Chapter 71: Nicknames
Miyamoto Tokima explained the basic rules of chess to Seijuro Akashi. After Akashi fully understood the gameplay, the two of them played several rounds together.
After completely overwhelming Seijuro Akashi in three straight games, Miyamoto Tokima stood up, took Satsuki Momoi’s hand, and said to Akashi:
“Seijuro, it’s getting late. We’ll head back first.”
Seijuro Akashi was still immersed in replaying the last game in his mind. Only after hearing Miyamoto Tokima did he snap back to reality.
“You’re leaving now? Won’t you stay for dinner?”
Miyamoto Tokima smiled and shook his head. “No. Momoi and I have already picked a restaurant.”
Not wanting to interrupt their date, Seijuro Akashi stood up and personally saw Miyamoto Tokima and Satsuki Momoi off.
After walking out the front gate, Miyamoto Tokima waved back at Akashi.
“Seijuro, we’re heading out.”
Seijuro Akashi nodded gently and watched the two of them leave.
Once they were gone, he turned around, intending to return to his room to continue studying chess.
“Seijuro.”
Akashi’s father called out to him. Seijuro Akashi stopped and turned back.
“Father, is something the matter?”
Akashi’s father asked in a stern tone, “I heard you’ve been appointed vice-captain of the team?”
“Yes, Father,” Seijuro Akashi replied calmly.
Only then did Akashi’s father nod. “Very well. Remember this—everything our family controls must aim for first place. If it isn’t first, then it has no meaning at all.”
Seijuro Akashi nodded coldly. “I understand, Father.”
Akashi’s father waved his hand. “Mm. Go on.”
Seijuro Akashi bent slightly at the waist. “Then I’ll return to my room, Father.”
With that, Seijuro Akashi headed back toward his room.
...
After finishing dinner, Miyamoto Tokima walked Satsuki Momoi home before heading back to his own house.
“Dad, I’m back.”
Miyamoto Tokima pushed open his room door and set down the items he had bought.
His father walked over with a cheerful smile. “Tokima, you’re back. How was—”
When he saw the large pile of shopping bags, he froze and asked in surprise, “Why did you buy so much stuff? Did that girl buy it for you?”
Miyamoto Tokima rolled his eyes. “You’ve got the nerve to ask? There were only five hundred left in the bank card. I had to rely on my own little stash.”
“But yeah, all of this was bought by Momoi for me. I only gave her a dress.”
Miyamoto’s father looked over the pile and clicked his tongue twice. “Not cheap at all—shoes, hats, gloves, clothes, and roses… wait, roses?!”
He looked up in shock. “That girl gave you a rose?”
Miyamoto Tokima nodded. “Yeah. Momoi said that most men receive their first flower at a funeral. She said she didn’t want that to be the case for me.”
His father was still clearly shaken. “What’s the girl’s name?”
Miyamoto Tokima answered, puzzled, “Satsuki Momoi.”
Miyamoto’s father nodded in approval and patted Tokima’s shoulder with a threatening tone. “Treat her well. If you let her down, I’ll take off my belt.”
Miyamoto Tokima twitched at the corner of his mouth. “You don’t need to tell me—I’ll definitely treat her well. But you… why is your reaction so intense?”
His father lifted his chin and looked out the window, memories surfacing.
“You know, what you’re experiencing now is just like me back then. Your mom once gave me a rose and said the exact same thing.”
Miyamoto Tokima looked at his father’s emotional expression and said flatly, “If that’s the case, then Mom treated you really well. So why are you so scared of her now?”
His father suddenly turned around, face serious. “Remember this, Tokima—being in love and being married are two completely different things. You don’t know your mother. After we got married, she… she… what are you doing with your hand? Trying to record this?”
Miyamoto Tokima’s hand, which had been reaching toward his pocket, paused slightly. He forced an awkward smile.
“No, no, Dad. You’re overthinking it. Do I look like that kind of person?”
His father stared at him warily. “Hands up. Don’t move!”
Miyamoto Tokima obediently raised both hands over his head without making a sound.
Only then did his father continue listing his wife’s “crimes”—things like kneeling on washboards, kneeling on keyboards, running errands, picking up deliveries and takeout… it went on and on. This time, he poured out all the grievances he had suffered.
After finishing, he added, “But your mom really is a good woman. The luckiest thing in my life was meeting her.”
Miyamoto Tokima nodded numbly and let his hands fall. “Alright, Dad. I’m going to rest.”
“Mm. Go on.”
Miyamoto Tokima put away the items he bought, then sneakily slipped into his room and locked the door.
After confirming it was locked, he pulled out his phone with a mischievous grin.
‘Heh heh, good thing my hands are fast. I turned on the recording in advance.’
He lowered the volume and listened through the audio. After confirming it was fine, he cut out his father’s last sentence.
‘That part was totally unnecessary. Cut, cut.’
Satisfied, Miyamoto Tokima shut off his phone with a grin and lay down on his bed to sleep.
Meanwhile, Miyamoto’s father was on his usual phone call with Miyamoto’s mother.
“Sayu, did you know? Our son has grown up—he’s dating now.”
“Yes, someone from their school.”
“Right, I know you’re the most opposed to early romance… I’m against it too… I didn’t even have any money…”
“What? You’re not against it? Oh, oh, I knew it.”
“My Sayu is definitely reasonable… Me? …I’m not against it either… of course not… I even gave him five million in dating funds today…”
...
Over the next few days, the Teikō Middle School team continued training as usual, while Miyamoto Tokima continued slacking off as usual.
News of Teikō’s overwhelming victories spread at an astonishing speed, leaving everyone shocked by their results.
Many people felt that Teikō’s first-year class was terrifyingly strong, and quite a few had already started calling the five genius boys of Teikō the “Generation of Miracles.”
It was believed that once Teikō won the championship this year, that title would completely become exclusive to the five of them.
Miyamoto Tokima didn’t pay much attention to that nickname. To him, it was just a minor title. What he cared about more was the nickname that the outside world had given him alone.
Holding the newspaper, Miyamoto Tokima read its contents, his expression turning distinctly strange…
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.