The Flowers of Hard Blood

Middle schooler Shion Yasuoka is quickly making a name for herself in the professional shogi world. Orphaned at a young age and left unable to speak from the trauma, she’s begun to rebuild her life with the steady support of a caring adoptive family and the shogi association, even as the demands of her career continue to mount.

Her growing reputation draws the interest of Satoru Hani, a prominent businessman and the brother of the reigning Meijin—the defending champion of Japan’s most prestigious shogi title. Satoru launches a new tournament open to men and women alike, welcoming both professionals and amateurs, and pushes Shion to enter. Yet his unusual familiarity with Shion’s past raises alarms for her friend Ayumi Saitou and for investigators still looking into the deaths of Shion’s loved ones.

With the competition nearing its conclusion, fragments of the night that shattered Shion’s life begin to resurface. To reach the finish line, she must keep her composure across the board while confronting the suspicions—and hidden intentions—surrounding Satoru’s event.