Chapter 25

The three wet figures leaped back into the hot spring, causing ripples to spread across the surface. Their upturned faces reflected in the water looked like three blooming water lilies under the starlight.

But... what about the shooting star?

In the lounge on the other side, Hisa Takei slowly swirled her teacup, her wine-red hair tied up casually to reveal her delicate nape.

When Kageyama Sora pushed the door open, he caught the lingering smile in her eyes: "Where are the others?"

"Still in the hot spring, I suppose." Hisa Takei blew gently on the steam rising from her cup, the mist blurring the corners of her upturned eyes.

Kageyama Sora raised his wrist to check his watch, the metal strap glinting coldly under the lights: "Staying in too long isn't good for the body."

Before he could finish, Mako Someya had already neatly packed her documents, a cold glint flashing across her glasses: "I'll go check on them."

The moment the wooden door closed, the room fell into sudden silence.

Hisa Takei rubbed the rim of her cup with her fingertips and suddenly chuckled: "Come to think of it, what do you think of them?"

Kageyama Sora paused, his eyes as clear as ever when he looked up: "What do you mean?"

"The person in your room that night wasn't Nodoka Haramura." Hisa Takei straightened up, her wine-red hair cascading over her shoulders.

Kageyama Sora showed no panic at being exposed; instead, he wore an expression of sudden realization: "I was wondering why you'd been acting so strange lately. So you really did see."

By the edge of the hot spring, the swirling steam hung like a veil, and the moonlight danced upon the water, creating shimmering ripples.

The three girls soaked quietly in the spring, the rising heat blurring their features, with only the occasional ripple on the water breaking the stillness.

The night sky in the distance was as black as ink, with sparse stars twinkling, but there was still no sign of a shooting star.

Saki Miyanaga idly traced the water with her fingertips, splashing tiny droplets; Yuki Kataoka stared down at her own reflection, her short brown hair dampened by the steam and clinging to her cheeks in strands; Nodoka Haramura's pink hair hung loosely over her shoulders, her sapphire-like eyes filled with gentleness and concern as she quietly observed the two beside her.

"You two, although you looked focused during training today, I could feel that you both had something heavy on your minds..." Nodoka Haramura broke the silence first, her voice soft yet clear, standing out distinctly by the quiet hot spring.

This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves.

Saki Miyanaga's hand froze abruptly, water droplets suspended at her fingertips; Yuki Kataoka's body trembled slightly, and she hurriedly turned her face away, not daring to meet Nodoka Haramura's gaze.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with panic and embarrassment, as if the secrets hidden in their hearts had been laid bare.

Nodoka Haramura sighed softly, her gaze landing on the faint marks visible on Yuki Kataoka's neck, her tone calm yet filled with the clarity of someone who understood everything: "Those marks on Yuki aren't from mosquitoes, are they..."

"Nodoka... I..." Yuki Kataoka's voice was choked with tears and trembling slightly, her hands gripping the wooden railing of the pool so hard her knuckles turned white.

"The only boy here is Kageyama Sora... plus you came back very late last night..." Nodoka Haramura continued, every word hitting Yuki Kataoka and Saki Miyanaga like a heavy hammer.

"Nodoka, I'm sorry, I..." Yuki Kataoka finally couldn't hold it back, tears streaming down her cheeks and dripping into the hot spring, creating tiny ripples.

"Yuki, you..." Saki Miyanaga opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but not knowing where to start; she could only look at the two of them anxiously.

After all, Saki Miyanaga was the one who had almost been intimate with Kageyama Sora last night. She hadn't expected that while she herself hadn't crossed the line, Yuki Kataoka had.

Compared to Saki Miyanaga, Nodoka Haramura seemed a bit calmer: "You don't need to apologize..."

Nodoka Haramura gently interrupted Yuki Kataoka, slowly moving closer to her and reaching out to wipe the tears from her cheeks: "I understand."

Her palms were soft and warm, carrying a soothing strength.

"You understand..." Yuki Kataoka looked up, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Nodoka Haramura, full of surprise and disbelief.

"Yes, I understand..." Nodoka Haramura said softly, her voice tinged with a faint bitterness, "We are good friends, and we became friends because we share the same interests. It's only natural that you would fall for the boy I like."

"Nodoka... aren't you angry at me?" Yuki Kataoka sobbed, her voice full of trepidation.

Nodoka Haramura smiled lightly, her expression filled with relief and broad-mindedness: "If we both like the same boy, why don't we just be together!? Matters of the heart are hard to explain anyway. We are friends; we shouldn't let this create a rift between us."

She reached out and pulled Yuki Kataoka and Saki Miyanaga into her arms. The three of them embraced tightly in the hot spring, the rising steam filled with a warm and complex bond.

Chapter 56: Love and Friendship Are Not Contradictory

Because Nodoka Haramura had taken the initiative to tear away this veil of shame, Yuki Kataoka's psychological pressure was resolved in that moment.

Still, it was truly unexpected that Nodoka Haramura didn't mind.

Or rather, she cared more about friendship than love.

The rising steam blurred Nodoka Haramura's flushed cheeks. She crossed her arms and sighed softly: "Actually, how could I not understand those feelings?"

