As they launched another browser to view the game in progress, Hikaru held his breath. Although he knew that the chance of the player being the actual Sai was slim to none, he still prayed at the back of his mind.
A quick glance of the goban told them that black was really strong, but so was white. Before they could further investigate the game, white resigned, leaving the victory to Sai.
"So was that Sai?" Isumi asked. Although he was not a big fan of Sai, he couldn't help but was affected by the anxiety of his pro friends.
"Couldn't tell," Waya admitted. "We didn't even have a chance to see him make a move."
Hikaru couldn't tell either, because it did seem a lot like a game Sai would end up with. If anyone could distinguish the Go Sai played from others, it would be him. After all, he had watched and played all of Sai's games in this Era. Not to mention the number of Shuusaku's kifu he had studied in the past two years.
Hikaru suddenly shoved Waya away and seated himself. "I'm gonna play him," he announced.
"No way! I am!" Waya protested, trying to push his blond friend off the chair, but stopped as he saw the determined expression on Hikaru's face. He noticed that he had this desperate look in his eyes. Waya stared at him, confused.
"Looks like we got a bigger Sai fan than you, Waya," Nase stated, noticing Hikaru's face as well.
When Waya finally gave up, Hikaru quickly re-logged in as 'Hikaru' and requested a game with Sai.
"How unoriginal," Waya mumbled at Hikaru's screen name.
Hikaru recalled the times when he had played Internet Go for Sai. Once they had finished a game, they would receive at least 30 requests from all over the world, asking for a game, and Hikaru would just click "Decline" repeatedly until they saw someone with a name that sounded either interesting or like a good player. He would bet the same thing was happening with this Sai. 'With this many people requesting, if he is the real Sai, he would accept my challenge', Hikaru thought. And he did.
"He accepted your challenge!" Nase cheered, unable to hide her excitement. Hikaru felt his muscles tensed up, while his hope raised. 'Could it really be Sai? If it is, this would be the first time playing him again in two years! I want to show him my improvement. I want to show him. I want to talk to him.'
With the thought, Hikaru typed a message to Sai: Sai!! It's me, Hikaru!
Hikaru's friends looked at him questionably. Did he know Sai? Hikaru didn't notice the reaction of his friends. He didn't care.
Sai replied, Hikaru.
A droplet of tear rolled down Hikaru's cheek. 'Sai?'
"It's not Sai," Waya said coolly as if he heard his thoughts. Hikaru turned to look at him immediately. 'How can he be so sure?'
"Sai never answers to anyone," his friend once again read his mind.
"That was because he doesn't know English!" Hikaru yelled back. "But he would if someone nearby could translate for him."
Waya stared at the outraged Hikaru. Realizing what he had just said, he quickly returned his attention to the game and made his first move. However, Waya's stare did not leave Hikaru. 'How does he know this?' Remembering how he had once thought Sai was related to Hikaru, but his friend had denied with a story. He had believed him back then, but now had second thoughts from the way Hikaru had reacted.
"Didn't you say Sai replied to you, Waya?" Isumi asked, interrupting his thoughts.
He did. I'm strong, ain't I? Waya had thought that it sounded like something a kid would say. Something a kid like Hikaru would say. The thought struck him. He had thought about this before, but he was sure Hikaru was not Sai, or else he wouldn't want to play Sai so badly now.
"Were you the one who translated for Sai back then?" Waya asked cautiously. The question caused Hikaru to wince. "Answer me!" he demanded.
When Hikaru remained silent, Nase interrupted, "With Shindo's English, he can barely pass junior high, let alone translating."
"Exactly," Waya interpreted. "That was why Sai never answered to anyone!"
Hikaru tried to ignore Waya's accusation and continued to play. There were currently six stones on the goban, and his opponent was playing the way Sai would so far. His heartbeat accelerated. His hand shook as he placed the next stone with the mouse.
You can't even beat me, Hikaru! Sai had once told him, when he had realized that his time was running out. In return, Hikaru had reminded him of how he couldn't even pick up a stone without him. He closed his eyes, recounting the number of times he had hurt his best friend, best teacher when he had tried to warn him of his disappearance. He had ignored him. Called him a liar.
*Beep* The sound alerted Hikaru. Sai had placed another stone. He squinted his eyes and imagined the possibilities the move could lead to. *Beep*
"Is it Sai?" Isumi asked quietly after twenty minutes. He must admit that it was a brilliant game. The number of audience was increasing every minute.
Waya was almost certain that it was, but wanted a confirmation from Hikaru. He scanned Hikaru's calm face, the face he always had when he was playing a match. "Shindou?"
The pro was too concentrated on the game, foreseeing the possibilities of the game. 'Sai? Is it you, Sai?' The question repeated over and over again in his head as he placed each and every stone on the goban. Looking up from the goban at the opponent across from him, he couldn't see the so-called Sai at all. He's hiding in the darkness. Then suddenly, a white wide sleeve emerged from the blackness, horizontal to the goban below. A hand peeked out from under the sleeve, holding a white stone between the index and middle finger.
*Pa-chi*
It landed on a spot, which Hikaru had overlooked, just like he had always had when he used to play Sai.
A/N: It didn't progress much, did it? Hehehee... Thanks for the reviews. Too bad I can't read all of them, since fanfiction screwed up. For those of you who reviewed the 1st chapter, but it never showed up, could you please kindly repost? Better yet, combine it with your review for this chapter! I'm glad that a non-shounen-ai fic could have these many reviews though! Next chapter...a bit of Touya Koyo!
