SHADOWY GO
Chapter7: A league of captains.
Vice captain? He's going to be a vice captain? For real? What in the hell is going on here? He doesn't know anything about being a vice captain, let alone as vice captain of the kendo club. Are they trying to make fun of me? Everytime someone mentions kendo, all he could think of is a bunch of idiots waving sticks around.
"Is this a joke? If it is, it ain't funny!" Hikaru was angry and he didn't care if they know it. A note was stuck in his locker this morning informing him that the club was going to have an important meeting and his presence was required. Since he never showed up in the club, not once since he joined, he thought why not? He felt a little guilty for ditching the club all the time, and now this? He ought to have continued ditching it. When he got there, there were only two people waiting for him, the captain and vice captain.
"It's not what you think, Shindou." Vice Captain Shimamura said. If you've bothered to know a little about this club, you would have known some important things. When the current captain graduates, the vice captain of course takes his place and we always choose the co-vice captain from the first years, grooming him to be the next vice captain to captain. It would be too inconvenient if both captain and vice captain graduate at the same time, don't you agree?
"So? He hasn't graduated yet."
"No, not yet Shindou but I will be too busy to do my work as captain." Captain Agatsuki explained. "You see, I've applied to an elite cram school that would get me into an ivy league college abroad. The schedule will take all of my spare time.
"Cram school? You think I'm an idiot? We don't need to attend those, this is an expensive private middle school. Only second rate public schools not affiliated with any high schools take those, to get in to either a first rate public or expensive private high schools. As it is our curriculum is much more comprehensive than those of cram schools, not to mention this school have it's own high school. So really, what's the deal here?"
"You're not listening, I am going to college abroad. Not just some college but a top rate university. It's not going to be easy and I will only have four years to prepare. But don't be alarmed, I'm not completely letting go of my position as captain but I'm gonna borrow a leaf from your book and ditch this club from time to time. Shimamura here will be the acting captain and you will help him as the acting vice captain.
"Why me? I thought I already told someone I don't know anything about kendo!"
"You don't have to know how to wield a shinai to run this club. What you need is leadership, discipline and a degree of toughness. And from what I've heard, you're plenty tough Shindou. Besides, it is not too late for you to learn kendo. You don't know but you might like it if you'll just give it a chance."
"That still doesn't answer my question."
"Something about you just puzzles me. You're not really exceptional just about average, no offense meant but I have this gut feeling you are more than what you seem. Usually we prefer our captain's skill in kendo above those of the club members, but we also have to take into consideration his leadership skills. I know we have to work on yours but don't worry, Shimamura here will guide you and you will also have my support. If you decide to accept you have to stay for an hour every Tuesday and Thursday for practice from now on. Shimamura will personally coach you and so will I if I'm here. We will introduce you as the next co-vice captain next month.
"And if I refuse?"
"We really want you as our next vice captain, Shindou. We won't force you but at least think about it? What have you got to loose? Remember this would look good in your resume too, if ever you decide to go to college. To be slotted for captain of a kendo club when you don't even know kendo is no mean feat."
Agatsuki was not just captain but is also a member of the student's council, no wonder, this guy sure talk smooth. He doesn't act like a kid, he's tall and looks cool too, the bastard. Hikaru thought sourly. "Give me two weeks to decide, if I show up for practice then that means I agree."
"There's nothing to it, Shindou. All you need is the willingness to learn. Shimamura added.
Agatsuki was still in deep thought when Hikaru left. Shimamura didn't understand Agatsuki's decision, he really didn't think much about this Shindou kid other than being a rude and a little obnoxious punk. But Agatsuki's instincts are usually right, he learned about that when he became his vice captain. So he gave Shindou the benefit of the doubt but talking to him now, he still couldn't see it. "Would you explain this to me again? Because I really don't get it. What made you chose him? We have another candidate more worthy of consideration."
"I'm not entirely sure. I've seen him around, usually alone if those two from the basketball club is not with him. I thought he was just a punk especially with that bleached hair. I bumped into him once, he didn't know me and he looked me straight in the eye. I don't want to wax lyrical about this kid but I felt this great presence when I stood before him then, which was funny since I tower over him. No, that's not right. I felt like... I felt like I was in the presence of someone great. When he looked straight at me that time, I thought I saw someone else...
xxxxxxx
"Sai, what do you think? Should I accept the position as co-vice captain of the club?"
"I don't know Hikaru but they seem sincere in wanting you, that's worth something, right?"
"Yeah, unlike those assholes in the basketball club. Oh! Which reminds me, I grew two more inches over the summer. I'm so happy, I feel like I could do anything." Hikaru trying to stiffle his laughter, he didn't want Akari or his parents to hear him and think him crazy. And he almost had a heart attack when he heard a loud knock on his door and an announcement she's coming in.
"Oneechan, you scared me!"
