Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 303, Section 20: "I want to live with Masumi-nii too!"

"Then... let's give it a try."

After hesitating for a moment, Rinne took a coin from her cat-shaped plush coin purse and dropped it into the coin slot.

Click!

With a faint glow, the claw machine's display indicated that it was ready to operate.

The heiress adopted a serious and imposing expression, staring intently at the machine, but her hands remained motionless.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Masumi couldn't help but speak:

"Rinne?"

"Ah."

She responded calmly.

"Don't you want to start?"

"I'm waiting."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for it to begin."

Rinne answered.

"Generally speaking, shouldn't you wait for one claw to droop down before using that claw to grab the plush toy?"

"Ah! Rinne, you've misunderstood."

Asami suddenly realized, and then slowly and deliberately introduced:

"This machine isn't the kind that grabs the plush toy directly with a claw; it's a downward-pushing type. After you press the button, the mechanical arm will start moving. Rinne just needs to press pause at the right moment to make the mechanical arm drop down onto the latch on the platform under the plush toy, and the plush toy will fall down."

"Oh... thank you, Asami-nee."

After hearing Mami's explanation, Rinne blushed and started playing the claw machine.

She tentatively pressed the button, and the red mechanical arm indeed began to move horizontally, its gaze landing on the dinosaur cat in the middle. It seemed that this was the heir's target.

From the perspective of difficulty of acquisition, the doll is already lying crookedly on the platform, and it looks like it will fall down if you just gently push it down with the mechanical arm.

"...I ran into him."

The heiress's soft murmur reached my ears.

Masumi turned her head and saw Rinne's profile, which was hidden by her black hair. Rinne clenched her fists and made a small victory gesture.

I always felt that the way her knuckles bent and the angle at which she pressed down her wrist had a cat-like quality.

What is this? Rescuing a feline princess trapped in a cage?
The robotic arm kept pushing downwards, tilting the platform where the doll was located to almost 60 degrees, and it looked like the doll was about to fall.

Unfortunately, the robotic arm ultimately failed to align precisely with that narrow locking area; it reached its limit at 60 degrees and then slowly released.

Failed.

The dolls were returned to their original positions. The orange cat, dressed in a green dinosaur costume, had its hood shaped like a dinosaur's head. When it wore the hood, it would look like teeth were stuck on its head.

It looked like they were pitifully begging for help from people outside the claw machine.

"how come……"

Masumi glanced at Rinne without making a sound and saw her looking dejected, her eyebrows furrowed, letting out a disappointed sigh.

"Well, for your first attempt, this is already quite good."

Masumi comforted Rinne, who then rallied and looked at the claw machine that had just caused her such a bitter defeat.

Ah, she's the indomitable heiress.

After a coin is inserted, the robotic arm begins to move.

Defeat once again.

"...Why? It looks like it's aligned with the latch from above."

Rinne found it hard to believe.

"Whether it's adjusting the tightness of the claw or using visual illusions to deceive players, that's the cunning of claw machines."

Mami couldn't help but sigh.

"Is Mami-nee really good at claw machines?" Chiai asked.

"I'm not good at it at all."

Mami shook her head vigorously.

"So I usually buy these kinds of dolls from second-hand websites like Coal Stove, otherwise I'm just providing fuel for this machine that devours money and desire."

"Then why did you encourage Rinne..."

"Oh, I just wanted to see a classic scene from a romance comic. The female protagonist wanted a doll but couldn't get it no matter how many times she tried. She got so angry that she cried and made a fuss. She looked so pitiful."

"Asami's personality is really awful."

Qian Ai stared in disbelief.

"However, given Rinne's calm and composed personality, she probably wouldn't..."

As she said this, she turned her gaze to Rinne, who was struggling with the claw machine.

A chilling aura emanated from the beautiful girl with long, straight black hair. She stared intently at the machine with icy eyes, looking furious.

"This guy, you better know your place..."

If someone were to pass by along the way, they would definitely think that Rinne was abusing the machine.

Although her expression remained as calm as ever, the slightly white fingertips from the exertion revealed her unwillingness to give up.

And judging from her appearance, she won't succeed no matter how many times she tries.

"Masumi-kun, it's time for you to make your appearance."

Mami patted him on the shoulder and said.

“Well, if we’re trying to persuade her to give up,” Masumi shook her head, “I’m afraid that won’t work. I’ve tried many times already.”

