Do You Really Not Like Playing Mahjong? / Mahjong Played for Victory

She suddenly remembered the promise he'd made the night before. Her heart gave a hard thump, and she raised her head, her blue eyes full of unease. "Sora, what you said... about getting Saki Miyanaga to play a serious game of mahjong with me—can you really do that?"

"Don't believe me?" Kageyama Sora raised an eyebrow, then rolled over and gently pinned her against the soft bedding.

The morning light outlined his sharp jaw, but couldn't melt the tenderness in his eyes.

His thumb brushed her lower lip. His voice was low and enticing. "How about I prove I mean it another way?"

Haramura Nodoka's cheeks turned scarlet, and she couldn't manage a coherent reply.

All she could do was accept Kageyama Sora's gentle kiss.

His warmth and the soft rhythm of his breathing enveloped her, leaving her lost in the comfort of the bedding.

The touch of his fingertips against her flushed ear sent a shiver through her, and she found herself wishing the moment would last.

As their lips met, Nodoka, still a little foggy from just waking up, felt as though time had begun to warp.

She caught his familiar scent. It was strange that a man could smell so good. In her daze, she felt as if Kageyama Sora had completely surrounded her, his presence setting the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Their breathing mingled, and her thoughts grew hazy.

Kageyama Sora's palm moved slowly along her back. Each touch sent a flutter through her.

Without thinking, she slipped her arms around his neck...

As their kiss deepened, their breathing grew quick and uneven. Kageyama Sora drew her closer, holding her as if he never wanted to let go.

The torrential rain from the night before had long since stopped.

The birdsong outside and the rustle of wind through the leaves gradually faded into the background.

His kisses moved from her lips to her collarbone, and she arched her back, caught up in the moment, her breath coming in unsteady bursts.

The breeze lifted one corner of the gauzy curtain, and patches of sunlight danced across them.

Her fingertips pressed against his back. The slight sting of her nails made Kageyama Sora wince, but he didn't let go of her.

Every breath brought them closer, every touch filling the quiet room with warmth.

His low murmurs mingled with the sound of their heartbeats, surrounding her until she felt wrapped in affection.

The air seemed to grow heavy, and she sank into the moment, forgetting everything else.

She watched the shadows of the trees sway outside the window. In her daze, they seemed to turn into the patterns on mahjong tiles, only to vanish beneath another kiss.

Held close beneath him, she let go of her doubts and worries, and relaxed into the tenderness of the moment...

When all was quiet again, she curled up in his arms, listening as his heartbeat gradually settled.

Morning light cast a soft glow over them, and her thoughts slowly returned to the present.

Blushing, Nodoka said, "...We're going to be late for school."

Kageyama Sora was exceptionally gentle with the girl whose first kiss he had just taken. "We won't be. I'll take you to school right now."

Nodoka changed into the clothes Kageyama Sora had arranged to have delivered at some point, and they drove to school together.

It was worth mentioning that after Kageyama Sora decided to stay here for the time being, he had his assistant come and help take care of a few things.

Although he was still living at the Ryumonbuchi household, he needed to bring over useful things like a car and an assistant. Otherwise, even being a god would be inconvenient.

As for how his assistant had managed to get clothes in Nodoka's size, Kageyama Sora said that with precise enough data, measurements could be taken by hand and by sight.

And so, Kageyama Sora did indeed keep his promise: Nodoka wasn't late.

It was worth mentioning that Nodoka was an excellent mahjong player and beautiful, so she had always attracted plenty of attention at school. Naturally, stepping out of a luxury car drew whispers.

However, Kageyama Sora had been fairly restrained yesterday and today, and hadn't left any compromising marks on Nodoka.

So there was no actual proof that anyone could use to slander her.

After seeing Nodoka safely to school, Kageyama Sora decided to help her settle things with Saki Miyanaga.

As for the promise he'd made Nodoka to resolve the problem with Saki Miyanaga, Kageyama Sora's approach was simple and direct.

During lunch break, Kageyama Sora found Saki Miyanaga in the library, trying to borrow a book.

Perhaps Saki Miyanaga was having bad luck. The librarian told her the book had already been checked out.

A trace of frustration appeared on Saki Miyanaga's face. Kageyama Sora chose that moment to walk over. "The book you're looking for... I have the whole set. I can lend it to you—or even give it to you."

Saki Miyanaga turned around instinctively. She blinked when Kageyama Sora suddenly appeared.

The midday sun streamed through the plane trees in front of the library, laying a sheen like polished black jade across Kageyama Sora's hair. He leaned against a carved stone pillar, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing the elegant line of his neck. His dark eyes gleamed like glass steeped in night, their light impossible to read.

