The Shibuya Scramble Fest is smaller than the big Expos, but the energy is just as intense, maybe even more so because of the concentrated hype around the star guest. The venue, a trendy event space near the station, is packed wall-to-wall with fans, cosplayers, and industry people.
Our setup is familiar now: Ectiqa's booth (a temporary shrine to light and heroism), Hime-Hime's booth (an enclave of gothic elegance), and LUNA's booth (a pocket dimension of starlight and impossible tech) are all present, though mercifully spaced slightly apart this time. Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa are in their element, greeting fans, posing for photos, embodying their respective personas. The rivalry is still there, but muted, overshadowed by the anticipation for the main event.
Kenji is practically useless as an assistant today. He spends the entire morning vibrating near the main stage, clutching a freshly purchased Ichigo photobook to his chest, waiting for his idol to appear. Miki, Hana, and I are left juggling the handler duties for all three girls, a task requiring the logistical skills of an air traffic controller and the patience of a saint.
Around noon, a buzz goes through the crowd. The main stage lights dim. Dramatic music swells. The host, a hyperactive guy with brightly colored hair, runs onto the stage.
"ARE YOU READY, TOKYO?!" he screams into the microphone. The crowd roars back. "ARE YOU READY FOR THE KNIGHT IN CRIMSON ARMOR?! THE HERO OF OUR HEARTS?! PLEASE GIVE IT UP FOR THE ONE, THE ONLY… ICHIGO!!!"
The lights flash. Smoke machines erupt. And Ichigo walks onto the stage.
The reaction is instantaneous and deafening. It is pure, unadulterated adoration. And honestly? Even I can see why.
He is cosplaying as 'Valerius,' the main hero from a massively popular fantasy RPG – a classic knight character known for his bravery, his tragic backstory, and his impossibly good looks. And Ichigo is Valerius. He is tall, broad-shouldered (thanks to cleverly constructed armor, I assume), with a sharp jawline, piercing blue eyes (contacts, obviously), and artfully tousled, strawberry-blonde hair (a wig, but an incredibly realistic one). His armor is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, gleaming crimson and silver, detailed down to the last scuff mark. He moves with a confident, easy grace, a slight, charming smirk playing on his lips. He looks like he just stepped directly out of the game's loading screen.
The crowd goes insane. Kenji is literally weeping, holding his photobook like a sacred text. Even Miki looks vaguely impressed.
From their respective booths, Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa are all watching the stage monitor, their expressions identically stunned.
"Wow," Rina breathes, her usual competitive fire momentarily extinguished by pure admiration. "He is… really good."
"His posture is perfect," Haruka analyzes, her critical eye finding no flaws. "The way he carries himself… he embodies the character completely."
Aiwa just stares, mesmerized. "He looks… like a real hero," she whispers, echoing the sentiment of almost everyone in the room.
Ichigo works the stage like a rockstar, striking poses, interacting with the host, flashing charming smiles that make several girls in the front row look like they might faint. He is the epitome of cool, handsome, heroic perfection.
Then, his gaze sweeps over the crowd. He is scanning the faces, his smirk widening slightly. His eyes pass over the adoring fans, over the other cosplayers… and then they land on me. I am standing near the side of the stage, trying to look inconspicuous while keeping an eye on Rina.
Ichigo's gaze stops. It lingers. His smirk transforms into a genuine, warm smile. And then, he does something that makes my blood run cold.
He winks. A slow, deliberate, unmistakable wink. Directed right at me.
My brain immediately crashes. What? Why?! Does he know me? Is he mistaking me for someone else? Is this some kind of cosplayer code I do not understand?!
I look around frantically. Is he winking at someone behind me? No. It was definitely me. The impossibly cool, handsome, universally adored Ichigo just winked at me.
Across the hall, Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa, who were all watching the monitor with rapt attention, also see it. They see Ichigo, the object of their (and everyone else's) admiration, single me out with a clear, unambiguous gesture.
Their reactions are a beautiful, terrifying symphony of confusion and burgeoning fury.
Rina's jaw tightens. Haruka's eyes narrow to slits. Aiwa just blinks, a small, puzzled frown appearing on her face.
Kenji, however, sees it and interprets it in his own unique way. "Aha!" he gasps. "A spark! A connection! Ichigo-sama recognizes a kindred spirit in Rui! A fellow knight! This is the beginning of a beautiful, heroic bromance!"
I sincerely doubt it is a bromance. I have absolutely no idea what it is, but the sudden, intense focus of the three girls currently glaring daggers in my direction tells me one thing for sure: my life just got infinitely more complicated. Again.