Aruka is standing in front of the claw machine. She has been there since she can't even remember when; the sun was high when she started, and now it is pitch black. Aruka tries every possible way to figure out the mechanism—what does she have to do to stop the claw from letting go of the plushie too soon? Maybe she needs to hold the button down longer, or perhaps she needs to be faster with the joystick, or maybe… now she’s got it! She tries again, inserting the very last cents she has left. This has to be the one; this time for sure, she finally understands. The machine starts. She moves the lever a bit to the right, now a bit toward her, then to the left… a little more to the right… time's up! The claw begins its descent. It manages to snag the plushie right by the leg and pulls it up, and then… no. The grip gives way, and the toy falls back down to join all the others. Frustrated and completely broke, Aruka heads for home. After all those attempts, she thought that even if she wasn't skilled enough, she might at least get lucky once in a thousand tries. But she’s tough and she doesn't give up. Tomorrow, she’ll ask her grandmother for ice cream money and try again. Tomorrow, yes, that will be the day. She’ll get her plushie, and it will be the last coin she ever has to put in!