"Did you pass?" "Yeah" "Waya, you know him?" "Oh, I heard him say To Surpass Touya Akira in the hall." "really!" "I'm his, and he's my rival!" "There's too much of a gap!" "I'lI catch up eventually!" "The Twenty Third Match The Room ofYuugen" "Oh it's all black!" "Touya Akira's rival experiences six straight losses in second class." "What is it!" "?" "What are you trying to say?" "Oh!" "I see!" "He's your rival at Shougi!" "Don't mind him Hikaru, you're getting stronger." "And what's your rank!" "?" "Me?" "6th... in fiirst class..." "Waya you're good." "Compared to the bottom of second class I am." "And you still lost to Touya twice." "Though I lost to him, I'm a Iot closer to Touya than you are!" "Though he probably doesn't even know I exist." "What are you talking about?" "I'm pissed at myself for letting Touya beat me at the Pro exams." "I can't lose to him in spirit and skill." "I played against Touya - kun too!" "I lost!" "O" " Oh..." "Touya doesn't matter." "It's all a matter of making yourself the top." "Who was that?" "Ochi, he's in the sixths grade." "He came three months before you." "Of course he started at the very bottom of second class." "Now?" "He's third in first class!" "Third... in first class?" "He probably thinks he'lI pass the pro exams today." "I want to pass them too this year, no matter what!" "If I pass this year, I won't have to go to High school." "You don't like studying Waya?" "I hate it!" "Ahh!" "The pain of having to listen to a teach for hours and hours everyday." "Me too I'lI be in the ninth grade by the pro exam in the summer." "If I pass it, I'Il start as a pro the same time I graduate!" "I'd like to finally pass this year too..." "Isumi - san." "I'lI turn 1 8 this year, it's the last year I can remain an Insel." "even if you're not an insei you can take the pro exam until you're 30." "I know all that." "It's a matter of feelings." "Last year, and the year before that, I failed the pro exams despite being... ranked one in the lnseis." "If I faiI this year too... I'd feel too sorry for myself to continue." "How many people can pass the pro exams?" "Three." "Just three!" "?" "There's a long way ahead on the path you're walking, six straight losses." "Long way... ahead..." "I didn't think that would work." "I mean, this flow here, that's not good enough for black." "Then, do you want us going after the 2 moku here?" "Yeah yeah, extend yourself here." "Can you really win the battle?" "Probably?" "Probably!" "?" "What do you think about it Akira - kun?" "Akira - kun?" "O" " Oh!" "What is it?" "is your mind fiiIled with becoming pro?" "No..." "I'd like to say fiinaIly." "Akira - kun is fiinaIly a pro starting in April." "What I don't understand is why you were fooling in the Go club" "Right Ogata - san?" "But he had more spirit back then." "Go isn't all about skill." "Inbetween the small difference in skill, your emotions, your spirit... affects the outcome of the game greatly." "Right now you're..." "not even worth pounding." "I don't feel different..." "Akira - kun's a scary enough existence for me." "That's because you're losing one out of every three matches, Ashiwara." "Touya" " Meijin probably knows since he plays him every day." "well, once the matches begin in april, the results will show it." "But Ashiwara - kun, how long do you plan on drifting inbetween the fiirst... and second preliminaries?" "Umm... yeah!" "Are you free this sunday?" "There's something I'd Iike to show you." "Something to show me?" "Shindo..." "You won!" "?" "Yup!" "My first victory!" "Just one win?" "I'm just about to start my winning streak now." "Touya..." "Touya!" "What's with him?" "Touya!" "Touya!" "What's with him?" "Did he have some business with the teacher?" "No... he came to see if I was here." "What are you talking about?" "He completely ignored you." "He's not your rival at alI." "He said he'Il never appear before me again..." "He's waiting for me..." "For me to rise to his level!" "You didn't know did you?" "That he became lnsei." "Was he what you wanted to show me?" "So what if he is Insel?" "What does that have to do with me?" "He probably did it in pursuit of Touya Akira." "Oh!" "Touya - kun you're here?" "hello!" "Perfect!" "Do you mind if I interview you for a bit?" "About becoming pro, and..." "about your father?" "It's fine with me." "will you come to the publishing department upstairs later?" "I understand." "Thanks a Iot." "hello, Ogata - sensei." "well then I'lI..." "Okay, I'm going home." "I just thought he would motivate you." "Hmph!" "That's funny." "To chase after me with his skills?" "Then, I'lI move forward far beyond him so that he'Il never reach me." "I won't let him come near me!" "He's motivated you plenty." "What an interesting existence he is." "So he'Il get pummeled here for awhile as Insel... hurry up and come to the world of the pros... will he be able to come at all?" "What's going on?" "Imanishi - kun!" "Wait!" "Hey!" "What is with his attitude?" "Just over losing?" "You were lmanishi's opponent just now right?" "Yeah." "Did he make a stupid mistake somewhere?" "Yup." "A total miscalculation." "Maybe he's irritated