Disclaimers: Hikaru no Go and its characters are created and/or owned by Hotta Yumi, Obata Takeshi, Shueisha, Studio Pierrot (all rights reserved). I just borrow them to provide - hopefully - a bit of free entertainment to the fans.

Warning: spoilers everywhere!

The Way of Go
by VKempf

9. Master and Disciple


When Fuku heard the knock of the cane on the floor, it was already too late, yet he childishly tried to hide the magazine under a pile of order forms. Fukui Satoshi quietly passed along the counter, stopped next to Fuku and grabbed the whole pack of paper.

"Ah, those are the orders to be delivered tomorrow morning," he said, leafing through the forms. "Everything's ready?"

"Yes, Jii-san," Fuku mumbled hopelessly.

"Fine. And what's that? Weekly Go... Hmm, looks like someone's yielded to old temptations. Will he ever get rid of them, I wonder..."

The voice was more sarcastic than really threatening, but Fuku slumped down on his stool in despair.

"It's not really about Go..." he began.

"What was I thinking, of course you only read it for the ads!" the master smirked.

"No..."

Fukui Satoshi shook his head:

"Yuuta-kun, it's almost been a year since you agreed to work with me. When you make a choice, you must hold to it. For now, it appears to me you're just dithering endlessly. Clinging to those things obviously doesn't help, you should realize that."

His gaze lowered, Fuku nodded obediently.

"Now, be a man and decide clearly: if you want to stay here and reach a respectable position, forget about your former life and move on. If you're to keep turning back every now and then, you may just leave at once. So, decide!"

The order brought tears in Fuku's eyes.

"Must I forget about my friends too?" he croaked.

Fukui Satoshi raised an eyebrow.

"I don't see the point..."

"My best friends are Go pros," Fuku sniffed. "I'm living far away from them now. By reading Weekly Go, I can see how they're doing, that way I kinda keep in touch with them ..."

"Can't you make new friends here?"

"I do have friends here, Jii-san!" Fuku cried. "Onoki-san, Makoto-san and everybody in the area, they're kind and I'm okay with them. But why should I forget about my old pals? Because they all happen to play Go? Is it a crime?"

"A crime, certainly not, just a silly activity," Satoshi snorted.

"Does that make them lesser friends? You always praise Makoto-san for his good work, and you're right, but don't you know his former dream was to enter the baseball pro leagues? Isn't that another silly activity? Will you forbid him to look in the paper about his friends who play in the Buffaloes?"

Fukui Satoshi sighed. He was stern, but not insensitive.

"Leave Makoto out of that: I have higher expectations of you than of him. He's doing a good job in the shop, but that's all he'll ever do here."

He moved closer, locking Fuku's stare into his.

"What you learn every night, I teach to no-one but you, Yuuta. Those things are not to be taken light-heartedly, as you have realized on many occasions..."

Fuku shivered.

"It's scary, Jii-san," he squeaked.

He was even more scared when the old man banged the floor with his cane.

"You're scared as long as you remain ignorant! Learn about the things that scare you, then you can judge whether your fears are well founded or not!"

Satoshi laid a hand on his grandson's shoulder.

"And first..." he added in a softer voice, "learn to trust me, Yuuta-kun. Trust is essential between a master and his disciple, especially when they belong to the same kin. Do you really think I would let any harm happen to you, or ask you things above your strength or abilities?"

Fuku shook his head miserably.

"I know you can do it, Yuuta. You take your time to learn, but once it's in your head, it's in there for good. I'm confident in your skills, and you should be too. What I'm not certain of is your will to achieve your new position... If it's just a matter of fear, well, just get over it because it's what it takes for every boy to grow a man, whatever his way. You can't remain a child forever, Yuuta."

"I know..." Fuku muttered with a poor smile. Jii-san's words were not exactly comforting, but there was encouragement in them. Given his gramps' usual coldness, they sounded as close as tender as it was possible from him.

"By the way, don't think I punish you for loving Go. I don't even blame you for this. Considering your past situation, I'd say it was a natural way for you. Even so, you must move forward all the same."

The old master put the Weekly Go issue back on the desk.

"You know what this really is? It's no more than a stuffed bear, a toy you cling to because you're afraid of growing up, of moving ahead. As long as you rely upon this, you act like a child."

Fuku lowered his head in shame.

"Using it as a connection to your friends is even more stupid. It makes you think about them, but what makes them think about you in return if you don't have better ways to 'keep in touch', as you say? You'll end up losing them, that's all. Think about this, Yuuta-kun."

