Infinity Starting with Hikaru no Go

Page 9

It was precisely because he understood this that Shintaro Ichiyanagi felt increasingly guilty, believing that he had not fulfilled his duties as a father.

Seemingly having made up his mind, Shintaro Ichiyanagi's face flashed with determination as he gently placed his hand on Shinsuke Ichiyanagi's head, softly saying, "Shinsuke, thank you."

"However, I will reclaim my glory myself, not let you bear it."

"Your future should be about fighting for your own glory."

“You must remember that your name is Shinsuke Ichiyanagi, not the son of Shintaro Ichiyanagi, nor is he Shintaro Ichiyanagi’s shadow or substitute.”

Shinsuke Ichiyanagi stared blankly at Shintaro Ichiyanagi with teary eyes, firmly imprinting Shintaro's appearance and words into his mind.

In the future, Shintaro Ichiyanagi's appearance and words at this moment will deeply influence Shinsuke Ichiyanagi.

Then, Shintaro Ichiyanagi took Shinsuke Ichiyanagi's hand and walked towards home. Neither father nor son spoke again, but they both knew each other's feelings.

After returning home, Shintaro Ichiyanagi took Shinsuke Ichiyanagi directly to the Go room.

Seated at opposite ends of the chessboard, Shintaro Ichiyanagi had abandoned his previous gentle and refined demeanor, his face now solemn, as if a long-dormant aura was being awakened from his body.

Shintaro Ichiyanagi's posture made Shinsuke Ichiyanagi feel somewhat dazed, as if he felt time had reversed and he could see the former Go master... Shintaro Ichiyanagi.

"Come on, let me see what kind of game this opponent, who makes my son so unwilling to accept defeat, will play!" Shintaro Ichiyanagi said in a deep voice as he looked at Shinsuke Ichiyanagi.

The moment Shintaro Ichiyanagi opened his mouth, an invisible pressure seemed to press down on Shinsuke Ichiyanagi, making him feel suppressed, depressed, and restrained.

Taking a deep breath and trying to adjust, Shinsuke Ichiyanagi then began to review his game against Anxia Chen.

Upon seeing Chen Anxia's chaotic and seemingly haphazard start, Shintaro Ichiyanagi couldn't help but frown.

If he hadn't already known the outcome of the game, Shintaro Ichiyanagi would have thought that the player playing black was a complete novice who hadn't even started playing.

At the same time, Shintaro Ichiyanagi was even more curious, wondering how Chen Anxia would turn the tide under such circumstances.

Shinsuke Ichiyanagi's post-mortem analysis is still ongoing.

Soon, Shintaro Ichiyanagi seemed to have discovered something, and a look of surprise and doubt appeared on his face.

When that large knight's move, placing a stone in the 8x5 row, appeared, Black's playing style changed instantly, causing Shintaro Ichiyanagi's expression to become extremely solemn.

Furthermore, this solemn expression remained until the final stage of the replay, that is, the moment when Black placed his stone at the center point.

After a moment of silence, Shintaro Ichiyanagi asked, "Shinsuke, are you sure it's the same person you're playing against?"

Shinsuke Ichiyanagi was taken aback by the question. Although he didn't know why Shintaro Ichiyanagi would ask such a question, Shinsuke Ichiyanagi still nodded and replied, "It's definitely the same person."

After receiving an affirmative answer, Shintaro Ichiyanagi took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock in his heart, and said, "Shinsuke, you didn't lose unjustly."

Immediately, amidst Shinsuke Ichiyanagi's bewildered expression, Shintaro Ichiyanagi, clearly shaken, said, "From this game, I vaguely see a completely new school of Go, and an unprecedented opening system."

"Behind that child, there should be a Go player whose skill is no less than mine, or even comparable to the ancient Go master Honinbo Shusaku, who created the Shusaku school, guiding him..."

"However, this opening system is probably not perfect yet; at least in the current chess world, no one uses it."

As he spoke, Shintaro Ichiyanagi turned his gaze back to the chessboard before him, his expression somewhat dazed, as if he foresaw the future. He murmured, "The chess world is about to be swept by a storm..."

......

Chapter 13: Speculation about the Chess Saint, the prototype of Chen Anxia!?

Late at night, Chen Anxia tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

Whenever Chen Anxia closes his eyes, what appears in his mind is that game of Go, which is like a cosmic galaxy.

Moreover, the stars formed by the black and white chess pieces formed their own star system, lingering in Chen Anxia's mind, magnificent and grand, making Chen Anxia somewhat engrossed.

When watching the anime "Hikaru no Go" in the past, Chen Anxia would get excited and passionate whenever he saw the strange phenomena appearing on the Go board.

However, as Chen Anxia grew older, he realized that animation was just animation, and the strange phenomena that appeared on the chessboard were just special effects.

Now, after experiencing Go firsthand, Chen Anxia has discovered that the real game is far more magnificent and grand than what is depicted in anime.

The wonders that can be seen when one is immersed in the principles of chess are truly breathtaking.

Finally, after tossing and turning, Chen Anxia unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

Just before drifting off to sleep, a thought vaguely surfaced in Chen Anxia's mind.

'Playing Go... seems pretty good...'

After this thought crossed his mind, a smile unconsciously appeared on Chen Anxia's lips.

As for the voice that appeared in his mind, Chen Anxia had wondered what it was.

But Chen Anxia couldn't figure it out no matter what, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

On the other side, Kei Sakamoto, the instructor of the Go club at the private Kaio Elementary School, kept replaying that game in his mind, trying to figure out how Black had reversed the situation and ultimately won.

Sakamoto Kei's intense curiosity and thirst for knowledge kept him awake at night.

Not only Chen Anxia and Sakamoto Kei, but also Ichiyanagi Shinsuke and Ichiyanagi Shintaro had trouble sleeping because of this game of Go.