because the High School entrance exams are coming up." "Oh, Arigatou." "He said his grades at school were dropping." "Of course, if I had time, I'd be studying Go." "if it pays off and we become pro, it's all fine, he's still second class." "And he lost to someone like Shindou because of a stupid mistake, no wonder... he's irritated." "Why you..." "Hey, Touya doesn't study for school either right?" "But he's in Kaiou Jr." "High, he must be really smart." "Yeah!" "Doesn't that irritate you?" "It doesn't really irritate me but... lt's irritating!" "He passed the pro exams in one shot too!" "He'Il be appearing in the new fiirst dan series soon." "New fiirst dan series?" "You really don't know anything do you?" "The new first dan series are matches between people who just passed the pro... exams, and the top pros." "It's to encourage new pros." "Encouragement huh?" "You start as a pro in April, but we have a match like this before then." "Last Tuesday, there was a match between Kuwabara - sensei and Mashiba - san!" "Mashiba - san?" "He was an insei." "Hmm... so he passed the pro exams." "When Isumi - sai and Waya failed." "You be quiet." "How did the match go?" "He resigned helplessly before Kuwabara sensei.D221" "Oh..." "Touya should have it soon too." "He keeps on moving forward doesn't he?" "It's not just Touya." "Everyone who passed the pro exams keeps moving forward." "We lnsei, don't move forward at all unless we pass the pro exams." "Who is it?" "Down!" "Hey who is it?" "That was Zama - sensei!" "Ouza!" "Ouza?" "That's one of the titles." "You should know the titles at the very least." "Zama - sensei!" "Perfect timing." "What?" "The day for your match against the new fiirst dan has been decided." "We'Il send a notice for it." "Who's my opponent?" "It's Touya Akira - san." "The Meijin's son." "Oh Touya... him?" "Is it he?" "I've heard about him." "He's supposedly really strong according to the players studying under Touya -..." "Of course they won't say anything bad." "The new fiirst dan series..." "How have they been going?" "A sweep by us experienced pros?" "No there are losses as welI." "Hmm... so they're letting the new players feel some glory." "It is a festival of sorts." "Then maybe I'lI let him win by half a moku too." "well the publishers may appreciate it but..." "Oh yes, Kuwabara - sensei played it a few days ago didn't he?" "Yes." "His opponent was Mashiba - kun, and he used to be lnsei." "I'd Iike this please." "Maybe he got nervous because he was playing Kuwabara - sensei, or maybe he went out of it because of the room of Yuugen, but he defeated... himself." "Kuwabara - sensei went Huh?" "when Mashiba - kun resigned, as if he played..." "the game half asleep." "I feel sorry for that boy." "Kuwabara - sensei can be quite a bully at times." "I hope for a great game between new pro, and one of the top pros" "What!" "?" "Today!" "?" "Did you read the sign outside?" "There's a match between Touya and the Ouza today afternoon." "I wanna see!" "You can." "There's a camera in the room of Yuugen during matches, and you can watch it on a monitor." "It'lI be shown on that TV." "We have our own matches, so we can't watch all of it." "But you can catch at least the second half after your Insel matches are over." "Oh..." "I can't watch all of it." "while we're here, wanna look at the Room of Yuugen as welI?" "What!" "?" "We're allowed?" "Here, this is the room of Yuugen." "It's so dark, I can't see anything." "Hikaru..." "Sai...?" "Maybe I feel it because of the state I'm in... but the air here stings me." "Enough to make me smile from quivering in anticipation." "How is it?" "Isn't it awesome?" "Do the pros always play in places like this?" "No." "They usually play in the main room where we play." "Rooms like these are used only for title matches." "Oh." "Using this room today, is kind of like encouraging them to work hard so that... they can play a real game in here." "Next year, I too will..." "We'lI be taking a memorial picture before the match." "Take some extras." "He may become big in the future." "Gotcha." "Could you face each other and converse a little?" "Converse he said Touya - kun." "I'lI be fighting you with all my strength today." "My regards to you." "Oh, you have my regards as weIl." "Don't be scared by my title of Ouza." "We're all the same once we're pro." "You can't win if you lose emotionally." "Come at me thinking that I'm a new pro just like you." "Yes. I intend to do so." "He intends to do so?" "How arrogant of him." "Could you look this way please?" "Change of plans..." "I 'Ilcrushhim." "Has touya's match started yet?" "Hikaru, concentrate on the match before you for now!" "I - l know!" "This isn't the fiirst time you've been in the room of Yuugen right Touya - kun?" "No, it's my fiirst time." "It may be your fiirst time , but you've been in here before at least right?" "Your father is a regular here." "Have you never come with him?" "No, not even once." "You've never enen sat here to keep time or record the moves?" "I was not an Insel, so I've never kept time or records." "What?" "You were never an Insel?" "Oh!" "But jobs like