Chapter 24
In my entire life never have I been to an arcade. Never have I been interested in going to such a place, and never has anyone ever asked me to go. My ignorance could it be seen as suspicious? I am mean why would you invite someone not interested in arcades to arcade? I wonder should I pretend to have some sort of interest in such things to avoid having Yumi become suspicious. What does one even do at an arcade? And what if Terano is there? Should I speak with her or speak with Yumi? Do people even talk at arcades?
I must prioritize my goals. Before going there I must first know what I intend to happen...what I need to learn. If the unlikely happens, then it will be just me, Midari, and Yumi. Under these circumstances, my main goal would be to find holes in the suspected mask of Yumi. Depending on what I find about her true nature, I can form a plan to properly use her. To try to manipulate someone without understanding them is foolish, so I should refrain from making any other move then being friendly.
And what if this meeting reveals Yumi to be the true threat? Would I then have to use Terano against her? Her vulnerabilities are far more obvious, but I would like to avoid violence if possible. It has been shown that using violence in plans greatly decreases the chance of success. An election gamble with Terano then? I still have my 35 chips that I purchased to inflate the market. It’s seems like an unlikely choice. Terano seems intent on avoiding during direct gambles, and she is well aware of my distaste for them.
How do claim the life of someone so wealthy and careful? Yumi really is my only choice. It’s foolish to hope, but I need Yumi to be less dangerous than Terano. I need her to have weaknesses. Well not
need, but this plan is far more preferable than the other. I am particularly interested in harming someone,
when there is a better choice.
Still I won’t hesitate if I must.
And if Terano is there? I should still try to observe Yumi, but perhaps I could try to better understand Terano as well maybe learn the reason behind her strong hatred of the President. No that would be a violation of the President’s privacy. It is irrelevant. Her hatred though it could be useful. I suppose if Terano comes too it would reveal information about the two of them. It’s so easy to slip up when you’re around people you care about. I could take advantage of that feeling of security. Or maybe I could send Terano off with Midari? That’s needlessly cruel, but perhaps it would be a bit humorous.
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I arrive five minutes early. It’s a perfect opportunity to enter the arcade and properly observe it. This will most certainly result in me appearing more aware. It’s quite noisy. The lightening is dimmed. A marketing effort perhaps? More relaxing than complete darkness, and more relaxing than bright lights. There seems to be a rather diverse selections of games at this arcade. Another marketing effort, diversity will draw in different demographics and keep them here longer because it is more “fun” that way. There’s a scream besides me, and child runs past with another chasing them. I have never been a fan of children, even when I was one. They have no sense of responsibility, and they’re loud. Just pick one or the other. Both are simply too much. I suppose that’s why I dislike Midari too.
I have gotten a good enough feel for this place or rather as good as I’ll get in such a short period of time. I’ll wait outside for Yumi, Midari, and possibly Terano. I wonder will Yumi show up in a limo as the President also does? I know that Totobami family is very wealthy like the Monobami family, but they’re not as flashy. Or maybe that’s more of the President versus the rest of her family. She’s never been one to stray away from the light.
It’s a rather nice day, the sky is clear, and it is the perfect temperature. I’d much rather be going on a hike or doing some paperwork outside. I must banish such thoughts for now. My dislike for this turn of events must be kept secret not only because it is rude, but also because it’ll certainly raise an eyebrow from any observers. It’s so easy to read when someone wants to be elsewhere, and thinking such thoughts only makes it easier.
“Oi Sayaka. What the hell are you wearing?” I can’t help but look down. I thought my outfit was totally respectable, a bottom up and skirt. Perhaps I should have gone more casual.
“Should I have worn a t-shirt and cargo shorts that I normally wear when hiking instead?” Her eye widens in horror, and her jaw drops. It seems to be a bit of an exaggeration, but then again I have never understood the purpose behind fashion. What is appearance compared to utility after all.
“Let me burn them.” Burn them?! They’re in perfect condition. I wonder though how would the fabric would burn? I believe the main component is nylon, but I would have to study the other ones to see how the fabric would burn. Either way it’s not important, and I would only be able to truly know how it would burn if I burnt it, which I’m not interested in doing.
“No. They’re perfect for doing outdoor actives or outdoor work.” Her head is tilted to the side in what I can only assume is doubt.
“So if the President said let’s go on hike Sayaka you would wear those?” What an illogical question. What else would I wear? Besides I’m quite sure the President is not interested in any form of exercising. It’s rather conceding, but it’s not my place to comment.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Immediately after I answer she breaks out into laughter. It’s a bit offensive, and the urge to defend them rises in me. In a moment of silence I take the chance. “The additional pockets can be quite useful, and the fabric is resistant to tears. I cannot think of a better article of clothing to wear.” She doesn’t answer just keeps laughing. How rude.
“Midari, and Sayaka!” She’s waving and jogging down the street. “Sorry if I’m late. The train got a little held up.” She runs up and hugs Midari. What. Hearing that a Totobami takes the train was a bit of shock but that hug? Is Midari perhaps capable of being charming? Unlikely. Is Yumi also a disturbed masochist? Hopefully not. A trick maybe? To get closer to us in order to see our goals? Perhaps. More observation will likely led to an answer.
