A/N: Sorry it took so long. Here's the preview for chapter 4. I will
caution that as the story progresses, the characters, perhaps Akira
especially, might become increasingly OOC.
Isumi was in the middle of reviewing a game, when someone interrupted him.
"Oi, Isumi-san, did you hear?"
"About?"
"Kuramoto Akira. He's finally come back to Tokyo, after three long years."
Isumi eyes widened in surprise, and he contemplated briefly.
"Waya, how do you know about this?"
"I saw him with Shindou down at the train station, although they didn't notice me. They got on a train before I could speak to them."
"Well, how is Kuramoto-san doing? I hope he's better now."
Waya pursed his lips before replying.
"He still seems to be in somewhat poor health. I can't say much beyond that."
"Well, considering what happened to him, I- "
"I know, Isumi-san. I just hope he's recovering."
They sat in silence for a bit, before Waya spoke again.
"It's strange. I never really liked him before that, but when I found out, I never thought I'd end up feeling so bad for him."
"Waya, he's a human being, too. Did you actually think he didn't have sorrows of his own?"
"I was inexperienced, young, and naive myself. I admit it was wrong of me to not see past the perfect exterior he exhibited to the world. I certainly never thought Kuramoto would have the burdens he did."
"It all started as a regular day, didn't it? How we could know where it would lead us?"
********************
Three years ago
Akira was struggling to remain focused, but he couldn't keep the act up any longer. He had not slept or eaten in over three days, because he needed the time to finish a project for school and prepare for his game with another pro, along with other matters. He came to a choice.
"I resign."
He bowed and left. Proceeding to the restroom, Akira splashed cold water on his face. Looking in the mirror, he saw how ghastly his appearance was. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot, with bags forming beneath them. His skin was pale and clammy. His hands were trembling slightly.
Collecting his belongings, Akira left quietly. Unknown to him, Hikaru was watching him in concern.
"Oi, Shindou."
"Waya, what are you doing?"
"Seeing how you are. What's wrong? I can see it in your eyes."
"It's Touya. I don't understand what's been going on with him lately. He's been playing poorly for a considerable number of consecutive games. All of them end with him resigning or losing miserably. It's not up to his usual standard at all, and now he looks so tired all the time. I'm worried about him."
"So you've noticed, too? In my last game with him, he lost badly as well. I was angry at the time, because I assumed he was just snubbing me, as if telling me that I wasn't worth the effort it would take to beat me. Now, however, I'm worried. He's lost to so many other pros as well, most of whom are higher than me."
"It can't go on like this."
Hikaru was about to leave, when Waya grabbed his hand.
"Oi, matte yo. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to follow him. I've noticed that he leaves the institute very often now and at regular intervals. I need to find out what's going on. I'm really worried about his health."
"Touya's not going to take kindly to your prying, if he catches you."
"I, I just want to help him with whatever problem he has, if I can. Is that wrong?"
Waya sighed and remained silent for a few moments before speaking.
"Fine. Then I'll go with you."
"Nani!? Doushite?"
"You're my tomodachi, aren't you? I just want to help a friend."
"And you have no other motives?"
After a moment, Waya reluctantly conceded.
"Well, I admit that I don't really like Touya, but I guess I'm worried about him."
"As a go player, or as a fellow human being?"
"Both."
Another voice suddeny cut in.
"We better hurry then. Touya-kun takes the early train. There's barely half an hour."
Waya and Hikaru looked in surprise.
"Isumi-san? How do you know about this? And what do you mean 'we'? Why are you coming."
"I just finished a game with him. He resigned. It went very poorly for him. I saw how he looked, and it is troubling. For crying out loud, his hands were shaking, and his eyes were bloodshot. Besides, haven't either of you noticed? He's lost a lot of weight just in the last month. As for his schedule, it's pure coincidence. I just happened to see him several times at the station and pieced it together."
"Well, let's hurry then."
The three were careful to keep close enough that they wouldn't lose sight of Akira, but far enough that Akira didn't notice he was being followed. On the train, lost in his own thoughts, Akira wouldn't have noticed in any case.
'Ichiro, Sanro, Shiro. My brothers. But what right have I to call them that? I selfishly gave up all memories of them, all in an attempt to escape the physical pain that man inflicted on me. What is pain to ones such as us? It is our lot to die for our duty, should duty demand it of us. I failed my promise to him, to chichi-ue. More than that, I failed my daimyo. I failed once. I will not fail again. I must atone for my sins against the clan. I'm sorry that I can only watch over you in this way, brothers, but I am dishonored. Until I have cleansed the Kuramoto clan of the shame I brought upon it, I have no right to meet you face to face. I will continue with my penance to the bitter end, if that is my destiny.'
