Chapter 11: Meeting the Insei
Hikaru developed an unreasonable hate to his blond hair lately, or rather it was the old hate resurfacing. Then again he didn't see it as good enough reason to go through the pain of dyeing his hair again, and risking cancer for the second time just to look more Japanese. So on the day of prelim exam Hikaru tucked his hair inside a black cap.
His best friend's comment to that, "You look ridiculous, your hair is fine as it is."
"I will keep this on until the game begins." Hikaru insisted.
Akira rolled his eyes, "Hikaru… you spent half of your life with jock looking hair and you don't care, but now you're bothered by your natural hair color."
"I don't really get it myself either." Hikaru admitted honestly.
The Meijin's son eyed his best friend exasperatedly, "Oh well… keep the cap on until the game begin, whatever… if it help you. I am sure you will find the cap bothersome by the next day."
"I think so too." Hikaru agreed. "I think I will not care by tomorrow at all."
Akira rubbed his temple, "Hikaru, sometimes the way your mind works drives people insane… and I wonder why it made sense in my head while it shouldn't." He said as he grabbed Hikaru's hand to alight at the train station that was the closest to the Ki'in.
"Peoples are staring." Hikaru said pointedly at their joined hand.
"I'd rather risk a little shame over losing you on the crowd, the last time that happened I spent one hour looking for you." Akira said with a huff. "Why you can read the board so well but direction is beyond you, I don't get it."
Hikaru grumbled, but not making any effort to release his hand from Akira's. "I can find my way as long as I have a good map in hand."
"I am not convinced by someone who got lost in thirty feet corridor on his way to chemistry lab." Akira shot back.
Hikaru flushed red, "That just one time!"
"Who keep saying about picking place for shouting?" Akira asked mischievously.
The blond boy groaned, "Fine, arimasen!"
"Thank you for the game." Akira returned smugly, first win against Hikaru in the morning was always a good sign.
Ki'in
Apparently the prelim was where you were randomly matched up against other participants, get a number and you get to play five games and get three win to qualify for the real exam. Very simple, unless he got to play Akira now and raised a commotion. Akira would be happy to have an official match regardless of what resulted from their game. However it seemed they won't get the chance in prelim and Hikaru resisted his urge to whack his best friend upside the head for pouting. They would play an official game in the real exam anyway because it was a round robin style exam.
Akira went to take his seat across a boy who looked younger than they were and Hikaru could see the boy already had defeated look on his face. An insei who quickly resigned to his inevitable lost the moment he saw Akira's name next to his?
Hikaru shook his head, the exam just started and Akira's first opponent already resigned before the game even began. At the time like this he didn't envy Akira's fame at all.
Nase looked at the name next to hers, 'Shindou Hikaru' he was an outsider, but she had no idea it was a boy or a girl as Hikaru was an uni-sex name. Then someone appeared in front of her and gracefully sat down in seiza. Her jaw dropped when the young teen took off his cap and a shoulder length blond hair spilled out, green eyes gazed at hers resolutely.
"Nigiri." His voice snapped her out of her shock and she quickly placed her guess, two black stones.
A handful of white stones spilled on the goban, eight stones, so she won black. Never mind who her opponent was, don't be distracted!
She won black; she was good at playing black! It was a good sign. She thought as she made her first move, claiming upper left hoshi.
Pachi
And her opponent responded with claiming a komoku
Pachi!
Break Period
The boy stopped the clock after his brilliant move that cut her shape when Shinoda-sensei announced it was time to take a break. Nase stared at the board in shock. She was losing badly, and she was pretty sure she should have resigned already. It was damn obvious she was outclassed so badly by that boy. She still had some hands to play but she had never ever won with coming from behind, not even once.
She eyed the clock somberly, she had used more than half of her allotted time, and there was no way in hell she could survive playing her hands in seconds against him. "Haaah…" She clamped her mouth shut, how could she let out such a sigh in front of her opponent out loud?!
Thankfully when she looked up, her opponent was already walking out of the room.
She didn't know she had to be relieved of disappointed. She avoided going out of the room soon in fear of running to him, because there was no way she could face his opponent without a goban separating them. Especially when she recalled that on Minami's urging she tried asking for an autograph from that pretty boy.
That was so embarrassing! Minami-chan! Nase was seriously going to have a talk with her after this!
Resting Room
Waya was feeling the worse of deprivation from Sai's and Kou's game. It was silly addiction, but any online players… majority of them were addicted by the same thing. Maybe it was something like teenage boy addiction to shonen manga. It was like how when your weekly favorite series turned to monthly series. Their games were not simply amazing and exciting to watch, but inspirational to Waya. They were online player's muse, so to speak.
The source of his frustration was simply because it was scary to think with their continuous absence, they'd lose Sai and Kou. It was not something new for good players losing interest and MIA from online community, but since Net-Go was launched they had never lost those two. Net-Go would never be the same without them.
