The Never-ending Road: Chapter 25 – Cheek Reddening Realization
By Leitbur
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It was hard, not being able to sit down with his friend and talk. Normally it was the natural thing when the two were playing on the same day. In fact, this was the first time that the two couldn't really have lunch together. Sure, they'd played games against one another, both in the Pro Exam and as pros, but even then having lunch together was permissible. Not now though, with Hikaru being a player in the Kisei League and he, Waya, being an observer to the game, not to mention the game recorder. Etiquette wouldn't allow it; too likely an accusation or suggestion of impropriety would emerge. Quite simply, it wasn't done.
Just as bad though, that left Waya with no one really to sit down with and enjoy his lunch. Thursday wasn't his usual day to play, in fact he'd only played on a Thursday once before, his game against Gokiso. He'd been so nervous that day, unsure of what he would face, but then Hikaru and Saeki had shown up to give him encouragement. Whether that had been the real effect or if he'd simply gotten into his game, Waya had somehow pulled out a win. So now he was advancing to the next round of the Tengen 2nd Preliminary, and he'd face another high Dan. It seemed unlikely that lightning would strike twice though, unless Kamimaezu 7 – Dan wasn't playing his best Go that day.
Taking his ordered in lunch in hand, Waya took one last glimpse of Hikaru sitting alone at his table and then turned to leave. He'd just go have lunch outside where there weren't any pros to make him feel intimidated by his surroundings. It was bad enough recording the Kisei League match, even if Hikaru's presence made that job somewhat easier. As he reached the edge of the room however a familiar voice called out to him from behind. As he turned, Waya found his body tensing up as Morishita approached him.
Waiting nervously as his master continued to get closer, Waya struggled to think of something to say, but his mind was currently blank. Reaching Waya, Morishita continued moving, passing by his young student. Relaxing slightly as Morishita passed him, Waya then cringed as he heard his master's voice again. "Waya, come have lunch with me."
Nodding, Waya answered, "Yes Sensei." Taking a deep breath, Waya then turned and followed Morishita out of the room.
Skipping the elevator and instead taking the stairway, Waya followed behind his master as they made their way down to the second floor, then over to one of the tables available. Taking a seat, Morishita waited until Waya had done the same and then said, "So Waya, what do you think of Shindo's game so far?"
Inhaling as he began to unwrap his lunch, Waya took a moment to think and then said, "It's a very good game. Both players are top notch."
His face remaining calm and stoic, Morishita replied, "Is that really what you think Waya?"
Looking down at the table now, Waya rested his cheek on his palm and exhaling slightly began to give it some thought. What did he really think? His previous answer, it had been rather automatic, born out of a desire not to insult either player. And yet… "I guess I'm having a hard time seeing what Shindo is thinking. Some of his moves, they seem childish, like he's not even giving them much thought. Whenever I play him Shindo always seems so collected and in control. Plus…"
"Yes?" Morishita interjected, "Plus what?"
Wavering a moment, Waya then continued, "Plus Hikaru always seems to have a slight glint in his eyes when we play, like its fun for him."
Smiling now and nodding, Morishita's expression lightened as he said, "I see you do understand Shindo then. Yes, Shindo seems to be playing quite differently from usual, but the game is still close. What do you make of that?"
Sighing as he thought it over in his head, Waya began to shake his head slightly and then answered, "I guess it means Hikaru is either really nervous or he's got some sort of strategy. He's really good at reading deeply into the game, setting up traps and attacks that seem to come from nowhere. I guess that must be what he's trying now, but I can't see it, no matter how hard I try. I have to say though, that diagonal he played, the one that led to the ponnuki for Ichiyru, it looked very familiar to me."
Nodding again, Morishita replied, "Does it now? Well, I'd be surprised if you could read that deeply into the game without actually being the one playing it. As much as I desire all of those who study under me to do well, I must admit that Shindo is different, he's a different kind of player from us all together. Koyo was the same back when we both became pros. He has the strength and talent in him to climb to the top of this world and beyond." Leveling his eyes on his student now, Mosrishita added, "And so do you Waya, you have that same strength, even if it might take you a little longer to get there."
