Hikaru no Monogatari Chapter 7, a hikaru no go fanfic

Chapter 7: Promising Someday

Sai always thought of his brother as the most adorable little boy he had ever seen, and not even four years later decrease that cuteness. Then again according to Heihachi, he was looking at Hikaru with heavily tinted glasses of brotherly love. He didn't get what that meant until red faced Hikaru explained it to him. His brother was even more embarrassed when he told the young player that he was being sincerely honest and not biased.

Apparently majority of their unofficial go club begged to differ, as to them, mature and composed Hikaru-sensei was anything but cute and adorable. Ichihashi-san's opinion didn't count as she thought of anything below the age of eighteen or shorter than 150cms cute, or so they said.

However steadily but surely, their opinion changed the moment Touya Akira stormed to their life like a tornado in the heat of summer.

Hikaru for some reason just couldn't keep his mini adult persona around Touya, and vice versa. It seemed to be a natural talent for them to push each other's button, especially over a goban. In fact Sai who know Hikaru better than Hikaru himself couldn't believe his brother had that kind of temper and openly shout it to the world to hear when it comes to Touya Akira. The first time it happened Sai almost took pity on his brother who looked very lost in why he could lose control of himself like that. Hikaru always kept his emotion and temper under tight control, he sometimes voiced it in his Go, but not literally out loud. Sai could see Touya felt the same, both of them couldn't believe how they could behave so out of character around each other.

In Sai's opinion, both had temper but they just learned to use it around each other. It was gloriously hilarious, the first times it happened in public both tried and failing to compose themselves with this sad and confused expression on their face that screamed, 'I can't believe I did that! Why did I do that? How could I?'

As time passed by, both of them learned it was just how their relationship worked. They could disagree at a drop of a hat and agree in the same time. Whatever, it was not worth arguing over so just get over it so they wouldn't get a headache.

However this time there was no way Touya would just get over it.

Hikaru had confessed why he persistently continued the game against Kaio's first board, and Touya was more than just unhappy, more like enraged.

Then the shouting began, but unlike before it was one sided. Touya shouted about how irresponsible Hikaru was about his health and in general for being an idiot. Hikaru just sat there in seiza as Touya continued his tirade mercilessly. As his temper subsided Touya realized that Hikaru didn't put up a fight at all, he just listened and wore this guilty look. He didn't even say an apology to Touya, because in the first place he didn't ask for one. Then Hikaru being Hikaru said something that shot Touya's temper to the roof again. Somehow it had gotten to Hikaru's head that he was getting better at coping with his panic attack. It continued for a few days until Hikaru couldn't take it anymore and confronted Touya about it much to Sai's disapproval.

"It's not as bad as before." Hikaru insisted, looking away guiltily. "We could try… to play a complete game…"

Touya glared at him. "No! It's just on your head to think that you just have to try and your panic attack will just go poof! I don't want to be your cause to collapse for second time!" He gritted out, "Fainting is a dangerous condition, unlike what fiction and television make it out to be!"

"I tried against grandfather! Before reaching yose the pain is not as bad anymore!"

"You're still in pain! Idiot!" Touya said pointedly.

"But!"

'Shindo Hikaru!' Sai cut his brother off, 'Look at your friend! Look at what kind of face he made!'

Hikaru swallowed as he slowly turned to face Touya, it was the first time since the conversation began he looked at his friend's face. "Touya?"

"I thought…" Touya choked out, "You're going to die! Every time you have that panic attack, you look like you're dying! Yasuda-san explained to me that… it's possible to… if you…" If Hikaru was not careful he could have died, human's mind was a fragile thing and it could kill.

Hikaru bowed his head, "I am so sorry… I will not ask you anymore, so please… don't cry Touya… " He pleaded, "We can play incomplete game like before… just relaxing game, I won't get hurt… okay?"

Touya nodded slowly, "I know your Go is important to you, but I will shout at you at the top of my lung without care of the place or people if you dare to do stupid things again for your Go."

Hikaru swallowed heavily, "I know it's just…"

"I am sorry for shouting." Touya said as he sat down in seiza in front of Hikaru.

Hikaru closed his eyes, "I deserve it." His eyes fluttered open slowly, "Actually I don't want you to know… but you're there, and you saw me once again at my weakest."