"Aah…" Waya shook his head, 'Sai and Kou shouldn't be on my mind now! Focus on our exam instead!' His eyes began to wander around the room, and he couldn't help but amused by the antic of his fellow examinees. There was this one guy, who was in danger of permanent wrinkle on his forehead. A discussion over a tsumego book. A stupid looking guy deep in thought, eyes closed, pacing back and forth, and Waya thought he was in danger of tripping over something like that.
Fuku looked pretty tired, which was odd because the little guy usually was full of energy. Nase had wandered next to Fukui, looked equally exhausted. What was wrong with them?
Waya sighed, 'I should be worried too, no, I should stay calm just like…'
His eyes wandered again and landed on a boy wearing v neck teal shirt. The boy looked calm and serene as reading Touya Meijin's tsumego book. 'There's one guy that's all calm… eh?'
Waya's eyes widened and before he could stop himself he said the name out loud. "Touya Akira?"
The boy looked up from his book and confirmed Waya's suspicion. "Yes?"
In instance everyone in the room had their eyes on Touya Akira, and the prodigy didn't even bat an eye when he became the sole target of their attention. They were so caught up in shock by their first face to face encounter with the famed prodigy to the point no one really noticed when someone entered the room. However their attention was broken when Touya Akira let out a yelp when a cold can of green tea touched his cheek.
That was when their attention was drawn towards the stranger who had intrude Touya Akira's personal space with ease, sitting in seiza close enough to have their shoulders almost touching and startling the Meijin's son with cold can on the cheek, a classic harmless prank.
"Hikaru!" Touya Akira hissed, mortification painted in his body language. "What was that for?"
"I really want to try that." Came the nonchalant and innocent answer. "You should look at your face, Akira."
Waya's eyes widened the size of dinner plate for the second time, and he shouted louder than when he recognized the Meijin's son. "AAH! You're that French guy!" He shouted and pointed an accusing finger at the blond boy who was equally unperturbed as Touya Akira. "And you speak Japanese!"
Nase who sat beside Fuku sputtered, "Japanese…"
"Oh." The French guy's eyes lighted up in recognition, "You guys are the Insei I met in Ki'in before." He said in a tone way too calm after shocking them out of their wits.
Nase blushed a deep red and tried to make herself as small as possible. Waya was a little sorry for her but it was her fault to give in to Minami's whim. What kind of self-respecting insei going to karaoke with pro exam looming in horizon instead of a study group anyway?
Touya Akira raised an amused eyebrow at his friend. "Hikaru, you're pulling the clueless French boy act to avoid giving signature again?"
"Uh huh… I just don't like doing that kind of thing, you know that modeling business I did as a favor for a friend." Then he glanced at Waya who looked like a deer on headlight and his gaze swept over murmuring examinees. "Come to think of it, what's with the ruckus? Akira?"
Touya Akira shrugged, he said as he accepted the opened can of green tea his friend passed him. "No clue."
Akira? Hikaru? These two were calling each other by first name…
"Oh! My apologies for my abrupt leave from before…" He was so damn polite but Waya could hear he was indeed sorry. "And also for what I did that time…" He said glancing at Nase who was failing at hiding herself behind Fukui. "I just felt really awkward… I am not an idol or anything so I pretend to be unable to understand Japanese…"
Nase stuttered, "Never mind! My friend pushed me to do it! You know… it's just… well! Teenager's whim!"
Waya stared at her incredulously. "What the hell are you talking about Nase?"
"Ha ha ha ha! No sweat!" She laughed it off. "So what's your name?" She asked enthusiastically to hide her embarrassment, "I am Nase!" Waya could see that Nase had all intention to bury her first meeting with the blond under a rock.
He smiled at her and Waya swore she was melting. "I am Shindou Hikaru…" Then he glanced at his friend. "And this is Touya, but I guess all of you know him." He glanced at Touya Akira with amused look, and then he said in teasing tone. "Aren't you popular, Akira…"
Touya Akira rolled his eyes in respond to that jab much to Waya's shock, "Like you're one to talk, Hikaru."
Shindou laughed softly before he turned his attention to them, "Nice to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you too." Touya Akira added, equally polite and proper.
Waya grunted, "Waya Yoshitaka… Insei."
"I am Fukui Yuuta, but everyone calls me Fuku." The youngest boy said, "I know it's Touya-kun, he he… "
Waya eyed his younger insei comrade skeptically, "How do you know?" Touya Akira appeared a couple of times in Go magazine but always in smaller photo next to his father. He knew the guy with guessing from Morishita-sensei's rough description. He was famous in Go community but not a lot of people knew his face.
"He is my opponent today." Fuku informed him, "I don't stand a chance." He said sheepishly.
Waya gave him a painful headlock, and the younger boy yelped. "You're an insei! Have some pride! Aspiring pro shouldn't sound so weak!"
"But!" Fuku protested weakly.
"Oi Waya! Leave poor Fuku alone!" Nase pulled Waya off of the young boy with slit eyes.
"Are you three insei?" Touya Akira inquired suddenly.
Fuku nodded after Waya was off of him. "Uhm! This is my first try, it's Waya's third and Nase's second time taking the exam. Right?"
