I always enjoy fics that explore Kouyou and Akiko's relationship. I also got the impression that Akiko is a very traditional Japanese housewife. (When she talks to Akira, she calls him "Akira-san" for goodness' sakes. But I noticed that she doesn't add the "-san" when not with him. Hmm.) Given when we know of the Touya household, I'd always kind of thought that maybe it was one of those arranged marriages that actually, y'know, worked out. It's clear they all enjoy one another's company and are a content family.

From the series, it's clear Akiko understands Go and accepts her husband and son's obsession with it. (I can't recall exactly, but there was a scene where Akira was leaving the house to go to a study group and she said something like, "You and your father! Go all the time!" but not in an exasperated way. Plus she knows about Shindou and what he means to her husband and son.) I felt you captured the little bits of Akiko we were allowed to see and developed her character very well.

I love the confrontation between her and Kouyou and that it started with what they think would be best for Akira. It's not over the top and the emotions of the characters are strong without too much overt description. Great one-shot!

It's written gently but firmly. The descriptions are just so - well-written, and wonderfully tender, but still solid.

I'm so very glad to see a side of Kouyo that's for his wife - speculation is always nice, and this is done so wonderfully; conveyed so very well.

It's a nice one-shot. A good one-shot. It's a great one-shot. Yeah, it really is - it's not overdone, and this confronts Touya Kouya's obsession with go over all else; it works out just well, and appeals just as much. It's the best I've read in a while, truth be told.

Thanks for posting this - it's a pleasant read.

~PT

Parents deciding what they think is right for their children!

An interesting collision of Kouyo and Akiko's viewpoints.

I noticed in the manga: When Akiko first meets Hikaru (at the hospital) she recognises him from Go Weekly. I suppose it's not suprising, you'd remember him from his photo with that hair of his.

So Akiko reads Go Weekly? Again its not surprising as she has two Go players in her family. Even if she doesn't play herself she might follow it for articles about them.

But she recognises Hikaru as 'a new professional who's same age as Akira' and not as 'Kouyo's (chosen) opponent in the Shin-shodan game'. Perhaps she and Kouyo don't talk about his career so much...

For her, I personally think it would have taken some effort to avoid playing Go altogether in her life - given that she's permanently surrounded by it.

And you're right. We do know very little about her - which makes her ideal for fanfictional speculation!

This is so sweet

Very well-written