Thank you to all of you who have been kind enough to review :D

And thank you too for all the favorite and follow ^^

Disclaimer : Saki is not mine, neither is the cover picture, it is an illustration by Xin.


Saki's first impression on the place where the prefecture tournament take place is, "It's big", "there are a lot of people here" and "I think I'm going to get lost."

And indeed, lost she get.

It only took several minutes for Yuuki to realize that Saki is missing and quickly point it out, "Saki-chan is missing, djey!"

The other club members quickly take a look around and indeed Saki is missing.

"That girl's sense of direction really needs a lot of help." Say Hisa in tired tone.

Luckily for Saki, this has happens before, thus the club members have saved her phone number, just in case it happens again.

Hisa take out her phone and calls Saki. In just 3 rings Saki answer it with a teary, "W-where am I?"

Hisa is very temped to say 'How am I supposed to know?' but alas her duty as a Buchou dictate otherwise.

"Saki, calm down and take a look around, is there anything that could indicate your location?"

"Everything looks the same!" answer Saki quickly with panic added to the teary tone.

Hisa palm her forehead, "Are there people around you?"

"Y-yes?" answer Saki still in teary tone.

"Try asking one of them to the direction of the main hall near the exi… on a second thought, just ask them where you are." said Hisa, thinking that Saki might get lost while trying to get to their location.

5 minutes later, Suga-kun is deployed to rescue Saki, while the rest of the club, sans Nodoka who is swarmed by reporters, goes to find some place to sit down and wait.


Hisa mentally count her present team member, she smile and say, "Good, we're all here. Thank you for Suga-kun who manages to find and bring Saki here. And thank you to Nodoka who finally succeeds to get away from the reporters."

Nodoka lets out a tired sigh at the memories of the reporters and Saki looks plain glad at being rescued.

Hisa flip open her little note book, "Alright, I'm going to read the line up." Say Hisa as she give a cursory glance to all of her team member who look exited.

Fixing her glance to Yuuki, she say, "Our first player would be Yuuki."

"Yes! According to the theory, put your best player first! That means that I'm the strongest!" exclaim Yuuki excitedly.

"It is not like that." Say Mako lazily, then she drill the final nail, "It is just because you're bad at counting total points."

Yuuki look at Mako with wide eyes, "Seriously?"

Mako held back a smirk as she nod, "Yes."

Yuuki let out an inhuman screech and say, "But I have done so many math drills!"

"But you got more than half of them wrong." Kyoutarou can't resist adding.

Yuuki's brain snaps and she high kick-ed Kyoutarou.

Hisa look at the interaction with amusement, and mentally store away Saki's disappointed expression, then goes back to announcing the line up, "The second player will be Mako." Say Hisa, receiving a simple nod and "ok" from Mako.

"The third player will be me, and the fourth player will be Nodoka." Hisa continues and survey Nodoka's determined reaction.

"That means the last player would be me." Say Saki in small voice.

Hisa nod and say, "It's okay right?"

Saki give a somewhat reluctant node and say, "Okay."

As they're waiting for the tournament to start, Hisa use the time to have a little private talk with Saki.

"Saki, are you disappointed by the lineup?" ask Hisa.

Saki give a confusing half nod half shake, "Well, I don't mind playing as the last player… But Onee-chan is playing as the first…" trails Saki.

Hisa is doing a quick mental thinking of whether or not she could change the lineup. But before Hisa could reach the conclusion, Saki hurriedly say, "B-but it is okay! I can play Onee-chan in the individual."

If Hisa didn't know how well- no, how monstrous Saki is in mahjong, Hisa would call her arrogant. But as she is, Hisa knows that Saki won't make it through the individual only if Saki didn't come… or manage to get very lost.

Further conversation were cut when the speaker announce that the tournament will be starting and the first player should be ready in the tournament room in 5 minutes.

Yuuki quickly eat her remaining taco, stand up excitedly from her seat, and say, "Alright! Here I go!"

The other members wish her luck and Yuuki march away to the tournament room.


- with Yuuki -

Yuuki let out a satisfied smile when one again her taco power manages to make her first dealer and give her an awesome starting hand.

A 3-shanten, with 2 dora and 2 east tile.

Much to Yuuki's surprise, the girl beside her discard an east tile.

'Saki-chan and Nodo-chan would never do that.' Thought Yuuki.

But not one to waste the chance, Yuuki quickly call out, "Pon." and the girl look super annoyed.

Yuuki look at her draw and smile widely, 'Witness the power of taco!' and make a late kan with the east tile she just draw, "Kan."

