If I Become a Meijin, Will you Marry me, Master? - Chapter 6

“Are you ready, Momoka?”

“Just a second, Master! Once I fix my bangs, I’m good to go!”

Saturday morning.

There’s no school today, but Momoka is wearing her school uniform.

I’m also dressed sharply in a suit.

“You’ve got a lot of luggage. We’re only staying in Tokyo for one night.”

“A lady needs to prepare a lot more things than a gentleman, you know.”

Compared to me, who just has a handbag and a small travel case, Momoka is rolling along a compact suitcase.

“When you become a pro, you’ll be traveling long distances and staying overnight a lot for matches and events. You’ll wear yourself out if you bring too much. You’ll learn eventually.”

“Yes, Master.”

Giving her some sage advice in true mentor fashion, I glance at Momoka walking beside me with a cheerful smile on her face—there’s not a hint of tension or nerves in her expression.

“Hard to believe tomorrow’s the final day of the 3-dan league with how calm you are.”

“What about you, Master? How were you before your final match to go pro?”

“I was already so nervous during the trip the day before that I felt like throwing up…”

Today is the day before the final round of the 3-dan League, which Momoka is part of.

All the apprentice players (Shoreikai members) in the 3-dan League gather at the Tokyo Shogi Hall for the final round, so since Momoka lives in the Tokai region, she’s heading to Tokyo the day before and staying overnight at a hotel.

And the reason I’m heading to the bullet train station with her is because the Japan Shogi Federation instructed me to accompany her as her mentor.

“Ah… I’m suddenly getting nervous… Master, can you hold my hand tightly on the train?”

“Wait a second. Weren’t you just saying you’re not nervous at all because you’re already guaranteed promotion to 4-dan even if you lose both matches tomorrow?”

“Tch…”

Momoka clicks her tongue just as we arrive at the train station.

We pass through the gates, find our assigned seats, and finally settle down.

“We’ll arrive in Tokyo around 3 PM. Check-in at the hotel starts at 4, so let’s just grab dinner somewhere nearby.”

“Master, can I have a snack?”

“Go ahead, just don’t get your uniform dirty.”

Even though the train hasn’t departed yet, Momoka opens a bag of her favorite chocolate treats that I bought for her at the station kiosk.

The way she happily munches on her snacks is exactly like a normal middle school girl her age.

Since I’m not the one competing tomorrow, if I were traveling alone I’d be enjoying the scenery with a beer in hand. But with Momoka next to me, I’ll hold off.

“Ah…”

Momoka suddenly stops eating, muttering as if she’s noticed something.

“What’s up, Momoka? Did you forget something?”

“No, it’s not that. The guy sitting three rows ahead on the aisle side… I think he’s from the Kansai branch of the Shogi Federation. A 3-dan player… Tanahashi, I think?”

She lowers her voice so only I can hear, and I look toward the seat she mentioned.

From this angle, all I can see is the back of his head.

Looks like a man well over twenty, tall and lanky, with messy unkempt hair.

(Yeah… he gives off a seriously dark aura…)

Even from behind, there’s this gloomy, heavy vibe radiating off him.

“He’s not my opponent tomorrow, but should I greet him?”

“No, better not.”

Of the two promotion slots in the 3-dan League, one is already guaranteed to go to Momoka.

From his perspective, a relaxed opponent coming over to greet him would probably only stir up resentment.

“When we get off, let’s keep an eye on him and use the opposite door.”

“Good idea.”

“I am a grown-up now, after all.”

Momoka says with a smug smile, puffing her chest out.

“That kind of awareness is important. Before long, I won’t be able to accompany you anymore. But this reassures me.”

“Wait, why not!? I’m still an innocent little middle school girl! I can’t ride the bullet train alone! Middle school girls are still kids, you know!?”

…Hey now.

You were just acting all mature a second ago—talk about switching gears way too fast.

“Well, yeah. It is kind of irresponsible to let an underage girl travel alone or stay at a hotel by herself.”

“Exactly, Master! So…”

“Maybe I should ask the Federation if they can arrange someone to look after you when you travel.”

“That’s not what I meant, Master~!”

But the thing is, this is a real issue.

I can’t always be her personal chaperone for every long-distance match.

This time I’m getting reimbursed by the Federation for travel and lodging, but I’d go broke if I paid out of pocket every time.

Plus, I’m a pro shogi player too—I’ll have matches or events that overlap with hers, so I won’t always be available.

Ideally, someone familiar with the world of shogi and female—like a manager—would be best.

As I thought about it, a certain person’s face popped into my mind.

Just then—

“Excuse me… Are you by any chance Miss Momoka Hiryuu?”

My thoughts are cut off by a lady passing through the train aisle who suddenly addresses us.

“Yes, I am.”

