We, who were conquering the rides with unstoppable momentum, took refuge indoors for a moment to rest. The blazing sun from high above was slowly starting to sting our skin.
Of course, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but regardless, it was hot.
Inside, they had a circus, a magic show, arcade games, and all sorts of souvenir shops. Since we had two extreme Momo Friends fans in our party, our gaze naturally turned toward the arcade… specifically, toward the claw machine area.
Of course, the souvenir shop was also filled with Momo Friends merchandise. However, we planned to leisurely check that out later in the evening, so there was no need to go now and increase our baggage.
“Wow, there are so many toys I don’t have…!”
“…So cute.”
After hearing those two, I started wondering if whether in the souvenir shop or here, increasing our baggage was essentially the same. More than that, were the Trinity girls more into claw machines than arcade games…?!
“Ah, Wavecat.”
But you can’t resist Wavecat.
However, this Wavecat plushie looked a bit strange. It was wrapped around the Peroro doll like a snake, oddly reminding me of a scene from a monster movie poster that had hit rock bottom.
“Ugh… Wavecat is doing that to Peroro… Wait. Mika-senpai, it can’t be…?!”
Hifumi, noticing my gaze, called out to me with a voice full of anxiety. Did she find it unsettling that I was keenly observing the Wavecat plushie that looked like it was about to swallow her beloved Peroro?
“Ahaha, well… that’s just the way the plushie is designed…”
What happens when you put a cat in a chicken coop? For a Peroro enthusiast like Hifumi, it might be a question she doesn’t want answered.
“A cat that eats a hippo, that’s something else. I need to reconsider.”
“Azusa-chan, Peroro is not a hippo, she’s a bird?!”
“Huh? No matter how you look at it, she’s a hippo, Hifumi.”
“Ugh… that’s not what I meant…”
As Hifumi rambled on about the true identity of Peroro, Nagisa, who was witnessing this awkward exchange, gently patted my shoulder with a shy smile. Then she asked me a question.
“Um, does Mika-san really like things like that…?”
“Huh? Ahaha, well… if I had to say, I only really like Wavecat!”
“Y-Yeah, that’s right? I can accept that cat, but the others… a little less so.”
Based on her reaction, it seemed that Nagisa’s feelings about Momo Friends leaned toward the negative side. She had gotten somewhat accustomed to Wavecat, but as for Peroro and the other characters, it looked like it was a bit tougher for her. Especially given that she probably got used to Peroro because of Hifumi, her negative reaction surprised me…
But to be fair, it was hard to affix the label of “normal” to that design, so I decided to let it slide. After all, it wouldn’t really matter if Nagisa openly expressed her preferences in front of the two who liked it.
“Ah! No, Peroro! Please come a little closer…!”
“Don’t shake it, Hifumi. Maintain your composure and the soft, fluffy paradise will welcome us… Ugh.”
Before I knew it, Hifumi and Azusa were on the arduous path of inserting coins to win prizes. I glanced at them for a moment, then subtly took Nagisa’s hand and led her to another nearby claw machine. This one was filled with ordinarily cute animal plushies, not Momo Friends.
“Mika-san, aren’t you going to try for that plushie from earlier?”
“Huh? Ahaha, that’s not a limited edition or anything, so if I wanted it, I could buy it later. It’s just two ordinary dolls stuck together in a weird way.”
Looking closely, it felt rather sloppy to consider it a single plushie; it was simply a spring-shaped Wavecat plush with a Peroro plush stuck inside, nothing special. From the perspective of getting one and ending up with the other, it didn’t seem like getting robbed, but that did mean the difficulty level was higher.
Honestly, a plushie depicting characters from Momo Friends eating each other was far too grotesque for something aimed at kids. After all, even in Pokémon, while there might be references to predator-prey relationships, they wouldn’t sell merchandise like that, would they?
“Nagisa-chan, should we try to win two plushies casually?”
“Casually? That doesn’t look easy…”
Nagisa was right. Watching others, it certainly didn’t seem easy at all, and trying it myself, it was challenging too.
Claw machines are set up in a way to make it difficult to win plushies consistently most of the time. Yet true experts can pull off amazing grabs without much trouble.
