The second place they visited was a newly opened game center.

'This is the place Chae-yeon liked.'

The first visit was two months ago. Chae-yeon, who had really liked this place, had demanded they come here weekly.

Now, coming here with Ye-rin instead made Si-hyun feel uneasy.

"Si-hyun, I'll go exchange some bills. Wait here for a bit."

"Then I'll get some drinks. Let's meet back here after we're done."

"Alright!"

Ye-rin took her wallet and headed toward the bill exchanger.

Meanwhile, Si-hyun went towards the vending machine...

"Ah, I picked the wrong drink."

He accidentally got a grape-flavored soda, which Chae-yeon used to enjoy.

"I guess I'll have to drink this..."

This is why habits are scary.

Even though he knew in his mind they had broken up, his body hadn't accepted it yet. Si-hyun sighed at this realization.

With a bitter feeling, he chose a Milkis for Ye-rin.

When he went to the entrance, he saw Ye-rin waving a thousand-won bill like a fan after completing the exchange.

"This should be enough for a few hours, right?"

"Are you planning to stay here all day?"

Si-hyun handed the Milkis to the excited Ye-rin.

As she saw the drink in Si-hyun’s hand, she tilted her head in curiosity.

"What's going on? You don't like soda."

"Just felt like it."

"Really?"

Ye-rin accepted it without much suspicion.

Then she grabbed Si-hyun's hand and led him somewhere.

While walking around and looking everywhere, Ye-rin soon sat in the driver’s seat of a game machine.

"Are we starting with racing?"

"Yeah. I'll show you the power of an unlicensed driver."

Si-hyun looked at Ye-rin, who was full of determination, with a mocking smile.

It was natural for him to be confident since racing was his specialty.

Among the games he could win against the genius Chae-yeon, racing was something Si-hyun excelled at.

Whirrrrr-

As soon as they inserted the bill, the screen displayed a character selection menu.

"This girl looks really strong."

Ye-rin chose a character with a sexy figure that screamed Racing Girl.

On top of that, she picked a red Sports Car, nodding in satisfaction.

It was now Si-hyun's turn to choose.

"It's all about skill, not the character."

Determined to prove his point, Si-hyun chose both his character and vehicle at random.

The result was a lean, muscular male character and a wide-bodied vehicle.

'Not bad.'

Although slower compared to the Sports Car, his vehicle had excellent stability when cornering.

Since Ye-rin was a beginner, there was no need to focus on speed, making it a pretty good result.

"Finally, let's do this!"

Both vehicles stood at the starting line.

With a determined look of never wanting to lose, Ye-rin licked her lips.

[3… 2… 1… GO!]

As soon as the countdown ended, both of them pressed the pedal.

Due to the vehicle's characteristics, Ye-rin got ahead first.

"Si-hyun, can you keep up? Should I slow down for you?"

"Sure. Try slowing down a bit."

"Just kidding!"

Ye-rin, full of mockery, pressed the pedal even harder.

Her reaction was so predictable that a smile spread across Si-hyun's face.

Preparing to make his move, he turned the wheel at the optimal moment as soon as the curve came up.

"What.. what? No way!"

With fantastic inside line driving, Si-hyun instantly overtook Ye-rin.

The previously triumphant expression on Ye-rin's face started to harden.

"Ye-rin, should I slow down for you?"

"..Just a little, please."

"Nope."

"Argh!"

A broad smile blossomed on Si-hyun's face.

On the other hand, Ye-rin, who was ready for revenge, attempted to swerve and take the inside line, but...

"No chance! Enjoy the exhaust from behind me."

Thanks to Si-hyun constantly blocking her, it was impossible for her to get ahead.

"Is someone pushing from behind? Why is this game so easy?"

"Kim Si-hyun you!"

Even though Ye-rin had some game sense, she was helpless against a seasoned player.

Despite trying to seize several opportunities to overtake, she ultimately lost the game.

While Si-hyun was about to get up, Ye-rin pushed him back into his seat.

"One more game."

Grinding her teeth in determination, she shoved another bill into the machine.

This time, both chose the same car and character.

The only difference in round 2 was the map, which had changed to a desert.

Since the skill gap remained, Si-hyun was in the lead.

"Ye-rin, do you want to see something interesting?"

Confident he could win even with this move, Si-hyun grabbed the wheel with one hand.

Despite that, his driving was still stable. Ye-rin quickly realized it.

She knew she couldn't win by playing fair.

Bang-

Irritated by Si-hyun's overconfident profile, Ye-rin decided to take action for the win.

"Hoo, hoo..."

She shyly blew a breath into his unsuspecting ear.

