episode_0037

“Ugh. There are so many people.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Isayoon, who was struggling with the large crowd like me, stuck close to me and said.

It was fine outside, but inside the game center, the narrow building was crowded with many people.

There were also many students like us wearing school uniforms.

I took out a ten-thousand-won bill from the exchange machine at the entrance and exchanged it for ten five-hundred-won coins and five one-thousand-won bills.

Then I checked to see if Isayoon was still close behind me.

“Don’t lose me and hold on tight.”

“Okay.”

Isayoon, with her eyes rolling around, replied.

“Should we try that until the crowd thins out a bit?”

I pointed to the surprisingly empty seat of a racing game inside the crowded store.

Since we could sit in relatively isolated seats, it seemed fine. As long as it suited Isayoon’s taste.

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

Fortunately, with Isayoon looking interested, I led her to the seats.

After seating Isayoon, I inserted coins into both machines.

“Oh, wow. What, what do I press?”

“The button next to you. Yeah. And then, if you look down by your feet, there are two pedals to press.”

Being a former driver’s license holder in my past life, the explanation of the racing game was easy.

It was just a game, not like putting in gears.

“Okay, choose your car there. Good job.”

After helping Isayoon choose her car, I quickly finished selecting my car and followed suit.

“Are we starting now? You can go full speed on the straight road, but you have to brake on the curved road to slow down.”

Haha, no matter how much I explained, how could a beginner learn everything at once? As I pressed the start button, it was time to prepare for the tense moment.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep!

As the countdown ended, the loud engine sound flowed from the racing game machine.

I decided to show Isayoon the dignity of a Class 1 ordinary driver’s license holder.

* * *

16/16

……….

“Hey, Isayoon. You’ve done this before. No, you’ve driven before.”

While my screen was stuck with the 16th place mark, Isayoon’s screen showed a high rank of 6th place.

Wait, wasn’t it a common rule in racing games that when you first play, you mindlessly step on the accelerator and end up scraping the car against the wall?

Isayoon, showing exemplary safe driving like a 30-year veteran taxi driver, successfully entered the top ranks.

Compared to my car, which was completely wrecked and unrecognizable, Isayoon’s car, controlled by the smooth-skinned Isayoon, looked the same as when we started.

“It’s surprisingly easy for a first-timer, right? I’ll probably get my license easily when I grow up. Since Jin doesn’t seem like he can get a license, I’ll drive him around. Hehe.”

Ugh, it was a blow to my pride, but the loser had no right to speak up.

Isayoon surprisingly showed talent in driving.

Seeing that Isayoon still seemed interested in the game, I decided to play another round.

This time for sure…!

* * *

15/16

……….

Looking over, I saw Isayoon in 2nd place.

“Oh, darn. Jin, you blocked me at the end!”

That’s right.

I had blocked Isayoon’s path by more than one lap.

What a disgrace.

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay. Let’s go play another game now.”

Despite her pouting tone, Isayoon’s face was bright with a smile.

She seemed to be having fun, so that was good.

“Let’s try that one.”

Isayoon pointed to a 2-player air hockey game.

“Don’t hit too hard or it will fly away.”

“Okay.”

As the game started, I gently served first, and Isayoon swung her stick with all her might.

However, even with Isayoon swinging her stick with all her might, the air hockey puck wobbled and flew towards me due to her weak strength and lack of skill.

With almost no strength left, I aimed for Lee So-yoon’s goalpost with just a snap of my wrist.

“Wow!”

It took a while for Lee So-yoon to react after the goal went in. As expected, she’s not very athletic.

“You’re, you’re too fast….”

“Sorry, I’ll go easy on you.”

I said, but this time, I have to win.

It’s a revenge match in a racing game…!

* * *

In the end, Lee So-yoon couldn’t score a single goal as time ran out.

“Haha. How was that!”

“……”

Seeing Lee So-yoon looking dejected after her crushing defeat, I finally felt a drop of sweat trickle down my neck.

“Um, hey. Are you okay? S-sorry.”

Seems like I got a bit too excited. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the arcade, or rather, the game center, and I was starting to enjoy myself.

“Aww. ……. But still, it was fun, right?”

Lee So-yoon asked me if I had fun while trying to let off some steam. She’s such a sweet girl.

“Yeah. Let’s play a game that doesn’t require much physical activity next.”

I held Lee So-yoon’s hand as we set off to explore the game center.

* * *

“Phew. Just playing games is tiring.”

We had enjoyed several games for quite a long time.

We tried the claw machine, played air hockey, tried a plane shooting game, and even played a BB gun shooting game….

We’ve played almost every game worth playing.

