Alone with Haramura Nodoka / Kageyama Sora's Reflections

Chapter 80: Alone with Haramura Nodoka

"Don't turn me down. Just think of it as me wanting to spend the night with my girlfriend..."

Kageyama Sora's words set off an uproar. Yuki Kataoka covered her mouth dramatically and widened her eyes. "Whoa!" she blurted out in astonishment.

Saki Miyanaga looked the two of them over with open curiosity. Whatever she thought of, it made her cheeks flush, and she looked so delicate and lovely that she seemed entirely unlike her usual self.

Well, neither Yuki Kataoka nor Saki Miyanaga was particularly serious-minded. They were both flirting with Kageyama Sora, and somehow still had time to ship him with someone.

Hisa Takei, one of the few who wasn't flirting with Kageyama Sora, was initially taken aback. Then she caught on and teased him with a smile. "Kageyama, that's a pretty straightforward excuse."

Haramura Nodoka, the one in question, was beet red. Like a startled little rabbit, she struggled to escape Kageyama Sora's arms. "D-don't say things like that!"

Her voice was both embarrassed and flustered, but to everyone else, the way she looked only made her even cuter.

Kageyama Sora simply smiled fondly and pulled Haramura Nodoka a little closer. He raised his eyebrows at the others. "All right, all right. Stop teasing Nodoka. Tonight's arrangements are settled, so everyone can relax. We'll need to be in top form for the matches tomorrow."

Before long, the van Kageyama Sora had arranged pulled up outside the ramen stand.

The girls hauled their luggage aboard, chattering all the while. The interior was luxurious and comfortable, with soft leather seats, warm ambient lighting, and drinks and snacks already laid out. Everyone was amazed.

Yuki Kataoka dropped into a seat and exclaimed, "Wow, this is so comfortable! It feels like we're on a private jet!"

Kageyama Sora chuckled. "You might not believe it, but after your last training camp, I figured something like this might come in handy, so I prepared it in advance."

Hisa Takei gave him a thumbs-up. "That's so like you. Always thinking ahead."

By the time they reached the hotel, Kageyama Sora had already taken care of the check-in.

He had specifically arranged for Haramura Nodoka to share a room with him. The rest of the team had rooms nearby.

It was the sort of thing that should have made her shy, but Haramura Nodoka accepted the arrangement without protest. Clearly, after such a busy stretch, she wanted some time alone with Kageyama Sora, too.

The room was spacious and bright, with a soft bed and tasteful decorations. Everything about it felt comfortable.

Haramura Nodoka stood in the middle of the room, holding her Penguin Plushie as she took in her surroundings.

Kageyama Sora stepped up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he asked softly, "Do you like it?"

Haramura Nodoka gave a slight nod, her cheeks flushing again. "It's cozy and luxurious..."

Kageyama Sora turned her to face him and gently cupped her cheeks in his hands. He looked into her eyes tenderly. "Nodoka, you deserve the best. I believe you'll do well in this tournament."

Haramura Nodoka lifted her head. Her blue eyes were filled with gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Sora. I believe in everyone, too. We'll give it everything we've got and fight for the championship!"

For some reason, Kageyama Sora suddenly felt that the atmosphere had turned a little too formal. It wasn't at all what he'd expect between a couple in the middle of a romantic moment.

So Kageyama Sora led Haramura Nodoka to the edge of the bed and sat down with her in his arms. As he stroked her smooth pink hair, he said, "I can't do much to help with your matches. All I can do is make sure you eat well and sleep well."

Haramura Nodoka leaned against Kageyama Sora, warmed by his words. "Mm! I won't let you down! Ryumonbuchi High School and Houkoshi Girls' High School are strong, but we won't lose to them! And then there's Tsuruga Academy. We don't know much about them, but we won't underestimate any opponent."

Well, of course. The tournament was tomorrow, so everything she said was about the matches. It felt more like a pep talk than a romantic moment.

Still, Kageyama Sora didn't think that was a bad thing. In fact, he found Nodoka like this quite charming.

He had never been the sort of person who only cared about appearances. Her spirit could make his heart skip a beat, too.

So he didn't ruin the mood. He just smiled and nodded. "Exactly! And I'm sure your mahjong skills will amaze everyone. You and Saki Miyanaga, and everyone else at Kiyosumi High School, will all make people sit up and take notice... When you win the tournament, just like we agreed, I'll take everyone to my company overseas and show you where mahjong games are made..."

Haramura Nodoka looked up, her eyes shining with excitement. "Really? That would be wonderful! I'd love to see where mahjong games are developed!"

Kageyama Sora lowered his head and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Of course. I'm already looking forward to seeing you win the championship. It'll be a wonderful sight."

Outside, night deepened, and the city lights glittered.

