Dusk filtered through the gymnasium windows, casting a warm golden glow over the backs of Haramura Nodoka's and Saki Miyanaga's hands as they clasped together.
When Kageyama Sora hurried over, he found Nodoka smiling, sweat still glistening on her face. Her pink hair quivered lightly with the sound of their high five, and the Penguin Plushie in her arms tilted its head as if sharing in her joy.
Saki's crimson eyes glimmered with excitement, and her uniform skirt fluttered in a delicate arc as she moved.
"Phew..." Nodoka panted softly. Her cheeks, flushed from the intense match, were red as ripe cherries, and even the tips of her ears had turned a lovely pink.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously around the penguin, its soft fur leaving a warm sensation in her palm.
Saki was still basking in the afterglow of victory. Even the way she spoke carried a cheerful lilt. "Haramura Nodoka's match was so exciting and amazing..."
The two girls looked completely different, yet the way they smiled at each other made them seem like twin flowers entwined in their growth on a spring day.
Kageyama Sora leaned against the doorframe, a few strands of his black hair lifted by the breeze blowing through the hall.
Thinking of Amae Koromo, whose expression had grown more and more dangerous as the match drew near, bringing her ever closer to her full-moon state, Kageyama Sora watched Saki's back and murmured, "Maybe you'll be able to give her a new lease on life..."
Just then, Nodoka and Saki exchanged a glance and embraced Kageyama Sora together.
Nodoka's lightly scented hair brushed his nose, while the Penguin Plushie's fur tickled his chin. Saki's warm palm rested firmly on his shoulder, her grip conveying an undeniable resolve.
"I'll take care of the next match!" Saki looked up at him, her eyes alight with eager anticipation. "And Haramura Nodoka..." She turned and winked at the pink-haired girl, who was still staring blankly. "Kageyama, could you please take her back to rest?"
Hugging the penguin, Nodoka blushed and stared at her in surprise. "I can go by myself..."
"No way!" Saki's voice rang as clear as a silver bell. "I want Nodoka and Kageyama Sora to watch me together! When I win the championship, I want to see your surprised faces right away!"
She rose onto her toes and flashed a V sign with her fingertips in front of them.
She was far too lively.
Kageyama Sora lowered his gaze to Nodoka's flustered expression, then met Saki's expectant eyes. Suddenly, he felt like some kind of social butterfly.
"Okay." He chuckled and gently ruffled Nodoka's warm head. "It's a promise, then."
Just then, the lights in the competition hall came on, and the broadcast resumed:
[And now, the General Battle is about to begin.]
[The Kiyosumi High School team, currently in first place, will be represented by Saki Miyanaga, another first-year student, taking over from Haramura Nodoka.]
Saki smiled at Kageyama Sora. "When I watched Haramura Nodoka play mahjong just now, I really, really wanted to join in. Now it's finally my turn!"
[Just like at the start, still little-known but currently in second place, Tsuruga Academy will be represented by its third-year student, Yumi Kajiki.]
Kageyama Sora didn't know her at all, but he knew she must be the very important person Toyoko Momoko had mentioned. Anyone who could earn the trust of someone with a special ability like Momoko's probably wasn't ordinary.
[And then there's the prestigious school now fighting an uphill battle. As last year, its General Battle player is a second-year student, Ikeda Kana.]
At the sound of that name, Kageyama Sora froze. His mind involuntarily replayed what had happened in the warehouse that day... His feelings turned complicated, and he thought he should find time to meet with her privately and talk.
[And finally, the fated rival of Ikeda Kana, as she's known: a second-year student from Ryumonbuchi High School, last year's MVP, who plays as if possessed by a deity and holds the record for the highest score in last year's National Tournament... Amae Koromo.]
The moment that name rang out, Saki, who had been smiling sweetly just a moment ago, suddenly stiffened.
Her face took on a very strange expression. "That feeling... it's here again..."
Kageyama Sora looked at Saki, seeming to understand. "Is it a connection between Monsters...?"
No one could investigate it, and there was no way to continue investigating...
Because...
[The fate of this match rests on the final player. The decisive battle is about to begin.]
As he watched Saki head toward the competition venue, Kageyama Sora took Nodoka's hand. "Come on. I'll take you back."
When they reached the entrance to Kiyosumi High School's waiting room, they found Hisa Takei, Mako Someya, and Yuki Kataoka waiting there.
"Welcome back, Nodoka." Hisa Takei smiled, then glanced at Kageyama Sora. "Looks like a prince on a white horse came to pick you up."
Blushing, Nodoka hugged her Penguin Plushie and stepped forward. "I'm back, Club President, everyone."
"Nodoka, you have guests." Hisa Takei pointed behind her...
The next moment, two girls in middle school uniforms stepped forward. "Welcome back, Nodoka-senpai!"
One was tall, with short dark green hair; the other was short, with short purple hair. They were both adorable girls.