"…"

"I hate it…" Hikaru murmured, "I hate it when I give in to my pain, my fear… my sadness…"

Sai enveloped Hikaru in his embrace and the boy tensed for a moment before he relaxed, feeling familiar weight of the ghostly tutor on his back. Hikaru however didn't expect the extra weight from his front, arms encircled around his shoulders and unlike Sai's, it was warm.

"Touya?"

The other took a deep breath. "I told you… I don't mind waiting, you're my rival but you're also my friend… I will share your pain, fear and sadness…" He closed his eyes, "I am sure someday you will be able to walk forward again without hesitation, that someday will come…"

"Someday.. .huh?" Hikaru echoed as he rested his forehead against Touya's shoulder, and Sai could see the weight on Hikaru's shoulder lessened, it was there but at least it was not as heavy anymore.

Sai closed his eyes as he enveloped both boys in his arms, 'God… thank you for bringing them together, please… open a path for them so that someday will come…'

Kaio Middle School

"I will get lost." Hikaru said resolutely when Fubuki-sensei was showing him and Touya-kun around the school. It was almost devoid of life because it was spring break.

"This is our chemistry lab." Fubuki-sensei droned, clearly not interested in showing any room that wasn't related to his subject.

Touya sighed exasperatedly as they walked few steps behind the young teacher, "I can't believe you're already thinking of that before school even started." His friend sounded so sure about it to boot.

Sai agreed that Hikaru was very pessimistic when it comes to his direction challenged mind. Then again based on prior experience, Hikaru couldn't survive without a map in hand when walking around the city. He could memorize games and kifus without sweat, but for some direction was beyond him. Once Sai joked about how Hikaru could get lost on the way home. On the same day Hikaru fell asleep on the bus and really got lost on his way home.

Let's say since that day Sai tried his best to not say anything to challenge fate.

"By the way Shindou-kun…" Fubuki-sensei began nervously as they passed the cafeteria and the young teacher took a seat and asked them to do the same. "Can we speak for a moment?" Touya looked nervous because Fubuki only addressed his friend, wondering if he should leave them or not. Sensing the other boy's discomfort Fubuki added. "Touya-kun can stay… it's nothing private, it's just…" He trailed off, "About you hair color…"

Hikaru blinked owlishly at that, "I see… bleached hair is not allowed, it's expected… I don't mind to get my hair back to natural color." He promised. "Is that all?"

Fubuki-sensei apparently didn't expect Hikaru to not put up a fight at all. "Actually since literature is a form of art, in my opinion student should have freedom to express their identity."

Hikaru blinked again and Touya eyed him curiously, Sai guessed this was the first time Touya realized Hikaru's two toned hair clashed with his personality and background. "Uhm… actually, I didn't bleach my hair because of… that kind of reason…" Hikaru trailed off. "Back when I was younger I felt out of place because everyone has natural dark colored hair, and there is another reason but the first is mainly why I bleached part of my hair black."

"Oh I see…" Fubuki trailed off. "Eh?"

"Eh?" Touya realized something was off with what his friend said, "Bleached you hair… black?"

Hikaru looked at the two back and forth, wondering what made them wide eyed. "Yes, I bleached my hair black."

"But… if you bleached your hair black, you mean…" Touya trailed of unsurely.

Hikaru shrugged and began to dig into his pocket, and pulling out his wallet. It took him a moment to pull out a photo out, it was old but in good condition. "Here." He placed it on the table. "I was around five when my father took this picture of me and my mother."

It was a picture of a mother with wavy dark hair holding a blond, green eyed boy to her chest tightly.

Touya sputtered, "You're a natural blond?!"

Hikaru nodded, running through his fingers through his dark locks so Touya could see the roots. "It's not obvious but as you can see… naturally my hair is blond."

Fubuki-sensei rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Uhm… but you're Japanese, Shindou-kun."

"I am, but my grandmother from my father's side is French." Hikaru explained, recalling hazy memory of his deceased grandmother, Shindou Ann. "Her coloring skipped my father… I look Japanese although my natural colorings in hair and eyes aren't."

Touya almost couldn't believe what he heard, "But… you bleached your hair black because…"

"I got bullied." Hikaru admitted with a sigh, "I was annoyed they called me names because of my hair all the time so I used my savings for salon, but half-way I got impatient and decided as long as majority of my hair is black it can work… I almost gave my parents a heart attack though." That sounded so unlike current Hikaru but in the same time had a very Hikaru like logic. "But Fubuki-sensei, if I show up in April with blond hair… won't people mistaken my natural hair color as bleached? Or should I just dye all black?" Then Hikaru frowned, "But if my hair is all black, I am going to break the rule."

