Original subtitles

My disciple, Hinatsuru Ai, and I, Kuzuryu Yaichi: our day starts with a checkmate shogi.

Monthly Checkmate Shogi Paradise

Ready...

Go!

Problem 1

Solved it! Checkmate from 3-1 Bishop to 2-5 Gold in 15 moves.

Next!

Problem 2

Checkmate from 5-6 Gold to 2-2 Dragon in 19 moves!

Darn it! Next!

Whoa, what the heck is this?!

I know! Capture Silver with 3-8 Silver,

play Gold from behind King,

move Bishop across 9 columns and guard that from the perpendicular angle,

take the Gold with 2-8 King, then 3-8 Horse...

That's a drop pawn mate!

What?

It's not 3-8 Horse, but rather from 4-9 Horse to 2-8 Horse and checkmate in 23 moves!

Damn it! I see, it's a drop pawn mate...

Drop pawn mate.

It's a foul move where you checkmate with your pawn.

It feels great to evade a drop pawn mate.

Ai is really amazing during the end game.

Ai, how was practice today?

Oh! I won all my matches!

Great, keep up the good work!

Yes!

The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!

Shogi Association

That day, I was summoned by the Kansai Shogi Association.

Kansai Shogi Association Directory 5F Edo Castle Keep Shogi Room 4F Multi-purpose Rooms Shogi Rooms

5F Edo Castle Keep Shogi Room 4F Multi-purpose Rooms Shogi Rooms 3F Office Private Studio Accommodation Rooms

4F Multi-purpose Rooms Shogi Rooms 3F Office Private Studio Accommodation Rooms 2F Shogi Club Youth training group

3F Office Private Studio Accommodation Rooms 2F Shogi Club Youth training group 1F Café Restaurant Shop

Long time no see, Ryuo.

Game 4: The other Ai

Yes!

Same here, nice to see you again.

This person is the president of the Shogi League, Tsukimitsu Seiichi, 9-dan.

He has taken the Meijin title 5 times and has become an Eternal Meijin.

However, what's unfortunate is that he has lost his eyesight to an illness in his 20s.

Nevertheless, he's still one of the top players.

He's a living legend.

So... what can I do for you today?

I'd like you to take on a disciple.

What?

She's a granddaughter of a business family that has

supported the shogi world for many years.

She's nine years old, in 4th grade.

W-Wait a second!

Why... Why is it me?!

Grade schoolers... don't you like them?

Wh-Wh-Wh-What are you talking about! I-I don't particularly like them!

I'm joking. It was a request.

What?

Please don't say things like that with such a straight face. It's terrible for my heart.

The girl apparently said,

"If it's not someone above class A or a title holder, I won't be anyone's disciple!"

Such a pompous request...

Do you mind meeting her just once, at least?

Think of it as saving face for me.

Thank you for coming!

I'm Yashajin Kouten, the head of this house.

N-Nice to meet you...

I've heard the name Yashajin somewhere...

My son is an amateur shogi player.

Perhaps you've seen his name somewhere.

This is my granddaughter, Ai.

Ai?

I will never call you "master".

You're simply a professional teaching me classes.

There's no way I could stand calling someone who took the title with luck a master.

Hey, Ai...

It's all right for me to be strict with her?

Please do so...

Then let's play.

D-Don't joke with me!

You think you can win while giving me this much of a handicap?!

Stop yapping and come at me.

I'll destroy you!

How is it? It's getting fun isn't it?

N-Not yet!

Unlike her twisted personality, she plays very honestly.

She must've been blessed with good instructors who taught her all the basics.

However, she relies on those basics too much.

She doesn't have the power to push back when things go south.

She's the complete opposite from Ai who shines in the end game.

I... I...

"I admit defeat"?

I'm not done yet!

I can still fight!

Her formation has gotten stronger!

She used my attacks to reform her defense!

She's even looking for a chance to counter!

This ability...

Receiving shogi...

When at disadvantage, she shows amazing abilities.

A player with the special ability to take advantage of opponents' attacks.

However, one must possess a strong will that won't bend

no matter how terrible the situation is.

This girl... is strong!

You have guts, but you still have a long way to go.

Shut up!

I hate you!

Hey, Ai!

Grandpa, you idiot!

I'm sorry. I may have gone too far.

No... that was necessary.

She's a poor girl.

