Author's Note:

Before anything else, I'm sorry for not updating last week. I have an emergency that I didn't really expect last week and it left me preoccupied for most of the week and I didn't have time to finish my chapter... Thank you for all the messages expressing your concerns, I really appreciated it. I won't bore you with all the details but everything is fine now. :)

Shoutout to lockonstrats and Rian Mae.

To lockonstrats for always appreciating the chapters I've posted so far and pointing out some mistakes that I missed and they're also one of those who checked in on me when I didn't update. And to Rian Mae for giving me the idea of what Grandma Arctander's name will be.

Well then here's the chapter and I hope you like it.

Chapter 7

Things Left Unsaid

"Oh Buchou, you're going there now?"

Mako is currently on her way back from the game hall when she met Hisa on her way back. She was feeling good because of all their predictions from their meeting the night before. She has Saki and their Captain to thank for that. Without Hisa's warnings, she's pretty sure that she'll be useless in that round. And without Saki's thoughts in playing against her, she knows that she'll be having a hard time against the player from Rinkai. Overall, she's quite happy that she protected the points that Yuuki gathered and also added in her contribution, she can only hope that their stroke of luck could continue up until the finals.

"Yeah, I figured that I should probably go there now," Hisa told her in reply, folding her sleeves as she did so.

"Well, good luck out there Buchou." Mako said to her, tapping her shoulder as she passed her captain.

"We both know that I have bad ones, Mako," Hisa smirked at her before walking again with a wave. "But it's alright," She looked at Mako again with a wink, "That what I'm good at."

"Still, do your best okay?" Mako called out, "Make Usuzan go bust if you could. We got this."

Hisa stopped herself from walking further towards the game hall and turned towards her friend, "You're forgetting that we have to take Himematsu with us in the finals Mako."

"Oh, right." Mako sheepishly let out as she realizes what her captain just said. "Rinkai is holding on to that spot below us tightly huh... It left Himematsu in third place."

"Don't worry. I'll figure something out." Hisa walked forward again, leaving Mako behind. "If not, I'm sure Nodoka and Saki would do it."

"Alright," Mako resumed her walk back to their room towards her other teammates "Later then."

When she got back to their room, she noticed that Yuuki, Kazue, Nodoka, and Saki are all engaged in their practice game, Nanpo-pro is standing behind Yuuki looking over her hand. They didn't notice that she got back aside from Kyoutaro.

"Oh, Mako-senpai you're back," Kyoutaro announced to everyone as he greeted her.

"Yep," She headed straight for the mahjong table, curious about Yuuki's training. "What do we have here?"

"Mako-senpai." Yuuki turned all her attention to her making their game to be put on pause, excitement palpable in her. "I can do it now!"

"Um," Mako scratched her chin in confusion, "Sorry, what can you do now?"

"Oh, sorry," Yuuki told her in turn, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "I was talking about the South hand rounds."

"Really? You can do it now?"

"She now can," Nodoka was the one to answer her this time. "But there's a bit of a problem." She shrugged and looked at Yuuki in amusement.

"Nodo-chan!" Yuuki pouted at her. "Stop making fun of me djey…"

"Wait, why?" Mako turned towards the others, asking them to explain. "What happened?"

"Ano… Senpai," Saki began in turn, "Technically, Yuuki can do it… playing in the south hand just like Nanpo-san I mean."

"But?" Mako prompted, she can sense it the moment Saki told her that.

"Well… she needs to work on it some more." Kazue continued for her. "She could do it, but the problem now is that she can't use her ability during the east round."

"Oh, I see…" Mako nodded in understanding. "Does Buchou know about this?"

"Yes," Yuuki answered this time. "I don't want to disappoint Buchou…" She looked at the others before continuing, she began to discard a tile resuming their practice match that is put on pause. "I've been working on this even before we went here in Tokyo…"

"Don't worry Yuuki-chan," Saki patted her friend's hand in comfort. "At least you can do it properly now right?"

