The ten-year trace of the soul of chess

While Guangguang was walking in the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Igarashi, who was sitting in front of his notebook in the hotel, fell into an unprecedented entanglement.

She is 28 years old.

This year is the seventh year she has entered the "Chess" magazine.

Like many children, she also aspired to become a professional chess player, although she still failed.But with full enthusiasm for Go, after graduating from university, she still got her wish to engage in Go-related work.

She still remembers when she was young, reviewing with other chess boys, and the scene of endless debate between the two sides.

Now, more than 20 years have passed.

God, that has changed.

The glorious achievements of the past are like a dream lost in the long past.

People who love Go can only recall the glorious years of the "Six Super Era" in their dreams.

In various world Go competitions, it is rare to see a Japanese player come out on top.

And the enthusiasm that I once determined to dedicate myself to the Go career seems to have cooled down after seven years of wasting time.When the wind blows, a thin layer of ice can form.

Among the major chess magazines, "The Way of Chess" regards itself as an "old brand magazine" and rarely relies on interviews with topical figures to gain sales.

Although Toya Ryo and Shinto Hikari are in the limelight in the Go world, they are too young.

Young and energetic, it is easy to lose your way.

It is conceivable that when Igarashi first proposed to interview two chess stars, he was rejected by the editor-in-chief as expected.

But today, Japanese Go is no longer the same as it used to be. If the magazine wants to survive, it must seize more eye-catching content.

And they who are still following the old ways, why?

Later, it was through her perseverance that she finally managed to get this interview, and she was only allowed to succeed but not to fail.And in an environment where I was constantly instilled "no need to live, no annual leave", I gradually became a numb and boring person.When she came to her senses, there was only work left.

She must hold on to this straw firmly.

Before the interview, Igarashi believed that he had a detailed understanding of Shinto Hikari and Toya Ryo.

But after real contact, these two young chess players brought her surprises again and again.

The first time was when negotiating a contract.

On that day, Toya Ryo might have something to do, so he entrusted Shindo Hikaru with carte blanche to communicate the details with him.

When mentioning the salary, without waiting for her to elaborate, Shindo Hikari first informed the two of their "zero salary" decision.

Igarashi didn't realize it all at once, and after reconfirming, he finally confirmed that the "zero pay" that Shinto Hikari said really meant this interview and filming, and they would not ask for a cent.

She asked him almost reflexively, why?

——If someone pays attention to Go and likes Go because of following us, our goal will be achieved.

——We earned it.

Igarashi still remembers that Hikaru Shinto, who said the above words, smiled so brightly, with such a calm and sincere expression.

As for the second time.

In the backyard of the main hall of Yuanguang'an, she saw a scene that she should not have seen.

At that moment, she knew that she should leave as soon as possible, but her feet seemed to be frozen and unable to move half a step.

After a brief shock, all the details that she had ignored in the past flooded into her mind like a flood.

Why is Shinto Hikaru able to ask Taya Ryo out?

Why did Ta Yaliang feel so different to himself during this contact?

Why that day in the car, when Taya Ryo looked at Shinto Hikaru who was sleeping on his shoulder, his eyes were soft as if they could melt water.

It turns out that all the questions are traceable.

However, she couldn't understand that group and couldn't identify with everything about them.

And the third time...

Glancing at the captured image on the phone, Igarashi sighed deeply, and turned to look at the electronic document opened in front of him.

The content of the document is the interview draft of Hikari Shinto and Ryo Toya.

Staring at the four words for a long time, Igarashi couldn't help saying the name softly: "Fujiwara Sakai."

This was the answer given by Taya Ryo and Shinto Hikari in the solo interview session yesterday when they were asked about the process of their acquaintance.

——Because of one person, Sakai Fujiwara.

Afterwards, Igarashi deliberately checked this person, but found nothing.

Just when she was at a loss, she suddenly noticed the name "Fujiwara Sawei"—the pronunciation of Zuowei was exactly Sai, the chess player who once caused a great disturbance on the Internet Go a few years ago.

So, Fujiwara Sai is Sai?

What is his relationship with Taya and Shinto?

If it is really Sai, with such a high chess strength, why can't he find any information about him in the list of professional chess players?

