Disclaimer: I do not own Hikaru no Go
Brief recap: A few months after the Hokuto Cup, Akira and Hikaru were in another tournament, the Wakajishisen. They eliminated their first round competitors, Oka and Shouji, and set up for a show-down in the second round. This fan-fic starts off right where the one-shot ended.
Chapter 1: Akira vs Hikaru
"We shall now begin the second round of the 11th Wakajishisen! At table 1 is..." Upon hearing the announcement, the competitors proceeded to take their seats.
Akira sat down opposite Hikaru. Immediately a crowd formed around them. At the fore-front were Shouji and Oka, the 2 insei eliminated by the 2 pros in the first round. Most of the others who were eliminated, as well as the reporter Kosemura, were there.
"Oneigaismasu". The two rivals exchanged their traditional greetings. "How many times have I said that to Touya?" wondered Hikaru "Here's a rival that I cannot possibly be more familiar with. His intense gaze, his concentration... is the same every time. Yet, every match is different... special..." They nigiri, and Hikaru was black. He placed a stone.
"He beat me last weekend" Akira started to recall the "warm-up" match they played at the Go salon "When we first started playing regularly, I used to win most of the time. Now it has become more like 60-40. Hikaru is slowly but surely catching up with me. This is a game that I must NOT lose..." Akira replied with a white seed in the opposite corner, and they proceeded to play a standard joseki.
"I have a feeling Touya will win this game." Shouji whispered to Oka.
"Why is that? Shindou is better. Look, his stones are in a better position." replied Oka.
"What do you know? It is still only early game. Touya's playing a very slow and steady game."
"Whatever you say... Shindou is the best."
"You id... WHAT!"
An intense battle had started on the lower right of the board. Black and white seeds were intermingled, with the situation totally unclear. Akira's last move had been especially aggressive, threatening the entire black formation. Everyone expected Hikaru to fight back, but all of a sudden, he went on to place a stone at the other corner of the board.
"Another one of Shindou's moves." Akira paused to think "It always appears to be a bad move, but if I think deeper and further, I usually discover a plan for a complicated and difficult battle that will turn the tide in his favor... Even with my last move, his formation is not immediately in danger. The seed he just placed, it is just right to protect his territory while at the same time invading into mine. Well, if so..."
Akira made his reply. After a few more turns, it was Hikaru's turn to pause.
"This is exactly how I had hoped Touya would respond. However, isn't it too much in my favor? With the stone I placed at 3-6, and my subsequently moves, I would have gained significant ground at Touya's expense. It is not his usual self to play like that. Anyway, I'll just continue to play normally."
"Look, Touya is losing." began Oka
"Shhh!" Shouji seemed unable to reply at the moment.
Even Kosemura seemed puzzled. "Shinoda sensei, don't you think Touya is being a little too conservative in his last few moves?"
"It appears to be so, but let's wait and see how the game progresses."
"OK... but I can't wait!"
"Why don't you go take a look at the other games? Waya and Isumi are also engaged in a fierce battle over there. It should be an exciting game."
"I agree. But I think I'd rather stay here. Look, Touya is making his move!"
"So, this is the outcome you wanted, Shindou. However, do you really think the game is in your favor now?" With eyes gleaming, Akira swiftly replied with a move he had long pre-calculated.
Instantly, gasps were heard all around the table.
"That move... it turned Shindou's previous move at 3-6 into a useless one!" exclaimed Oka
"Yeah! That was brilliant! What did I tell you?" Shouji started to relax again.
"That move... that move reminded me of something..." Hikaru tried to recall a game long ago "It resembles the way Touya Sensei played against Sai. Has Touya turned into Touya Sensei? All the more I cannot lose this game, Sai!"
"How was it, Hikaru?" it almost seemed as if Akira can read his mind, and made a mental reply "I know you've been improving. Your play is getting more and more like Sai's, and I shall find out the reason for that one day. Meanwhile, I have been studying the games of Sai, Shuusaku, as well as my father, for inspiration. I will not let you catch up so easily. I want to win this game as much as you!"
End of chapter 1. Please review!
