The arcade trip did not end with the claw machine victory.

  Lila, still riding the high of Elias’s win, dragged him from game to game with the energy of someone on a mission.

  First was the racing game.

  She plopped into the seat next to him, gripping the steering wheel with an exaggeratedly serious expression. “Elias,” she said, voice grave, “this is a battle of skill and honor. Are you ready?”

  He looked at the bright, cartoonish graphics. “It’s just a game.”

  Lila gasped. “Just a game?” She shook her head. “No. This is about pride.”

  He stared at her. “…Alright.”

  The countdown began.

  Three.

  Two.

  One.

  Go!

  Lila immediately swerved too hard, crashing into the side of the track.

  Elias, who had never played before, simply focused on driving straight.

  Lila struggled to regain control. “Wait, wait, I can fix this—”

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  Elias passed her.

  Then lapped her.

  Then lapped her again.

  By the time he crossed the finish line, Lila was still spinning in circles near the starting area.

  She slumped back in her seat, groaning. “How. How are you good at this?”

  Elias blinked. “I followed the road.”

  Lila sighed, rubbing her face. “I hate that that actually makes sense.”

  —

  Next was the basketball game.

  Lila shot first. She made two out of ten shots.

  Elias, who had never played basketball in his life, observed her form, analyzed the angles—

  And made eight.

  Lila groaned. “I hate you.”

  “I don’t think that’s true.”

  She huffed, shoving him playfully. “You’re not supposed to be good at everything, Elias.”

  “I just calculated the best trajectory.”

  Lila pointed at him. “See? That. That right there is why you need to learn how to have fun.”

  Elias frowned. “But I am playing.”

  “Playing and having fun are two different things.”

  “I don’t see how.”

  Lila groaned again, dramatically collapsing against the machine. “I have so much work to do with you.”

  —

  They played more games after that.

  Elias wasn’t sure what to make of it all. He wasn’t disliking the experience, but he wasn’t sure if it counted as enjoying it either.

  Lila, on the other hand, was clearly having fun, even when she lost.

  She got excited over every small victory, pouted dramatically when she failed, and smiled the entire time.

  Elias didn’t understand how she did that.

  But—

  When she turned to him, grinning, eyes bright—

  He didn’t understand that either.

  —

  At the end of the night, they stood outside the arcade, the city lights flickering around them.

  Lila stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. “That was a blast.”

  Elias adjusted his bag, where the small octopus plush now resided. “You lost most of the games.”

  “Hey,” she said, nudging him, “winning isn’t everything.”

  He gave her a look. “You said it was about pride.”

  Lila laughed. “Okay, sometimes it’s about pride.”

  Elias was quiet for a moment.

  Then he said, “You still had fun.”

  Lila tilted her head, then smiled. “Yeah. I did.”

  “…Even though you lost.”

  “Yep.”

  He studied her. “I don’t understand that.”

  Lila shrugged. “It’s not always about being the best, Elias. Sometimes, it’s just about the experience.”

  He thought about that. About the games. About the laughter.

  About the small, blue octopus in his bag.

  “…I see.”

  Lila grinned. “Good. Because we’re doing this again.”

  Elias blinked.

  “…Again?”