Chapter 197: The Cosplay Event; Tally Marks on the Thigh
Saki Kawasaki stared at Yoru. In his long black trench coat and the pitch-black mask, he was a mirror image of the man she had seen on the Ferris wheel—the man who had transformed before her eyes to save her little sister.
Her heart did a little somersault, and her face flushed a faint pink. "Yeah... you actually look pretty cool."
"Ohhh~?"
Marin Kitagawa let out a mischievous, lingering hum. She looked at Saki with a playful glint in her eyes. "Saki-chan, I asked if he looked accurate, but you went straight to 'pretty cool.' What's that about, hmm?"
"You...!"
Realizing she'd walked right into Marin's trap, Saki shot her a glare and hissed, "One more word out of you and I'm stripping that costume off you right here. I made it, I can take it back!"
"Hehe! What, I'm not allowed to tell the truth anymore?"
"Marin! You brat...!"
As Saki and Marin devolved into a fit of giggles and light shoving, Yoru chimed in with his usual "Abstract" commentary.
"Look, as much as I'd love to watch you two tear each other's clothes off, it's getting late. Shouldn't we head out?"
"Oh, right!"
Marin checked her phone. It was already past ten. She quickly stood up to fix her hair. "The event starts at 10:30. We really have to hustle!"
Saki waved them off, resting her chin in her hand. "Make sure to take plenty of photos."
Then, she looked at Yoru. She hesitated, biting her lip, before whispering: "Be safe."
"Look at you, worrying so much," Marin teased before Yoru could respond. "Don't sweat it! It's just a cosplay event. We'll be back by the afternoon. I'm just borrowing your Yoru-kun for a few hours. I'll return him in one piece!"
As she watched Marin and Yoru's retreating backs, Saki's face burned. "What do you mean my Yoru-kun... honestly, she never stops talking nonsense."
She let out a long sigh, a trace of genuine worry crossing her face. Marin thought this was just a normal convention. But Saki knew better. This wasn't just cosplay. This was "The Mask"—a wanted vigilante—hanging out in a public square for hours, taking photos and talking to strangers.
Could he really pull this off without getting caught?
On the train toward Akihabara, the summer heat was already beginning to settle in.
"Whew! Glad we made the express."
Marin was wearing a heavy, black gothic-lolita style dress. Even though they'd only run a short distance, fine beads of sweat were already forming on her forehead. She pulled a pack of tissues from her bag, offered one to Yoru, and smiled.
"Yoru-kun, you should wipe your face too."
"I'm good."
Yoru waved her off. Despite wearing the stifling trench coat and a full-face mask, he wasn't even breathing hard.
"Right, I forgot. You're the triple-record holder from the Sports Festival. Your stamina is on another level."
Marin dabbed her forehead, then looked at Yoru curiously. "I know I've said this like ten times, but... you really are a ringer for 'The Mask.' The build, the height, and even that... how do I put it?"
Seeing Marin struggle for the right words, Yoru offered a suggestion. "That innate 'Main Character' swagger?"
Marin blinked, then let out a sheepish laugh. "Well... it's a bit blunt, but yeah. That describes it perfectly. You have this aura that makes people notice you even in a crowd."
Yoru countered with pure confidence. "Is that so? I figured people noticed me because I'm just naturally handsome."
Marin facepalmed. "You are so full of yourself."
But then, she flashed a sweet smile. "But hey, that's exactly the kind of energy 'The Mask' has. It works."
As they talked, a little girl—maybe seven or eight years old—scurried up to Yoru. She looked at his pitch-black mask and the "burnt" hem of his coat (meticulously crafted by Saki) with wide, curious eyes.
"Excuse me... are you cosplaying as 'The Mask'?"
Before Yoru could say anything "Abstract" to the child, Marin jumped in. "Hey there! Do you know who 'The Mask' is?"
The little girl nodded solemnly. "Mm-hmm! He's my hero! Can I take a picture with him, Big Sister?"
"Of course! No problem!"
Marin took the phone from the girl's mother. She watched as the little girl sat right on Yoru's lap, flashing a peace sign. Marin felt a strange twinge in her chest.
"All done!"
The little girl checked the photo, handed the phone back to her mom, and gave Yoru and Marin a polite, formal bow. "Thank you, Mr. Mask! Thank you, Big Sister!"
As the girl returned to her seat, Marin turned to Yoru with a grin. "Did you know? In a recent online poll, 'The Mask' has a 72% approval rating among men, but it jumps to 84% among women. And for kids under ten? It's over 90%."
"Hoh? I'm that popular?"
Marin lightly punched his shoulder. "You really are a natural-born cosplayer. You're already using 'I'! I was talking about the real Mask, not you. But seriously, the guy is a legend. Even Saki's little sister, Keigha, is a total fangirl."