Yuuki herself is surprised when she flips the dora indicator, 7 pinzu, and making the two 8 pinzu she have dora(s).

'4 dora djey~' Cheer Yuuki to herself.

The girl on Yuuki's left discard a 6 pinzu, and Yuuki couldn't believe how easy this is, "Chi!"

The girl on Yuuki's right look absolutely shocked and she discard an 8 Sozu in a fail attempt to bail.

Yuuki smirk evily, "Ron." Say Yuuki with glee.

"Dealer Haneman, 18 000 djey!" exclaim Yuuki happily. It feels so good to say that after weeks of losing to Saki-chan and Nodo-chan.

Ending the game with her gaining more then 80 000 points, Yuuki let out the customary "Thank you very much" to the other players, who have a let-me-die expression on their face, and start skipping happily back to the waiting room.


- with the rest of the club -

Kyoutarou watch in amazement as Yuuki, who lose on daily basis, bullied the other girls on the table.

"Uwah, she is amazing." Say Kyoutarou.

The other members give a various degree of agreement, and Hisa look especially proud of her self.


- with Mako -

'Much easier…' Mako thought as she surveys the table. Even with her glasses on, Mako didn't have a hard time to predict what her opponent's hands are.

Mako had played a lot of her customers who are better than her current opponents, that and none of her opponents carries even the slightest intimidating aura as Saki did when Saki get serious.

But competition, are competition, Mako couldn't and shouldn't go easy on her opponents. Taking off her glasses, Mako's vision change from seeing the table into seeing rivers, then she smirks, 'Yup, definitely much easier.'

"Ron 16 000!" say Mako excitedly while laughing evilly inside.

Her opponents didn't even have enough strength left to reply her customary post game greeting.


- with Hisa -

'Now what should I do…' Think Hisa as she mentally survey and assess the situation.

If Hisa should, Hisa could use her bad wait and drop one of the players below zero, effectively ending the game.

The pros.

By doing so, the other team won't be able to gather data of both Nodoka and Saki… not that it actually matters.

Nodoka plays like a computer. Fast, accurate, and choosing only highest percentage. The other teams only need a mahjong playing software to simulate Nodoka's data.

Hisa sigh-ed, it didn't help that Nodoka still refuse to believe in occult, thus politely rebuffing Hisa's advice on how to play against occult opponents. Hisa safe that one headache for later date, after all, the tournament has just begun, and most of the player on this level is a logical type.

Saki… well it is a good thing if the other team thought that Saki could only make Rinshan.

Now the cons.

Nodoka and Saki would get one less chance to get use to the pressure of playing at a real tourna- scratch that.

Nodoka won last year's individual tournament, and Saki is Saki. Even at her worse, Saki can and will end up with +- 0 100 time out of 100 game.

Plus Hisa would be missing the chance to watch and laugh at people's reaction when they see Nodoka seriously playing while holding a stuffed toy. At that thought Hisa have to stifle her laughter.

'Let's get this over with.' Think Hisa as she start playing to get cheap quick hands, that have the advantages of not letting her opponents counter attack, and still keeping them above zero.


- with Nodoka -

Along the way to the tournament room, a lot of people stare at Nodoka.

But Nodoka is used to being stared at, thus easily ignoring them.

After the security that checks her Etopen give an okay sign, Nodoka take Etopen back and sit down.

Ignoring the stare that comes from the three other players. Nodoka looks at her hand, says her customary polite, "Excuse me." And begin to self meditate.

'Concentrate' Nodoka chant to herself as she focus her mind.

All of her solitary mahjong. All of her training. All encouragement from her team mate. The promise she made to her father, to herself, and to her team. All of that has led her here.

'Concentrate' Repeat Nodoka as she pick up a lone north tile and discard it.

'Concentrate' Repeat Nodoka once again as she quickly and without hesitation draw and discard.

And as the real world blurs into 2D, Nodoka give herself a small smile.

'I'm here' Say Nodoka to herself.

"Ron, Ippatsu, 1 dora, 1 ura dora. 8 000 please." Say Nodoka in an almost robotic voice.


Outside on the audience seat, Saki shivers as she felt Nodoka's 'awakening'.

'It has gotten even faster' Think Saki to herself. Saki watch as Nodoka's expression softens and her face reddens. 'Haramura-san seems to be having fun, I wonder when will be my turn…'


Turns out, Saki's turn never did manage to come.

On that game, Nodoka is the only one that manage to win. The other players are left in yakitori, thus with no gain and all lost, one of the player drop below zero and end the game.

