Up there?
Koromo-sama.
Hagiyoshi.
And what troubles you this meeting?
Why are you in a place like this?
The Koromo shuns the mass media and areas where people mill about.
Once I returned that stuffed animal to Nonoka, I had no other business there.
And it is the case that you turn down all interviews and photo shoots, Koromo-sama.
I am reminded of the sight of those wicked humans flocking around
when Father and Mother departed from this mortal coil.
The final round will be nothing but a tedious exercise, anyway.
No, I do not think that will be the case this year.
Are you speaking the truth?
Yes, with all due respect.
I see...
So, one is here...
A living being with a phantom spirit!
All right.
We're going back, Hagiyoshi!
I shall make sport of this person, and then smash them to pieces!
What was that chill I just felt?
Hand 13
Mild Fever
Three minutes until the start of the first half of the second to last round.
Will those not participating please leave.
Okay!
Now, in this second to last round,
all eyes have got to be on the reigning champion of last year's national middle school tournament,
Kiyosumi High School first year, Haramura Nodoka!
Good luck.
And up next, after showing us some fearful winning percentages in last year's nationals,
one of the top online players in the prefecture,
Ryuumonbuchi High School second year, Ryuumonbuchi Touka!
So then, shall we begin, Haramura Nodoka?
Let's begin the battle that will determine which one of us is the true idol!
Even the great Haramura Nodoka isn't going to be able to beat Ryuumonbuchi Touka, you know.
Yeah, once you look at that famous match against East Tokyo last year.
Do they honestly think Haramura will lose to her just like that?
She's just a first year, and she beat me!
What, you're a Haramura groupie now?
What's your problem?
Um...
Hey Maho, heel, heel!
Uh, sorry about that, yeah.
When it comes to Haramura-san, she just goes off...
Hey now, Maho, over here!
Was that one of Haramura's fans?
Maybe I should quit this groupie thing...
[Kazekoshi All-girls Waiting Room]
What happened with the coach?
She just checked her cell phone. I wonder if something happened?
Thank goodness, though. This way, Bundou-san won't get yelled at.
Oh? What's the matter, Miharun?
Nothing, it's nothing!
It's about to start.
Let's all cheer Fukabori-san on, okay?
Right!
I'm back.
Oh, welcome back!
You awake, Saki-chan?
We all saw you.
Saki.
Yes?
Here!
It's the start of the first half of the second to last round!
Haramura... Nodoka...
Putting aside those ridiculous blobs of fat on your chest...
Although this is just the place I'd want to dent your pride, you and I are online players.
I do not think that we can tell who is truly the strongest without playing a thousand matches or more.
And to make matters worse, this round is only two hanchan.
There is a considerable possibility that one could lose completely, even if they play perfectly.
However, whatever random chance may happen, I shall pierce through it in my own way!
It's such a waste.
Excuse me?
What is a waste?
This match.
The rules for this year's match give luck too much influence.
And the number of matches are fewer, too, so there's even more chance involved.
But students wouldn't be able to play the 2000 matches that pros do every year.
Through last year, the tournament rules were standard,
but the rules this year almost seem like they're a system for sifting out the most special kids from the masses.
The ones playing over there all value reliable, steady play.
It's too bad that the result will be decided in only two hanchan.
Riichi.
And she decides to play it safe without even a second thought?
That's very Nodo-chan-like!
But there aren't many safe tiles. Shouldn't she go for a win?
Haramura's just a big chicken.
And when you're in iishanten and East calls riichi? Yeah, right...
So she bailed, too?
If it was me, I'd have barreled on through.
Don't worry, Touka isn't going to lose.
Because she's improved considerably since last year!
While she was reviewing all the records from top ranked net players and S-league pros one by one,
if there was something that didn't match her thinking, she always found out the reasoning behind it.
And she commissioned a research lab in Hannover to compile statistics from an immense number of matches.
She played online against a number of different extremely strong players.
And now, one of the strongest of them is sitting right in front of her!
I've confirmed it.
You are, indeed, Nodocchi.
Oh, I feel ecstatic!
And to think that it may be I who is the first to cast you down from the heavens!
True, Touka is usually just a fussy little spoiled princess.
But she's the type th...
Eat. Then talk.
Touka always raises her game to the level of her opponents, right?
But no matter how excited she gets, lying behind that is another side of Touka.
One that is cold as ice; a side of her she doesn't even let us see a sliver of.
But don't you think a man can unravel that part of her one day?
Th-There's no way Touka could have a... boyfriend...
A draw!
Kazekoshi All-girls ends up the only one tenpai!
They all really have their game face on, don't they?
I guess online players have to make certain adjustments when they try to hide being tenpai.
Ron.
1000 with the bonus is 1300.
Right...
The first win of the second to last round goes to Kiyosumi High School's Haramura Nodoka!
