Hikaru no Girl

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Chapter 5: When in Tsumego: Panic!

"He's not Sai." Akira swallowed noisily. "I am."

The room froze, and Akira wondered what he had been thinking. But there, there was that dawning look of realization in Mr. Amano's eyes. It was much easier for him to believe that Akira Touya was the genius who had defeated the entire Go world than to accept it was some random middle-schooler who wasn't even a professional. It shouldn't have been believable to anyone who had seen Akira play. But people always looked at Akira through the lens of his father's talent, and for once that would work in his favor. He just might be able to pull this off.

That, of course, was when the door swung open and the second worst thing that could happen to him today walked in.

Ogata said, "Akira, I thought I saw you in the window. Would you mind giving something to your father for me? I need to return one of his books." He looked around the room, clearly wondering why everyone was standing up.

Mr. Amano smiled. "Excellent timing. Ogata-sensei, would you mind playing a game with Akira here? I need to test a claim of his."

Sweat trickled down the back of Akira's neck, and he resisted the urge to wipe it off with his hand. The less nervous he appeared, the better chance he had of pulling this off. Ogata knew him entirely too well, and his eyes were boring through his glasses with laser-like intensity. The bastard was only going along with this without explanation because for an adult, Ogata enjoyed making other people squirm far too much.

One wrong word and Ogata would be explaining exactly why Akira couldn't be Sai. Luckily, Mr. Amano was not willing to spill his big news to another major player in the Go world, not until after publication. Akira shuddered inwardly at the thought of "publication," but this was not something he could afford to worry about when he needed all his concentration for the game.

Hikaru was still trapped in the bathroom. Mr. Amano would not be convinced unless he won the game. And Ogata was at the level to challenge Akira's father—Akira had never beaten him before.

The problem was not only playing at Sai's level, which Akira knew was beyond his own, but also playing in Sai's style. Akira could have played the best game of his life or he could have tried to imitate another player—he wasn't sure if he could pull off both.

He made a rather old-fashioned move. Except that Sai was no longer playing in an old style as much these days, was he? Ogata was eyeing him suspiciously. The last thing Akira needed was for him to start taking the game more seriously.

He would not allow himself to be afraid. To give anything less than your full attention to a game was to disrespect Go, his father said. Akira drew on every memory of every game he had ever played with Hikaru, both of them, and played.

If there was thing Akira knew how to do, it was play Go. The regulars at the salon were already his fans, and he drew every one into a crowd around the table. Even the damn reporter was fixated.

He lasted fifteen minutes before he was finally driven into a corner. There was no move he could see that wouldn't let Ogata claim most his stones in a few more turns. This was where any reasonable person would resign.

Mr. Amano didn't seem to have noticed that the game was at a close; he studied Go, but he was no professional. Ogata, however, was looking at him in a way that clearly said, "Set down that stone and stop wasting my time. You're finished."

Akira considered his options. He could tackle Mr. Amano to the ground and scream for Hikaru to run. Alas, that would leave no one to pin down Ogata. What if he faked a heart attack? Would Ogata's compassion override his Sai-fixation? Akira wouldn't count on it. If he had a pocketknife, he could hold it to his own throat and order everyone out of the salon. "If" being the key word in that sentence.

Naturally, that was when Akira spotted a familiar pair of bleached bangs bobbing above the crowd.

Hikaru, dressed again in jeans and his stupid orange jacket, was standing on top of a table so Akira could see him. Waving. At. HIM.

Akira's heart did a good imitation of screaming and hiding behind his liver. Carefully not making eye contact, Akira frantically gestured his hand towards the door. Hikaru grinned at him. To someone who knew Hikaru as well as Akira did, this was a smile that said, "I, Hikaru Shindo, genius that I am, finally noticed that I left my bag in the bathroom a full week ago. Now no one will be able to recognize me, even though all I did was change my clothes! I'm not the least bit worried that the people who see me here every weekend will wonder why I suddenly appeared at the same time my 'sister' disappeared. And it would never dawn on me that either Mr. Amano or Ogata-sensei could recognize me on sight, and Ogata at least would definitely check to see whether I actually have a sister or not. Nope, I am happily oblivious to your pain and suffering."

"You keep looking at the door. Do you have somewhere you need to go, Akira?" Ogata asked. "I'll hardly be offended if you end the game now."

Akira grabbed for another stone. Ogata raised an eyebrow, clearly thinking he was a sore loser.

Behind him, Hikaru held up seven fingers, then two.

He was trying to tell Akira where to play. How could he even see the board from there? But he must be able to, because the move was ingenious. Akira placed a stone down on 7-2. Ogata frowned, raising his head off his hand and staring at the board.

Hikaru held up one finger, then one, then one, then eight. What did that mean? 11-8 or 1-18?

When Akira hesitated, Hikaru began to mouth something. The next move, obviously. Unfortunately, Akira had no skills at lip-reading.

What were those words?

Us oo a-y?

Ust oos aweady?

Just lose already?

Akira fought off the urge to leap over the table and strangle Hikaru.

Hikaru jabbed a finger at the door. Ms. Ichikawa was still at her post behind the counter at the entrance, and there was no chance of her not recognizing Hikaru. It occurred to Akira that Hikaru might not be oblivious so much as resigned to his fate.

Judging the expression on his face, Hikaru possibly thought he was being noble and self-sacrificing. Akira reached towards a random point on the board, desperate to keep the attention of the room still on him. There was no way he was letting Hikaru be caught. Not if he had carry him out of this place himself.

A voice, low and gentle, whispered in Akira's ear, "Play 11-8."

