[Soul of Chess] What if

"Zuo Wei, could it be that you deliberately lost to the opponent in the chess game a few days ago?"

"Eh?"

Suddenly hearing what A Guang said, Zuo Wei, who was still in memory, blinked his eyes in a daze, and when he finally realized what A Guang said, he immediately denied it in a hurry: "How...how is it possible? !"

"How is it impossible?" Ah Guang obviously didn't believe it, "Didn't you deliberately lose to that grandpa Xian Taifu before?"

After hearing this, Zuo Wei quickly waved his sleeves and explained: "I did lose on purpose that time, but this time I really didn't::>_<::"

Seeing that Zuo Wei didn't look like he was lying, Ah Guang couldn't help but reduce his suspicion a bit, but he still couldn't feel relieved when he thought of the chess game that he lost for no reason.

"Really?" He stared at Zuo Wei suspiciously.

"Really!" Seeing that things had turned around, Aguang couldn't wait to reply as soon as his voice fell, "The old gentleman's chess strength is better than anyone before him. If you don't go all out, white chess It must have collapsed a long time ago, so how could I deliberately lose to the opponent Q_Q"

"Better than anyone before?!" Ah Guang repeated in surprise with his eyes wide open.

"Yeah, yes." Zuo Wei nodded affirmatively.Perhaps because of being sad about being misunderstood by Ah Guang, his small face was tightly wrinkled together, looking very aggrieved.

Indeed, if that person is really stronger than anyone he has met before, then Zuowei, who has retained his strength, should not be able to persist for so long.

So, it seems that I really overthink it.

After realizing this, Ah Guang's tense nerves suddenly relaxed.He leaned against the bookshelf, raised his chin slightly and exhaled slowly, then murmured softly: "That's it...it's really great..."

"?" Zuo Wei tilted his head and looked at A Guang in confusion, "A Guang, what's wrong with you?"

As for Zuo Wei's question, Ah Guang didn't answer right away, but just stared at the ceiling quietly.He paused for a while before speaking: "Although I'm sorry Zuo Wei for saying this, but after knowing that Zuo Wei didn't lose to the opponent on purpose, to be honest, I really feel relieved."

"Huh?" Zuo Wei was even more confused after stopping Ah Guang's answer.

"Because..." Aguang turned his gaze to Zuo Wei, "I'm really afraid that Zuo Wei deliberately lost the game because he was worried about me."

"!"

Zuo Wei's expression became a little flustered for a moment.Taking advantage of Ah Guang not noticing him, he managed to put on a nonchalant expression and asked, "Why...why do you feel this way?"

"Because Zuo Wei has done similar things before." Aguang replied in this way.

When he said these words, although Ah Guang was smiling, there was always an indescribable sadness in that smile.

Seeing Ah Guang like this, the expression on Zuo Wei's face that he used to fool around gradually faded away.

Since when did Ah Guang have such an expression?

Obviously he is only 13 years old, he should be as carefree as his peers...

The reason why Ah Guang did this is actually because of me...

Yes, I seem to have brought a lot of trouble to Aguang...

"Probably not? Deliberately losing chess or something..." Zuo Wei slightly looked away, and softly defended.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm not saying that Zuo Wei has deliberately lost chess before." Aguang waved his hand in embarrassment, "I mean, Zuo Wei also gave up the Go game because he was worried about me... "

"How...?!"

Zuowei's panicked expression certainly did not escape Aguang's eyes.Although he really wanted to laugh and complain about Zuo Wei's incompetent disguise, the corners of his mouth were so heavy that he couldn't hook it up anyway.

"Although I'm not very smart, I'm not that dull either..." Ah Guang laughed in a self-deprecating tone, "The first thing to do after receiving the invitation letter from the Chess Academy is to check the competition schedule. Make arrangements, and then recall the school calendar and student training schedule that I have seen before in my heart, if I need to go to school or conduct student training on the day of the competition, you will decline the invitation of the chess academy.”