"Oh, that scared me!"

"Now!"

Taking advantage of his surprise, she yanked his steering wheel to the side.

Screech-!

Si-hyun’s car began to swerve in the wrong direction. Ye-rin took the chance to widen the gap.

"Hey! That’s cheating!"

"It’s fine; life is all about survival."

What started as a fair race had turned into a mud fight.

Continuing their race while bickering in reality.

And the winner was...

"Well, the outcome was obvious."

Ye-rin, who had seized victory through underhanded means.

"Do you feel proud winning like that? Do you?"

"Pfft… Feels so good..."

Ye-rin laughed brightly, even as Si-hyun playfully tugged at her cheeks.

It had been so long since she'd laughed like this.

Was it because she was having fun with Si-hyun again? Ye-rin’s smile refused to fade.

After the racing game was over.

"Si-hyun, to the right. Right side... Ahhhh!"

"Back off a bit, I can’t aim properly because of you!"

3D Zombie Survival.

"Take this! How do you like the taste of kung fu!"

"Big talk from someone who only uses cheap tricks!"

They continued to play popular fighting games among others, completely losing track of time until dusk. Gradually, they started to get ready to go home.

After returning from the restroom, Si-hyun gathered their belongings and approached Ye-rin.

That's when he noticed her staring intently at a white teddy bear inside a claw machine.

"Do you want it?"

"No. Those claw games are just a waste of money."

She denied it with her words, but her voice clearly revealed her disappointment.

Unable to ignore it, Si-hyun put down his things and took the bill Ye-rin was holding tightly.

"Si-hyun?"

"I'll transfer the money to your account later."

Si-hyun also thought claw machines were a scam, but he wanted to create a nice memory since it had been a while since they’d had fun together.

Coincidentally, the teddy bear Ye-rin wanted was close to the exit, so it wasn’t too much of a gamble.

Whirr—

The machine began operating as soon as the bill went in.

The claw moved in sync with the joystick.

When he pressed the button, the claw descended straight down.

Thunk...

The claw gripped the teddy bear's head but didn’t have enough strength to hold onto it, causing it to let go. Seeing this, Ye-rin grabbed Si-hyun's sleeve.

"I’m really fine. So..."

"It's okay, just trust me and wait."

Si-hyun inserted another bill.

This time too, he missed, but the bear's position shifted about 5 cm closer to the exit.

Whirr—

On the third try, the bear’s arm hung over the exit.

On the fourth attempt, its head was on top of the exit.

"Wow..."

With growing hope, Ye-rin held her breath and stared at the teddy bear.

And on the fifth try.

Clunk!

Si-hyun succeeded in grabbing the teddy bear squarely by its body and winning it.

He pulled out the teddy bear and handed it to Ye-rin.

"See? I told you to trust and wait."

Ye-rin, her mouth slightly open, hugged the bear tightly.

"Yes!"

Ye-rin smiled brighter than ever, rubbing her face against the bear.

'If I had known she would be this happy, I would’ve given her stuffed animals more often...'

Si-hyun, oblivious to the deeper significance of Ye-rin's joy, scratched the back of his head.

Meanwhile, overwhelmed with happiness, Ye-rin pulled Si-hyun into a tight hug.

Then, looking up at his face, she whispered.

"Si-hyun, thank you so much... I'm going to cherish this."

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

'What's this? Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?'

Si-hyun was startled by how fast his heart was beating.

He knew what this feeling meant, but he couldn't believe he was feeling this way about Ye-rin.

In the end, unable to meet her eyes, he responded.

"Sure, do that..."

In a narrow alley lit by street lamps.

Ye-rin, who had declined Si-hyun's offer to walk her home, was heading back alone.

'Today was really wonderful.'

Watching a movie together, playing games, even winning that stuffed animal?

Although there were many unexpected events, it was essentially like going on a date.

‘I'm going to put this on my bed.’

Ye-rin gently petted the teddy bear. Then, like a child, she started pondering what name to give it.

And when she had come up with about three candidates for the name.

Tap-tap—

She suddenly started running.

As her speed increased, the cold night air hit her face sharply.

After passing the wide street, she entered another narrow alley.

Ye-rin quietly stopped walking as soon as she turned into the side alley.

At that moment.

Tap tap.

Not long after, she heard footsteps approaching her direction.

As if searching for something, the person alternated between running and stopping.

"Sigh..."

Hearing that, Ye-rin brushed her bangs aside, realizing her good day might not end as pleasantly as she had hoped.

Then, muttering a small curse under her breath, she said, "Why don't you stop following me already?"

She revealed herself to the person who had been chasing her.