Crown Arcade

That Saturday the five girls met at Game Center Crown. The interior was a mix of light and dark. The floor was mostly a deep blue with an odd pattern that was hard to look at and the overhead lighting was dim. But everywhere she looked Rei saw bright flashes of different colored lights coming from the many games around her, each one trying to draw people in. Serena had been telling the truth; Crown seemed to have every style of game imaginable.

The noise was another matter. There wasn't any ambient music in the arcade itself, but every step brought a new soundscape of music from tinny speakers and shouts from players as they won and lost. It was constant and ever-changing, and Rei was sure it would wear on her sanity.

Serena's voice cut through the din. "Here, you guys can use this machine to get a card for the games. Just put some money in and it'll give you one."

They did just that and they were off, with Serena pulling them to all of her favorite games. She started with some side-scrolling video game and everyone tried to see how far they could get. The protagonist was named Sailor V, a blonde teen-aged girl with a red bow and blue eyes. Rei tried to ignore the similarities the character had with Minako when she played. She didn't get very far, but Minako and Serena both did well, with Serena getting farther with her extensive experience at the arcade.

Next Serena dragged them to skee-ball. Rei took a lane and Minako settled in next to her. Rei gave her a challenging look that Minako returned. They all swiped their cards and the lanes lit up. A set of rubber balls dropped down a channel in the side of the machine and everyone rolled them up the center lane. Try as she might Rei couldn't seem to find any consistency. Every ball seemed to take a different path which all terminated in the lowest hole worth the fewest points. She spared a glance at Minako and clenched her jaw. The blonde had twice her score. When everyone threw all of their balls Minako looked at Rei's score and laughed.

"Next round is mine," Rei said.

"Bring it on," Minako fired back.

"Ooh, my bet is on Minako," Serena said.

"Mine too," Ami said.

"I don't know, Rei can get pretty fired up when she wants to," Makoto said.

Rei and Minako swiped their cards again and started to play, while the others forewent joining in to watch. Despite her best efforts Rei could not get a handle on where the balls went and she ended up losing again. She was about to challenge Minako again when Makoto stepped in.

"Maybe you can get your revenge on another game," she said laughing. Minako shot her a triumphant look and Rei growled.

They moved through the arcade playing whatever games caught their attention. They played some sport-themed games, shooting basketballs through an oddly shaped hoop, kicking a soccer ball against a screen while avoiding a virtual goalie, and balancing on a snowboard-shaped platform as a virtual character careened down a mountain. They tried a boxing themed game where they took turns hitting a small punching bag as hard as they could to see who could score highest. Makoto took that honor.

They tried other games as well. There was a game with buttons on a wall that lit up at random and gave points if the player pressed them before they shut off again. There played a racing game and a classic fighting game, both of which saw Rei lose miserably. Serena and Minako continued to do well, showcasing their experience with video games.

Serena spotted a dancing game that tracked players' hands and feet and scored them based on how well they followed the figure on the screen. She pulled everyone over to it but only Minako agreed to play. They stepped up to the console and chose a song. Rei didn't recognize the song or the dance moves but Serena and Minako both seemed to have them down pat.

They both danced enthusiastically but the quality of their moves differed greatly. Serena was clumsy and wild, following the screen well enough but seeming to flail as she did. Minako was controlled and crisp. She looked natural dancing along to the upbeat song, moving her hips perfectly in time with the beat. She was mesmerizing. One of the moves made Minako and Serena turn to face her and Minako caught her eye. She gave her a look as if she could read Rei's mind and Rei felt a blush creep up her neck. The song ended and the two blondes bounced back to the rest of them.

"You guys enjoy the show?" Minako asked, though she was looking directly at Rei.

Makoto and Ami expressed how impressed they were with Serena and Minako but Rei stayed silent. She didn't want to give Minako the satisfaction of an answer. Minako seemed fine with her own teasing remark and didn't push Rei for an answer and the five of them kept moving.

As they walked around and tried new games the game center filled with more people. The increase in people meant fewer open games to try. When Minako spotted an air hockey table she started towards it, it was claimed by another group before she took two steps. Ami raised the idea of trying out the cafe as a reprieve from the crowds and a recharge of their expended energy.

On their way there Minako spotted a machine with half-decomposed zombies painted on the sides and rear. There were curtains on either side that were pulled back, showing an empty compartment with two built-in seats. Plastic guns in holsters were tethered to the seats and a big screen previewed the game, which featured a lot of blood and gore.

"It's empty!" Minako said. "I love these kinds of games. Anyone want to play before we go to the cafe?"

"Last time I tried one of these the way the screen moved made me queasy," Serena said.

"The… content doesn't look enjoyable to me," Ami said, looking pale.

"Especially before eating," Makoto added.

"How about it," Minako said to Rei.

Rei sighed. She had seen that coming. "Fine, but only if you treat me to something at the cafe later."

"Well if you guys are gonna play this we'll check out another game and we can head to the cafe after," Serena said.

Minako waved the others on and pushed Rei into the compartment. She slipped to the other side of the machine and joined Rei inside.

