A new year brings with it new opportunities—and new problems. Dreams of complex issues plague Yaichi’s nights, and the days have their own problems as both of his apprentices debut in the Women’s League to disastrous effect. Still, each apprentice has a gift to lift his spirits, though they come in very different forms.

Their Shogi family expands as Ginko Sora—Naniwa’s Snow White and Yaichi’s old childhood friend—sets her sights higher than any of her peers have climbed before. She’s only one win away from promotion to 3-dan...and one loss to an 11-year-old prodigy deep in despair. With the clock ticking down to her next match, she turns to the person she hates most for some tough love: Yaichi himself.