Original subtitles

Master! One more match!

We shouldn't play any more.

It's important for you to be well-rested before an official match.

Okay...

Thank you very much.

Um... Master...

I...

Hm?

If you need to pee, make sure you do that before bed.

That's not it!

U-Um...

Would you mind giving me something that reminds me of you, Master?!

What?!

Reminds you of me? You're a grade schooler!

Like your handkerchief, or pen... Anything's fine!

I want to use it as my good luck charm for the match!

Oh, I see. A good luck charm.

All right. I'll prepare something by tomorrow morning.

Th-Thank you very much!

Ryuo Kuzuryu Yaichi Courage

Meow!

Shogi Association

Game 3: Training Group Entrance Exam

Good morning, everyone.

Good morning.

We have new students who will be taking the entrance exam today.

Please show them that our training group is different from regular dojos.

Okay!

It's okay, Ai-chan. Just play like usual.

I heard you are an amateur 3rd dan at the dojo, Hinatsuru Ai-san.

Y-Yes!

Then, to start, why don't you play against Sadato Ayano-san, with no handicap?

All right, please begin.

Let's have a good match.

Oh, it's her chance.

What?

The opponent is playing too defensively as a result of being overly cautious of Ai-san.

This... I have no choice but to take it!

It's my loss.

Th-Thank you very much.

Really? You finished already?

Little Dragon is so strong...

She won? Ai won?

Yes, your daughter won with determination.

Ai-chan, you're too strong...

B-But it was a close for me, too... I kept almost making mistakes—

Let's see...

Hmm... Why don't you play with me next?

Huh?

Who is he?

Kuruno Yoshitsune, 7th dan.

He's the manager of this training group,

and he's an active professional who's in B class's top group.

Is she really going to play against a professional?

Yes. Though there will, of course, be a handicap.

L-Let's have a good match!

Yes, let's have a good match.

Will Ai be able to win?

If it's Ai-san, there's a chance.

Let me see.

Who's Ryuo's disciple?

Oh! Kuruno-sensei is playing!

Who are these people?

They're members of the association, the shogi promotional league,

reporters, and professionals who teach shogi.

Rumors of a strong kid will spread really quickly here.

Hmm, I see. You also studied the standard moves for handicapped matches.

Then...

Sensei intentionally played a non-standard move for a handicapped match.

From here, she'll be judged on whether or not she can respond to this on her own.

Here, here, here...

Here, here, and here.

Okay!

Oh!

Pretty good!

Wh-What happened?

Ai-san's move nicely countered the opponent's move with a strong, aggressive one.

Even in a match against a professional, she doesn't flinch.

Such an obstinate kid.

I've never seen this side of her.

Hmm... Ryuo.

Yes?

Can you grab the air purifier inside my bag for me?

Yes!

One of Kuruno-sensei's seven tools he uses for his matches?

He's serious!

What is the air purifier for?

It's a tool to help you concentrate as much as possible.

It looks like it's there for comfort, but it plays a bigger part than people think.

Why do they go so far just to play shogi?

Shogi players have dedicated their lives to "just" playing shogi.

What's the situation?

Ai-san has the lead at the moment.

Even Kuruno-sensei didn't expect it to be this difficult.

It's checkmate.

Th-The match is already over?

Yes. Although it requires quite a few moves.

The question is whether or not Ai-san has realized that...

Here, here, here, here, here...

It's the decisive move.

The opponent is attacking, but if Ai goes on the defensive, the match will flip.

Here, here, here...

It's a move that tests Ai's ability to read ahead and her courage.

Here, here, here...

Can you go for the checkmate without being intimidated by the title of professional, Ai?

Okay!

Okay. I lost.

Th-Thank you very much!

She won against Kuruno-sensei!

Ai won? Against a professional?

Man, she's strong.

Her ability is beyond the level of a training group.

You think so too, Kuruno-sensei?

I was blown away by just her talent alone.

Are you her parents?

Ah, yes.

Your daughter has amazing talent.

R-Really?

Yes. Her accurate reading ability is pretty intimidating,

but above all, she has a very strong spirit. That's amazing.

