Appreciation!

Furukawa Masahiro looked at Natsume Chikage with a measure of appreciation.

After all, even he had readily accepted interviews whenever the opportunity arose in his younger days.

He had even actively sought out people to interview him.

After all, fame was important. It directly and indirectly affected one's income and social circle.

But now that he was old and had everything he needed, he had become much more indifferent toward such things.

Still, it was rare for someone Natsume Chikage's age to reject them so firmly.

"By the way, young man, I heard you say earlier that you're also a contestant?"

Natsume Chikage had not expected the man to suddenly strike up a conversation with him, but he replied politely nonetheless:

"Yes."

"Could it be that you're competing too, sir?"

Furukawa Masahiro shook his head and smiled kindly.

"I'm too old. I'm not participating."

"But my granddaughter is."

"Ayuo, say hello to this older brother."

At that, Furukawa Ayuo jumped down from her seat and gave a very polite ninety-degree bow.

"Nice to meet you, big brother. I'm Furukawa Ayuo."

It was rare for Natsume Chikage to see such a polite little girl. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Hello. My name is Natsume Chikage."

Furukawa Masahiro asked:

"Natsume-kun, is your match in the morning or at another time?"

Natsume Chikage explained:

"It's in the afternoon."

Furukawa Masahiro smiled in surprise.

"You're in the afternoon too? Then it looks like you might be randomly matched against my granddaughter."

"If that happens, please don't go easy on her."

He only said that as a courtesy.

In truth, only he understood just how terrifyingly talented his ten-year-old granddaughter was.

It could be said that below the professional level, aside from his eldest disciple, Mido Orihime, practically no one could beat her.

Although Ayuo had never played against professional shogi players in person, she was extremely active on online shogi platforms.

And every day, she also played against him—the Dragon King of the old era.

How many professional players could beat him?

With that level of training, combined with Ayuo's own talent—

Given enough time, his granddaughter might truly become, alongside Mido Orihime, one of Japan's only two female professional shogi players. Perhaps she could even go further.

As for Natsume Chikage, he looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. If he were truly a famous shogi player at such a young age, how could Furukawa Masahiro not know him?

Since he did not know him, it meant the boy was not strong enough—certainly not strong enough to come to his attention.

When Furukawa Masahiro had told Natsume Chikage not to hold back, it had not actually been mere politeness.

Because if he did not, Natsume Chikage probably would not last long before collapsing in defeat on the board.

Furukawa Ayuo clenched her little fists and said excitedly:

"Big brother, Ayuo is really strong! If you run into me, you'd better be careful~"

Natsume Chikage smiled faintly.

"Mm, I definitely will."

At that moment—

Natsume Chikage finally remembered that Sakai Shion had told him to take photos or videos after arriving at the venue, as proof that he had participated in the competition.

Otherwise, he would not be allowed to take leave again in the future.

And not being able to take leave would be rather troublesome.

After all, there would definitely be more than one match in the future.

If he could avoid it, he should avoid it as much as possible.

Natsume Chikage took out his phone and began filming the venue.

Furukawa Ayuo curiously moved closer:

"What are you doing, big brother?"

Without turning his head, Natsume Chikage explained, "I need to take photos or videos of the venue for my teacher, or she won't approve leave for me in the future."

Hearing that, Furukawa Ayuo excitedly bounced up and down.

"Ayuo likes taking pictures! Can you include me too, big brother?"

Furukawa Masahiro also struck a V-sign pose.

"This old man likes taking pictures too. Could you include me as well, young friend?"

Natsume Chikage froze for a moment, then found himself speechless. He had not expected this old man and little girl to be such a lively pair.

Still, he did not particularly mind.

In fact, having people in the frame taking a photo with him would better prove that he had been there.

"Of course."

As he spoke, he switched to the front-facing camera.

"Get ready. I'm taking it."

Furukawa Masahiro and Furukawa Ayuo both leaned in and struck V-sign poses together.

Natsume Chikage smiled, then pressed the shutter button.

The photo of the three of them was captured in that instant.

After finishing all that, Natsume Chikage sent the photos and videos he had just taken to Sakai Shion.

Moonlight Academy.

Teachers' office.

Sakai Shion checked the time and realized it was almost time for class.

Yet Natsume Chikage still had not sent her a message?

Could it be that he had not gone to the competition venue yet?

Or had he really just lied to her?

Sakai Shion deeply disliked people who lied.

She lightly pursed her lips, thinking that if that was the case, she would definitely give him a proper lecture when he returned—and she would never approve leave for him again!

Just then, her phone happened to receive a message from Natsume Chikage.

It contained many photos and videos from the venue.

There was even a selfie of Natsume Chikage with an old man and a little girl?

Seeing this, Sakai Shion paused and carefully examined the videos and photos.

Then she searched for the live broadcast of the "Rising Star Shogi Tournament" on her phone.

She found that the footage on the stream matched the photos and the situation at the venue exactly.

What was more, the moment she started watching, she saw the TV director point the camera directly at Natsume Chikage's side. It filmed him for several seconds before moving away and switching to the female host.

Sakai Shion let out a sigh of relief. She had not expected Natsume Chikage to really have gone to compete at the venue.

Although she did not think Natsume Chikage would necessarily win, as long as he had not lied to her, that was enough.

Still, as she looked at the photos Natsume Chikage had sent—selfies with the venue in the background—Sakai Shion remained silent for quite some time, zooming in to look at them a few more times.

A moment later, Sakai Shion turned off her phone screen, picked up the teaching materials she needed for class, and stood up.

Her nearly flawless jade-like feet, wrapped in black stockings, stepped across the floor as she slowly made her way to Class A of Year One.

Before long, Sakai Shion arrived at Class A of Year One, her coldly beautiful expression carrying meticulous seriousness.

At that very moment, the class bell rang.

The students who had been laughing and fooling around hurriedly returned to their seats upon seeing their homeroom teacher arrive, sitting quietly and properly.

The student on duty stood up and shouted, "Stand."

"Salute."

"Take your seats."

The students followed the class monitor's instructions, then settled down quietly once more.

Sakai Shion gave a slight nod and said, "Class begins now."

With that, she picked up a piece of chalk and prepared to teach.

Yukimura Suzune, who had been reading her novel the whole time, seemed to remember something only then and turned to look back.

When she realized Natsume Chikage was absent, her brows knitted tightly. In an instant, she recalled the sight of him waiting for a train going in the opposite direction.

Yukimura Suzune wore a strange expression.

That idiot... did he really take the wrong train and end up heading somewhere in the opposite direction?

Or perhaps...

Yukimura Suzune recalled that when Natsume Chikage had bumped into her desk yesterday, he had seemed sweaty and unwell. She fell into deep thought...