Chapter 3: Worthy Rival
It was pretty comical to see that after Touya Akira scared the hell out of him, the other boy was the one who was panicking in fear of him having another panic attack. Of course he was gasping for breath after screaming that loud, it didn't mean he had a panic attack. Touya was so worried that if not for Hikaru grabbing his hand, the other boy would have run to call ambulance.
"Touya! Settle down! Sit!" Hikaru snapped.
Touya obeyed without question and sat in seiza across of Hikaru. "Uhm…"
"Look, I am fine." Hikaru assured the blue eyed boy with a sigh. "There's no need for ambulance, I just need to catch some breath after you scared me like that." He patted his chest; his heart was still beating too fast. "What's with you and appearing out of nowhere, Touya?"
"It's not my intention." He answered timidly. "I am sorry."
Hikaru sighed again, he had been sighing a lot around this guy lately. "It's fine, actually I am more curious of how you could get in."
Touya stiffened at that, "Er… your grandfather let me in." Technically that was the case.
"He let you in when he is not even home." Hikaru said pointedly. "He couldn't… no, he gave you a spare key?!" Looking at how Akira bit his lower lip and averting his eyes, Hikaru deduced Akira was the type who couldn't tell a lie to save his life. "Aah… never mind how did you get here, so?"
"So?" Akira echoed.
Hikaru rolled his eyes, "Why you are here?"
Akira tensed again before he nodded hesitantly. "I want to apologize for what happened few days ago, and if you don't want to see me again I unders…"
"Whoa whoa… hold it right there Touya!" Hikaru raised his hands in placating gesture. "Listen… what happened few days ago is my fault." Touya frowned at him. "Fine, it's mostly my fault." He amended but Touya frowned even deeper. "Fine… our fault, it's childish… and let's face the fact it must be the most horrible game we ever played in our life."
Akira wanted to refute that but all things considered… "I guess."
"So, let's don't apologize about it anymore…" Hikaru said in somber voice. "It gets us nowhere…"
Akira eyed the hakama wearing boy, for a moment he looked older than his age as if he had lived for so long. His traditional attire if anything made it as if he had a time slip.
"By the way, is to say sorry the only reason you're here?" Hikaru queried curiously.
Akira fidgeted before he steeled his resolve. "I actually came because I want to know…" Hikaru stiffened at that, "But I think I will not ask because I don't think I have the right to know…"
Both of them knew what Akira wanted to ask.
Hikaru titled his head to the side, "Well… I don't think I can tell you anyway even if I want to." Some things were too painful to say. "Hm?" Hikaru caught Akira for a split second was eyeing the goban. "That's a game I played with my mentor…"
Akira nodded stiffly, he wanted to ask who was that mentor but it was very unlikely the other boy would tell him. "It's a beautiful game… you… used to play like that."
Hikaru let out a mirthless laugh, "Yeah…" Used to be able to play like that with anyone to be precise, but now he could only do it with Sai. Because if it was Sai he had nothing to fear, he could go all out and Sai wouldn't even bat an eye. Sai would gleefully dodged his fang and give him a pat on the head.
"I am so envious." Akira murmured wistfully and Hikaru's breath hitched when he saw Touya Akira of all people was giving him puppy eyes and he felt like a jerk who had kicked the said innocent puppy and leave it on the roadside to cry. "Why can't I play with you like that?" And he sounded like he was about to cry.
This guy didn't mean it for sure but Hikaru now felt guiltier than ever. Touya was a lonely prodigy and he craved for someone to be his equal and unfortunately for him the first player Touya found was him. He was someone who was already broken, or rather very close to it.
Hikaru took a deep breath, "Touya… I am sorry but I can't give you what you want, you should look for someone else to be your rival." He told the short haired boy bluntly.
"I don't want anyone else." Touya said stubbornly. "I… I can't forget your go, anyone else would be pale in comparison."
Any other day that compliment was appreciated but now it was just unfair to Touya, " gave you a botched game of shidougo and the second time I played like a man possessed." Hikaru ignored Sai's mental rant about he was taking offense for the latter. "I have no idea what you see in me, Touya."
Akira frowned at that, "Why you sell yourself so short?"
"I didn't." Hikaru retorted.
"You do, someone at your level can pass pro exam already." Akira said pointedly. "There are a lot of people working hard to get to your level so you shouldn't…
That was a sore spot he hit there, and Sai who was in the background was saying something about how Touya-kun was really good at hitting homerun when it comes to Hikaru and how come they didn't meet until recently?
Hikaru snapped, and Sai was right just now what Touya said hit homerun. "Because I am a coward! I am scared of what will become of my opponent if I go all out!"
Akira gave him a look. "In a game not everyone could be the winner, you win some you lose some… it's how it works." He pointed out the cruel fact of life unflinchingly. "You can't throw away your go just because you're afraid to hurt someone's feeling!"
Hikaru was trying really hard to control his temper but Touya had no right to tell him such thing! "I know that better than you ever could! Touya Akira! Someone was not just hurt because they lost to me! I didn't just beat them! I took something they loved and ruined it for them! They quit go! They hate something they loved because of me!"
