Chapter 30

"To have you give such an evaluation..." Ryumonbuchi Toka turned her face away, her fingers unconsciously stroking the gold-leaf pattern on the cup's rim, "is truly rare."

Though her words were cold, she leaned forward involuntarily upon seeing Haramura Nodoka win by self-draw once again, the light dancing in her eyes brighter than the chandeliers above.

As the match progressed, Haramura Nodoka's win rate became shockingly high. She seemed able to see through her opponents' playstyles, and every tile she discarded was terrifyingly precise.

Hisa Takei crossed her arms and chuckled, "Xiao Hehe didn't disappoint me after all."

Meanwhile, Saki Miyanaga was already so excited she was pulling Yuki Kataoka along, jumping up and down: "That was amazing!"

Kageyama Sora turned his head to look at Ryumonbuchi Toka, only to find her staring fixedly at the screen. Her sunglasses had been removed at some point, and complex emotions were churning in the depths of her eyes.

When Haramura Nodoka secured the victory early with a nine-game winning streak, the young girl finally couldn't hold back and stood up, only to sit back down awkwardly amidst the cheers of the crowd. She grabbed some snacks and shoved them into her mouth, muttering, "Who, who would want to watch her match..."

"Your mouth says no, but your eyes are very honest." Kageyama Sora smiled and pressed a warm teacup into her hands, "Is it that hard to admit you admire her?"

Ryumonbuchi Toka turned her head away, causing the Longjing tea in the cup to ripple: "Hmph, it's just letting her lead for now... Next time we meet, I will definitely..." Before she could finish, she was interrupted by Kageyama Sora leaning in close.

"Instead of talking about next time, why not consider how to watch the matches openly and honestly?" He raised a hand to gently wipe the sugar off the corner of her mouth, his movements as natural as if he had done it a thousand times before.

Ryumonbuchi Toka's face flushed red instantly, and she nearly knocked over the teacup. In her panic, she grabbed Kageyama Sora's sleeve, only to release it as if she had been electrocuted.

The Demon King Taking Shape

After the match ended, Kageyama Sora thought for a moment and decided to see Ryumonbuchi Toka back rather than letting her wander off alone.

The sound of Ryumonbuchi Toka's heels striking the floor was like a rapid drumbeat; she was clearly in a bad mood: "Hmph, so what if Haramura Nodoka is that Xiao Hehe, or even if she can pull off the same playstyle!? At most, it just means she can't win by an overwhelming margin!"

The overhead lights reflected in the mirror cast a cold, sharp light at the corners of her eyes, looking exactly like an unsheathed blade.

Kageyama Sora followed half a step behind, shaking an empty beverage can, the clinking of the aluminum crisp. He used the bottom of the can to scrape off the edge of a newly posted tournament poster on the wall: "That's... exactly what Toka would say."

"When the time comes, I'll let everyone know who the real idol is." Ryumonbuchi Toka spun around abruptly, her pearl earrings swinging past her ears, nearly brushing the tip of Kageyama Sora's nose.

She walked forward with quick, small steps, her leather handbag thumping against the metal railing.

"Speaking of which, what about Ai? Didn't I bring her along!?" Kageyama Sora quickened his pace, his sneakers squeaking against the tiles. He looked up and caught a glimpse of a flyer fluttering in the corner, caught by a draft and falling limply onto the steps of the fire exit.

"That girl is always so elusive..." Ryumonbuchi Toka adjusted her collar in the reflection of a shop window, her eyelashes casting fan-shaped shadows beneath her eyes: "Let's just call it the persistence of a big boss."

"If Ai knew you said that about her, who knows how she'd react." Kageyama Sora shrugged with a smile, suddenly distracted by a commotion ahead.

Several spectators were chatting nearby, their voices filled with shock: "Did you hear... about that person from Kiyosumi High School..."

The words "Kiyosumi High School" instantly grabbed Ryumonbuchi Toka's attention, and she went full-throttle: "Is it Haramura Nodoka again!?"

