"Am I the Dragon King?" Episode 1 [Creative Awards 2024 - Manga Original Story Category Entry]

Synopsis
Ten-year-old fourth-grade girl, Ryuko Shono, is struck by a sudden headache while watching the news on TV at home.
The news playing was about the Shogi Ryuo Title Match.
Eventually, Ryuko remembers. That she herself is a descendant of the 'Dragon King' from another world...!
However, she currently has no idea how to return to her original world from this one... So, Ryuko sets her sights on the seat of the "Dragon King" in modern-day Japan!
A success story of a phenomenal elementary school girl!

Main Story
Prologue
"...That makes seven crowns. If I win the remaining Dragon King match, I will have "eight crowns and a monopoly on the titles."
"Ugh..."
Hearing the voice from the TV behind her, the girl sitting at the table instinctively clutched her head. Her light-colored side-tail swayed. The boy sitting across from her asked.
"Ryuko, what's wrong? You suddenly clutched your head... are you okay?"
"Taro...n-no, it seems I am not okay..."
"...The "Dragon King match is an exceptional title in the shogi world, on par with the Meijin match..."
"The Dragon King match... ugh."
The girl called Ryuko clutched her head even tighter. The boy called Taro asked worriedly.
"A-are you really okay?"
"Something is throbbing, my headache is hurting..."
"My headache is hurting... your Japanese is a mess. Yeah, you seem fine for now..."
"I am not fine at all! I was just making a joke to lighten this serious atmosphere!"
"...W-what, you have plenty of room to spare..."
"Something... something very important, until just now... "I had forgotten until I was ten..."
"The upcoming Dragon King match is gathering attention not just from shogi fans, but from many people~"
"That's it! That's it! ""The Dragon King"!"
Ryuko stood up with a sudden burst of energy. Taro asked in surprise for the third time.
"W-what's wrong...? Does that shogi news have something to do with it?"
"...Taro, it's a long story, but... "I am one who carries the blood of the Dragon King, that is all"
"That's a short story!? W-what's wrong? You've been watching too much anime... or maybe playing too many games?"
"It's not like that... I am not a child of this house. Surely, I am the bereaved child of the Dragon King sent from another world. I was entrusted to Papa and Mama..."
"I know you're at an age where you like delusions... but is that really it?"
"Hey, it's not a delusion! I just vaguely remembered it!"
"You don't call that remembering!"
"Anyway, you'll know if you ask! Papa! ...It's useless to ask him!"
"Eh!? Isn't that mean to Papa!? Mama is in her room working right now!?"
"Mama, sorry to interrupt your work! Actually, this and that... am I one who carries the blood of the Dragon King!?"
"Ah, yeah, well, yes"
"Yeah, well, yes!?"
Ryuko and Taro were stunned by Mama's overly casual response.

1
"Oh~ so it finally came out~"
"That's a light attitude!?"
Seeing Mama scratching the back of her head, Taro was surprised all over again.
"...So, the story about me being a child of a distant relative is a lie, right?"
"That's right."
"Th-that's right, you say..."
Taro couldn't help but smile bitterly at Mama's words. Ryuko muttered with a serious face.
"I thought it was strange... that there wasn't even a photo..."
"Hmm, it's not that I was hiding it. I just didn't know how to bring it up..."
"You should have told me on my tenth birthday at least."
"No, what would you say if I suddenly told you, ""You are one who carries the blood of the Dragon King"?"
"I'd be dumbfounded."
"Right?"
"Hmm..."
"Well, let's talk about this another time... shall we have a snack instead?"
"Yay~ a snack~!"
"N-no, this is not the time to be lured by snacks!? Absolutely not!"
Taro raised his voice.
"Ah! Now that you mention it, indeed...!"
"You should have realized that even without me mentioning it!"
"...Mama, am I really one who carries the blood of the Dragon King?"
"...Yes."
"Is the Dragon King from another world?"
