The opening ceremony has gathered the players all all selected 52 schools. Already two days has passed after the girls of Ryuumonbuchi has arrived in Tokyo and they were eagerly waiting on the large amphitheatre. Fortunately, Kuro kept handholding Saki so no one got lost. The one they sent for the lottery was the ace from Kyuushu.

Talking about her, the girl stood on the scene, alongside the other representatives. Already there, the atmosphere was somehow heavy as the one drawing for Shindouji was no one but Tsuruta Himeko herself. None of the two dared saying a word to each others.

Everyone noticed that, as well as how the rinshan princess was fidgeting nervously. After all, she was in the same room as her sister. Even Toki was a little anxious as she knew Senriyama players were also there.

The light went out and the podium lit up. The announcer's voice echoed as to let everyone knows. "We will now process into the lottery. As most of us already knows, the four seeded schools will only take part from the second round on. Their location on the table was set randomly though and so everyone else will have the chance to draw one number."

A large box was located on the stage. The first to draw was the representative of Himematsu, followed by Achiga, Shindouji and so on until ending with only Ryuumonbuchi last. As the lottery was over, the chart was displayed on the large screen.

The schools facing them in the first round did not have that good reputation but they were in the same bloc as Eisui and Himematsu. On the other hand, Senriyama, Shiraitodai and Achiga were at the other side so they wouldn't face each others until the finale.

Already there, everyone seemed worried, determined but a little unsure. With the definitive result, everyone present stood up and sang the hymn as a mark of fair game.

[-x-x-x-]

"Man! I was so nervous." Ako stated as she sat down. Their team was now at a cafe shop downtown after checking everything else. "I was unsure how it would turn out."

Meanwhile, Mairu has remained silent this whole time. Of course, everyone notice and Koromo decided to voice her opinion. "I don't think she hates you."

The brunette smiled. "I hope so too... but for now, I will brush these thoughts away and focus on our first match."

"It's as Mairu-san said." Touka nodded. "Let us focus on our first match. For this one, we will go all attack and destroy them head-on."

"Yes, ma'am!"

[-x-x-x-]

Few days went on since the first matches. Since Ryuumonbuchi was on the third bloc, they only got to play on the third day. From the current result, Achiga and Shindouji has managed to qualify for the second round.

The group from Nagano had a match that day. And as expected as the team that came from a not-so-known school, not that many journalist has gathered to say none.

Kuro was ready as she went to the stage fist. The three other opponents didn't leave that much impression while their teammates got their own lobby with a large TV plasma. Of course, the larger public was at the main avenue or at the main hall watching on a very large screen.

After giving a polite salutation, the players took seat and set the table on. Kuro started as the dealer and already managed to get 5 doras in her hand. The match started and after a couple of turn, the girl at her left declared riichi.

'Riichi on the third turn.' The three others thought at once.

The red-head didn't panic though and continued to play normally until reaching tenpai at the 8th turn. As she discarded the 1-sou without declaring riichi, the girl across her called for it, discarding a red dragon. On her next draw, Kuro managed to get her winning tile though. "Tsumo!"

-Winning hand: 3m 3m 3m 3m 4m 5m 5p 5p 4s 5s 6s 7s 8s (3s)-

The dora indicator being 2m, making 3m a dora, in addition, the girl had all red doras in hand. The first player who declared riichi stood up in shock at the terrifying hand. "What?!"

"Tsumo, Tan yao, Dora 8." Kuro said. "It'll be 8000 all."

The girl sitting across her was shocked as well but decided to not let it affect her that much. "A lucky hand...?"

Meanwhile, on the amphitheatre, the crowd was in an uproar. "The player Matsumi has opened the match with a dealer baiman!"

Inside the lobby, Touka could only smile. "Show them Ryuumonbuchi's power, Kuro!"

As the bonus round started, Mairu's phone rang and she stood up, looking at the screen. "I need to answer. May I leave for a while?"

"Just make sure to be back for your match." Their manager smiled.

The ace returned the smile and walked out of the room before answering the call. "It's Mairu! Good morning, Mothers."

The woman at the other side of the line chuckled. "Mommy and I are watching the tv right now. Your friend is doing really well."

"Well... it was just one win. The match is far from over."

"But I'm very glad." Another woman spoke into the phone. "We were really concerned after you felt that down. You did well last year but still couldn't get in the national top 4. I am so glad Ryuumonbuchi-san offered her help. I am worried about Himeko-chan though."

