@goodhunter @cgr
It's true that he's had happiness and met people he cares for in shogi, but "Path" gives us some very clear examples of how Kiriyama's recently feeling about shogi. He has more and more trouble delving back into the 'cold' world of shogi now that he has the warmth and affection of the Kawamotos; he is more and more often, and more quickly, finding himself in the 'pitch-black room' of being cornered; Mr. Hayashida notes that although Rei is afraid but wants to hold onto the onigiri in his hands (aka the warmth of the Kawamotos), he has
never said he wants to gain a shoji title - and that's basically the end goal of all professionals.
At the end of "Path," he even acknowledges there's thing's he's lost (his birth family), things he's gained (new friends and people who care about him), things he will eventually lose (...?), and things he doesn't want to lose (Hina). Right now, he still feels that if he fails at shogi, he's "useless," and that's something that he needs to grow out of. His current mindset of how he views himself in relation to shogi is still unhealthy - which is why I think it's so important that he sees Hina reach for her dreams. Just as Hina has people supporting her, Rei has people supporting him, and I feel like he needs to come to an acceptance that it would be "okay" even if he did quit shogi before he finally decides whether or not to continue with it. (I do think he'll stick with it in the end, but I just believe there are hoops to get through first.)
