The arcade was louder than Aira expected. Neon lights blinked above rows of machines, and the air was thick with cheerful music, the clinking of tokens, and the occasional victory shout.
She lingered near the entrance, shifting awkwardly in her jacket. This wasn't her usual scene. She preferred quiet cafés and empty hallways. But when Rina had announced, "We need a night that isn't school and sadness," everyone had agreed without a second thought.
Kaito passed her wordlessly, shouldering his bag off and slipping his headphones around his neck. He didn't even glance at her. But for some reason, she still felt him there, like gravity.
"Come oooon," Rina chirped, grabbing Aira's wrist and dragging her into the crowd. "You're not allowed to sulk tonight. I want to see you win something."
"I'm not really good at these kinds of things," Aira mumbled.
Rina grinned. "Good. I am. I'll win something for you."
Behind them, Tsubasa immediately challenged Haru to a racing game, shouting something about "settling the score from last time." Haru rolled his eyes but followed. Miyo and Yuki drifted off to the claw machines, heads close together as they whispered about prize odds. Yuki barely even looked at Aira.
That stung more than she wanted it to.
Later, Aira found herself standing in front of an old prize game. You dropped a token, it bounced through a maze of pegs, and if it landed just right, you won. Useless. All luck.
Still, she tried once. The token rattled down the maze, bounced left, right, and—
Clink.
A plush fox dropped into the bin.
She blinked, startled. It had a tiny red scarf and lopsided eyes. Something about it reminded her of…
She turned, instinctively looking for Kaito.
But he wasn't watching.
Aira held the plush for a moment, then handed it off to a little kid passing by, who squealed and hugged it.
"Cute," someone said behind her.
She turned to see Kaito, now leaning against a game cabinet, arms crossed. He didn't smile, but something in his tone was almost…fond?
"You didn't want it?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I didn't think I'd win. I was just messing around."
He studied her like he didn't quite believe that. Then, wordlessly, he walked off.
Aira turned back to the machine, her chest tight.
Meanwhile, Haru sat nearby, watching the group through the flickering lights. He hadn't said anything about the drawing, not again, but he kept glancing at Aira like there was something he wanted to ask. Or maybe something he wanted to hide.
Tsubasa dropped beside him with a dramatic groan.
"She totally ignored me," Tsubasa sighed, flopping back. "I told her she looked cute with the fox and she just—walked away."
"You mean Aira?" Haru asked, without looking.
"Yeah, duh."
Haru smirked, half to himself. "You talk too loud."
"Maybe I want her to hear," Tsubasa muttered, then glanced up. "You think she likes Kaito?"
Haru didn't answer. He just adjusted his glasses and stared across the arcade—right at Kaito, who was now slipping something small into his coat pocket.
Aira didn't notice any of it.
She was watching Yuki, who stood alone now, arms crossed near a rhythm game. Miyo had gone to grab drinks.
For a second, their eyes met.
Aira raised a hand in a tiny wave. It felt vulnerable. Like offering something she couldn't take back.
Yuki looked at her, eyes unreadable. Then, she turned away.
Later, after the arcade began to empty, Aira stepped out into the cool night air. It was quiet, peaceful. A small breath of normal after the overstimulation of lights and noise.
A voice spoke behind her. "You always give things away."
She turned. Kaito again.
"What do you mean?"
"The fox," he said, hands in his pockets. "And the smile you had after."
Aira's heart fluttered, but she kept her face still. "It was just a plush."
"No. It wasn't."
And then he handed her something.
The same plush fox.
"You…?" she whispered.
He didn't answer. He just walked away, the red neon lights catching on his silver hair like fire.
She clutched the plush to her chest, cheeks burning. It still had a faint scent of his cologne—sharp and quiet and a little warm underneath.