It’s Too Early to be Having Newlywed Syndrome! ~Childhood Friends Who Rekindled their Love for Each Other ~

The Second Assistance

“Even though it looked so gentle, this game is quite hectic, even with the two of us. If you play this alone, you’ll end up losing the bonus time.”

Naoto said while playing the token game that Natsuki chose.

“You haven’t played this even once?”

Natsuki asked.

“There are many games like these that looks like you’ll just lose time and tokens playing it alone, and when I’m with Iida, we only play those that involve slaying monsters. So I’ve only played less than half of the games in this arcade.”

Naoto answered.

“Did you choose this game for me?”

“Not really, I’m really okay with anything. Besides, the game is currently in a good situation, and when I asked Natsuki, you said you want to play this game.”

“So there’s also the current situation.”

“Somehow, the more you have of this kind of ball, wouldn’t you be getting more tokens? That’s how it is with the other games.”

“Hee——. I wonder what’s happening on the middle of that lane?

Aren’t today’s token games amazing? It’s different from the steam train one and the duck race back at Health Land.”

“No, those are actually appropriately old now. And why would you use those for comparison, anyway, err, those game are like 15 years ago, right?”

“Well, I haven’t gone to an arcade while in middle school, maybe. And even if I did, we’re all girls, so I haven’t really played games.”

“You haven’t done that? That game that involves just pressing three buttons. Didn’t you like that back at Health Land?”

“Eh? They still have that even today?”

“It’s a newer version, but it still exists.”

“I want to play it!”

“Right now?”

“I feel like playing something else today. Next time I go here, I’ll play it by myself.”

“I see.”

“I plan to play the one at Health Land as well.”

“It seems like that was already removed for being broken.”

“Ah—–……. But wouldn’t there be something that looks like it?”

“I wonder.”

“And then, there’s also a place I don’t quite remember, when I asked mom, she said she doesn’t remember it either, but it’s a place where you put beads on a plate and put it in something like an oven, then it will end up becoming something like a page from a coloring book.”

“That one’s on the department store, it’s only a one-time event.”

“So it was on the department store—–! The picture that I made back then ended up missing.”

“No, didn’t you give it to me? It’s in my desk. It’s a picture of the sea, right?”

“Eh—-, you’re keeping it, Nao-kun?”

“Well, you kinda said you’re giving it to me.”

“I want to see it!”

“Ah—-……you know, I really took great care of it. I made sure it didn’t fall and the like.”

“Eh, what? I have a bad feeling about what you’ll say, though.”

“At any rate, it’s already old after all. There are quite a number of cracks in it. So you might get disappointed if you are expecting that it looks just like when you just made it.”

“Eh——–?!”

“You think heating it up and fixing it will remove the cracks?”

“What should we do?”

The two of them were playing a token game while having a talk about the past, when suddenly, the game machine stopped.

“Huh, the game just stopped.”

“Ah, those errors happen sometimes, it takes a while for that to be fixed. It’s a good time to go to the restroom. Will you go, Natsuki?”

“I’m still fine.”

“The, is it okay if I go?”

“Yup, take care.”

“……. Natsuki, won’t you get hit on?”

“If someone did, I’ll say I went here with my boyfriend, then I’ll show our picture.”

Natsuki said while looking happy.

While returning from the restroom, Naoto bumped into the old man with a missing little finger from earlier.

While in the act of buying a juice from a vending machine,

“Ooh—-, does the two of you want something to drink as well?”

He asked Naoto.

“I’m very grateful for the offer. Were actually on a tight budget today.”

With Naoto being unusually honest and accepting the offer, the old man became curious,

“Did you two went on dates too much that you run out of money?”

He asked.

“No, that’s not it. Er, it’s a bit of a long story———-”

Naoto explained their current circumstance in a simple manner.

“………That’s why, as thanks to the person who gave me the 500-yen coin, we decided that that’s what we will only spend for today’s date.”

“That’s admirable! If you want, you can also have ice cream.”

“Is that alright? Just for today I’ll have no reservations, you know.”

“Be my guest. Is it the usual black tea? What should I get for the young lady?”

“I’ll have black tea, then another tea, please.”

“Gotcha! Shouldn’t make you wait, right?!”

The old man inserted a coin to the vending machine and pushed a button while looking like he’s having fun.

Naoto have to choose what ice cream to pick fast, so he was happily troubled on what to pick, but in the end, he just told the old man to quickly pick anything.

“Normally, this would bring us over 500 yen, so this really helps. I sincerely thank you for this.”

While holding two pet bottles and two ice creams, Naoto expressed his gratitude.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Now, quickly go back to your girl.”

“Right! Until next time!”

The old man happily sent off Naoto who quickly returned to where Natsuki was.

“Eehhh—?! For me as well?”

Natsuki was surprised when she was handed a pet bottle and an ice cream.

“Yup, fun isn’t it?”

“Should I go and say my thanks?”

“Hmmm. I kinda actually don’t want you to do that.”

“Why?”

“I thought this as well when Iida was here, but I feel somewhat unpleasant when Natsuki talks with other men.”