Sumire didn't smile a lot. She's the more serious type. Very few things could make her smile (which may or may not include a certain purple-haired girl and of course mahjong).

But as she stood next to her teammates, facing the gorgeous venue where the prefectures were being held, Sumire felt the corners of her lips upturn a little bit, just a little bit. It took her three whole years, but she finally got here. But this was only the beginning. No, with these five standing next to her, they were going to go much farther than she ever dared to wish for,

Sumire took a deep breath. "Ready, everyone?" The subtle nods and smiles on everyone's faces almost made Sumire smile wider. Almost.

"Let's go then."

"Woah! There's so many people here," Seiko noted as she stepped sideways in order to avoid bumping into a group of girls.

"Yeah. West Tokyo is one of the biggest 'prefectures' despite being only half of Tokyo, which is why our prefecture preliminaries start a day earlier than other prefectures. We have to go through three non televised elimination rounds in order to qualify for the prefectures. Prefectures like Nara and Nagano for example are a lot smaller and don't require any elimination rounds," Takami explained.

"Ouch," Seiko grimaced. "That's a lot of competition."

"Hehe. That's okay! We'll just have to beat them all!" Awai declared. "It'll be a lot of fun. So many people to crush!" she laughed playfully.

Seiko stared at Awai in an awed silence. "I feel bad for Awai's opponents," she finally concluded. Takami nodded in agreement.

"Hey, President. What's happening over there?" Seiko asked gesturing towards a giant group of reporters crowding at the entrance.

Sumire shrugged. "I don't know. Probably one of the seeded schools are arriving though they don't play until the afternoon. It's probably either Shouan or..."

"Ah! They're here! It's Ryuumonbuchi! Winners of last year's prefectures! They got all the way up to the semi-finals and are the favorites this year," one reporter shouted.

"...them," Sumire finished, as the group of reporters started going crazy.

"Inoue Jun!"

"Sawamura Tomoki!"

"Kunihiro Hajime!"

"Ryuumonbuchi Touka!"

"Last year these four, including Amae Koromo, dominated prefectures and rampaged all the way until the national semi-finals!"

"Wow, they're really popular," Takami commented. But this year, we came prepared as well. We are the underdogs this time.

"Wait. Where are Teru and Saki?" Seiko suddenly asked.

The members looked around. Sumire mentally facepalmed. "Please don't tell me.."

"What are we going to do about Koromo? She's late. If she doesn't make it in time for the afternoon preliminaries, we'll be disqualified, desuwa." Touka exclaimed.

"Hey, don't look at me. I went to her house and set up ten different alarms," said Jun. "If worse comes to worse, Ayumu can sub in."

"What!? But I'm just a maid!" cried Ayumu.

"It's okay. Just don't go under zero, and we can catch up on points later. Just count on me," Jun reassured as she put her arm over the smaller girl.

"Grrr...Koromo better get here soon, desuwa!" fumed Touka.

"Calm down, Touka. I'm sure Koromo knows what she's doing," Hajime reassured.

"But she-"

Touka froze, as did the others.

"What was that!?" Jun exclaimed, alarmed after recieving a sudden chill down her spine.

They all turned just in time to see two figures, arm in arm disappear around the corner.

"Those two...they are from Shiraitodai," said Tomoki, pushing up her glasses. "They're wearing their uniforms."

"Shiraitodai?" Jun asked.

"I recognize them. They were at the training camp, desuwa," said Touka.

"Who are they and what was that just now?" Hajime asked. "It almost felt like…"

There was a pause.

"There's no way," Jun chuckled nervously. "There can't be anyone else like Koromo."

"R-right. That's impossible," Hajime tried to reassure herself and the others.

There's no way...right?

"Teru! Saki!" Awai exclaimed happily before pouncing on the former.

"Where were you guys?" questioned Sumire. "Nevermind. Takami, can you make sure that those two won't get lost again? I'm counting on you."

Takami nodded.

"Anyways, we just looked at the tournament match-ups. We're in room D. We're playing against three other no name schools, but don't let your guard down. Teru, I know this might be a weird request, but can you hold back a little?" asked Sumire.

Teru cocked an eyebrow. "You want me to...hold back?" she asked again for clarity.

"Yeah. If you attract too much attention now and reveal everything you have now, we could be in trouble in later matches, so can you hold back? Just play like a normal high schooler," Sumire said.

"...Do I not play like a normal high schooler?" Teru asked.

"No," Takami, Seiko, and Sumire all answered in unison, shaking their heads vigorously. "Not at all."

Teru sighed mentally. I've never had to hold back before, not even against my parents or my aunt, not that I had to.

"Will the players for round one of the elimination rounds, please report to your rooms? The matches will begin shortly."

"Alright, it's time. Seiko, please show Teru the way to room D. We'll be watching from the viewing room. Good luck, Teru," said Sumire.

"Don't need it."

"Begin the first match!"

Kadomatsu Youko

Nagamori Kazuto

Tsuchiya Yuri

Miyanaga Teru

"And it has begun! Kadomatsu Youko-san is the first dealer."

Youko spun the dice. This is going to be so easy. I may be a first year, but I've been playing mahjong since I was ten. These no name schools aren't going to be able to keep up.

