The Strongest Eriri in History

(Two Boring Chapters of the Mahjong Tournament Skipped)

...

"Let us all congratulate Kiyosumi High School for their victory in the county qualifiers and for advancing to the national tournament."

On a podium in the competition venue, the host's announcement was met with a round of applause from the audience below. Flash after flash from cameras illuminated the scene.

A staff member handed a golden trophy to Nodoka Haramura, who stood at the center of the Kiyosumi team.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the moment was broadcast live, spreading news of Kiyosumi High School's triumph far and wide.

After the award ceremony concluded and the team descended the podium, a swarm of reporters led by Junko Nishida surrounded them.

"Haramura-san, congratulations on advancing to the national tournament! Can you share how you're feeling right now?" Junko asked eagerly, holding out her recorder.

"How do I feel...? Hmm, very happy. Entering the national tournament with my teammates has always been my dream," Nodoka Haramura said calmly.

Facing more than a dozen reporters, Nodoka showed no signs of nervousness. Similarly, Hisa Takei, Mako Someya, and Yuuki Kataoka remained composed, though Saki Miyanaga appeared visibly tense.

"What is Kiyosumi High School's goal for this national tournament?" Junko Nishida asked again.

"What else? Of course, it's the national championship!"

…

When Eriri and the group stepped out of the competition venue, the sky had already darkened, and it was past 6 PM.

To celebrate their victory in the county qualifiers and since no one had eaten dinner yet, Eriri proposed a celebratory feast. She volunteered to provide all the food for the banquet. Her storage space contained a variety of dishes prepared by Aoi Kujo, more than enough for a grand celebration.

Nodoka promptly reserved a larger private room at the same inn they had stayed in the previous night.

In awe, Maho Yumeno and Hiroko Murohashi watched as Eriri pulled out one exquisite bento after another from seemingly nowhere. Soon, the celebratory feast officially began.

Under the allure of the delicious food, Maho and Yuuko quickly forgot the mysterious phenomenon they had just witnessed.

By the time Eriri and the others finished their dinner and left the inn, it was already 7 PM.

Since the team matches had ended, there was no need to spend another night in the county seat. They headed straight to the train station.

Unlike the morning ride to the county, the return train wasn't empty. However, being so late, there were only a handful of passengers. Including Eriri's group of eight, the entire train held fewer than ten people.

The group settled into an empty carriage.

During the ride, the team enthusiastically discussed the day's matches. Yuuki Kataoka and Maho Yumeno were particularly animated in their conversations.

Over an hour later, the train slowly pulled into the station of their small town. Nodoka and her friends had finally returned home after being away for two days and one night.

"Haramura-senpai, Eriri-senpai, and everyone else, it's already past 8 PM. Yuuko and I need to head home now," Maho Yumeno said after stepping out of the station.

"Yes, it is getting late. You should head home quickly so your families don't worry, but be careful on the way," Takei Hisa, the eldest of the group, advised warmly.

"Mm-hmm! See you later, everyone!"

Maho Yumeno and Hiroko Murohashi waved cheerfully before turning and running toward their homes.

After the two left, Eriri and the rest headed in a different direction, with Yuuki Kataoka pushing the bicycle she had ridden to the train station that morning.

About ten minutes later, the group arrived at a rural crossroads.

Takei Hisa and Mako Someya veered toward one path and turned back to say, "Well, Mako and I will head this way. See you all at school tomorrow."

"Got it, Captain!" Yuuki Kataoka replied energetically. Saki Miyanaga, Nodoka Haramura, and Kyoutarou Suga all nodded quickly in agreement.

The remaining four continued in the opposite direction with Eriri accompanying them.

…

By the time Eriri and Nodoka returned to Nodoka's home, it was already past 10 PM.

They had chosen not to use any extraordinary abilities for their journey and instead strolled back leisurely, enjoying the night scenery along the way.

As for Yuuki Kataoka, Saki Miyanaga, and Kyoutarou Suga, they had parted ways earlier.

...

"Nodoka, you're back?"

As Eriri and Nodoka stepped through the entrance and headed toward the living room, a calm voice came from within.

Seated on the sofa was Nodoka's father, Kei Haramura. His gaze had already shifted toward the entryway, evidently alerted by the sound of the door opening and correctly guessing it was his daughter.

Hearing her father's voice, Nodoka immediately quickened her pace, pulling Eriri along until they both entered the living room within seconds.

"Dad, I'm back," Nodoka said with a smile.

"Good, welcome home," Kei replied warmly, nodding at his daughter before his eyes fell on Eriri. A trace of curiosity and meaningful insight flickered in his gaze as he took in the guest beside Nodoka.

Noticing her father's expression, Nodoka quickly held Eriri's hand and began introducing her.

"Dad, let me introduce you. This is—"

Before she could finish, Kei waved his hand dismissively, a knowing smile on his face.

