Chapter 3: Respect

Hikaru threw himself into a chair with a deep groan. After the ceremony, Team Japan (well, mostly Touya Akira and Kurata-san) had been surrounded by fans eager for a word or two from the participants. Kawai-san had been remarkably restrained, giving him only a quick pat on the head. And while Kiwajima-san had mostly been absorbed in Touya, he had also grudgingly complimented Hikaru with a, "Not too bad, boy," and then a slightly surly round-about, "If only Akira-sensei had played first board, Japan would have defeated Korea." Reporters had impatiently crowded in after that and for the next half an hour or so, they were thoroughly questioned and photographed and prodded with assorted journalist paraphernalia.

"This is more tiring than playing Go!" whined Hikaru. He glanced at the ever imperturbable Akira, "You're really used to this sort of thing, aren't you?"

"You'll get used to it soon enough, too," he replied calmly as he loosened his necktie.

"Well," Kurata interjected. "It's been a long day. I'm going to go ahead and check out of the hotel. I'm suddenly craving ramen from the store near the Go Institute."

"Ramen!" Hikaru shot up from his seat, eyes sparkling with renewed vigour. "Kurata-san, ramen is a great idea!"

"Then you go and have ramen. Just don't expect me to treat you."

"Aww ... you said we played 'exceptional games'. Surely a bit of a reward is in order? All we got," Hikaru waved a piece of paper in front of Kurata's face, "were these dinky little certificates."

"Ask me about it again when you actually win." Kurata hesitated for a moment and suddenly started scanning the room. Spying a group of men lingering in one of the corners of the room, he hurried over and spoke with them briefly before returning with ... some autograph paper.

Hikaru sweat-dropped. Okay, I have a baaad feeling about this ...

"I meant what I said though ... that was some great Go you showed us today. Even though you didn't win, I think those games are worthy of my autograph." He signed them quickly and handed one to each of the boys.

"Umm ... Kurata-san?" Akira stared at the autograph shoved into his hands, perplexed.

Yashiro made a face. "And just why – "

"Oh, it's just a little pact Shindou made with me. I felt it was only fair to give you two my autograph as well. Wouldn't want to play favourites, would I?"

"Pact?"

"Oh, Shindou was just so desperate to get my autograph – "

"I wasn't!! It was just – "

"You were begging for Kurata-san's autograph?" asked Akira quizzically, turning his deep turquoise eyes to Hikaru.

"No! No! I wasn't!" Hikaru yelled desperately. He could feel a flush rising from his neck to his face. Yashiro had an incredulous look on his face, his jaw hanging slack and his eyes unblinking. Hikaru waved his arms madly, "I just ... just –" Damn it. I can't say the truth, can I? I'll get Kurata-san in a huff all over again. Argh! God, why me? Now Touya thinks I'm a Kurata fanboy – I'll never be able to live this down! He'll never let me live this down!! He's still staring at me – if he dares to even snicker, I'll make him sorry he was ever born!

"There, there... There's no need to be so embarrassed. You have a good eye for talent, that's for sure. My autograph will be worth a lot when I win a couple of titles. I've always known you were a smart kid, Shindou." Kurata nodded as he patted Hikaru on the back approvingly. "Anyways, I'm off. See you boys around. Oh, Yang Hai!" He waved quickly and rushed off towards the tall manager of the Chinese team.

"Shindou, do you want," Akira dead-panned, "my autograph as well?"

His only reply was a scrunched-up ball of autographed paper aimed straight for the middle of his forehead.

Yashiro snorted in amusement. "Well, we should head back to our rooms too. Wonder if they'd pay for room service if we order some food?" he mused as the trio started walking out of the ceremony room.

"Shindou!"

Hikaru turned around to see a small boy in a bowl cut leaning against a nearby wall. He straightened and trotted over to the trio as they drew closer.

"Su-Yeong!"

"I was waiting for you."

"Oh, that's right. We have a game tomorrow, right? What time do you want me to be there?"

"A game? With Hong Su-Yeong?" Yashiro asked curiously, looking back and forth between Hikaru and the boy who had recently defeated him.

"Yeah. We played once when I was an insei and he was a ... uh ... a Korean version of an insei."

"A kenkyuusei, Shindou" Akira added helpfully.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Well, I guess ... how about around ten in the morning, if you don't have a game to play?"

