Disclaimer : Saki is not mine, neither is the cover picture, which is an illustration by Xin.


-Day 6 –

(After the match)

"Yosh we did it! We get through the quarter final! Time for a celebration!" Shizu excitedly exclaimed.

When Shizu heard no agreeing statement, she looked at her teammates. Strangely while they look relieved, they didn't look too happy.

"What is wrong?" Shizu asked.

The rest of the team fidgeted.

They're honestly happy that they pass, but Akado-sensei's words from 2 days ago still rings in their head. 'I know you're happy with your win, but please do not get over confident. Because above the sky there is another sky, if you're good, there is someone who is better'.

It is understandable with Shizu's personality, she would forget those words, but for the others, the meanings of those words are clearly highlighted on today's match.

Finally Ako said, "It is not that we're not happy that we pass, but today is…"

Kuro looked down, "It is my fault for losing so many points…"

Quickly the other members deny that.

"Of course not Kuro-san! Vanguard match is full of monsters, it is understandable if you lose a lot of points." Ako hurriedly said.

"You do lose a lot of points." Harue commented with zero sugar coating.

"But" Harue quickly said before anyone could protest, "We're here in team tournament. If we win, it is because of everyone's good work. If we lose, it is because of everyone fault." Harue said in serious manner.

"You got that?" Harue gave a small smile.

That seem to work better at cheering Kuro rather than 'it is not your fault'.

"I'm not saying that you're not allowed to be happy, in fact, you have all the right in the world to cheer. A no named school getting into the best 8 is an amazing achievement." Harue genuinely praised.

"I just don't want you to forgot that you pass with 90 000 points below the first place. And at the next match, there is a team who is even scarier."

"Shiraitodai..." Ako whispered.

"Yes." Harue said in a firm tone, "Shiraitodai. The winner of Inter-High for two years straight."

Yuu is shaking out of fear.

"What can we do?" Ako asked with a hint of desperation in her voice.

"Prepare." Harue simply said.


- Day 9 –

"Representing Nara Prefecture, we've got the Achiga Girls' Academy!"

"Playing in the national for the first time in ten years. Just like the first time, they have made it to the semifinals!"

"Representing Fukuoka Prefecture is Shindouji Girls' High School!"

"The strongest school in North Kyuushuu returns again this year."

"Representing North Osaka is Senriyama Girls' Academy!"

"They place fourth in last year's national championships, but have moved up in rank to the second after the spring tournament results."

"And finally, we have Shiraitodai High School!"

"The reigning champions for the last two years. Many call them the strongest inter-high team in the history."

"Let the first game of the National Competition's semifinals!"

*Beeeeep*

"Begin!"


(Seating position : East, South, West, North)

Seating position : Onjouji Toki, Miyanaga Teru, Hanada Kirame, Matsumi Kuro

East 1 – Dealer : Onjouji Toki

'The dora are coming in nicely…' Kuro thought as she drew another dora.

Kuro glanced at Toki, 'Despite of what Harue-sensei said, it is still my fault that Senriyama is able to create such a huge gap between us.'

She shifted her glance towards Teru, 'And today there is someone who is even scarier.'

Kuro fisted her hand, 'But this time… I won't lose!'

"Riichi." Toki declared.

"Senriyama's Onjouji attack first with a riichi!" Fukuyo Kouko excitedly commented.

"Tsumo. 4 000 all." Toki got another ippatsu.

"The first strike is an ippatsu by Senriyama's Onjouji Toki!" Kouko exclaimed.

"Starting at the regional matches, and now at this national tournament, she has made quite a lot of ippatsu wins." Kokaji Sukoya commented.

'Subara!'

'Onjouji-san is really strong…' Kuro thought.

Suddenly a strong presence can be felt from each player's back, and in a split of second, it is gone.

Kuro quickly looked behind to see nothing but the room's wall and iron pillar, 'Is… is that it? The champion's demonic mirror that Harue-sensei is talking about?'

Unknown to Kuro, Toki also had the same trail of thought, 'Has she seen through me?'