Understandably Waya didn't appreciate Fuku informing people that he had failed twice. "Don't 'right' me!"
Hikaru eyed the three insei, unexpectedly they were a pretty merry bunch. Fuku was especially cheery, he was resigned to lose against Akira but he didn't sound that sad or frustrated of his inevitable lose. He was young but he was a gracious loser. Then again perhaps because of his age he was not that desperate to win the exam.
"I am totally going to lose, aah~ A loss on the first match!" He whined to himself.
Hikaru has seen their goban in passing and indeed the chance Fuku to win was none unless Akira made a huge mistake. Akira wouldn't do that so his loss was almost a foregone conclusion, but this kid whined about it right on the face of his opponent? Then again he didn't know how insei rolled on their class.
Nase joined in, "Me too." She looked at Hikaru with a sigh, "You're really strong! I should have resigned ages ago… aah…" Resigning on the right time was a mark of skilled player, only idiots keep playing losing game in Go. It was not about quick to give up, but the correct decision making skill and respect for your opponent's skill.
"Not you too Nase! You two! Come from behind against these two! The game is not over yet!" Waya urged them on.
Hikaru and Akira blinked at Waya's bluntness, 'I get it he wants to cheer his friends up, but he seriously ignoring that we're in the same room? Or he doesn't care?' Hikaru also could easily notice Waya Yoshitaka had instant dislike of him and Akira, almost hostile even.
Nase glared at him. "Easy for you to say!"
"Why you're so irritated today, Waya-kun?" Fuku pointed out, "Did something happen?"
Waya was caught off guard at that, but of course he couldn't admit out loud that his idols going MIA was affecting his mood. "None of your business." He glanced at the two prodigies, eyeing them skeptically, the blond one especially. "I never heard of you before… Shindou Hikaru."
Nase was not a top insei but she was good enough to be in the first class. Nase complained a lot, it was one thing to complain that she was in a pinch but she was complaining that she should have resigned even before lunch. If even before lunch Nase had lost, this guy was a real deal.
Hikaru blinked at that, "Uhm… I never join any tournament before so…"
Never?! So he had no tournament record at all? And yet he was strong enough to beat an insei?
His eyes turned to Touya Akira, 'Come to think of it, this guy has no tournament record either…' This was why Waya disliked Touya Akira. Whatever one-sided rivalry Morishita-sensei had going with Touya-Meijin aside. He didn't like how everyone hailed Touya Akira as the best of their generation while the guy didn't test himself against his peers to earn that acknowledgement.
"You're so strong though!" Nase exclaimed, "And you're not even an insei."
Inwardly Waya added, 'The guy beside him is not an insei either, but Touya is someone we expect but this Shindou guy…' He rubbed his chin, 'He and Touya are in first name basis but… isn't Touya the Meijin's son according to Morishita-sensei, eat and breathe Go? How the hell this Shindou guy is never heard off before? Perhaps they are not as close as they look, if someone this strong hanging around Touya he would have been noticed long ago.'
"Akira, eat."
Shindou's voice snapped Waya out of his thought.
Touya Akira was giving pained look at three small rice balls, and very delicious looking one at that which wrapped in bamboo leaf with radish pickle on the side. Shindou had the same menu for his lunch and he was eating it daintily.
"But…"
Shindou Hikaru gave the Touya Akira a stern look, "Akira… you don't want to east square meal between your game, it's not much but filling enough. So eat."
Then the two boys locked in a staring match, which ended when Shindou narrowed his eyes at Touya and the lunch. Touya sighed exasperatedly before he began eating his lunch quietly.
'Is he your friend, or your mother?!'
Their lunch was short and quick due to the small amount. Then they quickly excuse themselves politely to return to the game room.
The game resumed shortly after they left and Waya could see Nase and Fuku were resigned to go to the game room only to say 'arimasen' to those two prodigies. It was downright depressing but Waya had the opportunity to see a glimpse of Fuku's board and winced at the sight. Touya was merciless, he cornered Fuku and cut all available escape routes. Maybe he shouldn't talk about making a comeback because he was sure he can't do that if he was in Fuku's shoes.
Nase's board was on the other side of the room so he couldn't see it but he doubted Nase was in better condition. True to Nase's words, she resigned quickly. Waya saw her bowing as she declared her resignation to Shindou around five minutes after the game restarted. A moment later Fuku followed her example. However strangely fifteen minutes later and Waya won his game by three and half moku, Nase was still in the room. He also saw Shindou left after excusing himself to Nase.
Waya walked toward her and asked, "I thought you resigned ages ago?"
Nase grinned, "We discussed the game…" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, "It seems Shindou-kun feels bad for blowing me off before so he stayed to discuss the game with me."
Waya frowned at that, "Nase… sorry to say this but he wiped the floor with you." What to discuss in a game she was outclassed so badly? It was all the matter of difference in skill.