"I've been thinking about this all along," the plump boy muttered. Jii-san had put his finger right on his worst fear: that his old friends forget about him. Of course the magazine was not the true connection: Go was. Once he stopped sharing their common goals and hopes, what was left for him to relate to them?

"If you've finished here, go have a wash before supper," the master concluded, making for the stockroom. He paused just before the door:

"Yuuta-kun, you've just given me an idea for tonight's lesson."


Hundreds of kilometers east, Oka dropped back his last stone in the goke.

"Maaan... I was so close!"

"One moku and a half, not so close!" Hikaru gently corrected. Oka huddled against the parapet, pouting.

On these summer evenings, the balcony adjoining his parents' apartment was an ideal place for their meetings: not very wide but pleasantly breezy, well above the traffic and its immediate pollution. There they played their games, refreshments close at hand, while the setting sun caressed their cheeks and adorned them with a delicate tan. For the moment, though, Oka did not enjoy it too much.

"Hey, time to review!" Hikaru called.

"I'm too disgusted..." the boy moaned, looking away.

"Sure you are, but to make good use of this game, you must review it with me, and face up your mistakes... and your good moves as well, you made excellent ones."

"Yeah, for what it's worth!" Oka snapped.

Hikaru raised an eyebrow: his shy and obedient disciple had never used him to such tantrums before. Must be the stress from the coming exam. He felt his duty was not to indulge Oka that kind of behavior, so he took a sharper tone:

"What d'you think I'm here for? Play games until you beat me? If you just want to win, find a Go club nearby and play there. If you want to improve and pass pro, stop being mad at me and learn from this game."

"I'm not mad at you, sensei!" Oka retorted. "I'm angry against myself! Such a good hand, and I can't even manage to keep the lead till the end! Oh, I so much want to hit that dingbat of me!"

He hit the balcony wall with the side of his fist instead.
Hikaru smiled: that he could understand.

"Aha... Looks like we've nerves to calm down..."

He looked around him, picked a black stone from the goke, then motioned Oka to the edge of the balcony. The boy reluctantly stood up. Nine floors beneath them, cars were cautiously going by the narrow street. Across the street was a small playground, where a few kids were having fun on the swings, carefully looked after by their moms.

"Look at where it's falling," Hikaru said.

Incredulous, Oka watched his master pitch the stone toward the playground. After a nice curb in the air, the piece of black glass vanished somewhere in the middle of it. There was absolutely no chance Oka could distinguish the tiny speck in that distant square of white dirt.

"You crazy," he stated blankly.

"Ramen for you if you find it before me."

Oka's eyes were still scanning the playground hopelessly.

"Make up your mind quickly or I might have to treat some kid down there instead," Hikaru added.

"Trade ramen for pizza and I'm in."

"...'kay."

Oka turned toward the living-room.

"Mom! Sensei and I are eating outside!"

A plump woman appeared, holding a pile of clothes:

"Really? Do Shindo-sensei agree?"

"If you give us permission, Oka-san," Hikaru answered, trying hard not to laugh.

Every time he spoke to his pupil's mother, somehow it sounded like he was talking to his own in a formal way—"okaasan!"— something he never did. He could not get used to it even now, but he was careful not to look or sound rude to the lady: he appreciated both her kindness and her ramen too much.

"Of course, Shindo-san," the woman smiled. She turned to her son: "Don't stay out too late, and be careful when you cross the streets!"

"Yeees, Mom..."

Oka's exasperation was palpable. Boys will be boys, moms will be moms, Hikaru thought with amusement.

"Take money from my purse if needed. Don't let your sensei pay for you!"

Oka threw a quick glance at Hikaru:

"We'll see that."

"What?"

"Nothing. We're going now."

Once they were out on the landing, the entrance door shut behind them, Oka stared at Hikaru:

"Do we start from out of the elevator?"

"Elevators are for losers!" Hikaru laughed, dashing into the staircase.

"Hey!"

Stunned at first, Oka desperately rushed after his master, who had already landed on the floor beneath. While Oka was sprinting as fast as the narrow staircase allowed him, Hikaru just kept enough distance to make sure his disciple was still following him. Luckily for them, most of the other residents were convenient losers who would avoid the stairs and the wild stampede of two disheveled teens charging down.

At one time though, Hikaru had to stop in his tracks as he heard a short splat behind him. Suddenly worried, he climbed up a few steps again. Having fallen flat on the upper floor, Oka was slowly picking himself up, sweating and panting. Hikaru put a knee down beside him, full of concern.

"Oka-kun, are you OK?"

Oka raised his gaze and flashed a grin. In less than a second, he was up on his feet and darting down the stairs again, leaving Hikaru in shock behind.

"You lil-!"

