Chapter 10
'Versus'
2-1-1 Win-lose-draw. Haze vs. Teiko
The final scores in Haze's favor. Haze High School's coach couldn't asked for more. This is the last practice game they'll have for today.
Tojima Kyouhei watched his players proudly as they happily chatting with the opposing teams. Truly, both teams were played remarkably well and he was satisfied and glad that the coach of the other team offered a practice.
Though it's still early, just four o'clock in the afternoon they all decided to wrapped up the game and send the players home early and rest properly. They'll feel sores sooner.
He watched the particular blonde bang teen among the other players. Tojima was delighted that lately, Shindo Hikaru starts warming up to his team mates and even with the other players. He felt sorry for the teen the first time he watched him joined their practices. Shindo seems empty, especially the look in his eyes. As if he was battling an invisible opponents and trying to overcome on whatever he is suffering right now. And he wanted to help the teen.
It's such a shame to let his talent gone to waste. Shindo may not the same level as his captain and vice, but he's really good and still a lot room for improvement. He's hardworking, diligent and polite despite his looks.
He wondered why the coach in middle school never let the blonde bang teen to officially join their team. If that coach judged Shindo by his disability and not his ability. Surely, that midle school coach lost a good player in the form of Shindo Hikaru.
Shindo immediately removed the dirty clothes from his duffel bag when he reached home. It needs to be wash as soon as possible. He was relieved that they don't have to play another game and stay till tomorrow morning at Teiko Private School. He could feel his body screaming in pain. He needed some painkillers before bed.
He had shower after the game so he don't need another one, but he need something else to do. He already finished his homework and their group project was almost done. It was with their group leader anyway.
He checked his phone. No new message. Perhaps he will send a message to Inoue that he can meet Touya-sensei tonight. Or maybe not. The silver hair man was probably tired from his work and wanted to spend his night at home.
He may just tell Kawai-san that he'll work tonight for at least two hours, then meet his guardian after school tomorrow like he originally plan. Or maybe he will sleep early tonight to get enough rest for school.
He starts washing the white clothes then after, he will wash the dark colors. He washed at least twice a week to avoid keeping a lot of them.
He aired his bag in his room's terrace and turned on his computer. Maybe he'll play NetGo while waiting for his laundry to finish. Before sitting on his chair, he boiled water, prepared his favorite mug in a tray with tea bag and fresh mint then he can have a long game in NetGo.
And he signed in.
Akiko was having her afternoon tea in her peaceful and beautifully arrange garden when his husband Touya Kouyo came to joined her. It's been a long time since they have a tea together like this. And she fully understood her husband's busy profession, inspite not understanding how to play Go.
Touya Meijin, being one of the best Go player was extremely busy lately due to the league tournament and conventions here and there. And this Sunday afternoon, he cancelled all of his appointment to rest and spent time with his wife and son.
"Akiko, is Akira around?" He asked, although he knew that his son should be at home. He never saw him in the study room or any other part of the house whole day.
Akiko nodded head and smiled. "Akira is here. Since yesterday, he barely left his room after Ogata-kun and Shindo-kun visited." She said, then recall something that the blonde pro gave Akira something before before he left. "Oh, I remember. Ogata-kun gave him a files. A kifu he said. Maybe Akira studying them that's why he stayed in his room."
"I see. Did he mentioned who's kifu was it?" He only received a sweet smile for an answer. It means she have no idea.
Touya Meijin slowly rose from his seat and excused himself just to check on Akira and promised to come back.
Touya Meijin softly knocked at the door few times, but there wasn't any answer. He slowly opened the door to revealed a very intense-looking Akira. His son seems playing something in his laptop. He walked hushedly not to startle the teen, whose staring in the screen with a very deep concentration.
He noticed a recreated game in the goban next to Akira's bed. Touya Meijin took a good look and easily recognized the certain game. His surmised was confirmed when he saw the book laid on the floor next the board.
He approached Akira and remained behind the teen. He saw a scattered files of a printed kifus in the table next to printer, while Akira is playing go... in the laptop?
Touya Meijin once heard about online Go and even his student Ogata convinced him to create an account. But he was never fond of new technologies and even if he creates an account, he doesn't know how to play with it.
His eyes glanced at the printed kifus then took few copies. Touya Meijin was a bit surprised to see such a game. Obviously a game between a higher dan.
The black player in the printed kifu looked familiar. He read the names printed at the top. Kisei vs. Sai. 'Kisei? I see.' He thought. So the game was between Ichiryuu-sensei and ...Sai?
His eyes widened. Isn't Sai was the ghost and incredible player in the story. Fujiwara no Sai. And undoubtedly, the game against his collegue was like Sai's game.
The man took another printed kifu without disturbing his son, who seems completely focused in playing and never noticed his presence. He sat on the bed. He glance at the goban then the other printed kifus he grabbed from Akira's table.
After a few minutes of examining and comparing the games, mostly from his memories, he came to a conclusion that Sai in the printed kifu was the same Sai in the story. No. Rather the boy in the story, Haru.