Haramura Nodoka nestled against Kageyama Sora and listened to his steady heartbeat. Her nervousness and unease gradually faded, replaced by anticipation for tomorrow's matches and the conviction that she would win.

Kageyama Sora held his beloved close and silently cheered on the girls of Kiyosumi High School, hoping they would work a miracle on the field.

They sat quietly in each other's arms. Then Haramura Nodoka suddenly sensed something change. Something hot pressed against her, and her ears instantly burned with embarrassment.

Her breathing grew unsteady, and her fair cheeks turned as red as if they might drip blood. She shifted slightly, only making the strange sensation more distinct.

Kageyama Sora felt Haramura Nodoka stiffen and realized what was happening. He hurriedly started to let go, but Haramura Nodoka gently pressed a hand against his.

Her lashes lowered, and her voice was as light as a feather. "Sora... I can help you."

After saying that, she nearly buried her whole face in Kageyama Sora's chest.

Kageyama Sora's breath caught. He looked down at the shy but courageous girl in his arms, his heart pounding like a drum.

He cupped Haramura Nodoka's burning cheeks, his thumb gently caressing her flushed skin.

Haramura Nodoka slowly lifted her head. Her clear blue eyes were full of shyness and tenderness.

Their eyes met, and the air suddenly grew hotter.

Kageyama Sora could no longer suppress his desire. He slowly leaned down, his lips gently meeting Haramura Nodoka's.

Haramura Nodoka froze for a moment, then closed her eyes and returned the kiss.

She wrapped her arms around Kageyama Sora's neck, responding with youthful awkwardness.

They had kissed so many times, yet she was still so inexperienced.

But Kageyama Sora knew how to turn a gentle kiss into a passionate one. He pulled Haramura Nodoka closer, as if he wanted to meld her into his body.

Chapter 81: Kageyama Sora's Reflections

By then, Kageyama Sora's hand was gliding slowly down her slender back. Through the thin fabric, he could clearly feel Haramura Nodoka's body trembling.

The tip of his tongue gently pried open her teeth and slipped inside with a tender insistence, tasting the lingering sweetness between her lips.

Haramura Nodoka could barely breathe beneath his kiss. His scent filled her nostrils, and as her head spun, all she could do was clutch the hem of his shirt even tighter.

Suddenly, Kageyama Sora lifted her up and pressed her against the window. Moonlight streamed over their entwined silhouettes, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

The glass fogged from their body heat. Amid her ragged breaths, Haramura Nodoka opened her eyes. Through the haze, she saw the neon lights outside flickering across Kageyama Sora's sharply defined profile. The shadows cast by his eyelashes trembled gently with his breathing, like butterflies about to take flight.

"Nodoka..." Kageyama Sora murmured her name between kisses. His burning breath brushed her reddened earlobe, making her shiver despite herself.

His thumb stroked the soft down at the nape of her neck, pouring all the longing and desire he couldn't put into words into that lingering kiss.

Haramura Nodoka's fingertips unconsciously traced the raised bones at the back of his neck, drawing a stifled sigh from Kageyama Sora's chest.

Only when Haramura Nodoka was truly close to running out of air did Kageyama Sora finally pull away, reluctantly.

Their foreheads touched, their ragged breathing mingling. Haramura Nodoka gazed at his handsome face so close to hers, then suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her burning cheeks in his warm chest.

Kageyama Sora rested his chin on her head and listened to her heart pounding like a drum. At last, he smiled with relief. Outside, the night grew deeper and the city lights shone bright, but none was as captivating as the glimmer in the corners of the girl's eyes.

Though they had already become quite carried away by their kisses, Kageyama Sora still let Haramura Nodoka be.

The reason was simple: Haramura Nodoka had a match tomorrow, and he didn't want her to waste her strength.

With that in mind, Kageyama Sora decided to let Haramura Nodoka rest on her own while he went out for a walk. But as soon as he stepped out, he saw Hisa Takei and Mako Someya chatting in the next room, whose door had been left slightly ajar.

After washing up, the green-haired Mako Someya had taken off her glasses. Holding a teacup, she said with a trace of feeling in her voice, "The first day is finally over..."

Hisa Takei, the Club President, smiled. "But we've still got a long road ahead..."

Mako Someya sighed. "It's not so bad, really. At least no one's getting nervous over a tournament like this..."

"True," Hisa Takei said with a soft laugh. "But I'm the Club President, so I'll probably be up all night, hugging my knees and shivering."

Mako Someya laughed at Hisa Takei's words. "What? That's completely different from how you sounded when you were getting everyone fired up earlier."

Hisa Takei was perfectly frank. "I'm the Club President. How could I show weakness before a match?"

Only then did Mako Someya realize that Hisa Takei wasn't joking. She really meant it.

