CHAPTER 8
By id62000
Hikaru hurried through the busy crowd and practically leaped through the stairs leading to Touya Kouyo's salon. Finally, panting, he pushed the glass doors and almost fell inside.
"Shindou kun!" Ichikawa san said surprised.
"I'm late again, am I not? Is Touya very mad?" Hikaru leaned against the desk as he tried to control his breath.
"Shindou kun, didn't Akira san tell you? He's not here!"
"Not here?" Shindou asked in surprise, "But he said we'll play once every week. It is Friday right?"
"Yes, but Akira san left this morning…but he didn't tell you?"
"No, why did he go? Is he having some match somewhere?" Hikaru asked curiously.
"Akira san's taking a test abroad. He won't be back for a week."
Realization dawned on Hikaru, "That's right! He said he'll be out of station for a week or so. Darn! I forgot the dates!" Hikaru sighed, "Why did have to say the dates-he could have just said next week or something."
"Ah!" Ichikawa san sighed then brightened up, "Since you're here, would you like to play someone who's as goo-"
"Nah!" Hikaru cut her off, "I lost my mood to play. I'll just stay awhile, catch my breath and leave. Baka Touya!"
Ichikawa san sighed. She did not know who to support anymore - Akira san or Shindou kun – even though she told herself several times that it was Akira san.
"Shindou kun!" Ichikawa san said suddenly.
"Huh?" Hikaru asked laying his backpack on the counter.
"Do you mind if I call you Hikaru kun?"
Hikaru looked surprised. He rummaged around his head and tried and remember who called him that….His mother! And possibly a few random elders and family friends.
"…not if you don't want to!"
"Huh?" Hikaru realized that he had missed out nearly half of what she said.
"I mean-"
"Oh no! It's quiet alright! You call Touya by his first name too ne?"
"Yes!" Ichikawa san said proudly.
"Well, I'll just watch some game somewhere." Hikaru looked around and sighed in relief, "Kitajima san is not around is he?"
"He left early today."
"Oh? What's that game at that end?" Hikaru looked at the corner of the salon where a middle age man was playing an elderly man.
"I think they're playing Shidougo. The younger one is Yomogiu Ensucia 6-Dan. He and his friend have been coming here with different opponents since this Monday."
"Oh? He's giving private lessons then? Great! I always wanted to see one of those." said Hikaru enthusiastically.
"Try not to disturb them Hikaru kun– it's Yomogiu san who is doing the teaching part." reminded Ichikawa san, smiling knowingly.
"I'll keep my mouth shut - they won't even know I'm there." grinned Hikaru as he made his way to the isolated group.
Ichikawa san sighed. Something told her that there was something wrong…even though, for the life of her, she couldn't even imagine what it was.
Hikaru casually walked up behind the 6 Dan player and watched the board.
This is Shidongo? Hikaru tried to predict the outcome – a two moku loss-without the komi rule- for the pro. 'In Shidongo it doesn't matter who wins or losses...' Still! Surely the pro must try and win even if the situation is Shidongo. He tried to trace back the game. A poor hand on the pro's side…obviously trying to be nice or something. A probable three moku handicap. Or was it two? Yes, definitely two! A normal Fuseki and a strong battle on the old man's part. Somewhere in the middle, there were some desperate moves on the pro's part – then the pro found his ground but got attacked in the top middle or left an opening somewhere along there. Then they moved into yose – and upto now both sides were unchanged. This has got to be a first – where an amateur beats a pro! Hikaru hid a smile behind his open fan – something he found himself doing often when he wanted to hide his emotions.
Hikaru looked across at the older player. A bespectacled man with a kind, easy going face- one who probably played Go so often, he pulled himself in par with a lower Dan pro or so. Too bad the age limit was thirty – else, he could have become a pro too.
Hikaru shifted his eyes back to the board – the pro had managed to cover another moku, but a one moku loss was definite. The two fell into the counting. He rolled his eyes – why go through that when he could just admit defeat.
