Hikaru's House
At the Japanese Go Centre (日本旗院会館 Nihon Kiin Kaikan)
A sign lists today's events, including the New Pro Series.
Page 63. Frame 4. Balloon 1. F/X: rattle (doorknob).
63.5.1. Ogata: !
64.1.1. Ogata: Sensei Kuwabara.
64.1.2. Kuwabara: Well, well, well.
64.2.1. Kuwabara: Ogata-kun, it's been a long time!
64.3.1. Kuwabara: We haven't met like this since... the Hon'inbou match? That seventh round match was a lot of fun! Ho, ho, ho...
64.4.1. Ogata: It was certainly very educational.
65.1.1. Kuwabara: I hear you're doing well lately. Didn't you make quite the spectacle of defeating Kurata-kun the other day?
65.2.1. Ogata: And yet you're down to one title now, aren't you, Sensei?
65.3.1. Kuwabara: Oh, I'm getting on in years, and I shouldn't be greedy. I'm not giving up the Hon'inbou title to anyone though.
65.3.2. Kuwabara: Ho, ho, ho!
65.4.1. Ogata: And what brings the Hon'inbou Kuwabara here? [Takes out a pack of Larks]
65.5.1. Kuwabara: [Offering a different brand, Peace?] Here, try these instead.
65.5.2. Kuwabara: Better than sucking candy like those.
66.1.1. Ogata: No, thank you.
66.2.1. Kuwabara: Ho, ho, ho!
66.3.1. Kuwabara: And what brings me here?
66.3.2. Kuwabara: Why don't I ask you the same question?
66.4.1. Kuwabara: All that's happening today are some New Pro Series matches.
66.4.2. Kuwabara: It's not the sort of thing that would normally bring as elevated a player as you out to watch.
66.5.1. Kuwabara: So is it perhaps true that this little brat is going to be one of the ones making new waves in the world of Go?
66.6.1. Ogata: Do you know Shindou? Have you seen him play Go before?
67.1.1. Kuwabara: Ha! I guessed it!
67.1.2. Kuwabara: I knew it the moment I saw him, my sixth sense is sharp!
67.2.1. Ogata: Sixth sense?
67.3.1. Kuwabara: You know, the Sight.
67.3.2. Kuwabara: I only bumped into Shindou once.
67.4.1. Ogata: You only bumped into him once? You're talking nonsense!
67.4.2. Waya [in the hall]: Shindou's up first, and you're not playing until the week after next, I see.
67.4.3. Ochi: Have you heard yet, Waya?
67.4.4. Waya: Not yet!
67.5.1. Waya [entering]: I sure want to play soon too.
67.5.2. F/X: rattle (doorknob)
68.1.1. Waya: H-Hello!
68.1.2. Ochi [thinking]: Ogata 9-dan and Hon'inbou Kuwabara?!
68.2.1. Ochi [thinking]: What the -
68.2.2. F/X: slam (door)
68.2.3. Waya: Hey, let's sit over here.
68.3.1. Ochi [whispering]: What the heck are two top players doing here, following the New Pro Series?
68.3.2. Waya [whispering]: They've got to be interested in Shindou.
68.4.1. Waya [whispering]: Ogata-san has been watching Shindou since the Wakajishi-sen, and
68.4.2. Waya [whispering]: he's invited him to Masters' study sessions before.
68.5.1. Ochi [whispering]: Masters' study sessions?!
69.1.1. Waya [whispering]: And Shindou turned them down! To go to my teacher's study session.
69.1.2. Waya [whispering]: It's Sensei Kuwabara I don't understand.
69.2.1. Waya [whispering]: I wonder if Sensei Kuwabara is keeping an eye on Shindou too.
69.2.2. Ochi: ...
69.3.1. Ochi: Just who is this Shindou?
69.4.1. Waya: He's our yearmate, our rival, and our friend.
69.5.1. F/X: rattle (doorknob)
69.6.1. Touya: !
70.1.1. Ogata: Hey.
70.2.1. Touya: Ogata-san and
70.2.2. Touya: Sensei Kuwabara?!
70.3.1. Ochi: Hi.
70.4.1. Touya: Oh, Ochi-kun.
70.4.2. Touya: Hi.
70.4.3. Waya [thinking]: What? You know Touya?
70.4.4. Ochi: ...
70.5.1. Kuwabara: If I recall correctly, you're Master Touya's son?
70.6.1. Touya: Yes.
70.6.2. Touya: I'm Akira Touya. Very pleased to meet you.
71.1.1. Kuwabara: So you must be worried about Shindou too?
71.2.1. Touya: What? Me, I...
71.3.1. Kuwabara: I see, I see! So even the pros are! Even 5-title masters have their attention on that little brat!
71.3.2. Kuwabara: I like it!
71.3.3. Touya: Sensei Kuwabara....
71.4.1. Kuwabara: I'm looking forward to this match.
71.4.2. Kuwabara: How about it, Ogata-kun?
71.5.1. Kuwabara: Care to place a wager?