Chapter 46

[On the other hand, Haramura Nodoka's starting hand was in poor shape, a terrible three-away-from-tenpai.]

Just then... Ryumonbuchi Toka made a choice completely contrary to her usual behavior...

In the words of Inoue Jun: "If she were to give up on a double-sided wait, a data-driven player would never declare riichi!"

Kunihiro Hajime nodded along: "Under normal circumstances, Toka would prioritize a higher win rate with a closed hand over scoring points. Wait... if she's trying to stop Haramura Nodoka's perfect game... then this is even more... unlike her..."

Watching Kunihiro Hajime, she seemed to have had her worldview shattered.

Kageyama Sora didn't quite understand her worry: "People aren't stagnant. Maybe she just had other ideas at that moment!?"

"Other... ideas!?" Kunihiro Hajime heard Kageyama Sora's words and immediately made a terrible association.

In reality, Ryumonbuchi Toka's current thoughts were crude and simple: If she used a closed hand to win and stop the perfect game, the audience definitely wouldn't be satisfied. Only a small portion of people who understood mahjong would get it, and in that case...

Kunihiro Hajime shouted in despair from the lounge: "Could it be that these 'other ideas' are for the sake of... being even more eye-catching..."

[If she wins fair and square after reaching tenpai to interrupt Haramura Nodoka's perfect game, she could be even more eye-catching than Haramura Nodoka.]

"Giving up a closed hand just to be more eye-catching!"

Hearing Kunihiro Hajime's near-breakdown, Kageyama Sora chuckled: "It feels... like something Toka would do... This way, it won't be like what you're worried about, where she becomes less and less like Toka..."

The next second, Ryumonbuchi Toka won the hand... and it was a self-draw.

[It was actually a dealer mangan, 8000 points from everyone. With this, Haramura Nodoka's perfect game has been stopped!!]--Amidst the commentator's shocked voice, Ryumonbuchi Toka's satisfaction reached its peak.

[Ryumonbuchi High School successfully turns the tables, ranking first in points!]

And the consecutive dealer turn belonging to Ryumonbuchi Toka arrived.

Kageyama Sora didn't know if the other positions were falling into a low-pressure state because of Ryumonbuchi Toka's win, but the atmosphere in the Ryumonbuchi lounge had become much more relaxed.

Finally setting her heart at ease, Inoue Jun picked up some snacks and started munching away: "The result is pretty good..."

Kunihiro Hajime also breathed a sigh of relief: "Haramura Nodoka is an absolute data-driven player, but Toka occasionally plays some clever tricks."

Inoue Jun chuckled: "That kind of Toka has weaknesses, too."

Kunihiro Hajime had a different opinion on this: "She has terrifying aspects as well."

Watching them interact, Kageyama Sora couldn't help but tease: "Kunihiro Hajime really is Toka's 100% follower."

He thought Kunihiro Hajime would be shy because of this, but unexpectedly, she admitted it frankly: "Because there are times when Toka truly makes one feel that she is worthy of being Koromo's cousin."

Amae Koromo, having been named, was lost in thought: "Toka in that state, huh..."

"With Toka and Koromo both being so amazing, I wonder if I, as their cousin, have any ability..." But as he said this, Kageyama Sora laughed out loud himself: "Well, never mind. It seems only the girls here have abilities..."

[Ryumonbuchi High School has overtaken the top-ranked Kiyosumi High School to return to the lead... Now, this is the final hand of the first half. Can they maintain this position?]

But just as Ryumonbuchi Toka discarded a tile...

She heard a girl say in a very soft voice: "Ron. Tanyao, 2600, dealer 2900 points."

An expression of disbelief appeared on Ryumonbuchi Toka's face.

It wasn't just Ryumonbuchi Toka; even Haramura Nodoka and that girl from Kazekoshi Girls' High School had expressions of disbelief on their faces.

If one had to describe it, this expression was no different from seeing a ghost.

Chapter 103: The Invisible Girl

On the competition floor, Ryumonbuchi Toka had an expression like she'd seen a ghost because she dealt into the player who had just declared riichi.

