Chapter 2: I Got Taken to a Collaboration Café by the Junior Voted “Most Desirable Bride”
The day after playing the Real Escape Game—Monday, after school.
As Kageyama and I left the classroom to head home, we walked through the courtyard where I spotted Asahi sitting on a bench ahead. She seemed to be chatting animatedly with two friends.
Instinctively, I ducked into the shadows. It would be troublesome if she spotted me.
Better take another route to the school gate before she notices.
But Kageyama saw me hiding and, in a theatrical tone, said, “Partner, what’s up? Got a hitman on your tail?”
“Now’s not the time for jokes.”
I replied calmly, and Kageyama shrugged.
“Then what’s going on? Why the sudden stealth?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“No way I can ignore that. Is there someone you don’t want to see?”
Kageyama looked around in surprise, then his gaze settled on the three girls sitting on the bench.
“Wait, isn’t that first-year student Yuina Asahi?”
“M-Maybe.”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen her in person. The photo in her profile didn’t seem edited. She might even be cuter in real life.”
“Yeah.”
Since she’d approached me several times, I knew firsthand that she was naturally beautiful without any filters.
“What kind of guys does Asahi like? Does she have a boyfriend?”
“I wouldn’t know…”
If she had a boyfriend, I doubt she’d be inviting me to events, but I kept that thought to myself.
“But with a girl that cute, she must have a boyfriend. The guys at school probably envy him.”
Kageyama said with a wry smile, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh.
Indeed, hanging out with Asahi carries the risk of becoming a target of unknown guys’ jealousy.
I really wish she’d give up on the idea of attending events with me and not drag me into this.
As I pondered this and observed the bench, Asahi exuded a refined aura while interacting with her friends. She was completely different from when we discussed our favorite voice actress.
Watching Asahi’s elegant smile, I couldn’t help but be captivated.
But to me, who knows the Asahi who’s passionate about her favorite, this current Asahi seemed almost unreal…
Just as I was lost in thought, Asahi and I made eye contact.
Before I knew it, I’d stepped out from the shadows.
Then, Asahi said goodbye to her friends and started walking toward me alone.
The way she happily ran over was like a puppy finding its owner.
“Senpai, why are you hiding over there? Were you stalking me?”
“N-No. I just couldn’t find the right moment to say hello…”
“I’m just kidding. No need to panic. You’re so cute when you’re flustered, Senpai!”
“No, no, I can’t possibly be cute.”
“Eh—? You’re absolutely adorable. Earlier, when you were talking to the cat on the roadside—”
“Please forget about that incident.”
I quickly stopped her before she could spill the beans.
Seeing us like this, Kageyama widened his eyes in surprise.
“…What’s going on here? Taiga, you know Asahi?”
“Well, in the sense that we know each other exists, I guess we know each other.”
“We’re more than just acquaintances. Senpai and I are quite close.”
Asahi said earnestly, making a statement that could easily be misunderstood.
I really wish she’d stop making remarks that could cause confusion.
“You’re the friend who bought the ‘Divine Slayer Miko’ Blu-ray for Senpai the other day, right?”
“What!? How do you know about that!?”
“Asahi saw you.”
“Hehe, I did see you. Thank you for always taking care of Senpai.”
Asahi said, bowing her head. Who does she think she is, my mom?
“I don’t really get it, but you’ll explain to me tomorrow why you’re so close with Asahi.”
Leaving that remark, Kageyama walked away.
He’s usually sharp, but I wish he wouldn’t leave me alone with Asahi.
“Ah, were you hiding earlier to catch me doing something embarrassing? Even if you try, I won’t be speaking in cat language, so it’s pointless♪”
Asahi teased gleefully.
Since I hate being misunderstood, I retorted properly.
“I wasn’t spying on you. Besides, even if you spoke in cat language, it wouldn’t be something to hold over you. It would just be cute.”
“—Huh!? Y-You think I’m cute!?”
Asahi blushed and averted her gaze.
“D-Do you really think so…? I feel a bit embarrassed…”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
“Because you said I’m cute, Senpai…”
“You were voted first in the ‘Most Desirable Bride’ rankings, so you should be used to compliments about your looks, right?”
“Not at all. At least, it’s the first time someone has said it so suddenly when we’re alone. And you’re a guy…”
“Just now, you called me cute several times too, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, but when a girl calls a guy ‘cute,’ it’s different from when a guy says it to a girl.”
