Comprehensive Anime: Making Money Starting from Saki

"I'm not speaking for her, I'm just stating the truth." Kageyama Sora wiped the tear from her cheek with his thumb, and as his fingertips brushed against her warm skin, he heard his own heartbeat quicken. "I told you at the start that I came here for you... The astonishing win rate you had in the software I invented made me unable to help but pay attention to you, and coming here for the national tournament only to find out you were such a young and beautiful girl made me even more surprised... Do you know what my first impression was when I saw you?"

"W-what was it?" Haramura Nodoka's pupils dilated slightly, her moist eyes reflecting the dim light of the corridor.

"I saw a rising star, I saw a genius..."

Haramura Nodoka blushed instantly. She looked at Kageyama Sora in disbelief, her eyes shimmering with tiny specks of light, as if she were stunned, or perhaps feeling something else entirely.

Kageyama Sora felt his heart melt at the sight of her.

He tightened his arms to pull her closer, his chin brushing gently against the top of her head: "Nodoka, I believe you will definitely step onto the stage of the national tournament."

Laughter drifted from the mahjong room in the distance, startling the sparrows and fallen cherry blossoms on the windowsill.

Haramura Nodoka gave a soft "Mm" in his arms, her flushed earlobe slowly pressing against his hot neck. In the twilight of the corridor, two young hearts moved quietly closer, far beyond the scope of winning or losing.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

Kageyama Sora looked up instinctively and was shocked to find Miyanaga Saki, her cheeks flushed, chasing after them.

Miyanaga Saki blushed the moment she saw Kageyama Sora and Haramura Nodoka embracing. The girl who had arrived with such courage suddenly became flustered: "I-I'm sorry, did I come at a bad time?"

"Not at all." Kageyama Sora smiled and hooked his finger at Miyanaga Saki: "I think you should have a good talk with Nodoka. You can say whatever you want to say. Isn't that the feeling you had when you chased after us?"

"Mm..." Miyanaga Saki felt her resolve firm up again because of Kageyama Sora's words.

She looked at Haramura Nodoka and took a deep breath: "What I want to say is, I used to play mahjong with my family, and it was always accompanied by bad memories. Whether I won or lost, it was always followed by rituals that made me angry. That was my understanding of mahjong..."

Haramura Nodoka was slightly stunned. She remembered the faint words Miyanaga Saki had said yesterday when she refused to play another match, and the reason Kageyama Sora had just given Miyanaga Saki seemed to be exactly that.

Miyanaga Saki gathered her courage and poured her heart out: "But today was different... When I play mahjong with Haramura Nodoka, I don't know why, but I become so, so happy?"

Haramura Nodoka was taken aback and said instinctively: "I don't know why... but clearly, winning makes you happy."

However, Miyanaga Saki shook her head gently: "No, that's not it. Playing mahjong with Haramura Nodoka feels completely different from playing with my family... Trying to achieve Plus-Minus Zero, trying to win—it's incredibly difficult, and it's a feeling I've never had before. I just feel... so, so happy."

Haramura Nodoka looked into Miyanaga Saki's eyes and saw nothing but pure joy and starlight.

Chapter 22: The Temperamental Young Lady Cousin

It is said that the next day, Miyanaga Saki joined the Mahjong Club and began her life as a mahjong player, but how she would integrate and what path she would take in the future was not something Kageyama Sora could determine.

But undoubtedly, he had developed a great interest in Miyanaga Saki.

No, he had developed a great interest in all of Kiyosumi High School: the seemingly lazy yet unfathomable club president, the energetic Yuki Kataoka, and his initial target, Haramura Nodoka.

His intuition told him that in this national tournament, the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club might bloom with a different kind of brilliance.

To clarify, the reason why the news of Miyanaga Saki joining the Mahjong Club was "said to be" is because this information was relayed by Haramura Nodoka via text message.

As for why it was a text message instead of being told in person...

Regarding this, Kageyama Sora, who usually seemed mature about everything, rarely showed a hint of awkwardness and helplessness.

In truth, he had noticed that day that even after talking with Miyanaga Saki for a long time, Haramura Nodoka's mood was still not great, and he had originally wanted to comfort her properly.

