Pair Go and the Bank Video
“Pair Go?”
Honestly, I hadn’t expected that.
Go had always been treated as an individual sport, after all.
The very idea of forming a team felt completely foreign.
“This year the sponsor has increased its backing significantly. Thanks to that, the world’s top pair-Go team no longer needs a recommendation from the Korea Baduk Association—first and second place from the Sunyeon Cup now qualify automatically.”
Winning a domestic tournament now meant an automatic berth to the world pair-Go event.
Bigger stage than I’d imagined.
“Well, the world tournament is still a long way off.”
Park Jin-woo smiled and continued.
“The important part is that even if I lose in the first round, as long as I reach the quarterfinals or better in the Sunyeon Cup, I’ll still secure enough promotion points. Amateurs and professionals can both participate.”
Park sensei always placed entering the pros as the absolute top priority.
He prepared by assuming the worst possible outcome first.
That was his signature style when leading the Giseong Study Group.
Of course I felt the same way.
I have no intention of losing.
Whether the opponent was the world number-one or anyone else, it didn’t matter.
Since we were bound to clash anyway, I was ready to step up.
After all, no one challenges an opponent while already expecting defeat.
Yet I refused to let even the minimum goal of entering the pros slip through my fingers.
Park sensei’s thoughtful calculation of every possibility was genuinely appreciated.
“Besides…… the real reason I suggested this is because I think it will benefit both of you.”
Park sensei’s eyes grew a little deeper.
“Pair Go requires not only reading the opponent’s moves but constantly inferring your partner’s intentions. In that process you naturally develop an objective perspective.”
I nodded.
It made sense.
Interpreting your partner’s moves would inevitably sharpen your own reading ability.
“Another benefit is that your ability to handle mistakes by your partner will grow, and conversely you’ll develop emergency-response skills to keep the flow going when you yourself slip up.”
A concise yet persuasive summary.
“Even from the standpoint of preparing for the Ciel Bank Cup, this will be excellent training.”
Park sensei’s gaze naturally turned to Yuzuha.
“You didn’t participate last year, right?”
“Yes. Woobin suggested we go together, but I refused. I was in a slump then.”
A short answer.
Yet her eyes, glancing at me, were deep and gentle.
“What about you, In-ha? Planning to participate?”
I looked back at Yuzuha.
When our eyes met, she smiled with a soft laugh.
We fell silent for a moment.
Then she quietly nodded.
“I think I’ll be fine.”
“Me too. I want to go with oppa.”
Park sensei’s mouth curved upward.
“The Sunyeon Cup will be held during the three-week rest period between the semifinals and finals of the Ciel Bank Cup. No schedule conflicts.”
Before the sentence finished, Park sensei waved and called someone.
“Min-ho, Dong-woo. Come here for a moment.”
Two figures approached at his summons.
Kim Min-ho 8-dan, who trained closely with us, and Lee Dong-woo 7-dan, who greeted us but kept distance.
“The pair Go I asked about yesterday—can we do it now?”
“Yes. It’s fine.”
“Me too.”
Ah, you even made a reservation in advance.
As expected of Park sensei—thorough to the last detail.
We quietly moved to the Go room.
Four of us sat across from one board.
It feels awkward.
A strange sensation somewhere between player and spectator.
The view of the board itself felt slightly wider and strangely distorted.
“Pair Go rule is that the woman on the black team moves first. Conversation is allowed, but gestures, expressions, and hints are all prohibited.”
Park sensei set down the timer and added.
“In the spirit of taking initiative, let’s play a quick game.”
Click.
We covered the stones.
Black.
I picked up Yuzuha’s black stone.
The opening move was placed calmly on the star point.
Lee Dong-woo 7-dan answered with white using a small knight.
My turn.
I placed a black stone on the small knight.
And immediately Kim Min-ho 8-dan invaded with triple three.
A slightly irregular opening.
Tap.
Yuzuha blocked the white triple three toward the right side.
Eh? Blocking that way?
Unexpected.
That single move completely changed the direction of the opening.
Even though we were on the same team, I couldn’t easily predict the next move.
An unfamiliar flow.
But.
……It’s fun.
One move at a time, my thoughts diversified.