That was a good point, Fubuki thought. "Well… let me talk with the headmaster, and see what I can do for you."

Sai had a feeling Fubuki's mind was partly in error after listening to Hikaru's logic that somehow make sense when it shouldn't. This was his surrogate brother alright, Sai was told by Heihachi that Hikaru used to be a mischievous child and it seemed his rather twisted and odd logical thinking was leftover of that hyperactive child.

After they left the school, Touya and Hikaru walked to nearest bus station. They were going to Touya Meijin's go salon today to play shidougo. Sai couldn't help but amused when they say next to each other on the bus, Touya couldn't stop eyeing Hikaru's heir, probably imagining his brother in full blond hair. Hikaru noticed Touya's gaze of course, after all he was so used to be the target of his glare.

"Erm… is something wrong?" Hikaru asked, even though he probably already had inkling what piqued his friend's curiosity.

Touya looked flustered for a moment but then again with Hikaru, Sai guessed Touya already knew he was already used being stared at. "Nothing, it's just… I didn't expect you're naturally blond, I have been curious of why you have dyed bangs… I mean it just clash with your personality."

Hikaru blinked owlishly at that, "Hum… actually I just get used to it, I never think it make me looks like a jock. Especially because Ichihashi-san assured me it somehow works with her design."

Touya sweat-dropped at that, "So in the end… you just give up on your wardrobe."

"There's no use to put up a fight, is there? It's comfortable and looks alike with what I wears at home every day, and… as much as I hate to say it… it's free and I am not fond of shopping clothes." Hikaru listed on.

"You mean… in short you didn't think it worth to put a fight for." Touya concluded in exasperated tone. "I wonder how Kaga-san and Tsutsui will react if we tell them about your hair."

"Would you like to know?"

Twenty Minutes Later (Touya Meijin's go salon)

"I know it." Kaga said as he waved his hand dismissively. "He is natural blond, go figures."

Touya looked bewildered at the mild reaction Kaga gave, "You know? You're not surprised?"

Kaga pointed at Shindou who was playing against four opponents at once as usual, then pointing at his own eyes. "Shindou's eyes… is green, light green… fair eyes tend to have fair colored hair." Touya never imagined Kaga was the type who paid attention to biology lesson for sure. "And when I look closely I can see blond roots on his black hair." He added smugly. "The deciding factor is his eyelashes, his eyebrows is black but his eyelashes aren't."

Tsutsui-san was openly gaping at Shindou, "That's unexpected." Then looked at Kaga, "And as expected of you, the closet mystery nerd."

"Hey!"

Surprisingly the boy with smart guy image didn't notice, and then again Touya didn't either.

It amused Sai that Touya looked a little annoyed that he didn't notice that little piece of information about Hikaru when Kaga did. Then suddenly his intense eyes turned to Tsutsui, and the older boy hilariously sputtering. Sai couldn't blame him, as Touya inherited those intense eyes from his father. The Meijin could probably scare his opponent on the level middle dan and below to resign just with his eyes.

"Tsutsui-san…" Touya whispered as he spared a glance at Kaga who was walked away to watch Hikaru's shidougo closely and out of hearing range. "How do you get to know your friend better?"

Tsutsui blinked at him, adjusting his glasses and stared at Touya long and hard. It took him a while to get what the younger boy was getting at, "Uhm… sharing the same hobby." He suggested with the friendliest tone, as he learned Touya Akira was not arrogant like Kaga thought. The boy was socially awkward, even more so than his friend.

Touya sighed at that, "Uhm… most of our hobbies are the same, and I am a complete amateur in music."

"Doing something fun together?" Tsutsui suggested again.

"We play go all the time." Touya pointed out.

Tsutsui was about to say playing go was not the only fun thing to do then again for these two prodigies, they were metaphorically eat and breathe go so there was no point arguing. He was running out of idea very quickly, "Then! How about visiting his house?"

"I almost spent half of my time there, on Tuesday, Thursday and weekend." Touya admitted with a sigh.

In short, the younger boy almost lived there. The older boy looked very close to tearing his hair out to think up another idea. "Oh… but, has Shindou-kun?" Akira blinked, "I mean the other way around, has he come to your house yet?"