Ever since both of her parents died in an accident,

she's faced the shogi board alone

and won't let anyone get close to her.

Alone?

Yes. That's why when she first asked for lessons,

I wanted a professional player to guide my granddaughter.

Why shogi?

When she was with her parents, there was always shogi.

To her, the happiest memories she has involve shogi.

Kuzuryu-sensei, please guide her.

Please!!

But that shogi... those moves... I've seen them somewhere.

I'm back.

Keika-san, thanks for watching... What?!

Idiot aunt!

Wait... what is this?

Um... girls' night?

No way girls' night is something like this!

And sis, weren't you supposed to be in a title match in Shizuoka?

Against Tsukiyomizaka-san.

This...

[Women's Open Match] Sora Ginko wipes out challenger! Only uses 2 minutes of her allocated time. Challenger, Tsukiyomizaka Ryo, admits defeat before lunch break. History's shortest match. Snow White of Naniwa, too strong.

With this, Gin-sama's record against female players is 48 wins 0 losses. 50 wins is almost within reach.

My angel got destroyed.

Ah...

Tsukiyomizaka-san's strategic play was considered the best from the

first move as of two weeks ago.

But last week, this move was...

Yeah. Kansai's Promotional League said "Nevermind, this works better if you go second."

I guess she didn't know about it.

That's just a terrible way to lose.

Tsukiyomizaka-san must be going wild right now...

So the match ended so abruptly and she's unsatisfied.

Shizuoka -> Hamamatsu -> Nagoya -> Gifu Hashima -> Maibara -> Kyoto -> Shin Osaka

She wanted to let the pent up frustration out by playing with me.

But I wasn't here, so she used Ai as a punching bag...

Ginko-chan?!

Auntie?!

It must've been a shock to Ai-chan.

She still lost with a 4-piece handicap.

I'm going home.

Oh, Sis.

Yaichi.

Yes?

That thing's getting weaker.

Maybe winning at the workshop made her relax too much.

This is when I decided to teach Yashajin Ai's lessons.

I realized there are things I cannot give Ai.

And that's... a rival...

What do you plan on doing at a place like this?

This neighborhood is called the "New World",

and in Osaka, it's the most deep and angular place.

And it's also where shogi prospered the most in Osaka.

A lot still remains here.

How is it? Can you play?

Hmph! They're too low level.

But since we came all the way here, I'll at least play before I go home.

So predictable.

Then, let's go!

Cover charge 1h 300 yen, 2h 600 yen, 3h 800 yen, 4h 1000 yen All day 1000 yen Student discount 600 yen New players welcome!

One child and two adults.

Here you go.

What do we do?

Go play with people who who seem bored in the back.

Akira-san and I will be here watching.

Match with no handicap?

Take a seat.

The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!

Hey, Sensei.

Is that an old man? Or an old woman?

Seems like half and half.

Whoopies.

What?

What? Why is she surprised?

That's a Bishop Head Pawn.

It's a sideways rook ambush move.

At first, it often looks like a mistake.

Oh man, I did something dumb.

I guess I'll just have to exchange the bishop.

I heard that she learned shogi through books

and the internet, after her parents passed away.

Yes. Master and us guardians don't know anything about shogi.

It's a wonder she got this strong by herself.

But without experiencing real matches, one cannot become stronger.

This is where it gets interesting.

W-Why? What happened?!

What? What did that person do?

It's a trap to deceive the opponent.

Is that against the rules?

If so, I'll go hunt down that panther...

No, no. It's not against the rules.

It's more like pretending to show your opponent an opening, just to set up a trap.

It's a sly strategy.

I lost...

Five consecutive losses.

Well, that's normal for the first time.

You have an aptitude for shogi.

There's no more basics for me to teach you.

However, you can't learn tricks during matches without an opponent.

Make sure you learn that here.

If you do, then no one will be able to win against you.

I'm home!

Welcome home, Master!

Welcome back!

Kuzuryu-sensei! Thank you for letting us use your place.

Oh right, today was a JS training group day.

Master!

Char has a request for you, Master.

Hm, what is it, Char-chan?

Can you make Char your disciple?

What?

Char-chan!

What are you saying!

Char-chan, you want to be my disciple?

Yes!

B-But doesn't Char-chan go to a class with the same instructor as you, Ayano-chan?

Yes. But our master is the type to leave kids to do whatever they want.

I-Is that right...