Among them, Shintaro Ichiyanagi, the former holder of the Kisei title, stayed up all night, constantly studying the game, his amazement and wonder growing ever stronger.

It wasn't until dawn that Shintaro Ichiyanagi stopped studying the game, took out his phone, and found a number.

Looking at the number he hadn't contacted for years, Shintaro Ichiyanagi took a deep breath, a determined look on his face, and dialed the number directly.

After the call connected, Shintaro Ichiyanagi immediately said, "Shigeo, I've made up my mind. I'm going to fight for the Kisei Cup again and take back the honor that belongs to me from Touya!"

On the other end of the phone, Morishita Shigeo, who was still half asleep and a little groggy, instantly woke up after hearing his best friend's words. His face lit up with surprise and delight as he exclaimed, "Shintaro, you've finally made up your mind! That's wonderful!"

Hearing his best friend's familiar tone, Shintaro Ichiyanagi's previously anxious heart immediately calmed down. He said, "The reason I called you this time is not only to tell you this news, but also to ask you to help me get back into shape and play a few games with me."

Without hesitation, Morishita Shigeo replied, "No problem. Dozens or even hundreds of games are fine, not just a few."

As he spoke, a smile appeared on Morishita Shigeo's face, and he said seriously, "However, you should be prepared to lose. In the years you've been declining, I've been improving all along!"

As he spoke, Shigeo Morishita exuded a powerful confidence.

At this time, Shigeo Morishita was already a renowned professional 9-dan Go player in Japan, with many disciples.

Michio Shirakawa, who previously opened a Go classroom, was a disciple of Shigeo Morishita and also a professional Go player.

It's no wonder that Shigeo Morishita is so confident.

Nearby, Morishita Shigeo's wife, who had just been awakened by his loud voice, wanted to yell at him.

However, upon seeing the powerful confidence that Morishita Shigeo exuded at this moment, as well as the radiant look on his face, he couldn't help but be somewhat stunned.

This posture made Morishita Shigeo's wife feel as if she had returned to the time when she first met Morishita Shigeo, as if she saw that spirited young man in his youth, and her anger unconsciously dissipated.

Upon hearing Morishita Shigeo's words, Ichiyanagi Shintaro smiled knowingly and said, "Then let me look forward to your progress over the years."

“Ah, you certainly won’t be disappointed,” Morishita Shigeo assured him.

After exchanging a few more words, Shigeo Morishita hung up the phone.

The wife, who had been curious all along, asked directly, "Honey, whose phone call was that just now?"

Upon hearing this, Morishita Shigeo grinned and said with a hearty laugh, "Who else could it be but the matchmaker who brought us together back then?"

With that, Morishita Shigeo got up and headed straight for the Go room, saying, "Wife, I'm going to the Go room to hone my skills. You can cook the rice and put it in the pot to heat up. I'll eat it when I come out."

Morishita Shigeo's wife did not respond to him. Instead, she seemed lost in thought, her expression blank, as if she had fallen into a reverie, because of his words.

Then, Morishita Shigeo's wife looked at the rising sun outside the window and smiled slightly, saying, "He's coming back. Once this news gets out, the Go world will be shaken..."

"This year's Chess Saint Cup, and the chess world this year, are truly something to look forward to..."

Morishita Shigeo's wife was also a professional Go player, but she gradually retired from the Go world after marriage and became Morishita Shigeo's capable assistant.

It can be said that Shigeo Morishita's achievements today are largely due to his wife.

In another world, Yuko Miki also tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep, her mind filled with the memory of that game of Go.

In the end, Yuko Miki decided not to sleep at all. She got up, went to the Go board in her room, and began to review the game.

Although it wasn't the first time she had reviewed a game, each review left Yuko Miki amazed by the game, making her unconsciously immerse herself in it, watching the natural growth of all things, unable to extricate herself.

As for Yuko Miki's father, Soji Miki, the current holder of the title of Go Saint, he locked himself in the Go room after the game ended, refusing to let anyone in.

Even Yuko Miki is the same.

At this moment, Miki Soji was also reviewing the game again and again, trying his best to grasp the vague and hazy principles of chess.

However, a completely new path of chess principles is clearly not so easy to approach or grasp.

This applies even to Miki Soji, who holds the title of Kisei and whose skill is unfathomable.

Of course, Miki Sōji knew this, but he was not discouraged and did not give up.

At the same time, Miki Soji's interest in Chen Anxia grew even stronger.

Because the fundamental principles of chess that he was striving to grasp were seen in Chen Anxia's imaginative opening moves.

However, Chen Anxia is a character from the game "Hikaru no Go".

Therefore, Miki Soji speculated whether the character Chen Anxia was created based on a real or historical Go player.

If so, does that mean that the game of Go, as manifested by this fundamental principle, once existed in this world...?

......

Chapter 14: A Classic Battle - Hikaru vs. Ryo!

The next morning, Chen Anxia went to school as usual, carrying her schoolbag.

Although Chen Anxia didn't like going to school with that group of kids, the thought of playing Go at the Go club after school still motivated her.

After yesterday's game, Chen Anxia unknowingly developed a liking for Go.

This is something that Chen Anxia may not have noticed yet.

Finally, after Chen Anxia's long wait, the afternoon school ended.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Anxia slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and headed excitedly toward the Go club.

Since the club activities have just begun, not all members have gathered yet.

So the door to the Go club wasn't closed, and Chen Anxia entered the Go club without any trouble.

At this time, there were only about twenty members in the Go club, about one-third of the number Chen Anxia had seen yesterday.

Most importantly, that grumpy brat Shinsuke Ichiyanagi isn't in the Go club right now; he probably hasn't arrived yet.