The Vice-Captain Battle Begins / The Princess-Carry Chase

Haramura Nodoka suddenly looked up, determination shining in her eyes.

She gently hugged the Penguin Plushie to her chest. A draft lifted the hem of her pink skirt as she said in a clear, resolute voice, "I'll win. If I win, Saki won't be disappointed."

With that, she turned and headed for the arena. The bow in her hair swayed with her steps, tracing a trail of scattered light through the shadows in the corridor.

Kageyama Sora watched Haramura Nodoka's retreating figure. His hand, which he had just raised, hung suspended in midair, and before he could lower it, a crisp set of footsteps sounded behind him. The pace seemed deliberately slow, each step carrying the distinctive elegance and studied poise of a young lady, as though measuring the distance between them.

"You're so devoted, cousin..." Ryumonbuchi Toka's voice held a hint of teasing and a great deal of tsundere pride. Its final note lifted slightly, as if deliberately trying to provoke him.

Kageyama Sora turned around and saw Ryumonbuchi Toka, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her trademark ahoge swayed gently with her steps, gleaming like silk beneath the corridor's cold white lights.

Her pure white uniform was pressed to perfection, and the bow at her collar was neatly and exquisitely tied. A leather belt accentuated her slender waist, and every detail reflected the bearing of the Ryumonbuchi family's young lady.

As Kageyama Sora turned, he met her eyes, filled with amusement but hiding a sharp glint.

Ryumonbuchi Toka folded her arms across her chest and tapped the floor intermittently with one of her little shoes. A challenging curve played at the corner of her mouth. "So you disappeared for so long just to cheer Haramura Nodoka on. Well, never mind. I'll defeat her myself. That'll make me stand out even more."

As she spoke, she lifted a hand and gently brushed back a lock of hair by her ear. The pearl ring on her finger caught the light with a cold gleam.

"You still love saying things like that." Kageyama Sora raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with familiar teasing and a hint of helplessness.

He slipped his hands into his pockets. The collar of his black shirt was slightly open, revealing his delicate collarbones. "Kiyosumi High School won't be easy to deal with. And I told you, Haramura Nodoka isn't the type to fight over things like that..."

"Are you looking down on me, cousin?" Ryumonbuchi Toka suddenly stepped closer, bringing with her the faint scent of expensive perfume.

She lifted her chin and stared straight into Kageyama Sora's eyes. The corners of her eyes turned up slightly, her expression full of defiance. "Don't forget, I'm Ryumonbuchi Toka. The word 'lose' isn't in my dictionary."

As she spoke, her eyelashes fluttered rapidly with her rising emotions, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Watching her take things so seriously, Kageyama Sora couldn't help remembering all the misunderstandings and tangled feelings that had always cropped up between them...

His relationship with Ryumonbuchi Toka seemed to keep swinging between getting along better and falling out again, over and over.

His thoughts returned to the present. He cleared his throat and reached over to rub Toka's ahoge. "All right, all right. I'll look forward to seeing our young lady sweep everyone away."

"Don't touch my hair!" Toka slapped his hand away like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, leaving her golden hair slightly mussed.

She glared at Kageyama Sora, cheeks flushed bright red. "Touching a girl's hair in public! I'm not a child anymore!"

But as soon as she finished speaking, she instinctively began smoothing her hair, her movements gentle and just a little careful.

Seeing her act so contrary to her words, Kageyama Sora couldn't help laughing. "All right, all right. The young lady's all grown up. But don't get distracted during the match. Haramura Nodoka is..."

"Enough!" Ryumonbuchi Toka stamped her foot, her little shoe making a crisp sound. "Of course I know she's strong. Why else would I have specifically chosen her as my opponent?"

She put her hands on her hips and gazed toward the arena, her eyes firm. "I'll show everyone that Ryumonbuchi High School is the strongest, and that I'll be the brightest star of all."

Kageyama Sora gazed at her proud, stubborn profile, a complicated feeling welling up inside him.

He knew that Ryumonbuchi Toka always seemed haughty and utterly conceited on the outside, but deep down, more than anyone, she longed to prove herself.

After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Be careful. I believe in you."

Ryumonbuchi Toka stiffened slightly, and for a moment, her haughty facade nearly crumbled.

