All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends-Chapter 293 – Hinatsuru Ai: Shishou and Oba-sama Are Leaving Me Out!

Chapter 293 - 293 – Hinatsuru Ai: Shishou and Oba-sama Are Leaving Me Out!

Chapter 293 – Hinatsuru Ai: Shishou and Oba-sama Are Leaving Me Out!

The first two games of the Meijin Tournament ended with one win and one loss—at first glance, it seemed like the result depended on who went first.

But in truth, both Yukima Azuma and the Meijin knew very well...

The outcome between the two had not yet reached the level where such things could decide the result.

In the third game, Yukima Azuma lost.

In the fourth game, Yukima Azuma won.

In the fifth game, Yukima Azuma won again.

In the sixth game, Yukima Azuma lost.

Major shogi tournaments, though officially set as seven matches, with the first to four wins taking the championship...

In reality, matches that actually go all seven games are incredibly rare.

And for a match like this Meijin Tournament, so earth-shaking, such an event was completely unprecedented.

The livestream caused quite a stir.

People who didn't understand shogi could only marvel, speechless.

And anyone with even a bit of knowledge about shogi could only wonder: Are these two even human?

Every move in the shogi matches was nearly the most optimal choice possible.

In matches between other players, it's usually about who can read deeper, who makes fewer mistakes, who has stronger willpower.

But in the matches between these two... it felt like they were both capable of arriving at the correct answers.

It was just a matter of who could find the optimal solution faster.

After the sixth game ended...

The tournament was temporarily paused.

There was a rest day in between.

This was a customary practice, to give both players time to fully recover.

High-intensity matches like these consumed massive amounts of mental energy.

Historically, there have even been cases where players, from overthinking during matches, developed respiratory disorders on the spot.

During this resting period...

Yukima Azuma was together with his senpai and disciple.

"Shishou, do you feel nervous?"

(,,>﹏<,,)

Little Ai quietly asked, a bit of tension in her voice.

Even though it wasn't her match...

Just watching the livestream, Hinatsuru Ai could already feel the suffocating tension at the shogi board.

She was a little worried about Yukima Azuma's state of mind.

There were similar concerns voiced by others as well.

Online, many people doubted Yukima Azuma's mental resilience—after all, he was still very young.

But in truth, at that moment, Yukima Azuma felt completely at ease.

He was even thinking about what delicious food to cook for dinner that night.

Yukima Azuma gently ruffled Hinatsuru Ai's hair.

(づ ᴗ _ᴗ)づ(ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡

With the corner of his mouth slightly lifted, he gave a soft smile.

"There's really nothing to be nervous about. After all, only when you stay calm can you bring out your full potential."

Hit with a "head pat of high damage," Hinatsuru Ai nodded seriously.

But just a moment later, she realized...

This was Yukima Azuma's match.

She was the one who came to cheer him on.

Yet somehow, it ended up with her being comforted instead.

"Shishou!" Hinatsuru Ai softly cried out and tried to leap into Yukima Azuma's arms.

(づ￣ ³￣)づ

But halfway there, she was yanked back by the collar—caught by Sora Ginko.

The little girl was lifted up and carried back like a kitten.

"Oba-san, what are you doing!"

"You little brat, don't go bothering your shishou!"

"Ai's not bothering him at all! Ai's giving shishou a love-filled blessing!"

"Huh? What the hell is that?"

The two started bickering loudly.

In the end, Hinatsuru Ai ended up being closely watched by Sora Ginko.

The little girl glared at Sora Ginko in frustration.

(¬⤙¬ )

She had a strange feeling that this so-called "Oba-san" in front of her... something about her aura had changed.

Hinatsuru Ai was still too young to clearly recognize exactly what had changed.

...

And that night—

Late at night, Sora Ginko quietly pushed open the door to Yukima Azuma's room.

"Ginko-senpai?"

Seeing Sora Ginko hugging a pillow as she entered, Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.

Even though the two had already crossed that line...

Sora Ginko's personality was extremely tsundere.

Hopelessly shy.

After that night, Sora Ginko kept an even greater distance from Yukima Azuma when in front of others.

And yet today—on such a critical occasion as Yukima Azuma's match...

With even the Masters, Keika, and Hinatsuru Ai all present...

Ginko chose this exact moment to launch a late-night surprise raid...

It truly caught Yukima Azuma off guard.

"D-Don't get the wrong idea, I just... I just thought you might be feeling nervous, that's all."

"So I came to check on you, that's it! Absolutely no other reason!"

(,,¬﹏¬,,)

Sora Ginko buried half her face into her pillow, her voice slightly muffled.

Her glistening eyes lowered softly.

A kind of adorable charm that made one want to protect her radiated from her presence.

Yukima Azuma immediately understood.

So it turns out little senpai came to give her version of a love-filled blessing!

With a soft yelp from Sora Ginko, Yukima Azuma suddenly lifted her up in a bridal carry.

Then casually turned and walked toward the bed.

A passionate yet peaceful night passed.

...

The next morning.

Hinatsuru Ai stared intently at Sora Ginko.

(≖_≖ ✿)

The intense gaze made Sora Ginko feel a bit uneasy.

"W-What are you looking at?"

(｡Ó﹏Ò｡)

Sora Ginko's voice was slightly strained.

Hinatsuru Ai raised her small hand, rubbing her chin, pretending to ponder something deeply.

"Something feels... off. What is it...?"

A moment later, it was as if a lightbulb lit up above her head.

"I got it! Oba-san, your scent—it smells just like Shishou!"

"Don't tell me... you two secretly did something last night?!"

Sora Ginko: ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!

Hearing that, Yukima Azuma lifted his arm and lightly sniffed his wrist.

Then, casually took Sora Ginko's hand and bent down to sniff his senpai-chan.

Hmm... no particular scent.

On the contrary, his senpai still carried the same refreshing and familiar fragrance as always.

Sora Ginko: ( ˶°ㅁ°) !! again

Being sniffed by Yukima Azuma, Sora Ginko's face instantly turned red.

As red as a ripe apple.

"Baka!" she muttered with embarrassment and annoyance, yanking her hand back.

(💢,,>﹏<,,) b-baka!

Then gave Yukima Azuma two light punches to the chest before fleeing in shame.

Only Yukima Azuma and Hinatsuru Ai remained, looking at each other.

"As I thought, oba-san and Shishou have a special secret together!"

Hinatsuru Ai pouted with a look of betrayal.

She felt completely left out.

"Don't let your imagination run wild, there's no secret. Once you grow up a bit more, Ai-chan, you'll understand."

Yukima Azuma ruffled Hinatsuru Ai's hair again.

After the brief morning chaos—

Yukima Azuma headed to the shogi association hall in Osaka.

The final decisive match would be held in Osaka.

Once again, he sat before a shogi board.

Though the desire to win within him had clearly been stirred...

Yukima Azuma still maintained a calm mindset.

After all, to him, shogi was just a hobby—perhaps even a habit.

It wasn't some grand ideal to pursue.

To put it bluntly, Yukima Azuma didn't really count as a true shogi player.

He lacked the "heart" of a real pro—no burning ambition or lofty dreams tied to shogi.

Normally, those without ambition rarely make it to the top in any field.

But Yukima Azuma had the system.

He could grind proficiency points to level up his skills.

That's why he was able to sit here.

And conversely, because he didn't have some grand ambition—

Yukima Azuma was able to remain composed.

On the other side of the board sat the man opposite him—

The Meijin, who at this moment, could no longer maintain his usual calm.

The reigning king of the shogi world, holding his folding fan—

Opened it, then snapped it shut again, the ribs of the fan letting out soft clicks...