Chapter 152

"So that's how it is."

"So... are we the only ones visiting clubs now?"

Xiyuanji Qilai nodded and smiled:

"Yes."

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Natsume Chikage proposed:

"Since everyone is here, let's go."

"I remember we only visited about half of them last time."

"Xuecun-san, Fujiwara-san, if you don't mind, shall we start from the other half?"

Xuecun Lingyin responded indifferently:

"Whatever."

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui chimed in with a giggle:

"I have no problem with that!"

For her, being able to stay with Natsume Chikage was the main point; visiting clubs was secondary.

Xiyuanji Qilai heard this, clenched her small fists, and appeared full of drive:

"In that case, let's begin!"

As she spoke, she took the lead and walked in front, her eyes burning as she cast them toward the club stalls they hadn't explored yet, preparing to gain a deeper understanding, and incidentally play some small games and collect some interesting little gifts.

After a while.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui and Xiyuanji Qilai were already covered in all sorts of strange little trinkets and gifts, yet they remained in high spirits, bouncing in front of the small games at each club stall, having a great time, completely treating the club recruitment as a school festival to enjoy.

Xuecun Lingyin watched their behavior, which was almost like that of elementary school students, and complained silently in her heart.

She helplessly shifted her gaze away, but it fell involuntarily on Natsume Chikage, who had been relatively quiet beside her.

However, when she looked over, she discovered that Natsume Chikage had been stopped by two unfamiliar students at some point and seemed to be talking about something.

Xuecun Lingyin noticed that these two students were wearing red ties.

The school uniform ties were color-coded by grade: blue for the first year, red for the second year, and black for the third year.

And the two people in front of them were wearing red ties—they were seniors.

Yasui Ryouto took the initiative to speak:

"Natsume-kun, that chessboard you were looking for was found at my mom's old home."

"They said it's currently on its way by courier."

"It should arrive this Saturday, the day after tomorrow."

"After it arrives, I'll bring it to school for you."

Natsume Chikage's face lit up with joy:

"Thank you very much!"

Yasui Ryouto wasn't very interested in this topic; compared to this, he couldn't help but complain now:

"Speaking of which, Natsume-kun, you actually participated in that Newcomer Shogi Tournament?"

"If someone hadn't told me, I really wouldn't have known."

Natsume Chikage nodded:

"Yes."

Yasui Ryouto looked incredulous:

"Why didn't you tell us? I'm a shogi specialist, and I'm a member of the Shogi Club!"

"If you were participating in a tournament, you could have come to our Shogi Club to learn and exchange ideas!"

The senior beside him, Araki Yuai, also complained:

"Exactly! We heard you took sick leave yesterday and were worried about whether you were really sick."

"Who knew you were actually going to participate in a tournament?"

"If we had known, we would have signed up too! If we had known in advance, maybe we could have gone together!"

Natsume Chikage said somewhat embarrassedly:

"This... sorry, I really didn't know you two were participating in the tournament too."

"If I had known, I definitely would have told you in advance."

Araki Yuai snorted, carrying a hint of teasing:

"But I really didn't expect you to dare to participate in a tournament after playing only a dozen games of shogi. You've got guts!"

"The registration fee is 20,000 yen. If you can't win a single game, I'd feel sorry for you for wasting that money!"

Natsume Chikage explained:

"I just wanted to try and see if I could earn some pocket money through winning streaks."

"After all, the winning streak rewards are quite generous. If I'm lucky, the prize money for a three-game winning streak is equivalent to a month's income from my part-time job at the coffee shop."

Araki Yuai suddenly realized:

"That's true, the winning streak rewards are high."

"In this tournament, the ratio of amateur players and ordinary enthusiasts is much higher than that of Shogi Association members and professional shogi players."

"If you're lucky and run into amateur players, you can indeed make a small profit."

Yasui Ryouto didn't expect Natsume Chikage to participate for this reason either, but upon reflection, Natsume's family situation was indeed not optimistic, and if he could win a few games in a row, it would indeed be much better than working a part-time job.

Thinking of the tournament matches, Yasui Ryouto laughed and sighed:

"But Natsume-kun, your luck is indeed good. You actually ran into a little girl in the first round and won so easily."

"Now half the cost is back."

"If you win another game, not only will you break even, but you can also net a profit of 10,000 yen."

Natsume Chikage thought about it and also felt that encountering Furukawa Saio was indeed a matter of luck:

"It is indeed luck, but I suppose the seniors could easily win if they encountered her too."

Yasui Ryouto laughed, full of confidence:

"That goes without saying!"

He knew he was a 2-dan player in the Shogi Association; as long as he broke through to 3-dan, he could become a professional shogi player.

Someone of his level could easily crush a little girl, right?

At the same time.

In another Japanese-style mansion.

The little loli Furukawa Saio asked excitedly:

"Grandpa, is the big brother really going to be Saio's senior apprentice? When is he coming over?"

Furukawa Masahiro laughed awkwardly:

"Haha... soon, soon."

Although he said this, he looked at his phone with a confused expression, unable to understand why Natsume Chikage hadn't called him after two or three days had passed.

Could it be that he accidentally lost the business card?

Or were there other unexpected circumstances?

Would it be better for him to take the initiative to find him?

No, he was the Dragon King after all... taking the initiative to find him would be too demeaning! ===== CHAPTER 153 =====