“Words don’t have weight.”
“That’s not what I mean… Well, it’s because I know you don’t say things you don’t mean, Senpai, so I was surprised.”
Asahi said with a hint of exasperation, then smiled contentedly.
She’s such an expressive girl.
“By the way, Senpai, are you free this weekend?”
“Not at the mo—”
Halfway through, I got a bad feeling.
“Actually, I think I have plans.”
“Then let me reserve you from this moment onward. I want to go to the collaboration café near Sendai Station that’s themed after ‘Divine Slayer Miko,’ but it’d be lonely by myself, so I’d like you to come with me.”
“I refuse.”
“Why? Don’t tell me you don’t want anyone to see you eating, just like you don’t want them to see you fangirling over your favorite?”
“I’m not that self-conscious. I just don’t like the possibility of running into people from our school near the station.”
“Ah—that could happen. But the only collaboration café in Miyagi is in Sendai… There are plenty in Tokyo, though.”
“Well, that’s how it is. You should give up this time.”
“What’s the harm? Let’s go together. No one will pay attention to us.”
Asahi doesn’t seem to realize how much attention she gets from guys.
“No way. Unlike the Real Escape Game, I can go to the collaboration café alone.”
“You get limited-edition coasters if you order a certain number of items, but to collect them all, you have to order six things. I can’t eat that much by myself.”
“Just go multiple times.”
“The coasters are given out randomly, but if you order more than six items at once, you get the full set.”
“There’s the option of ordering six items alone and forcing it down.”
“I don’t want to. Food is best enjoyed in reasonable amounts. By the way, aren’t you interested in anime merchandise?”
“Not particularly, but I don’t need the coasters.”
“I see…”
“Are you giving up?”
“Actually, this makes me even more determined to go with you.”
“Why?”
“Because if you’re not interested in the coasters, I can have them all when we go together.”
“You’re really persistent.”
“Will you please go with me, no matter what?”
“No. I won’t.”
“I see. I understand how you feel, Senpai. By the way, remember I mentioned a senior in the Literature Club who takes candid photos of you, nicknamed ‘Sneaky Senpai’?”
“—Huh? What’s that about all of a sudden?”
“I’ve heard rumors about her. She really wants to get close to you, Senpai. She’s curious if you have any interests besides reading philosophy books.”
“…Yeah.”
“Would it be okay if I told her that you’re a fan of Miss Maya and have watched all the anime she’s in?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Thought so~”
Asahi said happily, flashing a devilish grin.
“If you want me to keep quiet, you know what you need to do this weekend, right?”
“…Fine. I’ll go with you.”
And so, it was decided that Asahi and I would go to the collaboration café together the following Saturday.
☆☆☆
October 30th, the day I promised to meet Asahi.
As soon as I woke up, I opened the curtains in my room to reveal a cloudless blue sky.
I opened the window; the temperature was just right—not too hot or cold—a perfect day to go out.
Even if it had rained, knowing Asahi, she wouldn’t cancel because of the weather, so I might as well be glad it’s sunny.
Steeling myself to avoid being recognized, I pulled my hat low, put on sunglasses and a mask, and left home in disguise.
We agreed to meet at 10 a.m. When I arrived at the west exit of Sendai Station, I saw Asahi in her casual clothes waiting.
As always, she was an incredibly beautiful girl. Just taking a photo of this scene could be the cover of a fashion magazine.
Although being with Asahi carries high risks and I’d prefer to avoid it, I felt a bit proud that she was waiting for me.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
As I approached and greeted her, Asahi tilted her head curiously, then exclaimed in surprise.
“Oh! It’s you, Senpai! For a moment, I didn’t recognize you!”
“I disguised myself so I wouldn’t be noticed.”
“I see…”
Asahi gazed intently at my face with great interest.
Even though this was our fourth meeting, her beauty still made me a bit self-conscious when facing her directly.
They say you get used to a beautiful face after three days, but that’s a lie.
“Hehe. It’s like secretly meeting a celebrity—how fun. If you’d told me, I would have disguised myself too.”
“If both of us were in disguise, we’d stand out more. Let’s not waste time and get going.”
I brushed off her comment and started walking before she could respond.
