Sai...
Sai
You came into my dream
Sai...
Don't go
Say something!
Don't disappear!
Sai...
Road to Hokutohai
Is Hikaru playing the board game?
Huh? Did you say something?
Hikaru is doing 'this' again?
Yes, as soon as he came home...
He said, I'm hungary, Ramen"...
So I cooked it for him...
And he finished it before I could blink and went to his room
That child has been like that recently
Sai...
I'm at a pretty good pace these days
I am continuausly winning the Honinbou matches
I want to hurry up and compete against the experts
I want to keep winning and winning
and winning like this...
And someday...
Someday... You...
Hikaru...?
Hikaru, you have a phone call from the Go Institute
Okay, I'm coming
Hello?
Shindou-Kun...
I'm Kosemura from the publishing department of Japan's Go Institute
I want to ask you something...
Yes
Huh? Hokutohai?
Ni and Chuu and Kan junoir team competition?
Note: Ni = Nihon = Japan: Chuu = Chuugoku = Cina: Kan = Kankoku = Korea
Japan, China and Korea junior team competition?
Yeah, sounds like fun... Huh?
He said it was at Hokutohai
You must be under eighteen and there are three members per team
I know
Player selection preliminary matches start in April
Do you think I can try out for it, too?
I passed this year
Isumi-san, Shindou just told you...
That it's for under eighteen only
It is.. Junior...
Even though Isumi-san and Kodowaki-san can't enter this year...
Honda-san is eighteen, right?
That's right. Do you remember Su-Young?
Su-Young?
You mean the Korean boy we saw at the Go salon?
The man at the publishing department said that he is a pro now
He said he might be entering Hokutohai
Korean teens are incredible
Go Young-Ha is already at the top age of sixteen...
China is the same...
Well,
Japan has Touya Akira...
They have me too!
I'm not planning on staring at the back side of Touya forever
This is your only game this week?
Yes. It's the Honinbou match, first preliminary final
It's all wrong... You're completely pinched
What are you talking about? I've reversed!
I won by 1.5 moku
Reverse was possible because the opponent's hand was too simple
You're not thinking that you won because you played well, are you?
Must you say it like that?
That's the truth
What?
This game... I wouldn't have allowed a reverse if it was me
If it was me
I would've went in for the kill before you surrounded the middle
If you can't take over the middle
There's no way black could've won
How about it?
You can't reverse, can you?
Just a minute, if it's me... I would change it like this
In this case, you won't be able to do as you planned
But then, you're giving up space on this side
If the middle clears up
It'll increase the number of moku you'll lose by... Let alone reversing
No, if I destroy the white territory with the trigonal form here... It's not bad
What's not bad!?
How can you fight with this form?
If it's me, I can fight!
This trigonal form here is more than enough!
They're always so violent...
Why don't you just give up...
You think I'm crazy?
Acting like you're all that is only for now
Someday.. I'll defeat you in an official match
Just a minute,
there are preliminary matches for Hokutohai
You know the team competition, right?
We might be able to have a match there
That Hokutohai... I'm not in the preliminaries
I've already been selected as a player
Why is that?
Why do you get out of it?!
That's not fair!
Even in other things...
A person with good results recieves seed
Akira-sensei enters the league matches, too
Do you have more to say?
Right, right...
Shindou-Kun is shodan
Do you understand?
It's the difference between a person who enters the league matches and just a mere shodan...?
Shindou?
But it's not the difference in skills
Hey, that's enough bragging!
I'll definitely pass the preliminary match in April
Until then... I won't be coming here
It's four months away
At that time, I will be a member of Japan's team... Just like you
Superior...
You know the Hokutohai our compay is sponsoring...?
It's a big project to celebrate the stock list, right?
Go is so boring...
I wonder if it's going to be interesting for the people
That's why I made it a team competition
Japan verses China or prehaps Korea...
Even the general people will take interest
I see...