The Meijin's heir became very still, he could barely comprehend what Shindou Hikaru said. Someone lost against him and they…
Hikaru panted, gasping for breath. "Forget I said anything." Hikaru said in clipped tone after he realized he had blurted out something he didn't mean to and ran his house.
Akira quickly chased after him. "Shindou! Wait! I… I am sorry!" Why they always got to this mess?
Somehow Akira managed to catch Shindou, or more like he stumble and would have crashed head first to the ground and Shindou catch him on time. "Touya, please… just get out of here before I said something I will regret." He said after he helped the boy to stand upright.
Normally this was where Akira would give in and get out of the house as requested. However he reassessed everything he knew of Shindou Hikaru from their first meeting, their extremely short time of knowing each other and he decided. "I am not going to give up." He declared as he locked their arms in iron grip, glaring at the long haired boy.
"You should." Hikaru retorted stiffly. "Someone with bright future like you shouldn't look back at me." He hissed, "I am broken, Touya."
"Look!" Akira hissed, "If you're really broken, if you have given up on your go… you would have quit go! You don't! You can't give it up! You gave me our second game because you wanted to get your real go back! You replay your old game because you miss it!" Akira shouted determinedly. "You can spout lies but your go didn't lie!"
This time Hikaru didn't even utter a word in response.
Akira panted lightly, "I don't know how you feel that someone suffered because of your go, but what right do they have to make you feel responsible for their weakness?! Stop drowning yourself in self-pity!" Akira roared at Hikaru.
"It's not self-pity! It's self-loathing!" Hikaru cried, and flushed a deep red immediately.
"I think it's a quasi-combination of both." Akira said pointedly, not amused by Hikaru's correction.
"We're not arguing about this Touya!"
"We are! Quit being so stubborn!" Akira shot back, "It's stupid! You should try to overcome your fear, not mull over it again and again!"
"Easy for you to say!" Hikaru cried. "You think I did nothing for the last three years?! I tried! I tried to play game as many as I could… but whenever I am just one step from victory I freeze! I can't breathe!"
Akira froze at that, "Three years? You have been like this for… that long?"
"Yes! I wonder myself why I am still alive and playing go." He let out mirthless laugh, "Our second game is my first win in real game… after three years, and I am not happy at all! My fingers feel heavy like lead whenever the image of my defeated opponents flashed on my mind." He touched his temple gingerly, "But they won't go away… it never go away!"
Akira steeled himself. "Then play with me!"
Hikaru hollered, "I played like a man possessed because I feel threatened by you! I am just going to repeat that horrendous play!"
Akira shook his head, "I will take it! I will endure it as much as I have to so you can overcome your fear! I won't stop! I won't quit! So you can play with all your strength and not worrying about me!"
Hikaru openly gaped at Akira's declaration, not caring the proper manner worthy of a Heian era noble Sai had drilled mercilessly on his head for the first time in five years. "Did you just offer yourself to be my training dummy?! Are you nuts?!" He drawled incredulously.
"I am not that weak Shindou! I am still coming back to you after that beating didn't I?" Akira shot back defensively.
'That is a brilliant idea! Touya-kun!' Sai cheered to Hikaru's mind.
"It's a stupid idea!" Hikaru said out loud.
Touya however didn't know it was not addressed to him. "No, it's not!"
"Is too!"
"It's not!
"Is too!"
"It's not!
"Is too!"
"It's not!
"Is too!"
"It's not!
"Is…" Hikaru's angry retort was cut off when he heard laughter coming from behind them. Dread pooled up on his stomach as he turned around and he saw his grandfather and Towa, old friend of Heihachi laughing at him and Touya. "Ojii-san! Towa-san!
"What are you two doing?" Shindou Heihachi chortled, holding his sides. "When I gave Touya-kun our spare key I didn't expect a grade school level fight." As they were both twelve it was not an insult but sounded like one because of their mini adult persona.
Towa nodded in agreement, "Oh my! It's Touya Akira! I can't believe I live long enough to see two go prodigies arguing like kids their age!"
"He started it!" They shouted in unison as pointing at each other.
Heihachi and Towa stared at the two blushing boys who just realized they were embarrassing themselves even more with that line. "I should have it recorded." Towa said wistfully, as he took out his brand new phone his daughter bought him. Unlike most of his old friends he was not as illiterate in new technology. "In about ten… no five years I am sure it would fetch quite a price."
Heihachi nodded in agreement. "Hm… whatever you say Towa, at any rate Touya-kun…" The Meijin's son flushed a deep red. He was given permission to come to speak with Shindou and what he did was starting a shouting match with the other boy instead.
"It seems you're doing pretty well in getting through my grandson's thick skull." Heihachi however took their shouting match as an improvement.
"WHAT?!" Hikaru hollered before he caught himself he was about to scream at his grandfather, "But Ojii-san, what are you…"
"That said." Heihachi began with a tone of finality that made Hikaru dreaded what he was going to say next and Sai was cheering in the background. "Feel free to come to our house anytime." And you can keep the key was unspoken but implied.
Akira blinked owlishly, "Oh… I…"
Heihachi launched his next plan, "We have study group at ten every weekend that also double for Hikaru's tutoring session, and on Wednesday afternoon started at three we have mini competition between us old folks." He listed on their schedule, ignoring Hikaru's protest. "And Friday is a free day for Hikaru, which he spends on playing music and reading books…"
"Ojii-san!" Their go schedule was one thing but his off day was entirely different matter!
