To convince her parents that she has what it takes to become a professional shogi player, Ai takes part in a qualification exam, promising to win all three matches against different players.
Yaichi is called to fulfill a request to have Ai Yashajin, a girl around Ai's age as his disciple. Realizing her potential Yaichi agrees to help with her training without Ai knowing, until his secret is exposed by a coincidental meeting.
Ai has a fallout with Yaichi upon discovering that he is teaching Yashajin behind her back. Sometime later, Yashajin takes her qualification exam, having a fierce match with Ai in the occasion.
Keika has few time left to win a promotion to the professional league before she is forced to retire. To test her determination, she bets everything in the next matches, but her opponents are none other than the two Ai's.
Ai's next opponent in the tournament is Ika Sainokami, a dangerous and selfish player obsessed with Yaichi, but she is determined to win for a special reason.
Yaichi's 7-round match against the Meijin to defend his Ryuo title begins. After being defeated three times, Yaichi is thrown into despair and fearing for his and Ai's careers, he comes with a bold decision.
In preparation for his next match, Yaichi holes himself up at home, shunning everybody around him, until he takes a break to watch Keika's decisive match in order to enter the professional league, and is surprised with how it unfolds.
Yaichi's next match against the Meijin ends with a double foul and a rematch starts soon after. As he plays against the strongest player ever, Yaichi takes into heart all his experiences with his friends.