"That's right."
"Why am I here?"
"That is... it's a long story, but..."
"Hmm..."
"Gulp..."
Ryuko and Taro held their breath. Mama pointed to the closet in the bedroom.
"The closet connected to another world, and a king-like person said 'Please take care of this child'... that's all."
"That's short!?"
Taro was even more surprised. Ryuko asked.
"...It connected to another world?"
"That was the only time, before or since. I heard a thumping sound, and when I opened it, a king-like person was standing there holding you, who was still a baby."
"Was that king-like person the Dragon King?"
"Yes, he said, ""I am the Dragon King"" and..."
"Why did he entrust me to you and Papa?"
"I don't know. But... looking at him, he seemed quite desperate... I don't want to imagine things like this too much, but... perhaps their world was at war."
"At war..."
"This is just Mama's speculation, but... maybe they were about to lose the war, so they tried to save at least you, their own child."
"Hmm..."
Ryuko crossed her arms and pondered. Mama looked apologetic.
"I'm sorry... I knew I had to tell you someday..."
"...No, it would have been useless to tell me when I hadn't remembered anything myself... it can't be helped..."
"I appreciate you saying that..."
"However, I feel pathetic for not realizing it until now..."
"Isn't that understandable?"
Taro comforted her.
"When I sneezed and breathed fire, or when I could fly, I thought it was strange, but..."
"You should have realized it at that point!"
"Using 'washi' as a first-person pronoun was a big hint..."
"No, that's relatively unimportant! ...Wait, you could fly!?"
Taro was surprised for the third time.
"Yeah, only when I'm in good condition."
"Eh, eh... I didn't notice... you wouldn't be late for school, then."
"I didn't think of that... I often fly when I'm taking a shower or getting into the bathtub."
"What a wasteful way to use it!?"
"Well, that's fine."
"It's fine..."
"..."
Ryuko put her hand to her chin and pondered. Taro asked.
"Ry-Ryuko?"
"Ryuko!"
"Pa-Papa!?"
"You are our child! "Ryuko Masano! You are an unmistakable member of this family!"
Papa, who had entered the bedroom, shouted through his tears.
"...Yeah, well, that's beside the point for now."
"B-beside the point!?"
"I-isn't this a moving scene!? Just now!?"
Papa and Taro were stunned by Ryuko's indifferent reaction.
"...Mama, is there a way to return to the other world?"
"I have no idea. Mama and Papa are just ordinary humans."
Mama spread her hands and shook her head from side to side.
"Hmm..."
"Ryuko, do you want to go back?"
"I am interested, but if I can't go back, there's no point in thinking about it."
"Y-you're cold..."
"Mama, you were talking about the Dragon King on TV, right?"
"? Ah, the shogi Dragon King match, right?"
"Shogi..."
"...I just looked it up, and it seems like a title anyone can challenge for."
"...Alright, "I'll become that Dragon King for now!"
"Huh!?"
Taro was dumbfounded by Ryuko's declaration.
"I will become the Dragon King!"
"N-no, have you ever played shogi?"
"Of course not!"
"Eh!?"
Taro was surprised.
"Is that so surprising?"
"It's reckless to say you'll become the Dragon King when you have no shogi experience..."
"Is it reckless?"
Ryuko tilted her head.
"Because you don't even know what shogi is, right?"
"I know that much. It's a game on a board, right?"
"Y-yeah, it's a board game... what about the rules?"
"I don't know them at all!"
Ryuko asserted forcefully.
"I-it really is reckless..."
"Everyone is a beginner at first! You just need to learn the rules!"
"Papa..."
"Coming right up!"
When Mama gave a signal, Papa left the room. Taro tilted his head.
"Eh? Wh-what's wrong? Papa... ah!?"
Taro was surprised again. Papa brought something that looked like a desk. Mama spoke.
"It's a shogi board inherited from your uncle, your great-uncle. ""Nurture motivation" is our family's educational policy... learn the rules of shogi from Papa."