Spirit... Does that have anything to do with a talent for shogi?

Of course.

In shogi, most of the time, the match ends with, "I give up."

Meaning it ends when you admit defeat.

To continue fighting in a difficult situation, one must have a strong spirit.

I see.

But what's really important is the strength to stand back up after one has lost.

It's not just strength in shogi, but strength of spirit is a priceless talent.

She has such talent.

Do you plan on entering her into a promotional league in the future?

Promotional league?

It's the upper level of the training group,

and also the gateway for those who want to become professional players.

P-Professional?!

W-Well, we can talk about that later.

Let's start with joining the training group first...

The condition is to win three times in a row for her to continue playing shogi.

Please assign her third match.

All right. Let's continue the exam.

If she defeats her next opponent,

your daughter will surely become a professional female player.

Is she strong?

No doubt she's the strongest female player in the 1,400 years of shogi history.

Huh?!

Chiaki-sama!

Sis?

Th-The Snow White of Naniwa?!

Y-You've heard of her?

Yes. But why is a female professional,

and one with titles, playing against...

Sis— Sora Ginko is

a member of the promotional league aiming to become a professional,

but she isn't a female professional.

What?

There's a big difference between a professional shogi player and a female professional.

Promotional League

4-dan 3-dan 2-dan 1-dan 1-kyu 2-kyu 3-kyu 4-kyu 5-kyu 6-kyu

In order to become a professional player, one must attain 4th dan in the promotional league.

But in order to become a female professional,

one needs to be achieve C-1 rank in the training group...

Training Group

Provisional Female Professional (Female 3-kyu)

What's the difference between the promotional league and a training group?

Promotional leagues train players to become professionals.

The training group is a system of lower ranks that can feed into it.

What? So that means...

Promotional League

Training Group

If you reach league A or S in a training group,

you can transfer to the promotional league as a 6th kyu.

There is an age restriction,

but this means that even the 6th kyu players are stronger than most female professionals.

Promotional League

4-dan 3-dan 2-dan 1-dan 1-kyu 2-kyu 3-kyu 4-kyu 5-kyu 6-kyu

Sora is currently a 2nd dan in the league.

M-My daughter is playing against such a strong player?

I won't lose, no matter what!

Ryuo Kuzuryu Yaichi Courage

I received courage from Master.

Well then, please start.

Let's have a good match.

L-Let's have a good match.

She made a non-standard move from the start!

Sora is a female player that holds two titles,

but they're both open match titles,

and any female can challenge for those titles.

And her record against female professionals is...

Out of 47 matches, 47 wins and 0 losses.

The nickname "Snow White of Naniwa"

comes from the ever-piling snow that are her victorious white stars.

Th-That's who she's up against?

Whoa!

Well done!

She's the real deal!

Does this mean that Ai...

Yes, Ai-san is currently winning.

However, it's not likely that things will continue to go smoothly.

Sis gets fiery when she's serious.

Then her eyes turn a frozen blue.

This is proof that she's serious...

She pulled back!

Does she plan on playing until the last move?

It's just starting!

Huh? A-Already?!

What was that sound?

Ai-san used up all her time...

From here on, she only has a maximum of one minute to make each move.

The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!

In a match you can't afford to lose,

the pressure of a minute is unimaginable.

Sis is even controlling Ai's breathing...

Ai... She's struggling so much.

She's just playing shogi. Why does it look like she's in pain?

Hyperventilation.

What?

The symptoms are similar to those of hyperpnea:

feelings of suffocation, increasingly rapid heartbeat, dizziness,

pressure or pain in their chest...

This is too much for a nine-year-old.

Ai is no longer in the lead.

You...

She's attacking blindly now...

Indomitable

This time isn't for her to read ahead,

but rather to let Ai realize her own mistake.

The tables have turned...

The technique Sis is attacking Ai with is something she learned

through her matches with me.

And the number of those matches...

is roughly 50,000.

The one who is cornering Ai right now...

is the other half of me.

If only I was stricter with her...

If only I had taught her a bit more...

Ai-chan's moves... are like Sora-sensei's.

Look! The gap is closing!

