Charles and Christopher stood outside the stadium, glancing through the glass wall to watch Rose's match. Though the competition had just begun, Rose was already looking pale and flustered. However, they knew that this was just how she was in front of large crowds, and they hoped she would soon settle into her competitive rhythm.
As the match continued, it became apparent that Rose was at a disadvantage. The chess strategy being employed was very different from what she was used to, and even the professional TV commentators called her out on it. It seemed that Shinobu, like Yuki Kimura, was also a master in Japan, and he was familiar with Rose's style of play having trained with her. Rose, meanwhile, was studying Go in Japan.
Given the circumstances, it was unsurprising that Rose lost