"Papa, do you know shogi?"
"No, I'm only at a beginner level... but I can teach you how to move the pieces..."
"Alright! Let's start right away!"
"Well then..."
Ryuko, Taro, and Papa moved to the living room and sat facing each other with the shogi board in between. Papa skillfully arranged the pieces. Ryuko watched with interest.
"Ho..."
"...Done."
"Hmm..."
"It's a board divided into 9 squares vertically and 9 squares horizontally, and you move one piece at a time, and the game is won by taking the opponent's "King—also called "Gyoku"—I put that very simply."
"Check! is what that's called."
"Taro, you know a lot."
"I know that much..."
"I'll continue, but to put it simply again, "the three rows in front are your territory, and the three rows at the back are the opponent's territory. At first, you place the pieces in your territory and move them from there. Is that okay so far?"
"Hmm..."
Ryuko nodded. Papa continued.
"Then, let's go over how to move the pieces... first, this one."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Pawn". Ryuko read it.
"Hohei..."
"It's read as '"fuhyo'. Well, it's generally called '"Fu' or '"fu'. This is the most common piece, and there are 9 each for you and the opponent, for a total of 18. These pawns are lined up in the front row of your territory. This pawn can only move one square forward."
"It's simple."
"It's simple but deep. Sometimes the game is decided by how you use the pawns."
"How to use them?"
Taro tilted his head.
"Yeah, in shogi, you can take the opponent's pieces, and "once you take a piece, you can use it as your own."
"Oh, so you can increase your allies."
"Yes, there are places you can't place them, but we'll get to that later... next is..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Lance". Ryuko read it.
"Kaoriguruma."
"It's read as '"kyosha'. There is one of these at each end of the third row of your territory. You can move it straight forward as far as you want."
"It feels like it pierces through."
"Yes, it's also nicknamed the 'Spear'. Oh, you can't jump over your own pieces, not just with the Lance. Next is..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Knight". Ryuko read it.
"Katsurauma."
"It's read as '"keima'. This is next to the Lance, and there is one of these as well. This piece moves in a special way. It can move to the square two squares forward and one square to the right or left."
"It feels nimble."
"Yes, it can jump over your own or the opponent's pieces. However, while it can take the opponent's pieces, it cannot move to a square occupied by your own pieces. Next, skipping one..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Gold General". Ryuko read it.
" '"kinsho'"
"Correct. This is next to the King, and there is one of these as well. It can move one square forward, diagonally forward, left, right, and backward."
"It's capable."
"Yes, it's an important piece for both offense and defense. Next is this..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Silver General". Ryuko read it.
" '"ginsho'"
"Correct again. This is between the Gold and the Knight, and there is one of these as well. It can move forward and diagonally forward, but it cannot move left, right, or backward."
"Hmm, that's underwhelming..."
"Actually, it can move diagonally backward. That's a move the Gold can't make."
"Ho, that's sophisticated..."
"It's truly '"refined silver'. Next is this..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Bishop". Ryuko read it.
"Kakuyuki."
"It's read as '"kakugyo'. It's often simply called '"Kaku' or '"kaku'. This is the second from the end of the second row of your territory, and there is only one on the left from your perspective."
"It looks strong..."
"It is strong, because it can go anywhere diagonally as far as it wants."
"It's tricky."
"It's a piece that greatly influences the outcome of the game. Next is this..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "Rook". Ryuko read it.
"Tobiguruma."
"It's read as '"hisha'. This is on the opposite side of the Bishop, placed on the right from your perspective."
"This also looks strong..."
"Yes, this is a piece that can go anywhere forward, backward, left, or right. Finally..."
Papa picked up a piece labeled "King". Ryuko read it.
" '"osho'"
"Yes, there is one of these for you and the opponent—one is written as '"Gyokusho' or '"gyokusho'—but they are the same thing—and if this is taken, it's game over."