"Unless there is someone you really want to fight against among the contestants, you won't take up my class time or student training."

Speaking of this, Ah Guang raised his lowered eyes: "Before, I thought it was a little strange why Zuowei cared more about the arrangement of the school and the students' training than I did, and why the number of times I needed to ask for leave became more and more frequent. Less, under the circumstances that I couldn't figure it out, I vaguely had such a conjecture. Unexpectedly, I was really guessed by myself..."

"Ah Guang..."

Listening to Ah Guang's clear analysis of his previous actions, Zuo Wei half-opened his mouth and remained silent for a long time.In the end, he just whispered the boy's name.

"Zuo did this for you because you were worried that I would be suspected of being related to Sai because I took too much leave?"

Facing the other party's clear eyes that seemed to see through everything, Zuo Wei nodded slightly.

"Zuo Wei, I'm really happy that you can think about me like this." Seeing Zuo Wei affirming his thoughts, Ah Guang smiled childishly.However, that smile didn't last long.

"However, because of this, I can't help but blame myself..." He lowered his head and said, "Because I know exactly how much Zuo Wei loves Go, so when I think of Zuo Wei, it's because of worries. If I give up the opportunity to participate in the competition, I will feel very unwilling, very, very unwilling, really..."

"Sometimes I think, if I become a professional chess player like Taya, will Zuowei not have to work so hard? Sometimes I even think, if the person Zuowei meets is not me, will he compare good……"

Zuo Wei couldn't see Ah Guang's expression because of the bangs covering him.But, listening to the nasal tone, it must be very painful for Ah Guang to say these things.

Although he didn't know what to say at this time, it would be better, subconsciously, Zuo Wei walked to Ah Guang's side, as if he wanted to warm the child who was always worried and distressed about his affairs with his non-existent body temperature.

As if feeling Zuo Wei's approach, Hikaru turned his head and looked at Zuo Wei seriously with his slightly red eyes: "Hey, Zuo Wei, do you know? Actually, I have always envied you and Taya."

Hearing what Aguang said, Zuo didn't say why.He just looked at Ah Guang quietly, waiting for the other party's next words.

"I have always lived in a muddle, and I have never done anything seriously. Even when I took the Haiwang Middle School Exam, I just wanted to show some color to those who looked down on me. So, seeing you and Taya is so single-mindedly obsessed with Go, on the one hand, he feels very incomprehensible, and on the other hand, he thinks, it would be great if I could have a direction that I can devote myself to wholeheartedly like you..."

"Although I have become a college student now and have participated in the group round-robin competition, I don't think I can have such a strong passion for Go like you and Taya. The reason for this may be because I have a strong passion for Go. I don’t understand it deeply enough? Or maybe, Go is not what I really hope to do?”

Seeing the worry in Zuo Wei's eyes, Ah Guang smiled reassuringly: "Although I don't know what the answer is, but since I have already embarked on the road to become a professional chess player, then, after finding the true ability I’ll keep trying to do what I’m supposed to be doing before letting me put my whole heart and soul into it.”

"Because I haven't found my own direction yet, I am more aware of how precious it is to have something I love and am willing to work hard for." A Guang took a deep breath, and then He continued, "After Zuo Wei lost, I was afraid that it was also because of me. Because I don't want Zuo Wei to have to give up Go, which he has loved for thousands of years, because of me."

"But fortunately, I thought too much." There was a smile from the heart on Ah Guang's face.

When he said this, Ah Guang looked like he had lost some heavy burden.Seeing Ah Guang like this, even though the words had been repeated countless times in his heart, Zuo Wei still didn't tell the truth in the end.

Anyway, the deviation from the truth is not too big, so it should be no problem even if I didn't tell Ah Guang...?After all, Aguang looks very hard...

The author has something to say:

Ah Guang's...inner monologue?

I always feel that Ah Guang in the story doesn't seem to like Go...