April 21st, 10 PM.
Night is the golden age for entertainment, and the board game room gradually became lively. In a small private room, the clatter of shogi pieces and the laughter of young girls were endless.
There were four people in the private room, with Hayama Kazuto being the only boy. At this moment, he was playing Shogi while quietly talking to a girl who was looking down at her phone next to him: "Megumi Kato, I'm very sorry. I originally wanted to bring you here to make friends, but I didn't expect it to turn into this situation."
"It's okay, I'm already used to it. Besides, I don't understand board games or shogi anyway. It's fine if I just play on my phone to pass the time." Kato Megumi's tone was flat, completely devoid of emotion. Just as she said, she was already accustomed to this kind of zero-presence life.
Hayama Kazuto wanted to continue speaking, but the girl opposite him spoke first: "Hayama-kun, it's your turn! "
Hayama Kazuto shifted his attention to the board, made a seemingly casual move, and started chatting with the two girls opposite him.
Outside the private room.
A silver-haired girl pressed her neck, looking tormented: "Keika-nee, I told you I didn't want to come. You insisted I come. Board games are too childish. I'd rather stay home and play shogi! "
"But Ginko, you didn't win just now, did you? " Kiyotaki Keika smiled, pursing her lips, and helped Sora Ginko massage her shoulders.
"That's only because I wasn't serious! " Sora Ginko immediately retorted.
Kiyotaki Keika didn't respond, pointing to the private room where Hayama Kazuto was: "Ginko, over here, over here! They're playing Shogi here! Ginko, do you want to go in and make some friends with them? "
"That boy's move speed is really fast. Quick, decisive, very masculine! "
"And he's a great-looking guy! Ginko, go get to know him! Help Keika-nee get his line number! "
Sora Ginko glanced at the private room a few times, watching Hayama Kazuto making moves while chatting and laughing with the two girls. She said with some disdain, "He's just showing off like a professional shogi player in front of shogi beginners after memorising a few game records. It's truly nauseating! "
"Customer, you're mistaken! If we're talking about beginners, Hayama-kun is 100% a beginner! An hour ago, he didn't even know the rules of shogi! "
The passing attendant heard Sora Ginko's words and retorted with some displeasure. She had just taught Hayama Kazuto the rules of shogi!
"How is that possible? Just getting familiar with the Shogi rules takes more than an hour! "
Sora Ginko's voice was a bit loud, attracting the attention of the people in the private room. The girl playing against Hayama Kazuto turned her head, and upon seeing Sora Ginko, immediately said happily, "Ginko-chan, what are you doing here? "
The girl's name was Yoshizaki Miho, a shogi enthusiast. Before entering high school, she was in the same junior high school as Sora Ginko. Because they were close in age, had similar hobbies, and were both terrible at sports, they became acquainted with Sora Ginko over time.
Yoshizaki Miho jumped up, her chest bouncing, which made Sora Ginko feel a bit self-conscious and take a step back. However, she took a step forward and pulled Sora Ginko: "Ginko-chan, hurry and help me teach that bad guy a lesson. He's already won three games in a row against me."
Sora Ginko blinked her eyes unnaturally: "You lost three games in less than an hour? "
"Don't say such embarrassing things! " Yoshizaki Miho pulled Sora Ginko to the seat: "This is Sora Ginko-sama, a Reward Society 2-dan, who holds the titles of Women's Oza and Queen! Hayama Kazuto, prepare for defeat! "
Hayama Kazuto looked up and observed Sora Ginko. The silver-haired girl in front of him was almost illegally cute, dressed in a sailor uniform, like the cover model of a school magazine. She was lightly biting her lip, perhaps a little shy or annoyed at being forcibly dragged over by Yoshizaki Miho. Her fair skin was flawless, almost transparent under the light.
"Hello, Hayama Kazuto, please guide me," Hayama Kazuto said expressionlessly. Although Sora Ginko was cute, her icy expression didn't make him feel anything.
Sora Ginko sat down, muttering to herself: [Looking at him, he probably doesn't know me. Is he really a shogi novice?]
Although Sora Ginko was only a Reward Society 2-dan, as a rare strong female player in the Reward Society, coupled with her cute appearance, she was very popular in the shogi world. Anyone who understood Shogi had more or less heard her name.
"Whose turn is it now? " Sora Ginko asked.
"Let's start a new game. Yoshizaki-san has already lost this one." Hayama Kazuto prepared to reset the board.
"Huh? I didn't see that Miho lost," Yoshizaki Miho's best friend, Nishi Maki, said, tilting her head.
Sora Ginko looked at the board and murmured to herself, [Miho-senpai is indeed heavily suppressed, but it's too early to decide the winner. Is this guy named Hayama Kazuto a bit too arrogant?]
