"Arcade this weekend!" Jace announced loudly at lunch, nearly knocking over his juice box with his excitement. "Everyone's coming, right?"
"Of course!" Mina grinned, already scrolling through her phone to look up the newest games. Caleb and Leo exchanged a look, both nodding in agreement.
Eli hesitated—he wasn't usually the type for noisy outings. But with everyone insisting, he finally sighed and gave a small nod.
When he arrived at the arcade Saturday afternoon, bright lights and game sounds filled the air. Jace was shouting encouragement at Leo, who was locked in a racing game battle with Caleb. Mina leaned on the machine, laughing as she recorded the chaos on her phone.
To Eli's surprise, Kai was there too, standing just a little apart from the group until he noticed Eli walk in.
"Didn't know you'd come," Eli said as Kai approached.
"One of your friends invited me," Kai replied simply. Eli glanced over at Mina, who only gave him a mischievous shrug.
They tried the shooting games first. Kai wasn't great, but when he missed, he just smiled faintly, accepting Jace's playful groans and Leo's over-the-top laughter without complaint.
Later, at the claw machine, Eli struggled to grab a plush toy, grumbling as it slipped again. Caleb leaned on his shoulder, unhelpfully saying, "Maybe you're cursed, Eli."
"Here," Kai murmured, sliding a coin into the machine.
His movements were precise, calm. The claw dipped, grabbed, and this time held steady—lifting a small stuffed cat until it dropped into the chute.
Eli blinked as Kai handed it to him. "For you."
Heat rose to Eli's face. "You didn't have to—"
"I wanted to."
Before Eli could reply, Jace's voice cut across the noise. "Hey, you two! Team battle, let's go!"
Their friends gathered them up, and the rest of the day was filled with noise, laughter, and silly competitions—Mina dragging them into a dance game, Caleb declaring himself champion of air hockey, Leo arguing over ticket counts. Yet somehow, Eli and Kai kept drifting together—side by side at the park afterward, walking in step while the others ran ahead.
"Looks like you've got a partner-in-crime, Eli!" Jace teased, cupping his hands around his mouth dramatically.
Eli groaned, waving him off, while Mina and Caleb snickered. But later that night, as he lay in bed, he couldn't stop thinking about it.