27. The devil and air hockey

After obtaining ten game coins, it was time to choose a game to use them.

"Shibata, what do you like?"

Knowing nothing about her preferences, I preferred to ask directly to avoid picking something she didn't like.

"Hmm... I'm not good with FPS, nor with fighting games..."

Starting to break a cold sweat, 80% of the arcade had been eliminated in a single sentence.

"Understood."

Hiding my internal panic with a confident tone, I tried to find a game that could be played by two.

"How about that one?"

Pointing to a table of air hockey, my expression became slightly darker.

"... No good?"

As she saw my reaction, I explained myself.

"... Are you sure you can move in those boots? I also just gave you some band-aids to ease the pain..."

Shibata looked dumbfounded for a second but her expression brightened soon after.

"I recommended it, so it's okay!"

Pushing me to one of the sides, I could do nothing but accept the challenge.

Using two tokens, the table began to be operational and the puck popped out of a hole that was in the center of the side of the table.

Pushed toward my half of the court, I slowly hit it.

"You have the first move"

Shibata had a mocking smile.

"Heheh... You'll regret your...!"

*clink*

To the surprise of both of us, the puck entered Shibata's goal, making me score the first point.

"Surprise attacks don't count!"

"No, you saw that I pushed it towards you really slowly..."

Ignoring our conversation, the table let out a second puck but this time in Shibata's half of the field.

"You will see the heavenly fury of..."

*clink*

2-0 to Fujita.

Left speechless, I think it was the first time I had ever seen someone being scored by the system.

"Even the machine is against me!"

Ignoring Shibata's protest again, the table let out another puck toward my direction and I decided to stop it with the mallet to call a break.

"Shibata... You must always keep the mallet on the table, not just when you want to attack."

"... Huh? Isn't it foul to keep it on the table?"

"That's what the game is all about!"

Having resolved the misunderstanding, we managed to play a normal game of air hockey.

...The final score was 18-2 for me.