After conquering rides at a breakneck pace, we decided to take a break and escape into an indoor area. The scorching sun, beating down from high above, was starting to make my skin prickle. Of course, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it was still hot.
The indoor area housed a circus, a magic show, an arcade, and various souvenir shops. With two severe Momo Friends addicts in our group, our sights were naturally drawn to the arcade… specifically, to the claw machines.
Of course, the souvenir shops were also packed with Momo Friends merchandise, but we planned to browse those leisurely in the evening, so we decided not to burden ourselves with more luggage just yet.
"Whoa, there are so many plushies I don't have…!"
"…Cute."
But listening to those two, I got the feeling that whether we went to the souvenir shop or stayed here, our luggage was going to increase either way. And more importantly, Trinity's young ladies prefer claw machines over arcade games?!
"Ah, a Wave Cat."
Then again, I can't resist a Wave Cat.
But there was something strange about this Wave Cat plush. It was wrapped around a Peroro plush like a snake, which strangely reminded me of a poster for a monster movie with abysmal ratings.
"Aww… Wave Cat is doing that to Lord Peroro… Wait. Mika-senpai, you're not… right?!"
Hifumi, noticing my gaze, called out to me, her voice filled with anxiety. Did the sight of me staring intently at a Wave Cat plush that looked like it was about to devour her beloved Peroro really make her that uneasy?
"Ahaha, who knows? The plush is just made that way…"
What happens when you let a cat into the chicken coop? For a Peroro aficionado like Hifumi, it was a question she probably didn't want to know the answer to.
"A cat eating a hippo… that's one tough cat. I'm impressed."
"Azusa-chan, Lord Peroro is a bird, not a hippo!"
"Hm? It looks like a hippo to me, Hifumi."
"Aww… That's not what it is…"
As Hifumi began her one-sided debate on Peroro's true identity, Nagisa gave an awkward laugh and gently tapped me on the shoulder. Then she asked me a question.
"Um, Mika-san, do you really like things like that…?"
"Hm? Ahaha, well… if I had to pick, I only really like Wave Cat!"
"I-I see. I can accept the cat, but the others are a little…"
Judging by her reaction, it seemed Nagisa's opinion of the Momo Friends was mostly negative. She had probably gotten used to Wave Cat because of me, but the other characters, like Peroro, were a bit much for her to accept. Especially Peroro; you'd think she would have gotten used to him because of Hifumi, but her reaction was still negative… Then again, that design is so bizarre that it's hard to get attached to, so I just let it go. It's not like Nagisa is the type to openly express her dislike in front of the two who love them, so it didn't really matter.
"Aah! No, Lord Peroro! Just a little more this way…!"
"Don't shake, Hifumi. Maintain your composure, and the fluffy paradise will welcome us… Ugh."
Before I knew it, Hifumi and Azusa had put money in and embarked on the arduous journey of trying to win a plushie. I watched them for a moment before gently taking Nagisa's hand and leading her to a nearby machine. This one wasn't filled with Momo Friends, but with normal, cute animal plushies.
"Mika-san, aren't you going to try for that other one?"
"Hm? Ahaha, that one's not a limited edition, so if I really want it, I can just buy it later. It's just two normal plushies stuck together in a weird way."
It looked too crude to be a single plush, and upon closer inspection, it was just a spring-shaped Wave Cat plush with a Peroro plush stuck inside. It was nothing special. I guess from the perspective of getting two for one it wasn't a bad deal, but that just meant the difficulty was higher.
Besides, a plush depicting one Momo Friend eating another? For merchandise aimed at children, it was excessively grotesque. I mean, even Pokémon, where it's mentioned that some are natural predators of others, doesn't sell merchandise like that, right?
"Nagi-chan, shall we just try to win a couple?"
"Just a couple? It doesn't look that easy…"
Nagisa was right. Claw machines, where you watch prize after prize get dropped and slip through the crane's grasp, don't look easy, and they aren't easy when you try them. Most claw machines are rigged to make it difficult to win. But true masters can win anyway, unless the machine is rigged to an absurd degree.
"Watch and learn, Nagi-chan☆"
And when it comes to claw machines, I am a master who has never been bested.