But unfortunately, he received a call. The voice of Ryumonbuchi Toka roared through the phone: "Didn't you say you were going to enroll in Ryumonbuchi High School? You've been gone for two days, cousin, where have you been fooling around! I'm giving you until today to come back and handle your enrollment, or else!"

With that, Ryumonbuchi Toka hung up the phone without giving Kageyama Sora a chance to speak.

In order not to anger his young lady cousin, who seemed to have a rather short temper, Kageyama Sora had no choice but to bid farewell to Haramura Nodoka and head to Ryumonbuchi High School.

When Kageyama Sora arrived, he saw Ogira, the all-capable butler of Ryumonbuchi Toka, at the entrance.

Kageyama Sora didn't even need to think to know that Ogira had been sent by Ryumonbuchi Toka to handle his enrollment, so he immediately walked up to him: "About... the enrollment..."

The moment Ogira saw Kageyama Sora, he handed him a piece of paper: "You just need to sign here, Young Master."

Kageyama Sora scanned it quickly to ensure there were no traps, and while signing, he complained: "Didn't Toka say that if I didn't come in person, she wouldn't let me enroll and would make me pay?"

Ogira chuckled, his voice gentle: "You know how it is, the young lady is a bit of a tsundere."

Kageyama Sora looked up, teasing with a hint of surprise: "Oh my, are you actually bad-mouthing Toka?"

To this, Ogira responded righteously: "It is not bad-mouthing, but stating a fact. And if certain emotions can be conveyed to you through my words, that is exactly what an excellent butler should do."

After he finished speaking, Ogira confirmed that Kageyama Sora had finished signing and said: "By the way, after you're done, you can go to the Mahjong Club to find Miss Toka. Honestly, the young lady has been wanting to introduce you to the Mahjong Club for a long time."

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Having just witnessed the extraordinary scene at the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club, he was very curious about Ryumonbuchi Toka's Mahjong Club.

Moreover, he could basically be certain he wouldn't be disappointed; after all, he had already met three people from the Ryumonbuchi High School Mahjong Club, and every one of them was unique.

And so, led by Ogira, Kageyama Sora arrived at the Ryumonbuchi High School Mahjong Club.

Pushing open the double oak doors inlaid with bronze carvings, Kageyama Sora's breath caught in his throat for a moment.

He was a wealthy man himself and was long accustomed to luxury, but the fact that a mahjong club's activity room had such decor still left Kageyama Sora more or less stunned.

The dark walnut floor glowed with a soft amber light, reflecting the brilliance pouring down from the three-tiered crystal chandelier above. Every cut surface refracted tiny starlight, weaving the entire six-meter-high space into a flowing web of light.

The floor-to-ceiling windows, which spanned the entire curved wall, were draped with gold-embroidered chiffon curtains, and through the gaps, one could catch a glimpse of the wisteria corridor outside. Eighteen carved mahjong tables were arranged in an orderly fashion across the area covered by Persian carpets. Each tabletop was embedded with warm jade-colored sensor lights, and the leather chairs by the tables were even equipped with automatic tea dispensers and temperature-controlled pastry trays.

Compared to the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club, which operated out of an abandoned school building, the Ryumonbuchi High School Mahjong Club could only be described as luxurious.

When Kageyama Sora walked in, slightly surprised by the decor, he was accurately captured by Ryumonbuchi Toka.

The blonde young lady put her hands on her hips, her ahoge swaying due to her excessive emotional state: "The distinguished guest, my cousin, has finally arrived. Tell me, where have you been fooling around these past few days?"

"Messing around, what a word..." The bespectacled girl pushed up her glasses, clearly taking issue with such an imprecise description from Ryumonbuchi Toka.

On the side, one of Ryumonbuchi Toka's teammates—a girl with short silver hair who looked quite boyish—chimed in, loving the drama: "It sounds like you're catching a cheating spouse."

"Shut up, both of you!" Ryumonbuchi snapped, then glared fiercely at Kageyama Sora: "Confess and you might get leniency!"

Kageyama Sora, of course, would not confess, not to mention that explaining all those messy details would be a hassle.