Her voice was gentle and firm, echoing in the swirling mist.

Saki Miyanaga's body stiffened slightly, her fingers curling unconsciously in the water.

She bit her lower lip and finally gathered the courage to say: "Nodoka, actually... I also like Kageyama Sora... I've always wanted to tell you this... but I didn't have the courage... I..."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, the last few words almost squeezed from her throat, filled with deep guilt and unease.

Yuki Kataoka knew this well; after all, she had stepped in when Saki Miyanaga fled just as she was about to get close to Kageyama Sora. She had even said things like, "Why can Saki do it, but I can't?" so she naturally wouldn't offer any judgment.

Now, the only one qualified to pass judgment was Nodoka Haramura.

Nodoka Haramura watched them quietly, a soft light flickering in her sapphire-like eyes.

She gently took their hands and said: "I had guessed it long ago. After all, you can't hide things like the look in your eyes. I've seen the slightly apologetic expressions you often give me quite clearly."

Her thumbs gently rubbed the backs of their hands, conveying warmth and comfort.

Saki Miyanaga could no longer control herself, and tears burst forth: "I'm sorry, Nodoka, I know this is very selfish..."

"Don't say that." Nodoka Haramura interrupted her, "Feelings are never something you can control. We are friends, partners striving together for our mahjong dreams. Are we really going to let one person destroy the bond between us?"

Yuki Kataoka sniffled, her voice thick with nasal congestion: "But we all like him, what should we do about that?"

Nodoka Haramura looked up at the pitch-black night sky, pondered for a moment, and said: "Why must we make a choice? We can face these feelings together and work together to let him understand our hearts. Even if we can't be together in the end, we will still be the best of friends."

Saki Miyanaga and Yuki Kataoka exchanged a glance, a hint of hesitation flashing in their eyes.

"But wouldn't that be very strange?" Saki Miyanaga asked in a small voice.

Nodoka Haramura smiled, her smile like the warm sun of spring: "What's strange about it? Love has many different forms. We can go out with him together, prepare surprises for him together, and tell him our feelings honestly. No matter the result, at least we won't have any regrets."

Hope reignited in Yuki Kataoka's eyes: "Nodoka, you're right! We are the best team; even when it comes to feelings, we can face them bravely together!"

Saki Miyanaga also clenched her fists, a determined light flickering in her eyes: "Right! Let's work hard together!"

The three girls looked at each other and smiled, their laughter echoing by the side of the hot spring pool. In the distant sky, a shooting star suddenly streaked across, illuminating their smiling faces.

This time, they didn't rush to make a wish, but quietly watched the meteor disappear into the horizon.

Because they knew that true happiness must be fought for by oneself.

The steam from the hot spring was still lingering, but it no longer felt as oppressive as before.

The three girls stood shoulder to shoulder, heads leaning against each other, and began to imagine the future.

They planned how to invite Kageyama Sora out for a trip next time, discussed what gifts to prepare, and their laughter was filled with anticipation for the future.

At this moment, love and friendship were no longer in conflict.

And when Mako Someya arrived, all she saw was this beautiful scene and the tail of the shooting star.

She smiled: "You'll get dizzy if you soak for too long."

And when Mako Someya brought the trio back, there was only Hisa Takei left in the room.

Mako Someya asked with a hint of curiosity: "Where is Kageyama Sora?"

Hisa Takei smiled: "He had company business to handle and went off to attend a multinational meeting."

In fact, Hisa Takei had taken this opportunity to talk to Kageyama Sora about his relationship issues.

The wall lamp in the lounge cast a dim, warm glow on the tatami mats. Hisa Takei leaned against the carved wooden window, her wine-red long hair tied loosely into a messy bun, revealing her graceful swan-like neck.

She twirled a celadon teacup with her fingertips, the amber plum wine swaying gently in the cup, her gaze landing on Kageyama Sora, who was lowering his head to organize documents, with a look that was neither quite a smile nor quite a frown: "I don't care what you're thinking in your heart or who you actually like," she suddenly paused, the corners of her eyes lifting with a sharp edge: "But I still hope you can handle everyone's relationships well. The preliminaries are coming up, and I don't want the Mahjong Club to fall apart because of this."

Actually, Hisa Takei knew that many of these relationships were initiated by the girls, such as Yuki Kataoka.

But as the club president, it was still hard for her not to be protective.

Regarding this, Kageyama Sora also realized that his actions had caused Hisa Takei to worry.

He didn't try to explain that these things weren't one-sided on his part, but answered very sincerely: "I will handle these relationships well, please rest assured... I will absolutely not be a scumbag who toys with girls."

Kageyama Sora's overly handsome face was filled with solemnity. Hisa Takei's fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly, the chill of the cup's rim seeping into her palm.

The young man before her radiated an aura that could not be ignored. When he stared with focus, those pitch-black eyes seemed to possess a power that could bewitch the heart.

She turned her face away and downed the plum wine in her cup in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't suppress the faint blush that quietly crept up to her earlobes: "It had better be that way."

Even Hisa Takei turned her face away in a subtly unnatural manner.

