Chrono X Angel, Book 2: Winter Snow

Chapter 2

Half an hour later, the team had regrouped. Sarah and Rei flanking were Usoko, and all three girls were beaming with excitement.

"So, what'd you pick for us?" Inquired Emiko, smirking.

"Indeed," added Nonami, with just a hint of anticipation in her voice, "I too am quite curious."

Usoko turned to Sarah.
"Your pick is probably the quickest of the bunch, so do you wanna start things off?"

The banshee nodded, turning to the two competitors.

"Right this way, lassies," she called teasingly, floating towards a box with five shallow holes, each containing something reflective and brown within. On the side of the box was a large foam mallet.

"Whack a Mole," Sarah proclaimed, "Accordin' t'Usko these're all over American arcades 'n such. Basically, y'time when the buggers'll pop up and when they do you'll have about two seconds t'smack the lil guy back down."

"Seems simple enough," stated Nonami, "I suppose you may go first if you wish, Emiko."

"Very well," smirked Emiko, taking up the mallet like Thor hoisting Mjolnir, "Watch a pro work her magic."

Jamming a token into the machine, it immediately lit up and began playing a cheerful tune. After about two seconds, the first mole popped up, and was immediately banished back into its den by Emiko's mighty swing! And then another dared show it's rodent mug before the Blue Oni Princess, and was cast back as quickly as the first, as was each mole in the sequence. Sometimes two would pop up at once, and Emiko would deftly strike one, then the other, in a single fluid motion that made it seem like the mallet was merely an extension of her own hand. When it was done, she had accumulated a score of 2800, a new personal record for herself.

"Beat that, if you can," she said, handing the mallet to Nonami as they traded places.

"Gladly," she sniffed, inserting a coin into the machine as Emiko had before.
It took a couple more seconds than it had before for the first mole to pop up, and when it did Nonami jumped a little. She had been expecting it, sure, but even she did not know where it would come from. So shocked was she that she actually missed, the mole retreating in victory back into its domain.
Muttering foul curses under her breath, she steeled herself, waiting for the next opportunity.

"What's the matter Nonami, afraid of a little mole?" Teased Emiko, "If this is too much for you, I'm sure we can find something more suitable hm? Something less advanced?"

Tuning her out, Nonami proceeded to absolutely devastate the remaining moles and, after a few minutes, the entire machine. A bit of her true strength had come out and the machine was practically smashed to pieces, the scoreboard weakly flickering to display her score of 1200.

"Oo-oops..." she mumbled.

Score:
Emiko: 2800
Nonami: 1200

"Alright!!" Cheered Rei, bouncing with glee, "S'my turn now!!"

Practically flying to the next machine, Nonami was both empowered, and not surprised by the Red Oni's choice: Street Fighter II. The classic version too, she noted.

"Rules are simple here," said Usoko, handing each girl another token, "You'll play as Ryu and Ken, since this one was made before they had different moves, so they're basically the same character. You'll do best five of seven matches, each victory will equal 500 points, and then at the end your scores will be added up. Any questions?"

"Do I have to be Ken?" Asked Emiko, "I'm... a lot better as Blanka."

"Yes Emi," sighed Usoko with a chuckle, "This way the only advantage either of you might have is your skill level."