Chapter 15: Extra completes her first collaboration with the President.

It’s not something I brag about, but I was pretty good at claw machines.

I got good from playing a lot, and also because I had to win within a limited amount of money.

Now, my parents give me an allowance, but in my previous life, the 10,000 won the director gave me every week for transportation and snacks was all I had.

When I was in elementary school, I could somehow manage, but I entered the orphanage just after I started middle school.

I could somehow make do with the supplies that came into the orphanage for daily necessities, but just the transportation costs left me with almost no money.

Besides, there was no way I could get a part-time job as a middle school student, so I had to save up any money I wanted to use for other things.

In that situation, birthday presents were a luxury, and even if I gave one, it was just buying something like a hamburger with the money I had saved.

–Thank you, Oppa.

Even so, the first younger sister I got after coming to the orphanage was happy, and I felt some satisfaction from her smile.

Then one day, I saw my sister on the way home from school.

–Hey, isn’t that the kid who follows you around?

–Where? …Yeah, it is.

–I’m going ahead so I don’t bother you. See you later tonight.

–It’s not like that.

–Sure.

I watched her carefully to see what she was doing alone, and my sister was looking inside a claw machine.

Inside, there were many fluffy, cat-shaped dolls.

Her face clearly showed that she wanted one.

But, my sister didn’t play the claw machine and soon turned away.

I didn’t know if she didn’t have any money in her pocket at the time, or if she turned away because she had already spent all her money.

However, that wasn’t important to me at the time.

The moment I saw her, what was important was that for some reason I felt like I really wanted to get that doll.

I started playing the claw machine, thinking that I would save the money that I would have spent bumming a cigarette from the guys I hung out with.

A day passed, and then two.

By the time I spent enough money to fill a pack of cigarettes, I succeeded in getting the doll.

–Here.

–Huh? What’s this?

–I won it while playing. I don’t need it, so take it.

Thinking back now, it was a really obvious lie.

My sister knew that I didn’t play claw machines much, and she was even the one who was looking at the claw machine.

She probably realized right away that I was lying to protect my pathetic pride as soon as she saw the doll.

–…Thank you.

Even so, my sister was happy and accepted it.

–Hide it well in your room. I don’t want to get a headache if the kids throw a tantrum because they want it.

–Okay.

After that, I would occasionally win cheap dolls from the claw machine and give them to her as gifts.

‘…….’

It’s in the past.

But, it was one of the few good memories.

“What do you want to win, Senior?”

Back to reality.

The machine Lee Seorin was playing had a variety of dolls mixed in.

The store owner who installed it probably brought leftover stock from a claw machine shop.

There were common dog and cat shapes, as well as strange monster dolls that looked like they came from a movie.

The sizes were all different, too.

“That…….”

Lee Seorin hesitated for a moment.

It was understandable.

She was suddenly caught playing the claw machine by a junior she saw yesterday, and that junior suddenly offered to win a doll for her, so she must be confused.

Still, I wanted to help if possible.

Regardless of why Lee Seorin came all the way here, her flustered appearance reminded me of myself when I first played the claw machine, so I felt a little concerned.

“……I wanted to win that.”

The one she pointed to with her finger was a puppy-shaped doll.

It didn’t seem to be a particularly famous doll, but it was white, so it looked cute.

“Did you spend 5,000 won trying to get that?”

I didn’t ask because she spent 5,000 won.

I asked because she only spent 5,000 won.

That doll was buried among other dolls, so at the very least, I had to remove the cat doll on top to get it.

That means it would cost almost twice as much money compared to winning other dolls.

Since she couldn’t even remove the cat doll, it was safe to say that the 5,000 won she put in was just wasted.

“……Please don’t ask. It’s my first time playing this today. I came all the way to a place where there wouldn’t be any students, but of all things to get caught…….”

‘First time?’

First time?

I remember seeing a line in the comic where Yoon Sejeong said she had played a few times before during an arcade date scene…….

‘Could it be, she’s never played a claw machine until the third year of high school?’

The president, it seems, was a much more lady-like person than I thought.

Ah, she’s a princess.

“I can win it for you.”

Even though it looked like that, I could definitely win it if I had the money.

“……Really?”

“But, you’ll have to pay, Senior. I don’t have any cash right now.”

The problem was that I didn’t have any cash on me.

These days, I use my card for most things, so it’s been a long time since I carried cash.

“Ugh, okay. Since I’ve already been caught, I might as well win a doll. If you can win it, I’ll cover the cost.”

‘Oh…….’

With those words, Lee Seorin placed several 10,000 won bills on top of the claw machine.

She seemed to have exchanged them at a convenience store for the claw machine, but it was too much.

“Senior, at this rate, wouldn’t it be better to just buy the doll?”

Honestly, it was more profitable to just buy the doll with this much money.

If I ran to the part-timer over there with this money, wouldn’t they take it out for me, saying it’s good?

Or I could just buy a similar one online.

