If I Become a Meijin, Will you Marry me, Master? - Chapter 15

“Is my tie crooked, Ane-deshi?”

“It’s fine. I mean, why do I have to come along too…?”

In front of the middle school that Momoka attends, Ane-deshi let out a big sigh. She was dressed smartly in a blouse and a women’s suit she’d dug out from the back of her closet.

Incidentally, I was also wearing the suit and tie I use during official shogi matches.

“You’re Momoka’s manager, Ane-deshi. Of course you’re coming.”

“I hate this. At my age, getting scolded by a teacher…”

“Hey, I’m in the same boat here…”

“Siiigh…”

Both Ane-deshi and I let out another deep sigh as we pressed the intercom at the school gate.

This time, maybe because we properly gave our names and the reason for our visit—unlike last time when we were treated like suspicious individuals—or perhaps because our names were now well-known among the school staff due to the previous incident, a teacher came to guide us almost immediately and led us to a meeting room.

“I can’t relax…”

After saying she’d go get Momoka, who was waiting in another room, the teacher left, and Ane-deshi muttered this as she sat at the meeting room table.

In the world of shogi—or likely in other sports as well—students often have to miss school for outside activities, which results in frequent summons from teachers about attendance. That’s why neither of us has fond memories of school.

“I’ve brought Momoka.”

The meeting room door slid open with a bang, and in came Ms. Iwasa, the homeroom teacher who had previously treated me like a suspicious person, along with Momoka.

She looked small and dejected in her gym clothes.

Her hair was tied back, with her bangs held by a headband—likely still dressed as she had been for the girls’ basketball team, where she’d been helping out.

“Momoka! What the hell were you thinking?!”

“Dad—uh, I mean, Inada-san, please calm down.”

I accidentally raised my voice at the sight of Momoka, and Ms. Iwasa quickly intervened.

“Sorry…”

“Let me explain the situation first.”

With that, Ms. Iwasa began explaining what had happened. She prefaced it by saying her account was based on statements from Momoka, the involved parties, and other witnesses.

Ane-deshi and I swallowed hard.

Apologies to the other student, compensation, possible school punishment for Momoka… and worst case, a report to the Shogi Association…

Pessimistic thoughts began spinning through my head.

“To put it simply, Momoka-san got angry at the overbearing behavior of a recently graduated third-year male OB of the basketball club… and delivered a dropkick to his face.”

“…Huh?”

A male student? A dropkick?!

I couldn’t help but make a dumbfounded face at the unexpected twist.

“That’s… not what I was expecting…”

Even Ane-deshi looked stunned beside me.

Honestly, I had imagined some kind of catfight between girls—maybe bullying or something along those lines.

B-But still, just because the opponent was a boy doesn’t make violence okay. Gender aside, that’s not acceptable these days.

“U-Um, how badly was the boy injured?”

“Fortunately, he didn’t hit his head—just got a nosebleed. Nothing that required a hospital visit.”

“That’s… lucky. Then we should go apologize to the boy’s family right away—”

“That won’t be necessary. The boy himself has strongly requested that we not contact them.”

“…Huh? But we can’t just…”

I had fully expected to take Momoka and apologize to the boy and his family.

“Makoto. Think about it. That boy lost a fight to a younger girl. If his parents found out, it’d crush his pride. That’d be devastating for a teenage boy.”

Ah… that makes sense.

For a teenage boy, it’d be more than just embarrassing—it could become a lifelong black mark.

“Well, I did tell his parents over the phone just now. But respecting his wishes, they’ve agreed to act like they know nothing. So no apology is needed.”

Ms. Iwasa said with a wry smile.

So in the end, the parents do find out anyway, huh…

“I see…”

Relieved, I slumped heavily into the chair.

“I’m sorry, Master… Kei-chan… for causing trouble…”

Momoka muttered in a voice barely above a whisper.

“You don’t need to apologize to us. You need to apologize to the boy you kicked—when the time is right, okay?”

“Yes, Master…”

Momoka nodded meekly.

Seeing her take it seriously, I was able to settle down and ask the obvious question.

“So? What exactly happened? Can you explain?”

