"You are also a Shogi player, aren't you?"
Standing before Ginko.
Kaito was like a towering Mount Tai. (X)
Kaito was like a towering Mount Everest. (√)
This figure was definitely fearsome to Ginko.
She didn't know why Kaito would suddenly notice her and ask her, but since she was asked, would it be impolite not to answer?
"Yes, I am a Shogi player."
She didn't say much more, but someone beside Kaito very considerately explained.
This girl's name was Sora Ginko, but she was not just any female Shogi player.
After his kind explanation, Kaito learned that this girl also had a series of titles like [The Snow White of Naniwa].
Well, even if he knew, he had to pretend he just found out and then show an interested expression.
"I see... It's a pity, though. Your body won't allow you to climb to great heights."
Shaking his head regretfully, leaving behind this meaningful remark, Kaito nodded to her and then left.
Hearing this, Ginko wasn't confused, but rather shocked.
Ginko understood very well what Kaito meant.
First, she suffers from leukemia to a certain extent. Although not serious, due to her weak constitution, she often can't be in the sun or heat. Because of this, there was now a fan behind her blowing on her.
Besides that, in her second year, she was diagnosed with a 50% possibility of not living past five years, but because of playing Shogi, she has lived until now.
Don't ask, that's the novel's setting.
But she also knows that her heart condition seems to be better, but no one knows when it will act up.
Ginko has always been worried about this. Now hearing Kaito's words, what does this explain?
Either be healthy, or die on the board.
And even if she died on the board, she still wouldn't be able to reach the height she pursued.
That is to say...
She would never be able to become a Ryuo like Yaichi in her lifetime!
The reason Ginko isn't a female Shogi player is precisely because if she became a female Shogi player, she could no longer become a professional player and participate in orthodox competitions, let alone become Ryuo!
Her talent was already not as strong as his, and now even her body couldn't support her efforts to catch up through diligence. What could be more despairing than this?
'Why could he see my problem at a glance...'
Ginko turned and looked at Kaito's back from the edge of the railing.
Her teacher behind her, Kiyotaki Kousuke, seemed to discern something from it, looking at Ginko with a somewhat complicated expression.
He felt he should do something.
His power was ultimately limited. Besides that, even he couldn't help Ginko go further.
Then, what about choosing Kaito?
A mysterious master like Kaito, who could spot Ginko in the crowd and see her physical problems and future situation at a glance, had very likely seen Ginko's brilliance.
Perhaps, in Kaito's eyes, Ginko could go even further. It's just that, due to her physical problems, he didn't choose Ginko and left regretfully.
Through Kaito's previous words to Yaichi, it was very possible that Kaito also wanted to nurture more opponents, then let one of them defeat him.
The so-called "it's lonely at the top".
When the world's strongest Shogi player faces no opponents, how lonely and boring it is.
Such a person, upon seeing such a young youth like Yaichi become Ryuo recently, inevitably thought of his younger self, coupled with valuing his talent, which led to today's events.
"Truly a master..."
Kousuke couldn't help but sigh. Kaito's figure kept growing in his eyes.
Perhaps, as he said, Kaito had become a god, a god no one could defeat.
And this god longed for someone to defeat him.
It was like having no confidant on life's path, feeling very empty and uncomfortable.
"Gin... I heard everything Kaito-san said. What do you think?"
Kousuke, watching Kaito's figure completely disappear, immediately asked the Ginko in front of him.
"Huh? Sensei..."
Ginko was a bit surprised by this. When she turned to look at Kousuke, she found him looking at her with a kind and regretful expression.
"Gin, you have done very well to reach this point under my tutelage. It's just a pity that I cannot make you better."
"Sensei, what are you saying? I don't quite understand."
Ginko panicked a little. She had already sensed a bit of his meaning.
That was to let her graduate, to let her find a more suitable teacher!
"You are a clever girl, so you should know."
"Gin, I think that Kaito-san was able to find you in the crowd; he definitely saw your spark in his eyes."
"So... perhaps he has some way to let you fulfill your dream while keeping your body healthy!"
"Maybe he has methods to cure your body."
Western medicine was impossible, but what about traditional Chinese medicine?
After all, traditional Chinese medicine has many legends in China.
Many times, illnesses that Western medicine can't cure end up being easily cured by 'real old Chinese medicine practitioners'!
What if Ginko followed Kaito back to China and found a doctor who could cure her through Kaito's connections?
Such a mysterious existence, his energy must be not to be underestimated!
"Sensei... I don't want to graduate, I..."
"Alright, Ginko! This is not for me, but for you."
Kousuke interrupted Ginko's words, then sighed and turned around somewhat dejectedly.
"As your teacher, I hope you can go higher, fly farther, and at the same time, I also hope for your health."
"I have no other desires. Having had you and Yaichi was already enough capital to boast to others."
"So, go, if you still pursue your dream."
"Now, you have graduated from under me. From now on, I can only be your former teacher, not your current teacher."
"Ginko, if you leave regrets in life, it can be very painful, you know."