The prince's troubles

"That Fujimiya is rare."

　Shuu was at the game center after school, and as he was inserting bills into the money change machine, he heard a familiar but unfamiliar voice.

　When I turned around while putting the coins in my wallet, Kadowaki was standing there. Apparently, he had come to play at the game center as well, and was standing behind Shuu with his wallet in hand.

"Kadowaki is rare. What about club activities?"

"Today is my day off.

"Really"

　Just because he's the ace of the track and field club doesn't mean he's obsessed with club activities. It seems like he's getting plenty of rest.

　When I left after changing money, Kadowaki made the money changer swallow the bills and spit out the coins.

　After properly exchanging money for about 2,000 yen and putting it in his wallet, he smiled when he saw Zhou, who had been looking at him.

"I have an image of Fujimiya as a rather honorable student, so I never expected to see him in a place like this. I was surprised when I saw him."

"I usually go to game arcades.

"Hmm. So what's going on today?"

"I came here to play a crane game.

　Rather than being asked, Chitose said, ``You seem to really like this and this.'' ' She showed me the inventory list on the game center's homepage, so she came to pick it up as a gift for Mahiru, who has been feeling a little depressed lately.

　Besides, from the photo Chitose sent me, the room didn't have many decorations. I would like to give him a cute stuffed animal like this, and I think he should make a friend out of a stuffed bear as well.

"Can I get stuffed animals?"

"Relatively good at it"

　This arcade has a strong arm, so it's easy to pick up, and if you understand the center of gravity and placement of objects, and how to apply the arm's force, you can pick it up unexpectedly.

　When I was in elementary school, Shihoko said to me, ``This can be removed by inserting an arm here.'' This is probably thanks to the many things he taught me, such as, ``You can do this by passing the arm through the tag.''

　Since her mother shows off her versatility, Shu also has some strange techniques and knowledge.

　Kadowaki looks at me unexpectedly, so I go to the crane corner with him to test things, and casually throw coins into the platform where stuffed rabbits are piled up in the new arrivals corner.

　Judging by the strength and placement of the arm, one coin should be enough. There are some items you can't get unless you spend a few hundred yen, but you can get this without any problems.

　I don't know much about it, but when I aim at the joint between the head and body of a stuffed rabbit that seems to be some kind of character and put the arms together, the head is caught in the arm and the body is falling down, but the head is supporting it and fixing it. Lift up.

　All you have to do is let go of the lever and it will automatically fall into the eject slot.

　When I took out the rabbit stuffed toy that had fallen and lightly waved it to Kadowaki, Kadowaki raised his voice, "Oh!", as if impressed.

"This game arcade has a strong arm, and the store clerk is kind, so if you're in trouble, they'll tell you how to get it, so it's recommended for beginners."

"Is that why Itsuki and the others said this place was good?"

　Kadowaki nodded as if he was satisfied and said, ``I see.''

"By the way, is this the one you're giving to someone?"

"Oh. You've been taking care of me, so I thought I'd give it to you as a token of my gratitude."

　I'm not lying.

　It's just that the other party didn't say it was midday. It is true that we are indebted to you, and it is also true that we are filled with gratitude on a daily basis.

　Other than that, I just thought that Mahiru would be cute surrounded by stuffed animals, and there was a little bit of selfishness mixed in with her.

"Fujimiya is a diligent boy. But I understand something."

"I know what you mean"

"Well, Fujimiya is kind and gentlemanly. He helps people in a subtle way."

"It's just a coincidence."

"Even if it's just a coincidence, it's helping us. Look, the bag from before."

　I felt slightly embarrassed when he thanked me again with a refreshing smile, saying that was a great help.

　It wasn't a big deal, but Kadowaki still seemed to remember. He often gets shopping bags, and he had no intention of owing him a favor.

"...So, Kadowaki-san, did you eat all that Valentine's Day food?"

　When I asked Kadowaki what I had doubts about, trying to hide the embarrassment of being thanked from the front, his expression subtly darkened.

"Ah...don't tell me? I ate the store-bought one."

"I didn't eat homemade food."

``...I don't know if it's homemade, but...I guess there are some kids who actually make it properly.''

"Is it wrong?"

"No, sometimes there are people who put hair in them or things that obviously shouldn't go in there."

"What kind of spell is that..."

　It's not impossible to know if it was a coincidence, but based on Kadowaki's condition, it seems like it's happened many times, so it's intentional.

　I felt like there was a charm in the old days that if you put a part of your body into it, you'd get closer, but that's what it is. As a body to be fed, it would not be an accumulation.

``I also receive presents...I've seen this happen so often before that I'm scared, so I tell them in advance that I won't accept handmade items.Even so, the people who give it to me just accept the sentiment and give it back. I'm sorry for trying to disguise it as a product, but...''

　I couldn't help but sympathize with him as he mumbled, with a melancholy expression on his face, as if he was at a loss, saying, ``If foreign substances are repeatedly mixed in, they won't accept it...''

"... It's hard, even for a popular man."

"I can't keep doing this because I'm going to get jealous... It's not like I want to be popular. I'd rather not be popular than have to face something like this."

"It's urgent."

"I mean, it's scary, isn't it? A girl who smiles and hands you sweets and food with strange things in them."

　That makes sense, so Shuu nods.

　Normally, a girl's handiwork is something of value, but to him, it's nothing more than an object of terror. It was too pitiful for him to repeat a rare experience over and over again.

"Maybe it's best to find a specific partner if you can't make advances... but I'm afraid that child will be bullied."

"…Jealousy is scary."

"What..."

　Kadowaki's shoulders slumped as if he was at a loss, and he looked extremely tired.

　Zhou grabbed a large bag of potato stick sweets from nearby with a crane and pressed them against him.

"Well, whatever...If it's okay with me or Itsuki, I'll at least give you some advice. Eat and cheer up."

"It's helpful...it hurts..."

　Seeing Kadowaki seriously worried, I realized that being popular isn't easy, and it's not all fun.