"So who do you think is going to be in the next Smash Bros.," asked Nino, him and Adrien sitting in the back of Turtle Shell, munching on hot pockets. After the soup battle, Adrien decided to call his spicy cup of noodle quits for a while. Especially once Kim and Kagami heard about his daily lunch, and promised to make him a spicy soup that would blow his cup of noodles out of the water.
Nino also learned that night that along with weird anime shows, he was a gamer, since he got board often on set when modeling. Thus they had started picking each others brains regarding video games.
"I think Noctis would be a nice addition."
"Wouldn't that be a Cloud reskin?"
"Not necessarily, Noctis would be able to teleport."
"So Cloud with Greninja's shadow travel?"
"Pretty much."
Nino shook his head at the ridiculousness of his friend's statement.
"I think one Final Fantasy character is enough. They should bring is Waluigi."
"That's just a reskinned Luigi."
Nino wagged his finger in disagreement. "They got creative with Wario. They could do something cool with Waluigi."
"Nino." Alya opened the door to the back a little, halting both boys mid bite.
"Alya, what are you doing back here?" Nino scrambled to stand up. "Not that I'm not happy to see you. I mean I am happy to see you. Its just, I thought you were busy in the afternoon?"
"My parents gave me the ok to bring my sisters to the mall." She opened up the door a little wider, Nino spotting two girls that looked similar to Alya admiring all the games.
"I was suppose to meet Marinette but she wasn't at the bakery."
"She's probably at the arcade then. I'll take you guys over. Just give me a minute to finish." he gestured to the hot pocket.
Alya looked like she wanted to say something, but just smiled, "Alright."
Nino quickly shut the door, scarfing down the hot pocket.
"This place has an arcade," asked Adrien, as he wiped his hands with a napkin, already done with his hot pocket.
"Yeah, its small, but enough games to keep you entertained for hours. I wouldn't be surprised if Marinette is over there."
"Maybe I can stop by after work if you guys are still there."
"That would be awesome. I'll see you later bro." Nino took a napkin, quickly wiped his hands, checking his shirt for and drips from either water or the hot pocket. Certain he was good to go, he grabbed his backpack from his locker, and entered the store. He found ALya watching her sisters battling each other on Mario Kart 8 in the testing area.
"So, change your mind about video games yet," he teased as he approached, startling Alya to jump straight up.
"I'll admit that they aren't are grim as I thought." She turned her gaze back to her sisters, who looked to be around 11, as they played.
"Well they are playing one of the most kid friendly games."
"No fair! You did that on Purpose!" One of the carts was in a state of panic, while the other passed the finish line, ending the race. Based on the reactions of the twins before him, one of them gave the other the Blue shell.
Alya glanced over to Nino, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Compared to other games sold here, it's considered kid friendly."
"You should come over to the bookstore sometime then. Your version and my version of kid friendly are a little bit different."
"I might do that then."
"Ehem." Nino and Alya turned at the noise, Max and Adrien watching them from the counter with smirks on their faces.
"We should head over to the arcade," insisted Nino, taking Alya's hand and leading her out of the game shop, her sisters quickly following.
Once they were out of eyesight of his manager and Gabriel's manager, Nino realized he was holding Alya's hand. She didn't seem bothered by it though, if anything, she just picked up the pace to walk beside him. Feeling his other palm start to sweat, Nino let go, quickly bringing his hand to his side. Alya also didn't seem phased by him letting go of her hand. Perhaps she didn't notice it.
"So how's your job so far," he asked, looking briefly over his shoulder to make sure her sisters were keeping up. Alya turned to look at him, her doe brown eyes glimmering in happiness.
"It's going really well actually. Trixx is great with the hours, and everyone whose come in has actually been nice."
"That's good to hear. What made you decide to work at the bookstore? I didn't know Trixx was even hiring for the summer."
"Last year I was a waitress at my mother's restaurant. She's a head chef in one of the restaurants at Bourgeois Mall. The hours weren't really working out for our family since my parents aren't quite ready to leave my sisters home alone yet."
"So this just worked out in your favor?"
"Yeah. What about you?"
"Me?"
"How did you come to work at Turtle Shell?"
Nino sighed, looking up to the sky as he tried to put his thoughts in order.
"I live close by, so I've been coming to the mall since I was a kid. Not as regular enough to know those who have practically lived here like Marinette, but it was a familiar place, fun place to go on weekends occasionally. When I went to university, there was equipment I wanted to buy, so my parents told me to get a job. And that's when I found out Turtle Shell was hiring for the summer. And my school is close enough, so I then started working here once school started up again."
Alya hummed, nodding in understanding.
"Do you think you'll stay at Lucky Fox when the school year starts up?"
