The Guy I've Always Loved (Anime Story)

Chapter 37: Arcade

- Takami's POV - 

"Kiyoshi..." I tried to catch my breath once we crossed the road. "Are you... done...?" I put my hands on my knees and bent over. 

He stopped running and turned around. "Can't catch up?" He smirked. 

I pouted. "You know I can't. I'm not athletic." I straightened up my back and walked up to him to grab my school bag back. 

"Oh, come on, you need the exercise." He put his arm around my neck. 

I looked up at him displeased. "I prefer being a couch potato." 

"You know what would boost up your spirit?" Kiyoshi removed his arm from my neck and smiled. 

I tilted my head. "Where?" 

At the Arcade

"The arcade?" I raised an eyebrow. 

"You forget about all your worries here, it's a great stress reliever." He put his hands on his hips. 

"You any good?" I asked. 

Kiyoshi's nose suddenly grew five inches. "Hehe, of course. What do you want? I'll get it for you." 

I giggled. "You're pretty confident." 

"Why wouldn't I be?" He walked over to a crane machine and looked at the mini plushies. "So which one you want?" 

I looked closely into the machine and saw two mini rabbits, one pink and one blue, sitting next to each other with strings on top of them. They were perfectly faced up also like faith wanted me to get two plushies. "Those two." I pointed directly at it. 

Kiyoshi stretched his arms and legs for ten seconds. "I got this." He inserted the coins and held onto the handle. After moving the handle to make the claw perfectly aligned with the plushies' strings, he pressed the down button. Once the claw was all the way at the bottom, it gripped onto the two strings and brought the two mini rabbits to the drop. Kiyoshi crouched down and grabbed the rabbits. "I have the right to be cocky." His nose grew even longer.

I giggled and looked at the two mini rabbits sitting in my palm. "You know what? This is for you." I grabbed the blue mini rabbit and handed it to him.

"Are you sure? I won it for you."

"I want you to have it." I smiled.

Kiyoshi blushed and held onto it tightly. "Thanks." He attached the string of the rabbit to the zipper of his school bag and so did I.

"Yoo!" Satoru walked through the door with his friend. "I didn't know you were coming today."

"My intention was to show off my skills at the arcade." Kiyoshi's nose grew longer again.

I giggled. "He actually got two prizes in one move." I showed Satoru my pink mini rabbit and Kiyoshi's blue mini rabbit.

"Oooh, they're a pair," Satoru smirked at Kiyoshi and Kiyoshi blushed.

I looked down at the two mini rabbits. "Yeah, I guess you can say they're a pair."

"Takami, have you met Ren yet?" Kiyoshi pointed. "He's also on the swim team."

"Hi, nice to meet you." I looked at him and smiled.

"Hey..." Ren hid behind Satoru.

"Sorry about him, he's shy with new people." Satoru looked back at him.

"It's fine." I tilted my head so I could see Ren's face. "I'm still glad that I met you."

Suddenly, Kiyoshi's phone started to vibrate. He took out his phone and viewed the message. "We should probably get going. It's almost 4:30."

"Dude, it's only 4:30." Satoru put his arm on Ren's shoulder. "We usually have swim practice til 5."

"Yeah, but tonight my mom is making Eggplant and Kabocha Miso Gratin." He started to dream about the dish.

Satoru walked over to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "I understand, it is very good."

Kiyoshi headed out of the arcade and then turned around. "You coming?" He looked at me.

As I was walking toward him, Satoru pulled me over.

"Take good care of Kiyoshi. He's really innocent." He whispered. Once he finished whispering, he pushed me toward Kiyoshi. "See you guys at school!" He waved happily at us.

We walked out of the arcade and looked at each confused. "What was that all about?" We said in unison, then we laughed.

"Is your Mom's cooking that good?" I asked.

"Yep, you wouldn't find that taste anywhere else." He smiled.

"Then, you'll have to bring some for me." I leaned closer to him. "Right...?"

He sighed. "I was gonna eat it all by myself, but..." He smiled at me. "I'll bring some to school tomorrow."

"Really!" I jumped in excitement. "I can't wait!"

He sighed again. "My food..."

"Hehe, my food now."