Chapter 43

Saki Miyanaga's short brown hair flew like dancing flames, and the skirt of her Kiyosumi High School uniform billowed out like a fluffy flower bud.

Like a meteor piercing through the clouds, she leaped lightly from Kageyama Sora's arms, her small leather shoes making a sharp sound against the floor as she rushed straight toward Nodoka Haramura.

"Nodoka!" Saki Miyanaga's chest heaved violently, but her deep red eyes were startlingly bright, as if they held the entire midsummer sun.

Sweat slid down her flushed cheeks, and tiny bits of lint clung to the tips of her hair, yet the vibrant spirit in her eyes remained undiminished.

Nodoka Haramura looked up abruptly, the reporter's question from earlier suddenly echoing in her ears: "Nodoka Haramura, what are your thoughts!"

At this moment, looking at the breathless yet incredibly determined figure before her, she finally found the answer.

The ribbon in her pink hair trembled with her movements as she raised her clenched fist high, the flames of fighting spirit igniting in her deep blue pupils: "I will absolutely win!"

Her voice was crisp and resolute, as if she had poured all of her attachment and determination into those three words.

Saki Miyanaga opened her mouth as if to say something more, but the match was about to begin, so she had no choice but to leave with a sense of helplessness.

Her shoulders slumped slightly, a flash of annoyance crossing her eyes, yet she still nodded firmly. As she took a few steps back, her small leather shoes traced a reluctant arc on the floor.

Kageyama Sora stepped forward, his palm resting gently on Saki Miyanaga's trembling shoulder, the warmth transferring through the fabric of her shirt: "Let's go back and cheer for Nodoka together."

His voice was steady and gentle, like ripples on a calm lake, smoothing out her restless emotions.

When the setting sun dyed the hallway the color of honeyed oranges, Kageyama Sora and Saki Miyanaga turned to leave, only to bump into Toka Ryumonbuchi.

Her long golden hair was lifted by the evening breeze, and her emerald-green eyes glinted coldly in the twilight. The golden buttons on her pure white uniform caught the lingering rays of the sun, refracting sharp, tiny glints of light, while the slender curve cinched by her leather belt made her look like an arrow poised to fly.

"Yo, Cousin, what kind of hero-saves-the-beauty act is this?" Toka Ryumonbuchi deliberately drew out her tone, her small leather shoes tapping a crisp rhythm on the floor.

Her gaze swept from Saki Miyanaga's crimson cheeks to Kageyama Sora's slightly disheveled collar, her lips curling into a mocking arc: "Carrying a little girl around the whole venue? You're quite the chivalrous one, aren't you?"

Saki Miyanaga shrank her neck, instinctively hiding behind Kageyama Sora.

Although Saki Miyanaga didn't know Toka Ryumonbuchi, she inexplicably felt a sense of killing intent radiating from this woman.

Kageyama Sora sighed helplessly and was about to explain, but Toka suddenly leaned in close, the scent of lily-of-the-valley perfume washing over him, laced with a faint, lingering hint of jealousy.

She stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear: "How come you're never this nervous about my matches? Why don't you cheer for me?"

There was an imperceptible tremor in her voice, yet her emerald-green eyes were raised in stubborn defiance.

As she straightened up, the cowlick at the tip of her hair swayed with the movement. Even though she put on an arrogant front, she couldn't suppress the sourness rising in her heart—she was his cousin, after all, yet now she could only watch him run around in a panic for another girl.

"Toka..." Kageyama Sora reached out to ruffle her hair, but she turned aside to avoid his touch.

Toka Ryumonbuchi took half a step back, the sunset stretching her shadow long across the floor.

"Cousin..." Toka Ryumonbuchi lifted her chin, her eyelashes casting stubborn shadows beneath her eyes: "I'm just reminding you, Cousin, don't get emotionally involved where you shouldn't..."

She stopped abruptly, bit her lip, and swallowed the rest of her sentence.

As she turned away, the arc of her skirt carried a reckless sense of liberation, leaving the two of them with nothing but a proud yet lonely silhouette: "Watch closely, I'll make sure Nodoka Haramura loses so badly she won't even be able to hold onto her penguin."

Kageyama Sora felt a bit helpless and was just about to say something.

