Original subtitles

Man follows land, land follows sky, sky follows the way, the way follows nature

This is so fun.

Playing with you is so much fun!

This person is Natagiri Jin, 8-dan.

He is one of the most prominent researchers in the shogi world.

Skilled in using moves from Static Rook to Ranging Rook, he is an all-rounder.

His nickname is, of course, Dual Wielder.

I think... a match is like falling in love.

See, sitting across from each other like this, isn't it like an arranged marriage meeting?

I... I guess so.

Ever since it was decided that we would have a match,

I have only been thinking about you and researching you.

Yaichi-kun.

Y-Yes?!

Is there anyone you like?

That day, I was completely defeated by Natagiri-san.

The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!

Bath of Long Life

Game 6: All-Rounder

Perhaps, Natagiri-san's nickname, Dual Wielder, means something else...

No, I don't have time to think about that.

In three weeks, I have another official match with Natagiri-san.

I need to come up with a strategy...

Natagiri 8-dan was the opponent for my professional debut match

as well as my first official match after I took the Ryuo title.

On top of that, I was utterly crushed in both of the matches.

To me, Natagiri-san is a wall I have yet to overcome.

In other words, he's my natural enemy.

Ai-chan, you seem happy to be in a big bath.

My home is a hot springs inn, and it's been a while I've been in such a big bath!

How spoiled for a trainee, you flat and hairless brat.

But Aun— You're hairless, too, Sora-sensei!

What?!

Yaichi! You just imagined something, didn't you!

You pervert!

Pervert Ryuo!

Stop! It hurts! Sis!

Fall, hit your head, and lose your memory!

Ginko-chan, calm down, calm down!

With Yaichi-kun, that might be worth extra points!

I don't need to score high with that!

Summer classes Accepting students

Are you all right, Yaichi-kun?

Yeah... I think I was in the bath too long...

But really, both Yaichi-kun and Ginko-chan have grown so much.

No wonder I'm going to be an old lady.

No way. You're only 25, Keika-san.

I'm almost 26.

Soon, I'm going to be 26...

Kaneko Cram School Summer classes Accepting students

To become a female player through the training group,

one must reach rank C-1 before one turns 27.

Keika-san's time limit is up in a year and a bit...

What's with her?! What was up with Ginko during that match?!

It's a title match and she shows no mercy!

Do you guys even have a heart?! Huh?!

Did you bring me here just to tell me that?!

Why are you taking it out on me?!

Shut up! Why is it that your family gets all the luck?!

It annoys me, dumbass!

That's not true!

My disciple isn't a female professional player yet, and Keika-san...

Keika-san, huh... she's having a hard time overcoming her wall...

She's got the aptitude for it, I think.

I wonder if it's because she joined the training group late.

But it seems like everything isn't going great for you either, Ryuo-san.

I heard you lost to the same opponent three times in a row!

I'm thinking up a strategy, okay?

Kyobashi Shopping District South Street

Wow! It's like a cave.

Yeah, this is truly deep Osaka.

Oh, right. You went to the training group today.

How was Keika-san?

Ah, yes...

Actually, Keika-san lost and got a demotion point...

A demotion point...

Keika-san's path to becoming a female professional has only gotten more difficult.

Cheerful Baths

Good evening, Asuka-chan.

Y-Yaichi-kun?!

Is Maestro upstairs?

Was that your friend, Master?

Yeah, she's the daughter of the owner here.

I feel like you have too many female friends.

Rook

A shogi dojo!

Maestro...

Oh, Yaichi. Long time no see.

Is she the rumored disciple of yours?

Well, sit down. I'll deal with you quickly.

Oishi Mitsuru, King. The leading user of the Ranging Rook strategy,

known as the Dealer Maestro.

He's also the owner of this public bathhouse and shogi dojo.

In general, the strategies in shogi are split into two.

One is where you keep your rook at a specific spot, called Static Rook.

The other is where you move your rook, called Ranging Rook.

I mainly use Static Rook. You could say I'm part of the Static Rook faction.

Cheerful Central Rook...

Oishi-san is a pure Ranging Rook user.

The delicate yet dynamic play style of Ranging Rook fascinates anyone who watches.

Early Pawn Push? Well, that's troublesome.

Did I do it?

Not quite.

Stop acting so tough. What do you even plan on doing?

I'm going to show you...

What?

How to deal!

He got rid of the rook?!

Your formation was constructed to keep my rook in place.

That means, if I throw away my rook, your formation will fall apart!

Well, I mean, in theory, that is the case...

Cheerful, right?

From then on, everything was like magic.

He controlled the pieces like the conductor of an orchestra.

His nickname, Maestro, isn't just for show.

I lost.

This is how you deal.

Amazing...

He's the only one!

Oishi-san!

Please, teach me Ranging Rook! How to Deal!

What?!

You...

I heard you lost again to Natagiri.

Yes.

You're probably thinking, "If Static Rook doesn't work, then Ranging Rook might..."

It's not anywhere close to easy to become an all-rounder.

Even for you, Master?

Yeah. Even if you have the most amazing talent,

you need to work hard until you sweat blood.

But there are people who manage to do it.

For example, Natagiri.

As well as...

Meijin.

No shogi players in history can come close to him...

He's history's greatest genius!

King

I don't know if I can do the same thing as him. However...

If that's how I can overcome my wall,

if that's how I can become stronger,

I'll become an all-rounder!

