Yumi: Part 10, Dark Designs

Urk. No more mahjong chapters for me, for a while. But I'm still glad I made the attempt, since it's something important to the characters.

I sat down, collecting myself again. I'm glad we had that break. Even for me, playing two games in a row would be difficult. But now it's time to focus.

"This should be interesting," Kanbara said cheerfully. "We're all cheering for you two."

"Thanks," I said absently. Inoue-san looks like she's fired up, but I can't see anything in Koromo right now. She's just sitting there, swinging her legs and watching me. In both the matches I've seen her play, Koromo's held back for a few hands before coming in violently... I need to make use of the fact I'm starting East to build up points and brace for that attack. But Momo's West. I can't count on her to complete my sequences by letting me call Chi this time.

I brought the last tiles of my starting hand into place. It looked like it would fast. That was just as well, because the other half is Inoue-san. And she's no push-over, either.

"Ready to go?" Inoue-san said, grinning.

I nodded, glancing around the table. All ready. "Right. Here I go."

My early draws were good, and I managed tenpai on my seventh draw. Two-sided wait on 4-sou and 7-sou. So far so good.

Inoue-san called on Momo's next tile. "Chi!" She looked straight at me, smirking.

Aren't you brimming with confidence? I frowned when my turn came. Ordinary, you'd think a wait like this would be good enough. How can a two-sided wait be sealed with just one call? But that's a trap. If it's this person, you have to throw away such unnecessary feelings, and throw away your tenpai as well. I placed the 3-san I drew on top of my hand. My fingers slid between the 5-sou and the 6-sou. I'm trusting myself to chance... but there are less discarded 5-sou, as well. I dealt the 6-sou, frowning back at Inoue-san.

She leaned back, smiling. It's not as if she wasn't expecting this. I imagine her team-mates use this strategy a lot on her, as well. And no matter what, my advance is slowed.

I frowned as I drew a second 3-san, discarding the 5-sou. Not yet. I'm not finished yet, but if you've locked your course, so will I. "Riichi." Another showdown.

It didn't even get to her turn. Momo silently dealt the 3-san, instead. I pushed my hand open. "Ron. 3900." I catch Momo's eye and smiled. Maybe we're not moving forwards just yet, but we've protected East for now. It is possible to escape Inoue-san's control of the flow.

"Not bad. But not sufficient, either," Koromo said softly.

I ignored her. It's not as if I'd get anywhere playing like she does. My luck was worse in the next hand, though. I was approaching tenpai, but I didn't have a yaku. I frowned, touching my 1-pin. It'd mean changing direction, but it looked like I'd have to go for End-less. I dealt it.

"Ron." Koromo opened her hand. "1300."

My eyes widened slightly. Koromo winning so early, and with such a cheap hand? That was uncharacteristic of her. I dismissed it mentally as I handed the points over. Losing East hurt, but only an idiot would expect everything to go their way against Koromo Amae. Don't mind it.

That was complacent. For her next three turns, Koromo east, she won with small hands targeted straight at Momo. The fourth was a Baiman Momo dealt into. I swallowed. Koromo has taken an overwhelming lead this fast, but that's not even the greatest damage our side's taken. "Are you okay, Momo?"

"I'm fine," Momo said quietly. "Don't worry about me, senpai."

She was looking down, even so. She's never played against Koromo, and on top of that, she's used to being unusually resistant to the enemy winning on her tiles. There's no way this hasn't hurt her confidence.

"I have a good feeling, Jun," Koromo said, looking up and smiling. "Let's do that."

"You're not letting me have any fun at all," Inoue-san complained. She smirked.

My hand started in an ugly way, but even so, I managed to get tenpai.

Inoue-san called soon after that. "Pon!"

I frowned. Koromo's silent again, which worries me. But all I can do is push forwards. It took a lot of time, but I managed to get tenpai again. Honestly, I'm more surprised Koromo hasn't already won. Momo... I can probably can't count on her right now. I have to do this myself.

"Chi."

I gritted my teeth in frustration. Another of Inoue-san's calls... this is hopeless. It was only when Koromo called that I realised what was happening. We were running out of time, and she'd locked her course. Koromo Amae would be drawing the last tile. And even if I tried to call or change course with my hand, nothing was coming together. And in the final turn, the execution blade swung down.