She turned away and muttered under her breath, "As if you need to tell me... Mind your own business."

But the corners of her mouth lifted despite herself, and the ahoge atop her head swayed gently with her delight, tracing a tender arc in the shifting light.

Chapter 94: The Vice-Captain Battle Begins

The afternoon sun streamed through the painted glass of the gymnasium's domed ceiling, casting colorful patches of light across the wooden floor.

At the final of the National High School Mahjong Championship Prefectural Preliminaries, the air was thick with tension and excitement.

Event information scrolled across the electronic display. The match was being broadcast live, and the crowd's roar rose and fell like the tide. The countdown to the Vice-Captain Battle began as the announcer's voice rang out.

Suddenly, the announcer's voice grew more animated. As the spotlights swung around, the first contestant's image appeared on the enormous broadcast screen:

[She had held a commanding lead, only to fall to last place in the Center Battle. Can she turn things around in the Vice-Captain Battle? A second-year student from the prestigious Kazekoshi Girls' High School, Fukabori Sumiyo.]

Kageyama Sora glanced up at the screen, where soft lighting outlined Fukabori Sumiyo's figure.

She was somewhat plump and notably tall compared with the other contestants. Her black hair was tied back in a simple ponytail with a common navy-blue hair tie. Perhaps she was nervous; her cheeks were faintly flushed. Her features weren't particularly refined, and she had the ordinary, girl-next-door look. Among the striking girls around her, she stood out about as much as a cup of warm water—plain and unremarkable.

Kageyama Sora couldn't help thinking, Among this group of girls who are so outrageously beautiful, she really does look like an ordinary passerby.

Then again, strength at the mahjong table had nothing to do with looks. Perhaps an unexpected edge lurked beneath her unremarkable appearance.

[Although she's in third place, she's only a little behind the contestant ahead of her. The determined underdog school, Tsuruga Academy, has sent out a first-year student: Toyoko Momoko.]

The screen changed, showing Toyoko Momoko's face.

Her straight hair was black as ink, the ends curling slightly inward. Her dark green eyes were like emeralds submerged in a clear spring, with a timid quality about them.

Her features were delicate, and her nose was high-bridged. She should have been the type to draw attention, but her habitual lowered gaze and pursed lips seemed to drain away her presence.

At that moment, she stood in front of the camera, nervously twisting the hem of her uniform between her fingers. Her school skirt was creased where she clutched it.

Kageyama Sora noticed her... She had such a cute face, yet she was like a sprig of mint growing in a corner, quietly giving off a scent that was easy to miss.

How should he put it? There was something subtle about her that made Kageyama Sora wonder if this was some kind of special ability, too.

[And now, she's risen to second place. Is she finally going to show her true strength? The previous champion, a second-year student from Ryumonbuchi High School: Ryumonbuchi Toka.]

The lights suddenly blazed brighter, and Ryumonbuchi Toka's image filled the entire screen.

Her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her trademark ahoge stuck up playfully from her head. Her pure white uniform was pressed to perfection, and the bow at her collar was tied neatly and elegantly.

She gently toyed with a lock of hair at her temple, her emerald eyes shining with confidence before the camera. A bold smile curved her lips.

The light from the broadcast screen fell on her fair cheeks, revealing even the finest down. The pearl earrings swayed gently with her movements, scattering tiny glimmers of light.

She basked in the spotlight like a sunflower in full bloom, making no attempt to hide her desire for victory.

Watching his proud, dazzling cousin on the screen, Kageyama Sora had to admit that, when it came to facing the outside world, she had grown into a queen of the arena who could stand on her own.

[A first-year student, Haramura Nodoka. She placed first in the junior high national individual tournament. Can she bring that same strength with her to high school!?]

The camera turned to Haramura Nodoka, and the light suddenly softened. Her long pink hair fell over her shoulders like silk, and the white bow in it quivered gently with each breath.

Facing the camera, she looked remarkably composed. Her blue eyes were like a still lake, clear and deep. The glow of the broadcast screen traced her small nose and rounded jawline. Her lips were faintly pressed together, giving her a distant, cool air.

When a reporter approached to interview her, she tilted her head slightly. The bow on her hair tie traced a graceful arc through the air.