"No need to introduce her. She must be Eriri, the one you've talked about so much before, right? I've always wondered what kind of girl could leave such an impression on you. Now I understand."

Kei sighed lightly as he finished speaking. Memories of Nodoka bringing up Eriri repeatedly, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm each time, caused his gaze to grow a bit more complex.

"Huh? How do you know?" Nodoka blinked in surprise, a puzzled look crossing her face.

"I've been following the reports on the tournament these past two days, so I came across Eriri's name," Kei explained casually, his tone shifting as he added, "By the way, congratulations on making it to the national tournament."

"Thank you, Dad," Nodoka replied cheerfully.

At that moment, Eriri raised her hand with a smile and greeted Kei, "Good evening, Uncle."

"Good evening. I've heard so much about you from Nodoka, and now I finally get to meet you in person. Just as she said, you're a truly beautiful young lady," Kei said with a smile. First impressions of Eriri seemed favorable, leaving him with a positive impression.

"I think so too," Eriri replied without hesitation, her tone lighthearted. She placed her right hand under her chin thoughtfully before continuing, "Since you're Nodoka's father, it wouldn't be right to meet you without offering a little gift."

Without giving Kei a chance to respond, Eriri raised a finger and pointed at him from across the room. A faint thread of cosmic energy emanated from her finger, entering Kei's body.

The cosmic energy quickly began nourishing his body, just as Eriri had done for her own parents, Sayuri Sawamura and William Spencer, over the years. The only difference was that for her parents, Eriri had personally performed the process hands-on, while for Kei, the energy would work autonomously within his body.

The effects of using cosmic energy to nourish the body were immediate and remarkable. In no time, Kei Haramura's vitality was restored to its peak. The fatigue accumulated over days of work vanished completely, and he appeared as though he had become several years younger.

"What is this…" Kei moved his body in astonishment, fully aware of the transformation he had undergone.

Beside him, Nodoka also noticed the change in her father's condition. Overjoyed, she turned and hugged Eriri tightly in front of Kei.

"Thank you, Eriri."

Nodoka had always wanted to improve her parents' health and help them live longer, but she could never find a suitable solution.

Despite her immense strength, capable of destroying the very surface of the Earth, her internal energy lacked the properties of cosmic energy, which could specifically nourish and heal others. Even the items she obtained through the chat group were mainly focused on granting powers, such as Devil Fruits, rather than enhancing the essence of life to promote better health or extended longevity.

The chat group did comprehensively improve the capabilities of its members, incidentally enhancing their life essence. This allowed them to instinctively gain abilities like flight and achieve longer lifespans as their power grew. However, individuals who obtained powers through unconventional methods often retained normal human lifespans, along with certain drawbacks.

For example, magicians were prone to physical fragility. Even Pirate King Gol D. Roger, from the One Piece world, succumbed to an incurable disease in his fifties, indicating that Devil Fruits could not extend lifespans.

"No need to thank me; this is what I should do," Eriri said gently, stroking the back of Nodoka's head.

Kei observed the two embracing with a thoughtful expression but chose to remain silent. In the Saki world, yuri relationships were not uncommon, after all. What intrigued him more was the profound change in his body. He could clearly sense that his middle-aged physique now felt rejuvenated, akin to that of a young adult.

At that moment, Eriri's voice rang out in the living room again.

"Uncle, are you satisfied with my gift?" she asked with a smile, holding Nodoka's hand.

"Haha, absolutely satisfied! This revitalized feeling is incredible. Thank you so much," Kei replied with hearty laughter.

"I'm glad you're pleased. We won't disturb you any further," Eriri said.

"Alright, you two go rest," Kei said, still beaming. Then he turned to Nodoka, adding, "Nodoka, since Eriri is here, why don't you go to Tokyo tomorrow and bring your mother over? Let's have a family gathering."

"Ah…" Nodoka froze for a moment upon hearing her father's suggestion but quickly understood the underlying implication.

Her sharp intuition told her that her father had likely discerned her relationship with Eriri. This realization caused her face to flush with embarrassment.

"Okay, I'll do that," Nodoka replied softly, before leading Eriri out of the living room.

...

Once back in her room, Nodoka's mood shifted to one of pure joy. She now knew that the final obstacle between her and Eriri had been entirely removed. Overcome with excitement, she suddenly tackled Eriri onto the bed.

...

The next morning.

Eriri slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the delicate face so close to hers and feeling the soft body pressed against her, the corners of her lips lifted slightly. A smile, radiant enough to enchant anyone, graced her beautiful face.

Before long, Nodoka's eyelids twitched a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.

"Good morning, Nodoka," Eriri greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning," Nodoka replied drowsily, instinctively tightening her embrace around Eriri's body and nuzzling closer.