She flushed red at that, "Yeah… but he gives really good advices! Like you see here… he told me I shouldn't rush to protect my stones here, when I should try to gain control on the corner instead. I also make mistake in this simple life and death problem…"
The brunette blinked at her, "True… you lost the ko fight on the bottom right and you persist on it." He murmured then added, "And the life and death situation is not simple." Then again this was the guy who took less than a minute to solve a high dan level tsumego.
Waya turned to Fuku who since who knows when was sitting beside Nase. "Where's Touya?"
Fuku grinned sheepishly, "He left."
Waya harrumphed, "Well… at least his friend is not a jerk."
"Eh… Waya-kun, from where you draw a conclusion that Touya-kun is like that?" Fuku asked.
"Well… for one he just left and didn't give you any advice at all." Waya said pointedly.
Fuku quirked an eyebrow at him, "Waya-kun… this is an exam, normally you don't give your opponent advice like Shindou-kun did." He reminded the older insei. "And Touya-kun did give me some advice, he said I am rushing confrontation with responding to his every moves without thinking it thoroughly first."
"That's it?" Waya scowled.
"Yeah, Shinoda-sensei told me the same thing over and over again but I just like speed Go." Fuku grumbled.
Waya harrumphed, "There, his advice is not helpful if Shinoda-sensei said so too."
"It's not helpful because Fuku are not listening." Nase corrected. "And it's partly your fault! It's you, who keeps losing against him even though you're ranked higher."
"How is it my fault?!" Waya groaned indignantly as they walked out of the room together.
Surprisingly when they were in front of the building they saw Touya and Shindou were still there, standing beside the gate. However they didn't expect to see the two were talking with Ogata 9-dan of all peoples.
"It seems I was worried for nothing." Ogata-pro said, smirking at the two prodigies.
Shindou looked amused, "Thank for your concern, Ogata-pro."
The 9-dan took a deep inhale of his cigarette and said, "I ran to Kuwabara-Honinbou yesterday, and he said he is keeping an eye on you… Shindou." Then he glanced at Touya. "So are you, Akira-kun."
"Kuwabara-sensei did say something along that line." Touya murmured.
"So to what we owe this visit, Ogata-pro?" Shindou queried with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
The pro smirked, "Well… he and I strike a little bet, about the top placer of this pro exam. I put my bet on Akira-kun, and Kuwabara-sensei put his on Shindou."
The three insei froze on their spot as room temperature plummeted.
"We have not even passed the prelim yet." Shindou Hikaru said pointedly.
Ogata pro rolled his eyes, "Aren't we all know that there is only one professional spot left to compete for this year?"
"Ogata-san!" Touya Akira hissed. That was when Touya Akira noticed their presence and said. "Ogata-san, we shouldn't hold that kind conversation here."
At last the pro player deigned to acknowledge the insei's presence with a fleeting glance, shrugging and then he said. "I will give you both a ride home."
"No, thank you." Shindou Hikaru replied promptly.
"I insist."
"Ogata-san, I don't think it's a good idea." Touya murmured to his senior.
Then suddenly a red beetle car arrived in front of them, and a red haired teen waved his hand at Shindou and Touya. "Yo! Hikaru-kun! Touya-kun! I come to pick you up~"
Shindou smiled at the older teen, "Natsuya-san!" Then he beamed at Ogata-pro. "As you see Ogata-pro, we regretfully have to refuse your kind offer…" He said as bowing politely to the pro player. Then faster than you can say Go, Shindou dragged Touya inside the passenger seat of the car. The guy who drive the car eyed Ogata-pro warily and quickly drive his car away.
The insei watched the pro scowling at the retreating car helplessly and held their breath when the pro walked pass them with deep frown marring his handsome face. Once the top pro was out of sight and hearing range they let out their breath and wondered what the hell they just saw.
Shindou and Touya ended up passing prelim round in a flash, in fact those two managed to finish their opponents off before lunch and went home without talking to anyone. Actually Shindou did greet them if he ran to them in the hallways; Touya was always around and following his friend's greeting with his arrogant formality. Waya and his friends didn't get to interact much with the two, as they were always locked in deep conversation and leaving no room for intrusion. Then again the only time those two were seen outside of the game was before the game began as they always came half an hour early.
Waya caught Shindou shooting his apologetic look sometimes; it seemed the guy feel bad for what Ogata-pro said. Touya obviously didn't care as he barely spare them a glance, in fact Waya was sure all that polite greeting won't be given if Shindou didn't start first. So Waya decided that Shindou was an okay guy at least, and Touya was still the arrogant bastard he thought the Meijin's son to be. Well, Touya did prove he got impressive skill to back out all the hype everyone in Ki'in ranting on about him , but he was still an annoying guy.
"And that's what I think." Waya concluded when he came on the fourth day of prelim, he had lost once against a skilled outsider named Tsujioka on second day. It was one awful defeat because he fell on that bait and lost by three and half moku. The fact that guy lost before lunch to Touya Akira on the next day made that loss tasted even bitterer.
Nase, Iijima, and Fukui stared at him unblinkingly. "Are you sure it's not your patriotic side to Morishita School talking?" Iijima murmured.
