Chapter 502

At night.

"Brother, I'm turning off the lights."

"Mm..."

Ruri responded vaguely, pulling the quilt up with a rustle in the dark.

Natsume Chikage pressed the switch.

Click—

The room was plunged into complete darkness, with only the faint halo of streetlights from outside the window casting blurry shadows on the ceiling.

Relying on memory, he returned to his bed with light steps.

Before going to sleep, he habitually unlocked his phone, preparing to check messages.

If there were no messages, he would write until twelve o'clock before sleeping.

The LINE icon showed quite a few unread red dots.

Yue Dao Lin, Yasui Ryouto, Araki Keiai, Kondo Miyuki, Sister Xiyuan Si, Classmate Tengyuan Kui, and even Jinweitong.

He first clicked on the message sent by Yue Dao Lin at 10:30 PM.

【Yue Dao Lin: Natsume-kun, are you there?】

Natsume Chikage typed a reply.

【Natsume Chikage: Yes, what's up?】

The message was replied to almost instantly.

【Yue Dao Lin: I watched your match today, congratulations on your win.】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you.】

【Yue Dao Lin: When I first started watching your match, I... cough cough, I was suddenly called away by the teacher to handle something.

When I looked back, I couldn't find you, and I thought something went wrong with the live stream.

Only later did I realize that you had solved your opponent in just over 3 minutes.

I really didn't expect... that you would break the record this time, Natsume-kun.】

【Natsume Chikage: The opponent just cooperated well; in fact, most shogi matches don't end that quickly.】

【Yue Dao Lin: So that's how it is. But... I didn't expect you to be so good at shogi, Natsume-kun.

When watching the replay, I found that you played so fast that I didn't even understand, and you were already on the second and third steps.

It made me want to learn shogi too... Natsume-kun... if it's possible, could you teach me?】

【Natsume Chikage: If you are willing, Senior, of course I can.】

【Yue Dao Lin: (? >?

【Natsume Chikage: Good night, Senior Yue Dao Lin.】

After replying to Yue Dao Lin.

He clicked on the message Yasui Ryouto had sent in the morning.

【Yasui Ryouto: No way, brother—you actually won against that guy Tanabe Yuto in a fast game?】

【Natsume Chikage: Luck, just luck.】

Almost instantly, a reply popped up on the other side.

【Yasui Ryouto: No way, brother—I sent the message in the morning, and you're only replying to me now?】

【Natsume Chikage: Haha... I usually only check LINE at night.】

【Yasui Ryouto: If you say so... it seems you really only reply to messages at this time. Since that's the case, forget it. But you kid, you actually broke the record this time, I really didn't expect it.】

【Natsume Chikage: Tanabe-kun didn't spend much time thinking; if he had slowed down later, it definitely wouldn't have worked.】

【Yasui Ryouto: Hey, I watched those last few steps too; even if he dragged it out, he couldn't win. And there were only those few steps to take, thinking more didn't make much sense, so he just played directly.】

【Natsume Chikage: I think so too.】

【Yasui Ryouto: Also, after you won against Tanabe-kun this time, our Shogi Club's advisor, Nomura Tomohiro, complained, saying you have some shogi talent and telling you to join the Shogi Club quickly.】

【Natsume Chikage: Haha... I want to, but I don't have much time.】

【Yasui Ryouto: Haha, I knew you'd say that. Anyway, I've conveyed the message; if the teacher looks for you later, it's none of my business, you can think about how to reply yourself then.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm-hmm, thank you, Senior.】

After replying to Yasui Ryouto, he clicked on the message Araki Keiai had also sent early.

【Araki Keiai: Not bad, you actually won, you've got some strength! Congratulations on successfully advancing to the fourth round!】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you for the compliment, Sister Keiai.】

The message was replied to immediately.