It took Akira only a few seconds to digest what Heihachi was getting at. "Of course… I will join your study group, Shindou-san."
"Call me Ojii-san." Heihachi said, grinning at the young prodigy. "It's confusing since there are two Shindou… in fact when I am around get use to calling my grandson, Hikaru."
"That would be improper." Akira said thoughtfully.
"Nonsense."
Hikaru groaned, "That's not the nonsense here!"
"Look, Hikaru agrees." Heihachi said gleefully.
"I am not!"
Hikaru watched his grandfather shaking Touya's hand as if they had sealed a lifetime deal, and he couldn't help but realized with horror that Touya Akira just got an unspoken permission to stalk him from now on.
Sai, his wonderful and revered surrogate brother didn't offer any help. If anything Sai seemed to support the idea.
It was so unfair, why all of them sided with Touya?!
Two weeks later~
In Sai's opinion, Hikaru's life was always interesting in spite of his status as homeschooled boy who only went out for buying groceries, books and visiting library. In shot a borderline shut in, who happened to have nagging ghot go tutor and overprotective grandfather.
Touya Akira's entrance to Hikaru's life made his host's life three times more interesting in his humble opinion. Especially when he and the rest of their unofficial go club found out about the two prodigies' uncanny ability. They seemed to be even more genius at stripping their rival off of their mini-adult persona and started a shouting match over every single detail of their game.
Like now…
"What's with you and kosumi?!" Akira howled.
Hikaru snorted, "Why you're so fixated on that particular move?! Get over it Touya! It's old and so what?!"
"And this one too!" Akira pointed at another corner of goban. "You should have surrounded it, not attach it!"
"And let you attack my upper left cluster? No way!" Hikaru said defensively. "And this move over here, you should have defend it instead of waiting for me to kill it!"
In the background the three kids who were also Hikaru's unofficial students were cheering for both of them. They fell in love with Akira, who they deemed was as cool. He also made Hikaru-sensei scream and start exciting shouting match all the time. Which was even more exciting than their go game.
Their discussion about go always started civil enough, they disagreed, voice started raising in volume, and reduced to repetition of…
"Is too!"
"It's not!
"Is too!"
"It's not!
"Is too!"
"It's not!
Biwako-obaasan, who was also the wife of Towa-san shook her head when she entered the go room to find the two prodigies were at it again. "Snack time, discussion is over sensei!"
Both prodigies stopped on their track and quickly took their chance to regain their breath, panting lightly. The trio junior player let out a chorus of aww because the shouting match was over and yay for snack time.
Hikaru quickly left the room as he ushered the three younger children to come with him, leaving Akira who was still sitting in front of goban and staring at their latest game. Akira bit his lower lip in frustration. It had been two weeks since he started to visit Shindou frequently and so far half of their game couldn't reach yose. Because whenever they were about to reach yose and if Hikaru was leading, the long haired boy would start to pale and his fingers started to shake. Their game always stopped whenever that happened.
It was fine though if Akira was the one leading, it was always a close game between them even if he was winning, never more than three moku win. It didn't make him happy at all because his rival couldn't play at his full strength yet. Shindou was not kidding when he said he tried as hard as he could to overcome his fear, and he failed miserably at it.
Apparently he was fine in net go because he couldn't see his opponent's face. Akira was sorely tempted to play net go too but he knew playing against Shindou online was counterproductive. He was glad net-go existed though, because prodigy or not playing against the same set of opponents over and over again would stunt his growth.
As for Shindou's shidougo… Akira had firsthand experience (kinda) in their first game but watching Shindou glided around the room as tutoring multiple students at once was breathtaking. His voice was not stern and dignified like his father, or cheerful and friendly like Ashiwara-san or the professional and stiff tone of Ogata-san.
Shindou's voice was gentle and coaxing, and in every step he was leading his student to the right path. He was as if trying to lure them to it. He made them concentrate on their game to their best ability. If Akira didn't know better he would think Shindou was hypnotizing them or something, especially because they almost in a trance whenever they finished playing shidougo with him.
He also had this peculiar habit of using his fan as pointer, which was odd. It seemed he had no trouble trouncing his grandfather mid-game and leisurely returned the moku to even in yose. It was surreal, and he seemed to have no problem playing four or five simultaneously and forced all of it to tie.
Everything he came to know about Shindou Hikaru's go if anything made him feels even more frustrated by their game with each other.
"Touya." His rival's voice snapped him out of his thought.
Akira turned to face the long haired boy, "Shindou, is that my share?" He asked, eyeing two plates of pudding the other go player was carrying on tray.
Hikaru nodded, "Yep, let's eat in balcony… it's no good to be cooped up outside all day."
Akira followed the other boy to the balcony, "Sugar for tired brain?"
"Yeah…" Hikaru said as he sat down on the wooden floor. "By the way it's been two weeks but it seems… you're not giving up yet." He said in tired tone.
Akira snorted, "Of course not Shindou."
"I still don't get why it have to be me." Hikaru said with a sigh.
