Chapter 25: Chapter 4 - The Trick to the Crane Game is to Pull it in Close (5/6)
"Is this like what Micha rides?"
Her interest turned toward the line of motorcycle machines.
It was a racing game that allowed up to eight people to play at once.
She hopped onto one, placed her bag on her thigh, and grabbed the grips. They were coordinated enough by now that Mutsuki inserted two coins, climbed onto the next machine over, and explained how to accelerate, turn, and brake.
"Let's start with a simple course. Choose the automatic transmission and…that red bike is easy to use."
They began the game on the practice course, a beginner's motorcycle, and the easier transmission mode.
"The automatic transmission means you only have to twist the grip to pick up speed. But if you go too fast, you can't make the turns, so watch out. Good, good. Start by trying not to crash or fall over."
"Oh, oops… Like this!?"
"Yes. Very good."
He slowly drove alongside her on the screen as well as on the machine.
"Hmm. Motorcycles are fun. Maybe I should borrow Micha's sometime."
"You need a license for a real one. …Wait? Does Micha-san have a license?"
"Oh, that was close! I'm not going to fall over anymore."
"Good, good. Make sure to lean to the side when you want to-…oh."
His heart skipped a beat when she tilted her machine for the curve and her skirt flipped up, revealing the spats-covered thighs below.
Due to her personality, she had gone too fast and crashed a lot at first, but she was noticeably improving with each lap. That may have been thanks to her superhuman athletics. Before long, she was no longer crashing and actually making it around the curves, even if just barely. At the end of the tenth of twelve laps, she was about as good as your average player.
"Ha ha♪ Did you see that, Mutsuki? I didn't crash again."
"That's amazing. You aren't spinning out even at your top speed. You're a proper player now."
"Heh heh. Well, a human game isn't about to give me much trouble. …Whoops."
She almost crashed while giving him a proud look, but she continued reducing her lap time. Mutsuki was not very athletic and it had taken him a long time to get used to this sort of game, so he was jealous.
"Heh heh heh heh."
A smile of victory filled Ange's slanted eyes.
(She's so cute.)
That was his honest thought.
She naturally left a powerful impression, but the harsh side vanished when she smiled, leaving only the cute side. Only the cheerfulness of a sunflower and the purity of the blue sky remained.
Once he noticed, he could not keep his eyes off of her.
The two of them crossed the finish line at the same time.
"Hm? It's already over?"
"It was a twelve lap race. Well? Did you have fun?"
"Yeah! …No, I mean, a bit I guess."
Her eyebrows rose in defiance, but she still looked cute.
As the boy climbed down from the machine, his cheeks were loose with self-deprecation.
"Wait," said the girl. "You're supposed to use this to race, right? In other words, to see who's the fastest?"
She put her hands on her hips and pulled her chin back to give him a challenging upwards look.
"Eh? …You want to race?"
Mutsuki checked, but no one else was around. It looked like they could play twice in a row.
"I'll have a pretty big advantage since I've played this game a lot."
"I'll take that handicap."
"Hm… Fine then."
He climbed back on and inserted two more coins.
"Don't you dare go easy on me. And don't make any excuses if I beat you."
"Fine, fine."
Mutsuki realized he was mostly just enjoying playing with her instead of trying to get along with her. He selected the same course, the same bike, and the same transmission.
"No going easy on you, you said?"
"Eh? Ange, don't kick it! They'll get mad at us."
Mutsuki left the motorcycle section while worried about the looks the employees were giving them. Ange stomped off after him.
"Um…"
"Shut up."
"I-I play that game a lot. You did really well for your first day."
"Shut up."
"I'll admit I went a little overboard when I lapped you the fourth time, but that was because you told me not to go easy on you."
"Shut uuuuuuup! You're making fun of me, aren't you!?"
She shouted angrily back and Mutsuki was too weak-willed to say anything more.
Ange may have been good for a beginner, but Mutsuki had been able to drive alongside her and give her instructions. The difference was like night and day. His mistake had been truly not going on easy on her without giving any thought to her pride.
"I'm never riding a motorcycle again! Not even Micha's!"
She seemed thoroughly pissed after being so badly beaten.
"Sigh."
The boy sighed at how poorly this was going.
At the same time, he was in a fairly decent mood.
He was certain the two of them had grown a lot closer over the last while.
Ange was still holding onto her prize bag as she moved on ahead. Mutsuki could not help but laugh quietly before jogging back to her side.
"Hmph."
Even the way she exaggeratedly turned away seemed cute. After leaving Game Master City, they returned to the mall corridor. Evening was shifting to night and the number of customers had grown a bit.
"Hey, Ange."
"What?"
"That Lazy Bear cushion will be moved to the opened machines in a while, so how about we come back for a rematch then?"
"…"
She slowed her quick pace and faced him. Her reddish-brown hair fluttered behind her as she did.
"This time you can win the prize."
"~~"
Merely imaging herself defeating that loathsome crane on her own was enough for her normal lopsided frown to melt and curve upwards.
But it quickly stiffened back up.
"I-I don't really want that, so it doesn't matter!"
She stomped off again.
Mutsuki laughed again. That was when Ange noticed the boy had been smiling all this time. She gave a sullen frown.
"And what do you mean 'in a while'? It's not like we're going to be together for that long."
Her tone was ice cold.
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