There's some changes in ch 3 ^^ please check it.

Update: For my own pleasure Shiraitodai consist of elementary to University So No more Teikou which is a reference to KnB. WHY? Because I say so LOL

Brewing Storm

Fukuoka, Shindouji High School

"..." Shirouzu Mairu stared at the same list Senriyama and other veteran schools were looking at in the another side of Japan. "Unexpectedly they didn't put both first."

Tsuruhime Himeko nodded fearfully, "This could wreck our reversal plan... What should we do? Either the start or the end would be as tough."

Sachiko flinched, calling it tough was an understatement. "Hanada would be fine against Miyanaga Teru." Fine as in she won't go bust. "But..."

Mairu shook her head, "We only have Hanada as a sure way to survive Vanguard's match... No, this works in our favor." Probably they're the only school in Japan that grateful of this line up of doom. "Since Miyanaga Saki would be last." That ended their dilemma to pit Hanada against which. "Himeko won't be alone. With our combo... Himeko, you will stand a chance." She shook her head as she amended her statement, "No, you will win!"

Himeko nodded, "Yes! We will win Buchou!"

Kagoshima, Eisui High School

"It's a perfect match up I think." Hatsumi said, "Princess will go against Miyanaga Teru and Kasumi will face her sister."

Haru nodded in agreement, "If princess did well against Miyanaga Teru, and we face the rest of their team in equal ground... Kasumi-senpai can defend our point and if necessary called for a goddess to face Miyanaga Saki."

Kasumi hummed at that, "I am not sure if my power would work well against her... "

Tomoe looked thoughtful at Kasumi's statement, "We can't tell which goddess with descend in you, but last year..."

Jindai looked somber at the reminder, "I was defeated by Miyanaga-san... she is so strong..."

"She is human though." Haru added.

"She has strong aura however... very..." Hatsumi shuddered at the memory of when she walked pass the older Miyanaga on the way back from Vice-captain match last year, it took a lot on her to move again after she froze in terror.

Tomoe flinched, she had the same misfortune of running to the younger Miyanaga under similar fashion in Intermiddle. Apparently the Miyanaga sisters back when they made their debut in National didn't have a good control of their aura, and a lot of sensitive players were frozen in terror whenever they walked pass. Fortunately since last year they somehow managed to subdue it, though it was getting worse whenever they unleashed it in a match. It was getting fewer as of late, especially in the younger Miyanaga's case. She was getting too strong that in middle school level no one could be a challenge to her. Which mean at a moment of notice both could unleash their power indefinitely. When that happened... their princess and Kasumi had to be prepared.

The last time Miyanaga Teru faced their princess there's a brief storm outside. Even though their princess tried her best, Miyanaga Teru was unperturbed, in fact only once Teru glance at Komaki when she called for her goddess. As if she sensed something was going on but she didn't care that much. Komaki managed to get a Yakuman, putting a stop once on her winning streak. However that one instance Miyanaga Teru was awakened and their princess couldn't win a single hand, her point reset back so Miyanaga Teru outrun her with cheap hands before the shrine maiden could assemble her hand and won the match.

"I am not sure what Miyanaga Teru-san is... but a force of Nature is fitting..." Komaki had met runner up of individual, Awakawa Kei. The girl was a very caring person, and never hesitate to help even rival. But even Kei couldn't deny that to her Miyanaga Teru was closer to force of nature rather than human in mahjong table, a sentiment anyone who ever face Miyanaga Teru shared. A match with Miyanaga Teru was more like a survival match, you didn't win against force of nature, you survive it and hope it didn't kill you.

But still... Komaki would try her best next time to defeat her.

East Tokyo, Rinkai High School

"Oh crap..." Megan murmured as she looked at the dreaded list of line-up of the strongest high school in Japan. "Myenghoa! You got Satoha's archenemy's sister here... "

Satoha, the only Japanese in Rinkai's team frowned at that. "I won't say Miyanaga Teru as that to me... " She acknowledged Awakawa Kei as worthy opponent, as for Miyanaga Teru... neither she nor Kei thought of the Inter-high champion as such. You couldn't be a rival with a walking disaster. The reason she acknowledge Kei was because the girl could keep her smile as they were trounced by Miyanaga Teru in last year's individual. While that match was not that one-sided like most of Miyanaga Teru's matches, that both she and Kei put up a good fight against Miyanaga Teru, it was still a match where Miyanaga Teru was holding dominance until the very end.

