Like young geniuses pouring all their strength into breaking through the throne of kings.
Those who can do that almost always leave their names in the shogi world, and often hold several "Eternal" titles.
However, Yukima Azuma entered the Meijin Tournament simply because he wanted to fight the Meijin.
After all, it had been quite some time since the Ryuuou Tournament.
He had been training with Sora Ginko and Hinatsuru Ai to improve his proficiency.
His shogi skills had now reached a subtle and profound level.
If he continued training at a slow pace, he would still need a bit more time.
But if there was a special way to quickly raise his mastery, then only one final step remained.
Unlike Ryuuou
The conditions to unlock the Meijin Tournament are not available to all players.
They are reserved only for those ranked 2-dan or higher in the shoureikai.
Because of such strict requirements, very few players are able to participate in the Meijin Tournament.
Basically, they are all well-known figures in the community.
At the same time, the quality of the matches is insanely high.
However, for Yukima Azuma now
In the current shogi world, aside from the Meijin, almost no one else could create any kind of excitement when playing against him.
Level 9 shogi skill had pushed all his moves, techniques, reading ability... to the limit, perfectly fused together.
Therefore, the process of sweeping through the qualifiers and the first few rounds...
There's no need to elaborate on it.
Only one thing is worth mentioning
While Azuma was "Grinding" through the Meijin qualifiers
Eriri's manga officially began serialization.
"Sawamura-san Teasing Master."
Published in a monthly magazine.
Just like most manga marketing strategies
Before starting the official serialization, Eriri had uploaded drafts of the first few chapters to an online manga platform.
It's a school romance manga with a youthful theme.
A chapter-by-chapter romantic comedy style, which is very popular in manga.
The online feedback was excellent.
Especially because Eriri was actually the illustrator Kashiwagi Eri.
Even though Eriri "coming ashore"... um... the news that Kashiwagi Eri-sensei would no longer draw 18+ Doujinshi was a huge shock for fans.
But after a period of complaints and lamentation, fans eventually came around to support the new manga.
After all, life isn't just about the dark stuff.
With how popular the manga is
It could easily be serialized weekly.
It would definitely sell like crazy.
However, for Eriri...
Weekly serialization is a mangaka's hell.
She would have to work at a high intensity almost every day.
It felt like a guillotine was hanging over her head every single day.
;
For a creator, it was truly terrifying.
Like how novel authors have to type every day.
Creative anxiety hitting max level.
Eriri was already in the late stages of procrastination syndrome, and manga to her was merely a hobby.
Even though it made a decent amount of money, as the Ojou-sama of the Sawamura household, she mainly did it for fun, not income.
So in the end, she decided to go with monthly serialization.
...
Sawamura Mansion.
"How is it, how is it?!"
( )
Eriri asked with an excited look.
Kato Megumi, holding the serialized manga volume, nodded.
"It feels great, I really like the art style, and the story is very interesting."
At that, Kato Megumi paused for a moment.
Then, she glanced at Eriri with a hint of suspicion.
"Now that you mention it, this plot is it based on something that happened between Sawamura-san and Azuma-san in the past?"
( — )
Eriri had originally been wearing a smug expression.
`
Upon hearing that, her whole body froze for a moment.
Then, her fair cheeks quickly turned a soft pink.
"N-No, of course not! It's just the story of a manga, that's all!"
(,,,,)
Kato Megumi nodded.
Umu, it was indeed something from the past between her and Azuma-san.
Things like thishonestly, anyone could tell just by glancing at it.
The reason Kato Megumi asked,
Was because she felt that Eriri's current behavior had the distinct scent of a territorial claim.
After all, this kind of manga tactic was the same as that "600-page love letter novel" Yukima Azuma had once given her.
But reality provedEriri was still just Eriri.
Aho-Baka Sawamura Eriri, completely unaware of the implications.
She was purely here to show off.
Eriri: ( )
Umu, well, in that case, it's fine then.
"Cookies are ready, everyone come down and eat."
Sayuri's voice called from downstairs.
Hearing that, the people in Eriri's room all made their way down.
Today, Kato Megumi, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Yukima Azuma had been invited to the Sawamura residence.
...
In the living room.
