snakek

Then you should get her a gift a skier would like, right?

Um... but I don't know anything about skiing.

Hah, yeah, I get the impression you're more into baseball.

Do you play? Or just watch?

I play! I love baseball!

Then why not get her a baseball gift? If it's something you like, that makes a good gift too.

Um... but I don't think Cardi is into baseball.

I put together a game on the Rhodes Island deck before, but she didn't show...

Yeah, speaking of baseball, I just remembered the mall on that block over there has some sort of game where you win prizes playing baseball. Want to check it out?

If you can't think of what to get her, you can just give her whatever prize you win.

A gift won by your own effort has more meaning to it than something you bought, right?

That makes sense. Lava did say that handmade gifts are better, but I don't have much talent for crafts...

Baseball is what I'm best at, so a prize won in baseball should be good.

Let's take a look! It's been a while since I played, and it'll be a nice chance to have some fun!

The games are over there. Looks like it's pretty quiet, so head on over!

You mean the place with the funny machine?

Step right up, swing the bat, hit the ball, and win a prize! Today's the last day, hurry on over!

(Ugh, that idiot's dressed up as an arcade worker. Looks convincing enough.)

(Making use of this arcade that just closed, getting the girl to take the bait, it's almost too easy... I really am a genius!)

Hi there! Is this the place where you play baseball? What are your prizes?

Oh, uh... prizes, yeah...

Wow! All that stuff behind the glass there? That's all the prizes?

How about that one! Can I get the snowboard?

You want the snowboard? Well, that's the grand prize. Pretty tough to win that one...

Hmm, why do I feel like this guy is kinda familiar...?

Miss, I gotta warn you, no matter how much you saddle up to me, I'm not gonna make the challenge easier for you.

See that pitching machine? When you hit the ball back, the scoreboard there will rate you based on where the ball hits.

So, if I hit the red center, I get the grand prize?

It's not that simple! You pay 40 Lungmen Dollars for a round, you get ten balls per round, and if your score is over 475, you get the grand prize.

Wanna try?

475 points means hitting the red center five times, isn't that a bit too hard? Are the other prizes easier to get?

(What are you doing, why are you making it so hard? Nobody would take a challenge that tough. She'll give up after she fails once!)

Sure, we encourage everyone to try a whole lot.

If you score less than 475, the threshold for the grand prize goes down a bit, to a minimum of 200.

(How good could the girl be? This'll definitely buy enough time.)

Hmmm... Cardi will probably like that snowboard, huh?

Now that I think about it, I really wanna see Cardi on the snow!

Okay, let's give it a try, I'll get it in one go. Bring it on!

Let's take your entry fee first, and we'll keep your bag for you in the cabinet back there.

It's true about Lungmen! We've been walking for ages and only covered two blocks. My feet are dying!

That's because you keep pulling us into every store, and spend hours picking and choosing without ever actually buying anything.

That's because my wallet is already basically empty!

Yeah, I remember seeing that baseball glove and bat you ordered a couple of days ago.

Those are apology gifts for Cuora! And I had to sell some old stuff to make up what I was short...

Oh? Have you and Cuora not yet reconciled?

I remember you two quarreling something fierce in the game room... First time I've ever seen Cuora bite a person.

Thinking back on it... it was my fault.

I can just be too carefree sometimes, assuming everyone's always out to have fun with each other, no joke that can't be made...

The medic operators say Cuora's obsession with protecting her backpack is subconscious. Since she's forgotten most of her past, no one knows exactly where it comes from...

She's even forgotten her family and friends... Pretty sad, when you think about it.

But she told me that after making friends at Rhodes Island, she doesn't feel so lonely anymore.

By the way, I haven't seen her since early this morning. Where's she gone off to?

Sigh... she's probably still avoiding me...

Ha-yah!

Wh... what? You hit the red zone again? How are you that lucky?

Hah!

You hit it again?!

No... is the difficulty set too low? I think I can adjust the ball direction and blocks here...

Again!

Wow! So you can throw out balls that change direction, and put up some more blocks... Hah, alright, I'll get serious too.

Phew! I feel fantastic. This is the joy of baseball!

Got some more balls? Send them my way!

Is... is this really happening?

I maxed out the difficulty!

Her stance, her strength, her precision...

Is this girl Ambrois Edwards?!

Hey, how many points did I get? Did I win the prize?

Um... the scoring system is overloaded or something, but just looking at it, you definitely cleared 475...

(Shit! Daai goh just left, he can't have found the pendant yet... What do I do? I have to buy him some more time.)

Then let me get that snowboard!

Err, okay... No, wait! I think you're not quite satisfied yet, miss. Would you like to hit a few more balls?

But I already won the prize... I guess I do want to play some more. Do I have to pay?

No, you got the prize, and since nobody else is around, you can keep playing until we close!

The ball flies toward Cuora, and in the split second before it passes through the corner of her vision, she swings her bat forcefully—

To the sight of the 'arcade worker' the girl's figure seems to overlap with all the baseball stars he's ever seen.

The ball once again nails the center zone. At which point the pitching machine malfunctions, emitting sparks and giving off an uncomfortable sound.

What... what's happening?

BOOM—

Good heavens! I heard that explosion just now, I'm sure we're getting caught up in another incident here now...

Sounds like it came from that mall over there. Say, what's that on the ground...?

That's Cuora's backpack!

Oh no... is Cuora in danger?!

Over here! Cuora's here!

Cuora! Cuora!

She's fine, just looks like she's sleeping. Oh? What's that she's holding...?

It's a... snowboard?

Ugh...

Where... am I? Rhodes Island?

I remember... I was playing baseball, and then there was a boom...

What happened next...? Where'd those two guys go?

I was having so much fun, I didn't get a chance to thank them...

But hey, I think Lungmenites are really friendly!

Oh! Yeah! My prize! Where's the snowboard I got for Cardi?!

Phew, it's not broken.

And my gifts for the others, they're all still here.

Come in!

Oh, Cardi...

Um...

You first, Cuora.

Um, okay! This snowboard I won at the mall.. it's for you! I'm sorry about that thing before!