Specks of sunlight fell on his straight nose and gently pressed lips, sculpting his already handsome face like a Renaissance statue—cool, yet irresistibly alluring.

He was incredibly handsome, more handsome than any man she'd ever seen. That was Saki Miyanaga's first thought.

She wasn't the type to overthink things, but after remembering yesterday's conversation with Nodoka, she couldn't help feeling awkward around Kageyama Sora, who had been there the whole time.

So, resisting the temptation of the book she wanted, she shook her head gently. "I can wait..."

"If you're always waiting, you'll miss out on a lot." Kageyama Sora replied calmly, his handsome features carrying an inscrutable air that made Saki Miyanaga feel as though he could see right through her.

Chapter 18: Do You Really Not Like Playing Mahjong?

Kageyama Sora lowered his gaze to Saki Miyanaga's reddening ears. A breeze stirred the hem of his white shirt, giving a glimpse of his collarbone and toned stomach.

For someone their age, Kageyama Sora was in exceptionally good shape—in short, the kind of physique girls liked.

And now this strikingly handsome man stood before Saki Miyanaga with an imposing air. He let out a soft laugh, his voice like strings touched by morning dew, sending ripples through the quiet room. "If you're always waiting, you'll miss out on a lot."

Seeing Saki Miyanaga look stunned by his words, Kageyama Sora let out a low laugh. The open collar of his white shirt shifted with the movement.

He stepped across the patterned tiles, each footfall seeming to match Saki Miyanaga's quickening heartbeat. "Yesterday, you told Nodoka you didn't like playing mahjong. I remember that correctly, don't I?"

He stopped just half an arm's length away. His fingers absently rubbed the edge of the bookshelf, making a faint creaking sound.

The words drifted into Saki Miyanaga's ear, but they felt like a barbed hook, catching the feelings she was trying so hard to hide.

Saki Miyanaga felt the cold bookshelf against her back. The man's long fingers braced themselves on either side of her, forming an invisible cage.

Sunlight slanted through the blinds, casting the shadow of his eyelashes across his straight nose. His features were gentle, yet she understood all too well what it meant to be "gently cornered."

This was a kabedon, wasn't it...? Yes, just like the ones in novels...

As Saki Miyanaga's thoughts scattered, the mortifying idea came to mind. Then she remembered all the wild scenes that followed kabedon in those books. This was awful...

"You're right. I don't like playing mahjong." At last, Saki Miyanaga found her voice and lifted her chin, only to meet his unfathomably deep gaze.

Outside, the plane-tree leaves suddenly shook in the wind. Their rustling, mixed with the cicadas' cries, poured into the corridor, seeming to mock her feeble denial.

"People don't care about things they dislike." As Kageyama Sora leaned closer, the silver chain at his collar swayed, catching the sun with a cold glint. "There's a difference between pretending not to care and genuinely not caring."

His breath brushed her heated forehead. Each word landed like a hammer, striking the weakest point in her defenses.

Just as Saki Miyanaga was about to crumble, footsteps sounded behind her.

"When something's bothering you, why not face it?" Hisa Takei approached gracefully, carrying her uniform bag. Her dark-red hair shimmered like pearls in the sunlight.

Mako Someya followed behind her, her short green curls bouncing as she curiously sized up the two by the wall.

Saki Miyanaga shifted aside as if rescued. But when she stepped back, she accidentally knocked over several books...

Kageyama Sora reacted quickly and steadied the falling books. His fingertips brushed Saki Miyanaga's flailing wrist, sending a faint shiver through her.

Saki Miyanaga felt even hotter. She fled to Hisa Takei's side. "Student Council President!"

She blushed as she straightened her uniform, dust from the bookshelf still caught in her hair.

Hisa Takei smiled, the corners of her lips curling knowingly. "Student Council Chair."

"This is..." Mako Someya, the short-haired girl with glasses, looked utterly exasperated. Hisa Takei was still correcting an unimportant detail at a time like this.

Hisa Takei had already reached Saki Miyanaga. First, she gave Kageyama Sora a polite nod, then said, "Why not give it a try? See whose perspective is right—you or Kageyama."

The Mahjong Club's large windows filtered the sunlight into golden dust. Nodoka leaned against the windowsill, counting the people walking below.

Thinking about how Kageyama Sora had said he would persuade Saki Miyanaga made her strangely uneasy. The anxiety was even worse than the unease she'd felt the night before.

"I brought her here, though I wasn't the only one who helped." Hisa Takei's cheerful voice came from behind her. Nodoka turned and saw her club president enter with her upperclassman, Mako Someya.

Nodoka straightened instinctively. Her eyes passed over Saki Miyanaga's flushed cheeks, then quickly turned to Kageyama Sora, who was approaching with a smile.

