This is a short story written by Ryuuou no Oshigoto! (The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done!) author Shirow Shiratori for Shirabi’s Valentine’s Day illustration. The setting of this short story is set a month before Ai came to Yaichi’s house for the first time.

Valentine Anedeshi

February 14, at the Kansai Shogi Association Hall.

“…I lost.”

“Huff… Thank you for the game.”

“One more match.”

“Again? Even for a practice game, I think we have already played too many matches today…”

“One more match.”

“Okay, okay, I get it.”

“…I lost.”

“Anedeshi, did something happen? It has only been my victory so far today.”

“…It’s nothing.”

“No, it feels like your mind is all over the place, or maybe you are distracted by something other than shogi…”

“……”

“Is there something bothering you? Is it something you can’t really tell other people? You can confide in me, you know?”

“I’m telling you that’s not it! One more match!!”

“O, okay!!”

“E, err… Looks like, it’s my victory again…”

“…One more match.”

“S, shouldn’t we be going back now? Most people are leaving the shogi wall already…”

“Yaichi, do you have any plans?”

“No, I don’t really have any.”

‘Then, just keep me company.”

“Good grief…”

“Huff… In the end, we really played until there is no one left…”

“…I guess.”

“By the way, doesn’t it feel like people are leaving the shogi hall a lot earlier than usual today?”

“…I guess.”

“But anyway, I have been winning all day long! Man, it feels really good even if it’s just a practice game.”

“…”

“Thank you, Anedeshi.”

“Eh?’

“I have been losing in my official matches recently, so that’s why you were letting me win, right? In order to cheer me up, that is.”

“……”

“Well, today is the Valentine’s Day after all, so it’s sort of like you’re giving me a bit of a sweet present, isn’t it?”

“…So you knew? That today is the Valentine’s Day?”

“Of course I do. It’s a day that every single man is aware of, right? Well, I am not really going to school anymore, so it’s not like I really care about it or expect to get any chocolate; in the first place, for Anedeshi to give me one is—”

“Yaichi.”

“Yes?”

“Idiot.”