I see you're the one who's most raring to go, President.
Or is it that you're so nervous you couldn't sleep?
Yeah, right.
Same goes for you.
I always wake up early.
Whatever you say...
Good morning!
Good morning.
You actually brought it, didn't you?
Yes...
So, have you gotten used to it?
N-No, not yet...
Hey!
Good morning!
I-I thought I was a dead man...
It's been six days since the training camp. We did all that we could.
So, shall we go?
Yes!
Hand 6
The Tournament Begins
There sure are a lot of people.
There's more and more every year, it seems.
Huh?
Is something the matter?
Saki-chan isn't here.
She got separated?
She always slips off somewhere...
She's not used to crowds like this.
And she doesn't even have a cell phone.
It's Kazekoshi All-girls School!
They were the runners up last year.
With club membership over 80 people, they're always a contender!
It's their captain, Fukuji Mihoko.
Can she rid herself of last year's dishonor of breaking their team tournament winning streak?
I wonder how long they'll keep saying that?
I guess there's nothing we can do about it.
My...
Here they are.
Ryuumonbuchi is here!
The winning school from last year's prefectural qualifiers!
Inoue Jun!
Kawamura Tomoki!
Kunihiro Hajime!
Ryuumonbuchi Touka!
But I don't really like standing out like this...
What are you saying?
But being the focus of attention is the whole point!
Now, smile for the cameras!
Amae isn't here, is she?
Pro Fujita!
Thanks a lot for helping with the commentary today.
Hi.
So the team competition is really between Ryuumonbuchi and Kazekoshi All-girl's School, isn't it?
[Hanchan: A normal length of 2 rounds, where each player gets to be the dealer twice, during the East Round and South Round]
I wonder about that. I guess since other than the finals the matches are only 5 hanchan.
As a pro, is there anything you're paying special attention to?
Ryuumonbuchi High School's Amae Koromo.
Eh? It is true that Amae definitely awakened to great things last year,
but wasn't it basically the playing of a complete novice?
So you're saying that it was only because she had great luck?
Every year over 10 000 high school students aim to appear in the national tournament.
And one or two of them appear that defy all common sense.
Two years ago was West Tokyo's Miyanaga Teru.
Last year was Kagoshima's Jindai.
And Amae Koromo.
And this year, another girl who is "loved by the tiles" might appear.
I don't believe in those sorts of superstitions.
I wish I was able to not believe in them myself.
I've sighted Haramura Nodoka!
Pardon me, I'm going to interview her!
She's the biggest story here to cover!
Fine, fine...
Let's go!
Haramura Nodoka, the reigning champion of last year's national middle school tournament.
Of course, I realize why the media would prop her up considering the figure she has.
But I didn't think she was all that special when I played her in that café.
So, how are you now?
It seems like the newcomer, Kiyosumi High School, is being showered by attention now that you've joined their club.
Really?
How far do you think you'll get?
Or are you really just gunning for the individual tournament?
How far?
We aim to win the nationals.
And...
And, I'm not the only person in Kiyosumi.
I'm completely lost...
Um... This way?
Koromo sure is late.
Maybe her alarm clock is broken again.
I went over to her place yesterday and set five alarm clocks, you know.
At this rate we'll be disqualified for not having enough members.
Don't worry, with all of us-
Who... was that?
She's wearing a Kiyosumi High School uniform.
So that's Haramura Nodoka?
No, Haramura Nodoka is more like this.
She's got these giant blobs of fat where her breasts should be.
It felt similar to Koromo's aura...
Koromo?
No way...
Like there could actually be someone else like Koromo...
Saki-chan!
Everyone!
Over here, over here!
I was looking for you!
What are you doing, getting separated?
We were worried about you.
I was thinking we'd have to put Suga-kun in drag.
I don't think the uniform would appreciate it...
That's what you're worried about?
Huh? Where's Haramura-san?
I thought that she would be caught up doing interviews, but...
Welcome back.
I finally managed to get away from all the interviews.
Amazing, Haramura-san!
There are so many strong looking people here; I'm getting really, really excited!
I want to play against them as soon as I can!
This is the first match on our way to the nationals.
Get pumped, and let's do this!
Yeah!
Everyone, together...
Let's do our best, okay?
Yes.
She's really changed.
It looks like it's the result of the training camp.
Seems like it.
Now, it's like it's a given that she wants to play mahjong.
This the room where the games are played.
Only the four players can enter the room.
