Sunday evenings were usually quiet.
Juri had gotten off work earlier than expected, the sky painted in soft orange as he walked home with his hands tucked into his coat pockets. He was halfway down the street when he spotted a familiar tall figure leaning lazily near a convenience store.
Zhou Kai.
Zhou Kai noticed him almost instantly.
"Oh? Off early?" he called out casually, falling into step beside him without hesitation. He knew juri had a part time job but don't know where he work.
Juri hummed in response. "Mm. You?"
Zhou Kai stretched his arms behind his head. "Bored. Roaming around to kill time."
Juri was unbothered by his answer.
They walked side by side for a few moments, their conversation light and easy. The evening breeze carried the faint sounds of the city settling down.
Suddenly, Zhou Kai stopped.
"Let's go to the gaming center."
Juri blinked. "Now?"
"Yeah."
Juri hesitated. "I… need to go back it's already about to evening."
But Zhou Kai had already grabbed his wrist.
"Come on. Just a little while."
And just like before—
He dragged him along.
Juri stumbled slightly but didn't actually resist much. If anything, the faint sparkle in his eyes betrayed him.
The gaming center was bright and noisy, filled with flashing lights and the sounds of machines chiming and beeping. The moment they stepped inside, Juri's earlier hesitation completely vanished.
His eyes lit up.
Zhou Kai noticed immediately.
"So you do like this kind of place," he teased.
Juri pretended to look indifferent. "It's… fine."
Five minutes later—
He was fully invested in a racing game, gripping the steering wheel with surprising intensity.
Zhou Kai stood beside him, laughing. "You're taking this seriously."
"I don't lose," Juri muttered, focused.
They moved from machine to machine, competing, arguing about scores, bumping shoulders whenever one of them lost.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a claw machine filled with plushes there was a rabbit couples—pink and blue pairs pressed together adorably that caught juri's eyes.
Zhou Kai cracked his knuckles confidently. "Which one do you want?"
Juri looked at him skeptically. "You can actually win those?"
Zhou Kai scoffed. "I'm a master."
Coins went in.
The claw descended.
Missed.
Again.
Missed.
Again.
Tilted awkwardly and dropped the rabbit before reaching the chute.
Thirty minutes later—
Zhou Kai stood frozen in front of the machine.
Defeated.
Juri couldn't hold it anymore.
He laughed—bright, unrestrained, and completely genuine.
Zhou Kai turned slowly. "Why are you laughing?"
"You said you were a master."
"I am! This machine is rigged."
Juri stepped forward. "Move."
Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing?"
Juri inserted coins calmly. Before pressing the button, he glanced sideways. "Which one do you want?"
Zhou Kai blinked. "…Whom are you copying?"
Juri didn't answer.
The claw descended.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Adjusted.
Lifted.
The pink rabbit dropped perfectly into the chute.
Zhou Kai stared.
Juri tried again.
Second attempt—almost.
Third attempt—
The blue rabbit followed.
Silence.
Zhou Kai looked at him like he'd just witnessed betrayal.
Juri bent down, picking up the two rabbit plushies. He examined them thoughtfully.
Then—
He handed the pink one to Zhou Kai.
"I'll take this one," Juri said, keeping the blue rabbit for himself.
Zhou Kai immediately protested. "I want the blue one."
Juri raised an eyebrow. "Who won?"
"…You."
"So the winner decides."
Zhou Kai clicked his tongue. "You're insufferable."
"And the loser has to drink it up," Juri added lightly, walking away toward the next row of games.
Zhou Kai stared at the pink rabbit in his hands.
Then at Juri's retreating figure holding the blue one.
"…You bet let's see who'll be the loser for next match ," he muttered, though a smile tugged at his lips as he followed.
The night wasn't over yet.
And neither was their competition.
The competition didn't end at the claw machine.
If anything, it escalated.
They moved to basketball hoops next. Zhou Kai insisted on redeeming his pride. Juri claimed he didn't care—but still rolled up his sleeves slightly like he was preparing for battle.