that come to new pros too right?" "I'd better learn how to do it by april." "Heh!" "How annoying, feel at least a little nervous." "It's time, so we'Il begin the match." "The new pro will move fiirst, and komi is a reverse - komi, 5.5 moku." "You each have 2 hours." "After you use it, you have a minute per move on the byouyomi." "well then." "Good luck." "Good luck." "Good luck." "What?" "Ashiwara - sensei!" "hello." "Oh yes!" "Ashiwara - sensei studies under Touya" " Meijin!" "I'm Touya - kun's friend." "The closest to him in age too." "all of Touya - kun's..." "friends are adults." "is that why?" "He's calm." "Every pro I've seen have been nervous but he's neither." "Oh yes, Mashiba - kun, you were frozen stiff." "Kuwabara - sensei was really scary." "Kuwabara - sensei slammed the stone onto the board really loud" "Hehe, you can't be getting swallowed up by such obvious scare tactics." "Kuwabara - sensei's just the type of person to do it." "well, Iet's see what happens with today's match." "Touya..." "Touya!" "He came to see if I was here." "What are you talking about?" "He completely ignored you." "How are you guys rivals?" "He said held never appear before me again... he's waiting for me." "He's waiting for me to rise up to him." "Look this way please." "Change of pains, I'lI crush him." "The Twenty Fourth Match:" "Ouza vs. Akira" "I envy them..." "they're going to watch Touya's match." "We played Touya four times to the day." "Yeah, but we've never seen him play anyone else." "And his opponent is the Ouza!" "Hikaru!" "Hikaru!" "I'Il play just this game for you!" "I'lI fiinish it in the blink of an eye!" "Idiot." "Excuse me." "Oh!" "Waya!" "Isumi - san." "Mashiba - san..." "Oh Isumi - kun, how are you doing?" "Yes." "We'Il place the game from move one for you." "I'Il place white." "Touya Akira draws a lot of attention." "I wish you would pass the pro exams next year too, Isumi-kun." "Oh, yes." "Isumi - san is stronger than I am." "I just passed out of luck." "Tsk." "Mashiba - san's gloating over how he passed." "Luck is part of your skills." "Mashiba - kun might be the fiirst person to defeat Touya Akira." "That would be great!" "No offense, but none of you will be able to defeat Touya Akira." "Even Zama - sensei is struggling." "Look!" "Zama-sensei used a doubIe-Hane here!" "It's not the way an Ouza would play against a mere new pro." "He is desperate." "I title holder should just connect here." "Zama - sensei intends to win no matter what." "Isumi - san, Iet's replay the game over there." "But Touya - kun's playing really well on black." "Yes!" "Zama - sensei's probably biting the tip of his fan right now." "Oh!" "That habit Zama - sensei has when he's serious!" "I'Il go take a look." "There!" "End game!" "How is it!" "Yes!" "Hikaru you won by 2 and half moku!" "well done!" "Great!" "I lost my focus half way through because of Touya's match, but... 20... 40... 50... 58!" "Nope." "I'm two and a half short. I lost." "Thank you for the game!" "Hey." "Right here, did I respond incorrectly?" "Shindou-kun, you seemed to move in really well." "Umm... ahh..." "Come on!" "Let's go watch Touya's match!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Hmm... you played well there, but it can get difficult depending on how your opponent responds." "Are you!" "?" "Going to discuss the game!" "?" "Here..." "Teacher,you don't go over the game each time!" "Why you chose a time like this?" "Teacher!" "I'lI..." "I'lI make sure Hikaru reviews the game once we get home, so please make it short!" "He tossed it in!" "That's really aggressive!" "Black's throw in is a strong move that won't let White relax at all." "Everything depends upon white's response to it." "If white cuts, the battle will be very complex." "Black will be in danger, but white will be in danger too." "He captured instead of cutting!" "White cowered out!" "How about here?" "Wow, the Ouza avoided a battle!" "If white had cut, this, and this?" "Yeah... both white and black are in danger but..." "Zama - sensei probably avoided battle out of confiidence." "No he didn't." "He thought he shouldn't cross a faulty bridge... against a mere new pro.He's hesitating over Touya Akira's strength" "Zama-sensei must be bitter to that." "He wasn't only pull back but take action" "But will he have a chance to come back?" "White's in the lead!" "Protect your territory and run to the goal Akira-kun!" "No, no." "The Ouza won't let it end like this." "Not yet..." "I won't defend just yet." "I'lI move onward still!" "A Kifu of this match will remain." "Shindou will probably see it too." "I'Il show you!" "Each of my moves!" "Keima!" "?" "You're not defending the lower side!" "?" "You're going to keep fighting!" "?" "But, he's going to leave a weakness in his own territory right?" "Touya's well aware of that." "And he still attacks." "is Touya that type of guy?" "Sure, Zama - sensei will attack him through that weakness." "Zama - sensei's thinking?" "This is interesting." "How's Touya doing!" "?" "Another observer?" "Shindou!" "Over here." "Waya..." "Isumi - san." "Come over here, we'Il replay the game for you." "Touya is black