"Because I see you." Akira returned promptly.
"Maybe you haven't try to look enough." The long haired boy said, narrowing his eyes at Akira. "You could try to look at Insei."
Akira snorted, "I am flattered you want to get rid of me so badly."
"I should have known it's pointless to argue with you, Touya." He said as he stood up and left, carrying empty plate of his share with him. Probably he was going to put it to dishwasher.
Akira would have been offended if it was anyone else who said it but this was Shindou, the boy who put himself under a mental block from winning out of his guilt. He didn't see why Akira had to go through all this trouble for him. Akira in the other hand even though he was frustrated sometime, he was happier than he had ever been since his father forbid him to join amateur tournament.
Looking at Shindou now, Akira couldn't blame his father for it.
Then again Akira who had been spending these two weeks in Shindou's company began to realize it was not just his caring personality that caused him to be the way he was now. Shindou was very sensitive towards emotion that hidden in formation of stones, which was not odd as most experienced player could tell a lot of thing from how someone played. And when his grandfather told Akira that Shindou was sensitive, it was an understatement.
One time he and Shindou were watching a recording of a match between Zama Ouza and a beginner dan. The beginner dan was a bold player and not afraid to attack the Ouza relentlessly and Zama had slaughtered the young player swiftly in mid game and in the end he had to resign before the game reached yose.
Akira was shocked to see his rival was fuming as he clenched his fist around the sleeve of hakama he wore. When asked why he was so angry, Shindou looked at him as if he had asked something stupid. Then Shindou asked back whether he saw it? That the game was a horrendous game where the beginner player was foolishly charging on for the sake of showing off, and the Ouza who supposed to be a respected title holder was baited and took a great delight in humiliating his opponent to show the younger player his place. There was no passion, no love and no beauty in this game at all. Then Shindou went on to launch a long rant of what each move meant, as if he could read what running through their mind on each hand.
He just stared and listened to Shindou, not quite believing and he had his doubt. It was not until his father's study session he brought up the topic of that beginner dan series match, his father of all people expressed the same opinion. His father was disappointed that his fellow tittle holder lost patience against a 1-dan and play for his own pride. Ogata-san also dropped his own two cents, saying that it was a bad match because the 1-dan was a brat with inflated ego because he passed pro exam and Zama Ouza was an angry old man.
Their opinion of the said match was brief, short and only touching the skin. Nothing like Shindou's who somehow managed to make it a five minutes rant that summarized the whole game. It was a startling discovery that explained a lot why Shindou became the way he was now. He was so sensitive to emotion in go and it got to the point any negative emotion overwhelmed his senses.
To Shindou Hikaru, go was not just a battle of skill and strategy but also mind and heart.
It pleased Akira to know more about Shindou even though… the long haired was still distant to him. He held Akira at arm length and made sure they weren't overly friendly with each other. It was alright to Akira because he knew both of them were hopeless at interacting with children their age, and was in process of learning. He also knew Shindou didn't want to get close because whether or not he could be Akira's rival in his opinion was still up to question.
He didn't want to get Akira's hope up and failed it.
Sometimes Akira wondered if there was anything Shindou didn't do that wasn't for someone else's sake. Which was why Akira treaded the subject about going pro very carefully around Shindou. Especially after he found out that going pro was another touchy subject for Shindou.
Seriously, Shindou was like a walking landmine.
Heihachi-jiisan told him about Shindou's run in with Gokiso, a 7-dan and the washed out pro. Shindou had accidentally met the middle-aged pro last year and witnessed the man assisting a vendor selling fake kaya goban and an old goban he claimed as Shusaku's. Looking at how Shindou played it was as plain as the day he worshipped Shusaku as if the legendary Honinbou was a god, so to Shindou Gokiso-pro and his partner in crime had done the worst sacrilege against Shusaku.
As if that was not bad enough, Gokiso-pro took out his frustration on a beginner he was playing shidougo with. Shindou had enough and boldly stood beside the frightened beginner and challenged Gokiso-pro. Shindou then instructed the beginner to place his stone for him. Gokiso-pro didn't mind Shindou helping the poor old man, thinking it was just some punk trying to be a hero. Combination of getting caught off guard and underestimating his opponent, Shindou turned the game around and won.
The beginner was surprised and pleased a young boy out of nowhere was helping him after he was trounced that badly by Gokiso-pro. That man now was one of Heihachi's friends and Shindou's student, Sasaki-san. He was the one who energetically regaled the tale of Shindou-sensei's heroic exploit much to Shindou's embarrassment.
Akira never hated anyone but it seemed Gokiso-pro would be the first on the list, because whenever the topic of going pro came out Shindou would give them a genial smile that didn't reach his eyes and promptly said, 'That's not going to happen, I don't want to get paid to play go.' The tone he used suggested he said that a lot.
It was really a very long road to be Shindou's rival, but it was okay Akira could be very patient when he wanted and Shindou was worth all the effort. One way or another he would drag Shindou with him to join the pro world, where both of them destined to belong.
In the kitchen Hikaru shuddered as he put the dirty dish to sink.
'Hikaru? What's wrong?' Sai asked.
'Nothing… probably it's Touya up to something again.'
