Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

Haruto stood by the school gate, leaning casually as his thumb scrolled through his phone, looking for nearby date spots.

The crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves, some swirling around him as they danced to the ground.

Draped around his neck was a brown scarf, handmade by Haruka.

He smiled faintly at the memory of her learning to knit from Chiyo who had an almost obsessive love for the craft.

She could turn anything into an excuse to knit—once, a stray kitten found its way into their yard, and by the next day, it had a custom sweater and hat.

However, his smile faded as another memory intruded. His father, Akihito, had thrown the kitten out, grumbling about hating animals.

"Hah… just remembering that pisses me off," Haruto muttered, stuffing his free hand into his pocket.

His gaze drifted to the horizon as his thoughts darkened.

'And where the hell is that drunkard anyway?'

Akihito hadn't been home since their last heated argument.

While Haruto was relieved to have him gone, the constant fear of his father returning with yet another pile of debts lingered like a shadow over their lives.

Lost in thought, he didn't notice the soft footsteps approaching until a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.

A familiar warmth pressed against his back as Mari's playful voice broke through his reverie.

"Thinking about beautiful me so much that you didn't even notice I was here?" she teased, tightening her embrace.

Startled at first, Haruto quickly relaxed, resting his hands over hers. "Maybe I was. Your beauty's so hypnotizing, it's all I can think about."

She pulled away just enough to move beside him, her laughter ringing like a melody.

"Oh, come on! That's the lamest pick-up line I've ever heard."

He chuckled, his grin widening. "Lame, maybe. Effective, definitely."

Rolling her eyes but still smiling, Mari nudged him lightly. "So, where are we headed first, oh charmer?"

"How about the arcade? I hear someone's a pro at it," he said, raising a brow in mock challenge.

Mari struck a confident pose, hands on her hips as she puffed out her chest. "You heard right. Prepare to lose, Haruto!"

He smirked, sliding his hand into hers. "We'll see about that"

Their fingers intertwined as they strolled toward the arcade, their pace unhurried but filled with excitement.

The arcade was lively but safe, a spot popular among high schoolers for its lack of gambling machines.

As soon as they entered, Mari's energy surged. She tugged Haruto toward a zombie shooting game, her eyes already alight with determination.

"Let's make this interesting," she declared, grabbing one of the plastic guns. "Whoever loses has to buy the winner hot chocolate!"

"Hot chocolate, huh?" Haruto teased, reaching over to pinch her nose gently. "Didn't peg you for a sweet tooth."

Mari batted his hand away, grinning. "Oh, just you wait. I'll make you regret underestimating me!"

"Alright, then," Haruto said, picking up the second gun. "Let's see what you've got."

The air crackled playfully as they both aimed, ready to battle it out for bragging rights—and a warm cup of chocolate.

As the countdown hit zero, the zombies came to life on the screen, shambling forward with menacing groans.

Haruto gripped the plastic gun confidently, his eyes narrowing in focus. This was his turf—or so he thought.

He shot down several zombies with ease, but as the game progressed, he couldn't help but glance at Mari's screen.

His jaw nearly dropped. Her score wasn't just higher—it was almost double!

"What the hell, Mari? How's your score climbing so fast?" Haruto demanded, his brows furrowed in disbelief.

Mari shot him a quick, smug glance, her hands never pausing. "Hoho! I told you, I'm a pro. You thought I was bluffing?"

Her shots were precise, every zombie fell dead with accuracy. Meanwhile, Haruto found himself missing a few crucial shots, his frustration clear.

Despite his best efforts, the game ended, and the screen declared Mari the clear winner.

She stepped back, crossing her arms with a triumphant grin. "What's next? Wanna lose again?"

Haruto sighed in defeat but couldn't help laughing. "At this rate, I'll go broke trying to keep up with you."

"Don't be so dramatic," Mari said, lightly nudging his arm.

"You'll win someday. But definitely not today!"

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She flashed him a teasing smirk before her eyes lit up at the sight of the crane games. She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward them.

"What do you want? I'll get it for you," Haruto offered, determined to redeem himself.

Mari laughed, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… that one!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She pointed at a plush doll of a golden retriever's head with its tongue sticking out.

"It looks like Koko—it's so cute!"

Haruto smirked and rolled up his sleeves. "Leave it to me. I'll get it for you, senior Mari."

He confidently maneuvered the crane, managing to grab the plush on his first try.

But just as it neared the chute, the claw released it, and the plush fell back into the pile.

"Damn it!" Haruto muttered under his breath, his brows knitting in frustration.

Attempt after attempt ended the same way, and his irritation grew. By his fifth try, he was glaring daggers at the machine, tempted to give it a good smack.

Instead, he cleared his throat, trying to save face as he held up his last coin.

"This is it," he said, handing it to Mari. "I think I'm cursed with bad luck today."

Mari took the coin, her grin widening. "It's not bad luck. These machines are rigged with weak claws. Let me show you how a pro handles it."

She moved the crane with ease, gently guiding it in a circular motion before positioning it just right.

As the claw descended, she scooped the plush sideways, expertly snagging not one but two plushies.

The machine dinged, and Mari triumphantly retrieved her prizes. "Here," she said, handing Haruto a black rabbit plush.

"Now you're the princess."

He took the plush, laughing at the irony. "I was supposed to act cool, but I ended up looking like an idiot, huh?"

Mari smirked, twirling the golden retriever plush in her hand. "Who needs to act cool? You're already cool as you are!"

Her expression softened before she added with a playful pout, "Though I'm starting to get jealous. Don't you notice all the girls staring at you?"

Haruto raised a brow, amused. "Really? They don't matter. You're the only one in my eyes."

Mari blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before breaking into laughter. "I can't with your cheesy lines!" She leaned against his shoulder, shaking her head.

"But since you've lost so many times, you owe me something else."

"What now?" Haruto asked, smirking.

"Ramen," she declared, her tone decisive.

"Ramen? That's all you want?" Haruto asked, feigning disbelief.

Mari's smirk turned mischievous. "You'll see how expensive it'll get with me."

Haruto chuckled but followed her lead. As they walked hand in hand, he braced himself for another surprise Mari could get him.