Sitting at his computer with a rather bored expression on his face, Hikaru waited as his online opponent thought over the position on the board.
Click.
Waya had once warned Hikaru to be wary of low time on the internet, as he had once watched a game where a player had clearly won but with only thirty seconds left on his clock his opponent had simply begun to fill in his own territory until his opponent's time expired rather than conceding victory.
Click.
He'd spent much of today going over game records of Ogata's old matches, including some of his recent title matches. He'd even spent his lunch glancing over Ogata's final match against Toya Meijin in last year's Judan Finals. He'd stopped studying about two hours ago, deciding to take a break by playing a few games online. Waya had always mentioned that strong players existed on the Internet, and he was right of course, but the problem was that a majority of them were not. Or at least, not compared to Hikaru.
Click.
If it wasn't for the lack of actually feeling the stones in his hands, many of these players could have filled in for his game tomorrow night against Akari. Koyo Toya had been right, it just wasn't the same without the actual stones between his fingers. Glancing over at his board in the corner, Hikaru smiled. There was no replacing the sensation of playing on an actual board. Waya had suggested the other day that Hikaru invest in a higher quality board, perhaps one made of kaya, now that he had this new money to spend. It was an idea of course, but his current board held so many memories; all the games that he'd played on it against Sai.
Click.
Well, he'd do one more sweep of the name list and then call it a night if Waya or someone good wasn't logged in. Games like the last one were merely frustrating, always too one-sided unless he went easy on his opponent. Two thirds of the way down the list Hikaru froze. Memories flashed through his mind as he looked at the name Akira staring back at him on the screen. Could it really be Akira… his Akira? As Hikaru began to move his mouse to highlight the name another screen suddenly popped up. A game request… from Akira. Sweat beginning to form on his brow, Hikaru took a deep breath and then exhaled. Moving his mouse over, Hikaru clicked on the Accept button and the board appeared on the screen.
Taking White as his opponent had moved immediately to take Black, Hikaru watched and waited as his opponent played the upper right star point. His mind beginning to focus on the game, Hikaru took the star point in the lower left. Now, how would his opponent respond?
Click.
Click. Click.
Click.
With each move he made Hikaru began to feel the tension and excitement slip from his body. This player wasn't Akira Toya, unless Akira was so drunk he could barely think straight. No, given the last move his opponent had just made, Hikaru doubted that even a drunk Akira would have played that poor of a move. This game was pointless, hardly worth playing.
Half an hour later Hikaru leaned back in his chair and exhaled. Finally, the player had resigned. Exiting the web browser and beginning the shut down process Hikaru rose from his seat and began to go through his bedtime routine. It was best that he get some rest.
###
"Hey Hikaru, sorry, I hope I didn't come too early, did I?"
"No, it's fine. Come on in!"
As Hikaru knelt down to begin picking up the papers and stones on the floor Akari chimed in, "Oh, let me help."
"You don't have to-"
"No, I want to." Akari interrupted. Shrugging as he returned to his cleaning duties, Hikaru caught Akari kneeling down with a smile on her face out of the corner of his eye. She sure has a nice smile. As the pair began to clean up Hikaru's mess, Akari glanced at the game being played out on the board and said, "So, is this a game of your opponent's that you're studying?"
Shaking his head, Hikaru replied, "No, it's from that book over there. Shusaku against Shuwa Honinbo, one of their classic games. I find reviewing Shusaku's games to be kind of soothing."
"I see." Looking at the board with a slightly confused expression, Akari responded, "Well the game looks pretty good, even if it's a little strange. Is Shusaku a good player?"
A vein in Hikaru's head began to throb ever so slightly as an urge to shout and scold Akari rose up in his gut, an urge that he suppressed as best he could. After all, it wasn't like Shusaku was well known to those who didn't study Go heavily. So much focus was given these days to more modern players and the latest strategies that quite often the games of long before were neglected. "Yes, Shusaku was an outstanding player. A lot of people say he was the best player of all time."