“Yes… The OB was acting all high and mighty, giving ridiculous instructions and forcing us to do bad drills. Everyone was fed up, so I said I’d tell him off directly…”

She was still in a downcast mood and spoke slowly.

“So then you got into an argument?”

“According to the other students, the male OB said some terrible things to Momoka. Things like ‘girls who play shogi are gloomy loners.’”

Ms. Iwasa added, probably to ease the burden on Momoka.

“And then… you lost it and lashed out—er, kicked him?”

Since it was a dropkick, it wasn’t a simple “lashing out.”

“I’d heard that a well-aimed dropkick doesn’t really hurt the opponent. But I got carried away, jumped too high, and hit his face…”

Right, Momoka was athletic enough to be asked to sub in for the basketball team.

Still, to jump high enough to land a dropkick on a growing third-year boy’s face… that’s some freakish athleticism.

So she’s got talent beyond just shogi and massages…

“By the way, do shogi masters usually teach their disciples how to dropkick?”

“Of course not.”

I snapped at Ms. Iwasa’s dumb question—maybe still bitter from the suspicious person incident. Beside me, Ane-deshi looked like she was trying hard not to burst into laughter.

I pulled myself together and tried to re-establish some order in the room.

“Momoka. No matter the reason, you have to reflect on using violence. Even if someone says horrible things.”

No matter how cruel someone is, if you hit them, you lose the moral high ground.

Especially since Momoka is on the path to becoming a star, she needs to learn self-control.

“But… but…”

She kept glancing at me as if wanting to say something.

“But what?”

“That OB… he insulted you, Master. Said you were some pathetic loser. I just… snapped…”

She mumbled while trembling slightly.

“Ahahaha! So she can take the insults herself, but not when it’s about her beloved Master! Good for you, Makoto. That’s a true master’s honor!”

Ane-deshi burst out laughing, slapping my back repeatedly.

That hurts, Ane-deshi.

I’m in the middle of a lecture here—please don’t interrupt.

“Ahem! Listen, Momoka. From now on, you’re going to attract a lot of attention. Some people will say outrageous things just to get a reaction from you. If you respond, they win.”

“But… when they say mean things about you, Master, I just… can’t take it…”

“If you keep reacting like that, everyone will know that’s your weak spot. They’ll use it to keep badmouthing me.”

“Because… of me…”

“That’s right. So for my sake—endure it.”

This might’ve drifted from the original scolding, but if framing it that way helps Momoka accept it, that’s fine. The goal is to prevent this from happening again.

“Yes… Master…”

She looked dazed and dreamy as she nodded, eyes glistening.

Glad the message got through, but… something’s off here.

“Momoka-chan’s totally giving you the ‘in heat’ look. Getting bossed around by her beloved Master must be triggering something real deep inside.”

Wait, what!?

Was there really a dominator tone in what I said?

Ah, maybe the “endure it for my sake” part?

Ms. Iwasa, still suspicious from the previous incident, was now glaring at me with intensity.

No, you’ve got it wrong! This isn’t some weird fetish game!

“By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask—who’s this person?”
Ms. Iwasa looked toward Ane-deshi.

“Me?”

“Yes. Is she a relative of Momoka-san?”

Ah—right. We were so caught up in the fight talk, we hadn’t introduced her yet.

“I’m like Momoka’s big sister… or maybe aunt?”

“Like an aunt…?”

Ms. Iwasa looked at her with unconcealed suspicion.

“Ahh, it’s kind of a pain to explain. But anyway, I stay over at Makoto’s house a lot—half-living there, so nice to meet you.”

No! Not now! We haven’t talked about that yet!

“You’re living with Master!? Why!? You said living together with me wasn’t possible! Is it because Kei-chan has big b00bs!? Are you tired of just my service!?”

“Stop saying things that’ll cause misunderstandings! Are you trying to ruin my life!?”

By the way, the “service” Momoka’s referring to is massage.

Also, when we say ‘being taken care of,’ it’s me taking care of them, not the other way around! But no one would get that from how they’re saying it!

“A mild-mannered shogi player secretly surrounding himself with women… too indecent. This calls for an emergency home visit…”

See!? I knew she’d get the wrong idea!

And so, in the midst of chaos, I was left wondering just where I should even begin explaining.