Sai's Internet Go games have people around the world guessing who he is. Akira, Hikaru's rival, suspects it's Hikaru himself. He even skips the first day of his pro exam for a re-match with "Sai."

"The main storyline takes a holiday, making way for six tales that offer fresh insight into the characters and lives of Akira Toya, Tetsuo Kaga, Asumi Nase, Yuki Mitani, Atsushi Kurata and Fujiwara-no-Sai. Hikaru Shindo figures in some of these and takes center stage in the final tale when he challenges a crooked antique shop owner to a game of go in an attempt to restore an heirloom vase to its rightful owner"--Publisher's web site.

"The Hokuto Cup games are about to begin, and Hikaru gets caught up in some misunderstandings that make it difficult for him to concentrate on go. In the first match between Japan and China he starts out poorly and seems well on the way to a resounding defeat. Only by getting a tight grip on himself can he possibly make a showing but that's far easier said than done!"--Page 4 of cover.

The main round of the pro test has begun. Everyone's feeling the pressure, no one more so than Hikaru's friend Isumi, who has failed the test twice before. Fighting off his feelings of self-doubt, Isumi faces his next opponent, who turns out to be Hikaru. But a careless mistake lands the pair in an awkward position!

While practicing at Go salons, Hikaru mistakenly insults Suyong Hong, a twelve-year-old who is studying for the pro test in his native Korea. To settle their differences, they must play a grudge match.

Tension is high during a Go tournament between the Kaio Go Club and the Haze Go Club, particularly during the final match between Akira and Hikaru. Afterward, Hikaru and Kimihiro learn more about playing the game and Hikaru finds a way to let Sai play all the Go he desires without drawing attention.

Hikaru ignores Sai's pleas to let him play Go, and then Sai vanishes! Where has he gone? Will he come back? Can Hiraku play with Sai's coaching?

Hikaru learns his rival, Akira, has landed a place on Japan's team for the Hokuto Cup and battles for one of the two remaining spots, while the Go world is shocked by Akira's father's retirement.

When Hikaru convinces go master Toya Meijin to play Sai online, the meijin raises the stakes: if he wins, "sai" must reveal his true identity; if he loses, he will quit the game forever! Then, Hikaru challenges himself by playing Kurata 6 dan. How do you win a game in which both players use the same color stones?!