【Araki Keiai: You brat! I sent you a message first thing in the morning, and you're only replying now? Do you really want to eat pork knuckles, huh?!】

【Natsume Chikage: Spare me, Sister Keiai... I'm usually very busy and not used to checking phone messages; I only reply at night.】

【Araki Keiai: Hmph, you'd better be telling the truth. If I find out it's a lie, you're definitely going to have a hard time!】

【Natsume Chikage: It's as true as pearls.】

【Araki Keiai: But you kid... I really didn't expect you to win against Tanabe-kun. Facing that guy's fast game, I could only use a defensive formation, and you actually dared to use the same fast-attack style as him? Are you really that reckless, not afraid of losing?】

【Natsume Chikage: First move, nothing to be afraid of.】

【Araki Keiai: That's true, with the first move, your fast attack is indeed an advantage. If he suddenly switched to defense, it would be even harder to play. Regardless, you won beautifully this time, you must keep it up next time!】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, I definitely will.】

【Araki Keiai: Also, the Shogi Club's advisor wants to pull you into the club, watch out for yourself, I won't say more.】

【Natsume Chikage: Understood, Senior Yasui just mentioned this to me too.】

【Araki Keiai: That's good. It's getting late, your Sister Keiai is going to have a beautiful sleep, you should sleep early too.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm-hmm, good night, Sister Keiai.】

Subsequently.

He clicked on the message Kondo Miyuki had sent in the morning.

【Kondo Miyuki: Natsume-kun, congratulations on winning the third round. Keep it up for the next match.】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you, I definitely will.】

A reply came quickly from the other side.

【Kondo Miyuki: Watching you play shogi today, Natsume-kun, reminded me of when your father used to play with me... Sorry, I shouldn't have brought up this topic.】

【Natsume Chikage: It's nothing, it's all in the past.】

【Kondo Miyuki: Mm-hmm. By the way, Natsume-kun, watching you play on TV made me itch to play shogi too. But unfortunately, many people I know don't play much anymore. If you have time, can you play with me? I also want to see how good you are, Natsume-kun.】

【Natsume Chikage: Of course, as long as you want to play, Aunt Miyuki, you can find me anytime.】

【Kondo Miyuki: Mm-hmm, it's a deal then. It's getting late, whether you're busy this weekend or not, you must pay attention to rest.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, you should rest early too, Aunt Miyuki.】

【Kondo Miyuki: Mm.】

After that, there was a message from Sister Xiyuan Si.

【Sister Xiyuan Si: Natsume-kun, I watched the match replay, you really won beautifully, congratulations.】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you.】

The message was replied to quickly.

【Sister Xiyuan Si: After you won today, many people in the class were cheering for you.】

Natsume Chikage was a bit surprised.

【Natsume Chikage: Ah? People in the class were watching too?】

【Sister Xiyuan Si: Yes, not just in the class, I also found people watching in many places at school.】

【Natsume Chikage: This... I really didn't expect that.】

【Sister Xiyuan Si: Natsume-kun, you are more popular than you think. But I noticed you don't seem to like being popular, why is that?】

【Natsume Chikage: Good night, Senior Yue Dao Lin.】

After replying to Yue Dao Lin.

He clicked on the message Yasui Ryouto had sent in the morning.

【Yasui Ryouto: No way, brother—you actually won against that guy Tanabe Yuto in a fast game?】

【Natsume Chikage: Luck, just luck.】

Almost instantly, a reply popped up on the other side.

【Yasui Ryouto: No way, brother—I sent the message in the morning, and you're only replying to me now?】

【Natsume Chikage: Haha... I usually only check LINE at night.】

【Yasui Ryouto: If you say so... it seems you really only reply to messages at this time. Since that's the case, forget it. But you kid, you actually broke the record this time, I really didn't expect it.】

【Natsume Chikage: Tanabe-kun didn't spend much time thinking; if he had slowed down later, it definitely wouldn't have worked.】

【Yasui Ryouto: Hey, I watched those last few steps too; even if he dragged it out, he couldn't win. And there were only those few steps to take, thinking more didn't make much sense, so he just played directly.】

