10th Petal: Empty Feeling of Victory
Shiraitodai team walked pass the lobby of the West Tokyo Mahjong Centre, this time their aces were with them and walking in the middle of their group to assure they won't get lost. Teru was glad with this arrangement as they didn't have to hold hand with someone like kid. Teru caught sight of crowding people in the sidelines talking, and it seemed they were talking about Shiraitodai, about Saki and her to be specific. They spoke about how last year Shiraitodai managed to hold on their throne by stroke of luck, the falling reputation of West Tokyo region, her abnormal winning streak and Saki's Kokushi Mushou.
It seemed Sumire was right that they're standing out like crazy. Then again the whole objective of holding back was hiding their real play style, and as planned their opponents in final round would be blind of it. So, mission accomplished? She hoped so…
"Onee-chan." Saki called, drawing Teru out of her musing.
"Hm?"
"Will okaa-san watch?" She asked innocently.
Their coach who was just few feet ahead of them frowned when she overheard Teru assuring Saki that, even if their mother was too busy to watch them live, their mother could watch the recording. It seemed their mother was not in Tokyo for another business trip, and too busy to watch her daughters' debut match. Then again she doubted their mother wanted to be any part of their mahjong career, didn't against it but not supporting them either. That was the impression she got from their mother.
Then again considering the history of how Teru and Saki developed their unorthodox playing style, she doubted the Miyanaga matriarch wanted to be reminded of her childishness when she and her late husband were curb-stomped by their daughters. She definitely didn't appreciate the coach interrogating her about her daughters' childhood and treated like some sort of criminal. It's not every day you got to see parents scolding their children for winning too much, then again normally no parents had two daughters who could curb-stomped them in mahjong as badly as Saki and Teru could.
Shiraitodai's Waiting Room
"Takami-senpai won again." Saki couldn't help but say excitedly as they watched the dice being rolled for the Liutenant match on the screen.
Seiko face-palmed, "Yes Saki…" She had to get used to her captain's excitement and the lack of nervousness.
Their coach this time chose to stay in middle school team's room as Teru would be fine with Sumire handling everything over there. Seiko wondered why coach gave Saki a scrutinizing glance, while the object of observation watched the match seriously but also with excitement.
"Takami-senpai seems to be in hurry." Saki commented.
Their coach nodded in agreement, "We have our points cut a lot by tsumo in Sergeant match…" Their sergeant flinched guiltily, then again normal player couldn't always maintain a constant speed so Shouan's sergeant managed to outrun her a couple of time. "We manage to get a thin head start in Vanguard match from Shouan in second place but it's thinning now… Takami decide better speedy cheap hand because she is not very good in defense."
"Riichi." Koizumi player who sat across Takami declared.
Takami whose turn was after Shouan swallowed at the tiny pool of discard that just consist of a West tile and a 1 Wan, hesitantly she decided on a lone North tile just to freeze when she heard an excited declaration. "Ron!" She revealed her hand, 2-3-4-7-8-9Wan-3-4-5Pin-1-1sou-North-North-North
The brown haired girl flinched as she heard Koizumi declared, "Double Riichi, Ippatsu, Pinfu, Dora…" Koizumi reached out to reveal ura dora and Takami paled when she saw the ura-dora was a West tile, while the dora indicator was a 9 sou. "Dora 5!That's 16000 points!"
A non-dealer baiman!
"Takami-senpai!" Saki gasped.
Seiko gritted her teeth, "A total accident and we have to pay a baiman!"
The Shiraitodai coach cursed inwardly, it was not the point they had to pay that would hurt the most but this unfortunate lose was going to shake Takami's mentality, as that last direct hit put them in second behind Shouan by 8000 points. And true to her prediction Takami threw away her speedy hand and struggling to build a hand that would worth at least a mangan. But much to her misfortune someone else had won before she did, and Shouan widen the gap with them.
Takami once again tried her luck and aim for bigger hand but in her desperation to build more expensive hand she played to Shouan's silent Haneman.
"Shibuya totally lose her calmness…" Their coach muttered as her dark blue eyes narrowed, "Now the point gap with Shouen is 23200 points."
Seiko flinched; Coach would get angry at Takami… "I will get it back in Vice-captain match, coach." Seiko tried to pacify their coach who watched Takami left the stage with somber face on the screen.
"Matano." Seiko flinched again at the warning tone their coach used to call her name. "Mind your words… you…"
Her sentence was cut off when Takami came in, bowing with teary eyes. "I am so sorry! I messed up…" She cried.
Saki hastily went to comfort Takami, "Senpai… don't cry…"
"Saki-chan…" Takami sobbed, "I am so sorry…"
Their coach rose from her seat and approached Takami who was wiping her tears with handkerchief Saki lent her. "Takami, wipe your tears! We've not lost yet, and don't you dare to shed tears until then." Takami nodded frantically. "You performed poorly because you forget your role in this team, remember what I told you?" She asked coldly.