I think they will
National Rivalry competitions make your blood boil, just like the olympics
I'm going to cheer for Japan, too!
For Touya Akira
It's surprising that you remember a player's name
The security guards were talking about it yesterday
That Touya Akira will show us something
But...
I heard Touya is the only one who might be able to defeat China or Korea
There is one more
Really?
Then Japan can, too...?
Even though we have him... There's only an expectation from the surroundings...
His pro skills are zero
Zero?
Who is he?
He's the one who became a pro in Kansai Go Institute
He hasn't cut the start line as a pro yet
Heh... From Kansai?
Superior, you know so much
Someone from the Kansai Go Institute told me over the phone...
... That he is pretty good
Now the two of you...
Stand right about there
What's wrong?
You look stiff
Don't be nervous just because you're the first player of the new shodan matches, Isumi-kun
You're not used to the camera?
You're not like the young people these days
But even if you're nervous...
An old man like me won't even be a match for you
After all, aren't you the talented Go player who passed the Pro exam
With a complete victory?
No way...
Wow... Kuwabara-sensei... Is already giving him pressure...
You look skinny, but very firm...
Do you play sports?
N...No.
I can't believe Isumi-san's New Shodan match's opponent is Kuwabara-sensei
I'm looking forward to it
Shindou-Kun...
Shindou Hikaru... Shodan, right?
Kadowaki-san?
You remember my name. I'm glad
Did you see me in the Weekly Go?
Yes, I was surprised when I saw the pictures of the successful candidates from the pro exam
I remembered that you're the one I played against when I was an Insei
You still remembered?
It's an honor
Truthfully... I wanted to take the pro exam in the same year as you did
At that time, I wanted to warm up so I asked you to play a game with me
But... I got beaten by you, an Insei
So, I realized my incapability
and postponed it for a year... Thinking that I wasn't good enough like this
Even though I had the confidence to pass it...
I didn't have the confidence to defeat a Go player like yourself
Thinking that I should look further up abit...
And choose a higher goal
You, at the time
Were incredible enough to make a conceited person like me feel that way
I wasn't the one who played that time...
The one who played at that time was... Sai
However...
You recorded three losses in the pro exam
And you were defeated shamefully in Touya Kouyou's new shodan match
Plus, after you became a pro... You continuosly forfeited...
Hey now.
What the hell went wrong?
What are you doing...
Shindou?
He's late
He did say he was going to come and watch Isumi-san's new shodan match
Kadowaki-san isn't here yet either
Honda-san had six losses in the pro exam, right?
You surely passed well with that kind of a record
Isumi-san has a complete victory and...
Kadowaki-san lost only once to Isumi-san
The two of them won everything this year
So the rest of us had confusing fights
He's not coming....
You know, Hokutohai...
I heard Touya has already been selected as a representative, right?
If they took skills into consideration
I think I should be selected aswell...
In order to do that
Anyone under eighteen should be difficult to divide since their skills aren't great
Isn't that right?
Honda-san, Who became a pro this year, is qualified...
If you include the pros
I heard that there was an up and coming player from Kansai Go Institute
Kansai Go Institute?
I see
Players are coming from the Kansai Go Institute, too
Isumi-san is playing
It started
He has a diferent feeling than Shindou last year
He... Took twenty minutes to play the first stone
Did something happen to... Shindou...?
Kadowaki-san isn't coming either...
It's impossible that they'd be playing each other...
It's not that they know each other...
Know each other?
They don't know each other?
That's right! That was Shindou!
Honda-san?
That was about Shindou...
At that time. What Kadowaki-san was mumbling about...
Ooshima... Fuku... Honda...
Ones he lost to.. Were these three
I can't believe it after all...
Ooshima, Fuku, Honda...
Those are the opponents Shindou lost to in the last year's pro exam
You remember that well
Because at that time...
Me and Honda-san competed against him until the end, too
Then, was that about Shindou, too?