Cell phones, etc. are not allowed inside.
It's also shielded from EM waves.
A number of cameras are set up to let people watch in the observation room.
It must be hard not being able to hear people cheer for you.
I guess so.
Now then, I'll announce the lineup.
On point is Yuuki.
Second up is Mako.
I'm in the middle.
Nodoka, you're the vice-captain.
And Saki, you're the captain.
I'll be going last?
When you factor in the improvements from the training camp, this is the best order in my opinion.
Four players, one from each school, sit around the table.
Everyone starts with 100 000 points, and after each hanchan the players from each team switch.
The point totals accumulate through the rounds,
and whoever ends up with the most points at the end advances.
There's no bonus for the winner or proportional bonus paid.
The later in the match it gets, the less you'll be able to play your usual game because of the point spread.
The game can also end if someone loses all their points.
Really?
So in other words, the theory is to put your strongest one in front!
Meaning, I am the best!
No, it's because you can't count points.
But I did so many drills!
Didn't you get more than half of them wrong?
What was that?
This is this year's tournament brackets.
There are 58 schools participating.
So, the 14 schools who win in the first round,
along with the two seeded schools, will be narrowed down to four in this afternoon's matches.
And those final four will be in the finals tomorrow.
I found us!
There really are a lot...
Way more than in middle school.
Well, compared to the hard fought districts in the big cities, it's less than a third.
Our first round match ups sure are weak. Kiyosumi, Toufukuji, Chikumahigashi...
Piece of cake!
Kiyosumi... Don't they have that Haramura what's-her-name?
Oh yeah, I saw her say she was aiming to win the nationals in an interview a second ago!
I can't believe her!
She's just spoiled by them because she's got big breasts.
Haramura-san...
I'm fine.
Let's do our best for the first round.
Sure...
Did something happen?
Nothing.
The first round is about to begin.
Will the first player from each school please enter their designated rooms.
It's finally time for the main character to make her appearance!
Okay, the rest of us will be in the observation room, cheering you on.
Good luck, Yuuki!
Good luck!
Please do your best.
Just leave it to me!
A
Toufukuji High School 3rd Year Nagamori Kazuko
A
Imamiya All-girls High School 2nd Year Kadomatsu Youko
A
Chikumahigashi High School 2nd Year Tsuchiya Yuri
A
Kiyosumi High School 1st Year Kataoka Yuuki
Let's have a good game!
It's almost time.
Only two more seconds.
The first round of the prefectural qualifiers team tournament, begin!
Finally, the matches are off with a start.
With Kiyosumi high school's Kataoka Yuuki's tardy arrival.
A
East Wind Hand 1 Yuuki East
She's amazing.
It looks like she's on.
A first year?
I'm known as the fastest around... I wonder if she can keep up with my speed.
Pon!
[Double : A meld of a wind that is the prevalent wind and your seat wind. 2 han.]
Calling with a double ton!
Oh, it looks like Kiyosumi has called quite suddenly.
Yes.
Kan!
Does she have something?
Chi!
A double ton and two dora? That's gotta be at least a dealer mangan!
I guess I have no choice but to bail defensively...
But...
This one?
Ron.
Dealer haneman, 18 000!
Wha-?
An explosive start with a dealer haneman.
Kiyosumi high school really has made a good start, don't you think?
Yes. Well...
It's only just begun.
You're right, of course.
A
First east round, bonus hand 1
Tsumo! 2100 from everyone!
A
First east round, bonus hand 2
Ron, 8300!
This is quite a surprise, Kiyosumi is putting up a fierce attack.
She's really into it, that Yuuki.
It'd be difficult for even me to stop her when she's like this.
Are you for real?
A
First east round, bonus hand 3
Riichi!
Somebody stop her, seriously!
What am I doing? I should have gone for it here!
There it is!
Ippatsu tsumo! Concealed tanyao, pinfu, sanshoku and dora 1!
8300 from everyone!
I'm starting to feel sorry for them.
It looks like my lineup is working out quite well.
You're awful.
All right!
That's the way... You can do it!
A
First east round, bonus hand 4
R-Ron! Just a tanyao.
I'm running out of taco power...
The first round of table E is complete.
All right!
Thank you very much!
Now that it's over, I realize that she was only strong during the east round.
Shoot. I was so caught up with how powerful she was in the beginning
that I just finished up quickly with cheap hands.
I give up...
I got my ass kicked.