He should have known kids did not break so easily: it was not so long ago he had been thirteen too... What was so different now?

He's the kid, I'm the responsible one, that's the difference. While he can still act as a kid, I must act responsible, and he's using it against me... Fair handicap, I guess.

That the quiet child dared play such tricks reminded Hikaru of his own behavior as a kid, and confirmed him in his almost-grown-up status as well. He could have easily overtaken the boy again, but thought better to keep slightly behind, so he could look after him.

When they burst out of the building, no car was in sight so they got straight across the street into the playground. Oka thought he had seen the stone fall somewhere near the left seesaw. He carefully ferreted around, ignoring the dubious glances from the kids playing on it, and the openly suspicious ones from their mothers on the benches. Hikaru pretended to search as well, just to keep Oka in the frenzy. It lasted for ten minutes before discouragement took their spirits over. With all the children's feet stomping around, their chances of success were rather scarce.

"Oka-kun, I've got it!"

Oka stood up from the back of a bench, watching Hikaru striding toward him, a white stone shining between his fingers.

"You think I'm an idiot? The stone you tossed was a black one!"

"Ah... yeah," Hikaru agreed sheepishly. "So I guess it's lost after all."

Oka rolled his eyes.

"Great! Next time, would you mind bringing your own pieces to throw around, sensei?"

"Sorry, I just wanted you to let steam off."

"No better idea than the silly Raid for the Lost Stone?"

Hikaru scratched the back of his head.

"We can always try push-ups, but you wouldn't find it nearly as fun. A punching bag is a real treat when you're mad—don't forget the gloves though, or you'll turn very sorry! If you ask me, I'd say there's nothing like a good home run, only sometimes broken china and unexpected developments ensue, so..."

Oka dejectedly stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"I hate sports anyway."

"Ah, big mistake, my friend!" Hikaru sermonized. "Don't you know mind works better in a well-tended body? That's what my Go master used to tell me... and what I keep telling Touya, with no result..."

"Then Touya-san must have good reasons not to follow your advice," Oka snickered. "No offense, sensei, but with all your fitness, you still have to beat him in an official game."

"That'll do, insolent disciple," Hikaru replied with an acted reproving look. "You'd rather show me the way to that pizzeria; I don't know about you, but I'm starving right now."

"The bill is yours, then?" Oka asked cautiously.

"Of course, I'll never let my deshi pay for me. On one condition: review!" Hikaru hammered out with a soft prod upon Oka's furrowed brow. The boy resigned:

"All right. Follow me, it's a few blocks away from here."

They walked away from the playground, giving up on the lost stone. Down the street, they entered a more animated area of the city. People were leaving their businesses to return home, their daily hurry dramatically impaired by the numbing sunset warmth. Neon lights and scrolling message boards were flashing all around, leaving no chance for the first stars to compete.

Hikaru nudged his pupil:

"So... feel better?"

Most of Oka's resent had been spilled in the frantic race. However, his master could cope with a little more grouching from him:

"Hardly. I still haven't caught my breath, and my shirt's sticking with sweat!"

"Take it off, then!"

"What? Right here in front of everybody?" Oka exclaimed.

"Yeah, why not?" Hikaru shrugged. "It's summer, it's hot... Who cares?"

"Don't you?"

"Absolutely not, look."

After he suited the action to the word, Hikaru casually slung his rolled shirt over his shoulder, exposing his chest in its seventeen year old glory. Oka quickly looked away, flushing:

"Geez, sensei!"

"What? It's not like we're about to meet important people or dine in a posh restaurant tonight. We're just planning a quiet stroll midtown, with a couple of pizzas to eat along—of course, we'll find a quiet place to review our game after that!" Hikaru added. "There's nothing I or you should be ashamed of."

"Still..."

"Come on, Oka! You're not yet like those old suits," Hikaru said, gesturing at a shoal of salarymen surging from a subway entrance. "You're young and carefree, it's your privilege, use it!"

"I'm not doing this where we may run into somebody I know!" Oka blurted.

Puzzled for a second, Hikaru burst out laughing.

"Oka-kun, you're ridiculous! What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is precisely that I'd look ridiculous," the boy muttered. For the moment, he just looked upset.

"You won't go through the pro exam if you're so bothered by what people may think of you, yunno?"

"It's not the same! I've already gone through two pro exams and as far as I remember, nobody plays shirtless!"

"Hahaha, a topless exam, excellent!" Hikaru chortled. "Especially with the girls!"

Oka could not help snorting briefly. Hikaru snapped his fingers, jumping on the crazy concept:

"OK, it's decided. Tonight, shirtless review!"