The mere extent of Ryumonbuchi Toka's obsession with Haramura Nodoka was enough to make Kageyama Sora keep his mouth shut on this matter.

So, he simply put on a mysterious air: "I went to handle some private business, and it's all taken care of now. Sorry to keep you waiting, Toka."

When he said the words "sorry to keep you waiting," Kageyama Sora's tone was exceptionally gentle, leaving Ryumonbuchi Toka feeling a sudden, vexing uncertainty about whether she should even be angry anymore.

Just then, Amae Koromo ran out from the Mahjong Club's bedroom.

Today, Amae Koromo was wearing a pale pink dress with lace trim.

She seemed to have just woken up, rubbing her eyes as she walked out, still looking sluggish.

But the moment she saw Kageyama Sora, the sleepy Amae Koromo instantly woke up and charged at him like a little cannonball: "Cousin is mean! You said you'd enroll in Ryumonbuchi High School immediately. If Toka didn't nag you, would you have forgotten to come back?"

It looked like a peaceful chat, but in reality, everyone was digging holes for themselves.

This made Kageyama Sora wonder if Amae Koromo was doing it on purpose.

But... it didn't seem to matter if she was or not.

Because Kageyama Sora picked Amae Koromo up directly, holding her in his arms like a large doll: "You're truly adorable, Koromo."

Receiving the praise, Amae Koromo was practically beaming. With her petite frame and fair skin—clearly older than the others yet still possessing a loli physique—who could resist her when she threw herself into his arms like this, smelling so sweet and soft!?

Oh, at least Kageyama Sora could resist on the surface.

He held Amae Koromo in his arms and replied with the same attitude he had used for Ryumonbuchi Toka: "Because I ran into some things, I went to handle some private business. I'm truly sorry for keeping you waiting, Koromo."

Chapter 23: Like Interrogating a Husband Who Didn't Come Home

The twilight slanted through the activity room's glass windows, casting a sharp shadow across Ryumonbuchi Toka's brow.

The teacup in her hand clattered heavily against the wooden tabletop, making a crisp sound as if it were an interrogation of Kageyama Sora.

"Ran into some things, handled private business?" She narrowed her amber eyes, her gaze filled with suspicion, the golden ahoge on her head swaying gently with her movements. "Private business? Didn't you say you were going to meet Haramura Nodoka? Was it worth not coming home all night!?"

Ryumonbuchi Toka stood up abruptly, staring intensely at Kageyama Sora, looking exactly like a wife catching a husband who had stayed out all night.

It wasn't Ryumonbuchi Toka's fault for looking like she was catching a cheater.

Whenever anything related to Haramura Nodoka was mentioned, she always got very agitated.

"Haramura Nodoka..." Amae Koromo, still nestled in Kageyama Sora's arms, looked up: "Is that the person Toka cares about so much..."

"I, I don't care about her that much!" Ryumonbuchi Toka's cheeks instantly flushed a deep crimson, the aura she had just built up vanishing completely. Her face was red, like the sunset suddenly blooming.

She turned her head away in a panic, her hair tracing a sharp arc in the air: "She's just... she's just a rival!"

However, the glances exchanged by the other members in the activity room and their slightly upturned lips silently debunked her cover-up.

Feeling exposed, Ryumonbuchi Toka pretended to be calm as she brushed back her hair, changing the subject almost awkwardly: "Well, it doesn't matter to me. Anyway, since you've decided to study at Ryumonbuchi High School, just come to class normally tomorrow."

She picked up the teacup on the table and took a light sip, trying to use the warmth of the tea to calm the waves in her heart.

Kageyama Sora secretly broke into a cold sweat on the side.

In truth, Kageyama Sora was quite afraid of Ryumonbuchi Toka dwelling on the Haramura Nodoka and the "staying out all night" issue.

If Ryumonbuchi Toka knew that he hadn't just gotten close to Haramura Nodoka, but had also done this and that with her, there was no telling how she might lose her mind.

Perhaps because he had seen everything on their first meeting, or perhaps due to Ryumonbuchi Toka's own personality, although he didn't want to admit it, Kageyama Sora was a little afraid of this cousin of his.

So, he naturally cooperated with Ryumonbuchi Toka's attempt to change the subject.

