Hikaru no Go: I taught you Go, and you made the Kisei cry?

Securing territory in the corners and edges of the board, opening quickly, and then gradually encroaching on the center is a move that aligns well with modern chess principles.

Sato, without hesitation, responded with a sixteen-column, sixteen-row star.

Soon, both sides opened with star point formations and began a fierce battle.

When it was Su Ran's turn to make a move, he did not hesitate this time. He picked up a black piece from the chess box and, with a snap, placed it in the third row and third column!

The chess pieces sit on the chessboard, their rounded bodies gleaming.

The village teacher watched silently, and when Su Ran continued to take the third step, he frowned slightly.

"They've picked 33 again..."

"He's still young and impetuous, and he won't listen to his seniors. Oh well, if Sato can calm down and think things through, he has a good chance."

Mr. Honmura glanced at Sato.

"Hopefully, Sato can teach this kid a lesson. Such a talented child... can't be allowed to go astray."

On the other side of the board, Sato stared at the black stones arranged in three columns and three rows, his eyes flickering with uncertainty, his heart filled with hesitation, as he began to ponder deeply.

He had just watched the replay of the game between Uchida and Su Ran. He had seen it clearly. Su Ran had used a strong approach to break through the black pieces' defense in the middle game, which left a deep impression on him!

He knew that Su Ran in front of him was no ordinary person, and that his chess skills far surpassed his own!

He originally had little hope for this game.

However, Su Ran chose to play the 3-3 point, a move that was completely illogical and defied all chess principles!

"I can win! Find a weakness in 3-3! I have a chance!"

"But, but, how should we punish San San for her unreasonable behavior?"

Sato bit his lower lip nervously, his eyes fixed on the chessboard.

"The downsides of the 3-3 formation... the teacher explained it before. Although the 3-3 formation can occupy the empty space in the corner, it also gives me the opportunity to create momentum!"

Sato reached into the chess box and touched the cold chess pieces.

"That's right, what I need to do is not to kill the Triangle. That angle is too conservative and basically impossible to break through."

"Momentum! Momentum! Momentum! That's my chance to win!"

Sato's eyes gleamed as he held a piece between his fingers, his wrist hovering in the air.

"I'm a genius even outside the chess academy!"

The chess piece fell to the ground with a thud!

"I won't lose to you!"

Sixteen columns and sixteen rows, stars!

Seeing Sato's piece fall, Mr. Motomura's eyes lit up and he nodded secretly.

"A triple strike from behind... Sato, as expected of the third-ranked student in Class 2, has struck Kuroko's weakness hard."

The three-star formation aims to gain momentum, which is exactly the opposite of Su Ran's three-three point formation.

Not obsessed with the solidity of the corners, nor entangled in the solid ground, this layout focuses not on occupying the corners, but on developing towards the center.

This layout rapidly gained popularity after the emergence of the rule of matching targets.

Because of the burden of a 6.5 komi for Black, players cannot afford to be soft from the start, hence the popularity of the three-star formation among Go players.

Three-star formations are usually the first move, but against Su Ran's style of placing a three-star formation and holding onto the corner, a three-star formation as the second move is not necessarily a bad option.

Sato raised his eyes, looked at Su Ran, and smiled.

"How about that? Were you stunned by my move?"

"Since you've abandoned external forces and are content to survive in the corners, then I'll go with the flow, abandon the edges and corners, and instead launch a major offensive into the center, fighting to the death in the heart of the city!"

Pay the price for underestimating your opponent!

Su Ran remained calm and composed, unperturbed by praise or criticism, as she picked up a chess piece and placed it down.

Then, Su Ran tapped the timer.

Seeing that Su Ran remained unmoved, Sato felt a little annoyed and gritted his teeth as he placed his piece.

Hey!

Hey!

The pieces were placed on the chessboard one after another.

Both sides avoided direct combat on the chessboard, each pursuing their own strategies.

Soon, the game will enter the middle stage.