Of course, others were asking the same question as Ryumonbuchi Toka.

One boy in glasses loosened his tie, his Adam's apple bobbing violently: "It's not Haramura Nodoka, it's that substitute player we haven't seen before! She actually forced Tofukuji School to finish with a negative score! You have to realize, before the substitute match started, Tofukuji School still had 46,800 points!"

Toka's heels screeched against the floor as she whipped her head around to look at Kageyama Sora: "...The substitute, is that the person you said..."

"Ah, yes. The interesting person I said Ai would encounter." Kageyama Sora chuckled, his expression deeply meaningful.

Just then, Kageyama Sora and Ryumonbuchi Toka arrived at the location of the other Ryumonbuchi team members: "I'll leave you here since I've seen you back."

Kageyama Sora loosened his tie. As he turned, the setting sun slanted in from the window at the end of the corridor, gilding his back with a golden edge.

"Where are you going? Don't forget, you're also part of Ryumonbuchi High School." Ryumonbuchi Toka raised an eyebrow, her ahoge swaying, seemingly dissatisfied that Kageyama Sora was leaving.

"To go see..." His shadow stretched longer and longer on the floor, "...the Demon King who beat the opponent into a negative score."

The last word dissipated into the draft, his footsteps hitting the floor like the prelude to a new round of battle.

By the time Kageyama Sora found the group from Kiyosumi High School, they were already sitting at a dining table waiting for their food.

As the newcomer substitute who had attracted so much attention, Saki Miyanaga's cheeks were flushed, and she was very excited: "Although I was nervous playing mahjong with people I didn't know today, I was really happy. I want to play against even stronger opponents..."

Kageyama Sora heard this exact sentence as he walked over.

He reached out to pat the top of Saki Miyanaga's head: "The further you go, the stronger the opponents you'll encounter."

Being treated with such intimacy made Saki Miyanaga blush instantly: "Kageyama-kun..."

Kageyama Sora smiled and gave her a thumbs-up: "You were amazing. Saki, your first high school match was a brilliant success. When I was walking over just now, I noticed everyone was talking about how you just beat someone into a negative score."

Kageyama Sora's posture while praising Saki Miyanaga was very gentle, as if the two shared some intimate relationship.

However, Haramura Nodoka didn't seem angry at all watching this scene; instead, a gratified smile appeared on her face... it was harmoniously unbelievable.

Watching the scene before him, Hisa Takei smiled meaningfully: "The relationship between you two seems more complicated than I thought."

"Gossip, gossip." Mako Someya pushed up her glasses, her words teasing but without any malice.

"Congratulations on advancing to the second round."

"Commentator Fujita."

"Isn't that the professional player Yasuko Fujita!?"

"To think she would take the initiative to talk to someone..."

"The person who made player Fujita take the initiative to talk to them... is actually Kiyosumi High School..."

Accompanied by a female voice and the murmurs of the onlookers, professional player Yasuko Fujita walked over step by step.

And Yasuko Fujita was the very person who had completely crushed Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga when they were working their maid cafe shifts.

Haramura Nodoka's cheeks turned bright red instantly, but she carried a serious fighting spirit: "One day, I will defeat you."

Saki Miyanaga muttered with a slightly airheaded expression: "...Miss Pork Cutlet Bowl."

Watching all of this, Kageyama Sora couldn't help but sigh: "Truly, the scatterbrain and the grumpy one."

Hisa Takei couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Is it really okay to be chatting here when you're supposed to be commentating!?"

Fujita Yasuko looked at the composed Kageyama Sora and smiled: "The investor is right here, so why shouldn't I be able to come over?"

To this, Kageyama Sora remained exceptionally calm: "Not many people know my identity, but you, on the other hand, are known by everyone."

Fujita Yasuko's gaze was piercing: "Well, I'm just interested in these two. After all, compared to when we last met, they've shown a world of difference in their progress..."

Hisa Takei chuckled: "It's funny how someone who let these two little ones suffer a crushing defeat is now acting like she doesn't know anything."