Even with Ai's talent and determination,

it's the reality that my ability alone isn't enough.

I'm sorry. I can't make Char-chan my disciple.

Char can't be your disciple?

Why? Why not?

Why is Ai okay, but not Char?

Char-chan...

If I just reject her, I might leave a big scar in her heart...

That's one thing I must avoid!

Think, think harder, Kuzuryu Yaichi!

As a professional player, as a Ryuo,

a move that turns everything around...

Oh, right! There's this move!

I can't make you my disciple,

but you can be my bride!

Bride?

Yes, my bride.

Master's bride?

That's right.

Wow! Char likes being a bride more than a disciple!

Right? Right?

A-Ai-chan...

Idiot master! You lolicon! Lolicon King!

Uh oh. Did I make it worse?

What are you saying? Making a grade schooler your wife?

You pervert!

Calm down, Ai-chan!

That's like spitting while looking up!

Seems like Ai doesn't like the idea of me taking on a new disciple.

I guess I'll keep quiet about the fact that I'm giving lessons to someone else, for now.

She's reading the opponent's expression and using that to make judgments.

She's the completely opposite of Ai who only focuses on the board.

How's this?

Damn. I guess that's that.

Little girl, you're strong.

Thank you, I know.

How is it, that strength?

Her talent is undeniable.

But there's a lot of mental training she needs to go through,

until no situation will shake her...

Well then, can someone play with me?

I-I'll be your opponent!

Why is it... Why is it leopard print in pink?!

Perhaps it's in Osaka people's blood to be flashier and flashier...

I'm too curious about that person's gender. I can't focus on the shogi.

Well, this is training too!

You're pretty good, little girl.

To take this much attack from me,

who was called New World's Female Leopard!

I-It was a she!

Ai was so shaken by the news, she self-destructed.

Like this, I go to shogi dojo on the weekends and spend time with Ai otherwise.

Or so I thought that was going to be the routine...

Recently, I've been able to figure out people's habits.

Oh?

When Mio-chan is shaken, she says makes sounds like "fuwaa" or like "yaaa."

Uwaaa... Yaa...

Yeah.

When Ayano-chan plans a surprise attack during early stages of the match,

she takes off her glasses and makes sure to not look at her opponent.

Ah, now that you've said it...

When master is hiding something, you rub your hands against your pants.

What?

Master, what are you hiding from me?

I'm h-hiding?

Something from me, right?

No, no, no! Why would I do that?! What is there to hide?!

Where are you working on Saturdays recently?

Um, the President asked me to be this old man's coach in Kobe...

Staaaaare.

Oh no! I was rubbing my hands!

It must be a woman!

Mihane-chan thinks so too?

In dramas and mangas, it's always the case that they have another woman.

You can't, Ai-chan!

What should I do?

If I can make do something for Ai-chan for a change of pace...

By change of pace... you mean a shogi dojo?

Yeah! Let's try changing things up!

I've always wanted to go to the dojo in Umeda!

I'm excited!

Excite!

This is so dumb.

If I'm playing against you, we didn't have to come here.

People will show up eventually.

Also, don't call me "you". Call me "sensei".

I heard from grandfather...

that you also have another disciple.

Yeah. She's also the same age as you. Are you curious?

N-Not really! It doesn't matter!

I really don't care, but...

So? Is she strong?

She's strong.

But you're probably better, since you know

how to navigate through the early stages of the match.

So you learned shogi from your parents?

That's right.

Your shogi... I feel like I've seen it before.

It also feels like I know it very well.

Were your parents perhaps skilled players?

Or their match records were in shogi magazines and...

Oh, I-I'm sorry!

You don't have to tell me anything, if you don't want to! It's my fault.

That's not really the case...

My mother wasn't that strong, but father was an amateur master.

I-I see.

He really was strong.

I'm sorry.

Hey...

Can you teach me how to play?

What? I'm teaching you right now.

Not that. I'm asking how to make beautiful sounds when you play a move, idiot.

I said to call me "sensei"!

Fine, fine, idiot-sensei.

Hold it like this, then do this.

Like this?

So you hold it like this, and then like this.

You're unexpectedly clumsy.

Don't call me "you."

Then what do I call you?

Just call me Ai...

Yay! It's pretty much empty!

Whoa!

Excuse me.

H-Hello...

Wait, what happened?

What? Isn't that...