Here We Go (Again)
Chapter 11: Touya-Meijin Plays Favorites
...
During his past lifetime as a go professional, Hikaru had worn a lot of suits. A whole lot of suits. Just suits. Always suits. And actually—now that he had a second lifetime to think about it—Hikaru hated suits.
Well, since he was officially a go professional again in this life, Hikaru decided that he would not be wearing suits. He would scream if he had to tie one more tie. Because if he had wanted to only tie ties and wear suits, he would have just become a salaryman like his dad in the first place.
"I do believe that you have made the most suitable choice, Hikaru," Sai twittered away happily as the pair of them stepped through the automatic doors of the Go Institute. "Modern fashions are so utterly foreign. I commend you on your choice to wear kimono. An excellent choice from a young Japanese nobleman such as yourself."
And at this, Hikaru could only roll his eyes. "Sai, I have no idea why you keep referring to me as a nobleman. I wasn't born into an aristocratic family like you. I'm not even rich."
"Hikaru, aristocracy is not contingent upon the accumulation of wealth," Sai replied from behind his fan. "You have received a nobleman's education from myself. And as I have previously stated many times already, I consider you my heir in the truest of forms. As such, you are a nobleman."
Hikaru would roll his eyes again, but he was still a little floored every time Sai so easily declared that he considered Hikaru to be his heir. The first time, Hikaru had literally fallen to the floor. (And thankfully had been an embarrassment to only Sai, as Sai had had the foresight to tell Hikaru in the privacy of Hikaru's bedroom.) (Hikaru had decided long ago he was too old to feel things like embarrassment.)
Their conversation would have to continue another time. Both Hikaru and Sai fell silent as they stepped into the Room of Profound Darkness where his introduction game would be played. This was to be Hikaru's formal debut in the professional world, even though his first official game wouldn't be until next month, after all of the introductory games had been played.
"Congratulations on your becoming a professional, Shindo-pro," Touya-Meijin greeted cordially.
And then Touya-Meijin looked curiously at Hikaru's choice of attire. Hikaru just grinned back at him. Of all people, Touya-Meijin would understand the benefits of not wearing a suit and wearing kimono instead.
"Heya, Touya-Meijin!" Hikaru greeted cheerily before holding his arms out and performing a spin to show off his outfit. "What do you think?"
Just the barest hint of a smile graced Touya-Meijin's expression before being smoothed back to neutrality. "An impressive choice, Shindo-kun. I do not believe I have ever seen any of your generation choose to wear formal kimono before."
"Well, I wanted to wear Heian-style kimono, but they told me that would have to be specially tailored," Hikaru announced as he bounced the rest of the way into the room. "The hat alone would take a few weeks since I insisted it be as authentic as possible!"
"I see," Touya-Meijin remarked in a calm way that betrayed that he had no idea what to say to that.
Today, Hikaru's kimono was in the Meiji-style, mostly-black with black-and-white-striped hakama pants and a black haori overcoat. Hikaru's favorite part was the fuzzy white ball that hung over his stomach, which he forgot the name of.
And for an extra-special touch, Sai had insisted that Hikaru have his own personal crest screen-printed onto the haori on either side of his chest. No one would know Sai's personal crest, as it had died with Sai back in the Heian. And Hikaru had never known that Sai had even had a personal crest the first time around.
Despite this, Hikaru puffed out his chest to show it off anyway. The circular emblem was small, just large enough to fit the circle of his thumb and index finger. And it was a simple emblem: just a white circle surrounded by a black circle. So of course Hikaru had accused Sai of using go pieces to make his own personal emblem. And Sai had argued that it was actually the full moon in the night sky, inspired by some ancient poem about waiting in moonlight as wisteria bloomed. (Hikaru was still skeptical.) But either way, because of its simplicity, no one had really questioned it.
"Will your mentor be joining us?" Touya-Meijin questioned, glancing at Hikaru's clear camera-glasses.
"Yep! I got the okay from the Institute," Hikaru replied with a thumbs up. "It's only recording visual. I don't have the microphone."
"It is unfortunate that your mentor cannot attend this game himself," Touya-Meijin remarked. "I'm sure he would be very proud of you."
"Oh, he is. Too much, probably. But don't worry, Sai is here!" Hikaru replied cheerily, grinning at Touya-Meijin, who glanced again at Hikaru's camera-glasses.
"Indeed I am," Sai demurred, unheard, from Hikaru's side.
Touya-Meijin only nodded. Even he knew that it was best to just accept whatever Hikaru was saying and move on with the conversation.
"Akira expressed his disappointment that he also could not attend today. It is unfortunate that our game date fell on a school day."
"Oh yeah, he told me over LINE that he had a math test or something today," said Hikaru as he whipped out his phone from out of nowhere to check his messages. The sight completely clashed with the style of the room and his outfit since he kept his phone in a bulky (but new) bright yellow Pikachu case. This one had a little Pikachu charm dangling from it, which looked like Pikachu was running around using Agility.
"Yep. It was a math test," Hikaru confirmed. "And he said that he would've skipped school today to come, but he's too afraid of his mom to try."
"Ahh, yes," Touya-Meijin intoned, not at all surprised by the announcement that his only son had been considering truancy today. "Akiko can be quite fearsome."
"I told him not to do it. If my mom ever heard that I encouraged my friend to skip school, she would probably make me attend double school or something," Hikaru said with a shudder. "Since it's my fault, I'd have to make up for Akira's school hours for him."
