Haramura Nodoka was surrounded.
The third day of the 71st Inter High School Mahjong Championships had begun. A cluster of reporters had formed around her, microphones and cameras held close, flashes going off intermittently. Journalists from various networks—both sports-related and those covering general high school events—bombarded her with questions.
"Haramura-san, how do you feel going into this tournament?"
"What do you think of the competition this year? Any schools you see as your biggest threat?"
Nodoka had grown accustomed to the presence of journalists, though she still didn't completely understand why—after all, she had lost the Inter-Middle Championship last year to Saki. Still, she remained calm and answered professionally.
"We came here to win."
Her conviction was met with a flurry of camera clicks.
Then, cutting through the flurry of voices, a sharper, more pointed question rang out—one that made the murmuring pause for just a second.
"Even against Shiraitodai's Miyanaga Saki?"
For the first time since the interview began, Nodoka found herself caught off guard.
The question had been direct—almost too direct. Even against Shiraitodai's Miyanaga Saki? The mention of Saki's name alone was enough to make her heart skip a beat. But before she could even formulate a response, the same reporter pressed further.
"There were sightings of you together."
The words seemed to echo louder than the rest of the frenzied voices around her. The surrounding reporters immediately latched onto the statement, a fresh wave of murmurs and camera clicks filling the air.
The noise climbed even higher, as though a switch had been flipped. Speculation and excitement crackled through the crowd like wildfire. Nodoka stiffened, her normally well-maintained composure wavering as she processed the unexpected direction of the interview.
Sightings?
Her mind raced, recalling some precious moments she had spent with Saki. She could already feel the heat creeping up her cheeks. It was subtle at first, but the warmth steadily grew until she knew it was unmistakable.
Just as she struggled to regain control, a familiar voice rang out, piercing through the chaos like an alarm.
"Nodo-chan! Buchou said to call you because the match will start soon djey!"
Yuuki's loud and cheerful voice cut through the overwhelming chatter, snapping Nodoka out of her spiraling thoughts.
"Achaa," Hisa's exasperated sigh followed immediately, signalling that she, too, had arrived. Nodoka turned her head slightly, catching sight of their Buchou weaving through the crowd of reporters.
Hisa placed a firm hand on Nodoka's shoulder before addressing the journalists with a smooth, practiced tone.
"You'll have to forgive Yuuki here, but we really have to cut this interview short. Our match is about to start," she said, her words polite but firm.
A few disappointed groans came from the press, but most of them understood the situation. Still, some of them lingered, clearly itching to dig deeper into the topic they had just uncovered.
They had just finished watching a video sent by their schoolmates filled with messages of encouragement, excited cheers, and enthusiastic support.
Yuuki had been the loudest in her reaction, punching the air. "Aha! I will get that taco ramen djey!" she declared, grinning ear to ear.
Mako, on the other hand, had her eyes on something else—or rather, someone else. The vice president of the student congress had been particularly animated during the video, loudly cheering for Maho, her enthusiasm standing out even among the rest.
Mako smirked and leaned in close to Hisa, elbowing her lightly. "A loli, huh?" she murmured with amusement.
Hisa gave a knowing chuckle but held back any further commentary. Maho, oblivious to the exchange, was flustered by the unexpected attention. She fidgeted slightly, her expression caught somewhere between embarrassment and quiet happiness.
Wanting to refocus the team before their nerves got the best of them, Hisa cleared her throat and clapped her hands together.
"Alright, enough distractions." She straightened up, her usual confident grin settling in place.
"I guess we have to show them what we've got."
Mako adjusted her glasses, a small grin lingering on her lips. "Reckon it'd be a shame if we let 'em down after all that, huh?"
"I'll beat all of them djey!" Yuuki declared.
Nodoka sighed quietly, used to Yuuki's boundless energy but knowing it would do no good to try and calm her down now. Instead, she shook her head slightly, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself.
Maho, still slightly red from the video, nodded determinedly. "I'll do my best!"
Hisa looked around the room before saying, "Yuuki, you're up!"
They watched as Yuuki shoved taco in her mouth and ran out of the room before Mako turned to Hisa and asked,
"Buchou, where is our other first year?"
Nodoka was cuddled up on the couch with Maho and Mako while Hisa sat on the chair sipping a cup of tea. Kyoutarou is stuck in the audience room since he is not allowed to go in the area as it is for player's only.
They all stared dumbfounded at the screen.A cape. Yuuki's wearing a cape.The other club members seemed surprised as well, of course except for Maho who spent the entire time giggling at the silly girl. She seemed to have known it was coming.
Nodoka shook her head and just gave a big sigh.
"Achaa," The president said quietly, stifling a laugh behind her hand.
"The young ones are raring to go, Buchou." Mako said highly amused by the situation.