His declaration made surrounding people stare at him, and Oka move several steps away from his side.

"I don't know you anymore, sensei!" the boy piped up.

"If you want to eat pizza tonight, you'd better come back here, you big coward! Is it there?"

Hikaru was pointing to a vaguely Italian-looking lighted sign blinking further in the street. Oka nodded and reluctantly decreased the distance between them. At the restaurant, the guy behind the takeout counter took their orders without even noticing Hikaru's (lack of) dress. Most likely, his summer baito had him see even funnier customers before.

While they were waiting for their pizza, Hikaru kept throwing mocking glances at Oka, whose wet striped shirt did not look ready to dry off anytime soon.

"I'm sure Shouji wouldn't have waited my advice to make himself comfortable..." he winked.

"You're playing dirty, sensei. I'm not falling for that!" Oka snapped, still looking away.

"Here it is, that'll be ¥1,450, please," the clerk said, pushing a flat box on the counter. Hikaru paid and took the pizzas away, while Oka carried the soft drink cans.

"I noticed a park nearby where we can eat and review quietly. Okay for you?"

Oka mumbled some indistinct answer.

"Look, Oka-kun," Hikaru said firmly. "I'm doing all this just so you loosen up a bit. I won't succeed if you're not willing to cooperate the least on your side."

Oka hunched his shoulders under the light rebuke, but nevertheless replied:

"Then why d'you keep nagging me, sensei! I already have Shouji for that, thanks!"

Hikaru chuckled.

"Komiya's right, you're an easily upset guy."

Oka huffed heavily. All of a sudden, he shoved the cans he was holding into the deep pockets of his pants, grabbed his shirt at the bottom, and with a lot of struggling since it was so wet, took it completely off. Then he planted himself before Hikaru, a defiant glint in his eyes:

"You happy now?"

"Should I be?" Hikaru replied, amused.

"I dunno, you so much wanted to see me half-naked!"

The loud retort taught Hikaru one important thing about shy people: when pushed over a certain threshold, they turn into the brashest fellows imaginable, if only for a moment. He felt the temperature significantly fall around him, except for his head, currently facing a sudden surge of blood. Some people around had begun to turn suspicious stares toward them. Hikaru was already foreseeing endless explanations at the nearest police booth, so he steadied his grip on the pizza box, grasped Oka's wrist with his free hand, and quickly drove them out of that specific part of the crowd.

Two blocks and turns further, they slowed their pace. Hikaru was now as sweaty as his younger companion.

"Geez, Oka..." he puffed, catching his breath.

Oka bit his lip in a vain attempt to stifle a grin, and that did not escape Hikaru's notice.

"Okay, I guess you're not upset anymore?"

The boy freed his grin.

"I was, but now we're quits."

Hikaru grinned too.

"Now little rascal, don't you feel lighter?"

"After watching your face earlier, sure, sensei!" Oka smirked.

Hikaru winced. What his disciple had needed was not so much physical exercise as a good laugh at his master's expense.

"You know I'm not talking about that," he said, softly jabbing him on the chin.

Oka had to admit the warm air on his bare skin was really pleasant.

"Yeah, I guess so..."

"We're not the only ones without shirts anyway, look at those guys over there..."

Oka's gaze followed the direction of Hikaru's head jerk. Three shirtless young men on roaring bikes were chatting loudly at the street corner.

"You've not picked the best examples, sensei. Mom doesn't pay you to turn me into a bad boy."

"I know what I do, Oka. I'm here to turn you into a hell of a Go champion, and I'll do so. Bad boy is just a side effect."

Oka laughed, his good mood nearly recovered.

"You don't mind if we both look like members of the Baggy Pants Gang?"

Hikaru winced again, remembering certain comment from Touya.

"Tell me, Oka... you don't wear those because of me, do you?"

"It's been my style before I even heard about your name," Oka rejoined. "I'm your deshi, not some stupid fanboy!"

Anger was rising again in his voice.

"Right, sorry for asking," Hikaru answered soothingly.

An awkward silence fell between them, despairingly reminding Hikaru that tact was definitely not one of his better personal qualities.

Oka spoke again after a while:

"I'm not stupid as to try to be or even just look like you. I know I'm nowhere near as cool as you are."

The bitter voice alone gave Hikaru a fair idea of the level of insecurity his disciple concealed, but he was short of words to bring him out of himself.

"You really think I'm cool?" was all he came up with.

"Don't you see all the gals peeping at you?"

Truly, if Hikaru had bothered to bear the quick glances from passing women around them, he would have noticed very few of them were disapproving.

"Ah yeah, they're admiring us."