Waya, you know something, too?
What...? Everyone is talking about Shindou, Shindou...
I read a rumor about Kadowaki-san postponing the pro exam for a year on the net
The reason for that was... Because he lost to a kid
That kid was...
Shindou?
The reason you lost three matches in the pro exam...
I thought it could've been because your skills have ups and downs, since you're still a kid
But your skills aren't at that kind of level
With that one game
I even felt respect towards you, who is twelve years younger than I
Isn't that funny?
However, I feel as though that could've been a dream or an illusion right now
What should I do about...
The big expectation I had for you?
Do you think I can still expect it even now? Right?
I'm sorry for stopping you
Let's go
I think Isumi's new shodan match has already started
Kadowaki-san...
Would you like to play me...
Right now?
We'll be using the space for a little bit
Okay
What's wrong, Shindou-Kun?
It looks like it'll be an important game
Why?
Since you can compare me to me from last year
I really want to compare myself to my old self
Clearly... The difference between you and me... Probably isn't much anymore
Don't be surprised when you hear it, but...
My pro exam record is...
You lost to Isumi-san
Isumi...!
That's... I lost to Isumi, but...
Only one loss.
I didn't surrender to Isumi with that one loss
Taking revenge is one of the things I have to do after I become a pro
And the other is...
Playing a game with you
My wish came true rather quickly
Good luck
Hoshi... Hoshi... Hoshi...
Three in a row...
Now... What should I do?
Should I make the first move?
Just like a year and a half ago...?
I was toyed with at that time, but...
That won't happen again to me now
No... I might be wanting to be toyed with...
In the corner of my mind. I feel as though I don't want to lose to anyone, but...
Yearning for a skill which I can't follow...
Is it because I want to see the future this kid is walking on...?
That future... Which surpasses him greatly...
Is my punch working...?
Or... Are you avoiding...?
Seems like it might be working...
The feeling I get from this Go is different compared to that time...
It's on from now...
He penetrated into my strong territory...
What did you say your name was?
It's Isumi-kun
Isumi Shinichiro
Isumi, eh...
I'll keep that in mind
The new comers these days were unbecoming... But after Touya's son appeared...
Interesting kids are starting to appear... Slowly...
It was worth hanging around in the Go world
Plus... He hasn't shown his true abilities yet...
This kid...
It's no good...
He got me!
I resign
Thank you very much
This move I made here was good
But you came in by putting it together here which prohibited me from doing anything
That move was one I thought of instantly
I thought it would be pretty difficult in the last phase, but...
But your judgement was levelheaded in dealing with it
I did it, but I did it pretty good...
Thank you. It was a good thing I played you
Whan I think that there are Go players like you...
It's worth taking the path of pros
I forgot all about Isumi-san's game!
Kadowaki-san came to watch that too, right?
I wonder if they are still playing...
Kadowaki-san...
You mean Isumi's game? Let's go... Let's so
Kadowaki-san...
You just said that it was a good thing to play me...
Was that the truth?
It's... The truth
You are strong
What I just said was the truth
Anything else
That's not all, right?
No...
That... That's...
How should I say....? You, in the former years...
Seemed stronger after all...
I'm sorry...
Don't worry about it
I think so, too
He thinks that way, too?
Former years of himself was stronger...
It's not a situation you can laugh about, kid
I really can't figure out if he is really an incredible player or not
Shindou
Waya
Is it over?
What happened to Isumi-san?
Isumi-san won by 6.5 moku
They just started the examination
6.5 moku?
Wow
Why are you coming now? You're late
I met Kadowaki-san on the way
I played a game on the second floor just now
It's over already?
Kadowaki-san...
What happened?
Isumi-san won...
By 6.5 Moku
umm.. Kadowaki-san...
Do you know Shindou?
Do I know him?
Rather than knowing each other... I played against him once before.
When he was an Insei about a year and a half ago, I called him over...