I put in the coin and started moving the joystick. After a quick scan of the machine's interior, one prize immediately caught my eye. It was a normal teddy bear. A polar bear, to be exact.
Personally, I think the most important thing in a claw machine is feel. You could also call it spatial awareness. Add to that the experience to predict how the crane will grab the plush, and…
"Ah… that's a shame. It fell right at the end."
"Ahaha…"
Of course, even masters rarely win on their first try… is the excuse I'll go with. Even monkeys fall from trees, right?
Having gotten a feel for it, I immediately went for my second attempt. The claw grabbed the plush I had been aiming for, rattled its way over to the prize chute, and dropped it in. If the path had been any longer, it would have surely fallen… but thanks to my first attempt, it wasn't far from the chute. Even as it started to slip from the claw's grasp, it made it safely to the goal. See, even masters need a trial run.
…If I had failed again after all that boasting, it would have been incredibly embarrassing.
"Mika-san, you sometimes show surprising sides of yourself in surprising places. It's… fascinating."
"Hmm, I do love hearing you praise me, Nagi-chan! It's something I can never get enough of."
Well, if you think about it, it's my own strengths combined with Mika's hardware. It's only natural that I'd excel in various fields. Though I do feel a little disappointed that because of my previous body's weak constitution, I can't seem to bring out 100% of Mika's combat potential.
I took out the polar bear I'd just won and presented it to Nagisa with a flourish.
"Here, this is for you, Nagi-chan! What do you think, a plush like this isn't so bad, right?"
"…Yes, I like it even more because you won it for me. Even if it had been one of those other plushies… hmm, no. Could you please pretend I didn't say that?"
"Ahaha! You're so honest, Nagi-chan! But it would be rude to say that in front of those two, so let's keep this our little secret☆"
"Yes, that would probably be best… By the way, Mika-san, could I try?"
Huh? It won't be easy. But it would be weird to stop her if she wants to try, and since we're using the unlimited coin cheat, she's bound to succeed eventually.
"Alright, then I'll just have to watch and see how good you are!"
I stepped back and gave Nagisa the spot. Seeing her awkwardly find the coin slot and insert the coin, it seemed she had little to no experience.
Hmm… a thought just occurred to me. Maybe I should introduce Nagisa to a dance rhythm game like Pump It Up or DDR later. Nagisa doesn't get enough exercise, and focusing only on paperwork isn't good for her health. So, a game that's easy to get into and provides a bit of exercise would be great.
…Actually, that's just an excuse I made up because I want to play with her. It would be difficult today anyway, since she's wearing heels.
No, wait, spending a whole day at an amusement park in heels. Is she insane? I might have thought that, but it was surprisingly possible. One should not underestimate a Kivotos high school girl.
By the way, Nagisa, how many coins have you wasted just grabbing air… Watching you reminds me of that tin can who ruined my promotion match in a game once. It hurts a little.
Looking closely, I saw that Nagisa was aiming for a plush in a particularly difficult spot due to the machine's layout. I wondered why she was ignoring the closer ones, but then I saw that it was the only other polar bear plush, the same kind I had won for her.
Aha. So our Nagisa was making things difficult for herself for a cute reason. Still, at this rate, it would never end, so maybe I should help her out a little.
"Nagi-chan, you probably won't be able to get that in one go. Yeah, it would be better to move the plush supporting it first!"
I placed my hand over Nagisa's and started my own version of Ghost at the claw machine. I could feel her body tense up, which showed she was definitely conscious of me. It made me want to tease her a little, but it's probably better to behave myself on a day like today.
I guided Nagisa's hand and skillfully scooped up the cat plush just below the polar bear. We didn't manage to win it, but the polar bear rolled down into a much better position.
I figured I'd helped her enough that she could win it on her own, so I took my hand away and was about to go back to watching, when…
"Um. Mika-san, could you perhaps help me just a little more…?"
Nagisa turned her head slightly and asked with a shy smile. It had such destructive power that I found myself sticking close to her again without a second thought. I was reminded once again that the cute side Nagisa sometimes shows is the very definition of 'gap moe.'
