The required preparation ate up a week's worth of time for us. The rivalry between Rise and Sera will turn into a hot topic within the community of Weabs. Who will be the one worthy to step up the majestic rank?
Though we have the advantage of knowing what costume Rise will wear, we don't know her performance yet. Rise might have the same talent her sister had. She might be using this competition to surprise her sister. However, I have a greater reason to win this.
We won't know if there's still time to complete my promise to Sera.
Rise removed her makeup after class before we visited Wuthering Weaves, and I feel like I'd been working with Hina Satou all this time. We both helped Madame with the costume creation and design the accessories we needed. It's just amazing that Madame still remembers Sera's measurements, like she knows Sera wouldn't get fat easily. I appreciate how they respect their customer's privacy since Rise and I had different workrooms.
Being occupied for a week made us forget the pace of time. It felt like a blink of an eye when we realized that the contest will be held tomorrow. That same night I got home, I knew that Izumi already went home from her tutoring errand, yet…
I opened the door, witnessing a single piercing glare coming from the couch in the living room. The engaged Sera practiced writing kanji in her notebook. Beside her, Izumi narrowed her eyes at me, pouting.
"Sera, I need to go," Izumi uttered, standing up, her fists clenching.
"I'm halfway through the paper," Sera said, straightening her back. She only observed me at that moment, her eyes glimmering. With a smile of content, she exclaimed, "Kou-nii!"
Izumi walked past me while bowing, intensely avoiding any eye contact. When she left our home, she didn't even say goodbye to Sera. What disrespect! But I could feel her frustration. Did she get irritated with teaching Sera? Lines formed on my forehead when I approached Sera and asked, "Did something happen?"
"She's been silent since she got here. You came from the same place called school, right? Did something happen?"
Wow! She countered me with a Reverse Card. I subconsciously opened my mouth and soon closed it, my lips pressing together in a negligible grimace. It doesn't mean that we talk to each other if we came from the same place. I would like to tell her that, but she probably won't even understand it. However, her not knowing Izumi's mood means something happened at school. This isn't my problem anymore.
Changing the topic, I asked with enthusiasm, "How about your performance? Are you confident to show it to the public tomorrow?"
While I'm working on her costume at Madame's, I provided her with FCO5 series recommendations that she can watch while I'm not around. I advised her to choose which episode will mimic the word "art" the most.
She clasped her hands before her chest and replied with a heartfelt smile, "It's just lovely how I have the same history when I practiced my first dance, knowing that I need to connect with people's hearts. For Shizu-sama, her dance became a symbol of restoration and motivation for people. Just like before, I just need people to feel how I adore performances."
Holding my hands loosely behind my back, I already memorized the anime in its entirety, and I'm confident enough to know what episode she'll pick. Still, it's important for her to feel the freedom of choice. In this way, I can improve her initiative and decision-making.
We have a judge with high-expectations of art, who is set on failing us. Even though she's just an amateur in the Otaku world, I trust Sera's talent, and in this world, I fully understand her love of art. What I want to know is… "Can we win?"
Unlike before, where hope once crushed her, her response conveyed a big change in her confidence. She invited me to cross our pinky fingers and winked at me with a playful grin. "Should we?"
"Just don't get involved with maid cafes again."
"Welcome to OtakuMania, Otakus! Weabs! Respectful Degenerates! NEETS! What do you want us to call you? No worries! Everyone of us share the same hobbies and interests! ANIME! MANGA! GAMES! 2D BOYS AND GIRLS! FANTASY AND ECCHI! Everything Anime-related is all here! What are you waiting for!?"
"They have bad taste in hosts. Won't he get tired?" I complained to the non-stop blaring speaker while holding Sera's hand and the baggage containing her costume. We're currently outside the event place, wearing casual clothing; Both Sera's braid and woolen cap covered her long ears from suspicious eyes. Just one surgical face mask and her identity is concealed!
Standing on the third line of admission, I hissed, my shoulders raised. I can't even use my disability privilege to skip lines, and it will be big trouble if my leg strains before the competition. Sera doesn't know the concept of standing in lines yet despite it being a must-have Otaku skill… Or so I thought.
Sera's lips stretched into a thin line, the corners twitching upward in a mockery of a smile. She crossed her arms, gripping them with her quivering hands. If she dislikes the crowd, she wouldn't be able to interact with people at the last Shibuya Halloween. Since I couldn't provide better alternatives than this, I asked, "Is something bothering you?"
Shaking her head, she responded, "W–Where are we?"
"We're currently at the Tokyo Convention Hall, one of the prime locations for lavish events and gatherings, mostly related to Anime, Games, and Manga. The event will be held at the largest hall–" I halted when I noticed her cycling her distant gaze in discomfort. I smiled and tapped her head, rubbing it gently. "We'll only enter, perform, get the win, and go home. There's nothing to worry about." Though the discontent didn't leave her heart, her smile turned into something genuine.
I surveyed a total of seven rows, but I didn't see Rise in line. Maybe it's because of the height difference. If one brought baggage, it's either they're a cosplayer or are planning to buy a lot of merchandise. For the whole hour that we were in line, I explained to Sera how to win the OtakuMania contest.
Unlike the previous CosFiesta contest that is based on popularity and performance scoring, OtakuMania will be divided into two parts, Elimination and Finals. The elimination rounds are structured in a hierarchical, single-elimination format, and cosplayers will compete in consecutive showdowns. The published criteria will be based on costume design, aspects of realism, and popularity appeal or audience impact.
The finals will be held next week at a much wider event venue. Even if the judges will be the same, audience impact will be removed as a factor in judging. The whole competition will be decided subjectively on how the judges view the art of cosplays. The criteria will still be realism, design, performance, and accuracy. Winning the last criteria means the character feels like they were brought to life. That might be the only criteria Sera can realistically hit.
I've checked the bracketing and found that the last two brackets contained Sera and Rise's images. It is inevitable that we will face Rise at the last round of the elimination. This competition must be rigged.
At last, we entered the event venue with only a little strain on my right knee. I immediately searched for a nearby seat and sat down with Sera. She might have witnessed me catching my breath. "Are you alright, Kou-nii?"
"I felt better than before. In a few minutes, we'll go soon. How about you?" I asked after I noticed her unrestricted breathing through her gaping mouth. After an hour of standing, her legs seemed to be wobbly.
"I–I'm fine… and glad we're alright," she mentioned. Near the doors of the event venue, various stalls of foods and merchandise welcomed us. The previously barren space became flooded with people entering the venue. The stage was hidden from our sight, but the announcements from the speakers gave us an idea on what was currently happening at the main stage.
She might have not noticed it earlier due to fatigue, but now, she wandered her eyes around and up high, astonishingly glimmering in amazement. The longer her gaze went, the more her mouth opened wide. "I've never seen such a large room so bright in my life. I'm just… amazed that a gigantic room could exist! And that's not all… almost all the people here are cosplayers! I hope I'll make some friends soon!"
Due to restrictions on going outside, her friend circle is limited to only Izumi. There's the risk of being discovered as a real elf and being deemed a monster. Any events related to cosplay will be her only way to make friends. Shizu-sama's image will be the reason she'll become a magnet of people, both fans and cosplayers.
"After this competition, I want to introduce you to a friend. You might get to know more of her soon."