"I… we have to pass the baton to Saki to win." Takami recited hesitantly.
"To support our ace." Seiko continued.
Saki looked back and forth between Seiko and their coach, the atmosphere in the room was tense and she didn't like it. "I know you're frustrated that you have to depend on Saki too heavily, but it can't be helped with your current skill…" Seiko clenched her fist but didn't say a word to refute it. "That's why… grow stronger so next time Saki can rely on you too."
Seiko and Takami straightened their posture at that then bowed, followed by the rest of her team. "Yes coach!"
She sighed, so not the time for team drama. "Then why are you still standing here? Matano, go to your match! Now!" She ordered.
"Hai!" Seiko saluted frantically as she rushed out of the room to her own match.
Vice-captain's match, East Hand 4, 3rd Hanchan (Final Round)
Seiko swallowed as she discarded the same tile as one the Shouan player had, she was no good in defense and reading table but she would do her best to not play to anyone's hand at least. It seemed their coach' analysis was true, Shouan put a heavy hitter as their fourth. It was a good strategy against them though, as Shiraitodai had a very offensive line up, and now one of their best player were preying on fourth player that tend to be weaker player position.
"Ron." Shouan player declared when Koizumi player who sat on Seiko's right discarded a 5 wan. She revealed her hand, no yaku but it had two dora. "40fu 3 han, 5200 please."
Seiko swallowed when she saw 2 wan and 8 wan were already in discard, a suji trap! This is bad! I can't rely on suji then!
South Hand 2, 3rd Hanchan
Seiko contemplated whether she had to go offense or not, so far she only scored some speedy cheap hand but she didn't even get beyond mangan. She looked at her starting, she had a lot of pair now and if she was lucky it could be a chiitoitsu.
6th Turn
'Tenpai!' Seiko cheered inwardly and discarded her unneeded tile normally in case she had to bail. She had two dora so if it's a pretty good hand even if she didn't declare riichi.
"Riichi." Player from Koizumi on her right declared.
Seiko sighed, someone was already on tenpai and declared riichi. If she was lucky the overflowed tile from Koizumi would be her winning tile. "Riichi."
'Eh?! Meisei is pursuing Koizumi?!' Seiko swallowed as she looked at Shouan on her right, 'Don't tell me…'
"Riichi."The representative of Shouan declared confidently.
There was an extra 3000 points on the table but Seiko didn't feel happy at all about it, should she joined the fray or not? Whether she declared or not she'd keep her tenpai most probably so… No no, she shouldn't repeat Takami's mistake! What should she do now…
In the end she discarded her tile normally without declaring riichi.
7th Turn
Seiko blinked when Meisei discarded 8 sou, "Ron."
"Eh?"
Seiko revealed her hand, "Chiitoitsu, 2 dora… 6400 please." Plus point stick that's 9400!
East Hand 3, 4th Hanchan
'Shouan looks pissed that I got her with a damaten in last hand… it's just for 1300 points though, but it's her dealership and I knock her out of it with cheap hand…' Seiko thought as she placed her newly drawn tile on top of her rows. 'It seems Shouan was already in tenpai and I am still 3 shanten… I have to bail. Forget offense now…'
3 turns later…
"Tsumo." Shouan declared, "2000/4000"
Seiko winced, 'Dealer's penalty.'
South Hand 4, Last Hanchan
"Tsumo!" Seiko declared in tired tone, "300/500."
She ended the match with a gomi, but at least she was not in negative for this point match. However…
Shouan Gakuen: 165300
Shiraitodai: 113500
Koizumi: 64000
Meisei: 57200
'I completely lost the point race…' Seiko thought somberly, 'Then again, if I calculate my point gain minus initial point we had at the start… I only get 18300 points for five hanchan… I usually get double of this for five hanchan but my point gain got shaved a lot by tsumo…'
At least now this was final round of regional already so there's no reason for Saki and Miyanaga-senpai to hold back, but… Seiko looked at vice-captain players who had left the stage ahead of her. 'I can't help but feel sorry for their captain.'
Shouan's waiting room
"We got them." The coach smiled in triumph, "Shiraitodai did a good job with shifting their ace to captain position and back-up as Vanguard… placing speedy player in the middle, not a bad strategy but as expected, putting a heavy hitter in fourth position works in our favor."
Tajihi Mayuko nodded, "But… coach, their captain is that girl… she got a double yakuman last week and her defense is flawless."