"Sure…" Yuuki only nodded, still sad about the fact that she can't combine her gameplay with the one that she's being taught for a while now.

"Well, I think that you've made an improvement compared to before Kataoka-san," Nanpo-pro told her, offering a small smile to comfort her.

"Wait, really?" Yuuki turned her chair towards him to face him fully, her eyes glimmering.

"But I agree with Miyanaga-san," He nodded at Saki whose currently discarding a tile, "You need more practice, that's all you can do to improve."

"Sorry Yuuki, you know that I'm just teasing you right?" Nodoka called out to her friend this time while discarding a tile in her turn. "I know that you could do it and you'll combine your play in no time."

"Thank you," Yuuki looked at everyone around her and offered them a small smile, thankful for their comfort. "I better practice harder then for tomorrow's match."

"You're that confident that you'll get to the finals?" Kazue let out in surprise. Looking at the other players at the table who only nodded, she shook off her surprise and discarded a tile that she didn't need.

"Of course djey!" Yuuki leaned over the table to get a tile when it became known that it's her turn. "Buchou will be mad at us if we didn't." she finished her words earlier while discarding another tile that she didn't need.

"Somehow I feel like that's not the only reason…" Kazue mumbled in turn, turning to Saki whose currently contemplating what to discard, and to Nodoka whose also looking over at Saki.

"I'm sorry I didn't hear you," Yuuki leaned over to her left a bit towards Kazue. "what did you say earlier?"

"Ah, nothing…" Kazue cleared her throat, "I was just wondering about Takei Hisa-san's game," she let out while shifting in her seat. "Her game is just about to start right?"

Hisa just entered the game hall when she was greeted by Hiroe Atago. She was accompanied by Kinue when she was approached by the two, with Hiroe going straight for her, leaving Kinue with no choice but to follow.

"Onee-chan," Kinue called out to her sister while falling into step. "What are you doing?"

"Takei-san," Hiroe called out to Hisa when she got close to her. "Are you going to play seriously now or are you going to play like a coward again?"

Hisa looked at her and hid her smile, she cocked her head to the side and gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

Before Hiroe could reply, Kinue pulled her away from Hisa. "Nee-chan, stop bothering the other players. I need to get back to our room now."

Hisa looked at the two before continuing on her way, she can't fault Hiroe with her words; she did in fact lost her nerve for a while back in their last game. Still, that's why she agreed on Saki's plan along with the others in the first place. She wanted to prove to others that they do deserve to be here and she wanted to rectify herself from before.

She headed for the table and sat at her chair. She looked down and traced the points indicator. Their points margin against Rinkai, whose second was actually wide. It made her feel proud that her teammates are doing everything that they can for them to get to the finals. She knows that she could make Usuzan go bust in this match, however, it wouldn't really go along with their plans.

Don't get her wrong, Usuzan could go bust for all that she cares, but having Rinkai in the finals along with Achiga and Shiraitodai could prove to be difficult if that was to happen. Himamatsu would be preferable, Hisa mused, at least they're predictable and familiar. However that would be difficult for Himematsu, Hisa thought. In this match, Rinkai could also pressure Usuzan to go bust seeing that it would make them go to the finals. Himematsu would need to overtake Rinkai while also defending Usuzan.

'Well then, I guess we should help them.' Hisa thought out while smirking.

"What are you smirking about?" Hiroe asked her while seating herself.

"Nothing." Hisa hid her smile and began formulating her plays when she saw the others preparing themselves. "Let's just have a good game."

"Ron!" Yuuki let out happily when she saw the tile that she needed to win were discarded by Kazue. She pushed her tiles down, revealing her hand. "That's 12,000 from you Kazue-san."

"You're getting quite good in the South hand now Kataoka-san," Kazue remarked in wonder as she looked at the girl who just made her go bust. How can this girl improve in just a couple of hands? She hid her hands whose currently shaking, she didn't realize that everyone at the table is actually a monster in mahjong. She was too preoccupied with Saki and didn't notice that Saki wasn't really playing seriously.

