Disclaimer : I don't own Hikaru no Go.

Chapter 17 : The Pro exam and the unbeatable players

Mid October 2000, the Japanese Go Study Center, in the game room

Though Waya told me that she always came up with a clever hand during their study session, I didn't expect her to be this good. Isumi Shinichiro was sitting in traditional kneeling position waiting for his opponent to arrive.

The Pro exam had started since the early September. For 7 weeks, he and other 27 entrants had come here, at the Japanese Go Study Center, 3 days a week, on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. It was almost over now. There were only 6 games left to play, however, every single game counted. At this moment, there was an uncompromising intense competition between 4 undefeated players, they were Isumi himself, Ochi- the 2nd rank insei, Waya- his best friend and his today's opponent, the dark horse, Shindou Hikaru.

Maybe I should take her seriously, after all, she won the 1st round of Young Lion Tournament. Out of the blue, the conversation between him and Honda popped up in his thought.

... Flashback started...

15 minutes ago,

" You're playing against Shindou today?" Honda had exclaimed when he had informed him, " Be careful then,"

" Is she that good?" the 18-year-old insei had questioned, " I haven't played with her for a while now,"

" Umm, good and confusing, I guess," the other boy had commented uncertainly.

" Good and confusing?"

" You'll know when you play with her, Good luck then,"

...Flashback ended...

Good and confusing? What did he mean?

" Good morning, Isumi-san,"

The blonde's friendly greeting woke him up, " Good morning, Shindou," he greeted back as the girl with a ponytail was taking her seat opposite to him, " Let's play our best, Ne?" he said lightheartedly.

" Hai!" Nodding eagerly, Hikaru in a raspberry-red slim T-shirt smiled amiably in reply.

3 minutes later, the game started.

2 hours and a half later, the game ended. The top insei lost as the dark storm cloud started to gather around him.

The same night, The Ochi's luxurious manor house,

" Before we begin our lesson, may I ask about today's result," Akira asked.

" I won," the younger boy with glasses stated uninterestedly, of course, he won. He? Lost? Yeah, like that ever happened!

" That's great…err…," Stammering, the 2-Dans with deep blue eyes clearly hesitated to ask.

Still, Ochi was certainly a very sharp boy, he knew what Akira really wanted to know, it was so obvious anyway, " Shindou, too, she still keeps the clean record just like me,"

The Meijin's son sighed lightly with relief and smiled tenderly as if to say " Is that so?"

It was the gentlest smile that Ochi had ever seen from his pokerfaced teacher, actually , he had never seen him smiling before! And he had been studying with this unemotional pro for 2 months now!

" I just don't get it, why don't you ask her yourself? Don't you two talk to each other? What kind of couple are you two?" he criticized with a mocking tone of voice.

" We're not couple," Akira corrected him, " We are friends,"

" However, I must thank your girlfriend for making things become much easier for me," Sitting on his big armchair with his elbow on its arm and his chin rested on his fist, the spoiled offensive boy was absolutely enjoyed the satisfaction of provoking the world famous Go genius .

" She's my friend," the patient teacher in a lavender short-sleeved Polo shirt and well-ironed khakis declared darkly. He had said this same old line at least 20 times but his hostile student not only didn't have a tendency to listen to him, he also turned a deaf ear to him. Normally, rumor couldn't bother or hurt him, he was the son of the Meijin, he had been spending his entire life living among those envious pros. He, who had successfully learned how to live with the hatred and get used to with the jealousy, surely knew how to deal with silly stupid rumors.

" Just ignore it and they will soon forget about it" this used to be his effective slogan, he knew that the more he denied, the more the rumor spread out. Yet, this rumor was different than others since Shindou Hikaru was involved with it. She was a girl, she got the disadvantage here. Therefore, he had to say something in order to defend her reputation.

Brushing off rudely like always, Ochi pretended not to hear Akira and went on his monologue, " After she beat Isumi-san, he becomes completely…lost," he said dramatically, " He loses 4 games in a roll, he even lost to Fuku,"

"……………"

" I'll play him next week but I don't think there will be any difficulty," he said daringly, " In fact, under this state, he won't cause anyone a problem anymore,"

"……………"

" It seems that your girlfriend is my new threat now," As Waya had lost to him and Isumi before the black-haired boy was defeated by Hikaru so it meant that now there were only 2 players who remained invincible, " So, it's between Shindou and me now,"

"……………..."

" I hope that you still recall our deal and the fact that I am your student," Leaning forward, Ochi spoke in skeptical tones, " You are not that kind of men who lets your personal life influence your work, are you?"

" We talk too much, Let's get started," Akira took out few stone and said wryly, " Nigiri,"

A/N : Okay, now, some of you might be wonder why suddenly they seems so startled by Hikaru's skill. Didn't they notice it before? Here, is the explanation.

Well, she overcame her weakness in February, right? After that, she slowly improved her unique style. Honda was the first one who noticed it in March ( Why Honda? Well, because I want him to take more part in the story) When the Young Lion Tournament came in May, her Go wasn't fully developed yet, that's why she lost to Ochiai-Pro. Although her ranking rose continuously among the insei, it didn't mean that she had never lost, her Go wasn't stable yet. That's why Isumi and Ochi underestimated her. But now, it was stable.

As I told you that Shirakawa changed everything, Hikaru-boy played the 4- way ties after the Pro exam prelims, but this Hikaru-girl even played it before the Young Lion Toutnament came, so she was like one step ahead, compare to Hikaru-boy.

Ookami Fuu: Haha, this fic is the story about People digging a hole for themselves!

Lady Adako: Yeah, after 16 chapters, the Pro exam arrived.

Rebbi : Thought he's from Heian period, he always sees Hikaru as his little sister, even if she turns 70! He's over 1000 years old! Everyone is Little in his eyes!

Chibura and Kireshai-chan837 It's just an introduction, sorry. I have no balance! Man! There is a chapter with 3300 word-length, you can read it till your eyes get hurted.

Giftfrombelow: " Kouyo-kun or even Kou-chan" Kou-chan! Kou-chan! I wonder what Akira will look like when he hear his mother calls his stony fatheras ' Kou-chan'!

xiar : "Akira did not showed Ochi their 1st and 2nd match " Yes, 'coz Ochi kinda insulted his friend.

kathy stgqvk : "and Isumu-kun? We don't really know that much of him" Don't worry, I have a whole chapter just for him and Hikaru :)

Kinlin Child of Youma: " I think this last 2 chap were short," Yeah, each one from them has about 990 words only.

Eadha Ohn : "Ever wonder why Japanese boys' huge fan of home-making meals?" Well, won't you be flattered if you're a boy and there is a girl TRY to cook for you? It does mean something, right?

Mira-hime : Yeah, sometimes, I feel sorry for him too.

karin1004: "Is Akira in love with Hikaru?" Actually, I don't know, what do you think?