"She got to tenpai of Kokushi Mushou in third turn." She pointed out, "It's mostly luck rather than skill.., for that one hand at least , her skill lies in something else… in the first two hanchan her defense looks flawless but there's something deeper in that flawless defense, she is probably…"
Shiraitodai's waiting room
Saki smiled as she opened the door, "I am off, coach! Everyone!"
"We're counting on you." Her teammates said, "Fight!"
She nodded cheerfully, "Hai!" Then she walked out of the room giddily. They're not worried she would get lost as Seiko was already waiting outside to escort Saki to the stage.
The sergeant of Shiraitodai sighed, "Looking at how excited Miyanaga is, it feels like we're not behind by over 50000 point gap."
"Looking at her being that cheerful lower the tension…" Their Vanguard said.
Takami nodded in agreement, "There's no reason for Saki-chan to be worried… 50000 points for five hanchan, and she didn't have to hold back."
"True." They agreed.
"Shouan is leading by over 50000 points from Shiraitodai in second place! Their vice captain has shown a note worthy performance against her opponents! Shiraitodai is doing pretty well though but Matano Seiko got a lot of their points shaved by Tsumo." The announcer said.
"We got them." The Shiraitodai coach said, "That must what Shouan thought by now."
Her team had a confused look on their face, "Coach, you mean?"
She smiled at her clueless players, "I am pretty much expecting them to put a heavy hitter as vice-captain… they figured out that Saki and Teru are our real aces." The same thing happened in high school team side, they're also behind in points from Shouan.
"Then?!"
The pro player who become color commentator for today nodded, "Shouan had shown admirable strategy in this match, team with offensive line up like Shiraitodai tend to have weaker player in Sergeant and Vice-captain position… Player Matano only got ron-ed twice and gain some points… but other vice-captains didn't fare as well…."
"I see… it's seems Shouan is really determined to knock their rival out of the throne." Kumakura-pro said.
She rolled her eyes inwardly at the comment, "However they definitely still underestimating Saki's and Teru's ability… in fact with this point gap, they have forced Teru and Saki to go all out…"
"Huwaa…" Their Vanguard winced.
"They're so digging their grave." Their sergeant added.
"Precisely." But of course… no matter how strong their captain was, she was aiming for absolute victory and for that…
"Thank you for helping us last week." The Shiraitodai representative said when she arrived on the table.
Tajihi Mayuko gave her a curt nod, "You're welcome." Today she didn't feel anything dangerous from this girl, she thought as the girl took seat across hers.
Her attention quickly drawn by other representatives arriving to the game room, she couldn't have one player to distract her too much, her opponents today was not just Shiraitodai. "Good luck and have a good game…"
"Good luck." Saki beamed.
Captain's match, East Hand 1, 1st Hanchan (Dealer: Shouan)
(Dealer's order: Shouan-Koizumi-Shiraitodai-Meisei)
Tajihi Mayuko glanced at Shiraitodai representative, Miyanaga Saki. There's no doubt she was a strong player, one with balanced defense and offense to boot. And even without Shiraitodai's reputation backing her up, she was undoubtedly the most dangerous player on the table. They only had data of three hanchan of her but just from that little data, a few points about her were so glaring…
First…
"Tsumo." Saki declared, revealing her hand. 2-2-2wan,2-2-2-4-4-6-7-8Pin-4-4-4Sou. "Riichi, tsumo, tanyao, San-ankou, 2000/4000 please."
Shouan Gakuen: 161300
Shiraitodai: 121500
Koizumi: 62000
Meisei: 55200
She winced inwardly, 'Dealer's penalty, and in instant the point gap shrink to 40000 point but...' She glanced at Shiraitodai who collected her earning cheerfully, 'Coach is right, she always win the East Hand 1, in last game she didn't win for second hanchan East Hand 1 because of Mizuno was in danger of going bust, she threw away her tenpai to let Mizuno call her tile… but in this condition she will not hesitate to win, She is the type who believe in the first one who strike win, huh?'
And another glaring factor was…
East Hand 2, 6th Turn (Dealer: Koizumi)
"Pon." Shiraitodai called for 5 sou.
Here it is! Shiraitodai's call to shift drawing turn to her favor! Mayuko drew her tile and wondered why instead of a dangerous tile she drew a tile that would lead her to tenpai. 'Should I or shouldn't I?' In the end Mayuko discarded her unneeded tile normally. 'I'd better be careful here.'
"Riichi." Koizumi on her right declared.
'Wrong move.' Mayuko thought.
8th Turn
"Ron." Meisei declared on Koizumi's discard of 1Pin, 1-2-3Wan-1-2-3Pin-1-2-3-5-6-7-8-8Sou. "Pinfu,
Shansoku…3900."
Mayuko swallowed as she surveyed her hand, the 1 pin she drew because of drawing turn shift, 'If I discard this to keep my tenpai it would be me who got ron-ed.' It was cheap, but since the match was five hanchan, in the beginning of the game gaining momentum was more important than point value.