“Oh wow! I saw you on the news! The first female middle school pro shogi player! I’m a huge fan—can I shake your hand?”

“Thank you very much.”

Momoka rises from her seat with a pleasant smile and shakes the lady’s hand.

She’s clearly switched into her public persona.

“Wow! You’re even cuter in person than on TV!”

The woman gushes, and Momoka smiles shyly at the compliment.

“Wait, that’s her!? I thought that uniform looked familiar.”

“Who is she? A celebrity?”

“You know, that middle school girl who became a pro shogi player. They talked about it on the news.”

“Oh, that girl!”

Spurred on by the woman’s loud voice, the other passengers start murmuring and glancing our way.

TV really is powerful—Momoka’s already famous.

After that, a few more people came up asking for autographs or photos, and we were kept busy handling all the attention.

“We caused quite a stir, didn’t we? I guess the uniform really stands out, huh?”

Once the excitement dies down, Momoka tugs at the large white collar of her sailor uniform.

Her school uses the so-called Nagoya-style sailor collar—big and very noticeable, uncommon in both Kansai and Kanto areas.

“Normally I just wear my uniform or suit while traveling to keep luggage light, but maybe we should start packing them and wearing casual clothes instead.”

Thankfully everyone today was polite, but there are some weirdos out there.

The less attention, the better.

“Okay. But as long as you’re with me, you’ll protect me, right, Master?”

“I am a guy, after all. I’ve got some muscle on me.”

I flex my biceps to show her. I run and hit the gym regularly.

“Hmm… You’re surprisingly ripped for your slim build. I bet you’re one of those guys who’s ‘amazing once he takes his shirt off.’”

“Don’t stare at my body so seriously like it’s a match analysis…”

I regret showing off now. The way she examined me so intently made me feel embarrassed.

I think I finally understand how busty girls feel when people stare at them…

“Um… Miss Momoka Shindan! May I take a photo with you?”

“Sure~!”

Another passenger calls out to her—this time a young man, gathering his courage to approach.

At this point, maybe we really do need disguises while traveling.

“I’ll take the picture. Let’s keep it quick since we’re in the aisle.”

Wanting to keep things smooth for the other passengers, I volunteer to snap the photo.

“Thank you so much! Um… Are you her father?”

“Her fa—⁉”

I freeze in place, still holding the man’s phone.

I’m still in my twenties, dammit! I’m not old enough to have a middle school daughter!

This is just like when her teacher, Mr. Iwasa, said the same thing…

Is it my face? Do I look older than I am!?

And this guy knows shogi—he called her “Shindan Momoka,” so he must follow the scene at least a little!

“He’s not my dad—he’s my master. M-A-S-T-E-R! Inada 6-dan!”

Momoka smiles sweetly at the young man while linking her arm through mine.

Ah, she’s mad—just a little.

“Oh… A-Ah! Inada 6-dan!? I’m so sorry! I knew your name, but I didn’t recognize your face…”

The young man apologizes profusely, but still manages to drive the knife deeper.

Yeah, well… I’ve never been in a title match, and my face is kind of forgettable…

Whatever. Let’s just take the picture and move on.

“Okay, say cheese~”

I aim his phone as he happily stands next to Momoka.

Click!

“Let’s take one more just in case.”

I raise the phone again—just in case the first one was blurry.

Suddenly, Momoka shuts her eyes and—

“Bleeehhh!!”

—sticks out her tongue in a silly face.

I nearly laugh out loud, but thankfully the young man doesn’t notice.

“Thank you! Best of luck in the final league match tomorrow!”

He returns to his seat, completely oblivious to the surprise in his picture.

“Momoka, what was that for?”

As we sit down again, I ask about the silly face.

“Because he dissed you, Master… but I couldn’t say anything since he’s a shogi fan. So that was my little act of defiance…”

Momoka hangs her head, looking a bit guilty.

“So that’s what it was. Geez…”

I ruffle her hair to show I’m not mad.

“Mm…”

She purrs like a satisfied cat.

As I watch her, the announcement plays: “We’ll soon be arriving at Tokyo Station.”

“Alright, time to get ready to disembark.”

“Just a little longer, Master~ Ten more minutes? I’ll pay an extension fee~”

“What is this, a shady Tokyo club!? It’s the last stop—we need to get off so the cleaning crew can do their job.”

Just as I reach for our luggage on the overhead rack, I feel a gaze.

I casually glance in that direction—and sure enough, it’s that messy-haired 3-dan player, Tanahashi.

(Crap… I totally forgot about him. He definitely noticed all the fan commotion earlier… I feel bad now.)

But I think it would be rude to speak to someone the night before such a critical match, especially as Momoka’s mentor. So I pretend not to notice and gently take her hand as we step out onto the Tokyo platform.