Airi, a former Self-Defense Force member, is back on the hunt for her partner airsoft gun. This time, she’s checking out the APC9 PRO, a CO2-powered submachine gun version from Archwick. Since she used to work with actual Armored Personnel Carriers (also called APCs) in the military, she feels an instant, nostalgic bond with the name. At a price point of around 60,000 yen, she jokes about the cost but is quickly distracted by the shiny new toy waiting in the box.

The unboxing is a bit of a struggle since the manual is written entirely in English—which might as well be ancient hieroglyphics to her at first. However, once she gets the gun in her hands, the ergonomics win her over. For someone with smaller hands, being able to reach the magazine release with just her index finger is a huge win. She spends some time wrestling with a stiff folding stock and performing a quick "oil and wipe" maintenance session to make sure everything is sliding smoothly.

The real magic for her happens during the test fire. Because it runs on CO2, the gun has a snappy kick and a satisfying crack that catches her by surprise. Even without warming up the magazine—a common chore for gas guns—it performs like a champ. AIRI’s excitement hits a peak as she tries out the full-auto mode, laughing as she realizes how easy it is to get carried away. By the end, she declares it a top contender for her permanent sidekick, proving that sometimes, love at first shot is real.