Sai had the nerve to giggle at that, imagine! His ani-ue! Giggling because of his misery! 'You know… it seems it's just about time for you to declare arimasen to him.'
Hikaru huffed, 'No way! I am impressed of his determination but I AM NOT going to give in so easily! And if he thinks I didn't notice how his expression change whenever someone in our club mention about me going pro… I swear! That Touya is getting ahead of himself!'
'I still don't get how the two of you seems to be very good at knowing at each other, I don't think I know my own blood brother as well as you does Touya-kun.' Sai said pointedly.
Hikaru flushed a deep red, 'How do I know?! And I really hate it when he gives me that look!'
'Your life would be much easier if…'
'NO WAY! Ani-ue, don't you dare to suggest that! I am not giving in even if he gives me that damned puppy eyes! Hell no!' He cried mentally.
'Hikaru! Language!'
Meijin's go salon
All patrons who witnessed the game of the two prodigies had come to a silent agreement to keep it a secret, and their little teacher himself had asked them to keep it quiet. Apparently Shindou really disliked attention and people from Go Institute were looking for him to boot. It was not hard to see their young prodigy was trying his best to befriend Shindou Hikaru and they would hate to ruin it for him.
However it was inevitable that the Meijin would notice that Akira-kun's daily visit to his go salon was cut in half for the last two weeks.
When the Meijin himself, added that he was your boss, and he asked about his son who happened to be your favorite little brother…. "Uhm… Akira-kun is visiting his friend." She desperately hoped the Meijin was not displeased his son didn't spend time as much in go salon because he was visiting Shindou-kun. Akira looked so happy and cheerful, more than ever since he could visit Shindou-kun as much as he wanted.
Actually there was no reason for Touya-Meijin to be displeased because Akira went there to play go too anyway, but there was no way she would reveal that Akira's friend was a go prodigy in his own right who had defeated Akira twice.
"A friend?"
As much as she hated to admit it, Akira didn't have any friend at school. Ichikawa herself had listened to Akiko-san many times about how teachers at school expressed their worries about Akira's lack of friend. So of course when a friend came out of nowhere and took Akira's attention away from go, Touya Meijin would have a huge question mark on his mind about the phenomenon.
Then again Shindou-kun himself was a phenomenon.
"Yes… Touya-sensei." Ichikawa murmured. "But… it's nothing to worry about! He… is a very good and polite child." She assured him hastily.
"So this friend of his has visited our go salon?" The Meijin inquired. "So he plays go?"
Of course since Ichikawa knew Shindou-kun, it meant she had met the boy in go salon. It was easy to guess that as both Ichikawa and Akira-kun spent most of their time in the salon.
What should she said to that?! Akira-kun had told her that Shindou-kun disliked attention, and the Meijin would of course pay attention to the boy who could defeat his son. Her boss only asked if Akira's new friend played go, he did and she didn't have to say anything whether Shindou-kun was as good as Akira or not.
"Yes, he does." Ichikawa answered.
The five titles holder hummed at that, "So… Akira is teaching this friend of his?"
Ichikawa suppressed her urge to laugh at that since Akira himself admitted that Shindou-kun was better at him at tutoring. In fact Ichikawa was sure Shindou-kun could give even pro players a run for their money in shidougo. Ichikawa herself had come with Akira-kun to Shindou-kun's house last week on her off day to see it herself. She didn't expect to see so many players old and young in Shindou-kun's house, and they were tutored by the young prodigy. Akira of course assisting his rival in his teaching game, and Ichikawa was surprised Akira himself asked Shindou-kun to teach her. As much as she loved Akira, she couldn't deny Shindou-kun was a better teacher.
So if the Meijin asked whether Akira was tutoring Shindou-kun, this was where she had to lie but she didn't want that!
"Well…" The meijin fortunately didn't wait for her to answer. "Either way this is the first time Akira is interested in someone, he must be an exceptional child."
So either way Shindou-kun wouldn't escape from attention, poor boy. Ichikawa was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the Meijin walked away from the counter, but then she realized he was going to play shidougo with Hirose-san of all people. Hirose-san worshipped the ground Touya-Meijin walked on, there was no way he could keep any secret, especially if he was facing the Meijin in front of a goban.
In unison all patrons in salon and Ichikawa-san weep inwardly. 'We're so sorry! Akira-kun! Shindou-kun!'
Soon enough poor Hirose-san started singing like a canary and no one blamed him, because this was Touya Meijin in front of goban. Nothing was scarier than Touya Meijin in front of goban, especially when his only son was concerned.
Shopping District (The next day, Friday)
Shindou Hikaru never dreamed he would go for his old books hunting with Touya Akira of all people. Then again there were lots of things happened he didn't expect to happen since he met Touya Akira. Unfortunately for the two socially awkward children, the shopping trip was spent in silence because they had no idea what to do. Of course they could talk with each other, but both of them knew naturally it would be about go and they didn't trust themselves to not start a shouting match in public when go was concerned.
Luckily when Hikaru started to pick books in an old bookshop, Akira found a familiar ground. "I am a Cat is a popular literature, but I have never find a chance to check it out."
"It's about politics." Hikaru said pointedly, "One of Japan's finest satires… not my preference though."
