Chapter 42

Haramura Nodoka suddenly looked up, a resolute light flickering in the depths of her eyes.

She gently hugged her Penguin Plushie to her chest, her pink skirt fluttering in the draft, her voice crisp and firm: "I will win. As long as I win, Saki won't feel down."

After saying this, she turned and walked toward the competition arena, the ribbon in her hair swaying with her steps, tracing a trail of shimmering light through the shadows of the corridor.

Kageyama Sora watched the back of Haramura Nodoka as she walked away, his hand still suspended in mid-air, not yet lowered, when a crisp sound of footsteps echoed from behind him. The sound seemed to have a deliberately slowed rhythm, each step carrying the unique elegance and intentionality of a young lady, as if she were measuring the distance between them.

"How truly devoted, cousin..." Ryumonbuchi Toka's voice was wrapped in thirty percent teasing and seventy percent tsundere, the tail end of her sentence rising slightly as if intentionally provoking him.

Kageyama Sora turned back to see only Ryumonbuchi Toka, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall, her signature ahoge swaying gently with her movements, gleaming with a silk-like luster under the cold white lights of the corridor.

The pure white uniform she wore was ironed to perfection, the ribbon at her collar tied neatly and exquisitely, and the leather belt at her waist accentuating her slender frame; every detail highlighted the demeanor of a young lady of the Ryumonbuchi family.

As Kageyama Sora turned around, he met her eyes, which were filled with smiles yet hid a sharp edge.

Ryumonbuchi Toka crossed her arms over her chest, her small leather shoes tapping against the floor rhythmically, a provocative curve tugging at the corners of her mouth: "So that's why you disappeared for so long—to cheer for Haramura Nodoka. Well, it doesn't matter; I will defeat her with my own hands, that way it will be even more attention-grabbing."

As she spoke, she raised a hand to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, the pearl ring on her fingertip refracting a cold light under the lamps.

"You still love saying such random things." Kageyama Sora raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and familiar banter.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, the collar of his black shirt slightly open, revealing his defined collarbones: "Kiyosumi High School isn't that easy to deal with, and I've told you before, Haramura Nodoka isn't the type to fight over these things..."

"Are you looking down on me, cousin?" Ryumonbuchi Toka suddenly stepped forward, the faint scent of high-end perfume wafting toward him.

She tilted her head up, her beautiful eyes staring straight at Kageyama Sora, the corners of her eyes slightly upturned, revealing a stubborn streak: "Don't forget, I am Ryumonbuchi Toka. The word 'lose' does not exist in my dictionary."

As she spoke, her eyelashes fluttered rapidly with the rise and fall of her emotions, and two faint blushes appeared on her cheeks from excitement.

Watching her earnest expression, Kageyama Sora couldn't help but recall the various chaotic and complicated scenes they had shared...

Between him and Ryumonbuchi Toka, their relationship always seemed to improve only to turn sour again, a recurring cycle.

His thoughts were pulled back to reality; he gave a light cough and reached out to ruffle her ahoge: "Fine, fine, I'll be waiting to see our young lady crush the competition."

"Don't touch my hair!" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Toka swatted his hand away, her golden hair becoming slightly disheveled.

She glared at Kageyama Sora, her cheeks puffed up and flushed red: "Touching someone's hair in public! I'm not a child anymore!"

But the moment she finished speaking, she couldn't help but reach up to fix her hair, her movements gentle and cautious.

Kageyama Sora watched her hypocritical behavior and couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, alright, the young lady has grown up. But don't get distracted during the match, Haramura Nodoka, she..."

"You're annoying!" Ryumonbuchi Toka stomped her foot, her small leather shoes making a crisp sound: "Of course I know she's strong, otherwise why would I have specifically chosen her as my opponent?"

She placed her hands on her hips, her gaze fixed firmly toward the competition arena: "I want everyone to know that Ryumonbuchi High School is the strongest, and I will be the most dazzling star."

Kageyama Sora looked at her proud and stubborn profile, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

He knew that while Ryumonbuchi Toka always appeared high and mighty on the surface, deep down she was more eager than anyone to prove herself.

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

Ryumonbuchi Toka's body stiffened slightly, and the tsundere facade on her face momentarily faltered.