"How does it move?"
"It can move one square in any direction: forward, backward, left, right, or diagonally."
"Hmm... well, the King doesn't move around much anyway..."
"And another thing I want you to remember is... suppose you move a piece into the opponent's territory?"
"Yeah."
"Then, pieces other than the King and Gold can do this..."
"You flipped the piece over?"
"Yes, this is called '"promoting'."
"Promoting..."
"The Pawn, Knight, Lance, and Silver become Gold and can move the same way as a Gold—though they can no longer move as they did originally—this is called '"promoted gold'. When a Pawn is flipped over, it says 'to', so it's called '"Tokin'. You can also choose not to promote. Except for the Silver, if you reach the end, you won't be able to move if you don't promote."
"Hmm, Tokin... what about the Bishop and Rook?"
"The Bishop becomes a '"Dragon Horse', and the Rook becomes a '"Dragon King', and they gain one square of movement in addition to their original moves. The Dragon Horse can move one square forward, backward, left, or right, and the Dragon King can move one square in each of the four diagonal directions. ...That's basically how it moves... did you understand?"
"Yeah... where can I play shogi?"
"Eh, a shogi school, or a dojo... I think there was a dojo in the neighborhood... Mama?"
"...I looked it up, and there's one in front of the station."
"Alright! Let's go right away!"
""Eh!?""
Taro and Papa were surprised by Ryuko's declaration as she stood up.
"..."
A sharp sound of a piece being struck onto the shogi board echoed.
"U-uh... I don't have it."
The elderly man bowed his head.
"...Thank you very much."
Sitting across from the elderly man with the board in between was a girl with beautiful long black hair. The girl bowed politely and turned around quickly.
"Thank you very much... well, I'm beaten, I'm beaten."
The elderly man muttered while clutching the back of his head, which had a lot of gray hair. People gathered around.
"To think that Tome-san, an amateur first-dan, would lose again..."
"Don't say 'again'..."
The elderly man called Tome-san pouted.
"But haven't you been losing lately?"
"Well, yeah..."
"How many pieces were you handicapped?"
"...Four pieces."
Tome-san muttered as if it were hard to say. The people around were surprised.
"Eh!"
"Tome-san, weren't you handicapped by two pieces just the other day?"
"Yeah, the girl said, 'Please give me a four-piece handicap today,' so I got a bit carried away..."
"That means she was offering to increase your handicap..."
"Still, a loss is a loss."
"Can you set it up from the beginning?"
"Yes, sure."
The girl with long black hair rearranged the pieces on the board where the game had ended to their initial positions.
"A four-piece handicap, meaning the girl starts without the Rook, Bishop, and both Lances... I'm the first player..."
"..."
Tome-san and the girl with long black hair started playing shogi again from the beginning with a good tempo. It was a reproduction of the game. The people around watched and nodded.
"...Tome-san, he's not rushing his attack."
"Yeah, even if he got carried away, he's calm."
"In this regard, he is indeed a former amateur first-dan."
"Don't say 'former', well, it was a long time ago, though..."
Tome-san retorted to the teasing from those around him.
"........."
The girl with long black hair played back calmly. Exclamations of admiration leaked from those around her.
"Oh, the situation has changed in an instant..."
"That was the 6-4 Silver from earlier. Before I knew it, the Silver had shifted from defense to offense."
"Yeah, that's why Tome-san lost his balance..."
"...I resign here... once I'm attacked, it's over in an instant."
Tome-san looked at those around him with a bitter smile.
"Wow, she's strong. To easily beat Tome-san, an amateur first-dan, with a four-piece handicap... doesn't she have the skill of a female professional second-dan already?"
"...I hate to say this, but I have no interest in being a "female professional shogi player."
"Eh?"
"What I am aiming for is to be a "professional shogi player."
"O-oh, indeed, the birth of the first and youngest female professional shogi player is not a dream..."
"I have no interest in that either..."
"Eh?"
