Marin brought Wakana to the arcade, and since there was no one at the photo booth, it quickly became their turn.
"Gojo-kun."
Marin called Wakana's name and pulled open the glass door. Wakana followed her into the narrow space of the photo booth.
The two of them placed their belongings in the corner and prepared to take photos.
On the side closest to the wall was the camera lens, with a slot underneath that was likely the exit for the printed photos.
Above it were the coin slot and bill acceptor, and the screen in the middle was displaying both of them.
Marin bent slightly, looking at the screen opposite her, "Gojo-kun, come on!"
Wakana shyly shuffled closer to Marin.
In such a confined space, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Marin, however, looked happy, leaning on the screen and looking at its functions.
"It seems to have a beauty filter function, and all sorts of other filters too."
Marin introduced excitedly to Wakana.
"Gojo-kun, what kind of photo do you want to take?"
"I, I'm fine with anything."
Wakana touched his neck. Any photo taken with Kitagawa-san was fine by him.
Kitagawa inserted a 1000-yen coin, selected a filter, and began taking pictures with Wakana.
Although Wakana was smiling, his expression was visibly stiff.
"Shhh shhh shhh."
The machine spit out the taken photos, and Marin eagerly picked them up to examine them.
"Gojo-kun, your expression is so stiff."
Marin whispered, "And, you two are so far apart."
"Gojo-kun! Are you nervous?"
Marin leaned closer to Wakana and asked. Feeling Kitagawa-san's movement, Wakana involuntarily lowered his head.
But Marin wanted to take more photos now.
After all, this was her first time taking purikura with Gojo-kun!
She wanted to take some intimate photos!
"Gojo-kun, shall we continue?"
"Yes!"
Wakana had no intention of refusing; he had just seen the printed photos.
Although there was some distance between them in the photo, the fact that it was just the two of them made him overthink.
Kitagawa-san probably hadn't taken purikura with any other boys, right?
"Then let's keep taking them."
Marin put another coin into the machine and moved a little closer to Wakana.
"Gojo-kun! Look at the camera!"
"Yes!"
Watching the countdown on the screen, Wakana showed what he thought was a brilliant smile.
Just as he thought that was all there was to it, Marin leaned her body against his, intimately linking her arm with Wakana's.
It was just like when he met Kitagawa-san at school; Kitagawa-san naturally leaned in as usual.
It felt like a very soft touch, but Wakana's arm didn't move at all; it seemed Kitagawa-san was adjusting their posing for the photo.
Wakana glanced at Marin and saw her smiling at the screen.
Kitagawa-san originally had no other intentions.
Wakana felt a little relieved, but he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"Click."
"Shhh shhh shhh."
The photos were spit out again.
"Gojo-kun, you have a strange expression again."
Marin pointed at the photo and scolded Wakana.
Although she was happy taking photos with Gojo-kun, Gojo-kun seemed very troubled.
Wakana also had an apologetic look on his face; he was supposed to be accompanying Kitagawa-san, but he kept making strange expressions.
"Gojo-kun, is something on your mind?"
Marin asked, seeing Wakana's troubled expression.
Originally, Wakana was just worried about Kitagawa-san's impression of him, but with Kitagawa-san's question, he couldn't help but remember the task Akira-kun had given him.
He hadn't had a chance to talk to Kitagawa-san about Murakami-san yet.
He should have kept it in mind, but when he was with Kitagawa-san, he couldn't help but neglect other things.
Wakana's melancholy and hesitation became even more apparent.
Seeing Wakana's unenthusiastic expression, Marin gave up on the idea of taking more photos.
"Then, then let's go back."
Marin picked up the things they had brought from the corner and said to Wakana.
"I'm very sorry, Kitagawa-san."
Wakana apologized sincerely.
"It's okay."
Marin replied to Wakana, "Everyone has times when they feel down, Gojo-kun, so you don't have to keep it bottled up."
"Why don't you tell me, and see if I can help."
"After all, when it comes to cosplay, Gojo-kun is always helping me."
Marin's face broke into a brilliant smile, and at that moment, Wakana felt that Kitagawa-san was like an angel.
"Mm."
Wakana nodded but said nothing.
Marin, as usual, walked ahead of Wakana, looking around at the shops, and suddenly saw a ramen shop not far away.
"Gojo-kun."
"It's almost time to eat, why don't we go for ramen?"
Wakana was stunned, not knowing why Marin suddenly brought up eating.
It was still a while until mealtime...
Wakana checked the time on his phone and realized it was indeed almost time to eat.
Seeing Wakana nod, Marin relaxed and pulled Wakana towards the ramen shop.
"Hey! Kitagawa-san."
"Gojo-kun, hurry up!"
"I can't wait!"
Marin's voice was full of excitement, as if she wanted to infect Wakana with her mood.
"Mm."
The two of them ran all the way to the ramen shop, called Ichiran Ramen.
Marin seemed to have been there many times before, as she found two adjacent empty seats inside the shop and put down the things she was carrying.
"That was really tiring."
"Yes, it was."
"What do you want to eat, Gojo-kun?"
Marin asked.
"I, I'm fine with anything."
Wakana touched his neck, giving his all-purpose answer.
"Why don't we go look together?"
Marin said, hands on her hips, and then the two of them went to the vending machine and found the ramen menu.
Seeing that Wakana didn't have anything specific he wanted to eat, Kitagawa-san skillfully ordered two bowls of ramen and paid.
"Kitagawa-san."
"Next time, Gojo-kun will treat me, okay?"
Marin's face showed a mischievous smile.