Inserting a coin, the claw machine played a pleasant chime.
Kaito gently moved the joystick, the claw followed his motion and finally dropped slightly, precisely grabbing a chubby, adorable little seal from the mountain of stuffed toys.
Mortis looked tense, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her skirt. Mutsumi also gently covered her chest, staring unblinkingly at the scene inside the transparent glass.
Even the two JK girls beside them, who had failed multiple times, were attracted by the commotion and instinctively turned their gazes.
Under the watchful eyes of several people, Kaito's expression remained unchanged, calmly operating the joystick.
As the claw began to rise under his control, every slight sway of the little seal plush would make everyone hold their breath a little more.
Although only a few dozen centimeters remained, countless had fallen at the dawn of success.
Finally, the claw carrying the plush reached steadily above the exit chute.
"He did it?", one of the JKs blurted out, her expression hard to describe, either amazement or envy.
Her companion also looked a bit sour. She had tried more than a dozen times herself, spending over a thousand yen, but couldn't even fish out a small one, all the money had gone into grabbing air.
She was about to approach and ask this claw machine master for some tips, but the moment she met those pale chestnut-colored eyes, she froze slightly.
Kaito casually glanced at the two unfamiliar JKs and paid them no mind. He simply bent down, picked up the chubby little seal from the machine, and handed it to the green-haired girl beside him.
"Mission accomplished."
Mutsumi was silent for a moment, then finally gave a soft "Mm."
The little seal plush was fluffy and meticulously made. It clearly wasn't cheap, and it felt great to hold in her arms.
But... No matter how nice the texture was, it couldn't compare to another kind of feeling that filled her heart.
It was the joy and satisfaction of being valued.
Clearly, she had only glanced a few more times at the cute plush without truly hoping to own it, but someone had braved all obstacles to fulfill that wish for her.
It felt like a fledgling had suddenly fluttered into her heart—soft, and warm.
"My turn, my turn! And I want my rainbow pony!", Mortis looked enviously at the little seal in Mutsumi's arms. She grabbed Kaito's hand and shook it non-stop, acting spoiled in a drawn-out tone, "Onii-chan~ Onii-chan~"
"Calm down," Kaito rubbed her head and inserted another coin.
This time, again, there was no suspense. The claw was steady from beginning to end, more obedient than a house-trained dog, grabbing precisely where pointed.
"Thank you, Onii-chan! I love you so much!", Receiving the long-desired rainbow pony, Mortis cheered, rubbing the plush against her cheek, totally unwilling to let go.
Kaito was used to her over-the-top reactions. He simply asked the two of them if they wanted any more plushies, since they were already here, it would be no trouble.
However, he received a negative response.
The cutest plushies in the machine, a rainbow pony and a little seal, were now theirs. Getting more would only be burdensome.
Kaito didn't insist. He nodded slightly and then calmly withdrew the invisible giant hand he had condensed using spiritual power.
This amusement park's claw machines were pretty greedy. Several times the plushies almost fell off halfway during the grab.
Fortunately, his skills were superior.
Now that the girls' wishes had been fulfilled, there was no need to linger.
The group left the claw machines, intending to check if there were any other fun attractions nearby.
It had to be said, two equally beautiful girls with identical appearances were already enough to turn heads. Now, each holding an adorable plushie, their attention-drawing power easily doubled.
Though most of the gazes still ended up on Kaito in the end, he had long since gotten used to this and felt nothing at all.
After wandering a bit, Mortis suddenly scrunched her little nose, looking troubled.
She had eaten quite a bit earlier, and drank plenty of beverages. Now, a certain urge came rushing fiercely, hard to suppress.
She tossed out a quick "I'm going to the restroom, I'll be right back," handed her plushie to Onii-chan for safekeeping, and hurried off.
Watching the girl's figure gradually disappear, Mutsumi fell into thought.
Mortis had left. Which meant, right now, it was just her and Onii-chan.
She subtly glanced around the surroundings. The girl then suggested, "There's a bench prepared for visitors up ahead. Onii-chan, want to take a rest?"
Kaito didn't think much of it. Though he wasn't tired, considering that Mutsumi's body was still that of an ordinary person, he nodded slightly.
The bench was in a nearby corner, slightly secluded, and there were barely any visitors around, almost no one in sight.
What a perfect place to do something bad. Of course, anything too extreme was out of the question.
After all, no matter how few people there were, it was still a public space. There was always a risk of being discovered. For certain individuals, that might be part of the thrill, but unfortunately, she didn't have that kind of fetish.
However... She hadn't planned to do anything overly bold anyway.
Sitting on the bench, after a moment of silence, Mutsumi gently raised the little seal plush in her hands, breaking the quiet.
"Thank you for earlier, Onii-chan."
"You mean this plush?"
Kaito flicked the little seal's forehead, "As long as you like it, the gift wasn't in vain."
Mutsumi curved her lips slightly, then shook her head a little, "Mother taught me since I was young, to give a return gift for every present received."
The girl's golden eyes shimmered like soft crescent moons.
She slowly leaned in, like a cat, a few playful strands of hair brushing against his cheek with the motion, tickling slightly. A faint white sandalwood scent lingered at his nose.
Then, a slightly moist, soft sensation gently landed, like a drop of spring rain falling on a lotus leaf, slipping away without a trace.
"I really like this gift," Mutsumi whispered.
———
"Hu... If I knew, I wouldn't have drunk so much," Relieved, Mortis let out a long breath. After rinsing her hands by the sink and confirming everything was fine, she left the restroom.
"Hope Onii-chan and Mutsumi didn't get too impatient waiting?"
With that thought in mind, she quickened her steps and soon returned the way she came.
Only...
'Hm? Where are they?'
The girl froze for a second and looked around, finally spotting two familiar figures in a secluded corner not far from here.
"So they're here," Mortis sighed in relief. She had thought she got lost, thank goodness she didn't.
She briskly stepped forward, her light-footed silhouette like a white crane stepping through water. Yet, the moment she saw the scene in front of her clearly, she couldn't help but tilt her head.
'Is it just my imagination?'
'When I made eye contact with Mutsumi just now, did her face... turn a little red?'
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