CHAPTER 10
Once they reached the front of Ki-In, Yang Hai-san is ready at the door and greets them.
"Hey Kurata, it's just been a few months that I haven't seen you but you seem to have add a few pounds!"
"Mind your own business Yang Hai. I'll beat you today and you will have to name yourself China's version of Kurata."
"Hahaha very meaningful. I'll see whether you can beat me! Come in!" he instruct the other seven kishi standing in the doorway. Isumi steps forward.
"Yang Hai-san."
"Oh, Isumi! Welcome back!" and pat him on his shoulder. It feels like meeting an old friend here. Isumi felt nostalgic since this is the place he had his special training after unable to be selected as a kishi last year.
"Is Le Ping here?" Isumi asks anxiously for he wanted to tease Waya.
"Oh, that boy he went back to his hometown last week. But never mind, we have another Le Ping over here! Haha" (pointing at Waya) Yang Hai leads them into the Ki-In.
Hikaru have been staying close to Yashiro since this morning (note: why Yashiro? Hm... maybe because he feels that Yashiro is a good friend. Plus, they get along well...) and avoiding Akira. He didn't know why. It acts sort of like a reflex. Every time Akira moves close to him, he'll move away automatically.
At the corner, a flaming Waya is eyeing Yashiro's every step. Yashiro knew he's in a VERY bad position now. He wanted to explain things to Waya again but there's no chance to do it and why, why why why of all times, this IDIOT (Hikaru) have to stick to him? This will only cause MORE misunderstanding. So Yashiro tries to avoid Hikaru (he 3doesn't want to be Waya's target) but too bad Hikaru don't get the hint.
"Oh, Isumi!" a few of the Chinese Go players in the Ki-In went forward and greet their Japanese friend. Although surrounded by old friends, Isumi still couldn't understand what they are saying to him.
"Ah, um... hisashiburi" Isumi is only able to say that. Although none of them understands his word nor did he understand what they are saying, both parties knew very well it's a greeting.
"Let me introduce..." Yang Hai began to spoke in Chinese and introduces the eight kishi to the Chinese Go players there. Then he spoke in Japanese to introduce a few Chinese kishi there. Yang Hai pairs them up and the match starts...
After a few hours... all of them are on their way to lunch at a shop outside. Yang Hai was supposed to go with them but had an emergency last minute.
"Phew it was really tough. China's kishi is really good!" Honda commented.
"Yeah, I had a few match with the same kishi... but lose one game to him! He comes up with unpredictable strategies. They are real worthy opponents." Hikaru's blood is boiling with excitement.
"Well, they have higher levels than some Japanese kishi..." Ochi spoke nonchalantly but causes irritation to some of them.
"Oh, Kurata-san how was your match with Yang Hai-san? Did you win?"
"Huh he thought he's better with 8-dan! I will be promoted to 8-dan soon!" and walks ahead of them.
"What happened?" Hikaru whispers to Yashiro.
"They had 2 matches and Kurata-san loses both." Yashiro had been observing their match.
Yashiro could feel a murderous aura behind him. It's Waya. Yashiro moves away from Hikaru and walks beside Honda. 'It's better to stick to this birdbrain since he's nobody's target...' Yashiro thought (hey, that was mean!). Hikaru chuck his hands inside his pocket and keep walking. There's silence in the group.
"Isumi, where did you stay when you came to china?" Hikaru breaks the silence.
"I stayed at the hotel in the beginning but later shift to the hostel and share a room with Yang Hai-san. It was illegal but I had no choice since I am facing a financial problem here." he finished with a smile.
"Then you and Yang Hai-san must be close... you play Go with him all the time?"
"Maa you can say that. He's the one who trained me and encouraged me to beat Le Ping."
"He must be strong then."
"Yeah, until now I still can't beat him."
"Yosh! I'll have a match with him afterwards!" Hikaru is full with enthusiasm.
"You think you can beat him?" Ochi asks while fixing his glasses.
"Um... I am not sure but you'll never know until you had a match."
The others just look at him and fell silent.