"Ron. 3,000." See? Easy peasy. I've got this game in the bag.

"Huh."

"What's wrong, Saki?" Sumire asked.

Saki hesitated and eventually shook her head. "Nothing." I guess Onee-chan really is holding back after all. She didn't use 'that'.

Sumire stared at Saki in confusion, which Awai noticed and smiled knowingly.

Even without her 'mirror', those beginners won't stand a chance. I doubt the match would even get to the Lieutenant round.

"Ron. 1,200."

Teru felt her right eye twitch. What a low..

"Another win from Kadomatsu-san! This makes it three wins in row. What a dealer streak! Can no one stop her? With this, Kadomatsu-san is pulling ahead into the lead."

Teru sighed. Stupid Sumire telling me to hold back. Now, I have to watch this kid dominate and with a dealer streak no less. She's starting get cocky. Her moves are getting easier and easier to read. I wish Saki was here right now. I'm so bored.

"Ron. 2,000" It was another win for Kadomatsu-san.

Another tiny hand?! This is going to take forever. Teru noticed the other two players shaking in their seats. Really? You think she's scary? What am I going to do with you two.

Teru's eyes flickered over the entire table once.

Tsuchiya's hand is nowhere near tenpai. Nagamori's hand is two away from tenpai. Her discards are so easy to read. Unfortunately for her, her winning tile is deep in the wall. The only way for her to win is...

Teru smirked.

I think I may have some fun after all.

Kadomatsu

These players really are no match for me. Nagamori-san is clearly collecting pins and there doesn't seem to be a clear yaku in Tsuchiya-san's hand. As for this Miyanaga-san, her discards are just complete wack. There is no pattern at all! She probably doesn't know how to play. I almost feel sorry for her.

Wait…

Youko glanced at the scoreboard.

Miyanaga is the only one who hasn't played into my hand. She's still at 100,000. Her wacky discards are completely dodging my attacks.

Youko mentally smirked. It doesn't matter. If she's just focusing everything on defending, she can't beat me. Plus, she'll slip up eventually.

"Hey, President. Is this really okay?" Seiko asked in concern.

"What do you mean?" Sumire asked.

"I mean, Teru's not doing anything because you told her to hold back," explained Seiko.

"Don't worry. Teru's just doing her job. Plus, the wins were with very low scoring hands. Kadomatsu-san won't beat Teru by a lot even if Teru doesn't do anything. Honestly, I'll be more surprised if Teru maintains her score at 100,000 the entire match," remarked Sumire.

"Won't that stand out though?" asked Takami. "In order to do that, she'll have to stop the other players from winning through tsumo. Wouldn't that attract attention?"

"...probably not."

"It doesn't matter though, does it? I thought the first three rounds aren't televised to the public because they are elimination rounds?" said Takami.

"True, but it still is being recorded. Any team can easily get their hands on the elimination round recordings if one asked the right people," said Sumire. "But I suppose you're right. We'll tell Teru to finish it quickly after the first half is over," she decided.

"But watching this is kind of funny. Teru looks so bored right now," Awai laughed. "Sumire, you are evil."

Teru flopped backwards into her seat as the bell signaled the end of the first half. That was pure torture. She glanced at the scoreboard and smirked. I hope I didn't scare them too much.

Kadomatsu sat stunned. What the hell just happened? I was winning in the beginning, but then Nagamori started winning off of me. And then Tsuchiya started winning off of me. The score kept going back and forth, but…

Kadomatsu stared at the scoreboard. ...this cannot be a coincidence.

Kadomatsu Youko 100,000

Nagamori Kazuto 100,000

Tsuchiya Yuri 100,000

Miyanaga Teru 100,000

And worst of all, Kadomatsu turned her head to look at the quiet purple haired girl to her left. That Miyanaga hasn't done anything! She never won and never lost!

"Seiko," Sumire growled with her hands pressed against her face. "Tell Teru to stop messing around and start winning. This is standing out even more."

"Y-yes!" Seiko shouted as she ran off to find Teru.

Teru groaned mentally. First Sumire wants her to hold back, now she wants her to win but "not too much!" Seiko had told her.

Sumire. You better pray I don't fall asleep half way through.

"What is she doing?!" Sumire growled in a whisper as she leaned forward in her chair, body completely tense from frustration. The second half of the match began ten minutes ago and Teru was listening to her advice too well.

"She's doing well," Awai commented with a smile. She, unlike Sumire, was completely relaxed and laying back in her chair.

"I thought I told her to hold back," Sumire muttered.

"You also told her to win," Seiko pointed out.

"Winning eight hands in a row and going on a six round dealer repeat is not holding back," Sumire whispered harshly.

"It is for Teru," Seiko remarked calmly. "Plus this is more interesting than having the points stuck at 100,000."

Sumire groaned.

"Relax, people will just think she's lucky. Plus, her hands have all been cheap. None of them have been higher than a mangan. This won't draw that much attention," Takami reasoned in an effort to soothe the fuming president.

"Plus, it's only an elimination round, so no one's watching anyways," Seiko added.

Sumire had no choice but to calm down. She leaned back into her chair with a sigh.