Akira reached out to pull another book from the shelves, "You like old books, and I noticed a lot of your books are poems and slice of life…"
Hikaru shrugged, "It's a common misunderstanding poem is just flowery words… and slice of life is a good genre to read for relaxation." Then he pulled a book, "This book, Aqua is not as old as most book here… a science fiction sort. Where mankind turned Mars to be a water planet a lives there with minimum help of technology in their daily life…"
Akira took the book Hikaru handed him, "Hm…" He started to flip through it. "The topic is very light…"
"Well… the moral of the story is finding simple happiness in every corner of your life." Hikaru murmured softly. "The sequel, Aria is the same… "
In the end Shindou exited the bookshop with a full paperback while Akira bought Aqua and Aria, Shindou recommended. He was offered to borrow Shindou's, but Akira wanted to own the book himself to have more insight about Shindou.
Speaking of Shindou… Akira eyed his attires for today. "I am always wondering… why lately your casual clothes are like that."
At that Shindou sighed exasperatedly, looking down at his clothes which could be described as modern looking kariginu Heian's courtier wore. It's more like a white sleeveless shirt with kariginu's collar, and underneath Shindou was wearing a turtle neck black shirt, loose black pants and a simple orange obi to complete the traditional but modern look.
"Ichihashi Tsuyu-obaasan." The youngest of Heihachi's old folks who were also one of Shindou's students, a cute middle-aged mother who really loves to dress up cute boys and girls. Akira had experienced it firsthand the horror of being hugged by Ichihashi-san. He was appalled when the kind woman offered to dress him up in kimono.
"Her family owns a kimono shop… I bought all my traditional attire there, and last week her daughter just graduated from fashion design major… she has this idea to make a clothing line or modern traditional attire, not just kimono but also older one like kariginu and kazami…"
Akira blinked at that, he recalled Ichihashi-san always doted on Shindou and had expressed her desire to borrow him as model for her boutique.
"Before I know it, they have raided my wardrobe and replaced majority of my casual clothes with these." He pointed at his clothes, "I don't really care to be a walking mannequin or anything." Came to think of it a lot of people asked Shidou where he bought the clothes, so he was also some sort of walking advertisement too?!
"But I wish my grandfather put some fight to get between them and my wardrobe…"
"That's impossible." Akira said pointedly.
"I know… but at least I hope he tried…" He said wistfully. "Speaking of which…" He eyed Touya's clothes, frowning at the other boy. "Uhm… never mind." Inwardly he plotted to get Ichihashi-san's daughter to raid Touya's wardrobe too.
Akira gave him a look, "What are you thinking?"
"Go obviously… and also…" He trailed off, "Where is that plastic back with wood polish for goban you bought?" He queried, eyeing Touya's right hand that was only holding one paper back.
Touya groaned, "I think I leave it at the bookshop!"
"Should we go back?" Hikaru offered, "It's pretty far but…"
Touya shook his head and then he noticed his father's go salon was near, "I will go back to the bookshop myself, it's my fault to be so reckless." Then he pointed at the go salon sign. "If it's fine for you, please wait for me in our go salon… Ichikawa-san would be more than happy to serve you some drinks and snack."
"I don't want to impose." Hikaru drawled in lofty tone. "Beside… I still feel awkward to go there."
Akira sighed at that, "It's fine Shindou, in fact our patrons are really eager to see you again. You don't even have to pay entrance fee, since I am sure you will end up playing shidougo the moment you stepped inside."
'Ha ha ha! Touya-kun knows you pretty well!' Sai commented, 'Come on Hikaru! It would be nice if you get to know the patrons in that go salon too!'
'But…'
' Touya-kun helped you with tutoring at home, and since he spent a lot of time in our house now those patrons lost half of tutoring time from him!' Sai knew very well Hikaru felt guilty about it.
"Fine…" He reached out. "Let me carry your books, Ichikawa-san will keep it for you."
Akira smiled at that as he handed Shindou his book. "Thanks, I will be back as soon as I can."
Hikaru watched Akira left with a small quirk on his lips, one of these days they'd really be friends. However it still saddened him that he couldn't be the rival Akira wanted, what should he do? His musing was cut off when he entered the go salon because not even five seconds, all patrons rushed to ask for shidougo with him.
"Uhm… I can play four at once." He offered and received a wide-eyed look in response. "Is that fine?"
Ichikawa Harumi giggled, trust Akira-kun's rival to have more surprise. "Of course Shindou-kun! Let's move the table so you can play four boards shidougo."
Soon a chorus of 'Your guidance, please.' Echoed through the salon.
As the teaching game went on no one but Ichikawa noticed the door slid open, revealing Touya Meijin and Ogata-pro. Ichikawa had never thought the sight of two respected pro players, and one of them was her own boss to boot, almost sent her to a hysteric fit. She steeled herself to stop the Meijin from investigating the crowd that formed in the back room, but all she did was babbling incoherent noise.
She followed the two curious go players to the backroom but nothing she said got through them as they made their way to the inevitable. The patrons quickly parted like a red sea for the Meijin and 9-dan, revealing four games that almost reached the end. She swore he heard both pro's breath hitched at the sight of four gobans, with monochrome war on top of it with Shindou-kun sitting in the middle as he placed the last white stones that ended the last game.