"No." Waya rolled his eyes. "Beside… have you heard the reason Touya Akira never joined any amateur competition? Someone asked him and he said… all other kid would stop trying if he were to play."
Fuku sighed, "Since I have play him, I don't think he is boasting Waya-kun… more like stating a fact."
"Fuku!" Waya growled, "Saying weak things like that! And you want to be a pro?! If we Insei stay idle and give up, Ogata-sensei's word will become a reality!"
Iijiwa snorted, "Perhaps Ogata-sensei is right, this year there is only one pro spot left for us to compete."
"Oi!"
"If you want to convince me otherwise, tell me about this Touya Akira's friend… Shindou right?" Iijima queried, "What kind of player he is?" He didn't get to see the guy at all as he had lunch outside on the first day and the next two days the two prodigies finished their game so quickly. He had seen them in passing though, but not long enough to get a good look of them.
Waya paused at that, while Nase and Fuku looked thoughtful. "Hm…" Nase murmured, "He played a calm and steady game, but he is very tricky… I felt like I got tripped over and over again." Nase murmured. "Then when I looked at the board as a whole I have been surrounded, and I didn't even notice I should have resigned ages ago…" She whined sadly. "The only reason the game continued after lunch was because I didn't notice I have lost."
"And here I thought you can be proud of yourself to be able to fight the guy longer than other people." Iijima sweat-dropped.
Nase huffed, "Well! I was nervous and I couldn't concentrate!"
"Eh? Why?"
Fuku chirped at that, "Shindou-kun is a really pretty boy, he has blond hair and light green eyes… they are natural and he is also a model."
Iijima glared at Nase, "Oi! You're distracted because of his looks?!"
"Not like that! Remember about that French guy Minami and I met in Ki'in? It's him! I was so embarrassed about that! I can't even look at him in the eye!" She huffed angrily. "It's so not his look I get distracted by! Beside! Even though he is cute, he is thirteen!"
Waya eyed her warily, "You saw Touya too, don't tell me you think he is cute too."
Nase rolled her eyes, "Waya… I wasn't distracted by looks, but since you ask let me enlighten you… on scale from one to ten I will give Touya-kun and Shindou-kun at least nine." Then she pointed at him, "You, I will think hard and long to even give you six… with your attitude I will give you four."
"Oi!"
Nase sighed, "But back to the game… Shindou-kun's Go is… uhm really beautiful." She murmured.
"Eh?"
She rubbed the back of her head, "I don't really know how to describe it but… he plays the most beautiful Go I have ever seen."
Waya and Iijiwa eyed her skeptically, "Beautiful… you're talking about his Go or his face?"
Nase was ticked, "His GO! Damn it! I am not interested in boys younger than me! No matter how cute they are!" Nase shouted to the world to hear. Inwardly she admitted she liked looking at them at least.
Few days later…
They were having tea on Akira's favorite cake shop, as few days ago was Hikaru's turn. Hikaru himself was pretty fond of their cheese cake. Today's weather was good so they chose to sit under a parasol outside the cake shop. They were wearing their school uniform because today Hikaru had to arrange classic club matter with Fubuki-sensei in school. Akira tagged along and they had to wear uniform in school ground, holiday or not.
"You're unhappy." Akira said as he pricked the strawberry pie on his the plate apart, "Ogata-san's bet with Kuwabara-sensei upset you so?"
Hikaru snorted, "How about you?"
He sighed at that, "Ogata-san has a long standing grudge against Kuwabara-sensei, go figures he will drag us to his little feud."
"Is it because the title match he had against Kuwabara-honinbou?" Hikaru murmured as he stirred his cold milk earl grey tea. "That game… it reek of nervousness, fear, doubt… with a game like that fresh on his mind I don't think Ogata-san will succeed to push Kuwabara-sensei off of his Honinbou throne anytime soon."
Akira paused at that. "You think so? It seems this year Ogata-san will challenge Kuwabara-sensei again for his title."
"Don't tell him I said that." Hikaru hissed, "Even if you tell him, it's not going to help as… by now if it's mind game… Kuwabara-sensei has planted a seed in Ogata-san's mind. I think Ogata-san notice that too, he is not stupid."
"Even if he knows…" Akira echoed.
Hikaru finished chewing his food and continued. "Knowing and getting over it aren't the same…" Hikaru murmured.
Of all peoples, Hikaru knew that the best. Akira in the other hand was still naïve. He was surrounded by pro players since he was young, but it seemed Akira still didn't get mind games. Then again because he knew them since he was young, he had a hard time understanding the need of mind game in Go. Hikaru himself knew this because his tutor never deluded him that all game would be just fun and fairness. Sai had learned that lesson the hard way, and he had no wish for Hikaru to repeat his mistake.
When they decided to join pro world, Hikaru was not worried for himself but for Akira. He was the son of Touya Meijin, and with that status he had a heavy burden called expectation. Touya Meijin was a respected man, but someone who hold four titles was not without enemy who envied him.