"And combined with your East hand too," Nodoka added, smiling at Yuuki.

"But, Saki-chan wasn't really playing seriously that game, I won't count this as a win." She pouted at Saki with that.

"Ahaha sorry…" Saki let out, "I'm saving my game for later Yuuki-chan." She looked at the television screen and saw Hisa's hand currently being shown. She turned her gaze towards Mako, whose eating a bento while watching Hisa.

"Ah, Mako-senpai,"

The girl in question faced her while chewing something, she raised her eyebrows in question, unable to answer her while eating.

"Would you like to switch with me?" Saki continued her words, "We just finished a game."

Mako swallowed her food before replying, she stood up and gave Saki a thumbs up, "Sure, I wanted something to do anyway."

Saki stood up from her seat and let Mako take it. "Yuuki-chan's getting good at it," she said as she stood.

"Oh," Mako looked at Yuuki with a glint in her eyes, she adjusted her glasses and sat up properly. "Let's put it to a test then."

"I'll take you on Mako-senpai!" Yuuki stood up and pointed at her while declaring it.

"I won't hold back too," Nodoka winked at her friend before turning to Kazue. "Right Kazue-san?"

"Oh," For her part, Kazue was surprised to be addressed directly in such a friendly manner quickly. They just got acquainted not that long ago. "Yeah… I won't too."

"That settles it then, let's start your practice match with me." Mako settled on her seat and quickly finished her food.

"Are you sure that this is okay?" Kumiko Hanibuchi asked her friend, Nishida. A bit unsure of what they're doing. She turned to their photographer, Daisuke who only shrugged.

"I'm not sure either…" Nishida let out sheepishly.

They're currently on their way down from the reporter's lounge and onto the ground floor where she knows that all waiting areas for the players is in. They're walking towards Nishida's prospective interviewee. She only hopes that that person will agree.

"Well, why are we going down to Kiyosumi's waiting area if you're really not sure?" Kumiko let out with a sigh, but still following her.

"It wouldn't hurt to try right?" Nishida raised her eyebrows at them. Prompting them to answer.

"Well, worst-case scenario, Miyanaga Saki-san would be uncomfortable and be mad at us…" Daisuke let out while fiddling with the camera in his hand.

"And if she happened to agree for an interview I'll be able to gather her side in all of this."

"Why do you even have the need to interview her anyway?"

"So I can interview Miyanaga Teru again." Nishida simply told them.

She was met with a blank look from her two co-workers so she continued to explain to them her plan. "If I tell Miyanaga Teru that I have interviewed her 'supposed sister'," she made an a gesture air quoting her words, still mindful of the others who can hear their conversation. "What do you think she'll do?"

"That is actually smart Nishida," Daisuke told her, "I never thought that you'd think of that."

"Well… I did get a motivation." Nishida told them, thinking about the picture saved on her phone. Her proof for her article.

"But still," Kumiko let her thoughts known again, expressing her concern just like earlier. "We're not even sure if she'll grant us an interview."

"We better head there and ask then." Nishida sped her walk down, leaving the other two with no choice but to follow.

"Um… guys…" Saki stood up abruptly from her seat making the others look at her.

"What is it Saki?" Mako asked her while the others looked at her expectantly.

"Nothing, I just wanted to let you know that I'll head out for a bit," Saki told them while making her way for the door.

Nodoka looked at her friend sharply, but Saki didn't notice. She wanted to say something, she wanted to go with her friend and accompany her but her games will be up any time now and she couldn't really afford to go and loiter around. Losing by default is definitely not on her list and she'll do anything that she could if she can help it.

"Oh?" Yuuki let out, "Where are you going?"

"I just needed some air." Saki turned towards the others and simply smiled at them, turning the doorknob as she did so. "I'll be at the rooftop, I think."