Nodoka stared in surprise, then broke into a huge smile. "Ah! It's you two!"
Mako Someya asked at just the right moment, "Are they your old schoolmates from middle school?"
The purple-haired girl nodded, beaming. "Yes! We came to cheer you on, Nodoka-senpai. You really are amazing!"
The green-haired girl nodded along. "Maho insisted on coming..."
Just then, Yuki Kataoka suddenly blew up. "Hey! What's the deal with you guys? Why didn't you come cheer for me, your middle school senior?!"
The purple-haired girl shrank back. "That's because Maho accidentally overslept and didn't get up this morning..."
Well, that was certainly an honest reason.
But Yuki Kataoka wouldn't accept it. She lunged for the girl calling herself Maho and started tickling her. "You just didn't have enough enthusiasm..."
Watching them, Kageyama Sora put an arm around Nodoka's shoulders. "What adorable juniors. I'd forgotten you and Yuki went to the same school... But she doesn't seem much like a senior."
Kageyama Sora swore he hadn't meant to pick on Yuki Kataoka. He was genuinely just commenting on her reaction.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuki Kataoka, who had just been attacking Maho, rushed over to attack Kageyama Sora instead. But because of the height difference... she ended up hanging off him.
Chapter 108: Saki's Match
Yuki Kataoka looked like a little monkey clinging to a tree trunk. Her legs wrapped around Kageyama Sora's waist as both hands tugged hard at his collar. "Kageyama Sora, you jerk! How dare you say I'm not like a senior? Believe me, I'll bite you!"
Her twin tails swished across Kageyama Sora's face as she shook him, her body still warm from running back from the playing venue.
The sudden weight made Kageyama Sora stagger half a step. He steadied himself by gripping the back of her neck. "Let go. Keep this up and I won't go easy on you!"
Kageyama Sora was genuinely helpless. He was a serious young genius business tycoon, yet every time he ran into these girls, they dragged him down to their level... Sigh.
"Hey!" Yuki Kataoka instantly bristled and started struggling with all her might, accidentally kicking the storage rack beside her.
Empty drink bottles clattered off the rack. Maho, the purple-haired girl, covered her eyes in fright, while her dark green-haired companion hurried to catch them. The two girls collided and fell to the floor together, knocking the Penguin Plushie from Nodoka's arms.
"Yuki!" Hisa Takei was about to scold her when she saw Nodoka bend to pick up the penguin, only to stumble over Yuki Kataoka's swinging feet.
Kageyama Sora was quick enough to catch her around the waist. The two of them almost fell together onto the piled-up cushions.
"Honestly..." Mako Someya laughed as she came over to help, trying to pry Yuki Kataoka off Kageyama Sora. But the girl only clung to him tighter, rubbing her face against the hollow of his neck. "I'll only get down if Kageyama Sora admits I'm the most reliable senior!"
Her rubbing tickled, and Kageyama Sora couldn't help flicking her on the forehead. "All right, all right, you're the most reliable. Can you get down now? Keep hanging on me and I'll deal with you in private!"
At the thought of what he could do in private... Yuki Kataoka immediately settled down.
After all, she'd been so carried away by her antics that she'd forgotten about her improper relationship with Kageyama Sora. She didn't want him to bully her until she was yowling and sobbing like a cat.
At just the right moment, Maho suddenly pointed toward the doorway and cried, "Look! The General Battle is starting!"
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn away.
Yuki Kataoka was like a machine that had been switched off. She obediently slid down from Kageyama Sora, but still remembered to snatch the mint candy from his pocket.
Kageyama Sora rubbed his sore shoulder and watched Nodoka pick up the Penguin Plushie, her fingers gently brushing the dust from its fur.
Hisa Takei opened the door and gestured for everyone to go inside. "All right, the farce is over. Saki's match is about to begin."
The waiting room suddenly fell silent, leaving only the ticking of the clock on the wall.
Yuki Kataoka sat cross-legged on the sofa, with Maho and her companion squeezed in beside her. Mako Someya handed out bananas, while Nodoka sat beside Kageyama Sora, the side of her knee lightly touching his trouser leg.
When Saki appeared on the screen, Nodoka unconsciously gripped Kageyama Sora's sleeve.
Outside, dusk deepened. The light inside the room illuminated the anticipation on everyone's faces. The chaotic scuffle from earlier felt like a distant prelude, and all eyes were fixed on the General Battle about to begin.
Amae Koromo appeared on screen, arriving late and looking petite and adorable.
Nodoka stared at her for a moment. "She's the girl who found my penguin earlier. Just as Sora said, she really is Amae Koromo..."
Yuki Kataoka's expression was more complicated. "So that's Amae Koromo? She looks even younger than me."
Hisa Takei smiled. "She's a year older than you."
By then, Kageyama Sora's attention was completely absorbed by the video.
Everyone else looked serious and focused. Only Amae Koromo cheerfully swung her legs and hummed a tune, acting as if she didn't care about the match at all.
