It was early morning.
Samiko was woken up by her alarm clock. As a devoted fan of the manga artist Shirogane, she first checked her phone. She sighed when she saw that Shirogane had not posted any new comments on any of her accounts on various websites.
Only then did she wash up, get dressed, and check the time: 9:30 AM. After a quick touch of makeup, she grabbed her bag and headed straight out, rushing to a nearby bookstore.
These bookstores often open at 8 AM, and by this time, there were already quite a few people inside.
Upon entering the manga section of the bookstore, she immediately saw a promotional poster for hikaru no go.
Unlike the childish images of Akira and Hikaru when the work first began serialization, time had passed quickly in the manga. Now, on the poster, both Hikaru and Akira had grown much taller, their expressions were much more serious, and the poster clearly stated in large letters that hikaru no go was about to be adapted into an anime.
Although these announcements had been circulating for two days, Samiko still felt it was a bit surreal.
"I just wonder where the manga's plot will be in its serialization by the time the hikaru no go anime airs in half a year!" Samiko thought, picking up the latest issue of Dream Comic Journal.
She quickly paid and left, then sat down on the second floor of a nearby breakfast shop. Samiko opened to the serialization page of hikaru no go.
The story continued from last week's plot, with Hikaru, Yuki, and Tsutsui once again forming a team to participate in this year's school Go team competition.
Compared to the original work, which depicted this plot in great detail, Rei had simplified it somewhat.
After all, everyone was clearly there to see the match between Sai and Akira, not to watch Hikaru engage in difficult, evenly matched battles as the third player against other schools, facing crises multiple times, and only advancing by riding on the coattails of the first player, Yuki, and the second player, Tsutsui.
But overall, Samiko still understood the process of Hikaru and the others participating in the team competition.
Anyway, the organizers and many school Go teachers, after seeing Hikaru's comeback from a huge disadvantage and victory in the final match of last year's team competition, powered by Sai, were extremely wary of this "unfathomably strong" genius Go youth, Hikaru, this year.
Of course, this also included the Go teacher from Akira's school.
Because Akira also had to play against students from other schools, he had no chance to watch Hikaru's matches. After his own teacher watched Hikaru's matches multiple times from the sidelines… the expression of this gentle and elegant young Go teacher changed.
Samiko could understand what the teacher in the manga was feeling.
'How could he be so bad?'
Deeply immersed in the manga, she was now so embarrassed that she couldn't sit still in the breakfast shop.
Last year's genius Go youth, with his ability to turn the tide from a desperate situation, made many people think that last year's Hikaru was just playing around… that the only game he played truly seriously was the last one of last year.
But this year, after seeing Hikaru's clumsy matches against others, the dark shadows under the eyes of this Go teacher in the manga intensified.
At this point, Akira's match ended, and he eagerly questioned his school's Go teacher.
"Teacher, did you see Hikaru's match? How was it…?" Akira asked with a very serious and solemn expression.
"You'll know when you play against him…" the Go teacher sighed.
Samiko also sighed.
She felt that it was highly likely that Shirogane was really preparing to have Hikaru and Akira play.
Sai was still not involved in this game.
But she also admired Shirogane's plot development.
Whether it's manga or other genres of works, the fundamental core is actually interesting, and one of the keys to an interesting work is not to let the protagonist suffer a setback.
Clearly, this part of hikaru no go's plot not only caused the protagonist a great loss and humiliation, but it also made him, under the watchful eyes of everyone who believed him to be the strongest person in this Go team competition, play several clumsy, chicken-pecking games in a row, directly shattering the filter through which those around him viewed him.
The manga artist's purpose in doing this was also very clear.
Compared to the vulgar thrill of a protagonist pretending to be weak to defeat the strong, showing off and slapping faces, and having everything go smoothly from beginning to end…
A plot where the protagonist encounters setbacks and grows through them is what truly adds the finishing touch to character development.
The manga quickly skipped over the battle scenes between Hikaru's middle school and other middle schools.
Under Yuki's superb performance, Hikaru's middle school, just like last year, reached the finals, playing against Kaio Middle School, the champion school of the campus team competition for many consecutive years.
And this match would be between the third player, Akira, and the third player, Hikaru.
The plot was as Samiko had guessed; Hikaru was indeed preparing to play this game himself.
Even if he knew he would most likely lose, he, who aimed for Akira, was not afraid of losing… If he lost this time, and lost next time, there would eventually be a time he would win.
This was the optimistic Hikaru's thinking.
During the halftime break, while getting ready for the final match, Hikaru accidentally overheard a conversation among several students from Kaio Middle School's Go club at a quiet stairwell corner.
They were talking about Akira Tōya.
To face Hikaru again, Akira had transferred schools, joined Kaio's Go club, and, despite already having the skill to attempt the professional exam, chose to play in a middle-school tournament instead.
Because of this, he had taken a roster spot from a regular member, and the club resented him.
They mocked him.
Excluded him.
