"To earn such praise from you..." Ryumonbuchi Toka turned her face aside, unconsciously running her fingers over the gilded pattern on her teacup. "That really is a rarity."
Her words were cool, but when she saw Haramura Nodoka win by self-draw again, she leaned forward without realizing it. The light dancing in her eyes shone brighter than the chandelier.
As the match went on, Haramura Nodoka's win rate was astonishingly high. It was as if she could see through her opponents' strategies; every discard was frighteningly precise.
Hisa Takei folded her arms and smiled. "Xiao Hehe really hasn't let me down."
Saki Miyanaga was already so excited that she was jumping up and down with Yuki Kataoka. "That's amazing!"
Kageyama Sora turned to look at Ryumonbuchi Toka and found her staring intently at the screen. She had taken off her sunglasses at some point, and complicated emotions churned in her eyes.
When Haramura Nodoka secured victory early with nine consecutive wins, the girl finally couldn't hold back and stood up. But amid everyone's cheers, she awkwardly sat back down, grabbed some snacks, and stuffed them into her mouth, muttering, "W-who wants to watch her match..."
"You say you don't want to, but your eyes tell a different story." Kageyama Sora smiled and pressed a warm teacup into her hands. "Is it so hard to admit you admire her?"
Ryumonbuchi Toka turned her head away. The Longjing tea in her cup rippled faintly. "Hmph, she's only ahead for now... Next time we meet, I'll definitely..." Before she could finish, Kageyama Sora suddenly moved closer and cut her off.
"Instead of worrying about this so-called next time, why not think about how to come watch the match openly?" He gently wiped the sugar from the corner of her mouth, as naturally as if he'd done it a thousand times.
Ryumonbuchi Toka's face instantly turned bright red. She nearly dropped her teacup, and in her panic, she grabbed Kageyama Sora's sleeve—only to let go as if she'd been shocked.
Chapter 67: The Great Demon King Takes Shape
After the match, Kageyama Sora thought it over and decided to take Ryumonbuchi Toka home instead of letting her wander around alone.
Ryumonbuchi Toka's heels struck the ground like a rapid drumbeat. She was clearly in a bad mood. "Hmph, so what if Haramura Nodoka is that Xiao Hehe, and can even use the same style!? At most, it just means she won't win by a landslide!"
The reflected ceiling lights cast a cold gleam at the corner of her eye, like a blade drawn from its sheath.
Kageyama Sora followed half a step behind, swinging an empty drink can. The aluminum clinked crisply as he scraped the edge of a newly posted tournament poster off the wall with the bottom of the can. "Honestly... that sounds just like Tohka."
"When the time comes, I'll show everyone who the real idol is." Ryumonbuchi Toka spun around, her pearl earring swinging past her ear and nearly brushing Kageyama Sora's nose.
She hurried onward in small steps, her leather handbag thumping against the metal railing.
"Speaking of which, where's Koromo? I brought her here, didn't I!?" Kageyama Sora quickened his pace, his sneakers scraping against the tiles. He looked around and spotted a flyer at the corner, caught by a draft before tumbling helplessly onto the fire-escape steps.
"That girl's always vanishing without a trace..." Ryumonbuchi Toka adjusted her collar while looking at her reflection in a shop window. Her eyelashes cast fan-shaped shadows beneath her eyes. "Just think of it as the Great Demon King's persistence."
"If Koromo knew you were talking about her like that, who knows how she'd react." Kageyama Sora shrugged with a smile, then was suddenly drawn to a commotion ahead.
Several spectators were chatting nearby, their voices full of disbelief. "Have you heard... about that girl from Kiyosumi High School..."
Those four words immediately caught Ryumonbuchi Toka's attention, and she sprang into action. "Is it Haramura Nodoka again!?"
Of course, someone else asked almost the same question as Ryumonbuchi Toka.
One of the boys, who wore glasses, loosened his tie and swallowed hard. "It's not Haramura Nodoka. It's their unseen anchor! She knocked Tofukuji School out with a negative score. You know, Tofukuji School had 46,800 points before the anchor round started!"
Tohka's high heels shrieked against the floor as she whipped around to face Kageyama Sora. "...The anchor—the one you said..."
"Right. The interesting person Koromo's going to meet." Kageyama Sora smiled, his expression deeply meaningful.
Just then, Kageyama Sora and Ryumonbuchi Toka reached the other Ryumonbuchi team members. "I'll leave once I've seen you off."
Kageyama Sora loosened his tie. As he turned, the setting sun slanted through the windows at the end of the corridor, gilding his back.
"Where are you going? Don't forget, you're a student at Ryumonbuchi High School too." Ryumonbuchi Toka raised an eyebrow, her ahoge swaying. She seemed a little unhappy that Kageyama Sora was leaving.
"To go see..." His shadow stretched longer and longer across the floor. "The Great Demon King who drove her opponent into the negatives."
His final word faded into the draft. His footsteps struck the floor like the prelude to a new battle.