Shindou-kun seemed like he didn't notice the commotion, lost in his own world of go and students in front of him. Then he began the post-game discussion soon, and his opponents for some reason looked like they were still on some sort of trance after the game.
"Kidowaki-san, you're too hasty in yose when you're leading… in this corner you should have defend here instead of attacking my formation. You open a path for me to cut you here…" Then Shindou-kun quickly remake the game according to that scenario, "There… much better?"
"Hum." Kidowaki-san hummed in agreement. "Then I move here?" He said as he placed another stones.
"Correct." Shindou-kun complimented, "That will force me to respond like this."
"Ah." Kidowaki-san blinked that he hit another wall.
"Don't resign here, there's still a way, Kidowaki-san." Shindou-kun said with genial smile. "Just look closer to unexpected path… and I will right back."
Then Shindou-kun turned to the next goban quickly. "Hirose-san… in this part you should attack bolder because you can cut me here."
"Oh… "
"And then…"
The discussion went on and miraculously no one bothered to alert Shindou-kun about Touya-Meijin and Ogata-pro. It seemed no one wanted to disturb the post-game discussion. Or more like there was no way they would want to cut this enlightening experience off. However as much as Ichikawa was tempted to save Akira's friend there was nothing she could do when the discussion was over and one of the four players realized they had a very special audience.
"Touya-sensei!" Hirose-san exclaimed in shock.
Shindou-kun turned to the side, "That's faster than I thought, Tou… ya?"
Ichikawa stiffened, it seemed Shindou-kun thought Hirose-san was addressing Akira-kun and not Touya-Meijin. She desperately hoped Shindou-kun didn't misunderstand this! Akira-kun had nothing to do with it! Ichikawa herself had no idea the two pro players were coming today.
Shindou-kun blinked owlishly at the two before he abruptly stood up, and Ichikawa feared the long haired boy was going to run away.
"Good afternoon." He greeted them as he bowed politely. "It's an honor to meet you Touya-meijin."
The Meijin quirked an eyebrow at the over-politeness but didn't question it. "What's your name?"
He hesitated for a moment then he answered. "I am Shindou… Hikaru."
The other pro didn't say anything; he was busy looking at the four gobans. Ogata narrowed his eyes as he strained his brain to recall something, it was nagging him since he started watching the shidougo. However he couldn't put his finger on it. He was snapped out of his musing when his teacher asked a question that drew his attention like moth to flame.
"You're the boy who played shidougo in last tournament." That sounded more like a statement than a question, and Hikaru could only gave the Meijin a tentative nod. "Are you the one who defeated Akira?" The meijin asked again.
Hikaru contemplated his choice, and in the end there was no way he could lie in the middle of the crowd that majority of them were watching his game against Akira. However in the same time he didn't want to say yes to that question, because it didn't feel like he had won.
He swallowed heavily and the Meijin glanced at Hirose-san who nodded frantically. "It's not like that!" Hikaru snapped. "I…" He clamped his mouth shut as he realized he had shouted at someone who should be treated with utmost respect. "My apologies… but I…"
The Meijin looked at the four goban and analyzed each of the game, it was a magnificent game even though it was shindougo. "Looking at your skill in shidougo, I find that plausible…" Hikaru suppressed his urge to protest. "However, I still want to see it myself…"
Gasp echoed through the salon at the implication.
'Hikaru?' Sai called his surrogate brother.
'It's a wonderful opportunity but… ani-ue would you…'
Sai shook his head, 'No, as much as I wish for it… this is your game, this honorable man wish to see the extend of your ability. He wish to see what his son sees in you.'
'I have no idea what Touya see in me.' Hikaru said mentally as he followed Touya Meijin to a secluded corner, the different one from last time he and Akira played.
"Sit down."
Hikaru suppressed his urge to rub his temple, because the Meijin didn't even ask his consent to play. This was Touya Akira's father alright, like father like son, both were so demanding.
'Hikaru!' Sai chidred him, 'This is your chance to go all out against someone other than me! This man is someone in the same level as I am!'
That sounded really tempting, and really, the chance to play against the Meijin was worth to salivate over but… He didn't feel like playing just to vent his urge to go all out, to play with that kind of intention was…
He took a deep breath, "May I ask you a question? Touya-meijin…" The Meijin frowned for a moment but gave the boy a curt nod. "I understand you want to see my strength but I don't think that's the only reason you want to play against a random young player such as me."
"It's for my son." Hikaru stiffened at that. "I taught Akira go since he was two years old." The Meijin began narratively. "I play with him every morning, and he has already at pro level."
Inwardly Hikaru wondered he had a feeling this was a divine retribution, and did the Meijin was giving him a crash course about his son?
"I didn't allow him to play in amateur tournament because Akira would crush another children's hope to grow…" The Meijin said sternly.
'Perhaps… that's what I should have done too.' Sai thought with a grimace.
"That's why."
In that moment the door chose to slid open and a calm and young voice came from the entrance. "Ichikawa-san, where is Shindou? I thought he would be in the middle of shidougo by now."