Announcer Yuuko Satou: The third day for this year's Inter-High and the first Side B's elimination match against Nogomi High School (Saga Prefecture),Kiyosumi High School (Nagano Prefecture), Chiyomi High School (Tottori Prefecture), and Kogasaki Business School (Fukui Prefecture).
Yoshiko Kainou: It sounds rough.
Announcer Yuuko Satou: It is, isn't it, Kainou-pro?
Yoshiko Kainou: It always is. There are fifty-two schools participating afterall.
Yuuki played differently this time aiming to not end the east round. Instead of aiming on explosive big closed hands she used a high-pace style of play, in which she calls tiles to advance her hand quickly but winning considerably less points than before due to the open nature of her hands. I don't really understand why Buchou asked me to do this but she said it's important.
Mako adjusted her glasses, eyes following the match closely. "Yuuki's doing it," she murmured.
Hisa took another sip of her tea, her expression unreadable but satisfied. "I know," she said simply. "She's doing what I told her."
Nodoka frowned slightly, watching the screen as Yuuki called another tile, quickly forming an open hand that lacked its usual explosiveness.
Mako hummed in thought, arms crossed. "She's not going for her usual hands."
Maho tilted her head. "Is that a good thing?"
Hisa set her cup down and leaned back. "It depends on the situation. If Yuuki were playing like she normally does, she'd either win big or get shut down fast. But this—" She gestured at the screen, where Yuuki was already in tenpai again. "This forces her opponents to keep up with her pace. If they can't, they'll be pressured into taking riskier moves, and that's when we take advantage."
"It's like a relay race," Mako added. "She's keeping things in motion, making sure we don't fall behind in points early?"
Hisa smirked. "Exactly. We don't need to win big right away. We just need to control the table and keep our momentum. If Yuuki plays fast and aggressive without overextending, we'll be in a much better position going forward."
Maho's eyes widened in realization. "Oh! So other teams won't build points too much?"
"Bingo," Hisa said with a grin.
Nodoka slowly nodded, the logic sinking in. She watched as Yuuki secured another small win, keeping the momentum in Kiyosumi's favour.
"Well," Mako mused, smirking at the screen, "this is more for opponents that stack wins left and right?"
Nodoka raised an inquisitive look at Hisa who nodded and said, "Bingo."
"Like Saki-san's older sister?" Nodoka asked.
"Bingo." Hisa replied with a smirk.
At that exact moment, Yuuki's voice rang out from the speakers.
"Tsumo, djey!"
Announcer Yuuko Satou: And there you have it everyone! Nagano prefecture Kiyosumi's Takei Hisa has ended the match by sinking the last place to the negative!
Yoshiko Kainou: What a performance.
Announcer Yuuko Satou: This is actually Kiyosumi's first appearance in the National stage. Aside from Haramura Nodoka who played in the inter-middle finals.
Yoshiko Kainou: National debut!
"Buchou is amazing!" Maho exclaimed once Hisa made it back to Kiyosumi's viewing room.
"Haha, you're making me shy, Maho," Hisa replied, though the smug smile on her face betrayed her amusement.
"Oi, stop growing her head!" Mako teased, nudging Maho lightly with her elbow.
"Hehehe, the honor of senpais has been shown djey!" Yuuki butted in proudly, puffing out her chest.
"You are also a first-year student, Yuuki," Nodoka reminded her in a flat tone.
Yuuki deflated slightly but quickly bounced back. "Details, details just because your boobs are big Nodo-chan! The important thing is—we're on fire, djey!" She twirled in place, still hyped from their win.
"Youngsters these days have too much energy," Mako muttered, adjusting her glasses as she leaned back.
Hisa smirked. "Just how old are you again?" she teased before turning to the team. "So, tell me—how was your very first Inter-High experience?"
The responses came all at once.
"Everyone's amazing!" Maho gasped, practically vibrating with excitement.
"It's your first Inter-High too," Mako pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
"We didn't even get to play," Nodoka replied.
"I like the tacos nearby, djey!" Yuuki declared, eyes shining.
A brief pause followed before Mako let out a sigh. "Figures."
Hisa chuckled, shaking her head. "I should've expected that answer from you, Yuuki."
Hisa's eyes gleamed with mischief as she turned to Nodoka, her smirk widening. "I mean, it's a good thing that we finished our game early so you can meet a certain player from Shiraitodai."
"Oh, you mean Nodoka's lover, de~jey!" Yuuki declared dramatically, only for her words to be muffled as she somehow managed to stuff an entire taco into her mouth mid-sentence.
Maho, eyes blazing with determination, grabbed Nodoka by the shoulders and declared, "We fully support you, Nodo-chan!" She clenched her fist as if making an oath to the mahjong gods themselves.
Nodoka, already feeling the heat rise to her ears, stiffened under Maho's intense gaze. Desperate to escape, she turned away—only to make the mistake of meeting Mako's knowing smirk.
Mako adjusted her glasses with a lazy grin, finally joining the fray. "Buchou, I think you just shattered her plans to casually wear Miyanaga-san's cap in her next match."