"Do you know your way up there?" Nodoka asked this time. There's something in how Saki says it that made her worry. "Do you want me to come with you?" She started to stand and turned at Yuuki's professional instructor. "Nanpo-san, please take my place. I'll be with Saki."

"Nodoka-san," Saki stated before pausing her words, "You have your games to worry about…"

"Don't worry that much about it," Nodoka told her in resolve, "I'm sure I'll hear the announcements for the game. It wouldn't really take that long to go down to the game hall."

"If you think so." Saki smiled at her, grateful that she'll actually have some company.

"Of course," Nodoka affirmed with a small smile, her worry for her friend dampening her mood a bit.

"Should we buy some snacks while we're here?" Nodoka asked Saki while walking towards the elevator.

Saki furrowed her eyebrows for a bit while thinking. "We probably should. Something light should be good for now, we just ate our lunch after all."

"Alright then," Nodoka took her hand and pulled her towards the corner where various vending machines are lined up. "How about some juice and a biscuit?" She pointed at the machine near them and turned to Saki in question.

"Sure."

Nodoka dropped the hand that she's holding, blushing furiously as she did when she realized that she's holding it for quite a while now.

She fished out a couple of coins from her pocket and put them in the coin slot. She pressed the button needed for her to get what she wanted and waited for the machine to drop it off. "Saki-san?" she turned towards Saki whose currently concentrating on the choices from the vending machine. When her name was called out, Saki turned towards her friend expectantly.

"Ah, hai?"

"Ano…" Nodoka paused to take her juice and waited for Saki to get hers. "It's about your parents…"

The finger about to press the button in the machine jerked slightly, "Um… what about them?"

"Did something bad happen between them for them to-" Nodoka trailed off, a little bit unsure?

"No-" Saki cut her off, she bent down and took her own bottle and clasped it tightly. "I- I- don't know." she started to walk towards the elevator but paused for a bit to wait for Nodoka, "Let's go to the roof Nodoka-san."

"I'm sorry, I was just confused." Nodoka started off, falling into step with her friend. "You told me before that your mom and your sister-"

Saki flinched at the mention of her sister.

"-left you and your dad…" Nodoka trailed off noticing Saki's reaction.

"Did something happen between you and your sister?"

"No…"

"Then tell me what seems to be the problem?" Nodoka asked her friend one more time.

Saki looked down, hiding her eyes behind her fringes. At this point, hiding her emotions is becoming a habit.

"Where do you think Saki-chan and Nodo-chan went Mako-senpai?" Yuuki asked the older girl while waiting for Kazue to end her turn.

"I'm not sure, but I know that they're probably not that far from here," Mako answered her while looking over Yuuki towards the television. She smiled for a bit when she saw Hisa, she can already tell how their captain is going to play the next hands.

It's almost the end of the first hanchan and the points didn't really change much aside from a few back and forths here and there. Their team is still in the lead with Rinkai coming at the second and Himematsu gritting it out for their spot and Usuzan coming in last.

Rinkai is still trying to make Usuzan go bust to end the game early, and Himematsu protecting Usuzan in the meantime. Mako knew then that their captain would probably do something incredible or something stupid judging by her wide grin. She figured that she'll help Himematsu to gain the points needed for them to come second.

And it turns out that she's right, at the last hand of the first hanchan, she helped Himematsu win off Rinkai making them take over the said school.

"Mako-senpai it's your turn now djey!"

Yuuki brought her out of her thoughts, "Oh sorry, I was kind of distracted by Buchou's game." She pointed at the television screen and continued. "Look, Himematsu is now second. Nodoka just needed to make Usuzan go bust by her match by then."

"Oh! Buchou is doing great!" Yuuki accidentally slammed her tiles while discarding in excitement, making the mahjong table shook in turn. "Oops, sorry sorry," she told the other players while holding the table upright.

Mako was about to admonish her behavior when they heard a knock from the door, making her and the others look at it.

"We're not expecting any other visitors aside from Nanpo-pro and Kazue Nanpo-san right?" Kyoutaro said to the others, he stood up from his seat and hovered over the door before opening it.