However, it is quite a basic mahjong!
That sure was simple.
Going for an open tanyao from a crappy starting hand is just like Nodoka.
And she gets the 1000 point riichi stick from the last draw, too.
Haramura-san...
East second round. The dealer is Haramura Nodoka!
Oh, I've got plenty of matching tiles here.
I've got a good feeling about this two tiles away from tenpai hand...
It would be a shame to waste it by calling like crazy, trying to move past the hand, when the leading team is East.
Pon.
That's a ticket on the super express!
Hmph!
[Yakuhai tiles: Any of the three dragons, the seat wind, or the round wind. A set of these is worth 1 han.]
All you did was call yakuhai tiles!
Chi.
Two calls!
That may be, but I'm also fully 1 away from tenpai over here.
Up against someone opening with two calls and a hand with an unknown value,
I'm going to keep on pushing ahead!
Well, look what we have here!
Riichi!
Ryuumonbuchi High School's Ryuumonbuchi Touka is up ahead with a riichi!
What will the other players do when faced with this riichi?
All three of them are giving signs of playing defensively.
No one is giving an inch!
Haramura Nodoka, you actually plan on trying to discard defensively with such a restricted hand?
Bailing after two calls, one away from tenpai, as dealer?
Damn, you're lame, "Bigboobs".
And that's exactly why she's so good. There are people like that out there, too.
Tenpai.
Noten.
What is this slightly uncomfortable feeling?
The greatest mahjong player on the 'net, Nodocchi.
Is this Haramura Nodoka really playing the way I know?
No!
Indeed, it is perhaps because I know Nodocchi so deeply that I am able to feel it!
It is only three hands into the second to last round,
and yet I, Ryuumonbuchi Touka, have already ascertained it!
Haramura Nodoka is not yet at 100%.
Her transformation into Nodocchi is not yet complete!
It's not like I can't appreciate the reasoning behind the bad guy waiting for the hero to finish transforming...
But I am an impatient one.
Hurry up and show me your true power.
For if you do not...
I will crush you!
A
East 3rd Round Hand 2
This is strange... I'm actually nervous.
Riichi.
Now that I think about it, in middle school we were eliminated in the team tournament early on.
So this is the first time I've had the hopes of my team members on my shoulders in the finals.
And Miyanaga-san is watching!
And that's exactly why I've got to concentrate on the match!
Tenpai.
Not tenpai.
A draw, yet again!
A
Kiyosumi High School
Kazekoshi All-girls
Tsuruga Academy
Ryuumonbuchi High School
And it ends with Tsuruga playing it safe, but no win!
A
East 4th Round Hand 2
Concentrate...
Why don't you practice picking up and discarding tiles?
Please play while hugging your penguin.
Just like always...
It was all for this moment!
I'm awakening!
I'm approaching my ultimate state, just like the times when I'm playing matches online at home!
Chi!
Ron!
1300 with two renchan is 1900.
Is it about time, Haramura Nodoka?
Have you finally awakened?
A
South 1st Round
She has five pairs, so she should call and go for toitoi, right?
[Chitoitsu: A special hand composed of 7 pairs. Worth 2 han]
A hand with five pairs is one tile away from chitoitsu tenpai.
With a hand without a three of a kind like this, you should go for chitoitsu.
And none of them are dora or tiles useful for a yaku.
Since it seems like it'll come together easily, there's no reason to start calling.
Pon!
Kiyosumi High School's Haramura Nodoka is in tenpai for a chitoitsu on the second turn!
On the other hand,
Ryuumonbuchi has just started calling a hand that's two tiles away from tenpai with tanyao, dora 4!
Why didn't she call a riichi?
Because it allows her to change the wait on the seventh pair more easily.
How many kinds of tiles do you think would be a better wait than the 6 sou?
Um, if I take 1, 2, 8, 9, and honors, subtract out the ones she's already used, it's 15 different types, right?
Since there are 34 different types of tiles, she should be able to change to a better wait in one or two turns.
Ooh, I can see those math drills are paying off!
Damn skippy!
Riichi!
Kiyosumi High School's Haramura Nodoka passes up the 6 sou from Kazekoshi All-girl's Fukabori
to declare riichi with a single wait on the sha she just drew!
There's one of the two that's left!
And just like that, Ryuumonbuchi Touka is caught in the trap!
That's the absolute worst that could happen.
She's got to bail.
And she bailed!
Is this going to be another draw?
Why didn't she declare a win on the 6 sou back then?
Because it would only be 1600 points.
But if she wins with riichi and hits ura-dora, it'd be 12 000!
If she hit it, that is.
Tsumo!
Ura...
There's no way it could...
1600/3200, please.
Haramura Nodoka, why is your face so flushed?
Haramura-san!
When Nodo-chan runs hot, her opponents get burnt!