Looking up surprised at his teacher, Waya replied, "Sensei? No, I'm not… Shindo and I are not the same that way. I know I have more to do, farther to climb, but Shindo is…"
"Is special? Perhaps he is, and the Go world may see him for the prodigy he is, and the player he will become, but when you've been around as long as I have, you learn that pure raw talent isn't the only thing that can allow you to grow and climb. If everything were measured like that, then I never would have defeated Shindo earlier this year. It's not a matter of experience either, in the end anyway. Shindo… he is committed to climbing, to gaining more and more strength. Akira Toya has that same desire; it was in his eyes when I defeated him in the Judan Preliminary back in July. A Go player must have confidence, an absolute belief in his ability to overcome the wall of his opponent. That confidence has been lacking in you lately Waya."
Lowering his head again, Waya responded, "Sensei, I'm sorry I-"
"It is unlike you," Morishita continued. "Your confidence was much greater after you passed the Pro Exam. The reality of the pro world perhaps has dulled your appetite. It doesn't matter though, each player grows at his own pace, in his own time. You, Waya, are still growing, gaining strength. Do not waver Waya. Know that I am very proud of you, my good little student. You will gain strength and grow, and perhaps one day if you work hard enough, you will join your friend at the level he now plays in."
Sniffing away tears from his eyes, Waya nodded. Yes, he had doubted himself lately. Had it shown through that poorly that Morishita had sensed it? Yes, surely his master would have been able to see it. He was right too, he wasn't done growing, and even if Hikaru's advance seemed daunting, his back so far away so soon out of the gates of their pro careers, he could not stop to admire him. He had chosen to walk this path, this road without end, and walk it he must.
"Thank you Sensei."
Nodding, Morishita then added, "Now Waya, about your next Tengen match. I expect you to defeat Kamimaezu 7 – Dan. You are my student after all, so nothing less can be expected. I look forward to seeing you emerge victorious." Besides, I already bet Koyo that you would win when I visited his home the other day.
Smiling brightly, trying to hide the fact that he was now feeling the all too common pressure that his master placed on him, Waya nodded. "Yes Sensei, I'm looking forward to the match too."
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Ka-Chi.
There, soon he'd be able to invade that corner and capture the territory needed to gain victory. His stones felt a bit thick, but that was fine, he was still in just fine position. The boy had begun to attack aggressively now out of the break, as if he'd found his second wind. While it might have worried a lesser player, Ichiryu was not worried in the slightest. Hikaru seemed to be quieting down again, as if waiting for something to happen. Well, he'd just have to show him then.
Ka-Chi.
Thinking back to his conversation last Thursday with Kuwabara, Ichiryu couldn't help but laugh to himself. It hadn't been that long of a conversation, just a chance meeting in the lobby before each of their respective matches, his being the Final Preliminary to get back into the Honinbo League. After a moment or two on the possibility of the two facing each other for the Honinbo title, Kuwabara had mentioned this match, as if as an afterthought. Ichiryu had known better of course, the wily old man no doubt had wanted to talk about the Kisei match all along.
Ka-Chi.
His words though on this boy, cryptic yet filled with warning. He'd spoken with conviction and ire, offering that he be on guard as his slumping ways might leave him vulnerable to this young player. Having laughed it off some, thanking his colleague for the sound advice, Kuwabara had said something truly strange. 'If you aren't careful to read ahead against that boy then you'll likely be dead by the time you see it coming.'
Ka-Chi.
Glancing up at his opponent for a moment, Ichiryi then returned his eyes to the board, hiding his face behind his fan. Who had Kuwabara thought he was? He was a former Kisei; of course he would read ahead. Not that it was all that needed against this boy, he'd been making mistake after mistake. True he was still close in the point race due to his attacks, picking up little points here and there. Still, he would lose once the left side fell, and that ponnuki he'd given him in the center had certainly helped as well. That had likely been the biggest mistake of the day. No, this boy, though talented in his own right, was not at the level to stay in this league long. Kuwabara must have been trying to get under his skin so that he wouldn't be the only player to lose to this boy.
Ka-Chi.
Now Akira Toya, he was a worthy adversary; the bane of Ichiryu's attempts at breaking his slump. Akira, his play was grounded and powerful, so much like his father. While he might not have gained his father's level of play yet, he was certainly good enough to play with the best on his good days. In a few more years he'd likely be threatening for a title himself, making it important to smack him around now while he still could, even if Ichiryu was struggling to figure out just how at the moment.
