[Soul of Chess] What if

That child... forced me to cut off all his escape routes...

Zuowei's tired voice seemed to still echo in Aguang's ears.

Even though it has been a few days, Ah Guang still can't simply put everything that happened that day behind him like usual.

It weighed heavily on Ah Guang's heart like a boulder.

It's just that besides the heaviness, Ah Guang is more confused and puzzled:

For me, it's just chess.

but……

For Taya, Go should be more than just a game...

I really didn't know it was such a big blow to him...

Where did the passion for Taya to devote himself to Go come from?

What is the dream he and Zuo Wei are chasing together?

Is it magical?

But what is that?

What is miraculous skill?

I really don't understand at all...

Suddenly realized that Taya was so far away from him...

After realizing this, the original sense of joy and intimacy from meeting peers disappeared in an instant.The rest, only lonely, powerless, and lonely.

Ah Guang raised his head and stared blankly at the signboard of the Go Club hanging on the building.Taya's dejected figure seemed to still clearly appear in front of him.

Ah Guang, won't you go in?Zuo Wei tilted his head in doubt.

Apparently Ah Guang came here directly after school without even returning home, and he thought he could play chess again... But, unexpectedly, after arriving here, Ah Guang just stood there in a daze, without any thought at all. The posture of wanting to go in has no intention of going home.

Ah Guang is so strange... Zuo Wei thought silently.

What are you doing in there?Zuo Wei's voice interrupted Ah Guang's thoughts, and he asked in a bad tone.

Play Go!Zuo Wei answered quickly, with a very reasonable tone, mixed with unconcealable excitement.

don't want.Ah Guang quickly refused, as if there was some scourge behind him.

When Zuo Wei heard it, his face suddenly wrinkled into a bun shape: I hate it!You are so stingy!

What do you mean I'm stingy?Ah Guang was already upset, but now hearing Zuo Wei's words, he couldn't help frowning, and his tone became quite impatient.

Because you have come here!Didn't you just hang around the door yesterday and the day before yesterday?Zuo Wei didn't seem to care too much about Ah Guang's slightly harsh attitude, he explained with a wrinkled face and half complaining.

Zoe was right.

In the past two days, the footsteps will always come here involuntarily.But, so what?up?

No, can't go up.

If he went up, Zuo Wei would cry and want to play chess again.And Taya...he probably will show that sad expression again...

No, maybe, he will never see himself again...

……

Seeing that Ah Guang did not refute, but remained silent alone, Zuo Wei also stopped talking.He looked at Ao Guang worriedly.

After being silent for a long time, Ah Guang murmured: "I am... not in the mood to play chess..."

I don't know if he is explaining to Zuo Wei or talking to himself.

He turned around, turned his back to the building where the Go Club was located, and walked slowly towards home.

The setting sun dragged his figure long, making him look lonely and heavy.

Regarding Ah Guang's actions, Zuo Wei didn't make a sound to stop him, but walked beside Ah Guang silently without saying a word.

"Shinto! It really is you."

Ah Guang hadn't gone far when he heard such a sentence from behind him.

That voice always sounded a little familiar.

Ah Guang could not help but stop, and turned around suspiciously.

"Mr. Ogata?" Looking at the man in front of him who he had met in the Qiyuan Guild Hall before, Ah Guang became even more confused.

Why is he here?Is it by chance, or on purpose?Is there something wrong with him coming to find himself?Ah Guang felt that he was full of doubts now.

"Come with me, someone wants to see you."

However, before he could ask, Mr. Ogata dragged him into the building involuntarily.

They went up by elevator.

When he saw Mr. Ogata pressing the button with the number seven, Hikaru thought that the number of floors was just a coincidence.

But, soon he knew it was no coincidence.

After taking the elevator to the seventh floor, as soon as the elevator door opened, they saw a door with the words "Go Club" written on it.

Ah Guang is no stranger to these four words.After all, he had played two games of chess with Taya here.It's just that it's not him who is playing chess, but Zuo Wei.

Ogata-san even knows about this place?

No, the most important thing now is, why did he bring himself here?

He just said that someone wanted to see him, who could that person be?

Could it be...Taya?

"Celebrity! I just happened to meet in the neighborhood and brought him here."

As soon as Ogata waited for the automatic door to open, he immediately called into the shop.

It was also this sound that made Ah Guang's heart full of questions answered.

celebrity?Ah Guang said silently in his heart.It's as if I've heard the word...

ah!It's the one from last time!

Looking at the middle-aged man in haori kimono in front of him, Ah Guang suddenly recalled.

It was a weekend a few weeks ago, that day Ah Guang came to the Go classroom as usual.

Since it was still early, Ah Guang first came to the lobby on the first floor.

After buying a can of drink from the vending machine, he sat alone on the sofa, watching TV while drinking a drink, and was bored to pass the time.

Zuo Wei looked at the vending machine curiously at the side for a while, and was amazed at the small box that made noise like a TV.

After a while, an aunt who was also in the Go classroom also came.