"Oh, uh…" Kyoutaro was left with nothing to say when he saw who is on the other side of the door. "Mako-senpai?" he called out to the older girl before turning again to the visitors. "There are some reporters in here and uh…" he glanced nervously at Yuuki and the professional player playing with her.

Mako already knowing Kyoutaro's concern, excused herself for a moment from the mahjong table to greet whoever it is.

When she reached the door she was greeted by the sight of three people, trying to hover over Kyoutaro whose doing his best to shield the people inside from them.

"How can I help you Nishida-san?" Mako asked her once she saw her. Mako looked over her shoulder and noticed then that Nishida is accompanied by the photographer she was with back in their games in Nagano and a woman whom she's unfamiliar with.

With the mention of the reporter's name, Yuuki and the others went on high alert. Their play wasn't really supposed to be revealed until the final game tomorrow, and they couldn't really afford for a reporter to publish it before their games.

Mako pushed herself between Kyoutaro and the other three and closed the door slightly behind her. "Do you need anything?"

From the way that the Kiyosumi team is acting, Nishida knew then that there's something going on, she thought that she saw a glance of their vanguard, Kataoka Yuuki in a practice match with someone but she didn't get the chance to look further when her view was obstructed by their manager? Or is it a classmate? She did call the sergeant player his senpai after all. Nishida doesn't know. But it's not really important right now. She came here to ask Miyanaga Saki for an interview.

"H-hai…" Nishida didn't really expect the sergeant to be serious but she figured that it's just because of the tension in their games. "I was wondering if I could conduct an interview here?"

"Interview?" Mako asked her, looking over Nishida's shoulder again and to the photographer, who's fiddling with a camera. Ready to snap a photo at any given moment. Mako readied herself to close the door just in case they try to force their way inside their room. She knows that Nishida-san is too polite for that but still it wouldn't hurt to be ready for it.

Nishida noticed her eyes training to her photographer friend, she waved a hand over her friend and tried to introduce him and her other friend to the mahjong player. "Oh forgive me, these are my co-workers" She pointed behind her and introduced her assistant first, "this is Kumiko Hanibuchi-san and she's here with me to help me and this," she pointed to her left, "is Daisuke Yamaguchi-san, you probably know him but he's here to take a picture of the interview."

The other two were left with no choice but to nod along with the reporter while introducing them.

"Ah hai…" Mako turned to the other two and greeted them before training her eyes again back to Nishida. "Ano about the interview…"

"Ah," Nishida offered her a friendly smile, seeing that the sergeant is quite serious. "Sorry for coming in unannounced but my co-workers and I are hoping if Miyanaga Saki-san is available for an interview?"

"Huh?" Mako furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, as far as she knows Nishida's articles were mostly focused on Nodoka and Miyanaga Teru, considering that they're last year's Champions in the Inter-High and in the Inter-Middle individual Mahjong tournament, but to suddenly hear her asking for Saki is quite confusing. She didn't really expect it.

"Ano… " She cleared her throat before continuing. "Sorry but Saki isn't here."

Nishida tried to look behind Mako's shoulder, looking for something to clue her in if the sergeant is really telling the truth. "A-are you sure?"

Mako noticing her attempts gripped the door slightly and closed it a bit more. "Yeah, they just left actually."

"They?"

"Ah hai… Nodoka and Saki went out for a walk. I don't really know where they are right now."

Nishida sighed, cursing her luck for missing the two. She offered Mako an apologetic smile before replying. "Alright then, thank you for informing us."

Mako bid them farewell and closed the door behind her and with that Nishida turned and made her way back along with her co-workers back to the respective reporter lounge.

"That was so unfortunate." Nishida sighed out to her friends.

"Hai." Daisuke shrugged and turned off his camera. "Maybe they're walking around to clear their head for their games later?"

"Maybe…" Nishida replied in turn. Slumping at a nearby wall, sad at the fact that her investigation would be put on hold.

