Chapter 10

https://twitter.com/39wdc/status/1139846647930707970

↑ Fan art! I received it!!

It's a battle scene with the black demon from episode 6. It's a bit risqué. G is there.

"Here is..."

Just one block away from the fancy street lined with plush toy specialty stores, boutiques, and crepe shops, there it was—a place that seemed a bit more down-to-earth, typical of a young person's neighborhood.

The game center 'Vampire.'

With a mix of new and old machines, the old-fashioned appearance of the place seemed to stand out a bit from the surrounding town. Still, the well-established entertainment facility was bustling with people enjoying their day off.

"That game center was so close?"

"Do you know the place?"

"Yes, I've been there with a colleague and a junior from my previous job."

It was when the junior was being too serious, and my colleague dragged us there on our way back from visiting a client.

One of the few enjoyable memories from my previous job... or so I thought.

"What's wrong, Matsutomo? Your face looks like a demon's."

"I just remembered a few things. I couldn't help but remember them."

At first, it was fun. I was hesitant about playing during work hours, but it was a company that made us work from morning until the last train. I agreed that a little break wouldn't hurt, so I joined in.

I won a plush toy for the junior with a crane game, compared punching power with my colleague, and argued over who would be the spare player in a two-player shooting game.

"You guys got along well. What a nice coincidence."

"Yes, it felt like a return to childhood. Until my boss ran into a woman he didn't know coming out of a photo booth."

"...Not a nice coincidence."

"It was a machine that could make your eyelashes look really thick."

There probably wasn't a machine to make your hair look thicker.

"So, what happened?"

"Nothing much. We stared at each other with 'Oh no' faces for a few seconds and then parted ways as if nothing had happened."

"Very mature."

"Where did the childlike spirit go?"

Thanks to that, we returned to the office in a very awkward atmosphere, and I had to give a soft-serve ice cream to the junior, who was seriously considering whether to report the incident, to keep him from thinking too much.

It was a strange day from the start, with two second-year employees and one first-year employee visiting a client. Everything was off. I had to think that way to keep going.

"By the way, can I ask one thing?"

"What is it?"

"Which plush toy did you give to the junior?"

"Hmm."

"Are you interested as a plush toy enthusiast?"

"Well, something like that. It's not something you can buy at a specialty store, so I'm curious about what kind of toy it is."

Not just curious. She's staring at it intensely. She's talking to me, but her eyes are fixed on the game center. I've never seen anyone look at 'Vampire' like that except for a hunter in a certain game.

She's not the type to visit a game center often, so she probably wouldn't have gone in without this opportunity.

"Shall we go in, to the battlefield?"

"Sure. Just for a bit."

Entering the store with Mio, the same electronic sounds from that day filled the air. Mio found a sign and pointed to the bottom.

"Crane games, right? They should be on the first floor."

"Right. But they're prizes. It's been almost a month since then, so I'm not sure if the same ones are still there... Wow, they look really worn out. Like a saber-toothed tiger that survived an ice age winter."

In the end, it was still there.

It was in a pitiful state, barely holding up as a prize, with faded colors, frayed fur, and matted hair.

"Is that a cat? Purple. A Cheshire cat?"

"Probably an original design. The company's licensing is complicated."

Seeing the damaged plush toy, Mio pressed her face against the glass of the machine and shivered slightly.

"Why is it so worn out... It's not neglect, but it's like that."

"Mio, plush toys don't grow. Wake up. This is a seasoned warrior left on the battlefield, used in the game center's strategy."

"Strategy?"

"When they made it really hard to get, it became too hard, and no one wanted to play anymore."

"Is that legal...?"

That's just how it is. The veterans keep quiet, and the newcomers become the prey. The unwritten rules of a run-down game center sometimes surpass the law.

"Seriously, there's no point in getting that. Let's look for a good one at the next store."

I'm hesitant to spend money on something that might not even be worth it.

It's probably a cheap toy to begin with, and for Mio, who has a particular interest in plush toys, it's probably not even on her radar.

"Ugh..."

Just as I was about to leave, my body stumbled.

My sleeve was caught.

"I want that one. I want that one."

The older woman holding my sleeve had the eyes of a child who found a stray cat.

"Are you serious?"

"I'll take care of it."

"It won't grow."

I tried to say it, but Mio's eyes were fixed on the purple cat. It's probably futile to try to stop her.

"Alright. Do you know how to do it?"

"Yes, I'll prove that this encounter is fate."

"You mean you'll get it in one try. I understand."

With a grim determination, I silently watched Mio walk to the change machine.

And ten minutes later.

"Fate is cruel..."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... It must hurt, I'm sorry..."

Wow, this person is something else.

Every time she damages the plush toy with the crane, she apologizes, but it's actually impressive.

https://twitter.com/39wdc/status/1139846647930707970

↑ It's the same link as the preface. It's fan art.

Drawn by a semi-pro with shiny black hair, which makes G's shine particularly realistic. Please take a look.