"Of course." Although he had some entanglements with the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club, he had no intention of enrolling there.

The reason was simple and crude: he couldn't be a "connected person" there. It was much more comfortable at Ryumonbuchi High School, where skipping class wouldn't be questioned, making it convenient for his activities.

Afterward, Ryumonbuchi Toka began to seriously introduce the members of the Mahjong Club to Kageyama Sora.

As the atmosphere gradually eased, Ryumonbuchi Toka began to introduce the Mahjong Club members to Kageyama Sora.

She walked to the window, the sunset's afterglow outlining her in a golden silhouette. "You already know me and Koromo."

Her finger tapped lightly on the two of them, then pointed to the girl with a high ponytail, a red ribbon, and a star mark on her face: "That is Kunihiro Hajime, my maid, whom you have also met."

Kunihiro Hajime blinked playfully at the mention, the ribbon in her hair swaying gently with her movement.

"And Inoue Jun." Ryumonbuchi Toka pointed to the "tomboy" with a hearty temperament.

Inoue Jun laughed boisterously, showing a mouthful of white teeth, and casually gave a thumbs-up gesture.

Finally, her gaze landed on Sawamura Tomoki, who was focused on her computer screen.

"Tomoki is our intelligence officer." Ryumonbuchi Toka's tone carried a hint of pride. "Whether it's analyzing an opponent's playstyle or the latest tournament news, there isn't any information she can't find."

Sawamura Tomoki pushed up her glasses, looked up from the computer, and gave a slight nod to Kageyama Sora, her hair falling over her shoulders like black silk.

Kageyama Sora looked at these distinct members before him, and the image of the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Just like the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club, every girl was exceptionally vivid and brilliant... though there was one difference: the skirts of everyone at Ryumonbuchi High School were quite long.

It was just... watching everyone busy with their own affairs.

Kageyama Sora couldn't help but ask, "Speaking of which, the national tournament qualifiers are coming up soon. Aren't you nervous?"

"Hahahaha, why would I be nervous?" Ryumonbuchi laughed wildly, as if she had been asked something amusing. "The Ryumonbuchi Mahjong Club, led by me, Ryumonbuchi Toka, will definitely make it to the national tournament."

As she spoke, the young lady holding her teacup looked absolutely radiant, her golden ahoge swaying back and forth.

She really is someone who is easy to see through.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the twilight added a touch of tranquility to the club room.

Kageyama Sora watched the busy figures of everyone; Kunihiro Hajime was fiddling with the mahjong tiles, while Inoue Jun and Sawamura Tomoki seemed to be discussing something.

He couldn't help but ask, "Speaking of which, the national tournament qualifiers are coming up soon. Aren't you nervous?"

Ryumonbuchi Toka spun around abruptly, her eyes flashing with a fiery light, as if two flames were dancing within them. "Hahahaha, why would I be nervous?" She threw her head back and laughed, her laughter as hearty and flamboyant as a caricature, the coffee cup in her hand swaying gently with her movements. "The Ryumonbuchi Mahjong Club, led by me, Ryumonbuchi Toka, will definitely make it to the national tournament! This time, we will definitely place in the national tournament!"

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto her face, gilding her smile in gold, and the ahoge in her hair danced happily along with her laughter.

Kageyama Sora looked at the spirited girl before him and suddenly felt that her pride and confidence were so pure and dazzling.

However... that statement wasn't exactly an exaggeration.

After all, the track record of the Ryumonbuchi High School Mahjong Club was exceptionally eye-catching and impressive.

Last year, Ryumonbuchi High School advanced to the national tournament in first place with a lineup consisting of five first-year students.

And Ryumonbuchi Toka herself had won the championship in the individual tournament of the Nagano Prefecture qualifiers.

In the subsequent team portion of the national tournament, they advanced in first place through both the first and second rounds; the reason they were eliminated in the third round wasn't because they lost, but because the other teams lost so quickly that they were eliminated due to point discrepancies.

Under these circumstances, Amae Koromo made a name for herself in the mahjong world, becoming one of the three known as the "Child Loved by the Tiles."

"National tournament..." Amae Koromo, still nestled in Kageyama Sora's arms, looked thoughtful.