East 1 – Dealer Repeat 1 – Dealer : Onjouji Toki

'Harue-sensei said that Miyanaga Teru uses her power to know and understand other players' ability and play style… but that feels more like the champion looked through something dear to me…' Kuro thought as she discarded an 8 sozu.

"Ron." Teru coldly said, "1 300."

Kuro gasped, and quickly uttered a "Y-Yes!" to cover up her shock.


East 2 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Turn 4

'Tenpai.' Toki thought, 'But…'

"Oooo what is this? Senriyama's Onjouji Toki didn't take her tenpai?" Kouko questioned.

"To get into tenpai, Onjouji-san had to discard a 3 pin, which is Miyanaga-san's winning tile." Sukoya answered.

"But only 4 turn had passed, how did she is able to read the champions hand?" Kouko asked again.

"Not 'read' but 'see'. It seems like Onjouji-san are able to see one turn into the future, and from that she must have foresee Miyanaga-san's hand." Sukoya explained as if it is normal for someone to be able to see the future.

"Heee~?" Kouko trailed then cheerfully said, "As expected from Japan's best, nothing goes pass Kokaji-pro~"

Sukoya whined, "Please stop flattering me in such an unpleasant manner!"

"Tsumo. 700 all." Teru said.


East 2 – Dealer Repeat 1 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Teru discarded an 8 man.

"Pon!" Kirame energetically called.

'Wrong move.' Toki mournfully thought.

"Tsumo. 1 100 all." Teru said.

'Did she use my call to get her winning tile? That is so subara!' Kirame thought.

"Miyanaga Teru strike again! 1100 points all! The third consecutive win! Has her winning streak started after all?"


East 2 – Dealer Repeat 2 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Turn 5

'Her hand is done already?' Toki thought after using her power.

"Tsumo. 2 800 all."

"2 800 all! With that Shiraitodai overtook Senriyama as the first place!"

'This is bad. I have to stop her soon!' Toki determinedly thought.


East 2 – Dealer Repeat 3 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

"Riichi." Teru declared.

'Dealer mangan… I won't let her!' Toki used her power again and again to check which tile she had could be called then she discarded it even though it broke her set.

"Pon!" Kirame didn't hesitate to call.

Kuro diligently kept the tile she drew.

'No way…' Toki thought when her turn came and she still 'see' Teru winning.

'No tile could be called.' Toki grimly thought.

"Tsumo. 4 300 all."

"A dealer mangan! The fifth consecutive win! The champion won't let anyone else win!"


East 2 – Dealer Repeat 4 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Toki used her power.

The champion discarded a safe 6 pin side way, "Riichi."

Shindouji bailed and discarded another 6 pin.

Achiga discarded a suji, 3 pin.

"Ron. 19 200." The champion directly hit Achiga with a dealer haneman.

Toki withdraw her power, 'A suji trap… and none of my tile could be called…'

'I'm sorry Achiga…' Toki thought as she discarded a safe tile.

"Ron, 19 200."

"A direct hit dealer haneman! That must be painful." Kouko said with pity in her tone.

Sukoya nodded.


East 2 – Dealer Repeat 5 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

'If it came to this, the only thing I can do is to try and disturb her from the start.' Toki thought as she used her power to see which tile could be called from her first discard.

After several trips to the future and back, Toki coughed then discarded a south tile.

"Pon!" Kirame quickly called.

At her turn, Toki discarded a 6 man.

"Another pon!" Kirame called again.

When her turn came again, Toki used her power and discarded a 4 pin.

"Ron! Yakuhai only, 1 000 with the bonus 2 500" Kirame cheerfully said.

"Thank you very much!" Kirame politely said as she received the points stick from Toki.

Toki tilt her head a bit in a 'you're welcome' gesture.

"Ooooo a 1 000 points hand stopped the champion's streak! Can you hear the crowds going wild?" Kouko rhetorically asked.

"Our audience knows how hard it is to stop Miyanaga Teru's streak." Sukoya commented.

"Amazingly, the one that played into that hand is Onjouji Toki who had never played into anyone's hand before!" Kouko exclaimed.

"Onjouji-san must have purposely played into Hanada-san's hand." Sukoya concluded.

"You mean she purposely give her first time?" Kouko said with a lewd grin.

