I never thought the day would come when I’d try ‘cosplay’ in my life.
I was a bit embarrassed, but it was also fun.
After all, with three real cute girls gathering around, it was unavoidable that all eyes were on us.
The camera clicked and flashed at us. Honestly, it felt a bit awkward.
I usually get photographed a lot, but it’s mostly my friends or Kagami taking the pictures.
“Do I need to strike a pose?”
Even Yuka, who had been looking relaxed just moments ago, stuttered a bit under the pressure of the atmosphere.
“…Should I?”
I pondered for a moment and decided to just go ahead and strike a pose.
As I crossed my arms and struck a ‘tsundere pose’ like Yuka did earlier when she pointed the camera, I could feel the cameras turning more toward us.
Honestly, it was a bit scary by this point. When I turned to look around, I saw similar scenes unfolding in different places. While we were in outfits that weren’t too different from everyday clothes, some people were showing their bellies, and some were just in bikinis!
“Wow?”
Koko was a bit flustered looking at the cameras aimed at her, tilting her head in confusion.
And this sight seemed so cute to others that the cameras started pointing in her direction.
At this point, I was a bit worried.
If we were planning to keep cosplaying, that’s one thing, but if this many photos were taken like this, someday our pictures would end up online. Most of the cameras around were digital ones, after all.
It’s not a huge problem… Um.
What should I say? The thought that in about ten years, my friends might find our cosplay photos and tease me about them made me snap back to reality.
I hadn’t really been conscious that I was at an event I always wanted to visit, but once I thought about it like that, I couldn’t help but worry.
There aren’t many kids like us who do ‘cosplay.’ Sure, you can wear something quirky on Halloween, but no one among my friends would easily accept dressing up as comic characters like this.
Perhaps Yuka felt the same way and looked at me.
When our eyes met, we both nodded at the same time.
“Wow?”
As we each grabbed one of Koko’s hands, she tilted her head in confusion again with those words.
And we quickly slipped through the crowd.
While doing that, I must admit, I was having a bit of fun. Just having this experience is a life I dreamed of since childhood.
Meeting special friends, sharing what I love, and maintaining that relationship.
Even if we escaped like this, eventually our photos would end up online, and even if a few years later my friends found those photos and teased me, that would also become a pleasant memory.
It was our first time together in a place like this.
Eventually, we re-entered the building where the cosplayers and photographers gathered, took a breath, and burst out laughing.
This is fun.
Just spending time together is enjoyable.
“We still have many places we haven’t explored yet.”
There were so many people that we couldn’t visit everywhere. Even if we did, there were still plenty we didn’t see. It’s easy to miss places when you’re walking around. If you focus your gaze on one spot, you can easily overlook what’s right next to it.
So…
“Let’s take a look around some more.”
“I wouldn’t mind staying until the closing time.”
Yuka said.
“After all, we’re not busy today, right?”
“…Yeah.”
I nodded at Yuka’s words.
I’m thankful to have Yuka by my side. Even if other friends would go along with my requests, I doubt we could enjoy it this much together.
“Koko, are you okay?”
“Uh?”
When I asked, Koko tilted her head.
“Not tired?”
“Not tired!”
Seeing Koko answer like that made Yuka and me laugh again.
And we started walking again.
Yeah, I haven’t really picked out many things to buy yet.
Let’s walk a bit more, and if there’s something we want to buy, we’ll get it. We still have plenty of the day left.
*
After wandering around for a while, just as my legs began to feel a bit sore—
A broadcast announced from the Tokyo Big Sight building that today’s Comic World was coming to a close.
The people who had stopped walking and were listening to the announcement lightly applauded.
Sounds of applause signaled satisfaction, expressing that they enjoyed the day.
I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t stay until the end when I went to a similar event in Seoul during my student days—
But still, I felt a sense of pride.
The fact that we stayed until the very end.
As Yuka and I clapped, Koko also applauded loudly while smiling.