At this point, Kageyama Sora didn't stay long and chose to leave first; the conversation with Hisa Takei had become a secret between the two of them.

A secret unique to Kageyama Sora and Hisa Takei.

The trio didn't know that much and just assumed Kageyama Sora was truly busy.

But it must be said that the first-year trio, including Nodoka Haramura, breathed a sigh of relief. They had just decided to work together to treat Kageyama Sora well, but if they were to meet suddenly, they would still feel embarrassed; they still wanted to sort out their emotions before seeing him again.

The three of them, relieved, collapsed onto the tatami mats together—sure enough, soaking in the hot spring for too long still makes one feel dizzy.

Hisa Takei looked at the three of them and smiled softly. Although she didn't ask anything, she knew that something must have happened to these three girls for that tense feeling to disappear. However, this was a good thing.

Chapter 57 We Are All Your Wings

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the bamboo blinds, casting mottled light and shadows on the wooden floor.

Nodoka Haramura slowly opened her eyes. Her long pink hair was scattered across the pillow like a waterfall, the ends slightly curled, glowing with a soft luster in the morning light, making her already exquisite face look even sweeter.

She looked around and found that Hisa Takei and Mako Someya were already gone. Their usual toiletries were also nowhere to be seen; it was a safe bet they had gone to the hot spring.

She raised her hand to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, the pink ribbon in her hair swaying gently with the movement.

Thinking of the comfort of the hot spring yesterday, she felt she had soaked a bit too much and thought it might be better to go for a walk.

She remembered there was a waterfall not far away, the sound of the water crisp and pleasant. Thinking of this, she got up to change her clothes.

Her light pink pajamas outlined her graceful figure, her chest rising and falling slightly, fully displaying the soft beauty of a young girl.

Just as Nodoka Haramura unbuttoned her pajamas to change into outdoor clothes, Saki Miyanaga also woke up from her sleep.

She rubbed her large, round eyes. Her brown bob cut was a bit messy, but it added a touch of lazy cuteness. Her voice carried the soft, milky tone of a girl who had just woken up: "Nodoka-san, where did the President and the others go?"

As she spoke, her slightly pouted lips made her look even more adorable.

"They should have gone to the hot spring." Nodoka Haramura's voice was exceptionally gentle. She had already changed into a light blue yukata, with delicate little flowers embroidered on the hem, making her look like an elf in the forest: "But I plan to go for a walk by the waterfall."

Saki Miyanaga immediately perked up, her eyes flashing with excitement. She quickly sat up, clenching her hands into fists in front of her chest: "P-please, take me with you!"

At this moment, her face was filled with an expectant smile, and her cute appearance made it impossible to refuse.

"Of course." Haramura Nodoka nodded with a smile, her eyes curving into crescents and the dimples at the corners of her mouth appearing faintly.

The two of them looked simultaneously at Yuki, who was sprawled out fast asleep. Her short, brown twin-tails were scattered messily, her cherry hair accessory was tilted to one side, and a faint smile still lingered on her cute little face.

Seeing her like this, the two exchanged a smile—and tickled Yuki.

Amidst the laughter and joy, the duo became a trio.

Coincidentally, Kageyama Sora had also risen early. His neat, short black hair fluttered slightly in the morning breeze, and his handsome face looked even more striking under the glow of the morning sun.

Dressed in casual sportswear, he stood tall and began to take a walk with his long legs, just in time to hear... a vibrant, energetic girl's voice.

"Ah! This is amazing!" Yuki had already reached the waterfall first. She was still wearing the yukata provided for the training camp, her twin-tails swinging as she ran, the cherry accessory standing out vividly in her hair.

The girl hopped about, lively and cute, the patterns on her yukata dancing with her movements; her spirited appearance was truly enviable.

Kageyama Sora walked over instinctively. From a distance, he could see Yuki hopping around in her yukata.

The spray from the waterfall splashed onto her, but she didn't mind at all; instead, she spread her arms wide, fully enjoying the coolness.

"I really wish we could have another training camp," Saki Miyanaga whispered with a smile as she watched the scene.

She crossed her arms over her chest, a hint of reluctance showing in her eyes as her brown hair was gently lifted by the breeze. "Ever since I joined the club and started training camps with everyone, I've grown to love mahjong more and more... but after the tournament ends, the third-year club president will graduate. Even if it's just for a little while, I want to spend more time with everyone."

As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, and a faint touch of sadness colored her face.

She had never thought about these things before, but for some reason, Haramura Nodoka felt moved by Saki Miyanaga's words.

She bit her lower lip and stepped forward, her long pink hair caught by the wind, brushing against her flushed cheeks.

Not being very good at comforting others, she tried her best to offer some solace: "If we can advance through the prefectural tournament, we should be able to have another training camp before the National Tournament."

Saki Miyanaga's eyes lit up immediately, her large brown eyes shimmering with the light of hope: "Then we can come again!"

Over there, Yuki turned around, looking radiant, her twin-tails bouncing happily behind her: "Not just that, we're going to be number one in the country!"

She placed her hands on her hips, her face full of a confident smile.

Haramura Nodoka looked equally full of confidence: "That's right!"