There was just something so very satisfying about a slot machine. Each hefty pull of the lever brought with it a rush of dopamine; the catchy tunes, the cnking of gears, the tinkling rain of metal beads, and the celebratory music everytime Nina got matching slots. It was an experience specially designed to engage all of her senses and drag her Mankey brain out to the forefront.
That said, despite Giratina's best efforts, Nina was resistant to the machine's allure. The girl prided herself in her self-control when it came to such matters. Even in her past life, Miles was a bonafide F2P pyer, having never spent a single cent on gacha games.
Lilian though, was less impervious, needing Nina and Alfred's gentle guidance to distance herself from the slot machine. A fact that Councilman Abe was annoyingly smug about.
“As you can see, Game Corners are just a bit of harmless fun.” Abe said to Lilian as they sat down in the VIP lounge for a break. “The prizes are alluring, yes, but that was never the main attraction of a Game Corner to begin with. Much like video games in that regard, just casual entertainment.” The man lowered his head in reverence as he poured Shuckle juice into Lilian’s gss, a gesture normally reserved for one’s superior.
“Despite the League’s best efforts to hamstring the industry, the Cedon City Council has been working tirelessly alongside operators like the Yamaguchi Group to ensure that the good denizens of Kanto are able to continue enjoying this time-honored recreation…”
The man continued on with his ptitudes; mostly just inane, convoluted drivel intended to mask the true nature of Game Corners, as well as fttering words to cajole Lilian into advocating the League to ease off on some of their more stringent regutions on the city’s behalf.
Nina pretended to be disinterested and tuned out the conversation as she sipped on her Shuckle juice and pyed with the box of metal beads she had resting on her p. She suspected that the machines in the VIP lounge were all rigged in their favor, because she nearly had enough to exchange for the Mystic Water pendant that she had her eyes on after just a couple hours of py.
For context, the Rotom Phone they saw earlier costs a whopping 3 million points, while the Mystic Water cost 100,000. Not bad, for what was supposedly divine water from a Suicune, albeit just a miniscule amount.
Nina was really tempted to just stay here for the day and grind it out until she had enough to bag the Rotom. “Is it really cheating if it’s against crooks like the Yamaguchi Group?”
That said, she doubted their host would be generous enough to let it happen. More than likely, they’d rug pull her right near the precipice to fuel her frustrations and keep her going. This was how one got addicted to gambling — by succumbing to the highs and lows of the fickle act.
“Charlie, come with me to the prize floor, I’d like to redeem my points,” said Nina as she handed the hefty box of metal beads over to the servant boy.
“Please, allow me to escort you Miss Jones.” Nobita chimed with a courteous smile. “I’m sure Mr Abe would like some space to converse privately with Lady Bckthorn.” The boy added, earning a nod of appreciation from the slimy politician.
Nina returned the smile and took hold of the hand that Nobita offered to her as the trio made their way towards the elevator. The girl was gd for the velvety soft carpets cushioning her heels, otherwise she would have made a fool of herself several times over by this point.
“Thank you for guiding us today, by the way.” Nina said as an awkward silence began to settle within the elevator. The elevator was a private one, so there was no one else around. “I doubt we could have had as pleasant an experience if we just came in as regur customers.”
Nobita chuckled with a dignified bow. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Jones.” He replied before reaching into his jacket pocket to produce a business card. “If ever you feel so inclined to grace us with your presence once more, you need only give me a call and I shall make all the necessary arrangements.”
Nina expressed her thanks and reached out to grab hold of the proffered card in an impassive manner, only to light up when she caught a feel of the card in between her fingers. “Of course, Nobita. I’ll make sure to do that.” The girl responded, with a subtle smirk.
In the end, Nobita was kind enough to make up the difference in points for the Miracle Water that Nina wanted. And when they got back to the VIP lounge, an annoyed looking Lilian decred to Nina that they were leaving.
Nina nodded in agreement and followed along, since she had already accomplished her objective, but still gazed longingly at the box of metal beads that Lilian left behind on the table. “What a waste…” If Nina had held off on her purchase, she might have been able to get Fuyumi’s Thunder Stone for free in the Game Corner instead.
***
“How goes the matter with that Bckthorn welp?”