Toka Ryumonbuchi had already walked into the competition venue, pointing at Nodoka Haramura and saying: "Nodoka Haramura, the match to decide who the true idol is begins now..."

And just as Kageyama Sora had said before, Nodoka Haramura hadn't even noticed Toka Ryumonbuchi's words.

Toka Ryumonbuchi was furious at being ignored in this chapter and was about to say something more, but she was shoved aside by that one large-framed girl from Kazekoshi Girls' High School and nearly fell over.

Kageyama Sora couldn't help but chuckle at the sight; the young miss was always so aggressively funny.

And just like that, the vice-captain match began.

In the commentary booth, after the passionate male announcer had been speaking for a while, he heard the lazy voice of the professional player Fujita beside him: "What a pity... this year's tournament."

"Eh?" The male announcer didn't immediately grasp what the professional player Fujita meant.

The powerful woman spoke lazily: "This year's tournament emphasizes luck too much. Besides that, the number of matches has been reduced, which further increases the element of chance."

The male announcer nodded along with this line of reasoning, but also raised a question: "But, playing two thousand matches a year like a professional player is impossible for students, isn't it?"

Professional player Fujita, watching everyone on the field currently trying their best to defend, said thoughtfully: "The rules from last year were incredibly boring, but this year's rules are like a system designed to pick one in ten thousand. Everyone playing there now is a player who has been tempered in reality. Deciding the outcome with only two hanchan is truly a pity."

Listening to professional player Fujita's commentary, Kageyama Sora was also lost in thought: "I think I understand what she means."

"Eh?" Saki Miyanaga, who was following Kageyama Sora to the lounge, was still immersed in the memory of Nodoka Haramura telling her to do her best, and hadn't quite reacted.

Kageyama Sora assumed she hadn't understood and explained as simply as possible: "People like Nodoka Haramura and Toka Ryumonbuchi use standard data-driven playstyles. For those who rely on brains and data rather than luck, you can't tell their true level without playing thousands of matches... and with limited match time... those who can stand out at high speed are monsters among monsters."

"Monsters..." When Saki Miyanaga repeated the word, her sister's figure inexplicably appeared in her mind.

Kageyama Sora continued: "Like you, for example, or... my other cousin."

"Another cousin?" Saki Miyanaga was a bit dazed, not reacting for a moment.

Kageyama Sora checked the time: "Yeah... I need to go find her now."

Saki Miyanaga's eyes widened: "Are, are you not coming back!?"

Kageyama Sora ruffled the top of Saki Miyanaga's head: "I'll cheer for you when you play, but right now I have to go coax a little girl."

Saki Miyanaga was an easily satisfied girl, so she immediately said: "Okay, be careful on your way."

After Kageyama Sora left, he walked quickly toward the Ryumonbuchi lounge, unable to help but sigh to himself on the way, feeling like a male socialite, constantly drifting between different girls and comforting them.

Truly... everyone has become his wings.

Meanwhile, the match naturally continued.

The data-driven style of play was not flashy; everyone played with caution and stability, sticking to a defensive approach.

It was quite different from the somewhat flamboyant playstyles seen earlier.

The fluorescent lights in the hallway buzzed overhead. Kageyama Sora walked quickly through the crowd, his leather shoes making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound against the tiles.

He glanced at his wristwatch. The sunset's afterglow slanted through the glass window at the end of the corridor, stretching his shadow long.

Thinking of Amae Koromo, he couldn't help but quicken his pace, a sense of helplessness and doting affection rising in his heart: I wonder if she's going to be sulky.

Pushing open the door to the Ryumonbuchi High School lounge, a wave of cool air mixed with a faint scent of jasmine washed over him.

Except for Ryumonbuchi Toka, everyone else was there.

Seeing Kageyama Sora, Kunihiro Hajime even offered a friendly greeting: "The great hero has returned~"

She was clearly teasing him about the scene where Kageyama Sora had carried Saki Miyanaga to see Haramura Nodoka.

He had acted on impulse back then, and thinking about it now, he still felt a bit shy.

However, now was not the time for shyness.

Kageyama Sora saw Amae Koromo curled up in the corner of the sofa, her long golden hair scattered loosely behind her like spilled sunlight.