The two little ones who were named—Nodoka Haramura and Saki Miyanaga—turned even redder in the face, though it was unclear if it was from shyness or fighting spirit.

Fujita Yasuko then turned her gaze toward Hisa Takei: "I'm just curious what exactly happened to make them undergo such a transformation in just over ten days."

Hisa Takei made a shushing gesture: "Well, that's a secret."

Fujita Yasuko was not the type to be rude, so she didn't press the matter. Instead, she offered a well-intentioned warning: "However... if you advance again this afternoon, you will run into Kazekoshi Girls' High School and Ryumonbuchi... Amae Koromo from Ryumonbuchi is terrifyingly strong, and Kazekoshi Girls' High School has their best lineup this year. I don't think it will be as smooth sailing as the first round."

Upon hearing this, Saki Miyanaga stood up abruptly: "Are those two high schools really that difficult to deal with!?"

Her cheeks were flushed, and there was not a trace of fear in her eyes, only curiosity and anticipation for strong opponents... and excitement.

Strangely, Fujita Yasuko saw the shadow of an old friend in her.

Chapter 68: A Different Fukuji Mihoko

While everyone was still talking with Fujita Yasuko, the familiar broadcast rang out right on cue: "The second round of the tournament is about to begin. Will the vanguards from each high school please proceed to their designated positions."

Yuki Kataoka, who was still munching away, became excited: "It's my turn! I'm so fired up!"

Hisa Takei chuckled and raised her hand: "Time's up! Let's go!"

Saki Miyanaga also politely bowed to Fujita Yasuko: "Um, I'll be going now..."

Then, she walked happily toward her teammates.

Kageyama Sora, who had intended to leave, saw the complex expression on Fujita Yasuko's face and couldn't help but slow his pace out of curiosity: "Do you... have something on your mind?"

Fujita Yasuko did not hide her thoughts.

She watched Saki Miyanaga's fluttering skirt, her voice heavy with complexity: "That girl... the anchor..."

"You mean Saki Miyanaga?" Kageyama Sora kindly completed the name for her.

Fujita Yasuko's expression remained grave: Saki Miyanaga, huh... this child... is very strong.

"Indeed, very strong, without a doubt." Kageyama Sora thought to himself, you've already seen her play, is there any need to doubt it!?

However, this time Kageyama Sora had misunderstood Fujita Yasuko's meaning.

The professional player's gaze was heavy, tinged with a hint of regret: "It's just that, she happens to be the anchor, and she will meet her in the finals..."

Kageyama Sora instantly understood what Fujita Yasuko was thinking: "You mean Koromo?"

Once guessed, Fujita Yasuko didn't hold back: "Ah... meeting an opponent like that, I fear that after just one game, her conviction will be shattered..."

"Then let's just wait and see." Kageyama Sora chuckled: "I don't think Saki Miyanaga is the kind of... fragile girl you describe."

With that, he walked away without caring about Fujita Yasuko's reaction.

However... Kageyama Sora, who had intended to catch up with the Kiyosumi High School team, was surprised to see...

He felt as though he were an accident that triggered whenever he encountered a fixed NPC.

He had only spoken a few words with Fujita Yasuko, and Kageyama Sora had already fallen behind the others from Kiyosumi High School. He had told them not to wait for him, so he didn't feel any particular way about it.

But just as he was rushing over, a familiar uniform color caught his eye in the corner of the hallway—Fukuji Mihoko, the captain of the Mahjong Club at Kazekoshi Girls' High School, was gently embracing a short-haired girl.

The girl's ink-black hair was stirred by the evening breeze from the window, and two playful clips pinned to her bangs swayed slightly along with her trembling shoulders.

Her tear-stained lashes cast delicate shadows on her pale cheeks, and the damp collar of her uniform left dark marks, forming a sharp contrast with her slender legs outlined in black over-the-knee socks.

Fukuji Mihoko placed her palm on the back of the girl's neck, her fingertips rubbing back and forth as if soothing a frightened kitten.

