Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Date? #2
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"Ugh. There sure are a lot of people."
"Yeah."
Lee Soyun, who was struggling with the crowd just like me, clung tightly to my side as she spoke.
The outside had been fine, but stepping into the game center crammed a ton of people into the narrow building.
There were plenty of students in uniforms just like ours milling about too.
I headed to the exchange machine at the entrance, pulled out a 10,000-won bill, and swapped it for ten 500-won coins and five 1,000-won bills.
Then I checked to make sure Lee Soyun was still sticking close behind me.
"Don't get separated. Hold on tight."
"Yeah."
Her eyes were spinning in their sockets.
"How about we kill time on that until the crowd thins out a bit?"
I pointed to a racing game machine that was surprisingly empty even amid the packed arcade floor.
It had somewhat isolated seats, and you could sit down, so it seemed like a good spot—as long as it suited Lee Soyun's tastes, anyway.
"Looks good. Let's go."
Fortunately, she seemed interested, so I led her over to the seats.
I sat her down first, then took the one next to her and fed coins into both machines.
"Oh, whoa. What do I press?"
"The button on the side. There you go. And now look at the pedals—there are two of those."
Even if it didn't look like it, I'd gotten my license in my previous life, so explaining a racing game was a breeze.
It was just a game, after all—no need to worry about shifting gears or anything.
"Alright, pick your car from there. Good job."
I helped her select her vehicle, then quickly chose mine and caught up.
"Ready to start? You can just floor it on straightaways, but ease off the gas with the brakes on curves."
Heh, no matter how much I explained, a total newbie wouldn't master it on the first try. I hit the start button, and the tense countdown began.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep!
As soon as the countdown ended, the roaring engine sounds blasted from the machines.
Time to show off the dignity of a licensed 1st-class ordinary vehicle driver to Lee Soyun.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 16/16
…….
"Hey, Lee Soyun. You've played this before. No, you've driven a car before, haven't you?"
While my screen was branded with a shameful 16th place, hers proudly displayed 6th.
Wasn't the ironclad rule of racing games for beginners that you just mash the accelerator, scrape along walls, and crash nonstop?
Lee Soyun ignored all that and drove like a veteran taxi driver with thirty accident-free years under her belt, smoothly entering the top ranks.
Her car looked pristine at the finish, same as when she started—nothing like my mangled wreck.
"First time playing, and it's super easy? I'll get my license no problem when I'm older. You don't seem like you'll pass, Ijin, so I'll give you rides. Hehe."
Oof. Her words stung my pride, but the loser had no right to complain.
Who knew she had a knack for driving?
She still seemed into it, so we went for another round.
This time for sure…!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 15/16
…….
I glanced over to see her pull in at 2nd place.
"Ahh, so close! It was because you blocked the road at the end, Ijin!"
She was right.
I'd lapped her by more than a full lap and ended up blocking her path.
Such humiliation.
"Sorry…."
"It's fine. Let's try something else now."
She put on a pouty tone, but her face beamed with a bright smile.
As long as she was having fun, that was what mattered.
"Let's do that one."
She pointed to a two-player air hockey table.
"Don't hit it too hard, or it'll fly off. Be careful."
"Yeah."
The game kicked off right away. I served lightly at first, and she swung her paddle with all her might.
But even with her full swing, her weak force and poor technique sent the puck drifting feebly toward me.
I barely used any strength, just snapped my wrist to aim for her goal.
"Whoa!"
She reacted long after the puck had already gone in. Yep, total klutz.
"You're too fast…."
"Sorry, I'll go easy."
Or so I said. But I had to win this one.
Payback for the racing game…!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, she didn't score a single goal before time ran out.
"Hahaha! How's that!"
"……."
Seeing her all downcast from the crushing defeat, I finally noticed a bead of sweat trickling down my neck.
"Uh, um, you okay? S-sorry."
I must've gotten too into it. It had been ages since I'd hit up an arcade—er, game center—so my excitement got the better of me.
"Hmph…. But it was fun, right?"
She shook off her sulk and checked if I'd enjoyed it. What a sweet girl.
"Yeah. Next, let's do something that doesn't involve moving around."
I took her hand and set off to explore more of the game center.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa. Just playing around, and I'm wiped."