“That’s no fun. That’s not why I came all the way here.”

‘I guess not.’

The reason why a wealthy adult would bother to win a prize in a claw machine even though they could buy it separately.

It’s because it’s fun in itself.

The same goes for claw machines.

I knew it, but still, seeing enough money to buy the doll right in front of me, I couldn’t help but say it.

“Then, I’ll start right away.”

“……Can you really win it?”

“Just watch.”

Honestly, with this much money, there was nothing I couldn’t win.

Ding.

Ten thousand won went in, and the number 10 was displayed on the number window.

‘I have to finish it within 10 tries.’

If I took too long, my sister would definitely scold me.

I have to finish quickly and go.

I move the claw.

The important thing when winning a doll is not to think about winning it with each try.

Within the money I have, create the easiest position to win, and then just once.

This one try is important.

“Oh…….”

As I was moving the doll little by little, I heard a sound of admiration from the side.

Not only that, but I could feel her gaze moving around.

It seemed like she was fascinated by the claw machine.

‘What would it be like to show this side of the president to the kids at the academy.’

Wouldn’t her followers increase even more?

–As expected of the President! Even after school, she’s working hard to learn about fields she doesn’t know!

Or something like that.

–Isn’t the President playing the claw machine so cute? Next time, I’ll play the claw machine with her…….

Or something like that.

Both of them seemed to have lost their minds.

I wondered if there would really be people who would say such things, but most of the followers in the academy would definitely show one of these two reactions.

Still, I could relate to the word “cute” in those words.

It was true that I felt something strange when a person with a similar height to me and a pretty face was looking at me with sparkling golden eyes.

Clunk!

Still, I faithfully carry out my task.

I wish I had won the puppy doll, but unfortunately, it was the black cat doll that was on top.

“In three tries……!”

‘Why is she reacting so well?’

The princess checked that the cat doll had come down and immediately hugged it.

Was she always like this……?

At the academy, and even in the comic, she seemed to be more, how should I put it, like an older sister in front of Yoon Sejeong.

‘……She probably had this side of her too.’

Just like how Yoon Sejeong, who is related to me now, is living more brightly than she did in the comic, Lee Seorin might have lost this side of her because of the events that happened in the comic.

For example, finding out that the person she liked was actually her cousin.

Because of that, she almost had a falling out with the emperor.

‘……That’s definitely plausible.’

Thinking about it, the before and after such an event seemed to be enough to change a person.

Clunk!

While thinking, I didn’t stop my hands, and as a result, I succeeded in winning the puppy doll as well.

“It ended in exactly 10 tries. I’m glad I didn’t have to put in more money.”

It wasn’t my money, but still, it was a waste since it was in units of 10,000 won.

I could buy four servings of french fries with 10,000 won.

“Here, take it.”

“Ah, yes…….”

“Can I take the cat doll as a service fee? I want to give it to my sister.”

Siyeon also liked things like dolls.

If I brought it to her, she would probably scold me for spending money on something like this, but she would accept it happily.

“……Is that okay? Anything else, separately.”

“It’s okay. It’s because I intervened anyway.”

“Still.”

‘I really don’t need anything else.’

Seeing her fidgeting, it seemed that the princess wanted to do something else for me.

What if she gets caught by a bad person?

“Then, let’s do this.”

“Yes?”

“Instead of just a doll, how about we say it’s the first collaborative work between you and me, Senior, to commemorate our reconciliation yesterday?”

The president provided the money, and I did the winning.

If we give it this meaning, there’s no reason for the president to do anything for me.

It was just wordplay.

“First collaborative work?”

“Yes.”

“Collaborative……work…….”

Lee Seorin mulled over the words, and then smiled.

“Okay. Then I’ll gratefully accept it. Junior.”

“I’m the one who received the doll.”

Looking at her expression, it seems that she fortunately liked the words.

‘But, where did the word collaborative work come from…….’

I suddenly thought of it and used it, but I couldn’t remember where I saw it.

‘Well, it’s not important.’

There was nothing I could do about not remembering even if I thought about it.

“……By any chance, do you live nearby, Junior?”

“Yes. If I walk for about 10 minutes from here, I’ll be home soon.”

“Then, I’ll give you a ride. Just a moment.”

“You don’t have to…….”

“Chief.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

‘I was surprised.’

From an alley where I thought there was no one, a well-built man in a black suit came out.

‘That’s a bodyguard.’

It was the first time I saw one up close.

Since bodyguards don’t enter the academy, I wouldn’t see them except during school commutes or events.

“The driver is already on his way. He should be here in about 30 seconds.”

“That’s what he said, so let’s ride together. Okay? We’ve done a collaborative work together.”

If she said it like that, it was hard to refuse.

Because I was the one who said it.

“……I’ll gratefully accept the ride.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After that, I got into a limousine that a princess would ride and was dropped off at my house.

It was the first time I rode in a limousine, and it was quite comfortable, so I liked it.

I probably won’t have a chance to ride one again.