“Do you remember our first game?”
Toya Akira continued to state facts and reason.
“At first, his hand movements were like a beginner, but midway through the game, he suddenly used professional techniques.”
“At that time, he shouted, ‘Are you controlling my body?’ Who could control his body?”
“Besides a second personality, no one else can do it.”
“Perhaps he was too excited while playing Go and hallucinated?” Ao Ying tried to lead the topic astray.
Shindo Hikaru muttered too many times; it did sound a bit like a mental illness.
“Do you really think so?” Toya Akira said seriously, “If he’s sick, he should get treatment early. Should we remind him?”
“Uh… let’s observe first?”
Ao Ying rubbed his forehead, “Setting aside whether split personality disorder is real, don’t you think such an opponent is very interesting?”
“His moves are ancient, his Go style is solid, and he’s good at finding subtle oversights.”
“The Go world would suffer a great loss without Shindo Hikaru.”
Hearing a wave of analysis, Toya Akira frowned, struggling, “What if his condition is serious…”
Ao Ying interrupted, “We’ll pay more attention. He will be your lifelong opponent, and I don’t want anything to happen to him either.”
“A lifelong opponent?”
A murmur sounded.
This time, Toya Akira did not deny it.
Having witnessed Shindo Hikaru’s three games, his professional high-dan Go strength was undeniable.
“You are my goal.”
Toya Akira stared intently at Ao Ying, “I’ll tentatively consider Shindo Hikaru my first opponent.”
“I will surpass him, then come to catch up to you.”
“You are very strong, strong enough to make me despair.”
“But I will not give up, never!”
At the last sentence, Toya Akira shouted out, full of seriousness.
Looking at his bright, spirited eyes, Ao Ying’s lips curved upward, his eyes filled with approval.
Indeed!
As long as Toya Akira cared, he would pursue it at all costs, even if it meant facing a mountain of swords or a sea of fire, he would Go without regret.
“I said, you are always welcome to challenge me.”
Ao Ying said indifferently, giving a direct response.
Toya Akira nodded, no longer shouting slogans, and silently sat opposite to clean up the Go board.
Ding-dong, ding-dong…
He picked up each white stone and gently placed it into the Go box, his expression focused.
After clearing the black stone stones, Ao Ying stood up. Just as he took a step, he paused.
In his memory, Shindo Hikaru had brutally defeated Toya Akira in the opening, which then caused the latter to improve by leaps and bounds.
Because of his intervention, the catalyst wasn't strong enough.
Should he give him another push?
“Toya Akira, your Go is like your father’s, too conventional. Perhaps you could try innovating.”
“Oh, and please pass a message to Toya Meijin for me: only by changing his entrenched style will he have a chance to break through.”
“Currently, he’s a bit stronger than me, but if he continues on the old path, I’ll soon surpass him.”
“Once he’s surpassed, he’ll never be able to catch up to me.”
Ao Ying turned and walked towards the door, saying faintly, “Toya Akira, come and chase my phantom, chase it with all your life.”
“If you can catch up, the Sakura Country Go world will praise your name.”
Hearing this, Toya Akira clenched his fists and said coldly, “You are too arrogant. The Sakura Country Go world will not tolerate disrespect.”
“Whether I’m arrogant, you’ll understand in a few years. I just fear you won’t even reach the level of my phantom.”
Ao Ying turned back with a wicked smile.
“You…”
Toya Akira’s face darkened, his eyes seemingly spitting fire.
“Alright, first think about how to defeat Shindo Hikaru. Perhaps you won’t win against him even once in your life.”
“Friendly reminder, the Shindo Hikaru you played against was also a phantom, stronger than his true self!”
After speaking, Ao Ying waved his hand, someone was there.
“Young man, I hope you still have the courage to challenge me next time.”
“Haha—”
Toya Akira was startled, “Was that really a second personality?”
“Ao Ying, what about you? What do you mean by letting me chase your phantom?”
“Are you also like Shindo Hikaru, with a split personality?”
“That would indeed explain it.”
“But why is Shindo Hikaru’s phantom stronger than his true self, while yours is the opposite?”
“It seems I need to ask Senior Brother Ogata; he has many girlfriends who study medicine.”
After a moment of contemplation, Toya Akira sat back in front of the Go board, setting up the game stone by stone.
It was precisely the previous review.
“I will become a professional Go player.”
“Whether you are a second personality or something else, I will never give up.”
Clack!
A ripple spread across the Go board.
...
A street lit up with neon signs.
“It’s so late!”
“Sai, it’s all your fault. You have to help me with my history homework.”
“Ah! I heard that children in China have happy education and don’t have to do homework. I’m so envious.”
From time to time, Shindo Hikaru gesticulated wildly at the air, “Sai, today I suddenly became interested in Go.”
“Could it be that you’re gradually taking control of me?”
“The last time I used a standard Go playing posture, that too was you secretly changing my thoughts.”
At this moment, passersby thought they had encountered a mentally ill person and cast suspicious glances, instinctively stepping a few paces away.
In recent years, the rampant spread of invisible mental illnesses in Sakura Country had led to high societal concern.
Shindo Hikaru sensed the awkwardness, quickly scratched the back of his head, and awkwardly smiled, moving away.
In a secluded spot, Sai transformed into a small figure, raising both fists and darting around in protest.
“Hikaru, I only reside in your heart and cannot cause substantial influence, let alone control you.”
“I don’t believe it, Sai. Several times you’ve made me feel nauseous and want to vomit.”
Shindo Hikaru stood with one hand on his hip, the other pointing at the air, his tone quite displeased.
Sai rolled his eyes and floated past. Wanting to vomit was a passive effect; if he felt unwell, Shindo Hikaru would also feel unwell.
One person and one ghost argued and bickered as they hurried home.
Half an hour later.
“I’m home.”
“Oh, Hikaru, so late again.”
“Mom, I went to play Go.”
“Playing Go again? It’s the weekend today, Akira came looking for you and couldn’t find you.”
“Fujisaki Akira?” Shindo Hikaru blinked, “Oh, that guy, he’s boring.”
“Hikaru, what kind of talk is that!”
Hikaru’s mom’s annoyed voice came.
“Yehse Middle School’s school festival is next weekend. Akira invited you to attend. The ticket is on your desk.”
“No, no.”
“Hehe, she’s going to treat you to takoyaki, you know.”
“No, I’m going to the Go classroom.”
“Hikaru, you seem very engrossed in Go lately. Don’t let your studies fall behind.”
“I know, I know, so annoying.”
After dinner.
Shindo Hikaru returned to his room, looked at the ticket and put it aside. Facing the thick stack of homework, his head felt like it would explode.
“Hikaru, aren’t you going?”
“Going where? Oh, the school festival! Besides eating and drinking, it doesn’t seem very interesting, and I don’t have any money.”
“Uh, isn’t there a girl who wants to treat you to takoyaki? After a hundred years, I wonder if takoyaki has changed. The last time I ate it was with Hu Ci Lang.”
“Who is Hu Ci Lang? Sai, can you eat?”
Sai stiffened, then ran to the corner to draw circles, “I could only watch Hu Ci Lang eat. Hu Ci Lang was a very good person.”
“Really?”
Shindo Hikaru opened his homework, recalling Ao Ying’s expression as if everything was calculated, and looked annoyed.
“Damn Ao Ying, next time I’ll defeat you!”
“Yes, Hikaru, that’s the spirit!”