"Excuse me? You're Hifumi Togo-san, right?"

"I am. And might I ask who you are?" Togo-san's tone and body language were wary, almost reluctant, in spite of her immediate affirmation.

"My name is Makoto Niijima. I'm a friend of Ren Amamiya's." She leaned in a little closer and lowered her tone just a little. "And a business associate."

Togo-san's eyes widened with understanding. "I see. Then am I to take it that you also helped to resolve the situation with my mother?"

"Yes. Although, Ren respected your privacy enough to leave out a lot of the details."

Togo-san smiled appreciatively. "That's good to hear. So, what can I do for you, Niijima-san?"

Makoto sat down at the other end of the bench, Togo-san's shogi board placed between them. "Well, in our group, I am the main strategist. Ren is our field leader and he's put a lot of your tactics to good use since the two of you became friends."

Although she placed her hand strategically to suggest thoughtfulness, Togo-san was definitely smiling proudly at hearing that.

"They've been so useful to us that, while I'm a little ashamed to admit it, I feel like I'm falling behind in my designated role. And that's why I came to you tonight. I was hoping you could teach me some of your strategies as well."

"I would be honoured to help another Phhhfriend of Amamiya-san. How much do you know of my methods?"

"Not a lot. Ren said the two of you spend most of your time playing shogi, but... that's about it."

"That is correct."

"W-Wait. That's it? You play shogi and Ren learns strategy from just that?"

"Yes. Any good leader or strategist can identify the intent behind any move in any game and adapt that thought process into a viable strategy in any field. For instance..." Togo-san rearranged a number of the pieces on the board that sat between the two, and removed a number of the others. "If I were to move this piece from here... to here... what do you suppose my intent is?"

"To bait me into taking that piece so you can move this piece over here to take mine in response. Piece-for-piece."

"Hm. You're half-right." Despite her general demeanour, Togo-san seemed almost smug as she laid out what Makoto had missed. If nothing else, it suggested she was less wary of her now. "See, once that piece is taken, mine is then in the position to move to this space here, where it can threaten either of these two pieces here-"

"And you can use that position to make me second-guess myself while I decide which piece to sacrifice and which to save."

"That is the position the current you would be in, yes. But, once we get you up to Amamiya-san's level, you'll be able to see that you can actually use this piece here to counter this play and make my entire multi-turn plan crumble. Like so."

"I see! Yes, that would be the optimal... Hm? But then, wouldn't you be able to move that piece there over here and have free reign over these pieces?"

"W-What? I didn't even see that move..."

"You... didn't? I would've thought that move was very... S-Sorry. Beginner's luck?"

Togo-san, despite the glare she had just fixed Makoto with, started cracking up, placing a dainty hand over her mouth to muffle her laughter in this repercussive hall. Makoto felt compelled to join in, but restrained herself from doing so. Once Togo-san calmed down, she smiled genuinely at Makoto.

"You are a lot like him, you know?"

"Who? Ren?"

"Yes. He was also quick to pick up on the flaws in my strategies, despite his claims that he had never played before."

Makoto smiled as well. "Yes, he does pick up on things very quickly. It's what makes him such an effective leader. It makes me feel jealous a lot of the time, truth be told."

"I feel the same way sometimes. That is why, once I started over as an amateur, I stopped viewing him as an apprentice and instead chose to view him as a rival. If he can accel in our shared field, then so can I. And I am proud to say that our subsequent matches have been a lot more fun as a result."

"A rival, huh? I'm not sure I can view Ren that way. Not after everything he's done for me."

"I did feel the same way, at first. I'm sure I'll feel the same way about you for a while, Niijima-san, but we both want the other to improve, so the best way I can repay what he did for me is to keep getting better so that he and I can have a truly spectacular match in the future. And, hopefully, I can truly surpass him and live up to the ill-earned nickname I bore for so long."

"I like the sound of that. I know Ren already relies on me for things like studying and making plans, but I feel like he's been relying less and less on me as a strategist. But you're saying that, instead of being disheartened by that, I should instead use that feeling as motivation to improve myself until I feel like I can truly stand side-by-side with him."

"Exactly. Amamiya-kun has so many talents and skills, but we need only surpass him in one field to be true assets to him - and in your case, to your whole team and everyone you all help. That is the best way to repay him for everything he has done for us."

"I agree. Thank you for helping me find the right path, Togo-san."

"After you helped set my life on the right path, it was the very least I could do. Even so, I would like to help you further down this path you've chosen. Would you care for a match?"

"I've never actually played shogi."

"Neither had Amamiya-san, apparently. And look where he is now."