The realization gave Mako Someya a faint, complicated sense of satisfaction. "That's really nice to hear. You're being that honest with me?"

Caught off guard by the direct question, Hisa Takei turned bright red. "W-what are you talking about..."

Mako Someya just smiled innocently. "I'm only teasing."

Kageyama Sora was passing by and saw how happily the two of them were getting along. He'd been about to go in and chat, but then Hisa Takei's voice turned serious. "It's our first chance to make it to the National Tournament... Isn't it all right to be nervous the night before the decisive match?"

There was nothing strange about that.

Mako Someya, who knew her better, had clearly thought of something more. "Hey... why did you wait until your third year to officially compete? Even if you didn't have enough people for a team match, you could've competed in the individual tournament. Someone like you could've made the individual competition your National Tournament goal..."

"It was a dream," Hisa Takei said, taking a sip of tea as her gaze grew distant. "In my first year, I was the only member of the Mahjong Club. When I was alone in the clubroom, I used to imagine that someday it would be full of club members, with everyone laughing together, and that we'd compete as a team in high school... Then, a year later, one new member joined. She didn't complain that the club had no activities, and she didn't quit or give up. I thought... maybe someone like that would join again the next year. Maybe I could compete with them."

After listening to her long explanation, Mako Someya, who had only been curious at first, had turned red. "W-was it because of me!?"

"Mm." Hisa Takei was unexpectedly frank.

But Hisa Takei's response made Mako Someya blush even more. "Aren't you being a little stubborn!? I mean... the odds of three new members showing up this year were practically zero, weren't they?"

"That's right." Hisa Takei was honest, her beautiful eyes filled with an unshakable conviction. "But when I was the first one to join, I already placed my bet on the unlikely outcome. You understand, don't you?"

"You really are impossible..." Mako Someya chuckled and simply sat down beside Hisa Takei. "Then I'll be generous and keep you company a little longer."

But Mako Someya had barely settled in when Hisa Takei smiled and said, "There's still a long road ahead before we can conquer the country... It's not far from here. We'll go together, with everyone."

Watching the two of them, Kageyama Sora couldn't help feeling strangely old.

They were all the same age, but he saw a different kind of light in them.

They strove for their dreams and gave everything for their ideals.

There was something dazzling about the way they refused to give up on their dreams, as if they were glowing.

Kageyama Sora let out a helpless sigh. "Ah... I don't know who to root for. These days, even being a spectator is hard."

Chapter 82: The Harem Gets Along

[The results will be decided tomorrow.]

The next morning was sunny and bright.

Kageyama Sora got up early and was surprised to find that everyone else was up early, too.

After a quick breakfast, Kageyama Sora took everyone from Kiyosumi High School to the venue.

At the entrance, they ran into Ryumonbuchi Toka, the young lady.

She had been maintaining her usual elegant, dignified air, but the moment she saw Kageyama Sora with Haramura Nodoka, she flew into a rage.

She marched over furiously. "Cousin! You disappeared all night just to chauffeur someone else around!?"

Faced with the furious Ryumonbuchi Toka, Kageyama Sora could only wave Hisa Takei and the others on, signaling for them to go ahead.

Ryumonbuchi Toka had come specifically to give Kageyama Sora a hard time, so she had nothing to say about it.

Except...

As the Kiyosumi High School group left, she gave Haramura Nodoka a meaningful look.

Haramura Nodoka didn't understand why, and politely smiled back...

Well...

Ryumonbuchi Toka got even angrier. "What kind of attitude is that!?"

Seeing that Ryumonbuchi Toka was about to lose her temper, Kageyama Sora hurriedly wrapped his arms around her to stop her. "She was just smiling politely. She has no idea you see her as a rival..."

Because Ryumonbuchi Toka was struggling so hard and Kageyama Sora was holding her so tightly, they were pressed close together.

But Ryumonbuchi Toka couldn't care less. Her ahoge swayed as she insisted again and again, "She's not a rival! She's my nemesis, my nemesis!"

"Right, right, your nemesis!" Kageyama Sora had no choice but to go along with her.

But seeing Ryumonbuchi Toka grow more and more furious, Kageyama Sora could only scoop her up in his arms. "All right, my lady. I'll come back with you, okay!?"

In an instant, the whole Ryumonbuchi High School Mahjong Club burst into a chorus of astonished croaks.

Though, that wasn't quite right. Someone was missing.

Kageyama Sora asked, "By the way, where's Koromo!?"

Ryumonbuchi Toka, who had been struggling a moment ago, settled down once he carried her in his arms. She turned her head away with a slightly unnatural, haughty air. "She's still asleep, but I had Ogira keep an eye on her. She shouldn't be late today."

After setting Ryumonbuchi Toka down on the sofa in the lounge, Kageyama Sora remarked, "That's true. Ogira's pretty reliable."