"Uhm… Akira-kun… Shindou-kun is… "
Akira could see Ichikawa-san was pale and the whole salon had gone too silent.
"Touya-sensei… is…" She stuttered guiltily.
He swallowed and quickly went deeper inside the salon and heard his father's voice.
"Akira is that special. That's why! For a child his age who could beat him exist, I can't believe it!"
"Otou-san… why…" Akira approached them tentatively. "Shindou… I…"
Hikaru could almost see how his mind gears turning so the long haired boy raised a placating hand before Touya started stuttering and embarrassing himself in front of his father. "I know… this is all coincidence." He assured the other boy who flushed a deep red. "It's amazing you can keep everything quiet for weeks anyway…"
"But!"
Hikaru turned to the Meijin. "Akira…" It would be confusing to call Touya with his surname in front of his father. "He kept everything about me as a secret because I dislike attention and he respected my wish."
"I see…" The Meijin murmured. "Then let us begin, you can place three stones… just like Akira. If you're on the same level as my son, that's all you need against me."
Akira swallowed and much to his father's shock said something he never expected of his son. "Shindou… Hikaru, if you don't want to play, don't."
At that Hikaru went wide eyed, did Akira just defy his father's wish?! For him? "What are you saying?"
"Akira, let this boy prove his strength." The Meijin intoned.
Akira whirled around, facing his father. "Otou-san! He doesn't have to prove anything! I lost… against him twice! I will replay those two games if you want but please don't force him to play against his will! And not for my sake!"
"Akira…" He had never seen his son this defensive, and for this boy no less.
Hikaru snapped, "No way! You're not replaying those two horrendous games in front of your father! In front of the Meijin! How could you?!" Instead of touched Hikaru looked appalled and betrayed by Akira.
Huh?
'That's right Touya-kun!' Sai cried.
"I'd rather embarrass myself! I don't want you to collapse again!" Akira shot back.
"You're going to embarrass us both!" Hikaru said pointedly.
"Why you!"
"Akira, Shindou-kun." The Meijin called, his voice softened.
The two bickering boys paled in horror when they realized they almost started their shouting match in front of The Meijin. "We… are so sorry!" They said in chorus and bowed at him in the same time.
The Meijin chukled softly, "It's fine… I never imagine to see my son acted like this, it's… enlightening."
The two boys blinked at that, not understanding which part of their impromptu shouting match could enlighten Touya Meijin.
"At any rate… if Akira is this persistent to stop our game…" Touya Kouya trailed off, "Perhaps… we don't need a game after all."
"Actually, I would like to play a game as you wish… Touya-sensei." Hikaru admitted in lofty tone.
"Hah?" Akira whipped his head to his rival. "Shi… Shindou!"
He heaved a sigh, "It would be an honor beside… as you said, Akira is amazing…"
The other blushed a deep red, stuttering incoherently. "Shindou! What are you saying?!"
"Amazingly stubborn…" He finished sternly.
"Huh?"
Hikaru glanced at Akira, "He is amazingly stubborn about our rivalry even though I am like this…" He shook his head ruefully, "I have no idea what he sees in me, he has such bright future ahead of him and here he is… waiting for me."
Akira gritted his teeth, "I told you, I am fine with it and…"
"That's why…" Hikaru cut him off, "The least I could do now is playing against Touya-sensei… in the first place this game was requested of me for your sake…"
"Hm…" The Meijin grunted, "If it's alright with Shindou-kun, I would be more than happy to play against a boy Akira acknowledges…"
Suddenly Akira felt his heart was beating loud enough to make him deaf, a shiver ran through his spine in anticipation.
"If it's Touya-sensei…" The long haired boy continued.
'Yes… this man perhaps is my equal…' Sai whispered to his mind. 'You can go all out with him without fear.'
"I think… it would be alright if I go all out…" Hikaru finished in wistful voice as he locked his eyes with Akira's. "You want to see my real go firsthand, don't you? I will show it to you now… against Touya-sensei, your father…"
Akira swallowed, "But I…"
"Please don't be mistaken." Hikaru murmured, "I am doing this just not for my own satisfaction or guilt… I have a request…"
"Request…" Akira echoed.
Hikaru nodded, "After this game ended, I would like you to question yourself again… whether I am the one you're looking for…" He said with a tone of finality. "Touya Akira…"
Akira sighed wearily, until when this person will question his own worth? "Fine… but I doubt my answer will change…"
"As stubborn as ever…" Hikaru sighed, then he turned towards his opponent. "Well then… Touya-sensei? Shall we begin the game?"
"Very well…"
"Your guidance please…"
When Haze won the tournament against Kai I can't help but think OMG, Akira is giving Hikaru a puppy eyes... it's especially so obvious in manga when he said he is so envious it's not him who play Hikaru. I always think Hikaru is really weak against Akira when he is giving him a look.
At any rate... Hikaru is still trying to run away from Touya in a sense, because he can't give Touya what he wanted. This is the same characterization from canon in my opinion. ^^I also shows bits of Hikaru's past, it's more like a gloss over version... not the detail.
As for the title... It's a joke since Hikaru is Hikaru LOL from Tale of Genji as in Genji no Monogatari ^^ Although we're not going to have a harem story of course.