August 11th
Yuuki, wake up!
Yuuki!
Wha...
What is it?
I'm still sleepy.
Hanada-senpai's game has already started!
Good morning!
Why didn't the alarm go off?
I turned it off, so that we
could all sleep in the day after the match.
But you're the one who said we should get up early and watch her game!
I forget other stuff when I get absorbed in one thing!
Saki-san!
Just a little longer...
And the opening dealer is Shindouji's Hanada Kirame!
So Miyanaga will be the last dealer?
That might be a dangerous constellation.
Captain!
Morning.
Good morning!
Heya!
Good morning.
You should have woken us.
But you guys were sleeping so soundly.
Our senpai from middle school is playing in this match.
Oh, sorry.
You mean the person from Takatoobara Middle School?
This Hanada Kirame-san?
Shindouji - 2nd Year
I was surprised when she suddenly appeared
when I was watching the second round matches.
That's heartless of you, Nodo-chan.
You didn't know about it, either.
Shiraitodai - 3rd Year
That's Saki-san's older sister.
The inter-high champion really is strong, as you'd expect.
Yeah.
But the girl from Achiga is doing a good job keeping her
in check by holding on to all those dora.
But it looks like that's making Achiga's hand a little cramped.
Achiga... holds on to the dora.
Achiga - 2nd Year
That's Kuro-san!
Do you know her?
Achiga is the school I went to back when I lived in Nara.
Huh? You went to Achiga Girls'?
Nodoka, you never noticed her before?
I guess I never really focused when I looked at the match board.
You never change.
Here. This is Achiga Girls'.
Achiga Girls' Academy Coach: Akado Harue Order Name First Player Matsumi Kuro Second Player Matsumi Yuu Third Player Atarashi Ako Fourth Player Sagimori Arata Fifth Player Takakamo Shizuno
Is it all right if I run over to the auditorium?
Be careful.
I will!
I'm coming, too!
I'll bring some tacos to Senpai!
Morning...
What's going on?
We thought we'd go over to the auditorium.
Come with us, Saki-chan!
Huh? You mean now?
Shiraitodai (West Tokyo) Shindouji Girls' (Fukuoka) Achiga Girls' (Nara) Senriyama Girls' (North Osaka)
The Nationals
Hand 13: Old Friends
Almost there!
Right now, my sister's in there.
Saki...
Saki-san?
Um... I...
Why don't you two go on ahead?
I'll be along a little later.
There's a restroom inside, if that's what you need.
All right.
Do you have the captain's cell phone?
Yeah.
Then we'll go on ahead.
Okay.
Yuuki, let's go.
Yeah!
Darn it! We can't get inside!
I guess when you get to the semifinals,
it's packed even in the morning.
It looks like the first players' match is over, too.
Maybe we should've just stayed at the inn to watch.
Nodo-chan, the only fly in your pie is that you lose your cool
when you get excited.
Yuuki, the saying is "fly in the ointment."
I wasn't expecting that response.
Besides, I'm full of flaws, so that idiom doesn't fit.
Your only flaw is being five kilos heavier than a girl
who's the same height as you, even though you're skinnier.
Hey! Is that you, Haramura-san?
Huh?
The lady from the magazine...
Is the hall completely full?
Yeah...
Come to the press room.
We've got a drink dispenser, too.
Oh, but...
Wouldn't we be in the way?
For me, it'd be perfect!
Just let me take your picture afterwards.
A picture of Nodo-chan?
Wow!
You mean a s-s-sexy picture?
Out of the question.
There was a girl who collapsed at the end of the first players' match.
I was told to follow her and talk to her,
but I'd greatly prefer you over some indiscreet scoop.
An article about Nodo-chan would end up indecent in another way.
I don't deny that.
Anyway, the girl who passed out wasn't Hanada-senpai, was it?
I've never even seen her anemic.
Marvelous!
I guess that's true!
Nodoka...
Shizuno!
Ako!
Kuro-san!
It's been so long...
Do you know these girls?