Saki smiled as she glanced at Shouan who pushed the button to shuffle tiles, 'She threw away her tenpai… hm…'
Shouan Gakuen: 161300
Shiraitodai: 121500
Meisei: 59100
Koizumi: 58100
East Hand 3, 8th Turn (Dealer: Shiraitodai)
Saki observed her opponents keenly and while Meisei and Koizumi were oblivious of her, Shouan seemed uncomfortable whenever she glanced to her direction. 'I will try one more time.'
"Pon." Saki called for West tile Koizumi discarded.
9th Turn
'So obvious… that call won't advance her hand at all! And now…' Mayuko groaned inwardly, 'She made me draw a tile that screams dangerous again!' She swallowed heavily, 'But even if I have to break my tenpai… I won't play to your hand Shiraitodai!'
Saki narrowed her eyes, 'She broke her tenpai again…'
13th Turn
She broke her initial tenpai but no one said she had to bail, she might as well did this instead! "Tsumo!" Mayuko declared, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-9-9-9-North-North. "Menhonitsu! Iitsu! 2000/4000!"
Koizumi's eyes widened in shock and Mayuko could tell the North tile was her winning tile, Koizumi undoubtedly didn't expect Mayuko to hoard her winning tile. It was a downgrade from initial Chinitsu, Iitsu that would get her a Haneman, but… She glanced at Shiraitodai, to show that she could break free from Shiraitodai's control a decrease of her hand value was a cheap price!
Shouan's waiting room
"Flow controller?" Shouan's vice-captain echoed.
Their coach nodded, "Yes… that's the true ability of Shiraitodai's captain. This type of player will call when they sense the flow is not to their favor, or disrupting someone else's…"
"Uwaah…" Their Sergeant winced, "No wonder she was untouched in Semi-final." So stringing Mizuno's captain to score direct hit on her opponents was no coincidence, not to mention she scored a direct hit on Mizuno herself, taking away all points she helped Mizuno to take from Kouen and Ginyuri. "She looks like a very frail girl, but her play style is subtle and dangerous."
"Precisely…" Their coach agreed, "But this type of player also has a weakness…"
East Hand 4, 3th Turn (Dealer: Meisei)
"Chi!" Mayuko called from Meisei on her left.
Two turns later Shiraitodai discarded an 8 Sou, "Pon!"
"Chi!" She called from Meisei's discard again.
7th Turn
Saki narrowed her eyes, 'So many calls… the flow is a mess, hm…' Saki's finger hovered above her tile, in spite of those call she was in tenpai but to go for it… her finger flinch when brushing pass a 2 sou. 'Not this one…' She thought and discarded a 1 sou, breaking her pair.
Meisei whose turn was after her discarded the same 2 sou.
"Ron!" Mayuko declared, "7700, Tanyao, Sanshoku, dora 1!"
Meisei winced, "Hai…"
Shouan Gakuen: 169000
Shiraitodai: 117500
Meisei: 49400
Koizumi: 56100
South Hand 1, 3th Turn (Dealer: Shouan)
Saki hummed, maybe around here? "Kan." Saki declared as she revealed a quad of 4 Wan and set it aside.
Mayuko narrowed her eyes, 'Ankan (closed kan) for more kan dora?'
The brunette put the tile she drew from dead wall on top of her rows then discarded an 8 sou normally.
4th Turn
"Ron." Mayuko's finger twitched when her finger hovered above her discard, an 8 sou.
Miyanaga Saki revealed her hand and Mayuko's breathe hitched, 4-4-4-4Wan, 2-3-4-4-5-6-6-7-8-8-8 Sou. "Tanyao only…1600."
"Hai…" Mayuko handed the point sticks requested by the Shiraitodai's representative. 'What was that?! With that kind of hand she could get a closed chinitsu and iitsu! She could get a haneman and even a baiman! What is she thinking?'
Shouan Gakuen: 167400
Shiraitodai: 119100
Meisei: 49400
Koizumi: 56100
Shouan's waiting room
"What was that?!" Shouan's vice captain was shocked that Shiraitodai threw away a chance for a baiman hand and settled for a cheap hand.
"Did she think she could gain lead with cheap hand like she did in QF last week?" Their sergeant wondered, "How naïve, she is really a newbie… we're worried too much."
Their coach shook her head, "No." She disagreed. "I doubt that's the case." She said her eyes glued to the laptop screen that showed the match in high school side. "The other side is also worrying." She said as she replayed the recording of East Hand 1 of High school's captain match. In which their captain suddenly turned sharply to look at her back as if she sensed something. In that match Miyanaga Teru threw away her tenpai and let them won by Tsumo. These sisters… they're hiding something.
