A few minutes in line and our turn came. The stand only fit two at a time, so Suzuno and I went first.
“Yuito-kun, you got this.”
“Suzuno, don’t lose to Yuito.”
I took my koyori string. Sorry, Suzuno — no holds barred.
I dipped the hook in the tank — and with too much tension, my hand slipped: I submerged the paper part too.
“Aw — crap.”
“That was uncharacteristic, Yuito.”
Wet paper means the koyori can’t hold a yo-yo’s weight and snaps fast. Sure enough — my koyori snapped before I’d hooked one. Brother smirked, taunting.
“Suzuno’s actually fishing, unlike someone — looks like we win.”
I wanted to deck him but he had me, so I bit down. Suzuno smoothly hooked yo-yos and was about to pull her third when her koyori snapped. Final tally: 2.
“My turn. We’re winning this.”
“Sorry, Suzuno and Ayato — but we’re winning.”
Both confident. They started fishing. My brother — talking big — hooked one cleanly. Kano was matching him. Tied.
Then my brother’s focus broke and his koyori snapped — total: 4.
”…Damn. Missed.”
“Four is great, Ayato-kun.”
Suzuno was still cheerful as ever. Kano kept fishing.
“That’s seven — we win.”
”…You are too strong.”
“Sis is amazing.”
Their team total was six. Kano had effectively won on her own. We technically won as a team, but I’d been a deadweight — couldn’t celebrate.
“All right — you owe us food.”
“Fine. I don’t love also buying for Yuito but a promise is a promise.”
You only get one yo-yo regardless of how many you fish, system-wise. We left.
We were trailing Kano and my brother when Suzuno stopped suddenly.
“Yuito-kun — those takoyaki smell amazing.”
“They really do, just from the smell.”
“Right? Now I really want some.”
We were staring at the takoyaki stand.
“How about all of us share an order?”
“Yeah, good idea.”
We turned to ask Kano and my brother — and realized they were no longer visible. We’d been left behind.
“Yeah… Kano and my brother walked off without noticing.”
“This section’s one-way too — going back means a big detour.”
“Let me call her.”
I pulled out my phone. She picked up on the first ring.
“Yuito?”
“It’s me.”
“You disappeared, I was worried. Suzuno with you?”
She sounded genuinely worried — I answered quickly.
“Yeah, Suzuno’s here.”
“Good. Ayato’s with me, we’re fine.”
“How do we meet up?”
“Tournament HQ tent area — visible landmark. Meet there.”
“Got it, heading there with Suzuno.”
“Please.”
“See you in a bit.”
I ended the call.