Isumi was in the middle of reviewing a game, when someone interrupted him.
"Oi, Isumi-san, did you hear?"
"About?"
"Kuramoto Akira. He's finally come back to Tokyo, after three long years."
Isumi eyes widened in surprise, and he contemplated briefly.
"Waya, how do you know about this?"
"I saw him with Shindou down at the train station, although they didn't notice me. They got on a train before I could speak to them."
"Well, how is Kuramoto-san doing? I hope he's better now."
Waya pursed his lips before replying.
"He still seems to be in somewhat poor health. I can't say much beyond that."
"Well, considering what happened to him, I- "
"I know, Isumi-san. I just hope he's recovering."
They sat in silence for a bit, before Waya spoke again.
"It's strange. I never really liked him before that, but when I found out, I never thought I'd end up feeling so bad for him."
"Waya, he's a human being, too. Did you actually think he didn't have sorrows of his own?"
"I was inexperienced, young, and naive myself. I admit it was wrong of me to not see past the perfect exterior he exhibited to the world. I certainly never thought Kuramoto would have the burdens he did."
"It all started as a regular day, didn't it? How we could know where it would lead us?"
********************
Three years ago
Akira was struggling to remain focused, but he couldn't keep the act up any longer. He had not slept or eaten in over three days, because he needed the time to finish a project for school and prepare for his game with another pro, along with other matters. He came to a choice.
"I resign."
He bowed and left. Proceeding to the restroom, Akira splashed cold water on his face. Looking in the mirror, he saw how ghastly his appearance was. His eyes were puffy and bloodshot, with bags forming beneath them. His skin was pale and clammy. His hands were trembling slightly.
Collecting his belongings, Akira left quietly. Unknown to him, Hikaru was watching him in concern.
"Oi, Shindou."
"Waya, what are you doing?"
"Seeing how you are. What's wrong? I can see it in your eyes."
"It's Touya. I don't understand what's been going on with him lately. He's been playing poorly for a considerable number of consecutive games. All of them end with him resigning or losing miserably. It's not up to his usual standard at all, and now he looks so tired all the time. I'm worried about him."
"So you've noticed, too? In my last game with him, he lost badly as well. I was angry at the time, because I assumed he was just snubbing me, as if telling me that I wasn't worth the effort it would take to beat me. Now, however, I'm worried. He's lost to so many other pros as well, most of whom are higher than me."
"It can't go on like this."
Hikaru was about to leave, when Waya grabbed his hand.
"Oi, matte yo. Where are you going?"
"I'm going to follow him. I've noticed that he leaves the institute very often now and at regular intervals. I need to find out what's going on. I'm really worried about his health."
"Touya's not going to take kindly to your prying, if he catches you."
"I, I just want to help him with whatever problem he has, if I can. Is that wrong?"
Waya sighed and remained silent for a few moments before speaking.
"Fine. Then I'll go with you."
"Nani!? Doushite?"
"You're my tomodachi, aren't you? I just want to help a friend."
"And you have no other motives?"
After a moment, Waya reluctantly conceded.
"Well, I admit that I don't really like Touya, but I guess I'm worried about him."
"As a go player, or as a fellow human being?"
"Both."
Another voice suddeny cut in.
"We better hurry then. Touya-kun takes the early train. There's barely half an hour."
Waya and Hikaru looked in surprise.
"Isumi-san? How do you know about this? And what do you mean 'we'? Why are you coming."
"I just finished a game with him. He resigned. It went very poorly for him. I saw how he looked, and it is troubling. For crying out loud, his hands were shaking, and his eyes were bloodshot. Besides, haven't either of you noticed? He's lost a lot of weight just in the last month. As for his schedule, it's pure coincidence. I just happened to see him several times at the station and pieced it together."
"Well, let's hurry then."
The three were careful to keep close enough that they wouldn't lose sight of Akira, but far enough that Akira didn't notice he was being followed. On the train, lost in his own thoughts, Akira wouldn't have noticed in any case.
'Ichiro, Sanro, Shiro. My brothers. But what right have I to call them that? I selfishly gave up all memories of them, all in an attempt to escape the physical pain that man inflicted on me. What is pain to ones such as us? It is our lot to die for our duty, should duty demand it of us. I failed my promise to him, to chichi-ue. More than that, I failed my daimyo. I failed once. I will not fail again. I must atone for my sins against the clan. I'm sorry that I can only watch over you in this way, brothers, but I am dishonored. Until I have cleansed the Kuramoto clan of the shame I brought upon it, I have no right to meet you face to face. I will continue with my penance to the bitter end, if that is my destiny.'