Shiraitodai's waiting room
They had a laptop open to watch the match in high school side and a screen showed Saki's match. Teru had won a trash hand after sitting idly by throughout the East round, while Saki just won 1600 off of Shouan.
"It begins…" Their coach murmured.
Seiko nodded, "Their one person domination."
High School Division, captain's match, South Hand 2 (Dealer: Shouan Gakuen)
Coach ordered them to test the water in East round, to analyze what kind of impression their opponents had of them after last week's match. It seemed Shouan didn't believe they're type of player who goes after cheap hand, but they're wary of call so probably they thought she and Saki were flow controllers. Teru never play against that type of player as Shiraitodai didn't have one, but she had to agree Saki's performance last week imply she was that kind of player.
It was not completely wrong but that's… not their main strength.
"Tsumo." Teru declared, "1000/2000."
Shouan who sat on her left frowned, 'Another cheap hand… or at least cheap, because with that kind of hand she could get a mangan. Speed over value? But her speed is consistent that it's scary… the value matters little if she could keep this speed and get a renchan.. I have to stop her in the next hand.'
South Hand 3 (Dealer: Shiraitodai)
"Pon!" Shouan called.
"Tsumo!" Teru declared stoically, revealing a tanyao, pinfu with one dora. "2000 all."
Shouan winced, 'Because she is sitting on my right I ended up giving her more drawing chance…' Shouan thought mournfully, 'And this is her third win too… but… 6000 is not cheap. Something is off, but what?'
South Hand 3, Bonus 1
Teru placed a 100 point stick as indicator for bonus 1 round and pushed the button to roll the dice, 'My next target…"
'I have a bad feeling about this.' Shouan thought as she rearranged her drawn tiles.
4th Turn
Josei High who sat across Teru frowned, 'I am fourth place and in yakitori to boot… if Shiraitodai keep winning I can't close the gap at all… my starting hand is good, I have to use this chance to knock her out of her seat or else.' She thought determinedly, "Riichi!"
"Ron." Teru declared and revealed a tanyao, pinfu and sanshoku hand. "8000 points."
Josei nodded mournfully as she handed Teru the requested points, "Hai."
Neither Teru nor Josei noticed Shouan captain who sat between them paled as a realization struck her, 'Her fourth win not to mention… Don't tell me…'
South Hand 3, Bonus 2, 6th Turn
Her starting hand was bad but it matters not as in this hand she would forego winning, although if someone else but Shiraitodai won would be welcomed to stop Shiraitodai's dealer winning streak… if Shiraitodai won she could confirm it, but to be honest she would rather…
"Tsumo."
Don't let my fear to be…
Shiraitodai revealed her hand, 2-2-2Wan-5-6-7Pin-8-8-8Pin-3-3-3-8-8Sou, a San-ankou and Tanyao. "4200 all."
True…
Shouan captain could feel her whole body trembled and a strong gush of wind she didn't come from where started blowing throughout the room, but she paid it no mind as sweat rolled down her face, 'Her hand value is… increasing by each win?! I have never heard this kind of playing style!'
Teru placed the third one hundred point stick, 'Next… is a Haneman.'
"Shiraitodai's captain, Miyanaga Teru has won five times in a row and she just scored a tsumo dealer mangan! In East round she is being defensive but in this South round, she is dominating the table!" The announcer commented excitedly, "Don't you think so, Hayari-pro?"
Hayari nodded cheerfully, "More than that… did anyone notice her hand value is getting progressively expensive? Or is it just Hayarin?" She wondered, titling her face to the side cutely.
"Eh?" The announcer blinked owlishly at that, "Uhm… really?"
"Yes~ First, she won with a gomi, and in her fifth win a dealer mangan… Hayarin predict she will get a dealer Haneman next! Wanna bet?" Hayarin challenged.
"Let's just see shall we?" The announcer returned, "Hayarin-pro predict player Miyanaga will win a Haneman next!"
South Hand 3, Bonus 3, 4th Turn
Shouan could tell that by now Josei and Nakamiya started to notice the increase of value of Shiraitodai's hand, after five times winning streak. You had to notice this unnatural occurrence unless you're as dumb as a mule.
It could be a wild guess still but… if it's true and Shiraitodai scored a Haneman…
"Pon!" Josei called.
Josei sat on Shiraitodai's right, if it's Josei who called… 'Shiraitodai will lose one drawing turn.'
8th Turn
Three calls were already made by Josei, but it seems Josei was having trouble to collect tile she can call. Shouan analyzed, but thanks to those calls she could finish her hands quicker and now that she was in tenpai for Tanyao pinfu, she discarded 9 Wan to keep her tanyao.
"Ron."
