Interview!

"Grandpa, aren't you competing this time?" Furukawa Ayuo tilted up her little face and asked in confusion.

Furukawa Masahiro waved his hands repeatedly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out. "Grandpa is getting old. Opportunities like this should be left to young people."

Furukawa Ayuo knew very well that her grandfather had been the Dragon King more than twenty years ago.

In the world of shogi, the title of "Dragon King" symbolized the highest honor and represented the strongest player of that era.

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But time spared no one. Her grandfather had fallen ill back then, and as he grew older, his stamina had gradually become unable to keep up with the intense pace of competition. That was why he had slowly faded from the shogi world and lived anonymously for many years.

Having learned shogi under her grandfather's guidance since childhood, she looked at Furukawa Masahiro's slightly stooped figure and smiled sweetly.

"Then how about Ayuo wins first place for Grandpa?"

Furukawa Masahiro stroked his graying beard and smiled kindly.

"All right!"

"Grandpa will watch you from below during the afternoon matches. You have to do your best."

Furukawa Ayuo nodded vigorously, her childish face filled with determination.

"Mm!"

At that moment, Natsume Chikage paid no attention at all to the conversation between the grandfather and granddaughter beside him. All his focus was on his phone screen, his fingertips flying across the virtual keyboard.

The sharp lines of his profile and his serious expression as he concentrated on writing drew frequent glances from many nearby spectators.

Even the experienced Furukawa Masahiro could not help sighing inwardly. There was actually such a handsome young man in this world...

Young Furukawa Ayuo was even more deeply captivated, her lively big eyes fixed unblinkingly on Natsume Chikage.

Meanwhile, the host, Sawada Rika, was conducting the pre-match interview segment below.

According to the program schedule, she needed to interview several distinctive contestants and audience members before and after the competition began.

She moved elegantly along the edge of the venue, her sharp gaze sweeping across the audience in search of suitable interview subjects.

Very quickly, her eyes settled on the uniformed boy in the audience section, and her eyes immediately lit up.

After a brief assessment, Sawada Rika concluded that Natsume Chikage was most likely a contestant in the second or third rounds rather than an ordinary spectator—at this time of day, students generally would not specifically take leave from school just to watch a match.

She turned and gestured toward Natsume Chikage in the audience seats to the camera assistant.

"If we can interview that young man, the footage will definitely look great."

"We might even be able to use the interview to make a few short-video thumbnails and attract female viewers."

"You know it too—the main audience for television and dramas is still women. They love talented young men who are both handsome and capable."

The camera assistant looked in the direction she indicated and was instantly stunned.

"He really does stand out. It feels like even male celebrities in the entertainment industry aren't as good-looking as him."

Sawada Rika instructed him, "Yes, but there are too many people here right now, so it isn't convenient for me to go over."

"Go ask that young man whether he'd be willing to accept an interview."

"Remember to confirm whether he's a contestant first."

"Even if he's just a spectator, that's fine. We can interview him from the angle of, 'Why did you specifically take leave to come watch the match?'"

The camera assistant nodded and carefully made his way through the aisle between the seats, quietly apologizing from time to time to people he passed.

The commotion caught the attention of the surrounding spectators.

Furukawa Masahiro also noticed the camera crew gradually approaching.

When he saw the assistant carrying a camera walking in this direction, he immediately understood their intentions and could not help sighing inwardly. I'd kept a low profile for more than ten years, yet I was recognized the moment I came to the venue?

He had thought he had long been forgotten, but it seemed he had worried too much.

Since he had been discovered, there was nothing to be done. He could accept a brief interview. After all, he had come this time because he wanted everyone to get to know his genius granddaughter.

With that thought, Furukawa Masahiro no longer hid among the crowd and slowly rose to his feet.

However, just as he prepared to receive the interview, he realized that the camera assistant's gaze had not fallen on him at all. Instead, he walked straight toward Natsume Chikage beside him.

"Sorry to disturb you. Could we take a little of your time?"

Hearing this, Furukawa Masahiro sat back down somewhat awkwardly. He suddenly thought that perhaps it would be more effective to follow the original plan and reveal his identity after his granddaughter won several games in a row.

But he really was getting old. He had kept a low profile for too long, and young people these days no longer recognized him...

Furukawa Ayuo asked curiously, "Grandpa, did you stand up just now because you wanted to go to the restroom?"

"Ahem... no," Furukawa Masahiro said, his old face flushing slightly. "Grandpa just... just wanted to stretch his muscles."

As he spoke, he put on a show of twisting his waist in his seat and stretching his arms.

Natsume Chikage raised his head, looking puzzled. "What is it?"

After seeing Natsume Chikage's face clearly at close range, the camera assistant was even more stunned.

He had already seemed exceptionally striking from afar, but up close, he was simply breathtaking!

"Um... we're from Tokyo Television. May I ask, are you a contestant or a spectator?"

Natsume Chikage answered softly:

"A contestant."

The camera assistant's face immediately broke into a delighted smile:

"That's great!"

"We're looking for a few contestants to interview."

"You have such a distinctive presence. Would you be willing to do an interview with us?"

The other contestants nearby all darkened at those words, screaming inwardly: Are we not people? Are we even human?! You specifically picked the handsome guy for an interview, didn't you?

Natsume Chikage politely shook his head in refusal:

"No, thank you."

The camera assistant froze:

"Huh? Our program will be broadcast simultaneously on national television and online platforms."

"There'll be a lot of viewers watching then. This is a very rare opportunity. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

Natsume Chikage still shook his head:

"Sorry, I don't really like being in the public eye. Please give the opportunity to someone else."

Seeing this, the camera assistant could not press him further:

"Sorry to bother you."

When the other contestants heard that Natsume Chikage had turned down the interview, they were startled at first, then secretly delighted.

They all waved at the camera assistant:

"I'm a contestant too! I'd be happy to do an interview!"

"I can do it too!"

"Look at me, look at me!!"

For shogi players like them, appearing on television was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Even if their skills were not particularly outstanding, as long as they became famous, simply streaming shogi matches and chatting with viewers could earn them far more than the fixed prize money from the Shogi Association!

However, the camera assistant merely gave them an apologetic smile before quickly returning to Sawada Rika's side.

"That young man said he didn't like being in the public eye and refused outright..."

Sawada Rika was extremely surprised:

"Huh?"

"Didn't you tell him this was a nationally broadcast program?"

"Most shogi players wouldn't turn down such a great chance to become famous, would they?"

The camera assistant looked helpless:

"I did, but he still didn't want to be on television."

Sawada Rika found it hard to understand:

"He doesn't even want a chance to appear on national television? Seriously?!"

"...If I'd had an opportunity like that in high school, I would've been so excited I couldn't sleep for months!"