An Yu dragged Ning Wanciu left and right, looking around.
There were simply too many things to play; for a moment she didn’t know where to start.
Ning Wanciu wasn’t in a hurry.
She was waiting for An Yu to decide.
“Mm…?”
Suddenly, An Yu stopped.
She frowned at the claw machine in front of her.
It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to play it, but there were a few familiar-looking things inside the machine.
What were they again…?
There was a blue octopus, a white cat, a green cucumber, and a pink… idiot?
Looking at the plushies, An Yu began to recall carefully.
Ah, right!
These seemed to be from an anime she had watched before.
She hadn’t expected it to be so popular that they made merch for claw machines.
“An Yu, do you want to try the claw machine?”
Ning Wanciu asked softly.
An Yu turned to look at Ning Wanciu, blinked, and finally nodded.
She was going to play everything anyway.
Order didn’t matter.
Since she saw it, it was fate.
Time to grab all the dolls and take them home!
“Mm, the left joystick moves it side to side. When you’re lined up, press the button on the right to grab, okay?”
Ning Wanciu gently explained the rules while looking into An Yu’s eyes.
“Mm.”
An Yu nodded, indicating she understood.
That’s it?
Easy! All the band girls are coming home with me!
“Alright then… here!”
Ning Wanciu handed over a coin.
She didn’t offer to grab it for An Yu, even though she was more experienced and could probably get it quickly.
But Ning Wanciu wouldn’t do that.
An Yu wanted to play herself, and having fun was what mattered. The result wasn’t important.
Unless An Yu asked for help.
“Hehe, An Yu wants to claw dolls? Let me tell you, I’m actually…”
Huai Xiang saw the scene and was just about to brag when Cheng Shimumeng suddenly cut her off.
“You’re actually…?”
Cheng Shimumeng covered her mouth and laughed lightly.
“The legendary three-hour zero-wins champion?”
“Ah! Why’d you have to say it out loud?!”
Huai Xiang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
She had been planning to show off in front of little An Yu.
How could her best friend give her zero face?
“Hmm? Not convinced?”
“Mmmph! Not convinced!”
Who provokes someone and then asks if they’re convinced?
Too much, Cheng Shimumeng!
“Fine, let’s settle it over there at the arcade cabinet~” Cheng Shimumeng’s lips curled smugly, looking down at Huai Xiang. “You dare?”
“What? You started it. Watch me destroy you so bad you won’t know which way is up!”
Huai Xiang nearly jumped in anger.
She completely forgot about showing off to An Yu and dragged Cheng Shimumeng away.
Watching the two, Ning Wanciu blinked in a daze.
She was about to stop them when Cheng Shimumeng secretly turned back, smiled, and waved at her.
The two quickly walked off.
From afar, Huai Xiang’s voice could still be heard:
“I’m telling you, loser buys milk tea!”
“Fine~ Did you bring enough money?”
Cheng Shimumeng replied while winking back at Ning Wanciu.
She had deliberately dragged away the third-wheel lightbulb Huai Xiang so Ning Wanciu and An Yu could be alone.
As for herself…
She understood the difference between eating every meal and skipping one.
If Ning Wanciu and An Yu got even closer and started being lovey-dovey every day, she wouldn’t miss just this one arcade date, would she?
Though Cheng Shimumeng still didn’t know what was wrong with her, it was fine.
She could look it up when she got home.
Right now, creating opportunities for the two of them was the priority!
Ning Wanciu stared blankly as the pair stormed off.
Before she could react, only she and An Yu remained.
She was still dazed when she felt someone tug on her sleeve.
Looking down, she saw An Yu staring at her expressionlessly.
“Uh…”
She froze instinctively.
When there were four people it was fine, but now that it was just the two of them, she suddenly felt nervous.
“Ning Wanciu?”
An Yu tilted her head, looking at her in confusion.
“Ahem… what is it, An Yu?”
Ning Wanciu pretended to be calm.
“…Coin.”
“Ah, ah… sorry, sorry! Here!”
Ning Wanciu blinked in embarrassment and immediately handed over a coin.
Thanks to the interruption, she had completely forgotten An Yu wanted to play the claw machine.
An Yu took the coin and stared at Ning Wanciu expressionlessly for a long while, until Ning Wanciu was almost sweating, before finally turning away.
Ning Wanciu is acting weird.
And it started suddenly. Observe more.
In the end, An Yu shook her head, giving up. Never mind. Claw machine time.
She gripped the coin Ning Wanciu gave her, narrowed her eyes, and seriously studied the inside of the glass cabinet.
There were quite a lot of prizes…
Alright, first the little cucumber. She talks a lot. I’ll learn from her.
With that thought, An Yu inserted the coin.
She gently moved the joystick until the claw was perfectly above the cucumber, then slammed the button on the right.
The claw wobbled downward, stopping right above the cucumber before slowly closing.
An Yu placed both hands on the glass, staring unblinkingly at the tightening claw.
The claw looked soft, but it perfectly grabbed the cucumber she wanted.
“Mm!” An Yu unconsciously let out a small sound of approval.
Her eyes sparkled with rare excitement.
As expected, I’m still a gaming genius!
Who says offline games don’t count as real games?!
Watching the claw lift the cucumber higher and higher, An Yu proudly raised her little head.
Though her face remained expressionless, her heart was filled with pride.
One down, next one—
“Oh… too bad!”
Ning Wanciu’s voice came at the same time as the cucumber’s tragic fall.
An Yu rapidly blinked, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
The cucumber she had successfully lifted dropped the moment it reached the top and started moving left!
No way. This can’t be right?!
“An Yu? Want to continue?” Ning Wanciu asked with a smile, completely unfazed, and offered another coin.
Right, I used to come to arcades all the time. Why am I nervous…
It’s fine.
And being alone… didn’t we eat lunch alone together today too!
After a round of mental preparation, Ning Wanciu gradually returned to normal.
Her goal today was to make sure An Yu had fun. She couldn’t mess this up!
“Yes!”
An Yu’s voice was a little louder than usual.
Though her tone didn’t reveal much emotion, Ning Wanciu could feel she was more excited than normal.
“Alright~”
Ning Wanciu gently handed over another coin.
Not mygo being canon in this book bruh, ain’t complaining tho.