Chapter 448

Natsume Ruri briefly informed Kaga Reisa about her brother participating in the tournament and having already won two rounds.

Kaga Reisa, hearing this, showed a look of surprise on her small face:

"Natsume-brother has already won two rounds… how amazing."

Natsume Ruri put her hands on her hips and muttered to her brother:

"Although you have already earned back the cost and made a small profit of 10,000 yen, brother, you can't be lazy because of this! At least, at least you have to win the third round!"

"If you win, there will be more prize money!"

Natsume Chikage didn't play dumb either, started to organize the pieces on the board skillfully, and smiled:

"Yeah, come on."

Natsume Ruri raised a finger first, "warning" seriously:

"Brother, you'd better use all your strength this time! Otherwise, don't say later that brother was deliberately letting me win."

"And only if you use all your strength can Ruri give you advice based on your real situation."

Natsume Chikage looked at his sister's serious appearance and smiled somewhat helplessly:

"Yes, yes, I know."

And so.

Natsume Chikage and Natsume Ruri's shogi special training started under Kaga Reisa's curious gaze.

However, the game only lasted for more than ten minutes.

Natsume Ruri fell into a clear disadvantage and was quickly defeated.

She was stunned for a moment, staring at the board as if she couldn't understand, and then her cheeks immediately puffed up angrily: "No, no! This game was Ruri's mistake! Brother, do it again!"

"Yeah, yeah, okay."

Natsume Chikage smiled good-naturedly and set up the pieces again.

However, after playing two or three more games in a row.

The result was no exception, all were Natsume Ruri's defeat.

Natsume Ruri's expression began to "redden", her fair cheeks like a puffed-up little pufferfish, puffed up, and even her ear roots were slightly flushed.

At this time, she seemed to have completely forgotten that she was here to accompany her brother for "special training".

Her competitive spirit was completely ignited, and she only cared about how to win a game.

"No! This game Ruri accidentally made a mistake again! Brother, do it again!"

Natsume Chikage looked at his sister's expression, which was both angry and anxious and cute, and couldn't help but laugh, even having the urge to reach out and pinch her puffed-up cheeks.

But his hand had just reached halfway when it was "slapped" away by his sister angrily.

"Brother, what are you doing! Hurry up and set the pieces!"

"Hahaha…"

"Don't laugh! If you laugh again, Ruri will really be angry!"

Kaga Reisa, who was watching the game quietly on the side, covered her mouth slightly, and a shallow, warm smile appeared on her weak face.

She knew that Ruri-chan was almost the representative of "all-around" at school, proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her level was far beyond many peers.

Only those geniuses who specialized in a single field to the extreme could possibly surpass Natsume Ruri.

And it was the same in shogi.

But Ruri-chan was now being easily defeated by Natsume-brother continuously…

It seemed that Natsume-brother was really amazing.

After winning another game cleanly.

Natsume Chikage looked at his sister opposite—she was already looking red-eyed, biting her lower lip, as if she was about to cry because she wouldn't admit defeat.

He knew it was time for him to "let her win".

Otherwise, with this girl's stubborn character, he was afraid she would really play until midnight and wouldn't give up.

And so.

In the following games, Natsume Chikage began to make some subtle mistakes "without leaving a trace".

He "lost" to Natsume Ruri for three games in a row.

Natsume Ruri's mood immediately turned from cloudy to sunny, and the light returned to her large eyes, giggling:

"See! Ruri just wasn't familiar with brother's chess style before, now that I'm familiar with it, brother really can't beat me!"

Natsume Chikage looked at his sister's proud little appearance, between laughter and tears:

"Yes, yes, Ruri is the most amazing."

Kaga Reisa scratched her face gently; she vaguely felt that Natsume-brother… seemed to be "letting her win" in the later games.

But she also vaguely felt that it was better not to expose it at this time…

Natsume Ruri, after so many games of "actual combat" and "guidance", also saw her brother's true strength level clearly.

She summarized hummingly:

"Well~ brother's current chess strength, although it's just a little bit weaker than Ruri, but no matter what, it is indeed a level that can be on the stage."

"However, brother, you still have a few handlings that are a move behind; listen to Ruri explain it to you in detail."

"After listening to my analysis, brother, your winning percentage tomorrow should be a little higher."

Natsume Chikage didn't interrupt his sister's chattering, logical analysis.

He just looked at her radiant side profile with a smile, occasionally echoing with "I see" or "I didn't think of that here".

He felt in his heart that this kind of peaceful and warm leisure time was actually quite good.

At least, it was much more interesting and warmer than the dinner with a subtle atmosphere at the Kondo house before.

And Kaga Reisa, who was sitting quietly on the side, looking at the harmonious picture of the siblings, one seriously explaining and one patiently listening, began to take out a thick sketchbook and pencil from the canvas bag she carried.

The tip of the pen fell on the paper, making a rustling sound, and she began to make a sketch for this warm scene.

Not long after.

Natsume Ruri, who was in the middle of her explanation, caught a glimpse of Kaga Reisa, who was concentrating on drawing, out of the corner of her eye.

She suddenly had a flash of inspiration, stopped her explanation, and invited her enthusiastically:

"Reisa-chan—why don't… we draw manga together!"

Kaga Reisa's hand holding the pencil paused, her gaze was a bit wandering, stammering:

"Drawing manga… or something, I haven't tried it."

"Manga or something… plot, storyboarding, dialogue, I don't understand any of it."

Natsume Ruri smiled and patted her still-flat chest, humming confidently:

"It's okay! Plot, script, and so on, Ruri can take care of it together! We two can just divide the work and cooperate!"

Kaga Reisa was still a bit hesitant, asking curiously in a low voice:

"If that's the case… I can try it, after all, I really don't have anything to do after school…"

"But Ruri-chan, why did you suddenly think of drawing manga?"

Natsume Chikage also cast his curious gaze toward his sister:

"Brother also wants to know."

The smile on Natsume Ruri's face faded slightly, becoming serious; she muttered:

"Because… only after listening to what brother said just now did Ruri know more clearly how much pressure brother is carrying."

"So Ruri also wants to share some pressure for brother… I think, as long as we can earn some money, can brother not have to work so hard part-time, and even be able to focus on playing baseball and strive for the school's talent scholarship?"

"In that case, for our family, wouldn't it be 'resource optimization maximization'?"

Natsume Chikage was stunned, then laughed dumbly, but his smile was mixed with obvious heartache:

"Silly girl, whether it's tuition or rent, brother has already considered and planned many things for later."

"Compared to watching you work so hard to make money at this age… brother actually hopes more that you can live your student life safely and happily."

"So Ruri, you really don't have to worry about brother's affairs, and you don't have to do these things specifically to make money."

Natsume Ruri listened to her brother's gentle words, feeling very moved in her heart, her nose feeling a bit sour.

But she still shook her head firmly:

"No. Ruri understands brother's thoughts, but… Ruri likes drawing very much herself."

"Drawing manga can also be considered as practice and extension of painting. If we can earn a little money by the way, that would be the best."

"And, Ruri and Reisa-chan really don't have anything special to do at home. So… brother, can we?"

She said to the end, looking at Natsume Chikage with shining eyes carrying a hint of pleading.

Natsume Chikage looked at the determination in his sister's eyes to contribute to the family, and then looked at Kaga Reisa, who was also casting an inquiring gaze beside her.