Yes.
They're friends from when I lived in Nara.
Friends?!
Oh yeah, I remember.
I was just thinking that you remind me a tiny bit
of two friends I had back in grade school.
So that means... they are Nodo-chan's old friends.
Nodoka, we're definitely going to be in the finals.
So you have to be there, too!
In the finals!
I can't make any promises,
but I'm personally going to do everything that I can.
Then we'll see you at the finals!
Yes.
Sit back and relax.
That's so good!
Thank you so much.
Seconds, please!
You didn't have to get us these lunches, too.
Sure.
It's not a problem!
After all, I'll be getting something much better from you.
Here's your second helping.
Yay! Thanks!
I'm really sorry to bring this up while we're eating, but...
I wonder if it's over.
Oh, that's me.
No
"No"?
Hello?
Nodoka-chan?
Where are you right now?
Want to come over here and eat with us?
I'm still outside...
I think... I'm going to go back to our inn.
Oh... okay.
I guess I should go back too,
Delicious!
but it looks like I have to repay them for four lunch boxes...
Yes.
I'll eat back at our inn, where they have the breakfast buffet.
Oh, that's only until nine?
Well, I'll figure out something.
Uh-huh.
Talk to you later.
See?
You can see so much better if you lie on your stomach.
I'm fine.
I can see the sparkling just fine standing.
Do you like fish that much?
They're fun to watch and good to eat!
You enjoy both on the same level?!
It's my dream to open an aquarium.
Not to be a sushi chef?
I used to like to swim, but I don't think I could do it now.
So the fish do all the swimming for me.
If I ever get my aquarium running,
you and your sister should come visit.
Sure.
Saki!
We came to visit!
Koromo-chan?
Don't call me "chan"!
Nonoka isn't here?
She's at the auditorium to see the match her old friends are in.
Huh?
She has friends in the opposite block?
That's pretty cool.
I wonder how Nodoka-chan's doing.
I was going to wait until the game was over,
but I can't wait any longer.
Can we start now, Haramura-san?
What, exactly?
The sexy interview.
I was wondering if you could tell us about your connection to Achiga Girls'.
Sure, no problem.
Nodo-chan, you're being a tease!
No, it's just that it looks like your voice recorder is still off,
so I thought you were still getting ready...
You're right! Huh?!
Umm, is it this?
There've been about five times when she asked me to transcribe
an interview and the tape was actually empty.
Kumiko-chan, you just started working here, too!
I'm always screwing up!
There.
Recording has started!
Please go ahead and start.
Right.
Achiga Girls' Academy was the school I attended when I lived in Nara.
That's it?
I guess so.
I think I have some pictures from that time on the blog.
You have a blog?
Could you send the URL to this address?
Okay.
This is how to get it on the big screen.
It's not my blog...
It's not?
There it is!
River Dip
Haruejournal
Nickname: Harue Gender: Female Blood type: A Location: Nara Prefecture
What is a river... dip?
The date says it was summer four years ago.
That was the last summer of grade school.
If you go a little below that entry, there should be a picture of all of us.
Let's see.
The girl to the right is you, Nodoka-chan?
Yes.
There's one place that doesn't look like it belongs on a grade schooler.
You're right.
A child's school bag on that body...
It's a crime.
We're still recording, aren't we?
The person taking up the left is Matsumi Kuro-san, right?
Achiga's first player this year.
The girl beside you is Achiga's fifth player... um...
Takakamo Shizuno.
Right.
And then, all the way to the left is...
Kataoka-san?
It's a girl who looks like me!
That's not Yuuki, that's Ako.
Atarashi Ako.
You mean Achiga Girls' third player?!
That Atarashi Ako-chan?
Impossible!
That can't be true!
Why are you looking at me?
So, you were already acquainted with three of Achiga Girls' regular players?
That's right.
I lived in Nara from sixth grade until the first year of junior high.
We only really spent a lot of time together in sixth grade.
Players in regional tournaments often have some connection,
but it's not so common on the national level.