She was wearing her pink-themed uniform, white over-the-knee stockings, and her signature giant red rabbit ears.

Perhaps because she wasn't wearing shoes in the lounge, she only tilted her head slightly upon hearing the door open. Her ice-blue eyes glanced at Kageyama Sora before she turned back to stare at the scorebook in her hands, deliberately flipping the pages with a loud rustle.

Chapter 97: Coaxing Amae Koromo

"The great hero has returned," Kunihiro Hajime said, sitting on the lounge sofa. Her high black ponytail swayed with her teasing tone, and her green ribbon hair accessory bounced playfully.

The star sticker on her cheek shimmered under the lights, and a meaningful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she twirled a fountain pen with her slender fingers: "Running all over the place while carrying a young girl—that move of yours was truly dashing, Kageyama-kun."

Kageyama Sora's earlobes turned red, and he coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment: "Kunihiro Hajime, stop teasing me."

Kunihiro Hajime chuckled: "You were right in front of me when you did that. Wow, I was genuinely impressed. I was even fantasizing that if I were that girl, I would definitely be captivated!"

But at this moment, Kageyama Sora ignored the teasing.

His gaze couldn't help but drift back to Amae Koromo. He saw the girl curled into an even smaller ball, the hem of her pink uniform skirt crumpled in her grip, and her giant red rabbit ears drooping limply on her shoulders like two deflated balloons.

She looked quite pitiful.

As the only tomboy, Inoue Jun, who was also somewhat of a flirt, sat on the leather sofa and elegantly sipped her tea, a playful glint in her eyes: "Kageyama-kun is really busy, isn't he? Busy with this one, busy with that one. I wonder who the real favorite is."

Inoue Jun deliberately drew out her tone, clearly marveling at how Kageyama Sora was more of a master of time management than even she was, and yet he never crashed.

Sawamura Tomoki pushed up her glasses: "Data shows that such men have no 'real favorite'; everyone is his wing."

Kageyama Sora ignored the banter and walked over to Amae Koromo. He crouched beside her, his warm breath brushing against her reddened earlobe: "Koromo, are you angry? Is it because I did something inappropriate that made you unhappy?"

He reached out to take her hand, but Amae Koromo jerked it away sharply.

"Don't touch me!" Amae Koromo petulantly pressed the scorebook against her face, covering her grievance: "You don't have me in your heart at all! First, you kept not coming to see me, and then you ran around carrying someone else. You... you're a big bad guy!"

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, her final words carrying an imperceptible sob.

Kageyama Sora was stunned; he hadn't expected such a strong reaction from Amae Koromo.

After all, no matter who he was with before, Amae Koromo had never seemed to feel anything. Kageyama Sora had always thought this was what made her most unique, and he truly hadn't expected her to throw a tantrum over something like this.

Kunihiro Hajime leaned in quietly and whispered into Kageyama Sora's ear: "Ever since you ran past carrying Saki Miyanaga, Koromo has been pouting. She hasn't even eaten her favorite strawberry cake, and she seems a bit down because of the penguin you gave to Haramura Nodoka..." She blinked, winking at Kageyama Sora, "Why don't you hurry up and coax her?"

Kageyama Sora sighed and simply sat down beside Amae Koromo, gently wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Amae Koromo struggled for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist the familiar warmth, gradually softening in his arms, though she still turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

"I was wrong, Koromo." Kageyama Sora lowered his head and kissed the top of her hair. The sweet scent of strawberries in her hair mixed with the fragrance of jasmine lingering at the tip of his nose: "I was just worried that Haramura Nodoka would be disappointed if she didn't see Saki Miyanaga before the match, so I acted in a rush. Look, didn't I come to be with you right away?"

Amae Koromo huffed: "Then why did it take you so long? I thought..."

She stopped abruptly, her eyelashes fluttering violently, and a blush stained her face hidden behind the book pages.

"Thought I had forgotten you?" Kageyama Sora chuckled, his fingertips gently lifting her chin so that those ice-blue eyes, misted with tears, looked directly at him: "How could that be? My mind is full of you. I just knew you would be late, so I didn't come as quickly... I kept wondering if you were hungry, if you were bored, if you were..." He deliberately dragged out the end of his sentence: "If you were secretly crying?"

