“I won!”

The voice squeaked in excitement as ‘WINNER’ flashed in bold, triumphant letters on the arcade game’s screen. Laughter erupted among the group of boys, who cheered proudly at their friend’s victory, hopping around in pure happiness. The sight brought a smile to Hime’s face, even as the word ‘DEFEAT’ blinked relentlessly on her own screen. She felt relieved having let the young boy win their duel in Street Fighter. She definitely hadn’t been utterly defeated by a 7-year-old boy — and most certainly wasn’t going easy on him.

“Haha! Can’t believe you lost to a kid,” Reika chuckled beside her, teasing her friend’s defeat. She patted Hime on the back to comfort her, all while trying to stop her laughter from escaping her mouth. Meanwhile, Sayaka was practically laughing her heart out while mimicking Reika’s gesture, managing to say ‘It’s okay’ and ‘You tried’ in between her fits of laughter.

“Hahaha! What do you mean?” Hime laughed almost sarcastically. “I was just going easy on him.”

"Hmm, sure, you weren’t using your full strength," Reika hummed, clearly unconvinced.

Hime cleared her throat before replying. “Of course! I’d feel bad if I beat a kid in a game. We wouldn’t want him to go home crying, right—?”

“Haha! You suck at this game!”

All three of the girls’ heads whipped towards the high-pitched, smug voice in front of them, stunned at what they just heard. They watched in disbelief as the boys started bragging about their victory. While it brought a flicker of annoyance, Hime didn’t react to the childish remark, and Sayaka was still laughing — this time in both disbelief and confusion.

Reika, on the other hand, had a mischievous glint in her eye. She stood up abruptly, pulling Hime away from her seat with a firm but gentle tug. Sliding into Hime’s spot, she turned to face the boys, showing a wide yet sly smile. Her lips pressed together as her eyes narrowed into playful slits, a hint of mischief lingering in her expression. The boys’ laughter died down as they watched her, surprised by the sudden shift in mood.

"Hey, how about we play another game?" Reika’s voice was light, but her smile held a challenge. "But this time, it’s with me. And if I win, you have to apologise to her. Deal?"

Hime was taken aback by her friend's sudden suggestion, asking, “What exactly are you doing?” Though she was familiar with Reika's antics, she never expected them to be directed to a kid. Reika, however, ignored the question.

Reika had always had these mischievous thoughts, but she wouldn’t usually act upon them. Usually, it was Hime who took the lead in playful antics, with Sayaka — just as playful and mischievous — following along. So, seeing the normally reserved Reika playing along with the kids was both surprising and refreshing.

Reika had never been one to take the centre stage. Instead, she had always been more satisfied as an observer. Though introverted, her playful side emerged whenever she surrounded herself with people she was comfortable with. Her easygoing manner and playful nature gave her a subtly influential presence wherever she went.

Hime, on the other hand, blended maturity and youthful playfulness perfectly. She was the more extroverted of the three, even though she shared Reika's introvertedness. Her lively personality and thoughtful demeanour often positioned her as the eldest sister, offering both balance and guidance to her friends.

Sayaka was the most carefree and playful of the trio. Her child-like enthusiasm and naivety brought a vibrant energy to their adventures. Often caught up in the moment, she tends to add sparks of spontaneity and humour to lighten any situation.

As they all interacted with the children, the boy hesitated, the excitement on his face faltering slightly, which soon got taken over by curiosity. "What if I win?" he asked, eyes gleaming with newfound confidence.

Reika leaned back in her seat, tapping her chin in mock thought. "Hmm... If you win, I'll buy you unlimited tickets to the arcade."

The boy’s face lit up, any hesitation completely gone. "You’re on!" he exclaimed, already picturing his next victory. He jumped into his seat, eagerly preparing for the new duel, his laughter bubbling over at the thought of the endless visits to the arcade that victory would bring. 

Little did he know, Reika wasn’t just any challenger — she was the, self-proclaimed, arcade’s reigning Street Fighter champion, and she never played to lose.

The boys stared in disbelief as the ‘DEFEAT’ screen blinked in front of them, mere moments after the game had begun. Not willing to accept the outcome, they immediately requested a rematch. However, each attempt ended the same way. Frustrated but determined, the boys took turns battling Reika, but no matter how many times they tried, the result remained unchanged. While they were all still determined to at least attain a single victory, Reika’s energy was completely drained.

The boys huddled around her, begging for yet another round, but Reika chuckled as she shook her head, partially regretting indulging in her own antics. "It's getting late, boys. Time to head home." Their faces fell in disappointment, and the three girls couldn’t help but laugh at their adorable pouts. Despite their loss, the boys were eager to continue, driven by the hope of winning those promised unlimited tickets. But Reika was tired, and it was time to leave for dinner.

“You guys still haven’t apologised, right?” Sayaka chimed in, teasingly. The boys shuffled their feet, glancing down at the floor as if stalling for more time, hoping for one last chance to win. Noticing their reluctance, Sayaka grinned and added, “If you apologise now, Big Sister Reika here might just buy you those tickets anyway.”

“Oi,” Reika muttered, feigning annoyance, though the playful glint in her eyes betrayed her.

The boys’ eyes lit up, turning to Reika with eager, expectant faces. “Really?!” they exclaimed in unison as their excitement filled the atmosphere. Reika found herself caught in a bind as the boys immediately began shouting apologies towards Hime, as if racing to prove their sincerity.

“Hey, hey... are you guys really sorry?” Reika asked, chuckling softly. But when she was met with their wide, hopeful eyes once again, she sighed, knowing there was no escaping this. “Alright, fine,” she relented, shaking her head with a smile. “Come on, let’s get your tickets.”