"Since you're here, let's get started." Fujita Yasuko swallowed her thoughts and reached out to shuffle the tiles. They clacked together with a crisp sound. "But let me make one thing clear: I won't go easy on you."
As the game began, Kageyama Sora quickly realized just how dire the situation was.
Fujita Yasuko's playing style was extremely tricky. Her seemingly casual discards were actually full of hidden meaning.
Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga were concentrating with all their might, but they were still at a disadvantage. There were only a few chips left in front of them.
Though Kageyama Sora wasn't very good at mahjong, he was good at remembering which tiles had been played.
So he did his best to stay unobtrusive, avoiding dealing into someone's hand and rarely winning himself. He was practically invisible.
But... Kageyama Sora picked up a tile and caught sight of the deep frowns on Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga's faces.
Haramura Nodoka bit her lower lip, gripping her tiles so tightly that her fingers had gone pale. The mahjong prodigy who had once strategized so brilliantly on the tournament floor now looked like a little kitten caught in a trap.
But Kageyama Sora also knew he couldn't help. Takei Hisa had asked Fujita Yasuko to play against them precisely to motivate Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga. If he ruined that now, he would be letting Takei Hisa's good intentions down.
The game gradually settled into a stalemate, and tension filled the air.
No matter how hard Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga tried, they couldn't turn things around. Kageyama Sora even saw that Saki Miyanaga looked like she was about to cry... Fujita Yasuko had blocked Saki Miyanaga's specialty, rinshan kaihou, leaving her to watch helplessly as the tile she needed for her quad was taken.
In the end, no miracle happened.
Saki Miyanaga looked crestfallen, and Haramura Nodoka was feeling low as well.
At that moment, Kageyama Sora offered, "Fujita Yasuko is a professional player, after all..."
"A professional player!?" Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga exclaimed in unison.
Mako Someya came over at just the right moment to explain Fujita Yasuko's identity, abilities, and record.
Haramura Nodoka's expression grew even more serious, but Saki Miyanaga seemed relieved. "A professional player... That's a relief. It's understandable that we couldn't beat a professional."
Haramura Nodoka immediately grew angry. "How can you take comfort in the fact that she's a professional player?!"
Before Saki Miyanaga could say anything, Fujita Yasuko chimed in at just the right moment. "Even high school students can compete against professionals, you know."
Once everyone had turned to look at her, Fujita Yasuko fixed Kageyama Sora with a meaningful gaze. "The captain of the mahjong club at this young man's school, Amae Koromo, once beat me in a game... And Amae Koromo was last year's MVP in Nagano Prefecture. Her team also took first place in the Nagano Prefecture team tournament."
Chapter 31: The Girl Who Lost Heart
The warm yellow lights in Mako Someya's maid café gave the room a cozy, sweet glow. The wooden tables and chairs gleamed softly, while cute dolls and posters decorated the walls. The air was filled with the scent of coffee and desserts.
Saki Miyanaga wore a beautifully detailed maid outfit. Her signature short brown hair was a little mussed, and the disappointment of losing still lingered on her face.
When she heard Fujita Yasuko introduce herself as a professional player, she clung to the words like a lifeline. Her voice carried the self-reassuring relief of someone trying to make herself feel better. "I'm only a high school student, so of course it's natural that I'd lose to a professional..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Haramura Nodoka, seated across from her, slammed her hand on the table. Her pink hair billowed like a waterfall, and blazing anger filled her blue eyes. Her skirt swirled with the force of her movement, while her flushed cheeks showed just how furious she was. "It's not natural at all!"
The sharp slap rang out especially loudly in the quiet café, drawing the attention of the other customers.
Saki Miyanaga froze, stunned by Haramura Nodoka's sudden intensity. She hadn't expected the usually calm Haramura Nodoka to react so strongly.
Fujita Yasuko took an unhurried sip of coffee. A faint smile played on her lips as she spoke leisurely. "That's right, that's right. In last year's pro-am tournament, I came second in the eighteen-round half-game... But the person who came first was a fifteen-year-old high school student. She was Amae Koromo of Ryumonbuchi High School, where Kageyama goes..."
