Chapter 78: Just a coincidence
I sighed, feeling the fatigue settling in, as I walked out of the school gates. "Those guys seriously are troublesome... especially Soumei... That guy ditched his cleaning duty, and the teacher suddenly pinned it on me."
A wave of exhaustion washed over me. Maybe taking a break today would be a good idea.
With no shift at CirCLe, I contemplated spending some leisure time at the arcade.
As I made my way towards the mall district, a familiar figure caught my attention. "That's... Hiromachi Nanami from Morfonica... right?" I squinted my eyes to confirm. "What the hell is she doing?"
There she was, Hiromachi Nanami, the bassist of Morfonica, playing Monopoly in the park, all by herself.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to approach her. As I got closer, I could see her focused expression, analyzing the Monopoly board.
"Hiromachi-san, what brings you to the park today?" I asked, trying not to startle her.
She looked up, slightly surprised, then smiled warmly, "Oh, Nakasone-san! Just taking a break and enjoying a game of Monopoly. Care to join?"
I raised an eyebrow, "Monopoly in the park? Alone?"
She chuckled, "Well, it's a good way to relax and clear my mind. Plus, I enjoy the strategy of the game."
ALONE?
"Fair enough. Mind if I join in?"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, "Not at all! Join! Join!"
"Where are the others?"
Hiromachi Nanami looked up from the Monopoly board, "Hm? Ohh~ Just for student council business."
"Ah..."
A brief silence settled between us, and I took the opportunity to observe the surroundings. The gentle rustling of leaves, the distant chatter of people enjoying the park.
"So, Nakasone-san, how's everything on your end?" Hiromachi asked, breaking the silence with genuine curiosity.
I leaned back, considering her question. "Oh, you know, the usual mix of school, work, and unexpected encounters like this one. Just trying to navigate the maze of everyday life."
Let me tell you... I have formed a contract with a dark angel
Her laughter rang out, a melodious sound amidst the park's ambiance. "I can relate to that. Life's a bit like a Monopoly game, isn't it? Unexpected turns, surprises, and sometimes, a bit of luck."
I nodded, appreciating the analogy. "True. And speaking of unexpected turns, how did you end up playing Monopoly alone in the park?"
Her eyes gleamed mischievously. "Well, it started with a random idea, and here I am. Sometimes, a solo game is just what I need to unwind."
That's too sad?!
"By the way, I was heading to the arcade myself, wanna go with me?" I suggested, gauging Nanami's interest.
Nanami's eyes sparked with excitement. "Really?!"
"Y-Yeah."
Her enthusiasm surprised me. "Then! Let's go!"
Are you really that eager to go?
So, the two of us headed to the district mall and then the arcade. As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
"All right then... For starters, have you ever visited an arcade?" I asked, curious about her gaming experience.
She shook her head. "This is my first time."
"Eh? Really? Not in your life?"
"As far as I can remember...? Nope."
I couldn't hide my surprise. "That's too sad... Well, you're in for a treat! Arcades are like a haven for gamers. You'll love it!"
"Then... How about we try that game over there? It's a fighting game."
"Ohh~ Let's go!"
Excitement filled the air as the two of us hopped into a game called Tekken 7. Of course, I picked my main character, "Kazuya," while Nanami went with a random selection, ending up with "Yoshimitsu."
As the match began, the screen came alive with vibrant colors and intense action. At first, I confidently won the first round, but something unexpected happened—she turned the tables in the second round.
"Ohh! I did a combo move! Did you see that?" Nanami cheered, her eyes glued to the screen.
I couldn't help but smile, genuinely impressed. "Nice one! But don't get too comfortable. I have a few tricks up my sleeve!"
And then, the final round started, with the sound of intense button mashing filling the arcade. The excitement reached its peak, and to my surprise, the screen declared, "Yoshimitsu Win."
"I did it!" Nanami exclaimed with a victorious grin.
Meanwhile, I remained silent, contemplating how she executed a Yoshimitsu Wall Carry Combo—something even I struggled with. The realization hit me: Nanami had some hidden gaming skills.
My pride as a gamer wouldn't allow that.
"One more!"
Yoshimitsu Win
"Again!"
Yoshimitsu Win
How did she do that... She just did a Yoshimitsu Wall Carry Combo as if it's an everyday walk.
"Tell me, Hiromachi-san... Are you sure you haven't visited an arcade before?"
"Ehehe~ Nope~ That's probably just a coincidence winning against you, Nakasone-san~" she said with a playful grin.
I chuckled, "Well, if it's a coincidence, it's a pretty impressive one. You sure know how to handle Yoshimitsu."
"Oh, thank you! It's just beginner's luck, I guess."
As we continued exploring the arcade, it became clear that Nanami had a knack for various games. From rhythm games to shooting games, she approached each one with enthusiasm and a surprisingly quick learning curve. Laughter echoed through the arcade as we shared victories and defeats, creating a carefree atmosphere.
Then, Nanami's eyes gleamed as she spotted a plushie in the crane machine.
"Hm? You want that plushie?" I asked, noticing her interest.
"Yeah," she replied with a grin.
I decided to give it a try, inserting a 100 yen coin into the machine. As I controlled the crane, a tense silence filled the air. Minutes passed, and my determination wavered as sweat trickled down my face.
"U-Uhm... Maybe I should try?" Nanami suggested.
"No need, Hiromachi-san. I already lost to you 15 times in a fighting game... At least let me salvage my pride as a gamer."
Nanami burst into laughter, and I couldn't help but join in.
"By the way, Nakasone-san... You're older than me, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, 3rd-year from an all-boy's school."
"Then... that means you're my senpai, huh..."
"You're in your second year?"
"Yep yep~"
"I see."
I focused on the crane machine, determined to redeem myself. After several tense moments, I successfully caught the plushie.
Relief flooded over me as I handed it to Nanami.
"I DID IT!!" I couldn't help but express my excitement.
Nanami accepted the plushie with a smile, "Thank you, Senpai~"
My face turned red, "Yeah, no problem."
"By the way, Senpai... I wonder what should I do with these?" She showed me a bag full of plushies.
My eyes widened in surprise, "W-where did you... get these?"
She pointed to another crane machine, nearly empty.
Hiromachi-san... You will be the reason why this arcade will soon bankrupt.
"Tell me, Hiromachi-san... You're good at everything, huh..."
"Nope~ Just a coincidence."
One day, I wish to have the same coincidence as yours.
As we wrapped up our time at the arcade, I bid farewell to Nanami as she entered a taxi, heading straight home.
Another unexpected and enjoyable day.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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