"I told Masumi to act like the male protagonist in a romance manga, go up to Rinne and say, 'Leave it all to me!' and then neatly grab the plush toy."

"...I'm not 100% confident either."

Masumi reluctantly stepped forward, and Rinne silently gave up her place, looking at his hand with anticipation, waiting for what would happen next.

Mami was still encouraging him from behind, patting Masumi's shoulder forcefully.

"It's okay, Masumi-kun. Aren't you the best at this kind of thing? Even a gap narrower than this clip, you can easily aim and push it in. And, uh... uh..."

Her voice suddenly became weak, and an embarrassed blush rose on Mami's face. Her words became increasingly unnatural and paused.

Moreover, this blush was transmitted to Rinne through the air, and her snow-white ears, which peeked out from between her black hair, instantly turned bright red, and she lowered her head shyly.

It seemed like he had thought of something.

"What's wrong with Asami and Rinne all of a sudden?"

Chiai looked at the two people whose reactions had become strange, puzzled.

"N-nothing!"

Mami quickly shook her head, and Rinne remained silent.

"...Seriously, you guys are too weak."

Mio couldn't bear to watch any longer, so she shook her head silently, her honey-gold hair swaying gently.

These words made Rinne reflexively raise her head and stare directly at Mio with a strong and powerful gaze.

"What...Mio dares to say something like that, does that mean you're very confident?"

A smug yet provocative smile curved Mio's lips as she confidently replied:
"Of course, when it comes to claw machines, Masumi should know how good I am, right?"

"Is that so, Masumi-nii?"

"Ah."

Masumi nodded. The first time he invited Mio to join the band was in front of the claw machine in Shinjuku, where he saw Mio try to play at least twenty times.

I initially thought he was just standing there and couldn't catch it, but it turns out he was just killing time.

"..."

It's really true! Rinne fell silent. If she just let Mio gain the upper hand like this...

"There's really no other way. In that case, I'll just have to lend a helping hand to the weak and helpless Rinne."

Mio puffed out her chest triumphantly, striking a pose of compassion like a goddess bestowing blessings upon believers.

"Rinne, you'd better watch out for my move. With machines like this that go down in waves, timing is the most important thing."

She pressed a button, and the robotic arm began to move slowly.

"Ah, now is the time."

Just then, a dark shadow flashed by in my line of sight.

"Haiyue? What are you doing?"

Mio frowned as she looked at the jellyfish-like girl who had suddenly squeezed in front of her.

"I pressed... heave..."

The delicate fingers pressed pause.

The robotic arm slammed into the latch area and pushed down forcefully. The Sandy the Cat plush toy fell off the platform with a thud and into the hole.

"Caught..."

"Hey! Haiyue, you're picking peaches."

Mio raised her eyebrows and glared menacingly at the jellyfish girl who had crouched down at the retrieval point and successfully retrieved the rescued cat, Sandy.

The latter completely disregarded Mio's anger, and, as if seeking credit, picked up the doll and handed it to Rinne.

"Tch, what a pair of philandering mother and daughter."

Mio crossed her arms and snorted through her nose.

After receiving the doll, the heiress gently stroked Haiyue's head with her delicate fingers.

"Thank you, Haiyue."

Then, looking at Mio, she said:
"Thank you too, Mio."

"..."

The girl with long, honey-gold hair pressed her forehead and sighed deeply.

◇

It was already past 7 p.m. when we left the arcade.

Under the cover of night, the Seto Inland Sea proclaims its presence only with the sound of its waves.

The incredible phenomenon of tides makes it seem as if the ocean sometimes exists and sometimes disappears, just like a living organism.

"Ah, I should probably take the tram home now."

Qian'ai looked at the time and said.

"Hey, it's not even eight o'clock yet."

Asami was still somewhat unsatisfied when suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her eyes lit up.

"Oh, right, does Qian'ai have class tomorrow?"

"Oh, no, why?"

The childhood sweetheart tilted her head slightly, indicating her confusion.

"Since that's the case, how about we spend the night at the coffee shop? We can eat snacks, play games, chat happily, and tell ghost stories until we fall asleep."

Mami clasped her hands together loudly in front of her chest, revealing a broad smile.

"How are you going to fall asleep if they're telling ghost stories? And won't suddenly settling down be too disruptive?"

"It's alright, it's alright. Qian'ai, you're being too formal. Aren't we already sleeping in the same bed?"

"One bed?! No way!"

Despite it being the chilly season of early spring, Chiai was covered in sweat. After glancing at Masumi beside her, she kept waving her hands in front of her face.