Leaving the relatively quiet station, we headed to the collaboration café about a five-minute walk away.
“Like I mentioned on Monday, we need to order at least six items today. Have you decided what you’ll get, Senpai?”
“I checked the menu on the website. The dish names are related to ‘Divine Slayer Miko,’ but the lineup is pretty standard. The ‘Dragon Ribs’ are just grilled chicken.”
“Aren’t collaboration café menus always like that? They can’t exactly serve real dragon meat.”
“True. But another collaboration café used crocodile meat to mimic dragon meat.”
“That level of commitment is tough. Crocodile meat tastes like chicken; it’s delicious, though.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Would you like to try it?”
“I’ll pass. I dislike all seafood, so crocodile is probably a no-go.”
“You hate all seafood? Do you have a grudge against the sea and rivers?”
“Not really. I also dislike all vegetables, but that doesn’t mean I hate fields.”
“At this point, isn’t there hardly anything you can eat? What do you usually eat, Senpai?”
“I get the necessary nutrients from supplements and health foods, so I manage. I can eat meat normally.”
“Won’t that make you sick?”
“Now that you mention it, I do catch colds easily.”
“See? An unbalanced diet isn’t good for your health. Stop being picky and eat your veggies. Shall I make you some stewed pumpkin next time?”
“Are you my mom?”
“Wouldn’t it be awful if you caught a cold on the day of the event? It wouldn’t take much effort to make you a lunchbox, so starting next week, let’s eat lunch together in the courtyard.”
“Well, that’s a bit…”
Having a beautiful girl make me a homemade lunch is every guy’s dream; I felt conflicted.
But if other guys saw me with Asahi during lunch, they’d surely be jealous.
Besides, if a girl makes me a lunch, I’d have to eat it all, and I don’t trust myself to finish it.
That’s how severe my picky eating is.
“…If I win the event tickets, I’ll prevent colds by thoroughly washing my hands and gargling.”
“Alright. But if you ever want to boost your immunity by eating vegetables, let me know anytime.”
As Asahi murmured somewhat regretfully, we arrived at the collaboration café.
Perhaps because it had just opened, more than half the seats were empty.
We sat across from each other at a four-person table. After taking off my hat, sunglasses, and mask, I looked at the menu.
“As expected of a collaboration café. The prices are steep.”
“Since I’ll be keeping your coasters too, let me pay today.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll pay for my own share.”
“But I feel bad since I practically forced you to come.”
“I’m the one who agreed to come, so you don’t need to treat me.”
“Really…? Then let’s do that. To thank you for today, next time I’ll cook you some special fish and vegetable dishes.”
“I think that would be more of a punishment.”
After a while, we decided what to order and called over the waiter. We ordered two cakes, two parfaits, and two drinks.
About ten minutes later, the desserts arrived along with the coaster set, and Asahi looked extremely pleased.
“Thank you so much. Feel free to try what I ordered too.”
“I’m fine with just what I ordered. If we didn’t have to order at least six items, I wouldn’t have gotten both cake and parfait.”
“I totally get that. Let’s get fat together♪”
Asahi picked up her spoon, flashing an innocent smile.
“Oh, right. Before we dig in, can I take a commemorative photo?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Let’s take it together, Senpai♪”
“I’d rather not. Just take a picture of the food.”
“Ehh~ It’d be nice to have a memory~”
“Even if you don’t record it, as long as it’s in your memory, that’s enough.”
“But if we take a picture, we can vividly recall this moment even 50 years from now.”
“This isn’t something we’d remember in 50 years.”
“Mm… Okay. Then I’ll just take photos of the desserts today. When I get home, I’ll edit the video of you talking to the cat and make a collaboration.”
“Don’t create such distasteful images.”
“Once I finish, I’ll make copies and distribute them to everyone in the Literature Club.”
“Please don’t.”
“If you don’t like that, then take a selfie with me? I won’t show it to anyone, so don’t worry.”
“…You leave me no choice.”
“Yay~♪”
After cheering loudly, Asahi moved to the seat beside me.
Her petite shoulder pressed snugly against my arm.
Seeing Asahi’s incredibly beautiful face up close made me nervous.
“Aren’t you a bit too close?”
“But if we don’t sit close, we won’t fit in the frame with the desserts, right? We need to get everything in the shot.”
“…I guess so.”