I lost completely at that time
The kid we were talking about earlier was really Shindou after all!
But I played him again today...
I felt as though he was stronger before...
Plus... He said he also thinks so too and just laughed
I just can't figure him out
I don't know either. It's confusing
I told you...
It's no use worrying about Shindou
That's right.
Let's worry about ourselves
We weren't the only ones who were moving towards Hokutohai
At that time, I didn't know anything about the player candidate from Kansai Go Institute
It's Honda
Excuse me
You're here
This is Yoshikawa from Kansai Go Institute. He is hachidan
It's been along time since he has been here
Hello
Toshinori
This is Yashiiro Kiyoharu-kun. Who became a pro at the Kansai Go Institute
This is Yashiro Kiyoharu-kun
He is three years younger than you
I remember that sensei had a student who passed the pro exam at the Japan Go Institute...
When I remembered that... I brought him here
He's pretty good
Would you like to play him once?
Yes
Now that I think about it, Ochi said...
That there is an up-and-coming player from Kansai Go Institute...
It must be him
This is like the Hokutohai preliminaries pre-match
I don't want to lose...
Please, do me the honor of teaching me
Good luck
Good luck!
Good luck
Should I... Try that?
That?
First move. Tengen...
Alright
I'll accept any kind of moves
Yashiro-kun is incredible
Toshinori still has alot to learn
No, Kiyoharu won this time, but...
This is the beginning for Honda-kun aswell
Excuse me for staying so late
First move, Tengen...
Isn't a move which is not used at all in the pro matches, but
That's right, but it becomes a difficult Go
Normally, they'll first play your corner...
It's easy to make a territory in the corners...
But in the middle of the board, Tengen has nothing to do with territory...
Except it keeps the eyes on the entire Go board
If this stone plays its role,. it's victory
If it doesn't, it's defeat
The opponent will play as it Confuses you
Thoughts are simple...
But the method of playing is difficult
However, first move Tengen
Which was used by the kid from Kansai He played its role properly.
It's Honda's complete defeat
He said he was fifteen?
He's incredible
Did he say he was going to enter the preliminaries for the Hokutohai?
Now that I think about it, did you say the preliminary schedule notice came?
Toshinori
Yes
Hokutohai's preliminary schedule... What happened?
Four players from Tokyo and four from Middle Kansai...
A total of eight players will play in April
Tokyo will host the first preliminary which will select four players
That's next week...
Next week...
All the ones who joined recently are strong...
You must do your best, too
That's right... I still have a lot to learn even if I compare myself to Ochi
Toshinori
Toshinori!
Yes
Hokutohai Tokyo District First Round of Preliminaries
Let me tell you one thing
The road to becoming a pro is long...
Long and there isn't any resting along the way...
You must study it for life
Do you understand, Toshinori?
That's right. I'm a Pro Go player
The road to becoming a pro is long...
Long and there isn't any resting in the Go world...
I must study it for life
First move, Tengen...
It's an iteresting move you played, Honda-san
Alright
How about it?
You can't easily connect the black in this case, right?
I'll make that first move Tengen into a bad move
In order to do that,
I can't fall back here!
A world which I'll be in forever!
Honda-san, that kind of play... You can't beat me with that!
I resign
I lost
I resign!
Hokutohai's first preliminary is over
Next preliminary is in two months from now
I'll definitely become a memeber!
Touya, by that time...
I will be a member of Japans team just like you are!
Hikaru
I'm coming now
See you later
Hikaru, what are you doing?
Let's play one game
Were you looking in the shed again?
You always go in there when you come here
If you want that Go board, I'll give it to you
What? You said I couldn't have it before
It's different now, since you became a pro
Do you want it?
No, I have the one Grandpa bought me...
So just leave that Go board there
Alright
now... Let's play
Now, Nigiri...
Grandpa, do you understand that I'm a pro?
Why don't you place afew stones on the board?