"Hm. Good point. Then, I would be honoured to play a game with you."

"Very well. Then allow me to explain the basics."

Within half an hour, Makoto had gotten to grips with the basics of shogi. She won a few practice games, noting every time she spotted Togo-san intentionally making a poor move to give Makoto an opening to punish her. She also noticed that the number of 'mistakes' Togo-san made per-match reduced each time. In the current game, she had made only one such 'mistake'.

"Your technique is coming along quite nicely," Togo-san complimented.

"Thank you," Makoto replied with a smile. "Ren wasn't lying about your skill - even a novice like me can recognise that - or your ability as a teacher."

"You two seem close."

"Hm? How so?"

"Your use of his given name with no honorific. Is it safe to assume the two of you are...?"

"O-Oh! Nononono. We're just friends for now."

"For now?"

"Did I say that?"

"You did."

"O-Oh. Oh, no..."

"It's alright. I more than understand."

"No, our group just doesn't- Wait, you 'understand'?"

"It's only natural for such feelings to develop for someone who has gone through so much on our behalves, with nothing to gain by doing so."

"I-I'm not... This is so humiliating..."

"You don't need to worry about me telling anyone. When and how your feelings are made known to others should be left in your hands."

"I appreciate that. But what about you? Have you told Ren how you feel? I-If you don't mind my asking, of course."

Togo-san smiled warmly for the briefest of moments before it turned wistful. "I... haven't had the courage yet."

"Really? I wouldn't have expected that."

"Why?"

"You seem so confident when you're playing and teaching."

"That's just because I have confidence in my shogi skills. When it comes to dealing with boys, however... My mother has always kept me away from them to focus on shogi. It's only since her change of heart that she's allowed me to properly affiliate with them, but it's... difficult, at times, even with someone I know so well like Amamiya-kun."

"I think I know how you feel. My older sister has been my legal guardian since our father died three years ago. She's very strict about me getting a proper education and being successful. She's never explicitly forbidden me from affiliating with anyone, aside from the obvious bad crowds, but I've always had this inescapable feeling that she would rather I focus on my studies than on boys."

"It seems we have both been at the mercy of our matriarchs."

"Yes. But since meeting Ren and our other compatriots, I've come to learn the value of rebellion against the unjust. Before then, I would just obey whatever was demanded of me by an authority figure. But telling Principal Kobayakawa that I was done being his obedient bloodhound was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life."

"That sounds incredible. I wish I had been able to rebel against to my mother like that."

"It's never too late to learn how. For example." Makoto picked up one of her pieces and moved it in a way that was in clear violation of the rules. "I rebel against the rules and claim this space as my own."

Togo-san's eyes grew wide in amazement, as if she had just witnessed Makoto's infamous tirade against Kaneshiro's Shadow. Her mouth soon changed from a round gape of amazement to a wicked grin. "In that case... I can do this... and you lose the game."

Makoto's face quickly mirrored that of her opponent. "Then I reject the win conditions and choose to continue playing. There!"

"Then I move five pieces at once!"

"Then I move your pieces."

"Then I-"

"Girls, please." Both girls froze and looked up at the priest, who bore a furrowed brow as he stood nearby. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but..." He indicated towards the other churchgoers, who were all staring at them, distracted from their own business by the two's antics. After apologising to the priest and everyone else, the two sat in silence for several minutes. The silence was eventually broken by Togo-san.

"I apologise, Niijima-san. I've always had a bad habit of getting more than a little too into my matches."

"I-It's okay. I understand. I... get a little too into my role as Queen as well."

"Queen?"

"My codename during operations. It's become something of a persona through which I often find myself channelling my more embarrassing interests."

"Like... a dominant streak?"

"N-No, no. I'm... I'm secretly a big fan of Domino Rider."

"The tokusatsu show?"

"Yes. My P- My skillset on operations includes a motorcycle and a long scarf, so..."

"Ah. I see. I think. But you needn't worry about being judged for any of that by me. After all, I have little doubt that that very skillset was used to help change my mother's... point of view. Somehow."

"You have a very analytical mind, Togo-san."

"It's a vital skill for a shogi player. Or a strategist."

"I'm looking forward to learning more of how to tap into that mindset... Shall I call you 'Sensei'?"

"Th-That won't be necessary. Amamiya-kun just uses my name, so it would be strange to enforce a title with you."

"Alright then. Shall we try for another match? With the rules this time, of course."

Togo-san smiled warmly. "I would like that. But be forewarned: I will not be holding back this time."

Makoto grinned competitively. "Oh, I'm counting on it."

"You won't be that confident for much longer. For what is a queen before a goddess?"

