Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze (帝乃三姉妹は案外、チョロい。)

One Week Later

Second Keika Title Match

I resign.

But how?

The titleholder Mikadono lost twice in a row?

And it was to Ms. Yaotome, who never beat her before.

The title matches are best three out of five.

I can't believe Miwa-san has her back against the wall.

Miwa-san!

If you're looking for Miwa Mikadono, she already left.

Yaotome-san?

Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze

home.11 I Already Knew It

Your name was Yu Ayase-kun, correct?

Did you come all the way here to pick up that washed-up loser?

"Washed-up"?

Miwa Mikadono didn't do enough research.

She relied too much on her genius.

It looked like she had her sights set on an endgame battle.

But her moves were too sloppy earlier in the game.

Her first time ever losing twice in a row—

and to me, no less!

I'll bet she's already back home crying from the humiliation!

Sob! I lost to Yaotomecchi!

I suggest you hurry back home for her sake.

Yaotome-san.

Wh-What?

Thank you so much!

Wh-Why are you thanking me?

Because what you're saying

is essentially that Miwa-san wasn't playing at her best.

If she trains and works on her game plan, she can stage a comeback.

So you want me to go comfort her, since she's probably crushed from her first double loss.

That's the sense I got from you.

Wh-Whaa?

That's not what I meant! Stop trying to read between the lines!

But you're still here, even though the match is long over.

You must've been waiting, thinking you might run into me.

N-No, I wasn't!

Yaotome-san, I thought the way you did your grand entrance was really cool.

Anyway, I'll see you later.

Oh, and one more thing.

Don't think this is the end for Miwa Mikadono.

What the heck? You're just a supporter!

You think you're so smart, Yu Ayase?

I know darn well that Miwa Mikadono is much better than this!

I'm back!

Y-Yu...

Th-They're bleak!

Did something happen? Where's Miwa-san?

That's the thing.

She came back and all, but the next thing we knew...

She ran out the door again.

She ran away from home?

W-Was she that devastated from her second loss?

No way! She's stronger than that!

Still... I do think she's feeling pretty down.

You just have to win three! Don't lose heart, Miwa!

She's right! Those last matches are yours to win!

You're just like us! You've dedicated your life to shogi!

That hard work will win out!

I learned just recently that failure isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I'm sure you'll—

Shove it.

I'm not like you two.

I guess she takes title matches that seriously.

Hearing amateurs try to give advice only pissed her off more.

Miwa's the type who stews silently whenever she's furious.

But that was the first time we've seen her that incensed.

Hey! Where do you think you're going?

I'm going to look for Miwa-san!

But how?

She's not answering her phone, so you won't know where to look!

You two stay home in case she comes back!

Miwa-san...

Shove it. I'm not like you two.

What could make Miwa-san so mad?

Catnip Cat Café

Open

Th-There she is!

Miwa-san!

Yu-kun?

Thank goodness you're safe and sound.

Though I didn't expect to find you here.

What did you expect?

Something like this.

Something like what?

Here.

Th-Thank you.

Do you come here often?

On occasion.

We're all too busy for pets, and Kazu-nee is a little allergic to them anyways.

And we could never take care of a kitty with our housekeeping skills. It'd be too cruel.

U-Uh, right.

But it's a relief knowing you're able to cheer yourself up.

You might have lost the first two matches in your title series,

but you're still in it to win.

Now that you've regained your spirit, I know you can beat Yaotome-san!

She's inhaling a cat?

Yu-kun...

All shogi pros dedicate their entire lives to the game.

They study day in and day out, because they live for shogi.

Every one of them is that way.

I know. I can tell by watching how you train.

Not me.

My connection to shogi...

It's not like that.

But you're constantly practicing so hard at home.

That's just... for the accomplishment.

To me, shogi is just a way of being accomplished.

I could've just as well been accomplished at go, chess, or any other game.

It didn't matter at all.

Miwa, you're a prodigy.

You have a gift that could never be obtained through mere effort.

You're a true natural talent.

Show everyone how truly gifted you are.

She broke the record for youngest champion!

She's an actual wunderkind!

Well done, Miwa.

You beat male pros? Holy cow!

I'll admit that I'm proud to have you as my sister.

Dad would praise me for my accomplishments.

I'd be just as good as Kazu-nee and Niko-chan.

That was my only reason for playin' shogi.

That's it.

And yet...

Why do you two always work so hard, anyways?

I love shining brightly when I'm onstage.

It's a lotta fun training and getting stronger.

And yet what they told me never clicked.

Kazu-nee and Niko-chan are pursuing what they truly love.

They're nothing like me, who only uses shogi as a means to be accomplished.

I'm not like you two.

Shogi is scary competitive.

You can sense how determined your opponent is from across the board.

And I always felt, deep down,

that people could see exactly how shallow my commitment was to the game.

I knew all along...

that someone like me... was gonna stop winning one day.

Thank you for confiding in me, Miwa-san.

I don't know... if I wanna go home.

I hear you.

And we still have time.

I'm not letting you go home just yet, Miwa-san.

Good thing it stopped raining.

I'm not letting you go home just yet, Miwa-san.

Y-Yu-kun?!

Just look at all this variety.