Endless Silver Machine

No matter which country you are in, there is no shortage of animal-themed leisure venues. From cat cafes to luxury zoos, the staff at these places rarely have any free time.

"There are many newly built stores, but they are not marked on the map."

"It is said that it is on this street. If you look slowly, you can definitely find it..."

The two of them accidentally learned about a pet-themed drink shop nearby from conversations with passers-by a few days ago. Wei Xi looked very interested, although she didn't express this when Aika asked her.

Later, he asked the hotel attendant about the block where the drink shop was located. There was no sign of this shop on the map. Aika then remembered that this map had not been updated for a while.

Economic development is the most important link in the country's rejuvenation, and commercialization has become the main way of economic flow. This can be seen from the development of commercial districts in the imperial capital and neutral areas.

Many new industries will be born overnight, and it is difficult to record them in time on a backward map. If they had not seen this country with their own eyes, the people of the Bisi Empire would have always thought that the Tebiri Kingdom was still that poor country.

In so many days, Aika and Wei Xi have basically visited all the interesting places in this small city. This place is very different from what they originally imagined.

Even though it is only a city on the edge of development, there is no shortage of everything here, which is enough to get a glimpse of the development of the Tebiri Kingdom.

"There are so many people..."

The streets after snow suddenly became lively. The time between two snowfalls is usually quite long. People who are forced to stay at home due to wind and snow take advantage of this time to come out of their closed houses to get some fresh air.

Wei Xi has a strong sense of repulsion towards crowded places. From the moment she got off the car, she stayed close to Aika. The hands were still holding each other tightly, but Wei Xi leaned her entire body against Aika's arm, trying her best to avoid the pedestrians passing by.

"It's also snowing over at Frost Moon Academy, but it's not as heavy as ours. Luoluo was still complaining to me this morning, saying that all the stored ingredients were used up, but he couldn't go out to buy them because of the heavy snow."

"Ahaha... Sister Ling originally thought that buying a lot of ingredients at once would be too heavy and difficult to lift... Winters in the Bisi Empire rarely get such heavy snow, so I didn't expect..."

"Anyway, I'll just replace my lunch with bread for the time being. It shouldn't be a big problem."

"It is true that there is always a lot of bread at home... Did Luoluo buy it?"

"Well, because bread is very cheap, and it is easy to fill up the stomach. Luoluo has always advocated that it is the most affordable food, and he would buy a lot of it when he was back home." Aika remembered something and laughed, " Bread is easy to store and does not go bad easily. When Luo Luo was a child, she would often bring a lot of bread to her room and probably eat it all secretly in the middle of the night. Thinking about it now, she can actually maintain her current figure. It’s a bit incredible.”

"so good……"

Wei Xi said this softly, her words being drowned by the noise around her.

Even if Aika heard this sentence, he would not understand what it was that Wei Xi envied.

…………

After asking passers-by relentlessly, the two finally found the pet-themed drink shop located on the corner of the street.

Pushing open the yellow-toned door, the store has a very simple design. The floor is covered with soft carpets and the walls are covered with green patterned wallpaper. Surrounding the store is an ordinary bar, and the biggest feature of this store - pets such as cats and dogs, are leisurely strolling and lying on the blankets in the store.

"so cute……"

Wei Xi let go of Aika's hand and squatted down on the spot. The tiger cat, which had been squinting its eyes, stood up with its fat body shaking, and waddled up to Wei Xi.

"Can I touch it?"

"sure."

With the clerk's permission, Wei Xi carefully stretched out her hand and touched the underside of the tiger cat's neck. The tiger cat seemed to feel very comfortable, raising its head and narrowing its eyes.

"Sorry, this is her first time in this kind of store."

Aika walked to the bar and sat down, smiled sheepishly at the clerk, and then ordered two glasses of freshly squeezed juice.

"Haha, it's okay. Is she your sister?"

"Um……"

Aika naturally started chatting with the clerk.

While the clerk was operating the machine, Wei Xi, who had finished teasing the tiger cat, sat next to Aika.