Our hands were filled with quite a few things. I was glad I brought a shopping bag just in case. It’s not like there was too much, but there was no need to show it off to people on our way back.
“Well then, shall we go?”
Yuka said.
People were slowly moving toward the exit.
Everyone had smiles on their faces. Some looked a bit tired, but still.
“Koko, let’s go.”
“Okay!”
In response to my words, Koko smiled back.
Although she was a character I’d seen in anime, Koko was still Koko. It seemed that her expression as Koko was much stronger.
Next time, maybe I should choose a character that Koko would like even more.
As far as I know, Comic World had been consistently held yearly until 2020. So, there would be steady opportunities twice a year.
“Shall we head straight home?”
Yuka asked.
It felt a bit regretful to part ways right after experiencing Comike together, so we had made plans to head over to Yuka’s place afterward.
We were also planning to spend a night there.
More than anything, I thought it would be fun to spread out the stuff we bought at Comike and share them with each other.
Otaku always yearn to talk about what they love with others. It’s just that finding such people isn’t easy.
If it were Kagami, I’d think she would want me to view such things, but I didn’t want to force her into it.
If I asked her to learn naturally and enjoy them with me, that would be different.
“Should we quickly stop by somewhere else?”
I suggested to Yuka.
It was still only 4 PM.
There was plenty of time before shops or restaurants would close.
“I think it would be fun to read comic books together.”
Yes. Why not stop by a bookstore on the way?
Since I still had some pocket money left, we could all buy some comic books and lounge around in the room while reading. It was something I’d never done since coming to this world.
Yuka looked a bit surprised at first but thought for a moment and then smiled brightly and nodded.
“That sounds good. What do you think, Koko? Do you like comic books?”
“Yep! I love them!”
Perhaps influenced by the time I read picture books to her, or maybe she just happened to read my comic books and liked them.
Regardless, because it was Koko, I tried to avoid showing her anything too harsh or scary, and she seemed to really enjoy slice-of-life or school-themed stories. She wasn’t overly passionate about them, but she didn’t dislike them either.
“Then, shall we look for a bookstore nearby?”
“We could also stop by a café to rest a bit and grab some snacks.”
Now that I think about it, I felt like I had a very quick lunch. It was just a piece of bread.
“Okay, let’s play a bit more. After all, we’ve got plenty of time until the day is over.”
We have a lot of time.
No, to be honest, maybe not so much.
My life isn’t hanging by a thread, nor is some terrifying being chasing me.
It’s just that time flows incredibly quickly.
As summer comes around this year, it’ll be just one summer as a high school student. Since I’ve already experienced it once, it felt so regrettable.
So…
“Yeah.”
I replied.
So, I’ll cherish each day.
Unlike my last life, I don’t want to lose anything.
Even if there are unpleasant moments, I don’t want to live like that again. I want to live without regrets.
Even if I feel impatient, I won’t rush.
We walked side by side.
As we stepped outside the building, the blazing sun welcomed us.
It was a clear day without a single cloud. Honestly, on such a hot summer day, even a few clouds wouldn’t hurt.
Click.
I snapped a photo of Koko and Yuka reflecting in that sunlight.
Both of them were smiling brightly. They looked so youthful and lively that it felt like a waste for the time of this day to flow away.
After all, time is going to pass, whether I’m there or not.
“Let’s go.”
Perhaps hearing the camera sound, Yuka, who had been playfully looking this way, smiled at my words.
“True. I didn’t realize it before, but it’s really hot. Should we quickly head into another building?”
“Sounds good!”
Koko energetically agreed.
We squeezed through the crowd of people pouring out of the building and moved hurriedly.
We hadn’t decided yet where to go first or what to do at all.
While I could ask myself if it was idle to think the time was valuable, well…
After all, it’s just valuable to me because I want to enjoy being together, so isn’t it enough to just be here without thinking too much?
To avoid letting any unwarranted chuckles slip out, I walked vigorously forward.
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