"What is she doing?"

"What is the player from Shiraitodai thinking?"

"Why didn't she declare tsumo? She just discarded her winning tile."

"Did she just give up her dealer streak?"

"Maybe she's just a beginner. You know, beginner's luck and everything."

The murmurs in the room grew as the screen revealed Teru's hand.

Sumire could only facepalm as the girl from Kadomatsu won the round with a tanpin tsumo, stopping Teru's dealer streak.

"See? She is holding back," Awai said playfully, enjoying the reactions of the annoyed club president.

She didn't have to make it so obvious…

"We passed the elimination rounds easy-peasy," said Awai. "And I didn't even get to play a single game," Awai complained.

"Well, neither did Saki. But you don't see her complaining," Sumire said. "Don't worry, you two will probably play in the matches from now on. The opponents will be tougher."

Seiko thought for a moment. "Let's see, we have one more match in the afternoon, three more tomorrow, and finally the fi-"

"Don't get so caught up. We have to get there first. As Sumire said, things won't be as easy now," Takami said bluntly.

Seiko merely hummed.

"Will the players for round one of the preliminaries, please report to your rooms? The matches will begin shortly."

Teru slumped in her chair, exhausted. I've already played three matches. I can't do this anymore. "Do I still have to hold back?" she asked Sumire.

Sumire nodded sympathetically. "Yes, but you still have to keep the lead."

Teru puffed her cheeks in protest. She then whipped her head to stare at Seiko.

"W-what?" Seiko stammered nervously under the older girl's glare.

"Do you want to play?" Teru asked.

"H-huh?" Seiko blinked twice in surprise.

Teru turned back to face Sumire. "Seiko's subbing in for me," Teru announced stubbornly as she pushed Seiko in front of her.

"W-wait. I-I didn't agree-"

Sumire sighed. "Just go, Seiko."

'Y-yes!" Seiko bowed hastily.

"Good luck!" Saki called out.

"Well then. Let's go watch."

"Pon!"

"Chi!"

"Chi!"

"Tsumo!"

"Wow, Seiko's on fire!" Saki exclaimed.

Sumire looked up in surprise. She did not expect Seiko to do this well. Looks like the fisherman had been waiting all day and the fish are finally here.

Sumire turned and looked over at the older Miyanaga. "What did you say to her before she left?" she asked.

Teru looked over and raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"You whispered something in her ear," Sumire pointed out. "What'd you say?"

"Oh. I told her to win the game by herself or else," Teru replied nonchalantly.

"Onee-chan!" Saki scolded her older sister.

Sumire's eye twitched. "You threatened her…"

Teru shook her head. "No, I encouraged her. Not threatened."

"Right…" No wonder Seiko's playing like her life depended on it.

Awai chuckled. "That's Teru for you. But it looks like it's working. Look. The girl sitting at East only has 47,000 points left. We're up by over 60,000 points. Takami can win this easily."

"Keep in mind that this is only preliminaries. Don't get too cocky," Takami warned to which Awai merely stuck out her tongue.

"Saki. Awai," Sumire called out to the bored freshman.

"Yes?"

"Here. Since you guys probably won't play until the finals tomorrow, why don't you guys pass some time with this?" Sumire handed each of them a hand held device.

"What is this?" Saki asked examining the piece of technology in her hand.

"It's online mahjong!" Awai declared happily as she pressed some buttons and began to play. Saki observed the game over the girl's shoulder.

"Woah. How do you use this?" Saki asked, completely lost.

Sumire looked over incredulously. "You've got to be kidding me," she murmured before sighing.

Damn Miyanagas. Can you guys do anything besides mahjong?

"I'm b-back," Seiko nervously stood in front of her team, refusing to meet Teru's eyes.

"You did well," Teru stated quietly and Seiko beamed.

"Thank you senpai!" Seiko bowed hastily. She then looked at Takami. "Good luck. End it for us."

Takami just nodded and headed off.

"What are you guys up to?" Seiko noticed the two freshman hunched together and peaked over their shoulders.

"Wow, you guys suck at online mahjong," she commented. Saki: -52 Awai -46

Seiko was surprised. She would have never guessed that these two would be bad at online mahjong. They're worse than I am. How can that be?

Sumire tapped Teru's shoulder.

"What do you need?" Teru asked.

"How did you and Saki get into Mahjong?" Sumire asked but immediately stopped noticing how Teru's eyes darkened.

"Uh you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. It's just," Sumire glanced over at Saki. "She plays well because she can read the flow of the tiles. But no matter how much she relies on the flow, she should still be able to play well online. Yet, she's being crushed. I'm trying to figure out why."

Teru sighed. "It's because she's always played based on the flow, even as a little kid. She never had to play solely based on the tiles on the table."

"That's dangerous though," Sumire stated. Teru nodded in agreement.

"What about you? Can you play without the flow?" Sumire asked. Teru stayed silent and gave no response. Sumire was about to drop the topic when the older Miyanaga came out so quietly, Sumire almost missed it. She looked up in surprise, wanting to ask what Teru meant, but the girl was clearly done talking about it.

"I didn't always rely on the flow."