Chapter 2:

As Shukichi entered the gaming hall, hee remembered his conversation with Yumi when she spent the night at his apartment.

-Flashback-

"I can't wait." said Shukichi as he looks at the girl who was innocently sleeping beside him.

"You can't wait?" Shukichi was startled when Yumi suddenly talked. He smiled as he started caressing her face.

"What are you smiling for?" Yumi frowned as she dug her face deeper on Shukichi's broad chest, "You haven't answered me yet!"

Shukichi laughed at the scenario in front of him.

"I love waking up to this." He thought to himself as he lifts Yumi's head to make her look at him.

"I can't wait to marry you, Yumi-tan." He looks at her in the eyes as he said those magical words.

Yumi pouted and started climbing off the bed.

"But before you could do that, you still have to win your seventh crown, right?"

She then opened the door and went to the kitchen. Shukichi started doing the same thing.

"Why are you so eager to win the seven crowns anyway? You could just ask me to marry you."

"No will do, Yumi-tan."

"Why?"

Irritated, she started pouring tea on her cup to distract herself.

"What's so important with Shogi anyway? How does it even relates to our marriage?" Yumi said as her back faces him.

Shukichi sighed.

He went closer to Yumi and hugs her in the back.

"I wanted to make you a queen." He whispered to her ears.

Blood suddenly flowed through Yumi's head. She turned to him and with confused eyes asked him, "What do you mean make me a queen? I'm a police officer not majesty."

"I wanted to make you 'my' queen."

Shukichi kissed her forehead and once again caressed her face.

"Remember in the past? You told me that it must have felt nice to have a king as a husband? That was the time that I made up my mind. To conquer all sevens and make you a queen, well in Shogi world that is."

Yumi's eyes started to water by Shukichi's sudden confession.

"So you mean, all these years?"

"Yes, all these years, Yumi-tan."

Yumi hugged him and shouted, "I love you! You idiot shogi freak!"

Shukichi returned her hug and happily shouted,

"This idiot shogi freak loves you too my queen!"