And in the Ryumonbuchi High School lounge, everyone's expressions could be described as ugly.

Inoue Jun looked bewildered: "Toka dealt into the riichi player without any defense?"

Kunihiro Hajime looked even more devastated: "How could this happen..."

Even Sawamura Tomoki, who rarely spoke, had a very surprised expression: "Up until now, such a thing has never happened."

Kunihiro Hajime was completely falling apart; she gripped her skirt and stood up anxiously: "What on earth... happened there?"

After all, everyone on the data-driven team was skilled at defense. Up until now, there had never been an incident where someone dealt into a hand the moment someone declared riichi, which was why the disturbance was so ominous.

Kageyama Sora, who had just been chatting and laughing with everyone, also became cautious: "Her expression... it's not just the look of someone who let their guard down after winning a big hand; it's more like... something that shattered her worldview occurred."

The cicadas suddenly went eerily silent, and the air in the corridor seemed to be sucked away by an invisible hand.

Amae Koromo tilted her head, a smile still lingering on her porcelain-white cheeks, but her loose strands of hair were moving without wind, like the bristles of some dormant, ferocious beast standing on end.

The deep blue light swirling in the depths of her pupils was like an undercurrent churning beneath a deep pool, dyeing her originally clear eyes into a dangerous vortex.

Amae Koromo tilted her head to look at Kageyama Sora: "Is Sora worried about Toka... Koromo can feel it, an interesting aura."

The girl who had been curled up in Kageyama Sora's arms, as docile as a kitten, now had a near-tangible pressure spreading around her. Even the rabbit-ear ribbon on her head rippled strangely in this aura.

On Amae Koromo, who had always been well-behaved and sweet in Kageyama Sora's arms, emerged that dangerous aura that only appeared when she was playing mahjong.

Based on this alone, he could easily judge that, just from this instantaneous change in aura, he suddenly realized that Toyoko Momoko, who had caused such a strong reaction in Amae Koromo, was by no means as simple as she appeared on the surface—that Toyoko Momoko was very problematic.

"Could it be that another monster has appeared in a field I don't know about..." Kageyama Sora whispered, interest appearing in his eyes: "A bit worried, but also a bit curious..."

[Toyoko Momoko of Tsuruga Academy won 2900 points from the top-ranked Ryumonbuchi Toka, and with that, the first half ended.]

During the halftime break, everyone was free to move around.

Kunihiro Hajime rushed out without a second thought to find Ryumonbuchi Toka, and Kageyama Sora, after a moment's consideration, followed after her.

Before leaving, however, he asked Amae Koromo if she wanted to go take a look, but Amae Koromo simply shook her head: "No matter what, the outcome is destined, why bother... with such things."

By the time Kageyama Sora chased after them, Kunihiro Hajime had already disappeared because she had run too fast.

Kageyama Sora could only follow along the known route.

Not far away, a figure wearing a Tsuruga Academy uniform stood in the corridor, her long ink-colored hair trembling gently in the draft, like a static ink wash painting.

That girl with long, straight black hair stood with her back to him, standing so straight it seemed as if she were contemplating something.

The evening breeze brushed past the hem of her skirt, actually stirring up a faint ripple in the surroundings, as if a transparent cocoon were separating her from the world.

Kageyama Sora held his breath for no reason—the sense of loneliness lingering around the girl was too heavy, as if she were a lone star left behind in the folds of time, and even the sunset glow falling on her shoulders seemed out of place.

Based on his long-standing experience, girls like this were usually not to be trifled with.

Thus, Kageyama Sora intended to pass by her to find Ryumonbuchi Toka and Haramura Nodoka.

Yes, he not only wanted to ask why Toka had made such a world-view-shattering expression, but he also wanted to ask if Haramura Nodoka had sensed anything.

After all, when they chatted in the past, Haramura Nodoka would often display a feeling of—the aura outside being turbulent while she was completely oblivious to the situation.

So, he originally hadn't paid much attention to this girl from Tsuruga Academy.