and the Ouza is white." "There's a handicap, not only does he go fiirst, black also gets 5.5 moku komi." "Oh, there's a hand!" "?" "It's between a top pro and a new fiirst dan." "Of course you'lI need a handicap to make it a good match." "This is actually not enough for the new fiirst dan, but the top pro doesn't play seriously, so it turns out to be a close match." "Then Touya's got an easy win?" "But the Ouza is playing seriously today." "Using all his strength?" "But Touya's winning." "Yeah!" "White responds by taking instead of cutting to black's throw in." "The Ouza is playing carefully!" "Against a new fiirst dan!" "He's playing patiently, not rushing the game, protecting his weaknesses, and waiting for his opponent to make a mistake." "And take the win in the end." "That's how Zama-sensei is playing today" "But, Touya played here instead of protecting here." "He didn't protect!" "?" "This is more interesting... but if white comes in here..." "Ouza just went in there!" "black should be well aware that white will move into... where black's control is weak." "How will you flight, Touya Akira?" "How will you flight, Zama" " Ouza?" "Touya... you really are incredible." "You can win if you just protected." "but you still attack... what's pushing Akira - kun like this?" "I know..." "Touya..." "You're telling me to come all this way, right?" "I'lI walk forward, headed towards you." "Just you wait!" "I'Il..." "I'lI defiiniteIy catch up to you!" "It's snowing..." "Even after a thousand years has passed, it is all still here... snow... and the fiierce wars on the board." "Each move speaks... of the heart of the ones placing the stones." "Now, the sound of the stones is resounding through that stinging air" "Come after me with his skills?" "Then, I'lI move forward to a place that he can never reach!" "I won't let him come near me!" "It doesn't matter who chases after me from behind." "What I see is the 500 pro players." "And just forward!" "I'lI just move forward!" "I won't even turn to you!" "You're soft." "Did you think I'd respond here?" "I won't." "You planned on coming here after that move right?" "Too late." "If it's a disciple of Touya family, he'd not have responded there by impulse" "Hey!" "Who do you think is sitting before you right now?" "Now it's even." "He was caught off guard..." "That last move made the winner uncertain..." "That's Zama sensei..." "I would've responded there on impulse... lt's already in the end game..." "This is close." "Hikaru?" "will the match end with the victor uncertain?" "It won't!" "Touya won't let it end here, with the way he's been playing up to now" "If they enter the Iast round even, he'Il try to go for a KO!" "black, that's too far." "He'lI get cut off!" "Too far?" "You went in too deep, Touya - kun!" "You haven't read through Ouza's responses!" "He resigned..." "Now for the post game discussion." "Though he was defeated, it was a very good game by Touya - kun" "Yes." "He did well in chasing the Ouza back that far." "shall we say to Zama - sensei Good job?" "Isumi - san... wanna go?" "They probably won't tell us to get out.." "I'Il go next year." "Yeah!" "It's late, Iet's go home." "Shindou, let's go home." "I'lI stay here a bit longer." "See you." "We're going now." "Touya got defeated trying to go for a KO... so he loses to people other than Sai..." "But I... won't forget his match today." "Yes." "Touya's play today was worth watching." "Yeah." "It was exciting!" "Wow!" "The snow is incredible!" "Touya's going to keep moving forward, right!" "?" "Man he's really worth chasing!" "But, Hikaru you've come a Iong way too." "Yeah." "It's all thanks to Touya." "If I keep chasing after Touya, maybe I'Il be able to be Meijin or anything!" "Touya Akira would've kept going his path with no stop if he hadn't met Hikaru" "He stops and turns back, and pulls Hikaru along." "As if..." "As if..." "The existence of Touya Akira... was placed here by God to make Hikaru grow." "Not yet..." "I won't defend just yet." "I'lI move onward still!" "I'Il show you!" "Each of my moves!" "I understand..." "Touya..." "You're telling me to catch up to you, right?" "But, I won't forget the match from today." "It was exciting." "The Greatest wall for Hikaru!" "Shindou!" "Shindou!" "You don't have a teacher, right?" "How do you study going on a day to day basis?" "What do you do, waya?" "I'm Morishita 9 dan's student." "I go to his house after school to have him teach me." "And you?" "At home..." "I..." "Get taught well!" "Kinda study..." "So you teach yourself..." "You read books on Tsumego and replay games?" "well, there are people who only do that." "people like that never progress!" "If you want to get stronger, it's not genius or hard work, you just have to play people who are stronger as much as possible!" "That's most important." "Someone stronger?" "As much as possible?" "I play a sickening amount every day, every night." "Thinking about that, you really are progressing slowly, Hikaru." "What?" "!" "Hey!" "Shindou." "Wanna come to my teacher's study session?" "Study session?" "It's basically what we do at the Insel sessions." "But it's on a totally