Having to read my partner’s intentions made me focus even more on reading.
Since I didn’t know where my move would lead, I had to place meaningful joseki points.
Tap.
Yuzuha’s move was both flexible and aggressive.
Light yet unwavering, precarious yet easily unbreakable.
Like watching an unfinished version of my old Go—awkward but dignified.
Yeah, fight as hard as you want.
I supported Yuzuha’s fight.
If reading seemed lacking, I supplemented it.
If her breathing slowed, I adjusted the rhythm to keep the flow.
Go that supported the partner’s back.
While mixing my own shape judgment and guidance to maintain balance.
Then.
This move is……
Yuzuha made a reckless move.
A move that exposed a weakness.
A dangerous play that could tilt the shape in an instant.
As expected, Kim Min-ho 8-dan found the gap.
I maintained composure and carefully considered the ko.
Tap.
After long thought, I played one move.
I subtly reversed the flow and cut off white’s momentum.
It definitely helps.
Mental maintenance.
Subsequent response ability.
Maintaining concentration as if in a real game.
The sense of immersing while controlling emotions under psychological pressure.
“We’re done here. The winner and loser seem decided.”
At Park sensei’s words, we quietly withdrew our hands.
A moment later, Kim Min-ho 8-dan crossed his arms and tilted his head.
“Why do you two match your rhythm so well?”
Lee Dong-woo 7-dan nodded and chimed in.
“No, it’s like they have the same style. I really thought it was one person playing.”
“Especially In-ha sunbae, it was no joke.”
“Me?”
“The weak points are filled, and when attacking, you push together. Too perfect—I was just amazed.”
“Was it?”
I simply smiled silently.
Lee Dong-woo 7-dan looked at Yuzuha and said.
“Yuzuha, you really got stronger? It’s not like you broke through the women’s division and made it to the main event for nothing.”
Yuzuha smiled shyly.
“……Thanks to In-ha oppa.”
“See. You’ve become very similar to sunbae’s style. You two worked hard. Well done.”
Kim Min-ho 8-dan and Lee Dong-woo 7-dan left the room.
Park sensei concluded.
“Since it’s the first pair Go, there will be a lot to coordinate. Let’s review and talk slowly.”
So only the two of us remained in the corner of the Go room.
I quietly placed stones on the board.
One move at a time.
The flow from earlier came back.
I spoke first.
“……Surprisingly, it matched well.”
“Eh?”
“Our rhythm.”
Yuzuha blinked, then nodded with a smile.
“Me too. Isn’t it weird? We can’t even talk, but it was so reassuring. I kept expecting it.”
Her fingertips brushed the board.
The spot she had made a mistake earlier.
“Here, I rushed, right?”
“Yeah. But that kind of fight was good. I’ll handle the cleanup.”
I smiled and said.
Yuzuha quietly laughed, then hesitated a moment and spoke.
“Actually…… while playing with oppa, I felt a strange feeling.”
“What?”
She chose her words carefully.
“It felt like we were sharing each other.”
“…….”
“I also felt a deep connection between us.”
I silently looked at her, then quietly nodded.
“I felt that too.”
At my words, Yuzuha’s eyes widened like a deer.
“……It was like sinking in deeply.”
“Eek?”
Yuzuha looked at me with a surprised expression.
A look of panic was evident.
I deliberately added casually.
“Our Go.”
“Ah…… what? N-no, don’t tease me.”
She turned her head, then smiled a little with a calmed face.
“Pleasure to meet you as partner, oppa.”
“Same here.”
We smiled at each other.
Really, a good pair.
Perhaps even better than expected.
Then.
Click.
The mechanical sound from the door made our heads turn reflexively.
Jung Soo-yeon team leader smiled awkwardly and raised one hand.
“S-sorry.”
“…….”
I blanked out.
We were still filming.
***
Inside the bus.
Holding the handle, body relaxed to the bumpy rhythm, commuting to work.
The scenery outside the window flashed by, but didn’t register.
My mind was full of the promotional video Park Jin-woo had sent yesterday.
- After work, he pursues becoming a professional Go player.
- Bank security guard, taking the first step toward the world stage.
- The employee who invested in people, the story of an employee who invested in dreams.