Her voice was calm and unhurried, but every word landed like a heavy blow, striking everyone's hearts.
Kageyama Sora gave an awkward smile when she called him out. His fingers unconsciously rubbed at the hem of his clothes. He was so conflicted that he couldn't decide whether to mention that Amae Koromo was his cousin. The atmosphere turned a little awkward.
Fortunately, Fujita Yasuko didn't dwell on the matter. She set down her coffee cup gracefully, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes as she continued to intimidate the girls in front of her. "What's more, Kazekoshi Girls' High School, which had won the championship six years in a row, was completely crushed by Ryumonbuchi High School in last year's final..."
Her words felt like an invisible weight, making the air grow heavy.
"Ryumonbuchi High School..." Saki Miyanaga murmured, turning her gaze toward Kageyama Sora. Confusion and unease filled her eyes. "Isn't that the school we'll face in the qualifiers? And... Kageyama's school, too..."
Her voice grew quieter and quieter as she realized what a powerful challenge lay ahead.
Before Kageyama Sora could respond, Fujita Yasuko looked meaningfully at them and spoke in a taunting tone. "Oh, you're entering the qualifiers too? What a shame. You absolutely won't be able to beat Amae Koromo."
Her words crashed into everyone's hearts like a boulder, stirring up wave after wave of emotion.
Haramura Nodoka's body trembled slightly. Her lips parted, and her voice was filled with barely concealed frustration. "...We can't beat her..."
She clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly dug into her palms, as her fighting spirit clashed fiercely with her sense of defeat.
The conversation fizzled out. Convinced she had fulfilled Takei Hisa's request, Fujita Yasuko stood gracefully, left them with a meaningful smile, and tactfully took her leave.
The café door swung open, and a gust of cold air swept in, easing the oppressive atmosphere a little.
Kageyama Sora quietly waited for Saki Miyanaga and Haramura Nodoka to change back into their clothes. The three of them left the café together. Night had fallen over the city, and neon lights flashed along busy streets, but nothing could dispel the gloom in their hearts.
Saki Miyanaga and Haramura Nodoka had changed back into their Kiyosumi High School uniforms. Sitting in Kageyama Sora's car, they remained silent, their faces full of uncertainty.
They weren't just shaken by Fujita Yasuko's words. They had also realized that an opponent their own age, someone they would soon face in the tournament, was strong enough to defeat someone as formidable as Fujita Yasuko.
To them, Fujita Yasuko had seemed like an insurmountable mountain during the game. Now they had learned there was someone even stronger.
"Does Ryumonbuchi High School really have someone stronger than the person we just played?" Saki Miyanaga broke the silence, her voice full of disbelief. "If that's the case, we'll never make it to nationals."
Her tone was deeply worried, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.
Hearing that, Haramura Nodoka abruptly turned to Saki Miyanaga, determination shining in her blue eyes. "What are you talking about? Weren't you the one who said we had to make it to nationals?! What's the point of crying after losing just once? We're going to nationals. We still have ten days before the qualifiers. Isn't it enough to get stronger in those ten days?"
Her words brimmed with defiance, as if she meant to dispel all the gloom in her heart.
She was clearly scared and shaken herself, but she had never wavered.
Kageyama Sora couldn't help glancing at her in the rearview mirror from the driver's seat.
She really was wonderful... Haramura Nodoka.
"Nodoka..." Saki Miyanaga gazed at her determined friend, warmth welling up in her heart. "Yeah. But how do we get stronger?"
Haramura Nodoka furrowed her brows, deep in thought. "If we knew, we wouldn't be worrying about it."
Just then, Kageyama Sora brought the car to a stop at exactly the right moment.
He looked out the window, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused smile. His voice held a note of mystery. "Maybe we'll find the answer if we go inside?"
Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga followed his gaze. The mahjong club room at Kiyosumi High School was still lit, despite the late hour. Its warm yellow light shone through the window, standing out clearly in the darkness.