Koromo pushed her hand open with her final draw. "Haitei Rayoue. 2000 all."

I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth. Using Inoue-san's ability to disrupt enemy players in order to stretch out the game until Koromo can reach her haitei raoyue. It's a powerful example of team play. Next round, I'll try and stop it. But how? My draws were bad, and Inoue-san was in good condition. I gritted my teeth. This incredible feeling of adversity... like you're trying to swim in quicksand... at this rate, things will end without me doing anything at all.

"Excuse me, Inoue-san. There's no need to draw." Momo looked up, smiling. "I believe I clearly said tsumo, after all. 1000 all."

Inoue-san blinked, her expression shocked. "I see..."

"Again with that!" Ryumonbuchi-san said, sounding annoyed.

I sighed with relief, feeling foolish. I should be ashamed of myself, forgetting about her. Momo isn't someone who folds so easily. But a small, strongly closed hand... it's understandable that would evade the sight of even Inoue-san and Koromo, if it's Momo. That's not what's important, though. While I was wavering and doubting myself and her, she was moving forwards, calmly and in silence. I need to calm down. "Thank you," I said, glancing at her.

"Yumi-senpai?" Momo asked quietly.

"It's nothing." I lowered my hands, opening my eyes. "I'm feeling better now. Let's go for it."

"I still hate being a child," Koromo muttered. "But it's too early for celebration amongst sisters-in-arms. You won't turn us back with a single check."

Momo managed to win several times East off Inoue-san, taking some of her points back. Then Koromo hit us with a big tsumo, practically putting us back where we started. Koromo's only stronger now in terms of points, and Inoue-san's attention is rooted firmly on Momo now. She won't be able to disappear easily.

That can be turned to our advantage, though. This next hand of mine is suitable for another line of attack I've been considering. I glanced sidelong at Momo. "We're attacking here. All-out."

"Sorry, but we won't let you," Inoue-san said, placing her first tile.

Our opponent is Koromo, so we need speed. I watched the board carefully as my hand developed. Koromo's ability to target someone is pretty similar mine, though she might well be using something different from my reading of the discards to do it. But I can read her hand, to an extent. Enough to keep me safe for now. For the rest, I'm counting on Momo.

"Riichi." Momo placed the stick in front of her, her expression controlled. This time, both of them were watching her carefully, though.

Inoue-san took her new draw into her hand, looking slightly relieved. "Kan!" She formed a closed kan, drawing and discarding another tile and flipping over a new Dora.

I drew my next tile, sliding into my hand. Don't think Momo's the only danger. I discarded a stray 3-pin. It's here. Tenpai on a 7-pairs hand, Dora 2. My wait on 1-sou is aimed at Koromo.

Koromo glanced warily between us, taking more than a second on her discard for perhaps the first time all match. She played a 7-wan instead.

"Pon!" Inoue-san slid the tiles home, glancing at me.

I discarded the 1-sou on my turn, keeping my new 7-sou. With this hand, it's no effort at all to switch up my wait. It's always going to be a bad wait, though... I'm counting on my insight and my luck to aim for their tiles, since I can't count on tsumo when the game's going this badly for us.

Koromo dealt a 1-sou, her expression huffy. Just as I thought, her insight forced her to bail until it was safe. But if it's her, she's one away from tenpai or in tenpai with those draws.

"Riichi!" Inoue-san discarded a tile sideways, her expression controlled. Looks like she's not expecting to be able to call again.

My eyes narrowed as I drew it. 8-wan. I was waiting for this. The other tile isolated when you discarded that safe 7-wan instead of my 1-sou might have been this. Inoue-san called on that 7-wan and the other one is something Momo discarded long ago. One 9-wan is discarded. Two of them are right here, in my hand. But a 6-wan... one of those is unaccounted for. The other problem is this 7-sou. I placed my hand on it, staring across at her. If Koromo is in tenpai, if the flow of the game really is dancing to her tune, she'll win here. I can't do what Miyanaga-san did. I can't call madly and blow up a hand to ridiculous proportions in an instant. Targeting the opponent is my mahjong. And that's what I'm putting on the line here.

There's one other thing I know about Koromo. She'll accept challenges head-on.

I placed the 7-sou sideways in front of me, gritting my teeth. But nothing came. "Riichi!" Koromo knows I'm in tenpai. I can only go all out, clearly declaring that challenge.

