As Tom and Jerry continued to stir excitement among both the industry and its fans, the show's popularity climbed steadily with each episode. Meanwhile, Hikaru no Go was approaching what Ren believed to be its climactic moment—the legendary match between Sai and Tōya Meijin.
Sai represented the pinnacle of history's greatest Go players, while Tōya Meijin was the master of modern-day Go.
From the very beginning, fans had eagerly anticipated seeing these two titans face off. In fact, this upcoming match had sparked more excitement than even the rivalry between the series' protagonist, Hikaru Shindō, and Tōya Akira.
Some time ago, Sai and Tōya Meijin had already met in a game, but that match left fans unsatisfied. It felt like a missed opportunity, and many readers were left feeling sorry for Sai.
Most fans assumed that this long-awaited rematch wouldn't happen for several more chapters. But, in a surprising turn of events, Tōya Meijin collapsed during a recent tournament. In the storyline, Hikaru, spurred by Sai's constant urging, visited Tōya Meijin in the hospital. There, he learned that Tōya Meijin was still playing online Go while recovering, so Hikaru boldly asked him to play against Sai online.
After Hikaru's heartfelt request, Tōya Meijin agreed to the match, and the two prepared for their online Go showdown.
Though this wouldn't be a face-to-face match, where players could feel the physical touch of the black and white stones, Sai didn't care—he just wanted to play.
"I wonder who's going to win!"
"I'm so excited, this is the best decision the Porter has ever made!"
"I can't wait for the next chapter!"
As the readers' anticipation grew, the latest installment of Hikaru no Go was finally released.
On one side was Sai, the mysterious Go master who had been absent from the internet for a long time. On the other was Tōya Meijin, the undisputed modern Go champion.
Even though the match took place online and wasn't publicized, just seeing their usernames was enough to draw a huge crowd.
Go enthusiasts worldwide stayed up late, glued to their screens, watching this legendary game unfold.
This was a match everyone had been waiting for, so Ren made sure to describe the match in great detail in the manga.
The game they played was based on one of the most famous Go matches in history—the "Great Harmony of Heaven and Earth", although this version had been modified for dramatic effect.
The manga depicted every move, analyzed the strategies of Sai, Tōya Meijin, and even Hikaru. Readers could feel the intense mental battle happening on the Go board.
Ren masterfully used his pacing and artistic skills to keep readers on the edge of their seats, even if many of them didn't fully understand the intricacies of the game.
The match itself was fierce from the beginning. Black seemed to have the upper hand at first, but as the game progressed, White began to mount a strong comeback, poised to strike at any moment.
It was just a game of Go, but the tension was overwhelming, as if readers were witnessing an epic battle on the field of war.
Every twist and turn in the game made the readers' hearts race. Though the game hadn't yet ended, the tension on the board was palpable, and it seemed to radiate off the pages of the manga.
"Ugh, why do they always end it right at the most critical moment?"
"I really hope the Porter draws the next chapter soon—this suspense is unbearable!"
"Looks like the Porter is setting things up for Sai to win this match."
"How do you know?"
"I study Go. The match depicted in this chapter seems to be based on the famous 'Great Harmony of Heaven and Earth' game, and in that match, the side playing as Black won."
After this issue was released, readers who knew Go began explaining the game to those who didn't, analyzing the board and predicting how the match might unfold.
In Japan, where Hikaru no Go had become a cultural phenomenon, the excitement rivaled, or even exceeded, that in China.
Part of the buzz came from the exceptional storyline, but it was also due to the support of the Japanese Go Association, which had heavily promoted the manga. The association's involvement had caused a surge in interest in Go, making the game more popular than it had been in years.
In Japan's major online forums, Hikaru no Go consistently topped the rankings. It was at the top of the foreign manga charts, sports manga rankings, and both weekly and monthly leaderboards. It even broke into the top three of the yearly chart, essentially dominating the field.
The wave of interest in Hikaru no Go wasn't just drawing in Go enthusiasts; even people who previously didn't care about Go were now fascinated by the game and its allure.
The Japanese Go Association's executives, who had initially placed their bets on this manga, were now more certain than ever that they had made the right move. In particular, Tetsumatsu, the 9-dan professional who had first proposed the idea, found his standing in the association bolstered by the manga's success.
Another week passed.
Daniel picked up the latest issue of the manga, eagerly flipping to the Hikaru no Go chapters to see how the match would continue.
The game between Sai and Tōya Meijin had reached its most critical point.
The battle was so intense that even experienced players couldn't keep up with all the intricate moves. Meanwhile, novices like Daniel found themselves utterly captivated, despite not fully understanding the game.
The expressions of both Sai and Tōya Meijin grew more serious with each move, and the narrative built an overwhelming sense of tension, as if Daniel himself were standing on the battlefield alongside them.
In this chapter, Tōya Meijin made his final move. As the spectators watched in stunned silence, Tōya Meijin, with a calm expression, quietly announced his resignation.
Seeing this, Daniel couldn't help but smile.
Had Sai finally fulfilled his wish?
Seeing Sai complete his life's goal made Daniel feel a sense of fulfillment as well.
Despite Tōya Meijin's loss, Daniel didn't feel any disdain toward him. Throughout the match, Tōya Meijin had maintained the grace and poise of a true Go master. Even in defeat, he earned the respect of his peers and maintained his dignity.
"This is such an amazing manga," Daniel murmured to himself as he flipped through the rest of the issue.
Finally, he arrived at the section for Steins;Gate.
This manga was also nearing its conclusion, and Daniel couldn't help but think that it, too, was destined to become a classic.
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