Is she trying to make a comeback?

Is she winning now?

No, not yet...

but after being cornered, she's reading ahead again.

Not yet... not yet...

Ai, who can read deeper than anyone, knows best.

No matter how hard you try,

there isn't even a tiny bit of chance that she can turn the tables.

Not yet!

Even so, she doesn't give up the fight or give up on winning.

She continues to play her moves.

You can do it, Ai...

Not yet!

Not yet!

Not yet!

Not yet!

Such passion!

Not yet!

I...

I admit... defeat...

I couldn't charge in.

To think I avoided a head-on battle.

Next time, I'll win with the least amount of moves.

The matter has been decided.

Ai, stand up and greet your teachers properly.

Even though it was for a short period of time, you were in their care.

Ai...

You want to continue playing shogi, don't you?

Come on, Ai.

Please wait!

We promised that she'd stop playing shogi if she lost.

Yes, but that's only due to the circumstances on your end.

What?

The match just now made me want to take on Ai-san as my disciple, no matter what.

That's why...

This time, I'd like to formally scout her as a disciple.

I'll take responsibility and make Ai-san a female professional who can hold titles!

So please! Let your daughter continue playing shogi!

It's true that I'm still only 16,

and only graduated from middle school, but I'm the Ryuo!

I'm the strongest shogi player in the world!

Please! Please let Ai-san become my disciple! I beg you.

Me, too! I want to play more shogi!

I want to be Master's disciple and become stronger!

I don't want to end it with a loss!

It's my one and only lifelong wish!

Please let me continue playing shogi!

Please!

That's enough.

Honey?

Kuzuryu-sensei, please raise your head.

Please take care of Ai.

Dad?

We won't regret putting our daughter in your care.

Even if she can't become a female professional,

the journey of fighting with everything she's got in the shogi world

will be a good life experience for her.

If you're all right with a girl like her, please make her your disciple.

Ah, yes!

Kuzuryu-sensei.

Yes!

May I ask how many siblings you have, as well as your annual salary?

Huh?

Hey, you're being rude.

Please stay out of this.

Yes...

U-Um... I have an older brother and a younger brother.

My annual salary is...

Last year was this much...

This year, I'll also get the prize money from the Ryuo title match, so it'll be roughly...

this much.

I see. I understand.

Then, Kuzuryu-sensei,

if Ai can't become a female title holder,

you'll marry into the Hinatsuru family.

What?

Huh?

Son-in-law? M-Me?

Of course. To take the only daughter of Japan's best inn, Hinatsuru, as a disciple,

you must be prepared to take responsibility.

R-Responsibility...

If she hasn't achieved a title by middle school graduation,

she will have to retire, even if she becomes a professional female player.

What?!

When that happens, you will also join the inn

and learn our business, Kuzuryu-sensei.

Master! Let's work hard together!

Sir!

Let's work hard together.

That's not the face of someone working hard!

No way, that's impossible!

That means I'd have to live up north?

I think it's possible.

Kuruno-sensei?!

There are quite a few professionals who live even further out,

and there's always the bullet train.

Even a grade schooler can come here to Osaka on her own.

You too, Keika-san?!

Kuzuryu-sensei.

Are you prepared to risk your way of life for Ai?

I am.

Please... give me Ai-san!

It's already been a week since Ai-chan went back north.

Yeah...

Are you lonely?

My father wouldn't stop saying,

"I'm so sad that my adorable granddaughter is no longer with me."

Master said that?

That's why today, when Ai-chan comes back, make sure she stays over.

That sounds good. She'll be happy, too.

Oh, that's right.

You told Ginko-chan about the welcome party today, right?

What?! I thought you were telling her, Keika-san!

Of course not! Isn't that the host's job?

Well, okay, calling her will be scary, so I'll send her an email...

You don't have to.

I heard it just now.

Ginko-chan!

S-Sis...

Message Hinatsuru Ai I'm here

She didn't tell me where she was.

But the place we'll reunite is...

Welcome home, Master!

I'm home.

I'm Hinatsuru Ai and I'm in the 4th grade!

As promised, I've come to be your disciple.