Nobita shifted to take in the visage of the burly bald man before him, wearing an ill-fitting pinstripe suit, barely concealing the tattoos on his neck, and a pair of shaded gsses even indoors — Noboru Yamaguchi, his so-called father.
The boy shook his head with a sigh. “Councilman Abe overreached and somehow managed to offend Lady Lilian.”
Noboru smmed down on his desk with the fury of a Magmortar. “That spineless moron! Useless piece of filth!” He then turned to gre at his son. “And where were you?! Why didn’t you keep him in line?!”
“I was tending to the needs of Miss Jones at the time.”
Noboru growled. “So you chose to dally with some skank over the Bckthorn girl?!”
Nobita shrugged. “Melina Jones is the niece of Misty Mizuhana and her star apprentice, she’s also an old friend of mine from Cerulean City. Though I doubt she remembers me.” The boy sighed. “I honestly thought that Abe was much more competent than that.”
The Yamaguchi patriarch rexed into his seat, seeming appeased by his son’s expnation. “Then it’s not a total loss.” The man groaned. “Abe is a fool, same with the rest of his lot — just a bunch of greedy sycophants clinging to our pockets. You will do well to remember that, understood?”
Nobita nodded.
“It would benefit us to develop retions with the Cerulean Gym, maybe even use the girl to get to the Bckthorns” Noboru gave Nobita a meaningful look. “Do you think you can manage?”
The boy responded with a wry smile. “I’ll give it a try.”
Noboru smmed his palm once more. “Trying is not good enough! You either do or you don’t! And if you do, then make sure to succeed. THAT is the Yamaguchi way! Understood?!” Nobita nodded and earned a dismissive wave in return. “Good. You may leave.”
“Wait, father. About the upcoming shipment…”
Noboru chuckled. “I shall be going with the usual lot. I understand that you’re eager, son. But for now, devote yourself to our regur operations. I will call upon you when you’re ready.”
Nobita nodded and turned to exit the ostentatious office, quietly fuming inside all the while. “If only I could get irrefutable proof, then even that man’s allies in the League would be hard pressed to defend him.”
***
“Thank you for all your hard work, young master.”
Nobita smiled and greeted the employee who passed him by, commending the man for a job well done as well.
With a steady gait, the boy went down the opulent hallways with a confident smile, making sure to engage with every guest and employee that crossed his path before eventually making it to his private office.
“That’s it for today. Go and ready the car, I’ll meet you downstairs.” Nobita said to his assistant, an unassuming man in gsses who bowed in affirmation and went off to do what he was told.
Nobita’s shoulders loosened the moment he stepped into his office, exhaling a steady breath of relief before straightening his back once more. “Not yet, Nobita. You’re not out of the woods just yet.”
The boy was tempted to just rip off his tie and suit right this instant, but he still needed to show his face on the way down to the lobby, so he needed to be presentable. So instead, he settled on just washing his face in the washroom to freshen up.
Nobita took off his gsses and set them aside as he looked into a mirror, only to find the unfamiliar face of a dashing young teen staring back at him. One with immacutely combed hair, a charming smile and sharp, intelligent eyes.
Nobita Yamaguchi reached up to feel his face, all numb from a day’s worth of pretense. He massaged his stubborn cheeks, and unruly lips, trying to bring them back under his control.
Why do people smile? Nobita had always thought that smiles and ughter were an indication of happiness and joy. Yet recently, the boy’s smile had been anything but — merely a tool of deceit and guile, a fanciful mask he wore to suck up to the people around him. He was the scion of the Yamaguchi Group and expected to behave as such. That was, until Noburo Yamaguchi shifted his favor elsewhere as the fickle mogul was prone to do.
Nobita would love to lose the attention of his bastard of a father, but that would leave his mother in a very precarious position, so that was out of the question.
The boy dipped his head down and spshed his face with the running water, relishing in the cooling sensation of the clear liquid. He stayed in that position for an inordinately long time, eyes mesmerized by the hypnotic swirls of the basin’s drain. The gushing noise of the water faucet drowning out his wayward thoughts, and for just that brief moment in time, Nobita’s mind was at peace.
