Shiratori The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done! Volume 12

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-7183-6378-6
Verlag: J-Novel Club
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 12, 250 Seiten

Reihe: The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!

The final day of the 3- division has arrived. On this battlefield, only two combatants can arise victorious to earn the rank of 4-, becoming a professional Shogi player.
Ginko Sora fights to become the first female professional in history. Houma Kagamizu battles to avoid a forced retirement after twenty years in the Sub League. Sota Kunugi wages war on the modern Shogi world to become the youngest ever to stand with the pros. And facing his own battle, Yaichi contends with the first professional to lose to predictive software, working to defy the system that would define his career.
All that remains to be seen is who seals in that deciding checkmate. But even as the contest on the Shogi board comes to a close, outside the game, someone has a confession to make...

Autoren/Hrsg.

Shiratori, Shirow

Weitere Mitwirkende

Shirabii

Gaippe, Andrew

Leseproben

The Future I Want

After the meeting, I make a quick stop at Master’s place (though he wasn’t there because he went out drinking the instant I won the match last night and hadn’t come back yet) and a few other important places before finally making it back to my apartment in the shopping arcade. A strange sensation sweeps over me as I stand in front of the door.

“...It feels like I haven’t been home in forever.”

After getting back from my trip with Big Sis, I was held up in a hotel in Tenmabashi for two weeks to sign the onslaught of requests for certificates after the Meijin won the Citizens Award. I’ve been home since then though.

I only spent two nights in Tokyo for the Tei’i Title Match, but...It’s been a long time since I’ve been home without a whirlwind of things going on.

“Then again...I’ve actually got more things to do.”

Getting ready for the seven matches that will decide the Tei’i title.

Helping out with the summer festival the association assigned me to.

And most importantly...I have to tell Ai about Big Sis and me. That’s going to be the hardest...

“Haaa...I just can’t see her smiling and saying ! no matter how much I think about it...”

It’s hard to describe just how icy their relationship is. A dark cloud builds over my head as I reach for the doorknob.

Turning it, I open the door and see—

“Welcome home, Master!!”

The most adorable smile ever.

“...Thanks, Ai.”

My first apprentice is sitting on her ankles in the front hallway, waiting for me with an infectious smile on her face.

I can’t help but smile back at her.

She gets to her feet with a little hop and congratulates me on my victory.

“You’re the challenger, Master! Congratulations!! Beating the Meijin to get there...You’re so amazing! The strongest ever, Master!!”

“Hah-hah-hah. Luck was on my side. Anything happen while I was gone?”

“Lots of people who looked like they work for the news were outside...But they went away as soon as I asked Ms. Oga what to do.”

“They did, huh...?”

While I’m not sure what story they wanted to talk with me about, it had to be really scary for a grade schooler like Ai to see all those strangers outside the apartment.

“Sorry about that. I’ll speak with the association myself.”

“Okay...”

Ai squeezes my arm like a scared kid looking for reassurance.

—The innocence...!

A warm, fuzzy feeling washes over my heart. Somehow, I manage to hold back the urge to hug her long enough to come to my senses...I’ve got to be careful!

I mustn’t touch her! Ever!

Live-in apprentice, yes. Touching, no.

Any physical interaction between a grade schooler and her Master that could be considered over the line only leads to trouble. I have to pay extra attention!

“Master? Is something wrong? You’re standing like a statue.”

“I-I’m fine. Just a bit tired...”

“I bet you are! Sorry for holding you up in the hallway.”

Ai immediately grabs my suitcase, spins on her heel like a cute little bird, and takes it to my room...While her ears turn bright red as she whispers, “...Master came back to me...I’ve never been this happy...”

—So innocent!!

Another urge to hug her from behind washes over me...Gah! Down, right hand! Down I say...!!

“Nghhh!! Gaaahhh...!!”

“M-Master?! Are you sure nothing’s wrong? You’re clutching your right hand awfully hard...”

“I’m fine, just go! Go before I can’t control this beast anymore...!!”

“Uwhee?”

She looks at me, confused, but disappears into the kitchen. I take a few deep breaths to chain down the monster for good and follow.

What greets my eyes as I step into the kitchen is...a mountain of food spread out over the table.

