The second we stepped back into the arcade, the noise felt less chaotic and more like the soundtrack to a heist movie. The mission was clear. The target was fluffy. The stakes were... well, they were everything.
Sina pointed to a claw machine tucked in a corner, lit by a soft, inviting glow. It was filled to the brim with chubby, pastel-colored teddy bears, each with a stitched smile and impossibly innocent-looking button eyes.
"That's the one," she whispered, her voice a mix of dread and determination. "The fortress. See the one in the back? The little mint green one with the slightly lopsided ear? He's the ringleader. I can feel his psychic energy from here."
I squinted, playing along. "He does look smug. A real criminal mastermind."
"He's mocking me," she said, dead serious.
I fished a few more tokens from my pocket. "Alright, Psychic Bear Liberation Front is a go. Operation: Mint Chocolate Chip is underway."
I handed her a token. She shook her head, taking a half-step back. "No, you do it. I'm just the strategist. And the emotional support."
Her insecurity was a tangible thing. It was a shield, protecting her from the sting of another failure, another moment of powerlessness.
"Nope," I said, gently closing her fingers around the cool, metal disc. "The prophecy was clear. The Quest-Companion must face her nemesis head-on. But the messenger can provide... technical assistance."
I stood behind her as she approached the glass box of doom. She was tense, her shoulders high.
"Okay," I said, my voice low and calm, right next to her ear. "Forget everything you think you know. The machine isn't rigged. It's just lazy."
Her head tilted slightly, a silent question.
"The claw is programmed to have a strong grip only once every, say, ten to fifteen tries," I explained, drawing on hours of past observation—hours she'd never remember. "The trick isn't to aim for the bear. It's to watch the other players. You wait for a bunch of kids to waste their money, then you swoop in."
Her eyes widened in understanding. "You've... thought about this a lot."
"I'm a man of many useless talents," I said with a shrug. "Now, your target. The lopsided ear is a rookie mistake. He looks easy to grab, but he's surrounded. You want one on the edge of the pile, one that's practically falling out already. Minimal psychic resistance."
She scanned the pile, her gaze landing on a soft, sky-blue bear perched precariously on top of two others. "Like that one?"
"Exactly. Agent Blue is practically begging for extraction."
She took a deep breath, slid the token in, and gripped the joystick. The familiar, slightly ominous music started.
BEEP... BOOP... BEEP... BOOP...
Her hand was shaky on the controls. The claw moved in jerky, uncertain motions.
"Easy," I murmured, placing my hand gently over hers on the joystick. "Smooth and steady."
Her hand was warm under mine. The world outside the glass box seemed to melt away. There was only the hum of the machine, the soft sound of her breathing, and the feeling of our hands working together.
THWACK. The claw jolted to a stop.
"Okay, now the button," I said, my thumb covering hers on the big red button. "Don't just press it. Feel the moment. The bear's fate is in your hands."
She let out a nervous giggle but didn't pull away. We pressed down together.
WHIRRRRR...
The claw descended, slow and agonizing. It hovered over Agent Blue.
CLANK!
It closed. For a split second, it looked like it had a solid grip. The blue bear lifted an inch off the pile.
Hope.
Then, the claws went limp. The bear flopped back onto the pile, its stitched smile seeming to mock us.
WOMP-WOMP. The failure sound effect was brutal.
Sina's shoulders slumped. "See? He used his psychic powers to save his friend."
"No," I said, my voice firm. "That was a test. The mafia is testing our resolve. We do not back down." I slid another token into her hand. "Again. Same target."
She looked from the token to my face. My expression was one of absolute, unwavering belief in her. It was a look I hoped she could feel, even if she couldn't remember it tomorrow.
She nodded, her jaw set.
This time, her movements were more confident. My hand was still there, a steadying presence, but she was the one guiding it. She positioned the claw perfectly. We pressed the button together.
WHIRRRRR... CLANK!
The claw closed around the bear's head. It lifted. One inch. Two inches. The music swelled. The claw started moving towards the prize chute.
We both held our breath.
It cleared the pile. It was over the chute.
Please, please, please...
The claw opened. The little blue bear dropped like a stone.
THUMP.
It landed safely in the chute.
A triumphant fanfare of electronic music exploded from the machine.
ZING! ZING! ZING! YOU'RE A WINNER!
For a second, we just stared at it, stunned. Then, Sina let out a whoop of pure joy. She threw her arms around my neck, her laughter bubbling right next to my ear.
It was impulsive. It was real. My own arms wrapped around her waist automatically, holding her for a moment that felt both fleeting and infinite. She smelled like sunlight and sugar.
She pulled back just as quickly, her cheeks flushed a bright, happy pink. "We did it! We liberated him!"
I was grinning like an absolute fool. "The Psychic Bear Liberation Front always gets their bear."
She reached into the chute and pulled out her prize. It was small and a little lopsided, but it was hers. She had faced her nemesis and won.
She hugged the bear to her chest, her amber eyes shining with a hard-won victory that was about so much more than a stuffed animal.
"What should we name him?" she asked.
"Blue," I said instantly.
She looked at me, confused. "Just... Blue?"
"Yeah," I said, my smile turning a little softer, a little sadder. "So that, you know. You can remember what color he is."
The underlying meaning hung in the air, unsaid. So that tomorrow, when you see a strange blue bear in your room, your notes might be able to tell you why.
Her smile faltered for just a second, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. But then she hugged the bear tighter, choosing to live in the victory of the moment.
"Blue," she agreed, her voice bright again. "Welcome to the team, Agent Blue."