I Thought It Was a World Where Chastity Norms Were Reversed, But It Turns Out I Was Just Surrounded by the Overly Intense Girls in My Class - Chapter 28: The Surprisingly Knowledgeable Kagurazaka-san

Chapter 28: The Surprisingly Knowledgeable Kagurazaka-san
“…I lost.”

Several dozen minutes later.

The match ended when the old man who was my opponent bowed his head.

The result was my win in 96 moves.

I seized the lead from the opening, but he overturned it in the midgame, and the endgame became a fierce slugfest where checkmate was touch and go.

In the end, I managed to pull off the victory somehow thanks to luck in my moves.

“Baba-cchi, congrats.”

After we finished the post-game review, Kagurazaka-san, who had silently watched my game, ran over.

I did not have much experience being congratulated on a win by anyone, so I ended up spacing out for a moment, and she said with an excited look on her face.

“You can launch an attack that smoothly in a bishop exchange. That was seriously amazing.”

“The 4-5 knight rapid attack in the bishop exchange is something I studied a lot back in the day. Since it’s a fairly recent main line, it lands well against old men at the dojo.”

I could seize the lead precisely because I advanced through researched opening moves.

Modern shogi openings depend on prior research.

Just not knowing the main lines or research means you easily get the lead taken from you.

Shogi software becoming prominent has a big impact here.

It’s an era where everyone does opening research with shogi software.

“Well, he was way stronger than me in the midgame.”

“But Baba-cchi’s endgame defense was amazing, right?”

“I’m a defensive shogi player.”

“For defense, your endgame was pretty sharp too, right?”

“Well, I just happened to see the mating line there.”

I had played a similar position before, so it just happened to work out.

“By the way.”

I directed the question that had bothered me for a while at the excited Kagurazaka-san.

“Kagurazaka-san, don’t you know quite a bit about shogi?”

“No way, not at all.”

“You sure?”

“Seriously, seriously, I don’t know much at all. I don’t even know the rules.”

As she spoke, Kagurazaka-san pouted and turned her face away.

In the direction of her gaze, other old men were in a game, and it looked like they had reached the endgame climax.

“You really don’t know the rules?”

“I seriously don’t. The Ureshino style is totally incomprehensible.”

“Well, the Ureshino style is a surprise tactic…”

I wondered if a person who did not know shogi rules would know the Ureshino style.

Maybe she read about it in some book.

Well, all sorts of works have been popular lately.

She might have picked up knowledge just from reading shogi manga or shogi novels.

“Anyway. What did you think of my game? Doesn’t it make you want to play shogi?”

That’s the important part in the end.

Whether I could exchange a game with Kagurazaka-san.

Since Kagurazaka-san had stared at the game so intently, it would not be strange for her to take an interest in shogi.

I asked with such expectations…

“I’ll pass. I still don’t get it at all.”

“…I see.”

Unfortunately, it did not lead to a game.

Maybe I did not convey enough, and shogi’s appeal did not get across.

I needed to improve my communication a bit more.

It was while I reflected on that.

“Oh yeah, Baba-cchi.”

She slapped my shoulder with a smack, and I raised my face.

Kagurazaka-san wore a smile and said it casually.

“I’m joining the shogi club starting tomorrow, so take care of me there.”

“Got it.”

“Huh?”

I replied on reflex, and several seconds later I caught on to the meaning.

“Wait a minute. Did you just say you’re joining the shogi club?”

“I did.”

“For real?”

“Totally real.”

I see.

It seemed totally real.

Eh, for real?

“By the way, mind if I ask the reason?”

I asked without thinking, and Kagurazaka-san shifted her eyes a little while her cheeks turned faintly red.

“It’s nothing… I like seeing you when you’re serious.”

“……………………”

Suddenly being told she liked it, I could not muster a reaction.

I had never been complimented on my appearance while playing shogi.

I even thought it would repel people.

The shock was too much, and I did not know how to respond.

Seeing my reaction, she masked her embarrassment with a bold tone.

“Take care of me starting tomorrow, Prez-cchi.”

She slapped my shoulder once more.

“Hey, Prez-cchi?”

That way of calling felt off to me, but I could not hold back the joy that overflowed.

“…Likewise, please take care of me.”

I bowed my head on the momentum.

In the shogi dojo, you bowed your head only around the time of resigning.

When you felt frustrated and did not want to admit it, but had no choice but to acknowledge defeat.

It was no exaggeration to say it was the most humiliating moment while playing shogi.

Yet why was that?

Even as I bowed my head like this, not the slightest feeling of frustration welled up.

–I’m happy.

Joy overflowed from my whole body.

My heart filled up in an instant.

It was a strange sensation.

A first-time sensation.

“Baba-cchi, raise your head. It looks like I’m cornering you.”

“No, if possible, let me keep my head bowed a little longer.”

“People will totally misunderstand! It looks like I’m henpecking you!”

“That’s fine already. Henpeck me all you want, just let me keep bowing.”

“–You’re a total pervert, Baba-cchi.”

I got that Kagurazaka-san was dissatisfied.

Even so, I kept my head bowed.

And so Kagurazaka-san became a club member.