Koromo held my gaze for a moment, her expression darkening. "Your conspiracy is sinister indeed. But I'll end it here. You are not her." She placed her draw on top of her hand, sliding her fingers across and stopping at a single tile. "This will pass." She flipped it open, pushing it into place amongst her discards.

"It won't pass," I said, trying to keep my face composed despite my leaping heart. "Ron. Riichi, ippatsu, Seven Pairs, Dora 2. 12,000."

Koromo held my gaze for a moment longer, then broke into a smile. "This is interesting. Very interesting! I was sure that would pass." She reached out, taking the points sticks and handing them to me. "Was that a miracle? Or was that your boon, a grace?"

"I wouldn't know," I said evenly, taking the points. "I'd just call it luck." That was a big win. If we keep pushing here, we can turn things around and take a big lead.

"Wahaha. This is what Yumi-chin can do when she goes with her intuition," Kanbara said cheerfully. "Not bad, is it?"

"It was a lucky fluke," Ryumonbuchi-san said calmly. "Koromo's counter-attack will be much more severe."

"Koromo agrees," the girl said, beaming. Her blue eyes were intense. "Miracles aren't enough. You must show grace, the grace to win again and again, just as I will. Only then can you make Koromo enjoy the excitement of a close-fought match, a sincere struggle, such as I desire."

I nodded silently. She's right, of course. I'll just have to win again and again. I managed to win a small hand as East but just like before, Koromo won with a small hand, then won again just like that. This pattern... I saw some of it in Kaori's game with Koromo, but not at the finals. Her mahjong's mellowed. But just like tempering metal, that's only made her stronger than she was before. She's not merely relying on her insight and luck now.

With her third hand east, I was preoccupied throwing off Inoue-san's strong attack, and before I knew it we were sliding into the pit. Inoue-san was watching Momo carefully, as well. Before I knew it, there was nowhere to run. I tried to dealing into Inoue-san's hand on the last turn, but inevitably she didn't take the bait. Koromo scooped the moon from the water. "Tsumo. Riichi, ippatsu, toi-toi, Dora 3." She smiled contentedly. "Haitei raoyue! 6000 all."

She's relying on Inoue-san's ability to force our hands to a standstill right now, but even so. This kind of massive comeback is Koromo Amae, her truly terrifying ability. In an instant, we're incredibly far behind again.

Her condition's good right now. It's not wise to raise a hand to her. Inoue-san, on the other hand... throwing out calls isn't very safe, especially against me. I switched up my hand several times in the next round, managing to get back on target just as she moved to complete her hand and winning off the tile that flowed out. "Ron. 3200."

"Again with seven pairs?" Ryumonbuchi-san said, sounding almost offended.

I thought I could get a big hand next round, but it just wouldn't come together, even changing up my waits. Koromo's probably developing fast already, and she's clearly watching my every move. I won't get the chance for another direct hit. I frowned as a 3-pin came out. Not that. I was waiting on the 5-pin.

"Ron," Momo said quietly. "Riichi, ippatsu, 3 quads, endless. 12000, please."

My eyes widened. Not just the concealed kan... I'd even missed the riichi. Koromo looked even more shocked. If it was her, she'd definitely expect to notice a hand that big. But what I can barely manage by changing waits and chasing her down, Momo can do naturally. That's Momo's ability. And I know what comes next... she has the stage all to herself.

Momo won three times with smaller hands, securing our position. With that said, it wasn't easy for us either. I was on the offensive every round, trying to deflect and pressure the other two with my own hands.

In Momo's fourth bonus hand, I aimed squarely at Koromo, getting 7-pairs again and switching up several times to mount pressure on her. Momo's hand came together as well. Just like before, by pressuring her with dangerous hands from both sides, even Koromo won't be able to evade without throwing her hand away.

"Tsumo. 2000/4000." Inoue-san smiled. "Ignore me and you'll be in a world of hurt, you know."

I gritted my teeth. Considering how far behind she was, I'd assumed I could leave her alone. They've made a huge amount of ground now, and even though they're still behind, Inoue-san's dealer on this last round and any bonus rounds. We have to end it here.

Koromo played aggressively as well, though. It was all I could do to develop my hand while avoiding hers. In the end, I had to take a risk.