"Hmm... I have a bad feeling about this. It's that familiar sense of unease again."

Mr. Motomura frowned. Through the game records submitted by Su Ran, as well as his games against Su Ran and against Uchida, Mr. Motomura had gradually become familiar with Su Ran's style.

That kind of all-out fighting, that ruthless and cunning playing style, but right now, the development of the game is completely unlike the path Su Ran would take.

"No no no."

The village teacher adjusted his glasses.

“San San’s points are too thick. Even if he wanted to penetrate the middle of the body, it would probably take a long time.”

"What is this child thinking?"

As the chess pieces continued to fall, Sato's face showed excitement, thinking that this Su Ran was nothing special.

“I’m not like Uchida! After I’ve found a weakness, you don’t know how to retaliate and can only stay in a corner?”

"Just you wait and see, I'll utterly annihilate you!"

The chess piece fell to the ground with a thud.

Only the village teacher looked worried.

Although the situation seems very favorable for Bai Zi right now, Mr. Bencun, who has personally played against Su Ran, knows very well that Su Ran would never treat a child like this.

He is no ordinary chess player.

The village teacher began to re-examine the game, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper: "Where exactly is there something I haven't noticed..."

Suddenly, the village teacher's pupils contracted, his eyes widened, and he stared at the chessboard in disbelief.

"I see……"

"Almost, he even managed to fool me..."

"The day this child bares his fangs will be the day Sato dies!"

Mr. Honmura turned to look at Sato, who was beaming with excitement, and shook his head slightly.

"But... Sato is still completely unaware..."

"This kid named Su Ran's skill level is already comparable to that of a mid-level professional Go player... or even stronger!"

"Among his peers, the only one who can fight him is probably... that kid Akira Touya."

As Mr. Honmura was thinking this, suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and the name Hikaru Shindo popped into his mind.

"Yes...and Hikaru Shindo on that chess score from that day, he, he might also be able to..."

……

One hundred and twenty-seven conspiracies are brewing! These two are too arrogant!

On the other side of the chess room, after Akira Touya placed his piece, the boy opposite him fell into a long silence.

"So strong... Akira Touya, he truly lives up to his reputation... He's even stronger than Isumi..."

The boy swallowed hard, staring at the chessboard.

Only after personally playing against Akira Touya did he understand the feeling of powerlessness when facing a strong opponent.

It seemed invincible.

He was no weakling either. Precisely because he was strong, as an academy student, he could accurately and quickly assess the situation. Now that he had brought out Akira Touya's strength, he knew he had no chance left.

"I lost."

The boy lowered his head, completely convinced.

"Thank you, you flatter me."

Upon hearing this, Akira Touya stood up and immediately walked towards Su Ran.

When Akira Touya finished his game, the person next to him was startled: "So fast? Even faster than Mashiba's game."

The boy who lost the game looked a bit grim and muttered under his breath, "Stop talking so much! Just keep playing your game, or you'll be in big trouble if the village teacher catches you!"

The two people next to them exchanged a glance and chuckled.

"That guy went to Su Ranjun's place again."

"Touya Akira, he really doesn't take us seriously... By the way, is that guy named Su Ran really that strong?"

"Of course. I heard that even Akira Touya was defeated by Su Ran a few days ago. Of course they care about each other more. In Akira Touya's eyes, the only opponent is probably Su Ran, who defeated the village teacher in the academy entrance exam."

"Tch... This is really annoying. Can someone teach these two newbies a lesson?"

Upon hearing this, the boy who had lost the game suddenly brightened up and muttered to himself, "Shall we teach them a lesson?"

……

At this moment, Akira Touya had already arrived beside Mr. Honmura and nodded politely to him.

Then, I turned my attention to the chessboard.

Akira Touya stared wide-eyed in surprise after just one glance.

"Is Mr. Su Ran bad?"

Akira Touya looked at it again carefully in disbelief, pondering it deeply.

"No... at first glance, it surprised me quite a bit... but..."

"Yes...that's it!"