Yoru nodded wisely. "Makes sense. 'The Mask' is peak. A guy that cool definitely deserves a harem."
"What are you even saying? For all we know, 'The Mask' might be a girl."
"Zero chance. Trust me on this."
When they arrived at the event—a beautiful open-air plaza—Marin's eyes practically turned into stars. Everywhere she looked, there were cosplayers in vibrant, elaborate outfits.
"So this is a real cosplay gathering... it's my first time!" she whispered, before beaming at Yoru. "I'm so glad my first event is with you."
The moment Yoru and Marin stepped into the plaza, they became a magnet for attention.
Yoru, as "The Mask," looked so authentic it was unnerving. Marin, as Shizuku-tan, was a showstopper. Thanks to Saki's professional-grade tailoring and Marin's own meticulous makeup, she looked like the character had walked right out of the screen.
However...
"That character doesn't exactly look like a 'General Audience' kind of girl, does she?" Yoru noted.
"Eh? You think so?" Marin blinked, then her eyes lit up with realization. "Yoru-kun! Don't tell me you've played 'Saint Slimy-Slimy Academy: The Shameful Miraculous Life of a High-Class Lady in a Disgraceful Club 2'?!"
Yoru looked at her with genuine respect. "Damn. Your lung capacity is impressive just for saying that title in one go."
"That's not the point!" Marin chirped. "I'm so happy! I thought only Saki and I had played it!"
"Wait... Saki played that trashy galgame?"
"Yeah! To make sure the costume was accurate, I made her sit through a full playthrough. Saki is so amazing—she noticed so many tiny design details I missed while playing!"
Yoru finally understood. No wonder Saki didn't come today. Usually, a creator would want to see their work's debut. But Saki realized that Marin was cosplaying a character from a R-18 Galgame.
Saki wasn't as thick-skinned as Marin; she probably couldn't handle the "knowing" looks from the veteran otaku in the crowd.
"I guess we're quite the duo today," Yoru mused.
"A duo?" Marin tilted her head.
Yoru smirked. "I'm a veteran Galgame shooter. You're a Galgame heroine. We're the 'Trashy Game Team.' It's perfect."
Marin pouted. "Shizuku-tan is a very deep and complex character, hmph!"
Suddenly, a tall, stylish young woman with a professional camera slung over her shoulder pushed through the crowd. Her eyes locked onto Yoru and Marin, and she practically sprinted over.
"Excuse me! Is that a 'Mask' cosplay?"
Before Yoru could answer, the woman circled him like a predator, murmuring to herself. "Incredible. It's perfect. It's exactly like the one I saw that day..."
Marin's curiosity was piqued. "Wait... have you seen the real 'Mask'?"
"Of course!" The woman grinned proudly. "I was there when he made his first public appearance. I'm actually the reporter who wrote the piece on the Teru Teru Bozu Killer—the one that caught 'The Mask's' attention in the first place!"
Marin was impressed, but Yoru cut through the mood. "Natsumi Suga-san... aren't you exaggerating your 'contribution' just a little bit?"
"Eh?"
Natsumi Suga froze. She looked at Yoru's masked face, then her eyes widened. "That voice... Yoru-kun? Is that you? What are you doing here?"
"What does it look like?" Yoru shrugged. "I'm just accompanying a friend to a cosplay event."
"No way! You've got the exact same build as 'The Mask.' It's uncanny."
"Well, it's 'The Mask's' honor to be compared to me."
"You've got it backward, you brat! Usually, the cosplayer honors the original!"
"Hehe... we'll see who's got it backward in the end."
Watching the banter between this stylish "Big Sister" reporter and Yoru, Marin felt a sharp spike of jealousy. This woman had recognized Yoru's voice after hearing just one sentence. That meant one of two things: either they were very close, or Yoru had left a massive impression on her.
Marin looked at Natsumi—the tank top, the short shorts, the perfect nails, the mature "Onee-san" charm—and her internal alarms went off.
No. Absolutely not. I have to defend Saki-chan's territory!
"Suga-san," Marin interrupted politely but firmly. "This is my very first cosplay event. If you don't have any official business, could we maybe save the chat for later? We're a bit busy."
"Oh... I see..." Natsumi looked at Marin's Shizuku-tan outfit and then back at Yoru with a knowing smirk. "Girlfriend? Last time I interviewed you, I don't recall this one being around."
"We're just friends... for now," Yoru replied.
"Hehe... 'for now,' huh?" Natsumi didn't push it. She held up her camera. "Actually, seeing Yoru was a coincidence. I'm here on assignment to take photos of the best cosplayers."
