Chapter 137: The Terrifying Claw Machine!
"Seeing all these adults smoking and pounding on the game machines reminds me of someone."
Luke spoke while observing the lively yet strangely restless scene.
"Who?" Miura Yumiko asked immediately.
Who else could it be?
Naturally, Hiratsuka-sensei—the adult who never behaved like one.
However, she probably would not appear here. As an overworked adult, even leaving work on time was difficult, and if she did, she would likely go straight home to rest.
Come to think of it, exploitative overtime was a serious problem in this country.
Even as a semi-professional exorcist, Luke often encountered young people who had taken their own lives under overwhelming psychological pressure.
More accurately, he encountered their ghosts.
The resentment surrounding them had once frightened even him.
Fortunately, he no longer needed to worry much about his own future.
"Never mind. Do you want a plush?"
Luke pointed toward the row of claw machines before them.
As tradition demanded, the entrance of the arcade was lined with rows of elaborate claw machines filled with every imaginable kind of plush toy.
Several couples were already shouting excitedly while controlling the mechanical claws.
"Hmm~ Didn't you already give me one?"
Miura Yumiko played with her hair.
She meant the handmade rabbit substitute doll Luke had given her during the workplace experience.
"I still carry it with me."
Yumiko shook her sparkling phone, which was covered in crystal stickers much like Yui's.
Luke's small rabbit doll now hung from it as a charm.
"We have plenty of time. Bowling alone would be boring, right?"
Luke could tell she was interested.
"Forget it~ I already have plenty at home."
Although Yumiko said that, her eyes remained fixed on the claw machines.
No—after carefully following her gaze, Luke realized she was staring at only one.
That machine was filled with pink cat plushies.
They were cute, unmistakably feminine toys that would appeal to many young girls, if not adults as well.
Even though Luke understood Yumiko fairly well, he was still surprised that Queen Miura liked such cute, pink cats.
She truly seemed fond of pink.
And it's worth mentioning, he actually quite liked pink too... like Yumiko's panties today.
"Then I'll catch one."
Luke placed a stack of ¥100 coins beside the slot and prepared to begin.
He had almost no experience with claw machines. They offered terrible value for money, so he had no idea how skilled he might be.
After inserting a coin, the machine emitted a strange humming sound.
Luke examined the instructions on its side.
The right button controlled horizontal movement, the left controlled depth, and releasing either button immediately stopped the claw.
It was a traditional claw machine.
After memorizing the controls, Luke pressed the buttons.
Yumiko, who had just claimed she did not want one, slowly moved closer and carefully watched the claw travel along its rail.
Luke first moved it to the right.
Then he guided it deeper inside.
The position looked excellent.
The mechanical arm creaked noisily as it descended toward the plush below.
"It caught it."
With his extremely high attributes, Luke had already judged the result.
He watched calmly as the claw hooked around the little head of the cat plush.
After all, the great exorcist of the new era had personally acted.
Catching one tiny plush should be effortless.
Miura Yumiko's eyes widened with excitement as she stared through the glass.
Then the claw suddenly creaked and released the toy in midair.
As though mocking them, it slowly swayed back to its original position and fell completely silent.
"Pull yourself together! Hey!"
Yumiko glared furiously and struck the claw machine.
Luke glanced at her.
"Hmm~ ¥100 is still money."
Yumiko played with her hair and casually turned her face away.
She apparently felt embarrassed for caring so much about such a girlish plush.
However, that reaction only made her appear even cuter.
Luke rolled his wrists and loosened his shoulders.
"Don't worry. Leave it to me. It's only a claw machine."
"Do your best."
Yumiko encouraged him.
Then one ¥100 coin after another disappeared into the mechanical, money-devouring cat.
As his failures accumulated, the exorcist continually adjusted his preparations.
He put down his school bag.
He rolled up his sleeves.
He loosened his collar.
He wiped away his sweat.
All the while, Lady Yumiko and the claw machine provided commentary.
Whirr, whirr~
"Wait! You already caught it!"
Whirr, whirr~
"Why did you let go?!"
Whirr, whirr~
"You'd better cooperate…"
Whirr, whirr~
"Damn it, not again! Know when to stop, you stupid thing!"
Miura Yumiko pressed close beside Luke and shouted at the mechanical arm behind the glass.
Any passerby who failed to recognize their relationship might think they were partners in crime abusing a helpless claw machine.
In reality, the claw machine was abusing them.
Luke stared at it while sweating heavily.
He could not understand how this broken machine was more difficult to defeat than an evil spirit.
He would never play one of these things again!
Because it was an older model, it lacked the program that gradually increased the claw's strength after repeated failures.
Thus, the torture continued until they finally triggered the machine's hidden bonus.
Otherwise, Miura Yumiko's overwhelming fury might truly have reduced it to scrap metal.
After noticing how many coins they had spent, an arcade employee approached with a friendly smile.
"Here you are."
After receiving Luke's permission, she opened the machine and personally retrieved the pink cat plush while the machine continued making mournful humming sounds.
Mm.
The claw machine's secret bonus—the staff retrieves the prize for you.
"Thank you."
Luke accepted the pink cat with his free hand.
The older female employee gave him a bright smile and departed.
Miura Yumiko immediately pulled away the hand Luke had placed over her mouth and complained even more angrily.
"Why did you let it off so easily? That horrible machine deserves to be smashed open so we can see whether it was cheating!"
"All right, calm down. We also cheated by having someone retrieve the cat for us."
Luke hurriedly soothed the furious blonde cat, gently smoothing her hair.
Perhaps his technique was excellent, because Yumiko quickly calmed down.
However, some dissatisfaction remained.
"We only got it because we spent so many coins! Besides, there's obviously something wrong with that machine!"
Luke also suspected the claw needed repairs. Otherwise, catching anything would not have been so difficult.
Still, arguing with the staff would accomplish little.
There was no point allowing an inanimate object to ruin their mood.
"So, do you want it?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Yumiko snatched the plush from his hands and raised the cat with both hands to examine it.
"The plush didn't do anything wrong."
"Then let's move to the next activity."
This section contained all kinds of token-operated machines, including claw machines, cooperative shooting games, racing games, and photo booths.
Naturally, there were also intellectual games.
For example…
Mahjong machines.
As they passed one, they accidentally spotted a depressed adult slumped against a chair.
Her arms hung loosely at her sides, one hand holding a cigarette by the filter, while her head leaned weakly backward.
"Oh, if it isn't Luke and Miura-san."
Luke recognized the familiar face.
"Why did you get off work so early?"
The moment the words left his mouth, both Luke and Hiratsuka Shizuka's expressions darkened.
They silently thought the exact same thing—
'This person can't read the atmosphere at all.'
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