"But still," Kumiko interjected, "Maybe it's for the better."

Nishida scoffed at her, "For the better?" she resumed her walk making the others follow. "I don't think so… I have to know, you don't understand."

Kumiko shrugged not really affected by her friend's words, "Sorry, you didn't really tell me anything how could I know?"

"You're right," Nishida sighed at that.

"Aren't you really gonna tell me anything?" Kumiko tried to make her friend tell her what she knew again.

"Not yet," Nishida gave her a playful glare before continuing, "At least not until I've interviewed both Miyanaga Saki-san and Miyanaga Teru-san."

"Well with the way the games are going you could interview her right after the semi-finals game," Daisuke told her then.

"But I want an exclusive interview," Nishida told the two. "I couldn't really ask her something so delicate. And with the other reporters with me then, I'm sure that it would make her uncomfortable."

"Well, just ask her if you could get an exclusive interview from her later on then."

"Yeah." Nishida nodded in reply. Thinking about what she should do later to get her interview, her thoughts on Kiyosumi's Mahjong team being secretive.

Mako let out a sigh of relief once she closed the door behind her. The first part of their plan is still safe. "They just left," When she announced this, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. She went back to the mahjong table where the game has been put on hold because of their unexpected visitors.

"What are they here for Mako-senpai?" Yuuki asked her this time.

Mako shrugged still confused as to why they wanted to interview her kouhai. "They wanted to interview Saki."

"Heh… why?" Kyoutaro's reaction was actually the same as her, she wouldn't blame him really. "they're not here for Nodoka?"

"That's what I thought too." Mako began, "But I didn't really ask why," She shrugged while shifting in her seat, making herself comfortable. "I was too busy hiding Nanpo-pro, and Kazue Nanpo-san."

"Speaking off, Saki and Nodoka seem to be taking their time…" Kazue trailed off. She didn't really know the system between the Kiyosumi mahjong players but when she was still in the tournament that kind of attitude wouldn't sit well with her.

"Ah," Mako laughed it off, "Don't worry about them, those two tend to do that often right Yuuki?" Mako looked at her kouhai expectantly.

"Hai! They even slept before the team final match back in Nagano." Kyouko added.

"Really?" Kazue asked, her eyes widening in disbelief. She didn't really know if that was reckless or stupid.

"Saki-san?" Nodoka called out to her softly, "Are you alright?"

Saki wanted to tell her no. She wanted to tell her that she thinks all the things that she worked for wouldn't really be good enough for her sister. She wanted to tell her that she wanted to give up, and quit mahjong altogether. After all, mahjong is the reason for all of this…

But she just shrugged and said nothing. She just continued her walk towards the elevator leaving Nodoka with no choice but to follow her friend.

Once they are inside the elevator Saki started to talk.

"My mom didn't really intend to leave me behind with my dad." Saki started, "I-I…"

Nodoka took Saki's hand and held it tightly in support of her friend. She didn't say anything, she just let Saki know that she's here, willing to listen for anything.

"I stayed with my dad…" Saki sniffled, rubbing off a stray tearing dripping down her face. "I figured then that if I didn't leave that they wouldn't leave…" Saki laughed bitterly, "But I was too stupid to realize that they would just leave me behind if I didn't come with them."

"Are you sure that's what they thought…" Nodoka asked her friend not to like the way her friend is acting. "Are you really sure that your mother and your sister wanted to leave you behind…"

"I don't know…" Saki shrugged, "I was nine when they left so I can't really remember much. But they never really came back for us, aren't they? Isn't that the same thing?"

"No it's not Saki-san and you know it."

"I suppose so."

"If your mother and your sister left for Tokyo back then, why is she just finalizing the divorce now?" Nodoka asked her.

Saki shook her head, not really knowing anything aside from what her father told her. Which is nothing much. "I don't know, maybe it's because of me. I made it worse."