M-Master! So cool!

Y-Yeah? Really?

Yes! I will also become an all-rounder with you, Master!

All right, then.

Come here starting tomorrow. However...

You'll be working for me, too.

Don't rely on standard moves!

It's only Ranging Rook if you express your overflowing emotions on the board!

Don't think! Feel!

Yes!

Not enough! More!

Play Ranging Rook until you can't stop shaking!

Yes!

G-Good work today...

If you'd like, here...

Ah, thank you, Asuka-chan.

Please refrain from actions that may cause inconvenience to other guests.

Master, you idjit.

The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!

Thank you for having us!

Sank you!

Woohoo, everyone came!

Big bath. It's Char's first time!

Exciting!

Yes!

Everyone, come here!

Rook

Master, are your shoulders stiff?

Yeah, it's probably from all this physical labor lately.

Then, I'll give you a massage!

Massage... massage...

It's a little weak...

Okay! Ai, step on me!

What?

Whoops, did it hurt?!

No, no. It felt really good...

R-Really?

Yeah, Ai. That feels so good...

I'm happy if you're happy, Master.

Whoa, what are you doing, Ai-chan?!

I'm giving Master a massage.

Y-You surprised me!

Char, too! Step on Mwaster!

Mwaster, Char stepping, feel good?

Yeah, it's the best, Char-chan...

All right! I'll do my best, too!

M-Me, too!

Step, step... Step, step...

Amazing... everyone...

this feels amazing!

Ai, not there. That's the back of my head...

And?

S-Sis? Why are you here?

I heard you were learning Ranging Rook from Oishi-sensei, so I came to check up on you.

Y-You're misunderstanding!

I'm just trying to refresh because I'm tired from work!

School girl refresh?

Go die suddenly, you piece of trash.

Okay, I guess that's it.

Th-That was long!

Now I'm finally an all-rounder!

Don't get too excited just because you won once.

Aren't you supposed to be Ryuo?

Ai! What happened?

Master... I... I...

Mio-chan... terribly...

Did you lose terribly to her?

For the first time, I played a handicap match against Mio-chan,

and I used the Ranging Rook I learned here...

and then...

I lost.

It must've become clear to her, after losing even with a handicap,

that Ai had surpassed her.

I... I never knew it was such a hard thing to win.

Then will you lose for her?

What?

If you lost on purpose and Mio-chan was happy, would you feel satisfied?

Something like that... I couldn't...

Ai must've wanted me to comfort her.

She must've believed that I would comfort her and cheer her up,

but still, I must say the things I need to say.

I'm Ai's master, after all.

It's great to care for others.

Those who can't care for those who lose

will be the first to break when they lose themselves.

If you fear victory, then you don't have to suffer.

You can pack your belongings and go back to the countryside.

We are trying to make a living by playing shogi.

No matter who the opponent is, we don't want to lose.

If we can't play shogi, then our lives have no meaning.

Right?

Yes...

How is Ai-chan?

She's calmed down a bit.

Asuka-chan took her for a bath.

Ai-chan's a good girl.

Have you played against the Meijin?

Not yet. I'm unsure if that's lucky or unlucky...

Your pace gets thrown off when you play against him, no matter if you win or lose.

Your world starts flipping, and you lose your senses.

Lose your senses..

It reminds you of the big difference in talent between you and him.

It's the same way Mio-chan feels about Ai now.

Yaichi, you're actually learning Ranging Rook in order to fight the Meijin, right?

You're predicting that the Meijin will be the challenger for the next Ryuo match.

Natagiri is the Meijin's research partner.

Their style is similar, and you could say he's like a step down version of the Meijin.

So you're trying to win against Natagiri.

Do you think I can win?

Me, the way I am now, against Natagiri-san.

You have more talent than him.

However, Natagiri has researched shogi and worked harder than anyone.

He's bet his life on shogi.

That's where his strength comes from.

If there's a chance for you to win, to exceed Natagiri's research...

It depends on if you can catch him off guard with Ranging Rook.

That's probably it.

Minase

Yaichi-kun, what kind of shogi are you going to show me today?

Oh, right, I believe the Meijin is also going to watch this match.

The Meijin is?!

Neither of us can afford to put on an unsightly match.

What?

Cheerful Central Rook. You caught me by surprise here.

For the first time, you're playing your Rook just for me!

I just received Yaichi-kun's first time...

Natagiri happily accepted Kuzuryu's first time...

Can you please stop that!

But how unfortunate.

I wanted to fight with you with our abilities alone.

What?

It's really unfortunate.

That's a strategy the Meijin and I ended yesterday.

No! Don't let an off-board strategy fool you!

I shall stick with what I chose!

A super early offense!

The Meijin and I have been researching this forever.

That research finally ended yesterday.

With an absolute Static Rook victory.

An absolute Static Rook victory.

Does that mean that I, who used Ranging Rook, will lose?

Let's see whose research is correct!

I see you've prepared a new counter here as well.

However, I am familiar with this move!

You've even researched a move like this?

I see his shadow behind Natagiri-san...

The shadow of history's greatest Meijin...

However, I'll continue to attack!

I'll lure in the opponent's attack and win by a fine line!

That's... how you deal!

This is the end!

Are you sure?

What?!

A head-on capture?!

That feels good...

H-How absurd. A capture like that...

I can't reach!

I... I... Will I never win against this person?