Saki Episode of Side A

During elementary school, Takakamo Shizuno and Atarashi Ako make friends with the recently transferred Haramura Nodoka. Upon hearing about her interest in mahjong, Shizuno and Ako take Nodoka to Achiga Girl's Academy, where she meets Akado Harue who runs a mahjong club for children. Nodoka starts playing mahjong with the others, including the clubs top player, Matsumi Kuro. Shizuno later explains to Nodoka how Harue was Achiga's ace mahjong player, who ended up quitting after being defeated in a tournament, leading to the main club being disbanded. As time passes, Harue is scouted for a company's mahjong team which leads to the closure of the children's club. As Shizuno and Nodoka enter Achiga upon reaching middle school, Nodoka reveals she is going to be transferred the next spring. As the years pass, Shizuno, now in her third year, sees Nodoka on television winning the individual tournament. Wanting to reach the inter-high national tournament, Shizuno goes to Achiga's club room where she encounters Kuro and decides to revive the mahjong club so she can meet Nodoka again. Upon hearing of this, Ako, who had went to a different middle school, decides she wants to enroll into Achiga and join the club. Source: Wikipedia

Kuro takes Shizuno and Ako to meet her older sister, Yuu, who she invites to become the fourth member of the mahjong club. The next day, Kuro asks her classmate, Sagimori Arata, a fan of Harue during her prime, who agrees to join the club. During Winter, Harue, whose company's manga team has since become defunct, decides to visit Achiga for old time's sake, where she is surprised to find Shizuno and the others playing. Wanting to experience the inter-high nationals once more, Harue decides to become the club's advisor. As the new year comes and the mahjong club is officially formed, the girls begin training for the prefecture preliminaries. Later, Ako encounters some of her former classmates who went on to Bansei High, who are due to become their opponents in the preliminaries. Source: Wikipedia

At the prefectural tournament, the Achiga team defeats Bansei in the first round and eventually qualify to the nationals. To train for the nationals, Harue schedules the club to play against prefectural runner-ups. Immediately, Ako utters "Nagano", Kiyosumi's prefecture, as the first one to visit, and therefore, they play Ryuumonbuchi High. There, Amae Koromo overwhelmingly defeats Shizuno but doesn't discourage her or the team. Then, the excited team proceed to defeat other schools at other prefectures. After a ten day training camp, the girls set off for the nationals. Whilst stopping at a rest stop, Shizuno and the others meet Onjouji Toki and Shimizudani Ryuuka from Senriyama Girl's High, who are also seeded in the nationals. As the club finally reach the nationals, they briefly pass by Miyanaga Saki. Source: Wikipedia

It’s the start of the Nationals, and there are many teams with strong players aiming for the top spot. Kuro Matsumi is the first from Achiga to play in the competition. Her challengers think she is weak, but she will show them the Dragon Road. Source: crunchyroll

Matsumi's dragon road has been shut down by Toki, the player from Senriyama. It is as if she can predict what tiles will be played. With such a frightening power, do any of the other players stand a chance? Source: crunchyroll

After Senriyama domination of the first round, Achiga is left in last place. Yuu promises to get the lost points back in her game. And Ako's speed play disrupts the pace of the other players. Source: crunchyroll

Arata’s turn at the board went well, but it didn’t provide the necessary boost to Achiga’s points. The last player, Shizu, is going in with all eyes on her and her unique but dangerous play style. Source: crunchyroll

Tournament rules say that individual players can’t practice with players outside of their own school. Using this rule, the girls invite players to practice against their team. Source: crunchyroll

Miyanaga Teru is known for dominating games and with each win she earns more points. Kuro hasn’t been able to make a move and the ace, Toki from Senriyama, is unable to stop her streak. Source: crunchyroll

Miyanaga Teru is unstoppable. The players are trying reaching their breaking pot and new techniques must be used. Source: crunchyroll

The stress of the game is starting to affect the players, some faster than others. One player in particular might not make it to the end of the game. Source: crunchyroll

Playing against a champion has forced the girls to evaluate their plays styles and never give up fighting for points. Source: crunchyroll