The Call of Go
Chapter 1
By: Warrior Seadra
"So-sorry." he apologizes, offering his hand to help her off the ground.
"Don't worry, I'm the one who wasn't paying attention." She smiles, accepting his help. "Here, you dropped this."
"Th-thanks. Say, if you're not in any hurry... can I apologize by treating you to dinner?"
"That's alr-" her stomach growls, denying her reply.
…..
"My name is Souma, Hitsuji1." He bows from across the table. A smile hints at the edge of his lips as he lifts his head
"I am Nase, Ayumi." With resignation in her eyes, Nase bows in return, lowering herself more than Hitsuji did. "Sorry for troubling you."
"Don't worry about it." Hitsuji waves a hand. "But it's pretty late, did your cram classes just end?"
"Oh, no." Nase grins, shaking her head. "I was just playing Go2."
A french fry falls from Hitsuji's right hand. He absentmindedly brings the fingers to his mouth and takes a few bites into the air.
"You know, that game where you place stones and build territory." Nase explains, holding a coin between her index and middle fingers. With a snap of her wrist, 'pa-chi,' she sets the coin on the table. She breaths deeply, relishing its ring.
"No, sorry," Hitsuji apologizes, returning to his senses. "Just that... I'm surprised. Most players are seniors."
"Watching them was what got me interested. Do you play?"
"My father taught me when I was younger, but I'm no good..." Hitsuji bites his lip, glancing slightly off to the side. "I could never beat him or his friends."
Hitsuji laughs and shrugs his shoulders. "Do you attend school near here?"
They finish their meals, but continue talking.
"Then Waya an- oh no, it's late." Nase gasps at her phone's angry interruption. She looks at the screen and pales. "It's my mom. Sorry, I really need to answer this. Hey mo..."
Hitsuji nods his head, then looks away. From his phone, he reads, '21:37, maybe I kept her longer than I should have...'
"I'm really sorry, but I need to get going." Nase apologizes to Hitsuji as she stands.
"No, no, it's my fault for keeping you so long." Hitsuji lowers his head in apology. He stands and follows Nase out the door. "Nase-san, can I see you again tomorrow?"
"Sorry, my insei classes are on Sunday. How about Monday, after school? Here..."
…..
"I'm home," Hitsuji announces, opening the door to a dark apartment. Hitsuji leaves his shoes at the entrance and walks into the living room. Looking at the clock, he thinks aloud. "22:17, mom won't be back for at least half an hour... Hey dad, you'll never guess what happened!"
Hitsuji walks to the back of the apartment where his father's memorial tablet rest on an altar. He kneels before the picture and closes his eyes. Bringing his hands together, Hitsuji gives a moment of silence.
Hitsuji opens his eyes and grins. "I met this girl, Nase Ayumi. You'll never guess, but she's an insei. She trying to become a professional Go player. Strange, neh? She's trying to walk the same path you did."
Hitsuji's joyful expression sullens as he continues speaking to his father.
"Funny, really. Of all games, it's Go." With an expression of disgust, Hitsuji strikes towards the floor with his fist, stopping centimeters above the ground.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Not like I'm actually going to play." Hitsuji looks to his right hand, clicking his tongue "Tch, get this, we're hanging out on Monday."
…..
"Somewhere around here." Hitsuji grumbles, staggering his way threw the crowded sidewalk. Reaching a small clearing, Hitsuji elevates onto his toes, and strains his neck towards the sky. He drops down onto his feet and runs the fingers of his right hand threw his hair. Exhaling, Hitsuji notices a footbridge. "Idiot..."
From atop of the bridge, Hitsuji spots Nase leaning against a wall on the opposing side of the road he was searching in. With a small smile, he struggles down the stairs to greet the girl.
"Hey," Nase greets Hitsuji. "I was afraid we wouldn't find each other."
"This time of day is the worst." Hitsuji breaths, shaking his head, "Do you know where we can escape the crowds?"
"Let's play go." Nase grins. "I saw a salon on the way here."
"Well... It's better than standing around here." Hitsuji drops his head.
"Oh, come on." Nase laughs, leading the way. "The customers are usually really nice. Kids our age sometimes appear too."
"Define sometimes." Hitsuji grumbles.
"Ok, yeah." Nase brushes her hair over her ear. "They're more like adult play grounds."
…..
A bell rings at the opening of the door.
"Welcome," the owner greets Hitsuji and Nase. "It's 1000 yen a person."
"Sorry," Hitsuji waves his hands, "I'm just watching."
"You're not playing?" Nase turns to Hitsuji while passing her fee to the owner. "I wanted to see your strength."
"There's no way you'd be satisfied playing me." Hitsuji grins, apologetically raising his hand. "Besides, everyone else wants to play you."
Hitsuji watches Nase accept an invitation from someone old enough to be a grandparent. They nigiri and determine Nase goes first.
"Please." The two bow, giving the customary greeting to start the game.
'Pachi,' The first stone Nase places on the goban3 rings.
'Pachi,' her opponent responds.
…..
Hitsuji breaths deeply, placing a hand over his eyes.
"They just can't get enough of her." Hitsuji muses to himself. "No doubt about it, Nase-san is the strongest person here."
Hitsuji exhales and places his right palm over his face. From his palm, Hitsuji glances at Nase's game over her shoulder. He watches her place a stone and walks away.
…..
"Thank you for the game." Ayumi bows to her opponent. She excitedly turns around to face Souma and gasps. Her eyes widen and her smile shrinks as she stares at the empty space.
"Souma... -kun?" She asks, tentatively.
"Sorry Nase-san," Souma's voice responds as a bottled green tea is held out from behind. "I got some tea to help you relax your nerves."
