Standing at the top of the Shogi world doesn't numb the sting of defeat. After losing another three games in a row, Yaichi Kuzuryu fears that he's falling behind in his personal and professional life. Feeling like his habits are being used against him, he seeks out a player of the "enemy" style to be his mentor and challenge his fundamentals.

Meanwhile, Keika Kiyotaki finds herself with questions of her own. While the Ryuo may admire her, the sudden rise of his rookie apprentice in Ai Hinatsuru forces Keika to doubt whether she can ever truly realize her dream of being a professional Shogi player. The gap in results between years of hard work and the natural talent of a genius scares even Ai, who begins to fear that even the best players can lose their way in search of the next victory.

As new paths threaten to lead them astray, each player must decide what price they'd pay to improve and if the change they seek is really for the better.