"They're admiring you, sensei," Oka rectified. Then, in a whisper: "You must have it easy with them..."

Hikaru blushed.

"That's not your business, Oka," he replied a bit too curtly.

"Gomen, sensei," the boy said at once.

Once again, awkwardness divided them. Hikaru was really tired of it, and Oka's apology allowed him to take sente in the talk:

"You shouldn't think so low about yourself, Oka-kun," he said on a tone as neutral as possible. "You're thirteen, you've got plenty of time to grow attractive. At your age, I wasn't even thinking about girls, and I doubt they were much interested in me," he added in total oblivion—of course, Akari did not count the least. "Though Nase-san recently admitted I made a rather cute insei..."

Oka half-smiled.

"Yeah, she said the same to me. With my usual luck, maybe I'll manage to catch some old perv's interest?"

The self-deriding line sounded not so bitter, and Hikaru felt encouraged.

"If that happens, tell me, I'll make sure the bastard lose it fast. Anyway, that's not our business either. Our business tonight is pizza and Go!" Hikaru claimed. "Gals and pervs are not allowed in our gang!"

"Hai, aniki!" Oka agreed, beaming.

Hikaru grinned back and offered his five. Oka merrily hit them, his own hang-ups completely put aside. For all his lack of sensitivity, Shindo-sensei had this way of always turning things on the positive side. He was so cool, and somehow he managed to spray some of his coolness upon people around him, so that Oka could feel cool himself just by strolling bare-chested at his side. It was self-deluding but it felt good, and Oka loved him for that.

Meanwhile, the only child within Hikaru was fantasizing about what life could have been with a little bro.


"You want me to do what?"

Sitting seiza on the porch next to the garden, the master and the disciple were facing each other like every evening after dinner.

"Yuuta, you've perfectly understood and I won't repeat just because you're amazed as usual," Fukui Satoshi said. "I suppose you know about your friends' birthdays?"

"Uh, not all of them..."

"Of course, that's why I tell you to pick only three or four of your friends, those you know best, to draw their birth charts up. You have all the equipment you need at hand," the master said, waving to the scrolls, pens, compasses and rulers set beside his grandson. "The rest is up to you."

He stroke his beard in a clearly self-satisfied way.

"It's been a while since we last worked on astrology. I think this little exercise makes more sense if applied to people you know, instead of random clients, don't you agree?"

"Sure, but..."

"But what?"

Fuku twitched his fingers.

"I know their dates of birth, but not the hours and places. My birth charts will remain incomplete..."

The old man nodded:

"Correct. You have two solutions: you can call your friends and directly ask about the missing information..."

Fuku imagined the call: "Hello Waya, whassup? Fancy a horoscope? Just gimme your date of birth, with the exact hour and location, if you remember. Then please put your mother on, so I can get your conception parameters and check if you're really meant to be born a guy..."

"No way," he moaned by himself.

"... or you just ignore it and work on assumptions, like they're all born in Tokyo at noon. It's useful to learn how to deal with missing data, though we rarely encounter the case. Yes, it's even better: thus, you can formulate hypotheses, based on the knowledge and experience you have of your friends. What do you think of that?"

Fuku sighed in relief. Although it meant extra work for him, at least he was spared a huge deal of embarrassment.

"Fine, Jii-san. How much time I have to complete all this?"

"Take the time you need. I'll have a first look at your work tomorrow night."

"All right, Jii-san," Fuku complied.

The whole idea looked rather odd at first, but he recognized his grandfather's efforts to make the matter more appealing to him. It might even be fun.
At least, it was a quiet exercise, if a bit tedious, and not scary at all compared to other practical works he had already been put into...

"Oh, Yuuta-kun..."

"Yes, Jii-san?" Fuku tensed.

"If you don't mind, I'd like you to include in your list the young tourist you guided for half a day... What was his name again?"

"Touya Akira? But I don't know him as well as the others..."

The master stroke his beard again, pensively this time.

"Keep him anyway. The lad's interesting..."


At this hour of evening, especially in the hot season, most of the benches in the park were monopolized by sweet couples at various stages of romance. A plenty good enough of a reason for the young Go master and his even younger disciple to avoid them like the plague.

Pizzas and drinks long disposed of, the two players were lying on a soft patch of grass behind a lamp post, using their shirts as a mat under their elbows. They were closely facing each other, but the small magnetic goban between them left no misunderstanding about their intentions.

"... and once that cluster is secured, you just consolidate your territories on the side. I can't make it with my main group and I'm forced to resign at this stage," Hikaru concluded.

Oka brushed aside a lock of hair from his eyes.

"Yup, it could have been a good game for me, if only..."