Don't be silly
You think you can beat me easily
I'm black
Oh yeah
Don't you have a game with kudan this week?
This is it... this
Honinbou match, second preliminary... Second round!
Morishita Shigeo kudan verses Shindou Hikaru shodan
Every week, I study at the strategy sessions lead by that Morishita-sensei
It's already been two years
I've been studying there since I was an Insei...
That kind of person is your opponent?
That might be a difficult match for you
It might be difficult
But in order to move up... I must defeat any kind of opponent
Good luck
Is that right? Do your best
Good luck
Alright, first... I'm going to beat grandpa by 50 moku!
W-what? You! You almost gave me a heart attack!
Good morning
Morning
Honinbou Match league
Well, I thought this day would come someday, but...
Since it came like this...
It seems it came too early... Or.. Perhaps too late...
He's an opponent that I can see through completely, but...
Good morning
Ogata-san
Morning
This is his first game in a pro league
Honinbou League Fifth Match Ogata Seiji · Jyuudan Master Vs Touya Akira · Sandan
Honinbou League Second Preliminary Second Round Morishita Sigeo · Kudan Vs Shindou Hikaru · Shodan
This kid is confident right now
I must gather my strength if I want to attack
He has good judgement, plus... He's fast
I played him in the strategy sessions
But I can't see the bottom of his talent
But he has only played against me in the strategy sessions
He doesn't know me in the place of a match
I have the upper hand
I just have to go along like this
If sensei attacks the bottom side...
I will pressure him by winning the upper territories
When Ogata-san became the student of my father was...
Before I was even born
Excluding my father
I played against Ogata-san the most
I can do it. This game...
I have a good feeling
I have the confidence
It's the confidence I've gotten from the games I played against Ogata-san during the strategy sessions
No...
If this place opens up...!
Be patient...
If I fall back here, I'll ruin this Go!
Somehow... He seems different than usual...
I'm being pressured by the mood...
My fingers aren't coming off the stones that easily...
Damn it...
I can't get nervous...!
I can't fall back...!
He took his hand off...?!
He... Got me.
The center was first...
An advancement such as this...!
I must bring back the lead somehow...
It's a big problem.
It's over if the form scatters...
I lost
I resign...!
Let's review it in another room
Touya-Kun, you fought well
But I'm sure it was a bit difficult since he is a close senpai of yours
I...
It's natural that you would be nervous, too
The reason for defeat is that after all, right?
He was not nervous
He wasn't overpowered by me
He wasn't unreasonable nor was he bluffing
He showed his skills calmly as he always does
So you're saying that he splendidly played his game no matter who the opponent was?
He's incredible for a fifteen year old
I'm not praising him
You can say that the difference in skills have been displayed
Since there weren't any minus elements
Ogata-sensei...
You were trying to beat me, but...
You definitely realized it through this match, right?
You are below me!
Ogata-sensei...
I can't find any room to spare in his appearance...
“You're below me”...
He couldn't stand it without saying those words...
That's how close Touya-Kun has pursued him
Ogata Jyuudan, Go master!
I've been watching you for two years in the strategy sessions which are held once a week...
You've grown
I thought that I've grown...
I never felt dispirited even when I played sensei in the strategy sessions
That's how I thought...
But...
I couldn't surpass sensei in the place of a match
There's something I lack still
Place of a match.. Is it?
You'll never know the fear of a Go player. Unless you fight them in the place of a match
But that fan...
You didn't start carrying it around for looks, did you?
It's to show some kind of determination, right?
That you must attack...
There she is. There she is
Kaneko-san!
Kaneko-san, where's Mitani-kun?
He already went home. Why?
We want to take a group picture of the Go club
Shindou-Kun isn't here, either...
That's enough about Hikaru!
He quit during the first year of Jr.High
Nori-chan, will you take our picture?
Sure
Now, cheeeesse!
Thank you
Akari
Hikaru, what?