And now,
if the other schools have followed the theory of putting your strongest people up front,
they should be feeling the pinch.
So it's my turn next, eh?
No need to play defense. Fire away.
I was planning on that from the start!
I'm off!
A
Second Round South Wind Hand 2
A
Toufukuji 1st Year Mise Akiko
A
Imamiya All-girls 1st Year Douyama Yukari
A
Chikumahigashi 3rd Year Ogawa Serika
A
Kiyosumi 2nd Year Someya Mako
Is Someya-senpai in trouble?
How many years do you think Mako's been playing mahjong?
Everyone has stretches where they don't get good hands.
But, take a look...
It looks like she's finally got a serious hand!
See?
Ron! 16 000!
Ron, 3900!
Tsumo, 3000/6000!
The second round of table E is complete.
Good game.
The middle round of table E will begin shortly.
Will the participating members please enter the game room.
Well, I guess I'm off.
Good luck!
How about you and Saki go eat something in the refreshment room on the second floor?
But...
They say that bananas and dairy products, eaten in combination, activate your brain.
Were you watching trivia shows on TV again?
Is it okay not to be cheering on the president?
Don't worry. Nothing ever goes wrong from leaving things in her hands.
I see...
That's the Kiyosumi girl from before.
Where's that damn Touka wandering off to?
Hey...
You, over there!
These people...
Ryuumonbuchi High School!
Are you Haramura Nodoka?
I'm...
I am Haramura.
So it's this one!
That's right.
Her breasts are just like Touka said.
I-I didn't really think they'd be that big, though...
Why is Touka so concerned about something like her?
Don't say "something like her."
Fine. Then who the hell are you?
I'm... Uh...
That dangerous aura I felt when we passed by before has disappeared.
She's...
The middle round of table E is complete.
It seems like the president is finished.
That sure was fast.
It's your turn next, Haramura-san!
If you'll excuse me.
Who's the one with the short hair?
And what was that we felt before?
Who knows?
Well, it's time for Haramura Nodoka's debut. Wanna check it out?
Nope.
When I looked at the records of her win at the national middle school tournament,
I think she's no good. Just plays like she's online, with a lot of mistakes.
But for some reason, Touka is really concerned about her.
Haramura Nodoka might be Nodocchi!
...is what she said.
Nodocchi?
The legendary Nodocchi from online mahjong?
Well, Nodocchi doesn't make mistakes.
Totally different from Haramura Nodoka.
The names are similar.
Nodocchi's even stronger than those freaky pros.
If there were really a high school student like that... She'd be tough.
Even if that's the case, she couldn't win against the five of us.
But Koromo and Touka aren't here right now.
Shoot, you're right!
Why those little...
I'm back!
That was quick.
And with her swift attack, she won six times with just cheap hands.
[Order: Kiyosumi - Imamiya All-girls - Chikumahigashi]
That's right, six times!
The second-to-last round at table E is about to begin.
Will the participating members please enter the game room.
Now, it's your turn.
Right.
Get it over with even quicker than I did.
Yes!
Here!
You can do it, Nodo-chan!
Nodoka, good luck!
Right.
Good luck, Haramura-san!
I'm heading out.
Haramura's playing!
I've never heard of Kiyosumi.
Huh? There's a lot of people...
It's gotten crowded all of a sudden.
Everyone's here to see Nodoka.
My plan of saving my seat beforehand was a complete success!
Madam, your tea.
Thank you, Hagiyoshi.
Who's that?
Look, that's Ryuumonbuchi Touka.
And my disguise is perfect!
And now, Haramura Nodoka, we'll see just-
Haramura is...
The reigning middle school national champion is...
What's with her popularity?
I won't allow people to pay all their attention to her!
So do your skills measure up to your popularity? Show me what you've got.
It's finally time for the appearance of the one we've all been watching, Haramura.
Yes.
Does it start now?
A
Chikumahigashi 1st Year Kamigaki Megumi
A
Imamiya All-girls 3rd Year Tanaka Mai
A
Toufukuji 2nd Year Kawachichi Semi
It's started.
Nodoka...
Go, Nodo-chan!
You can do it, Haramura-san!
Next Episode
Tradition
Haramura-san,
what are you doing placing you hand on the wall of tiles like that?
I'm checking.
Each tile has its own temperature,
so if I can pick that up, I can tell which tile I'll draw.
The temperature of the tile?
But I thought you played online, Haramura-san...