They looked at each other, both shocked and confused. Haramura Nodoka glanced at Kageyama Sora and asked cautiously, "You mean..."
"You don't think a skilled player like Fujita Yasuko would go out of her way to play mahjong with you for no reason, do you?" Kageyama Sora said meaningfully, a sly glint in his eyes.
Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga exchanged another glance. Suddenly understanding, they quickly got out of the car and hurried toward the mahjong club room.
Kageyama Sora watched them go, feeling especially pleased.
He turned the steering wheel, a smile lingering on his lips. His voice was cheerful and amused. "They're so passionate... I wonder what'll happen in the end."
But... Kageyama Sora thought of Fujita Yasuko and Amae Koromo's story, and suddenly felt a pang of longing for his cousin. He drove off toward Ryumonbuchi Villa, and his car gradually disappeared into the night.
Chapter 32: Amae Koromo Throws Herself Into Her Cousin's Arms
Kageyama Sora's car sped along the winding mountain road. Moonlight filtered through the treetops, casting mottled shadows across the windshield. When Ryumonbuchi Villa finally appeared in the distance, his hands tightened on the steering wheel without him realizing it. The little house where Amae Koromo lived alone glowed a cold, bluish white beneath the moon, like an island adrift in the dark.
He remembered Ryumonbuchi Toka telling him that Amae Koromo lived alone in a separate villa for certain reasons, and that every full moon she became especially unwell—and dangerous.
Kageyama Sora looked up at the sky. The silvery full moon hung high overhead, its clear light falling across his face with a reddish glow, as if it were a sign that something unusual would happen tonight.
The ornate iron gate creaked beneath his hand. The sound of rust scraping against metal was like fingernails dragging across a chalkboard, especially grating in the silence.
Kageyama Sora walked along the path covered in dead leaves. Each step came with a soft crunch, as if countless eyes were watching his every move from the darkness.
The curtains were half drawn. Through the gap, shifting shadows revealed golden hair flowing like moonlight, yet glinting with a strange metallic sheen, as though some mysterious force were stirring in the dark.
The moment he pushed the door open, its creak broke the silence. A chill swept over him, carrying a faint, cool fragrance. The scent was a little sweet—Amae Koromo's unmistakable perfume.
Moonlight pierced the crack in the door like a sword, revealing the room within. Amae Koromo wore a pale pink slip dress, and an oversized red bunny-ear headband sat crookedly on her head. Her usually innocent, cute outfit now seemed strangely unsettling.
Three enormous dolls occupied the other sides of the mahjong table. Amae Koromo was the only person sitting at it, facing the door, as if she were locked in a battle with ghosts.
Kageyama Sora removed the doll from the seat opposite Amae Koromo and casually draped his jacket over the back of the chair, trying to make his movements look natural, as if he'd just walked into an ordinary game room. "Why haven't you turned on the lights?"
His voice echoed through the empty room, warm with a cousin's affection.
Amae Koromo slowly lifted her head. Her beautiful eyes glowed crimson, like burning flames. "Cousin."
Her voice seemed to come from the depths of an ancient well, hollow with an echo yet laden with an oppressive force that made him shudder. "Want to play a few rounds?"
As she spoke, she wound a strand of hair around her finger by the edge of the tile wall. Golden dust sifted from the ends of her hair onto the tiles, glinting strangely in the moonlight.
Kageyama Sora shivered inwardly. Good grief—his cousin had gone and turned into the final boss.
"Of course."
The mahjong tiles clacked crisply together, their sound especially jarring in the silence.
Amae Koromo spoke in a sinister tone. "Cousin... On a full-moon night, Koromo is invincible." Her words brimmed with confidence and provocation, as if she controlled the fate of the game.
Kageyama Sora sighed helplessly. He felt like he'd been putting up with Amae Koromo for long enough.
He reached out and pinched Amae Koromo's cheek. "There's a limit to how much you can act like a chuuni!"
The unexpected gesture made Amae Koromo freeze. The murderous aura around her vanished instantly, as if she'd been pinched from a great demon king back into a little bunny.
But the change was only on the surface.