"Ron. 3900." Inoue-san leaned forwards to take my points. "You two are pretty impressive. It's been a long time since Koromo and I have been pushed this much. But this is as far as that goes."

Another turn-around. The worst possible situation. Most likely, next round Koromo would go for a quick hand and Jun would dealt into it for their win. But my new hand looked slow. The points I need to get aren't trivial, either. Is this really as far as I go? After coming this close? No, that doesn't matter right now. I glanced at Koromo, who looked at me with innocent blue eyes and smiled. I'll just do whatever I can, until the end. Believing in and aiming for that one moment, that one chance. Even if I can't win here, I can avoid losing.

Koromo's developing fast. I'm beginning to get an image of her hand, but if I can't get tenpai, it's meaningless. I have a bad feeling that Inoue-san already has her winning tile, too. Is there nothing we can do?

Momo dealt a Nan. My eyes widened slightly. "Pon!" I placed the tiles to my right. With that, I have double-wind. There's still a chance.

Koromo glanced between us, then dealt a 6-wan.

"Pon!" Inoue-san smiled.

"Kan." Momo formed a closed kan, drawing a spare tile and dealing it instantly. 1-pin.

"Pon." What is this luck? Weren't we falling behind? But looking at Momo, I somewhat understand. Her eyes are looking straight ahead. That's right. Whether it's Inoue-san's calls or Koromo's control, if you look straight ahead, you can progress. No matter what people say about 'flow' or the luck going against them.

Koromo pouted, dealing another tile. Inoue-san called on it.

Momo discarded her next draw sideways. "Riichi!"

My hand was finally coming together as well. I'd like to be more subtle, but I need to be forceful here. "Riichi."

Koromo closed her eyes, sighing. She dealt one more tile.

"Ron. 2000." Inoue-san looked between us, her expression impassive.

We couldn't get the win there, but it looked like we managed to make Koromo retreat. That's a victory in itself. My eyes widened when I completed my new hand. This... I don't know who I sold my soul to in order to get this hand, but I'm thankful. This is a sword I was given to finish this battle.

Inoue-san glanced sidelong at me, her eyes widening slightly. "Koromo, this is bad. The flow-"

"It's fine. Koromo is above your flow." Koromo opened both her eyes, and for the first time all match I felt the same deep chill and terror I'd felt just once in the finals. "Did you really think I would let things end just like this?"

No, maybe this isn't a blessing from heaven. I can see it already, the spare hatsu that doesn't belong. Koromo looks like she's got a demonic hand, as well. If I'm guessing right, then this hand might be a trap set to destroy me.

Everyone else had gone silent. I swallowed, watching Koromo deal a few tiles. None that contradicted my theory. Looking at this hand, I can clearly see the strongest pattern. Seven pairs, pure characters. But to reach that, I'd have to discard this third Hatsu. And remote thought it is, Koromo's hand might be able to win off that in a crushing way. An equally demonic hand. Pure Green, another yakuman hand that could wait on the Hatsu to complete a pair. Normally, I'd press forwards. Logically speaking, it's unthinkably unlikely. I have three of the Hatsu. But there's a logic beyond ordinary logic. That's telling me that if it's Koromo, she's waiting for this Hatsu. Maybe it's just fear. Perhaps I'm just scared of her. But I don't think so. The logic beyond ordinary probability, that intuition... it's telling me she's waiting for me here.

I'll trust myself to that. I changed direction, breaking up my pair of Pei to get a second tri on my Chun. My draws were still good. I could still do this.

Just as I thought, Koromo discarded the hatsu straight away. She knows better than to keep dead weight.

"Kan." That helps move things along a little further. But the fact she's willing to let me call shows she's in tenpai. She just needs any tile to wait for a pair. She can change waits fast. I glanced at the 9-wan I'd drawn. And if it's her, they'll be aimed right at me. I threw away the second Pei, keeping the 9-wan.

Koromo dealt the 9-wan, changing her wait again. She watched me with apparent interest as we followed each other, tile after tile. "This tenacity... this insight... you who can spun heaven's gifts on a whim, seeing through my dark designs... I'm happy. No matter how many times I call out to them in my mind, they won't come from your hand, the tiles I seek. Not even Touka can do that so thoroughly." She smiled. "You won't be saved, though."

