The Battle of the Girls with Glasses / A Kiss in the Private Room

Feeling a familiar presence, she turned her head slightly. A faint smile tugged at her lips, and her eyes brimmed with trust and dependence.

In her heart, the boy before her had long since become an indispensable part of her life. This kind of affectionate gesture felt as natural and ordinary as breathing.

Time slipped by amid the tense, intense clashes of mahjong, and the vanguard match finally came to an end.

At that moment, Haramura Nodoka was clutching her iconic Penguin Plushie to her chest. A faint weariness clouded her azure eyes.

She gave a light yawn, wrinkling her petite nose and pouting her soft pink lips. She looked like a sleepy little cat, lazy and adorable.

Kageyama Sora's eyes stayed fixed on Nodoka, and not a single one of her little movements escaped his notice.

Seeing her like that set alarm bells ringing in his mind. Concern welled up, and he quickly asked in a gentle voice, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

His voice was low and tender, as if it carried a spring breeze.

Nodoka shook her head gently. Her voice was hoarse with fatigue. "I got up early today, and I was too excited to get much sleep last night..."

There was a hint of helplessness in her words. Her long lashes drooped, hiding the weariness in her eyes.

Sora was taken aback. He'd deliberately chosen to sleep in the next room so Nodoka could rest properly, afraid he might disturb her. He hadn't expected she'd still be awake all night.

He leaned in slightly, his warm breath brushing Nodoka's ear. His voice was low and suggestive. "If I'd known... I would've taken you to do something that would've made you sleepy."

As soon as he finished speaking, Nodoka's cheeks flushed a brilliant red, like cherry blossoms just opening in spring.

She gave Sora's arm a light punch and glared at him reproachfully, though her eyes were full of shyness and sweetness.

Hisa Takei, watching from the side, took it all in and couldn't help laughing.

Beneath her neat, shoulder-length auburn hair, she wore a bright smile, her eyes curving with amusement. "Still... Nodoka doesn't play for another five hours, and Saki doesn't play for another seven and a half. It must be exhausting to stay up like this... Why don't you go get some sleep first?"

Nodoka immediately lifted her head, her expression earnest and resolute. "How could I? What would it say about me if I went to sleep instead of cheering on my seniors?"

Her voice was clear and firm, full of stubborn determination.

Hisa waved her hand, her smile warm and open. "I'd rather see you get some rest than watch you play poorly because you're sleepy."

Mako Someya nodded along, sincerity in her eyes behind her glasses. "Exactly. We're not the kind of stuffy seniors who insist everyone use honorifics the moment they meet us."

Seeing that Nodoka and Saki still seemed unsure, Sora made a straightforward suggestion. "Why don't I stay here and keep you company?"

Nodoka was about to refuse when Yuki Kataoka walked in, dragging her feet.

The lively girl with the radiant smile was now like a deflated balloon. Her eyes were dull, and her brown twin ponytails had lost their usual bounce.

The result of the match had landed like a heavy blow to her heart, sending her spirits plummeting.

Seeing her so dejected made Sora feel awful, too.

Just then, Nodoka gently tugged on Saki's sleeve.

Saki blinked her amber eyes, looking bewildered. She hadn't realized why Nodoka, who'd been so firmly against resting just moments ago, had suddenly changed her mind.

Only Nodoka understood that Yuki was at her lowest and needed someone to comfort her.

And as her peers, they'd only make things more awkward by staying. It would be better to go rest and give Yuki some space.

Saki could be a little airheaded, but she had no objections to resting.

She tilted her head, flashed a bright smile, and followed Nodoka toward the lounge.

Before leaving, Nodoka stopped and turned to look warmly at Sora. "Sorry to trouble you with cheering on our seniors."

Her voice was full of trust and expectation.

Sora smiled. "Of course."

Battle of the Girls with Glasses

After watching Saki and Nodoka leave,

Hisa sighed softly, took the dejected Yuki by the hand, and led her to sit beside the soft sofa.

The sight of the girl was heartbreaking. Her once-bouncy short twin ponytails hung limply over her shoulders like rain-soaked wings. Her slender legs, wrapped in white thigh-high socks, were curled up in the corner of the sofa. She looked as pitiful as an abandoned kitten.

Hisa bent down and gently cupped Yuki's pale cheeks. She brushed away the tear just about to fall from the corner of her eye, her voice soft as a feather against the ear. "Ryumonbuchi's vanguard and Kazekoshi Girls' High School's ace were your opponents. Coming in second against them is already an impressive achievement. You did much better than we expected. You did great."