Sayuri placed a plate of freshly baked cookies on the table.
Then, with great interest and "Ara ara~" expression, she observed the interactions between her daughter, the two girls, and the one boy.
( `)
As for the manga her daughter had drawn, of course Sayuri had read it.
Some parts of the storySayuri even knew quite well.
At first, Sayuri thought her daughter had finally opened her mind.
But after a few indirect questions and subtle probing...
Sayuri learned that the manga's plot idea had come from Yukima Azuma.
You're spoiling her too much!
Yukima Azuma was met with a gaze from Sayuri that clearly conveyed that message.
A few question marks appeared above his head instinctively.
( -)?
It was obvious.
Though she was Eriri's biological mother
Once she confirmed that her daughter had set her heart on Yukima Azuma, she was absolutely certain Eriri wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
Her future would undoubtedly be a happy one.
As the victor of the previous generation's harem war,
Sawamura Sayuri had already begun drawing up plans for this new-generation harem battle.
...
At the dining table.
Eriri bit into a cookie and looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with a triumphant expression.
"How about it? Plot and all, if I want to draw it, I totally can!"
Because she didn't know how to write plots,
Eriri had been mocked multiple times by Kasumigaoka Utaha who practically rode her like a horse.
Now, having found her chance, she was clearly trying to make a comeback.
('-')
Kasumigaoka Utaha bit into a cookie while casting Eriri a sidelong glance.
She had already read the manga too.
The plot had been revised to a certain degree.
After all, the genders of the main characters had been swapped, and their personalities had been tweaked.
But some of Yukima Azuma's habits were still plainly visible in the female lead of the story.
As for the male lead
Even though his personality had been somewhat "simplified," one could still easily see Eriri's tsundere traits in him.
When reading the manga, Kasumigaoka had felt a bit of a stomachache.
Because many of the ways Azuma doted on Eriri...
That delicate understanding of a maiden's heart...
Were all things shethe first girlfriendhad personally taught him.
And yet Eriri was now sitting there enjoying the fruits of her labor, seemingly without the slightest bit of appreciation.
Eriri sensed that Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze had turned a little hostile.
She instinctively shivered slightly.
Quietly pulling back her smug expression, her eyes shifted away awkwardly...
Utaha: ( _ )+=={:::::::::::::::::> :Eriri
Chapter 292: Meijin-sen
"That glare from the fat Kasumigaoka Utaha in black tights is scary."
()
Eriri whispered to Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma glanced at the long-haired black-haired senpai who was furiously shaking her leg.
He silently patted Eriri's shoulder.
"Young maiden, Gambatte ne."
Eriri: ( ®® ) ??
...
After finishing the cookies
When everyone returned to Eriri's room,
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly made her move, pushing Eriri down onto the bed.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, you fatty! What are you doing?!"
"Waitdon't tickle me!"
"Yame-YAMEROOOOOOOO!!!"
;
Eriri had a lot of ticklish spots.
Among them, her waist was considered a critical zone.
Kasumigaoka Utaha held her down and launched a merciless tickle attack.
Eriri rolled around on the bed from the tickling, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
After venting her frustrations for a while, Kasumigaoka Utaha clapped her hands and prepared to retreat in triumph.
Unexpectedly
Though she looked exhausted from laughing, Eriri...
Suddenly sprang back, turning the tables.
"Damn you! Take this!"
( д)(д )
Kato Megumi looked at the two girls wrestling,
Then looked over at Yukima Azuma, who was watching the girl-on-girl battle with great interest.
( )
"Azuma-san, when you gave Sawamura-san the idea for her manga"
"Were you imagining something like this?"
Hit right where it hurt, Yukima Azuma felt a bit guilty and immediately averted his eyes from the match.
Azuma: ( ® з ®)~~~
Looking at Kato Megumi, Yukima Azuma said earnestly:
"How could I possibly?!"
Kato Megumi pouted.
"Azuma-san is so sly."
...
That evening, Yukima Azuma helped Sayuri cook dinner in the kitchen.
The three girls ate happily.
At first, Kato Megumi had been a little worried, thinking Sayuri had invited them over...
So she could involve them in some kind of dinner party.
