As the group rounded the corner, the clattering of metal came from the pachinko area.
Rows of pachinko machines stood there, giving off dazzling neon light, while countless players tirelessly played pachinko.
All kinds of noises mingled together, making this area even louder than the rest of the arcade, enough to leave their eardrums buzzing.
"Look over there! Kinji Hakari is over there!" Yuta Okkotsu shouted, raising a hand to point at a machine not far away.
At that moment, Kinji Hakari was firmly planted in front of a machine, his expression feverish. It looked like an intense battle.
Kirara Hoshi stood leaning beside him with a large basket of pachinko balls, watching the machine's screen with equal concentration. The two looked like twin stars of the gambling table.
"They really do look like a couple, huh-" Akutagawa Shang remarked as he watched Kinji Hakari and Kirara Hoshi.
"They sure do." Panda nodded in agreement.
With that, the group walked toward the two of them.
Before they saw him, they heard him.
Before the group even got close, they could hear Kinji Hakari's excited voice from far away:
"Drop-! Drop-! Drop-!"
"Aah-!!! So close-!!!"
Then he furiously scratched his hair, letting out a cry of regret.
"What a shame-!!!" Kirara Hoshi sighed at the sight too.
He then turned and saw the approaching group.
"What brings you here?"
"Uh, we used up all our tokens on the claw machines, so we figured we'd come check on you." Akutagawa Shang scratched his head and casually hefted the various bags he and Maki were carrying.
Kinji Hakari turned around too. His gaze landed on the bulging bags of plush toys in their hands. He paused, then his eyelids twitched hard twice.
"Did you... rob the claw machines?"
"No, it was Maki's first