"G...Goddess?"

Togo-san stared at her. eyes widening by the second. "A-Are you not familiar with the nickname I gained as a supposed shogi prodigy?"

"I'm... afraid not."

"Oh. Oh, my. Without that context, I must look like such a narcissist."

"To be fair, I'm sure you didn't choose that title any more than I chose to be called 'Queen'."

"You didn't choose yourself?"

"No."

"Did... Did a boy choose it for you?"

"Yes? Why?"

Togo-san blushed a deep crimson. She refuse to say any more on the subject and Makoto only later learned what she had concluded. She would then blush just as deeply as Togo-san had.

"You're really getting the hang of this," Togo-san complimented after their fifth proper match of the night. "But I can't help but feel that something is holding you back." She had, naturally, won them all but she had been able to explain the flaws in Makoto's play each time, allowing her to avoid those mistakes the next time and come closer and closer to winning with each successive match. This time, she had simply overlooked one potential sacrifice play, which would have gotten her the win.

Makoto sighed. "I just can't seem to bring myself to make the sacrifice plays."

"Is it because you're thinking about how to work these techniques into your real strategies?"

"I... I'm not sure."

"It would make sense if your focus was purely on how to use these strategies in a more practical setting, making you more hesitant to utilise valuable tactics that, in that other setting, would be very costly to you and your comrades. But I think that approach is holding you back more than just stopping you from winning a shogi game."

"How so?"

"I don't believe Amamiya-kun approaches my matches with him in that way. I've always gotten the feeling that picking up tactics was an accident more than anything - that he simply played to play and then found the external benefits of it as he went. I believe going into this purely to achieve that end goal, while you may intend to simply be efficient here, is actually hampering your ability to learn the game and take away anything of value from it. One of my teachers often says, 'There is no bigger waste of time than trying to save it'. So, for this next match, I'd like you to try and put all of your... other business out of your mind. Just focus on the game at-hand and focus solely on trying to beat me. Can you do that, Niijima-san?"

Makoto stared deeply into Togo-san's dark green eyes and saw two infinitely deep pools of wisdom staring back at her, resting in the middle of a very serious expression. Makoto took a deep breath, let it out slowly and nodded her head.

It was close, but Makoto finally emerged victorious. She very nearly hadn't, though, as her fingers had landed on a piece mere moments before realise what a mistake moving it would be and spotting a far more advantageous move she could make. She let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding as the tension of the match finally dissipated with Togo-san's beaming smile.

"Congratulations, Niijima-san. You finally did it."

"Thank you. You were right. I was so intent on... I suppose studying for my other activities that I wasn't properly taking in what I was learning. I think a nice game like this was just what I needed."

"Then I'd be happy to accept your challenge again, any time."

"I would like that."

The two exchanged contact information and agreed to meet again the same time the following week.

"Oh, actually, will your sister be okay with this? You coming here to play shogi instead of studying, I mean?"

Makoto grinned. "I wouldn't technically be lying if I said I was studying with a friend. After all, I consider you a friend now and I'm sure I have so much more to learn from you."

Togo-san blushed and averted her gaze, making Makoto think that Togo-san really might have a chance with Ren if she ever asked him out.

"I look forward to being in your care again next week... Sensei."

"Th-There's really no need to call me that," Togo-san stammered, her blush deepening as Makoto bowed to her.

"If you want me to stop, you'll just have to teach me everything you know so that I have no reason to call you my sensei anymore."

"That's just cruel, Niijima-san."

Makoto giggled. "True, but I've learned over the last few months that only real friends can speak to each other like this. And as far as I'm concerned, anyone who gives me the tools I need to keep my team safe are my friends."

"And I consider all those who helped to turn my life around to be mine."

"Thank you. I'll be sure to put what I've learned here to good use on our next operation."

"I look forward to hearing about it."

With that, Makoto turned and left the church after offering up a prayer for her late parents. She wondered what they would think of her if they could see her now. Would they smile over her making another friend? Would her police officer father be disgusted by his daughter technically being a criminal? Or would he be proud of her for doing everything she could to better herself and more effectively keep her friends safe? Even if her father were disappointed, though, she wasn't sure even that would deter her at this point. Her friends relied on her guidance, both within the Metaverse and without, and she would make damn sure she would never let them down. And with Togo-san's lessons, she was confident that she could uphold that vow.

This piece was written for Day 4 of #MakotoNiijimaWeek, with the theme of "Strategy." I love the idea of the other party members having friends outside of the group and especially befriending the Social Link/Confidant characters, but the concept is unfortunately underutilised. I think Makoto and Hifumi could get along REALLY well.