Puppy Prize

We passed the alley and saw a lit store on the first floor of a small commercial building.

As I hurried closer, the blurry sign became visible.

“Oh, it’s an arcade!”

It didn’t look newly opened.

Old exterior, mostly vintage machines.

That in itself felt nostalgic—nice.

I eagerly entered; the owner’s baseball game broadcast mixed with game sounds.

But no one paid attention to us.

As if this arcade alone was detached from reality.

Comfortably took out wallet, stood at coin changer.

Seo Injun followed close like a newly hatched chick.

His curious eyes scanning around looked quite cute.

“What first?”

“Too long—memory…”

“Then try one by one all.”

“All? Here everything?”

“Yes!”

Changed held cash to coins, handed him.

Instant his big palm piled full 500 won coins.

Seo Injun looked coin pile once, me once, dazed expression.

Still awkward seem—pushed his back, sat any machine front.

Backless small chair sat he looked up me.

Like teacher to obedient him clear said.

“Here no one, only Seo Injun-ssi and me.”

Like waited owner sneezed.

Simultaneous gaze that way.

But owner not care, back baseball focused.

Sneaky voice lowered small laughed.

“Right?”

“…Seems so.”

“So today at least gaze things no worry.

Uh… just fun play only!”

“Fun…?”

“Yes!

School days Seo Injun-ssi couldn’t do.

Adult Seo Injun-ssi too enjoy must.”

Me think too funny logic.

Words end immediate puhe, powerless like laughed.

Then Seo Injun eyes round wide me stared.

My face something stuck.

Awkward cheek scratched.

Soon his mouth corners slow rose.

Then Seo Injun with me powerless laughed.

Puh, heard exact.

He laughing sound.

Unfamiliar sight unconscious him pointed finger.

“Gasp…”

“Why?”

Quick expression fixed he head tilted.

Quick his beside sat playful said.

“Already fun seem.

Right!”

“Look like that?”

“Yes.

Very.”

Head vigorous nodded game machine coin put.

Tiring, clear sound with screen changed.

Really long time fighting game.

Machine top coins stacked him controls taught.

Rough explain end immediate character select finished.

“Then first round me skill not use.”

Confident handicap even but Seo Injun no special reaction.

Quiet count passed finally game started.

First Seo Injun character pushed seem.

But reversal quick.

Last floor lying my selected character.

‘LOSE’ letters see immediate words stuck.

Late situation grasped awkward laugh flowed.

“Indeed good!”

“Than thought fun.”

“Right?”

“Easy.”

“Ri, right.

Haha…”

How he not taught special move used don’t know.

Tremendous concentration game screen watching his appearance bit creepy.

Still me this game how long did.

Perhaps no handicap next round too lose.

This way lose end can’t secret tested him.

“Now rules know one more round?”

“Okay.”

Seo Injun cheerful nodded.

Coin one more put same characters game started.

Countdown during somehow solemn feel flowed.

And game start immediate tension snap cut.

“Um, uh…? Uh uh?”

Blink eye between my character floor lying.

Result same.

No, before at least first me win then mid Seo Injun won.

But this time from start pace dragged.

Again ‘LOSE’ screen appeared.

Innocent joystick gripped side whipped looked.

“No, why so good…?”

“Sonagi-ssi well… taught thanks perhaps.”

“Lie!

Me basic controls only taught?”

Full wronged expression he checked eyes.

Real game good people can’t beat law seem.

Lips pouted seat stood beside game machine pointed.

“Now this do.

This real difficult!”

“Ah.

This me too remember.”

“Really?

Then no mercy each other.”

“Okay.”

Other fighting game machine front side by side sat.

Big deep breath coin put.

Exactly this why so tense.

Character select fingers even warmed.

But game start not long realized.

Needless tense.

“Seo Injun-ssi.”

“…Yes?”

This time too floor lying my character side.

Defeat big letters screen blankly stared muttered.

“Me Seo Injun-ssi idol not did what did know.”

“What?”

“Pro gamer.”

“That level not.”

“How humble too…”

After continued games result same.

Victory all Seo Injun to.

Even he mid lose on purpose decided round there.

Still my character health half not remain died.

Last game end somehow tattered feel.

Soon piled high coins half became.

Dazed chair sat Seo Injun beside sat sneaky this side looked.

From ago his eyes guilt full.

Me game bad Seo Injun fault not but.

Forced smiled bright voice said.

“Okay…!”

“No, that.”

“From now me game study more hard.

Now than Seo Injun-ssi me opponent fun feel can.

That, you know.

Difficult boss strategy like.”

“No, me enough fun—”

“Next come time me win!”

Fist clenched seat shot up.

Chair leg foot caught slight staggered but quick balance caught.

Immediate support come Seo Injun eyes met laugh covered.

Somehow alcohol not fade rising.

Rather fortunate perhaps.

Now sober became embarrassing immediate home went would.

“Now gradual return…”

“Something regret~”

Arcade out pleasant wind blew.

Leisurely stretched chance door side machine one discovered.

“Oh, claw machine!”

Chorr, claw machine front ran.

Remaining coins all machine top placed.

Glass inside various cute dolls visible.

Among brown puppy doll especially eye caught.

Ears drooped puppy round bright eyes this side looking.

Somehow someone reminded.

Finger puppy doll pointed grinned.

“Me doll get give.”

“Yes?

Sudden?”

“Doll hate?”

“That not but…”

“Then claw machine win~”

Coin put gesture he quiet beside came.

Hard aimed crane sneaky him looked.

Seo Injun soon serious eyes doll careful watched.

Truth claw machine once success never.

But this time that doll get must feel.

Round button bold pressed crane down went.

But doll grab not empty air cut leisurely went.

Small sigh with coin held laughed.

“One more round!”

“Yes.”

This time bit upper aimed.

Big head grab seem crane rattled doll dropped.

Already sparse street more quiet became.

Silent mouth touched Seo Injun awkward smiled.

“Real… one more!”

“Okay.”

That again.

“Real real last!”

“Good.”

Again.

“True true true last!”

“…Yes.”

Same result repeated.

Coin more put glass top stroked.

But fingers smooth glass only stroked.

Head peek up look, that many coins all evaporated.

This machine swallowed better say.

Floor crouched brief thought Seo Injun sneaky up looked.

“…Money bit more change?”

Toward me eyes slight blurred.

“Okay?”

“This time real can.”

“Well.”

“Real!

Seo Injun-ssi.

Me not believe right.”

“Not that…”

Seo Injun just before fierce battled claw machine sneaky looked.

From now same result think seem.

Once believe try confident nodded.

Hurried coins changed again claw machine front stood.

Seo Injun ago than closer came enthusiastic crane glared.

“Side bit move try?”

“Ah, here?”

“Head aim side better.”

“Ooh… okay.”

His advice follow moved button pressed.

First time crane doll end up came.

But what prank, right front dropped.

Doll entrance dangling hung.

One hand mouth blocked excited voice said.

“Gasp, this time real seem?”

“Awkward hung so just leg side push try.”

“Yes!”

He one arm touched stand joystick moved.

And strong last button pressed.

Down going crane doll leg pushed.

Entrance hung doll wobbled, thump down fell.