She turned her head away, muttering under her breath: "As if you needed to say it... meddlesome."

Yet the corners of her mouth curled upward uncontrollably, and the ahoge on top of her head swayed gently with her joyful mood, tracing a soft arc in the light.

Chapter 94: The Vice-Captain Battle Begins

The afternoon sun shone through the stained glass of the gymnasium dome, casting colorful spots of light onto the wooden floor.

At the venue for the finals of the National High School Mahjong Tournament Prefectural Preliminaries, the air was filled with a tense and exciting atmosphere.

The electronic screen scrolled with tournament information, the live broadcast was underway, and the roar of the audience rose and fell like the tide; the countdown for the Vice-Captain Battle slowly began amidst the broadcast announcements.

The broadcast voice suddenly became impassioned, and as the spotlights shifted, the image of the first player appeared on the giant live screen:

[Despite having an overwhelming advantage, she ended up in last place during the Center Battle. Can she make a comeback in the Vice-Captain Battle? Second-year student from the prestigious Kazekoshi Girls' High School, Fukabori Sumiyo.]

Kageyama Sora looked up at the screen, Fukabori Sumiyo's silhouette outlined by the soft lighting.

She had a slightly plump figure and was quite tall among the contestants; her black ponytail was tied loosely at the back of her head with a common navy blue hair tie. Perhaps due to nervousness, her cheeks were flushed with a faint red, and her features were not particularly exquisite, belonging to the category of an ordinary "girl next door." Among the dazzling girls surrounding her, her presence was like a cup of lukewarm water—plain and simple.

Kageyama Sora couldn't help but think to himself: "Among this group of girls who are beautiful to the point of recklessness, she really looks like a background character."

But then he thought, strength at the mahjong table is never defined by appearance; perhaps this ordinary exterior hid an unexpected sharpness.

[Although in third place, she is only a small margin away from the person ahead. Representing the struggling underdog, Tsuruga Academy, is the first-year student, Toyoko Momoko.]

The screen switched to show Toyoko Momoko's face.

She had ink-black straight hair with the ends slightly curled inward, and her deep green eyes were like emeralds soaked in a clear spring, carrying a hint of shyness.

Her features were exquisite, with a high bridge of the nose; she should have been the type to attract attention, but due to her habit of lowering her head and pursing her lips, her presence was invisibly diminished.

At this moment, she stood in front of the camera, her fingers nervously twisting the corner of her skirt, creating fine wrinkles in the fabric.

Kageyama Sora noticed her... despite having a cute appearance, she was like a mint plant growing in a corner, silently emitting an imperceptible aura.

How to put it? It made Kageyama Sora feel very subtle, wondering if this might also be some kind of special ability.

[And, having risen to second place, is she finally going to show her true strength? The winning school from two years ago, second-year student from Ryumonbuchi High School, Ryumonbuchi Toka.]

The lights suddenly became brilliant, and Ryumonbuchi Toka's image occupied the entire screen.

Her long golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, her signature ahoge perked up playfully on top of her head, her pure white uniform was ironed to perfection, and the ribbon at her collar was tied neatly and magnificently.

At this moment, she was gently twirling a strand of hair at her temple with her fingertips, her emerald eyes flashing with confident radiance before the camera, a flamboyant curve tugging at the corners of her lips.

The light from the broadcast screen reflected off her fair cheeks, making even the fine downy hairs visible; the pearls on her earrings swayed gently with her movements, refracting tiny, fragmented glimmers of light.

Her posture as she basked in the spotlight was like a sunflower in full bloom, making no effort to conceal her thirst for victory.

Kageyama Sora looked at his proud and brilliant cousin on the screen; when facing the outside world, he had to admit, she had truly grown into a queen of the arena capable of holding her own.

[First-year student, Haramura Nodoka. As the winner of the middle school National Tournament individual division, can her strength translate to the high school level!?]

When the camera turned to Haramura Nodoka, the lighting suddenly softened. Her long pink hair hung over her shoulders like silk, and the white ribbon tied in her hair trembled slightly with her breathing.

Facing the lens, her expression was exceptionally calm, her azure eyes like the surface of a lake without a ripple—clear and profound. The light from the broadcast screen outlined her petite nose and rounded jawline, her lips pressed slightly together, carrying a hint of aloof indifference.

