After leaving the departnt store, Brandon decided to carry all of the bags.
Of course, he didn't mind it. He had bought so stuff as well, and Rachel was the one who paid for it.
"Just like I suspected...."
Turning around slightly, Brandon narrowed his eyes.
From behind him, a few figures seed like they were trying to mask their presence.
"They're following us..."
But they failed terribly at it.
Especially the girl with blonde hair. Her reaction ti was way too slow for Brandon to not have noticed.
"Haaa..."
Brandon let out a long audible sigh.
For so reason, they were at the mall, just like Brandon and Rachel.
And for so reason, they had been following them ever since coming out of the bookstore.
They had way too much ti on their hands.
It beca apparent to him that Rachel was, without a doubt, trying to cheer him up.
Rachel was an avid reader of the romance genre. But throughout the entire bookstore trip, Rachel had been trying to endorse him on the latest isekai mangas, Brandon's favorite genre.
Adding to the fact that their friends were inconspicuously following them, albeit failing, Brandon's lips pulled up to a smile slightly.
Then,
"Pfft..."
He chuckled.
Everything that was currently happening…
He didn't realize how much he needed it.
A break,
...He needed it.
Sothing, anything…
Just to occupy his thoughts, away from Everglade, the children, and…
Oliver.
Just rembering his na made Brandon's expressions scrunched up.
His mind,
...It was a ss.
He knew it.
His sanity was slowly slipping away.
Ever since coming to this world…
Everything, and everyone had been putting insurmountable pressure on him.
The system, the quests, Evelyn, Oliver, and the one who had placed the most pressure on him....
Jin.
Too many expectations.
"What's so funny?"
Breaking him out his thoughts was Rachel, who was looking up at him.
"...Nothing."
Brandon shook his head.
Rachel was completely oblivious to the fact the their friends were following them.
Sighing, Rachel turned to look ahead.
"Okay."
"Pftt..."
"What?"
Before Brandon responded, he quickly flicked his head back. A particular blonde hair once again stood out.
Looking back at Rachel, he smiled.
"Nothing."
"..."
Not questioning further, Rachel grabbed his hand.
"Let's go."
"Uh?"
For so reason, Rachel was enthusiastic all of a sudden.
"Ah."
Looking ahead, Brandon cocked his head.
"Arcade?"
"Mhm, co."
Just like that, Rachel dragged him by the hand, entering the arcade.
The arcade was packed with children and teenagers alike. The certain sound of 8-bit gas, and the familiar 'womp womp' audio, of soone failing.
Despite the year being 2148, Brandon could agree that the gas were quite retro. He was even familiar with so of the gas, back in his old world.
Truth be told, Brandon was quite excited. Back in his old world, his other forms of entertainnt would have to be arcade gas.
And one thing he was definitely good at were claw machines.
While he was busy looking at the gas available, Rachel proceeded with the token exchange.
"Hmm…"
As he expected, there were dozens of claw machines.
The prizes, all ripe for the taking.
Rubbing his hands together, Brandon was feeling good.
After finishing the exchange, Rachel returned to his side.
"Let's go, I want to try this ga first."
"Sure."
Brandon nodded, as the two walked around the arcade.
Stopping at one of the machines, Rachel turned to look at Brandon.
Cocking his head, Brandon gave her a stupefied look.
"Uh?"
"Want to try?"
"I can't dance."
"Neither can I."
Chuckling, Rachel approached the dance machine, and inserted a coin.
"Co."
"..."
Brandon gave her a skeptical look.
Frowning, Rachel grabbed his hand yet again, and dragged him towards the dance machine.
Just like that, the dance machine began.
Or rather, the dance battle.
Doing his best, Brandon tried to copy the moves displayed on the screen as best as he could.
But he was quite stiff.
He was Player 2, while Rachel was Player 1.
[PLAYER 1: 10,237 POINTS]
[PLAYER 2: 3,457 POINTS]
'Neither can I, my ass.'
