Playing air hockey was fun, but it was intense, fast-paced, and completely exhausting. My arms felt a little sore from all the rapid movements, and Yuuji was panting slightly, but despite that, we were both still buzzing with excitement. The rush of the game had pumped up our adrenaline, making us eager to jump straight into the next challenge.
"Okay, that was fun… Let's play the basketball game next," I said, wiping a bit of sweat from my forehead.
"Um… no, I want to play the crane game next," Yuuji said, pointing toward a row of colourful machines filled with plush toys and prizes.
I raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… shouldn't we do that last? It'd be a hassle to carry all the prizes while we play the other games."
Yuuji pouted slightly. "Onee-chan, are you that confident we'll win something?"
I smirked, crossing my arms. "Of course. You have me, after all. I'll make sure you don't leave empty-handed."
Yuuji's wide eyes sparkled with admiration, making my heart melt. He really was the cutest little brother.
We continued playing arcade games for hours, hopping from one machine to the next, challenging each other to beat high scores and collecting tickets along the way. Racing games, rhythm games, even the punching machine—I let Yuuji try everything he wanted.
By the time we finally approached the crane games, we had already spent most of the day at the arcade. The place was still lively, the flashing lights and overlapping sounds of different machines creating an exciting atmosphere.
"Alright, here we are," I said, cracking my knuckles dramatically. "Let's see what we can win!"
Yuuji's eyes locked onto one particular machine—the one with Mask Rider figurines inside. His expression was serious as if he had just found buried treasure.
"That one!" he pointed eagerly.
I chuckled. "Alright, alright, let's give it a shot."
I inserted a coin and positioned the claw carefully, aiming for the figurine he wanted. With a deep breath, I pressed the button, watching as the claw descended. It grabbed onto the figurine… lifted it slightly… and—
Clunk!
The figurine dropped straight into the prize chute.
Yuuji gasped. "No way… Onee-chan, you actually got it on the first try!"
I smirked, acting as if it was no big deal. "Of course. You doubted me?"
Yuuji beamed, grabbing the Mask Rider figurine and holding it up like it was the greatest treasure in the world. "This is the best! Thank you, Onee-chan!"
Seeing him so happy made me feel like a hero. But I wasn't done yet.
"Hmm… Let's try for one more," I said, scanning the machine next to it. My eyes landed on a giant, fluffy teddy bear.
Perfect.
I inserted another coin and focused, carefully manoeuvring the claw. This time, it wasn't as easy—the bear was heavy, and the claw barely held onto it. But on my third try, the bear finally tumbled into the prize chute.
Grinning, I picked up the oversized plush toy and held it in my arms. "This one's for Irana."
Yuuji looked up at me, his smile wide. "You're amazing, Onee-chan."
I laughed, ruffling his hair. "Of course I am. Now, let's head home before we spend every last coin we have in this place."
With our prizes in hand, we left the arcade, our hearts full and our bond even stronger. Today had been a perfect day, so we decided it was time to go home.
As we walked closer to the bus station, I suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of Yuuji's stomach rumbling. He placed a hand over his belly, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Hmmm… want to grab something to eat before heading home?" I asked, glancing down at him with a smile.
"Yeah…" he nodded eagerly, his momentary embarrassment forgotten at the mention of food.
With that settled, we decided to stop by a nearby fast-food restaurant. The bright neon signs and the delicious scent of fries and grilled meat in the air made it an easy choice.
As we approached the entrance, I reached for the door, but just as I pulled it open, someone suddenly bumped into me, causing me to stumble backwards and fall to the ground.
"Ah—!" the person let out a small yelp as they hit the pavement.
I quickly took a step back and looked down to see a girl dressed in oversized clothing—a hoodie, a cap, sunglasses, and a mask covering most of her face. But when she fell, her hat and sunglasses tumbled to the ground, revealing her features.
Long, silky black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and striking dark blue eyes, like a clear night sky, stared up at me in surprise.
For a moment, I was captivated. There was something oddly familiar about her… like I had seen her somewhere before, but I couldn't quite place where.
"Uh, sorry, I didn't see you there," I said, quickly snapping out of my thoughts and offering her my hand.
She hesitated for a second before accepting it. "Thanks…" she mumbled, hurriedly picking up her hat and sunglasses as if trying to conceal herself again.
Then, out of nowhere—
"Hey… wait a second! Isn't that the actress from that super popular drama?"
"Huh? Oh my god! You're right! That's Syena Fiolera!"
The moment her name was spoken, the energy in the air shifted. People nearby started turning their heads, their eyes widening with recognition. Some took out their phones, and before I knew it, a crowd had begun forming around us.
Syena Fiolera.
Ah… so that's why she looked so familiar. She was a famous actress—one of the rising stars in the entertainment industry. No wonder her features seemed recognizable.
But this was bad.
Really bad.
The sudden attention had taken her off guard, and I could see the distress in her eyes. This was my fault. If I hadn't bumped into her and caused her disguise to slip, this situation wouldn't have happened.
I needed to fix this—fast. But how?
As I racked my brain for a way out of this mess, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind me.
"Oh, Onee-chan… is that you? What's happening here?"
I turned around, and there stood Irana—and behind her, our father.
Perfect timing.
I quickly made a decision.
"Yuuji, stay with Father and Irana," I said firmly.
"Huh? Onee-chan?" Yuuji looked confused, but I didn't have time to explain.
The crowd was only growing bigger, and Syena looked more panicked by the second. Without wasting another moment, I pushed through the people and grabbed her hand.
"Come with me," I whispered, pulling her away from the forming mob.
Her fingers trembled slightly in my grip, but she didn't resist.
Now, I just had to figure out how to get us both out of here—fast.