I gritted my teeth. I can avoid her, but my hand's stalling. I can't get any further. Is this Koromo's control?

Momo dealt a Chun the moment she drew it.

I smiled. "Pon!" Just like last time, if we move suddenly and from an unexpected angle, it's possible. I drew a Nan on my own turn, completing my tri. At last, tenpai. But it's a wait for a second 1-sou to complete this pair. If we're following the pattern of this hand, Koromo's in the exact same wait. Neither of us can change our hands easily.

Momo kept the tile she drew, discarding another sideways. "Riichi!"

Inoue-san followed suit, her expression dark. "Riichi."

So those two had caught up as well. I frowned uncomfortably. If I'm reading this correctly, it's a 4-sou, 7-sou wait. Koromo can deal into that. Are we going into another bonus hand?

But she simply remained, discarding the tiles she drew. Her expression was cheerful and innocent again, all trace of her early passion gone.

So this is a stalemate. My eyes widened slightly. And if neither of us move, I'm counting on Momo to win. If not... I scanned the discards, trying to find the missing 1-sou. Inoue-san had already discarded one, but the other wasn't anywhere I could see. Then, haitei raoyue? I frowned, only half watching as Momo and then Inoue-san drew and discarded. I can't switch up my wait any more. This 1-sou can't be dealt. I've called kan twice. Looking at it realistically, if I throw away my hand here I won't get tenpai again. Momo can't call, either, to shift the final tile.

I've been cornered. I gritted my teeth in frustration. With this insane hand, I've been cornered, even after I read her hand flawlessly and dodged every move she made. This pain, this despair... that is Koromo Amae. Is she truly beyond my reach? Is that what she's showing me here?

My eyes widened slightly when Koromo's penultimate turn came. She frowned slightly, her expression ambiguous, and then discard her tile normally without calling riichi.

Momo smiled slightly at her draw. "Kan." She deftly formed a concealed kan. A call you can make in riichi! With that, the final tile's shifted. And the new Dora was Hatsu... I was instantly at Dora 4.

"You... just what have you done?" Inoue-san said, looking agitated. "Only I should be able to make a call like that!"

"As I have told you innumerable times," Koromo said calmly. "I am above your flow."

I didn't understand it until my next draw, this 3-sou... its abnormality screamed at me. I shouldn't have been able to draw this here. I threw away the first of my Haku. I'll aim for it, the single moment where the incomplete haitei raoyue can be defeated. I'll believe in that instant of chance. I'd barely made it in time. 1-sou, 3-sou. Tenpai. In this late stage, where most tiles are discarded, or else I can approximately locate in the hands of the others... it might just come out.

Koromo narrowed her eyes at her draw, discarding it impassively. We were almost out of time. If this was a normal situation, we'd fall into her haitei raoyue. But for that to happen, she needs to call one more time.

Jun looked at her draw with a relieved expression. "I suppose that's right, if it's you, Koromo." She dealt it, the final 2-sou.

"Kan!" Koromo said, pushing her tri open and reaching for the tile. Course locked.

But it's not to be. "Ron." I pushed my tiles open, my expression calm. "Dora 4, Chantra. 12,000."

"That's cutting it fine," Kanbara said, sounding amused. "A Yumi-chin finishing hand."

"You did it, senpai!" Kaori said. "Congratulations!"

"How could this happen? Just how many times do you think we've played Koromo? Do you want me to tell you the probabilities of what you just did?" Ryumonbuchi-san said loudly.

There was a lot of other noise, as well. I just leaned forwards and closed my eyes, feeling exhausted. Had I really won? It hardly felt like it.

Koromo laughed softly. "I'm happy. You managed to keep your promise. And I enjoyed this game to the last."

I nodded. "Thanks to you both, as well."

"Are you content, though?"

I blinked, opening my eyes and staring at her. "I'm sorry?"

"Are you content?" Koromo leaned forwards slightly. "You don't look happy to have won. You look disappointed that it's over. I see those eyes in the mirror, and they are the eyes of one who lusts for struggle. One who seeks higher places."

I frowned at her, unable to think of an appropriate reply. Honestly, even when I win, she leaves me at a loss. I'm less happy than I thought I would be. Just what is it, this strange feeling of hollowness?

I don't understand it at all.