The moon hung low over the ryokan, its silver light casting long shadows on the quiet courtyard. Inside, the sounds of laughter and soft conversation echoed faintly through the wooden corridors as the members of Kiyosumi, Kazekoshi, Tsuruga, and Ryuumonbuchi relaxed after a long day of practice. The air was cooler now, a refreshing change from the heat and intensity of the day's matches.
Nodoka sat in the common room with the rest of Kiyosumi members except Kyoutaro, the soft hum of the electric kettle filling the space as Mako poured cups of tea. The exhaustion of the day's training tugged at her limbs, but her mind was still buzzing with thoughts of the matches, strategies, and the lingering echo of Saki's voice.
"I think everyone played well today," Hisa remarked, settling into the tatami mat across from her. "Of course, everyone has their own homework, Maho, Mako, and Nodoka I still want you to familiarise yourself to different playstyles."
Mako just simply raised the stack of play records on her hand, already about to read them. Thankfully Yumi from Tsuruga was kind enough to lend it to them.
Maho, who had been quietly listening, glanced at Hisa. "Does that mean I'll be paired with different people tomorrow?"
Hisa nodded, "I want you to play with players with and without abilities."
"Okay, Buchou!" Maho said, her voice filled with determination, though a small hint of nervousness passed over her face. She'd grown a lot because of everyone's help, but the competition ahead still weighed heavily on her mind.
Hisa looked around before saying, "Yuuki aside from playing a lot with players like Inoue Jun, I want you to play a lot with Amae Koromo and Fujita-pro."
Yuuki nodded and bit down a taco, "I'll show them my taco power djey!"
Hisa smirked before saying, "Also, don't forget the math drills."
A huge sweat drop can be seen on Yuuki along with several signs of devastation. She can be heard wailing along the lines of 'all I need is tacos djey.' Maho can be seen trying to comfort her friend but a trace of teasing smile can be seen especially when she says, 'you only have 500 more math questions I think…or more.'
Nodoka sat quietly, sipping her tea as she observed her friends with a soft smile. She enjoyed these light-hearted moments, but her mind was restless. Saki and Nodoka had developed a routine that before they go to bed, they call each other. The weight of Saki's voice in her head, the sound of her gentle but serious tone from their conversations, had kept her thoughts spinning. It was unlike her to be so distracted, but something about talking to Saki had shifted something within her, a realization she was still trying to grasp.
Her phone lay beside her on the tatami, and she found herself glancing at it now and then. I wonder if Saki-san's still awake, she thought, her fingers itching to pick it up and send a message. The quiet moments they had shared lingered in her mind, and now that the day's training had ended, she couldn't help but think about how close the Nationals were drawing—how close she was to seeing Saki again.
Hisa's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Nodoka, you're looking a little out of it. Something on your mind?"
Nodoka blinked, then smiled, shaking her head slightly. "No, I'm just... thinking about tomorrow. There's still so much to work on."
Hisa leaned back, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she watched Nodoka's subtle glances toward her phone. There was something in the air tonight, a soft tension that was different from the usual pre-tournament nerves. Hisa could tell that her captain's thoughts were somewhere else—or perhaps with someone else. She decided to tease her a little.
"You know, Nodoka," Hisa started, swirling her cup of tea with a grin, "it's important to stay focused, but it's also important to... take breaks. Maybe even check in on people who matter to you." She let the statement hang in the air, watching for Nodoka's reaction.
Nodoka blinked, her calm expression faltering for just a moment. "What do you mean, Buchou?"
Hisa's grin widened. "Oh, I don't know, maybe you've got someone you've been wanting to talk to? Someone who might appreciate a call before bed?" She winked.
Nodoka's cheeks flushed ever so slightly as she looked away, suddenly very interested in the pattern of the tatami mat. "I... don't know what you're talking about," she muttered.
Maho, blissfully unaware of the teasing energy in the room, focused intently on her tea, missing the exchange. She was used to the lively banter among her friends but had a tendency to take things at face value.
When she noticed how Hisa, Mako, and Yuuki all seemed to be circling around Nodoka with their teasing comments, a flicker of concern crossed her face. They all cared so much about Nodoka, it was only natural that they'd worry if something was wrong. Maho wondered if maybe Nodoka was feeling down. It made sense, didn't it?
She furrowed her brow, her gaze shifting to Nodoka, who was now blushing furiously under the playful accusations. Was Nodoka upset about something? Maho bit her lip, trying to piece it all together.
"I wonder if Nodo-chan is stressed from the matches today," Maho murmured, leaning toward Yuuki.
Yuuki blinked, caught off guard for a moment before laughing. "Maho-chan, I don't think that's what this is about at all djey! This is about Miyanaga Saki-san!" she exclaimed, leaning in with a grin, completely amused by Maho's serious expression.