But... just as Kageyama Sora walked past behind this girl, he subconsciously turned his head and saw her face, and Kageyama Sora was surprised to find that this girl was actually Toyoko Momoko, who had just won off a discard from Toka.

Her black, straight hair reached about to her shoulders, with two long strands hanging down from the front; from the front, it looked as if she had shed two trails of blood and tears... Her deep green pupils, like clear lake water, revealed a hint of spirit and intelligence on her slightly shy and low-profile face, as if hiding many unknown little secrets.

Her whole being gave off a mysterious temperament, and that ethereal feeling made Kageyama Sora unable to help but strike up a conversation: "Are you the player from just now?"

Toyoko Momoko's eyelashes trembled violently, and she staggered half a step backward: "You can see me???"

The voice sounded as if it were squeezed from the deepest part of her chest, carrying an unbelievable tremor.

Toyoko Momoko's pale fingertips gripped her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white, and a stormy sea surged in her deep green eyes.

Kageyama Sora took half a step back, eyeing the person in front of him vigilantly: "Shouldn't I be able to see you? You're such a big person standing right here!?"

There were clearly other students passing by in the corridor, yet Momoko's reaction was as if she shouldn't exist in anyone's line of sight.

"You actually... can see me!?" Momoko suddenly lunged forward half a step, her hair tips brushing against the tip of Kageyama Sora's nose, carrying a faint scent of bitter tea.

Her pupils contracted violently, as if she were examining some rare treasure: "No one has ever... even the captain..."

The second half of her sentence dissipated in the wind, but it stirred up a stormy sea in the bottom of Kageyama Sora's heart.

"Don't scare me, it's broad daylight..." Kageyama Sora felt confused, curious, and uneasy at Toyoko Momoko's words: "I just saw you playing in the match, don't talk about yourself like a ghost..."

Momoko suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, the sound leaking through her fingers like a swaying wind chime, carrying the excitement of discovering something novel: "So there really is someone..." She suddenly leaned in, her warm breath brushing against Kageyama Sora's ear: "Who can see my existence."

Kageyama Sora was stunned: "What do you... mean by that."

"You really can see me..." The sense of loneliness on Toyoko Momoko's body dissipated completely, as if she had discovered a new toy: "What is your name, and why are you here?"

"Kageyama Sora." After introducing himself, he thought for a moment and added: "If I had to say, I'm a family member of one of the players."

As for which one, he wouldn't say, because he was a family member to quite a few people.

"Toyoko Momoko, that's my name." The girl smiled, and although she still had that ethereal feeling, her presence was unexpectedly a bit more real: "Remember me, okay? I think we will... probably see each other often in the future."

The mysterious aura lingering around Toyoko Momoko and her ghostly demeanor, like an indelible thin mist, quietly left an unforgettable mark in the bottom of Kageyama Sora's heart.

However, this impression could not overcome the more urgent question in his heart—what kind of secret was hidden behind that expression of Ryumonbuchi Toka's, which seemed as if her world view had collapsed?

He was burning with anxiety, wishing he could appear in front of Toka immediately to ask for a clear explanation.

However, that unexpected conversation with Toyoko Momoko had stolen precious time without him realizing it.

By the time he finally arrived, the two of them barely had time for an in-depth conversation before they were interrupted by Toka's agitated words.

He saw Toka's ahoge swaying back and forth with her emotional fluctuations; she was completely distraught, shouting in a voice full of confusion and shock that even she herself could hardly understand: "It's strange, clearly that guy from Tsuruga Academy declared riichi, but I completely ignored it, I didn't even notice it at all!!"

That appearance was as if her solid world view had collapsed in an instant.

Kageyama Sora still wanted to ask Haramura Nodoka, who was competing in the same match, about the situation, but the bell for the second half of the match rang mercilessly. Helpless, he could only return to the lounge for the time being.

And just on the way, he ran into Fukuji Mihoko, who had come to comfort her members.

The two met eyes, and the silent air seemed to be entangled by invisible threads; an ambiguous atmosphere circulated and spread between them. Without a single word, the atmosphere became subtle to the extreme.