When the reporter stepped forward for an interview, she tilted her head slightly, the ribbon at the tips of her hair tracing a graceful arc in the air:

"Your thoughts?" Haramura Nodoka turned her head, her beautiful face devoid of any extra expression, save for the butterfly-wing shadows cast by her lashes beneath her eyes: "Hmm... nothing special."

Before the words had even faded, she turned and walked toward the arena, her skirt lifted by the draft, like a falling cherry blossom.

The reporter stood awkwardly in place, turning to the camera to smooth things over: "Giving it her all as always—that is what she said."

Kageyama Sora watched her retreating figure, thinking that with his girlfriend versus his cousin, he wasn't quite sure who to root for this time.

"Nodoka and Tohka have completely different styles, don't they?" A soft voice sounded from behind him.

Kageyama Sora turned to see Kunihiro Hajime standing in the shadows of the corridor, her backlit silhouette appearing exceptionally slender.

Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail that swayed with her movements, the green ribbon hair accessory looking like a fresh leaf in the dim light.

Most eye-catching was the golden star sticker near the corner of her right eye, which glimmered slightly with her smile, adding a touch of playfulness to her cold, aloof temperament.

She wore the Ryumonbuchi High School uniform, the leather belt at her waist accentuating her slender frame.

Kageyama Sora's gaze fell inadvertently onto her wrist—that silver chain still lay there quietly, the patterns on the links glinting coldly under the lights, the small lock at the end refracting tiny, fragmented rays.

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

"Yes." Kunihiro Hajime nodded candidly, her black lashes fluttering like small fans.

Her eyes were a deep brownish-black, currently gazing toward the direction of the arena with a hint of worry and a touch of anticipation.

Kageyama Sora recalled the past events Tohka had mentioned: Kunihiro Hajime had been disqualified for cheating in elementary school, after which she gave up mahjong until she became Tohka's personal maid. This chain wasn't a sign of suspicion, but a measure to prevent her from cheating out of instinct.

Now that the Center Battle had ended, why hadn't the chain been removed?

"Isn't the match over? Why haven't you taken the chain off?" Kageyama Sora couldn't help but ask.

At the mention of the chain, Kunihiro Hajime's cheeks instantly flushed a faint red.

She subconsciously raised her hand to grip the chain on her wrist, her fingertips gently stroking the cold metal: "Tohka originally told me that I wouldn't need to wear this anymore... but..." She paused, a shy and gentle smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, the star sticker shimmering in the light: "But I feel like I should keep wearing it... wearing this is like having Tohka by my side all the time..."

Her voice was very soft, yet carried immense sincerity. Kageyama Sora looked at the attachment in her eyes and suddenly remembered the way Tohka would act when mentioning Kunihiro Hajime—feigning annoyance while unable to hide her concern: "Really... have you told that young lady this?"

"I did." Kunihiro Hajime nodded vigorously, the green ribbon on her ponytail bobbing along: "Tohka's face turned red instantly, like a ripe apple."

Recalling the scene, she couldn't help but curve her eyes, the star sticker tilting upward with her smile: "But she quickly lifted her chin and said, 'Hmph, after all, this young lady's personal charm is unrivaled.'"

Chapter 95: The Chase of the Princess Carry

The sunset glow filtered through the window at the end of the corridor, stretching their shadows long.

The chain on Kunihiro Hajime's wrist flickered in the light and shadow, like a secret bond connecting her to Tohka.

The cheers from the distant arena could be heard faintly; the fires of the Vice-Captain Battle were about to be ignited, and beyond this clamor, the bonds between the girls were quietly growing in their own ways.

Kageyama Sora looked at the star sticker on Kunihiro Hajime's face and suddenly felt that this small decoration was like the light in her heart—even while wearing the chain, she still shone with her own gentle radiance.

Just as he was about to lament again that they were all such cute girls.

A crisp "tap-tap" sound approached from afar, mixed with the rustle of fabric rubbing together; Miyanaga Saki appeared suddenly from around the corridor corner, like a leaf swept up by the wind.

Her short brown hair flew in disarray, her white Kiyosumi High School uniform stained with dark patches of sweat, her skirt billowing from her run to reveal a glimpse of slender calves, her small leather shoes slamming heavily against the floor and kicking up fine dust.

