March Comes in Like a Lion (３月のライオン)

Flowing Away

SHOGI HALL

Meijin Touji Souya The Challenge to a Beautiful Future

The 43rd Newcomer Tournament Commemorative Match 2008 Newcomer King, Rei Kiriyama 5th-Dan

What is this? What is this poster?

What is this? Why is the design so cool?

It's on really nice paper, and it looks like the letters are popping off the page.

It's just a commemorative battle between the Newcomer King and a Meijin, right?

Parts of it have like a matte finish and other parts of it are shiny...

A special manufacturing process?

What is this? Why are they making incredible posters like these?

JAB

Yo! Did you notice?

Cool, right?

You guys have some expert eyes.

I hired a designer to do it! I told him to make it cool.

I even splurged on the printing.

I don't want to hear it, Toku!

I mean, our posters look like that!

33rd Kishou Championship

Only necessary information included

PLAIN...

When was that photo taken? What occasion was it originally used for?

The picture is kind of grainy!

Tell me!

NERVOUS NERVOUS

And... how can I put this?

This poster wasn't professionally printed, but made by the Association, wasn't it?

NERVOUS NERVOUS

And not only that, how should I say this, the photo of the hotel venue is strangely,

no, definitely way bigger than we are!

EEEEK

That's awful!

How can you treat us like this just because Kiriyama and Souya are a bit younger and cuter?

My eternal Kishou Championship title is on the line!

ETERNAL

Not to mention, that poster is kind of small!

What do you want me to do?

We're in a recession and barely scraping by because of lack of sponsors!

And besides, what was that first match?

Fans won't come, and the players' match is as shaky as their broken-down bodies!

Can't say anything back...

VIDEO REPLAY

Old man, one step away from pneumonia

Chronic gastritis (about to become a stomach ulcer)

CREAK CREAK

CREAK CREAK CREAK

COUGH GLOUGH COUGH

The Sickly Showdown

What was that game between two invalids? Your bodies are too weak!

On top of that, it was an unsightly psychological battle.

Sh-Shimada, is the head of your King looking a bit thin?

Your King. It isn't getting a bit thin on top?

CREAK CREAK CREAK

It is not thin.

That's how I like it.

What was that? What kind of battle?!

Full of coughing and grinding teeth and abusive language!

In recent years, playing quietly was the norm!

When is your shogi from? The Showa period? Are you guys from the 80s?!

WHISPER

People watching them live on the net were having a blast, though.

Demo Board Commentator

VIDEO REPLAY

It was an "at-home" feel with not many people, so that actually made it really exciting.

Whoa! Shimada 8th-Dan moves his Silver to 5-1 left.

ON THE NET

Kishou Championship Second Match

Huh? Silver to 5-1 left?

DOUBLE TAKE

Silver to 5-1 left? Why would he do that?

Just between you and me, I have a feeling that's going to cost him the game.

Seriously? Silver to 5-1 left?

There are so few people in the demo board room that everyone's sitting in a circle...

Oh yeah! That's no good!

That is a lousy move, isn't it?

Ugh!

If you don't like it, then get your health back and some sponsors, too!

Support: Morisen Publishing Morioka Bookstore Hanamaki Electronics Etc.

BA-BAM

Look at this! See how popular Souya and Kiriyama are?

Damn it, Shimada! It's your fault!

If Gakuto were the challenger, this place would be packed with female fans!

I'll be waiting for you.

Kishou Championship Spectator Bus Tour, including a lunch party with both players

It's my fault? What?

SHOGI HALL

True, we both have lousy health and that game was somewhat appalling,

but however you get there, a win is a win.

And I won!

Not only that...

I'm going to win the next one too.

I won't let anyone take the Kishou title away from me.

It's my life!

Mr. Yanagihara.

Souya is putting everything into the Meijin Battle, so the other tournaments become empty.

This is the one title I'm hanging on to, even if it kills me!

Farewell, gentlemen!

You didn't have to be that blunt!

Go home, get a good night's sleep, and let your body rest!

I wasted my time thinking you were cool!

Well, you two can keep going at it like that.

SOUYA AND KIRIYAMA POSTERS

I'm going to get people psyched for this high-profile match, Souya versus Kiriyama.

HAHAHA!

But Chairman,

please go easy on them.

I think neither Souya nor Kiriyama are comfortable being the center of attention.

I know. I've known Souya for a long time too. So I know that about him.

I'm not going to kill the golden goose.

I see. Kiriyama...

So you're facing Souya...

at last.

Hey, Kiriyama. There you are.

Incredible concentration.

He can't even hear me.

The precious game record!

Hey, Kiriyama.

Oh, Mr. Hayashida.

That commemorative match is in Morioka, right? Are you ready for it?

Yes. There's really nothing to prepare for.

Are you going to wear a kimono?

No, the chairman said my school uniform was okay.

Are you nervous?

Yes.

But for some reason, it doesn't feel real to me.

Oh, that's right! Mr. Hayashida...

I see.

So it's been resolved.

Yes.

It's like the air around her is totally different.

Kind of like a light, airy feeling.

She said there's nothing to worry about anymore.

She's let all of her muscles relax and can just rest easy.

It makes me think about just how much she suffered all that time.

That's great, Kiriyama.

No, Mr. Hayashida, I...

In the end, I wasn't any help at all.

Did you tell her that?

Yes.

And what did she say?

What? Um...

She said, "That's not true," didn't she?

Yes.

What, but, how did you know?

It's easy to figure out.

I've been listening to you this whole time.

So I know you were doing everything you could to help her

and that she's a girl with a good head on her shoulders who understands all kinds of things.

Results are important,

but it's not results that reach people, Kiriyama.

The world doesn't revolve around results.