Chapter 50: Ogata's next Move
Fujiwara was Sai!
There was a website dedicated to Sai's kifu, maintained by a Chinese player who went by the handle old man 'n' sea. Ogata had studied the site carefully: old man 'n' sea had painstakingly scraped together ten reproductions of games known to have been played by Sai during his short-lived NetGo career. Ten was a pitifully meager number compared to the actual number of games Sai was rumored to have played. The absence of so many kifu meant that reading all of the kifu together for an overview of Sai's phenomenal development was akin to watching film footage with key scenes missing: it was jerky and sporadic, with inexplicable results. Now when Ogata analyzed the kifu and compared them with the games he'd played against Fujiwara in the previous days again and again, every rest of his doubt was erased. Fujiwara was Sai.
In the last day that Ogata played Sai, he could feel a brand new fountain of energy and beauty emerge from his Go. No wonder Sensei was so desperate for a rematch with Sai. Ogata smirked, imagining the Meijin's expression when he received a phone call, informing him that while he'd been off globe- trotting, Sai had been under his nose all along. Wouldn't Sensei be so surprised to learn Sai had popped up under their noses, just a mere stone's throw away from the Go Association?
But why tell him? He wouldn't even share a little information about Sai with you, not even when you begged him in the hospital. Same with that Shindou brat. Ogata blinked in surprise at the old venom behind that sudden thought. Ogata had thought he had gotten over the resentment about being left out of the secret; he'd realized that obviously Shindou had made Sensei swear to keep a secret, and it simply wasn't in Sensei's nature to break a promise. Although Sensei could have at least made the effort to see i would be willing to play Ogata as well. Ogata had been Sensei's student longer than anyone else, after all, and Ogata had wanted to play Sai so very badly.
Rather like the position Touya Meijin was in now, apparently. According to Internet rumor, someone had overheard Sensei remark to a Korean pro that there was nothing he desired more than a rematch with Sai . Well, tough luck. Ogata felt his spine stiffen with resolve as he willed away the faint sense of disloyalty nipping at his conscience. Sensei had already had his chance to play Sai, now it was Ogata's turn. Anyway, Ogata was certain Sensei knew no details of the real person behind the net handle Sai; if Sensei had, he could have used those details to track Sai down. Touya Meijin would be of no use in helping Fujiwara overcome his amnesia.
Shindou, on the other hand... Shindou had been known to never have a formal sensei. But the rapid development of Shindou's skills was the sort that only came from constant exposure to an excellent, demanding teacher. There was little doubt in Ogata's mind that Sai's style was stamped all over Shindou's; he'd found way too many similarities while comparing their kifu. Shindou must be a treasured, trusted pupil to Sai. Perhaps, Fujiwara had exchanged personal details with Shindou: where he lived, who he lived with, his pictures, his job... But then again, maybe he was just as secretive with Shindou, and Shindou was sensitive about being prodded about Sai because he didn't want to risk a relatively fragile relationship. There was also the matter of Shindou's sudden withdrawal from the Go community for a few months, back when he'd first turned pro: had Shindou had a falling out with Sai? Or had Sai suddenly disappeared from the Internet due to circumstances beyond his control, perhaps the very same circumstances that had resulted in him floating half-conscious and amnesiac in the Ichigaya Canal?
It was possible Shindou had some answers. It was just as possible he didn't. Maybe it was best to keep Sai as his secret for sometime now. Sai had agreed to coach him for several weeks until the challenger match with Kurata. So no need to rush now. Kurata had a nice surprise coming to him.
End of the slump.
He'd rise again.
That Gosei title was going to be his again.
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Note: Credits to Ontogenesis' Desynchronization.
I've reached the 50-chapter-limit and do not really know how to upload more. It'll be a great help if somebody could tell me how...