"Even if we're close to everyone, this kind of thing... Ah! Could it be that Masumi-nii wanted to... so she had Asami-nee act as a go-between?! No, no! That's too outrageous!"

"What does Chihiro think about?"

Mami tapped the childhood friend on the head with a chopstick, and the girl cried out in pain, rubbing her head.

"I was talking about previous trips and camping trips. We all slept in the same tent and on the same tatami mat."

"This, this is it."

Qian Ai exhaled deeply.

"That's right, I originally thought Chia was the most innocent one among us, but I never expected..."

Asami feigned an exaggerated, heartbroken posture, sighing on the surface but actually mocking:
"It seems you really like your childhood friend. To win his favor, you actually came up with this kind of plan. Has Qian'ai considered how the rest of us feel?"

"No, that's not true! It's because Asami-nee said those ambiguous things that I..."

Seeing the girl's flustered expression as she tried to defend herself, Mami clearly enjoyed her reaction and laughed mischievously.

"Okay, okay~ I was just kidding."

"Seriously, Asami's personality is terrible."

Chiai pouted, this was the second time she had said this today, and Mami casually waved her hand.

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

"There's no sincerity at all, but... never mind."

Qian Ai stopped talking.

As if following the passage of time in the night, she looked back.

The commercial complex we had just visited was now hidden in the shadows. Qian Ai squinted as she looked at the shimmering, translucent colors on its surface.

"Qian'ai, it's time to go."

Masumi walked ahead, turning back to remind her. His figure blended into the pouring moonlight and the diffused lights of the seaside amusement park.

"Well, I got it."

Qian Ai nodded and quickly followed.

◇

"Ugh, I'm exhausted."

The first thing Asami did upon returning to the coffee shop was head straight to Masumi's room and crawl into the kotatsu table.

Although it was already mid-March, her season seemed to be passing more slowly than others.

The reason is not hard to understand. Just look at the thin, cropped tank top she was wearing, which clearly showed she wasn't wearing a bra, and the shorts that were so short they exposed her buttocks. This completely unprotected loungewear made it all clear.

"...I feel like Masumi-nii's room has a different feel compared to before."

Chiai looked around Masumi's room, her small, pink nose twitching as she spoke.

"Huh? What's that?"

Masumi asked somewhat awkwardly.

Really? He always cleans it quite well.

I recently went to a nearby shopping mall and bought some pet-proof pads, which saves me the trouble of changing sheets and makes cleaning easier.

"...the smell of our love nest."

Qian Ai pouted, looking dissatisfied.

"Masumi-nii must have flirted with Mio-nee and the others a lot in this room!"

"Hey, it's alright."

When Masumi lies, she subconsciously averts her gaze to the side.

As her childhood friend, Chia was all too familiar with her childhood friend's subtle expressions when he was lying, but she didn't point it out directly. Instead, she sighed with a melancholy heart and gave up on arguing with Masumi.

"...Or, I might as well move into the coffee shop and live there too."

"Eh?"

"Because everyone else lives under the same roof as Masumi, it feels so convenient no matter what happens! I'm the only one excluded, it's just so unfair!"

She protested, puffing out her cheeks.

"So, I'm moving in too!"

Qian Ai said in a resolute tone.

"Huh? Is this for real?"

"...No, it's fake."

The girl, who had grown up, hunched her back as if withering away, and said dejectedly.

"Sorry, I was just saying it in anger. It's just that Masumi-nii lives such a promiscuous life with women on both sides."

“I haven’t reached that level of depravity yet,” Masumi sighed.

"Hey, this feels great!"

Mami then interjected.

"Why don't you move in too, Chiai? It'll definitely be more lively and fun that way!"

“No, no.” Qian Ai waved her hand: “Even if I really wanted to move in, the coffee shop wouldn’t have enough rooms.”

Masumi, Kaiyue and Mio live on the third floor, and Rinne, Asami and Mirai live on the second floor.

"If it's a room, I don't think it should be a problem."

Masumi suddenly spoke up.

"Eh."

The two women turned their gaze to Masumi, and Mami asked hesitantly:
"Could it be... that Masumi-kun wants to kick Mirai out?"

"No, okay? What kind of person do you take me for? A sadistic, perverted landlord?"

Masumi held her forehead.

"That is……?"

"Actually, not long ago, when I visited my father in the hospital, he said this to me."

(End of this chapter)