different level." "My teacher's pupils come." "They're all pro!" "We do it once a week in a room at the Go Institute." "How about it?" "I don't wanna." "LET'S GO!" "Let's go Hikaru!" "We're going!" "No matter what!" "Wha... what is it?" "Shindou?" "well... can you ask him if it's okay?" "Hikaru!" "What are you doing?" "Let's go to the study session already!" "Leave those realistic looking fake fiish alone." "Just wait, I'm nervous." "I don't know what goes on in a study session." "If only Waya was here..." "The pros all look so scary..." "What are you talking to yourself for?" "What is it today?" "The lnsei's don't meet today." "I was invited to a study session..." "Study session?" "Who's the master?" "Dunno..." "I mean I don't know." "Hikaru, this person made it so you can take the lnsei exam." "You should thank him." "Oh y.. yeah..." "Thank you very much for helping with the Insel exam." "Study session..." "Want to come to Touya" " Meijin's study session?" "Touya" " Meijin is that man..." "The man who aims for the Hand of God like me." "I don't know much about study sessions." "Do you play each other there?" "You were going to go without knowing what it was?" "well, we do play, but it's mostly discussion." "We sometimes go over a match after playing it, or we may go over the Kifu from a title match." "You can hear Touya" " Meijin talk about his play and how he thinks." "You mean he's...!" "Touya is there too!" "?" "Yes, it wouId be motivating,wouldn't it?" "Hikaru, Let's go!" "He'lI be playing...he'Il be speaking..." "Let's go Hikaru!" "I'm not going!" "H..." "Hikaru!" "I'm not keeping you from going to that study session." "No!" "I don't want to study with Touya!" "I want to play him!" "He's..." "He's my..." "I can't say rival... when I'm 1 8th place in second class... but how can I sit next to him and learn go dammit!" "Hikaru!" "You want to play him..." "I see..." "Then I'lI be looking forward to that." "Hey!" "What were you talking to Ogata-sensei about?" "He invited me to the Meijin's study session." "Why would he invite you of all things!" "?" "all things?" "The Wakajishisen is in 3 months... I may be able to see you and Touya play there." "Wakajishisen?" "You really don't know anything do you?" "It's a tournament where Insel and young pros play each other." "Insel and young pros!" "?" "Touya will be there!" "I may be able to play him!" "You will be there, right?" "I'lI be there!" "Of course I will!" "I'Il be waiting then." "Wakajishisen... there was something that fun!" "?" "Wow..." "Shindou, do you really know what it is?" "Yes!" "It's a match between Inseis and new pros right?" "Just to that you know, only the top 1 6 in first class can go." "T" " Top 1 6 in fiirst class!" "?" "Yup." "It's a tournament between the top 1 6 Insel according to the may chart,and 1 6 pros" "Of course I'lI probably be there." "What about you 1 8th in second class?" "S-Sixteenth in first class..." "I'm 1 8th in 2nd. class right now so..." "Do that in your head!" "You're going after Touya aren't you!" "?" "Yeah..." "Touya won't wait for me forever..." "But..." "It's going to be tough..." "You're still crying?" "I wanted to go..." "Stop crying Sai." "This is a study session among pros too." "Yup!" "This might be fun in its own way!" "Why you..." "Excuse me." "Come on in." "Hikaru, him!" "Teacher!" "Shindou-kun!" "Why are you here?" "Shirakawa - kun?" "He's someone that used to go to my Go class." "Waya, is he the lnsei you wanted to invite?" "Insel!" "?" "You're an Insel!" "?" "What?" "is that unexpected?" "No..." "well... lt's not unexpected... I was just surprised." "He's learned how to play go just over a year ago." "He reminds me of Kurata - kun." "But he's second class right?" "If he's that bad... I'lI rise up to fiirst class right away" "1 6th in fiirst class!" "I want to go to the Wakajishisen!" "No, I have to go!" "Otherwise, I can't say To defeat Touya Akira anymore!" "I have to go to the Wakajishisen and show him!" "That I'm right behind him!" "Good!" "To defeat Touya well said!" "Strengthen yourself here to accomplish that goal!" "Yes!" "Master, you need to reach your goal of defeating Touya-meijin soon." "You don't need to tell me." "Master Morishita became a pro the same time Toya-meijin did, and thinks of him as a rival." "Who knows whether they like each otter or not." "I don't like him!" "You're only second class..." "Don't worry, you'Il grow when you do." "You still have three months right?" "Just work hard." "Yes!" "Thanks for the game... I lost..." "I've had straight losses since last week..." "Don't make that face. I'm fline." "Shindou-kun." "I'm your next opponent." "Wanna start?" "Good luck." "Hikaru..." "I know why you keep on losing." "I lost again... and by a small margin again... lf this goes on..." "I'Il never reach 1 6th in fiirst class in three months." "Hikaru!" "Hikaru..." "Maybe I'lI quit..." "Quit?" "I don't have much hope... even if I stay here, there's no point unless I can become pro." "I need to start thinking about what to do for college soon too..." "You know how I don't have a master?" "I wish I did at a time like this." "Why?" "Because