Hikaru had mentioned about people playing mind game to win to Akira, but knowing and experience it first hand was different. Then again Akira was a fast learner and… sooner or later his friend would be no longer innocent child eager to play Go against strong opponent. He would grow up jaded, and it had to happen.
Hikaru himself was already jaded because of what happened to him in the past. At least… he would be by Akira's side when it happened to Akira.
"Ne, Hikaru… isn't that…"
Hikaru perked up at that and followed Akira's gaze towards Go salon across the cake shop. "Ah."
Go Salon
Pachi!
"Makemashita." The opponent declared.
Waya cheered, "3-0 wins with three stones handicap!"
Waya and his insei friends, Isumi and Honda were on the roll with their Go salon challenges. The Inseis had been depressed when Nase and her big mouth spilled about Ogata-9dan's prediction of there was only one professional spot left for them to compete. Of all of them Isumi and Honda seemed to be the ones disturbed the most by the news. Waya understood though as Isumi was already seventeen, and in spite of his status as top insei he had failed twice like Waya. Honda felt the same although he had one more extra year compared to Isumi. Although in Isumi's case it was worse because of his bad habit of lost streak because he took his loss harder than most people.
"We're doing good." Isumi murmured with a smile on his lips.
The old man in his fifties, Isumi's opponent grinned at the younger players. "Inseis are really good, I hope I will see your faces in Weekly Go in few months so I can brag… I helped this kid training for his pro exam!"
Isumi laughed sheepishly at that, "If I pass the exam…" He murmured.
"But you guys are so good already, surely you can pass." He retorted.
Waya winced, "Eh…"
Isumi chukled, "Well… there are stronger players in pro exam." Like Touya Akira and Shindou Hikaru his friend Waya couldn't shut up about for the last few days.
The youngest insei of the group groaned, "Come on Isumi-san! Just because Ogata-9dan said that doesn't mean our chance…" He trailed off in horror when he saw the two boys dressed in Kaio uniform standing beside their tables since who knows when. "Ah…" He had never thought that old saying call their name and the devil shall appear was true. "Shindou, Touya…" Shindou looked uneasy while Touya was as stoic as ever, and the two undoubtedly heard everything in spite of their different reaction.
"Konichiwa." Shindou greeted them followed by Touya as usual. "I hope we didn't disturb your game or anything." He was being polite for sure because the game had ended and Waya saw no reason for them to feel disturbed aside from overhearing what he said.
"Konichiwa." Waya was surprised to hear Isumi was returning the greeting, "Shindou-kun and Touya-kun right? I have heard of you from my friends." He introduced himself. "I am Isumi Shinichiro, Insei…"
Honda followed his example, but in Honda's case Waya was sure the older boy just didn't want to look rude in comparison. "I am Honda Toshiyuki, Insei…"
Shindou and Touya turned his attention to Isumi and then to Honda as if gauging them. "I am Shindou Hikaru, nice to meet you… Isumi-san, Honda-san."
"I am Touya Akira, pleased to meet you too." Touya followed.
One of the old men of Go salon stood up abruptly, "Touya Akira?! Touya Meijin's son?"
Great! Another fan drooling over Touya's pedigree. Waya rolled his eyes openly, not caring whether the Meijin's son saw him. Waya was not sure Touya saw his eye roll but judging from the smile on Shindou's face, it seemed the guy saw and he was amused.
"Would you like to play a game with us?" Isumi offered much to Waya's shock.
"Isumi-san?!" Isumi shot him a look, and Waya understood why Isumi offered a game.
Shindou and Touya's eyes glanced at each other and Waya realized they were in that silent conversation thinggie again. He had caught them doing this pretty often in short three days knowing the two. Then Shindou broke their eye contact and answered, as usual he answered for both of them. "We would love to…"
One of the salon patrons rubbed his chin, "But there are two of you and three of them…"
Waya tensed when he noticed Shindou was eyeing him and Honda then to Isumi. Waya didn't understand the guy, and how he could be friends with Touya in the first place was the biggest mystery but… Waya had a strange feeling the guy was reading them.
Shindou then turned to his friend, "Ne, Akira…" Shindou began with that fond smile, "Why don't you go play first, I will watch."
Waya didn't miss the way Isumi's eyes widened a little when he heard Shindou addressing Touya by his given name. They didn't know how Touya looked like until few days ago but they knew he was always around adult, and Touya Meijin was the typical strick parent from his looks alone. The son of Touya Meijin was not someone who let anyone addressed him so casually unless he was really close with them.
"If you say so." Touya replied as he took his seat across Isumi.
It was then Waya realized that Shindou noticed neither he nor Honda wanted to play, just Isumi. He blushed at the realization. 'So embarrassing!' Waya fidgeted, wishing there was a way to distract himself from the embarrassment. Isumi and Touya were still busy cleaning the board by the mean time.
