Tanaka Masao chose not to continue looking for the figures because their packaging was too smooth, making them incredibly difficult to grab.
He shifted his target to other plush toys.
While operating the claw to grab, he said to Eriri,
"Eriri, logically speaking, don't most ordinary girls like these kinds of plush toys?"
In response, Eriri merely snorted coldly.
"Those superficial women, all they ever say is 'so cute,' how can these things be as attractive as figures?"
Because the plush toys were easier to grab, Tanaka Masao succeeded in just three attempts.
Before he could even bend down to pick up his prize, a familiar and agile figure appeared once more.
"Ah, so cute!"
Eriri was seen hugging a small white bear that Tanaka Masao had just won.
She rubbed her face against the bear's body, looking very comfortable.
Tanaka Masao: "..."
After two and a half seconds of silence, Tanaka Masao finally retorted,
"Eriri, I recall someone just now saying that only superficial women who constantly say 'so cute' like plush toys, right?"
Eriri, of course, would not admit to it.
"Who? Did anyone say such a thing? How would I not know?"
Facing Tanaka Masao's disdainful gaze, Eriri completely ignored him and urged,
"Alright, hurry up and keep grabbing those fluffy, cute plushies for me."
Faced with Eriri's repeated commands, Tanaka Masao chose to bravely say no.
"I refu—"
He swallowed his words halfway through because Eriri spoke up.
"I'll pay, and we'll split the spoils."
Tanaka Masao's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn with Eriri's statement.
"Today, I'm going to clear out the claw machine!"
Someone was paying for him to play and even giving him prizes; it would be a waste not to play.
Tanaka Masao declared it was truly a good deal.
...
Clearing out all the claw machines there was impossible.
Tanaka Masao managed to win over a dozen dolls at a frequency of one success every three to five attempts before stopping.
It wasn't that Eriri ran out of money; it was simply that there were too many to carry for the two of them.
After bagging the dolls, the two of them each carried several, considering it a successful haul.
The two of them had a great time today, and since carrying so many things was inconvenient, they decided to head back.
Eriri was unusually happy today, and with Tanaka Masao winning her so many dolls, she noticeably talked more, chatting with Tanaka Masao as they walked.
Soon, the two arrived near Eriri's home.
"This time I wasn't prepared, so I couldn't take too many things. Next time, I'll have a driver take us, so we can win even more dolls."
"A car?" Hearing this, Tanaka Masao was surprised.
"How many would that be? Let's be clear, I haven't agreed to help you grab them."
"That's not up to you, mere Tanaka. You wouldn't want to miss out on your manuscript fees, would you?"
"Ah, how despicable, Eriri, you're actually threatening me with manuscript fees."
"Hehe, I am threatening you. What can you do to me?"
As the two were laughing and chatting, a boy on a bicycle approached them from the front.
The newcomer had short black hair and wore black-rimmed glasses, and in terms of attire, he was almost identical to Tanaka Masao.
However, the other person was thinner, looked very refined, and was essentially a handsome version of Tanaka Masao.
Seeing the approaching person, Eriri, who had been chatting and smiling with Tanaka Masao, suddenly fell silent.
She looked at the person, her expression complex, her hands unconsciously clenching, appearing somewhat nervous.
The newcomer had clearly also seen Eriri, as well as Tanaka Masao beside her.
Tanaka Masao felt the atmosphere suddenly grow quiet.
He looked at the approaching boy, then at the somewhat unusual Eriri.
He instantly knew who the boy opposite them was.
Aki Tomoya.
The male protagonist of the Casual Heroine, and also Eriri's childhood friend.
In elementary school, he and Eriri discussed anime and manga together.
Eriri was isolated and mocked by everyone at school for discussing otaku topics too closely with him.
Hurt by this, Eriri began to keep her distance, and the two stopped talking at school.
They grew estranged, and once good friends could no longer even have a normal conversation.
Watching the two look at each other without speaking, Tanaka Masao felt a bit awkward standing there, so he spoke first.
"Eriri, is this your friend?"
Looking at Aki Tomoya, who met her gaze without saying a word, Eriri felt a little angry.
[We haven't seen each other in so long; it's one thing not to say hello, but now there's a strange man beside me, and you don't care at all? Lun Ye.
Aren't you going to ask who he is?]
If Aki Tomoya had questioned who Tanaka Masao was, Eriri might even have been happy.
That would at least show that he cared about her.
But now, not saying a single word, what did that mean?
Was he waiting for her to speak first, to hastily explain that she had no relationship with Tanaka Masao?
She hadn't done anything wrong, so why should she explain?
So, upon hearing Tanaka Masao's question, Eriri snorted coldly and stopped looking at Aki Tomoya.
She replied to Tanaka Masao,
"He's irrelevant. Let's go."
Having said that, she walked ahead first.
Seeing this, Tanaka Masao didn't say much either. He nodded to Aki Tomoya and then caught up with Eriri.
He had a feeling that because of him, Eriri and Aki Tomoya's relationship had worsened.
Such a result was truly…
Excellent.
After all, cuckolding Lun Ye was simply too satisfying.
...
On the other side.
Watching Eriri and Tanaka Masao's retreating figures,
Aki Tomoya gripped the handlebars tightly, his expression somewhat distorted, and his heart was in turmoil.
[Didn't you refuse to discuss anime and manga, distanced yourself from me, and betrayed me?
Now you're on the street, discussing otaku culture with someone else.
Eriri, what exactly do you mean? You've betrayed me again.]
I have been betrayed three times…
Oh, excuse me, wrong channel.
Currently, only twice.
However, if you add in leaving the game club Aki Tomoya founded to join the club Akane Kosaka founded, as in the original work.
Let's just barely make it three betrayals for him.
After all, only someone who has been betrayed three times can have a noble and pure soul and become a hero.
Aki Tomoya withdrew his gaze and cursed under his breath.
"Bitch."
Then he rode his bike into the distance, the distance between him and Eriri growing wider and wider.