A declaration from her left made her freeze, and when she turned Shiraitodai had revealed her hand, 1-1-1Wan-1-1-1Pin-1-1-1-7-8-9Sou. A jun-chan combined with Sanshoku-doukou and one dora 8 sou. "18900."
'It can't be, I fell to second place… She lost three drawing turns but she still can built that kind of hand this fast?!' She thought in a daze, 'this girl… she is a monster!'
Teru placed her fourth bonus round stick, 'I'm first and next…. A baiman.'
"She won with a Haneman te he!" Hayarin exclaimed cheerfully although inside she felt a little scared, this magenta haired girl was a monster just like Kouko-san she faced years ago.
The announcer was gaping in shock, before she blurted out nervously. "It's a coincidence right?"
"For the sixth time?" Hayarin pointed out. "Next is a baiman… 8000 all! Wanna bet?"
"I will pass." The announcer let out a weak laugh. "At any rate… this is an amazing and unbelievable play we are seeing here! In Final round of West Tokyo regional! Shiraitodai is dominating the match single-handedly!" She exclaimed. "And now it's the fourth bonus round, Shiraitodai's fourth dealer repeat!"
"By the way." Hayarin cut her off, "Player Miyanaga have a sister in Middle school division, ne? Shiraitodai too right?"
"Yes." The announcer agreed, pulling out a thin file of player's profile. She had circled crucial point and some interesting fact, such as Miyanaga Teru had a sister who also played as captain. "Her sister is Miyanaga Saki… Shiraitodai Middle's captain, she scored a double Yakuman, 13 sided wait of Kokushi Mushou last week… also a noteworthy player." She added.
"Hm…" Hayarin hummed, "I wonder what happened over there?" She wondered out loud. "I wish I could clone myself and comment for both matches!"
She sweat-dropped, "Hayarin-pro, please concentrate on this match in front of us."
"So true Announcer-san! Ditzy Hayarin, te he!"
Middla School division, South Hand 3. (Dealer: Shiraitodai)
'She had won twice in a row with cheap hand…' Mayuko thought, but with this point gap she couldn't be planning to keep this up to overtake Shouan right? 'I have this kind of hand to boot… your luck ends here Shiraitodai!'
Mayuko opened her stick drawer and fished out a 1000 points stick. "Riichi." Goddess of Luck smile for her in this round!
'Double riichi!' Meisei and Koizumi winced.
Much to Mayuko's shock, not even a muscle on Shiraitodai's face shows worry if anything her eyes brightened up as she declared. "Kan."
'An open kan on my discarded 8 pin?! She wanted to take away my ippatsu? No… Shiraitodai didn't make call just for…' Her mind trailed off before shock was overcome with dread when Shiraitodai placed the tile she drew from dead wall aside, 'She finish her hand? She was in tenpai too?'
Saki smiled as she revealed the rest of her hand. "Tsumo, Rinshan Kaihou dora 1… 1600 all."
Mayuko gasped in shock, 'Rinshan Kaihou? Why didn't she declare a double riichi instead of calling a kan on my tile? Unless…'
Saki hummed as she collected her earning, 'My first Rinshan in official match! I will bloom more and more as I promised to Onee-chan!'
'Unless…'
Shouan Gakuen: 163800
Shiraitodai: 128500
Koizumi: 52500
Meisei: 46800
"Shiraitodai's Miyanaga Saki just ended South Hand 3 in a flash with Rinshan Kaihou!" The announcer commented excitedly, "But it's weird she didn't declare double rii like player Tajihi did but declare kan on Tajihi Mayuko's discard and won with a Rinshan instead." She added, "Don't you think so? Kumakura-pro?"
The aged pro nodded, "True, it's an odd decision indeed, but if she declare riichi she won't be able to declare an open kan, won't she?"
"Well… it's true she won't get the chance to draw her winning tile with Rinshan Kaihou in that case, but the chance of getting Rinshan Kaihou is…"
"Miniscule?" Kumakura Toshi continued, "Perhaps… "
South Hand 3, Bonus 1 (Dealer: Shiraitodai)
Saki rearranged her tile in group and analyzed what kind of yaku she should focus on, it was not a bad hand but… Saki smiled when she saw her initial hand already had a set, even though this hand seemed had no yaku to focus on, she didn't have to worry about that as for her the flower was already waiting to bloom on her hand.
5th Turn
"Riichi!" Tajihi declared.
Saki didn't even bat an eye at the threat of riichi and declared, "Kan." Revealing a quad of 2 pin and then she drew the tile from the dead wall, much to her opponents' horror she set the drawn tile aside, 2-2-2-2,3-4-5-5-6-7-9-9-9-PinWest-West. "Tsumo, Honiitsu, Rinshan Kaihou, 4100 all please."