"Okay, two glasses of freshly squeezed juice."

Two cups were placed in front of Aika and Wei Xi. Inserting the long straw twisted into a cute shape into the cup, Wei Xi sipped the drink while looking at the other pets with her peripheral vision.

I don't know if it was because of Wei Xi's special physique, but the originally lazy pets approached Wei Xi one after another.

Speaking of which, Wei Xi herself is like a timid little rabbit, and most of the pets here are carnivores. Could it be because...

A conjecture emerged in Aika's mind, which was very rude to Wei Xi.

The cats and dogs walked to Wei Xi and lay down on the ground, waiting for her touch. Wei Xi herself also enjoyed it. It was the first time for Aika to see Wei Xi getting along with animals. Watching her caress the little pets as if they were her own children, Aika suddenly felt from her the same feeling that had happened many years later. shadow.

What will Wei Xi be like when she grows up? Aika has not thought about this problem. Now everyone can see each other every day. No matter whether they have grown taller or their hair has grown longer, it is difficult to notice such details.

In Aika's heart, Wei Xi was regarded as an oasis of the soul.

If one day, I can't see Wei Xi every day. When I see her occasionally, I find that she has changed a lot. At that time, how should I face her?

Aika had never thought about it, to be honest, it was unimaginable. Wei Xi's existence is a matter of course.

I put a collar on her in my mind without permission.

When he noticed this, Aika shivered all over.

"Brother, come here and touch it too!"

"Oh, alright……"

Aika let go of the cup in her hand and faced Wei Xi, who was surrounded by pets. She touched her left and right, showing a happy smile.

There is only one thing that Aika can confirm without hesitation. That was the conclusion he had already reached in his mind.

I hope this smile can last forever.

…………

On the way home, it was completely dark. The shops lined up on both sides of the street are lit up one after another. The streets decorated with lights at night always have a different kind of charm.

Not far away, a glass cabinet-shaped machine placed at the entrance of a store was decorated with colored lights. There were several girls of similar age to Ling playing with something in front of the machine, and the two of them noticed that side.

"Let's go and take a look."

Aika didn't know what that machine was for. But since it can attract so many girls, Wei Xi might also be interested.

"Um……"

Wei Xi nodded, but her grip on Aika's fingers still did not relax.

The girls' activities seemed to be over. Aika felt a gloomy atmosphere from their leaving figures.

"Wow……"

The one who spoke before Aika was Wei Xi, who was still trembling just now.

Through the glass, you can see things stacked inside.

"Plush toy?"

Dolls of different shapes and sizes are piled into a hill in a glass box, with a mechanical claw hanging from the top. Outside the glass box, there is an operation panel with a handle that can be rotated in different directions and two large buttons of different colors.

"I've heard of this... It seems like you just need to use those claws to pick up the doll, and then throw it into this hole..."

Wei Xi learned a lot of new things in the girls' circle, although she had never experienced them personally.

"Is it that simple? Those girls just seemed to have been playing for a long time, but they just left empty-handed."

"I'm not too sure either……"

"Well... Anyway, let's give it a try first."

"Hey, do you want to play?"

“If you haven’t played it before, you must give it a try!”

Aika took Wei Xi into the store and exchanged a few coins for the doll machine.

"Which one do you want?"

Aika looked at Wei Xi.

If he were alone, he would never play this kind of game. The stuffed toys would be of no use to him. But a girl of Wei Xi's age would probably like to have some of these things in her room.

When Luoluo was a child, because he could not buy such dolls in the village, he and his mother learned to sew them by themselves. Aika often goes to her room and has told her many times not to put dolls everywhere, otherwise it will be very troublesome when cleaning. Although Luoluo obeyed every time and put the dolls together, after a while, the room would return to its original state.

"If it's too big, it won't be able to fall out of the hole..." Wei Xi approached the glass box and struggled for a while, "What about the black and white bear?"

"Let me see...it feels good to catch."