"Uhm…" Touya shook his head, "No, but okaa-san already asked before… "

Sai cheered in the background much to Hikaru's confusion, because they were going to be invited to Touya Meijin's house. Touya later asked if Hikaru would like to spend his Friday in his house. Sai was almost afraid Hikaru would refuse when instead of outright yes, his host looked thoughtful. Much to Sai's and Touya's relief, Hikaru only had one problem with visiting Touya's house.

"Will Ogata-pro be in your house on Friday?"

Touya waved his hand in negative gesture. "Our study group is on Tuesday night, he won't be there."

Tsutsui-san gaped at Hikaru who openly sighed in relief. "What's wrong with Ogata-pro?"

"Nothing, I just don't want to be in the same room with him." Hikaru said in nonchalant tone with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Touya sweat-dropped, 'So… he is still avoiding Ogata-san, and perhaps his pride is still hurt from their last game.'

In the end it was decided Hikaru couldn't come to visit Touya's house for unspecified amount of time, as Touya recalled Ogata-san tend to drop by his house unannounced. Not to mention if he informed his parents about Shindou's visit, his mother won't be able to keep the excitement down. She tend to blurt things out to Ashiwara-san and everyone in his father's study group would come out of curiosity.

Like it or not, Hikaru's visit to Touya's house had to be postponed much to Touya's disappointment.

The next day an overly cheerful Fubuki-sensei called Hikaru that he somehow managed to convince Kochou-sensei to lay off about Hikaru's hair, especially because there was no rule that forbid it in the first place. Mainly it was because elite school like Kaio never had a student with bleached hair, and never expect they would. Then again Hikaru was not sure how Fubuki-sensei relate his hair with identity crisis to Headmaster, or so the young teacher said. Or Fubuki-sensei once again abused the fact he was the son of board chairman.

Hikaru just hoped he could have a normal school life with Akira regardless of everything.

06th May (Shindou's residence)

It was a day after boy's day and special day for them, which was the day Hikaru returned with his grandfather from Innoshima. Sai, Hikaru and Heihachi always went to Innoshima annually on fifth day of May to pay respect to Torajiro. Sai was amused when the first time they went there, Hikaru piped in that the grave was basically Sai's and not Torajiro's. Shusaku was Sai, and Torajiro was his proxy.

It was odd to think he had a grave on his own nine centuries late.

The trip was five days, so Sai was not surprised to see Touya already visited the day after even though it was Monday the other usually spent in his go salon instead of Hikaru's house. Hikaru felt a little guilty that he didn't spend golden week with Touya, and Sai was amused at what Hikaru planned to make up for it.

"You can show it off to Ogata-pro if you want." Hikaru said smugly, "Although I didn't recommend it since I think Ogata-pro will fly off of his handle if he knew."

Touya was a curious boy, so Sai was impressed he could befriend Hikaru who was full of mysteries. "What could you get me that make Ogata-pro envious?"

Hikaru opened the door to his room, and Sai bet the boy was confused when his brother pulled a silk wrapped goban from his shelves. Hikaru carefully unwrapped the silk and revealed a familiar old goban, it was well cared and looked old, but nothing special. Sai could see the prodigy instantly recognized the goban as a kaya goban, and a high quality one. All gobans in Hikaru's house were made of spruce, and one of it was made of Katsura. So it surprised Touya that Hikaru had one on his own and made of Kaya to boot, and if his eyes didn't deceive him, it was a high quality kaya.

"May I?" Touya asked and Hikaru nodded, then he placed a stones on the tengen. The sound was clear and pure, and it had some sort of mystic feeling on it. "This is… a high quality kaya board, and so old…"

Hikaru nodded happily before he dropped the bomb, "Yes… it's around one hundred and seventy years old."

"Hah?" Touya blinked owlishly at that.

"It also used to belong to Honinbou Shusaku… he had it since he was young, and it still in his possession until he passed away at 34 years old." Hikaru added as he checked the other goke.

Now Hikaru's friend was openly gaping at him, and stuttered. "It's… it's… Shu… sa… ku's goban?!"

"Uh huh." Hikaru nodded, "His personal goban to be precise, the one he kept with him all the time."