"Don't be such an idiot, this muck is actually good for your skin and this is not the first time you've seen me with a mud mask."
"Is that a new brand? Looks yuckier than the last one."
"Don't get smart with me, and to think I'm here bearing gifts."
"Really? What is it? What is it?"
"Food tickets. Haze's cultural festival will be on the first week of November on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We're doing a cosplay cafe, you can come and check it out and use those. Why don't you bring Towa chan and Takeo chan with you, I'm sure they'll enjoy it too."
"That's next week! No, those two won't make it, they're JV. They've been training like crazy, the season will start late November, and you never know they may get to play for real. But don't worry, I'll eat their share for them." Hikaru joked but he felt a little sad inside.
"That's a pity, oh well you could always come alone. I noticed you don't seem to mind going out on your own anymore, you look like you don't need anyone. Don't you get lonely going out by yourself? I mean I would, that's why I always go out either with a group or with Hitomi."
"That was before, not now. And who says I'm alone?"
"Huh? You mean you're going out with someone else? You got a girlfriend?" Akari's eyes widened in surprise but just as quickly, dismissed the idea. "Nah, you couldn't have. You're too cheap, you won't even open your wallet for me."
"You, you... you're looking down on me again! I'm a school kid for crying out loud, I don't have a wallet!"
"Alright, alright, just be there." Akari left his room leaving three tickets on his bed.
xxxxxxx
Sunday, the last day of Haze's bunkasai. He was glad he was able to finish this week's homework, studied for next week's quizzes and now he can finally relax a little. Haze was not too bad, you wouldn't know they have a big park behind the school, it was hidden by the taller buildings dominating the front. Most of the booths and stalls were located at the back and it was very refreshing with the trees and garden as the background. Not bad at all for a public school. There were plenty of visitors too, parents, kids, older kids maybe checking out Haze as their prospective middle school.
Hikaru went to Akari's cosplay cafe and he was surprised at the large crowd. There seems to be more people lining up to get in. He had to bluff his way in and when he did, his jaw would have dropped all the way down to the floor if it were possible. The girls were hot, they were dressed as sailor moons with real skimpy outfit. He didn't notice Akari's approach until she closed his jaw with her finger.
"Don't drool, Hikaru." Her sister laughed at his expression. "This is the reason why you should have chosen Haze and not an all boys school."
"Oneechan, you look different." Hikaru was in awe. Akari just laughed at that and dragged him along and pushed him in a corner.
"OK, I'll get you a table just stay there. I'm sorry but I can only get you spaghetti with meatballs, as you can see we're swamped. And to think it's not even noon." She grumbled.
After fifteen minutes of waiting, Akari found him a table and had a steaming noodles in front of him in no time. It tastes delicious too, he would have liked to savor it more but he noticed the hard looks he's getting from the line of people he had cut through.
"Hikaru slow down. It's not good if you don't chew your food properly besides that, it's very uncouth." Sai reprimanded him.
"If I don't get out of here fast, I'll get indigestion. You see how those people are looking at me?"
He was done in less than fifteen minutes and told Akari he'd be back when there's less people around. He took the can of soda with him, he didn't want to sit there drinking at his leisure when his receiving lots of killer looks. He actually had to push his way out, a crowd had formed maybe curious of the cafe's popularity. Somebody pushed him and he lost his balance and he slammed to the guy in front of him, sloshing his drinks over his... silk kimono? Who would wear silk kimono in this place? Hikaru looked up, he was only up to the guy's shoulder, he had spiky hair and he looks mean. Hikaru knows he looks like a delinquent but this guy looks like a gangster. Hikaru apologized profusely and tried to wipe the mess with his hands which made it even worse. As the guy frowned, Hikaru lost his courage, he ducked down and avoided the hands that would have grabbed him if he weren't quick on his feet.
xxxxxxx
Hikaru decided to go home and just come back in the afternoon, he didn't want to bumped into that guy again. At 2 pm, Hikaru was back at Haze but this time with a different outfit and a cap to hide his distinct hair, just in case that guy was still around. He was checking out the booths lining at the front of the school which he overlooked when he was looking for his sister's cafe, when Sai pointed out to him a small booth with a few old men gathered around it.
"Hikaru look, look! They're playing go!"
"Fine, fine, let's take a look." Hikaru rolling his eyes. Leave it to Sai to find go anywhere.
As they got near he could see a kid, older than him wearing Haze's black uniform. Hikaru wished their school uses a dark color too, he thought white was cool back then but not now, it gets dirty easily. The boy looks nerdy to him wearing big glasses, he must be smart, Hikaru thought to himself.
"... this is a medium level problem, you have to solve it in three hands." The boy said to the man seated in front of him.
"So black goes there... then white... here." The man put down down a stone.
"But what if white goes here?" The boy smiled as he placed a stone.
"Oh yeah... ha ha ha... this is difficult."