Nodoka choked on air, her entire face now the color of Yuuki's favorite salsa. "I—I wasn't—"
Hisa simply laughed, hands on her hips, thoroughly enjoying the chaos she had unleashed. "No use denying it now, Nodoka."
As Nodoka approached, still flustered from her teammates' relentless teasing, the scene in front of her only added to the surrealness of the moment.
Saki stood there, awkwardly scratching her head, clearly unsure how to handle whatever rapid-fire conversation Kyoutarou had roped them into. Beside her, Teru maintained an impassive expression, arms crossed as if silently questioning how she ended up in this situation. Meanwhile, Kyoutarou, seemingly oblivious to the contrast between his company, was talking a mile a minute, gesturing animatedly as if he had something profound to share.
For the rest of Kiyosumi's team watching from a distance, the sight was nothing short of bizarre.
"Who would've thought Kyoutarou would be seen with that group?" Hisa mused, arms crossed as she took in the scene.
"I don't think Miyanaga Teru even blinks," Mako added, adjusting her glasses.
"Forget that, isn't that Nodo-chan's girlfriend standing right there?" Yuuki whispered, before Maho shushed her.
Back at the gathering, Nodoka, still faintly red from her teammates' earlier teasing, tried to focus on the odd trio in front of her. The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if the three of them sat at the same mahjong table.
Saki, naturally skilled and unpredictable.
Teru, ruthless and overwhelming.
And Kyoutarou, whose mahjong skills...
The sheer imbalance made her nearly break out into a nervous sweat. It wasn't a match, it was a disaster waiting to happen.
"Doggie! You've been waiting too long djey!" Yuuki's voice rang out, snapping Nodoka out of her reverie.
"I'm not a dog!" Kyoutaro protested immediately, crossing his arms in frustration. They continued to argue incessantly.
"Nodoka-chan!"
The moment Saki's voice reached her, the lingering awkwardness from earlier melted away. Nodoka turned toward her, and the smile that greeted her was so warm, so familiar, that her heart skipped a beat.
Hisa raised an amused brow at the way her usually composed captain seemed to light up at the sight of one particular person before proceeding to greet the older Miyanaga along with Mako.
"Saki-san, I hope you weren't waiting for long." Nodoka approached, her tone softer than usual as she returned Saki's smile without hesitation.
"Hmm, we just got here from the viewing room," Saki replied, her expression relaxed, but there was something fond in the way she spoke. Then, a little more hesitantly, she admitted, "I was hoping to see you play."
Before Nodoka could respond, Yuuki practically leaped into the conversation. "So you admit you were spying on us, djey!" she accused, pointing a finger at Saki with a dramatic gasp.
"W-what?" Saki's eyes widened in sheer shock, her face going slightly pink. "That's not—"
"Yuuki!" Nodoka interjected, her voice sharp with reprimand, though there was the faintest hint of embarrassment in her own expression.
Maho, ever the innocent observer, tilted her head. "No, Yuu-chan. Miyanaga-san isn't spying. She's here to support Nodoka-chan, right?" She turned her gaze to Saki, her question laced with an almost childlike curiosity.
"Yes." Saki nodded, the certainty in her voice leaving no room for doubt.
Maho smiled, satisfied, but then she turned her attention to Nodoka. "After all, to Nodoka-chan, Miyanaga-san is special, right?"
The words hit like a lightning bolt.
Nodoka stiffened, her composure momentarily faltering. Her face turned a deep shade of red as she struggled for a response. Finally, after a long moment, she gave the smallest nod, barely perceptible—but it was there.
That was all Kyoutaro needed to hear. "They have a very special friendship, don't they!" he announced with far too much confidence, completely oblivious to the weight of his own words.
A brief silence followed.
Hisa smirked knowingly. Mako adjusted her glasses, her sharp gaze catching every detail of Nodoka's flustered reaction. Maho simply giggled, pleased with herself. Saki tilted her head, and Teru blinked.
"Nodoka-chan and Miyanaga-san are—"
Yuuki barely got the words out before Mako expertly shoved a taco into her mouth, muffling whatever conclusion she was about to blurt out.
"Hmmph—!" Yuuki protested, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed.
"Eat first, talk later," Mako said smoothly, her smirk hidden behind her glasses.
"Alright we are going back to the hotel," Hisa announced effectively changing the topic. "Oh Miyanaga-san if you want you can come along with us." Hisa said while looking at Saki.
Teru looked at Hisa, Kiyosumi's Buchou is scheming.
Saki looked at her sister, seeking permission, but before she could even ask, Teru had already noticed the hopeful glint in her eyes. With a small sigh, she spoke first.
"It's okay, Saki. I was planning to head back to Shiraitodai anyway," Teru said, her gaze briefly flickering toward Nodoka.
"Should I come and pick her up after?" Teru then asked, directing the question at Nodoka.
