Shogi, a popular Japanese board game resembling chess, attracts players across all age groups, but only a select few achieve professional status. Among these top competitors, the prestigious title of Ryuuou, meaning "dragon king," is awarded to the highest-ranked player in the shogi hierarchy.
Yaichi Kuzuryuu has earned the honor of becoming the youngest Ryuuou by winning the grand championship. However, his success is met with skepticism and hostility from the shogi community, with some critics calling him the worst Ryuuou in history. Adding to his troubles, Yaichi has broken a promise he made to a young girl named Ai Hinatsuru to teach her if he won the tournament. When she shows up at his home, he reluctantly takes on the responsibility and begins coaching Ai.
Both Yaichi and Ai strive to exceed their current limits: Ai works to discover her hidden potential, while Yaichi aims to prove the legitimacy of his achievements to the doubters in the shogi world.