"Those guys in the club don't get it," one student said bitterly."No matter how they target Akira or try to humiliate him, Akira will never quit the Go club."
Another added, "I heard he even argued with the teacher just to play third board today. After this tournament, he plans to quit the club anyway. He really brought this suffering on himself."
Hikaru's face stiffened.
Behind him, Sai watched quietly, worried.
Even Samiko, reading the chapter in the café, felt her chest tighten.
The difference was too stark:
Akira's attitude toward this match, wholehearted, desperate, almost painful.
Hikaru's attitude, naïve, hesitant, unsure.
Hikaru lowered his head.
"Akira is thinking only of me right now, Sai, you should play instead."
Samiko nearly dropped her chopsticks.
Yes. Finally. Let Sai play.
After everything Akira had endured this year, transferring schools, joining a club that hated him, being bullied, wasting a year because pros can't enter amateur tournaments, begging to be moved to third board just to face Hikaru again.
Even if Akira lost to Sai again, at least it would be the worthy opponent he was aiming for.
But facing Hikaru, the inconsistent, clumsy third-board player?That would crush him.
Sai hesitated.
"Is that truly alright? You insisted on playing yourself."
"You should play instead," Hikaru repeated, voice trembling.
Samiko hurriedly turned the page.
The manga panel showed Hikaru's lonely back walking toward the match room, Sai following behind him, expression solemn.
Inside the room, Akira was already seated at the board.
From the moment Hikaru stepped inside, Akira never took his eyes off him.
A strange mix of destiny, rivalry, and emotion filled that single panel.
Hikaru's frustration. Akira's fear and determination. Sai's tension.
All unspoken, yet unmistakable.
Samiko's heart tightened.
The two sat down.
Akira's face was serious, composed.
They drew stones to choose color.
"Finally… I can play you again," Akira said softly.
Then;
Clatter
The lid of his Go bowl slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
Hikaru froze.
Akira's hand was trembling.
For all his calmness, he couldn't hide the fear welling up inside him.
Fear of the boy sitting across from him, fear of being crushed again like last year, fear he had been running from for an entire year.
Yet he came anyway. And endured everything.
"This… this is real character development."
Samiko's jaw dropped.
A warrior isn't unafraid, a warrior charges forward despite fear.
Akira inhaled deeply, clutching his chest, forcing himself to breathe steadily.
Then Sai began.
"Hikaru, upper right corner. Komoku."
Akira instantly answered with a star point in the upper left.
"So fast… he already knew what opening he wanted," Hikaru thought.
Samiko realized it too.
Akira must have replayed this match in his mind a thousand times.At least the opening pattern was carved into him by now.
Stones filled the board.
The pacing slowed.
Sai was deep in thought, but Hikaru was thinking too.
"Sai… what are you thinking? Why so long?"
Samiko felt a sinking dread.
Hikaru's inner monologue appeared in the panel:
"If it were me, I'd play at 11-8."
NO.
Samiko nearly screamed.
"Please don't mess this up."
Hikaru stared at the spot.
"Can't I just play at 11-8…?"
And then, because of Hikaru's long hesitation, Akira finally spoke.
"Have I, improved a little since last time, Hikaru?"
"What about me? How much have I really caught up to you?"Hikaru thought, palms sweating.
"Hikaru, thirteen-four," Sai said gently behind him.
But Hikaru suddenly froze.
"Sorry, Sai, If I don't play this move myself, I'll never see it clearly. I want to know, the real gap between me and Akira."
Samiko held her breath.
And then, Hikaru placed the stone on 11-8.
Samiko nearly slammed the table.
She didn't understand Go, but even she could read the faces in the panel: Akira stared, stunned.
Sai closed his eyes in disappointment.
Hikaru's "deeply thought-out" move was completely ordinary.
Akira even leaned forward to double-check the placement, as if wondering:
"Is this really the move he struggled over?"
Samiko's blood pressure spiked.
Hikaru AGAIN?!
First he tells Sai to play. Then he snatches the match back. Then he makes a random move??
Respect Sai, you gremlin!
Even if she sucked at games, if someone grabbed her mouse mid-match and started playing "their own strategy," she would disown them on the spot.
The game collapsed fast.
Hikaru's face darkened panel by panel.
Akira's expression shifted from focus, to disbelief, to anger.
A near-professional level player facing a boy with barely one year of training, it wasn't a match.
It was a slaughter.
Meanwhile, Sai still tried to encourage Hikaru:
"Your ideas are interesting, but your strength is too low to support them."
Samiko scoffed.
"Translation: Hikaru wants to fly to space but doesn't know how to build the spaceship."
If she were Sai, she would've smacked Hikaru with the Go board already.
Hikaru made another move.
And Akira snapped.
"What kind of joke is this?!"
Akira shot to his feet, trembling with fury.
The elderly Go instructor hurried over, gripping Akira's shoulder.
"Akira… no matter what, finish the game."
And then, turning to Hikaru, he sighed:
"I told you, you'd understand once you faced him."
Samiko deflated.