Even better—

“These...These are all my favorites! Wow! I was just thinking how nice it would be to have every one of them, too! How did you know?!”

“Ehehe? I remember every single dish you’ve ever said was or that you , Master!” Ai proudly puffs out her chest with a, “Hn-hmm!”

She’s just so cute that I couldn’t help patting her on the head and saying, “That’s my girl?” This kind of touching should be fine. It’s positive reinforcement, which is part of teaching.

But, it’s not just the food that blows me away.

“Wait? I know that smell—”

“Can you tell? It’s the same fragrance that Keika used to wear when you were a live-in apprentice, Master. Also, I got your favorite kind of bath soap and the same brand of cushions and slippers you’ve always used...I get paid per match now, so I went and bought them for you.”

Come again?! She used what little precious earnings she has...on me?!

“Keika taught me what to do! I wanted everything to be perfect for you when you got home, tired after your long trip...That’s the only thing I can do for you...”

—Too dang innocent...!!

Ai’s ear-to-ear smile suddenly gets blurry.

I must be tearing up...

“No matter how tired or hurt you are...I want you to be able to relax when you’re here with me. You can be the real Yaichi Kuzuryu. This is my birthday present for you!” she says before smiling the same extraordinary smile she had when I walked in the door. “Happy birthday, Master!”

“...Thank you, Ai. Really...!”

Warm, delicious food.

A bright, welcoming room that looks and smells like home.

But, most of all...The reassurance that comes from coming home to a smile.

That happy family feeling is my apprentice’s birthday present to me.

“Eeeverything in this room is all yours, Master. Help yourself?”

“Don’t mind if I do!” I answer with my mouth watering, but...So many thoughts pop into my head that I don’t touch the food.

Wondering why I’m sitting at the table holding my chopsticks in midair and deep in thought, Ai asks, “Is something wrong?”

“No...I was just thinking about the day you first came here, Ai.”

“It’s been a year and a half, already. I made with seaweed for breakfast.”

“Things really went downhill afterward, though! Big Sis barging in here while you were in the shower—”

Only now do I remember my true objective.

That’s right. I have to tell this girl what’s going on.

Even if that puts a few cracks in this we have...I decided to put Ginko first, and that’s that!

Determined, I look at Ai and say, “I have something important to talk to you about.”

“If it’s the summer festival, Miss Oga already told me about it.”

“Oh? I...I see. Great, no problem then.”

She said she talked to Ms. Oga about the reporters, so it makes sense that they talked about the festival then, too. Sure, sure.

...The conversation got cut off, didn’t it?

The timing gone, I decide to eat first. Ai spent all that time making it, so it would be a shame to let it get cold...

“That was really good, Ai. Thank you for cooking.”

“You’re very welcome! I made a cake for dessert, so I’ll get some coffee ready, too.”

“You baked a cake on top of all this?!”

“Heh-heh! What’s a birthday without cake? But it’s not from the store, so don’t get your hopes up too high, okay?”

Ai brings her homemade cake and a glass of iced coffee over and puts them on the table in front of me.

It’s a simple, square cake with two Shogi pieces on top.

A big piece that has written in frosting and a small piece that has the character for .

The two are right next to each other, a pair.

“Ah...”

I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but even I can pick up on the message. It’s me, the Ryuo, and Ayumu, because he uses the same character as a Pawn to write his name, as a couple...Nah, who am I kidding? That kind of a thing wouldn’t cross her mind.

—Do her feelings for me...go beyond being Master and apprentice?

Because if they do, I need to stop them from escalating.

Ai is a fifth grader. She’s still just a kid, but she’ll be in junior high in no time. That excuse won’t last another two years.

—The sooner the better, while the wound won’t go that deep...!

Regaining my determination, I strike up a conversation again.

“Ai. I have something to tell you.”

“Agh! I’m sorry, Master. I forgot to get the bath ready!”

She claps her hands together and jumps up before hurrying to the bath as fast as her little feet can carry her.

“Oh...The bath, right. Yeah. Thanks...”

Determination, shattered.

I go ahead and help myself to some cake for now. It’s not as perfectly balanced as a cake from a bakery,...