Nodoka, still recovering from the earlier teasing, straightened. "I will bring Saki-san back," she replied, her voice steady despite the faint warmth in her cheeks.
Teru nodded, studying her for a moment before adding, "Remember—"
"Not too late," Nodoka said.
"Good."
"Thank you for having me," Saki said as she stepped inside Kiyosumi's lodging, glancing around the place.
"It's no problem, though I'm sure it's much smaller than where Shiraitodai's staying," Hisa remarked with a casual wave, as if dismissing the thought entirely.
Once everyone had settled in—Nodoka, Saki, Yuuki, and Maho on the couch, Mako lounging comfortably in a chair, and Hisa standing near the TV—Hisa turned her gaze toward their guest. "I hope you don't mind, but we'll be having a team meeting about our opponents tomorrow… Of course, I wouldn't mind if you had any advice for us."
The moment the words left Hisa's mouth, Nodoka stiffened. She immediately saw through the intent behind them. "Buchou, you shouldn't pressure Saki-san. Besides, she plays for another team!"
Hisa, however, brushed off the protest without missing a beat. "Miyanaga-san, I know you're hesitant, but let's be honest here—we could really use your help. A few insights wouldn't hurt, and hey, if we manage to knock out some strong contenders early, wouldn't that help Shiraitodai, too?"
Saki hesitated, glancing toward Nodoka, whose expression was a mix of exasperation and concern. Yuuki, meanwhile, was trying to look serious but was obviously more focused on finishing her taco, while Maho tilted her head in open curiosity.
Mako merely chuckled at Hisa's scheme.
Saki shifted slightly in her seat and looked at Nodoka, unsure how to respond. It wasn't that she didn't want to help. But at the same time, this wasn't her team.
"I—"
She stopped, pressing her lips together. A part of her knew that helping Kiyosumi could be seen as betraying Shiraitodai's interests, but… wasn't this also her chance to support Nodoka?
Her sister's words echoed in her mind: Just decide what's best for you. But what was best? Shiraitodai is strong and nothing she said here would change that.
She glanced toward Nodoka, whose expression was a mix of exasperation and concern. Nodoka wasn't asking for her help. If anything, she was telling her not to.
That should have made it easier to refuse.
But it didn't.
"No… it's okay," Saki finally said, her voice quiet but steady. She met Nodoka's eyes, her own gaze unusually resolute. "I can help here, I think. I really want Kiyosumi to make it through…"
Nodoka frowned, shaking her head. "You don't have to force yourself. We can win against those teams without you saying anything. Hasn't your sister told you not to help us?"
Saki hesitated for a brief moment before shaking her head. "My sister said not to worry and just decide what's best for me and Shiraitodai." She took a deep breath. "And… I think Kiyosumi's Buchou has a point. But honestly, I just want to play with you, Nodoka-chan."
Before Saki could answer, Nodoka spoke up again, her voice quieter but firm. "Saki-san, you don't have to feel obligated. We appreciate you being here, regardless." She then shot Hisa a sharp glare, clearly unimpressed with the way their captain was trying to rope Saki into their strategy session.
Saki hesitated for a brief moment before shaking her head. "My sister said not to worry and just decide what's best for me and Shiraitodai." She took a deep breath, then glanced back at Nodoka, her expression unusually resolute. "I think Kiyosumi's Buchou has a point… but honestly, I just want to play with you, Nodoka-chan."
There was a brief pause. Nodoka's lips parted slightly as if to respond, but no words came. A faint pink hue dusted her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, her grip on the hem of her sleeve tightening.
Hisa, watching the exchange, internally sighed. Achaa, I know I'm the one who suggested it, but for her to agree so easily…
"Well, that's settled then," she said, cutting through the moment before it could stretch on any longer. Clapping her hands to refocus everyone's attention, she continued, "Kiyosumi is placed on side B of the tournament ladder. The seeded team, as we've discussed before, is Eisui Girls from Kagoshima. The winner of Group 3A is Miyamori Girls from Iwate, and the winner of 3C which most likely will be last year's fifth-place Himematsu from South Osaka."
Hisa looked at Saki before asking, "Do you agree with that, Miyanaga-san?"
Saki nodded, "Himematsu is a good team even Onee-chan agrees."
"Waah," Maho couldn't help but vocalize, eyes widening in surprise.
Hisa shot her a reassuring smile before pressing on. "And us—Kiyosumi, the winner of Group 3B—will be facing them in the Inter-High Quarterfinals."
The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly, the weight of the upcoming matches settling in.
Hisa proceeded to show pictures of their upcoming opponents on the television, gesturing to each as she spoke. "These are the key players from the teams we'll be facing. I'll be going over their general playstyles now, but I'll also talk to each of you privately later to refine our approach. I'll send you all the relevant data and match videos to review, so make sure you go through them."
She then turned toward Saki. "Miyanaga-san, could you tell me about Himematsu's strongest players and what positions you think they'll take?"
