sat cross-legged, signaling Ai to come to the other side of the board, just opposite Ginko.
"Yes, Sensei."
Ginko wasn't Tsundere; she nodded directly in response.
As a Shogi player, it's hard to resist the temptation of this board.
"Hehe, in that case... I'll give you another one tomorrow, and it will be specially made just for you."
"Huh? S-Sensei? This, I..."
"Alright, if your teacher wants to give you something, just accept it. Now... let's the three of us play Gomoku!"
Playing Shogi?
How boring is that? Playing Gomoku allows interaction with both Ginko and Ai.
At the same time, he also wanted them to engage with more things, not just obsessively focus on Shogi.
Anyway, having more skills doesn't hurt. Learning it won't be harmful, and can even expand thinking, develop the brain, and develop more tactics!
Under Ginko's shocked gaze, Kaito pressed a button on the board. The Shogi grid first changed to Xiangqi, and finally to the Go grid. Then Kaito took Go stones from a hidden compartment.
There were two colors.
One was frosted-texture gold stones (black stones), the other was transparent gold stones (white stones).
Although there were only these two colors, it didn't stop him from having Akina ask someone to bring over normal black Go stones.
As the most luxurious inn, due to the needs of some guests, they happened to have Go boards and stones for rent.
Xiangqi might not be available, but Go is also very popular in Japan, so it's normal for the inn to have these.
Including common mahjong, playing cards, ping pong tables, and massage chairs!
"Alright, you two try your best to block me. Of course, you two are also opponents to each other."
The rules of Gomoku are very simple, but for three-person Gomoku, it becomes four-in-a-row.
No prohibited moves. Just get four in a row.
Kaito picked up a black stone and placed it in the center. Ginko picked up a frosted stone and placed it nearby. Although Ai didn't really want to play this kind of game, bored, she could only go along.
Slap...
After the twenty-fifth move.
Kaito placed another stone. Ginko's expression had become grave, and Ai?
She panicked… She had started to activate her 'cheat'!
Both hands on her thighs, leaning forward over the board, she started moving back and forth, staring fixedly at the board while muttering "this, that, this, that."
Clearly, at this moment, Ai's brain was working, constantly thinking about the future situation of each move.
Slap...
Fifty-eighth move.
Ginko's breathing became rapid. She racked her brains trying to find any way to block Kaito.
Ai was similar; her body trembled as she experienced her definition of 'cool' — being miserable.
Didn't she say this was cool? Now she understands.
After the sixty-sixth move.
Slap—!
The black stone fell.
Ai failed to block Kaito's line and ultimately lost.
Ginko let out a long breath, reached up to wipe the sweat from her forehead, while Ai had a look of despair, the vitality gone from her ahoge.
"Haha, how was it? Isn't it fun, Ai?"
"It's, it's not fun at all! And I like Shogi, not this!"
Ai had obviously played very excitedly and seriously, but when her sore spot was hit, she started being a little Tsundere again.
However, she did grasp the meaning of being miserable. It was indeed very painful, and she couldn't feel any 'coolness' at all!
'Sure enough...'
'Only playing board game as calmly and leisurely as Brother Kaito was the coolest performance.'
At this moment, she understood.
On the other side, Ginko was also watching Ai, and inwardly she felt tremendous pressure.
Her intuition told her that Ai was a child with immense talent for board games!
And her teacher, Kaito, was also planning to take Ai as a disciple!!
"Ginko, Ai's talent is very high. In no more than three years, she can completely surpass you."
"Huh?"
Faced with Kaito suddenly turning to say this, Ginko was shocked, but soon a look of envy appeared in her eyes.
She had worked hard for so long to get where she is today, yet Ai could surpass her in just three years!?
"Hmm, words are useless. You and Ai play a few games of Shogi. Ai, since you don't like playing Gomoku, then you can play Shogi with her."
"I'm going to take a bath first. When I come back, I'll see the results of you two, and then you can tell me your feelings."
Kaito stood up and didn't interfere further. Leaving them to play Shogi by themselves, he left the tea room.
"Akina, come on, take me to that hot spring you were talking about."
This was a topic they chatted about on the pavilion corridor after dinner.
It was a hot spring Akina drew from the Gacha after the parent-child activity ended.
Currently, it's only used at the Hinatsuru Residence, and only she and her daughter are allowed to use it. Others have designated that place as off-limits.
Now with Kaito's arrival, Akina has removed the restrictions for him, clearly indicating that the weight Kaito occupies in her heart is getting higher and higher.
"Hehe, you'll be surprised when you get there."
Akina nodded. On the way, she also left for a while and brought over towels and other items.
Finally, she took Kaito to the backyard of the mansion, opened the door with a key, and then Kaito and Akina entered together.
"What, you want to come too?"
"Hmm... Is that not allowed?"
"...Of course it's allowed!"