Aika enthusiastically placed the coins in the groove of the console, and then inserted one of them into the coin slot. As a clang sounded, the colors of the two buttons lit up.

"Is this ready to start?"

Aika tried moving the handle, and the hook began to slide along the built-in track.

"Brother, there seems to be a time limit here."

Wei Xi looked towards the console, and the small screen above displayed a fifteen-second countdown that had not been available before.

"Fifteen seconds? This time is too short!"

The numbers are getting smaller.

Aika hurriedly pushed the handle, and when she watched the hook move over the target, Aika quickly clicked the button.

The time had already turned into single digits. The hook extended precariously downwards, pressing weakly on the doll's body. Then it grabbed the air and returned to its original position along the original path.

"..."

"..."

The two of them can now finally understand the girls who just returned empty-handed.

"How can fifteen seconds be used? And with the design of this hook, Professor Cocona will definitely be furious if she sees it!"

"That's probably the design..." Wei Xi grabbed the corner of Aika's clothes, "If we can catch him in one go, the store won't be able to make money..."

She quickly understood the essence of this doll machine.

"Come and try it."

Aika put a coin in Wei Xi's hand.

"No, it can't be done! If my brother can't do it, I definitely can't do it either!"

"How can you know the result if you don't try it yourself? Come on, come on."

"Wait, wait a minute..."

Aika ignored Wei Xi's struggle and forcefully pushed her to the operation panel. Wei Xi finally glanced at Aika with moist eyes, but Aika was unmoved. She could only carefully put the coin into the coin slot.

Aika's recent fiasco was repeated in exactly the same scenario.

Wei Xi also pushed the hook in a panic. This time she pressed the button without even aiming, and once again grabbed the air.

"Woo..."

"It doesn't matter. It's pretty good to be able to get started the first time."

"but……"

"There should be some way..."

Aika rested her chin in thought. The spring of the hook seems to be very loose, and the weight of the doll is not light. If you want to fully grasp it, you must use the hook to clamp the entire body of the doll.

"Brother, if you are closer to the entrance of the cave, it should be easier to catch..."

"But don't you want that?"

"Yes...but the distance is too far and you can't catch it..."

"Even if you really catch it, if it's not the one you want, it's completely meaningless. It's too early to give up now. As long as the method is correct, it should be OK..."

Although he said so, Aika was actually completely helpless now. The opening angle of the hook when descending is too small, so it is extremely difficult to securely hold the black and white bear's body.

"If you move outside a little bit, maybe you can..."

"Yes, there is another way!"

"But if you do this, it will cost a lot of money..."

Wei Xi immediately rejected her proposal. She did fall in love with the black and white bear doll at first sight, but because the living expenses were spent on this because of her greed, Wei Xi couldn't forgive herself.

"There are some things that money can't buy. It should be more satisfying to gain something after going through difficulties than to get something for nothing."

Aika meant to make Wei Xi feel relieved. The principal of Phyllis Academy would provide such a large sum of money, probably because he understood Wei Xi's character and decided to prevent her from unnecessary worries.

"So, I leave it all to you."

Aika stepped aside and completely handed over the control to Wei Xi.

"Um……"

Knowing she couldn't refuse, Wei Xi dropped the coin as if giving up.

"Don't be impatient, take your time. You don't need to succeed in one try, so just move a little further toward the exit within the time limit."

Aika encouraged Wei Xi from the side.

This time, Wei Xi was much more cautious. Hookpaw accurately touched Monokuma in the last two seconds. Because the limited time has come, the hook is released and retracted automatically, but it is not without results. Driven by the rising hook, the black bear turned over and took a step closer to the entrance of the cave.

"Very good, that's how it feels! Wei Xi, you are quite powerful!"

"It's a coincidence, hehe..."

Being praised by Aika and touching her head, Wei Xi, who had been tense, had a bright smile on her face.

"Just according to this momentum..."

With her first successful experience, the smart Wei Xi quickly found the feeling. With every move, Monokuma will get closer to the exit.

"ah!"