Hikaru turned to go when the elderly man spoke up, "Arimasen. Thank you very much."
"Thank you very much." The pro's rough voice spoke up.
Hikaru nearly fell over his own feet when he suddenly turned around and dashed back to the board – not behind the pro, but adjacent to him.
The amateur was clearing the board while the pro was extending a printed form to the elder man.
"Is there any problem?" Yomogiu san asked, staring at Hikaru coldly, as his opponent took the form.
"Oh! The kid was just watching Yomogiu sensei, now – I should just fill this up right?"
"What is going on?" Hikaru asked watching the elder man take a pen out of his pocket.
"I promised to join their Go classes if he can beat me." The man looked up and smiled at the shocked expression on Hikaru's face and mistook it, "You see, I consider myself as good as any pro, so if he could beat me, then it proves he has something to teach me that can raise my level – even if it is by two mokus. And besides, he assured me that a stronger pro than Yomogiu sensei is taking the classes."
"But…he couldn't …didn't win!" sputtered Hikaru.
"He did." Said the man in surprise, "96 and 98 - with no komi as agreed. And there was that two moku handicap Yomogiu sensei insisted on."
"Get out of here kid." The pro glared at him.
Hikaru straightened himself and glared back, "Yomogiu cheated in the counting! There was a definite one moku loss and-"
"I said get out of here brat!" Yomogiu yelled as he got up.
"No way!" retorted Hikaru pulling himself to his full height, "You cheated in the counting and-"
"That's enough young man" the amateur said frowning, "It is disrespect to accuse a pro of such a-"
"But I'm a pro too! And it's definitely a moku loss for that guy!"
"Really?" the older man looked surprised, "And your rank?"
"Beginner Dan." Hikaru gave the pro a long look, "You say you're a 6 Dan? Then you really should-"
"There is a huge difference between a normal player like me and a 6 Dan pro, I really didn't even expect to win. However-It's obvious as to who won."
"But this guy played a real weak hand at the start and then left too many openings in the middle part! Originally, he was two mokus behind to draw-without the komi rule – but he covered up one in the yose – but he still lacks one and a half moku to win!"
"But you came only when we moved into yose!" said the man in surprised, "How can you say he played a couple of weak moves at theFuseki?"
"He's just getting that beginner pro attitude. They think that once they become a pro they're all knowing!" The Pro said, visibly trying to take the situation casually.
"I have been a pro for over six months." returned Hikaru evenly.
The Pro laughed, "So a guy who couldn't pass the Dan series two times consistently! What a surprise! Losing your touch already?"
Hikaru glared at him, "I think it's the other way around! How long have you been a 6 Dan?"
The pro was taken aback. He literally backed away and sat down on his seat.
"Kid, the Dan series for the upper Dans is tough." the amateur said as he shook his head, "Even getting there is a tough job. Dans stay that way for a year or even more. Even Kurata san is getting beaten there. He couldn't stay undefeated forever!"
"Maybe, but Kurata 7 Dan is a still rising Pro. This one is a stranded Pro!"
The pro got up in anger, fists clenched while the man looked shocked.
"There are seventeen people in the class and he's just a beginner's teacher! The real teacher is a stronger pro, right?" The man asked once he overcame his shock
The pro turned towards the elderly man, "Kitsuki san, Seventeen is as it is too many. I thought you would find it beneficial to join…but if you think elsewise…"
The elderly man nodded, "I meant what I said before-and you defeated me so I'll join. But I would like to meet this other pro – he's a 7 Dan?"
The 6-Dan looked relieved, "Yes, of course."
"You CAN'T!" Hikaru slammed his fan, which he had drawn out in his anger, on the goban, "He's a washed out pro! And probably-"
"Here he is!" the pro suddenly said relived as a figure approached them.
"Speaking of washed up pros!" The words flew out of Hikaru's lips – shock and surprise mixed in it with anger.
"YOU!" Both yelled out.