"Yes." Sukoya unthinkingly answered before the implication hit her, "W-what are you saying Kouko-chan!?"

"You mean it is not her first time?" Kouko's grin widened.

"It is, but please stop using the ambiguous words! We're going to get another complain by the director!" Sukoya exclaimed.

"So said Kokaji-Pro~" Kouko shamelessly transferred the blame.

"Stop it!"


East 3 – Dealer : Hanada Kirame

'Subara!' Kirame thought as she looked at her ii-shanten hand.

Sadly reality barged in way faster than dream.

"Ron. 1 300." Teru said.

"Subara!" Kirame blurted out.


East 4 – Dealer : Matsumi Kuro

"Tsumo. 500/1 000."

Kuro looked at her hand with teary eyes. Now that the champion had re-started her streak, Kuro's dora tied hand isn't capable of matching the champion's speed. Is this game going to end up with her burdening her teammates again…?


South 1 – Dealer : Onjouji Toki

"Pon." Toki called.

Using her power, Toki could 'see' that the champion would still win despite of the call, but at least this way she loses her tanyao.

"Tsumo. 700 /1 300."

'This is the least I can do.' Toki thought.


South 2 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

"Miyanaga Teru's turn as dealer had come again! Will she continue her domination? Or can the other three players stop her?" Kouko excitedly commented.

"Why are you making it sound like a movie trailer…?" Sukoya asked in small voice.

"It is okay right~? Our job is to make the match interesting after all." Kouko answered.

"Actually we're here to give explanation on what happen on the match…" Sukoya futilely explained.

"Ron. 3 900."

"Aaaa! Miyanaga Teru got another direct hit on Achiga's Matsumi Kuro. That marks the beginning of her dealer streak!" Kouko commented.

"Achiga's Matsumi Kuro-san's ability to gather dora enabled her to win with a big han count, but it has the downside of making her hand readable and restricted, thus defending becomes hard for her." Sukoya analyzed.


South 2 – Dealer Repeat 1 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

"Riichi." Teru declared.

"Chi!" Kirame called.

Toki sighed, it won't stop the champion from winning, but at least it took away her ippatsu.

"Tsumo. 2 100 all."


South 2 – Dealer Repeat 2 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Turn 4

'Tenpai…' Toki used her power to check whether it could pass or not.

A few seconds later Toki had to use every inches of self restrain she had to not let her relief showed on her face, lest making the other player suspicious.

Toki didn't declare riichi nor did she do any special movement. She discarded the tile she needed to discard to get into tenpai like it is no special tile.

When nobody made any unexpected call and her turn came, Toki exhale the breath she had unconsciously holding.

"Tsumo. 500/1 000 with bonus 700/1 200." Toki said with relieved evident in her tone.

'Damaten! That is so SUBARA!' Kirame thought.

"Oooooo! Senriyama's Onjouji Toki stopped the Champion's streak with a damaten!" Kouko exclaimed.

"I wonder why she didn't declare riichi. What do you think Kokaji-pro?" Kouko asked.

"Onjouji-san's signature is her Ippatsu Tsumo. Perhaps she was afraid that if she made a riichi, the other players would be on guard against her ippatsu and made a call to change the drawing order." Sukoya analyzed.

"You mean she throw away her signature just to ensure she would win?" Kouko doubtfully said.

"Yes. I think what she is after is to break Miyanaga-san's streak, rather than gaining points." Sukoya guessed.

"And that is the opinion of Kokaji-pro with 20 years of experience as a pro mahjong player~" Kouko said in unpleasant teasing tone.

"It is 10 years! I'm not that old!" Sukoya insisted.


South 3 – Dealer : Hanada Kirame

"Ron. 1 300." Teru said to Kirame.

"Ouch, subara…" Kirame said as she handed out the point sticks.


South 4 – Dealer : Matsumi Kuro

"Tsumo. 500/1 000." Teru said.

'Too fast!' Kuro thought.


*Beeeep*

"And that is the end of the first half!"

"Can the three schools possibly make a comeback in the second half?"


Teru stands and leave without any regards for the other players.

Toki gave a glance at the champion's retreating back and then leave too.

