March Comes In Like a Lion

Rei Kiriyama became a professional shogi player while still in middle school, placing him among the game’s rare elite. That early success comes with heavy expectations from the shogi world and strain within his adoptive household, pushing the 17-year-old to seek distance by living alone in a small Tokyo apartment. Isolated at school and at the shogi hall, Rei’s withdrawn nature and neglect of his own well-being only deepen his sense of disconnection.

Not long after settling in, Rei crosses paths with the Kawamoto sisters—Akari, Hinata, and Momo—who live with their grandfather above his traditional wagashi shop. Akari’s steady, caring presence offers Rei warmth and structure, while the sisters’ own experience with loss helps form a bond that feels like the family he’s been missing. As Rei continues to navigate the demands of his shogi career, he’s gradually challenged to care for himself, open up to others, and make sense of emotions he’s long kept at arm’s length.