They followed Kurata and finally reached a noodle shop. All eight got in, placed their order (with Akira's help), finished their food and out of the restaurant in no time. All of them heads back to the Ki-In after lunch and continue to pursue matches with different Chinese kishi. Hikaru requested a match with Yang Hai which drew a great deal of attention. Yang Hai won in the end but prove to have a lucky win. He wipes away the sweat on his forehead.
"Fuh I finally understand why Kurata let you be the taisho in Hokutohai..."
"Huh?"
"Never mind... I am just talking to myself... I'll go get a drink." and left the seat. Akira who had been watching from the side sat in front of Hikaru.
"That was a good one. Shall we discuss about it?"
Hikaru felt his heart skipped a beat. Seeing Akira reminds him of that scene this morning.
"Um... I already promised to have a match with him." Hikaru pulled a Chinese kishi nearby to the next table. The Chinese kishi was puzzled but did not hesitate when someone challenges him. So they settle down for a game.
"I'll discuss the game with you." Ochi offered himself seeing Akira's painful look.
"Never mind... I want to do it alone..."
Ochi left the table with disappointment. Hikaru is to be blame.
On the other table, Waya challenges Yashiro but still lose to him after 2 matches.
"When are you quitting? We are here to compete with the Chinese kishi, not among ourselves." Yashiro is tired of Waya.
"I am not satisfied. And I won't let you go until I have beaten you!"
Isumi overheard their conversation and sympathize with Yashiro. But he knew there's nothing he can do... Waya simply won't listen and he's hot headed.
"I'm not having another match with you. With your level now, you better give up. By the way, don't mixes Go with your emotion." Yashiro walks away. He couldn't take it anymore. Why is he being pulled into this troubling relationship? It's certainly none of his business!
Around five in the evening when the Ki-In is about to close, Yang Hai asks everyone to end their game. All eight kishi thanked him and had their dinner before returning to their room.
Le Ping—I am not sure whether this name is right... please correct me if I am wrong!
hisashiburi—Japanese term for 'long time no see' ...
Once they reached the front of Ki-In, Yang Hai-san is ready at the door and greets them.
"Hey Kurata, it's just been a few months that I haven't seen you but you seem to have add a few pounds!"
"Mind your own business Yang Hai. I'll beat you today and you will have to name yourself China's version of Kurata."
"Hahaha very meaningful. I'll see whether you can beat me! Come in!" he instruct the other seven kishi standing in the doorway. Isumi steps forward.
"Yang Hai-san."
"Oh, Isumi! Welcome back!" and pat him on his shoulder. It feels like meeting an old friend here. Isumi felt nostalgic since this is the place he had his special training after unable to be selected as a kishi last year.
"Is Le Ping here?" Isumi asks anxiously for he wanted to tease Waya.
"Oh, that boy he went back to his hometown last week. But never mind, we have another Le Ping over here! Haha" (pointing at Waya) Yang Hai leads them into the Ki-In.
Hikaru have been staying close to Yashiro since this morning (note: why Yashiro? Hm... maybe because he feels that Yashiro is a good friend. Plus, they get along well...) and avoiding Akira. He didn't know why. It acts sort of like a reflex. Every time Akira moves close to him, he'll move away automatically.
At the corner, a flaming Waya is eyeing Yashiro's every step. Yashiro knew he's in a VERY bad position now. He wanted to explain things to Waya again but there's no chance to do it and why, why why why of all times, this IDIOT (Hikaru) have to stick to him? This will only cause MORE misunderstanding. So Yashiro tries to avoid Hikaru (he 3doesn't want to be Waya's target) but too bad Hikaru don't get the hint.
"Oh, Isumi!" a few of the Chinese Go players in the Ki-In went forward and greet their Japanese friend. Although surrounded by old friends, Isumi still couldn't understand what they are saying to him.
"Ah, um... hisashiburi" Isumi is only able to say that. Although none of them understands his word nor did he understand what they are saying, both parties knew very well it's a greeting.