“Alright, Senpai, smile for the camera.”
“O-Okay.”
Following her instructions, I smiled at the lens.
In the smartphone screen, Asahi and I were cozied up, both smiling. We looked like a couple…
“…………”
But no matter how long I waited, I didn’t hear the camera click.
“…Asahi? Aren’t you going to take the picture?”
“Hehe. Actually, it’s a video~”
“Do you want me to break your phone?”
“Please calm down, Senpai. I never said I was taking a photo, did I?”
“—Huh? Did you not?”
I recalled our conversation from the past few minutes.
“…You’re right. You didn’t explicitly say whether it was a photo or video. I just assumed.”
“Glad you understand.”
“Yeah. Sorry for getting angry.”
“You’re so understanding. You’re really cute, Senpai♪”
Asahi giggled mischievously.
I’m not entirely sure why, but she seemed happy, so I’ll let it slide.
“Now, let’s use an app to turn us into animals♪”
“Can I go back to my seat?”
“Just once, please. Really, just once.”
Asahi hurriedly operated her smartphone and pointed the camera at us again.
If I refused, she’d probably threaten me with the cat video, so I had no choice but to comply.
“First, let’s turn into cats.”
After adjusting some settings, cat ears appeared on our heads in the screen, and whiskers grew on our cheeks.
—This is bad.
Asahi, who was already cute, looked about three times more charming.
Maybe high school uniforms should come with cat ears.
But if I let my guard down now, I’d lose.
Under the table, I pinched my thigh to keep from smiling and gave her a neutral comment.
“It feels strange for humans to have cat ears.”
“Not at all! You look super cute right now, Senpai. You have a talent for becoming a cat!”
“I’ve never heard of that kind of talent.”
“Your compatibility with cat ears is incredibly high! Maybe in your past life, you were a cat!”
Asahi said excitedly, pressing the shutter repeatedly.
“Senpai! Try saying ‘meow~’!”
“I’d rather die.”
“Oh, come on! Put your hands up to your chest and pose like a cat!”
Asahi clenched her left hand into a fist and demonstrated the classic cat pose.
Not good. She’s extremely cute.
I pinched my thigh harder and responded calmly.
“There’s no way I can do that pose.”
“Pretty please, meow~? I’d love it if you’d try, meow~”
Asahi pleaded in a sweet, cutesy voice.
What is this adorable creature…!?
I quickly turned my face away to avoid looking at her.
Just pinching my thigh wasn’t enough to keep me from smiling.
“Even if you beg like a cat, I can’t do it.”
“Why not? If I turn into a cat too, you won’t feel embarrassed, right?”
“I’m already embarrassed that my companion is talking like a cat.”
“Ehh~… Okay. Then how about saying ‘Yangon’?”
“What’s that? Does that word even exist on Earth?”
“It’s a city in Myanmar.”
“That’s some random trivia.”
“I remembered it because it sounds like a cat’s meow. I thought it might come in handy someday.”
“You’re surprisingly forward-thinking.”
“Alright, Senpai, say it with me: ‘Yangon.'”
“…Yangon.”
“Great, meow! So cute!”
Although I wasn’t sure why she was thanking me, it seemed our time as cats had come to an end.
Good… I finally made it through…
“Next, let’s turn into dogs!”
Wait… dogs…!?
“How long are you planning to keep this up?”
“This will be the last one, woof. Don’t worry about it; let’s become dogs, woof!”
Ignoring my reluctance entirely, Asahi began fiddling with her smartphone.
In the next instant, the cat ears on the screen transformed into dog ears, and our noses became dog snouts.
Asahi’s cuteness as a dog far surpassed her cat form.
While she had earlier embodied the aloof elegance typical of cats, the moment she turned into a dog, it felt like all her skill points had been poured into pure adorableness.
This is just unfair.
It’s too cute.
“Ah, you look fantastic as a dog too, Senpai,” Asahi said with a sly grin—but that’s what I wanted to say.
Could it be that Asahi looks perfect no matter what animal she becomes…!?
In contrast, I looked like a failed chimera with dog ears.
“I think I just look like a creepy creature.”
“Not at all! Try saying ‘woof woof.'”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then, just like when you said ‘Yangon’ earlier, could you say ‘studio apartment’?”
“Why an apartment?”
“If you don’t like ‘studio apartment,’ ‘wrist strength’ works too!”