Too many questions and secrets intertwined, Igarashi leaned heavily on the back of the chair, his face was full of exhaustion.

She couldn't help thinking sadly, I shouldn't know these things.

If you don't know, you won't be tired of emotions.If you are not burdened by emotions, you don't have to worry about what content can be written and what content needs to be reserved.

When he came out of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and saw a girl painting a portrait on the side of the street, Hikari slowed down significantly.

Just as he was about to pass her by, the light finally stopped.

"Could you please help me to draw a portrait?" Guang asked somewhat cautiously with honorifics.

The girl looked back and forth between the two: "Excuse me..."

"It was my teacher, but he is no longer here."

Liang vaguely guessed what Guang wanted to do, he glanced at Guang, but did not interrupt him.

The girl asked Guang uncertainly: "Then do you have his photo?"

Guang shook his head: "He only exists in my memory. Can you...can you help me with this?"

When Guang spoke, he was so gentle that it was almost unbearable to reject him.

The girl hesitated again and again, and finally nodded: "Let me try."

In the days to come, the figure that once only existed in Guang's mind, was handed by the girl, and gradually appeared on the paper - a slightly thin face, gentle eyes, thin lips smiling, waist-length Long hair, wearing a black tall hat, wearing a white safari suit, and a round earring on the ear lobe...

Describing Sai's appearance in detail, he choked up just talking.

Liang looked at him worriedly, but Guang just shook his head slightly, telling him silently, I'm fine.

It takes a lot of time and effort to paint a painting that is almost entirely based on imagination.

Guang's persistence seemed to be conveyed to the girl. Several times, Guang felt that he was going too far, but the girl still listened to his opinions patiently and revised the drawing over and over again.

When Sai's portrait was finally completed and the moment he took the portrait, Hikari's eyes turned red - as stupid as I am, I just remembered today that I can meet you again in this way...

But in the end, I was too embarrassed to show it too clearly, so I just sniffed, grinned at the girl, and after paying the girl a lot of money for painting, I owed her gratefully.

On the way to the subway station, Hikari finally calmed down.

He handed the rolled up portrait to Liang: "I didn't prepare anything special for this year's birthday. The "secret" about Sai just now is my first gift to you. And this painting is the unexpected first. Two copies."

He stopped and looked at Liang: "Now, I will give them all to you."

Bright spot nodded and took the portrait with both hands.

After a pause, Hikaru said again, "Taya, Sai is watching you."

Liang glanced at the portrait in his hand and said with a smile, "Sai is looking at 'us'."

The past few days of shooting are like stealing half a day of leisure.

They ate ramen alleys together and walked along the banks of the Kamogawa River;

Been to Yuanguang Temple and Liuliguangyuan;

I have seen the solemnity of Jiguang Temple and felt the majesty of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

It's only been a few days, but the accumulated memories seem to last a lifetime.

If it wasn't for the call from the chess academy, Guang almost forgot that their job is chess players.

As for chess players, there is no rest time.

Before they left Kyoto, their follow-up work schedules were already full.

The 61st Honinbo round-robin three rounds.

The 31st issue of Xiaoqi Shengben battle is a round.

The 32nd Tianyuan War is a round of this battle.

Promotion of Go in primary and secondary schools in Tokyo area.

……

On the last day in Kyoto, Mr. Nishimoto did not accompany everyone because he had other shooting tasks.

When picking up the two at the hot spring hotel, Igarashi handed over a letter left by Nishimoto to Hikaru.

Hikaru opened the envelope, and a thin piece of paper fell out from inside.There were only a few words on it, but it made Guang's heart tremble.

"A friend asked me to pass it on.

He thanked you for the cup of hot water you handed him that night.He is doing well now.

I sincerely wish you all, and hope that you will always keep the starry sky in your heart.

Kengo Nishimoto"

The acquaintance and reunion of people is like a spider's silk, always accompanied by inextricable connections.

Some people leave, some people come again.

At the same time as the group of people boarded the return plane, on a main road in Tokyo, two cars crashed into each other because they couldn't avoid it in time.

The huge impact of the collision caused the airbags in the front seats of the car to pop out immediately.

No one was injured at the scene.

According to eyewitnesses, one of them was a famous Japanese Go player.

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