The girl with long black hair stood up abruptly and pointed her right hand toward the ceiling.
"I, "Reona Ibuki, am aiming to be the "Meijin!"
"O-oh~!"
The people around applauded instinctively. Tome-san slapped his knee.
"A father and daughter both winning the Meijin title! That will be a hot topic!"
"That's also a little different..."
The girl who called herself Reona shook her head.
"Eh? You say it's different..."
"I am going to bring the Meijin title back to the Ibuki family...!"
"! So you're going to bring it back... I feel like you could do it, girl."
"...Could you please stop calling me 'girl' already?"
Reona looked at Tome-san and told him.
"Eh? Ah, sorry, it's just a habit... you've been coming to this dojo since you were little..."
"That's right, you were brought here by Ibuki 9-dan... at first, you were just playing in the corner..."
"And before we knew it, your skill improved rapidly..."
"Even though you're only in the fourth grade, none of the regulars at this dojo can beat you anymore..."
"This is a dojo with a decent level, where not only us seniors but also working adults, university students, and high-level middle and high school students show up..."
"Talent is such a cruel thing..."
"...I don't want you to dismiss it with the word 'talent'."
"Hmm?"
"I am constantly studying... I didn't get this far by doing nothing."
"Ah, sorry, I'm sorry if I offended you..."
The man apologized to Reona. Reona shook her head quietly.
"No, I just didn't want you to misunderstand..."
"S-so! Isn't this a shogi dojo!?"
"?"
Reona turned her gaze to the reception near the entrance of the dojo.
"P-please don't speak so loudly, young lady..."
"I am not a young lady! I told you my name at the beginning, didn't I!? I am Ryuko Masano!"
"Eh, yes, yes, Ryuko Masano-chan..."
"I want to fight the strongest person in this dojo!"
"N-no, even if you say that suddenly to someone who just arrived..."
"W-what? A child is making noise..."
"Fufu..."
Reona started walking.
"H-hey, girl... Reona-chan, there's no need for you to be her opponent..."
"There are still few women in shogi... "promoting the game is also an important duty."
"! Your behavior is already like a pro..."
"...Hello."
Reona, who came near the reception, spoke to Ryuko with a smile.
"! H-hello... wait, who are you?"
"I am Reona Ibuki, the strongest person in this dojo. Who are you?"
"I am Ryuko Masano! I've come to break the dojo!"
"B-break the dojo...?"
Reona was confused.
"That's right!"
Ryuko nodded with a big smile.
"Breaking the dojo, what era did you come from..."
"Isn't a dojo meant to be broken?"
Ryuko tilted her head.
"Your perception is biased..."
"Is it?"
"Yes, it is."
"By the way, Reona."
"Y-you're calling me by my name without honorifics!?"
Reona was taken aback.
"You said it just now. That you are the strongest person in this dojo?"
"You say 'you'... yes, that's right."
Reona nodded, placing her hand on her chest.
"Is that the truth?"
"It's the truth. There's no point in lying."
"..."
"What?"
"Aren't you still a child..."
"! A-aren't you a child too!?"
"I am in the fourth grade, you know?"
"I am in the fourth grade too, though?"
"Hmm, a classmate, then..."
Ryuko was slightly taken aback.
"...Were you trying to assert dominance by being in the fourth grade?"
Reona muttered, looking exasperated.
"W-which school are you in?"
"A-an old-fashioned way of approaching someone!? W-well, it doesn't matter where..."
"Hmm... well, that's true too..."
Ryuko nodded. Reona cleared her throat once.
"...Ahem, Masano-san..."
"Ryuko is fine."
"Eh!? Ry-Ryuko-chan..."
"What is it?"
"You want to play a game, right?"
"Hmm? Is there karaoke here too?"
Ryuko looked around.
"N-no, not a song, a '"kyoku'... like a TV station's bureau."
"Ah, like the bureau of a bureaucrat?"
