Chapter 57: Is it actually you?

At this moment, the atmosphere on the competition floor was gradually thickening.

Most of the contestants had already taken their seats at the designated tables, holding their breath and focusing their minds, waiting quietly for the signal that the match was officially starting.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun sat quietly at table 77, his gaze cast calmly toward the empty seat opposite him—his opponent had yet to appear.

Just then, the corner of his eye caught a familiar, petite figure.

Furukawa Saio walked over with slightly hesitant steps, a look of obvious embarrassment on her cute little face.

Due to her height, she had to reach out with both hands to grab the edge of the chair, climbing up with a bit of effort.

Even after she was seated, her feet, clad in small leather shoes, still dangled in mid-air, swaying gently.

Furukawa Saio kept her head slightly lowered, her cheeks flushed, her fingers twisting together uneasily, her gaze shifting as she dared not meet Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s eyes.

She opened her mouth, but didn't know how to begin.

Not long ago, they had been encouraging each other, cheering each other on.

In the blink of an eye, they had become opponents on opposite sides of the board... This sudden turn of events was truly overwhelming.

But deep down, she felt even more pity for this big brother—his luck was truly terrible to run into her in the first round...

She had studied Shogi since childhood under the personal guidance of her grandfather, the Dragon King of the old era, through long years.

It could be said that from the moment she learned to eat and speak, the board had become an indispensable part of her life.

Although she lacked extensive practical experience against outside players, she didn't believe it was necessary.

After all, her grandfather and Senior Sister Mido, who could play against her, already represented the peak level of the Shogi Association.

Apart from the current Dragon King and a few title holders, there were rarely any in the chess world who could be their opponents.

And they had already poured everything they knew into teaching her, even arranging for her to be tempered in the online chess world.

Therefore, even without offline practical experience, Furukawa Saio clearly recognized her own strength.

She had absolute confidence; below professional players, she rarely met an equal.

When Senior Sister Mido taught her, she had already analyzed the names, styles, and habitual tactics of all active professional players in Japan.

In her mind, there was a clear map of the strong.

And on that map, there was no name like "Xia Xia Xia Mujun."

Thus, she was certain that Xia Xia Xia Mujun had absolutely no possibility of winning.

Thinking of this, the embarrassment and shyness on Furukawa Saio's face deepened, and she almost dared not look into Xia Xia Xia Mujun's eyes.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun watched Furukawa Saio sit down opposite him, clearly stunned for a moment, and asked with concern:

"Little Saio, did you go to the wrong seat?"

"The match is about to start, go find your own seat quickly; it would be bad if the staff judged you as absent and gave you a loss."

Furukawa Saio raised her small hand and scratched her cheek embarrassedly, her voice like a mosquito's hum:

"It's not like that, big brother..."

"Actually... the seat number Saio drew is also 77."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was completely stunned, a trace of disbelief flashing in his eyes:

"You also drew 77?"

Furukawa Saio's cheeks turned bright red instantly, as if she were a ripe apple, and she confirmed in a voice as thin as a thread:

"Yes... after you left, big brother, Saio... also drew 77."

Xia Xia Xia Mujun was speechless for a moment, then revealed a wry expression.

What on earth is this?

He had just encouraged her to try hard to defeat her opponent.

Only to find out in the blink of an eye that the "opponent" she needed to defeat was actually himself?

This dramatic twist was truly amusing.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun didn't know what to say for a moment.

After all, victory in this match was crucial to him.

He absolutely could not show mercy.

A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit—this was the principle he had set for himself at the start of the competition.

Even if his opponent was Furukawa Saio, whom he quite liked, he would never hold back.

This was not only respect for his opponent, but also a firm adherence to his own beliefs!

Xia Xia Xia Mujun straightened his expression and said in a solemn tone:

"Since the draw has arranged it this way, there is nothing that can be done."

"I hope you will give it your all, Little Saio, without any reservations, so you don't leave yourself with any regrets."

At this moment, Furukawa Saio's thoughts coincided with Xia Xia Xia Mujun's—she also had no intention of holding back.