We'd spent quite a while enjoying all sorts of games.
Tried the claw machines, the basketball shooters, airplane shooting games, BB gun ranges….
Felt like we'd hit every playable game there was.
We'd gone all out, and even I—with my good stamina—was starting to tire.
Lee Soyun looked pretty beat too.
"Wanna take a quick break before we go?"
As I scanned for a spot to sit, she poked me.
"Hey, Ijin."
"Yeah? What?"
"Wanna… try that over there?"
She pointed to a photo sticker booth.
It had seats, was cut off from the outside, and perfect for lounging a bit.
"Oh, nice. Let's check it out."
I agreed readily, and despite her fatigue, she couldn't hide her joy.
"Yeah!"
We stepped into the booth and shut the door, muffling the noisy game center a little.
"Feels better in here. My ears were killing me out there."
"Totally. It was super loud."
Game centers were noisy places. Especially the rhythm games blaring massive soundtracks nonstop—it made your ears ring.
Partially freed from the din, a wave of comfort washed over us.
Lee Soyun felt it too and leaned against me.
"How about we rest a bit… then take a picture for the memories before we go?"
"S-sure."
I could clearly feel her hair brushing my arm.
The surroundings felt quieter by the second.
It was still noisy, sure, but being alone together made the sound fade away.
And so, we took a short—but somehow long—break.
Checking the time, it was pretty late.
We'd really made the most of the game center.
"It's getting late. How about one last commemorative photo before we head home?"
"Ah, yeah."
She sounded a little reluctant.
Still, we had school tomorrow, so it was time to call it.
I fed money into the machine, and the lens lit up, capturing us both.
It hit me anew: who would've thought I'd be taking sticker photos alone with a cute high school girl like this?
Life really was worth living twice.
Most people only got once, though.
I tried for a natural smile, but with her pressed so close, it came out awkward.
"Ijin, why's your face like that?"
Because you're sticking to me so much.
I couldn't say it out loud, so I just mulled it over internally and let out an awkward "haha."
The photo—with her face right next to mine—got decorated by Lee Soyun's skilled touch into a fresh-faced couple's snapshot.
"Uh…."
I glanced at her, a bit uneasy, and her face was flushed pink.
"Th-that's how you're supposed to decorate these. That's what it's made for."
Was it?
I'd never taken sticker photos in either of my lives until today, so I wouldn't know.
She carefully tucked the printed sheet into her wallet, then handed me the extra copy.
"Here. Keep it safe?"
"Yeah."
I'd have cherished a souvenir like this anyway.
I slipped mine into my wallet too.
"Let's head home."
"Yeah."
On the way out, a claw machine caught my eye.
In anime and stuff, the guy always wins a plushie and gives it to the girl.
"One last thing—wanna try that before we go?"
Lee Soyun eyed it too, looking intrigued, and followed me over.
"Let's each take one shot."
"Sounds good."
I inserted the money and gripped the controls with tense hands.
These machines always had super weak claws. Better to nudge or hook than try a straight grab.
That's why I picked this one—with a rabbit plush dangling half out of the chute.
I aimed first for a dopey-looking penguin with a ring on it—easy hook target.
Whirr.
The claw descended with a mechanical whir and snagged the ring.
"Ooh."
I prayed it wouldn't slip from the trembling claw.
An eternity passed in a split second, and the penguin bumped the dangling rabbit at the exit.
Plop.
"No way!"
"Whoa."
Lee Soyun gave me a deadpan stare.
The penguin bounced off the rabbit without pushing it and fell, but somehow the rabbit tumbled back with it.
"How does that even fall backward?"
I handed her the controls.
"Yeah, move it like that. Hit the button when it's over where you want it."
I coached her eagerly from behind.
"Huh?"
The result? Shockingly, success….
That legendary beginner's luck. Newbie fortune in action.
She perfectly snagged the rabbit by the neck, balancing it despite the loose claw.
"You've got a real talent for games."
That's how it felt to me. She'd beaten this hardcore gamer a few times on first tries today.
It wasn't that I sucked, okay?
Hugging her won rabbit plush, she grinned ear to ear, and I couldn't help smiling too.
For a moment, we just gazed at each other, smiling.