Kuro leaved the room with a sad expression.

Kirame decided to stay and leaned back on her seat.

'This is subara!'

'Onjouji-san's ability to see the future is Subara!'

'Matsumi-san's ability to keep the dora is also Subara!'

'Miyanaga-san using my call to get the tile she need is Subara too, but I shouldn't be happy about that~'


"Kuro-san!" Achiga members called.

Kuro looked up to see her teammates and Harue-sensei.

"Everyone… I'm so sorry I lost a lot of points again…" Kuro started to tear up again.

"You put up a great fight!" Shizu convinced.

The others nodded.

"You did great on what you're supposed to do. Don't worry, we'll take care of the rest. After all, that is what a team for."Akado cheered in her own way.

"Don't worry Kuro-san!"

"You did great!"

"We'll recover all of them with bonuses even~"

"Kuro-chan, here I brought you a drink." Yuu offered the drink to Kuro.

"Thank you Onee-chan." Kuro took the drink.

*The match will resume shortly*

"Fight Kuro-san!"

"Ganbatte!"

Kuro clenched her fist, "I'm going to give it my best!"


Seating position : Hanada Kirame, Onjouji Toki, Miyanaga Teru, Matsumi Kuro

East 1 – Dealer : Hanada Kirame

'Tenpai as the first dealer, Subara! I wonder if I win now it would count as breaking Miyanaga-san's streak. Well whatever, I'm charging in!'

"Riichi!" Kirame excitedly declared.

"Ron. 1 000" Teru said.

"Subara…" Kirame uttered, 'So it didn't pass…'

"And the first win belongs to Miyanaga Teru! Is this the sign of another round of domination?"


East 2 – Dealer : Onjouji Toki

"Tsumo. 500/1000" Teru said in the third turn.

Toki sighed as she gave the point stick.

Playing against Miyanaga Teru is like facing a snow ball that is rolled from the top of the hill.

When it is still new and small, it moves so quickly that it is impossible to chase it.

As it gets bigger, it gets slower. But by then, it has become so huge that even if you can catch up with it, you can't stop it without great luck and seriously hard, hard work.

Even with Shindouji's help and Achiga's hoarding the dora, keeping the score lower than usual, it is still very hard to stop her.

'It is a bit annoying but I have to admit that she deserve the title Champion alright.' Toki thought.


East 3 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Toki held back the east tile as she 'see' Teru win on it.

"Tsumo. 1 600 all." Teru reveal the east tile she drew.

'It is no good after all…' Toki thought.


East 3 – Dealer Repeat 1 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Teru discarded her first tile sideway, "Riichi."

'A double riichi!' Kuro thought with panic. As her turn came directly after Teru, Kuro's only safe tile is the west tile Teru used to riichi, but unfortunately she didn't have that.

Kuro picked up the lone north tile she had and discarded it while frantically praying, 'Please let this be safe!'

"Pon!" Kirame called.

Kuro's heart skip a beat, 'A-a-a a pon! It is not a ron…' Kuro calmed her racing heart.

Kirame stared at her hand after her pon, cutting Miyanaga Teru's ippatsu is all good, but now she didn't have any safe tile.

"Here you go!" Kirame discarded a 9 pin.

"Ron. 5 900."

"! Subara!" Kirame exclaimed.


East 3 – Dealer Repeat 2 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

For those who have a very sharp eye and incidentally is staring intently at Teru's face, they would see Teru's face softened a bit for a split of second then goes back to her usual emotionless face.

"Kan." Teru opened her quad and revealed the tile she drew from the dead wall.

"Tsumo. 3 400 all."

'Rinshan Kaihou!' The other three players on the table and dozens of others that are watching gasped.

"The Champion secured her fifth winning streak with an amazing Rinshan Kaihou!" Kouko exclaimed.

"I wonder if the rumor is true after all~" Kouko offhandedly commented.

"Rumor?" Sukoya asked.

"Well it is certainly below Japan's best like Kokaji-pro." Kouko playfully said.

"Please stop it!" Sukoya's desperately said.