But Maho was still frowning. "Oh...?" She nodded to herself, feeling a small sense of duty. "Maybe I could help and find some of her records!"
Hisa and Mako exchanged amused glances as they watched Maho's earnest expression. The contrast between her sincerity and the teasing atmosphere made it all the more endearing.
"Maho, I think Nodoka's doing just fine," Mako said gently, suppressing a chuckle. "It's not the mahjong that's got her distracted."
Maho blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "Then what's bothering her?" she asked, genuinely perplexed.
Hisa couldn't hold back her grin. "It's not the game that's on Nodoka's mind tonight, Maho-chan. It's something—or rather, someone—else."
"Oh," Maho said slowly, the realization finally dawning on her. She blinked a few times, her cheeks flushing slightly as she glanced toward Nodoka, who was still caught in the middle of her embarrassment.
"O-Oh!" Maho quickly stammered, her face turning pink as she finally connected the dots. "I-I didn't realize! I thought... I thought you were all just worried about the tournament!"
Her innocence only made the teasing worse, as the rest of the team burst into laughter. Maho, now understanding but still feeling a bit sheepish, joined in with a small, embarrassed smile of her own. It only took a few moments before they started their onslaught again.
"Oh, come on, Nodoka!" Yuuki exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who are you waiting to hear from? Oh, I know djey! Is it 'Saki-san'?" She bounced in her seat, clearly enjoying the playful banter.
"Yeah, Nodoka!" Mako chimed in, grinning as she leaned forward. "It's not like you to be so... dreamy!"
Nodoka felt her cheeks grow warmer as she fumbled with her teacup. "I—I'm just focused on training, that's all! You guys are being ridiculous!" she protested, though the slight stutter in her voice betrayed her.
"Ridiculous? Us?" Hisa laughed, feigning shock. "Never! We're just concerned for our beloved captain. If there's a certain someone who's been occupying your thoughts, you should just tell us!"
"Maybe she's planning a secret romantic dinner!" Mako teased, wiggling her eyebrows dramatically, a large grin present on her face. "The season of spring for this young lady has arrived."
Nodoka groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Stop it! This isn't funny!"
Yuuki leaned closer, a playful grin plastered on her face. "Do you think 'Saki-san' will like tacos djey?"
"No!" Nodoka exclaimed, though her denial felt weak even to her own ears. She felt the weight of her teammates' playful gazes, each one pushing her deeper into embarrassment.
"Okay, okay," Hisa said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "Let's give Nodoka a break."
Nodoka peeked through her fingers, realizing she wouldn't be able to escape the teasing that easily.
"So, you don't think she likes tacos?" Yuuki continued, now her main concern is on her beloved food. Everyone looked at Yuuki in disbelief.
Maho, still looked genuinely concerned for her friend had to make sure. "Are you really okay, Nodo-chan?"
The sincerity in Maho's voice made Nodoka's heart swell with gratitude. "I'm fine, Maho-chan," she replied softly, appreciating the support from her innocent friend amid the playful chaos.
The group continued to chat a bit longer, their conversations eventually drifting toward more light-hearted. As the others drifted off to bed, Nodoka found herself alone with her thoughts—thoughts that inevitably led back to Saki. Nodoka lingered a little longer, her phone still resting by her side.
The moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room in a soft glow. She sighed softly, glancing at her phone one last time before making a decision. Picking it up, she dialled Saki's contact number.
Nodoka took a deep breath as the phone rang, her heart fluttering in her chest. Each tone felt like a small eternity, stretching her anticipation. I hope she is still awake.
It rang a few times, and then Saki's voice broke the silence, gentle but carrying an unmistakable warmth. 'Hello, Nodoka-chan?' "Hello Nodoka-chan?"
"M—Saki-san!" Nodoka stammered, feeling a rush of warmth flood her cheeks. "It's me, Nodoka."
"Nodoka-chan!" Saki's voice brightened, a hint of surprise and delight threading through. "I didn't expect you to call tonight, but I'm glad you did. You said you were at training camp."
Nodoka took a deep breath, steadying her voice. "Yeah, we're at a ryokan, training with other schools. It's been pretty intense, but..." she hesitated, feeling the nervous energy bubble up again, "I couldn't sleep. I want to talk with… you."
There was a brief pause on the other end, and Nodoka bit her lip, suddenly worried she'd said too much.
But then Saki's voice returned, soft and comforting, "It's been hard focusing on practice lately. I just miss talking to you."
The sincerity in Saki's words made Nodoka's breath catch. She clutched the phone tighter, her heart pounding in her chest. There was something so natural, so easy, about talking to Saki like this—like they were sharing something unspoken but deeply understood.
Nodoka smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest. "I miss talking to you too, Saki-san."