he'Il cheer you up?" "The opposite," "Maybe he'lI tell me to quit." "You can't do it." "Maybe you should give up or something." "Then I can just quit this." "Don't say that.You're just thinking that way as you've been in a stump" "You won't feel the same if you just win one." "Yeah!" "Anyways, I just need to win one, and cheer myself up." "Everyone has bad streaks now and then." "Yeah!" "Everyone!" "This is how they went in the real game but..." "It's no good." "It's a bad move no matter how you look at it." "But I don't see any better moves..." "Even you run away,your opponent'Il just use that to solidify his holdings" "Then why not lightly flow around?" "That's too soft against the corner." "I'm studying here like this, but my record keeps growing worse" "Umm..." "Hikaru?" "What is it Sai?" "Umm... there's something I want to say, but Hikaru you told me to stay quiet." "I'Il listen." "What is it?" "In that situation, I'lI survey the status." "When you take a peek from the inside, it makes it harder for the opponent to respond." "That might be good." "What's a loser from second class going to say?" "Go on." "Say it." "Umm... here..." "You're going for this..." "I see..." "Not bad." "I didn't see it." "You're pretty good." "Good job Sai!" "I'm playing with that Sai everyday..." "But why did my rank fall that much!" "My record for February is horrible!" "I have to start from the bottom of second class for March now!" "I can't make it to the Wakajishisen like this!" "I can't even rise up to fiirst class!" "I only have two months left!" "I'm playing you every day, why is this happening!" "?" "That's why." "You're playing me, that's why you can't win." "Honinbou Shuusaku, that player replied." "The strongest player in the history of Go..." "That's an article from quite a while ago." "How peculiar l-go is." "More and more knowledge is bult on it, the name of a player from a century ago rises up to the title of strongest" "A player's strength relies heavily upon himself." "Yeah." "I don't stand a chance against Shuusaku's ability to read ahead, and the strength of each of his moves." "Right?" "Ashiwara?" "No..." "But I can confuse him with Joseki that Shuusaku doesn't know!" "What if he learned the modern style of playing?" "Then he's definitely undefeatabIe!" "I wonder if even Touya-Meijin can..." "Master, Ashiawara just..." "Sasaki-san!" "Don't!" "A Honinbou Shuusaku that learned modern joseki..." "There was someone like that..." "Sai isn't a pro." "He's getting stronger!" "As if Shuusaku learned modern joseki..." "The strongest player?" "That's what you were talking about?" "But, I was thinking who would be good enough to become master's rival." "Everyone is my rival." "Kuwakara-sensei, Zama-sensei and Ogata-kun." "And, you too, but the rival is just an analogy and..." "What do you think master?" "If the ancient ultimate player Honinbou Shuusaku... existed in the present?" "What do you mean!" "I can't win because I play you?" "Yes, Hikaru you are afraid." "Afraid?" "Of what?" "My moves that cut into you on the board." "You used to come at me blindly, but you are learning to see... each of my moves the tip of my unsheathed sword." "And you have started to fear it." "And you hesitate from that fear." "That turns into confusion, it shows itself in your matches" "Look back to all those close games from the past few days." "Do you see?" "Then it's clear what you need to do." "See the line of your opponent's sword, and move in as much as possible!" "See... as much as possible..." "Yes..." "Touya always did so." "Just like Touya!" "Turn your fear into courage, and come!" "Yes!" "Hikaru!" "Another match!" "Another match!" "Why you..." "The Wakajishisen is coming up." "I'm sure all the new pros are focused on you, and wish to play a match against you." "I'd like to play a match against them as welI." "I'm looking forward to the Wakajishisen." "Speaking of the Wakajishisen, how do the lnsei do?" "Some of them make it all the way up to the third round, but only pros are left by the semi-finals." "As to be expected." "Akira - kun," "Yes?" "Shindou said he'lI be there when I spoke to him the other day of the Wakajishisen." "Isn't that exciting?" "No..." "I don't care about him." "You're talking about him?" "See the line of his sword... and turn my fear into courage!" "Over here..." "Shindou - kun, would you like to play a game?" "Shirokawa-kun,you've the 3rd round of tryout for the 1 0 dan title this week" "playing an insei will dull your senses." "It's an important match, that's why I want some of Shindou-kun's passion." "It's all over if you've lost emotionally." "Right?" "Don't lose... emotionally..." "I'm going to go!" "I'lI defiiniteIy..." "Then let's play." "It's not a game of tutoring Go." "Good luck." "Turn my fear into courage... and move in as much as possible..." "Touya won't wait for me forever!" "No, he keeps on moving forward!" "A little more than a month left." "I've to rise up to 1 6th in 1 st class and attend the Wakajishisen!" "To play against Touya!" "Waya!" "Shindou... what is it?" "Here, Look!" "I'm in first class!" "I'm in first class starting