“Just watch me, Nagisa-chan☆”
In fact, when it comes to claw machines, I’ve never been outdone anywhere.
Inserting a coin and starting to move the joystick, I quickly scan the machine for a target. There it was— a regular teddy bear. But not just any bear; it was a polar bear.
In my opinion, the most crucial aspect when playing claw machines is instinct. Strictly speaking, it can also be considered spatial awareness.
Plus, having the additional experience to predict how the crane will pick the plushie…
“Ah… how unfortunate. I almost had it but it fell.”
“Ahaha…”
Of course, even masters don’t always pull out plushies with their first attempt… Just giving that a tiny excuse. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes.
After getting the hang of it, I tried again. This time, the claw perfectly grabbed the plush I was aiming for and clattered all the way to the exit.
If the path had been a bit longer, it might have fallen. Luckily though, because of my first attempt, it was close enough that the claw managed to slide down but safely made it to the exit. Even skilled players need some trial and error.
If I had done so poorly after strutting my stuff, I would have felt deeply embarrassed.
“Mika-san shows unexpected sides in unexpected places sometimes. It’s fascinating.”
“Mm, Nagisa-chan’s compliments are really nice! Yeah, it’s hard to get enough of them!”
Well, if we break it down, it’s a combination of my hardware and my advantages. It’s natural to stand out in various fields.
Though, I feel a bit regretful that I can’t bring out Mika’s combat abilities to 100% because of my weak previous body.
After pulling out the newly acquired polar bear plushie, I presented it to Nagisa with a flourish.
“Here, this one’s for you, Nagisa-chan! What do you think? Isn’t this kind of plushie nice?”
“…Yes, I’m more pleased because it’s from Mika-san. Even if it had been those other plushies… um, no, let’s pretend I didn’t say that?”
“Ahaha! Nagisa-chan is too honest! But saying that in front of those kids would be rude, so let’s keep this as our secret☆”
“That sounds better… By the way, Mika-san, can I try to grab one too?”
Huh? That won’t be easy. But it’d be odd to stop her since she wants to try, and given that we have an unlimited coin cheat, it’s only a matter of time until she succeeds.
“Alright, then I’ll have to see your skills, Nagisa-chan!”
Stepping back slightly, I gave her space. Watching her check the coin slot awkwardly before inserting a coin, she seemed inexperienced or maybe completely new to it.
Hmm… an idea suddenly popped into my head—maybe later, I should introduce Nagisa to dance rhythm games like Pump It Up or DDR. Especially since she’s lacking in exercise, focusing solely on paperwork isn’t good for her health. I think something simple and fun could help her get some exercise.
Actually, I just wanted an excuse to enjoy it with Nagisa. Today she showed up wearing high heels, which might be a bit too much.
I mean, going around the amusement park all day in heels—seriously, is she okay? But it’s totally doable. Don’t underestimate a Kivotos high school girl.
By the way, Nagisa, how many coins have you wasted just grabbing nothing… Seeing you reminds me of that cans that ruined my gaming rank back in the day, and it kind of hurts my heart.
Observing closely, I noticed that she was aiming for a plush positioned in a tough spot due to the machine’s structure. I wondered why she was choosing to go for that one instead of the closer options, but it was the only polar bear plush among the visible ones that looked like the one I just pulled out.
Ah, I see. Our Nagisa was in trouble because of her cute choices. But if things continued like this, it would never end, so maybe I should lend a little help.
“Nagisa-chan, you probably won’t get that one in one go. Best to move those plushies supporting it first!”
Placing my hand over Nagisa’s, I initiated the “Ghost Claw Master.” The tension in her body indicated that she was keenly aware of my presence, which only made me want to tease her more. Still, on a day like today, it would be wiser to hold back.
I maneuvered her hand to accurately grasp the cat plush positioned slightly below the polar bear. While it didn’t get grabbed, the polar bear plush rolled down and landed in a better spot.
Thinking that she could easily grab it now, I was about to pull my hand away and step back when—
“Um, Mika-san, could I ask for just a bit more help…?”
With a shy smile, Nagisa turned her head slightly. The sheer cuteness of it made me instinctively jump back to her side. I realized again how devastating her charming moments could be.