"Let me introduce..." Yang Hai began to spoke in Chinese and introduces the eight kishi to the Chinese Go players there. Then he spoke in Japanese to introduce a few Chinese kishi there. Yang Hai pairs them up and the match starts...
After a few hours... all of them are on their way to lunch at a shop outside. Yang Hai was supposed to go with them but had an emergency last minute.
"Phew it was really tough. China's kishi is really good!" Honda commented.
"Yeah, I had a few match with the same kishi... but lose one game to him! He comes up with unpredictable strategies. They are real worthy opponents." Hikaru's blood is boiling with excitement.
"Well, they have higher levels than some Japanese kishi..." Ochi spoke nonchalantly but causes irritation to some of them.
"Oh, Kurata-san how was your match with Yang Hai-san? Did you win?"
"Huh he thought he's better with 8-dan! I will be promoted to 8-dan soon!" and walks ahead of them.
"What happened?" Hikaru whispers to Yashiro.
"They had 2 matches and Kurata-san loses both." Yashiro had been observing their match.
Yashiro could feel a murderous aura behind him. It's Waya. Yashiro moves away from Hikaru and walks beside Honda. 'It's better to stick to this birdbrain since he's nobody's target...' Yashiro thought (hey, that was mean!). Hikaru chuck his hands inside his pocket and keep walking. There's silence in the group.
"Isumi, where did you stay when you came to china?" Hikaru breaks the silence.
"I stayed at the hotel in the beginning but later shift to the hostel and share a room with Yang Hai-san. It was illegal but I had no choice since I am facing a financial problem here." he finished with a smile.
"Then you and Yang Hai-san must be close... you play Go with him all the time?"
"Maa you can say that. He's the one who trained me and encouraged me to beat Le Ping."
"He must be strong then."
"Yeah, until now I still can't beat him."
"Yosh! I'll have a match with him afterwards!" Hikaru is full with enthusiasm.
"You think you can beat him?" Ochi asks while fixing his glasses.
"Um... I am not sure but you'll never know until you had a match."
The others just look at him and fell silent.
They followed Kurata and finally reached a noodle shop. All eight got in, placed their order (with Akira's help), finished their food and out of the restaurant in no time. All of them heads back to the Ki-In after lunch and continue to pursue matches with different Chinese kishi. Hikaru requested a match with Yang Hai which drew a great deal of attention. Yang Hai won in the end but prove to have a lucky win. He wipes away the sweat on his forehead.
"Fuh I finally understand why Kurata let you be the taisho in Hokutohai..."
"Huh?"
"Never mind... I am just talking to myself... I'll go get a drink." and left the seat. Akira who had been watching from the side sat in front of Hikaru.
"That was a good one. Shall we discuss about it?"
Hikaru felt his heart skipped a beat. Seeing Akira reminds him of that scene this morning.
"Um... I already promised to have a match with him." Hikaru pulled a Chinese kishi nearby to the next table. The Chinese kishi was puzzled but did not hesitate when someone challenges him. So they settle down for a game.
"I'll discuss the game with you." Ochi offered himself seeing Akira's painful look.
"Never mind... I want to do it alone..."
Ochi left the table with disappointment. Hikaru is to be blame.
On the other table, Waya challenges Yashiro but still lose to him after 2 matches.
"When are you quitting? We are here to compete with the Chinese kishi, not among ourselves." Yashiro is tired of Waya.
"I am not satisfied. And I won't let you go until I have beaten you!"
Isumi overheard their conversation and sympathize with Yashiro. But he knew there's nothing he can do... Waya simply won't listen and he's hot headed.
"I'm not having another match with you. With your level now, you better give up. By the way, don't mixes Go with your emotion." Yashiro walks away. He couldn't take it anymore. Why is he being pulled into this troubling relationship? It's certainly none of his business!
Around five in the evening when the Ki-In is about to close, Yang Hai asks everyone to end their game. All eight kishi thanked him and had their dinner before returning to their room.
Le Ping—I am not sure whether this name is right... please correct me if I am wrong!
hisashiburi—Japanese term for 'long time no see' ...