Ka-Chi.
Heh, this would be easy enough. It was a bit forceful, but he'd be able to build a pair of eyes with this shape. And now that Hikaru had allowed it he'd…
Ka-Chi.
Ichiryu had been reaching for his teacup when Hikaru's move came down. Having turned to take notice of the move, there was a sudden noise as the teacup dropped from Ichiryu's hand, his entire attention returned to the board. A cut there? At first glance it hadn't made sense, but then he'd begun to read ahead and then… It just couldn't be possible. That had been a mistake, it had to be, and yet… the ponnuki, who gave their opponent a ponnuki in the center of the board like that just to…
Raising his eyes, anger filling his quickly reddening face, Ichiryu stared at his opponent whose eyes were scanning the board unconcerned, as if that move had been just like any other. But it hadn't been just any move. Had he planned it from all the way back then? No, there was no way a boy this young, this green, could have seen this far ahead. That would be… exactly what Kuwabara had warned him about, that this boy could read ahead with amazing skill. No, it couldn't have been that, it had to be luck, or an opportunity gained only now. After all, that move would have required that he himself not see it coming, that he…
Gasping as his face reddened even deeper, Ichiryu's eyes returned to the board. He hadn't acted on the move, he hadn't tried to read ahead with it, play out the continuation. He'd seen the chance to gain the ponnuki and jumped on it. He had seen it as just a mistake from a young pro, not for what it was, and it had cost him. The center of the board was going to go Hikaru's way even with the ponnuki protected at the moment. He wouldn't be able to connect as he had wanted, and with those stones from the previous mistake present at that location… he would be hard pressed to turn the ponnuki into a pair of eyes. He'd been set up there too just moments ago when Hikaru had forced him to create those two eyes on the left. It had allowed Hikaru to place his own stones between the two groups, and now with this cut…
Thinking back now to all the other moves that had been made previously, the mistakes and persistent attacks on areas that were not as important as others, Ichiryu began to see through them to their purpose. While they had all definitely been mistakes, not one of them had been a devastating mistake, but rather small, manageable ones. They only surrendered a point here, a point there, at least in the long run. That was why the point total had remained close despite his own superior play. It had never occurred to him that a player green enough to make those types of mistakes would not have kept up this long, at least not normally. What those moves had done though was to bring Ichiryu closer to a conclusion on the level of talent for his opponent, realizing his strength over him.
It didn't seem possible, and yet it was right there in front of him. He'd been coaxed into thinking that his opponent was weak, led on only to be blindsided by this. Now the truth was revealed; Hikaru Shindo was on the same level as Akira Toya. Worse still, though it was a narrow one, Hikaru now held the lead. The group on the upper part of the board was left floating now, and if he lost it then the point total would widen even more. He'd have to find a way to expand the eye space, if that would even be possible. How could he have failed to notice this? If he couldn't connect through the center then he'd need to form eye pairs to save them, or else the game would be over shortly. This was very bad, though the current point total didn't indicate it yet, Hikaru was actually much further ahead. If he wanted to change that, he'd have to focus now and change his plans for everything. This was not going to be easy.
Ka-Chi.
Stones began to hit the board, time taken on both sides as they played it out, searching to play the correct move. As it continued on, Morishita watched on with intense interest. This was a completely different Hikaru from the one he had faced back in January. That Hikaru had been sharp and confident, but had not been prepared for the brutality of the competitive atmosphere. He'd struggled, allowed the moment to get to him, and faltered.
This Hikaru though, he had become the very monster that Morishita himself had shown him back in that game. No, in some ways, he was worse. Ichiryu had made the mistake of misjudging his opponent's skill, even if it wasn't unexpected given his lack of experience with this particular player. Yes, had he not played against him so many times before, Morishita would have likely taken Hikaru somewhat lightly too. Despite his superb skill, defeating Kuwabara in any tournament save the Honinbo was not exactly seen as daunting by a top pro, the wily old man never truly bringing his top form game to anything save his precious Honinbo title's defense.
Even if credit for that victory had been given, to completely comprehend Hikaru's strength and ability from just one game like that was impossible. It was like in a baseball game, where a pitcher used his second best pitch to throw off the opposing batter who was expecting the best pitch. In the first match against Kuwabara, Hikaru had shown off his ability to create out of nothing when he'd played that brilliant move. There was no doubt in Morishita's mind that Hikaru's creativity was his best pitch. That ability though, when focused on, caused an opponent to forget his next best pitch, his ability to read deeply into the game.