It was like that at the training camp, too.
When Nodoka, who's usually so cool,
holds her penguin, she's not only calm,
but she plays almost like an emotionless machine.
However, when she crosses a certain point,
blood seems to suddenly rush up to her head and her expression softens.
When she gets like that, no one can lay a hand on Nodo-chan!
True.
The transformed Nodoka is truly the incarnation of the God of online mahjong.
An angel descended from Heaven.
What is this?
She's almost a completely different person from the Haramura Nodoka that was just here.
Good morning.
Good morning, Nodocchi!
This feeling... This pressure...
It's the same as when I met Nodocchi online!
No, it's even better than that!
Indeed, the sensation of you in the flesh is remarkably more juicy!
I'm going to lick you all over and over and savor this delectable flavor!
Koromo-sama?
What is the matter?
Concerned about Touka-ojousama's match?
It's in the second hand of the first South Round.
Kiyosumi High School is in the lead with 118 100 points.
Touka-ojousama is next with 104 700 points.
Haramura Nonoka?
Nonoka is Touka's opponent?
It seems that way.
I asked her to be my friend, but it seems like we wouldn't have been able to in the first place.
The opponent I mentioned before that may cause you trouble
is also from Kiyosumi High School, the same as Haramura Nodoka.
Does she get along with Nonoka?
It does seem that way from my perspective.
I see.
What a pleasant breeze.
I like this season.
It's not too hot, or too cold, and the new foliage sparkles, rising to greet the oncoming summer.
It's too bad that I feel like this time grows shorter every year.
Mother told me many times:
"One cannot obtain the realization of personal good fortune and cheer over the long term.
Happiness lies within brief moments."
And the heart that wants to share it aims towards love and pleasure.
However, not through mahjong.
It's not always possible for the four people playing mahjong to have fun together.
Those who play with the Koromo always look as if they are witnessing the end of the world.
And then, once again, she'll be all alone.
South second Round is another draw!
Kazekoshi All-girls Fukabori can't win yet again!
Which of these players will break out of this deadlock?
A
Kazekoshi All-girls
Kiyosumi High School
Tsuruga Academy
Ryuumonbuchi High School
A
South 3rd Round Hand 2
She's got two dora!
But the dealer already discarded one.
She discarded the 2 sou? Looks like she keeps good track of the pond, too.
It's obvious she can't use it.
Obviously.
Pon.
Skipping my turn by calling pon, you annoyance? Still haven't figured it out?
I can smell you're collecting sou tiles from a mile away!
Riichi.
Tsuruga Academy's Touyoko Momoko, declares riichi!
Discarding that during the turn the dealer declared riichi?
We've got a dangerous one here, haven't we?
Oh, my! And now Kiyosumi High School's Haramura Nodoka is also in tenpai!
So she's waiting for the 2 5 8 sou?
Or the chun.
Seems the 2 sou she discarded backfired, though.
What?
[Furiten: A player is "furiten" when they can win with one of the tiles in their discards. During furiten, you can only win on a tsumo.]
Oh, I see, she's furiten!
But even if she's furiten, if she declares riichi with such a good wait...
Try to get a clue, you dog!
Dogs have nothing to do with it!
Dog!
The only ones that are left are one of the 8 sou and a chun.
And because she's furiten, she can't win on someone else's discard.
It's fine.
Haramura-san seems like she's really having fun.
Haramura-san was amazing when she was like that at the training camp.
I want to play!
I want to join them over there!
And look at that!
The final winning tile for Kiyosumi High School's Haramura is now in Tsuruga Academy's Touyoko's hand!
However, because Haramura is furiten, she cannot win off that red dragon!
Her last hope has now evaporated!
That's not true.
What?
Pon!
She changed her wait?
Couldn't she have discarded the chun as a safe tile anytime?
Even with a call, she has three safe tiles. And that five sided wait has plenty of winning tiles left!
Tsumo!
2100/4000, please.
Haramura Nodoka...
Haramura Nodoka has repelled Tsuruga and Kazekoshi to come off with a clean win, expanding her lead as well!
The first hanchan of the second to last round has already reached the final hand!
It's the last hand already?
I feel like I haven't accomplished anything...
Wait...
And what's more, no one has won yet other than Haramura!
Everyone but Haramura is being shutout!
I really haven't accomplished anything!
If Haramura can get through this last hand, she'll have a perfect game!
Haramura's engines are really revving now...
Good luck, Fukabori-san!
I wish she'd cheer me on, too!
Must have hurt to have her chun pon'd.
I guess she needs a bit more time.
Touka...
The true match begins now, Haramura Nodoka!
Next Episode
Existence
Hey, Haramura-san. Say you were invisible, what would you want to do?
I'd want to surprise everyone!
I'd want to sneak a look at what someone I like does when they're in their home.
Your back is invisible!