"Your thoughts?" Haramura Nodoka turned her head. Her pretty face showed no excess emotion, and the only movement was the butterfly-wing shadow her eyelashes cast beneath her eyes. "Well... Nothing in particular."

Before the words had even faded, she had already turned and headed for the arena. A draft lifted her skirt, and she looked like a fallen cherry blossom.

The reporter stood awkwardly where she was and improvised for the camera. "As always, she'll give it her all—that's what she said."

Kageyama Sora watched her retreating figure, thinking that when it came to the battle between his girlfriend and his cousin, he didn't even know whom to root for.

"Nodoka and Toka have completely different styles." A gentle voice spoke from behind him.

Kageyama Sora turned around and saw Kunihiro Hajime standing in the shadows of the corridor, her backlit silhouette looking especially slender.

Her long black hair was tied up high in a ponytail, the ends swaying gently with her movements. The green bow in her hair looked like a fresh leaf in the dim light.

The most eye-catching detail was the golden star sticker near the corner of her right eye. It glimmered as she smiled, adding a touch of playfulness to her cool demeanor.

She wore Ryumonbuchi High School's uniform, and the leather belt around her waist accentuated her slender figure.

Kageyama Sora's gaze happened to fall on her wrist. The silver chain was still there, lying quietly against her skin. Its pattern gleamed coldly beneath the lights, and the little clasp at its end caught scattered glimmers.

"Here to see Toka off?" Kageyama Sora asked, shifting his gaze from the chain.

"Mm." Kunihiro Hajime nodded openly, her dark eyelashes fluttering like little fans.

Her eyes were a deep brown-black. Now she was looking toward the arena, her gaze carrying both a hint of worry and a hint of anticipation.

Kageyama Sora remembered a story Toka had once told him: when Kunihiro Hajime was in elementary school, she had been disqualified for cheating. She then gave up mahjong until she became Toka's personal maid. The chain wasn't there because anyone suspected her; it was to prevent her from instinctively cheating.

The Center Battle was over now. Why hadn't the chain been taken off?

"Didn't the match end? Why haven't you taken off the chain?" Kageyama Sora couldn't help asking.

At the mention of the chain, a blush immediately spread across Kunihiro Hajime's cheeks.

She instinctively raised a hand to hold the chain around her wrist, gently rubbing the cold metal with her fingertips. "Toka told me I wouldn't have to wear this anymore... But..." She paused, a shy, tender smile curving her lips as the star sticker glimmered in the light. "But I thought I'd keep wearing it... With it on, it feels like Toka is always by my side..."

Her voice was soft, but full of sincerity. Looking at the affection in her eyes, Kageyama Sora suddenly remembered how Toka pretended to be annoyed whenever she talked about Kunihiro Hajime, while never quite managing to hide her concern. "Seriously... Have you told that young lady this?"

"I did." Kunihiro Hajime nodded emphatically, making the green bow in her ponytail sway. "Toka's face turned bright red right away, like a ripe apple."

Remembering the scene, she couldn't help smiling, her eyes curving as the star sticker lifted with her expression. "But she quickly raised her chin and said, 'Hmph. Naturally. No one can resist my personal charm.'"

Chapter 95: The Princess-Carry Chase

The setting sun streamed through a window at the end of the corridor, stretching their shadows long across the floor.

The chain around Kunihiro Hajime's wrist appeared and disappeared in the shifting light, like a secret bond connecting her to Toka.

Cheers from the distant arena drifted over. The Vice-Captain Battle was about to begin, and beyond the clamor, the girls' bonds were quietly growing in their own ways.

Kageyama Sora gazed at the star sticker on Kunihiro Hajime's face and suddenly felt that the little decoration was like a light inside her. Even with a chain on her wrist, she still shone with a warmth that was uniquely her own.

Just as he was about to marvel again at how cute all the girls were,

a series of crisp pattering footsteps came closer, accompanied by the soft rustle of fabric. Saki Miyanaga suddenly appeared around the corner of the corridor, like a leaf caught up in the wind.

Her short brown hair flew wildly, and sweat had darkened patches of her Kiyosumi High School uniform. Her skirt fluttered as she ran, revealing a slender lower leg, while her little shoes slammed into the floor and kicked up fine dust.