In fact Satoha thought that match was more like three peoples mahjong and anyone else aside of Miyanaga Teru was competing over second place. It was not like they gave up on it, but Miyanaga Teru made it that way. Then again that year Miyanaga Teru had started a fearsome record, she made over one hundred thousands point gap and not even once lost. A perfect game not even a pro could match. Miyanaga Saki also did the same last year, however not as frequent as Teru. Satoha had a feeling it was not because Miyanaga Saki was weaker than her sister, but it was because she often ended the match with dropping someone to zero before the point gap was reaching over one hundred thousands, she was being merciful or rather... her opponent bore her. In a sense Satoha didn't know which was worse, an opponent who let you go when you're battered enough, or one that won't let go of you till the very end?

Myenghoa, their captain for this year glanced at Megan who called her name. "So... Miyanaga Saki would be my opponent." She murmured, the half-French-Korean player probably the only Taishou in Japan who appeared unperturbed by the news. Then again as a top ranked European player, Myenghoa wouldn't deserve her rank if she was.

"If Satoha didn't get beaten too badly in Vanguard match." Megan added her two cents.

Satoha narrowed her eyes at that, "Said by a girl who ran away last year from that Ryuumonbuchi-girl. At least I didn't run away when I played against Miyanaga Teru..." Not that they could even if they wanted to.

Nelly, the player from Georgia frowned. "Ne... her nickname is Sakuhime right?"

Their glutton coach nodded, "Yes... in English it's The Blossoming Princess."

"Then Myenghoa!" Nelly chirped, "You can win for sure! Flower can't survive in winter!"

"You can't predict the outcome of our match based on our nickname." The goddess of winter pointed out.

Megan groaned at that, "But still... even other members of Shiraitodai are tough, I get the Fleeting Supernova Oohoshi Awai... that girl is super creepy! I mean... how unfair is that to get slow hand while she got a fast one?!"

"Life in unfair." Satoha deadpanned, "You, of all people who ran away from the first sign of trouble with defeating a weak opponent like last year don't have the right to say unfair."

Huiyu nodded in agreement, "So true..."

"Oh come on!" Megan groaned, "But still... how unfair of Shiraitodai to hog both champions for themselves! Shouldn't a rule to forbid this exist?"

"You can't forbid people's choice of school." Satoha pointed out, "Beside... it's not like Coach never tried to recruit Miyanaga Saki."

Megan sputtered, "EEEH?! Are your serious?!"

The glutton sighed wearily, "It's too bad, she refused... I have thought I have a flair in persuasion." That's how she got her international players in the room to leave their country for Rinkai. "In fact... Shiraitodai Middle School went as far as threatening to kick me out if I didn't leave."

"How you even think Miyanaga Saki would be swayed to part with her sister is beyond me..." Satoha deadpanned. "But still... why did you get threatened to be kicked out Coach?"

"A misunderstanding in that Awai girl's part, she accused that I was stalking her friend. Why she thought I was?" She wondered out loud.

"... You don't want us to answer that Coach." They chorused as they recalled their own experience with their coach so called scouting.

Back in Shiraitodai High School

"I don't want us to run to that creepy coach of Rinkai again." Awai shuddered at the memory when they were reviewing the line up of Rinkai, a school that was a regular participant in final and semi-final round of National against Shiraitodai.

Saki flinched, "I am sure she didn't mean harm." In fact Saki didn't even know what the woman wanted before Awai screaming pervert and make a huge fuss.

"Who cares!" Awai wailed, "I don't like the creepy way she was looking at us! Especilly you Saki-chan! She followed you in school for days!"

Teru who just opened the door of their club room froze as she heard what Awai just said. "Who were looking creepily at Saki?!"

"A pervert!" Awai answered before Saki could stop her.

"A WHAT?!" The rest of Torahime's upperclassmen said in shock.