"I don't. Alright, I'll see you there then!" Hikaru waved and turned as if to walk off.

"Wait, Shindou!"

"Huh?"

"Umm, actually, there's something else too." Su-Yeong looked down at his shoes and adjusted his suit jacket nervously. "I ..." he clenched his fists and blurted in a half-shout, "I don't want you to misunderstand Yeong-Ha!"

Hikaru's face darkened. "Misunderstand him? What's there to misunderstand?" He could feel his ire rising again. "It was very clear to me what he said during the opening ceremony." His grip around the fan tightened, and he continued angrily, "I bet he's gloating now after his win. That can't be helped, but next time we meet, I'll make sure he's forced to eat those words!"

Akira sighed, wishing the Korean boy hadn't brought up this touchy subject. And it seemed like Shindou had gotten over it too.

"No, no ... please listen! I did ask him about it after we met that day, and it appears that the problem was we had a really lousy translator and – "

"But I don't think there was a problem with the translator during the opening ceremony," Hikaru interrupted fiercely.

"I know, I know. I mean, I don't know why Yeong-Ha said that. Actually, okay, I do. I think ..." Su Yeong gulped and shrank back ever so slightly. Why did Yeong-Ha have to be so childish?? And with Shindou, of all people! Now I have to be the one to clear things up. "Um ... he was just ... um ... baiting you ...?" His voice faded uncertainly as Hikaru drew himself up in a fury.

"Baiting me?! Why, that bastard – "

"Shindou." Akira placed a placating hand on the boy's shoulder, "You should hear him out. Ko Yeong-Ha might just be a bit perverse," like you, he added to himself, "and took offense that you were angry at him because of some misunderstanding."

"Yes, yes!" Su-Yeong cried, relieved. "That's exactly right! Let me explain, okay?"

Three pairs of eyes stared at Hikaru. After a while, he gave in and nodded curtly. Su-Yeong continued hurriedly, "I asked Yeong-Ha what he said to the Japanese reporter. Yeong-Ha told me the reporter asked him if he knew of Shuusaku. He replied that he had studied all of the old masters, of course, but added that Japan was weak because Japan only knows about studying the surface of Shuusaku without understanding the essence of his Go."

"Wow ... that's really different from what he was saying at the ceremony," said Yashiro, his brows crinkled in thought.

"He noticed that Shindou was glaring at him when we met that day in the lobby. Even after he told me what he actually said, he would not let me tell you. I guess he thought it would be interesting to see you play with so much passion. I am sure that's why he said what he did during the opening ceremony."

"That ... bastard!" Hikaru repeated in impotent rage. His free hand clawed the air as if searching for a neck to wring.

"You already said that," Yashiro added in an undertone.

"Please. Just understand this, Shindou. Yeong-Ha is a good person. He has deep respect for Shuusaku and has studied Shuusakuu's games in great depth. He still studies Shuusaku. He even said that it would be a sad thing if great players like Shuusaku were to be forgotten because Japan has become weak. Shindou, you can be angry at him for toying around with you, but please don't be angry at him about putting down Shuusaku. It started with a big misunderstanding, and then Yeong-Ha was just being childish and wouldn't let it go." Su-Yeong bowed his head desperately, "Please, Shindou!"

Three anxious pairs of eyes turned toward Hikaru again. He did not know how to respond. His head bowed in deep thought. Inside him, emotions warred with each other. That Ko Yeong-Ha had used Shuusaku's name to taunt him – that was unforgivable. Yet, hearing that even that rascal respected Shuusaku's – Sai's – legacy lightened his mood inexplicably. Su-Yeong's passion made him want to relent, but his pride refused to yield.

"Why is it so important to you that Shindou understands this, Hong Su-Yeong?" Akira asked quietly.

"Because ... because I admire Yeong-Ha!" the boy replied passionately, "I admire him like Shindou admires Shuusaku. I, too, don't want to see Yeong-Ha disrespected and misunderstood! Especially by Shindou!"

Hikaru started, and jerked his head up to stare at Su-Yeong. Such a parallel had not occurred to him. I should say something. But what? It's okay? But it's not. That I forgive him? But I haven't. That I understand? But I don't. He tried to find his voice, but found it strangely difficult to speak.

"I-I cannot give you an answer today, Su-Yeong. I am not ready to forgive him. I will think about this and tell you tomorrow." With that, Hikaru spun around on his heels and walked resolutely away from the group.