In reality, Kato Megumi wasn't great at handling upper-class social events.
Especially when she had to talk to people of status and influence.
Because there was no actual relationship, the pressure was overwhelming.
It wasn't fear of strangersKato Megumi just didn't want to associate with people whose ties were purely transactional.
However, a visit that passed this peacefully...
Kato Megumi, being sensitive and observant, sensed something off.
Especially when she happened to see Sayuri watching the "Azuma Harem" and smiling subtly at the corner of her lips
( `)
Kato Megumi was utterly shaken.
Even though she knew Sawamura Sayuri was a free-spirited woman...
She didn't expect her to be this unrestrained.
Moreover, after further observation, Kato Megumi noticed
This Sayuri oba-san didn't seem to place much hope in Team Eriri, her daughter.
On the contrary, she had high expectations for Team Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Sawamura-san...." Right before leaving, Kato Megumi looked at Eriri, as if wanting to say something but holding back.
Eriri tilted her head in confusion. "What?"
( -)?
Seeing Eriri's dazed expression...
Kato Megumi quietly patted her on the shoulder.
"It's nothing. As long as you're happy."
A big question mark popped up above Eriri's blonde head.
( ®® ) ?
Was this... a riddle or something?
Also, she clearly came today just to show off.
So why did it feel like... after showing off, she wasn't all that happy?
...
The next week.
The third week of spring break.
The Meijin Tournament entered its most anticipated match.
Not the finals
But from the looks of it, the drawing lots really wasn't rigged.
Yukima Azuma faced Meijin in the semi-finals.
Even though it wasn't the finals
The level of attention this match received far surpassed that of any previous shogi game.
The strongest genius versus the strongest player.
Genius One vs. Honored One.
[ )(.]
Who would emerge victorious?
Anyone with even a slight interest in shogialmost no one wasn't paying attention.
This match even broke through the boundaries of the shogi world.
Even those who didn't understand shogi were curious to see who would win in this clash of titans.
A player who had claimed 98 titlesaside from Ryuuou, had earned every single Eternal title.
The strongest modern-day playerMeijin.
Versus the youngest Ryuuou in history, an unprecedented prodigy in the world of shogi.
And in contrast to the hype from the public
Yukima Azuma himself didn't feel particularly emotional.
He had faced Meijin once before, back when he hadn't yet obtained the System.
Though he had been completely overwhelmed back then
Yukima Azuma had still been able to feel the true strength of Meijin.
A person who had already reached the realm of "understanding the Great Way", just one step away from becoming a true peak master.
Who wins and who loses wasn't particularly surprising either way.
Although he was competitive by nature, he approached the match with a calm mindset.
His main reason for entering the Meijin Tournament this time
Was to refine his technique.
After countless pre-match interviews and promotional campaigns
Yukima Azuma finally sat down in the match room.
There were livestream cameras, a large screen for replays.
A referee, a timer, and a traditional 7-inch shogi board.
And yet, Yukima Azuma felt as though the only things before him
Were the man sitting on the opposite side of the board
And the shogi pieces.
Such a surreal sensation had never occurred to him in any previous match.
Meijin, seated on the far side of the table, seemed to sense something as well and looked up.
He looked like an utterly ordinary man.
Nothing about his appearance stood out.
He wore a pair of square glasses.
Whenever light hit the lenses, his eyes behind them were impossible to make out.
Yet when such an ordinary man sat in front of shogi board
He exuded a pressure that made one's heart clench.
The match began.
Perhaps it was due to memory, or perhaps something deeper...
Even though he had already mastered all techniques and strategies in shogi
Yukima Azuma chose one of the oldest, simplest openings in the gameAigakari.
Aigakari: one of the fundamental openings every beginner learns.
Passed down through generations, a long-standing path. Easy to pick up, yet with incredibly high potential.
As expected, Meijin also chose Aigakari.
He had been researching the differences between going first and second.
In recent matches, he had often selected the same opening as his opponent.
Right from the start, the shogi pieces clacked onto the board without pause.
The two barely had to think.
The optimal move path was quickly established.
Only after a hundred moves did deviations from the standard path begin to appear.
After three hundred moves, every piece played became painstakingly difficult.
