The next day, Lila was waiting for him by the school entrance.

  Elias had barely stepped out of the building when she waved at him, practically bouncing on her feet.

  “Alright, today’s lesson is essential,” she said the moment he reached her.

  “You say that about every lesson,” Elias pointed out.

  “Because they are.” She grinned, then held up two small plastic bags. “Today, we’re going to learn about claw machines.”

  Elias stared at her. Then at the bags.

  Then back at her.

  “…Why?”

  “Because,” she said, linking her arm through his and pulling him toward the arcade nearby, “they teach patience, skill, and most importantly—the pain of failure.”

  Elias highly doubted that was the intended purpose of claw machines.

  But he let her drag him along anyway.

  —

  The arcade was loud.

  Bright lights, flashing screens, electronic jingles blending with the sounds of people laughing and shouting.

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  Lila, undeterred, marched straight to the rows of claw machines near the entrance.

  She turned to Elias, eyes gleaming with determination. “Okay. The goal is simple. You see something you want, you use the claw, and you win it.”

  Elias studied the machines. Stuffed animals, keychains, small trinkets—various prizes stacked in inconvenient ways.

  He glanced at Lila. “Why not just buy them?”

  She gasped dramatically. “That’s not the point, Elias. It’s about the thrill.”

  Elias didn’t see the appeal.

  Lila, however, was already feeding coins into the machine. “Alright. Watch and learn.”

  —

  Lila’s first attempt was… a failure.

  The claw grabbed onto a stuffed cat’s ear, lifted it slightly, and then—

  It slipped.

  Lila groaned. “Ugh. Rigged.”

  Elias watched, unimpressed. “If it’s rigged, why continue?”

  “Because,” she said, inserting another coin, “now it’s personal.”

  —

  After three more failed attempts, Lila stepped back, arms crossed. “Okay. I need to rethink my approach.”

  Elias tilted his head. “Or you could stop.”

  She gasped. “Absolutely not.”

  Then she pointed at him. “Your turn.”

  Elias raised a brow. “I don’t want anything.”

  “That’s not the point. It’s about the experience.” She shoved a coin into his hand. “Come on. Just try.”

  Elias sighed but complied, stepping forward.

  —

  He studied the machine.

  The claw’s movement. The positioning of the prizes. The slight delay when pressing the button.

  Lila watched as he carefully aimed for a small stuffed bear, pressing the button with precise timing.

  The claw lowered, grasping the bear’s body—

  And lifted it.

  Lila leaned forward. “No way—”

  The claw reached the drop zone.

  The bear wobbled.

  And then—

  It fell just before reaching the chute.

  Lila groaned. “Pain. Suffering. This is what I meant.”

  Elias simply stared. “…That was calculated.”

  “Welcome to the scam that is claw machines.”

  He glanced at her. “And yet, you enjoy this?”

  Lila huffed, placing another coin into the slot. “You don’t give up after one try, Elias.”

  He watched as she attempted again.

  And again.

  By the fifth attempt, she finally won something—a small keychain of a rabbit.

  She held it up triumphantly. “Ha! Victory!”

  Elias blinked. “After spending more money than its worth.”

  Lila ignored him. She turned to him with a grin. “Here.”

  Elias frowned. “I didn’t win it.”

  “So?” She placed it in his palm. “Consider it a reminder. Of the experience.”

  Elias stared at the tiny rabbit keychain.

  He didn’t understand the point of this.

  But—

  For some reason, he placed it in his pocket instead of returning it.