"What's wrong?"

When there was only one coin left, Wei Xi let out a small scream. The previous one was also perfect. It should only take two or three times to pull out the black and white bear that was stuck in the box and refused to leave.

"Are you out of coins? I'll change them for two more."

Aika was about to return to the store when she was pulled by Wei Xi.

"Brother, look here..." She pointed to the box with an expression as if she was about to cry, "The tag is entangled with another one..."

"Really..."

I don’t know what kind of coincidence, but the small card that is the trademark of the black and white bear was inserted into the lanyard of another reverse-colored monochrome bear.

"I'm sorry, it took a lot of effort to move to this position..."

"No, this is better." Aika knocked Wei Xi, who was sinking into self-pity, "You have obviously done a good job, there is no need to apologize."

"Eh?"

"In this case, maybe we can succeed in one try. Listen to me..."

The hook moved slowly for the last time.

Wei Xi bit her lower lip tightly and tried her best to focus all her energy on the moving hook. Time passed by second by second, but Wei Xi's speed of moving the hook was still very slow.

Soon, the last five seconds came.

"right here!"

A reliable voice sounded beside her, and Wei Xi pressed the descent button without hesitation.

There are still three seconds left. If the hook cannot be touched within three seconds, it will automatically retract, and this opportunity will be wasted.

The rickety hook, filled with the hope of the two of them, slowly lowered.

The numbers are still getting smaller...

Three...it feels like the speed of descent has slowed down a bit, maybe it's an illusion...

Two... still a little bit short...

one……

zero……

"Hooked!"

Wei Xi jumped up happily.

At the last second, one of the three claw arms of the hook caught the tangled thread. No need to hold tightly, just hook lightly to bring the two dolls up together.

The hook holding the heavy object swayed from side to side as if reflecting the mood of the two people. Fortunately, the two dolls were still tightly connected by the thread and moved towards the hole with the returning hook.

The hook hit the wall, and a slightly stronger vibration caused the doll to fall accurately towards the hole.

"ah……"

Aika never thought of this outcome.

"how come……"

Wei Xi's smile froze on her face.

Everything is obviously going well, why is this happening?

The two dolls were stuck in the hole together.

This hole was originally designed to allow only one doll to pass through, so no one would choose a large doll to challenge. In the excitement, the two completely forgot this principle.

"What should we do now?"

Aika scratched her head with a troubled look, and Wei Xi fell completely into a daze and did not recover for a long time.

Finally, I asked the store clerk to help me take it out of the box. Because this method of grabbing was not expressly prohibited, the clerk handed both dolls to Aika.

"Wei Xi, look, I got it."

Aika held the lanyards of the two black and white bears and shook them a few times in front of Wei Xi's absent-minded eyes. Then she blinked her big eyes as if she had just woken up from a dream and stared at the black and white bears blankly for a while.

"real……"

Before Aika could react, Wei Xi hugged the two black and white bears. To be precise, she hugged Aika along with the two black and white bears.

Her small hands held Aika's head on her chest, attracting the attention of many passers-by.

"I did it!"

"Well, that's amazing."

Not paying attention to the eyes of others, Aika remained in this position and was held by Wei Xi, waiting for her excitement to calm down.

After a while, Wei Xi let go of Aika. Her cheeks were stained with a light red color, whether due to the cold or other reasons.

"This..." Wei Xi took the two black and white bears that Aika put in her hands, and clumsily untied the tangled balls of thread, "Here you are..."

She held the black and white bear in her hands and handed it to Aika.

"give to me?"

"Yes!" Wei Xi nodded vigorously, "This is proof that my brother and I have worked hard together, so..."

His eyes did not dodge, but his eyes met Aika's. Wei Xi's shoulders were shaking, but her eyes were full of light that no one had ever seen before.

"Brother, please remember me when you see this doll... I also hope to be able to stay by your side like this..."

As she spoke, the corners of Wei Xi's eyes became even more moist. What kind of state of mind do you have to express this in words?

No one has an answer.