It all began on the day Hikaru Shindou and Akari Fujisaki searched his grandfather's attic for goods to sell. He discovers a very old go table with some blood stains there. He hears a voice while he works to get the stains out. A ghost arrives out of nowhere, but only Hikaru seems to see it. He collapses after this meeting, and the spirit enters his mind.
Hikaru initially feels awful because Fujiwara no Sai, a ghost, desperately wants to play Go. In Heian-Kyo, the ghost instructed the emperor about Go (Kyoto). He was content at the moment and played Go every day. However, his opponent made sure he was unable to continue playing the game, so out of pure desperation, he committed suicide and turned into a ghost.
Hikaru visits Go clubs where only elderly people actually play since he now has a burning desire to learn the game. He defeats the little child Akira Touya there, who had never lost before. However, he now demands retribution...