There was no way that Ichiryu could have been prepared for Hikaru's second pitch unless he'd spent more time observing his games than he likely had done. It was far more likely that he'd simply recreated the match against Kuwabara and seen a nervous young player struggle to regain his composure. That, combined with the rather interesting trap that Hikaru had painstakingly set, had been Ichiryu's undoing.
The situation on the board, it was quite frustrating. Having to change strategies mid game was a true headache, and while Ichiryu squirmed to save his floating groups, attempting to gain eye space, keep the game from blowing wide open, Hikaru was capitalizing on it, attacking Ichiryu's position all across the board. That was even more frustrating. Trying to change strategies and save his groups in the upper portion of the board along with his central and lower right positions while simultaneously trying to deflect multiple attacks directed throughout the board… it was truly vexing.
The fact that Ichiryu had been able to keep it up this long was certainly commendable too, but he was desperate now, panicking in an attempt to restore the game he had thought he'd won. It would have been far better if he had sacrificed part of his position in order to attack the weak points left over from Hikaru's previous mistakes. It would have at least kept Hikaru from attacking. Worse still, Hikaru was completely in control of sente now, dictating the board.
Glancing over to where Akira Toya sat watching with eyes that were nearly as intense as his rival's were at the moment, Morishita smiled. Those two, they were so similar. He hadn't truly seen that until after he'd played Akira in the Judan 2nd Preliminary. That, plus having heard about the intensity displayed by the two at the Young Lions Tournament, it was now so painfully obvious. All the struggles Hikaru had gone through, all the effort and sweat, all to defeat this young boy. At the time he'd admired Hikaru as someone desiring to see Toya and those in his group fall, but after playing Akira, he'd realized the truth. The entire time that Hikaru had been chasing Akira, Akira had likewise been chasing Hikaru, chasing the player he knew that Hikaru would one day become. It had been there in his eyes, the fire to grow and surpass any obstacle, refusing to allow Hikaru to catch him.
Akira had to know it by now, he had to know that Hikaru had all but caught up to him. All that really remained was for Hikaru to defeat him in battle, to overcome that last hurdle and stand next to him, side by side on the eternal road of Go that they both walked. Each of their skills, so different yet complimentary, able to learn so much from the other if they'd only allow it. Chuckling to himself, Morishita reflected a moment before returning his eyes to the game. Hikaru had most certainly chosen his rival well.
Shffft.
Turning his attention to the source of the noise, Morishita then rolled his eyes in amusement and mock contempt. Opening his fan like that at this stage of the fight, he certainly was confident in himself. If anything, that might have been Hikaru's one weak point, his brash and often reckless attitude. It was a symbol of pride for him, the knowledge of facing great players. While other players counted the their number of victories, Hikaru kept score not by how many games he had won, but rather by who he had defeated. Placing the names of big name players on his belt pushed him onward, and if he wasn't careful then one day it was going to cost him.
Then again, glancing at Ichiryu who now had a vein on his forehead throbbing as he scowled at Hikaru's brazen taunt, in this case such a ploy might well be very effective.
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Bursting out through the entrance to the game room and colliding with a hapless young pro who happened to be walking through the hallway at that moment, a furiously steaming bald figure clamored down the hallway, trying his best to avoid being seen by anyone else and failing poorly at it. As eyes turned to cast their gaze on the fast moving figure as he made a dash into the elevator, another figure emerged from the room.
Looking down the hallway where Ichiryu had run, Serizawa recalled another scene much like it. That scene had occurred after Ichiryu's first defeat at the hands of Akira Toya. The two games had been similar in that the difference in the game had been decided by a match of reading ahead. At that time Akira Toya had seen beyond Ichiryu, and today it had been Hikaru Shindo who had done it. It must have been difficult, falling at the hands of two young pros like that, back to back no less. Not to mention losing by only two and a half points.
When Ichiryu had lost that first match to Akira in the Honinbo League Serizawa had thought it was proof that a strong new pro was moving up. Yet at that time he had seen Akira Toya as a solitary force, a single challenger coming into his own even as his father exited the Go world.
