March Goes out Like a Lamb (3月のライオン 後編)

We will have a school assembly at 8:30.

All students, please come to the gymnasium by then.

I repeat.

All students, please come to the gymnasium by then.

Since middle school, Kiriyama-kun

has been a professional shogi player.

Day by day, he diligently

invested time in the study of shogi.

It's not because of his recent efforts

that Kiriyama-kun became the Newcomer King.

Like the Pawn, he moved forward step by step

and finally became a Promoted Pawn.

Like the Pawn, we all also should...

Didn't I tell them to stop with that?

All that talking about the Newcomer King.

Kids these days aren't interested in shogi at all.

"Kids these days"? In which era do you think you've been born?

It's stressful to be told, "move forward step by step and become a Promoted Pawn".

Well, perhaps they won't listen to it.

It's not "perhaps". They definitely won't!

Okay, okay. Sit down.

This should be good.

Thanks for coming.

Thanks for your hard work. Why did you ask me here today?

I think this one is good. What do you think?

What is this?

Almost like a movie poster. Cool, isn't it?

No, no. That's not what I mean...

Since it's a shogi match between two geniuses who became pros when they were in junior high,

the sponsors were crowding.

To attract younger shogi fans we used our most popular trump cards.

And we want to catch the attention of the public.

You know that players who become Newcomer King

often become Meijin later, right?

I also got that title. And Toku-chan here did it.

Of course, Soya-kun too.

It's a match between the current Meijin and the future Meijin.

Pretty dramatic, don't you think?

Did Soya-san...

Did Soya-san say anything?

No, nothing.

When I heard for the first time of a man named Soya Toji,

I thought he lived in another world.

But of course he's living in the same world as us.

I still can't imagine

that I will really sit face to face with him at the board.

Hey, isn't that the shop?

Yeah, it's there! There it is!

- Excuse me. - Yes.

Do you have Fried Crescents?

Sure we have.

Welcome home.

I'm back.

Look, it's sold out!

Wow! As expected of a specialty!

Isn't it!

But I wonder what I should do now.

Grandpa, what are you thinking about? The next new product?

I'm thinking about a new product for summer,

but I can't come up with anything.

Chestnut, sweet potato, salt caramel.

And also some fresh cream!

What about you, Momo? What do you like in a daifuku?

Gum!

What're you saying? Geez.

Wait a minute.

If I listened to all your suggestions,

Crescent Hall would become a cake shop.

The truth is that you hate wagashi, right?

Sorry. We like them. We really love them.

It's no use. Nothing comes to my mind. Don't ask me.

Women are always like this. You only have wishes, right?

I'm taking a bath. Is the bath ready?

Oh no. It's already this late.

I have to prepare dinner.

I'm sure Grandpa would be happy if we invited Kiriyama-kun.

That's a good idea.

Then, Momo, will you help me prepare?

Hello?

Hello.

Rei-kun, good evening.

Good evening.

Grandpa is here tonight.

Wouldn't you like to eat dinner with us?

Is it alright?

Sure it is. Come in please.

Guys! Rei-kun is here!

Isn't it one year already since you first came to this house?

Let's see...

Yeah. It's really been that long.

Thank you for everything.

But still,

you haven't become humpty-dumpty at all.

I'm sorry.

Say, Grandpa,

Mom came up with the Fried Crescents, right?

That's right.

She loved cooking and loved wagashi.

She always created all kinds of sweets and called them trial products.

I see.

Preceding the exhibition fight at the end of the month,

this year's Lion King tournament has started.

The Lion King title holder

is qualified to play against Soya Toji,

so it's a tournament to find his challenger.

Shimada-san is hesitating, isn't he?

He played a move that's not like him.

He's been like that since he lost against Soya-san.

Is Shimada-san in a tight spot?

Looks like he'll lose his first game, doesn't it?

It often happens to people after fighting against Soya.

They get shattered to pieces and must be put together again.

They all have to start anew from the beginning.

Newcomer King Kiriyama.

Did you win your first round?

Somehow. And you, Misumi-san?

Yeah, but only by default.

By default? Who was your opponent?

Koda-san.

But he's your master. Don't tell me you didn't know.

Did anything happen?

Rei-kun.

Come in.

What happened? Are you alright?

Well, it's a bit embarrassing but I just fell down at home.

At home?

Yeah, that's right. Since I hit my head,

I thought I should get a thorough check-up.

But to hospitalize me is an exaggeration.

This is a countermeasure against the Bishop Exchange.

I've analyzed it and planned to use it in the Lion King tournament.

What do you think? Don't you think it's a good position?

You just moved to here, right?

Hey! I asked you to replace the fluorescent lamp yesterday and even the day before that, right?

Do you think since my wife is unconscious it's fine to do it later?

- No, that's not true. - Then replace it now!

Understood.

Geez.

Sorry to keep you waiting. The secret path was under construction.

But I didn't order anything.

What? Wait. Isn't this the Kiriyama residence?

Huh? Ah, yes. I'm Kiriyama...

He will pay you. Sorry for intruding.

Sister...

What's this all of a sudden?

No one will steal it so take your time to eat. It's expensive after all.

That was close. I choked on a sea urchin and thought I would die.

I saw Goto-san in the hospital.

Looks like he visited his wife.

So you went to the hospital.

Are you still together with Goto?

What did Dad say?

He said he'd have a complete check-up.

No.

Did he say why he was hospitalized?

He said he fell down in the house and hit his head.

Hey, tell me,

have you ever seen someone who fell down in their house?

Ayumu and Dad had a big fight, almost like a war.

It was about what Ayumu will do after graduation from high school.

Dad said some harsh things to Ayumu.

Ayumu answered, "I'm sorry that I'm not like Rei",

and gave Dad a hard push.

And then his head went bam.

You are still a sensitive topic in the house.

Hina! Sorry for letting you wait. The bath is ready.

What's wrong? You don't seem well.

No, that's not it. I'm just a bit tired.

What a cute snowman.

What do you think? How about this as a new product for Crescent Temple?

There are two bean jams in them and you can enjoy two kinds of taste.

I'll call it "Good-Luck Doll".

Wow. Amazing. I'd like to try it.

Well then, I'll go take a bath.

Then, turn the heating down to normal since you're the last one.

Alright. Good night.

Good night.

Kiriyama-sama!

I came to pick you up. Please get in.

Please get in.

Please go to the room at the right.

This way please.

Young Master! Kiriyama-sama is here to see you.

A lot has happened, huh?

Are your preparations going well?

Well...

Don't tell me

you've resigned yourself to lose from the beginning.

You think like that, don't you? It's written on your face!

No. That's not true.

Stop persuading yourself at once that it's only an exhibition game!

Aniki (big brother)

told me later...

When you fight against Soya, you learn the truth.

About the weakness of your heart which you've never noticed.

You lose confidence and become seized with fear.

You're mercylessly confronted with your true self.

Listen. Think only of winning!

If you think you're just playing for practice,

Soya-meijin will blow you away in an instant!