【Natsume Chikage: I think so too.】

【Yasui Ryouto: Also, after you won against Tanabe-kun this time, our Shogi Club's advisor, Nomura Tomohiro, complained, saying you have some shogi talent and telling you to join the Shogi Club quickly.】

【Natsume Chikage: Haha... I want to, but I don't have much time.】

【Yasui Ryouto: Haha, I knew you'd say that. Anyway, I've conveyed the message; if the teacher looks for you later, it's none of my business, you can think about how to reply yourself then.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm-hmm, thank you, Senior.】

After replying to Yasui Ryouto, he clicked on the message Araki Keiai had also sent early.

【Araki Keiai: Not bad, you actually won, you've got some strength! Congratulations on successfully advancing to the fourth round!】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you for the compliment, Sister Keiai.】

The message was replied to immediately.

【Araki Keiai: You brat! I sent you a message first thing in the morning, and you're only replying now? Do you really want to eat pork knuckles, huh?!】

【Natsume Chikage: Spare me, Sister Keiai... I'm usually very busy and not used to checking phone messages; I only reply at night.】

【Araki Keiai: Hmph, you'd better be telling the truth. If I find out it's a lie, you're definitely going to have a hard time!】

【Natsume Chikage: It's as true as pearls.】

【Araki Keiai: But you kid... I really didn't expect you to win against Tanabe-kun. Facing that guy's fast game, I could only use a defensive formation, and you actually dared to use the same fast-attack style as him? Are you really that reckless, not afraid of losing?】

【Natsume Chikage: First move, nothing to be afraid of.】

【Araki Keiai: That's true, with the first move, your fast attack is indeed an advantage. If he suddenly switched to defense, it would be even harder to play. Regardless, you won beautifully this time, you must keep it up next time!】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, I definitely will.】

【Araki Keiai: Also, the Shogi Club's advisor wants to pull you into the club, watch out for yourself, I won't say more.】

【Natsume Chikage: Understood, Senior Yasui just mentioned this to me too.】

【Araki Keiai: That's good. It's getting late, your Sister Keiai is going to have a beautiful sleep, you should sleep early too.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm-hmm, good night, Sister Keiai.】

Subsequently.

He clicked on the message Kondo Miyuki had sent in the morning.

【Kondo Miyuki: Natsume-kun, congratulations on winning the third round. Keep it up for the next match.】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you, I definitely will.】

A reply came quickly from the other side.

【Kondo Miyuki: Watching you play shogi today, Natsume-kun, reminded me of when your father used to play with me... Sorry, I shouldn't have brought up this topic.】

【Natsume Chikage: It's nothing, it's all in the past.】

【Kondo Miyuki: Mm-hmm. By the way, Natsume-kun, watching you play on TV made me itch to play shogi too. But unfortunately, many people I know don't play much anymore. If you have time, can you play with me? I also want to see how good you are, Natsume-kun.】

【Natsume Chikage: Of course, as long as you want to play, Aunt Miyuki, you can find me anytime.】

【Kondo Miyuki: Mm-hmm, it's a deal then. It's getting late, whether you're busy this weekend or not, you must pay attention to rest.】

【Natsume Chikage: Mm, you should rest early too, Aunt Miyuki.】

【Kondo Miyuki: Mm.】

After that, there was a message from Sister Xiyuan Si.

【Sister Xiyuan Si: Natsume-kun, I watched the match replay, you really won beautifully, congratulations.】

【Natsume Chikage: Thank you.】

The message was replied to quickly.

【Sister Xiyuan Si: After you won today, many people in the class were cheering for you.】

Natsume Chikage was a bit surprised.

【Natsume Chikage: Ah? People in the class were watching too?】

【Sister Xiyuan Si: Yes, not just in the class, I also found people watching in many places at school.】

【Natsume Chikage: This... I really didn't expect that.】

【Sister Xiyuan Si: Natsume-kun, you are more popular than you think. But I noticed you don't seem to like being popular, why is that?】