When Kageyama Sora turned at the commotion, he saw Miyanaga Saki's flushed cheeks and her chest heaving violently from exertion.

Flames of urgency burned in the girl's eyes, and a bit of fluff she'd picked up from somewhere still clung to her hair; she carried the momentum of someone breaking through the wind.

She had no intention of slowing down, and it was only when Kageyama Sora subconsciously opened his arms that he managed to catch this "little cannonball" steadily.

"Thump!" Kageyama Sora was pushed back half a step, his back hitting the cold wall.

Miyanaga Saki's forehead was buried against his chest, the warmth of her rapid breathing seeping through the fabric of his shirt.

Her hands gripped his lapels tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, and the lingering scent of orange soda in her hair mixed with a faint, sweaty fragrance, permeating the narrow space between them.

"Why the rush? Your match isn't for another two and a half hours." Kageyama Sora steadied himself, his nose almost brushing the top of her soft hair as he looked down.

He could clearly feel the trembling of the small body in his arms, like a startled yet stubborn young beast.

Miyanaga Saki looked up abruptly, tiny beads of sweat still clinging to her lashes, her deep red pupils reflecting the pale corridor lights and shimmering with moisture: "Nodoka... Haramura Nodoka... I, I have to go see her..."

Her speech was intermittent due to her heavy panting, her damp breath spraying against Kageyama Sora's neck, sending a fine shiver down his spine.

Kageyama Sora's Adam's apple bobbed as he tried to make sense of her chaotic thoughts: "Her match hasn't started yet..."

"I, I want to cheer for her!" Miyanaga Saki suddenly tightened her grip on his collar, pulling the distance between them even closer, her urgent words carrying an unquestionable firmness.

The longing in the girl's eyes was almost overflowing, her glistening pupils flickering in the light and shadow as if they held the starlight of an entire summer night.

The broadcast from the end of the hallway faintly announced the tournament updates, mingling with the cheers from the spectator stands like an incoming tide.

Kageyama Sora looked at Saki Miyanaga's reddened eyes and suddenly understood the concern behind her anxiety—it was the unspoken rapport of fighting side-by-side, a bond that transcended victory or defeat.

"...Alright, I'll take you there." His voice softened involuntarily, his large hand gently brushing over her messy hair.

The next second, his long arms slipped behind her back and under her knees, lifting her steadily into a bridal carry.

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

Kunihiro Hajime watched the figure dash past, her black ponytail whipped back by the gust of wind, the green ribbon hair accessory nearly blown away.

She instinctively pressed down on her skirt, watching Kageyama Sora carry Saki Miyanaga toward the arena, a helpless yet warm smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

The setting sun spilled in through the hallway windows, casting long shadows behind them like a vibrant painting of youth.

"And he says we're hot-blooded girls; Kageyama-kun is quite the hot-blooded boy himself..." she murmured to herself, the chains on her wrists clinking softly as she moved, shimmering with a gentle light in the afterglow.

The tournament countdown broadcast echoed from afar, and this story of rushing forward and protecting one another was quietly unfolding outside the arena.

The chill of the tournament venue hit them as they entered; Haramura Nodoka stood in the shadows of the entrance, her long pink hair glowing with a pearlescent sheen under the overhead lights.

She held the Penguin Plushie in her arms, her fingertips unconsciously stroking its round belly, her school skirt swaying gently with her breathing.

The mechanical female voice of the countdown echoed through the empty corridor, yet it could not drown out the faint, lingering sigh in her heart: "Miyanaga-san... still hasn't woken up."

Even though she was the one who insisted that no one wake Saki Miyanaga up, her current mood was still quite complex.

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

She had witnessed firsthand how the immensely talented Saki Miyanaga had transformed from a girl who could only play to a Plus-Minus Zero, suppressing her desire to win, into the person she was today.

The bond of friendship between them was not something that could be easily explained.

She extended her fair pinky finger, hooking it vaguely in the air as if to grasp a drifting promise: "We clearly made a pact to go to the National Tournament together, yet you won't be able to see my match..."

The tail end of her words dissipated into the cold air, carrying an imperceptible sense of melancholy.

"Bang!" The deafening sound of the metal security door being kicked open tore through the silence.