[Soul of Chess] What if

July.

As the summer vacation approaches, fireworks festivals are being organized all over the country.In addition, there are various sacrificial activities.In Tokyo alone, there are three well-known festivals, the Sensoji Ghost Lantern Festival, Iriya Asagao City, and the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

I heard that these events have been going on since the Edo period, so in these festivals, people can enjoy the customs of the Edo period.

More popular among young people is the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, as the name suggests, is a firework festival held along the banks of the Sumida River.It has a particularly long history, and it is said that it began with Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth general of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period.

In 1732, the plague was prevalent in Edo Castle, and fires broke out frequently.In order to dispel the disaster, the shogunate decided to set off fireworks on the banks of the Sumida River in Edo Castle and hold a sacrifice to the water god, so as to drive away evil spirits and mourn the dead.

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival has a history of more than 200 years.

Every day, tens of 10 people participate in this summer event.Most of the people wear colorful yukata and clogs. They take the family as a unit and sit around on the table cloth laid out early in the morning, feeling the charm and shock brought by the blooming of fireworks together.

At the firework festival, the girls will wear beautiful bathrobes and look up at the sky with their beloved, admiring the bright fireworks in the summer night sky.

In addition to the beautiful fireworks, there are also unique summer stalls around the venue.You can squat down to fish for goldfish, throw darts, and eat sweet sugar apples.

If you feel that watching the firework master's performance is not enough, you can also light the incense sticks and fireworks in your hands.Seeing that the firework in my hand is like a flower, first it is a small bud, then it begins to bloom violently and quickly, then, the rhythm slowly slows down, and finally spreads out like a blooming chrysanthemum.

Appreciating the fleeting splendor up close is also a special flavor.

This grand ceremony, of course, cannot do without Ah Guang.

Early in the morning, at the urging of Mitsuko's mother, Aguang came to grab a viewing seat.

Ah Guang came quite early, but when he arrived at the destination, he found that some of the better viewing spots had already been covered with picnic cloths with names written on them.

Ah Guang looked around for a while, and finally found a good position with the help of Zuo Wei.In order to prevent being preempted, Ah Guang trotted a few steps, and then quickly spread the tablecloth.It wasn't until he sat on the cushion that Ah Guang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After waiting for more than an hour, Mitsuko's mother appeared in Aguang's field of vision with a bento or something like that.

Aguang and the others chatted while eating snacks, until around seven o'clock in the evening, the fireworks festival officially started.

There are about 1000 fireworks, and there are many kinds of them.There are traditional chrysanthemum-shaped fireworks, large umbrella-shaped fireworks, circular fireworks with a diameter of about [-] meters, countless small colorful fireworks, and some fireworks with long tails like shooting stars.

The colors of the fireworks are also very rich.Some of them are golden, some are red, some are purple, some are silvery white...

The gorgeous fireworks illuminate the night sky one after another, complementing the Skytree on the opposite bank.The fireworks are reflected on the water, and the colors that appear and disappear with the flow of the water make the fireworks festival even more dreamlike.

Although Zuo said that he had watched a similar scene on the banks of the Sumida River more than 100 years ago, he still couldn't help but stare up at the night sky when the various fireworks bloomed in the sky.

"It's so beautiful..." Zuo Wei sighed softly.

Since Zuo Wei likes it so much, it happens that there are fireworks festivals in many places recently, so let's take Zuo Wei to see it a few more times.Seeing the delighted expression on Zuo Wei's face, Ah Guang made a secret decision in his heart.

Compared with the happy crowd enjoying the summer, there is such a group of people whose battlefield has just begun.

This is the Qiyuan Guild Hall.

Today is the first day of the preliminaries for the professional chess player exam.

In the game room on the sixth floor, there is no relaxation like the usual training days for college students.There was a sense of tension throughout the room.

Although it's time to hang up, everyone's expression is still not easy.

Well...not everyone is nervous.

There is a handsome young man who is reading a book naturally.

If you observe carefully, you will find that the book he is holding in his hand is the best-selling "Taya Celebrities Selected Chess Collection" on the market.

This boy is Taya Ryo.

So far, it seems that no one has recognized him.So Taya was still able to hide silently among the crowd, enjoying a moment of peace.

If other people know that he is the rumored Taya Ryo, everyone in the lounge should be talking about it.

Although he is used to it.

However, since it can save a little trouble, why not do it?

Yes, Taya decided to take the professional chess player exam this year.

