Hikaru no Go: I taught you Go, and you made the Kisei cry?

Huh?

Sai is acting strange today.

Hikaru Shindo couldn't quite figure out what Sai was thinking.

In his memory, this Go player from the Heian period was more proud than anyone else.

Before he could ponder for long, Sai explained his reasoning.

"Xiao Guang".

Sai opened his folding fan, using the fan surface to cover the lower half of his face, and said:

"Don't forget, you just said that you're just a complete novice at Go who knows nothing."

"If we appear too powerful, it will arouse Kato-sensei's suspicion."

Oh, I see!

Hikaru Shindo couldn't help but curse himself for being so stupid.

It makes sense. If an eighth-dan player were to face a child who knows nothing and still choose to go all out, it would sound rather bad if word got out, and it would be suspected of bullying the younger player.

Therefore, choosing to give a handicap is the only logical thing to do.

but……

If that's the case, wouldn't it be difficult for you to have a good time?

Hikaru Shindo looked at Sai with a bit of heartache, but of course, this heartache was only because of the allowance.

"It's okay."

Sai waved his folding fan:

"Actually, I'm also very curious about how well Xiaoguang could play this game if he were to do it himself."

"Moreover."

Sai covered his mouth and laughed:

"I'm already very satisfied just to be able to see Mr. Kato's moves. Don't worry, Hikaru. I'll help you out when it matters."

That's great!

With Sai's assurance, Hikaru Shindo was immediately filled with confidence and said to Masao Kato, "Then... I look forward to your guidance, Professor Kato."

He finished speaking.

Hikaru Shindo stared at the Go box in silence for a moment, and then finally reached his hand into the box.

……

An hour ago, at Touya Kouhiro's residence.

"Xiao Liang, if you have some free time today, why don't you go and visit Mr. Ikegami?"

On the table.

The father and son, Touya Kouyo, sat facing each other, eating breakfast and chatting.

"Teacher Ikegami?"

Akira Toya recalled that when he first started learning Go, his father had asked Harada Ikegami to be his mentor.

According to the established rules in the Go world, the transmission of a school of Go requires finding an elder from another school to provide initial instruction.

This can be seen as an interpretation of the inclusive and tolerant nature of the way of chess.

"So, today marks the tenth anniversary of Mr. Ikegami's mentorship of me..."

Akira Toya started learning Go at the age of two, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

On such a memorable day, it is indeed appropriate to visit one's mentor.

"I've prepared the gift. I'll have the driver take you there later. By now, Senior Ikegami should already be at the Go club."

Touya Yukihiro glanced at his watch, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

The driver arrived downstairs shortly after.

"Dad, then I'll take my leave."

After bowing respectfully to Touya Kouhiro, Touya Akira boarded a luxury business car and headed towards Ikegami-sensei's Go clubhouse.

coincidentally.

The moment he stepped into the Go clubhouse was the same moment that Hikaru Shindo was about to start his game against Masao Kato!

As the wooden sliding door opened.

next moment.

Hikaru Shindo and Akira Toya were both stunned.

"Akira Touya!?"

"Hikaru Shindo!?"

The two called out each other's names in unison.

This scene greatly surprised Harada Ikegami and Masao Kato.

"You...know each other?"

Kato Masao looked at the two children with great interest, and couldn't help but marvel at them.

He had held the boy from the Touya family in his arms a long time ago, so he was naturally very familiar with him.

But how could such a skilled chess player know his newly accepted disciple?

According to rumors, Akira Touya seems to care little about anything other than Go.

and so.

How exactly did they meet?

"Yes, of course we know each other!"

Hikaru Shindo was somewhat happy:

"I've played two games of chess with him!"

Oh, I see.

Kato Masao and Ikegami Harada couldn't help but look at Shindo Hikaru with pity.

This kid must have lost terribly to Xiao Liang...

"Teacher Ikegami, Teacher Kato."

After his initial surprise, Akira Touya, mindful of etiquette, bowed respectfully to his two seniors and said:

"Long time no see! How are you all doing?"

OK OK.

Both Go masters were very amiable towards Akira Touya, their polite junior, and smiled as they pointed to the Go table:

"Please sit down, Xiao Liang. You've come at the perfect time. Today is the auspicious day for Mr. Kato to accept his apprentices."

Harada Ikegami personally prepared a futon for Ryo:

"Right now, Mr. Kato is going to teach Hikaru how to play a game of Go. You can take a look."

what?

Apprentice?

Or is it a demonstration game?

Akira Toya was utterly shocked. His first thought wasn't that Hikaru Shindo was incredibly lucky to be able to become a disciple of Kato, an eighth-dan professional.

in contrast.

At this moment.

He was deeply shocked.

He was very confused...

When did Kato Masao become so strong? He was able to mentor Shindo Hikaru at the cost of losing three sons...

of course.

As a junior, he would never dare to voice such doubts.

Therefore, all I could do was sit quietly to the side, filled with doubt, and watch Kato Masao perform...

The game restarts.

Hikaru Shindo stared at the Go board in silence for a moment, and then finally reached into the Go box.

Upon seeing Hikaru Shindo's action, Akira Touya, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but hold his breath.

"Finally... it's about to begin."

"Hikaru Shindo is about to face off against Kato-sensei!"

"Although Mr. Kato gave us a three-stone handicap, making this game an unfair contest, Mr. Kato's skill level is more than enough to handle some professional players, even with a three-stone handicap."

"only……"

"He's facing Hikaru Shindo today. His terrifying skill level is far beyond that of ordinary professional players. If he gives him a three-stone handicap..."

"Mr. Kato, can we really win?"

Akira Touya stared intently at the Go board, his heart pounding as Hikaru Shindo reached his hand into the board.

Giving away three pieces may seem like a small amount, but if these three pieces are used properly, their value is immeasurable!

Generally speaking, professional Go players can give a two-stone handicap if the difference in rank is two dan, and a three-stone handicap if the difference in rank is three dan.

but.

It won't work any higher.

Even amateur players, as long as they know the rules of Go, cannot give a handicap of more than three stones.