Unless you're lucky with the bracketing,
Kiyosumi
you're not very likely to see each other.
Achiga Girls'
This competition has
Kiyosumi and Achiga playing in completely opposite brackets.
It would be nice if you could meet in the finals.
Yes.
The fifth players' match will soon begin.
All players, please...
This way!
Please let us pass!
H-Hold on, there!
What do you think you're doing?
No one is allowed past this point.
Only players may enter.
What?
But I am a player!
Only players participating in today's competition.
We can't let anything happen.
How are we going to get this inside?
Huh?
Hanada-senpai!
Huh?
Oh, it's been forever!
It's over!
That's it for the first game of the semifinals!
Shindouji Girls'
Um, would you like to have some of this?
Big Hall ->
Himematsu High School Mahjong Club
Let's meet at
That was fast.
What's this supposed to mean, Hayari-san?
Oh, my. You're the first one here, Yoshiko-chan!
The ramen noodle of the Japanese people is indeed delicious.
You even eat that when we're outside? Unbelievable.
But of course!
My time here is limited, but the Japanese ramen is infinite!
It's also the perfect meal to eat before a match.
Where are the others?
They went with the coach to the auditorium.
I see.
Sensei!
Good luck, master!
Yup!
Good luck to you too, Mega-chan!
Fight, miss!
Leave it to me.
Are you fine going like that?
Oh, yeah.
Well, shall we?
Yay!
You're all here...
Then it's off to the semifinals!
Here. Good luck.
Thank you.
I'm back.
Good work, Arata.
Welcome back.
The game will start soon. Want me to take over?
Nodoka's game, huh?
What are you going to do, Shizu?
You can go and watch, Shizu-chan.
No, I'll keep playing.
You're not curious?
We made a promise...
to meet at the finals!
There are only two days left in the
group portion of the inter-high tournament.
Today is the second game of the semifinals.
It's a fight for the two remaining spots.
Announcer Murayoshi Misaki
Pro Player Noyori,
what should we be paying attention to today?
Professional Analyst Noyori Risa
Pro Player Noyori?
Everything.
I wasn't asking for a polite or unoffensive answer like that,
but a particular point to focus on.
U-U—
Uniforms...
All right. Thank you.
Are these two really going to commentate live?
Noyori-san is very tongue-tied.
Apparently, when she looks angry, that just means she's excited.
Not that I'd know.
And this announcer's tone is too harsh, I feel.
Yeah...
Well, even so, they get along pretty well, those two.
And now, let's announce the schools!
Here we go.
First off, we've got Himematsu High School, representing South Osaka.
The beast from Kansai, basically a mainstay at the semifinals.
Zenno, their former coach who collapsed last year
at the spring tournament, has come to cheer them on as well.
Coach...
Next, we have Kiyosumi High School, representing Nagano.
This newcomer school has
the inter-middle champion, Haramura Nodoka, in their ranks.
They made it to the nationals by defeating Ryuumonbuchi High School,
who were on a rampage last year.
They've made it to the semifinals,
and amazingly, they took first place in both the first and second round matches!
Why are they only showing Haramura?!
Nonoka!
Are they going to be the dark horse of this second game?
And next, we have the second seed.
Rinkai Girls', representing East Tokyo.
Until last year, they were a very international team
comprised of only exchange students,
but this year, that number is down to four!
They're very international this year, too.
You're right.
And another newcomer!
Usuzan High School, representing South Hokkaido!
Then I'm off.
What? You're taking that cape again?
It would be a waste not to!
I'm counting on you.
I've got this!
And it's finally time!
Each school is sending their first player to the stage!
The first players' match of the second game of the semifinals
is about to begin!
In the 21st century,
the number of mahjong players around the world is in the hundreds of millions,
and the professional players have an avid following.
Even at the high school level, a large-scale national tournament
is held every year.
That's where the high school players compete
in order to make it into the league of professionals.
This is the path of the girls who were aiming for the top.
The Nationals
Saki...