Chapter 2
The Apparition

The sliding of the carriage door broke the thread of Takeshi's thoughts. A figure stood out in the doorway, draped in a deep blue kimono that seemed to absorb the carriage's subdued light. The traditional garment, unusual on a Shinkansen, drew attention without demanding it—like a key piece strategically placed on a game board.

The newcomer advanced with feline grace, her measured steps barely sounding on the carriage floor. Takeshi sensed a stir among the other passengers, their gazes subtly converging on this nocturnal apparition. For a fraction of a second, his eyes met hers. A flash of recognition shone there, but he looked away, preferring to immerse himself again in the study of his strategies.

She chose the seat next to his, her discreet perfume evoking cherry blossom. A deliberate choice, no doubt. Japan's ōgi champion was used to such approaches, to these attempts to enter his circle. He had learned to build ramparts around his concentration, as one fortifies one's defences on a game board.

Yet something in her presence defied indifference. An indefinable aura that seemed to distort the atmosphere of the carriage, as if the air itself bent to her will. Takeshi tightened his grip on his thoughts. The real challenge awaiting him lay elsewhere, in the hushed halls of Tōkyō where his next match would be played. He could not afford distractions, however intriguing they might be.