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Rindou had found immense pleasure in planning dates to different places—even when the two of you could spend hours doing nothing on your living room couch, just enjoying each other's company—he liked to get out of the routine by taking you to the movies, concerts, clubs, even hiking or to the gym. Well, he is an active person, he likes to do too much and more if it is with you.
The place chosen for today’s date was an arcade, he had come along with Ran and Shion a while ago and thought it would be a great place to bring you.
It was fun, playing pac-man, galaga, street fighter, air field hockey—where he let you win but you didn’t need to know that—, compete with you in the DDR. It was certainly a perfect date.
Until you got the idea to go to the claw machines.
There was a machine that caught your attention, one that contained different stuffed animals, but Rindou knew his girlfriend perfectly well and knew instantly that you would want to try specifically for that penguin that was right in the middle; he was very aware of your obsession with those animals, heck, he had given you too many things related to them for the same reason.
So he wasn’t surprised when you said “Rin, let’s try here. That penguin is so cute.”
It all started there, when he watched with a smile as you focused on winning that plushie, it even gave him tenderness how you slightly stuck out your tongue when you were concentrating. But you failed, not one, not two, but three times. That’s when he, with some cockiness in his voice said to you, “Babe, leave it to me.”
Big mistake.
The thing is, it’s been about thirty minutes since he started trying to win that damn plushie. He had even told another kid who asked him what time he planned to vacate the machine to go fuck himself, sending him crying back to his mother and earning a threatening look from the woman and you.
Speaking of you, it was obvious you were already desperate, telling him from time to time to leave it at that, that the stuffed animal wasn’t that cute anyway— but you knew your boyfriend like the back of your hand, and there was no way to change his mind.
When Rindou Haitani had a goal, he would not give up until he achieved it.
He would win that fucking stuffed animal for you, and then he would give it to you saying ‘I told you I’d make it’ and you would smile at him all pretty, and hug him, and kiss him, and tell him how much you love him and that he’s the best boyfriend in the world, and in the end you could walk away from this Arcade triumphant with another successful date.
“FUCK!” He shouted for about the thousandth time when the penguin slipped out of the claw again before reaching the hole. “I swear this shit must be rigged.”
You rolled your eyes for about the thousandth time as well before sighing, “Rindou, everyone knows it is. So how about we get going?” Your new attempt was also in vain, as he rolled up the sleeves of his long-sleeved black t-shirt, adjusted his glasses and took more coins out of his pocket.
“Just one more time doll, I swear I have a good feeling about this one.” You folded your arms in frustration, watching as the game began and Rindou concentrated as if his life was at stake. “I’ll get this fuckin’ penguin for you. Trust me.”
You loved your boyfriend, really, you loved him so much, but there were times (like this) that you just wanted to kill him (with love of course).
You weren’t even surprised when the stuffed animal slipped out of the claw just seconds after it grabbed it. “No, no, no… fuck!” Rindou slammed both of his fists against the glass in defeat, looking at the penguin as if he had taken everything in life from him, and honestly, you couldn’t help but feel a little bad; and the sudden pain in your chest only multiplied with his next words, “‘I’m sorry.”
Yes, he’s a stubborn guy and that’s sometimes maddening, but you couldn’t ignore the fact that he looked so defeated just because he wanted to get you something you wanted and luck didn’t seem to be in his favor.
“It’s okay.” You said hugging him from behind and left a kiss on his back before continuing to speak, “It’s not your fault, you know this is rigged.”
“Not only is that, I ruined our date.” Your boyfriend stated, still tense in your grip around his body. “And that’s thanks to this damn machine that sure hates me.”
“What do you mean? I’ve never seen someone antagonize a claw machine for me before, it was a great date for me.” You kissed his shoulder in comfort and he let out a chuckle. “Wanna try again? Or you wanna leave?”
You observed how he seemed to be in a mental debate before speaking, “It’s getting late, we should go.”
“You sure?” Rindou turned with a half smile on his face and gave you a peck on the lips.
“Yeah, let’s get some ice cream on the way.” And with his hand intertwined with yours, he guided you out of that place.
But if you thought Rindou would just give up, you were completely wrong.
You were actually surprised when on your next date with your boyfriend, two days later, he arrived at your house with that damn plushie in his hands and a triumphant smile on his face.
“Told you I’d make it.” Rindou said proudly as you took the penguin in your hands and you hugged him with affection.
“I love you— You’re the best boyfriend in the world, you know?.” You exclaimed taking his face between your hands to join your lips with his in a happy kiss. “Did you really go back to the arcade just to get it?”
“Sure I did, and well, I got some help…”
And then he told you how he dragged Ran and Shion with him to the Arcade yesterday and forced them to take turns at the damn claw machine for over an hour until one of the three of them could get that fucking plushie.