"Eeh… " He swallowed, "Is that Kaio's summer uniform?" He just noticed they weren't wearing casual clothes. "Both of you go to Kaio?" Man! That was annoying, they even went to the most prestigious middle school in Tokyo! Which mean they weren't just good in Go but also academic as well! "It's summer holiday so why you guys wear uniform?"
Shindou nodded, "Yes… Akira and I are in the same class, and we wear uniform today because we just returned from school because of some business I have to work on with my teacher. We're not allowed to wear casual clothes in school premise even if it's holiday…"
Isumi and Honda couldn't help but thought, 'Waya is right… Shindou is the friendlier of the two, Touya in the other hand… he didn't speak a word.'
"Nigiri?"
He spoke, but to begin a game. Isumi thought as he grabbed a fistful of stone and started counting. Eight, and Touya guessed odd numbers so he won black. "Your guidance please."
"Your guidance please." Touya returned with a bow.
Isumi began with claiming upper left komoku and Touya followed with star point.
Pachi
Pachi
Ten hands later Hikaru was sure he and Akira already had a good estimation of how good Isumi was. The older boy played solid hands, no weakness to exploit either. He was good enough to be a pro, Hikaru concluded. He must be one of top inseis, stronger than Waya and Honda for sure. He saw the game of the other two, they were good but Isumi was better.
Pachi
Pachi
But something was off, Hikaru couldn't help but felt that way from Isumi's Go. But they didn't even reach chuuban so Hikaru decided he shouldn't be hasty to take conclusion. It could be just his presumption because of Ogata pro's words stirring uneasy feeling on Insei group.
Akira was doing well, and he was enjoying the game. The game was already not even though by now, in spite of Isumi's well played strategy Akira was in higher level. At the current state usually it would be enough to defend to protect his lead, but Akira was not most player and being the fierce player he was… Akira was retaliating Isumi's attack with fiercer one, cutting shapes mercilessly.
Pachi
Pachi
Pachi
Pachi
The game was reaching the chuuban and Hikaru still couldn't shake the feeling he got from Isumi's Go off. Then Isumi started to get slower, thinking long and hard for his move. Has this match using clock, Isumi would have been in byoyomi by now.
Akira was getting impatient as Isumi was getting slower.
Pachi
Pachi
Pachi
The game paused again as Isumi was thinking of his next move. Akira was leading but Isumi still have a chance. However…
Pachi!
His latest hand… there was no mistake, this person… he… He reeked of fear and insecurity. 'This game…'
"Akira." He called his friend's name loud and clear and dropped the bomb he didn't want to drop but it was a must. "Sorry but, you should stop."
The Insei eyed him in shock while Akira was surprised by the request and silently demanding an explanation, his friend nodded and undoubtedly was waiting for an explanation for later. "Very well."
"EH?!" Waya predictably was the one who regained his composure and started shouting. "Oi! What's your problem Shindou, why you stop the game? And Touya, you…"
"We can continue some other time." Akira offered in genial tone. "If Hikaru say we should stop, he has good reason to do so."
Waya hollered, "What's the reason?"
Hikaru pondered his options and decided, "I can't say now… but I won't mind telling Isumi-san after he play us in pro exam."
Akira finished gathering his white stones, pouring the handful of stones back to the container. "Thank you for the game, I am looking forward to play you in exam."
Isumi stood up, "Wait… please tell me why you stop the game! Shindou-kun… tell me!"
Akira stood from his seat. "Isumi-san…"
Hikaru sighed, "I am sorry Isumi-san, don't let this disturb you… just forget it until we play. It's for your own good." He murmured apologetically. "Let's go Akira." He said, tapping Akira's shoulder.
The two prodigies left abruptly after hastily excusing themselves, and the Inseis were shocked by their action. However it didn't take long for Waya to regain his composure and he dragged Honda and Isumi to chase the two. Fortunately for the Insei group, the street was not crowded so they easily spotted the two Kaio students. They were about to go down the train station when the Insei caught up with them. Waya sprinted towards them and blocked their way to the stairs.
"Wait a sec damn it! You can't just go off without giving Isumi-san an explanation after stopping the game abruptly like that!" Waya shouted at them.
Hikaru didn't expect Waya was this bold to chase them. "Waya-san… I'd rather not explain myself to Isumi-san now, we still have an exam ahead of us… I will just trouble him if I explain." He tried.
Akira narrowed his eyes at Isumi then at his friend. "Can we not argue about this in public?" He queried. "And Waya-san… We're sorry for the game but I don't think…"
Waya growled, "Isumi-san has not lose against you Touya! So I think he deserve an explanation from Shindou for stopping the game! I heard from Nase he is good at reading ahead but I am sure as hell Isumi-san's chance is not zero! And if it is, he shouldn't stop the game out of pity either."
Hikaru groaned, he suggested the game to break the ice. He knew Waya had something against Akira for who knows why. Then again it was Akira and Hikaru lost count of how many people was offended by his presence alone. Akira had this unexplainable natural disposition to draw hostility.
"Hikaru." Akira called him. "Pity is the last thing on your mind when it comes to Go."