"Maybe? It's close to my school, but I might actually want to get an internship though that's more related to my major."
"What year are you?"
"I'll be continuing my third year in the fall. I'll be graduating a semester ahead. You?"
"Starting my third year in the fall."
Alya nodded, her gaze resuming to face forward. Nino looked ahead to see they were approaching the Arcade.
"Welcome to Kwami Arcade," he announced, gesturing to the open gates of the arcade, filled with young teens escaping the heat.
Alya's sister's quickly ran inside.
"Ella! Etta!" Alya called after them, but they were already lost in the crowd.
"The arcade isn't that big, plus unless they brought their own wallets, they find you again to pay for games."
"True, let's find Marinette."
"Follow me then."
Nino slightly hesitated, almost reaching for Alya's hand again. Instead he shoved his hands into his pockets, marching towards the left side of the arcade. He looked back to make sure Alya was following, her eyes lighting up when she saw the DDR and crane games they were approaching.
"Is that?" She pointed to a game.
"Pac-Man Air hockey? Yep. Very lethal, but fun. We could probably play with your sisters when they show up." Nino led her away from the air hockey, around some rhythm games and Guitar Hero, eventually finding her at a rhythm game called Groove Coaster. She was furiously smashing and titling the giant joysticks, her pressing matching the beat of the music she was listening to through headphones. Based on the screen, Nino could see three other figures following a similar track, assuming she might have been playing an event.
"She's going to be here awhile. Let's get you set up with some credits."
Nino moved passed Marinette, who hadn't even noticed their arrival, Alya following behind him.
At the counter they found Ivan, currently overseeing and exchange of tickets for one of the prizes.
"Right, Ivan works here," commented Alya as they stepped into line.
"Yeah, Alix should be here somewhere too. She's probably wandering around the arcade then."
When the customer at the counter was completed, Nino and Alya stepped forward.
"Hey Ivan!" Nino raised his hand for a high-five, the big guy returning the gesture.
"Hey Nino! Alya, you finally decide to visit?"
"Yeah, my sisters should be around here somewhere."
"I can have Alix find them for you."
"That would be great. They look like me, but without glasses, and are wearing matching outfits in pink and blue."
Ivan nodded, relaying the message to Alix over a cheap lapel mic connected to earpiece.
"So how many tokens do you want?" Ivan gestured to the list taped to the glass, Alya leaning over to inspect the prices. Nino opened his wallet and took out his membership card and debit card..
"I'll take my normal." He passed the two card over to Ivan who nodded as he headed to the register.
"Oh Alya, Alix found your sisters. They were trying to get free plays on the basketball machine."
Alya shook her head, her eyes not straying from the price list. "Figures."
"Hey Alya!" Nino turned his head at the familiar voice to see Marinette approaching, her headphones wrapped around her neck.
"A new event on groove coaster," he guessed as Ivan returned his membership card and debit card.
"Only 500 more points to go before I get that Ladybug avatar," she responded with a grin.
"What was that game you were playing anyway?" Alya looked up from the prices to Marinette.
"Groove Coaster. It's a rhythm game. You tap and nudge the joysticks to the rhythm of the music."
"Or in Marinette's case, pound, and shove the joysticks to the rhythm," corrected Nino, earning a playful whack in the arm from Marinette.
Alya chuckled at that before turning back to Ivan.
"I'll take this one," Alya pointed to one the prices, Ivan nodded as he went to retrieve a membership card.
"I'm so glad you could come today. It seems like you barely get out of the house," Marinette whined.
"I know, maybe if this works I can bring my sisters over more often. Or convince my parents they are old enough to stay home by themselves."
"Here you go. Alix should be here in a bit with your sisters."
"Let's play Gitadora while we wait," insisted Marinette, looking up to Nino with her pleading blue eyes.
"Gitadora," asked Alya.
"It's like Guitar Hero but with Japanese music. Please Nino!"
Nino looked between Alya and Marinette. Gitadora was nice after work, but they should probably do what Alya wanted since it was her first time at Kwami Arcade.
"I've played Guitar Hero once at a party. Let's try it."
"Yes!" Marinette cheered pulling Alya into the array of games. Nino looked over to Ivan, "We'll be at Gitadora."
Nino then walked into the games, very familiar with the organization until he found Marinette and Alya at Gitadora.
"So you can take this guitar, and I'll take this one." Marinette handed Alya a guitar, Marinette taking the other one.
"What will Nino play." Alya looked over to Nino, who was already situating himself on the drum kit next to them.
"We'll be playing the same song," he reassured, Alya nodding in understanding. All three of them swiped their cards, the game confirming the three players.
"Do you need a tutorial," asked Marinette, Alya studying the guitar as the screen loaded.
"No, i think I can remember how this works."