“It’s fine. It’s fine. Let’s do this. I hope I get reported again.” Just ignore it. Just ignore it. Don’t engage.
“Just a fair warming Yumi Sayaka is total fucking loser and has never been to an arcade before. That’s why I forced her to come.” So I won’t have to pretend to understand anything. Was it intentional? Midari isn’t the type...probably just her being honest.
“Sayaka you’re just too much like my sister. Always so serious. If I can’t get her to relax, I’ll get you to relax.” Her smile is genuine. Hmm. I am not sure how to answer that, so I just nod.
—————-
What am I going here? After getting the coins to play the game, we separated. At first I was planning to watch Yumi, and look for cracks in her act, but I lost track of her. I hate this place. I have walked around this entire arcade 8 times. Perhaps I should just play a game as Midari said. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
There seems to be three different types of spinning, chance games. I’m not particularly interested in the game itself, but rather the odds of winning.
One of them is a traditional wheel where you spin it yourself. Calculating the chance of landing on the highest ranking area is simple for such a device. It is as simple as finding out the angle of that area. Of course this assuming the device isn’t adjusted, to have a greater resistance before the highest location and lower resistance across that area. It would still be possible to find your chances then...maybe. You would have to calculate both the force as the stopper hits the rung, and the changing friction and how that would affect the deceleration of the wheel. Then compare it to the actual deceleration and look for any differences in the measurements not within the range of error of course. From there you could calculate how different the theoretical friction is from the real friction, and use this to calculate your actual probability of landing on the highest number. It would quite difficult with the proper tools, impossible without. How unfortunate.
The second wheel simply requires the push of a button. Also easy to find the chances of landing on the highest number...if it was a true random generated selector.
I wonder what the pattern is? This particular device starts at where the last light landed. Does it travel the same amount each time? I suppose a few test to see wouldn’t hurt. The first time the light travels around 3 and 1/2 times. The next time is 2. The third time is 5 and 1/4 times. The fourth time is 4 and 2/3 times. No noticeable pattern. Computers are not my strength, but it would easier from someone with knowledge of computer programming to learn the pattern behind such a device by observing its coding. Computers are incapable of being truly random, even those so called random number generators.
The third one is a lever connected to rotating cylinder in the inside of the machine. It would impossible to find out the chances of landing on the highest area because a large portion of the cylinder is hidden in the machine. I cannot measure anything on such a device; therefore, it is impossible to calculate the area of the highest number compared to the rest of area along the cylinder walls. What an annoya—
“Sayaka what are you doing? Why are you just standing around?” It’s Midari and Yumi. They look confused maybe a bit concerned.
“Oh I was just considering the math and science behind the probability of landing on a particular section on these devices.” Midari groans loudly.
“Sayaka, please shoot me in the head.” Yumi laughs at this statement as if it were a joke. I wonder would she still laugh if she saw the desire in Midari’s eyes whenever she toes on the line of death?
“Come play a round with us.” It’s Yumi. She’s smiling, and there’s nothing fake about it. She grabs my hand and starts running. Her form is terrible. Midari walks behind us.
It’s a shooting game. She picks up a gun and hands the other over to me. Her form is terrible again. I suppose without recoil it doesn’t matter. Besides me on the other side, Midari picks up her gun. Her form is also terrible as expected. I have seen the way she handles her own gun. I wish the President would allow me to take it away or at least make her take a lesson.
“Yo Yumi wanna do a little bet after this?” Midari is smirking. “Best 3 out 5. You pick two games. I pick two. Sayaka picks the 5th. Loser buys ice cream?” Ice cream? I didn’t prepare for such a thing.
Please say no. Please say no. Plea—“Sure.” She’s smiling, and so is Midari, hers is a bit cruel though; I’m not.
—————-
We’re sitting on bench outside eating ice cream. The silence is uncomfortable, but these two seem fine with it. Try to start a conversation. With what? The economy? No. No. My book? No. What do young people talk about?
“What shows do you like?” My voice sounds nervous; the shakiness is too obvious. I just made it worse. Sudden changes to my plans never end well. I didn’t have time to prepare. Yumi laughs. It shocks me.
“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” She’s smiling. I smile back. It was nice I guess. “Got a smile.” Her faces turns serious. “If I can get you to smile, maybe I can get Terano to smile too.” Her tone is serious. The only crack I’ve seen, but it’s not a crack just a different side . It’s not an act I’m almost certain of that. She’s just nice, and she just cares about her sister.
“Yeah the stick up Sayaka’s ass is far deeper than the one up your sisters.” Yumi laughs, but I just scowl. Midari is too vulgar. There are people around. She has no shame.
“Don’t say such things.” They just keep laughing.
—————
They’re gone now, but I cannot stop thinking about the discovery that she really is just a nice girl. It makes me a little uneasy. There’s no reason to feel this way. I have always thought that a fool who would walk into flames deserves to be burned. No point in feeling bad for the foolish, but that’s not quite right here is it?. I’m leading her into the flames. She will not be to blame. I will.
I never claimed to be good. I never claimed to be kind. If she must burn, so be it. Guilt can wait. The President cannot.