today!" "First class!" "The bottom of fiirst class." "Hey, why don't you congratulate him?" "When he passes me I will." "Waya-kun you're so strict!" "But I'm closer to the Wakajishisen now that I'm in first class!" "closer to Touya?" "You see, with the Wakajishisen... I have to be in the top 1 6, right?" "First I've got to rise up to 1 st class, getting to the top 1 6 comes after that." "It's nice to be excited but..." "Shindou, do you understand?" "What?" "Your opponents from today, are us, the first class." "But, I guess you rose up pretty quickly." "Come on everyone, stop pressuring him." "It's not pressure, I'm encouraging him." "well, good luck." "Good luck." "Good luck." "Good luck." "Good luck!" "Welcome to fiirst class!" "Hikaru, hold yourself together." "Nice to meet all of you!" "It's time, please begin." "Good luck." "Good luck." "We have more time in fiirst class than in second class?" "I can't be afraid just because my opponent is in first class." "I'm in first class too!" "Hikaru took his first step in first class." "Thinking again?" "That move has a lot of thought put into it." "No wonder he's in the fiirst class." "It is strong... but!" "I can't cower away from my opponent!" "I've to return an even stronger move!" "I'm climbing much higher!" "Looks like you've really taken a step up Hikaru." "Though you have a Iot of rather worrisome parts." "I resign." "One win!" "This is my fiirst time playing Fuku but he doesn't think at alI..." "The guy from the morning thought so much it threw me off but," "Fuku is faster than the guys in 2nd class." "The stones flow lightly." "The teacher complimented me on my three board play." "Maybe I'm better at fast games." "Oh!" "I won by half a moku!" "Yes!" "Two wins in a row!" "I lost!" "Sorry." "Don't worry about it." "Things got a little hard from here, but we kept on playing." "Shindou-kun you took that part and it got close and I lost track." "Fuku, you play really fast." "Yup, everyone says so." "Hey, let's play another one!" "Sure!" "We've got plenty of time." "Go's so much fun." "Yup, Waya - kun says that a lot too." "Is Waya good?" "He's good." "But I win against Waya-kun for some reason." "Maybe it's incredible I who defeated Fuku can win Waya?" "Hikaru, it's your turn." "I know." "Wow, you came really far out here." "This is my fiieId." "My territory!" "Ok!" "I come down on the territory of white and build a tower of black!" "AHH!" "Right in the middle!" "?" "Be quiet over there!" "Some people are still playing!" "Okay... I'm sorry." "What about your match?" "Who won?" "Shindou!" "?" "That's two straight wins." "Waya you lose to Fuku?" "Fuku, why you?" "But it's the truth!" "I'Il tell you this because you're getting cocky, but I'm your next match." "So you won't have a third straight win." "We'lI see!" "Why you..." "Two straight wins!" "Two straight wins!" "I'Il tell you this because you're getting cocky, but according to Waya, he's your next match." "So you won't have a third straight win." "We won't know till we play." "Yes, but..." "Speaking of, we've never seen Waya play." "Yeah." "I wonder how he'lI play against me" "Hey it's your turn Sai." "well then." "It's going to be fun!" "Yeah..." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Good morning." "is Waya here?" "He is, look." "Internet Go is easy." "But I know nothing about computers." "My cousin said he's giving me his old computer." "What's the model?" "How am I supposed to know?" "So, teach me internet Go for as my cousin teaches me how to use it" "Yeah, okay." "talking about Internet Go?" "Oh!" "That's when we used that box to play right?" "Shindou, you play internet Go too?" "So you know how to use computers?" "I saw someone play it in a store before." "Though I'm the one that played." "I don't even have a computer." "Oh..." "Does anyone good play Go on the Internet?" "There's quite a few." "You'lI learn plenty." "Pros play on it sometimes too." "Amongst the commoners?" "They play there as a joke sometimes." "But they don't use their real name, so you won't know." "But this one time, they used their real name." "Of course you wouldn't expect him to be the real thing." "Did you play?" "Yeah.I thought it was just an amateur using a pro's name." "I got creamed." "Who?" "Mr. lchiryu." "When I checked, it turned out to be him." "Wow... the pros..." "It's not just pros." "There was one guy I thought was stronger than the pros." "Though he stopped showing up after a little more than a month." "Stronger than a pro?" "A little more than a month?" "Internet Go sounds fun." "Let's play it sometime." "Yeah." "Waya, what's the name of this guy who's stronger than a pro?" "Name?" "Sai." "Oh, wow!" "Just like I thought." "It was summer last year that Sai was on the net." "I only played him once, but, I watched him a Iot." "Seems like I played Waya before." "So he must have been one of the guys in your massacre." "He was really strong." "Not a loss to the best of my knowledge." "Not a loss to the best of my knowledge, too." "It wasn't just amateurs, either." "A pro in the Korean Institute lost, too." "Even Touya Akira ditches the exam to play against Sai." "I