By the time Kageyama Sora found everyone from Kiyosumi High School, they were already gathered around a table, waiting for their food.
As the promising new anchor everyone was talking about, Saki Miyanaga's cheeks were flushed with excitement. "I was nervous playing mahjong against people I didn't know today, but it was really fun. I want to play against even stronger opponents..."
Kageyama Sora happened to hear her say this as he walked over.
He ruffled the top of Saki Miyanaga's head. "The further you go, the stronger your opponents will get."
Being treated so affectionately made Saki Miyanaga blush even more. "Kageyama..."
Kageyama Sora smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. "You were amazing, Saki. You made a brilliant debut in your first high school tournament. On my way over, I heard everyone talking about how you just drove your opponent into the negatives."
Kageyama Sora praised Saki Miyanaga so gently that they seemed to share some intimate relationship.
But Haramura Nodoka didn't look upset at all. Instead, a pleased smile appeared on her face... It was impossibly harmonious.
Watching them, Hisa Takei smiled meaningfully. "Your relationship seems much more complicated than I thought."
"Gossip, gossip." Mako Someya pushed up her glasses, teasing them without a hint of malice.
"Congratulations on advancing to the second round."
"Fujita, the commentator."
"Isn't that the professional player Fujita Yasuko!?"
"She actually approached them on her own..."
"The ones Fujita went out of her way to talk to are... Kiyosumi High School..."
Amid a woman's voice and the spectators' chatter, professional player Fujita Yasuko walked over.
Fujita Yasuko was the one who had completely crushed Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga the last time they worked part-time in maid outfits.
Haramura Nodoka's cheeks instantly turned red, but her expression was full of determination. "Someday, I'll beat you."
Saki Miyanaga, meanwhile, murmured with innocent candor, "...Pork cutlet rice lady."
Watching it all, Kageyama Sora couldn't help thinking, What a pair of airhead and sourpuss.
Hisa Takei couldn't hold back her laughter. "Is it really okay for the commentator to stand around chatting over here!?"
Fujita Yasuko smiled at Kageyama Sora, who was sitting calmly. "The investor's here, so why shouldn't I come over?"
Kageyama Sora was remarkably calm about it. "Not many people know who I am, but everyone knows who you are."
Fujita Yasuko's gaze was sharp. "Well, I'm just a little interested in those two. After all, compared to the last time I saw them, they've improved by leaps and bounds..."
Hisa Takei smiled. "Funny how certain people made those two kids lose so badly, and now they're pretending not to know anything about it."
The two kids who'd been mentioned—Haramura Nodoka and Saki Miyanaga—instantly flushed even brighter. It was hard to tell whether they were embarrassed or fired up.
Fujita Yasuko turned her attention to Hisa Takei. "I'm just curious about what happened to make them transform so completely in just over ten days."
Hisa Takei put a finger to her lips. "Well, that's a secret."
Fujita Yasuko wasn't the sort to pry rudely, so she didn't press them. Instead, she kindly warned them, "Still... if you advance again this afternoon, you'll run into Kazekoshi Girls' High School and Ryumonbuchi High School. Ryumonbuchi High School's Amae Koromo is terrifyingly strong, and Kazekoshi Girls' High School has its best lineup this year. I don't think things will go as smoothly as they did in the first round."
At that, Saki Miyanaga abruptly stood up. "Are those two schools really that hard to beat!?"
Her cheeks were flushed, but there wasn't a trace of fear in her eyes—only curiosity and anticipation toward the strong... and excitement.
For some reason, Fujita Yasuko saw the shadow of an old acquaintance in her.
Chapter 68: A Different Fukuji Mihoko
While everyone was still talking with Fujita Yasuko, the familiar announcement rang out at just the right moment. "The second round is about to begin. The opening players from each school, please report to your assigned positions."
Yuki Kataoka, who was still munching away, sprang to her feet. "It's my turn! I'm raring to go!"
Hisa Takei smiled and raised a hand. "Time to go! Let's move!"
Saki Miyanaga politely bowed to Fujita Yasuko. "Um, I'll be going now..."
Then she cheerfully headed over to her teammates.
Kageyama Sora had been about to leave, but seeing Fujita Yasuko's complicated expression, he slowed down, curious. "You... have something on your mind?"
Fujita Yasuko didn't hide what she was thinking.
Watching Saki Miyanaga's skirt flutter as she walked, she spoke with a complicated expression. "That girl... the anchor..."
"You mean Saki Miyanaga?" Kageyama Sora kindly supplied her name.
Fujita Yasuko's expression remained grave. "Saki Miyanaga... That girl... is strong."
"She definitely is." Kageyama Sora thought, You've seen her play. Why would you even doubt it!?
But Kageyama Sora had misunderstood what Fujita Yasuko meant.
The professional player's gaze was solemn, with a trace of regret. "It's just a shame she's the anchor. They'll meet in the final..."
Kageyama Sora immediately understood what Fujita Yasuko meant. "You mean Koromo?"
"Yeah... Against an opponent like that, she might lose her confidence after just one round..."
