Barbatos stared at her empty claw as it retracted, her thoughts momentarily tangled.
Was sharing a bubble tea considered an indirect kiss? Yeah, probably.
Just earlier, she'd been complaining about those couples sharing one drink, calling it unhygienic. Yet now that it was her turn, she couldn't help but think it tasted pretty good.
Talk about eating your own words.
She covered her mouth, stifling a cough to avoid ruining the drink. Her eyes then fell on Seiun Sky, who was grinning beside her, and it hit her—she'd been played.
Her fist clenched instinctively.
Looking at that smirking face beneath the cap, a sudden urge surged within her—to just lean in and kiss her right then.
Knowing Seiun Sky as she did, the girl would probably crumble instantly under such directness, flustered and defenseless, turning into a blushing mess.
But alas, that was just a fantasy.
Indirect kisses and shared drinks… weren't they kinda normal, really? Like back in school, everyone drank from their classmates' bottles at some point.
An actual kiss, though—that would change everything.
Even now, she felt sure Seiun Sky had feelings for her too, that she liked her back.
Why else would she tease her so boldly, even going so far as to hold her hand?
But she had to play it cool. Rushing in recklessly might scare her off, and that was a regret she'd carry for life.
"An indirect kiss?" Barbatos replied coolly, after a moment's analysis. "Of course it counts. We're a 'couple'—kissing's pretty normal, right?"
She gestured with the bubble tea in her hand, alluding to their earlier pretend romance.
"True enough," Seiun Sky said, a light smile playing on her lips as she took the tea back from Barbatos.
She didn't dwell on the "couple" remark. Barbatos's reaction just now had been amusing—blushing at the mention of an indirect kiss, yet trying so hard to act unfazed and turn the tables.
It didn't even cross her mind how flustered she herself had felt moments ago when Barbatos called them a couple.
"Let's get back to the claw machine then. Can you fish 'me' out of there?"
"Easy."
Seeing Seiun Sky sip the tea casually, completely unbothered by the whole "indirect kiss" idea, Barbatos shifted her focus back to the machine.
Next, she needed to clear the dolls surrounding "Seiun Sky" to avoid any obstructions when going for the prize.
The claw descended slowly, retrieving "Silence Suzuka" in one smooth move.
Then came the main target.
Even though it was just a simple claw game, as the claw hovered over "Seiun Sky," Barbatos felt a nervous tension creep in—more intense than when she'd first learned about entering the Winter Dream Cup.
Except for that one miss, distracted by the "indirect kiss," she'd succeeded every time so far.
Don't fail me now, "Seiun Sky."
The claw lifted "Seiun Sky" gradually, inching toward the chute. Barbatos could see the grip loosening visibly, the doll perched precariously, threatening to fall any second.
Just before reaching the chute, the doll slipped from the claw's grasp, landing half-in, half-out of the opening—like a coin teetering on the edge, deciding its fate.
In situations like this, even if the doll didn't drop fully, getting it out would usually be easier afterward.
A second attempt almost guaranteed success.
But Barbatos suddenly felt that only a "Seiun Sky" who came with her on the first try was one who truly wanted to be with her.
It was like those gacha games—pulling a character in a single try felt completely different from hitting the pity timer.
As if hearing her thoughts, "Seiun Sky" wobbled twice on the edge of the chute before tilting forward and tumbling out.
Barbatos crouched down, delighted, and retrieved "Seiun Sky" from the opening. She held it out to the girl beside her. "Your Seiun Sky."
"No, she's your Seiun Sky," Seiun Sky pushed the doll back toward Barbatos, a playful smile on her face. "You won her, after all. Now let me give it a try."
'Did you watch too many Extra ads or something?'
Barbatos couldn't help the internal jab, though the words "your Seiun Sky" sent a pleasant itch through her heart. Was Seiun Sky just naturally this smooth?
If she didn't make a move soon, would she end up as the bottom in this… whatever this was?
The problem was, it seemed like Seiun Sky had already taken the initiative on almost everything couples could do before officially dating, except maybe watching a movie together. What was left for Barbatos to do?
The only move left, probably, was to confess first—seize the initiative and take the leading role in this romance.
Though she'd heard people say:
The one who confesses first often ends up in the submissive role, destined to give more in the relationship.
But shouldn't the "boy" usually make the first move? And if two people truly liked each other, did it really matter who gave more or less?
Barbatos wasn't entirely sure.
The only thing she was certain of was that confessing now might be too soon—they'd only known each other for two months.
Her mind wandering, she stepped aside to give Seiun Sky space at the machine.
She watched Seiun Sky's movements closely. If her guess was right, Seiun Sky would probably try to grab the "Barbatos" doll inside.
She'd managed to grab "Seiun Sky" in three effective tries out of four.
How many attempts would Seiun Sky need to rescue "her"?
After a brief glance at the doll layout, Seiun Sky spoke casually, "Wanna make a bet? Bet I can fish 'you' out in fewer tries."
"Sure, what's the wager?" Barbatos agreed without hesitation. She didn't know how skilled Seiun Sky was at this, and her own historical betting record against her was… zero wins. But her own three-try success was solid proof.
This time, for sure!
"Hmm… if I win, you come watch a movie with me."
"Then if I win, you have to come watch a movie with me."
"Deal."
Even though the outcome seemed the same, this was about pride. It was about who took the lead.
Come to think of it, every bet they'd made so far had brought them closer. Maybe all those previous losses weren't so bad after all.
She watched as Seiun Sky began maneuvering the joystick.
The claw aimed for "Grass Wonder," who was positioned right on top of the "Barbatos" doll. There was no way she could grab "Barbatos" on the first try with that.
But just as Barbatos finished the thought, she saw "Grass Wonder"—along with "herself" and what looked like "King Halo" stuck to it—get hauled up together by the claw.
All three dolls dropped neatly into the chute.
"What the—!"
She suddenly felt that 200 yen per play was way too cheap for this machine. This claw machine was downright sneaky. So damn sneaky.
[Today's Wager: Barbatos - Loss]
[All-Time Record: 3 Battles, 3 Losses]
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.