Stealing Spree

Chapter 2706: In the Arcade (2)

”Ruki! How do you dodge here?!” Maaya cried out as the giant zombie boss started charging at her while swinging its arms, knocking aside smaller zombies like bowling pins. With the right side of the screen gradually filling with its body, the girl who kept pulling on the trigger to take it down started panicking as her bullets didn’t seem to do anything.

When I saw her about to step out of the sensor where her feet were supposed to be planted, I hurriedly reminded her about the dodge mechanics. ”Maaya! Lean left! Quickly!”

”Eh? Left?” Maaya instinctively leaned sideways but she almost lost her balance by doing so. Her character was still standing in place as the boss zombie slammed its fist toward her. The screen flashed red. One life left.

”Shameless guy! Why didn’t you tell us we could dodge? Nee-sama and I have been standing like statues!” She glared at me, cheeks flushed with exertion and embarrassment.

The kids behind laughed louder. ”Oh! That’s why. Onii-san didn’t tell them. Pfft...”

I scratched my head and apologetically smiled at Himeko, who was also pouting at that revelation. ”Sorry. I forgot about that mechanic.”

”Hmph. Ruki, you just want to see us getting flustered, don’t you?” Himeko murmured, though her eyes remained fixed on the screen as she leaned just enough for the sensor to recognize her movement. Her character dodged a swipe from the giant zombie boss.

”Well, I admit. I am expecting that but I have also honestly forgotten.” I chuckled before stepping back to let them focus.

The kids’ laughter died down as they crowded closer, shouting pointers to the girls as though they were experts in the game.

“Aim for the head! No, the glowing eye! That’s its weakpoint!”

”Watch out for the gargoyle! It’s going to swoop down from the side!”

”More zombies are spawning from the left!”

”Onii-san, don’t just watch. Help them!”

As the boys continued shouting, the young girl tugged at the hem of my uniform, ordering me.

”Should I? They’re having fun. I think it’s better this way.”

”Boo. Are you really their boyfriend, Onii-san? You’re no fun.”

This... Am I getting scolded by a sixth grader? Anyway, at least she’s not scolding me for dating both girls at the same time.

”Look, I’m going to help them when they ask for me. These two. This is their first time going to an arcade.”

”Oh? Really? Are they like sheltered princesses or something?”

The young girl tilted her head as her eyes became wide with curiosity.

I nodded and answered in a low voice to avoid distracting Himeko and Maaya, who were now fully immersed in the game, their rifles jerking with each shot. ”Something like that. They don’t get out much, so I’m showing them a good time.”

The girl nodded with a grin, as if she understood the weight of their sheltered lives. ”Well, you’d better get that alpaca for the grumpy one, Onii-san. She’s gonna cry if you don’t.”

”Grumpy one, huh?”

I smilingly shook my head. If Maaya heard that, she’d definitely glare at this girl.

Anyways, I checked on Maaya and she’s now cursing under her breath as her character narrowly dodged another swipe from the zombie boss. Her competitive streak was in full swing, her lips pursed in determination. But looking at how relaxed her shoulder became, the game was truly effective in releasing her stress.

Meanwhile, Himeko was giggling despite the chaos on-screen. She’d gotten the hang of dodging after I told her about it.

”Alright, kid. I’ll make sure she gets it.” I ruffled the girl’s hair gently, earning a delighted squeal before she scampered back to her friends, who were still shouting advice at the sisters.

The boss zombie roared on-screen, its glowing eye pulsing as it charged again.

Maaya’s character took a hit, her last life flashing ominously. ”Ruki! Do something!” She yelped, her voice cracking with panic as Game Over flashed on her side of the screen.

I quickly jumped to insert another token and told her to pull the trigger again. With that, she resurrected with a full life.

Himeko glanced at her sister with a teasing smile. ”Ya-chan, don’t panic and follow the kids’ advice. You’ll lose all your lives again if you don’t.”

She fired a precise shot at the boss’s glowing eye, making it stagger.

The kids cheered wildly, one of them jumping so high he nearly knocked over a stool

I stepped behind Maaya again, my hands settling on her shoulders, guiding her.

”Breathe, Maaya. You’re gripping the rifle like it owes you money.” My fingers massaged gently, coaxing her to loosen up.