Ignoring Sukoya, Kouko cheerfully continued, "There is this rumor that said the Champion, Miyanaga Teru, and Kiyosumi High's captain, Miyanaga Saki, are sisters~"

"Is that so…?" Sukoya doubtfully said.

"There is no solid proof, just a rumor that floats around in the net~ Well it is not that stuff concerning high school players matters to a world class pro like Kokaji-pro~" Kouko teased.

"It is not that! It is just that there are always rumors and gossip that goes around the net and most of them are false, that is why I never pay attention to them." Sukoya tried to explain.

"Oooh~ like the rumor that said Kokaji-pro is on her twenties?" Kouko smirked.

"That is the truth!" Sukoya exclaimed.


East 3 – Dealer Repeat 3 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

'A Rinshan Kaihou, I don't believe something like this is coincidence.' Toki narrowed her eyes, 'Can I take this as a sign that they're really related?'

Toki pushed away her mental debate when she 'see' Teru winning a dealer mangan, 'I'll think about it later. Right now I need to focus on stopping her streak.'

Toki discarded a chun.

"Pon!" Kirame happily called then she discarded a 4 sozu.

"Chi." Kuro called and put aside her 4-5(dora)-6 sozu tile.

Toki used her power and blinked, 'No way! Even 2 calls are not enough to stop her?'

"Tsumo. 4 300 all."

"4 300 all! A Dealer Mangan Tsumo! Her sixth win in a row! And with that she is more than 100 000 points ahead of the second place! Can anyone stop her?" Kouko exclaimed.


East 3 – Dealer Repeat 4 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Toki closed her eyes to think. 'Miyanaga Teru's demonic mirror is said to be a mirror that illuminated a person's nature. Could it be it is not that our call didn't affect her, but it is her expecting us to call?'

'Since my turn is before her, I can't confirm it.' Toki opened her eyes, 'Should I use it… Two turns into the future…?'

Toki remembered FunaQ's advice to not overwork herself.

Since Kiyosumi defeated both Eisui and Himematsu, and capable enough to have 135 points lead from the second place, it is almost guaranteed that they would get a spot in the final. And if that happens, the vanguard won't be the only point draining match.

Senriyama would need her to be on her best condition to minimize Miyanaga Teru's point gain on the final, so that Ryuuka would have enough points to fight back against another monster.

Toki gauge her remaining strength, 'If it is only once, I should be okay.'

Toki pick up the lone 1 man tile and used her power.

The 1 man passed without any call.

"Riichi." The champion declared.

Shindouji discarded a 9 pin.

"Pon" I called.

"Tsumo. 6 400 all" The champion said.

Toki withdraw her power and quickly grab the table to stop herself from falling over in a wave of dizziness. She drew a deep breath and slowly exhaled it, then repeated the action a few times.

'Good, I find out that calling would be useless and what the Champion's hand is.' Toki thought as she discarded the 1 man.

"Riichi." Teru declared.

Kirame discarded a 9 pin, but this time Toki didn't say anything.

Kuro discarded a 7 pin.

Toki drew her tile. Tenpai. She used her power once again.

The champion's expression didn't change as she discarded the tile she drew.

Shindouji discarded a 7 pin.

Achiga discarded a north tile.

I drew an 8 sozu.

'Really good.' Toki thought as she took her tenpai.

True to Toki's vision, Teru drew and discarded without even batting an eyelash, Kirame discarded a 7 pin and Achiga discarded a north tile.

"Tsumo. 300/500 with bonus 700/900." Toki didn't remember when is the last time she felt so happy to win a trash(go-mi) hand.

"300/500! A trash hand stopped The Champion's streak!" Kouko exclaimed.

"To win with such a low score, it is really apparent that Onjouji-san's motive is only to stop Miyanaga-san's streak." Sukoya commented.

"Can you hear the crowds Kokaji-pro? It is amazing that a mere trash hand like that could arouse such reaction!"

"The longer Miyanaga-san's streak is, the harder it is to stop her. At this point, even a trash hand is very respectable."

"So said Kokaji-pro with a smug look on her face~" Kouko drawled.

Sukoya gasped, "Wha-"

Kouko continued without caring that she just cut Sukoya's word, "Too bad the audience can't see it~"

"I did not!" Sukoya cried out.