Saki nodded; her expression thoughtful. "Their ace usually plays as their lieutenant, but I'm not too familiar with her playstyle. I just know that she's… loud."
"Achaa, well, that's some homework for me, then." Hisa sighed, tapping her fingers against her arm. "Anything else you can tell us?"
Saki brightened slightly as she turned to Nodoka. "Their captain, Suehara Kyouko—you'll like her, Nodoka-chan."
Nodoka blinked. "Huh?"
Saki's excitement didn't waver. "She's really fast and likes to go for low-value hands if possible. She calls a lot, too."
Nodoka nodded, already analyzing the information. "A fast, aggressive player who prioritizes efficiency, then…"
Saki nodded, then added with a slight frown, "Onee-chan thinks she's probably the brains of the team. She's really smart. You're definitely faster than her, though."
Nodoka tilted her head. "Then why do you look so worried?"
Saki hesitated before murmuring, "Because she's scary… in other ways."
Hisa didn't need to ask what those 'other ways' were. She caught the hint of unease in Saki's voice and simply nodded, indicating her understanding before moving the discussion along.
"Also, Kataoka-san's—"
"Call me Yuuki!" Kiyosumi's vanguard interrupted before taking another bite of her taco.
"Yes, Yuuki-chan," Saki smiled, "Needs to be careful of Himematsu's vanguard."
"Oh?" Hisa leaned back, tapping her fingers against her arm. She already had an idea of the kind of player Himematsu's vanguard might be—solid fundamentals, maybe a bit of aggression. But nothing unusual. "What kind of player are we talking about?"
Saki hesitated for a moment, glancing toward Nodoka as if searching for reassurance. "Onee-chan played against her, so I know what she does…"
Hisa raised an eyebrow at that and thought, What does that mean?
Saki fidgeted slightly before finally continuing. "She plays normally most of the time… but against strong opponents, she—uhm…" Saki trailed off, looking toward Nodoka again.
Nodoka, who had been quietly listening, caught on immediately. "Is it occult stuff?"
"Yes, Nodoka-chan." Saki nodded, relieved that she didn't have to say it outright.
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air. Then, much to Saki's surprise, Nodoka responded with an even, measured tone. "Don't worry, Saki-san. I won't judge you for anything you say, okay? I still don't completely believe in it, but I've learned to take note of those things."
Saki's eyes widened at Nodoka's calm acceptance. A soft, genuine smile appeared on her face, and she murmured, "You're really amazing."
Nodoka blinked, a faint blush dusting her cheeks at the unexpected praise. "I-It's nothing," she insisted, looking away for a moment before regaining her composure.
Hisa, watching the exchange, smirked but wisely chose not to comment on it. Instead, she redirected the conversation. "So, when you say 'occult,' what exactly are we dealing with?"
Saki continued tentatively, her fingers curling slightly against the fabric of her skirt. "She is normal… and I think Yuuki-chan is stronger most of the time… but sometimes she gets amazing… she scores hands with lots and lots of high-number values… and also terminals… She calls it her 'explosion,' but according to Onee-chan, the chance of it happening increases when her opponents are really good… and when they play their best, the explosion gets even stronger…"
Yuuki, who had been nibbling on the last bit of her taco, perked up making Maho jump from slightly jump on her seat from shock. "Oi, oi, are you saying the better I play, the more dangerous she gets? That's so unfair djey!" She pouted, her ears twitching in frustration. "That means I either hold back or risk fuelling her up?"
Nodoka frowned at the suggestion. "You shouldn't play below your best, Yuuki. That would be an insult to the match itself."
Yuuki groaned but didn't argue. Hisa, meanwhile, eyed Saki with curiosity before crossing her arms. "Miyanaga-san, you say she calls it her 'explosion,' but how did you know that? Are you two friends?"
"Erm… erm…" Saki hesitated, looking almost panicked as her hands fidgeted with the hem of her sleeves. "I don't know…?"
Hisa raised an eyebrow. That was a terrible lie. She didn't press further, though, merely tilting her head thoughtfully. What on earth does her sister do to these players?
"Fair enough, Miyanaga-san," she said instead, deciding to let it slide for now. "Thank you for that information—it'll be useful."
Saki's expression shifted to hesitant relief. "Really? I'm glad… I was worried I wouldn't be any help."
"That's not true at all," Hisa said with a smirk. "You're a great help."
In fact, the irony wasn't lost on her—Saki's difficulty in speaking might have made her a terrible liar, but it also meant she inadvertently gave them even more insight than she probably intended.
Meanwhile, Nodoka glanced at Saki, the lingering concern in her eyes still evident. "Saki-san, you don't have to force yourself to answer if you're uncomfortable," she murmured, her voice gentle.
Saki blinked at her before shaking her head. "I'm not forcing myself," she said quietly. "I just… I want to help."
