If I Become a Meijin, Will you Marry me, Master? - Chapter 10

“Hello and welcome to ‘Ride with Oiwa!’ I’m your host, Kunio Oiwa. How’s everyone doing this afternoon?”

With his breezy, rhythmic voice, the usual opening of the show kicks off smoothly.

“Ride with Oiwa!” is a widely popular live midday variety show in the Tokai region, hosted by the local celebrity Kunio Oiwa—a name known to all in the area.

As a shogi player who works from home, I occasionally watch variety shows on weekdays, and this is usually the one I tune into.

“Today, we have a very special guest. She’s the talk of the town and the sixth-ever middle school professional shogi player—the very first female one at that—Momoka Hiryuu! …And accompanying her, her mentor: 6-dan Makoto Inada. Thank you for joining us, Inada-sensei.”

“Th-thank you for having me…”

While Oiwa smoothly introduces me with witty asides and no hesitation, I sit beside him completely overwhelmed, barely able to manage a simple greeting without stumbling over my words.

“Let’s jump into the first topic. There’s a possibility that the Tokai region could soon produce a future Meijin title holder. We’ve compiled a VTR highlighting the events so far, so please take a look.”

With the segment transitioning to a video clip, I finally exhale deeply at the commentator’s table.

Huh? The director is gesturing to me—miming flipping through a sketchbook.

“You’re still on camera in the inset during the VTR! Don’t let your guard down!” is written.

Panicked, I straighten up and look at the screen intently.

Aside from the national MHK Cup, I’ve had almost zero TV experience—how am I supposed to know the rules of daytime variety shows!?

As I suppress the urge to scream inside, I review the flow of the program the director explained to me earlier.

Okay, once the video ends, Oiwa will start flipping through cue cards and asking me questions, and I need to answer them as appropriate, right?

But like… shouldn’t there be a script or something!?

What does “as appropriate” even mean!?

While I’m spiraling, the VTR ends and Oiwa starts flipping his cue cards.

“First, let’s talk about being a middle school pro. Only six people in shogi history have become professionals while still in middle school, and Momoka Hiryuu is the sixth. Inada-sensei, just how big of a deal is that?”

“Well, every player who turned pro in middle school has gone on to win titles or even become Meijin.”

“So you’re saying Hiryuu-san could become Meijin too?”

“If we go by shogi’s track record, yes… that’s quite possible.”

“I see you call her Momoka, using her first name?”

“Uh, yes, well… I do.”

Wait a second—this conversation is veering off course.

Is this okay?

“By the way, Inada-sensei, you look so young! How old are you?”

“I’m 25.”

“Wow, a young mentor indeed! When I was 25, I was three years into working at a local TV station, getting dragged out into muddy rice fields to film beach volleyball. Man, those days were rough. Oh, and there was also that one time—”

“Oiwa-san, let’s keep it about shogi for now.”

“Ah, right, right, sorry.”

With Oiwa’s exaggerated reactions and the witty banter from the female sub-MC, the studio erupts in laughter.

“A few years ago, the first-ever female pro shogi player made headlines, and now we’ve got the first middle school female pro. And get this—she went undefeated through the promotion league! Inada-sensei, for us unfamiliar, what exactly is the promotion league? I’ve heard it’s brutal?”

“Yes. It’s the final step before becoming a pro, and everyone approaches each game with do-or-die intensity. Many pros say they’d never want to go through that experience again.”

“And Hiryuu-san went undefeated. Is that a first?”

“Yes, it is.”

“The current Meijin also turned pro as a middle schooler, but even he lost a few games in the promotion league, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Even the current Meijin—often called the strongest shogi player in history—lost a few games in that league.

In that sense, Momoka isn’t just exceptional. She’s the exception among exceptions.

“Inada-sensei, sounds like Momoka-chan is destined to become Meijin. We’d better start buttering her up now while we still can!” Oiwa jokes, rubbing his hands together toward me.

I can’t help but laugh at his goofiness.

“Well, there’s still a long way to go. Momoka is still just a middle schooler.”

“Right? And on top of that, she’s beautiful—like an idol! Aren’t you worried? I know it’s early, but what if she gets a boyfriend, Sensei?”

“Well, there’s still a long way to go. Momoka is still just a middle schooler.”

“…Huh? No, I asked what you’d do if Momoka-chan got a boyfriend, Sensei.”

“Well, there’s still a long way to go. Momoka is still just a middle schooler.”

Oiwa blinks at my robot-like repetition, rephrases the question clearly, and asks again. I just repeat the same answer.

“This is hopeless… The sensei here is doing everything he can to dodge the question! Looks like we’ve got a classic overprotective mentor on our hands!”

Oiwa points dramatically at me, and the studio bursts into laughter.

No, really—I’m totally maxed out mentally, and now you hit me with that topic out of nowhere? My brain just can’t keep up!

People often assume shogi players are all super smart, but when it comes to quick wit or snappy responses, those of us with a habit of deep thinking tend to fall below average.

“Thank you for joining us today, Inada-sensei. He’s apparently on a tight schedule, zipping between studios. The crew’s been flashing cue cards at me saying ‘wrap it up already!’ like we’re dealing with a Hollywood star visiting Japan.”

“I’m so sorry, thank you.”

“Please come back again, Sensei! Good luck with the rest of your appearances!”

While Oiwa and the other commentators send me off with jokes and smiles, I bow repeatedly as I’m guided offstage by the staff.

“This way—run!”

Today really is a minute-by-minute schedule for me.

There’s already a taxi waiting to take me to the next studio.

Apparently, the whole day’s been planned out like some crime drama time-table trick, down to the second. There’s no room for delay.

Following the staff through the building, I dash toward the back entrance where the taxi is waiting.

Never thought my daily running habit would come in handy like this.

As the Ride with Oiwa! staff wave goodbye, I dive into the waiting taxi.

“Thank you for your time, Inada-sensei. We’re short on time before your next segment, so we’ll do the meeting in the car. First, let me explain—”

Inside the car, the director of the next program is already waiting with printed materials, diving straight into a briefing.

There’s no time to reflect on my first real appearance on terrestrial TV—I’m already buried in trying to learn the next show’s flow and prep my comments and talking points.

“…Man, now that I think about it, maybe I need a manager too—not just Momoka…”

For a brief second, I indulge in that thought—about hiring someone to accompany Momoka for all her travel and media work.

But the next moment, I’m yanked back into reality as I scribble notes frantically, trying to keep up with the director’s rapid-fire explanation.