Trial Lover 27 (Patreon)

Main Story 26 - Crane Game

RAW

After paying the bill, we leave Animake.

“I'm satisfied to buy the new issue of my favorite manga and Nyantaro-sensei's goods. Animake is a good shop, isn’t it. I think I will continue coming here.”

“I'm glad you said that.”

I'm happy that she likes the shop that I often go to. I wonder if Hiori felt the same way the other day, when I praised Yotsuba Bookstore in Kasagaya.

It’s fine even if it's just once in a while, I'd like to come to Animake with Hiori again in the future.

“Now then. Where should we go next? It's almost noon, so it might be a good idea to have lunch.”

“Lunch sounds appealing, but... can we go to that game corner over there?”

“Yeah, sure. Does Hiori like the game corner? By any chance, do you go there on a regular basis?”

“Occasionally, I go to the game center near Kasagaya Station.”

“I see.”

That's somewhat surprising. I did hear that she played video games with Himura-san and Hazuki-san yesterday though.

“I go there to play crane games. Do you remember the small stuffed animals and minifigures on the study desk in my room?”

“I remember. There were some cute ones.”

“Yes. All of those were taken from crane games. So I thought there might be some cute things in the crane games at the game center here.”

“I see. So that’s how it is. Then, let's go to the game corner.”

“Yes.”

Hiori takes me by the hand and we head for the game corner.

The game corner is also crowded. Since it's a holiday, there are many groups of elementary and middle school students and parents with their children.

Hiori usually goes to play crane games, so she doesn't pay any attention to the other games.

After a short walk, we arrive at the crane game corner.

“There are quite a few crane games here.” (Hiori)

“Yeah. There are crane games where you can get plastic models and stuffed animals, not to mention sweets.”

“I see.”

We slowly walk around the crane game corner.

Some crane games are so popular that there aren't many products left, while others still have a lot left. Some of the games had boxes with lots of marks from the claws on the arms, probably because they had been bounced off so many times.

“Ah...”

After letting out that voice, Hiori stops on her tracks. What lies before her eyes is... stuffed sprawling cats. They’re brown and white in an eight-split pattern. I wonder if she stopped because she wanted those. ...I'm sure she did. Her eyes are shining brightly too.

“Akito-san. I'd like to play this crane game. I want the stuffed sprawling cat inside. I'd like to welcome it into my bed.”

I knew it. It was the easiest deduction in the world.

Also, you want to welcome it into your bed? It sounds kind of sweet. Even though I knew that what she wants to welcome is a stuffed cat, I was still startled.

“There was a stuffed calico cat on Hiori's bed after all. That's fine.”

“Thank you very much.”

“By the way, is Hiori good at crane games?”

“I'm not very good at it. I can get what I aim for, but I often end up spending a lot of money. There are even times when many 1,000 yen bills disappear from my wallet...”

“I see. I think it's amazing that you can get what you aim for.”

I know many of my friends who would give up halfway through.

I'm sure Hiori will do her best to get that stuffed sprawling animal. I do want to see that too. However, there is a possibility that a lot of money will end up disappearing from Hiori's wallet.

“...Hiori. Should I get that stuffed animal?”

“Is it okay?”

“Yeah. As a thank you for taking me to Hagikubo Nyafe, I want to give you this stuffed animal as a present. A cat for a cat... sort of.”

Me wanting to give Hiori a present is my true feelings. Besides, I feel like if I said it like that, Hiori would rely on me without hesitation.

Hiori shows a soft smile and laughs, “Fufu.”

“Thank you very much. Then, please. But please don't force yourself. Playing it is not free after all.”

“Got it, but I'm sure it'll be fine. I've played a lot of crane games since a long time ago. My friends and my older sister often ask me to do it.”

“I see.”

“For this stuffed animal... I think I can get it for around 500 yen.”

“I see. Then, I'll be watching next to Akito-san.”

“Yeah, watch me.”

As her trial lover, I want to show Hiori my cool side.

All the stuffed animals here are brown and white eight-split cats. In that case, let’s aim for the stuffed animal that seems to be the easiest to get, the one in front of me.

“Hiori. I’ll be taking the stuffed animal that's on this plastic bridge, okay?”

“It’s the stuffed animal with its butt facing us, right?”

“That's right. This bridge gets wider toward the right side when facing us. I’ll use the arm to shift it so that the head faces to the right.”

I play three times and move the target stuffed animal until its head is facing to the right. By doing this, the stuffed animal's head comes to rest on top between the two pieces of plastic.

“I think this is it.”

“You turned it to the right. What’s next?”

“Now, I’ll drop the arm on top of its head. I’ll use the force of the arm to push its head, that’ll make the stuffed animal fall down through the chute.”

“I see.”

The 4th play. I move the arm over the stuffed animal's head.

When the arm goes down, it hits the stuffed animal's head. The head is pushed in by the downward force. After a little while, the arm goes up. At that time, Hiori mutters, “So close.” Just as Hiori said. With this, I should be able to make it fall in one more play.

The 5th play. I move the arm over the stuffed animal's head again.

The arm goes down and hits the stuffed animal's head again this time. The stuffed animal is pushed further in than before, and it falls into the product outlet.

“Amazing!”

Hiori faces me and excitedly claps at me. It's great that I showed my good side. Also, I'm relieved that I got it for 500 yen as I declared.

I take the eight-split stuffed cat from the product outlet and hand it to Hiori, saying, “It's a present.”

“Thank you very much, Akito-san! I'll treasure it!”

Saying that, Hiori looks at the stuffed animal with sparkling eyes. And then, she hugs it tightly and happily. The sight of her is a little childish and cute. Also, I'm jealous of the stuffed animal she's hugging. Please change places with me, even if it's only for a little bit.

“As Akito-san said, you got it for 500 yen.”

“Yeah. I'm glad I properly got it. To be honest, I also feel relieved.”

“Fufu. I see how good Akito-san is at crane games. If it were me, I'm sure it would have cost me 1,000 yen... even if I’m lucky.”

“I see. If you’re fine with me, from now on too, if there's anything you want to get, just tell me.”

“Yes. I'm sure something like that will happen. I'd appreciate your help at that time.”

Hiori says while smiling kindly.

If she asks for my help then, I have to do my best to get it for as little money as possible.

Afterwards, as a thank you for taking the stuffed cat for her, Hiori lets me take a photo of her hugging the stuffed animal.

Seeing Hiori's soft smile in the photo warms my heart. I'm sure that will never change.

The stuffed cat is big enough to fit into Hiori's tote bag. But, since it is vertically long, its face is slightly exposed. But, ‘that’s cute’ Hiori says with satisfaction.

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(T/N: it looks like 6 chapters per week is still too much for me. I’ll go with 5 chapters per week, this is close to my previous release speed with Trial Lover and Otaku & Ponkotsu. Just around 5% slower than OtaPon while around 25% faster than Dream Lover. Yeah, I did the math. I was really curious about my translation speed and the fiction stats.

Anyway, the days without chapters are Monday and Friday.)

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