Sumire grabbed Saki by her shoulders, "Saki, who is it?! Who are looking at you like that?! Hirose family will take care of that person!" Her family owned an archery dojo, and she was sure it would be no problem to snipe that pervert.

Seiko nodded, "A stalker is not meant to be ignored!"

"Do you need self-defense tools." Takami asked as she pulled her i-pad, "We can order some online."

Saki groaned, "It's not like that! Nee-chan! Calm them down, it's... UWaaa!" Saki yelped when Teru hugged her tightly. "Onee-chan?!"

"Who is it?!" Teru asked furiously. "What did that person do to you?!"

"Nothing! And not you too Onee-chan!" Saki wailed.

Back in Rinkai, in another part of Tokyo

"I have a feeling we're in trouble." Satoha stated out of the blue.

Megan sighed at that, "Well... in the worse case, you're the one who will get the worse brunt the moment we face Shiraitodai next time... if the rumor of how protective Miyanaga Teru of her sister is true..."

"It's true." Satoha confirmed, "They're so dependent on each other, it's disturbing... Miyanaga Teru was very dangerous as a last dealer, but last year she sometimes didn't bother to get more points with her last dealer's privilege simply because she will miss watching her sister's match." Since the schedule of Inter-middle and Inter-high often overlapped with each other. That was pretty insulting to be honest.

"You're going to get slaughtered." Megan intoned.

"And you get the best friend of the champion." Satoha reminded the dark skinned girl, she had seen Awai followed the Intermiddle champion like a lost puppy when she passed them last year. "Unless you have a way to get around her delaying power, I would be surprised if you even able to reach Ishanten at all. And I kind of doubt this time there's a weak opponent you can bully to escape."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Megan deadpanned.

Satoha snorted, "You're welcome."

West Tokyo, Shiraitodai

It took a while to calm down her frantic teammates and sister, much to Saki's chagrin. However it seemed the next time they went against Rinkai, the representative of East Tokyo would get a special treatment. Then again considering Rinkai was made of world class young champions, Saki was sure they would put up a good fight regardless. For now never mind Rinkai, there were other schools they had to watch out this year. Never mind regional as they were a seeded school.

"Senriyama High School." Saki looked at the profile of second ranked school in National. "Hm... Osaka have a lot of good players, and the coach of Senriyama have the same name as Himematsu's lieutenant."

Sumire nodded, "Atago sisters are Senriyama coach's daughters... media thinks it's a pity they entered Himematsu instead, than again nepotism is one thing any coach won't cross."

"But in spring tournament their vice-captain is the coach's niece." Seiko pointed out.

"That's the least of our concern." Sumire intoned.

Awai laughed softly, "It would be so cool if they could get Arakawa Kei and that bad-mouth Atago... that's what we will call a match!"

"Like you're one to talk about bad mouth Awai." Seiko chided the blond, "But still... by today the news of our line-up undoubtedly would spread to all veteran schools, how do you think they will line up their players against us?"

Teru sighed at that, "Probably some school would put their ace in either Vanguard or captain position..." Though in the last few years those attempts backfired spectacularly against them.

Saki hummed at that, "School like Senriyama who have well balanced players would be able to afford that." She concluded, "Onjouji Toki-san is a pretty interesting player judging from her game record... she has a lot of winning by ippatsu (winning by one turn after declaring riichi) this is a really glaring factor." Even though she and her sister had a number of this kind of win themselves, hers was abnormally high. Onjouji Toki seemed to know when to declare riichi which would give her ippatsu. "Seems like she know when she will get ippatsu for sure."

Teru nodded, "She just made it to regular in spring tournament... since we used a different line-up back then I don't have anything on her yet." Though she had an idea of what Saki tried to imply.

Sumire sighed at that, "Thanks for the large point gap she made in Vanguard's match... their last player manage to survive in captain's match and get second even though Teru took a lot of points from them." This was a problem with their school's so called tradition, their members were chosen based on similar playing style. Torahime team was an offensive team, so they're a bit lacking in defense. Sumire had nothing against an all out team but still... not all of them are Teru and Saki who could afford offense without defense.