"If only you hadn't been too frightened by your good luck!" Hikaru sniggered.

Right after that, he mentally slapped his mischievous self and corrected:

"Sorry, luck is not the word; this move of yours was very cunningly introduced. Actually..." He squinted at Oka. "I'm the one who makes up such tricks... Does that mean my Go is already rubbing off onto yours?"

"Already... It's only a few weeks we work together, sensei, but remember I've been studying your games for two years!" Oka said, slightly blushing.

"Of course. That makes you a pretty good student, I guess..."

"So, does that mean the disciple is catching up on the master?" Oka smirked.

For the moment, it means I must prevent this little success from going to his head, Hikaru thought.

"Don't rejoice too fast. Now I'm aware of what you can do, I won't let you have your way so easily in our future games!"

"Yeah, that's why I so much wanted to win today," Oka sighed. "I don't know what I'll do next time..."

Hikaru sat up and gazed at him gravely.

"Oka-kun, you're a big liar."

"Uh?"

Oka goggled at his master, startled. Hikaru waited a bit for his words to make their full effect before going on:

"If, like you say, you had wanted this much to win against me, you'd be less disappointed in yourself now."

"How can you say that, sensei?" Oka protested. "Haven't I made it clear enough I wanted victory?"

"No, and from whatever side I look at it, it's clear to me that your loss today comes down to a lack of self-confidence."

Oka instantly lowered his stare and frowned. Although Hikaru was still a teenager, he had enough maturity to rightly interpret the reaction as Oka's backing away from a problem he was altogether very conscious of, so he insisted:

"You must think I'm repeating myself, but it's true, Oka, and you know it. We can't pass over it because you don't like it being said aloud."

"It's not easy to stay confident against you..." the other boy mumbled.

Hikaru moved closer.

"Tell me, why is it so uneasy?"

Oka swayed on his elbows in his own unease. Why did Shindo-sensei want him so much to tell the obvious truth?

"... 'cause you're cool, strong... and a genius," he blurted out.

In no honest way Hikaru could deny the pleasure such adjectives applied to his person aroused. However, as a teacher he was not supposed to gloat in front of his pupil, rather give him the example of modesty. In his current attire, he was badly engaged enough.

"Forget about coolness, Oka," he said, shaking his head. "First, I'm not the coolest guy you'll ever meet on this Earth; I know someone from middle school much better ranked for that title. He's even very good at Go... yet for all his coolness he's no match against a First Class insei like you—unless you allow him a fair handicap. As for the genius thing... well, thanks, Oka, but I don't consider myself as such either. If you want to see a real genius, meet Kurata instead."

Oka raised his stare again, shocked:

"Kurata-sensei? That big oaf?"

Hikaru laughed.

"He sure is big, at the head and elsewhere, but d'you know what he was doing before starting Go?"

Hikaru briefly summarized for Oka how he had discovered Kurata's former life as a prodigy horse gambler.

"... once he had his mind focused on Go, he was pro in no time, and now you see, he's strong enough to snatch the Gosei from Ogata."

"Wow, I had no idea of all this," Oka admitted. "He never looked so bright to me."

"Yeah, I guess it's a part of his strategy. I've always been careful as to never underestimate him, but I'm not afraid of him either. Which brings us back to our problem."

He pointed a finger right on Oka's breastbone:

"You must stop fearing me!"

He said it so intensely that Oka gulped.

"I... I don't really fear you, sensei!"

His stammer belied his words.

"You fear my Go, all the same. When you dared play your decisive kikashi in today's game, you were so proud of yourself, and rightly so. Yet just afterwards, you started to fear my retaliation, and went on playing with this idea in the back of your mind that I'd never let you win whatsoever. Am I wrong, Oka?"

Oka nodded silently. Shindo-sensei amazed him with the clear insight he had of his thought process in the game. As if he had perceived the silent question, Hikaru smiled:

"I know it, because I stumbled on the exact same problem with my first master. As my Go senses were refining, I started to fear his moves, his 'blade', as he liked to call it. Suddenly, I was much less daring in my play, and I would restrain myself, against him and the other insei. So much so that I plummeted to the bottom of Class Two in a couple of weeks. I let you guess my despair..."

Oka was all ears. He had never heard an elder pro talk so freely about his experience as a student, especially the hardship parts of it. The mention of a "first master" apparently not related to Morishita-sensei intrigued him a little, but he dared not interrupt Shindo-sensei on such a detail.