"Let's wait and see." Kageyama Sora smiled. "I don't think Saki Miyanaga is the kind of... fragile girl you're talking about."
With that, he left without waiting for Fujita Yasuko's response.
But... Kageyama Sora had originally planned to catch up with the Kiyosumi High School team, and then, to his surprise, he saw...
He felt as if he'd walked into some kind of mishap that kept triggering every time he encountered a fixed NPC.
After exchanging just a couple of words with Fujita Yasuko, Kageyama Sora had fallen behind the Kiyosumi High School group. But he'd told them not to wait for him, so he wasn't bothered.
As he hurried along, a familiar uniform caught his eye in a corner of the corridor—Fukuji Mihoko, captain of the Kazekoshi Girls' High School Mahjong Club, was gently holding a short-haired girl in her arms.
The girl's ink-black hair fluttered in the evening breeze from outside the window. Two playful clips pinned her bangs just above her eyebrows, swaying faintly with her trembling shoulders.
Her tear-damp lashes cast delicate shadows on her pale cheeks. Her wet uniform collar had darkened, contrasting with her slender legs outlined by thigh-high black stockings.
Fukuji Mihoko rested her palm on the back of the girl's neck, stroking it again and again as if soothing a frightened kitten.
The sight of her curled up in someone else's arms inexplicably reminded Kageyama Sora of a stray cat huddled beneath the eaves on a winter's day. Though wrapped in soft fur, its helpless vulnerability turned its tearful eyes into fragile glass.
Kageyama Sora had seen the girl's name in the records: Ikeda Kana, the second-best player at Kazekoshi Girls' High School, behind only Fukuji Mihoko.
Sure enough, even so-called experts were still just girls. They could still hide in a corner and cry pitifully.
For a moment, Kageyama Sora wasn't sure whether he should go over.
After all... it really wasn't appropriate to see someone when she was being so vulnerable.
But... not going over to say hello felt wrong too, since he and Fukuji Mihoko knew each other.
Just then, Fukuji Mihoko noticed Kageyama Sora.
Their eyes met, and Kageyama Sora realized that pretending he hadn't seen her would be even more awkward.
He walked over and asked gently, "Aren't you competing soon? Why haven't you gone yet?"
Fukuji Mihoko smiled. "It's nothing... I'm just... feeling a little pressure."
Ikeda Kana didn't know Kageyama Sora well. Seeing that he was someone her captain knew—and considering how disheveled she looked—she sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Um, I'll head back first... Captain, you should hurry too."
Kageyama Sora watched Ikeda Kana's retreating figure and smiled at Fukuji Mihoko. "You could've just left with her... You don't have to worry about me."
Kageyama Sora considered that a rather considerate thing to say.
But... to his surprise, Fukuji Mihoko, who was usually gentle and considerate toward everyone else, took two steps back and leaned against the wall. Her fingers unconsciously wound around the ends of her golden hair, while her one open eye wandered over Kageyama Sora.
The corridor lights were dim and yellow, casting delicate shadows on her lashes and making her tender gaze seem even more profound.
She suddenly opened her eyes, revealing the heterochromia she often kept hidden.
Beautiful beyond belief.
Tilting her head, she curved her lips in a meaningful smile. "Kageyama Sora, you seem awfully concerned about the tournament schedule. Are you worried Kazekoshi might steal the championship?"
It was an unreasonable thing to say, but it was clear she was only teasing him because she was close to him.
Confronted with this unusually lively Fukuji Mihoko, Kageyama Sora swallowed. She seemed far too dazzling, and he instinctively looked away.
His gaze instead fell on her legs, just visible beneath her skirt, their smooth skin glowing softly in the light.
He cleared his throat, trying to sound calm. "I just think that at a critical moment like this, the captain should lead by example."
"Oh?" Fukuji Mihoko suddenly moved closer, her sweet breath lingering around Kageyama Sora's nose. "What about you, Kageyama? Are you with Ryumonbuchi High School this time, or... Kiyosumi High School?"
Her voice was teasing, its rising final note like a silken thread that made Kageyama Sora's heart itch.
It also showed that Fukuji Mihoko had been keeping an eye on him, even when he didn't know it.
That realization somehow gave Fukuji Mihoko a more assertive, womanly air. Kageyama Sora took half a step back and bumped against the cold wall, the tips of his ears turning suspiciously red. "I just..."
Before he could finish, Fukuji Mihoko had already braced one hand beside his ear, trapping him in the cramped space—a reverse wall pin.
She gazed up at him, the corners of her eyes lifting slightly. Her now-open, differently colored eyes looked a little languid. "You just what?"
"I just thought you were a little different from usual." Kageyama Sora finally found his voice. His gaze unconsciously settled on the corners of her reddened eyes, where traces of the tenderness she'd shown Ikeda Kana still seemed to linger. "When you were comforting your teammate just now, you were so gentle... You're usually gentle too."
Fukuji Mihoko froze for a moment, then laughed softly, her laughter as clear as a silver bell.
Before you continue