Well... as long as Teru made a humongous point gap and she sniped those with already few points, not to mention Saki was the captain in case players after Teru (including her) messed up. Especially her actually since her play style was no longer a secret, though so far no one had figured out how to doge her. Seiko and Takami also had problem with defense, hopefully they could brush that up before tournament began.

"That won't happen again with me and Saki-chan in team." Awai chimed in.

"It won't happen at all with Teru as the first player to be exact." Sumire corrected. "Of course the thought Saki is our anchor is very comforting, we still can't afford to let our guard down."

Awai pouted, "I am not included?!"

Sumire sighed, while Awai was probably the third strongest in their team after Saki and Teru, she had a lot of problem in attitude as a team player. To be honest if not for Saki's sake and Awai's strong individual skill, their coach would have put Seiko as Vice-captain instead of Awai. You won't be able to tell in the first glance, but Awai is very reckless and her defense was almost non-existent.
This was why coach put her as Vice-captain. Awai's ability was not infallible, Saki and Teru could pass it and according to them there would be around ten players in high school league who 'probably' could deal with Awai's delay. Awai's biggest weakness was her pride, and to her no one but Teru and Saki were better than her. This was what differ true champion players like Teru and Saki with their fellow monster class. Both Saki and Teru had experienced players who put a brake on them, holding shonpai (tile which copies is not in discard yet) to stop open kan, chankan, calling tiles to stop them from drawing. Teru and Saki were able to deal with those with calmness, and carefully outplay their opponents. Awai in the other hand... had no such composure.

This was why Saki was chosen as captain who played after Awai, their coach must had realize this. To pick up the piece if something going wrong between Teru and her.

"Saki-chan! Sumire-senpai is being mean to me!" Awai once again was sulking and latching on Saki like a leech.

And Saki, their most patient and understanding princess patted Awai comfortingly. "There... there..."

Both Sumire and Teru as one looked at Seiko and Takami, 'Make sure Awai didn't trouble Saki too much once we graduated.'

'Roger.' Their resident fisher gave a thumbs up, while Takami just nodded.

"By the way..." Saki trailed off, looking pretty comfortable with Awai leaning on her shoulder. "Are we going to have a training camp?" It's been a while since their last one, Shiraitodai middle and high school always had theirs combined. With their busy mother, training camp had been a comfort trip that reminded her of family vacation.

Teru looked at her sister's hopeful eyes, how could she say no to that? "We will." She answered curtly, swallowing inwardly at the prospect.

The rest of Shiraitodai team minus Awai who was still cuddling by Saki's side swore that there was flowers blooming in Saki's background at that. "Really?" Saki beamed then she quickly reached out for one of club's tablet and opened a tourism website. "Actually this inn have discount for student, it has hot spring and located near beautiful hills!"

Sumire peered at the website, "Oh yes... it's really cheap." They could afford three times this price of course, but there's no harm in saving fund. Sumire eyes narrowed as Saki passed her the tablet and Sumire noted this inn was cheap because it's located in a pretty secluded area which mean..."Eh... Saki, this is not a place we can reach with walking from station." She pointed out.

Saki blinked owlishly at that before Sumire handed her the tablet back to check the inn's location. Saki paled when she realized Sumire was right. "Maybe... we should have gone somewhere else." She said timidly.

"It's fine." Teru cut her off, "Saki... I know why you want to go there, and I don't see why we shouldn't."

"But Nee-chan." Saki's eyes widened at Teru, "You..."

"I will be fine." Teru assured Saki, and for the first time in years Sumire and the rest of Shiraitodai team heard hesitance in her voice.

This couldn't be good. They thought in the same time.

Few days later...

It didn't take a genius to know Miyanaga Teru, the hailed champion of Inter-high was not fine at all. "Ugh..." She covered her mouth, it was not like she was going to puke, but spinning head and upset made her felt she was about to. Then again there's nothing left on her stomach as she had emptied everything in the last stop twenty minutes ago.

Saki was tearing up, and Teru felt even more terrible that she caused her sister to shed those tears. "Onee-chan, I am so sorry." She should have known car and her sister was a bad match.

"I am fine Saki..." Teru was always a good liar, but this time she knew she failed spectacularly on that. She laid down on their rental car's chair, monopolizing almost the whole length of chair in second row for herself.