He rolled his eyes inwardly. "Of course… no Waya-san, I didn't ask Akira to stop the game because I pity Isumi-san. My reason have nothing to do with pity."
Waya was about to open his mouth to retort but Isumi was faster to speak. "Please tell me! Is there something wrong with my Go?!"
"Isumi-san!"
Hikaru sighed exasperatedly, it seemed they won't leave him and Akira alone unless he spilled the bean. "Isumi-san… you're a strong player, above average… and I am sure you will be one of toughest opponents we will face in the exam." Hikaru said honestly.
"Then!"
The blond boy ran his deft fingers through his hair in frustrated manner, "I really don't think it's wise for you to hear the rest… just forget it."
Isumi surprised them when he walked towards Hikaru and gave the young boy a fierce glare, "No! Tell me Shindou-kun!" Isumi didn't know what possessed him but he had a feeling he was about to face the answer of why he kept failing the exam. "I need to hear it."
"I would tell you after the exam, could you wait?" Hikaru was almost pleading.
Akira groaned, "Isumi-san, don't force us… if Hikaru said…"
"I will decide what's good for myself!" Isumi refuted sternly.
Now Hikaru was sure the game was a bad idea, he should follow Akira's suggestion to ignore the insei and go home instead. But no, he wanted to talk with them.
"Hikaru…" Akira murmured.
Hikaru sighed loudly and said, "Fine… Isumi-san, let me ask you something."
Waya was about to retort that Hikaru should answer the question not asking back. "Why… "
"Do you have a habit of slipping to losing streak?"
No one answered that question but the Insei's silence spoke louder than words.
And Shindou continued, "I am well aware of the effect of Ogata-pro's careless words… and when Isumi-san offered to play us I thought he is not affected by it but… " He trailed off, "This supposed to be a friendly game… harmless, but Isumi-san… if the game continue I am not sure it would be a harmless game to your chance for pro exam."
"I…"
"I am not sure of Isumi-san's play style at first so I don't want to draw a hasty conclusion but Akira…" He glanced at his friend. "I know Akira's play style very well… and yet when cornered by fierce offensive player like Akira you played too carefully and it shows…"
"I played too carefully?" Isumi echoed in shock.
"It's my personal opinion but… you can't be too careful doesn't apply in Go." Hikaru murmured with a sigh, "You will miss opportunities and played a tame game… Isumi-san… you're scared of us. That's why I stopped the game… if Akira won that game…" Which he was likely would, but Hikaru chose to not say it. "You're the top Insei, aren't you? Can you say that your loss would be without repercussion to your fellow insei? A mere lose in friendly game would be harmless… but from the way you play… you're nervous, cautious, fear… "
"What do you know…" Waya began, increasingly nervous because what Hikaru said became increasingly creepy to his ears.
Akira cut him off, "You can tell about a person a lot just from how they plays." Not as much as Hikaru could though. "And I agree… you were playing too tamely against someone like me. My playing style is aggressive and you back down almost in every single conflict on the board." This person had the same problem as Kishimoto, perhaps an even more chronic case.
Waya gaped at them, "That's…"
"I…" Isumi stuttered weakly.
"I am really sorry Isumi-san, Waya-san, Honda-san." Hikaru murmured as he and Akira walked pass frozen Waya. "You asked…"
Akira sighed exasperatedly, "We're looking forward to play you in pro exam next month, may the best players win."
And with that the two prodigies left the scene, leaving the three insei deep in thought.
Train station
"This time, you're the one who found trouble." Akira murmured as they stepped inside the train.
Hikaru groaned as he followed Akira, "I know! But in my defense… how could I know Isumi-san is that type of player?!"
He snorted, "If he failed the exam you shouldn't feel guilty, with us competing… there's no way he can escape loss at least twice." Akira knew Isumi's strength well now, the older boy was good but they were better. "With that kind of mindset he couldn't become a pro." Akira stated confidently, " He is better off not passing at his current state."
Hikaru grimaced, "True… too bad, he is such a good player too."
"You won't go easy on him regardless…" Akira murmured. "You're right though, what a shame… but just like you, it's something he should get over on his own."
The blond smiled at that, "Hm… who knows, perhaps he will surprise us next month."
"I am not going to count on that."
"Akira… don't be a pessimist."
"I am being realistic." He corrected.
For once Hikaru walked on that one instead of Akira LOL
I imagined countless scenario of how Hikaru and Akira met the Inseis and... settled on this one. So yeah, they are not the most liked peoples by Insei now for sure. Waya's dislike on Akira in the first glance looks unreasonable and purely based on his jealousy, but if you see extra episode and Akira's attitude that invite MISUNDERSTANDING a lot it's no wonder. Seriously... Hikaru in canon is an annoying normal teenage boy but he is in general well liked and Akira... he is like hostility magnet.
Sorry that I didn't jump on the exam right away as if you recall correctly, the preparation arc is long... and beside... what's the chance of Hikaru and Akira not bulldozing the exam anyway? So I need to make up extra plot to keep it interesting. ^^