[The General Battle begins.]
The male commentator's voice rang out as the match got underway—
[Only the school that wins after two South-East matches can advance to the National Tournament.]
[Can Kiyosumi High School, which has held the lead since the Center Battle, emerge victorious and advance to the National Tournament?]
[Or will the two schools that reached the finals last year make a desperate comeback?]
Sachiko Fujita, the professional player, started eating as she analyzed the match. "I don't think Amae Koromo of Ryumonbuchi High School will simply sit back and let the match end..."
After hearing professional player Sachiko Fujita's words, the male commentator nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Amae Koromo has also left behind a wealth of records at the National Tournament... What kind of fight will she show us this year? Let's wait and see."
All the players in this final group had captured everyone's attention, bringing the atmosphere to a kind of peak.
Then... Sachiko Fujita suddenly remarked, "Ah... Koromo really is cute."
...Having heard the same broadcast, Kageyama Sora wore a dark expression. "She is cute, but did you have to say that in front of everyone...?"
Kageyama Sora had only meant it as a passing complaint.
Just then, Nodoka turned to him, hugging her Penguin Plushie.
The penguin's head was still tilted, as if silently watching Kageyama Sora too. Nodoka's gaze rested on his face, carrying an inscrutable meaning. "Is your possessiveness acting up?"
"Huh!?" Kageyama Sora was startled by Nodoka's sudden question, his eyes full of confusion. "Nodoka... how could you think that?"
Nodoka's voice remained calm and composed, with no trace of displeasure, as if she were stating something perfectly ordinary. "You've been paying a lot of attention to Amae Koromo. Ever since she appeared on the screen, your eyes have kept following her. You haven't even looked at Saki once." She paused, and the Penguin Plushie in her arms seemed to sway gently with her movement. "We agreed to watch Saki's match together."
For some reason, despite her calm tone, Kageyama Sora sensed an indescribable pressure in it, as though an invisible net were quietly closing around him...
To avoid getting himself into trouble, Kageyama Sora quickly said, "Sorry. I didn't mean to ignore Saki. I just... couldn't help paying attention to Koromo. After all, it's a full moon tonight."
Perhaps even fate was on Kageyama Sora's side. As soon as he finished speaking,
Saki had already won the first hand in the broadcast, using her signature Flower on the Tile.
And at the same time, because of the way Saki had won,
everyone watching was startled. Fukuji Mihoko, especially, was perceptive enough to notice that there wasn't just one Monster at the table, but... two.
Chapter 109: Flower on the Tile
The arena's overhead lights suddenly focused on the table, making Saki's pale fingers look almost translucent.
As the winning tile leapt from the wall into her palm, flecks of light shimmered in her dark brown eyes, like stars crushed into fragments.
The words "Flower on the Tile" fell softly, and the entire arena seemed to fall silent. A few seconds later, the crowd erupted in a thunderous uproar.
The male commentator's voice boomed through the speakers, making the glass in the waiting room vibrate. His knuckles had turned white from gripping the microphone. [Saki Miyanaga of Kiyosumi High School has won the first hand! Will the points gap widen even further at this rate?!]
His deliberately prolonged final words were full of disbelieving excitement. After all, a hand as dependent on chance as Flower on the Tile was as rare as a fleeting blossom.
[Was it a fluke? Saki Miyanaga also won by Flower on the Tile in the first and second matches earlier! That's truly incredible!]
In the close-up on the broadcast screen, Saki lowered her eyes as she tidied up the mahjong tiles. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes.
The lines of her profile were clean and precise, her nose straight as fine porcelain, her lips pressed into a soft pink line. Though she'd won an astonishing victory, her face showed no trace of emotion, as if she'd merely completed an ordinary task.
"I wish it were a fluke." Though professional player Sachiko Fujita had beaten Saki in a match, she knew about Saki's ability to win with Flower on the Tile. Naturally, she wasn't foolish enough to think it was a fluke like the male commentator.
Nor did she think, like the reporters outside, that Saki was playing like a beginner by declaring a kan while in the lead.
After a brief break, the match resumed. Ikeda Kana's eyes suddenly lit up as she studied her hand.
A healthy flush spread across her cheeks, and the tip of her nose twitched slightly. It was as if a pair of fuzzy cat ears had popped up on her head, trembling gently with each breath.
Watching her on the screen, Kageyama Sora couldn't help smiling.
Sunlight fell through the blinds onto the back of her hand, making that smile seem especially gentle. "She's so easy to read..."
Ikeda Kana's fingers tightened around her tiles until they turned white. The corners of the tiles peeking out between her fingers looked like a teaser wand, and her whole body radiated eager excitement.
Nodoka turned to him again with a distant look. "Sora, you're paying a lot of attention to that cat from Kazekoshi Girls' High School too..."
Kageyama Sora immediately smiled apologetically. "I'm watching Saki's match. I haven't been looking at anyone else. Believe me."
Before you continue