"Mom... I..." Mairu looked down, her legs moving around and leading her toward the main hall. "I felt like I betrayed their trust... Yoshiko, Hanada and Himeko. They were looking forward to play together but Touka's proposition was too much."

"We understand how you feel." The first woman continued. "It was not an easy choice considering our financial problem. Sorry."

"You need not to feel sorry, Mama. After all, I was the one who insisting on having a younger sister."

The second woman chuckled. "We will get to Tokyo for the semifinals so make sure to encourage everyone so you reach that."

"I will do my best."

"Do your best, Mairu~"

The brunette hung the phone and smiled by herself. She was among one of the people born from the marriage of two people of same-sex. A technology known as IPS cell has allowed her mothers to give birth to her and would give birth to her future sister in few months.

They recently found a financial problem and since one of her mother -the pregnant one- had limits, it was a little hard for her other mother alone to deal with everything. That was when Touka arrived and had her sign a contract. The choices were not that much.

First reason, Mairu tried a part-time job but she did suck at it. Secondly, it was not as if she was that proud of something and it wouldn't count as betraying. Lastly, it was her who kept begging her mothers for a sister.

"I am a siscon before she is even born, huh?" She chuckled to herself.

[-x-x-x-]

"And that ends the vanguard match!" The announcer's voice echoed.

Mairu stood up as it was her turn to play. As she started to walk, Saki smiled at her. "Do not forget to have fun, senpai."

"I will. Thank you, Saki!"

It didn't take her that long to reach the arena where she was greeted by a very happy Kuro. The girl didn't win that many hands but she has managed to score lot of points thanks to her dora.

"Good work today, Kuro!"

"Thank you!" The red-head smiled brightly. "Good luck, senpai!"

With that, they high-fived and switched place as the dragon lord walked back to the lobby. The opponents has also arrived and the four of them took seat. "Let us have a fair match!"

"Same!"

After the greeting, the light went out and the match began. After picking their tiles, the dealer made a fast choice and everyone else followed.

[-x-x-x-]

"The second match is over!" Once again, the announcer said. "The match was fully dominated by the player Shirouzu. She is not known as the real ace of Kyuushu for nothing. We just saw there an ace in action."

"If I remember well, Shirouzu has finished 5th place during last year's inter-high individual tournament." The professional player beside her commented back.

"I didn't expect any less from Mairu." Touka said proudly before turning to the one who was going to play next. "Next up is your turn, Awai."

"I am going to make one of them go bust." The blonde exclaimed with a chuckle as she stood up from the couch. She turned to Saki and Koromo with a wicked smile. "Rest assured and save your tricks for the second round matches, 'kay~"

"Cooky as always..." Ako sighed. "Just remember; no double riichi though."

"Sure sure!"

As she left, everyone saw Mairu entering the lobby. The girl just took seat as their manager congratulated her. "Good job out there. We are now more than 100 000 points ahead of the second player and the fourth position only have 34 600 points left."

"It was thanks to the flow Kuro has created. I just did everything I could." As she finished her words, her phone rang and she smiled.

"You can answer here, you know." Koromo beamed a smile. "Everyone know how spoiled you are, Mai-chan~" She teased her senior, who in response just chuckled.

"You are forbidden of calling me like that." The brunette laughed before answering the phone.

"You did a very good match, Mairu!"

"That's our Mai-chan!"

"I am glad you both enjoyed the match." The girl responded calmly, a smile staying on her face.

"Now that I think of it..." Ako commented as she was looking at her senior, "everyone here playing for Ryuumonbuchi are born from same-sex parents..."

Her pointing out made Touka laugh. "You only noticed it now?"

"Well... not really." The brunette blushed at her senior's reaction.

As the theme of 'parents' was brought up, Saki and Kuro looked down. Everyone noticed and quickly tried to change the subject. "Anyway, let us cheer on Awai for now. We'll leave tomorrow's problem for tonight. For now, focus!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

[-x-x-x-]

A/N: Kobayashi Ritz has recently confirmed that same-sex marriage is legal in the world of Saki and so is the possibility of them having a child via IPS technology. She also said that more than half the cast of Saki were lesbians and a majority of them born from same-sex parents.

As for Mairu, she might seem a little OOC as I got inspired by Saki Biyori about she she can act spoiled at home. Her wanting a little sister is a little random though but it helps building her story.

That's all for now.

See you next time!