"Hikaru look, look, that book!" Sai's attention was focused on the book rather than the problem presented. "Touya Meijin's Go Tutorial... I want it Hikaru, let's get it! I want it, I want it!" Sai getting excited again. How could anyone get excited over a go book?
"It's the prize if you can solve the go problems." The boy noticed his interest in the book.
"Can I go next?" Hikaru asked.
"Sure. Here it is, there." The boy put down another problem.
"Sai, let me try solving this. Just stop me if I'm wrong."
"OK, here!" Hikaru as he placed his stone a few minutes later.
"Ohhh... you got it..."
"Took you awhile though..."
"Nice job..."
The old men applauded him, he was surprised at that. Sai on the other hand was beside himself, he was glad Hikaru was taking interest in go and was able to answer the problem correctly. "Sai, this is just a one time thing. I'm not interested in go, I just wanted to see if I can solve it. I watched you too many times playing this game not to get it. You do the next one."
"Here, your prize." The boy handed him a pack of tissue.
"What about the book?" Hikaru was a bit put out. He worked hard on that problem.
"It's the grand prize." The boy explained.
"Hikaru, we probably need to answer a harder one for the book."
"Give me a harder one." Hikaru told the boy.
"A harder one? You sure?" He was amused at the kid. He didn't look like the usual type that would play go. "This is a pretty advance problem, even I would take awhile on it. Please solve it in three hands."
"OK Sai, this one is yours." Hikaru thought to his ghostly companion. And he placed the stones on 3-14, 4-14, 1-16.
"Huh? You're right!" The boy said as he consulted a book for the answer.
"That was fast..."
"He solved it immediately..."
"Wow! He didn't even took a minute on that one..."
"He took longer on that easier one before it..."
A small crowd had gathered a little around them but Hikaru didn't seemed to notice anymore. He was in his element with Sai, it doesn't bother him since he was not alone in the spotlight.
"Here, the prize for this one."
"A can of soda? Give me the hardest one so I can win the book!" Hikaru was impatient he hadn't checked the rest of the stalls and booths yet.
"The hardest? You'd have to be Touya Akira's level to solve this."
"Touya Akira? That name sounds familiar. Whatever, just get on with it."
"OK, here... the first hand is the key."
"The first hand is the key... is here, right?" A guy from out of nowhere wearing a silk kimono put out his cigarette on the correct spot.
"Ahhh! What are you doing? The boy with the glasses was scandalized, go to him is sacred. He flicked the cigarette butt away and wiped the board vigorously.
"Tsutsui, why don't you quit this stuff, go sucks! Capturing territory on a table with stones? That's lame, shougi is a thousand times more fun!"
"Hikaru, who is this man? He solved a very difficult go problem so easily."
"Who is this man? You kidding me? Isn't this the gangster I'm trying to avoid?" Hikaru looking for an opportunity to sneak away while the guy was still busy taunting glasses kid there.
"Hey Tsutsui, what happened to the go club you're building? You were all excited that if you could get three members and enter the team tournament, they'd let you have a club. If you ask me nicely again maybe I'll reconsider. You know I'm a thousand times better than you."
"I don't want the help of someone who puts cigarettes out on a goban." Glasses kid said in a lofty manner dismissing gangster guy.
"Bah! Whatever... who was the guy begging me the other day to enter the tournament?"
"Here! Take your go book and leave!" Glasses kid sure is tough, Hikaru thought. He wouldn't dream of going against that guy.
"Touya Meijin's Go book? Ha ha ha!" And what am I suppose to do with this?" And this was when his attention shifted to Hikaru. Just as he was just about to leave a hand dropped to his shoulder and spunned him around. "Hey kid, you wanted this, right?" His eyes narrowed as he stared at him for a minute, he put the book down and snatch the cap off him. "You!" The hand on his shoulder tightened.
The guy held him by his collars and was shaking him like a rag doll. "You had the gall to come back, you punk?"
"Kaga! What are you doing? Let him go!" The boy Tsutsui trying to free Hikaru by holding onto the guy's other arm.
"This punk spilled his drink on me then ran away." Kaga said in a low, menacing manner.
"It was an accident! Somebody pushed me..." Hikaru's teeth rattled as Kaga shook him some more.
"Kaga, knock it off! If you don't stop this, I'll never speak to you again!"
Hikaru was surprised when he was let go. He dropped to the hard ground butt first, it hurts but his dignity was hurt even more. But at least the crowd had dispersed at the first sign of trouble, so not many saw his embarrassment. The guy picked him up and dusted him off, for awhile there he thought the guy was going to do something violent again. It's a good thing glasses kid is here.
"So you play go, kid?" The guy asked as he he made him sit down in front of the goban.
"Yeah, a little. I'm not that good though." Hikaru trying to placate the guy.
