The Neighborhood High School Girl, Miss Isezaki, Is the Great Saintess Returned from Another World~ And I, Suddenly Awakened as Her Exclusive Mana Supply Uncle, Travel Between Earth and Another World with Time-Space Magic~ - 177. Aihara Riori's Exciting Day 3

177. 177. 177. 177. Aihara Riori’s Exciting Day 3

The arcade we barged into was kinda dimly lit, with game cabinets packed closely together. It’s subtly different from the arcades I know. It gives off a sort of gloomy atmosphere.

While looking around the store, Senpai, impressed, let out a murmur.

“Wow… There’s a wide range of cabinets here, it’s amazing. Oh, this one, I used to play it a lot back in middle school. Such nostalgia.”

“Oh, really? Senpai had his younger days too, huh? I’ve heard that back then, arcades were considered hangouts for delinquents, right?”

“No, it’s not that old. There are actually a lot of games here that I’ve never played. …Whoa, these cabinets are arranged in chronological order. It somehow feels like history.”

Senpai talked nostalgically while looking at the rows of game cabinets. To be honest, it’s kinda old-fashioned. But I love it♡

By the way, from one of those game cabinets, I keep hearing this weird phrase “Hadoken! Hadoken! Shoryuken!” all the time. What’s that about? Is it like a ramen shop named Hadoya or something?

But it seems like I’m the only one who doesn’t get it, as Seina-chan is leaning forward eagerly with sparkling eyes. It’s like the gaze a high school girl gives to high brands.

“Well then, if you’ll excuse me—”

Seina-chan swiftly sat down on a chair, took out a bundle of hundred yen coins from her bag, placed them on the machine, and slid one into the slot.

Wow, she’s totally prepared, even though I’m the one treating.

And as the game started—wait, the screen suddenly froze, and the words “Here Comes A New Challenger!” appeared.

I looked over and saw a smirk on the face of a guy sitting on the opposite side of the machine. I know him; he’s an interloper.

I thought it was kinda unfair for someone to join in just as Seina-chan started, but Seina-chan didn’t seem irritated at all. Instead, she had a faint smile. It’s kinda creepy.

On the screen, Seina-chan’s character, a muscular man with chest hair, and the guy’s character, a blond guy in a red martial arts outfit, were about to start their fight.

Well, let’s see how this goes. And as Seina-chan and Senpai watched—

—it’s over!

The guy with the smirk got beaten in no time and left the machine in a hurry. It was such a overwhelming victory that he probably won’t feel like challenging again.

Hey, could it be that Seina-chan is really good at games? Senpai is nodding in agreement from behind, as if it’s obvious. What’s up with that?

“Hehe, playing against people is definitely more fun than the CPU.”

Seina-chan smiled back, feeling confident. It’s like the composure of a strong person.

“Seina-chan, you’re really amazing. Was this game something you’ve been playing a lot?”

“No, this is my first time playing. I guess I got lucky and won♪”

“Huh, really?”

“Yes.”

Seina-chan answered with a smile that didn’t falter. There’s no joking atmosphere, and Senpai didn’t retort. Is this for real? She’s too good, isn’t she?

And after that, nobody else jumped in, and Seina-chan continued to defeat enemies gracefully by manipulating the joystick, easily clearing the games.

That’s how Seina-chan’s game tour, enjoying plenty of games with just a hundred yen, continued.

There were games where a blond guy floats around and shoots with a gun held under his arm, games with super long cabinets with three TV screens attached, and games where you move balls buried in the machine to move balls on the screen. Seina-chan was unbeatable in various games.

There were so many unique games, and it was fun just watching from behind.

Of course, I didn’t just watch; I also tried playing some games myself.

In a game where you control characters with angular movements (apparently called polygons), which came out when the fighting game genre started to become popular, I battled Seina-chan.

Well, I was easily defeated, but Seina-chan doesn’t hold back at all. She’s seriously too good.