She hated defeat intensely and had a burning desire for victory!

Whether the opponent was the big brother she liked, the grandfather she respected, or the Senior Sister Mido she held in awe, she treated them all the same.

Only by giving one's all is the greatest respect shown to the game and the opponent!

Furukawa Saio took a deep breath, raised her small face, looked at Xia Xia Xia Mujun with extreme seriousness, and responded solemnly:

"Yes! Saio definitely will!"

"And Saio is very strong, so please, big brother, don't have any thoughts of holding back, otherwise you will really lose!"

A trace of appreciation flashed in Xia Xia Xia Mujun's eyes:

"Then—let's have a hearty duel, shall we?!"

Upon hearing this, Furukawa Saio's face bloomed with a bright smile, and she nodded vigorously:

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in the spectator area.

Furukawa Masahiro and Horikawa Kayo's eyes never left Xia Xia Xia Mujun and Furukawa Saio.

When they saw the two of them sitting down together at table 77, they were both stunned.

Horikawa Kayo covered her mouth subconsciously and whispered in astonishment:

"No way... they could draw the same one?"

"What kind of outrageous luck is this?"

Furukawa Masahiro, who always had a calm and unruffled expression, felt the corners of his mouth twitch uncontrollably at this moment.

"How could it be... this is truly difficult now."

Horikawa Kayo sighed helplessly:

"Yes."

"This means that one of them is destined to stop at the first round."

Furukawa Masahiro also showed regret:

"Indeed..."

Horikawa Kayo couldn't suppress her curiosity and tilted her head to ask:

"Old grandfather, who do you think has a better chance of winning?"

If she had to choose between the two, she was more inclined toward Xia Xia Xia Mujun.

After all, Xia Xia Xia Mujun was an adult, and his thinking ability should be more mature than a little girl's.

And Furukawa Saio was only ten years old; according to the old grandfather, she hadn't joined any Shogi Association, so her level was likely limited.

However... on second thought, Xia Xia Xia Mujun's chess strength didn't seem that strong either.

Thinking of this, Horikawa Kayo couldn't help but show a wry expression, thinking this would probably be a match of "two amateurs pecking at each other."

And Furukawa Masahiro knew how astonishing his granddaughter's talent was.

As for Xia Xia Xia Mujun, he had learned from Horikawa Kayo that this person had played no more than a dozen games in total.

With such experience, how could he challenge a granddaughter who had been immersed in Shogi since childhood and trained personally by him, the Dragon King of the old era?

He shook his head slowly, his calm face carrying a bit of helplessness:

"I imagine the winner will be my granddaughter."

"She has studied Shogi since she was young, and her experience in games is far beyond what Xia Xia Xia Mujun can compare to."

Horikawa Kayo was stunned upon hearing this:

"Ah?"

"Your granddaughter started playing Shogi when she was young?"

"How long has she been playing?"

Furukawa Masahiro smiled indifferently, a bit of pride showing in his eyes:

"She started coming into contact with Shogi at the age of three."

"Now she is ten, so that makes seven years."

Horikawa Kayo's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"She's been playing for seven years already?!"

Oh no—it turns out this little girl is a "Shogi veteran"!

Just a moment ago, she still held a glimmer of expectation for Xia Xia Xia Mujun.

Now it seemed that Xia Xia Xia Mujun was likely in for a rough time...

Furukawa Masahiro raised the corners of his mouth with a hint of emotion:

"I actually quite appreciate this young man, Xia Xia Xia Mujun; his temperament is steady, neither arrogant nor rash."

"I was looking forward to seeing him again in the subsequent matches."

"Looking at it now, I'm afraid that will be difficult..."

Horikawa Kayo sighed repeatedly.

Clearly, she also believed that Xia Xia Xia Mujun would likely be "one-and-done."

But on second thought, with Xia Xia Xia Mujun's pitiful number of games, wouldn't he be destined to be eliminated in the first round no matter who he ran into?

Thinking this way, she felt much more relieved.