What is gap moe? Isn't it what people call a surprising charm? Nagisa, who is usually so serious about her work and has an ingrained elegance and grace, occasionally shows these sides of herself, and it's one of the reasons I can't help but fall for her more and more.
"Ahaha, well then, I guess I'll help just a little more☆"
Of course, there's no way I would refuse. And because of our position, the sweet and refreshing scent from her hair and the nape of her neck tickled my nose. It seems there are few things in this world as heart-fluttering as the scent of shampoo when you're close to someone.
…But Nagisa.
"Oh, what a shame…"
Aren't you making it a little too obvious that you're trying to fail?
"Hmph…"
It's so cute how she's intentionally turning the lever just a little off because she wants to stay in this position with me for longer. I glanced over and saw that Azusa and Hifumi were completely absorbed in their own claw machine and hadn't noticed us.
"You're being a little cute today, Nagi-chan. But we can't just hog this machine forever. Let's win this and go do something else, okay?"
I whispered softly into Nagisa's ear, and her movements completely stopped. I peeked over to see what was wrong and saw that her eyes were shaking uncontrollably, as if an earthquake had hit. Her face was bright red, to boot.
"Yeees…"
Aha. So Nagisa is weak to whispering… Wait. Isn't everyone? Honestly, if someone came up behind me and whispered sweet nothings in my ear, I'd probably end up just like Nagisa. Especially since all the kids here have such nice voices.
Clunk.
Even while I was thinking that, our hands moved steadily and succeeded in snatching the polar bear plush in one go. It made a precarious journey over a considerable distance, and finally, goal!
"Fufu… It wasn't easy, but we managed to win it somehow."
"Yep, we sure did~."
When she said it wasn't easy, was she talking about all her own failed attempts, or the ones she failed on purpose? Honestly, either way is cute, so it doesn't matter.
"Here you go, Mika-san. This is my return gift for the one you gave me earlier. It would have been better if I could have won it on my own, but…"
"Ahaha! The most important part of a gift is the thought behind it, Nagi-chan. The sight of you trying so hard to win the same plush I gave you is the real priceless gift. So…"
Peck.
"Thank you, Nagi-chan! I'll treasure it☆"
I stood on my tiptoes, gave Nagisa a light peck on the tip of her nose, and smiled as I thanked her. It was, if I had to say, less a thank you for the gift itself and more a thank you for the fact that she was here by my side.
For the record, after Nagisa processed the situation, her face turned so red it looked like it might explode at any moment. She sank to the ground, covering her face with both hands. It was, without a doubt, one of the top three most adorable things I had ever seen her do.
While Hifumi and Azusa were engrossed in their Momo Friends rescue mission, Nagisa and I explored the rest of the arcade. Surprisingly, Nagisa really enjoyed the whack-a-mole game…
"Kurodate… Sorasaki… Utazumi…"
…Hmm, let's just pretend I didn't see that. And why are you saying Sakurako's name, Nagisa?
…Don't tell me, she's not… is she?
One game we unexpectedly enjoyed together was spot the difference. We were so absorbed that we lost track of time, and eventually, the other two, who had rescued an armful of Momo Friends, joined us.
"Mika-senpai, it seems these were different plushies after all. They look a little strange, but I tried my best because I thought they were limited edition… Aww…"
"Ahaha, thank you anyway! They're cute in their own way."
Hifumi held out the spring-shaped Wave Cat to me, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt for not telling her they were separate plushies.
We stopped by a punching machine on our way out. Honestly, I was afraid I'd break the machine if I hit it with my full strength, so I held back.
[999]
…But it seems even that was threatening.
"Mika is strong. Mika breaks walls."
"Azusa-chan, is that really true…?"
"Yes. I saw it."
"Fufu… Mika-san broke more than a few toys when she was little because she couldn't control her strength."
…That was a truly uncomfortable topic.
Our last stop in the indoor area was a small performance hall where a magic show was being held. However, as I sent the other three inside, I told them I was going to the restroom and slipped away.
If you're asking why, the answer is simple. I had seen some people who shouldn't have been there loitering around.
So, Aru, what the hell are you doing here…? I saw you jump out of your skin when our eyes met earlier.
Please, I'm begging you, on a day like today, can you just spare me that BGM?
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