East 4 – Dealer : Matsumi Kuro

"Tsumo. 400/700." Teru said.

'I don't even get the chance to draw my third tile.' Kuro sadly thought.


South 1 – Dealer : Hanada Kirame

"Tsumo. 500/1 000"

'Subara… There goes my last dealership.' Kirame gave the ceiling a comical blank gaze.


South 2 – Dealer : Onjouji Toki

'My last dealer turn, but this didn't look like it'll go anywhere.' Toki sighed as she leaned back on her seat.

"Tsumo. 700/ 1300."


South 3 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

"Riichi." Teru declared on her third turn while discarding a 4 pin.

Kirame discarded the tile Teru discards.

Kuro looked at her hand, she didn't have any 4 pin.

Kuro shut her eyes tightly as she discarded a 1 pin and flinched when she heard a 'ron'.

"Ron. 7 700."

'A Chiitoi?' Kuro looked with teary eyes.

"7 700! She broke through the 200 000 points mark! Such a huge lead and absolutely no intention of letting go…" Kouko clenched her fist and quickly pumped it into the air, "This is THE CHAMPION Ladies and Gentleman!"

"!" Sukoya is surprised by her partner's sudden movement and loud volume.


South 3 – Dealer Repeat 1 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

"Riichi." Teru put her first discard sideway.

Kuro discarded a north tile.

Kirame discarded a west tile.

'The champion is going to take this round again?' Toki thought after she used her power, then she give a mournful glance at the 2 north tile she had, 'Should I made a call when Achiga throw that north tile…?'

'No use regretting it now…' Toki thought as she discarded a safe tile.

"Tsumo. 4 100 all." Teru won with an ippatsu.

"A Dealer Mangan! Is the champion planning on ending the game right here and right now?"


South 3 – Dealer Repeat 2 – Dealer : Miyanaga Teru

Turn 5

"Riichi." Teru declared.

'Mangan… Next is Haneman, 6 200 all. This is bad, I had to stop her!' Toki desperately thought then she used her power to see something very surprising.

'Achiga… throwing out a dora?' Toki thought as she glanced in shock at Achiga's representative who is bowing her head.

Kuro clenched her fist, bow her head and shut her eyes tight.

'The next one is a haneman, if it happens, we would have less than 30 000 points. I can't do that… I had promised Harue-sensei that if this happens I… even though it is painful I had to throw out the dora to change the flow…'

Toki looked at Kuro who had a really sad look on her face, 'I see… So that is how it is… Achiga herself didn't want to throw out the dora, so if she did, the champion's prediction will be all off!'

'Thank you, Achiga. In that case I'll help you.' Toki pick up her lone chun tile, took a deep breath and used her power, 'Two turns ahead!'

"Pon." Achiga called the tile.

Achiga looked sadly at her hand and slowly discarded her lone 5 red sozu.

"Subara…" I heard Shindouji exclaimed.

The champion's eyes narrowed a bit, but otherwise she showed no reaction.

I discarded a 9 man.

The champion discarded her draw, a 3 sozu.

Shindouji follow my example and discarded another 9 man.

"Chi." Achiga called again then discarded another dora, this time a dora 8 pinzu.

Toki withdraw her power, leaned back on her seat while discarding a chun and watched as the scene follows her vision.

"Pon." Kuro called then she mournfully traced her red 5 sozu.

Kuro shut her eyes as she pick up the tile.

'I believe… that you would come back…' Kuro thought as she opened her eyes and put the 5 red sozu on her discard pool.

"Subara…" Kirame said in awe, 'First is Onjouji-san pulling a damaten, and now is Matsumi-san discarding a dora. This is so Subara…!'

Toki discarded her 9 man.

Teru discarded her draw.

'Let's follow her lead!' Kirame said as she discarded another 9 man.

"Chi." Kuro called and with heavy heart discarded another dora, this time an 8 pinzu.

Toki used her power to see which tile Achiga needed then throw out a 2 man.

Kuro is surprised when she see Toki discarded her winning tile, a 2 man. A quick glance revealed Toki give a small nod tilt her head at the direction of the champion. Kuro understood the message.