"Well, that's too bad for you. You and I are gonna play and if you loose... you're taking a dip in a freezing pool."
"Kaga, no..."
"Move over Tsutsui. I'm not beating the crap out of him, am I?"
"What's your name brat?"
"Shindou Hikaru."
"I'm Kaga Tetsuo, Captain of Haze's Shougi Club." Kaga in his most pompous manner.
"Oh yeah? Well then I'm Vice Captain of Sumida's Kendo Club." Hikaru replied just as haughtily. Take that asshole, he thought.
Kaga laughed hard at that. "That's just rich, I like that. And this here is Tsutsui Kimihiro, captain of none." Kaga laughed at his own joke.
They nigiri and Kaga made the first move at 3-4 point komoku and Sai responded with the star point 4-4 hoshi. They were playing for about thirty minutes now and he could feel Sai's laughter. He reassured Hikaru there was no question of who is going to win so he can rest easy about the freezing pool. But he wants to prolong the game a little, this guy is fun. When Sai blocked him, he jumped, he stretched, he plays with the most interesting hands. He was also very aggressive with his attacks but he didn't notice Sai's traps as he laid them out carefully disguised as attempts to prevent any of his black stones from linking together.
Meanwhile, Kaga was frowning. Usually his opponents should be cowering right now. The kid's move was solid but really nothing to talk about but still, why can't he break through his opponent's defenses? Those white stones that he placed which he dismissed as weak hands before are now a big stumbling block to his invasion. His plan in taking the enemy territory was now rendered useless. No matter, he still have lots of tricks up his sleeves.
After an hour, Kaga couldn't shake the feeling that this kid was just playing with him, so to speak. He's leading him by the nose making him think that he's ahead when in reality, the kid had been dominating the board from the beginning. If he counted correctly he was only ahead by half a moku, but he bet his ass the kid wasn't really playing but was just having fun at his expense. He didn't see any point in continuing, this boy would win in the end.
"I resign. You're lucky this is not shougi or you wouldn't have escaped taking a dip in that icy water." Kaga stared at him for a full minute. "You lied about your skill, you're very good."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yeah, right. Tsutsui, give me your jacket." When Tsutsui failed to comply he helped him removed it. "I said take it off!"
"But why? I'm not taking a dip in a freezing pool." Tsutsui complained shivering with the loss of his jacket.
"Tsutsui, you now have members for the go tournament." He said as he threw the black gakuran at Shindou.
"Huh? Who?"
"Me, you and him."
"Whaaat?" Both Hikaru and Tsutsui was surprised.
"But I'm not from Haze." Hikaru hurriedly informed the crazy guy again.
"So? Nobody needs to know that."
"I'm the captain, the brat will be second captain and you're the third captain."
"Why am I third captain?" Tsutsui with hackles rising.
"It's in order of ability; I'm a genius and the brat can kick your ass off a goban."
"Tournament? No way! I'm not gonna do it!" Hikaru was not going to stand for this nonsense.
"Hey, I still owe you a beating so listen to me now. It's better to face your opponent over a goban than facing my fist, don't you think?" Kaga threatened softly, shoving his fist close to Hikaru's face.
"Alright, geez! How in the hell did I get myself in to this predicament? This is all your fault, Sai!" Hikaru hollered out his frustration not caring if his making sense to his new friends, if they can be called that. "When is this tournament?"
"Next Sunday 10 am at Kaio Junior High. Be there and get a pair of black pants to go with that jacket."
xxxxxxx
That night after they had dinner, Hikaru knocked on his sister's door again. "I need to temporarily loose the blond." he said without preamble.
"Huh? Why? You look great in that."
"Just temporarily, this hair is too distinct. I don't want people to remember or recognize me easily."
"What is this cloak and dagger stuff? Are you in trouble?"
"No." Not yet, he secretly thought but he will be if he's found out he's going to a tournament he had no right to. "I'd like to blend in once in awhile."
"Like I said before, I don't believe you but how bad could it be? So far you haven't been in trouble yet." Akari talking more to herself than to him. "Anyway, I can't help you right now, I don't keep those in hand. If you have the money, I'll go buy them for you. When do you want it?"
"Saturday night is fine."
xxxxxxx
Hikaru went back to his room and as he lay down to sleep, his mind wandered to Sai. "How do you like entering that tournament, Sai?"
"No words to describe, Hikaru. But I'm extremely happy right now."
"I bet you are." Hikaru said with sleep fogging his mind.
"Are you not happy too, Hikaru?"
"Strangely enough, yes. But I figured that's just you. Hey Sai, what do you look like?"
"Come inside Hikaru, see me..." He could feel Sai's warmth and he had a vague impression of someone holding his hands. He thought he saw a guy with the longest hair wearing an eboshi hat and dressed in a kimono of unknown era. What a strange guy, was his last thought as sleep claimed him.
(End of Chapter7)