"Kasumigaoka-senpai, co down and eat!"
"I heard you, I heard you. Stop shouting so loud. If it's not good, don't bla for stepping all over you!"
Following that was the sound of brisk footsteps descending the stairs.
Recently, Yukima Azuma hadn't needed to call her as much.
Most of the ti, when it was alti, Kasumigaoka would naturally appear at the dining table.
Only when she was deeply engrossed in her writing did Yukima Azuma have to actively remind her.
However, while her body was enthusiastic, her mouth never softened.
Clearly, lately, Kasumigaoka had been eating nothing but Yukima Azuma's cooking.
Even her previously beloved pineapple buns hadn't been touched in ages.
"Here's the money for next month's als."
Kasumigaoka pushed a thick wad of cash toward Yukima Azuma.
It was quite a significant amount, even exceeding what was needed for food expenses.
"Just leave it there," Yukima Azuma replied casually, not even glancing at it. "This afternoon, I'll be heading to Osaka for an official tournant. Dinner is already in the fridge."
Kasumigaoka rely responded with an "oh."
"I'll bring back a souvenir for you, Senpai."
Noticing a hint of disappointnt in Kasumigaoka's eyes, Yukima Azuma chuckled softly, his tone gentle.
At that mont, Kasumigaoka realized her feelings had been seen through. She huffed lightly, but the expectation in her eyes was impossible to conceal.
"I'm off now."
"Safe travels."
The official tournant in Osaka didn't have much to note.
This ti, his opponent was a professional fourth-dan player.
There was still a noticeable gap in skill levels between them.
Yukima Azuma steadily guided the ga into the endga phase and then secured an easy victory.
In the endga, differences in skill beco especially apparent.
With this win, Yukima Azuma had re-established a winning streak in official tournants, extending it to seven consecutive matches.
"With just one more win, I can be promoted to sixth-dan."
Walking out of the shogi club, Yukima Azuma calculated his win-loss record.
In official tournants, the number of wins and losses is the most critical factor for a professional shogi player's promotion.
A high win rate makes it easier to accumulate the necessary victories for advancent.
Securing a winning streak accelerates the process even further.
In fact, Sora Ginko wasn't wrong.
If Yukima Azuma hadn't temporarily left the world of shogi three years ago, his current ranking would probably be 8th dan, or even 9th dan.
"If I continue this winning streak, and win the official tournant this ti, I could be promoted to seventh-dan."
"Then, I'll participate in the Ryuou title tournant. If I win the Ryuou title, I'll be promoted to eighth-dan."
"A few years from now, if I win the Ryuou title five tis in a row, I'll beco the youngest player to achieve the 'Eisei Ryuou' (eternal dragon king) title and be promoted to ninth-dan."
"Ah... If everything goes smoothly, that would be great."
Yukima Azuma chuckled softly and shook his head.
It felt as though he had been over-simplifying things.
Up until achieving the "Ryuou" title, the challenge might not be too difficult.
But becoming "Eisei Ryuou" would definitely an facing off against the "ijin."
How long it would take to hone shogi skills to the peak level of 10 was still uncertain.
After all, thinking about these things now seed too early.
Yukima Azuma turned and entered the largest shopping mall in Osaka.
He hadn't forgotten that he needed to buy a souvenir for Kasumigaoka.
"Cat ears?"
A girl passed by him, wearing a soft headband with cat ears.
This made Yukima Azuma pause for a mont.
The style seed sowhat familiar.
After a mont of thought, Yukima Azuma suddenly rembered.
"Ah, it's Koshian."
The "cat ears" character was trending online, and the original art post by the creator had over ten million views.
It was a hugely popular ani character recently.
In other words...
Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to the entrance area of the mall.
Quickly, he spotted a poster advertising a "mangaka" event.
Clearly, today was a coincidence; Osaka was hosting a big ani event at this mall.
They might have rented out a section or an entire floor of the mall for it.
'Should I go to the event and buy a bunny cosplay set as a souvenir for Kasumigaoka-senpai?'
This thought flashed through Yukima Azuma's mind.
However, he imdiately dismissed it.
If he really did that, he'd definitely be ruthlessly stepped on when he got ho.
So, it would be better to find sothing else...
As Yukima Azuma was about to continue walking, a voice called out from behind:
"Ah, is that Yukima-kun?"
The familiar voice made Yukima Azuma pause.
This voice was very familiar.
With his sharp mory, Yukima Azuma quickly connected the sound to a face in his mind.
As soon as he turned around, a polite and proper smile, typical of a senior, appeared on his face.
Behind him were two small, adorable "girls."
On the left was a girl with blonde hair in two braids, but she was wearing a rather plain green sports outfit. Her delicate face showed clear surprise, her mouth slightly open, revealing a cute little fang.
On the right was a "girl" with purple hair, also in two braids, but her attire was completely different, refined with a traditional kimono. At that mont, she was resting her left hand on her cheek, making a onee-san expression straight out of an ani.
The two of them had remarkably similar facial features, looking almost like sisters.
"Sayuri-obasan, hello, it's been a long ti."
Yukima Azuma slightly bowed in greeting.
Sawamura Spencer Eriri and Sawamura Sayuri.
His ex-girlfriend and the mother of his ex-girlfriend.
"Yukima-kun, you're being too polite. Eriri, what are you standing there for? Say hello!"
Sayuri smiled, waved gently, and gave Eriri a light pat on the back, nudging her forward a step.
"Eh!? Mom!"
Eriri cried out in surprise.
But quickly, she shut her mouth and lowered her voice.
Turning her head to look at Yukima Azuma, Eriri's face showed a complex expression, but internally, she was a tangled ss of emotions.
She wanted to say sothing, but couldn't figure out what.
After all, if Eriri had been able to handle the reunion openly, to greet him properly...
Then they wouldn't have ended things the way they did.
So, it was Yukima Azuma who spoke first.
"It's been a long ti, Sawamura-san."
"Ha!?"
Just like with Kasumigaoka earlier,
One simple sentence from Yukima Azuma shattered Eriri's defenses precisely, causing the blonde girl with twintail, typically tsundere, to imdiately "explode."
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If you like this story, please leave a comnt, review and power stones if you can. I would be very happy about that.
If you want to read the advanced chapters that I have translated in advance and support to have more motivation to continue as a translator, here is my p.a.t.r.e.o.n /curse_heian_chef
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