Saki sniffed, "We shouldn't have gone anywhere by car..."

It's only one and half hour trip with car but in the first ten minutes Teru already felt so terrible and they had to stop to rest. Since that fated day, Teru always felt terrible whenever they traveled by car. So Teru avoid traveling by car as much as she could and she had thought she won't get this bad if she tried traveling by car. Apparently that was just an empty hope in her part, she still couldn't take it. Unlike Saki, Teru had a complete recollection of what happened that day. Back then their car almost collide with another car when their parents were arguing, in last minute their father managed to stir the car away but somehow he lost control of the car and it started spinning. Teru felt so sick but with strength she didn't know where it came from, she managed to grab Saki, and jumped out of the car before the car collide with the side of the road.

Since then her world always felt like spinning on the car, and it's not a simple motion sickness. Not to mention the motion sickness cure for some reason just couldn't work on her, ginger flavored snack Takami brought was not helping either. Teru was snapped out of her thought when she felt something gentle slowly moved her head to rest on something soft. "We forgot to bring pillow Onee-chan, so is this okay?" It took a few second for Teru's dizzy brain to compute she was resting on her sister's lap.

"This feels nice." Teru admitted blissfully, before her eyes fluttered shut and she fell asleep.

Saki blinked when she saw her sister already asleep and emitting soft snore. Awai, Seiko and Takami who sat in rear seat peered over the backrest of Saki's seat to see their leader was off to dreamland for the first time since the trip began. Sumire who was just back from buying drink and other brand of motion sickness cure that might work was flabbergasted to see Teru was sleeping, using Saki's lap as pillow. She didn't say anything but fished her cellphone out and took a photo, Saki just blinked at that, wondering what was that for but didn't say anything in fear she would wake Teru up. Awai, Seiko and Takami fished theirs in silent plea for Sumire to send that picture to their email address. It was too bad they sat on the back so they couldn't take the picture.

Nagano, Fuwa Inn

Hisa didn't know if her decision to arrange her first year players to get their ass whooped by Fujita was a wise decision or one you would call 'Nice job breaking it, hero!'
Yuki was still the same as ever though her appetite on her luck-booster tacos was doubled, nothing to worry about she supposed but once in a while she caught Yuuki mumbling to herself about concentration, disrupted, and tacos. Nanpo seemed to accept losing against pro gracefully, then again Hisa didn't expect a pro-trained player like her have Heroic BSOD over it. However something else disturbed Nanpo badly, and Nodoka for once was in the same ship with her this time.

Fujita just had to blab about Nodoka's rival, which Nanpo herself wanted to beat too, and caused both to be pretty shaken. Hisa was still not sure about the rival part, as from what Hisa sees in magazine and interview 'she' doesn't seem to be a type who look for eternal rival or sort. Then again in that situation Nodoka put her into, there's not much choice is there?

"Nodoka..." Hisa began as she approached Nodoka who was practicing drawing and discarding tile diligently. She had been on it for hours, and it seemed she was not going to stop anytime soon. "Let's stop now... okay? Don't force yourselves, go to take a bath in hot spring and relax..." Nodoka swallowed and Hisa was startled when the pink haired girl started to tear up. "No... Nodoka?" Her pink haired junior was always a strong hearted girl with composure, so it caught Hisa off guard that Nodoka suddenly tearing up in front of her.

Nodoka sniffed, "How could... I relax?" She stuttered, "At this rate... I will never be able to reach her."

Oh my God, it seemed Nodoka was really deeply affected by Fujita's metaphorical slap to reality. Then again it was Fujita, she had zero skill in sugar-coating her words. If you're suck, she will say it to your face without tact. Nodoka always had confidence in her skill, she was not an arrogant girl but someone who was proud with skill to back up that pride. Which was not wrong considering she was the runner up of Inter-middle, second only to that girl. Or so Nodoka thought before, Fujita shattered that belief to pieces last week.

Flash Back

Mako expected the result would be like this as Hisa predicted, next Fujita will say some condescending words to drive her point home and her juniors would be set for intense training camp. Yuuki and Nodoka looked pretty shaken that they lost this badly, Kazue managed to keep her composure though. Mako had a feeling Kazue already knew Fujita was a pro, so she played her best and not upset of the outcome.

