A Return to the Board
The Chiba Shogi Club—
The largest shogi club in Chiba Prefecture and a venue frequently used for government-organized workshops.
And today, it was hosting an official ranking match.
As Yukima Azuma and Sora Ginko arrived outside the club, a voice called out to them.
"Azuma! Ginko! Over here!"
A young woman with long brown hair and a graceful figure waved enthusiastically.
Kiyotaki Keika.
She was Yukima Azuma's senior, the daughter of Kiyotaki Kousuke, and someone who had watched over his growth for years.
Standing beside her was an older man—
Kiyotaki Kousuke.
A retired shogi master, once one of the most formidable players in the profession.
They were both here for one reason.
To watch him play.
They weren't competitors in today's match.
But they had come to see him return.
"Hello, Keika-san. Master."
Yukima Azuma greeted them with a respectful nod.
Keika smiled warmly, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Ginko ran all the way to Tokyo just to pick you up, huh?"
Her gaze flickered toward Sora Ginko, who was already rushing toward the club entrance.
"Did something happen on the way?"
From her slightly embarrassed state, it was obvious that something had.
With a sigh, Yukima Azuma gave them a brief rundown of the morning's events.
After listening, Kiyotaki Keika let out a knowing chuckle, rubbing her cheek with amusement.
"Azuma has really grown up, hasn't he?"
She had watched him since he was a child.
She had seen how he and Sora Ginko interacted.
Even without anyone saying it outright—
She understood.
Ginko was too proud, and Azuma had once been too straightforward—
But now?
Now, things were starting to shift.
"Alright, let's head inside."
Kiyotaki Kousuke interrupted, his tone steady.
"This is an important match, Azuma. Any thoughts?"
Despite his casual words, the fact that he was here at all spoke volumes.
He was worried.
"I can only do my best."
Yukima Azuma answered humbly.
And yet—
Everyone here knew that his 'best' was something monstrous.
A Legend in the Making
Once inside, they split up.
Keika and Kousuke took their seats in the spectator area, while Yukima Azuma headed to the competition hall.
Keika watched his back as he walked away, her expression soft.
"Azuma really has grown."
She muttered under her breath.
Because—
She remembered.
The prodigy that had once shaken the shogi world.
Before turning professional, Yukima Azuma had never lost a match.
He had crushed opponents older and more experienced than him.
Even after entering the pro circuit—
The only loss on his record was against Meijin.
But losing to the Meijin wasn't a disgrace.
Because in the world of shogi—
Who hadn't lost to the Meijin?
To have never lost to him, one would first need the qualifications to even face him.
And Yukima Azuma had earned that chance.
Even now, after a three-year hiatus—
Would an ordinary official match really be a challenge for him?
No.
If anything, his words from earlier meant one thing.
He wasn't worried about his own ability.
He was worried about someone else.
And that—
That was proof of how much he had grown.
The Match Begins
The ranking match was a win-based series.
Random pairings each round.
Eliminations based on wins and losses.
Higher ranks competed in single-elimination formats.
As Yukima Azuma stepped into the competition hall—
All eyes turned to him.
Officials, competitors, reporters, and spectators alike.
Because—
They knew who he was.
"Hey, that guy…"
"Yeah. The shogi monster from three years ago."
"After losing to the Meijin, he disappeared… and now he's back?"
"Three years off the board… even geniuses fade over time."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
In the spectator area, Sora Ginko's expression darkened.
But the one being talked about?
He didn't react at all.
He simply walked to his assigned board.
His opponent was already waiting for him—
A young man in his early twenties.
He wasn't a veteran.
But he wasn't a beginner either.
He had worked his way up the league, fighting tooth and nail to reach this level.
His name was Kawai Kenichi.
A newly promoted professional.
"Hello, I'm Kawai Kenichi, beginner rank. Please go easy on me."
A polite bow.
Yukima Azuma returned it.
"Yukima Azuma, 5th dan. Please take care of me."
The match began.
Kawai Kenichi wasn't afraid.
He knew his opponent's reputation, but reputation meant nothing on the board.
Besides—
Three years away from shogi?
That was enough time for even a genius to rust.
If he played carefully, he might just stand a chance.
At least, that's what he thought.
Until—
Nine moves in.
His confidence shattered.
Because after only nine moves—
He was already in a losing position.
His opponent—
Didn't just play well.
Didn't just play smart.
He played like a monster.
The pressure was suffocating.
He could feel it—
The invisible weight pressing down on him with every move.
An overwhelming force.
"Does he not even need to think?"
Kawai Kenichi questioned in disbelief.
Every time he made a move—
Azuma responded immediately.
His moves were precise.
Relentless.
Terrifying.
Piece by piece—
His defense was torn apart.
And then—
Forty-seven moves in.
A single rook landed on the board.
Silence.
Kawai Kenichi froze.
And then,
He bowed his head.
"I've lost."
Gasps filled the hall.
Because—
Shogi matches don't end in 47 moves.
Not at this level.
Even when there was a skill difference, most matches took 90 to 120 moves to conclude.
Less than 50?
That wasn't just a victory.
That was a massacre.
Sitting in the spectator area,
Sora Ginko smirked.
"Three years off the board?"
"Tch."
"What a joke."