“…Wrist strength.”
“Hehe~ You’re so cute, Senpai~”
“To you, does ‘wrist strength’ sound like a dog’s bark?”
I couldn’t quite accept it, but seeing how much she was enjoying herself, I decided to let it go.
“Phew… I’m satisfied now. Thank you.”
After taking the pictures, Asahi returned to her seat, thanked me, and put her smartphone back into her bag.
It seemed I was finally free.
Man, exhaustion just hit me all at once.
Keeping a straight face around a beautiful girl is no easy task…
“—Oh no.”
Looking at the table, Asahi let out a distressed sound, and her moist blue eyes turned toward me.
“What should we do, Senpai? The ice cream on the parfait has melted.”
“Yeah. That’s entirely your fault, Asahi.”
“It’s because you’re just too cute, Senpai.”
Pouting as if shifting the blame, Asahi scooped up the melting strawberry ice cream and brought it to her mouth.
I began eating my own vanilla ice cream as well.
But as the cold ice cream calmed me down, I realized the potential danger of the photos we had just taken.
“By the way, about the photos you just took—if I don’t apply for the event tickets by November 14th, you’ll delete them along with the video of me talking to the cat, right?”
“Huh? Is that so?”
“Of course. Otherwise, you’d just be accumulating more things to hold over me.”
“But can’t I keep them for my own enjoyment?”
“Absolutely not. If you won’t agree to delete them, then please return the coasters I gave you.”
“You’re so difficult… Fine. On November 14th, I promise to delete all the videos related to you from my phone.”
Announcing her reluctant agreement, Asahi went back to eating her melted ice cream. I should probably finish mine too.
After a while, once the ice cream dishes were empty, Asahi’s phone rang from inside her bag.
“May I check my phone?”
“Of course.”
For the first time seeking my permission, Asahi looked at her messages and broke into a smile.
“It’s a message from my niece, who’s in elementary school. Her name is Mitsuki, and since she recently learned to use katakana, she often texts me~”
As she spoke, Asahi proudly showed me her phone screen.
The messages read things like “Tell me something” and “When can we play again,” all written in katakana. Asahi seemed to be replying in katakana as well to match her.
“Kids learn new things every day; it’s so fascinating that I can’t take my eyes off her.”
“Do you like children, Asahi?”
“I love them! Especially Mitsuki; she’s the cutest in the world. Do you want to see a video? You do, right?”
Without waiting for my response, Asahi opened a folder labeled ‘Mitsuki’ on her phone. It seemed she had an entire album dedicated to her niece.
“This is Mitsuki reading a picture book by herself when we went to the library. Isn’t she smart?”
“She stumbles a bit, but she’s doing well.”
“She was reading it to me~ And this is when we went to Matsushima, and she was so moved by how good the ice cream tasted.”
“She’s really enjoying it.”
“After that, she even ate half of mine. But she’s so cute that it’s okay—And this is Mitsuki dancing while watching Miss Maya’s concert Blu-ray.”
“She has a great smile. Though her choreography is a bit all over the place.”
“As long as she’s cute, it’s fine. Although you can start talent education from kindergarten, her dream is to become a voice actress.”
“Talent education… That reminds me of me and my sister.”
“Do you have a sister, Senpai?”
“Yeah. She’s living alone in Tokyo now, but when I was in middle school, she kept telling me about the wonders of voice acting. I didn’t get it at the time, but when she introduced me to Miss Maya Kanzaki this spring, I became a full-blown voice acting fan.”
“I see. I totally understand wanting to share what you love with family. I’d love to chat with your sister sometime.”
“Do you often take care of your niece, Asahi?”
“Yes, I see her at least three times a week. If you’d like, Senpai, you should meet her next time.”
“Why?”
“Because it feels selfish to keep such an adorable family member all to myself… Honestly, with her level of cuteness, it wouldn’t be strange if she were considered a national treasure.”
“That’s not really what ‘national treasure’ means.”
“Then maybe she deserves the Order of the Purple Ribbon?”
“That’s not right either. But your niece is definitely cute.”
“Right! Let me show you more videos!”
Eyes sparkling, Asahi enthusiastically showcased more clips.
This girl is definitely going to be an overindulgent parent someday…
Asahi energetically swiped through her phone.
