It was a Saturday afternoon, and Tomoko was making her usual lonely rounds at the local arcade. The sounds of flashing machines, cheering teens, and clinking tokens filled the air, but Tomoko was barely paying attention. Her headphones were on, playing one of her favorite yandere boyfriend ASMR audios at just the right volume to drown out the world.

This is fine, she thought, trying to reassure herself. I don't need my dumb brother or Yuu to have a good time. Besides, it's not like they'd appreciate the subtleties of this place.

In truth, she'd begged Tomoki to come with her. Practically threw herself on the floor, pleading for him to hang out, but as always, he declined. Something about soccer practice or not wanting to be seen in public with her. Whatever. It didn't matter. She didn't need him.

As she wove through the crowded arcade, headphones still blasting, she caught snippets of kids shouting at their victories and teens chatting over loud music. It wasn't until she took off her headphones for a moment that something unusual caught her attention.

A soft, yet oddly determined voice cut through the noise.

"Come on... just a little more. Please…"

Tomoko froze, ears perking up. She turned her head toward the source of the sound and spotted an unexpected sight: Miss. Azuma, her calm and collected guidance counselor, hunched over a claw machine with a focused intensity.

Tomoko blinked, stunned. Wait, what?

Sakaki stood poised in front of the machine, gripping the joystick with the kind of seriousness reserved for life-or-death situations. The target of her efforts? A small plush cat toy, its oversized head and wide eyes mocking her from behind the glass.

Sakaki gently maneuvered the claw into position, her movements precise. Her voice, soft but insistent, slipped out again. "Please, just stay... just this once."

The claw descended, grasping the plush cat by its squishy head. For a fleeting moment, it seemed she might succeed. But as the claw began to rise, the toy slipped free and tumbled back into the pile.

Sakaki sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "Why do these machines never cooperate…"

Tomoko watched in awe, her inner monologue running wild. Oh my god. Is she seriously talking to the machine? Miss Cool-and-Collected is actually just a crazy cat lady! This is amazing.

She tried to suppress a grin, but her face betrayed her. She couldn't help but think that Sakaki's composed demeanor at school had been a total lie.

As Sakaki turned away from the machine, a small defeated sigh escaping her lips, she caught sight of Tomoko standing nearby. Their eyes met, and Tomoko froze. Her face turned white, and she looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. She saw me! Play it cool, Tomoko. Act natural! Or just... disappear!

But before she could slink away into the crowd, Sakaki approached her, her usual calm expression in place.

"Tomoko?" Sakaki said, tilting her head slightly. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Tomoko stammered, her words tumbling out like marbles. "Uh, I... I was just... uh..."

"Are you here by yourself?" Sakaki asked gently.

Tomoko hesitated, her mind racing for an excuse. Talking felt like climbing a mountain, each word a boulder to push uphill. "I-I mean... Yuu's busy... with her boyfriend. And, uh, Tomoki's... got soccer practice..."

Sakaki nodded thoughtfully, her gaze soft. "I see."

Before Tomoko could make a hasty escape, Sakaki gestured toward the nearby outdoor café. "Why don't we sit for a bit? I could use some tea after... that." She glanced back at the claw machine with a faint look of betrayal.

Tomoko didn't know how to refuse, so a few minutes later, they were seated at a small table outside the arcade. The sun was warm, and the air smelled faintly of fried food and sugary treats from the nearby food stalls.

Sakaki ordered tea for them both, and Tomoko stared at her cup, avoiding eye contact.

"Do you come here often?" Sakaki asked, breaking the silence.

Tomoko shrugged, still staring at the table. "Sometimes..."

Sakaki took a sip of her tea. "Arcades can be fun. I used to go to them a lot in high school, though they were a little different back then."

Tomoko's mind jumped on that immediately. Yeah, I'll bet. Did they even have claw machines back then? Or was it just pinball and Pong?

Sakaki didn't seem to notice Tomoko's thoughts racing. "It's nice to get out and do something you enjoy, even if it's by yourself. But it's also okay to want to share those moments with others."

Tomoko fidgeted with her tea cup. Share moments? With who? Like there's anyone who'd even want to hang out with me.

Sakaki studied her quietly for a moment. "You mentioned your brother and Yuu. Do you talk to them about what you're feeling?"

Tomoko shook her head quickly. "No. I mean... it's not like they'd understand."

Sakaki's expression softened further. "You might be surprised. Sometimes the people we think don't understand us are the ones who care the most."

Tomoko didn't respond, instead sipping her tea in silence. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but she didn't know how to put any of them into words.

The rest of the conversation was light, with Sakaki occasionally asking about Tomoko's favorite arcade games and sharing a few stories from her own high school days. By the time they parted ways, Tomoko felt an odd sense of calm.

As she walked home, clutching a small plush cat that Sakaki had somehow managed to win for her before they left, Tomoko couldn't help but glance back at the arcade. For once, her inner voice was quiet.