My mom and your mom are chatting away over there
I want to hurry up and eat...
We've been friends since we were very young...
They probably have alot to talk about
Should we retake the picture with Shindou-Kun in it?
Let me see that for a minute
Which high school are you going to?
I didn't take the public school exam, yet
You're still a student in preparation to take the exam
But... No matter where I go
I'm going to join the Go club
It would be nice if they have a Go club
If they don't have it, I'll make one!
Just as Tsutsui-san did...
Just as hard as Koike tried...
I'm going to try it, too!
Yeah, do your best
At that time, Hikaru...
Will you come and teach once in awhile?
You can't?
Do I have to pay for pros?
I don't need money. I'll come so don't worry
Really?
Of course. Any days I don't have a game...
And...
Hokutohai's second preliminary has started
Waya, hello
Shindou
It's finally the Hokutohai
Yeah... Finally
Two players from the Kansai Go Institute
One player from Central headquarters
One player from Kansai headquarters
Me, Waya, Ochi, and Ingaki-san...
Four players from Tokyo are all seperated
Well, since we won't be playing each other...
Let's comfortably eat lunch together
Shindou and I won't play each other...
Truthfully, I'm thankful
At Morishita-sensei's strategy sessions or strategy sessions at my apartment...
There were times where I couldn't follow his deep thoughts
Because he is always near me
I feel the difference in our skills whether I want to or not
Hokutohai Player Selection Match - First Round
Then I'll confirm the rules
Match time is one hour and a half per player
After you use up all of your time,
You have one minute per move
Komi is 5.5
Second round will start here at 3 P.M
The four players who've won in the first round should finish their lunch before that time
Then, please start
Good luck
Shitatsuke...?
It's a surprising move...
Is that possible?
It's his choice to use the time limit however he wants to, but...
He already used up twenty minutes on this one move...
After thinking for that long... He played a pretty common move
I lost
Thanks for the game
I lost completely in reading the moves
To someone who was just an Insei not too long ago...
My next opponent will be one of those two...
He completely broke through the middle...!?
I can't believe the white was pressured this much...
Plus... With just a glance
He quickly obtained such an advantageous territory!
This kid... Is strong
Now, next is the second round
If we win this time, we become the reps of Hokutohai's Japan team
My second round opponent is Ochi
Since the number of participants are small...
You will play against your friends, too
Ochi definitely plays well
But I've always done well against him even from the Insei years
You did
I want to win!
My opponent is Yashiro after all
The one Honda-san mentioned?
The one who played Tengen for his first move
I know that he's pretty strong because Honda-san told me, but...
I wanted to play against him once
I'm really looking forward to it
Yashiro-kun...
I'm not playing against Yashiro nor Hikaru...
It's fortunate
I don't care how they fight it out...
I'm pissed off...
I didn't get to display my skills from ordinary times
Yashiro,
I lost in the first round, but...
You should do well
What an embarrasment it would be, if both of us from Kansai Go Institute lose
What kind of player is Shindou?
You saw my game
It doesn't matter who the opponent is
I don't care what happens to Kansai Go Institute, but...
In order to become a rep of Japans team
I can't lose to anyone
That's it
Hokutohai Player Selection Match - Second Round
Then, everyone take a seat
That side is Waya-kun and Ochi-kun
This side is Shindou-Kun and Yashiro-kun
This games two winners will be selected as the players
Who will represent Japans team in Hokutohai. Which is to be held a month from now
Then, Please start
Yashiro is black
What would he play...?
First move, Tengen...
I played a game at the sensei's place..
At that time, he played Tengen as his first move and I lost
I got pissed off so I found a Kifu of a pro who played Tengen as the first move...
And I was black today so I played it against you, Shindou, but...
I lost again
That Go was really making my heart beat, Honda-san
Good luck
First move Tengen...
Is he not going to play that against me...?
Play it... Hey!
5-5?
I can't belive that he played 5-5 on his first move!