Then, after a video of Mitsuki playing house, a clip suddenly appeared showing Asahi herself—looking like she had just woken up, dressed in pajamas.
She faced the camera with a careless smile, her loose-fitting sleepwear giving her a somewhat disheveled appearance.
I couldn’t help but notice how strikingly sensual the scene was, but my rational side kicked in, and I turned my gaze away.
“—Ah!!”
At the same time I averted my eyes, Asahi let out a shriek and quickly clutched her phone to her chest.
“D-Did you see that!?”
Blushing furiously, Asahi anxiously asked me.
Instinctively, I wanted to apologize, but considering my future interactions with her, I chose my words carefully.
“I did. Is there a problem?”
“Of course there’s a problem! That was a picture of me just waking up in my pajamas!”
Asahi shouted, her face bright red.
But I couldn’t apologize here.
“Why are you mad at me? You’re the one who showed it to me.”
“You’re absolutely right. I’m really sorry. Please erase what you just saw from your memory.”
“That’s impossible. Besides, you’ve stored plenty of embarrassing images of me on your phone, haven’t you? All I did was catch a glimpse of you in pajamas.”
“When you put it that way… I finally understand your discomfort, Senpai.”
“Glad we’re on the same page. You can delete the cat video now, right?”
“That’s a separate matter.”
Asahi dodged the issue while pulling a slice of cake toward herself with a fork.
“…By the way, why was there a solo picture of you in your niece’s album?”
“That photo was the first one Mitsuki took using my phone. Even though she snapped it so suddenly that I ended up looking like that, it’s a memory, so I kept it.”
Speaking in almost a whisper, Asahi began eating her cake silently. She seemed genuinely embarrassed.
Since we both felt awkward, I quietly pulled my own cake closer.
For a while after that, silence enveloped us as we mechanically ate our desserts.
But my mind was filled with the impactful image I’d just seen, so I couldn’t taste the cake at all.
About ten minutes later, Asahi finished all the sweets she had ordered and stood up.
It seemed she was heading to the merchandise corner of the collaboration café.
“Senpai, aren’t you going to buy anything?”
“I’ll pass. I spent all my money on the Blu-ray this month.”
“Got it. I’ll go have a look myself.”
Asahi trotted over to the merchandise area and quickly picked up several acrylic keychains.
She spends money freely—a true example of a devoted fan.
It seemed she had already decided what to buy; she promptly paid and returned to our table.
“Senpai, please take this.”
Sitting across from me, Asahi handed me one of her purchases.
It was an acrylic keychain featuring a chibi illustration of Yui Mashiro, Miss Maya’s character from ‘Divine Slayer Miko.’
“As thanks for keeping me company today, I’d like you to have this keychain.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Please attach it to your school bag.”
“I absolutely won’t.”
“Why not? I’ll put one on mine too.”
“All the more reason not to. Here, take it back.”
“Wait! Okay, I get it! Even if you don’t put it on your bag, please accept it! It would make me sad if you returned my gift!”
Nearly in tears, Asahi grabbed my right hand and made me hold the acrylic keychain.
“Honestly, you’re so stubborn, Senpai.”
“Actually, expressing my true feelings makes me straightforward, doesn’t it?”
“There you go again~ But deep down, you really want to put it on your bag, right?”
“Could you stop making baseless assumptions?”
“Just try attaching it once. Personalizing your bag is fun, you know?”
Asahi looked at me with her moist eyes.
I can’t win against that…
“I can’t put it on the bag I bring to school, but I’ll attach it to the one I use on days off.”
“Yay!”
Asahi cheered happily.
She’s a hard girl to understand.
“So, Senpai, what should we do next? Want to go to the arcade together?”
“You’re planning to make me win anime merchandise for you, aren’t you?”
“Hehe. You caught me. I’m not very good at crane games.”
“If the prizes aren’t great, it’s cheaper to buy them online.”
“That’s true, but it’s special because you win it yourself.”
“But you want me to win them?”
“Seeing you win them in front of me is what’s important.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not good at crane games either. I can’t help you; I’m heading home.”
“What!? You’re leaving already!?”
“Yes. I don’t want to risk being seen by someone I know while hanging out with you in an arcade.”
I put on my hat, sunglasses, and mask, then stood up.
“…I feel like you’re a character with a high difficulty level to win over, Senpai…”
