Lei adjusted his scuffed backpack, its fraying straps a testament to years of faithful service, and shuffled down the bustling sidewalk. The crisp autumn air carried a mix of dry leaves and faint smoke, cutting through the muffled hum of city life. The amber glow of streetlights contrasted with the looming shadows cast by high-rise apartments. It had been another ordinary day at work debugging code, and Lei was eager to unwind at home.
As he turned the corner onto his usual route, something unusual caught his eye. A weathered arcade machine was sitting on the curb outside a small pawn shop. Bright, flickering LED lights outlined its marquee, which read "Legends of the Multiverse" in garish, mismatched fonts. The artwork on its side panel featured a chaotic clash of characters—a shinigami wielding a massive sword, a stretchy pirate swinging his arm, a caped crusader crouching in the shadows, and a wizened wizard clutching a wand. Lei froze, his inner weeb practically vibrating.
"No way," he muttered, stepping closer. The machine was a relic, its paint chipped in places, but the sheer novelty of its theme was irresistible. He squatted to examine the price tag hanging loosely from the joystick. The smudged writing read: $300.
"Seriously?" Lei tilted his head. "People pay more for broken graphics cards."
He straightened up, casting a suspicious glance at the pawn shop's neon sign. The owner, a wiry man with a thin mustache, noticed him through the window and waved him in. Moments later, Lei emerged from the store, his wallet lighter and his grin wider.
It took every ounce of effort, a borrowed dolly, and a few colorful curses, but Lei eventually wrestled the arcade machine into his modest one-bedroom apartment. The space was tidy, albeit cluttered with tech gadgets and shelves lined with manga volumes and anime figurines. The arcade cabinet now dominated one corner of the living room, standing awkwardly among his more modern devices.
Lei wiped the sweat off his brow and plopped onto his worn-out couch. He glanced at the machine, still dusty from years of neglect, and sighed. "Guess I should clean you up before we get acquainted."
Grabbing an old rag and some cleaner, he got to work. The grime peeled away to reveal surprisingly vibrant artwork, and the screen lit up when he tested the power. Satisfied, he leaned back and admired his impulse purchase.
"Welcome home, buddy. Hope you're worth the space."
He grabbed the day's mail from his kitchen counter and started sorting through it. Bills, junk ads, and a mysterious envelope with no return address. Curious, he ripped it open. The edge of the paper sliced into his finger.
"Ow!" Lei hissed, shaking his hand. A small bead of blood welled up on his fingertip. He pressed it against his shirt absentmindedly and unfolded the letter. It was blank. He squinted at it, holding it up to the light, but there wasn't a single word. Weird.
Shrugging, he tossed the letter aside and made his way back to the arcade machine.
The cabinet greeted him with a cheerful jingle when he pressed the power button. The screen displayed a menu with a dazzling array of games, each represented by pixelated icons. There were titles like "Pirate's Voyage," "Ninja Saga," and "Galactic Wars." Lei's eyes gleamed as he scrolled through the options, his thumb hovering over the joystick. Then, his gaze landed on one icon that made his heart skip a beat: "Bleach: Shinigami Trials."
"Oh, hell yes." Lei selected it without hesitation.
The screen flickered, shifting to a simple prompt:
Insert Coin to Play.
Lei smirked. When he bought the arcade, the seller mysteriously emphasized to follow the prompts. But as the new owner, the greatest part of owning an arcade, besides the actual playing, is NOT having to input a coin. He pressed the glowing "Start" button on the console. As he did, a faint prickling sensation ran through his hand. He frowned, glancing down at his finger, which still had a faint trace of dried blood. The button must've had a sharp edge.
The screen transitioned to a loading animation—a swirling vortex of white and black. The word LOADING flashed in bold, ominous letters. Then the display suddenly turned blindingly white.
Lei squinted, raising his arm to shield his eyes, but the light seemed to envelop him. A dull ringing filled his ears, growing louder and louder until he could feel it vibrating through his skull.
"What the…" he managed to say before his knees buckled and the world around him went dark.
His final thought before fully losing consciousness? Damn, I should have put in a coin.