"Nanpo-Pro's granddaughter huh..." Fujita exhaled, "You put quite a good fight in South round, he taught you good... not good enough to match a pro though."

Kazue nodded, "For now Fujita-pro." The pony-tailed girl replied evenly.

Fujita snorted, "Well... let's hope all of you will be 'that' good soon enough."

Yuuki pouted, "No wonder we lost so bad, there's no way a high school player can win against a pro! We have no chance!"

Nodoka at last lost her composure, "That's not necessarily true!" She protested.

"That's right." Fujita agreed, startling the three high school players. "In the last few years I have seen a number of them." They quieted down at that, and Fujita continued when she gave Nodoka a pointed look. "I lovingly called them children who are loved by tiles." She exhaled a puff of smoke, "Though they're more familiarly known as 'National Class Monster' by mahjong players both amateur and pro."

Kazue nodded at that, "Grandfather told me of them."

Fujita silently approved of Pro-Nanpo for not deluding Kazue that she was good enough because she was taught by a pro player. "Last year at a Pro/amateur tournament I faced one of them, after 18 hanchans... I was in second place, however the championship went to a fifteen years old girl..."

"Amae Koromo of Ryuumonbuchi I presume." Unlike her fellow club members who were shocked by the revelation Kazue was still calm, and Fujita wondered what could knock this girl off of her socks.

Yuuki paled, "Isn't that the same school that beat Kazekoshi last year da je?"

"Oh you girls are entering the tournament too?" Fujita acted like she didn't know that. "Too bad..." She narrowed her eyes, "There's no way you girld could win against her." Nodoka was about to open her mouth to protest again but Fujita cut her off, "And you, the pink haired girl." She gave Nodoka a pointed look, "You of all people should know this better than your friends." Nodoka looked confused but before she could ask Fujita continued. "I did say I meet a number of them, and you have faced one of those National Class Monsters... "

"You mean..." Nodoka trailed off.

She nodded, "Miyanaga Saki, The Blossoming Princess of Shiraitodai." She shrugged, "You manage to get second place against her, but from what I see in the record of that match... the gap between second and first is like heaven and earth."

Nodoka swallowed, "But I..."

"Have no idea who you have challenged." Fujita corrected, she was not going to sugarcoat her words if Hisa wanted her team to know their limit and acknowledge it to improve. "If you think with your current skill Miyanaga Saki is within your reach because you're the runner up of Inter-middle you're sorely mistaken." Fujita shook her head exasperatedly, "That girl have 'two' Pro-amateur tournament's championship on her record."

Nodoka's eyes widened, "Originally Shiraitodai is not a school that allowed their player to participate in tournament that unrelated to school, but they make an exception for Miyanaga Saki... " The same goes to Miyanaga Teru, and Fujita had heard both school paid a lot to get pro players to practice with them. "Because at the rate that girl was going she has no match in middle school level. Well... in middle school level you're second to her, but in high school level... I am not even sure you're anywhere near her feet." Nodoka glared at her.

Kazue frowned at that, "You seems to know her quite well Fujita-pro."

Fujita shrugged, "No, I don't even ever have a game with her. Some of my acquaintances did, Mihirogi-pro in particular really likes her." She snorted as she stood up from her seat. "By the way just for your info, you might think she is not ranked yet in high school level... well, good news for you. Last year... there's a small Pro-amateur tournament for charity in Osaka. There's not many participants... low budget and so on, really a tournament that fall under your radar." Fujita sighed, she still regretted not knowing it sooner before the registration date ended. "However they manage to invite some pro and two noted famous student players. One of them was Miyanaga Saki and another is the 2nd ranked high school player in National individual tournament, Awakawa Kei."

"Arakawa Kei of Sangamaki High School?" Kazue exclaimed.