"Thanks," Ayumi accepts the bottle, turning around. "Cheers."
"Cheers." Souma responds clinging his bottle of green tea with her's.
"Last time I went to go salon with someone," Ayumi says between sips of her tea, "he ran away after watching one game."
"How rude," Souma furrows his eyebrows. "thinking I was going to run away. I'm insulted."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Ayumi grins, leaning back with her chin tucked down.
"Well..." Souma pauses to look at the ceiling, feigning deep thought. "if you're being sincere, I could accept your apology. But you have to be sincere."
"Sincere, how?"
Souma leans closer to Ayumi and whispers. "Make your next game a draw."
Ayumi grins, scanning the salon's patronizers for her next opponent.
…..
"I'm home!" Hitsuji announces, stepping threw the apartment's door. Taking off his shoes, he notices a pair of geta4and cringes his nose.
"Great." he mutters threw clenched teeth. He takes a deep breath and steps into the living room.
"Hitsuji!" Hitsuji's grandfather's voice energetically cries out.
"Hello grandfather," Hitsuji bows respectfully, keeping his face free from expression. "I'm glad to see you are doing well."
"Ah, Hitsuji," His grandfather chastises, standing from the sofa to ruffle Hitsuji's hair, "how many times do I have to tell you? You don't have to be so formal with me. Anyway, greet your mother in the kitchen and then tell me about your day over a game. Keiko already brought the board out."
"Of course. I'll get us some tea as well."
Hitsuji enters the kitchen and let's his face sag. "You didn't warn me grandfather was coming to visit." he quietly groans.
"You know you grandfather. He likes coming whenever he pleases." Hitsuji's mother hushes her son. "Here, I already prepared tea and cake. Now be a good boy and play a few games with him."
"Yeah, yeah." Hitsuji draws out his response, leaving the kitchen. Balancing the tea and cake, Hitsuji reenters the living room wearing a pleasant smile.
He sets the cake on the table and then pours the tea into a pair of cups. He passes one to his grandfather. Hitsuji draws a chair and asks, "Are you ready?"
"Yes, thank you."
"You can go first." Hitsuji defers the bowl of black stones to his grandfather.
"What a polite grandson." Hitsuji's grandfather chuckles accepting the bowl. "You definitely got that from your mother."
"Please." The two greet each other.
'Pachi,' the goban rings from the black stone Hitsuji's grandfather plays.
The smooth stones rub against Hitsuji's fingers as he selects one from the bowl. From the bowl, he raises his left hand and 'pachi,' places a stone on the goban. He takes a long sip of tea and exhales his held breath.
'Pachi,' his grandfather responds.
'Pachi.'
'Pachi.' "How are your classes going?" Hitsuji's grandfather asks.
'Pachi.' "They're really easy." Hitsuji responds, taking a small glance away from the board towards his grandfather. "I have, 'pachi' exams coming up, but I'm not worried."
Hitsuji's grandfather laughs. "Shou always, 'pachi,' responded claiming school wouldn't matter once he, 'pachi,' became pro."
"Mother would ground, 'pachi, me if I ever said that."
"She's, 'pachi,' much stricter than, your grandmother. That's, 'pachi,' for sure."
'Pachi.'
"Who was that, girl you were with earlier, 'pachi,' Hitsuji?"
Hitsuji takes a long sip of tea, emptying his cup, and responds, "What girl? Grandfather, you must be confused."
"Gyahaha." Hitsuji's grandfather laughs. "Your father said the same thing when he started seeing Keiko."
"What was that?" Hitsuji's mother asks, entering the living room with a tray.
"Keiko." Hitsuji's grandfather smiles, "I was recalling the time you and Shou started see each other."
"Oh, that man." Hitsuji's mother sighs, refilling the tea. "Our first date and he takes me to a Go salon. That game was the world to him."
"Oh right," Hitsuji's grandfather's face lights up. 'Pachi,' I almost forgot about this one."
Hitsuji places his refilled cup on the table and, 'pachi.'
…..
"Finally." Hitsuji sighs, dropping back onto the sofa. He holds up his left hand and stares at it. "He's gone."
"You know your grandfather only wants to see you, Hitsuji." Hitsuji's mother sooths her son.
"Yeah, but I hate playing Go. And that's all everyone wants to play when they visit." Hitsuji glares off to the side, running his hand threw his hair. "Serious games make me throw up."
"Really, then why did you visit that Go salon?"
Hitsuji jolts into sitting up, looses balance, and falls off the sofa.
"Your grandfather mentioned that he saw you and a girl enter a Go salon." Hitsuji's mother pauses to sip some tea. "Who was she?"
"Na-Nase-san is just a friend who likes playing Go." Hitsuji mumbles, looking at the floor. "But the people she was playing against were weak, so I couldn't really tell how strong she is. Although, I don't think it's enough to become a pro..."
"When are you going to introduce us?"
"In-introduce?" Hitsuji blushes, looking at his mother in fear.
"It must be love at first sight." Hitsuji's mother sighs as though remembering a memory of long ago.
"Wha-what? N-No!" Hitsuji stutters, trying to back away. "It hasn't gone that far yet."
"Yet?" Hitsuji's mother questions, exaggerating her surprise. With a hand on her cheek, she shakes her head saying, "Oh my. Shou-chan, our little Hitsuji is growing up."
footnotes
1In Japan, they introduce themselves with the family name first.
2A board game played by two players on a 19x19 grid. Each side places stones in attempts to build territory or surround the other player's stones to take prisoner.
3Go board, a 19 x 19 grid where black and white stones are placed.
4Form of Japanese footwear. Those wooden sandals.
A/N: Hey, I'm just doing a re-write. I hope you all enjoy the complete version of this story