Touya sputtered some more and Sai struggled to not laugh at his shocked face. "But… but… shouldn't this board be in his museum or… collector item… and…"

Hikaru shrugged, "My granduncle got lucky… he saved it from someone's shack, rumors said the goban got stolen after Honinbou Shusaku's death, changed hands many times and landed in our shack…" He explained fondly as if he didn't just explain some sort of morbid history. "It rumored to be haunted though and… when I found it; the goban had some blood on it."

"WHAT?!"

Hikaru quickly amended, "To be precise I tested it with luminol out of curiosity… as the authentic Shusaku's goban supposed to be stained with blood because he passed away because of cholera."

"Shindou… your fascination with Honinbou Shusaku had gone pass weird and veering to creepy territory." Touya said flatly. "But I have to say… this is an impressive and historical treasure of Go world…" His finger twitched when he almost touched the goban.

Touya looked very hesitant to touch the goban, no doubt the thought that it was used to be stained by blood and tears made a child predictably felt a little creped out.

"If it makes you feel better I am sure it's not haunted." Hikaru added inwardly, not anymore.

"If you're trying to give me mixed feeling about this Shusaku's goban, you succeed." Touya conceded. "I am torn between unnerved and awe."

Hikaru sighed wearily, "Actually… I want you to play a game with it, and I hope you can ignore the history as this is the only kaya goban we have and I want the game to be played in best condition…"

"I see, eh? What did you say?"

"I want the game to be played in best condition?"

"No! You want ME to play a game with it!" Touya recited in horror, "Are you nuts?! Using Shusaku's legacy?!"

Hikaru rolled his eyes, "It's a goban." He said pointedly, "It's not a pretty board to be displayed in museum but to be used to play Go, Honinbou Shusaku should feel insulted that his board is not used anymore."

Touya smiled at that, "Well… you have a point, so should we…"

"I am not the one playing." Hikaru cut him off, and dropped another bomb. "My mentor will play against you."

Touya opened his mouth, closed it and opened it again. "Shindou." He took a deep breath, "You… are going to give me a game against your mentor, Sai-san?"

"Uh huh." Hikaru nodded. "You don't want the game?" Hikaru held up the silk wrap, as if preparing in case Touya didn't want the game so the goban would be wrapped in silk again.

"I want it!" Touya declared quickly, glaring when he saw his friend was grinning at him. "Shindou! You have a lot of fun today with teasing me!"

"I do…" Hikaru admitted with a grin, "I can't resist when I saw my best friend coming to see me at eight in the morning."

Touya flushed a deep red.

'Hikaru.' Sai called him, 'Stop teasing Touya-kun, start the game before he is boiling in embarrassment.'

"Hai hai…" Hikaru said in placating tone, "But bear in mind that my teacher because of some condition is not able to play with you in person." Hikaru said as he pulled out a phone, "It would be a pity to play online so I will make a call and have my teacher to tell me the coordinate so I can place the stone for him."

Touya frowned at that, "Some condition…" He murmured, "Okay, I think I should count myself fortunate considering Ogata-san of all people is dying for the same chance." Then he added, "By the way… Ogata-san was fuming last week because you rejected his challenge five times in a row online."

"I am calling now." Hikaru said as he pointedly ignoring Touya's talking about Ogata-pro. "Moshi-moshi..." Then he placed the phone on the tatami mat, away from Touya-kun's line of sight and turned on the ghost box. Thankfully the newer version had better sound system so Sai's voice didn't sound as creepy and haunting, and more like human's voice. "I will turn it on stereo."

Touya nodded as he sat in front of Hikaru, across the goban in seiza.

"Hello… Hikaru, is the voice clear enough?"

"Hai, sensei…" Hikaru replied softly.

The voice of Sai was light and melodious, it was adult voice but for some reason it was so far off Touya's imagination as he always comparing Hikaru's mentor with his father's.

Touya on reflex bowed, "Nice to meet you, Sai-sensei! I am… Touya Akira." Then he realized the voice was from the phone so Sai couldn't see his bow and flushed deep red.

"Nice to meet you too, Touya-kun." Sai actually could see Touya bowing to him and very amused by his reaction. "I am Sai… Hikaru's mentor, I am sorry our first meeting is like this but it's the best I could do because of my condition."

As curious as he was with Sai's condition, Touya understood he better of not knowing. As Hikaru had told him, it would be easier for him to have nothing to tell to anyone to keep their secret secret.

"It's an honor to play with you." Touya assured his friend's mentor.