They swiped their cards and picked up the plastic guns from their holsters. The game started in the hall of a mansion with several zombies moving slowly toward them. Rei and Minako dispatched them quickly and the game moved deeper into the house. Zombies came faster and faster, bursting from side rooms and the floor to attack them. Minako reacted freely to the sudden intrusions, screaming and laughing and blasting away with the plastic gun. Her strategy seemed to be quantity over quality, emptying her gun and reloading it as quickly as possible. Rei was more controlled in her approach, taking zombies down quickly with head shots.

They made it through one level fairly easily. Rei was enjoying herself more than she thought she would. There wasn't much to the game- they could only shoot and collect the occasional power-up- but something about the game was compelling. Maybe it was the quick way the game moved forward, never allowing them to grow bored. Or maybe it was the way the zombies' heads exploded with a well placed shot. A glance at Minako confirmed the other girl was having fun as well.

Partway through the second level they began to struggle. The hordes grew larger and came faster, and they were each hit a few times. Health was hard to find, and eventually a large horde struck and first Minako then Rei succumbed to the sheer number of zombies. Their characters died and a countdown appeared on the screen while the game asked if they wanted to purchase another life. They looked at each other.

"We have to beat this level at least, right?" Minako asked.

"We can't let it end like that," Rei answered.

They each bought a new life and continued blasting zombies. Rei told Minako to focus on any big enemies with her quick trigger finger and that she would focus on the small ones. With their new strategy they made it to the level boss. It was a harrowing fight with debris and zombies flying at the screen. There were small fast flying enemies as well as a gigantic zombie with a long health bar.

Rei and Minako persevered, yelling warnings to each other and covering the other when one had to reload. With a final flurry of shots the boss fell and the two collapsed back into their seats. The game played a cutscene showing their characters leaving the mansion and traveling to a new location. They looked at each other again. Minako raised an eyebrow and Rei nodded. They raised their guns as the next level began.

Fifteen minutes later they exited the game laughing.

"I can't believe we made it," Minako said.

"Especially with your accuracy," Rei teased.

"Hey, accuracy didn't mean anything for that final boss. Who did the most damage to him again?" Minako countered.

Rei was about to respond when she spotted the air hockey table they wanted to play earlier. It was empty and no one was headed towards it.

"Minako look," she said, pointing to the table.

Minako looked not at the table but at Rei. "You just used my given name, didn't you?"

Rei balked. She hadn't realized she had used Minako's name. "I'm sure I've used it before, it's nothing special," she said.

"But it's so rare to hear. I like when you use it," Minako said, her tone teasing.

"Well it just slipped out. Don't get used to it," Rei said.

Minako pouted at her. "That sounds so lonely."

"Someone has to keep your ego in check," Rei said.

"How could you say that after I saved your life in that mansion," Minako said.

"I distinctly remember taking out a mob you couldn't handle, Aino."

"That just means we have each other's backs."

Rei opened her mouth and closed it again, then frowned.

Minako smirked at her. "Got nothing?"

"Well it was just a game," Rei said.

"So if a group of zombies attacked me now you'd let them take me?" Minako asked.

Rei pursed her lips to think. "Well you can be pretty annoying," she said.

Minako gasped and held a hand to her chest. "Me? Annoying? Never."

Rei snorted. "Tell you what, beat me in air hockey and I'll call you whatever you want."

Minako perked up. "Really?"

"If you keep your mind out of the gutter."

Minako's tongue poked out from between her lips. "Let's do it."

They rushed to the air hockey table to claim it and Minako swiped her card. She spared a glance to Rei then dropped the puck and smacked it at Rei's goal. What followed was an intense match, both of them entirely focused on the game. Rei was unsurprised considering the stakes she had raised. She knew that Minako would bring her A-game, but was confident in her own abilities.

Still there was a fair amount of back and fourth. Minako managed to match every goal Rei scored. Where Rei could place her shots well and slip shots just past Minako's guard, Minako smacked the puck as hard as she could, sending it careening wildly around the table in unpredictable ways. Ultimately the timer decided the game, hitting zero while Rei had the lead. Minako groaned and Rei pumped a fist in victory.

"Rematch," Minako yelled.

Rei considered her for a moment then smirked. "I'd rather call you whatever I want to. And I can think of some appropriate names for you."

Rei pulled away from the table to allow other people to play if they wanted. Minako followed dejectedly, pouting as she walked.

"I only ask that you not be too mean," Minako said.

"I refuse," Rei said immediately.

A laugh broke through Minako's act. "So fast. I should have expected that."

"You really should have."

Minako smiled and sighed. "Well let's go find the others while you think of something terrible to call me."

She turned to walk away and Rei got an idea. She sidled up to Minako's side and put her mouth close to Minako's ear.

"Lead the way, Mina," Rei purred.

Minako whipped around and sputtered. "What was that?"

"Hm? Oh nothing. Let's go."

"That's cruel, if you're gonna use a nickname at least let me hear it properly," Minako said.

Rei smirked. "Maybe if you're on your best behavior I'll let you hear it again."

Rei laughed at the torn look on Minako's face. She grabbed Minako's hand to pull her along and felt that it was nice to be on the other side of the teasing for once.