Ch. 19 - Trying to have some fun.

"So how does it taste?"

She took a good sip at it, im pretty confident she'll like it. She lick her lips that has been covered by the creamy foam that comes with frappe.

"Senpai, coffee taste good! Its sweet and creamy."

She took another sip and she seems to enjoy it alot. I wonder if I should tell her that not all coffees are that sweet, there's a bit of sweetness and acidity, bitter taste is also present but it never dominates the cup. Nah, I wouldn't wanna be rude, she'll find out when she tried other cups of coffee in the future by herself.

"Senpai, can I taste yours? I bet it taste good!"

Welp, now that got over real quick.

"Okay, here you go~."

I enthusiastically hand her my cup and let her get a taste of it. She sniffs it and let the aroma go through her nostrils and feel the sensation of caffeine in her head. She took a sip, her face looks a bit disgusted probably by how differently it taste from her coffee. She hand it back to me.

"Senpai, what is that? why does it taste different from mine?"

She asked me.

"Coffee."

I simply replied.

She gulps down her frappe to cleanse her mouth of its bitter taste and drown it with sweetness. I kinda enjoyed her reaction when she got a taste of what real coffee is.

"Why does your coffee taste stronger and less sweet?"

She asked me, she's probably curious. She sounds like she doesn't know much about coffee and its wide variety of flavors and types.

"Thats how coffee regularly taste, they're aren't meant to be too sweet."

She just nods while taking another sip of her frapp, she really likes it.

"Where shall we go next?"

I ask her while taking a sip on my own cup, this time, I really sip in the same spot as her and therefore an actual indirect kiss is made.

"You really dont hesitate to make an indirect kiss, do you?"

She jokingly said to me.

"What's the problem with that? its not a direct kiss it doesn't mean anything and its not much of a big deal. During our working hours we touch the same things all day, why didn't we considered it indirect hand holding?"

I replied with a serious manner.

"Senpai, that was a joke!"

She worryingly told me.

"Hah! I know, I know. Now where shall we go next?"

"To the arcade!"

We make our way to the arcade, we've always been entertaining ourselves in those kind of place, sometimes to pass the time but more often we tend to win almost every prize we can get. As we enter, there were alot of kids playing around, but we pay no mind to it as this isn't the first time we've been here.

I also went on my own several times too if it isn't too crowded, but whenever there's alot of people I just dont go in, unless I have someone with me. Because being maturely clothed and standing 177 cm tall can draw alot of attention especially in a place like this. And no, im not embarrassed at all being there and doing what interest me. But I am tired of talking to people whenever they ask me...

"Aren't you a little old to be playing this stuff?"

And my reply can be either...

"Can't a person relive his childhood memories?" or a much humble one like "Its for my little brother."

But I am tired of the audacity of these kind of people, they just can't mind their own business. It pisses me off and knocks me out of my mood, there's also Highschool students and some adults who are playing as well and they dont seem to bother them. Sometimes I wonder why do I always stand out and get noticed by everybody. Well I shrug it off and try to enjoy myself its been a while since I relax my mind, my brain just seems to be kicking in some random bad memories out of nowhere whenever I just myself, but whatever.

Starting off, with the crane game. Chinatsu and I both look for a crane that has a reward that's interest for each of us. Chinatsu went for the ones with the plushies, while I went for the ones with small anime figurines, cause why not?

Although compared to Chinatsu, she's fairly good at this, she got 2 already. I think im the only one who's never really good at this, I have trouble picking up the rewards. They say there's a trick to it but I dont know what it is. I put in a 100 yen and started moving the handle, I look at the sides of the machine to see if my alignment is right and if I could actually pick something up. I press the red button and I stared hardly at the crane while my heart races, but as expected it fall off. I tried it again...

*8 attempts later*

Im starting to lose hope as it keeps slipping and falling off the crane, I knew this would be a horrible idea, I tried again once more, I just keep picking random boxes cause I know I wouldn't succeed anyway. The crane grabs it and as it fulls it up it stuck up there and the crane was holding on to it. Surprised, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened, I was nervous the whole time, fearing it would just slid off again. My heart skipped a beat as it carries it and drops it on the hole. Finally I've won something!

I immediately check what I got, I pick it up and open the box. I was surprised to see a a generic looking character with hair blocking off his eyes, a typical offbrand main character. But I was happy with what I got, this would add a fine addition to my collection. I look again at the crane machine, feeling lucky I go for an another attempt to get one. I failed, but nonetheless I try again, and so I failed. I realize im just fooling myself, time to move on and find other games. But before that let me check how's Chinatsu doing.

"Chinatsu I caught one! how about yo-"

I pause for a moment when I saw her carrying multiple stuffed animals and plushies around her arms. She looks at me and said...

"Im way ahead of you, senpai."

"How?! how did you got that many?!"

I asked her while wearing a confuse expression on my face. I scratch my head and waits of her answer as she just teasingly giggles at me.

"Seriously how? what's the trick?"

I asked her again.

"Senpai, take a guess, look around you. I know you are a very observant person, especially when you're curious."

Indeed thats kinda true, however I can only be observant when im actually interested to what's the result is going to be. And I need to concentrate, just thinking of winning all the prizes I want can expand my collection.

"Sure, give me a hint."

I confidently accepted her challenge.

I glance around and look at the crane machines she played, I look back at her and her prizes. Looking at it intensely, looking at every detail. Then I've to realize something. The plushies inside the crane machine and the one's she's holding right now are different!

Where did she get these? I look around once more, and she smiled even more, I think she knows that im getting closer to the answer, its the sign I need.

I look at the ticket redemption stall and saw the very similar plushies she got.

She didn't win them in the crane game!

These words are shouted inside my head.

"You just exchange your tickets for them in the redemption booth, you didn't won them in the crane!"

I told her while stuttering.

"Yes, nobody told me I can't, plus you could've just done the same and you'd have more than that."

She said as she points at my figurine.

"You're right, your right. But first let me see what kind of things they have."

I walk towards the redemption booth and check if there's anything worth playing for.

I see dolls, teddy bears, cute ballpens, and notebooks. But then I saw anime posters and figurines. I felt fired up seeing those and immediately focus on looking for a game that I can get the most ticket of.

"Chinatsu, this might take a while. Go play for now."

I told her as I prepare myself for the game of Monster drop. This game is entirely based on perfect timing of when to drop the balls to get the most amounts of tickets as possible. I have confidence in my timing, I rarely have any confidence but when I do I am persevering as much as im stubborn.

"Okay! Have fun senpai!"

She told me smiling as she walks away.

I try to control myself to not just rush and drop all my balls, I try to concentrate and intensely watch the rotation of the holes below. Waiting for the perfect time to press the round red botton to drop my ball. I dont know why im being nervous, technically I can go for multiple attempts I earn my own money but I dont feel lucky and earlier I saw more people heading towards the redemption booth. So I feel like time is my enemy here, cause I feel like someone might get the anime prizes first. So I took a deep breath and place faith in myself. I told myself I must score multiple tickets for only 10 balls, after that its done. I dont wanna get addicted to this, so I tend to limit to discipline myself.