(insert obligatory author-note here) :)
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*Their second meeting was entirely by chance.*
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Akiko sat down heavily at the counter of the small café and sighed. It had been a tough day.
"What about 13-10?" a voice asked as another party entered the café.
"An interesting cut, no doubt, but could he have afforded to leave the left corner unattended at that point in the game?" this voice was one she recognized.
"Touya-san?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"Kaiyama-san?"
"Ne, Touya-san, you know this pretty lady? Why don't you introduce us?" his companion grinned at her as he nudged Touya.
Akiko decided she didn't like his attitude, though he seemed nice enough, "I can introduce myself, thank you, Kaiyama Akiko," she politely nodded in their direction and saw Touya's mouth quirk in a small smile.
The companion grinned at her forward statement and gave his own name in return, "oh! I forgot something at the institute! Be right back," he raced back out the café door.
There was that awkward silence again.
"Congratulations on becoming a 4-dan, Touya-san."
He blinked at her statement, but replied kindly, "Thank you."
She could sense the question, "my father follows Go as a bit of a pastime. I read about it in one of his magazines when I was visiting last weekend."
"I see."
Touya Koyo, it seemed, was a man of few words.
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