After the match.
In the room, Hinatsuru Ai buried her head into the blanket.
Like a little ostrich.
She looked as if she was curling up into herself.
(っ˃̣̣̥ -˂̣̣̥ς)
On the other hand.
Sora Ginko crossed her arms in front of her chest.
She had a completely triumphant look.
( • ̀ω•́ )✧
Her usually cold and beautiful face now carried a satisfied smile.
Who won and who lost was clear at a glance.
Even though Hinatsuru Ai possessed astonishing talent,
her ti studying shogi was still too short.
anwhile, Sora Ginko had been exposed to shogi since she was two years old.
The gap between them was inevitable.
In the end, the match concluded with Sora Ginko successfully defending her Queen title.
"Congratulations, Senpai. You're now a Triple Crown."
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Yukima Azuma looked at the two girls—one older, one younger—and found it amusing, but he still seriously offered his congratulations.
Sora Ginko was still in middle school.
Yet she already held three titles: two Queen titles and one Won's Throne.
In the world of won's shogi, she was a true young prodigy.
It couldn't be said that no one would ever match her in the future, but at least, no one had ever done so before.
If she continued at this pace, she might achieve the title of Queen Eternal before graduating high school.
By then, she would likely beco the undisputed top player in won's shogi.
Facing Yukima Azuma's congratulations, Sora Ginko only gave a soft "Mm."
Beyond the joy of winning the championship,
she was thinking about sothing else.
"Ginko-senpai, are you thinking about sothing?"
Yukima Azuma noticed that Sora Ginko seed a little distracted.
Caught off guard, Sora Ginko imdiately waved her hand.
"Of course not. Geez, just go comfort your little brat."
ヾ(•ω•`)o
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma beca even more suspicious.
Senpai being this generous was truly rare.
Sora Ginko was indeed thinking about sothing else—sothing related to Yukima Azuma.
Winning the Queen title this ti held great significance for her.
Even more than the previous two titles.
After all, maintaining one's position at the top was much harder than having nothing to lose.
And after defending her title this ti—
whether it was because of the crown bracelet on her wrist,
or the conversation that unexpectedly triggered mories that night,
or perhaps the bitterness that rose in her heart when she saw Keika-nee drunk and out of control—
in the end, Sora Ginko had co to truly realize just how important Yukima Azuma was to her.
She might have always known deep down, but she had deliberately ignored it.
After all, back when she pursued Yukima Azuma, he was nothing more than a block of wood.
And later, when that block of wood finally wised up, other girls had already swooped in ahead of her.
This proud Snow White couldn't just toss aside her pride and chase after soone imdiately.
But now that she had co to terms with it,
Sora Ginko had made up her mind.
She could no longer deceive herself.
She, Sora Ginko, would take the initiative to pursue Yukima Azuma!
(づ๑•ᴗ•๑)づ♡
...
Yukima Azuma had no idea what Sora Ginko was thinking.
After a mont of suspicion, he decided to go to Hinatsuru Ai, who was still hiding like an ostrich.
He pulled her out from the blanket and gently patted her head.
( ´･･)ﾉ(._.`)
"Uwaa! Shishou!"
.·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·.
As soon as he patted her head, she burst into tears and threw herself into Yukima Azuma's arms.
Even though she rarely won against Sora Ginko in shogi matches,
this was still her first ti participating in an official tournant.
Just like she had said when she made it through the qualifiers—
she wanted to keep winning forever.
Losing in the finals was a huge shock for her.
Yukima Azuma adjusted the drooping ahoge on Hinatsuru Ai's head and gently stroked her long, soft hair.
"Losing a match and feeling sad is normal, but don't dwell too much on failure."
"Failure is always a part of life. That is life itself."
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words,
Hinatsuru Ai lifted her tear-streaked face, looking at him with glistening eyes, like a pear blossom in the rain.
"Shishou, have you ever lost before?"
(ó﹏ò｡)
Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"Of course. I've lost to ijin before—and lost terribly."
"In fact, even now, I've never won against ijin."
Hearing that, Hinatsuru Ai sniffled.
"Then, Shishou, let's work hard together."
As she spoke, she raised her small hand and extended her pinky.
(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )づ♡
Yukima Azuma nodded and hooked his pinky with hers.
After their pinky promise, Hinatsuru Ai's mood quickly improved.
Aside from the tear stains on her face and her slightly choked breath,
she looked as if she had never cried at all.
Her ahoge sprang back to life with energy.
A child's sorrow cos quickly, but it also fades just as fast.
Yukima Azuma took her to the bathroom.
Helped her wash her face.
Then dried her face with a towel.
And just like that, she looked as fresh as new.
(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)
…
The Mynavi Won's Tournant officially ca to an end.
According to tradition, Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko, Hinatsuru Ai, and Kiyotaki Keika had to return to the Kiyotaki household.
After all, all of them were considered disciples of the Kiyotaki school.
They needed to report the results of the tournant to their master, who was also their grandmaster.
And they had to have a al at the Kiyotaki household.
