Chapter 46: The Double-Edged Invitation

A week passed. A new, tense normal settled over our lives. Rina's possessiveness had gone into overdrive. She insisted on walking me to all my classes. Haruka had escalated her own campaign, finding excuses to "bump into" me in the hallways, each time offering a flirtatious comment designed to infuriate Rina. Kenji, meanwhile, had decided that Haruka’s disdain was just a tsundere facade, and he now spent his days trying to win her over with grand, poetic declarations, all of which were met with withering contempt. My life was a living, breathing romantic comedy from hell.

Then, the emails arrived.

In the studio, Miki was screening Ectiqa's professional correspondence. An email from "Nexus Games," one of the biggest developers in the world, made her sit up straight.

"Rina, you need to see this," she said, her voice full of a rare excitement.

The email was an official offer. Nexus Games was launching their new flagship MMORPG, 'Aethelgard Ascendant,' and they wanted to hire Ectiqa to be the official promotional cosplayer for the game's main heroine, "Seraphina, the Dawnlight Oracle." The contract was massive. The exposure would be global. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.

"We are accepting," Rina said, her eyes shining with ambition. "This is it. This is the next level." She sent off an immediate, enthusiastic confirmation.

At the exact same time, in her own elegantly decorated bedroom, Haruka Ito was reading a nearly identical email. Nexus Games was offering her, Hime-Hime, an official contract. They wanted her to be the promotional cosplayer for the game's main antagonist, the brooding, powerful "Morwen, the Dusk Queen."

Haruka's first thought was not about the money or the fame. Her first thought was: Ectiqa will be so jealous. Her second thought was: This is a major, professional project. Ectiqa will need her handler. This is my chance to work with Rui-kun.

She, too, sent an immediate, triumphant confirmation.

The contracts were separate. The emails were carefully worded. Neither mentioned the other cosplayer who had been hired. The marketing department at Nexus Games thought a "surprise reveal" of their two chosen titans at a joint press conference would generate a huge amount of buzz. They had no idea they were not planning a press conference. They were planning a declaration of war.

Rina was celebrating with her team, dreaming of the epic costume she would create. Haruka was celebrating alone, dreaming of the handsome boy she would conquer. And I was blissfully unaware that I was about to be caught in the crossfire of the biggest professional showdown the cosplay world had ever seen.