My own interpretation of the last few pages where Rei is hearing the sound of the waves again is that he is regaining his motivation after meeting Takashi, who reignites his desire to know about more about the Meijin and what it is like to be on the other side of the "storm", a metaphor for the difficulties in the climb to the top.
We'll see next chapter, I think~ as he'll have a televised shogi match in it
*is dying to know what happens!*