Chapter 78: Questioning!

Afternoon.

Ring-a-ling—

The bell for the end of school rang crisply, as if releasing some kind of restraint, and the entire teaching building was instantly filled with a restless vitality.

The students’ faces were filled with the joy of liberation, and they picked up their school bags one after another, chatting and surging toward the door.

However, Xia Xia Xia Mujun, Yukimura Suzune, and Saionji Nanase did not carry their school bags, but left the classroom lightly, preparing to head to the club recruitment area downstairs.

Like them, many students who intended to participate directly in club activities also left their school bags in the classroom.

On the way downstairs, Xia Xia Xia Mujun remembered something and turned his head to ask:

“Saionji-san, did you notify Fujiwara-san earlier?”

Saionji Nanase turned her head upon hearing this, smiled beautifully, and walked with a light pace:

“Mm, she has been notified. She said she would wait for us at the club recruitment area downstairs.”

Yukimura Suzune’s reaction to this was indifferent.

She didn’t really care about this Fujiwara Aoi, and coming here this time, she didn’t hold the idea of having to find a club she liked.

From beginning to end, the only thing she was interested in was the Literature Club, but the Literature Club of this school was truly disappointing.

This trip was more to accompany her good friend Saionji Nanase and to familiarize herself with the campus environment along the way.

Soon, the three of them arrived at the club recruitment area downstairs.

It was already the third day of recruitment, and the flow of people was significantly sparser compared to the first day, but it was still quite lively.

As soon as they arrived, Fujiwara Aoi, who had been waiting there, saw them and her eyes lit up. She ran over energetically, waving her hands vigorously:

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun! Saionji-san!”

When not dominated by curiosity, Saionji Nanase was a dignified and polite young lady from a good family.

She bowed slightly and responded elegantly:

“Good afternoon, Fujiwara-san.”

Xia Xia Xia Mujun also nodded politely in greeting:

“Good afternoon, Fujiwara-san.”

Fujiwara Aoi’s gaze then fell on the cold-tempered Yukimura Suzune beside them, asking with the curiosity she had had since noon:

“This is...?”

Saionji Nanase introduced her enthusiastically:

“This is my and Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s classmate, and also a good friend I’ve known for many years—Yukimura Suzune.”

Fujiwara Aoi immediately showed her energetic and cheerful side, introducing herself:

“Nice to meet you, Yukimura-san. My name is Fujiwara Aoi, I’m a student in Class D, and also Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s colleague at the coffee shop.”

Yukimura Suzune usually maintained a cold and taciturn attitude toward people she wasn’t familiar with, and at this moment, she just nodded slightly out of politeness:

“Hello, my name is Yukimura Suzune.”

After stating her name, she said nothing more.

Fujiwara Aoi blinked, feeling that this Yukimura Suzune seemed a bit hard to approach.

Saionji Nanase, who knew her best friend’s personality well, smiled to smooth things over:

“Suzune doesn’t talk much usually, but once you get to know her, you’ll find that she’s actually a very good person.”

Fujiwara Aoi put a smile back on her face:

“So that’s how it is.”

“So... are we the only ones left to visit the clubs now?”

Saionji Nanase nodded and smiled:

“Yes.”

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Xia Xia Xia Mujun suggested:

“Since everyone is here, let’s go.”

“I remember we only visited about half last time.”

“Yukimura-san, Fujiwara-san, if you don’t mind, shall we start from the other half?”

Yukimura Suzune responded indifferently:

“Whatever.”

Fujiwara Aoi chimed in with a grin:

“I have no problem!”

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

Saionji Nanase heard this, clenched her small fists, and looked full of motivation:

“In that case, let’s get started!”

As she spoke, she took the lead, her eyes burning as she looked at the club stalls they hadn’t explored yet, preparing to learn more, and incidentally play some small games to collect some interesting little gifts.

After a while.

Fujiwara Aoi and Saionji Nanase were already covered in all sorts of strange little accessories and gifts, yet they remained in high spirits, jumping around 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.

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

She helplessly looked away, but her gaze fell unconsciously on Xia Xia Xia Mujun, who had been relatively quiet beside her.

However, when she looked over, she found that Xia Xia Xia Mujun had been stopped by two unfamiliar students at some point, and they seemed to be talking about something.

Yukimura Suzune noticed that these two students were wearing red ties.

The school uniform ties in this school 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 her were wearing red ties—they were seniors.

Yasui Ryoto took the initiative to speak:

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun, 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 the day after tomorrow, Saturday.”

“Once it arrives, I’ll bring it to school for you.”

Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s face lit up with joy:

“Thank you very much!”

Yasui Ryoto wasn’t very interested in this topic, and compared to this, he couldn’t help but complain now:

“By the way, Xia Xia Xia Mujun, you actually participated in that Newcomer Shogi Tournament?”

“If someone hadn’t told me, I really wouldn’t have known.”

Xia Xia Xia Mujun nodded:

“Yes.”

Yasui Ryoto 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 going to participate in the tournament, you could have come to our Shogi Club to learn and exchange ideas!”

The senior, Araki Keiai, 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!”

Xia Xia Xia Mujun said somewhat embarrassedly:

“This... sorry, I really didn’t know you two were also participating in the tournament.”

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

Araki Keiai snorted, carrying a trace of teasing:

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

“The registration fee is 20,000 yen. If you don’t win a single game, I’d feel sorry for your money going down the drain!”

Xia Xia Xia Mujun explained:

“I just wanted to go and see if I could earn some pocket money by winning consecutive games.”

“After all, the consecutive win bonus is quite generous. If I’m lucky, the prize money for winning three consecutive games would be equivalent to a month’s income from my part-time job at the coffee shop.”

Araki Keiai suddenly realized:

“That’s true, the consecutive win bonus is high.”

“In this tournament, the ratio of amateur players and ordinary enthusiasts is far higher than that of Shogi Association members and professional players.”

“If you’re lucky and run into amateur players, you can indeed make a small profit.”

Yasui Ryoto hadn’t expected that Xia Xia Xia Mujun was participating for this reason, but upon reflection, the situation of the Xia family was indeed not optimistic, and if he could win a few consecutive games, it would indeed be much better than a part-time job.

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

“But Xia Xia Xia Mujun, you were indeed lucky; you actually ran into a little girl in the first round and won easily.”

“Now half the cost is back.”

“If you win one more game, not only will you break even, but you can also net a profit of 10,000 yen.”

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

“It was indeed luck, but I’m sure the seniors could also win easily if they encountered her.”

Yasui Ryoto laughed, full of confidence:

“That goes without saying!”

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

Someone of his level, wouldn’t he easily crush a little girl?

Meanwhile.

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 smiled awkwardly:

“Haha... soon, soon.”

Although he said that, he looked at his phone in confusion, unable to understand why Xia Xia Xia Mujun hadn’t called him after two or three days.

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!