Ichigo's stage presentation ends to thunderous applause. He announces he will be doing a meet-and-greet at his designated booth later, sending a fresh wave of ecstatic shrieking through the crowd. He takes one last, sweeping bow, shoots another quick, enigmatic smile in my general direction, and disappears backstage.
I am left standing there, feeling like I have just been run over by a very charming, very confusing truck. Why did he wink at me? Why did he smile at me? Does he know who I am? Is this related to LUNA? Or Ectiqa? My brain is spinning conspiracy theories at light speed.
My existential crisis is interrupted by the simultaneous arrival of Rina and Haruka at my side. Aiwa hovers nervously a few feet behind them.
"Okay," Rina says, her voice dangerously low. "Explain. Now. Why was Ichigo, the Crimson Knight, the literal god of male cosplay, winking at you?"
"I have no idea!" I insist, throwing my hands up in genuine bewilderment. "Maybe he has an eye twitch! Maybe he was winking at someone behind me! Maybe he thinks I am his long-lost brother!"
"He was looking directly at you," Haruka states flatly, her analytical gaze fixed on my face. "And the smile was… specific. Not his usual stage smile. What are you not telling us, Rui-kun?"
"Nothing!" I protest. "I have never met the guy before in my life!"
"Hmm," Rina hums, clearly unconvinced. "Interesting."
Before they can escalate the interrogation, Miki arrives, looking stressed. "Okay, people, Ichigo's session is over, which means the main crowd flow is about to shift back towards our booths. Final push. Look alive."
The rest of the afternoon is a blur. The crowds return, though slightly diminished, their energy still buzzing from the Ichigo encounter. Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa go back into performance mode, but there is a new, shared undercurrent of suspicion directed squarely at me. They keep shooting me questioning glances between photos.
As the event is winding down, the unthinkable happens. Ichigo, having finished his own meet-and-greet, starts making his way through the thinning crowd, heading towards the exit. He is still in his magnificent Valerius cosplay, looking every bit the conquering hero.
And he is heading directly towards our section.
Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa all freeze simultaneously, their professional smiles faltering. Kenji makes a sound like a deflating balloon.
Ichigo stops right in front of our booths. He ignores the three goddesses completely. His piercing blue eyes land directly on me.
"Handler-kun, right?" he asks, his voice smooth and charming, exactly like his stage persona. He offers a hand, his armored gauntlet cool against my skin. "Ichigo. Pleasure to finally meet you properly."
I just stare at him, dumbfounded, shaking his hand automatically. "Uh, Rui," I manage to stammer out.
"Rui," he repeats, his charming smirk widening. "I was impressed earlier. The way you handle things. Very calm under pressure." He leans in slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Especially with such… high-maintenance talent." He glances briefly towards a fuming Rina and Haruka.
"They are not-" I start to protest, but he cuts me off.
"Listen," he says, his expression turning slightly more serious, though the charming smirk remains. "I am heading out for a late dinner with some industry people. You should join us. Could be fun." He claps me lightly on the shoulder. "Think about it. I will be near the west exit for the next ten minutes."
And then, with another dazzling smile and a final, infuriatingly cool nod, he turns and strolls away, leaving behind a wake of utter chaos.
I am left standing there, completely stunned. Did Ichigo, the legendary male cosplayer, just ask me out? To dinner? With industry people? Why?!
I look at Rina. Her face is pale with rage, her hands clenched into fists. I look at Haruka. Her expression is a mask of cold, calculating fury. I look at Aiwa. She just looks utterly bewildered and vaguely heartbroken.
Kenji sums it up perfectly. He clutches his head, swaying slightly. "My world… is collapsing," he whispers dramatically. "My ultimate idol… is trying to steal my best friend… who is also the love interest of my other two idols… one of whom is his sister… and the other might be his childhood fiancée… MAKE IT STOP!" He promptly faints for what must be a new personal record.
Ichigo's unexpected advance has just thrown gasoline, fireworks, and possibly a live shark onto the already raging dumpster fire of my life. And I have ten minutes to decide whether to run towards the explosion or away from it.