The match Akira feared for a year, trained for a year, endured humiliation and bullying for, sacrificed his professional exam eligibility for, had become a nightmare.
Not an epic rematch.
Not the showdown he envisioned.
Just a crushing disappointment.
And honestly?
Samiko found it darkly satisfying.
"You didn't respect Sai, Hikaru? Fine. Get pulverized."
In the manga, several dense pages showed the progression of the game.
Finally, the results of the school Go team competition became clear:
Yuki Mitani, the first board, lost to Kaio Middle School's first board.
Tsutsui, the second board, was completely overpowered.
And the third board, Hikaru. resigned mid-game.
Akira, who had won, stood up, turned his back to Hikaru, and, with tears in his eyes, said:
"I thought, I really thought you could show me something close to divine skill."
He didn't look back.
Hikaru, who lost, was simply paying the price for his own stubbornness.
But Akira, who won, looked far sadder than Hikaru, who lost.
The team competition arc, built up for six whole chapters, ended in a devastating 3-0 defeat for Hikaru's school.
Samiko flipped the page, only to find that chapter thirteen had ended.
Her steamed buns had gone cold, but she had no appetite anyway.
She felt upset.
Yes, she was glad Hikaru finally got punished for his recklessness.But seeing Akira's devastated expression on the last page that hit her hard.
Samiko was a diligent person, and seeing someone like Akira, who had worked even harder, have his "dream match" shattered, hurt her deeply.
She ate breakfast from this shop every day and never got tired of it, but now she couldn't even look at her food.
Shirogane-sensei… why would you write it this way?!
Why couldn't Akira and Sai just play a proper match? Why did Hikaru have to sabotage it?
Hikaru, I cannot stand you anymore.
Even if you're a kid, barging into someone else's long-awaited match like that, If you pull this again, Shirogane-sensei should just replace you as the protagonist!
But even while boiling with anger, Samiko still stuffed the cold bun into her mouth and opened her phone to vote for hikaru no go.
No matter what, Sai and Akira were angels. Her vote was for them.
As for you, Hikaru, go cool off somewhere else!
The manga Hikaru no Go had always been like this.
In the early arcs, Hikaru's character wasn't likeable at all, his true highlight moments only came later, during the professional exam storyline.
From Rei's perspective, the most charismatic character in the entire series was Sai, followed by Akira, then everyone else.
Even Rei once complained, after finishing the original manga:
"If Hikaru hadn't discovered The Hand of God that day, Sai would never have disappeared…"
And now, as the thirteenth chapter aired, the fans were experiencing the exact same frustration he once felt.
The internet exploded with complaints:
"This protagonist is driving me insane!"
"So annoying!"
"What is wrong with Hikaru? If you want to play Akira, does it HAVE to be this match? Do you know how long Akira waited and prepared?? If you'd let Sai finish and THEN asked Akira for a rematch, would he refuse?? Why sabotage this game?!"
"Last year, Akira begged you to play and you refused. Now, when Sai was supposed to play, YOU pull this stunt?!"
"This is the most infuriating protagonist in the last two years."
"Poor Akira, poor Sai, sigh!"
"This is exactly how a spoiled brat behaves when he grows up."
"It feels so selfish. I know this is Shirogane-sensei's way of portraying the protagonist's growth arc, but come on, this is too much. I still haven't recovered!"
"Shirogane-sensei, please have mercy. If it weren't for Sai and Akira keeping me invested, with all these 'divine' brain-dead choices from Hikaru, I would have dropped this manga already!"
"I can't even imagine how sad Akira must be! On that manga page,the moment Akira stood up, turned his back to Hikaru after winning, looking like he was about to cry, I wanted to cry too."
"Akira, don't cry. I'm going to set up an Akira-protection fan group. If Shirogane-sensei ever abuses Akira again, we will go together and block Shirogane-sensei at his school!"
…
After this week's Hikaru no Go serialization, the series faced the largest wave of negative reviews since its debut.
On the Dream Comic Journal's official forum, countless readers were furiously posting complaints about the protagonist Hikaru.
The scale of the backlash made Misaki, who was monitoring the manga's performance, feel extremely uneasy.
She began to overthink.
"Will Hikaru no Go's rankings collapse tomorrow?"
But reality slapped all her worries away.
At exactly nine o'clock the next morning, the voting rankings for chapter thirteen were released.
Not only did the ranking NOT drop, the total votes skyrocketed, and the manga climbed even higher.
This week, Hikaru no Go ranked: Eighth place in DreamComic Journal!
The moment this result appeared, every manga-industry professional who had been observing Hikaru no Go was stunned.
Eighth? Already?
Weren't people flaming the protagonist everywhere online yesterday?
So the truth was…
Those same people who were angrily typing: "Hikaru pisses me off!!!" were the VERY people voting for the manga with their hands.
A whole internet full of: "I hate this!" combined with: "Let me vote for it again."
...
Bonus @400 PS
Read 45 chapters ahead @[email protected]/Ashnoir