"First to beat the other's score wins," Zhou Kai declared confidently, spinning a basketball on his finger before shooting Juri a challenging look.
"You're still behind," Juri reminded calmly, inserting another coin into the machine.
"That doesn't count. That was plushie luck."
Juri smirked faintly. "Sure."
The game began.
Balls bounced rapidly against the floor. Buzzers rang as the timer ticked down mercilessly. Zhou Kai shot aggressively, barely aiming, relying on speed. Juri, on the other hand, moved with quiet focus, each throw steady and controlled.
When the timer ended, they both leaned forward to check the scoreboard.
They immediately began arguing.
"That one went in!"
"It bounced out!"
"It touched the rim!"
"It still counts!"
They accused each other of cheating like competitive children, drawing a few amused glances from nearby players.
Next came air hockey.
Zhou Kai attacked with full force, slamming the puck with dramatic intensity. Juri's movements were smaller, precise, blocking shots with calculated calmness.
Goal.
Goal.
Counter-goal.
Zhou Kai growled when Juri scored with a smooth corner shot.
"Lucky."
"Skill," Juri replied simply.
Then racing games again.
Then a rhythm game that left Zhou Kai dramatically out of breath while Juri maintained suspicious composure.
By the time they finally stepped back from the flashing machines, slightly breathless and warm from competition, they stood in front of a vending machine to tally the results like serious rivals.
Zhou Kai crossed his arms. "Basketball, me."
"Air hockey, me," Juri replied.
"First racing game, me."
"Second racing game, me."
They counted again.
And again.
Until—
It was tied.
Zhou Kai blinked. "Huh? Equal."
Juri slowly lifted the blue rabbit plush in his hand.
"…Plus one."
Silence.
Zhou Kai's eyes dropped to the plushie.
The claw machine.
He stared at Juri in disbelief. "You're counting that?"
"It's part of the competition."
"That was plushie robbery."
"It was skill."
Zhou Kai scoffed dramatically, but there was no real argument left.
Technically.
Painfully.
Juri won.
By one.
Because of the claw machine.
Juri's lips curved in quiet triumph—not arrogant, not smug—just quietly satisfied.
Zhou Kai exhaled heavily. "Unbelievable."
Juri glanced at the clock mounted above the vending machine.
It was already late.
The arcade's neon lights felt less dazzling now, the earlier excitement slowly settling into evening calm.
He turned back toward Zhou Kai.
"You lost."
Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes. "So?"
Juri tilted his head slightly, completely composed. "Buy dinner."
"…Excuse me?"
"It's late. Loser treats."
Zhou Kai stared at him in disbelief. "When did we agree to that?"
"We didn't need to."
"That's not how rules work!"
But Juri had already started walking toward the exit, holding the blue rabbit casually at his side.
"You said you were a master," he reminded lightly. "Masters take responsibility."
Zhou Kai stood frozen for two seconds—
Then suddenly burst into laughter, shaking his head as he followed after him.
"You're really something."
Juri didn't deny it.
Outside, the night air was cooler, carrying the faint scent of street food from nearby stalls. City lights reflected softly against the pavement.
This time, Zhou Kai walked slightly ahead.
"Fine," he said. "What do you want to eat?"
Juri hummed thoughtfully, pretending to consider it deeply, though his eyes carried quiet victory.
"Something good anything is fine I'm generous and not picky at all."
Zhou Kai scoffed again.
But there was no real annoyance in it.
Only amusement.
And maybe—
A little eagerness to see what Juri would choose next.
They ended up at a small restaurant not far from the arcade, the kind with warm yellow lights and the comforting smell of freshly cooked food drifting out the door.
Zhou Kai pushed the door open first. "Winner chooses," he muttered dramatically.
Juri walked in without hesitation.
They found a corner table by the window. Outside, the city glowed softly; inside, it felt cozy and calm after the noisy arcade.
Once the food arrived, Zhou Kai leaned back in his chair. "Don't order too much. I'm the one paying."
Juri glanced at him innocently. "I didn't."
Zhou Kai looked at the table.
There were definitely multiple dishes.
"…You absolutely did."
Juri didn't respond. He simply picked up his chopsticks and began eating peacefully.
For a few minutes, they ate in rare harmony—no arguing, no competition. Just quiet conversation about random things: work, annoying customers, a ridiculous game glitch from earlier.
Then—
Zhou Kai's eyes drifted toward Juri's plate.
"That looks better than mine," he said.
"It is," Juri replied calmly.
Zhou Kai narrowed his eyes.
Without warning, he reached across the table in a lightning-fast attempt to steal a piece from Juri's plate.
But—
Tap.
Juri's chopsticks intercepted perfectly.
Blocked.
Zhou Kai blinked.
"You were ready?"
"I know you," Juri replied smoothly.
Zhou Kai tried again a minute later.
This time from the other side.
Blocked again.
"How are you doing that?!"
"Defense."
Zhou Kai huffed, pretending to be offended. "You don't share?"
"You can order your own."
"But it tastes better when stolen."
Juri rolled his eyes faintly, though there was no real irritation behind it.
Zhou Kai attempted one final dramatic sneak attack—leaning forward with exaggerated stealth.
Juri didn't even look up this time.
Block.
Zhou Kai froze mid-motion.
"…You're impossible."
"And you're predictable."
For a moment, they just looked at each other.
Then Zhou Kai suddenly laughed.
Not loud.
Not exaggerated.
Just genuine.
His eyes curved slightly, a rare softness replacing his usual playful arrogance.
Juri hadn't seen that expression often.
It caught him off guard.
The warm restaurant light reflected in Zhou Kai's eyes as he shook his head, smiling like he didn't mind losing at all.
And unexpectedly—
Juri felt something shift in his chest.
A small flutter.
Sudden.
Unprepared.
He looked down at his plate quickly, pretending to focus on his food.
Why did that smile—
Feel different?
Zhou Kai leaned back in his chair, still smiling faintly. "Fine. I admit it. You win today."
Juri cleared his throat softly. "You admitted that already."
Juri's heart was pounding not so loudly but it got awared him something dangerous that was not in his control.