He felt a shivered run through his spine. He stood and watched his son's game. Though he may not known how to use laptop, the game that his son was playing was almost the same as the real goban. A virtual go board.
The complexity and brilliance was easily noticed throughout the board, as the game soon to approached the yose. His son may battled well against the mysterious Sai, but as he examined the places of the stones and the clusters especially at the lower part, Akira is going to lose for about a moku or two.
His son clicked and saw a black stones placed at the upper right corner. Akira is trying to defend that upper part so desperately.
The opponent seems to know Akira's latest moves and blocked his stones immediately which allowed him to gained more moku in that certain area and completely trapped Akira's stones.
Touya Meijin eyes' sharpened. Amazing. He muttered. To think that there someone out there that can made his son to be this intense towards game. Akira will never allowed him to see this hidden part of himself when they play.
Akira unknowingly and unintentionally being conservative, too wary to attack the opponent. He used to be fearless and attacked undauntedly. He's petrified, that was Touya Meijin thought. His son was obviously afraid to be totally devour by this unknown person. That is why Akira is making a very careful moves without realizing he's losing more moku by thinking that he was defending those territories.
The similiraties with Sai in the Internet and Haru in the book was easily seen by the critical eyes like him. He thought of his student Ogata. The man will surely noticed the resemblance of games of Sai in the internet and Haru. If the man already found out about this mysterious internet go player.
After all, Inoue asked him not to answer any questions from Ogata because the author of the book was willing to meet them both.
He envision of himself playing against the author once he met the mysterious person. Despite, Inoue never mentioned that Raku Shin play Go himself but he concluded that the book was a story about him, except the ghost part. But no one knows.
The games in the book was played intelligently and cannot be easily created or imitated by someone. Perhaps, Raku Shin tried to played against himself.
His former beginner-level self versus his current skill.
That's quite the possible and appropriate explanation so far since he couldn't figure out the identity of the other character in the book.
His eyes fell on his son. Obviously Akira resigned. He could see the depression on him as the teen lower his head and hearing a long, deep sigh.
"Shall we discuss the game?" Touya Meijin asked that startled the teen.
"Father!" He exclaimed, felt embarrassed at his sudden burst. He wondered since when did his father entered his room without knocking the door. Or maybe he doesn't noticed it because he's focusing his game against Sai.
When he heard Waya says that Sai challenging opponents alphabetically, he created a new account. Touya. As in letter T since Sai already had a S opponent last Friday so it means he will challenge someone with a letter T. And luckily he'd been challenged. And unluckily lose.
He printed their game. It was magnificent but he felt like he wasn't playing like the usual. "I'm scared." He blurted his thought out loud.
"Yes you are. You're afraid to play him." His father answered in honesty. "But it was really a wonderful game..."
Akira looked at his father without realizing that he's crying. "Father...he... Sai.. I can't explain why. But playing with Sai was felt like playing with him.." He looked away, taking a tissue to wipe off his tears. He's ashamed to show his father that kind of game. And crying. Yet, deep inside Akira felt he finally found what he's been longing for.
Touya Meijin was taken aback. He's speechless and don't know any comforting words to tell his son. This is the very first time Akira cried in front of him.
Him.
Even during his childhood friend's death, Akira never shed a single tear.
He hadn't witness their games together when they were a little boys. A very young boys with an amazing skills in Go. Although he heard from his wife that Akira often run off and secretly cries every after his game against the other boy.
Touya Meijin never dare to watch their games as he don't want to bother their so called playtime. The boy always spent times with his son after school, waiting for his mother to pick him up from work.
He remembered. Ogata who seems aloof, strangely fond of Akira's friend. Perhaps it was the little boy's skills. And it was the first time he'd seen Ogata laughed and proudly telling him how wonderful the games between the two boys were. And told him that the other boy was a genius and a perfect rival for his son even though Akira losses frequently.
Sadly, Akira's future rival died due to illness. It was devastating especially for Akira for not even had a chance to see the other boy for the last moment and to say goodbye. From what their heard, the mother committed suicide right after the boy's death. Truly tragic.
His wife Akiko was shocked from the news. She and the boy's mother became close friend right after the first meeting at the preschool as they shared the similar hobbies. But they didn't heard any information about the boy's father. And his wife doesn't know any other details aside from their names and address.
He gently placed his hand on Akira's shoulder and quietly left the room. His son needed more time than he'd ever thought to finally get over his deceased friend's memories.
As he close the door, he noticed the framed of comically drawn images of boys with black and blonde hair hanging in the wall. With a bit messy handwritten words and numbers at the bottom.
Akira versus Haruki. 30-35
A/N: Hello guys! I update ealier than I thought...but I might update the next chapter a bit late.
I'm kinda in the mood to write and not quite busy at work, not until next month.
I'm currently working for the latest chapter but I needed more time to reread it again. Hopefully it will satisfy your taste teehee.
Thank you for reviews, follows and favorites. Mwaahh.