Mahjong...
It's a game mixing luck, logic and something else. While having been considered as a game for yakuza at some point, it has become among the most popular past-time.
As usual, the national inter-high tournament takes place in Tokyo, where girls from their 14s to 19s take part and aim for the top. This year was no different as the participants were gathering one by one on the capital town.
The regional tournaments were set few weeks earlier to decide who would represent their prefecture. While some of the well-named school has managed to keep being seeded, there were still few schools, less known, but with potential that took part.
Among these less know was Ryuumonbuchi from the prefecture or Nagano. Their team was composed of 7 young girls from all around the country who were scouted one by one by the heiress of the Ryuumonbuchi family, Touka.
They have been riding a large van and arrived at the designated hotel. Having arrived two days before the official opening, they had some free time so got inside. Already some of them were amazed by how luxurious it was.
"You never cease to amaze me." said the brunette girl clad in Ryuumonbuchi's white and pink uniform. Her hair was attached in low pigtails.
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' second player: Shirouzu Mairu-
"Of course!" The tall blonde proudly folded her arms. She was also wearing the uniform. "I need to provide the best for our team."
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' manager: Ryuumonbuchi Touka-
"Thank you for always being caring, Touka-chan!" The other brunette who had storter hair, smiled as she sighed.
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' fifth player: Miyanaga Saki-
The girl Saka was clinging to, chuckled as she patted her friend's head. The rinshan princess usually got lost easily so the red-head made it her task to always do the babysitting. "Let us do our best in the tournament in that case."
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' backup player: Matsumi Kuro-
Another girl with light brown hair sighed as she sat down on the large couch. Since they needed to register at the counter and there were still other people in front of them, she decided to take a breath. "I can't believe how Touka-san has managed to gather us all. Truth is I never thought of myself as the ace of Nara or anything but you still insisted on wanting me."
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' first player: Atarashi Ako-
"Usually, people would go after their own kind of ace." The manager responded with a chuckle. "Many people would go for people like Miyanaga Teru but I am of a higher calibre. I can easily spot a diamond in rought by looking at their matches."
"That's Touka for you!" The smallest of their group happily nodded while praising her cousin.
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' fourth player: Amae Koromo-
"But still," Another blonde of the group sat next to Ako and clung to the shorter girl, "I want you in my team. Name anything you want and I will make it true. If you accept, I promise we will win the national." she quoted the words Touka has used to convince her a couple of months ago as she was graduating from middle school.
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' third player: Oohoshi Awai-
The last member of the team, a short brunette sat down with a sigh. "But still, you easily managed to make me transfer from Senriyama in Osaka to Nagano is making me think."
-Ryuumonbuchi girls' backup player: Onjouji Toki-
Touka laughed it off. "After watching you playing records, I could understand right away you could predict the future. I just couldn't let that chance go."
Toki nodded with another sigh. "I wonder if Ryuuka and Sera will be all right..."
Everyone else remained quiet after that, realizing they might face against their friends from middle school.
The one to break the silence was Mairu. "Be it in tears or laugher, we will do our best and aim for the top." She was thinking about her childhood lover and the fact of maybe facing her but pushed these thoughts away.
"Well said!" Awai nodded and everyone else smiled, ready to take the next step toward the top.
[-x-x-x-]
"Ron!" The blonde first year exclaimed, revealing her hand. "Double riichi, dora 4."
"Aww~" Kuro had teary eyes as she went bust again.
-Winning hand: 8m 8m 8m 1p 2p 3p 5p 7p 6s 6s [Pei Pei Pei Pei] {6p}-
After getting the key to their room and enjoying a nice bath, the girls has gathered at the lobby for a couple of game. By far, Oohoshi's double riichi was dominating the battle, with Maru being second and Saki keeping her score plus minus 0.
"My win again~ I am just too good."
No one said anything at that as they knew the girl's special powere was really terrifying. Again, they were all diamonds in rought that Touka has managed to bring together.
"Then, how about I play next?" Koromo happily said as Kuro stood up to dive right onto their manager's chest.
It was a secret to one that Kuro was a lover of breasts, especially big ones. Everyone, knowing she still missed their mother, always happily accepted her.
As the petite girl took a seat though, Saki stood up. "I am kind of thirsty so could anyone take my place?"
"I will." Ako volunteered and joined the three others. "Will you be fine by the way, Saki? Won't you get lost again?"
"I don't know..."
Toki sighed as she pushed her back so she would be sitting. She was previously sleeping on the couch but felt worried toward their friends. "I guess I want something to drink as well." She was not that healthy of a person so doing physical movement was a pain for her. That didn't stop her for caring about their younger members though. "Life sure is cruel."
"So young and already reaching that truth?" Awai, who managed to hear the last comment teased before getting ready for their next match. Saki and Toki just walked away.
"The opening ceremony is in two days, huh?" Mairu thought aloud as she rearranged her own tiles. 'Himeko...'
Ako also had her own thoughts. After getting invited to live and study in Nagano, she was forced to say goodbye to her crush and childhood friend. She still worried about them from time to time. 'I heard Achiga won the prefecture tournament with Akado-sensei's help. I wonder how Shizu is...'
They were not the only one as the younger Matsumi girl, who has managed to calm down, was looking through the large glass window. The sky in Tokyo on clear night was very different from her homes'. The reason she has accepted Touka's offer was because she wanted to meed Nodoka again and because Ako was going. 'Onee-chan... I will do my best for our sake. Someday, we will be together again.'
At the main hall, the two other members stood in front of the drink distributor, back against the wall. They remained in silence until Toki spoke up. "I heard the champion will be playing as fifth player." She worried about her junior. "Will you be all right, Saki?"
No response came. The younger girl was still unsure about lot of things. She wanted to make up with her sister but still had few doubts. "I don't know. I just know that I will do my best so that my feelings will reach her."
"Is that so?" The older girl breathed out. "I just want you to know you have friends by the way. Everyone will be there for you so do not look so down."
Saki smiled at these words. "Thank you, Onjouji-senpai!"
"I already told you; no need to be so formal." The other brunette returned the smile as she took a sip of her canned fruit juice.
"Thank you, Toki-senpai! Let us do our best, together."
"Yeah! We're counting on you, taisho!"
[-x-x-x-]
A/N: Hello people; YayaSamuko here! Having watched the anime, I got addicted to mahjong and then found about the Saki games for PSP. While playing, I got the idea of building an All-star game featuring my favorite characters so here we go!
About the winning hands, they will be put in bold with m for manzu tiles, p for pinzu, s for souzu, haku for white, chun for red, hatsu for green and so on. The closed kan will be put in [...] while called tiles will be in (...). The winning tile, regardless of ron or tsumo will be in {...} like shown in Awai's win.
On a side note, the reason I decided to chose these characters is:
Matsumi Kuro: Dora monopoly
Atarashi Ako: Her luck increase as she call tiles
Onjouji Toki: One/Two/Three turns ahead seen
Shirouzu Mairu: She is so badass as her luck in inhuman
Oohoshi Awai: The opponent's starting hands are bad and she has the kan ura power
Amae Koromo: Making sure she gets to draw the last tile will stop the other players whike guaranteeing for a haitei raoyue
Miyanaga Sali: Rinshan Kaihou!
With that said,
See you next time!