Nodoka opened her mouth to say something but then hesitated, her gaze softening. "Alright," she said at last. "Thank you, Saki-san."
Saki's lips curled into a small smile at that, and for a moment, the tension in her shoulders eased.
Hisa, taking the opportunity to move things along, clapped her hands together once again. "Can you tell us about Eisui as well, if you don't mind?"
Before Saki could answer, Yuuki sprang to her feet with an exaggerated double fist pump. "They have Jindai Komaki! At last, an opponent worth my while, djey!" she declared, her eyes shining with excitement.
Maho giggled at Yuuki's antics while Mako sighed and yanked her back down to her seat. "Calm down, ya dork," Mako muttered, shaking her head in exasperation.
Saki laughed politely at the exchange before continuing, "Yes, they do… my sister is worried about her, I think."
Hisa's brows shot up. "What?" That caught her off guard. She had heard Jindai Komaki was another national-level monster, but for Miyanaga Teru to be worried about her? That changed things. It might be harder than I thought. "How come?"
Saki hesitated slightly, choosing her words carefully. "Jindai-san… gets triggered… when she is playing against a really powerful opponent like Onee-chan… she becomes strong… really strong… She falls asleep first… and some teams mistake that as her normal state… but actually, when she's awake, that's when she's normal. When she is asleep is when she's dangerous. She sometimes does really badly against weaker opponents because they don't trigger her… but when they do…" Saki trailed off.
A player had to be asleep to be strong? Hisa had heard plenty of strange things in mahjong, but this?
Saki continued. "One last thing, I think you need to know… Onee-chan thinks their fifth player is the most dangerous for Kiyosumi."
"The fifth player?" Hisa narrowed her eyes. "Why?"
"She is similar to Jindai-san's. Except…" She bit her lip. "It's not as unpredictable. And unlike Jindai-san, she doesn't need strong opponents to trigger it. She also doesn't need to fall asleep. She can choose when to use it."
Saki's hands tightened slightly on her lap. "She can limit herself to one suit… her hands become very fast… and it will be hard for you to stay ahead of her, Nodoka-chan."
Hisa rubbed her temples. "I haven't seen anything in the records like that," she stated.
Saki exhaled softly. "Onee-chan said… she's been hiding it."
That sent a chill down Hisa's spine.
Then how the hell does Miyanaga Teru know about it?! Hisa screamed internally, but her face remained neutral.
"I see," she finally said, her tone even.
The Kiyosumi team had some practice matches with Saki sitting beside Nodoka after the meeting and Hisa reminded them of the data and videos she sent to her members.
It wasn't long before Nodoka had to send Saki back to the Shiraitodai's hotel.
Hisa leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The weight of their upcoming matches was pressing down on her, but she wouldn't let it show. At least, not too much.
"There are two qualifying spots for tomorrow's match," Hisa stated.
"Hmm, yes, we discussed it before," Mako who was sitting on the chair replied while checking the records of given to her. Yuuki and Maho were given the task to review the data that was sent to them before Hisa will talk to them privately to discuss individual strategies.
"And yet, the way Miyanaga Saki was concerned about our chances of getting through is off-putting," Hisa sighed. "This is despite knowing that Nodoka, a digital player, would prefer this format."
"Yes, that was slightly unnerving wasn't it? But we should focus more on Maho and Yuuki. We didn't end up getting any information on Maho's opponents, right? Don't we need to learn the types of abilities she will have access to?" Mako replied.
"I already looked at it and the records of the Vice-Captain of Eisui has a very obvious quirk, the rest of the players for her match plays logically." Hisa continued, "I will talk to Maho about it later."
"Probably a good idea, we have to take care of the young ones after all," Mako said.
"You're only a year older than her," Hisa shot back.
Mako waved it off, but then her expression turned thoughtful. "You asked that weird question earlier about that explosion girl. You had something on your mind, didn't you?"
Hisa exhaled sharply, stretching her arms behind her head. "You noticed too, huh? Saki talked about that girl like she knew her inside and out, just because 'her sister played against her.'" Hisa made air quotes. "And then she told us personal details—stuff that wouldn't be in match records."
Mako's fingers stilled on the page. "That's… unsettling."
Hisa continued, her voice quieter. "She also mentioned things about Eisui's Iwato Kasumi. Nothing in her play records suggests what Miyanaga-san described, but knowing Miyanaga Teru's records… Well, let's just say long winning streaks don't happen by accident."
"Buchou, what you are implying is pretty terrifying."
"Of course, that is just theory."
"Still…glad that I am not the vanguard," Mako said.
"You and me both," Hisa massaged her temple. "Speaking of I have to talk with Yuuki as well before she wanders off to buy some tacos."
"Your life is tough." Mako said light heartedly.
"You'll be doing this next year, you know?"
"U-uuk!" Mako slumped.
Hisa laughed at Mako's dread.
Mako looked at Hisa before suddenly asking, "I haven't seen Fukuji-san around."