"It's an honor to me as well, I thank you for the opportunity presented to my student to play against your father." Touya refrained telling the ghost tutor that it was all his father, but he was indeed the cause for that opportunity. "I am looking forward for our game, Touya-kun…"

"Hai."

"Now… the question is…" Sai trailed off in amused tone. "We will have one game, so what kind of game you wanted?" Sai queried.

Touya blinked, "What kind?"

Hikaru helped him to elaborate, "Shidougo, handicapped game or… even game." Hikaru knew his friend well enough which option Akira would pick.

Touya's eyes hardened as he answered without hesitation. "Even game, just like one you always play with Shindou, Sai-sensei…"

"Very well…" Sai murmured, "You may take black, and I shall pick white… I always play with Hikaru that way."

Touya smiled at that as he picked the black stones goke and Hikaru took white in Sai's place. "Your guidance please."

"Your guidance please." Sai returned.

Touya placed the first stone, claiming 4-4 moku.

Pachi

"4-3 Komoku." Sai's melodious voice murmured.

The dark haired boy paused when he saw Hikaru's gesture changed, he still hold his stone with sublime grace but something was different. His eyes narrowed and there was a thin smile on his lips as he placed his stone. It almost like… he was mimicking someone else, no, it was like someone moved him.

Pachi

He shook that thought away from his mind, he was playing against someone on his father's level and in an even game! He couldn't afford to wonder such trivial thing but somehow…

Pachi

Somehow the way his friend acted made he felt like he was facing different person, and perhaps it made him easier to imagine someone else in Shindou's place. An adult with long hair and pale skin? He blinked owlishly, and wondered if he was imagining things for a moment. Never mind, just concentrate on the game.

Pachi

As expected of Shindou's mentor, his joseki was old. If Shindou was balanced mix of modern and old, Sai's was traditional with a hint of modern, or rather it was like classic joseki that evolved with modern coating and producing a different and better joseki. As if… Honinbou Shusaku was learning modern joseki.

"16-7, Hiraki."

Pachi

Akira frowned at the last move, so Shindou's mentor also had this habit of placing stone in odd challenging spot to test the water. It was not out of arrogance, if he was just like Shindou, this person was testing and gauging his strength for good. 'However unlike Shindou this person is not n front of me but high and faraway above...' He couldn't help but smiled at that.

Pachi

"15-3, Kosumi."

This person was really Shindou's mentor, down to their favorite kosumi. Then again looking at Shindou's penchant for attacking large area, they could afford using kosumi.

Pachi

Pachi "15,4 Nobi."

Another habit of Shindou, using old joseki nobi instead of modern joseki hane. Habit aside this person also had this impenetrable defense in the beginning of the game, he won't bulge at all. All his attempts to attack were deflected but unlike Shindou who stayed quiet and content to defend, his teacher balanced attacking and defense in the same time.

The game reached chuugen and the confrontation was getting heated.

This person was not holding back at him at all, and Akira felt like trying to move a thick and heavy wall. He could tell Sai was the same level as his father, but the pressure was different kind.

Pachi

Pachi (Hiraki)

Pachi

He played with his father every morning, and Shindou endured this kind of game every night. It was no wonder even though Shindou's experience was half of his, he managed to get to Akira's level. Then again it was hard to make comparison between him and Shindou, they were equal and that's that. However Akira had to admit that Shindou for all his frailty of mind had the nerve of steel to play against this person at full force.

Sai was undoubtedly testing him in every move, but Akira didn't feel insulted because he knew Sai in no way was going easy on him. This was not shidougo but perhaps an extreme version kind of it. No wonder Shindou's real go was so vicious and serene in the same time, he needed that contradiction to face his mentor's play style. It was inevitable to be outclassed and he had to find a way to put up a worthwhile fight for this master player.

Pachi!

Pachi

Sai smiled, this child was indeed Hikaru's equal. He had watched this child from sidelines, but face to face was always the best way to gauge someone. This child had potential just like Hikaru but different kind. Would he grow up to be a dragon or a lion?

Pachi

Pachi!

The game went on and about to reach yose. Akira lost count of how many times he wanted to resign, not because there was no hand left to play but simply because the feeling of inevitable lost was overwhelming. He kept reminding himself that Shindou, his rival and friend had to face this kind of pressure every day like he did his father. However his father was not this merciless, his father tested him but not like this. No wonder Shindou didn't even flinch in front of his father

Pachi

Pachi!

