Chapter 23: The Girl Who Can't Play Crane Games

At the words Orimoto told me in front of the library, I was both stunned and convinced.

「Ah, she's at the game center.」

「...She really is too free, that girl.」

「That's just like Inori.」

That still doesn't work as an explanation.

Saturday, a study session for final exams was held according to Orimoto's plans, and I was invited.

Exam period starts next week.

There isn't much time, but if we narrow down the scope and target specific areas, I should be able to avoid red marks.

Apparently focusing on weak subjects rather than areas where I can get relatively good scores is also one strategy.

Orimoto-sensei was breathing hard with determination.

──Just then, Michikusa wandered off and disappeared somewhere.

「While I took my eyes off her for just a moment...that girl changes her mind on a whim.」

「She's just like a child.」

The problem was where to hold the study session.

Me going into Orimoto's house is impossible.

It would look like an unknown man suddenly sitting there alone, so a call to the police would be inevitable.

Michikusa's house has disappeared. Other people live there.

That leaves my house as a candidate.

But that was also out.

It would be awkward to invite Orimoto and Michikusa to a guy's house, and we probably couldn't concentrate anyway.

As a result, we settled on the city library.

Even though Orimoto's and my houses are relatively close, we decided to meet on site, and this is the result.

It's literally babysitting.

「First let's go look for Inori.」

「...Fine. We have time.」

「Oh my, you're being obedient todayー?」

Since I could postpone the study session I'm bad at just a little, I won't say that and maintain silence.

─────

「Where is this game center?」

「It's in front of the station, right? Haven't you been?」

「Watch your words.」

I live a life unconnected to game centers.

A loner has no business venturing alone into such a chattering space. In other words, I've never been.

「Loner life is completed at home.」

「...I'll make you happy this summer.」

「Don't pity me arbitrarily. Stop those eyes!」

I receive gazes full of compassion.

When I raise my voice, Orimoto laughs.

「──Ah, that yukata figure! Inori!」

「She's kinda stuck to the glass of some machine.」

「Hmm, a crane game?」

Walking through the arcade in front of the station, sure enough, even in the crowd I could see a figure that stood out completely.

Yukata and geta. Flowing golden hair.

Even I, who's aware of having little interest in others, think the girl called Michikusa Inori is distinctly different from average. She's truly someone from Sera's group.

「Wah, she's bumping into people!」

「...She looks like she might fall.」

「...But she's stuck to that machine again. Does she want that machine's prize that badly...?」

Her figure isn't recognized by others.

She gets bumped into mercilessly by other customers, but doesn't give up and keeps staring at the machine. Her intent is unreadable.

Michikusa doesn't show emotions much. In that sense too, she's the opposite of Orimoto.

We approach casually.

She has no money, and even if she did, if she operated it and it moved by itself, it would cause some kind of commotion.

Michikusa has somewhat childish aspects.

Blunt statements and cleverness, sharp-tongued.

But her interests are unique.

Even I can't judge her behavioral principles, and apparently even Orimoto, who has a best friend relationship with her, sometimes can't figure it out.

A growing child.

I can't express it well, but I could occasionally sense a somewhat dangerous atmosphere from Michikusa.

「...She's seriously aiming for it.」

「A stuffed animal? She wants it?」

「Don't know. I'm calling out to her.」

Before we could approach and call out to her, a merciless crashing sound echoed through the store.

Michikusa didn't operate it.

It was the sound of another customer getting it and dropping it into the collection slot. Michikusa watches the stuffed animal being collected.

Expressionless, standing frozen.

「Farewell, Puutaro.」

「"Farewell" isn't like a final parting.」

「──Mm, it's Kasugai and Suzuka.」

Michikusa raised one hand.

Michikusa is basically half-asleep and rarely shows expression changes except for sweet-related things.

「Inori~! Geez, acting on your own!」

「It's okay Suzuka. Didn't forget study session.」

Michikusa nodded with a "kokun".

But her gaze is fixed on one point.

「Caught my attention because similar.」

I answer that statement.

「Similar to what?」

「Looks like Keiichi, this one.」

What Michikusa pointed to was the "Puutaro" stuffed animal that the staff had just restocked.

Puutaro. Setting aside the name.

It certainly has pointlessly handsome features.

It's a bear, but with slender limbs too, and would be creepy if you made one wrong step.

「That's why I was watching for a bit.」

「...I don't entirely disagree with what you're saying.」

「Mm, right?」

I'm not interested in the reasons or circumstances for why Michikusa came to like Sera. People have their various situations.

Michikusa continues staring at the prize expressionlessly. She clearly wants it.

Suddenly, I shift my gaze to another machine.

「Was watching this one too.」

What she indicated was a dog stuffed animal messily lined up at the edge. Fewer in number than the bears.

However, its expression is strangely unpleasant.

Rather than cute, it's like a tired office worker. It has a haggard negative aura.

