Title: The Tournament Challenge Drabbles
Author: Luce Red
Series: Hikaru no Go
Word Count: 100 each
Rating: General
Challenge: 'Tournament' at the jump100 community
Notes: The tournament in question is made-up. I think I'm having too much fun with this.

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The Crying Game, I

"Shindou, are you crying?" Touya Akira asked his rival, whom he had just defeated in the quarter-finals of the LJ Cup Tournament.

"Uh..." The murmur was followed by a loud, disgusting sniff as Shindou rubbed his running nose with a sleeve.

Touya leaned forward, suddenly aware of all the people who were staring at him as though he had just drowned a kitten, or worse: made Shindou Hikaru cry. "This isn't because you lost the game, is it?" he asked.

Shindou mumbled something.

"What do you mean, yes and no?"

No reply.

"Oh, suit yourself!" Touya said, leaving the room.

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The Crying Game, II

"Shindou," Waya said to the other pro. "You've been in countless Go tournaments. You have even lost games before. You are thirty-five years old. Why were you crying?"

Shindou sniffed. "I couldn't help it! I realized that there are so many other pros here that I wouldn't get to play, once I resigned. I want to continue playing!"

"So it isn't because of Touya."

"No!"

"Then you better tell him quickly."

"Huh?"

"He's freaking out in the toilet because he thought he made you cry. He's playing his next game in twenty minutes."

"Oh, shit!" Hikaru lunged for the toilet.

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Disclaimer: Characters are the property of Hotta and Obata. For part 2, compliments to Lois McMaster Bujold.
Notes: Ochi and Ashiwara play a game.

Shock, I

Ochi Kosuke looked at his opponent in shock. He thought this was the one person in this tournament against whom he could win. He had said as much to his friends. Against Ogata, or even Shindou or Touya, Ochi would have been prepared for a challenge, but he had dropped his guard against this person.

And what a mistake that was. Under the friendly, easy-going exterior, Ashiwara showed that he could go for the kill, too. Ochi suddenly realized two things. One, he now knew why Ashiwara belonged to Touya Kouyo’s study group. Two, he was out of this tournament.

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Shock, II

Try as he might, Ashiwara Hiroyuki could not feel sorry for Ochi. He had overheard Ochi’s comments, before the tournament started, that he expected an easy victory against the weakest of Touya Kouyo’s students. Ashiwara knew that he was not the best, but the implied insult to Touya-sensei had to be repaid just the same.

And he had done it. Ochi still looked shell-shocked, which was even more insulting. Ashiwara could feel himself smiling Ogata’s smile, before he said, "I am also a Go pro, you know. It annoys me when people forget that."

Ochi’s glasses fell off his nose.

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Entrances, I

Touya splashed water into his face and leant against the sink. Touya hated to admit it, but he felt helpless at seeing Shindou cry.

The door opened. Touya turned. "Shindou!" he exclaimed, then froze.

Ochi Kosuke stared at him through the lenses of his glasses, before he made an abrupt right turn and entered one of the cubicles, locking the door behind him. Touya turned to the mirror, watching the water droplets collect at his chin. He was being ridiculous, he told himself. So what if Shindou was crying? There was no reason for him to feel disturbed… or guilty.

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Entrances, II

Touya wiped his face with a handkerchief-Shindou would have used his sleeve-and wondered whether to go out and find his rival. Perhaps Shindou had stopped crying by now…

The door opened. Touya turned. "Shin…" he began, then froze.

Waya Yoshitake stared at him with a particularly unattractive dropped jaw. "Touya?" he finally exclaimed. "What are you doing here? Shindou is outside, crying like a girl!"

Despite himself, Touya winced, and said, "Still?"

Waya must have seen his expression, and pounced on it. "You! You are the one who made him cry!" he accused.

"I…"

Waya growled, and left.

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Entrances, III

Touya shook his head. He had to concentrate; he had another game to win. But the memory of Waya's accusing eyes and Shindou's tears made him lose his composure. Drat that Shindou, he thought, he affects me even when I defeat him.

The door opened. Touya tried not to roll his eyes, wondering who it could be this time.

"Touya!"

Touya turned around to see his rival. "Shindou," he said in surprise. At least Shindou was dry-eyed now, he thought.

"I heard that you were freaking… I mean, are you all right?"

He felt calm suddenly. "I'm fine," he said.

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