"She's out practicing with Tsuruga," Hisa replied without missing a beat.
Mako's eyes narrowed playfully. "Of course, you know where she is."
Hisa scoffed, looking away. "Shut up."
"Ahhh~~! Youth." Mako stretched out the word with an exaggerated sigh, grinning.
Hisa rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the small smile on her lips. The tension would return soon enough, but for now, she let herself enjoy the brief reprieve.
The summer air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers as Saki and Nodoka strolled through the streets of Chiyoda, their fingers loosely intertwined. The day had stretched on longer than they expected, but neither of them seemed to mind. Their steps were unhurried, matching the quiet rhythm of their time together.
The looming presence of the Imperial Hotel Tokyo was just ahead, its grand architecture standing in contrast to the warmth between them. But before they could take another step forward, Nodoka suddenly stopped.
"Ah! Saki-san, I think the reporters were going to ask me about us earlier," Nodoka said, her brows furrowing slightly as she looked at Saki.
Saki blinked, tilting her head. "About us?"
Nodoka nodded, hesitating. "They didn't get the chance, since Hisa-san stepped in, but… I think they might bring it up later."
Saki's grip on Nodoka's hand instinctively tightened. "I see…" She trailed off; her expression unreadable.
A slight breeze rustled the trees lining the sidewalk, carrying with it the distant sounds of traffic and the faint chatter of pedestrians.
Saki glanced at Nodoka, her grip still firm yet gentle. "…Does that trouble you?" she asked softly.
Nodoka blinked before shaking her head. "Not really," she admitted, her voice steady. "I'm not ashamed that I like you." Her words carried no hesitation, no uncertainty—just
quiet confidence.
Saki felt warmth spread through her chest, but even so, she could sense something else lingering behind Nodoka's calm expression. She studied her for a moment before speaking again.
"But… you're worried about something."
Nodoka exhaled, her fingers tightening slightly around Saki's hand. After a pause, she sighed. "I am," she finally admitted. "I'm worried about my father's reaction."
Saki's eyes softened. "Your father?"
Nodoka nodded. "He's never been supportive of me playing mahjong. He thinks it's just a game of luck… that it's not worth dedicating my time to. He thinks Kiyosumi is not a good school for my future." Her voice was even, but there was an edge of frustration beneath it. "He never understood why I love mahjong. I don't want him to think that I am playing around."
Saki remained quiet, listening.
Nodoka took a deep breath before continuing. "I made a deal with him."
"A deal?" Saki echoed, tilting her head slightly.
Nodoka nodded again. "Every few years, because of his job, we move to another prefecture. That's why I never stayed in one place for too long." She hesitated for a moment, then continued. "But I told him that if Kiyosumi wins the Nationals… I will stay at Nagano."
Saki's eyes widened slightly. "That's…" She trailed off, realizing just how much was at stake for Nodoka.
Nodoka said, her voice quieter now, "I don't want to lose my friends."
Saki squeezed Nodoka's hand and ran her thumb as comfort.
Nodoka glanced at Saki, searching her expression carefully before asking, "What about you Saki-san? Does that trouble you?"
Saki shook her head almost immediately. "No but I know…I will be hopeless in front of the reporters," she said simply, her voice steady.
Nodoka exhaled, looking relieved, but her gaze lingered on Saki, as if hesitating over something. After a brief pause, she asked, "What about your family? What does your onee-chan and your mother think?"
Saki blinked at the question, her fingers unconsciously tightening around Nodoka's hand. "Onee-chan already knows," she admitted. "She… hasn't said much, but she's okay with it." Saki paused a bit before continuing, "Onee-chan can be protective though."
Nodoka nodded, as if that answer made sense. Teru's protectiveness over Saki had been apparent even in the little interactions she had witnessed and it became even more obvious whenever Teru talked to Nodoka about Saki.
Saki hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice quieter this time. "As for our mother…" She trailed off, glancing away. "We haven't really had a chance to talk."
Nodoka frowned slightly. "You mean, about us?"
Saki nodded. "She's… really busy. We don't talk often."
There was something in Saki's tone—something distant, almost resigned. Nodoka recognized it, and for a moment, she felt an ache in her chest. Saki wasn't just talking about this conversation. It sounded like it had been a long time since she had spoken to her mother at all.
Nodoka squeezed Saki's hand, bringing her attention back. "I see," she said softly.
Saki gently tugged on Nodoka's hand, urging them forward. But instead of heading toward the hotel, she guided them toward a nearby bench nestled under the shade of a large tree.
Saki glanced at her before looking up at the sky, her expression relaxed. "It's still quite early," she murmured. "And… I still want to talk with you."
A gentle breeze carried the scent of summer flowers through the air, ruffling the edges of their clothing. Nodoka studied Saki for a moment—her calm posture, the way she absently ran her thumb along Nodoka's hand as if reassuring herself that they were still connected.
