It had been something that had been eating at Hikaru for the last day or so, ever since he'd received the new schedule for his next Meijin and Honinbo matches. He had still not received anything on the Kisei League and it was now the beginning of August. Will they ever get around to informing me about the League?
As if in answer to his thoughts, Hikaru suddenly heard his mother call up to him, "Hikaru, you have a letter from the Go Association! It's bigger than your normal game card too."
A jolt flew up Hikaru's spine as he leapt out of the computer chair and bolted through the door and down the stairs. This had to be it, the information on the Kisei League. Excitement and adrenaline rushing through his body as he snatched the letter from his mother, remembering a second later to thank her, Hikaru turned and tore open the letter, not even bothering to head back up to his room first. Pulling the letter out and opening it, Hikaru scanned the contents and then froze, the hair on the back of his neck starting to stand on end. A moment later a shiver ran down his spine, although to be honest, Hikaru wasn't sure whether it was one of fear or excitement. This… it was simply amazing.
###
"What! The list came? That's great! Here, lets take a look."
Waya lunged for the paper in Hikaru's hand excitedly, like a child who had just seen the new toy he'd wanted so badly in his parent's hands. Hikaru however pulled the letter away and tried to move off, but the others who had arrived already were moving over too, interested just as much as Waya was to see the breakdown of the Kisei League.
Moving around the goban now, Hikaru opened up the letter and as the group looked down at the League breakdown their eyes widened.
Group A:
1) Ogata - 6
2) Zama - 5
3) Toya - 4
4) Shindo - 3
5) Ichiryu - 2
6) Kuwabara - 1
Group B:
1) Nogi - 6
2) Serizawa - 5
3) Morishita - 4
4) Hatanaka - 3
5) Kurata - 6
Mizunuma - 1
"Whoa," Waya blurted out. "Look at the names in your Group Shindo. Talk about a nightmare list of names. Well, at least you won't be playing against Sensei."
Nodding as a bead of sweat slid down his temple, Isumi added, "Yeah, but still, I mean look, Kuwabara Honinbo right out of the gate."
Honda however had been more interested at the end of the list. "Wow, look at that, Hikaru gets to finish up the League against Akira Toya. What a way to finish, a clash of the rivals."
Hikaru nodded, he had noticed that as well when he'd first looked at the list, and it was really the best part about that list of names. Regardless of the outcomes of his other matches, he would indeed get a chance to face Akira again before the year was over, and on such a stage as this.
Along with the excitement came the doubt. Am I ready to face these names already? Did Akira feel this sort of doubt, perhaps even a little dread, at the thought of such high-ranked matches? This was what they had meant by high level experience, the ability to play such games and handle them accordingly without panicking or breaking down mentally. How had Akira managed it? Having to face the holder of the Honinbo Title was not exactly a walk in the park, but at least it was manageable. He had to forget the big picture, banish from his mind the Kisei Title at the end of this particular road, and focus on the little things, the things he could control. And that started with the first match, the only match that he could allow to matter right now. "One game at a time."