"How can you say that?" Nodoka pulled her friend to face her, her worry for her friend amplifying by the second. How long has this been going on?

The elevator dinged, announcing that they've arrived at the rooftop of the building. Nodoka pulled her friend out of the elevator. Once they're out, Nodoka prompted her friend to answer her question.

"You know that I've hated mahjong before right?" Saki started, walking away from her friend towards the middle of the roof. Once she reached the middle, she looked up and raised her hand towards the sky as if reaching for something impossible to hold.

Nodoka watched her friend, her hair is swept back and forth by the wind. "Did you really hate mahjong that much?" she asked her as she walked towards the other mahjong player.

Saki turned towards her and shrugged, "For a while yeah, our family was broken by it after all."

"That doesn't seem to be the reason alone I think." Nodoka tried again, "Maybe there's something else?"

"Maybe," Saki shrugged, "But all I know is this, I grew up with mahjong around me. And every time, my mom and dad would get into a fight because of it."

"But what about now…" Nodoka asked her friend, not really sure what happened as to why Saki is acting like this.

"I learned to love it again because of you and the others," she laughed bitterly before continuing, "I even thought that maybe if I did well, my mahjong will reach my sister. My Rinshan Kaihou."

"You never really told me why you do that…"

"Well, I suppose I should tell you sometime."

"You should." Nodoka pushed her friend lightly, trying to ease her friend's worry by distracting her. "Is that why all your wins were all through the dead wall draw?"

"Yes…" Saki sighed softly, "But now I don't think so. Maybe my mahjong won't reach her after all."

Nodoka gritted her teeth frustration coming in. At the situation, at her friend, at her friend's sister, at herself…. everything really.

How can everything be so complicated in just a short period of time? Or has it always been like this without her knowing?

"So what are you going to do now?" Nodoka clenched her fist, "Are you going to give up?"

"No," Saki laughed at her friend, knowing her thoughts all too well about that, "I made a promise to you after all." She told her with a smile.

Saki's telling the truth, she wouldn't compromise their team just because of her problem. That would be stupid. However, she didn't really tell her everything. She's not giving up on the finals, yes, but she's giving up on her stupid delusions and her hopes that she'll fix everything in her family.

With Saki's words Nodoka let out a smile in relief, "Of course, you pinky promised me, you can't go back on that." she laughed lightly if not for just a moment, seeing Saki's smile easing her worry for a bit. "We should head back now, the others are probably wondering where we are right now."

"In a minute." Saki closed her eyes, letting the wind blow through her. "Let's just stay like this for a bit."

"Of course." Nodoka said softly while looking at her friend, whose face is now relaxed and peaceful; the contrast from her from before is palpable. She just hopes that she'll be like this always. She wouldn't bother her anymore with her incessant questions, she'll just let it go unsaid. She knows that Saki isn't really telling her everything but she hopes that her friend will understand that she'll be right here... ready to listen.

Author's note:

What do you think about this chapter?

It won't be long until the continuation of the prologue part! :)

Again, sorry for not updating last week... I wouldn't bore you with the details anymore but everything is good now. And I hope it continues to be in the next few weeks. In turn, I'll try to update tomorrow, I'll just finalize the next chapter and add in a few things before I upload it.

Also, I made a decision on what Grandma Arctander's name will be. I figured that Yua will be a good name for her.

I have also decided that Ai will have a sister here and she will be in this for a bit and I decided to name her Airi which was also one of the choices in the polls. In my head, Ai is the one who's most likely to have a sibling compared to Kai and she is Hikari's mother. And also Hikari's blonde so...

Anyway, I know I'm making every fanfic writer's mistake by introducing an original character but in my defense, they wouldn't really be in here that much, I'm just using them as a plot device to further my story which I now realize is also a writer mistake. Oh well...

Updates are still weekly every Wednesday!

See you then.

P.S.

It's two in the morning right now where I am but I'm uploading this because I'm so guilty about last week. I usually update this at around 7 in the morning lol.