Written by: Akira
Timeline: Spring
> Arcade
Hinata: “Yuuta-kun♪
Hey, hey, look at this photo booth!
By sidestepping and creating an afterimage, I’m tricking the camera so it would look as though I’m taking a photo with you, even though I’m alone~♪
Look! I’m hugging him and kissing him and doing aaall I want!
So how do you feel? If you don’t want me to be stolen by my very own imaginary Yuuta-kun, you need to jump into the picture yourself…☆”
Yuuta: “Stop making a ruckus in a public place, Aniki.”
Hinata: “It’s fine! It’s the arcade, after all; whatever noise we make is dampened by our surroundings! My playing around like this doesn’t bother anyone!”
Yuuta: “That’s not even the problem…
And speaking of, it says that that photo booth corner is only for ladies. Aniki, your longish hair might make you look like a girl, but even that’s going too far, right?”
Hinata: “Long hair? But yours is the same length as mine, Yuuta-kun♪”
Yuuta: “Being twins is our selling point as 2wink. We have to sync our appearance.
Well, maybe putting up our hair in different styles once in a while would be interesting.”
Hinata: “Eeh~ I want to keep matching with Yuuta-kun, though.
By the way, what’s that game you’ve been playing, Yuuta-kun? Fighting game?”
Yuuta: “Yeah. Lately they’ve all been pretty lukewarm in terms of difficulty, which is boring. Made for couples to enjoy together, or something…
But PvP mode at least gives some challenge♪”
Hinata: “You do love your indoor games, huh, Yuuta-kun~♪
I prefer games where I can move my body more, though. How about we do air hockey together?”
Yuuta: “Hmm? Air-Hidaka-senpai[1]? What do you mean?
Aaah, air hockey… But when you and I play that, Aniki, we were always cut off by the time limit with our scores on draw, right?
Anyway I’m trying to concentrate. Don’t talk to me.”
Hinata: “Oh! Could you be having a tough fight? Yuuta-kun, you’re controlling this ninja-like character, right?”
Yuuta: “Yeah, I like the tricky type…
This guy I’m fighting against, I thought he’s the type that’ll just overwhelm his opponent with brute force by choosing a strong character, but he’s surprisingly orthodox… or more like, really good. I might lose for real.”
Hinata: “Ugh. Even if it’s a game, it’s vexing to lose.
Then let me go have a chat with your opponent and be a bother♪”
Yuuta: “Stop that, Aniki… It’s just a game, no need to get all stubborn over it…”
Makoto: “……”
Hinata: “Ooh!? Yuuta-kun’s opponent was Yuuki-senpai?”
Makoto: “Hmm? Huh? You’re 2wink’s… Hinata-kun, right?
I thought I was hearing voices I know. I didn’t think we’d meet at a place like this♪”
Yuuta: “I’m also here, you know~ Yuuki-senpai♪”
Makoto: “Hmm? Don’t tell me… are you the one I’m going against, Yuuta-kun?
And here I was thinking why my opponent is so formidable~ You both are proficient even with games, huh♪”
Hinata: “Eeh~ When you praise us, it sounds like nothing but sarcasm…
I mean Yuuki-senpai, you’re only giving the screen a side glance while talking to me, but you’re still going at it like a monster. Yuuta-kun is getting thrashed…”
Makoto: “Ahaha~ I like games, you see. In fact, I think it’ll be too pathetic of me if I were to lose even in my area of expertise.”
Hinata: “Ahaha. Yuuki-senpai, do you come to the arcade often?
The two of us ended up with some free time between our previous job and the next, so we just came here to play for a little.
But unlike us, isn’t Trickstar supposed to be busy? Should you really be hanging around here?”
Makoto: “Yeah, well, we’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to play through my favorite games…
It’s my first day off in a long while, so I’m using it to go around checking arcades.
There were so many new games added in while I wasn’t paying attention, I don’t know where to start.
This fighting game is the sequel of a title I like, but the controls have changed a little. I’m not quite used to it.”
Yuuta: “Oh-hoh? Is that what you’ll say as an excuse when you lose to me~?”
Makoto: “Oh, I won’t lose~ You’re pretty good, Yuuta-kun, but you keep repeating the same pattern. As long as I focus, I’ll be done with you in no time.
Look, a light kick. Parry, then fire~♪”
Yuuta: “Nggh!? I-It feels weirdly aggravating to be played around by Yuuki-senpai of all people…!
You’re always so clueless atop the stage, though~ You’re just a small-fry in glasses so don’t be cheeky!”
Makoto: "Ahaha. I’m good at blandly carrying out a routine I’m thoroughly used to; mindless tasks don’t demand much.
But Trickstar comes up with the craziest things to do every time, and that definitely flusters me.”
Yuuta: “…I feel like there are units out there that might fit you better, Yuuki-senpai.
You can’t show off that strong suit with a unit like Trickstar that almost constantly gambles on chances, right?”
Makoto: “Yeah. I hear opinions like that often. I like to surf the net, you know…
There are people who wrote things like he’s dragging everyone down or he’s breaking the group’s balance and the like about me.
Even so… I think I’m okay with being in Trickstar, even if I don’t deserve it. I’ll cover what I lack with hard work; I’ll get used to things so I can be useful to everyone.
I’m clumsy and slow. I know I’m still useless.
Yet everyone in Trickstar accepted me and affirmed me. I want to return their feelings, even putting my life on line.
Because regardless of logic, what suits me and what doesn’t, I love Trickstar.
We didn’t form a unit just based on calculation or compatibility, after all.
We chose where we want to live, on our own.
Aren’t you guys like that too, 2wink…? You could’ve separated and chosen other units more compatible to you individually.
But you chose to be together; you became the two-in-one 2wink, didn’t you?”
Yuuta: “Ugh, talking like you know…
Aah geez, and I lost at the game too. This is frustrating. At this point, no matter what I say it’ll just sound like a loser’s wailing…”
Hinata: “Yuuta-kun, Onii-chan will help you on the second round~! I’ll take the controls and the defense, so you just focus on the attack, Yuuta-kun!
With the two of us together, we’ll never lose to anyone♪”
Makoto: “Ahaha. Normally, that’ll only leave you in discord and dragging each other down. But you guys might just show me an amazing combination.
That’s okay~ I’ll take you two on! Your senpai will keep you company for another round♪”
Hinata: “Ah, Yuuki-senpai in gaming mode seriously gets on your nerves! He’s acting all smug~!
We’re gonna pummel him, Yuuta-kun♪”
Yuuta: “OK, Aniki♪ See if you can block our twins’ synchronized attacks by yourself~”
Makoto: “Ahaha. I’ll try. I won’t lose, not with video games.
Someday, even in reality, I’ll show I can say ‘It’s my win!’ no matter what situation comes my way.”
TL Notes: In case it is confusing,
[1] Hokke~ (ホッケー) is how they say hockey in Japanese–so Yuuta is probably confusing Hinata’s “hockey” for Subaru’s nickname for Hokuto, “Hokke”.