"Who... who's crying!" Amae Koromo pushed him away violently, her giant red rabbit ears swaying along: "Don't be so full of yourself!"

But her reddened eyes and slightly trembling lips completely betrayed her.

Kunihiro Hajime chimed in at the right moment: "Oh my, Koromo is shy. Kageyama-kun, why don't you hurry up and coax her?" She rested her chin on her hands, looking like she was watching a good show: "If you don't coax her, our Koromo won't want you anymore! What if she runs off with someone else?"

Kageyama Sora took the opportunity to pull Amae Koromo into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head: "Koromo wouldn't be able to bear that..."

He gently stroked her waterfall of golden hair: "After the match, I'll take you to eat strawberry cake, go to the claw machines, and do whatever you want. How about that?"

Amae Koromo's fingers tugged at the hem of his shirt, her voice muffled: "Then you aren't allowed to ignore me in the future. I always thought I didn't care if you were close to other girls, and I even thought it was nice that we could all play together, but... it just made me a little sad. I actually grew feelings of jealousy..."

"That's not jealousy, it's possessiveness, and it's my fault..." Kageyama Sora kissed her forehead with a hint of heartache: "My Koromo is the cutest. It was my lack of discretion; I didn't handle it well. It won't happen again."

Inoue Jun, watching the two of them being lovey-dovey from the side, rolled her eyes: "Enough, enough. Don't show off your affection in front of me."

She stood up and looked lazily at the other two teammates: "Let's go check on the match situation."

Kunihiro Hajime winked playfully at Kageyama Sora: "Seize the opportunity."

After speaking, the others cleared the space for the two of them.

The door to the lounge slowly closed, leaving only Kageyama Sora and Amae Koromo behind.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled in through the blinds, weaving golden grids across the floor.

Amae Koromo finally raised her head, her ice-blue eyes sparkling, though her lips remained stubbornly pursed: "You have to keep your word, otherwise... otherwise I really won't talk to you anymore!"

Since there was no one else around, well... many things became much easier.

Kageyama Sora lowered his head to kiss her slightly upturned lips, melting all his emotions into this gentle kiss.

Amae Koromo was stunned for a moment, then closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck to respond to the strawberry-sweet kiss.

Outside the window, the last rays of the sunset dyed the horizon red, as if painting this sweet moment with a romantic hue.

Inside the lounge, the figures of Kageyama Sora and Amae Koromo gradually overlapped, whispering of the tenderness and love that belonged only to them within the warm halo of light.

Then, after Amae Koromo's emotions were soothed, Kageyama Sora learned from her that another reason she had been so upset was because she had tried to give a penguin to Haramura Nodoka earlier, hoping to make friends with her.

As a result, she hadn't had the time, and she felt sad that she hadn't managed to tell her her name.

Kageyama Sora quickly said: "Haramura Nodoka mentioned this as soon as she got back; she was in such a rush that she also regretted forgetting to ask for your name..."

Chapter 98: The Excited Tohka

"Haramura Nodoka mentioned this as soon as she got back; she was in such a rush that she also regretted forgetting to ask for your name..."

Upon hearing this, Amae Koromo immediately became excited: "Really!? Then I'll wait for Haramura Nodoka to come over and ask for my name!"

The girl who had been so unhappy just a moment ago was instantly invigorated again.

This feeling left Kageyama Sora feeling somewhat helpless; it was probably something like: why does it feel like Haramura Nodoka is even more popular than me?

However, he was certain of one thing: his wings wouldn't get tangled. (Emphasis added)

Perhaps realizing that it was about time, the others from Ryumonbuchi High School returned. Seeing the sweet and loving atmosphere between Kageyama Sora and Amae Koromo, they didn't continue to gossip but instead began discussing the match.

Kunihiro Hajime looked at the players on the screen and couldn't help but sigh: "Tohka is really working hard this time. She's been studying the match records of high-ranking players and top-tier S-class professionals online, and whenever she encounters a playstyle different from her own, she digs into it until the very end. She even commissioned a research institute to obtain a large amount of statistical data on match records, and she's been sparring with various experts online. And then... the toughest opponent among them is currently right across from her... how could Tohka possibly lose..."