Her eyes widening at Hikaru's remark, Akari inquired, "Wow, you mean he's even better than Akira Toya?"
The vein in his head throbbing even more now, Hikaru forced out, "Yes! There are a lot of players better than Touya. Ogata, who I'm playing tomorrow, beat Akira two weeks ago!"
"Well how should I know how good everyone is? I've only met three pro players before, you, Toya, and Shirakawa-sensei, and you always said you were chasing after Toya so I figured he was one of the best! You don't have to be so mean about it."
Sighing as he finished putting the stones away and turned to clear the board, Hikaru replied, "I'm sorry, you're right. Maybe I am a little high strung with my match being tomorrow and all. "
Nodding with a smile, Akari moved to sit before the board and said, "So, how many stones should I take?"
Finishing clearing the board, Hikaru said, "However many you want. I don't mind."
Placing her hand to her lip nervously, Akari asked, "Hmm, do you think that seven stones is enough for me?"
Waving her off quickly before he upset her, Hikaru answered, "No no, we can try seven stones. We have plenty of time so if that's not enough we can raise it after."
"Onegaishima!"
Several moments passed by in silence as Hikaru waited for Akari's reply when suddenly she rose up from her seat. Looking up confused, dread began to fill Hikaru. She's not giving up already is she?
As Akari got to her feet though she said, "I'm sorry Hikaru, I'll be right back. I need to use the bathroom."
Breathing in relief, Hikaru nodded and stood up as well as he watched Akari turn and exit the room. As he took a seat down on his bed Hikaru suddenly became aware of a voice downstairs. His mother couldn't have been done with dinner already could she? Listening in Hikaru made out, "Why hello Asumi, how nice to see you again. If you're looking for Hikaru he's up in his room."
Nase, what was she doing here? She'd never come over after a Pro Exam game, always calling him up to inform him of the results. As he heard the sound of feet on the steps, Hikaru had to wonder what on Earth was wrong.
Before he could ponder it though the footsteps ended and in his doorway stood Nase, her face smiling as she looked upon him. His brow furrowing as she took a step into the room, Hikaru said, "Nase… what are you doing here? Did something happen?"
Her smile broadening as emotion began to sweep over her, Nase answered, "I can't stay very long; I have to get home. I just wanted to tell you in person though that… I did it, I passed!"
His expression morphing into one of delight and pride, Hikaru replied, "You did? Wow, congratulations Nase, I knew you could do it I-"
Then suddenly before Hikaru could react Nase crossed the distance between them and tackled him back onto the bed, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly as she continued to cry. "Thank you Hikaru… thank you. It's all because of you, I couldn't have done it without you!" Her weight on top of his body only seemed to increase as she pulled him tighter, her tears beginning to mesh against his cheek. "I kept believing in what you'd told me over and over, and I tried so hard and now because of everything you did for me I passed, I'm going to be a pro player!"
Smiling contently as he felt the power of her emotions just pouring out, Hikaru nodded his head slightly and reach around to return her embrace. She'd done so well, she deserved this moment.
Then, as her emotions surged once more Nase reached down, grabbed Hikaru by his cheeks and pulled his head up as she bent down slightly only to feel her emotions soar even higher as their lips met. Logic and reason seemed to vanish as she continued to kiss him passionately, pouring all of her emotions into it as a completely shocked Hikaru's eyes opened wide, completely overwhelmed by what was happening.
To Nase, eternity seemed to pass as their lips continued to press against one another, her mind not really caring at the moment what this meant or how Hikaru might react afterwards. All that her heart and mind cared about right that moment was that their lips were one.
A sudden noise from behind them however brought Nase's mind back into reality as she finally released Hikaru's lips from her own, turning her head around to see what it had been. As she did so Nase's eyes widened in shock as standing in the doorway was an equally shocked, and not to mention terrified, Akari.