When Kageyama Sora heard the noise and turned around, he saw Saki Miyanaga's flushed cheeks and chest heaving as she gasped for breath.

Urgency blazed in the girl's eyes. A stray bit of fuzz clung to the ends of her hair, and she seemed to carry the force of a gust of wind with her.

She made no effort to slow down. Only when Kageyama Sora instinctively opened his arms did he just manage to catch the "little cannonball."

"Thump!" The impact made Kageyama Sora stumble half a step back, his back meeting the cold wall.

Saki Miyanaga's forehead pressed against his chest. Her rapid breathing warmed him through the fabric of his shirt.

She clutched the hem of his shirt with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the force. The lingering scent of orange soda in her hair mingled with a faint smell of sweat, filling the small space between them.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Your match isn't for another two and a half hours." Kageyama Sora steadied himself. When he looked down, his nose nearly brushed the top of her soft hair.

He could clearly feel the small body in his arms trembling, like a frightened but stubborn young beast.

Saki Miyanaga suddenly looked up. Tiny beads of sweat clung to her eyelashes, and the harsh corridor lights reflected in her dark red eyes, making them glisten. "Nodoka... Haramura Nodoka... I, I want to go see her..."

Her words came in broken bursts because of her labored breathing. Her damp breath brushed Kageyama Sora's neck, sending a fine shiver over his skin.

Kageyama Sora swallowed and tried to make sense of her jumbled thoughts. "Her match hasn't started yet..."

"I, I want to cheer her on!" Saki Miyanaga suddenly clutched his collar tighter, drawing them closer. Her urgent words carried an unmistakable determination.

The longing in the girl's eyes nearly spilled over. They glimmered in the shifting light, as though they held the stars of an entire summer night.

The announcement of the event drifted from the end of the corridor, mingling with the crowd's cheers like the rising tide.

Looking at Saki Miyanaga's reddened eyes, Kageyama Sora suddenly understood the concern behind her urgency: the understanding of teammates who had fought side by side, a bond that went beyond winning and losing.

"...All right. I'll take you there." His voice softened without him meaning it to, and his large hand gently brushed over her disheveled hair.

The next moment, his long arms slipped beneath Saki Miyanaga's knees and behind her back, lifting her securely into a princess carry.

The girl let out a startled cry and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Her warm breath brushed his ear, making the tips of his ears burn.

Kunihiro Hajime watched the figure rush past. The gust from his speed whipped her black ponytail sharply backward, and the green bow in her hair nearly blew away.

She instinctively held down her skirt and watched Kageyama Sora carry Saki Miyanaga toward the arena. A helpless but warm smile curved her lips.

The setting sun streamed through the corridor windows, casting their long shadow behind them like a vivid portrait of youth.

"We call ourselves passionate girls, but Kageyama is quite the passionate boy himself..." she murmured. The chain on her wrist jingled softly with the movement, gleaming warmly in the afterglow.

The announcement of the match countdown rang out in the distance, and this story of rushing toward someone and protecting them was quietly blossoming beyond the arena.

Cold air from the competition hall washed over them. Haramura Nodoka stood in the shadow of the entrance, her pink hair gleaming with a pearly sheen beneath the overhead lights.

She held the fluffy Penguin Plushie in her arms, unconsciously rubbing its round belly with her fingertips. Her school skirt swayed gently with each breath.

The mechanical female voice announcing the countdown echoed through the empty passageway, but it couldn't drown out the faint sigh in her heart. "Miyanaga Saki... still hasn't woken up."

She had been the one who told them not to wake Saki Miyanaga, and yet she still felt strangely conflicted now.

To Haramura Nodoka, Saki Miyanaga was both a worthy rival and a teammate who had fought by her side.

She had seen with her own eyes how Saki Miyanaga, with her extraordinary talent, had gone from a girl who could only play Plus-Minus Zero, suppressing her desire to win, to the person she was now.

The bond of friendship between them wasn't something that could easily be put into words.

She raised her fair little finger and crooked it at empty air, as though trying to grasp a promise drifting away. "We promised we'd go to the National Tournament together, but she can't even watch my match..."

The end of her sentence faded into the cold air, carrying a hint of melancholy that was hard to notice.

"Bang!" The loud crash of a metal fire door bursting open tore through the silence.