Brandon was losing badly, Rachel was just that good.
Sure, he was good at arcade gas. But not these kinds of gas.
All of a sudden, Rachel flashed him a cheeky smirk.
Smoothly moving her body, she pursed her lips.
"Loser has to pay for everything that's bought today."
"..."
Two can play at that ga.
"Sure, but we have to play all of the gas."
"Oh?"
Rachel's brows raised.
"I like that."
Rachel was extrely competitive.
But so was Brandon.
That being said, Brandon lost the dance machine. But it was only the beginning. He was confident with the other gas, especially the one they decided to save for last.
In the end, the two were tied neck-and-neck.
The current score was 34-34. The last ga being the tie breaker, and the ultimate showdown.
Rachel's previous confident deanor was nowhere to be seen.
With sweaty palms, she started biting her nails. She was nervous.
Very nervous. She didn't expect Brandon to be good at arcade gas, especially fighting gas.
Looking at him, his expressions never changed at all.
But this should at least end in a tie right?
Claw machines were often known to be rigged. There's no way Brandon would win anything.
"You first."
"..."
Brandon motioned with his hand, and Rachel accepted the gesture.
Inserting the token inside the machine, Rachel reached out for the joystick.
With her hand carefully moving the joystick, Rachel's focus was entirely fixated on the claw.
Sweat started beading from forehead as she licked her lips.
She was fully imrsed, as if her life was on the line.
Lowering the claw, to her surprise, it was able to pick up the stuffed panda plush.
"Oh!"
Rachel's eyes lit up. It was a cute sight.
She turned to look at Brandon. Eventually her lips pulled to a smirk.
"First try."
"Look again."
But reality soon dawned upon her as she looked back.
Thud!
The panda plush fell before it could even reach the hole.
"No, no, no, no!"
She bent over as she smacked the glass. Her face contoured to a dejected look, and it seed like she was about to cry.
"It's rigged! I swear it's rigged!"
Her voice rang throughout the entire arcade. The people around started looking at her as if she was so kind of weirdo.
"Oy..."
Noticing that the staff was about to intervene, Brandon approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
As soon as he did, Rachel gave away and rubbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
"It's rigged anyway. Let's just call it even—Huh?"
As she looked at Brandon, he was fully imrsed as well. Observing the claw, it was able to pick up…
"Two?!"
Two plush pandas.
"What in the—"
Thud!
It made it through as well.
Bending down, Brandon grabbed the two pandas and clutched it tightly in his chest.
Looking at Rachel, he pursed he mockingly tilted his head
"What was it about being rigged again?"
"..."
Frowning, Rachel walked towards the claw machine again.
She was extrely competitive.
And yet again…
Thud!
"Urghh!"
Thud!
"Why."
Thud!
"Can't I."
Thud!
"Do this?!"
"You're doing it wrong."
"Huh?"
All of a sudden, Brandon appeared behind her.
"...!"
Standing behind her, he inched real close. Brandon inserted the coin, and before Rachel knew it, Brandon's hand was already wrapped around hers.
He controlled the joystick for her, using her hands.
"Watch"
"..."
Rachel was speechless. She wasn't even looking at the ga.
She was looking directly at…
"That's how you do it."
Looking down, he gave her a smile.
"..."
The two's eyes t, and Rachel's face suddenly flushed red.
She could feel the warmth of his hand around hers, as well as the beating of his heart.
Ba… Thump!
Her heart started beating faster as well.
'No way… What is this?'
Looking at Brandon, her gaze wouldn't tear away.
But her thoughts were soon broken as Brandon leaned down to grab the prize.
"Here."
Shoving the doll in her arms, Brandon looked at her with the sa blank expression.
"Take it."
"Ah… Eh… Uh… T-thanks?"
"Mhm."
His lips curled up.
"35-34. You're paying for everything today."
"..."
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