Akira suppressed his urge to grimace, because that stone Sai caught just now was vital for his survival. This was yose, and Shindou was excellent at this point of game, which meant his mentor would put even greater pressure here.

Pachi

Ten hands later Sai placed the last stone and Akira could see how his lost was sealed. He had lost by ten moku.

"Thank you for the game." He murmured tiredly, panting lightly. He felt like he was running from his father's go salon in search of Shindou again, so tired but in the end he found his purpose.

"Thank you for the game." Sai returned with a smile, "You played beautifully, Touya-kun… very impressive."

Hikaru nodded in agreement, "Did you study the kifu I gave you by any chance? You seem pretty familiar with my teacher's joseki…"

"Actually…" Touya trailed off sheepishly, "I did take a look at those but his joseki and yours have similarities so…"

Hikaru blinked owlishly at that, "All things considered, it's amazing you predicted sensei's move with basing it on mine…" He complimented with a grin. "Shall we discuss the game?"

"It would be short." Sai said sternly, "Hikaru, hand 57… Touya-kun's 15-11."

Touya quickly assisted Hikaru to rewind the game to that hand, "There."

"In here…" Sai began, "You choose to attack with hane, it's a good choice but you should notice the threat on your upper left cluster… in short it's a good move but not the best." Sai stated firmly, "That's the only move I think you should think over, the rest is just the difference in skill and experience to be honest."

Touya nodded, and he was really flattered Shindou's mentor thought he didn't do any major mistake.

"However… I have to say your go is precise and cautious, you made daring offense but with calculation." Sai added in solemn tone. "There's nothing wrong with being cautious and calculative… in fact you can learn from Hikaru and vice versa."

He blinked at that while Hikaru looked sheepish. "Eh?"

"I am sure you noticed that Hikaru's go is almost the very opposite of yours, he is as calculative as you but it's based on his insight… in short there's no solid base on his, it's all his intuition." Sai explained while Hikaru just laughed softly at that, "Hikaru also tend to throw caution to the wind though, especially at the end of chuugen to yose… "

Hikaru now looked sheepish, "In short, I should learn to play carefully with solid calculation." He concluded, "In the other hand you also can learn playing instinctively and taking huge risk when needed."

"I understand." Touya looked amazed by that insight; he didn't expect to be told to trust his instinct and so on. That was illogical but considering the way Hikaru played, there was strength in trusting it. "However… come to think of it, when thinking how you made a hand that work in over thirty hands later… risky is too weak word to describe it."

Hikaru sweat-dropped, "Actually thirty is the limit sensei set… because when I over read more than that, the risk of getting it wrong is huge."

Considering Shindou pulled it on his father, The Meijin of all people he had to say that was an understatement.

"At any rate… I am glad for this opportunity to play with you Touya-kun." Sai said with a smile. "I a m looking forward to see your growth, I wonder if you're going to grow up to be a lion or a dragon… "

And with that the conversation ended, and Hikaru quickly pretended ending the line.

"And that's that…" He smiled at Touya, "So, how is the game?"

"Amazing." He breathed out in awe, "It's no wonder player all over the world wants to play him." In the other hand he had to say Sai was indeed Hikaru's teacher, down to their tendency to be mysterious.

Hikaru sighed at that, "Yeah… but thanks to that my teacher and I have to use every trick in the book to make sure we won't be traced." He recalled memory from last year, "Around August last year… there is an amateur world tournament."

Touya nodded, "I remember that event, Ogata-san invited me there on its third day."

"I was there on the second day." Hikaru cringed at the memory. "One people talked about us, another joined in and then it turned to a huge commotion…"

"So that big commotion that push their schedule late is…" Touya trailed off.

"In the end I didn't watch anything but that commotion… " Hikaru murmured, "That's also when I realized apparently Net-go is not below pro's standard after all, and my teacher had unknowingly beat some of them including An Teson from Korea."

"An Teson?" That was not much stretch of imagination considering Sai was on the level of a title holder.

"The problem is… we just started for a few months." Hikaru added. "So it's unexpected of us to make such a stir… "

Touya chuckled softly, "Well… when there is a mystery, people would be drawn to unravel it."

"Uh huh…" Hikaru nodded, "And I have no wish to be mobbed for it and some secret is better of a secret forever."

