After Becoming a Counselor for Girls, I Ended Up Producing a Lot of Potential Girlfriends Who Became Mentally Ill - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Crane Game and Bowling

“Of all things, it had to be a figure of that anime character.”

“Is there something wrong with it?”

“No, not really. Just talking to myself.”

I was slightly surprised since it was from an anime Shizuku liked. It was an older anime with a niche, deep fanbase.

My suspicion that Kotomi was a hardcore anime fan was becoming more and more certain.

“Anyway, I want you to win this for me. You’re supposed to be a master at these, right, Yasuda-kun? I’m asking you with a budget of 1,000 yen.”

“Leave it to me.”

Explaining the technique for crane games is tricky. It’s mostly instinct and practice.

The key is to avoid unnecessary spending. Each move must have purpose.

After testing the crane three times, I could roughly predict the machine’s quirks. I figured 1,000 yen would likely be enough for this one too.

“I can win this.”

“I’m counting on you!”

Kotomi stood behind me, watching intently, her reflection visible on the glass. Her excitement was evident.

On the eighth attempt, the claw firmly grabbed the prize. If it stayed steady, it would fall perfectly into the goal slot.

Holding my breath, I watched.

Sure enough, the figure dropped into place as planned.

“You did it! As expected from Yasuda-kun!”

“It’s nothing surprising. This is my specialty.”

“This makes me so much happier than just buying it myself. Still, I insist on paying you back for the money you spent on the game.”

“No need. I enjoyed the thrill of the game, and you’re genuinely happy. That’s a fair exchange. There’s no need for payment.”

After confirming with me one more time, Kotomi reluctantly accepted my proposal.

“I just don’t like owing people, that’s all.”

“You’re very conscientious.”

“I don’t want to face trouble later. I plan to keep in touch with you, Yasuda-kun, for a long time.”

For a moment, I thought it wouldn’t matter to owe someone a little.

But I quickly changed my mind. Considering cases like Kujo and Shizuku, a minor debt could snowball into a big issue.

“You have a point.”

“That’s why, for the advice you’ve given me and for dealing with that person, I want to repay you little by little over time.”

“You’ve been thinking about it that much?”

“That’s just how I am. So, I’ll do my best to improve your satisfaction, Yasuda-kun!”

Her upbeat mood was infectious, lifting my spirits too.

It reminded me how some people struggle to accept help without a clear give-and-take.

Offering advice has become routine for me, so I sometimes forget to consider the recipient’s feelings. Perhaps this was one of those times.

“Ah, it’s about time to start bowling. Let’s knock down a lot of pins while admiring the figure!”

“Are you sure? I’m pretty good at gutter balls.”

“Don’t worry. My athletic ability is practically cursed by the gods!”

“No need to be that self-deprecating.”

“I’m serious! Just watch me and you’ll see.”

And so, our bowling match began.

We placed the newly-won figure on the table for extra motivation, as per Kotomi’s request.

“Having my favorite things nearby really makes me happy.”

“There’s only one figure though.”

“Are you pretending not to understand? The other favorite thing is obviously you, Yasuda-kun.”

I wasn’t expecting that kind of response. This wasn’t some subtle romantic game; it was pure, direct emotion.

Not that it mattered much to me.

“Is this the age where you just enjoy teasing people?”

“Don’t act like an older sibling, it’s annoying. I’ll stop here for now, before you decide to confiscate the figure you worked so hard to get.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not that strict.”

“So, Yasuda’s ‘Yasu’ must stand for ‘peace of mind,’ right?”

I wasn’t sure about that, but I nodded along.

Kotomi was energetic before bowling started, but once we began, her struggles became apparent.

“Another gutter ball…”

She wasn’t exaggerating when she said her athletic ability was lacking. Her throws lacked force, and the ball often veered off course.

Even after adjusting the ball’s weight, it didn’t improve much. Our match became a series of gutter balls from both sides.

“This isn’t working. Let’s use that slide thing for kids.”

“You mean the ramp where you just roll the ball down?”

“Exactly. At this point, pride is overrated!”

Kotomi left to retrieve the ramp but returned empty-handed.

“Did they not have one?”

“They did, but a family was using it. I couldn’t bring myself to compete with kids who actually need it.”

“Then what do we do with this game full of gutter balls?”

“Let’s set the lanes to bumper mode—no gutter balls allowed.”

Essentially, we’d play with rails up, ensuring the ball would at least hit some pins.

It felt a bit childish, but it was better than repeatedly failing.

In the end, it turned into a proper game. With the rails up, we adapted our throwing strategy and enjoyed ourselves.

“I wish I could score like this without bumpers.”

“Agreed. We’ll need to practice hard for next time.”

“Yes! I’ll also work on using the ramp with a tougher mentality.”

“Don’t sacrifice your dignity for it!”

I had assumed Kotomi was polite and serious, but she turned out to be a typical high school girl who enjoyed being playful and silly.

“Let’s move on to the next activity!”

Faced with her boundless energy, I could only smile despite my growing fatigue.