While leading me to Qin, Lin-Hua and Qiang lost their way slightly. They explained the area to me and I was, more or less, able to surmise his location.
With their description, it led me here.
The Lotus Arcade is a 7-minute walk from the school. They called it the Lotus Arcade since the Lotus was the symbol for the Altheria students, though they didn't have it on our blazers.
The three of us searched the arcade for a little bit and we found him. Playing the crane game.
Lin-Hua was going to call out to him, but I stopped her since he was in the middle of doing something.
Qin carefully used the joystick to manoeuvre the claw and hover it over a cat plushie. He softly pressed the red button and the claw slowly descended. Finally, he pushed the joystick in to capture the cat.
He was able to get the cat by the ear and bring it in. Miraculously, it didn't fall. Not until the claw dropped it into the box; it missed.
The boy moaned.
"Yo."
I briefly said to make my presence known.
Qin smoothly turned around on his chair. He looked up at me, lazily.
"Hey, you're here."
He said in Japanese.
No wonder I didn't expect him to be a part of the Chinese team. He can fluently speak Japanese. We did have some smooth but irrelevant conversations.
"How about we change locations?"
Lin-Hua said.
--
And we changed locations. At Lin-Hua's suggestion, we came here.
To Alter Restaurant.
"The tea here is so good. Served by that blonde maid..."
Lin-Hua's eyes began to shine as she looked at the menu. Even I could tell, she couldn't understand a single character or word.
"Last time you didn't order until Qin spoke for you."
Qiang said.
"Well, duh, I'm Chinese. I don't speak Chinese. Meanwhile, Qin's dad is Japanese and his mom is Chinese. He has someone to teach him."
"Who paid for you last time?"
I joked, remembering the last time I came here.
A maid came to our table.
I grimaced as soon as I looked at the maid.
"What would you like to orde-ah!"
She noticed me too.
Both our eyes met. Her amber eyes bore through me.
"We'd like to have two red velvet cakes, a Mont Blanc and some Earl Grey tea."
"Yes."
Faith, the maid, wrote it all down.
All I could think about was the 35,000 CRD I spent last time.
"Erm, may I ask how much those are?"
As I nervously asked, I could see Faith tightly gripping her pencil.
She's the type of person to extort customers of their money. I've only met her once but I can tell that much.
I only have around 50,000 CRD left. I can't afford to spend too much. There's always the arcade and other places where I can gain Credits.
"In total, they're 27,000 CRD."
"Take off a red velvet cake and the Mont Blanc."
"12,000 CRD."
"Thank you for your service."
I concluded. That was a sign to tell Faith to 'get our food and get out of here.' Faith left for the kitchen.
"Why did you cut everything off?"
Qin asked.
"You guys don't have money, do you?"
They all shook their heads.
"Last time I was here, I had to spend 35,000 CRD. There's no way I'm going that high for desserts."
I sighed.
"Anyway,"
I changed the subject and spoke Japanese.
"Apparently, you wanted to talk to me."
Qin nodded his head.
I saw Lin-Hua and Qiang take their earbuds out and put them on.
"Ah, I've been meaning to ask, what are those?"
I spoke Japanese out of habit.
"They translate any language the user hears into their main language. A portable, accurate translator."
Qiang explained.
Oh... He did just reply to what I said despite me speaking Japanese.
"Shoya."
I turned to Qin.
"I want you to fight me in the introductory battle."
"..."
I stared at him.
Now, this was totally unexpected. Judging from his look, there isn't any ulterior motive behind it. He sincerely wants to fight me.
"But, I'm not on the team."
I said.
"I heard that depending on a student's performance, this week, the Japanese team can be changed."
Nemurenume said the same thing.
"I won't. If I wasn't picked then I won't participate."
"I'll ask again. Fight me in the introductory battle. I don't want to have to force my hand."
"I won't. I'm sorry."
Qin leaned back onto the seat and sighed. He had a nonchalant look on his face.
"Well, I guess I won't be participating."
He said.
"What?!"
Qiang and Lin-Hua both exclaimed.
"No, Qin, you must."
"You're our trump card. You can win guaranteed."
"Yeah, but since Li-jun took out that one guy. The Japanese team will only have 5 participants. They won't replace him."
"How'd you know?"
I asked.
"It's a hunch."
His eyes pierced through me as he spoke subtly. For some reason, I felt like I could trust his words there. Almost like his words were the truth itself.
"How does that make sense? They can replace anyone depending on performance."
Qiang mentioned.
"They won't replace him. It's guaranteed with me not participating. I already told Principal Lee beforehand since I knew Shoya would say no."
"You... what?"
I breathed.
He did? But how did he know I'd say no?
"The only reason I'll participate is if the Chinese team are in trouble, or..."
Qin turned to me. His eyes seemed to glow faintly.
"If Shoya participates. Though, I know you will. Trust me."
He's so eager to make me participate. Is it because I'm 'strong,' or for another reason.
Qin also says that I'm guaranteed to participate since 'he knows I will.'
This all just doesn't make sense.
"Here's your food."
Faith came and put down a red velvet cake alongside an Earl Grey. Faith cut up the red velvet into 4 pieces and split it among us while Lin-Hua took her tea and admired it.
"Now, that'll be 50,000 CRD."
"What?!"
"Relax, I'm only joking. It's 120,000 CRD. Pay up."
"That's an extra zero from the original price!"