"Ron!" Kuro quickly said then described her hand, "Chun, Hon'itsu, 3 Dora. 8 000 with bonus 8 900."

Toki calmly laid out 8 900 worth of point sticks on the table.

"Subara…" Kirame drawled.

"A… A… Achiga stopped The Champion's dealer streak with a direct hit non-dealer mangan on Senriyama! The crowds are going wild! This is so unbelievable, unpredictable and unforeseeable!" Kouko yelled to the mic.

"I think Onjouji-san must have foreseen it." Sukoya calmly analyzed.

Kouko glanced at her commenting partner and said, "So said Kokaji-pro who had the ability to read people's mind now~"

"Eh?! I did not!" Sukoya vehemently denied, "It is just that Onjouji-san's last discard, the 2 man, is actually needed on her hand. Had she not 'seen' it, she would never do that!"

Kouko annoyingly nod and said, "Yes yes~"

"Stop it! Please!" Sukoya begged.


South 4 – Dealer : Matsumi Kuro

Kuro looked sadly at her no-dora hand. How many years had this last happened?

'I believe you would come back…' Kuro thought as she stared longingly at the dora indicator.

'Subara! This is the first time I got a dora on this match.' Kirame thought as she looked at the red colored dora tile on her hand.

'Dora… So once she threw her dora, the others would be able to get it.' Toki thought then she glanced at the Champion, 'Thankfully this is the last hand.'

"Tsumo. 500/1 000." Teru said, ending the match.


*Beeep*

"And it is over! That is the end of the first player's match!"

"The game turns out to be another one sided domination by The Champion, Miyanaga Teru! With 144.500 points lead from the second place, Onjouji Toki, she shows us once again why she held the title Champion!"


Final Score of Vanguard Match :

Miyanaga Teru : 221.900

Onjouji Toki : 77.400

Hanada Kirame : 58.100

Matsumi Kuro : 42.600


Kuro sighed sadly as she looked at her points, she lost a lot again…

"Thank you for the game." Teru said.

'The champion gave the first end game greeting!' Kuro's surprise quickly snapped her out of her depression and blurted out, "T-Thank you for the game!"

"That was Subara!" Kirame cheerfully said.

"Thank you for the game…" Toki drawled out as she leaned back on her seat with her eyes closed.

Teru glance at Toki for a few seconds then stood and walked out of the room.

"Are you okay Onjouji-san?" Kuro worriedly asked.

Toki opened her eyes and said, "I'm fine." Then she gathered her strength and stood up.

"Thank you very much." Kirame sincerely said to Toki.

"Thank you very much!" Kuro exclaimed.

"Ah, thank you too." Toki replied.

Kirame give a respectful nod then walked away.

Toki started walking while trying her best to look normal.

Kuro walked back to.


Outside of the door Toki's legs give up, but instead of the cold ground, she is met with a warm body and a pair of gentle hands.

"Thank you for your hard work, Toki." Ryuuka gently said as she encircled Toki's hand around her shoulder.

"I've lost quite a lot of points, sorry about that…" Toki apologized.

"What nonsense are you saying?" Sera rhetorically asked.

"77.400 points left against Miyanaga Teru is more than all her previous opponents had." FunaQ stated.

"Don't worry senpai! We'll take care of the rest!" Izumi convinced.

"Thank you, you all…" Toki quietly said as her exhaustion forced herself to close her eyes.


An :

I have to apologize that I break my words from the last chapter and end this chapter on vanguard's match, very sorry!

Here an omake as the sign of my apology


"I felt that this match is really long." Sukoya absentmindedly said.

"But of course! The Champion's streak is longer than the length of ordinary matches." Kouko said.

"Even the author was thinking 'when will this end!?' when she write the chapter." Sukoya muttered in small voice.

"Sorry? I don't quite hear what you said?" Kouko asked.

Sukoya blinked, "Did I just say something?"

"Well it seems like due to her age, Kokaji-pro forgot a lot of things~" Kouko cheerily said.

"I'm not old!" Sukoya exclaimed.


Thank you very much for reading this :]

May you all have a good night (^^)/~!