Chapter 644

Referee Kishida Mineisuke, who had been watching silently, took a small step forward, nodded slightly, and announced in a formulaic tone:

"Since Contestant Natsume has already obtained the agreed-upon bet item, then, I declare that the bet voluntarily made by both parties is now officially over, and we are even."

"I have other match schedules to supervise, so I will take my leave first."

After speaking.

He turned around and quickly disappeared around the corner of the corridor with his well-trained, steady, and fast pace.

Natsume Chikage looked at the referee's departing back, his expression slightly strange.

But he didn't delve into it, just feeling that in this world, there are always people who have an extraordinary obsession with certain specific things or rules.

And this Referee Kishida was probably the type of person who was particularly obsessed with "referee duties" and "witnessing agreements."

Asahina Akatsuki looked at Natsume Chikage, who seemed quite happy after getting the makeup mirror, and couldn't help but confirm curiously again:

"Really... is this all that's needed?"

Natsume Chikage put the makeup mirror away properly, nodded, and smiled:

"Mm, this is enough."

Upon hearing this, Asahina Akatsuki's face showed a helpless and somewhat amused expression, and she sighed softly:

"It seems the rumors are true... you really do have some peculiar collecting hobbies."

The two began to leave the storage room side by side.

Asahina Akatsuki walked while occasionally glancing at Natsume Chikage from the corner of her eye, muttering in a low voice:

"Speaking of which... I really didn't expect your strength to be so strong that even I lost."

"Have you... really never joined any shogi association before, and never practiced by playing against others online?"

Natsume Chikage shook his head and answered honestly:

"No."

Asahina Akatsuki blinked, understanding in her heart.

It seems this guy really possesses quite extraordinary talent.

To be able to reach such a level relying solely on personal research, his talent is probably even higher than expected.

It's just that I don't know, with the strength he has shown now, compared to my childhood friend Suzuki Takayuki, who is already "quasi-professional," who is better?

You have to know, Takayuki is a recognized genius, and his strength can even briefly contend with formal professional players in some situations.

And she herself, in Takayuki's eyes, is probably just a "weakling" who needs more training...

Just as her thoughts drifted far away.

Natsume Chikage stopped and said:

"I need to go to the restroom, you go back first."

Asahina Akatsuki withdrew her thoughts and nodded.

"Mm, see you later then."

After speaking.

She turned and walked towards the audience area.

And Natsume Chikage said he was going to the restroom, but in fact, he mainly wanted to find a private space to verify the specific effect of the new equipment "Beauty Makeup Mirror."

Soon.

He arrived at the restroom at the end of the corridor.

It was empty inside.

He concentrated his mind and tried to activate the setting effect of the "Beauty Makeup Mirror."

Subsequently.

Natsume Chikage first used his hands to rub his hair casually, making it a bit messy.

A wonderful thing happened.

There was no mirror in the cubicle, but he could clearly feel that the messy hair on his head seemed to be combed by an invisible comb, or as if it had been instantly sprayed with strong-hold hairspray, restoring it to the neatly combed state from before.

He deliberately shook his head and fiddled with it a few times with his fingers.

However, the hair would always slowly but firmly return to the hairstyle and fluffiness after being "set" within a few seconds.

Witnessing this effect, Natsume Chikage felt quite surprised.

You have to know, usually after taking a shower and blow-drying, the hair is in its best state.

But after sleeping, the hair often becomes flat and greasy the next morning, requiring re-washing, blow-drying, or styling.

If he had this effect, he wouldn't have to worry about these things at all—he just needed to use "setting" on himself before going to bed to keep the hairstyle perfectly maintained.

Overall, it was a quite practical and convenient ability.

It's just that I don't know... can this effect be used on others?

Natsume Chikage was a bit curious and planned to find an opportunity to try it on his sister later.

Soon.

He left the restroom and prepared to return to the spectator area where Furukawa Masahiro and Saio were.

However, just as he was walking in the corridor leading to the arena hall.

Not far ahead, two people seemed to be standing there deliberately, just blocking his way.

One of them, a man about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old with a steady temperament, was none other than the professional 5-dan shogi player Ishida Kazuo.

He looked at Natsume Chikage walking towards him, his eyes full of undisguised appreciation.

He took the initiative to step forward, extended his right hand, and his tone was polite and solemn:

"Hello, Natsume-kun. I am Ishida Kazuo, currently a professional 5-dan, 28 years old this year."

"I watched your match just now from beginning to end, it was very brilliant, especially the final 'drop,' a very interesting move."

Natsume Chikage paused slightly, thinking it was just a regular shogi friend or senior coming to communicate, so he also politely reached out to shake hands.

"Hello, Mr. Ishida."

After the handshake ended.

Ishida Kazuo saw that the very young-looking companion beside him had no movement, so he couldn't help but frown slightly and remind him in a low voice:

"Yasuhiro, what about basic etiquette?"

The boy called "Yasuhiro" was none other than the 12-year-old genius boy Fukuda Yasuhiro, who had already been promoted to the first dan of the Promotion Society.

To be able to break through the cruel grading system of the Promotion Society and reach the first dan at this age almost destined him to become a professional shogi player in the future.

The little brat Fukuda Yasuhiro curled his lips upon hearing this, with obvious reluctance and a trace of unhappiness after being compared.

He didn't reach out his hand, just raised his chin slightly, and said in a stiff tone:

"Nice to meet you. I am Fukuda Yasuhiro."

Natsume Chikage's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly in response:

"Hello, Fukuda-kun."

He then looked at the two and asked directly:

"The two of you waited for me here specifically, is there something?"

Ishida Kazuo's tone became even gentler and more earnest. He looked at Natsume Chikage with burning eyes and issued a sincere invitation:

"Natsume Chikage-kun, as far as I know, you don't seem to have a formal master, and have always relied on self-study to research shogi, right?"

Natsume Chikage nodded without denying it:

"That's about it."

A burst of excitement at discovering a raw gem surged in Ishida Kazuo's heart, and he immediately struck while the iron was hot, solemnly proposing:

"The timing and selection of that 'drop' move of yours just now were indeed superb."

"However, looking at the overall situation, there is actually room for optimization and improvement in many of your local handlings in the middle and early game."

"If you don't mind... please become my disciple!"

His voice was slightly raised due to anticipation.

"I have full confidence that as long as you are willing to accept my guidance, I will definitely teach you everything I know, allowing you to become a professional shogi player like me before you are eighteen!"

And Fukuda Yasuhiro looked at Natsume Chikage with some displeasure after hearing these words.

And Natsume Chikage was a bit confused.

What?

You want to be my master?