"Which one should we do first," asked Nino.
"Cruel Angel Thesis. That's easy on guitar."
Nino nodded, selecting the song. They each selected level of difficulty and the music began to play, the opening not requiring any of them to play as they listened.
"I've heard this somewhere before. Is this from some anime?"
"Evangelion," answered Nino as his part started, Marinette and Alya following on guitars.
Nino glanced over to the side as he played, already knowing his part by heart. Alya, at beginner level, kept glancing between the screen and her guitar, trying to match up the buttons to press to the ones displayed on the screen. Marinette though kept her eyes on the screen, while occasionally bobbing her head to the music.
"Found ya," the three turned around right as the music finished, finding Alix with Alya's sisters.
"Thank you Alix."
"No problem, although a warning, if they are going to try sneaking free plays on the basketball, make sure no one is watching," chided Alix as she resume her walk around the arcade.
Alya chuckled, "Fine." She then turned to Marinette. "One more song. I think I'm getting the hang of this."
"Alright. K-On Nino!"
Nino nodded, selecting the opening song.
"Another anime? Do you guys play any other kind of song?"
Nino looked over to Marinette who shrugged.
"Sometimes."
The music started, slightly catching Alya off guard as the beat started right away. Marinette doing her best to lip sync the lyrics while bobbing around like the lead guitarist from the show, although Marinette said she had identified more with the bass guitarist. Nino thought she was strange combination of all five of the girls.
At Marinette's insistence, they had watched the show after work last summer, Nino insisting it he was watching it solely for the music rather than the cute girls.
"That song was fun," breathed Alya one the song was over.
"Come Alya, let's play a game," one of her younger siblings whined.
"Come on Alya!"
"Alright, let's go look around," Alya returned the guitar to its holder before following her sisters.
"You should go win her a toy from the crane games," commented Marinette as she set down the guitar, Nino returning the drumsticks to their rightful place.
"Why me?"
"Why not you?" Marinette wink before running after Alya, and her sisters, Nino in pursuit.
They found them over at the Pac-Man Air Hockey, Alya already sliding her card to play.
"Ooh, I'll be on a team," called out Marinette. The twins immediately split apart so one was on each side of the table, Marinette taking the side opposite of Alya.
"Have you played this before," asked Alya, holding her striker ready.
"I've played just about every game here."
"Doesn't mean she's good at it though," commented Nino as he hid behind the slots dispensing the pucks. He took out his phone to record the ordeal, figuring something might be worth sharing with Marinette's parents later or an excuse to film Alya. A single red puck dispensed from the slot, Alya quickly reaching over to knock it to the opposite side, the twin in pink, knocking it back over while Marinette made a failed attempt to block it as well. The twin in blue moved her striker to block, but the puck slide past into the goal.
"Yes!" Marinette and the pink twin briefly high-fived before another puck slid out, this time on their side. Marinette moved her striker, knocking the puck to the other side, where Alya successfully sent it back. Pink twin sent it back, to Blue, who knocked it against the wall, both Marinette and pink twin missing as it slide into the goal.
Then chaos stuck as the slots Nino stood behind opened, release twenty colorful neon pucks onto the table, the four girls scrambling to knock them into the enemy's goal.
"I'll block, you shoot," Marinette instructed to her partner, Alya and her other sibling laughing as they hit pucks to the other side. As the chaos lessened to four remaining pucks, the red puck made a reappearance, Alya striking it into the enemy goal, triggering another rally of pucks onto the field.
Nino kept alternating views, switching between Marinette's side and Alya's as he watched. He was watching as Alya found again the red puck, striking it to hard it flew off the table, hitting Marinette in the middle of the forehead. Just then the buzzer rang out, signaling the end of the game, with the win for Alya's side.
"Marinette are you ok! I'm so sorry!" Alya rushed over to the other side, cradling Marinette in her arms, who was laughing over the whole event.
"I'm fine. This game is just always out to kill me whomever I play it with."
"Maybe we should do something a little less lethal," suggested Alya as she pulled Marinette back to examine her forehead for any bruising. If anything, there was a slight dent were the puck had hit. Nino stepped closer, phone still recording as he examined the dent.
"We should make a movie!" Alya and Nino both looked down at Marinette, who was happily smiling as she looked at Nino's phone.
The arcade is based off one in my area, which the company is based in Japan, so there are a lot of Japanese games as well as American games. Lately, I mostly play Groove Coaster. I have played Gitadora for the anime songs mostly (I'm more like Alya when playing Guitar). And yes, Pac-Man Air Hockey exists and I have gotten hit in the head with a puck.
In regards to the Guest comment if Jagged Stone and Marinette know each, I don't know. He probably will make an appearance eventually, don't know if they had met before though.