"In at most twenty-two more moves, Yoshizaki-san will lose," Hayama Kazuto shrugged. After Yoshizaki-san made that last move, she had no way to turn the tide.
"So, it's my turn to play now? " Sora Ginko glanced at Hayama Kazuto, her eyes a bit fierce.
"Please." Seeing that Sora Ginko didn't believe him, Hayama Kazuto could only say.
After thinking for a minute, Sora Ginko finally made a move. However, the moment she made her move, Hayama Kazuto made his next move. That crisp clatter echoed in Sora Ginko's ears.
[How could it be so fast? Even in a fast game, you're allowed thirty seconds per move!]
Sora Ginko gritted her teeth and glanced at Hayama Kazuto. Hayama Kazuto looked at his phone: "Twenty moves left."
[He's looking at his phone while playing Shogi. Is he treating Shogi as a pastime, or is he looking down on me?!]
Sora Ginko felt a bit annoyed. She quickly scanned the board and then made her move.
[Since you want to play a fast game, then I'll play one with you!]
Sora Ginko secretly competed in her heart.
"Clack! " In less than a second, Hayama Kazuto's piece landed again.
[This move – how? How could this be!]
Hayama Kazuto's move was unexpected by Sora Ginko. The already disadvantaged game suddenly became even more precarious, and Sora Ginko felt a bit uneasy.
[Could it be that what he said about twenty-two moves was true?]
However, the competitive feeling she had towards Hayama Kazuto still hadn't disappeared. She thought for about ten seconds and then made her move.
"Clack! " Another crisp sound of a piece landing. Sora Ginko's pupils instantly dilated. The situation became even more dangerous!
In a shogi match, playing to this extent, the disadvantaged professional shogi player would usually resign. But for some reason, Sora Ginko was unwilling to easily utter those words.
"You made a mistake. In at most ten moves, I will win."
Hayama Kazuto looked at his phone again. Sora Ginko lifted her head. The screen on the phone wasn't clear, but she could barely make out that Hayama Kazuto was definitely not looking at a shogi record.
Hayama Kazuto was indeed not looking at a shogi record but emails. Last week, he submitted several bugs to an international software company along with solutions, and he had just received a thank-you email and a job offer from the software company.
[Distracted while playing Shogi, this hateful guy!]
[Will the bounty be deposited into my account within three business days? That's quite efficient.]
Hayama Kazuto finished reading the thank-you email and casually deleted the job offer, only to find that the girl opposite him seemed to have an even fiercer look in her eyes.
"Why aren't you making your move yet? " Hayama Kazuto asked casually.
Sora Ginko's mouth moved, wanting to speak but stopping, her chest heaving. It was definitely not because of her size, but because she was a little out of breath.
Hayama Kazuto's shogi moves were highly aggressive, and he held the upper hand, which already made her feel uncomfortable. Coupled with her current anxiety, this made her even more suppressed.
Sora Ginko's hand trembled slightly as she made a move. To her surprise, Hayama Kazuto did not immediately make a move. Instead, he spoke slowly.
"You made another mistake. I'll win in four more moves. Do you want to take back a move? "
Hayama Kazuto tapped the shogi board a few times with his right hand. The sound of his fingers hitting the board was exceptionally pleasant.
Sora Ginko carefully looked at the board, her already fair face suddenly turning pale: "I, I lost."
"Do you want to play another game? When Yoshizaki-san and I played just now, the outcome was already decided, so it didn't really have much to do with you."
Kiyotaki Keika stood to the side, her expression also somewhat serious. The current situation was very clear: Hayama Kazuto would definitely win within four moves. However, what Hayama Kazuto had said earlier about ten moves and twenty-two moves left her completely confused.
"Hayama Kazuto-kun, could you demonstrate the twenty-two moves you mentioned earlier? "
Sora Ginko didn't speak, so Kiyotaki Keika stepped forward and asked.
"Oh, sure."
Hayama Kazuto quickly reset the pieces and began the demonstration. In just one minute, he completed all twenty-two moves: "That's roughly it. If you want me to explain, I'll decline. I don't really understand Shogi."
Watching Hayama Kazuto's demonstration, Sora Ginko and Kiyotaki Keika were both speechless. Every move was exquisitely brilliant, and he had even calculated every move of his opponent. Winning in twenty-two moves was the ideal state for both sides, but in most cases, he could achieve victory within twenty moves, or even ten moves.
Sora Ginko suddenly felt a hint of jealousy. Judging from Hayama Kazuto's playing style, he had indeed only recently started playing shogi, perhaps not even having read a single shogi record. A terrifying thought suddenly occurred to Sora Ginko.
[Could it be that he really only started playing shogi an hour ago?]
"How many moves ahead can you see? " Sora Ginko suddenly asked.