After the aunt and Ah Guang greeted each other, they glanced at the TV inadvertently, and couldn't help but said excitedly: "Ah, it turned out to be the TV broadcast of the Tianyuan War! Xiaoguang, do you know? Everyone says Taya is famous It's 'the closest thing to a magical person'!"

As soon as he heard the words "supernatural skills", Zuo Wei's aura suddenly changed...

"Oh? Are you here again? Ah Liang is not here today." Mr. Hirose said in a very natural tone after seeing that it was Ah Guang who came.

Mr. Hirose is a frequent visitor to this go hall, and likewise, he is also a supporter of little teacher Ryo Toya.Coincidentally, he was present in the two chess games between Ah Guang and Taya, so he would be very impressed with this kid whose strength seems to be comparable to that of Teacher A Liang.

Oh, by the way, besides that, he has always been looking forward to playing guiding chess with Teacher A Liang on a Sunday afternoon every month.Unfortunately, both times they were stranded because of the boy Aguang who broke out halfway...

"Did you win Ah Liang? And you won twice in a row." The celebrity's deep and indifferent tone made it impossible to hear what kind of emotion he was feeling. "I want to know your strength. Sit down." He pointed Pointing to the vacant seat, he said so.

There, the chessboard and chess box were quietly placed on the table.

"I do not……"

Ah Guang, please let me play chess with him!

Before Ah Guang could say his refusal, Zuowei's voice was heard.That voice was full of seriousness, and even the surrounding air seemed to be condensed, faintly filled with trembling.

A light!Seeing that Ah Guang was silent, Zuo Wei said eagerly.

Zuo Wei's voice was full of urgency that could not be refused.A Guang looked at Zuo Wei's firm expression, and couldn't say anything about the rejection.He had no choice but to agree.

"Uh... well..." he said.It is not only responding to Zuowei, but also responding to celebrities.

Ah Guang sat down on the chair, and slowly stretched out his hand to the chess box.

Then, he noticed Toya Yukiyo's gaze:

His eyes stared straight at himself without hesitation.

Such eyes... always feel deja vu.

That's right, this look is the same as Taya...

As for Zuowei... he must be...

Just me... only me left out...

I... Zuo Wei, I... I also want to...

"I'm going to start!" As soon as the celebrity's voice fell, Ah Guang heard the crisp sound of chess pieces colliding with the chessboard.

……

Well, forget it... Ah Guang gave up the original absurd idea.

Regardless of whether Zuo Wei, who is looking forward to this game, will agree to his request.Even if he agreed, what could he do?Are you going to use your own chess skills that are not even considered as a three-legged cat's skill to play against this "person who is closest to the magic skill"?Do not make jokes.

Hehe, it's really ridiculous for me to have such an unrealistic idea.

Forget it, so be it.Just silently follow Zuowei's instructions and arrange the chess pieces.

That's right, that Toranojiro did the same.

So, just keep the status quo.

Anyway, it is Zuo Wei who likes Go and is still obsessed with it after thousands of years, not me.

Whoever he wants to play with, it's up to him.

I just need to concentrate on placing the chess pieces.

For the rest, don't think about it anymore...

It's just...why do I feel so unwilling...

"Come here. I know your strength."

After an unknown amount of time, the celebrity on the opposite side suddenly spoke up.

Eh?Ah Guang paused his right hand stretched towards the chess box.

Zuowei also watched the celebrity silently.

"There are people. You have such strength, it is inevitable that Ah Liang will lose." The celebrity stated like this.

He lowered his gaze, as if he was thinking about something, and then asked solemnly, "May I know who your teacher is?"

"Huh? Uh... this..." Hearing such a question suddenly, Ah Guang panicked.While avoiding the celebrity's gaze, he replied hesitatingly.

"You don't want to be named?" The celebrity said with a trace of sadness in his tone, "Okay then. I really hope to play chess with him..."

As if thinking of something, he added: "By the way, if you have time, you can come to my seminar. Once a week, Ah Liang will also participate."

"Uh...I'll think about it..." Ah Guang reluctantly said, "Then, I'm going home...Thank you for your advice..."

On the way back, Ah Guang kept silent, not knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing this, Zuo Wei didn't disturb him, but silently followed Ah Guang towards his home.

Just when Zuo Wei thought he would keep silent like this, Ah Guang suddenly said, "Zuo Wei...can you teach me how to play chess?"

Huh?

After hearing Ah Guang's words suddenly, Zuo Wei didn't react for a while.

He carefully observed Ah Guang's expression.I saw that the immature face was full of unwillingness, besides that, it was more determined and firm.

I want to too... I want to play chess like Taya, a celebrity, like Sakai... Is it okay, Sakai?Not getting a reply from Zuowei, Aguang eagerly explained.

Yes~ Zuo Wei replied.

After a pause, he added: However, Ah Guang can’t give up halfway~

Um.Thank you, Zuowei... Ah Guang said so softly in his heart.

The author has something to say:

Sorry, it's a bit late today...a thick chapter, I hope you like it :)

If something is wrong, please let me know!