March Comes in Like a Lion (３月のライオン)

Rei Kiriyama

Zero? What a weird name.

But it suits you.

Isn't that right?

You don't have a home. You don't have a family.

You don't go to school.

You don't have any friends.

See? There's no place for you in this world.

TAKABASHI

SHOGI HALL

The calm mind is the way.

How have you been, Rei?

Sure is hot, huh? We're not even in the rainy season yet.

JS CHILDREN'S SHOGI TOURNAMENT

Well, what am I saying.

It's a time like this and all I can do is comment on the weather.

JS CHILDREN'S SHOGI TOURNAMENT

Well, let's begin.

CHILDREN'S SHOGI TOURNAMENT

There's nothing.

Nothing.

I lost.

You've gotten better.

Are you eating properly?

You left so suddenly...

Ayumu and Kyouko are worried about you.

That's a lie.

Next stop: Tsukishima. Tsukishima.

New Message: 1

Inbox Hinata Kawamoto

From: Hinata Title: To Kiriyama Good work today! We're having curry tonight, so come over!! We'll be waiting See you! \(^o^)/ *Hinata*

For: Hinata Kawamoto Re: To Kiriyama Thank you for the invitation. However, I'm feeling under the weather today, so I think I'll stay h...

New Message Received

Akari Kawamoto Oh no, Rei We're having curry, but we don't have any pickled vegetables!! Could you please buy some at the convenience store on your way over? Eggs, too!!

Thank you!

SUMIYOSHI SHRINE

Rei is here!

I bet you're tired. Dinner's ready!

Rei, hurry up! I'm hungry!

Rei, did you get ice cream?

Hey, Momo!

I bought ice cream, and pudding, too.

- Ice cream! - Pudding!

Hyay!

Hina, you too?

Milk pudding!

ZOOM

Oh my, you bought all this?

Thank you.

I'll make room for the ice cream!

BLOOMPH

But I'll pay you back for it. This must've been expensive.

Don't worry, it's a gift.

But sorry, I didn't know which one to get, and ended up buying a lot.

Me is happy with this.

Oh, that's right. How did your match go, Rei?

Akari said it was an important match for your club.

I won.

Oh, that's great!

- Sis, feed me! Please feed me! - Feed me, feed me! Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Oh, I'm falling! I haven't had anything but water since yesterday!

That's a lie.

Ah, not when I'm holding the pot!

Hina, feed the kitties! And please set the table!

Okay!

Sis, Rei said he won!

I see.

So good! Nummy, nummy, nummy!

All right, let's eat.

Hold it, Hina! You're putting curry on the altar as an offering?

Oh, I shouldn't?

But, Mom and Grandma loved curry.

But still, putting curry...

But they did really like it.

Well, I suppose it's correct.

Momo loves curry, too!

Mom, Grandma, tonight's curry has pork in it!

Well, everyone, shall we eat?

Thank you for the food!

Put egg on Momo's plate, too!

Yes, yes. I wonder if you can finish a whole egg?

Sure I can!

And now our next story.

On the 16th in Hibiya City, police found the body of Shizuo Unagawa in his home

bludgeoned to death by a blunt instrument.

His eldest son Tadashi, a second-year university student,

who had been reported missing, was arrested.

According to the authorities, Tadashi is suspected of murdering

his father by beating him with a hammer dozens of times in the head.

Suspicion of beating his father...

It's unfortunate for Mr. Kouda.

His league entrance after all this time was riding on that.

And to think his own son would beat him so easily.

Although maybe he was satisfied after all.

...with a hammer dozens of times in the head.

Well, that's only if he was his real son.

Every move...

...felt like I was punching with my bare hands.

It's so vivid, it's like I can still feel the warmth of the skin that I hit.

Dad...

Rei, what's wrong? Are you cold?

Are you all right? Maybe you have a cold?

Want something warm to drink? Like milk?

Zoom

- Emergency! I'll warm some up for you! - Uh, um...

I'll bring medicine, too!

Um... Sorry.

That's all right. You don't have to eat everything.

Just take your time.

But you should eat a little.

Okay.

Hey!

What, the boy's sleeping already?

Talk about rude. Ate and nodded off, did he?

He laid down after he finished eating, as if he passed out.

How'd his match go?

He won, apparently.

But he was pale when he got here.

And he only ate a little bit.

Yeah, can't blame him.

I bet he couldn't get any sleep last night either.

Well, let him rest here for the night.

I'll go back to the shop and sleep there.

Tomorrow's bean roasting day.

Don't forget to lock up.

Right. Goodnight, Grandpa. We'll help you stuff the pancakes tomorrow.

Yeah, please do! Alright, good night.

I brought you a blanket.

He left his glasses on.

Goodnight.

Rei Kiriyama.

That's my name.

In a small town by a big river

is where I'll be living.

Rank C-1, 5th dan. Seventeen years old.