It was on the day of his Meijin Tournament prelim game against the other pro that the elevator broke down, with both of them on board. Isumi tried to keep is already unsteady nerves down by reminding himself that the lift broke down at least once a day and was usually fixed within 5 minutes.
He glanced at the other occupant of the lift; Touya Akira. The younger man looked bored, his eyes cold, staring straight at the closed doors. Isumi envied him his cold demeanor; he wished he could feel so cool under the pressure of the knock-out prelims.
Isumi had very seldom seen Touya being anything other than icy calm. The only times he was not was when he was playing Shindou and then he was usually angry.
Isumi even envied him his anger. It was an anger that spoke of a love for Go, a passion to be the best. Isumi wanted that passion, wanted that force of will. But he was well aware that he just didn’t have it in him. And unconsciously he knew he had already lost the game that awaited them at the top of the building, before he had even laid the first stone because of that lack.
The lift jarred back into motion and took them up to meet in ‘battle’.
"Going Up!"
He glanced at the other occupant of the lift; Touya Akira. The younger man looked bored, his eyes cold, staring straight at the closed doors. Isumi envied him his cold demeanor; he wished he could feel so cool under the pressure of the knock-out prelims.
Isumi had very seldom seen Touya being anything other than icy calm. The only times he was not was when he was playing Shindou and then he was usually angry.
Isumi even envied him his anger. It was an anger that spoke of a love for Go, a passion to be the best. Isumi wanted that passion, wanted that force of will. But he was well aware that he just didn’t have it in him. And unconsciously he knew he had already lost the game that awaited them at the top of the building, before he had even laid the first stone because of that lack.
The lift jarred back into motion and took them up to meet in ‘battle’.