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The place bustled with activity and the piercing noise of arcade games. Mystery and Baby strolled through the place, looking around curiously. They hadn’t been to an arcade in who knows how long, and Mystery felt slightly out of place among the bright colours and loud sounds.
“We have 300 credits left,” Baby commented, gnawing on a lollipop.
“Okay,” Mystery said, still looking around. “I want to get something for Zoey before we leave.”
Baby rolled his eyes. “Of course you do.”
Mystery brushed a couple stray hairs out of his face and continued strolling through the large room. Adults and children alike were stationed at a variety of arcade games- claw machines, pinball, air hockey, and more.
There were so many different types of games, yet he couldn’t seem to find anything that would be suitable for his girlfriend. He could call her his girlfriend, right? Sure, they had only gone on a couple of dates, but that still counted, right? Plus, they’d been hanging out a lot, and they had kissed a few times as well.
That had to be worth something, right?
Baby nudged him out of his thoughts with his shoulder and pointed to a claw machine, directing his attention to the back of the room.
Right in the middle was a plush turtle. It was perfect. Mystery quickened his pace, dragging Baby along.
“Hand me the card, please.” Baby handed him the card containing their credits, and Mystery tapped it to the sensor. It only cost twenty credits, so he should be able to get multiple tries.
“You know claw machines are rigged, right?” Baby said it more like a statement.
“I know,” Mystery said, concentrating on the joystick and the claw. “I have to try, though.”
He positioned the claw above the turtle and angled it so the shell would get caught. He pressed the button and held his breath as the claw lowered down to the turtle. The claw closed around the shell of the plush turtle, and Mystery’s heart leapt, but then it fell as the turtle did too.
Mystery pursed his lips and tapped the card again, giving it another go. Direct the joystick, position it accordingly, and press the button. There was nothing left to do but to hope.
The claw didn’t even grab it this time. Mystery tried two more times before stepping back from the machine, defeated. “It’s no use. It’s impossible.” He handed the card back to Baby and crossed his arms.
“What are you going to get her, then?” Baby asked flatly, and Mystery shrugged.
“Maybe a… glitter slime or something?” he said, feeling lame.
Baby gave him a long stare before biting his lollipop aggressively and cracking it in his mouth. He tossed the stick into the trash and took his other hand out of his pocket.
He tapped the card against the scanner to Mystery’s protests- “Hey- what are you doing? There’s no point!”
“Just let me focus.” Baby fell silent as he focused intensely on the turtle lying inside the machine. Mystery could only watch him operate the machine skillfully.
Baby positioned the claw two inches to the side of the turtle and Mystery frowned as he pushed the button. Baby crossed his arms confidently as the claw lowered to the turtle and… picked it up.
Mystery sat up in astonishment as the claw delivered the turtle to the chute and then powered down. His friend pushed his hand through the flap and grabbed the turtle, shoving it into his arms.
“You’re welcome.” he smirked.
“I- what- thank you? How did you-?” Mystery spluttered, but Baby held up his hand.
“Don’t question the claw machine king.” he deadpanned. “Now you owe me another lollipop.”
“Yeah. Definitely.” Mystery was still in shock as they left the arcade ten minutes later. He had exchanged the 500 tickets he’d won previously for as many lollipops as he could get.
He was carrying the turtle plush in a purple bag, and Baby had stuffed as many lollipops as he could into his pockets, before giving in and putting the rest in a separate bag.
They arrived back at the Huntr/x tower thirty minutes later. Rumi and Jinu looked up from the couch and smiled at them in greeting. “Hey.”
Mystery nodded in acknowledgment, before looking around the otherwise empty room. “Where are the others?”
“Mira, Abby, and Romance are in the gym, and Zoey’s upstairs in her room.” Rumi winked at him and he rolled his eyes.
“Thanks.” he thanked Baby for his time and help again, and then headed up to his girlfriend’s bedroom.
He knocked on the doorframe lightly and she looked up from her book. “Hey,” he said softly, “I got something for you.”
Mystery handed her the bag and she looked inside, her eyes widening. She reached inside and grabbed the turtle plush, her eyes wide with excitement. “This is so cute!” she squealed, hugging it close to her chest. She set it down on her bed and enveloped him in a massive hug. He laughed, and his chest warmed inside.
“Thank you baby,” she murmured into his chest, the vibrations resonating in his heart.
“Yeah, you should be thanking Baby,” he joked. “I’m ass at claw machines, so he helped me get it for you. I hope you won’t mind.”
“I don’t mind,” she chirped, “I love it.” She smiled crookedly and nudged his shoulder. “I love you.”
Mystery’s face warmed, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “I love you too.”