The sight of her curled up in someone else's arms made Kageyama Sora inexplicably think of a stray cat huddled under the eaves in winter—wrapped in soft fur, yet due to a fragility that had nowhere to turn, her wet eyes reflected like fragile glass.

Kageyama Sora had seen the girl's name in the files—Ikeda Kana, the second-best player in Kazekoshi Girls' High School, right after Fukuji Mihoko.

Sure enough, even so-called experts are just little girls, hiding in a corner and crying pitifully.

For a moment, Kageyama Sora felt unsure whether he should approach.

After all... seeing someone in such a vulnerable state was indeed inappropriate.

However... if he didn't go over to say hello, it would feel awkward since he and Fukuji Mihoko were acquaintances.

Just then, Fukuji Mihoko noticed Kageyama Sora.

As their eyes met, Kageyama Sora knew it would be even more awkward to pretend he hadn't seen them.

He walked over, his voice gentle: "You have a match coming up, don't you? Why aren't you heading there yet!?"

Fukuji Mihoko smiled faintly: "It's nothing... just... feeling a bit of pressure."

Ikeda Kana was not familiar with Kageyama Sora, and seeing that he was an acquaintance of her captain, she considered her own disheveled state.

She wiped away her tears with a sniffle: "Um, I'm heading back now... you should hurry too, Captain."

Kageyama Sora glanced at the back of Ikeda Kana as she left, then smiled at Fukuji Mihoko: "Actually, you can just leave... there's no need to worry about me."

Kageyama Sora considered his behavior to be quite considerate.

However... he hadn't expected that Fukuji Mihoko, who was usually gentle and thoughtful toward everyone else, would take two steps back and lean against the wall, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a lock of her blonde hair, her gaze—from the eye that wasn't covered—lingering on Kageyama Sora.

The dim light of the hallway cast fine shadows over her eyelashes, making those affectionate eyes appear even deeper.

She suddenly opened her eyes wide, revealing the heterochromatic gaze she often kept hidden.

Beautiful, and incredible.

She tilted her head, a meaningful curve touching the corners of her lips: "Is Kageyama Sora-kun so concerned about the tournament progress because you're afraid that we at Kazekoshi might snatch the championship?"

It was a somewhat unreasonable thing to say, but one could tell she was only making such a joke because she was familiar and close with Kageyama Sora.

Facing such an intensely vibrant Fukuji Mihoko, Kageyama Sora felt his Adam's apple bob; finding her far too dazzling, he instinctively looked away.

As a result, he caught a glimpse of her calves, faintly visible beneath her skirt, glowing with a soft luster under the lights.

He gave a light cough, trying to make his voice sound calmer: "I just think that at such a critical moment, a captain should lead by example."

"Oh?" Fukuji Mihoko suddenly leaned in close, her sweet, fresh scent lingering at the tip of Kageyama Sora's nose, "And what about Kageyama-kun? Do you belong to Ryumonbuchi High School this time, or... Kiyosumi High School?"

Her voice carried a hint of teasing, the tail end rising slightly like a seductive thread, winding around Kageyama Sora's heart and making it itch.

At the same time, it was clear that without Kageyama Sora knowing, Fukuji Mihoko had been keeping an eye on him all along.

This realization gave Fukuji Mihoko an inexplicable sense of feminine aggression, causing Kageyama Sora to take a half-step back until his spine hit the cold wall, his earlobes flushing a suspicious shade of red: "I was just..."

Before he could finish, Fukuji Mihoko had already reached out to brace her hand beside his ear, trapping him in the narrow space—a reverse wall-pin.

She looked up at him, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, her heterochromatic eyes open and filled with a touch of languor: "Just what?"

"Just that you seem a bit different than usual." Kageyama Sora finally found his voice, his gaze falling involuntarily on her flushed eye corners, where the gentleness she had shown while comforting Ikeda Kana seemed to still linger: "You were very gentle when comforting your teammate just now... and usually... you're very gentle, too."

Fukuji Mihoko froze for a moment, then let out a light laugh, the sound as crisp as silver bells.