Turning to look back into the room now as the others moved to begin analyzing the game, Serizawa knew that he had been wrong. Akira Toya had just been the beginning, a herald announcing the arrival of the next great generation of player. If Ichiyru, Kuwabara, Nogi, and those like them represented one generation, and Ogata, Hatanaka, Kurata and himself represented another; then Akira Toya and Hikaru Shindo were the next generation after that.
There were other young pros that had been making some rumblings in the lower ranks, but these two, they were the main core around which all other players like them would rally. So young and yet so talented. Things were certainly going to get harder from now on with these two around, not merely nipping at the heels of the top players, but cutting them down some. If he wasn't careful these two would gain a title before he did.
As he moved to join the rest of the players in the room in their discussion, Serizawa began to wonder, was this the beginning of a wave that would soon rise to topple the entire Go world?
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Author's Notes:
Yep, it's over. With that the second match has ended and Hikaru is the winner. Hopefully the long wait wasn't too bad. I think I may be able to get the next one out a little sooner, but we'll just have to see. For those of you who are wondering just how strong this makes Hikaru I suggest you not think him as being super strong just yet. So far he's defeated a player who rarely tries very much and a player who's slumping. My suggestion is that you wait for a true test, one that might be coming in the form of Ogata Judan, or, depending on the outcome, by then it could be Ogata Meijin. I'll let you speculate on the outcome of that series of matches for awhile.
As some of you may have noticed this match was based somewhat off the match Hikaru played against Hon Suyon in Volume 9, Chapters 74-76 of the manga (Episodes 35-36 in the anime). I found the game record that the match was based on and used it to help smooth out a few of the discrepancies. While the moves in the beginning are somewhat different the ponnuki mistake and several other aspects were taken from that game. This is not entirely copying since it was shown in the Ochi match that Hikaru will try similar tactics, even if that time it didn't work. For note, the game was based off a match between two Korean 1 –Dan pros, Yun Yeong-seon and Yi Cheong-weon. This may not be the last time I base a match off an actual pro game (in fact I think it quite likely).
Terms:
Floating Group: Basically this is either a stone or group of stones that have been cut off, especially from the side of the board. As the name suggests, the stones seem to float there, having little strength on their own. Given the multitude of possibilities in this though, it's actually quite hard to define.
With so few terms this chapter, how about a few questions. I don't think that the chapters are getting shorter, in fact I've had some rather long ones recently. What may leave you to draw this conclusion is that my Author's Notes have gotten a little longer, and I've mentioned that a couple chapters lately are shorter. Both Chapters 22 and 23 though were quite long. Don't fret much on it though, I make sure that the chapter is long enough to get through what I want to do in that chapter.
So why so short you ask? Well Chapter 24 was short because I didn't want to take the chapter beyond the lunch break as that would start to give more of an idea as to Hikaru's plan. Not just that, but I wanted to experiment a little with where in a game I start writing the match. For the previous two big games (Hagiwara and Kuwabara) I've had Hikaru arrive and sit down waiting for the match to start, and I thought we needed something a little different. Thus I was limited by my own constraints on how long it would be. That, plus making it longer would likely require long monologues from myself that were not prudent or right for this chapter, and I try to put information where it correctly belongs.
Huge twists within a story line? Well I suppose I'm thorough and detailed enough to do that. Of course if I were to do that I'd probably make it far more subtle. I will say that I do use a lot of foreshadowing, but I keep it on the side so it's not as obvious. I'm sure some of you who have read this multiple times have already spotted a few instances of this. It will probably be more obvious though.
How many chapters will I write in total? Well I assume this is for this story and not the side stories as well. I know before I mentioned 40 chapters, but that was a rather conservative number, and had been made before I'd completely worked out all the story arcs. My guess is that, barring dividing the story into the current one and a sequel, we're probably talking about 100+ chapters at this rate. Unless of course something drastic occurs and I don't get to finish this (knocks on wood).
There will be a little break between now and Hikaru's next match against Ogata, mainly due to Ogata's busy schedule in playing for the Meijin Title. That, plus as I've suggested on the site with the polls, the next feature match will not involve Hikaru. That match will be Akira vs. Ogata, so all of you Akira fans rejoice. That's still a chapter or two away though.
Wow, so many reviews again. I'm truly honored. Arigoto Gozaimasu. Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts and questions, so keep them coming. R&R.