Due to our non-stop playing, even I, with good stamina, was starting to feel tired.

Lee So-yoon also seemed quite exhausted.

“Shall we take a short break before we go?”

As I looked around for a place to sit and rest, Lee So-yoon tapped me on the shoulder.

“Hey, Jina.”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“Shall we go over there….?”

When I looked to where Lee So-yoon’s finger was pointing, I saw a sticker photo booth.

It’s a good place to sit, and it’s secluded from the outside, making it a nice spot to relax for a bit.

“Oh. Sounds good. Let’s go.”

I readily agreed, and despite her tired expression, Lee So-yoon couldn’t hide her excitement.

“Yeah!”

As we entered the sticker photo booth and closed the door, the noise from the bustling game center subsided a bit.

“It’s less noisy in here, so my ears hurt less.”

“Yeah. It was really loud out there.”

Game centers are noisy places. Especially in rhythm games where music blares loudly, the noise can be overwhelming.

Finding some relief from the noise, a sense of comfort washed over us.

Perhaps feeling the same way, Lee So-yoon leaned against me.

“Let’s take a break for a bit…. Maybe take a photo before we leave? It’s a memory, after all.”

“Sure.”

The sensation of Lee So-yoon’s hair touching my arm was vivid.

Despite the noise, the atmosphere of just the two of us made the noise less noticeable.

And so, we enjoyed a short but seemingly long break.

Checking the time, it was quite late.

If we’ve been playing at the game center for this long, then we’ve truly had a good time.

“Well, it’s getting late. Shall we take one last commemorative photo before we go?”

“Ah, okay.”

Lee So-yoon seemed a bit reluctant.

But we have to go home now if we want to go to school tomorrow.

As I inserted coins into the machine, the lens immediately started capturing our images.

It suddenly dawned on me that I never expected to have a day where I could take cute sticker photos with this adorable high school girl.

Life really does surprise you sometimes.

Most people only live once.

I tried to smile as naturally as possible, but due to Lee So-yoon sticking close to me, my smile felt awkward.

“Jin, why does your expression look like that?”

It’s because you keep sticking to me.

I could only force a fake laugh, silently pondering the reasons I couldn’t say out loud.

The photo taken with Lee So-yoon’s face next to mine turned into a couple photo of a pair of fresh-faced young man and woman after Lee So-yoon’s decorative touch.

“Hmm…”

With a slightly flustered look, Lee So-yoon glanced at me, her face turning red.

“Wow, this is how you should decorate a photo like this. That’s why I made it like this.”

Is that so?

Having lived two lives, I’ve never taken a sticker photo before, so I don’t really know.

Lee So-yoon carefully placed the printed photo in her wallet and handed me the remaining photo.

“Here. Keep it safe?”

“Yeah.”

Even without Lee So-yoon saying so, I have a habit of treasuring such mementos.

I also kept the photo in my wallet.

“Let’s go home now.”

“Okay.”

As we left the game center, a claw machine caught my eye.

In animations, it’s always the guy who wins a doll and gives it to the girl as a gift.

“Should we try that one last time before we go?”

Lee So-yoon seemed interested in the claw machine too, so she followed me.

“Let’s each take a turn.”

“Sure.”

We put money into the machine and nervously started operating the claw.

Usually, these machines have weak claws, so it’s more effective to push or nudge the doll in rather than grab it.

That’s why I purposely chose a machine with a rabbit doll hanging over the exit.

I aimed for the penguin doll with a dumb expression and an easy-to-grab ring.

Zing.

With the sound of the machine, the claw descended and lifted the ring.

“Oh.”

I fervently hoped the penguin wouldn’t fall from the trembling claw.

In a fleeting moment like eternity, the penguin met the rabbit hanging over the exit.

Thud.

“No!”

“Wow.”

Lee So-yoon looked at me with cold eyes.

The penguin, unable to push the rabbit away, fell, and for some reason, the rabbit also fell backward with the penguin.

“How did it fall backward like that?”

I handed the controls to Lee So-yoon.

“Move it like this. Press the button when you want it to go down.”

I gave her instructions from behind.

“Huh?”

Surprisingly, it was a success…

Is this the famous beginner’s luck?

Lee So-yoon grabbed the rabbit doll’s neck with the weak claw’s force, maintaining a perfect balance.

“You’re surprisingly good at games.”

That’s how I felt. Today, Lee So-yoon managed to win against me, a seasoned gamer, a few times.

Am I not good at it?

Seeing Lee So-yoon holding the rabbit doll she picked, I couldn’t help but smile brightly at her.

And so, for a moment, we smiled at each other.