Although he didn't intend to participate this year at the beginning.

However, since the people around feel that they should almost participate.Although my father didn't say it clearly, he probably thought the same.Moreover, there is no need for him to continue waiting for an opponent who is similar in age and strength to appear.

Therefore, there is nothing wrong with taking the exam this year.

Opponents of the same age...

Taya couldn't help but think of the Go tournament a month ago.

That day I finally played against Shinto.

Everything works fine at first.

When it came to the 39th move, Shindo began to take a long test.

After about a few minutes, Shinto finally took action.I am also ready to go.

Puzzled, Shinto suddenly withdrew his hand for some reason, and his expression became a little strange.

After a while, he said "Sorry... I admit defeat", and then quickly ran out of the venue.

On that day, Haze Middle School stopped here with 0:3.

In the end, Neptune still won the championship without any suspense.

However, Taya still couldn't relax in her heart.

On the one hand, it was because the match between himself and Shinto ended inexplicably in the middle of the game, and on the other hand, Shinto's performance made him a little concerned.

What happened?

Or...is it because Shindo was forced to play against himself, so...?

After Taya returned home with a heavy heart, she saw the scene where Akiko's mother had just put down the phone.

Seeing him walking in, Mingzi's mother let out a soft cry in surprise.

Seeing the confusion in Taya's eyes, Akiko's mother explained that just now, someone called him.

"Looking for me?" Taya was a little puzzled.

The only one who would call to find me should be the school.

It's just that, except for the tutor, no one in the school knows his contact information.In other places, such as chess clubs and chess institutes, although some people know this number, those places usually call to find my father.

Could it be that the tutor has something to do with him?

"That's right. The name seems to be... um... Shinto...?" Akiko's mother tried hard to remember the name.

"Shinto Hikaru?"

"Ah, that's the name." Mingzi's mother smiled gently, "Is that person Ah Liang's friend?"

"……Um."

"When will you invite him to our house? Ah Liang has never brought friends to our house." Hearing Taya's answer, Akiko's mother looked very happy.

Taya smiled a little embarrassed.

"Then, call back. It sounds like he's looking for you for something."

"Beep-beep-"

After the phone rang a few times, it was picked up.

"Hi, hello! This is Shindo's house."

The voice coming through the phone sounded distorted.But Shinto was right.

"it's me."

"..." After hearing his own voice, the other party paused briefly, "Taya... are you home?"

"Yeah. Shinto, you... what can I do for you?"

"Ah... today's incident, I'm really sorry! The game was suddenly interrupted..."

Shinto's voice sounded genuinely sorry for the sudden break in the game.Presumably it wasn't because he didn't want to play chess with him.

Thinking about it this way, Taya felt less depressed.

"...It's okay." He replied.

The other party hesitated for a moment, and then asked: "Taya, do you have time for Sunday next week?"

Shindo has asked similar questions before...

When is it?

That's right, it was the time when I invited myself to attend the school celebration of Haze Middle School.

What is Shinto's plan?

"……Have."

Shinto took a deep breath, and then said slowly in a slightly formal tone: "Then, can we meet at the Chess Academy at ten o'clock in the morning next weekend?"

Chess Academy?

Taya asked with some doubts: "Is it the Kiin located near Ichigaya Station?"

"Yes." Shinto confirmed.

Although he doesn't know why Shinto went to the Kiin by himself, he doesn't remember any games there, but...

"Okay, I see." He agreed anyway.

"Then, goodbye." Shinto sounded relieved.

"See you."

The weekend is here again soon.

On this day, when Taya came to the Kiin, Shindo was already there.It seems that he should have arrived early.

Shinto took himself to the game room on the second floor of the chess academy.

"Can you have a game with me?"

Shinto looked as if he had made some kind of determination.

Although I don't understand why you want to play chess here.If you want to play chess, you can go to the chess club run by your father, right?

However, Taya agreed to Shinto's request to play chess.

How about this game of chess...

After the opening, Jin Teng's few moves are still the same as those in the previous three games. The form of Dingshi is a bit old, but he also cleverly incorporates some modern Dingshi, and the overall layout is relatively smooth.

However, gradually, Taya noticed something was wrong.

Although Jinto has a few moves, he can play well.It's just... His chess style is quite different from the previous few games.His strength is about the same as Kishimoto's senior from the Go club...

How is this going?

The author has something to say:

Hmm... Is it right or wrong for Ah Guang to do this...