It turns out that Hisa-senpai is this year's P.E. teacher, so she'll have plenty of time to sit with us and play mahjong. I'm happy, but...
Saki: Hisa-senpai, shouldn't you be in university?
Hisa: L-Let's not bother ourselves with those tiny details, Saki-san.
Geez, I was just asking...
Yuuki: Enough talking! Are you gonna play or what?
I sat down in a chair. Those feelings before a match came back to me. We had started the game when...
Nodoka: Saki-san, your pupils are solid gold!
Kyoutarou: Whoa, really?!
Hisa: When you told me about Saki-san's abilities, I did a little research. Turns out that when Controllers play mahjong, they enter a phase called "Duel Form".
Mako: Is she gonna go berserk?!
Yuuki: Saki-chan?
Saki: ...
Hisa: It's happening. Alright, begin!
All of a sudden, I had found myself in a stadium. Standing in front of me was Nodoka-chan. She looked like an angel... She WAS an angel!
Saki: ...! Nodocchi-chan!
Nodocchi is Nodoka-chan's online mahjong username. There was a penguin beside her in her profile picture, which was model after a stuffed penguin Etopen. There were also two other people. Yuuki-chan and Mako-senpai? But they had cat and dog ears!
Yuuki?: I'm Yuuki's Duel Form, Yuukinko!
Mako?: And I'm Mako's Duel Form, Inumako.
Nodocchi: Welcome to Duel Mahjong.
Duel... Mahjong?
Saki: Um, Nodocchi-chan, why am I here?
Nodocchi: Since you learned about your ability, whenever you play mahjong, you will henceforth enter Duel Mode.
Yuukiko: You'll be fighting through mahjong!
Inumako: When the game is done, you will be sent back.
Saki: The angel, the dog, and the cat... what am I?
Nodocchi: If you win first place, the gods will then grant you a Duel Form.
Saki: But the opposite of an angel is a d-devil!
Nodocchi: If your heart is truly pure, you will be granted the noble title of the Dragon.
Yuukiko: But even a pro couldn't get that Duel Form.
Hisaku: BEGIN!
Nodocchi: Gaburieru no Hikari!
Saki: Ow!
Meanwhile
Mako: Doesn't that mean we're indirectly hurting her?!
Saki: S'okay...
Nodoka: Saki-san?
Saki: I like this...
Back to Duel Mahjong
Saki: AAAAAAAAACK!
Nodocchi: Saki-san, do you see us screaming? We're withstanding the pain! Be strong. Think of this as training for when you must fight without mahjong.
Saki: O-Okay.
Yuukiko: My turn! Triple Claw Fury!
Saki: Grrrr...
Inumako: That's the way, Miyanaga-san! Now, your turn. Think of a move that inflicts lots of damage but doesn't take much stamina!
So much moves popped into my head, but there was this one move that interested me the most.
Yuukiko: Any move but that!
Mako: Only Level 50 players could do that!
Nodocchi: It is logically impossible for a Level 1 player. How'd that even pop into your head?
Kyouyaku: Come on! What move is she gonna use?
Hisaku: I have a pretty good idea. You just sit back and watch.
Saki: I've made up my mind.
I got into the position that came into my mind and started gathering energy into my hands.
Saki: Haaaaa... Aaaaaa... Rooooooooooar!
Nodocchi: It's impossible...
Inumako: She couldn't...
Yuukiko: She is!
Saki: Here we go! JIGOKU NO HI!
Everyone: ...
Hisami: And the winner is Saki Miyanaga-san!
Everyone: YEEEEEEEEEEEAH!
Hisami: And now the gods shall grant her a Duel Form.
Saki: Nodocchi-chan, I did it! Ha ha!
Nodocchi: You sure did. * Her smile is so bright.*
Meanwhile
Yuuki: Why is Saki-chan smiling like some kind of idiot?
Hisa: There's this one saying. "The ones that smile the brightest are the loneliest."
Nodoka: !
Back to Duel Mahjong
A golden piece of paper was floating in the air.
Inumako: *gasp* A golden paper! Those are really rare! The only person I know that got a golden paper was Nodocchi-chan!
Yuukiko: You must have a really powerful Duel Form! Quick, pluck it out of the air!
And so that's what I did.
Saki: ...!
Kyouyaku: DON'T LEAVE US HANGING! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GET?! I'M PRETTY SURE THE READER IS BANGING HIS/HER HEAD AGAINST THE FREAKING WALL CUZ OF THIS SUSPENSE!
Saki: Miss Saki Miyanaga. We have recognized your incredible power and have decided to give you the honorary title of the Dragon. You Duel Name shall henceforth be known as Ryusaki. We bid you farewell- the Council of Gods.
Everyone: ...Wooooooo hoooooooooo!
Nodocchi: Congratulations, Saki- Er, Ryusaki-san!
Yuukiko: That was awesome!
Inumako: You totally earned .
Hisaku: What was that about a reader?
Kyouyaku: S-Sorry, I overreacted a little...
I said goodbye to all my friends, and headed back to my world.
Saki: S-So, I never left?
Kyoutarou: Nope.
Nodoka: Saki-san.
Saki: Yes?
Nodoka: We'll be by your side, no matter what.
She held out her hand, and I put my hand on hers. One by one, we stood in a circle and put our hands together.
You know, now that I look back, I remember the time when I told Nodoka-chan I hated mahjong. She was crying. I then realized something. What good does staying away from something you hate bring when it means staying away from someone you love? And who knows? If you give that thing another chance, you may just end up liking it.
I'm pretty new to all this "Controller" stuff, but as long as I have my friends, I think I'll be fine.