13 Its worse than it looks (1/2)

{Souya POV}

Ryouta is participating in the 3-dan League. This league is held twice yearly and the two top finishers of each league are promoted to 4-dan, thus gaining professional status. There are four people participating.

Throughout the matches, Ryouta vision seemed to be getting worse. His playing style was getting rougher. His first match he won but he was in sweats.Souya knew something was up. His performance seemed to be on edge. He didn't know if it was nerves or what but Ryouta wasn't at his best.

The second match showed this. Usually, his shogi matches are like a flame. An awe-inspiring flame that makes people play better than you ever thought. You push yourself to the limits. Even if you lose, you feel that you have done everything you can. You also have the most fun with his matches. Maybe because he shines so brightly but playing with him, makes people feel they can gain a part of his flame of life.

However, right now his playing style is cold dark and dreary. It feels like death. Like he is drowning and he wants to pull everyone down with him. I hate his playing right now...He's making mistakes more often. His face is getting redder. Ryouta looked like he was going to lose but he was lucky his opponent didn't realize or he would have lost.

Souya looked at Ryouta and notices something. Ryouta looks like he's about to pass out. The judges notice too and they were going to ask if he was alright but they saw his eyes. very determined eyes so they just decided to hope nothing happens. Even if he loses the final match he will still be promoted to 4th dan (first and second place become a 4th dan). His matches were showing that he was more than worthy of being a 4th dan well except for Souya.

The final match is against Ayumu Kannabe. Ryouta looks at him and saw a young boy with eyes that are different colors. He is wearing a white suit and a pure white cape. He was 13 years old.

At first, Ayumu was dominating Ryouta. Every play was aggressive and seemed like he had the advantage. Ryouta was getting sloppy and had made many errors. It looked like Ryouta winning streak was over. Ryouta seemed to have been having trouble even lifting his pieces. Ryouta closed his amber colored Eye left eye and kept his right red eye open. When that happened Ayumu felt pressure. It wasn't like the pressure he gives before he kills. It was a type of pressure an expert gives.

{Ryouta POV}

What's going on? before I was felt I was going to lose. I was overwhelmed and couldn't even breathe properly but now I don't know what's going on. Every move I make I just know it will lead me to victory. This never happened before.

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I begin to shake. What is this ecstasy I'm feeling? I can't stop.

Ayumu looks at Ryouta and notices that in 5 moves he will lose and he gives up

”My friend that was a great match” He then bows full of sweat

Ryouta smiles. They go over the match and Ryouta showed where Ayumu messed up. Shogi matches are exhausting. The person usually who wins is the person most exhausted.

After the match there was interviews and certificates then finally Ryouta was able to get away thanks to his master.

Ryouta was losing his strength and knew he had to do something. He called his old man informing him he won and he is going to spend the night at his friend's house and then he ran as fast as he can to a shrine. But he couldn't make it and begin to faint when Botan comes and catches him before he falls

Ryouta looks in front of him and says in a raspy voice ”Oh stalker you caught me while I was about to faint. Did you come to take my first time. Sorry, my body is too young to get hard.

If Ryouta wasn't hurt she'd punch this guy. She took him to the shrine and Yuya saw them enter. She was going to do her typical fight with him but she saw how injured he was. She looks at Botan and her power was released

”What did you do to him Shinigami” Yuya looked at Botan with anger. She never felt so much anger before. Ryouta body was oozing corruption.

Botan just shook her head ”It wasn't me”

Yuya then glares ”if it wasn't you around him this wouldn't have happened right” she then opens Ryouta shirt and shows the black spots over his body. ”so you're saying that associating with you isn't the cause of this.”

Botan felt her heart hurt ”I I was just ” she just remained silent and watch her take him to the purified spring and pure water him to cleanse the darkness. Ryouta grunted. The pain was unbearable.