Detective Sato's call came three days after the Yokohama workshop. Yuna was at home, editing photos from the event when her phone rang.
"Takahashi-san, Kimura started cooperating for a reduced sentence," Sato said without preamble. "He named two accomplices. One of them matches the description of the man at the back of your workshop—mid-twenties, average build, goes by the online handle 'ShadowFan92.' His real name is Takashi Ito. He was scouting the room, looking for new targets and checking how much the community knows."
Yuna's breath caught. "He was there because of me?"
"Possibly. Kimura admitted they share a private Discord server. They target popular female cosplayers—especially those with big Instagram followings—by matching costumes or posing as fellow fans. The juice trick is one of their go-to moves. Ito was at the workshop to see if anyone was organizing against them."
Mio and Kenji joined a video call as soon as Yuna messaged them. Their faces appeared on her screen, serious but determined.
"So the network is real," Mio said. "What now?"
Detective Sato continued, "We have enough for warrants on Ito's accounts, but catching him in the act would make the case airtight. The next big event is Summer Anime Fest in two weeks—larger crowds, more opportunities for them to blend in. If you're willing, we could set a controlled trap."
Yuna felt a mix of fear and fire in her chest. "What kind of trap?"
"You and a few trusted friends attend as usual. We'll have plainclothes officers nearby. Post some subtle stories hinting you'll be there in a new Elara variant—enough to bait them without being obvious. If Ito or anyone connected approaches with the same tactics, we move in."
Kenji frowned. "That sounds risky for Yuna."
"It is," Sato admitted. "But she won't be alone. We'll wire her with a small recorder and have backup within seconds. This could shut down part of the network before more girls get hurt."
Yuna stared at her reflection in the dark laptop screen. She remembered the perverted smile, the way the hall had spun, the helplessness. Then she thought of the girls who had thanked her after the workshop, the growing chat full of people sharing tips and looking out for each other.
"I'll do it," she said quietly. "But only if we do it smart. No one gets isolated. And we warn the whole group chat anonymously about red flags without tipping off the creeps."
They spent the next hour planning. Mio would handle group check-ins and act as the visible buddy. Kenji would stay close but not obviously protective. A couple of other trusted cosplayers from the chat would join as extra eyes. Detective Sato coordinated with event security in advance.
Over the following days, the safety guide evolved. They added new sections based on real experiences shared anonymously:
- Familiar cosplay ≠ friendly. Matching costumes can be a deliberate tactic.
- If someone offers drinks or food and insists on "proving" it's safe, walk away.
- Watch for people who try to pull you to quieter areas or ask too many personal questions.
- After-parties and late-night events carry extra risk—stick with your group.
Yuna posted a single, careful Instagram story the day before Summer Anime Fest: a teaser of her new Elara cloak with glowing runes upgraded, captioned "Ready for summer vibes at Anime Fest~ See you there!" She kept location details vague and turned off direct messages from non-followers.
The trap was set.
On the morning of the event, Yuna adjusted her silver wig one last time in the mirror. The cloak felt heavier now—not just fabric, but purpose. Mio and Kenji waited outside her hotel.
"Code word is 'eclipse' if anything feels wrong," Mio reminded her. "We check in every thirty minutes."
Yuna nodded, a small determined smile on her face. "Let's make the shadows regret coming into the light."
As they entered the bustling halls of the venue, the energy felt electric once again. But this time, Yuna wasn't just attending.
She was ready to fight back.