The Flowers of Hard Blood

Shion Yasuoka, a middle school kid, is defying the odds and rising to the top of the professional shogi world. Even though she lost her family when she was a small child and was rendered speechless as a result of the trauma, she has found the emotional support she needs in her loving adoptive family and at the shogi organization to continue living her life and juggling a very demanding work. Satoru Hani, a prosperous businessman and the brother of the reigning "Meijin" (the title granted to the defending champion of Japan's most famous shogi tournament), notices her talent. He makes the decision to plan a tournament that is open to both men and women, amateur and professional players, and he encourages Shion to take part in it. Shion's friend Ayumi Saitou and the police, who are still looking into the deaths of Shion's loved ones, are suspicious of Satoru because he appears to know a lot about Shion's tragic background. Shion begins to recall details from the night she lost everything as the tournament's conclusion draws near. She will need to demonstrate her mental toughness to triumph over her opponents and thwart the schemes of the people who caused her life's disaster.