As the crow goes wild after seeing Nodoka's 'perfect game', Saki look confused as to whether she should be happy that they won, or disappointed that she didn't get to play.


- with Touka -

"Minna-san! We have a very serious problem! A very serious one!" Yell Touka as she runs back to her team.

Touka ignore Jun's rude way of questioning where she was and quickly blurt out, "As I though, Haramura Nodoka is Nodocchi!"

None of her teammate react, nor look surprised. Tomoki didn't even bother to stop typing.

Jun sigh and say, "You're still saying that?"

"No!" Yell Touka. "This time, I have prove! On that game, Haramura Nodoka plays exactly like Nodocchi and have a perfect game!"

Now that gets her teammates' attention.

"Perfect game? What do you mean Touka?" say Hajime carefully.

"On that game, only Haramura Nodoka wins. The other are in yakitori, and one of the player drop below zero, Kiyosumi has won that round without even needing their taishou to play!" exclaim Touka in a border lining hysteric tone.

This time, Tomoki did stop typing and quietly say, "We also didn't need out taishou to play." In an almost self defending tone.

Hajime quickly say, "Besides Touka, Haramura is the fukushou right? That means you would get the chance to play against her."

A star glint in Touka's eyes as her frantic and worried mood changes into a more arrogant one, "Exactly! I would show everyone who the real idol is!" say Touka in a loud boasting voice.


Hisa watch as Saki still wears the "confused" expression.

Their second match that day has been as easy as then the first, and once again, ending without Saki needing to play.

Hisa sweat dropped, 'Maybe I should've told Yuuki and Mako to go easy on their opponent…'

And insensitive as ever, Yuuki say, "Today is easy djey! Saki-chan didn't even need to play."

Hisa make a mental note to teach Yuuki how to read the mood as Saki heard those words and her confused expression turns into confused and a bit depressed.

Thankfully, Nodoka is better at mood reading then Yuuki, thus quickly coming with all sort of things to cheer up Saki.

In the end, Hisa treat them to a street ramen stand, both to celebrate them doing a good job on the first day, and to cheer up Saki.

Thankfully it seems to work. Probably the combination of the taste of delicious ramen, seeing Nodoka acts like it is the first time she ate ramen, and Yuuki ordering a non-exist taco ramen.


Saki plops down on her bed. She felt a little bit guilty for her dissatisfaction has cause concern for her teammate.

Her cell phone rings, signing that someone has mail her.

Saki looks at the name and mutters a soft, "Onee-chan…"

'How does it go?'

Saki smile, 'Short, simple, and to the point. This is Onee-chan alright.'

Her smile didn't last long as she remember that she has done nothing today, thus have nothing to tell her Onee-chan.

After a few minutes of inner turmoil, Saki is still hesitating when she type,

'It's good, we win.'

Far away in Tokyo, Teru frowns.

Quickly Teru call Saki.

Saki has been very excited when she tells her about the tournament. Teru has expect Saki to excitedly type back about Saki's experience at the tournament, therefore a 4 worded answer is worrisome.

Saki answer the call in no time as if she is expecting it.

"Is something wrong?" ask Teru.

"… It's just… Well I get the taishou position… and I didn't get to play today." Answer Saki in a small voice.

'Oh…' Teru thought.

It is disappointing to know that Saki is playing last, that means Teru won't get the chance to play Saki in team tournament… Well there is always the individual one.

The more important matter is that Teru didn't know that Saki's team is strong enough to win without needing Saki to play. That is a positive thought for the chance of Saki's team winning and going to the national.

"Saki" Teru call out.

"Hai?" Saki answer.

"Ganbate." Said Teru.

And just like a magic word.

That one word is all that Saki need to forget all of her disappointment, and burn her will to try her best tomorrow.

Saki happily answer, "Hai!"


An:

If the chapter feels too fast or rushed or drabble-ish or just plain bad… I give you permission to hit me… after you hear my excuse

My excuse: I'm having my final exam next 2 week, and I'm supposed to be studying _

But I really want to do one last update TT_TT (*cough* procrastination *cough*)

So I try to make this as quick as I can without dropping a lot of quality... dunno if I succeed or not.

If you're dissatisfied with this chapter, pretty please tell me so that I can re-write it after the exam.

I do feel a bit unhappy with this chapter. But right now my mental self is screaming GO STUDY! And I really can't think of anything else.

Thank you for reading ^^

Cheers~

note :

Bad news : I won't be updating until my exam is done… about one month away from now…

Good news : After my exam week, I have a super long holiday (like… 3 months :D) And I'll be updating a lot :)