"That? It's hard to say. In the middle game, I can probably see twenty or thirty moves," Hayama Kazuto said somewhat modestly.
[He is a born Shogi star!]
"Come with me! " Sora Ginko stood up, grabbed Hayama Kazuto, and dragged him out of the board game room.
Note: Text enclosed in symbols represents inner thoughts.
Chapter 2: Rapid Shogi Match
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Megumi Kato. I didn't expect her to suddenly drag me out." Sitting on the train, Hayama Kazuto nervously apologised to Kato Megumi on his phone.
"It's alright, Hayama-kun, I was actually planning to go home anyway," Kato Megumi's reply was still very calm.
"That's good. Be careful when you go home, Megumi Kato."
"I'm already on the train; it's the next train after yours, and I'll be home in two more stops! How many more stops until you get off, Hayama-kun? "
"Time to get off; follow me! " Sora Ginko stood up from her seat and walked to the train door.
"I'm getting off right away; we might be getting off at the same station," Hayama Kazuto replied awkwardly.
"Oh, I see. Hayama-kun, don't play on your phone after you get off the train! "
"Hurry up, stop looking at your phone! " Sora Ginko urged, looking displeased.
"Then send me a message when you get home, Megumi Kato."
After sending the message, the train stopped right on time, and Hayama Kazuto quickly ran off the train.
"Why did you drag me here? You wouldn't say anything on the train," Hayama Kazuto said with a hint of annoyance, following behind Sora Ginko.
Sora Ginko stopped at the crosswalk: "Just follow me; don't ask so many questions."
Hayama Kazuto also stood by the crosswalk. A large sign opposite him caught his eye— "Love Hotel". He then glanced at Sora Ginko and Kiyotaki Keika beside her.
Sora Ginko noticed Hayama Kazuto's gaze and, associating it with the love hotel across the street, she cursed under her breath: "Pervert! "
Following Sora Ginko through a few streets, they arrived at Kiyotaki Keika's house, a very large detached house. Kiyotaki Kosuke, Kiyotaki Keika's father, was sitting in the living room, staring at his phone with hazy eyes and a lewd smile on his face: "Yuriko-chan, saikō! "
"Father, you've been secretly spending money again! " Kiyotaki Keika's voice suddenly became serious and terrifying, making Hayama Kazuto's body tremble.
[I didn't notice it before, but Miss Kiyotaki Keika actually has such an intimidating presence!]
"N-no, I was just playing a game. I-I didn't spend money! "
Kiyotaki Kosuke instantly hid his phone behind his back and raised his hands. It was clear that his movements were very practised, almost a reflex.
"Then tell me, what's going on with Yuriko-chan? "
"Th-this…" Cold sweat broke out on Kiyotaki Kosuke's forehead. He had no idea how to answer. He blinked his eyes, and suddenly, he caught sight of Hayama Kazuto: "Ah, Keika, you actually brought a boy home! Have you finally come to your senses, and are you preparing to get married?! "
Kiyotaki Keika's cheeks instantly flushed red, and she threw the shopping she had bought at Kiyotaki Kosuke's head: "Marry my foot! "
Ignoring Kiyotaki Kosuke, Kiyotaki Keika turned around with a red face: "Ginko, you can talk to him yourself about whatever it is. I'll go prepare something for you two to eat."
Sora Ginko nodded. Hayama Kazuto's phone suddenly buzzed. He wanted to take it out to check, but Sora Ginko stopped him: "Don't look, follow me! "
Seated around a side table, Kiyotaki Kosuke looked at Hayama Kazuto with gratitude. If Hayama Kazuto hadn't come to visit, Kiyotaki Keika might have mercilessly cancelled his spending money for next month.
"So, Ginko, you want me to test Kazuto's shogi talent? " Out of gratitude, Kiyotaki Kosuke's address for Hayama Kazuto had become somewhat intimate.
"Yes, Master," Sora Ginko nodded and began setting up the board.
"To test Shogi talent, you two should play a rapid game, with a maximum of thirty seconds per move."
"Yes, Master! "
Hayama Kazuto wasn't very keen on playing. To be honest, he wasn't very interested in Shogi. If he hadn't wanted to help Kato Megumi make some friends, he wouldn't have gone to the board game room. But he didn't expect that Kato Megumi wouldn't make friends, and instead, he would be dragged to Kiyotaki Kosuke's house.
[An old man playing bishoujo games – he wouldn't be a hentai, would he? His eyes are so disgusting. If I refuse to play, will he suddenly transform into a beast-senpai?]
A terrifying image flashed in his mind, and Hayama Kazuto quickly shook his head and began to play shogi.
Hayama Kazuto's moves were still very fast. Less than a second after Sora Ginko made a move, he would follow suit. The crisp sound of the shogi pieces hitting the board always made Sora Ginko's heart pound with fear.
"I lost."