Chapter 300: The So-Called Novice Protection Period
They took out the mahjong set, and everyone sat around the table and started playing.
Eriri looked at the stacked mahjong tiles and said curiously, "Although I've known about mahjong for a long time, and I saw mahjong in various video games when I was a child, I don't think I've ever been interested in it."
"It's a personal preference. Some people just don't like to play, or can't remember the rules, but those who like it really love it."
Kaede stacked the tiles while explaining the rules to Eriri.
Utaha sat opposite Kaede and Eriri, saying confidently, "Although this might sound a bit boastful, I can say I've inherited the true skills of a few of my relatives. As long as I'm at the table, I rarely lose. You all better be careful!"
"Emmm~~~ Really?"
The President said a little nervously, "It's been a long time since I played. Although I remember the rules, I'm rusty. By the way, we're just playing for fun, no stakes, right?"
"Ah, right, stakes!"
Eriri's eyes lit up, and she said to everyone, "Wait a moment, just a moment, I'll be right back!"
Then she got up and ran to the bedroom.
In less than a minute, Eriri returned with a small notebook, a roll of double-sided tape, and a pair of scissors she grabbed from the living room.
"You guys start first, I'll cut the paper strips. The loser has to stick them on their face!"
Looking at the double-sided tape, Utaha's mouth twitched: "You... were planning this all along?"
"Hehe, you could say that!" Eriri nodded with a smile, "Didn't I say I wanted to play cards for a long time? So of course, I had to prepare some punishment tools. Sticking paper strips is one of them! Of course, if you want to switch to truth or dare, that's fine too. I can quickly make a set of dares!"
"Then let's stick to paper strips."
Everyone said in unison, even Kaede said the same.
"Aiya~ you guys are really no fun. Then so be it." After glaring at Kaede, Eriri began cutting paper strips, muttering, "Kaede-kun, don't think I'll help you. If you lose, you'll have to stick them on too!"
"Me? I'll lose? You must be joking!"
An hour later... Kaede scratched his face, which was covered in paper strips, and sighed, looking at Utaha opposite him, whose face was also covered in strips, no less than his own. His mood improved slightly: "Senpai, didn't you say you almost never lose? How come you're even worse off than me?"
"..."
Utaha was silent for a moment, then said, "I didn't expect these two to be wolves in sheep's clothing."
The President laughed heartily, "Oh, no, no, it was just pure luck. Whatever I wanted came."
Usami also nodded repeatedly: "Exactly, exactly. Several times when I won, Uchimaki-san was the one who spotted it."
This was true. Because Usami was sitting with Uchimaki Subaru and teaching him, it was already good enough that she wasn't feeding tiles to the next player. Several times, Uchimaki Subaru had noticed and reminded her when she could win.
Tilting his head, Kaede looked at Eriri beside him and asked, "How come you don't have this effect, Eriri?"
"Don't blame me for this." Eriri stuck another paper strip on Kaede's face, then said, "I don't have Uchimaki's talent for learning mahjong. I just finished memorizing the rules. You want me to help you win? Dream on."
Kaede listened, sighed deeply, and after stretching his neck, said, "There's still some time before bed. Let's go again! I refuse to believe I can't win even one round!"
Utaha agreed, saying, "Me too."
However, facts proved that sometimes when luck strikes, no one can stop it. They played until 10:30 PM, and Kaede and Utaha both had so many paper strips that only their eyes were visible, while the President only had three more strips.
On the other hand, Usami stepped down midway, and novice Uchimaki Subaru took over. He immediately activated his novice protection period buff, with all sorts of good luck, making Kaede and Utaha dizzy from his wins.
Taking a deep breath, Kaede removed all the paper strips from his face and said, "That's enough for today."
He was a bit tired and just wanted to rest quickly.
The others also agreed. They all packed up the mahjong set and prepared to wash up.
Standing up, Uchimaki Subaru said with a big smile, "Wow~~~ Mahjong is so much fun! Should we play again tomorrow?"
Hearing this, Utaha and Kaede paused, then their steps noticeably quickened as they fled the living room.
Although the novice protection period might expire tomorrow, this psychological trauma would probably not disappear in a day.
Eriri finished washing up and entered the room, finding Kaede already lying on the futon, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Eriri found it very amusing. She quietly walked over, sat down beside Kaede, poked his cheek, and said, "Hehe, this is the first time I've seen you so defeated, Kaede-kun!"
Grabbing Eriri's small hand, pulling her onto him and hugging her, Kaede said speechlessly, "Uchimaki's luck is a bit too much. The novice protection period shouldn't be this extreme, right?"
"Maybe it really is just talent."
Pillowed on Kaede's chest, Eriri took a strand of her golden hair and tickled Kaede's chin, chuckling as she said, "Alright, it's just mahjong. If you lose, you lose. At most, you just have more paper strips on your face."
"That's true, but it was really quite miserable."
As he spoke, Kaede hugged Eriri, turned on his side, and pulled the blanket over them both: "Alright, let's rest. It's getting late. We have to wake up early tomorrow to go to the Ski Resort. I'm turning off the light!"
"En, goodnight, Kaede-kun."
"Goodnight, Eriri."
...A peaceful night passed, and the second day of their Hokkaido trip dawned.
After washing up and having some bread and milk they bought last night, everyone was ready to depart for the Ski Resort.
Sitting on the bus to the Ski Resort, Eriri excitedly said, "This is my first time at a Ski Resort! Do you know how to ski, Kaede-kun?"
"I know a little. My dad took me twice before, but that was when I was in junior high." Recalling his past trips to the Ski Resort, Kaede smiled and said, "It's really fun, and you don't have to be afraid of falling. Anyway, it's all snow, so falling doesn't hurt much, unlike ice skating. At most, you just look a bit clumsy."
Eriri didn't care at all: "It's fine, it's fine. We'll be bundled up tightly anyway. Besides us, no one will recognize us, so we can play however we want!"
Ski Resort, here we come!