Kaga
Schools in Japan loved holding school festivals.
Yezu Middle School's festival was quite famous in the surrounding area, with plenty of activities and delicious food.
As a result, many nearby residents liked bringing their whole families here to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
That day, Shindo Hikaru stood at the entrance of Yezu Middle School, stamping his feet in frustration.
Fujisaki Akari had said that her sister had given her some festival vouchers and invited Shindo Hikaru to come have fun with her.
But Shindo Hikaru had just finished his match with Touya Akira at the time, his emotions still in turmoil, so he had flatly refused.
Yet now he had eagerly arrived at the meeting spot at the agreed-upon time, only to find no sign of her.
"Argh! That Akari-chan..."
Shindo Hikaru kept clutching at his hair with both hands, venting his complaints, but after a while, he quieted down on his own.
His thoughts drifted back to what had happened that day.
Touya Akira—and his father, Touya Kōyō!
First, Shindo Hikaru had casually spoken up at the Youth Go Tournament, causing a minor incident. Then he had played Touya Akira, with the cheat-code old grandpa Fujiwara Sai personally taking over and utterly crushing Touya Akira.
Touya Akira's unwavering devotion to Go had deeply moved Shindo Hikaru. While he had been wandering the streets in a daze, Kudan Ogata, who had noticed him speaking up at the youth tournament venue, had dragged him straight before Touya Kōyō.
During his game with Touya Kōyō, Shindo Hikaru seemed to awaken to his own love for Go. For the first time, he broke free of Fujiwara Sai and played his very first move himself...
So although Shindo Hikaru was still the same Shindo Hikaru, his way of thinking had completely changed.
"I'm