know about that." "But anyways, he was an incredible player" "Once summer break ended, he disappeared though." "How serious I want to play with him again!" "I check for his name when I play Go on the net every time still in hope of playing Sai again." "There were many people who played against Sai." "But Sai never spoke to any of his opponents." "So his identity is still unknown." "But, Sai messaged me for some reason." "After he beat me, he typed in like a child." "I'm strong, aren't I?" "Doesn't he sound childish?" "zelda..." "Yeah... you said I'm an Insel" "Waya, you're Zelda!" "?" "Hikaru!" "How do you know about my conversation with Sai?" "It's time, so please begin your games." "Good luck." "Good luck." "Could it be... he's..." "Shindou is..." "Sai?" "Can't be..." "impossible!" "I said too much again." "Hikaru, worry about that later." "Hikaru!" "Concentrate on the board right now!" "Hikaru!" "Can you hear me!" "?" "It's no good if you can hear me!" "Wait... what am I saying?" "I saw Sai's matches many times." "He's not Sai." "Sai is much stronger than this." "But..." "How should I put it..." "I feel Sai within his moves." "No!" "No!" "Don't think about that crap!" "But, Shindou knew about my match against Sai." "Is he Sai after all?" "No!" "It can't be!" "It can't be!" "IT CAN'T BE!" "I resign." "We won... I have... three straight wins..." "That's it... I figured it out..." "Shindou!" "You're Sai's student, aren't you!" "?" "You were watching my match against Sai from behind him, weren't you!" "Close!" "He wasn't behind me, he was in front of me!" "If you're learning Go from Sai..." "Touya Akira said he was chasing after you, right?" "Yeah." "That's because he saw some of Sai inside of you, right?" "It sounds kinda right and kinda wrong..." "Waya is really sharp." "Shindou!" "Answer me!" "How do you know about my match against Sai!" "?" "Waya,it's only coincidence that I saw the match between Sai and Zelda" "Remember?" "I told you that I went to an internet cafe?" "There was someone playing Go on the Internet there." "When I turned to look, the match was already over." "And the conversation between Sai and zelda from then was interesting so I remembered it." "That's all." "What about him?" "He went home right away." "I didn't even see his face." "Hikaru..." "You're getting better at lying." "It's all thanks to you." "So he doesn't know him... lt was a good game, Shindou." "The moves, they were interesting." "Maybe you will become strong!" "Like Sai someday." "Three straight wins!" "?" "Against Waya!" "?" "My opponent for the afternoon seemed scared of me." "I moved in too far sometimes, and... I resign." "I got my fourth straight win." "Just when I thought I'm gonna have all wins from now on!" "I got straight losses from the next match, and I start to doubt whether I'm getting stronger." "well, I guess you did well." "You managed to make it all the way to 1 6th after all." "Now you qualify for the Wakajishisen." "congratulations." "congratulations." "Thank you!" "And he was getting ten straight losses in second class recently." "But he's still not a rival." "He got over the hurdle in front of him, so congratulations it is." "Doesn't matter to me." "And?" "When is the Wakajishisen?" "Touya will be there right?" "is Touya Akira the only thing in your head?" "Next month and the month after." "On Saturdays we won't have Insel matches." "It takes more than a day." "It's a tournament between 1 6 Insel and 1 6 new pros." "It takes three days." "The first match is all between Insel and pro." "It's an even game of course." "How was it last year?" "The lnsei that went past the fiirst round..." "There were five of them." "lsumi-san and I were the only ones that won the second round." "But that was it." "But you won against pros!" "Wow!" "What are you talking about?" "You won't pass the pro exams unless you can win against pros." "Wakajishisen is a good testing ground." "will Kurata 5 dan be there?" "He won't." "I think he's over the age limit." "I'd rather not go up against Saeki-san." "Oh a match within your class?" "More importantly." "We have to get past the fiirst match fiirst." "Yeah, Nakayama-san will be there, too, I heard." "Is it true?" "Touya, I couldn't even respond to you back then..." "Want to play now instead of someday?" "Now I can." "Yeah!" "Let's play!" "Mashiba Mitsuru, 1 7 year old from the Chiba prefecture." "Studied under Mizokuchi Hiroshi 9 dan." "Touya Akira, 1 3 year old from the city of Tokyo." "Studied under Touya Kouyou Meijin." "Ogata - san!" "Ogata - san!" "Welcome...to the world of the pros." "Good luck." "Tsutsui - san." "Umm..." "Thank you very much!" "I'm the one that should be thanking you." "It's thanks to you guys that the Go club was able to continue" "Thank you. lt was fun." "Tsutsui - san..." "Take care." "Yeah, you guys too." "Yes." "Kaga..." "Kaga!" "Oh!" "Shindou!" "Umm..." "I..." "The three board match from then..." "Don't worry about it." "Take care man." "Yeah!" "I'Il be working hard!" "I'lI be looking forward to the news that Shindou kun's become a pro!" "Good bye!" "Tsutsui-san!" "I... really will be working hard!"