"No comment on that... in shogi, we count matches as 'kyoku'."
"Ho... then let's play a match!"
"That's wrong."
"What?"
"You '"play' "Go', but in shogi, we say we '"move' the pieces."
"Hmm..."
Reona, who had a serious face, smiled.
"Well, the details can wait... shall we start playing?"
"Yeah!"
"...Then, please come this way."
"Hmm!"
Urged by Reona, the two sat facing each other in empty seats.
"...Now."
Reona skillfully arranged the pieces for Ryuko as well.
"Alright! Shall we begin!"
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
"Shogi begins with a bow and ends with a bow... '"Please take care of me'."
Reona bowed politely.
"P-please take care of me..."
Ryuko also bowed. Reona smiled.
"Very well... ah, come to think of it..."
Reona tried to take some of her own pieces. Ryuko tilted her head.
"...What are you doing?"
"What do you mean... a handicap."
"A handicap?"
"Yes, it won't be a game at this rate."
"D-don't make fun of me! That is unnecessary!"
"Eh... well, that's fine."
Reona rearranged the pieces. Ryuko nodded with satisfaction.
"That's right, that's fine..."
"...The first player... the first move is fine for you."
"I see... ah, I have to say this first, if I win, I'm taking the sign of this dojo?"
"Eh? W-well, that's fine, if you can win..."
"Alright, I'm starting... like this."
"! 8-6 Pawn!?"
Reona was surprised by the move Ryuko made. Ryuko tilted her head.
"? Did something happen?"
"N-no..."
(To think she would make a bad move right away... her way of holding the pieces is also clumsy... she's quite a beginner... I thought I'd let her play nicely, make her feel good, and get her to like shogi, but this is quite difficult... No, Reona, this is also part of your training...)
"It's your turn."
"I know..."
Reona made her first move. The game began. A while later...
"Like this!"
"Hmm..."
Reona's face stiffened slightly at the move Ryuko made.
(That's quite a brilliant move... "it's a messy shogi game with no set moves or tactics...but if I get caught up in this girl's pace, it's going to be bad. The sign is also on the line, so maybe I should win here.)
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"Nothing...!"
Reona pointed her piece sharply. From there, the game progressed for a while. Reona's refined face gradually became stern.
(...Am I at a disadvantage!? Even I, who don't lose easily to adults lately!? Wh-who on earth is this girl!? I haven't seen her at any tournaments...)
Reona stared at Ryuko's face. Ryuko looked puzzled.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"N-no, it's nothing. Excuse me..."
Reona returned her gaze and made her next move. Ryuko returned it. Reona's face became stern again.
(Another exquisite move...! Wh-who really is this girl? She says 'washi'... is she not from around here? Could she be from Hiroshima?)
"Fufun, how is it, Taro, Papa, my way of playing?"
"D-don't talk to me suddenly!"
"F-focus on the game!"
(The brother and father don't have a dialect... so she is from around here after all? No, either way, if she has this much skill, it's strange that she hasn't been noticed until now...)
"........."
Reona pondered for a while while looking at the board. Ryuko asked.
"It's Reona's turn."
"I know... here!"
"Hoi!"
"!!"
Reona was surprised that Ryuko had returned the move immediately.
(Wh- "I took a long time to think, but she played in no time!? Did she read it!? Ah...!)
Reona clutched her mouth. She had made an obviously bad move.
(I can't believe I did that! I panicked and made a bad move! The flow is completely with this girl...!)
"How's this!"
"!?"
"...What's wrong?"
"N-no, placing a Pawn in the same column is called '"Nifu', and it's a foul loss..."
"N-nifu!? A foul loss!?"
"To be pushed this far by a girl who doesn't even know Nifu... what is your shogi history?"
"Shogi history?"
"How long have you been playing shogi?"
"Just now"
"J-just now!?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"I-I see, Ryuko Masano-chan... I will remember that name very well..."
Reona glared at Ryuko.