Fujita nodded, "There's no particularly strong pro in that tournament... " Like one where Amae defeated her, "However it's still a difficult tournament for a student, but those two breezed through it. And in the final.. after 10 hanchan Miyanaga Saki defeated Awakawa Kei..." Their eyes widened in shock at the implication, "Yes, in a perspective you could say Miyanaga Saki already placed first together with her Interhigh-champion sister... she was still in middle school when this happened." She sighed, "I think she purposely seek the player who placed second after her sister, if not, why would she bother to accept an invitation to Osaka?" She narrowed her eyes, "Both you and Arakawa are placed second in individual tournament, however... the gap in skill between you and her is big and it's not one-year-gap experience kind of big." She exhaled another puff of smoke. "In this case Haramura Nodoka, where are you in comparison of a National Class Monster like Miyanaga Saki? Do you think you have it in you to challenge her again in Inter-high?"

"I..."

"Well... I may be sounds cruel but don't delude yourself that your challenge was accepted because you're worthy." Her friends had said that Miyanaga Teru was completely different in mahjong table compared to her public face, and it was not much a stretch Miyanaga Saki was the same. "A champion like her have to act like one no matter what, and on of it is not turning her back on a challenge... " She murmured, "Even if... the challenge is not worth her time."

End of Flashback.

"I will go to get some fresh air..." Nodoka murmured.

Hisa sighed, "Let me come with you then... I am not sure you're well enough to wander alone."

Nodoka had to agree with that, "Thank you Buchou..." She murmured as Hisa followed her to the hallway.

"It's no problem Nodoka." Hisa grinned, "It's under Buchou's job list." She winked. "So... how if we take a look at waterfall near this inn. The negative ion is good for your body I heard."

Nodoka wiped the last drop of tear near her eyes and nodded. "You and your trivia, Buchou..."

"Ooh! A japanese style inn! This is my first time in a place like this!" Nodoka stopped when she heard an excited voice from the hallway on their right. It sounds a bit familiar, like she had heard it somewhere.

"Are you really a Japanese?" A deep voice that almost masculine said.

"You're acting too excited, you're not elementary student in study trip... behave yourselves." A calm smooth voice said.

The cheery voice answered, "For your information Seiko-senpai, I'm used to live Italy before my second year in middle school! And training camp we had before is not in this kind of place!"

"A... Awai-chan, you're too loud! We're going to bother other guest!"

This time Nodoka was sure this voice was not just familiar, she knew the owner. After all the same voice felt like haunting her in every game nowadays. Hisa was confused why Nodoka suddenly tensed but soon she found her answer when a group of people came from another hallway, and she saw familiar faces she had seen on TV and Mahjong Weekly magazine. She could almost hear Nodoka's heartbeat became frantic as they approached close. Hisa wondered why the hell she also froze in her place instead of Nodoka to get the hell away from there. It didn't take long for one of the group members to notice their existence, and her bad luck dictates they were noticed by one member Hisa wished to not notice them the most.

"Ah..." Garnet colored eyes widened for a brief moment. "It's Haramura-san."

Nodoka swallowed, "Miyanaga-san, it's been a while."

Hisa cursed inwardly, why the hell Miyanaga Saki and the rest of Shiraitodai team was here in all their glory?! "Oh, yes... since the Inter-middle." And she touched a very sore subject of all things!

"Inter-middle." Nodoka echoed as memory of last week flashed on her mind.

"Do you think you have it in you to challenge her again in Inter-high?"

"Don't delude yourself that your challenge was accepted because you're worthy."

"Have no idea who you have challenged."

"Hic..."

"Eh?!"

Nodoka couldn't hold it anymore and she broke to tears, "Hic! Hic! I am... I am so stupid!" She wiped her tears but it didn't stop. " I am so sorry!Excuse me!" She exclaimed between her sob then she bowed deeply in front of startled Saki then dashed to opposite direction. Hisa followed her example and chased her crying junior, leaving Shiraitodai team, minus Teru who was resting in their room in confusion.

It took Awai three seconds to come to her genius conclusion. "Saki-chan... I don't really understand but, I think you just made her cry."

Saki blinked then her eyes widened in shock, "I did... that?!" She exclaimed in shock.

I wish I ever got Rinshan Kaihou at least once... seen it once done by com player, but I somehow manage to get a Houtei raoyui (winning with last discard)"to scoop up a swimming fish from the riverbed." before... but to be honest I have no interest with fishing... and I wonder why Seiko never get this yaku to go with her fisher title.