"Even from me? Touya quickly clamped his mouth shut when he realized what he just said. "I am…"

Hikaru whacked him on the forehead with his fan lightly, and the other boy winced in shock. "If it's you perhaps not… if it's you… "

Ne, Ani-ue? Can I promise that?

Yes, if it's Touya-kun… someday… you can promise him that much.

"I think I can promise a someday to tell you everything?"

Touya perked up at that, "What? When?"

"Someday is someday Touya…" Hikaru rolled his eyes, "It's not now or today for sure."

He sighed at that, "Well… we have a lot of time until that someday… but still! What's with you and someday?! It's like your kosumi!"

"Touya! I can't believe you still want to argue with me about Kosumi! It's a perfectly brilliant move!"

"Not when you play black!"

"I play just fine with Kosumi when I'm black!"

"Or so you think."

"It's a fact!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

Sai who watched everything just sighed, 'They may be the two brightest prodigies of this era but they're still very much children~ Kids these days…'

Kaio Middle School (Spring)

Touya was exhausted, and Sai thought that was so not the way to welcome spring and his junior high school life. His Hikaru fared a little better after both of them had to endure Ichihashi-san's and Ichikawa-san's overwhelming eagerness to immortalize their first day of junior high school with pictures and video. Both women couldn't stop fangirling about how good Kaio's uniform on the two Go prodigies, as it was tailor made for them.

After the chattering and girlish excitement over two pretty boys as they put it was over, both Hikaru and Touya were sent to school by Ichikawa-san. At the drop off, the two boys quickly made their way to a large board where their class was announced. Looking at the big crowd, the two exhausted boys had no wish to force themselves in to look at their class.

'Class A' Sai said to Hikaru through their mind link, 'You're in the same class as Touya-kun!'

'Really? Thanks ani-ue.' Then Hikaru turned to his friend. "We're in class A, let's check the map to see where it is."

Touya blinked owlishly at Hikaru, "How do you know that, from here the writing is pretty small."

Hikaru shrugged, "I just can tell, let's go… before…" He trailed off, "The staring becomes worse."

Touya glanced at a group of students; they were staring at him and Hikaru. "Go club members?"

"Most likely." Hikaru whispered, tugging Touya's arm and they started walking away. "We made quite a commotion that day, and I would hate if they start to pester us about it."

Touya frowned at that, "Why would they?"

"Aside from we have quite a reputation…" Hikaru trailed off, Touya for being the only son of Touya Meijin and hailed go prodigy and Hikaru for beating their first board and Touya's friend. "Fubuki-sensei contacted me that Kochou-senseif we asked if we will join Go club, I can't because it's compulsory for me to join classic club as part of my scholarship… and it's difficult to juggle two clubs."

"I see…" Touya rubbed his forehead at that, "I told Kochou-sensei that I will consider it but…"

"But you're not interested either and it's unlikely you're going to be welcome there." Hikaru finished grimly. "I heard it's a pretty competitive club inside… their top members are good enough to be inseis and so on…"

Touya nodded, "But because they are a big club and the competition only have spot for three peoples… if we join in we will attract hostility in no time."

"Troublesome." Hikaru muttered under his breath.

"Indeed." Touya finished.

Sai mentally ticked his personal list of Hikaru and Touya-kun's step of friendship, as of now they had finished each other's sentence.

The ceremony in the hall was boring in Sai's opinion, as majority of students were yawning and Kochou-sensei was reading his speech from a yellowed paper. It seemed he repeated the same speech for years. Hikaru and Touya looked composed through the speech but Sai knew they didn't listen to Kochou-sensei at all. Both of them most likely were replaying games on their mind. Sai had to approve that was a good way to pass time.

In class it was easy to see Hikaru and Touya stood out in the class, as they naturally occupied secluded seats for themselves. It seemed a lot of students here had friends from previous school, chattering excitedly for being accepted to prestigious school.

"Look, that boy… so cute! Pretty even!"

"The other boy looks like a China doll!"

Hikaru and Touya stiffened, neither wanted to guess who the china doll or pretty boy was. Sai had to laugh at their naivety to think as long as they ignored those girls, they would be left alone. Boys, that was not how it worked.

However Hikaru and Touya were right their hope for a peaceful and calm junior high school life had gone to drain.

I fell asleep so I publish this late LOL

I hope you like this somewhat Sai's centric chapter...

ps: I publish a new HnG story so check "Honinbou's Disciple" out.