As soon as the game began, Amae Koromo's terrifying skill was on full display.
She controlled the game perfectly. Every tile she discarded seemed like a carefully laid trap, keeping Kageyama Sora from ever reaching tenpai or calling a tile.
The situation was like a net tightening around him, trapping him in its grasp. The suffocating feeling was like sinking into water with no bottom, leaving him helpless and hopeless.
An ordinary person would have been driven to despair by such a one-sided game, but Kageyama Sora was too focused on the data to feel anything but confusion. He stared at the game, his mind racing. "How do you control the game while making sure I can't change the outcome, even when I remember the tiles?"
He'd thought that even if he couldn't win, he could still change the game by remembering the tiles and using his discarding skills.
But against Amae Koromo, all his efforts seemed feeble and useless. It was as if she'd anticipated his every move.
The game continued. The moonlight grew redder, spilling over the mahjong table like congealed blood.
A round ended, and the tiles in front of Kageyama Sora were still a jumbled mess. He hadn't even managed to form a decent hand through calls.
He waved his hand helplessly. "I'm done, I'm done. There's no way I can win."
His voice carried the easy acceptance of someone admitting defeat, but not the slightest trace of frustration.
Amae Koromo tilted her head, confusion rippling through her crimson eyes as her fingers unconsciously rubbed the face of a tile.
"Cousin, you're always so different." Her voice was so soft it seemed about to vanish into the moonlight. "Even though you're no match for me, and even though you keep losing, you don't seem afraid at all..."
The end of her sentence trembled faintly, as if she were asking Kageyama Sora—or perhaps asking herself.
Hearing her, Kageyama Sora's lips curved into a gentle smile.
He reached out and brushed the golden dust from Amae Koromo's hair. His fingers touched her cold earlobe. "Why would I be afraid? You're my cousin." His voice was low and steady, filled with the indulgence only a cousin could give. "You're so amazing... I should be proud."
"Proud?" Amae Koromo murmured, her eyelashes casting butterfly-wing shadows beneath her eyes.
She raised her head. Moonlight flowed along her eyelashes, revealing the starlight flickering in her eyes.
"Yeah." Kageyama Sora rested his hand gently on Amae Koromo's head. Warmth passed through her hair and into her heart. "I'm so proud. You can beat professional players and make people tremble at the thought of playing mahjong against you. You're my cousin, Amae Koromo."
His gaze was filled with sincere affection, without a trace of empty flattery.
Amae Koromo stared at Kageyama Sora. In his clear eyes, she could see his undisguised pride and affection.
Her cold expression crumbled bit by bit. Shock and emotion mingled, and tears spilled from her eyes without warning. They slid down her cheeks and fell onto the mahjong table, leaving dark spots.
"Cousin..." Amae Koromo cried, throwing herself into Kageyama Sora's arms like a wounded little animal.
Her petite body trembled slightly, and her pale pink skirt spread across the chair like blooming cherry blossoms.
Though she was a fearsome opponent at the mahjong table, at that moment she was nothing more than a little girl longing for warmth and affection.
Kageyama Sora gently wrapped his arms around Amae Koromo, resting his chin on her soft hair. The faint, sweet scent of a young girl lingered in his nose.
He knew Amae Koromo's past. He knew her parents had both died, and he knew how lonely she was... His seemingly strong cousin had endured loneliness and pressure by herself on countless nights.
Moonlight poured gently through the window lattice, falling on the two of them as they embraced and stretching their shadows long across the floor.
Just then, Amae Koromo nestled in Kageyama Sora's arms and spoke so softly it was almost inaudible. "Cousin, can you stay with me tonight? I... I'm scared."
Her words held a vulnerability he'd never heard from her before. It was as if she'd lowered all her defenses and shown Kageyama Sora her truest self.
Kageyama Sora tightened his arms around her, giving her a firmer hug. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Chapter 33: "Cousin, Hold Me While We Sleep"
Since he'd promised Amae Koromo he would stay with her tonight, Kageyama Sora really did stay. He even changed into a set of comfortable pajamas.
Before you continue