So, this tournant journey was coming to a close.
They bid farewell to Kugui Machi and the three other girls.
Though the ti wasn't long,
throughout this journey—
not to ntion anyone else—
Hinatsuru Ai, when parting with Sadatou Ayano and the others,
almost burst into tears again.
Fortunately, these girls were now mbers of the research club.
They would still have chances to et during the holidays.
Besides, spring break wasn't far off.
…
From Tokyo to Chiba.
Kiyotaki Keika sat in the front, glancing at the rearview mirror.
Sora Ginko, harboring impure thoughts, looked absent-minded.
Yukima Azuma seed distracted, lost in thought.
Hinatsuru Ai was still a little down about parting with her friends.
To liven up the atmosphere, Kiyotaki Keika spoke up:
"Alright, why does everyone look so gloomy?"
"When spring break cos, let's go to Hawaii!"
The fastest to react was Hinatsuru Ai.
She imdiately raised her hand. "Yatta!"
ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧
Sora Ginko also nodded.
Though she wasn't particularly fond of the beach.
Too much sun.
Whenever she went out in the sumr, she always carried a sun umbrella.
But as long as she could go with Yukima Azuma, that was enough.
As for Yukima Azuma, upon hearing that, he found it a little odd.
"Why Hawaii?"
For spring break, there should be plenty of better vacation spots.
At that,
Kiyotaki Keika's expression suddenly twisted a bit.
"No matter what, I have to go to Hawaii at least once."
"Listen, let tell you sothing. Not long ago, a high school friend of mine went on a trip to Hawaii with her boyfriend."
"She sent a few vacation photos and even added a ssage: 'Keika, you really love shogi, huh…'"
"'Since shogi is a Japanese ga, you probably won't ever go abroad, huh? That's a sha.' It was sothing like that!"
"So, if I'm going to travel, no matter what, I have to go to Hawaii!"
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ
The resentnt of an aging single woman was about to overflow.
Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko, and Hinatsuru Ai all silently lowered their heads.
In this situation, no matter what they said, it would probably be wrong.
Better to avoid trouble altogether.
"When the ti cos, let onee-chan treat everyone! After all, I have plenty of money!"
Kiyotaki Keika spoke enthusiastically.
She even pulled out a black card from her pocket.
Yukima Azuma glanced at it and couldn't help but blink.
So Keika-nee was actually a rich lady?
That black card required a pretty high balance.
"I think that's actually Shishou's card."
Sora Ginko whispered in Yukima Azuma's ear.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma imdiately understood.
That explained everything.
Kiyotaki Kousuke was a veteran 9-dan professional shogi player.
In his youth, he had won quite a bit in tournant prizes.
Even though he had retired,
he could still earn money by analyzing matches and teaching shogi.
And each job paid quite well.
Having savings was only natural.
But to think that old man spoiled his daughter this much...
…
The car soon pulled up in front of the Kiyotaki household.
Everyone got out.
Before they even had a chance to knock, Kiyotaki Kousuke proactively opened the door and stepped out.
Before anyone could say a word,
the old man spoke first:
"Keika, um… have you seen Dad's card? I suddenly can't find it anywhere."
Hearing that, the three younger ones silently watched the drama unfold, unfortunately without any popcorn.
ᗜ⩊ᗜ
"It's with ," Kiyotaki Keika replied bluntly.
Upon hearing that, Kiyotaki Kousuke imdiately put on a smile.
"Oh, is that so? Well then… Keika, could you give it back to Dad? I need to use it for sothing."
Kiyotaki Keika decisively shook her head. "Nope. Even if I give it back, you'll just spend it on gacha gas to pull ani girls, won't you?"
A man in his fifties, getting exposed by his own daughter on the spot.
He imdiately flinched.
( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
"What do you an, ani girls? Those are very important character cards!"
Kiyotaki Keika crossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips.
"Rather than wasting money on gacha, wouldn't it be better to spend it on your own daughter?"
"Nooo! I need to pull Black Cat's limited SSR!" The old man threw away his dignity.
ᕙ( ᗒᗣᗕ )ᕗ
Yukima Azuma's mouth twitched.
He never expected his Shishou to have such a hobby.
Then again, ani gas were huge in Japan now.
Maybe… Laplace Corporation should start a gaming division?
It felt like otaku money was way too easy to make.
The more Yukima Azuma thought about it, the more sense it made.
Just draw beautiful waifus, make the protagonist an overpowered savior, write an all-encompassing power fantasy storyline, and fill the ga with girls waiting to be rescued.
The otaku would definitely throw their money at it.
Yukima Azuma: I really am a genius!
( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
…
At the Sawamura residence.
Eriri and Sayuri sneezed simultaneously.
"What's going on? Why do I feel like soone's talking about behind my back?"
Σ(°△° ꪱꪱꪱ)
Eriri, a longti otaku, was instantly on guard.
"Probably just soone talking about otaku again."
Sayuri waved her hand nonchalantly.
As a veteran otaku, she was already used to this…
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