Her eyes were full of tenderness, as if she were looking at a child of her own who'd been treated unfairly.

Sora stepped closer, his tall figure casting a warm shadow over Yuki.

He leaned down slightly, his voice low and resonant. "Exactly. In the preliminaries, Inoue Jun took points from all three other schools right from the start. She's a terrifying opponent. You managed to turn things around even with her targeting you. That's already amazing."

As he spoke, he gently ruffled the top of Yuki's head. His fingertips brushed her hot earlobe, his touch carrying a hint of intimacy.

His words weren't empty comfort. Sora knew how strong Ryumonbuchi High School was, and he'd seen Inoue Jun's skill firsthand.

Sure, Fukuda Mihoko had helped Yuki break the deadlock—or, one might say, used her.

But Yuki had still needed to be capable in her own right to turn the tables. At the very least, she'd managed to put a few points between herself and Inoue Jun.

Sora felt his words were entirely credible. He was familiar with Ryumonbuchi High School and had an objective understanding of its strength and skill.

Every word he said was meant to reassure her, to pull Yuki out of the depths of self-doubt.

Yet his gentle words became the final straw.

Yuki's shoulders trembled violently. The emotions she'd kept bottled up poured out like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

She suddenly threw herself into Sora's arms and clutched the front of his shirt, her tears soaking the fabric over his chest.

Her loud sobs echoed through the lounge, each one full of resentment and hurt.

Sora was briefly taken aback by her sudden embrace, but he quickly recovered.

He wrapped an arm around Yuki's slender back and rubbed her trembling shoulders, over and over, as if soothing a frightened little animal.

His other hand moved slowly to the back of her head, gently pressing her against him. His chin brushed against her soft hair.

"Go ahead and cry. You'll feel better once you let it out." His voice was low, his warm breath falling over the crown of her head.

Mako and Hisa exchanged a sympathetic glance and said in unison, "Cry, go ahead and cry. We'll avenge you."

Their eyes were full of determination, as if a fire to avenge their teammate had already been kindled in their hearts.

In that little lounge, warmth and comfort mingled, gradually lifting the gloom of defeat.

Just then, as the commentators made their announcement, the second-place match officially began.

[Can she maintain her lead? Yoshitome Miharu, a third-year student at Kazekoshi Girls' High School...]

The player was a girl with short silver hair and glasses. She wasn't particularly striking, and though Sora had seen her once before, they'd never spoken.

[Can she turn things around? Senoo Kaori, a second-year student at Tsuruga Academy.]

She had a golden ponytail and wore glasses, looking nervous and shy.

[Last year's champions, Ryumonbuchi's third-year student, Sawamura Tomoki.]

She was someone Sora was relatively familiar with. He knew she was good at gathering data, but her personality was rather quiet, and she carried herself with poise...

And...

Sora casually leaned back against the sofa, crossing his long legs and tapping his fingertips idly against his knee.

He turned to look at Mako, who sat beside him. The girl wore slim black-rimmed glasses, and her smooth green hair was loosely tied into a low ponytail that fell over her shoulder.

Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, her eyes were like a deep pool, hiding cleverness and wit. Her pale pink lips were pressed together, and the fierce indignation she'd shown while sticking up for Yuki still lingered on her face.

"Come to think of it, every player in this round is wearing glasses. Doesn't that make it a showdown between girls with glasses?"

Sora raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smile. A teasing glint shone in his obsidian eyes.

Mako's stiff shoulders relaxed at once, and her serious expression gave way to an amused smile. She pushed her glasses up, her eyes curving into crescents behind the lenses. "That's so like you, Kageyama. You always know how to sum things up." Her dark green hair swayed lightly as she laughed, bringing some life to the subdued lounge.

An announcement suddenly rang through the venue, signaling that the next match was about to begin.

Mako sprang to her feet, her eyes instantly sharp. The softness in her expression vanished.

She pushed her glasses up, and a cold glint flashed across the lenses. Her once-gentle air turned fierce and full of determination.

With the match about to start, Mako headed to the arena, fired up to avenge Yuki.

Watching her go, Sora said with a hint of a smile, "Good luck, Mako."

He wasn't saying it only on his own behalf. He was also honoring Nodoka's request to cheer on her senior.

When Sora sat back down, Yuki had calmed down a little.

The girl rubbed her tear-reddened eyes. Her pink eyelids were still slightly swollen, and crystalline tears clung to her lashes like raindrops on butterfly wings.

She tied her slightly loosened twin ponytails back up, and the ornaments on her hair ties swayed gently.

Looking at the people seated in the live broadcast...