"I had no clue what to do, just like you, Oka. Now I'll give you the same advice I received from my master: think clearly and stop fearing me! Turn that fear into courage!" Hikaru spoke adamantly.
"What you'll do next time? I'll tell you, Oka.
You gonna step forth and walk against me with all that you have.
You gonna reach for the best of your strength and push the boundaries of your game, each time further, to fight me!
You'll take blows, and give some back,
I'll make you eat dust but you'll rise again and again!
...till the fearless come," he ended in a whisper.

Years after, Hikaru vividly remembered the vibrant words that took him out of his losing streak and boosted him up to his first Wakajishisen. Along with the few energetic ones of his own, they would hopefully serve their purpose again to ignite Oka's gusto as well.

He was disappointed.
Whether Oka and the thirteen-years-old Hikaru were really too different boy types, or an aristocratic ghost in an ethereal robe had not the same impact as a sculptural teenager in the flesh, the fact remains that the awestruck boy made no instant demand for a revenge game, gaping instead at his sensei in a way verging on sheer adoration.
Far from being delighted, Hikaru found it slightly disturbing.

"Why, don't gawk at me like that," he said, reddening.

With a start, Oka diverted his gaze.

"Sorry, sensei. Don't think I wasn't paying attention; it's just you had me entranced with your speech and your scary look..."

"If you think I'm scary, I'll bring you Touya, so you know what it actually means. By the way, wasn't he your favorite before?"

Oka blushed in turn.

"Who told you that? Komiya-san, again?" he asked, annoyed. Hikaru confirmed with a grin. "What a blabbermouth!" (Hikaru openly laughed.) "Yeah, I admired Touya-san a lot, especially after his brilliant games in the first Hokuto Cup. Of course, Shouji had to annoy me and support you instead, so I may have been... a bit unfair in my comments about you..." Oka blurted.

Knowing Komiya, Shindo-sensei was most likely informed of those embarrassing facts. Besides, he seemed to take it rather lightly:

"Oh well, I can't deny I've lost those games..."

"However I changed my mind when I had to face you at the Young Lions Tournament!" Oka quickly added. "Shouji too after the punishment he received from Touya-san! Now the idiot only swears by him, after claiming for days you were the better one, can you believe it, sensei?"

An amused gleam passed in Hikaru's eyes. Oka was all too glad to charge Shouji as a diversion.

"What about you, Oka? Who d'you think the better player is now?"

"Must I really answer?" Oka mumbled, while an inconvenient drop of sweat was running down his temple, making him look more embarrassed than he really was.

"Yeah, yeah, speak your mind, friend," Hikaru insisted, leaning his chin on his crossed hands in an interested manner.

"Now... Touya's better," Oka confessed with a meek smile.

Hikaru's head dropped.

"Ah, Oka, you're so cruel to your master!" he lamented, shaken by pretended sobs.
"But I guess you're right... for now," he added, raising his head and winking.

Oka laughed.

"Don't worry, you're still the cooler one, sensei!"

"Like I said, one doesn't need to be cool to be strong at Go... though it does no harm. Touya is very cool in his own ways, yunno?"

"If you say so..."

They remained short of words for a moment.
Oka's gaze wandered over the stone patterns on the pocket Go board. Hikaru was rolling blades of grass around his forefinger.

"So... no regrets?" Hikaru eventually asked.

"About what, sensei?"

"About having chosen me as your sensei, precisely."

Oka raised an eyebrow.

"You mean, instead of Touya-san?"

"Touya doesn't take disciples... or so he says," Hikaru snorted. "No, I'm just asking in general... You had a master before me, after all."

Oka nodded. His former master was an old fogy in a dull-grey suit reeking of cold tobacco (and the matching breath), who had little time to spare with a bunch of subservient followers fighting to catch his precious attention.

His new sensei was young, very cool, extremely bright, presently not smelling worse than juvenile sweat and pepperoni flavor, and not bad looking to boot. He devoted up to five hours a week to his only disciple, offering him the most exciting games ever. Besides, he did not consider beneath him to share his hopes and his doubts, as well as teen jokes and video game hints.
What better master an insei could possibly dream of? It was like a shounen manga come true!

"Honestly, sensei, from whatever side I look at it," Oka declared, mimicking Hikaru's speech, "it's clear to me that I should have asked you long ago! And I'll never thank you enough for accepting me!"

The sincerity of his words moved Hikaru deeply. The 3-dan stopped the grass curling to stare right at him.

"Oka, this is really important to me... You know, I never had any disciple before you. Actually, I never thought I'd tutor someone so early in my Go career. You told me once that your former master warned you against this... I'll tell you friends of mine warned me too. This is really different from normal shidougo sessions with people I hardly see more than once. As long as it comes to Go, sure I can teach you but..."

