Episode 20: Let’s Go And Buy a Game

TL: lime
ED: Spynine01

We went to a shopping mall to go and buy a game controller.

Since it was a holiday in the center of Tokyo, it was quite crowded at the mall.

The mall had a game center, movie theater, bookstore, bowling alley, and many other facilities for the younger generation.

No wonder it’s so popular.

We went to the game store to buy a controller.

“Switch controller… there it is.”

Rin rolled her eyes when she saw the controller hanging on the wall.

“Ta-Taro, there are so many of the same ones. Which one is the one we want?”

“Eh, this one.”

“It’s amazing… You can tell at just a glance.”

“You can usually tell them apart… right?”

Shake, Shake, Rin shakes her head.

I see, you don’t know much about games or consoles, do you Rin?

“I can beat up Taro with this controller.”

She said, picking up the box containing the controller with trepidation.

“That… depends on your practice now, doesn’t it?”

“I’ll practice a lot.”

Fusu~, Rin said with a snort.

“But we only have one console, right?”

“Ahー it’s fine. You can use mine.”

“No. It’s Taro’s, I can’t just use yours for my sake. That’s right, this place also sells game consoles, doesn’t it?”

And thus soon after, we come to the game console section.

And there I could see Rin… was stunned.

“G-Game consoles… are so expensive now? It’s as expensive as bad home appliances…”

Rin was astonished when she saw the price tag.

Rin’s family is quite wealthy.

But Kaoru-baachan is a very thrifty woman.

This is the reason why her sense of style is very folksy.

“What do you want to do about the game console?”

“Well… it’s a bit too expensive.”

Mine and Rin’s living expenses are paid for by our grandfathers.

We have some money to spare… but it’s money that is being used to support us as minors so that we can live properly.

We can’t waste money, especially when games are not a necessity for our lives.

“I can’t afford it with my allowance…Yeah, I’ll just buy the controller.”

“Are you sure?”

“Un. I’ll practice when I’m playing with Taro.”

I have a feeling that if I say something to my grandpa, he’ll be more than happy to buy me a game console.

But he’s paying for my entire living expenses already, and the cost of the apartment is not exactly reasonable.

I think he’d be a little uncomfortable with the idea of paying for games on top of all that as well.

“I’m going to go and buy the controller then, so please wait a minute.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Rin got in line in front of the cash register.

There was a huge line, probably because it was a holiday.

“…………”

You could see a game console on the shelf from this angle.

Rin looked like she really wanted one.

But of course, I don’t have enough money in my pocket to buy a whole console.

I guess it’s normal to give up in such a situation.

If I were you, I wouldn’t have thought about it any more.

But… It’s different in this case.

I want to do something for her.

“…………”

Suddenly, the arcade game center in front of the game store came into view.

There were a number of crane game machines at the entrance.

“500 yen… No, 1,000 yen will do, I guess.”

I glanced over at Rin.

She was still standing in line. It’s going to take a little longer I guess.

“Okay.”

I took out a 1,000 yen bill from my wallet and left the place.

After a while.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Taro.”

“Well, I wasn’t exactly waiting, per say.”

Just as I came back to the line, Rin had also finished her shopping.

“What’s in your bag, Taro?”

“Just a minute. Here, Rin. You can have this.”

“Eh? What…?”

Rin took the bag, looked at the contents and rolled her eyes.

“I-Is this!? It’s that game console!”

Yes, it’s that game console that we usually use that has a separate controller.

“Taro, did you buy me a new one…?”

“Well, I didn’t buy it. I just took it.”

“T-Theft!? That’s no good, Taro!”

“No, no. I took it from that one.”

I pointed to a crane game machine in the arcade in front of me.

“Eh? N-No way… Did you get it from the crane game?”

“Yes.”

The crane game has a variety of products.

There are not only stuffed animals, but also game consoles.

“I got it for just 1,000 yen.”

“Amazing… you can never get that kind of thing usually, can you…? Like the prizes at Tekiya¹ Tekiya are merchants who sell items such as food or toys on the street or stalls set up in the ground of shrines or temples, on the approach to them or in temple towns during festivals, markets, and fairs. ?”

“Well, yeah. But… I’m good at games. And when I thought I was doing it for Rin, I did even better than usual.”

Then Rin’s eyes… filled with tears and she suddenly began to cry.

“I-I’m sorry! Did I do something to offend you?”

“…Um. It’s not that, Taro. It’s just that I’m extremely happy.”

Rin wipes away her tears and says with a smile.

“I’m so happy I’m dying. Taro worked so hard to get a present for me.”

Present… does it really count as one?

Rin hugs me head on, despite the fact that she’s in the public eye.

“Thank you, Taro. I’ll take good care of this.”

A/N:【※To all readers】

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