When he eventually recovered, what Nobita saw in the mirror were decrepit, hollow eyes, beset by dark circles on an impassive face. The boy breathed in steadily and took in the reflection, his true visage, as a reminder of who he was, so as not to lose himself in the byrinth of deceit he was trapped in.
Nobita shut his eyes to recollect his thoughts, before abruptly smming the faucet shut and walking back out of the washroom with his mask renewed.
***
“Where to, young master?” Nobita’s assistant cum driver asked.
“Firstly, to the bakery to pick up some pastries, then to my grandma’s pce.”
The driver responded with a frown in the rear view mirror. “You know how the master feels about your maternal grandmother. Are you sure this is wise, Master Nobita?”
However, Nobita merely waved off the man’s concern with a chuckle. “It’s been two months since I st saw her, surely my father won’t object? Besides, I’ll take responsibility for appeasing him should he throw a tantrum. You can just drop me off and go spend some time with your family — your wife recently gave birth right? I’ll have my grandmother drive me back home when the time comes.”
“There’s no need. I shall eat dinner nearby and await your summons.” The man declined, but still obeyed Nobita’s wishes and took him to the pces he wanted to go.
“Darling! How have you been?”
Nobita smiled and endured his grandma’s hugs and kisses, making sure to hold his breath to avoid breathing in too much of the woman’s perfume — the stuff made him sneeze uncontrolbly.
Despite her advanced age, Nobita’s grandmother was wearing enough makeup to smother a Mr Mime and dressed up in a glitzy cocktail dress with an unbearably itchy pink feather scarf adorning her neck. This was because the woman ran a hostess club in Cedon City, one of several in fact. That was how Noboru Yamaguchi met Nobita’s mother. Or rather, that was how the man met most of his women.
“You’re looking very haggard, dear. Is that moronic man overworking you again?”
Nobita handed over the bag of pastries in his hand and returned his grandma’s affection with a hug and a kiss. Despite all her fws, the boy loved his grandmother a great deal. Likewise, she was also the one family who had any genuine affection for him.
“I’m fine grandma,” said Nobita, as he did an exaggerated roll of his shoulder. “Just feeling a little hitch in my neck.”
The old woman ughed. “No worries, dear. Just go rest in your usual room, I’ll be by ter with some girls to give you a full body massage.”
Nobita smiled. There was a spa on top of the club, also owned by his grandma, one which provided ‘special’ services upon request. But the woman was obviously not going to subject her underage grandson to such debauchery. In fact, if she had a choice in the matter, she’d prefer the boy remain as her innocent little Pikachu forever.
No, Nobita’s grandma was his accomplice against Noboru, his one and only accomplice in fact. It was a good thing that the woman wasn’t one to be trifled with either, wielding her own share of influence in the murky waters of Cedon City.
“Sure, but I’d like to take a bath first if that’s okay?” Nobita responded. There was quite a spacious bath within the club for the benefit of the girls who worked here. Part of the perks of working for Nobita’s grandma was how well the woman treated her employees.
The senior hostess chuckled. “Of course, dear. It should be empty at this time, but just in case, I’ll tell the girls to stay clear until you’re done.”
Nobita thanked his grandma and made his way to the baths. After the boy was done bathing, instead of wearing the clothes he came in with, he reached into a separate basket with a brand new set of underwear, shorts and an oversized t-shirt. Even a set of thick rimmed gsses which he put on in pce of his usual ones.
On the way out, he ‘accidentally’ left his Pokegear behind in the undry basket with all his other clothes as Nobita walked up the stairs to the room that was prepared for him. All the while, muted jazz music pyed in the background from the main club area — this was one of his grandma’s higher end establishments.
The stairs soon gave way to a dim hallway with well worn carpets, the smell of musk and detergent permeating the air. Nobita kept walking, until he reached the middle of the hallway where he stopped in front of an unassuming door, one completely indistinguishable from all the rest.
The boy pushed down on the handle, opening the door and breaking out into a smile at the sight of the room’s occupants— a truly genuine smile that Nobita had almost forgotten he was capable of.
***
Author's note:
I'm on vacation this week and I'm desperately looking forward to it.
No change to the release schedule but I probably won't be around to give out reps and reply to comments very often.