Akira dropped the stone into place without thinking. He stared at his own hand as if it had turned strange to him. Ogata was now riveted to the board, and the crowd pulled in tighter, sensing the change in the flow of the game.

On his next turn, the voice whispered, "Now 4-12."

Hands trembling, Akira put down the stone. What was this voice? The God of Go?

It was as if a river had started flowing upstream. In a few moves, the game was on even footing. In a few more, Akira was holding the stronger position. But when Ogata finally said, "I resign," all Akira could think was that Hikaru was still standing on the damn table.

That said, Akira himself was still pinioned between Mr. Amano and Ogata. Who looked ready to split him in two so they could each take home half.

There was one thing Akira was sure he could count on the regulars and Ms. Ichikawa for. Cupping his hands to his mouth, Akira shouted, "Everyone, I just beat a 10-dan!"

The cheers were overwhelming as they mobbed him.

On the plus side, this cleared the way to the door. Under the cover of the crowd, Hikaru made a run for it. A few stomped on feet and elbowed midsections later and Akira was hot on his heels.

Hikaru was first out the door, but he waited outside. As Akira stumbled out, he exclaimed, "What are you doing? Don't you realize that you're the one who's-"

"Shut up and run," Hikaru said. And they did.

Later, at Hikaru's house, they both bent over wheezing as they caught their breath. There had been no real need to run once they had reached the train, but neither had really felt safe until they were indoors. Akira supposed he could have gone home, but it had never occurred to him not to follow Hikaru.

Hikaru asked, "Won't you be in just as much trouble as me, now that everyone thinks that you're Sai?"

"I expect that Mr. Amano is talking to Ogata-sensei right now, and discovering that I have an alibi for the first game he played with Sai." That fateful dinner, which Akira had never mentioned to Hikaru. "On the other hand, now they'll both be coming after me for Sai's identity. But it's still better than Go Weekly getting a photo of you. Any of your friends could have identified you, and then you would have to explain about the cross-dressing."

Hikaru stuttered, "I don't know what you mean. I was just passing through, my sister called me for help, and-"

"Hikaru, I know it's you. I know they're both you, but when you start talking it means you stopped being Sai. It's fine, I know you can't help the DID."

"DID?"

"Dissociative Identity Disorder. It's what they call people like you, with two personalities."

"Two…? Akira, it's really not like that."

"I've read a lot," Akira continued. "And I just want you to know that both your personalities are exceptional Go players that I am honored to have met, and they both deserve to play. I will support you however I can."

Hikaru said, "Akira—look, I think there's something I should tell you. I don't have a split personality. I'm just possessed by this ghost, and he really likes to play Go. He's the one who got me started on the game."

Akira stared at Hikaru. Then he walked over and placed both his hands on Hikaru's shoulders, looking him straight in the eye. "I understand, this is just another delusion. I promise I'll help you and I'll never tell anyone. We can find a psychiatrist with doctor-patient confidentiality. If we pay for it together, you don't even have to tell your parents. We'll get through this."

Hikaru looked frantic. "Akira, I'm telling the truth! I'm—he's—" He threw up his hands.

Something remarkable was happening. Behind Hikaru, a faint shape was outlined in the air. A white robe, a tall black cap, a hint of dark hair.

A voice, the same one he'd heard during his game with Ogata, whispered, "Look after Hikaru for me, Akira. He's very important to me." From behind a fan, someone smiled at him, then vanished.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hikaru demanded. "I'm not telling him that! Look, Akira, Sai is right behind me, and he's acting like an idiot like usual."

Akira's eyes had gone big as saucers, and he pointed shakily.

"Did you see him?" Hikaru asked in amazement. No one had ever seen Sai before.

"Just for a second. What was that?"

"Just Sai. He's harmless. We're friends, he taught me how to play Go. He says you have talent, and that's coming from Honinbo Shusaku, just so you know."

"There was a game-playing ghost? He doesn't mind-crush anyone, does he?"

Akira was clearly babbling, so Hikaru politely ignored him.

Akira looked insanely cute with his face flushed and his hair mussed from running. He still had his hands on Hikaru's shoulders and his face was just inches away. It was completely without thinking that Hikaru leaned over and kissed him.

"Murshahsezwaz?" Akira said.

Hikaru's heart stopped. This was the moment that would make or break everything.

Carefully, he said, "Are we still on for next weekend? Same time, new place?"

Akira nodded, and that was alright then.

"Hi-ka-ru," Sai sang. "You owe me a favor!"

"I don't see what I owe you," Hikaru grumbled. He thought of the brief hint of Akira's lips on his. "Okay, maybe I owe you for convincing Akira that I wasn't crazy. I suppose you want to play Go?"

"I want to play Touya Meijin!"

"…I should have known."

"You can arrange something! You see his son all the time now! You can get an invitation to his house! "

"I can?"

"You can." Sai nodded confidently.

"But how am I supposed to let you play him without him knowing that it's me? I don't want to set up a 'I-must-play-the-one-who-defeated-me' situation with another Touya, and I don't think he'd believe me if I told him I was haunted by a ghost. He seems too stoic to buy it."

"Then I'm sure you can think of a good story to tell him."

Hikaru looked thoughtful. "Well, now that you mention it, an idea is starting to come to me. A very clever one."

Sai almost felt guilty. But then, a chance to face Touya Meijin? He couldn't resist. All potential fall-out paled before that.

Hikaru began, "First of all, I'm going to need to ask Akari to help me find a few things-"

This concludes Part I of Hikaru no Girl

Part II will be forthcoming