Colour in a Gigantic Box

The required preparation ate a week-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 what costume Rise will use, 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 thought I'd been working with Hina Sato 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 won’t get fat easily. I appreciate how they respect their customer’s privacy since Rise and I had a different workroom.

Being occupied for a week made us forget the pace of time. It felt like a blink of an eye when we knew 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 witnessed 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’re talking if we came from the same place. I would like to tell her that, but she won’t even understand it. But her not knowing Izumi’s mood means something happened at school. It’s not 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 with 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 resonate art the most.

She clasped her hands before her chest and replied with a heartfelt smile, “It’s just adoring 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 grasped the anime from its roots, and I’m confident 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 teamwork and decision-making.

We have a judge with high-expectations of art that 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’m the one who understands her love of art. What I want to know is… “Can we win?”

Unlike before, where hope once crushed inside her, it felt 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 involve yourself 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 are all here! What are you waiting for!?”

“They had a bad choice of hosts. Won’t he get tired?” I complained to the non-stop repeated 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 trouble if my leg strains before the competition. Sera doesn’t know the concept of standing in lines yet, though it’s 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 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 doesn’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 had a baggage, it’s either she’s a cosplayer or a passerby. For the whole hour that we’re currently in line, I explained to Sera how to win the OtakuMania contest.

Unlike the previous CosFiesta 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 successive 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 will feel like the character will be brought to life. That might be the only criteria Sera can hit.

I’ve checked the bracketing and found that the last two brackets contained Sera and Rise’s image. 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 hope that this doesn’t relate to the danger she mentioned earlier.

“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 recently blank 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 witnessed 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 would 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 with only Izumi on it. There’s the risk of being discovered as a real elf and being called 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 know her soon.”