「Isn't this one too unfriendly? ...Mm? I feel like I've seen this somewhere...?」

Orimoto alternately looks at me and the stuffed animal, then bursts out laughing. Oi, what does that mean?

「Ah, it looks just like Kasugai-kun!」

「Don't mess with me. Apologize to me.」

「No way~ It looks too similar. Those aggressive eyes are totally Kasugai-kun. Inori thinks so too, right?」

「Strongly agree.」

Orimoto holds her stomach and laughs.

Michikusa was also nodding repeatedly.

I put my hand to my forehead. Since it would be pointless to gather everyone's attention, I kept my anger to a minimum.

「You two...」

I sigh and glare at the machine.

The unfriendly dog's eyes were utterly exhausted. Because no one approached it, it looked lonely too.

「Kasugai-kun, why don't you get it?」

I tilt my head.

「Hah, why would I?」

「We don't have money.」

「That's not a reason for me to get it.」

Me, the shut-in. I have almost no experience with crane games. It's nothing but a waste of money.

It also galls me to get the Sera-like stuffed animal.

Therefore, refusing is the only option here.

「This one's fine too.」

Michikusa stands in front of the worn-out dog.

My face is reflected in the glass.

...Even if I got it, it'd just be junk.

「Kasugai-kun, try saving yourself!」

「You really never run out of things to say...」

「Kasugai can do it.」

After being thoroughly made fun of, I end up taking out my wallet. It's better than being laughed at.

I inserted coins.

I grip the lever and move the arm above the dog's head. But I can't manage skillful operations.

The arm just pets the dog's surface.

「So bad~」

「Shut up.」

I snapped at Orimoto's teasing.

Second time. Third time. Coins are diminishing. I continued operating desperately while grumbling.

Then the fourth time. Miraculously the arm caught on the dog's neck and the tag string, and the center of gravity shifted.

Next to me, Orimoto let out an "Ah".

(...Can I get it?)

The unfriendly and ugly dog stuffed animal, grabbed by the neck, rolled into the collection slot with a thud.

「Ohh~! Kasugai-kun, amazing!」

「...I feel like I was carried along though...」

I grab the dog and shove it at Michikusa.

When the stuffed animal hid Michikusa's face, Orimoto lightly tapped the dog's head several times.

「His face really looks similar, right?」

「...Ah~ annoying.」

Due to my finances, I decided I should avoid further expenses. I didn't go for the Sera-like bear.

──Deciding we didn't need to stay long, we went outside.

The seeping humidity of summer.

Michikusa muttered while holding a dog stuffed animal that was probably half her body size.

「Kasugai. What should I do with this kid?」

「...No, just put it at Orimoto's house.」

「My house is impossible, isn't it?」

Looking at Orimoto, she shakes her head vigorously.

「If Inori lets go, other people might see it. They'd be suspicious and throw it away. That would be NO.」

Being told that, I notice that possibility.

Certainly, we got it but I couldn't think of an appropriate place to put it. ...This, I realized.

Looking at Orimoto, there's a slight wry smile.

She apparently anticipated this development.

「──My house is the only option, huh.」

Orimoto's house has her family living there. ...They'd be suspicious if there were an unknown stuffed animal.

Michikusa's house is out of the question. Rejected.

「Is it okay?」

「It's not a matter of okay or not okay.」

「Kasugai, as expected.」

「...Tch.」

Acknowledgment by way of tongue-clicking.

When I was sighing, Michikusa nodded slightly, then hugged the dog tightly.

But still expressionless.

「Really, okay?」

「What, should I throw it away?」

「That's, no good.」

「...Either way, my house is the only option. There's no one who'll interfere either.」

Before going to the library, to my house.

When I took the stuffed animal from Michikusa and placed the dog in a corner of the floor, it gave me an unfriendly look.

(...It's annoying how similar it is.)

─────

Along the way.

「Kasugai, good at crane games?」

「I've barely done it properly. What about you?」

「Inori also, actually never done it.」

Is that so? That's unexpected.

Since she was someone connected to Sera, Orimoto and the others, I naturally thought she'd be used to crane games.

「I was forbidden to play when I was little. Even now, I'm not good at… playing alone.」

The words dropped so casually made me stop moving for just a moment. Prohibition for discipline purposes?

But I felt like Michikusa's tone contained something beyond just "being stopped from playing". I felt a gap and my words faltered.

「......Why?」

「Why, I wonder. I never was allowed.」

No further explanation. It was like thin ice that would break if I pressed further.

I stopped digging deeper.

I think I should listen if she wants to talk. But I also think I shouldn't force her to tell me.

「...Well, since we're here. I'll let that dog stay at my house.」

「Yeah.」

While looking at that fragile profile, I'm pulled back to the reality of exams approaching next week.

「Kasugai-kun! Inori! What are you talking about for so longー? We're almost at the library!ー」

「Red mark avoidance, Kasugai, don't lose.」

「Tests can go to hell.」