"Let's get up first. Didn't you say you needed to deliver the trophy we won yesterday to the Mahjong Club before we go pick up your mom?" Eriri playfully pinched Nodoka's cheek.

On their way back yesterday, to avoid any inconvenience, Nodoka had stored the trophy in her dimensional storage space.

Since the trophy was awarded for the team competition and didn't belong to any one individual, everyone had agreed to place it in the Mahjong Club room as a lasting symbol of their achievement. Nodoka planned to retrieve it from her storage and take it to the club today.

Even though she intended to take the day off for the family gathering, she still needed to make a quick trip to the club room.

"Oh, right!" Nodoka exclaimed, quickly releasing one arm from around Eriri. She sat up on the bed, her bare body exposed in the room's soft light.

Eriri followed suit, sitting up and retrieving their discarded underwear from the bedside. Together, they casually dressed.

By the time they had finished getting ready, nearly half an hour had passed.

Eriri sat on the bed in a duck-sitting position, her long golden hair draped loosely over her back and the bedspread. Behind her, Nodoka gently brushed Eriri's silky hair with a comb.

However, Eriri's hair was so flawless it hardly needed any grooming. Each strand glistened with a natural sheen, and the comb slipped effortlessly through her hair, falling to the bed as if guided by its smoothness.

Eriri had reinforced her hair with cosmic energy, making it incredibly strong. To exaggerate, if her hair were long enough, a single strand could theoretically tow an entire planet.

But Eriri was already satisfied with its current length, so she had restricted its growth. Regardless of how many millennia might pass, her hair would remain this perfect length.

Afterward, Eriri returned the favor, combing Nodoka's hair. Instead of the usual twin-tails, she styled it just like her own, letting Nodoka's long hair flow freely down her back and securing the ends with a pink bow.

By the time the two emerged from the room, it was already 8 a.m.

When they entered the living room, they saw Kei Haramura sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper.

After being nourished by cosmic energy overnight, Kei's complexion had improved significantly. Compared to the day before, he looked vastly rejuvenated. Though in his forties, he now appeared closer to his early thirties, as if he had turned back the clock by a decade.

While the cosmic energy in his body continued to gradually dissipate, it would still last quite some time before being completely expended.

"Good morning."

"Good morning," Kei set down his newspaper and looked at Eriri and Nodoka.

But when his gaze landed on Nodoka, he froze for a moment. "Nodoka, your appearance..."

Last night, after they finished making tofu, Eriri had performed a transformation on Nodoka's body.

While her strength had only slightly increased—from Level 5, Stage 9, to Level 6, Stage 3—her life essence had been significantly elevated.

Her already refined and beautiful face had become utterly flawless. Although her facial features hadn't fundamentally changed, making her still recognizable to others, her overall beauty had increased severalfold.

If yesterday's Nodoka could be considered a rare beauty, today's Nodoka was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in the Saki universe.

"Oh, that's because my strength improved again, so my body underwent a small change. Dad, didn't you also look a lot younger today?" Nodoka replied nonchalantly.

"I see..."

Though still a bit skeptical, Kei nodded at her explanation.

"Alright then, Eriri and I are heading to Tokyo to pick up Mom."

"Okay, take care."

As soon as Kei said those words, Eriri and Nodoka vanished from the living room in an instant.

...

"Good morning, Captain."

Since it was getting late, Eriri used teleportation to bring Nodoka directly to the Mahjong Club at Kiyosumi High School.

There were still about 30 minutes before class started, and Takei Hisa, who had arrived early, had been spending her time in the clubroom.

Eriri and Nodoka appeared directly in front of Hisa, startling her momentarily.

But she quickly regained her composure—her mental resilience was, after all, quite strong.

"Good morning, Nodoka, Eriri. But... Nodoka, how did you suddenly become so beautiful?"

Hisa also noticed Nodoka's astonishing transformation and began circling her, mumbling as she examined her closely.

"Not quite on Eriri's level yet, but definitely not far behind someone like Akino Yukinoshita."

Although Hisa hadn't shared a table with Akino Yukinoshita during the martial arts tournament, she had still become acquainted with her and the others.

"Yeah, I did undergo a slight change," Nodoka replied, repeating the same explanation she had given her father.

As she spoke, she retrieved the team competition trophy from her storage space and carefully placed it on the low cabinet next to the bookshelf in the Mahjong Club room.

The low cabinet was covered with a white cloth, and two framed photographs were already displayed there. With the addition of the trophy, there was still plenty of room left.

The bookshelf and low cabinet were positioned to the left of the clubroom's entrance, making the trophy prominently visible to anyone who entered.

Although the Kiyosumi High School Mahjong Club currently had only six members, it was certain that more would join in the coming years.

With the club's championship in the prefectural qualifiers and the future guarantee of a national championship, the school was bound to attract many mahjong enthusiasts to apply.

Kiyosumi High School would soon ascend to the ranks of prestigious institutions.

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