Oka straightened up, an awful foreboding freezing his blood.

"Sensei... you... you don't want us to stop, do you?"

"No, no, don't worry, Oka," Hikaru assured. "All I mean is... Well, despite what I told your earlier, there are times when I'm not sure I'm doing right. Just like today: I never expected you to feel bad about that stupid shirt-or-no-shirt thing. I just wanted us to be relaxed, and you must have thought I was showing off or something. I really must stop comparing you with the guy I was four years ago, and learn to know you better instead. See, Oka, I'm afraid you have to teach me how to be a good master..."

Oka sighed in relief.

"You're doing very well now, sensei. First, as a show-off, you're very far from beating Shouji. Then, unlike my former master, you always talk straight and clear. I do think I'm really making progress with you as my master; I feel really... yunno, coached."

The word made Hikaru smile:

"Haha, coached... Would you let your coach suggest you a little more sport practice, then?" he winked.

"If you plan a run back home, forget it, sensei," Oka replied, a flame lighting in his eyes. "Right now, after your speech, I feel more like boxing!"

Hikaru grinned.

"Yeah, that's the spirit! Another time though; you're right, we should go back now before your mother starts worrying."

He started gathering the stones into the folding Go board compartment. Oka stood up and brushed the random blades of grass off his shirt. Seeing the boy hesitate at this point, Hikaru inserted the small board in a pocket and donned his own black shirt, imitated soon by his disciple. No comment was uttered and they quietly made for the park exit.

They were halfway to Oka's home when the insei shyly spoke again:

"Sensei..."

"Hmm?"

"When you say you're not a genius..." Oka began. "I think that is not true."

Hikaru shrugged but made no reply. The boy went on:

"I told you when I asked you to master me, Shindo-sensei: I've been watching your games from the time you crushed me at the Young Lions Tournament. Mainly, they reflect your winning drive... as well as your tactical shrewdness. Yet there are times, especially in critical situations, when you come up with a totally unexpected move, that one would find illogical at first, or the result of nervousness, but later on it always turns out to be incredibly deep and sensible... Not only that, but long afterwards, you can't help thinking it was the only appropriate move to be played. Isn't it what we call genius, sensei?"

Hikaru swallowed hard. Emotion was swelling again inside him, this time stronger and from deeper within.

"Sometimes it's just not enough," he said in a strangled voice.

"Sure, players like Ko Yong-ha or Touya Akira keep winning because they have a better mastering of the whole game. But I have yet to see them—or anyone—play those wonderful hands of yours!" Oka declared, getting fiery. "For now, Touya and Ko are better than you, but I have no doubt you will surpass them! It's no flattery from your faithful disciple, sensei: I do think you're a genius. Or if you aren't, there's a genius inside you."

Hikaru stopped dead on his tracks, thunderstruck. Oka turned to him, a questioning look on his face.

"Sensei?"

His heart pounding, Hikaru made a step toward his disciple.

"Oka-kun... You've seen..."

Oka smiled:

"I've seen your flashes of brilliance, and I feel comforted in my way: this is the Go I love, this is the Go I want to play! You're right, sensei: if I want to conquer this... this beauty, I must stop escaping, and face you without fea- Uh? Sensei?"

Hikaru hands had gripped Oka's shoulders. Oka was hardly able to distinguish his master's face under the bleached bangs, but he could feel his arms slightly shaking.

Hikaru had the street light falling right on Oka. Yet what he saw before him was not a skinny boy in striped tee-shirt and baggy pants.

In the cone of light was standing his sparkling future.


(to be continued)

[NOTES:

Kinsetsu Buffaloes: Osaka's main baseball team

Deshi: pupil, follower, apprentice.

Baito: part-time job (from German "arbeit")

Sente: someone sente has the initiative in the game. Also qualifies a move or a position.

Aniki: honorable term used for an older brother or a superior, especially in a yakuza gang. Well known among Takeshi Kitano's fans.

Kikashi: "forcing move"; a sente hand with some additional effect (Sensei's Library).

--

Oh my. It's been six months (at least) since the previous chapter, and I'm not dead—just a few health issues (nothing serious in the end) and a job change. I won't bore you with my everyday pains, just say that even in these election days, I can't venture any promise regarding the next chapter.

Your reviews are always welcome and keep me on track; I make sure I answer to each of them when I can (i.e. when it's signed). Special message to allythealto (to whom I can't reply directly): you'd hate to see this story die? So do I, don't worry, and thanks for the incentive!

I'm also very grateful for the reviews on my previous fics I keep receiving once in a while. Pardon again the strain on your patience and thank you a lot for your support!

Now, for chapter 10!

Valérien