A small smile formed on Nodoka's lips. "Me too."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the world around them slowing to match their pace. The city felt distant, and in this little pocket of quiet, it was just the two of them.
Nodoka shifted slightly, her fingers lacing properly with Saki's. "What do you want to talk about?" she asked, her voice soft.
Saki tilted her head slightly, glancing at Nodoka. "What did you and Onee-chan talk about when I went to the restroom?"
Nodoka blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Ah… you noticed?"
Saki gave a small nod. "It wasn't long, but I could tell Onee-chan was talking to you about something," she said, her voice gentle but curious.
Saki shifted slightly on the bench, turning to face Nodoka more fully. "What did she say?"
Nodoka studied Saki's expression—curious, but also cautious.
"She asked me to transfer to Shiraitodai."
Saki's eyes widen at what Nodoka just said, "Nodoka-chan?"
"She is convincing me to transfer and be on the same team as you."
Saki remained silent, her fingers unconsciously tightening around Nodoka's hand.
The thought of being at the same school, on the same team, in the same prefecture together was undeniably tempting. The idea of seeing Nodoka every day, of greeting her
with a simple "Good morning" in person instead of through distant phone calls, sent warmth blooming in her chest. She imagined them walking to practice side by side, discussing strategy, sharing meals, and playing as captain and vice-captain, supporting each other through every match.
It sounded so sweet. So right.
But—
Saki hesitated.
Nodoka had just told her she didn't want to lose her friends. That Kiyosumi wasn't just a team to her, it is where she had built something precious despite always moving from place to place.
Saki didn't want to be selfish. She didn't want to take that away from Nodoka.
Even so… she wanted this.
She lowered her gaze slightly, trying to sort through the conflicting emotions rising inside her. "What… did you say to Onee-chan?" she asked at last, her voice quiet.
Nodoka exhaled, her free hand resting lightly on her lap. "I couldn't give her an answer."
"Are you…considering it?" Saki hesitantly asked Nodoka.
Nodoka hesitated. "I'd be lying if I said no, Saki-san."
A part of her wanted to stay at Kiyosumi. She could picture Maho's pout whenever she scolded her for reckless plays, Mako's quiet support and sharp insights, Hisa's knowing smirks, and Yuuki's endless energy and love for taco.
But at the same time… she thought of Saki. The way Saki's voice softened when they talked on the phone at night. The way she smiled, hesitant but real, when she thought no one was watching. The warmth of Saki's fingers intertwined with hers right now.
She had never stayed in one place for long because she doesn't have a choice. What if… this time, she chose not to?
"A part of me wants to stay at Kiyosumi because of the friendship I made and a part of me wants to transfer to Shiraitodai."
Then, quietly, Nodoka asked, "Would you have wanted me to say yes?"
Saki hesitated, her heart squeezing. Yes. She did. She really, truly did.
But Saki feels that it would be selfish of her.
She let out a soft laugh, though there was no humour in it. "I think… if it were just up to me, I'd be really happy," she admitted. "I'd love to be on the same team as you, to
see you every day..." Her voice trailed off, the longing unmistakable. She looked down, as if collecting her thoughts, before finally forcing a small smile. "But Nodoka-chan, at the same time, I don't want you to regret it."
"I was really happy about the offer; it makes me happy that there's even a chance to attend school with you." Nodoka replied.
"But I am sure it somehow put pressure on you," Saki frowned slightly at that thought.
Nodoka exhaled softly, staring down at their intertwined hands. The quiet between them stretched for a moment before she finally spoke again.
"I told you about the deal I made with my father," she murmured, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty. "If Kiyosumi wins the Nationals, I can stay in Nagano."
Saki nodded slightly, waiting for her to continue.
Nodoka hesitated, her fingers tightening around Saki's. "But… if we don't win," she said, her voice quieter now, "then I'll have no choice but to do everything in my power to convince him to let me apply to Shiraitodai." She let out a breath. "I just… I don't know if he'll even let me. I don't know what will happen."
Saki's grip on her hand remained steady, warm. But she didn't speak right away. Instead, she just stared at Nodoka, an unreadable expression crossing her face. Then, she opened her mouth as if to say something—only to close it again, pressing her lips together in thought.
Finally, after a moment of deliberation, she spoke.
"Okay," Saki said simply. "Then I just have to make sure you don't win the Nationals."
Nodoka blinked, caught completely off guard. "Saki-san—?"
Saki met her gaze, her expression calm, but there was something determined beneath the softness. "If Kiyosumi doesn't win, then I'll help you convince your father that Shiraitodai is a good school to transfer. I won't let you be alone, Nodoka-chan."
Nodoka could only stare, her heart skipping a beat at the quiet certainty in Saki's voice.
"I won't allow that to happen. Kiyosumi is winning the championship." Nodoka declared to Saki.
Note: A bit of a delay in the update. Heavily influenced by Luck and Logic's chapter. Hope you like it.