After that, Senpai also jumped in, saying, “It’s time for Aihara’s revenge!” But Senpai got beaten just like that, and he said, “I-Isezaki-san, please, one more time! I feel like I can win next time.”

“Oh, really, sir? You might be getting ahead of yourself?”

She teased Senpai with the same lines as the stiff character with a headband. She has that mischievous side to her, huh? It looks like so much fun, and Seina-chan, who’s usually beautiful, looks super cute with her natural smile.

By the way, Seina-chan isn’t really good at games that involve moving her body. In the game where you hit crocodiles with a hammer, I completely crushed her.

So, after spending a few hours at the arcade, we got to know Seina-chan in various ways, just as I had hoped. That was really nice, but—

There’s one thing that bothers me. It’s about Seina-chan and Senpai’s relationship. 

Sure, Senpai seems to care a lot about Seina-chan, and there’s this vibe like he sees her as family, almost like a little sister. The way he looks at Seina-chan is really gentle.

In comparison, Seina-chan—

I remember the interactions between Seina-chan and Senpai since we met today.

“Sir, is this cabinet perhaps…?”

“Is that so? You really are something, sir!”

“Thank you, sir♪”

“Hehe, oh, sir.”

Seina-chan’s eyes, heated as she looks at Senpai. The gesture of following him with her eyes when he moves. The smile she shows when Senpai talks to her, a smile so happy that it makes me feel all fluttery—

The arrows Seina-chan sends towards Senpai don’t seem like those of just a kind neighborly old man.

Is it like… a crush? No, it might even go beyond that, to love? That’s the only way I can think of it.

But then… Senpai, you know, he always acts like he’s not motivated, but when it comes down to it, he’s reliable… 

There’s a generation gap between us, so sometimes we don’t connect, but he always listens to me…

Even though he behaves as if he’s indifferent, he’s actually always watching over me…

—Oh no, this is bad, I’m starting to like this! It wouldn’t be weird if Seina-chan liked Senpai!

Wait, wait! It’s too early to judge like that. I’ve heard about love talks, but I have little practical experience. I might be jumping to conclusions.

Yeah, that’s probably it. End of story! This discussion is over!

And just as I forcibly concluded that, Senpai approached us.

“Aihara, why have you been looking troubled on your own all this time? …Ah, well, forget it. Anyway, I’m gonna go to the bathroom for a bit. You two, just keep playing without worrying about me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Alrighty then. Take your time.”

We replied, and Senpai hurried off to the bathroom. He looked kinda pale, so this might take a while.

Until now, Senpai has always been by our side, but for a while, it’ll just be Seina-chan and me.

Of course, we’ve become quite friendly with Seina-chan, and it’s not like our conversation won’t flow just because Senpai isn’t here.

I immediately talk to Seina-chan.

“Hey, Seina-chan, what do you want to do next? I’ve been really curious about that rock-paper-scissors machine since earlier!”

I’m kinda decent at rock-paper-scissors, you know. Let’s show Seina-chan my cool side.

But in response to my question, Seina-chan answered quietly.

“…Instead of that, is there something you want to ask me, Riori-san?”

“Huh? Um, w-well… right, right. Maybe I want to know what songs you’ve been into lately? What kind of music do you like!?”

“Is that really what you want to ask?”

Huh, what’s with the sudden change?

The tone of her voice is different from before. It’s not like she’s angry or anything, but there’s a strange intensity to it. It’s a Seina-chan I’ve never seen before.

“Um, what’s going on…? I don’t understand…”

I couldn’t say anything, and I involuntarily took a step back.

Seeing that, Seina-chan let out a light sigh, seeming somewhat disappointed, then stepped forward, closing the distance between us.

“If Riori-san won’t ask, then I’ll say it myself.”

“Huh, wait…”

And just as I felt a cold sweat running down my back, Seina-chan spoke up.

“Riori-san. I… I like Sir. I love him. I admire Sir as a man, and I hold deep affection for him.”

Seina-chan spoke quietly, her gaze piercing through me directly.

Original Author’s Comment:

—Afterword—

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