What is “gap moe”? It’s often referred to as “unexpected charm.” It applies to Nagisa quite well since she’s usually serious and carries herself with grace and dignity, but this side of her adds to why I can’t help but be drawn to her more and more.
“Ahaha, well then, I suppose I’ll help you just a bit longer☆”
Naturally, there was no way I would refuse. Especially given her position, the sweet yet refreshing scent from her neck and hair wafted up, tickling my nose. There are few things in the world more exhilarating than the scent of shampoo that envelops you up close.
…But wait, Nagisa.
“Ah, what a pity…”
Is it too obvious that you’re trying to fail intentionally?
“Heueng…”
Her clumsiness in trying to keep this position a little longer is really adorable. Glancing over, it looked like Azusa and Hifumi were completely absorbed in the claw machine, oblivious to our little scene.
“Nagisa-chan, you’re a bit extra cute today. But it feels a little wrong to hog this machine, so maybe we should snag a plush and go do something else?”
Whispering close to her ear caused all her movements to freeze. Curious, I checked on her only to find her eyes shaking uncontrollably as if there had been an earthquake. Her face was beet red.
“Y-Yes…”
Ah, so Nagisa is weak to whispers…
Wait a minute. Isn’t that the case for everyone? To be honest, I’d probably be like Nagisa if someone was whispering temptations in my ear from behind. It’s even more pronounced here with all the kids having great voices.
Clatter.
As I pondered this, our hands efficiently moved, successfully snatching the polar bear plushie in one swift motion. After precariously moving a fair distance, we finally got it.
“Phew… It wasn’t easy, but I managed to win.”
“Yeah, we did~.”
When she said it wasn’t easy, was she referring to her own continuous failures, or was she trying to act like she was failing on purpose? In any case, both are cute enough to not matter.
“Here, Mika-san. This is my thank you for the gift you gave me earlier. It would have been better if I could have won it all by myself, but…”
“Ahaha! Gifts are only as valuable as the thought behind them, Nagisa-chan. Your efforts to emulate the thought I put into it matter much more. So, thank you…”
smack
“Thank you, Nagisa-chan! I’ll treasure it☆.”
Stepping up onto my tiptoes, I placed a light kiss on the bridge of her nose, smiling as I conveyed my appreciation.
In reality, what I was grateful for was likely more about having her by my side than the gift itself.
After realizing what just transpired, Nagisa’s face turned a shade of red that would have belied her natural complexion, as she crouched slightly, hiding her face with her hands. This was easily one of the cutest sights I’ve ever laid eyes on.
*
Rather than being lost in the oblivion of claw machine games, Nagisa and I roamed through the arcade while leaving Azusa and Hifumi deep into their mission to rescue Momo Friends. Surprisingly, Nagisa seemed to enjoy Whac-A-Mole…
“Kurodate… Sorasaki… Utazumi…”
Let’s just pretend I didn’t see that. And why is Sakurako showing up, Nagisa?
…Wait, no way, right?
Unexpectedly, we had a blast with the hidden picture game. Before we knew it, time flew by, and soon the other two returned with a pile of Momo Friends plushies and joined us in our game.
“Mika-senpai, these plushies were apparently different from each other. They looked similar, but I worked really hard assuming they were all limited edition… Ugh…”
“Ahaha, thank you anyway! These are adorable as well.”
Hifumi handed me the spring-shaped Wavecat and said that, which made me feel slightly bad that I hadn’t mentioned they were separate plushies.
We also stopped by a punching machine and honestly, I was worried the machine might break if I hit too hard, so I held back on the power a bit.
[999]
…And it seems even that was a threat.
“Mika, you’re strong. You smash walls.”
“A-Azusa-chan, is that really true…?”
“Yep. I saw it.”
“Hehe… I’ve broken more than a few toys when Mika was a child because I couldn’t gauge my strength properly.”
…What an uncomfortable topic to discuss.
Lastly, we reached a small performance hall where a magic show was taking place. I told the three I was stepping outside for a moment to use the restroom and slipped out.
Why did I go outside? The answer was simple.
I saw some guys that shouldn’t be around, lurking.
So Aru, why are you here…? I saw you flinch and lose your cool when we made eye contact earlier, you know.
For the love of all that’s good, can you hold off on that background music today?