"Photos?" Marin's resolve wavered. A professional photographer was hard to turn down.
"I haven't introduced myself properly," Natsumi continued with the effortless grace of a mature woman. "I work for a major publishing house. I'm a professional journalist. My photography skills are top-tier."
Marin's eyes sparkled at the word professional. "Wait, Suga-san, could you...?"
"Since you're Yoru-kun's friend, you're my friend too," Natsumi smiled. "Don't be a stranger. Just call me Natsumi. Now, shall we start the shoot?"
"Thank you, Natsumi-san!"
"Call me Natsumi-nee."
"Okay, Natsumi-nee!"
Yoru watched the interaction and shook his head. Poor Marin. Folded like a lawn chair by a professional Onee-san. She'd forgotten her "defensive stance" in ten seconds flat.
The first ninety minutes of the event flew by. Natsumi took dozens of photos of Marin, but Yoru noticed her lens was pointed at him more often than not.
In fact, Natsumi was plotting. Ever since the Shibuya incident, she'd been fascinated by the boy who was brave enough to challenge a serial killer on camera. If she could get Yoru's permission to use his "Mask" photos alongside an exclusive interview... it would be a national sensation.
Who says a "Lookalike" isn't as good as the real thing? Natsumi thought. The citizens of Kyoto need a symbol. Yoru-kun is the perfect "Stand-in" for the hero they love.
"Whew! Finally, a break!"
The afternoon sun was brutal. Marin was nearly soaked in sweat under her thick Victorian skirts. She dabbed her face with a tissue, looking exhausted but deliriously happy.
"It was so worth it. It's exactly how I pictured it!"
"Let's find a place to chill for a bit," Yoru suggested.
"Good idea. It's over 90 degrees out here. Even with my cooling pads, I'm hitting my limit." Marin looked around. "A manga cafe? Or maybe a Starbucks?"
"You can't sit in that dress," Yoru noted. "The hoops and the petticoats will lose their shape."
"Eh?" Marin blinked. "Did Saki-chan tell you that?"
"I have eyes, Marin. I know how to make clothes too."
"Wait... you can sew?! Why didn't you ever tell me?!"
"I have no interest in doing it for fun, so there was no reason to bring it up."
"Classic Yoru..." Marin sighed.
"Point is," Yoru continued, "if you want to rest, you need to take that dress off and get a shower. If the sweat soaks into the fabric, that costume is ruined."
Marin's face fell. She didn't plan on wearing it twice, but it was a gift from Saki—her very first cosplay. She'd be devastated if it got ruined.
"Luckily," Yoru smirked, "I planned ahead."
Ten minutes later.
"This... this is..."
Marin stood in a room dominated by soft pink lights and heart-shaped decor. The centerpiece was a massive, heart-shaped bed. Her face turned a shade of red that rivaled the decor.
"This is... a Love Hotel!"
"Yup. A Boutique Hotel," Yoru said, his voice perfectly calm. "It's the closest place to the plaza. We can walk back in five minutes. It's private, it has a shower, and you can hang the dress up. Why go anywhere else?"
Marin felt a wave of guilt. He was thinking about the maintenance of the costume and my comfort for the afternoon session... and here I am, having 'dirty' thoughts!
"I'm so sorry, Yoru-kun!" Marin suddenly bowed deeply. "I wasn't thinking!"
Normally, an apology is just an apology. But Marin was currently wearing a low-cut corset. Because of the heat, a small "river" of sweat had collected between her breasts. As she bowed, it dripped onto the floor.
The scene was... incredibly "Abstract."
"Just go shower," Yoru said, his eyes lingering for an extra second or three. Damn, she's really 'well-endowed.' Hidden curves, just like Kazusa.
"Right!" Marin chirped. She stripped off her accessories and scurried into the bathroom.
She pulled off the heavy dress, feeling an instant wave of relief. "Man, that was intense..."
As she looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, she suddenly turned pale.
"Oh no! I forgot! How could I make such a rookie mistake?!"
Her character, Shizuku-tan, was from a specific type of galgame. She had a very "spicy" character design detail that didn't show up in standard photos but was essential for a "100% Restoration."
The Tally Marks.
In the game, the character had the kanji for "Correct" (正 - Sei) drawn on her inner thigh—a tally mark representing how many times the character had been "claimed."
To a perfectionist like Marin, missing this detail was a total fail.
"Does the hotel have a black marker...?" she whispered.
Then she realized a physical problem. She tried to mimic drawing on her own inner thigh, but because of the angle and the mirror reflection, her hand couldn't get the lines straight.
"I can't draw it myself..."
Marin bit her lip, her face turning a deep crimson. I have to ask Yoru-kun to help me, don't I?