That is not a move you can make unless he has considerable confidence in his skills
That's just like Yashiro, but...
Why at a time like this...?
First move... 5-5...
It's not a move players don't play at all, but...
It's probably a move they don't even play as much as the first move, Tengen
Not bad!
Second move... Tengen!!
No, it's not bad
If my move was aiming for a confusing fight...
He plays the Tengen which controls the whole board. He's not bad
Second move... Tengen
It's surprising
Second move... Tengen...
What kind of person is he...?
More incredible than Yashiro...
W-what...
Third move... 5-5 again??
What are those two doing...?
This guy...
If you play it like that... I can't lose, either
I really want to overturn the board...
Yashiro, do you have the confidence to beat him, right?
Each at Hoshi
Kakari...
And...
I'll completely seal the Tengen!
Do you think I'll let you do that?!
Why don't you try!
Shifting of black... It's a good move
He came to break through!
Now, how will you respond?
It's shape I've built with hard work...
How will you respond, Ochi?
It changed into positive Kakari...
It might be difficult for Ochi...
White territory is big, but there's only one...
Waya, looks good...
In the beginning, Ochi's offensive movement aimed for the main spot aswell, but...
No one is next to this game?
Did everyone go to another room?
What... Is this?!
This corner, that corner... I can't tell the order of the moves...
Plus... They crossed each other at Tengen...!
What is this?
How is it?
Wow, it's really an incredible battle
When one penetrates the other's weakness, instead of accepting it... They counterattack...
It's a big confussion...
Here and there are all thined ground
Jeez... How can they play such frightening Go as this...?
This move that the white has made is a good move, right?
That's right, he connects his own stones...
At the same time, he cuts through the opponent's stones while he invades towards the top
But Yashiro isn't falling back either
Truthfully, I never thought he could play at this level
It's regrettable... That one of the two has to fall...
If it's these two, they could put up an interesting match with Korea and China
Shindou, Yashiro...
These two and... If Touya Akira is added...
Touya...
Kurata-san
You came to watch it, too?
Hokutohai representative selection preliminary
Kurata-san, too?
I am Japan's team leader!
Kurata-san is?
Yeah, I couldn't just sit around when Korea and China are the opponents
Let's go
One of the two other members...
Shindou, it's you... Right?
It's here. He played here!
It's a move that defends as it closes in
Wow
It's incredible...
It's one move that's completely solid
But
this Shindou-Yashiro's game was really incredible
Even though the match has been decided with this one move...
But still... It's a bit regrettable
It's regrettable for this kid... He plays this well...
Impossible...!
Shindou!
The one who is winning is white... Shindou!
But... What kind of Go is this...?
I can't see the order of the moves...
What kind of Go... Was this?
Touya!
All you can see in your eyes is Shindou's game?
It's as always
I admit that Waya played well, but if the stones on this side die... It's over
I resign
Thank you very much
Touya, with this... I am a Hokutohai player who stands shoulder to shoulder with you
Between Waya and me... The answer to who is better suited as a player has been answered
It was me after all
Damm it!
Let's not worry about it, it's over
I should just go home
Ochi...
What... Is this game?!
First move 5-5...?
Second move, Tengen!?
And! On the third move, Yashiro played 5-5 again!
It's really an incredible game
Black has covered it well like this, but...
It was incredible for white to attack from there alone...
After Shindou broke through, his fight was something to see
Black is frozen by the sight of white
But Yashiro didn't just sit and watch
Target move on that side...!
right
he left the extremely uncertain upper portion alone and tried to win this side
Of course, that was blocked by Shindou aswell...
The match is almost over, since he allowed the white to make an important move...
They both have the skills which are regretful to fail
Ochi-kun, you're a represesntative player. Congratulations
I'm going to see the game
That Ochi has been decided?
Yes
How was Ochi's game?
Level was high
But compared to this Shindou-Yashiro match...