Shouan Gakuen: 158700
Shiraitodai: 140800
Koizumi: 48400
Meisei: 42700
'Dealer Mangan… and it's her fourth win.' Mayuko thought in horror. It was not how many times Shiraitodai had won that she was worried about but the fact that Shiraitodai's final wait was a pair wait for West tile. Honor tile usually placed on the end of the row so it's easy to pay attention to it, and Mayuko was pretty sure since the very beginning that West tile had been kept for five turns even though it was a useless wind tile as it was neither seat wind nor round wind but Miyanaga Saki kept it!
It as if… she knew what tile she'd get from the dead wall.
"Player Miyanaga Saki just scored another Rinshan Kaihou!" The announcer exclaimed in disbelief, "A closed hand Honiitsu, Rinshan Kaihou! A Dealer mangan!"
Kumakura frowned, another odd decision that led her to winning with Rinshan Kaihou. Was that just a coincidence or…
South Hand 3, Bonus 2 (Dealer: Shiraitodai)
Mayuko trembled as she looked at the point indicator, 'First Hanchan and the point gap with Shiraitodai already lessen this much…' She swallowed, 'Shiraitodai was holding back in quarter final because of wide point gap and another school was in danger of going bankrupt… but with this point difference… she didn't have to worry about that…'
"Pon." Saki called for a set South tile.
'In this first hanchan I can't afford to defend against Shiraitodai… I don't want to admit it but if I defend, I will get slaughtered.' She thought as she drew her tile, 'Tenpai… Tanyao, pinfu, sanshoku… a three sided wait including a dora… plus riichi and tsumo I can get a Haneman.'
"Riichi!." Mayuko declared, 'I have to disturb her pace!'
Shiraitodai didn't even bat an eyelash at the riichi, Mayuko swallowed as Miyanaga called her tile and wreck her chance for an ippatsu.
"Pon." Miyanaga Saki called for her discarded 9 Wan and discarded a 2 sou.
7th Turn.
Saki smiled when she drew the fourth 9 wan, "Kan."
'A late kan?' Mayuko exclaimed inwardly.
Saki reached out to draw tile from the dead wall and revealed the rest of her hands, 8-8Wan-7-8-9Sou-9-9-9-9Wan-1-1-1Sou-South-South-So uth. "Tsumo…. Yakuhai, Rinshan kaihou… 70 2han, 2300 with bonus 2500 all…"
'This is her third Rinshan Kaihou!' Tajihi thought in panic, this was abnormal to get Rinshan Kaihou three times in a row and she acted as if it was the most normal thing in the world!
"Unbelievable! Player Miyanaga Saki has just scored her third Rinshan Kaihou!" The announcer said in disbelief.
"Not to mention 70fu 2 han… that's a very rare score…" Kumakura added.
"Rare score? 70fu 2 han is?"
"Rarer than a yakuman in this tournament's record..." She added, "But that's hardly a concern as player Miyanaga had just score her third Rinshan Kaihou… this is a difficult situation for the other three schools…"
"Eh? Why? Shouan is still ahead of Shiraitodai, and we still have 4 more hanchan…" The announcer said hesitantly.
"We're just in South Hand 3 first hanchan now." Kumakura agreed, "But with Shiraitodai dominating like this, and how she win… the other school is in difficult situation not just for point difference…"
South Hand 3, Bonus 3
'What should I do?The point gap is shrinking rapidly!' Mayuko thought in panic.
Shouan Gakuen: 156200
Shiraitodai: 148300
Koizumi: 45900
Meisei: 40200
"Chi." She called for the run from Meisei.
The point gap was just 8000 points now; one direct hit could put Shiraitodai on top. Actually not even a direct hit, another mangan win and she would be overtaken in a flash. With this point gap, she really couldn't afford to defend even!
"Pon!" Tajihi called, never mind points! I have to stop her winning streak now!
"Kan." Saki declared from chun tiles Tajihi discarded.
Damn it!
"Rinshan Kaihou, "800 all"
"The fourth Rinshan Kaihou!"
Shiraitodai's waiting room
"In some perspective, Saki is even more terrifying opponent than Teru…" The coach murmured.
Seiko nodded in agreement, "Once you're under assumption all kan will lead to Rinshan Kaihou… you will want to avoid discarding Shonpai…"
"But you're going to limit your hand that way…" She added as Takami refilled her cup, "Ah… that Tajihi-girl managed to stop Saki's winning streak."
Seiko blinked owlishly when she saw Tajihi Mayuko won a tanyao off of Koizumi, "Cheap."