She huffed before her lips curved up into a satisfied smile. The kids then started teasing her again, causing her to lose another life.

”Shameless guy, this is your fault for not telling us about dodging.” After huffing again, she deflected that loss to me.

In any case, her rifle soon steadied and she started landing solid hits on the boss’s weak spot, earning a triumphant grin.

”Atta girl.” I gave her shoulders a final squeeze before stepping over to Himeko, who was now laughing as she sprayed bullets at a swarm of smaller zombies spawning around the boss.

”You’re a natural, Himeko. Keep it up.”

”Un! It’s fun, Ruki!” Himeko’s eyes sparkled, her usual shyness buried under the thrill of the game. She leaned into me slightly, her shoulder brushing my chest as she fired another round. The girl then got bolder as she quickly took down all of the zombies and helped her sister manage the zombie boss.

Soon enough, its health bar started dwindling and passed the halfway mark. However, the screen remained chaotic.

Zombies poured in from every corner, the gargoyle the kids warned about swooping down with a screech.

Maaya’s character was cornered, her rifle clicking empty as she fumbled the reload.

”Ruki!” She shouted, her voice a mix of frustration and desperation.

”Got you.” I slid behind her again as my hands covered hers on the rifle. ”Reload, then aim for the gargoyle’s wings.” I guided her rifle off-screen to reload, then swung it back to track the flying creature. Her shot clipped its wing, sending it spiraling into a pixelated explosion.

The kids went wild, clapping and whooping.

”Nee-sama, cover me!” Maaya called, her competitive edge sharpening as she leaned into my guidance. Himeko nodded, her rifle swinging to mow down the zombies closing in on Maaya’s avatar. Their teamwork was clumsy but effective, the sisters syncing up as the boss’s health dropped to a sliver.

”One more hit!” The kid with the loudest voice yelled, practically climbing the machine to point at the boss’s glowing eye. ”Go for it, Onee-sans!”

Maaya and Himeko fired simultaneously, their shots converging on the boss’s weak spot.

The screen flashed white and the zombie boss collapsed in a heap of pixels as triumphant music blared. The kids erupted in cheers, high-fiving each other like they’d won the game themselves.

”Ya-chan, we did it!” Himeko dropped her rifle, turning to hug her sister. Maaya, still catching her breath, returned the embrace with a rare, unguarded smile.

”Alright, alright, don’t get too cozy without me. Besides, the game is not over yet. That’s just stage one.” I stepped between them, wrapping an arm around each sister.

The kids watching this scene couldn’t help but tease us again, but Maaya simply stuck out her tongue at them.

”You’re insufferable. Don’t forget your promise.” Maaya muttered as she glanced at the prize counter, her eyes locking on the lopsided alpaca again. ”You promised, shameless guy.”

”I know, I know. We’ll go check it out after this. Now focus.”

With that, the two girls continued playing the zombie shooter game with the kids cheering for them at the side.

At this point, I already noticed their chauffeur at the entrance. Since we didn’t really bother to hide, he was probably watching the girls for quite a while already.

The men in suits that he called remained outside, most likely on his order.

When our gazes met, a thoughtful expression flashed on his face before nodding.

I returned that nod and then watched him step out of the arcade again.

I guess that meant he’s going to wait outside instead of dragging the girls out. He’s pretty sensible. If I were his boss, I’d raise his salary.

Anyway, it took around five minutes more before the two girls finished playing the game. Since it’s still the highest difficulty, Stage 2 was worse than the first one. Even after continuing thrice, they got pummeled by the Zombie Boss, who seemed to fuse with a bus.

I don’t know if it can still be called a zombie but that’s how absurd it is.

Although a bit frustrated, the two girls still looked like they had a good time. They even pulled the ticket they won from that arcade game. That’s what we need to get that alpaca that Maaya has been eyeing since earlier.

I led them to the counter, where the bored teenager was now slightly less bored, probably amused by the spectacle we’d caused. ”How many tickets for the alpaca with the crooked bowtie?”

The teen glanced at the plushie and smirked. “Five hundred. You got enough?”

Upon hearing that, Maaya’s face fell.

Their zombie-slaying spree had netted them exactly 300 tickets. I don’t know how that was calculated. Not enough. We’re 200 tickets short.