With thumbnail and catchy subtitles and keywords.
From the Biryong Tournament video, my appearance filmed inside the bank was included as is.
What am I going to do with my hands and feet…….
My face was still burning.
It felt like watching a life movie.
In the middle, my interview came out, and narration appeared.
I was considering seriously asking to delete it, but it was too late.
It had been officially uploaded to the Ciel Bank channel this morning.
……I don’t think I can even see the comments.
- Next stop is Samil Market. Please get off if you’re getting off.
I pressed the bell and got off the bus.
Arrived at the bank, raised the iron door shutter, and disarmed the security.
The inside of the bank I entered was still dark.
Turned on the lights and immediately headed to the changing room.
Opened the cabinet, changed into work clothes, and came back to the lobby.
While continuing the usual work preparation, the branch manager came in.
“Kim section chief, good morning.”
“Good morning, branch manager.”
“Hmmm. Let’s see at the review.”
The branch manager passed with a meaningful smile.
Usually he would add various stories, but today only that one sentence.
Review?
That word kept nagging.
Somehow, an ominous feeling arose.
But I brushed it off as if not noticing.
Then.
Yeon-hui came in with an odd sniffling sound and greeted me.
With lips tightly shut, face holding back laughter, she passed by my side.
Ah.
The cool feeling became clearer as time passed.
And when the review time came, it peaked.
“Today’s review will be conducted in the conference room as per branch manager’s instruction. Everyone gather.”
At the deputy branch manager’s words, all employees headed to the conference room.
The branch manager who was already there was instructing the assistant section chief.
The assistant section chief was diligently connecting something on the large monitor.
“Everyone sit. Today’s review is special, so I called you to watch.”
The branch manager gestured with his chin.
The assistant section chief glanced at me with a disgusted expression, then manipulated the remote.
The Ciel Bank channel appeared on the monitor, and the video thumbnail popped up.
“This is the video of our Kim section chief that our Ciel Bank is proud of.”
When I pressed play, the familiar logo, background, and face appeared filling the screen.
Ciel Bank logo.
My appearance serving customers at the branch.
Assistant section chief Ha awkwardly smiling while handing coffee, and section chief Park.
Branch manager interview.
And.
My face smiling confidently after winning the Biryong Tournament.
“Until you lose.”
A decisive line.
“I’m undefeated.”
My face was not just hot, but burning.
Perhaps, if I died today, the cause of death……
……Humiliation, right?
When the video ended, the branch manager looked at the employees and said.
“What? No clapping…….”
Before the branch manager finished speaking, applause erupted.
It was Yeon-hui.
Then, spontaneous applause broke out among the employees.
Even the employees who usually didn’t interact joined in clapping at this moment.
“Congratulations, Kim section chief.”
“Kim section chief as an in-house model.”
“Amazing. Do you need to get an autograph?”
“Next, are you going to film a CF?”
Half joking, half sincere.
The faces that wouldn’t mix words before came to talk without reservation today.
Ah.
I couldn’t lift my head.
Shame, embarrassment, and self-loathing hit like a triple.
Or not, the branch manager looked at me with a very satisfied face and nodded.
The storm-like review ended, and employees one by one left the conference room.
The assistant section chief and section chief Park had awkward faces.
Yeon-hui followed with laughter tightly held.
“Congratulations, Kim section chief. This is, there’s no star attached or something.”
“G, thank you.”
I answered with a voice close to resignation.
Not a school ceremony, and every time we gather employees and do this, I wanted to hide in a mouse hole.
“Section chief Kim, today’s lunch is ribs…… ah, is there a call coming?”
My smartphone in my pocket vibrated again.
A call.
“I’ll take this for a moment.”
“Take it comfortably.”
At the branch manager’s words, I took out the smartphone.
An unregistered number.
“Hello.”
- Hello? Is this Kim In-ha?
“Yes, it is. Who is this?”
Dry but somewhere official tone.
At the end, a familiar procedure feeling seeped in.
“This is the Ciel Bank Cup operation office. I contacted you last week on Monday regarding the opening ceremony and 32-player draw ceremony. May I have a brief call?”
Now it was sinking in.
The fact that the Ciel Bank Cup finals were approaching in a few days.