Finally, Fukuji Mihoko broke this suffocating silence. She curled her lips into a faint, elusive smile and asked softly: "Who are you here to see?"

Under the gaze of those eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, no matter if the answer was Ryumonbuchi Toka or Haramura Nodoka, it would seem so inappropriate.

One was a girlfriend, one was a cousin with whom he had had an intimate relationship, and... Fukuji Mihoko herself, who had already had a relationship with him.

Kageyama Sora felt a bit like a scumbag.

Kageyama Sora's mind raced, showing his quick wit: "I came to see that player from Tsuruga Academy named Toyoko Momoko. It's a bit strange, I'm a little curious."

"Curious? Are you afraid that Ryumonbuchi Toka will keep losing?" Fukuji Mihoko's tone was gentle, but it contained a hidden probe.

"No, I'm just curious about all different types of mahjong players..." Kageyama Sora responded cautiously, trying to maintain a calm facade.

The smile at the corners of Fukuji Mihoko's mouth deepened, and she pressed on, slowly approaching Kageyama Sora.

Suddenly, she rose slightly onto her tiptoes, her warm breath brushing against the ear of Kageyama Sora with a hint of seduction: "What a flawless answer. Kageyama-kun is truly cautious. However, I'm not the type of girl to get jealous so easily; you can be honest with me."

Her voice was soft and enchanting, as if casting a stone into the depths of Kageyama Sora's heart, stirring up ripples.

While the warmth of Fukuji Mihoko's breath still lingered by his ear, Kageyama Sora caught a flash of vulnerability in the depths of her eyes. Beneath that feigned, assertive smile lay the heavy burden that a captain must carry.

"Honestly, saying things like that..." He shook his head helplessly, though his fingertips uncontrollably brushed through her silky blonde hair. His pads grazed her earlobe, which had turned slightly red from standing on her tiptoes, before finally resting on the crown of her head to stroke it gently: "The pressure must be immense, being the captain..."

Before he could finish, Fukuji Mihoko's butterfly-like eyelashes trembled violently.

The beautiful eyes that had just moments ago held an aggressive edge were now misting over, and a single, clear tear fell unexpectedly onto the back of Kageyama Sora's hand, burning hot.

Only then did he realize that the girl before him, who always seemed to have everything under control, was merely a warrior fighting alone on the battlefield.

"Mihoko..." His throat tightened, and he instinctively pulled her into his embrace.

Her body felt even lighter than it had a while ago, and her hair was scented with a faint, lingering fragrance mixed with the unique, sweet freshness of a young girl.

Kageyama Sora patted her back gently, his palm feeling her increasingly ragged breathing: "No matter what, you have already done your best..."

As his chin brushed against her soft hair, he felt that saying victory or defeat didn't matter was too hollow, yet it was the only way he could comfort her.

Fukuji Mihoko's hands gripped his lapels tightly, her nails nearly sinking into the fabric.

In the long silence, only her stifled sobs echoed through the corridor. Kageyama Sora lowered his head and placed a feather-light kiss on the top of her head, his masculine scent brushing against her reddened ear: "You don't have to carry it all alone."

He heard his own heart beating like a drum, yet he stubbornly held her even tighter, as if he could dispel all her anxieties just by doing so.

Kageyama Sora held Fukuji Mihoko gently, without a trace of lust, filled only with profound heartache: "Team matches aren't something one person can decide alone; you've been pushing yourself too hard..."

Fukuji Mihoko's voice was very soft, revealing the vulnerability she could never show in front of her teammates to Kageyama Sora: "I know, but... this is my final year at the National Tournament... if I fail this time, I won't have another chance..."

"You still have a chance, you still have the individual tournament..." Kageyama Sora's voice was incredibly gentle: "I believe in you..."

Yet, neither Kageyama Sora nor Fukuji Mihoko knew.

This scene of intimate interaction was seen clearly by Ikeda Kana, who had come looking for Fukuji Mihoko.

Because the match had already begun and Fukuji Mihoko had not yet returned to the Kazekoshi Girls' High School lounge, Ikeda Kana had come to find her, worried that something might have gone wrong.