Ochi-kun and Waya-kun know each other well...
And that could've helped the other opponent...
This game is just too incredible after all
Yashiro, huh? It's regrettable, but...
There's nothing we can do if the result of the preliminary is like this
No matter who looks at it, they can tell...
The difference between Ochi and Yashiro's Go sense...
Shall we go and watch the match for a little while?
Watanabe-sensei...
Have the players been decided?
Kosemura-san
This is Hokuto communication system's Togari-san and Aikawa-san
I'm Togari
I'm Aikawa
We just stopped by
How are the games going?
One person has been selected, Ochi
We'll know the other person after the game is over, but...
Watanabe-sensei
Yashiro threw in the stones
Is that right? I'll be there now
Yashiro must've lost, right?
Looks like it. Then...
Let us go, too
No, we'll wait here
Is that what you want?
Then, since I have to go get their pictures and comments...
Please take care of it
Congratulations for being selected as a Hokutohai member!
But, Ochi-kun
Please... Let me have a match with Yashiro
I would like for you to decide on the member from the result of that!
Everyone would complain if I became a member like this, right?
By seeing their game...
I can't accept the fact that I was selected!
I want to confirm who deserves to be a member between Yashiro and I!
Ochi... That's incredible pride...
I was happy that I wasn't paired up with Shindou or ashiro...
The kid, from Kansai Go Institute that Superior was talking about, lost
Yeah, I guess he wasn't as good as the person in Kansai Go Institute said he was
But you never know if the opponent was the one with incredible skills
I hope that's the case
It's not that Japan must win, but...
It'll be difficult if the quality drops in the compitition
Since the competition must be popular...
Superior...
Togari-san...!
Are you done with the data gathering?
No, truthfully...
I heard the story
I heard you want to add another game to the preliminary matches?
Yes
I know it's a difficult request, but...
Alright.
You may do so
But we have a situation on this side too
so if you can rush it...
I don't care if I have to it tromorrow...
How about it Yashiro?
Of course, I'm okay anytime
If I can have the opportunity!
Is it really okay?
Of course!
The following day, Ochi and Yashiro had their game
Yashiro didn't play an aerial match like yesterday...
And Ochi did well, too
But...
I resign
End of one fight...
Is the beginning of the next fight
This isn't everything, but this isn't the end either
We're within a long and huge flow...
That kind of move isn't going to work!
In this place, instead of protecting. Waiting for the moment is advantageous
It's not a good form for me
Because you keep choosing what you like and dislike, you lost in the Honinbou league, right?
Hey, Shindou!
You failed from the second preliminary round in the Honinbou league yourself...
Kitajima-san...
There are many other matches, too. You just wait and see!
I'll catch up to someone like Touya soon!
Try it if you can!
Look forward to it!
There, there...
Those two are good rivals who are able to lively share their opinions
Isn't having a good rival something to be thankful about?
First, it's just enjoyable to play Go with each other
For me... I have fun playing Go because I have Kitajima-san who is just my match
As.. Is saying "just my match" impolite to say to Kitajima-san?
You know.. then..
God of Go must be lonely
He won't have any opponents who are equal to himself
That's an interesting conversation
Perhaps that's why the God of Go has taught humans how to play Go to advance in it
In order to bring up a Go player who can be good enough to be his opponent
Then...
Even the Go players who lived before, and those Go players who are living now...
Are all cutting and polishing the stones over and over again for that reason?
That's it. That's it
With giving everyone each other's influences
In that case, it's a huge plan that will take about one million years
Then, I'm putting in a little contribution to that plan by playing Go
There's no contribution, no contribution at all!
Shindou!
Really,
Shindou-Kun's opponent these days isn't Akira, but Kitajima-san!
Let's continue
Yeah
Sai
I'm going to become stronger
And someday... I'll definitely play...
The Divine Move!
The one you continuously pursued...
The Divine Move!
Wait!
Sai!