(Ah, it seems Ten'ai is going to win. The very foundations of the Shogi world will shake from this event.) (Ōki)
(Didn't Sora's record in women's matches stand at 55 wins in 55 matches over 5 years? No one knows what will happen when she receives her first defeat.) (Ai)
(By the way, Sora has never tasted defeat in title matches, has she? It might take a long time for her to regain her balance.) (Ōki)
(The probability of her making a strong comeback before the second round might be low. At this rate, I hope Ten'ai achieves three consecutive victories before Sora wakes up from her shock.) (Ai)
After Ten'ai forced a Bishop exchange and created a "Horse" before her opponent, clearly confirming her advantage, I hesitated to leave the waiting room for authorized personnel. The people here, the moment they realized Sora was on the verge of losing, suddenly sprang to life with activity, allowing me to clearly see the ugly and detestable side of "absolute dominance by one person."
"Mr. Ōki, I often see you clasping your hands alternately in front of your chest as if praying. Does this action have a specific meaning?" (Koguhan - a journalist specializing in Shogi matches)
"No, it has no special meaning. It's a habit from childhood. I think the reason was trying to prevent my hands from moving involuntarily when I had nothing to do during a match." (Ōki)
(How can you tell such a lie so fluently? The truth is you haven't yet shed your habit as an amateur player, where you did that to pray for the opponent to make a fatal mistake.) (Ai)
(Please, can't you consider my actions in my 'past life' null and void? I was playing in a completely different dimension back then. Besides, you need to prepare a decent 'script' for the answer. I can't say I was praying for the opponent's mistake; that's terrifying.) (Ōki)
After Kuzuryu went to commentate on the match via the large screens, and the members of the "Research Group" left, I became responsible for answering journalist Koguhan's questions. Although she cannot hide her infatuation with Kuzuryu even while in "work mode," she performs her duty with high professionalism. ...Her feelings about Sora's loss must be complicated as well.
The match continued with Ten'ai advancing, widening the gap bit by bit. After the situation became difficult, Sora began playing weak moves consecutively. Was this her level before the "awakening"?
(Actually, Ten'ai's moves aren't bad at all, are they? She attacks the flanks, and at the same time leaves almost no gaps in her own camp.) (Ai)
(No, Ten'ai's flank has also been breached. If you look at that point alone, it is full of holes.) (Ōki)
(I don't mean it in that sense... Simply put, one could say it is difficult to restrict the movement of Ten'ai's King, right?) (Ai)
(I understand that much... You're right, the movement space for Ten'ai's King is vast.) (Ōki)
Sora dropped a "Silver General" into Ten'ai's camp, but Ten'ai responded by dropping the "Bishop" she held into her own camp, blocking the path for the Silver and turning it into a dead piece with no escape. The move might seem heavy, but it was undoubtedly the best one. That Silver move turned into the biggest mistake Sora committed, cementing Ten'ai's superiority absolutely. In the end, Sora's ship sank without putting up much resistance.
Now, Sora's five years of accumulated victories have turned into nothing more than a tool to raise Ten'ai's value. The attention of most journalists focused on photographing Ten'ai, while only a few focused their lenses on Sora, who had her head bowed deeply.
(...? Why is the nickname 'Cinderella' echoing among the journalists now?) (Ōki)
(Ten'ai hasn't been nicknamed 'The Cinderella of Kobe' yet, has she? Are you misunderstanding something?) (Ai)
(...Ah. Since she hasn't officially become a professional player yet, it's different. But it seems the title 'The Cinderella of Kobe' will inevitably be hers.) (Ōki)
(There's no need to prevent that. When you become strong, you have to surrender to the increase in titles they bestow upon you.) (Ai)
(I just hope they spare me titles like 'Software Eater' and 'Lowly Demonic Robot.' Kuzuryu is also nicknamed 'The Invincible Loli Warrior.') (Ōki)
The first round of the "Queen" battle ended with Ten'ai's victory, leaving her two wins away from seizing the title. Checking the schedule, I noticed that the regular meeting of the "Shoreikai" would come immediately after the second round ended. On that day, there will also be a promotion match. How many games will Ten'ai play against Sora this month alone?
"Good work. It was wonderful that you were able to answer the journalists' questions with a smile after playing until the end." (Ōki)
"...You won't praise my Shogi play then?" (Tenai)
"Because Sora destroyed herself. The 'Static Rook with two-move loss' strategy ended the moment moves were lost without benefit, and there isn't much worth praising. But your ability to show your full strength in a title match is truly amazing." (Ōki)
When Ten'ai returned from the match hall, she would show a skeptical face if I praised her, and a sad face if I treated her coldly, so I chose the middle path: praise mixed with constructive criticism. But truth be told, she exerted great effort today despite wearing unusual clothes and playing on a massive Shogi board.
In contrast, Sora left the hall with unsteady steps. She looked as if she were about to vanish from existence, but Kuzuryu chased after her, so I think she will be fine. Let him take her to his family home and flirt with her there as he pleases.
(Oh? In the Meijin battle, the Meijin achieved two consecutive victories?) (Ōki)
(Originally, he was supposed to defend his title and achieve the 100th title after a playoff (full set), right? ...If he continues and wins four consecutive games, the course of events will change drastically.) (Ai)
The day the seventh round of the Meijin battle is held is the same day Kuzuryu and Sora returned to his family home in the original story, but I don't think anything will happen on that day this time. Considering the Meijin's current performance, I doubt it will even reach a playoff. Why does this man get stronger instead of weaker with time?
(When will Sora start her attention-seeking move?) (Ōki)
(Do you want to strengthen Sora as well?) (Ai)
(...A relative decline in her level has occurred, and I want to at least develop her relationship with Kuzuryu.) (Ōki)
(...You are truly selfish. I've gotten used to it, but... she realizes even in the original story that she was making attention-seeking moves, and if you corner her, she might attempt suicide just from that, you know?) (Ai)
I feel the "Kill me" suicide attempt event might occur automatically if she is cornered, and perhaps it suffices to advise Kuzuryu to watch her movements. But will they return to Kuzuryu's home in Fukui after this first round?
...No, that's impossible. I received a Line message from Kuzuryu saying he entered a "Love Hotel" with Sora. By the way, since Master "Shumai" didn't give his advice to Sora at New Year's, the "Sakuranomiya Love Hotel" event didn't happen, right?
Is it possible that something happened with Master "Shumai" after Kuzuryu chased Sora? Master "Shumai" is the maker of the Shogi board used in the first round of the Queen battle, and perhaps there was brief contact. He is rarely sober. The words "Love Hotel" make me almost imagine what he said to the defeated Sora.
...Since things have reached this point, let them do it and be done with it. Watching them closely while they love each other but get lost in misunderstandings is nerve-wracking. But will Sora be able to regain her balance before the second round this way?
(If she regains her balance and then loses again to Ten'ai, she might really commit suicide this time.) (Ai)
(Don't say scary things. If Ten'ai is to snatch the title, Sora has to lose two more times. ...To escape the immediate problem before me, let's think about the second round of the 'Electronic Shogi War.') (Ōki)
(You've moved from an immediate problem to another current problem. By the way, who is the idiot who changed the system to allow software updates during the tournament?) (Ai)
(Most likely it is Chairman Gekko. Well, humans might evolve during title matches, and the belief that not allowing software to do so is unfair is the reason for this direction.) (Ōki)
The "Queen" battle and the "Electronic Shogi War" will be held simultaneously. For a while, the news of "Master and Disciple" will monopolize the talk of the Shogi world.
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