Hisa Takei nudged the short-haired girl with green curls and glasses beside her. "Mako, go get Yuki..."

Mako Someya went to fetch her obediently, then belatedly exclaimed, "Oh... so this is the girl you said played Plus-Minus Zero yesterday..."

Hisa Takei watched Mako Someya walk away and sighed helplessly. "She really can be slow sometimes..."

Of course, she was teasing, but there was nothing but amusement in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Kageyama Sora walked over to Nodoka and murmured so only she could hear, "Are you feeling all right?"

His lowered voice held a hint of concern.

Nodoka's cheeks flushed. She gave a little shake of her head, reassuring him.

Their conversation was quiet, but Hisa Takei still noticed something was up.

The perceptive student council president raised an eyebrow, but didn't press them. Instead, she reassured the slightly nervous Saki Miyanaga.

Soon, Mako Someya came back from the balcony with Yuki Kataoka, who had been drinking milk tea.

Hisa Takei clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "Miyanaga, Nodoka, Yuki, and Mako will play a match. Kageyama and I will observe the game."

It was worth noting that Hisa Takei addressed everyone by their familiar given names, except for Saki Miyanaga, whom she called "Miyanaga"—a comparatively polite form of address.

Yuki Kataoka, still drinking her milk tea, chirped cutely, "It's Saki-chan!"

Kageyama Sora looked at Yuki Kataoka as if she were an adorable creature, then turned to Hisa Takei. "It makes sense that I'm not playing, but you aren't playing either?"

Hisa Takei shook a finger, pretending to be casual. "If I played, everyone would be doomed to lose, wouldn't they?"

Mako Someya looked exasperated. "You've got some nerve..."

Hisa Takei was also the type who loved to watch the drama unfold. She set the first round as the East Round, Yuki Kataoka's specialty, to shorten the game. She also changed the rules to make the stakes high—in other words, it would be even harder to control the score.

The game began, and everyone seemed to have something on their minds.

Kageyama Sora thought Saki Miyanaga would probably try to keep up her Plus-Minus Zero routine and coast through the game.

Nodoka, on the other hand, had decided to seize this hard-won opportunity...

Only Yuki Kataoka blurted out, "Is Saki-chan going to play Plus-Minus Zero again?"

Before Saki Miyanaga could answer, Mako Someya, who hadn't been there yesterday, drawled skeptically, "How could anyone actually manage Plus-Minus Zero...? Especially in a fast-paced East Round."

Chapter 19: Mahjong Played for Victory

Sunlight filtered through the windows of the Mahjong Club, scattering across the floor like golden flecks. Dust motes floated in its glow.

Everyone sat around the mahjong table, waiting for the game to begin.

Compared with the oppressive, rain-soaked day before, the Mahjong Club today seemed bathed in a whole stretch of spring sunshine.

Nodoka's fingers brushed against the mahjong tiles, making a faint rustling sound.

To her right, Saki Miyanaga sat with her legs together, looking like a well-behaved girl. To her left, Yuki Kataoka crossed her legs, the pleats of her skirt rippling with each movement. Across from them, Mako Someya pushed up her glasses, giving no hint of what she was thinking.

When the first die clattered against the blue-and-white porcelain dice cup, Yuki Kataoka's eyes lit up.

Since they'd chosen the East Round, Yuki Kataoka's specialty, she was unstoppable from the very start, winning hand after hand.

Kageyama Sora leaned against a chair behind them, holding a cup of tea Hisa Takei had brewed. In its surface, he could see the girls' hair swaying as they moved.

He watched Yuki Kataoka's lashes flutter as she overturned the wall for the third time, then chuckled. "I noticed it yesterday, too. This boisterous girl is especially strong during the East Round."

Seeing Kageyama Sora's reaction, Hisa Takei gave him a knowing smile. "You noticed that, too? Yuki is especially aggressive in the East Round, but she goes quiet once it's the South Round."

"Of course!" Yuki Kataoka said with a grin when she heard them discussing her. "A genius's focus is a limited-edition item~"

Nodoka rolled her eyes. "Isn't that just because you're impatient?"

Being teased by her good friend only made Yuki Kataoka grin wider. "Exactly."

Before she had finished speaking, Yuki Kataoka suddenly froze. Nodoka pushed her tiles forward, a sly smile curling her lips. "Win."

Over the next few hands, they all won and lost. Kageyama Sora and Hisa Takei also noticed that Saki Miyanaga had passed up several chances to win. Even when she could have won with a big hand, she chose not to, insisting on achieving Plus-Minus Zero.

And she wasn't just aiming for a score of zero. She even accounted for the dealer's bonus points and other factors.

Hisa Takei's expression grew increasingly inscrutable. "Aside from Plus-Minus Zero, Saki Miyanaga doesn't care about anything else."