"Does not matter if she wants to stop Saki's winning streak… although for Saki…"
South Hand 4 (Dealer: Meisei)
At last she managed to stop Shiraitodai's winning streak, and to be honest she had to throw away a hand that could worth tanyao, ippekkou, pinfu, sanshoku… had she develop it more she would have gotten a Haneman at least. There's no use crying over spilled milk, and now she had to concentrate to widen the gap with Shiraitodai.
"Pon!" Tajihi called for South tiles.
'Double Nan?! Koizumi thought in panic.
Tajihi smiled when she saw the tile she drew, "Kan!"
Saki stayed silent when she saw Tajihi Mayuko drew tile from dead wall and keep it. 'Shouan wants to hoard my winning tile?'
7th Turn
Shiraitodai was getting too quiet, it seemed stacking claim on her territory bothered her a great deal. So this was all she wrote in the end… Tajihi thought as she watched Shiraitodai drew her tile. "Kan." Miyanaga Saki revealed a closed quad of 3 Pin.
Like the flower that bloom in mountain ridge… bloom so strongly in that harsh nature, me too…
EH?!
"Tsumo… menzen chinitsu… "
No one would be able to stop me from blooming!
"Rinshan Kaihou, 4000/8000."
Shiraitodai: 166700
Shouan Gakuen: 153600
Koizumi: 38900
Meisei: 35400
"Baiman Tsumo! Just when we thought Shouan had ended Shiraitodai's dominance, Miyanaga Saki scored a baiman tsumo! Shiraitodai turns the table!"
"It doesn't look good on Shouan…" Kumakura analyzed, that baiman must had hit Shouan's representative badly, as even though she took away the first tile from dead wall that supposed to be Shiraitodai's winning tile she had lost this round. Not to mention Shiraitodai took first place away from her just like that…It would be one thing if these three were prepared to play against player like Miyanaga Saki, or at least expecting a play in this level but...
Shiraitodai was holding back so much last week that now they let their ace to play as she liked, and that girl was really not holding back at all. She was slaughtering her opponents, like blooming flower that grow on her fallen enemies... at this rate, even though they still had points left, her opponents would...
East Hand 2, 2nd Hanchan (Dealer: Shouan)
Why… why I can't win?!
Saki brightened up when she drew her fourth 9 sou, "Tsumo… Sanshoku, Rinshan Kaihou…. Dora 2, 2000/4000 please…"
Shiraitodai: 178700
Shouan Gakuen: 148600
Koizumi: 34900
Meisei: 32400
In the end the game never made it to third hanchan as both Koizumi and Meisei went bust with a tsumo dealer Sanbaiman in Saki's fifth dealer repeat and Shiraitodai won with over seventy thousands points lead from Shouan Gakuen. For Saki it was her second victory in official tournament, another step of the beginning of illustrious career she made as a mahjong player.
It was also… the first heavy step she took as a champion….
"Thank you very much…" Saki said as she struggled to keep her voice even.
Tajihi Mayuko nodded, "Thank you very much…" She said in trembling voice, followed by other players who were looking at her with fearful eyes. It lasted only a few second as they quickly averted their eyes away from hers.
Why… why did they look at me like that?!
Saki swallowed as she turned and walked away, chanting what her coach told her to do if she won. She had promised to not cower and no matter what she had to walk away from her opponents with pride, but… when they looked at her it was not with anger or annoyance like her parents used to do but fear… they're scared of her, but why?! What have I…
Her thought was cut short when the moment she stepped out of the room her teammates had glomped her in a group hug, "You did it Saki!"Saki blinked owlishly when she felt both of her cheeks were pinched playfully by Seiko-senpai.
"We won! We won the regional!" Takami on her right said in a rare moment of cheerfulness.
Saki swallowed as she recalled her promise to coach and teammates, that she will win for them. And yet... she felt so empty after the victory, it didn't feel nice...
"Yes… we won." Saki said as she spare the opened game room one last glance.
'Promise me when you win, no matter what… you….
"Saki...
Saki...Saki-chan! Hmph! Help!"
Saki blinked her sleepiness away as her drowsy mind heard familiar mumbling of Awai. Saki sat up blearily and turned to the side to see her sister who was half-awake and suffocating Awai with pillow.
"Onee-chan! Don't kill Awai-chan!"
Sumire opened their door with a loud bang, "That's enough nap for you! If you're not hurry you will miss our match!"
Teru who was a Vanguard and first to play scrambled to go to shower before Sumire screamed her ears off.
"I also don't want to miss watching Kiyousumi's match." Saki added sleepily.
"We will watch it on laptop later!" Sumire said.
Saki sweat-dropped at her. "So… you don't want to miss it either." Or to be exact Sumire just didn't want to miss Takei Hisa's match.
I maybe slow but I am going to keep updating as much as I can in spite of my busy schedule. I know follower of more popular story will think why I update this instead of POAST but well… it really depends on which's inspiration strike me first~