"All four of them are wearing glasses..." Yuki remarked, her voice still a little nasal.

Hisa leaned against the sofa arm, her eyes curving into a lovely smile. "It's practically a literary club competition... But one of them will take their glasses off soon."

"You mean Mako?" Sora turned to Hisa. "Come to think of it, I don't really know her that well. During the training camp, I barely saw her show what she could do. She always seemed more like... a practice partner."

"That's because she's already very experienced." Hisa kept her eyes on the television broadcast, her gaze deep and gentle.

Sora thought it over. "If she takes off her glasses, will she be like Fukuji Mihoko from Kazekoshi Girls' High School when she opens her eyes? Does she have... a different ability?"

"You'll have to see for yourself. It wouldn't be any fun if I told you now." Hisa winked, then stood and stretched. The conversation gradually warmed up the lounge, and the match about to begin took on an air of mystery that made it all the more exciting.

A Kiss in the Private Box

Just then, the match between the four girls with glasses, including Mako, officially began.

Just as Hisa had joked, it really did look like a literary club competition.

Meanwhile, Yuki's sobbing gradually subsided. Sniffling, she lifted her head from Sora's arms, her reddened eyes like glass soaked in water.

Sora took a tissue and gently wiped away her tears. His fingertip brushed against her quivering lashes. "How about I take you to get something sweet? I heard there are a few dessert shops on the second and third floors of the venue..."

Hisa gave Sora a grateful look. "That's an excellent idea..."

But Yuki clutched Sora's sleeve, her voice still nasal. "Won't we miss watching Mako's match...?"

"Right now, my only concern is one hungry little player." Sora showed her his phone, which displayed a map of the second and third floors. "Besides, there's a TV in the VIP box where we can watch the live broadcast. Wouldn't that be better than sitting around in the lounge, eating little desserts and drinking milk tea?"

Hisa smiled. "Oh, if there weren't a chance a staff member might come by at any moment, I'd want to come along, too."

And so Yuki was convinced, and left the Kiyosumi High School lounge with Sora.

As they walked through the corridor lined with tournament posters, Yuki found herself clutching the hem of Sora's clothes.

When they passed the Ryumonbuchi High School waiting area, she instinctively shrank behind Sora. He gently put an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't be afraid..." He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against it. "And when they're away from the arena, they're not so bad. They're just lovely girls on the other side of the table."

Yuki seemed only half convinced, but she chose to believe him.

Once they entered the VIP box, Sora let go of her and picked up the menu. "Strawberry cream or chocolate banana? I remember you said last time that you liked extra cream."

Yuki's earlobes instantly turned pink. The fact that Sora remembered what she liked filled her with a sweet warmth.

The VIP box had a huge television showing the matches in the venue live, and the leather sofa was so soft it seemed to swallow you up.

Sora pushed a crepe drizzled with strawberry sauce toward Yuki, then opened a box of macarons for himself. "Try this. I hear the chef trained in France."

The television showed Mako playing, and, as expected, Mako took off her glasses just then.

But... things didn't seem to be going very smoothly.

Yuki took a bite of her crepe, leaving cream at the corner of her lips. Sora's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. He reached out and gently wiped away the sweet smear with his thumb, letting his fingertip linger beside her lips for half a second before drawing back.

The overly intimate gesture left them both frozen. The air in the box suddenly grew hot.

"Actually... you played really well today." Sora looked away, fixing his gaze on the rapidly changing game on the television. "Especially when you managed to break Inoue Jun's control..." He paused, lowering his voice. "Fukuji Mihoko helped you, sure, but if you didn't have the ability yourself, no one else could've helped. "

Yuki's heart skipped a beat, and the crepe in her hand nearly fell into her lap.

She sneaked a glance at Sora and saw that the tips of his ears were suspiciously red, too.

The sounds from the television gradually blurred, until all that remained was the sound of their breaths mingling.

Sora suddenly leaned closer and reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. When his fingertips brushed her flushed cheek, she could almost hear her heart pounding like a drum.

"You'll definitely do better in the next match..." His voice was low and alluring. His warm palm covered her hand on the sofa arm. "Turn all that frustration into ammunition for your counterattack, okay?"

Yuki felt Sora's thumb gently stroking the back of her hand, as if silently promising her something.

A sharp sound suddenly rang out from the television. Senoo Kaori, the timid-looking player from Tsuruga Academy who seemed to be a newcomer, had just declared a Four Concealed Triplets yakuman, putting Mako in a dealer bust and costing her a huge number of points.

Mako herself hadn't expected things to turn out that way... Her expression darkened.