Touya-Meijin smiled indulgently at the thought. "That is actually quite clever."
"Don't tell Akira's okaasan!"
"I will not promise that, Shindo-kun."
The officials for the game finally arrived then, interrupting Hikaru's pouting. The group of them exchanged greetings (with more showing off on Hikaru's part). And soon enough, Hikaru and Touya-Meijin were pushed off to the side as the room was set up to Institute standards.
"How come you're playing my Introduction Game but you didn't play Akira's?" Hikaru asked as they stood around and let the officials do their job. (Go players always just got in the way, according to the uptight go officiants.)
Touya-Meijin raised a single brow at the question. "That would be a show of favoritism. Akira is my son. And we have no need to play against each other in an official game when we already frequently play go together within our home."
"Well, yeah!" replied Hikaru. "But I'm your son's friend. Isn't that favoritism?"
Touya-Meijin actually took a moment to think over this.
"I believe it is not. Despite yours and Akira's friendship, I have never played go with you before, Shindo-kun. And you do not take part in my study group, and have never been to my home. Though admittedly, I volunteered to play this game because I was curious."
"Of what?" Hikaru pointed at his face. "Of me?"
"Of your play-style," Touya-Meijin answered easily, apparently unphased by Hikaru's ridiculousness. "I have seen recreations of your games with Akira when he chooses to study them at home. I had always believed Akira to be far advanced of his peers, but you have shown me that I was wrong."
"I'm just some random kid off the street that showed up at your go salon." Hikaru waved his hand dismissively at the memory.
"And that is what makes you remarkable, Shindo-kun," Touya-Meijin told him, levelling a curious stare upon Hikaru. "Though unlikely, I cannot help but wonder if perhaps there are other children out there with such skill as yours, yet undiscovered by us in the go world."
Hikaru grinned up at him. There probably wasn't, but if this had happened to Hikaru, he would have wondered the exact same thing.
"I have always wondered," Touya-Meijin looked off into some unknown distance, his expression almost wistful, "if perhaps the confines of the professional world are too narrow. There must be great players in the world who have never entered the professional ranks. But because I am a professional go player, I would never meet them upon the goban."
"It's the pursuit of the game that matters to true players, not titles or accolades," Hikaru said in understanding. "My go tutor told me that when he began teaching me."
Touya-Meijin nodded, "Your mentor is right, Shindo-kun."
"Rightly so," Sai said from Hikaru's side. "I did not learn go for any recognition. And even when I was the Emperor's go instructor, I had no need for title. We must play simply in pursuit of the game in order to obtain fulfillment."
Hikaru mentally rolled his eyes at Sai's usual follow-up to this particular conversation. Sai's views on the matter were very strong.
"Hey, Touya-Meijin, I get an advantage in our game, don't I?"
Touya-Meijin looked at Hikaru in surprise, feeling a warning in those words but not able to pinpoint the danger. "That is correct, Shindo-kun. It would hardly be an interesting game otherwise."
Rather than insulted, Hikaru's grin widened with poorly-hidden glee.
"Gee, that's great. Wouldn't want to crush the hopes and dreams of a new pro, after all. You know, since you have multiple titles and everything!" Hikaru laughed breezily, completely fake.
"…Indeed," Touya-Meijin replied cautiously.
"Say, Touya-Meijin," Hikaru leaned forward conspiringly, "since I'm a nobody and all, let's make a bet." And Touya-Meijin frowned, but Hikaru ignored it and kept talking,
"If I win this game, you play a game with my go tutor. His name is Sai, the greatest go player to have ever lived."
Touya-Meijin continued frowning. "I do not believe that would be wholly appropriate, Shindo-kun."
"We can do it over NetGo," Hikaru said brightly, waving his hands in emphasis. "No problems there. Akira can teach you how."
Touya-Meijin frowned harder. "I am aware of NetGo, Shindo-kun. I would not need Akira's help."
"Cool! Then we're all set. If I win, you play a game with Sai," Hikaru decided with a beaming smile. "But I have to warn you: Sai will win. He's the greatest player to have ever lived."
"I have not agreed to anything, Shindo-kun," Touya-Meijin informed him.
Hikaru waved his hand at this dismissively. "Well, you'll change your mind after we play our game."
Touya-Meijin raised another brow at him in surprise. "I believe you said that you would have to win this game for me to play a game against your mentor."
Hikaru practically cackled. "With as much of an advantage as you're giving me, I'll definitely win. I was taught by the greatest player of all time, after all. And once you've played against me, you'll be dying to play against Sai!"
Touya-Meijin was slightly disturbed by the absolute confidence Hikaru had in his words.
"We will see."
"Awesome," Hikaru said to himself.
Well, actually he was saying this to Sai but no one could see him.
Sai frowned disapprovingly at Hikaru. "Hikaru! I am most displeased. A young nobleman such as yourself should not lower yourself to such unbefitting practices as gambling!"
Hikaru just winked at him.
"You'll definitely thank me later for this, Sai."
Sai wouldn't. (No matter how thrilling the game against Touya-Meijin.)
…
Author's Note: Since I've moved the story up by a couple of decades, Touya-Meijin in my story is tech-literate. Not, like, a lot. But enough that he thought it was a novelty to make a NetGo account on his iPad or whatever.
2020.09.22 Happy First Day of Autumn!