When Will You Tell Me?

3. The Goban In the Shed

The train to Hikaru's grandfather's home seemed to take forever to arrive. Akira stood restless with Hikaru, occasionally stealing glances at the latter, who kept looking outside the window. Now that Akira had come so close to finally knowing the whole truth, he suddenly felt almost frightened. He couldn't help remembering the gigantic wall that crushed him, the invincible power that was 'Sai'... What kind of story would Shindo Hikaru tell him?

When they left the sushi bar, Hikaru told him they were going to his grandfather's house, but then said his grandfather had nothing to do with Sai at all. "That's just where I met him." He said. Akira was ready to bombard him with questions, but Hikaru stopped him:

"Sheesh, Akira, don't make me explain all the stuff before we get there. I will tell you the whole thing, so just be patient a little more."

Now Hikaru was really quiet, and Akira tried to do the same. But the repetitive noise from the train just made him more anxious.

The train escaped a short tunnel and natural light flooded in over a beautiful sloping corner of suburban Tokyo.

"He liked the train." Hikaru suddenly spoke.

"Who?"

"Sai, who else."

Akira looked at Hikaru, a little bewildered. He spoke about Sai as if he was no longer there. Wait… he did say Sai disappeared exactly four years ago. Maybe a part of Akira just didn't want to process the idea that even Hikaru no longer had a connection to Sai, and Sai, THAT Sai, would not appear in front of him or his father again. Although… he did have a feeling.

"...What is it about trains?" He asked. Hikaru shrugged:

"How fast it was. How smooth it was. He said back in the day, he would hear of strong Go players all around the country, but arranging to meet and play a game with them would take a lot of work."

"Is Sai… a really old person?" Akira asked.

"Yeah. Super old, like older than old." Hikaru laughed softly. "He looked very young, though."

Okay, so a very old Go master whom Hikaru met near his grandfather's home? He then taught Hikaru Go? No, that does not explain the prowess that the old Hikaru had. Akira had so many questions he didn't know where to start.

"Did he-"

"Can you promise me something, Akira?"

Akira stopped. With all seriousness he said:

"Go ahead?"

"It's a weird story, so you probably will not believe me." Hikaru tried to look straight at Akira. "But I will tell you. I've decided to tell you everything. So even if you think I'm crazy, d-"

"I will listen to the end!" Akira cut in, hastily.

"I will listen to everything you have to say."

He calmed himself down.

"I promise."

"...Yeah." Hikaru smiled and rubbed his nose. He looked happy.

---

Shindo Heihachi was seventy-nine, still healthy and led a happy life. He lived alone, but not too far from his son's family, so they visited often. He liked making himself some crab miso soup with tofu, and enjoyed leaving the front yard door open during the day for his neighbors. Lately he'd been talking to them a lot. They were very kind and genuine people, and some even played Go with him once in a while. In recent years he had been an outstanding member of the local Go club. His love for Go had always been there, but ever since his grandson started making a name in the Go world, the old Go player Shindo Heihachi had been absolutely revitalized. Now he was more passionate than ever and bought Weekly Go every Friday.