7th part: The match

The players of the whole world discover with amazement Toya Meijin on the Net. This one prepares for his match against Sai and tries to be familiarized with the data-processing tools. He also asks so that nobody comes to disturb him the day of the match.

On his side, Sai studies his kifu and even plays a match with Akari to change his ideas. Sai is happy to see his dream finally becoming reality.

Toya Meijin and Sai are behind their computers the agreed day. All the players of the world accustomed to play go on Internet who realizes that a match is engaged between these two extraordinary players, look at it with passion.

By chance, Waya sees the match on internet just like Akira who studies go with some friends, but had said to them that his father was playing go on internet.

The Meijin seems to take the advantage even if Sai is most offensive. However, he recognizes that Sai is an exceptional player. He thinks that if he wins, he will require of Sai that this one reveal to him who he is.

Ogata go to see Toya Meijin at the hospital but he is driven back. It is said to him that the Master is playing go on the Net and asked not to be disturbed. He returns at his home and connects him too. He is amazed while discovering against which the Meijin is playing and wonders which could arrange in advance this match. Like Akira, he then starts to think that Sai is in fact Hikaru which he saw at the hospital.

The match is tight until the end but the situation turns finally to the advantage of Sai and Toya Meijin gives up.

Sai is happy that Koyo Toya played seriously. It is the most beautiful match which he never disputed. But he is amazed when Hikaru announces to him that he saw how the Meijin could have won at the end of the match. Sai knows then why he came back after thousand years: to show this play to Hikaru.

Hikaru learned much while attending the match from Sai against Toya Meijin. But he wonders whether as he had announced, Toya Meijin will withdraw the world of go. He hopes ardently that not.

He thus goes to the hospital. Toya Meijin asks him who Say is. He says to him that he had the same impression as during their match. However, he also says to him that it does not matter if he does not know the identity of Sai, he wants to play with him still even if it is only on Internet.

But Sai thinks that his time from now on is counted.

Ogata arrives at the hospital and listening at the door the conversation between Toya Meijin and Hikaru. It hears them speaking about Sai and emerges then in the room. Hikaru flees but Ogata catches up with it and asks him to also play against Sai. Akira also arrives and Shindo benefits from the distraction to escape from Ogata.

Ogata tells in Akira that Hikaru knows Sai. They will question Toya Meijin but this one, in accordance with hid promise, does not say anything.

Akira knows whereas it is Hikaru which holds the key of the mystery.

Sai is sad but he does not want to say why. He knows that it does not remain to him much any more of time.

Toya Meijin loses his following match against Ogata, which allow this one to gain Judan (10 dan), his first large title.

Hikaru wonders about this defeat (which will be the last match of the Master as a pro).

Shindo goes in a restaurant of ramen and is surprised to meet Kurata there.

This one says to him that in his match against Ogata, Toya Meijin played a different but superb go. He also reveals to him that Akira frightens him.

Hikaru manages to convince Kurata to play against him for entrainer. They go in a go center and Kurata proposes to him to play a kind of match: with only one stone color what will oblige them to memorize all their blows to know to which belongs the stones.

During the match, Kurata realizes of the value of Hikaru. He is said whereas there is not only Akira who arrives.

In a press conference, Toya Meijin announces that he withdraws competition.

Everyone wonders about the withdrawal of the competition of Toya Meijin. Kurata goes to the house of Toya to play with Koyo and he profits from it for saying to Akira to look behind him, to be wary of Hikaru Shindo.

Hikaru disputes his first match as a professional against a player having 3 dan. But Hikaru is strong and in confidence. Even Sai is astonished. He gains.

The evening, Hikaru disputes a match against Sai and this one is annoyed because Hikaru is not yet able to beat him.

Hikaru's Grandfather was burglarized. Sai is anxious concerning the goban in which he was before. It was not stolen but blood slightly seems to erased.

Hikaru's Grandfather wants to play against him but Sai presses him to return to the house to play against him because he feels that he will disappear soon.

Hikaru treats him of egoist believing that he makes blackmail.

They then go to a go seminar where Hikaru, as a pro, gives lessons to amateurs.

But suddenly, Ogata comes to sit down opposite him. He is drunk and asks him to let him play against Sai. Sai accepts because he wants to satisfy the passion of Ogata. This last agrees to play against Hikaru by defect but Hikaru will let Sai play. This last always deplores his fate and is furious not to have more time. He does not want to leave Hikaru.

Hikaru follows Ogata in his hotel room.

Hikaru gains but Ogata, although completely drunk, nevertheless saw his play and says to him that he had the impression to play against Sai.

In the train which brings back them to Hikaru's house; Sai starts to feel to disappear. He proposes a last match with Hikaru which falls from tiredness. This one falls asleep during their match. He suddenly opens his eyes to recall to Sai that it is his turn to play but Sai disappeared.