Chapter 62: The Handshake Line and the Last Stand

After the viral success of the photoshoot, the Nexus Games PR team decides to capitalize on the moment. They immediately organize a fan-meet and autograph session. A long table is set up, and Rina and Haruka are seated at either end, a strategically placed gap of several feet between them. I stand behind Rina, my official post.

The line of fans snakes all the way back through the exhibition hall. It is a testament to the power of their performance. They are brilliant with the fans, but in completely different ways.

Rina is the benevolent goddess. She greets every fan with a warm, dazzling smile. She thanks them for their support, her voice full of genuine gratitude. When a young girl comes up dressed in a homemade Ectiqa-inspired costume, Rina's smile becomes even brighter, and she gives the girl a special, encouraging word. She is winning hearts and minds.

Haruka is the alluring queen. She is cool, aloof, and impossibly chic. She gives each fan a cool, knowing smirk and a signed postcard. The fanboys are completely mesmerized by her dark allure. They stammer and blush in her presence. She is not winning hearts; she is conquering them.

They are competing, even now. They are watching each other out of the corners of their eyes, a silent battle for who can charm the most fans, who can generate the most devotion.

Finally, after hours of smiling and signing, the event winds down. The last fan leaves, and a collective sigh of exhaustion goes through the entire staff. The day is over. We have survived.

Or so I think.

As we are packing up in the now-quiet backstage area, Haruka makes her final move. She sees me standing alone for a moment while Rina is talking to Miki. She corners me behind a stack of equipment cases.

"Finally," she says, her voice a low, husky purr. "A moment of peace. You were amazing today, Rui-kun. So professional." She steps closer, invading my personal space. "Now that the work is done… I am heading to the hotel bar for a drink. You should join me. We have a lot to… celebrate."

It is her last, desperate shot. But before I can even formulate a rejection, a shadow falls over us.

"He is busy."

Rina is standing there, her arms crossed. She is out of costume, back in her normal clothes, but her expression is every bit as intimidating as the sun goddess she was portraying.

"He is coming with his team to celebrate," Rina continues, her voice dripping with ice. "Our victory."

Haruka just laughs, a bitter, frustrated sound. "You are so pathetic, Hinamata. Clinging to him like a lost puppy. He is not your property."

"And he is not your conquest," Rina shoots back, her eyes flashing. "So back off."

"Make me," Haruka challenges.

They are nose to nose, two queens ready for one last battle, this time without the cameras.

"STOP!"

The word rips out of my throat, louder and more forceful than I intend. The sheer, bone-deep exhaustion of the entire day, the entire week, finally boils over. "Just- stop. Both of you."

They both turn to look at me, shocked into silence by my outburst.

"I am so, so tired of this," I say, my voice cracking with fatigue. "This constant fighting, this rivalry. Can you not just- be professionals? You are both incredible artists. You are the two best cosplayers in the country. Can you not respect that about each other? Can you not, for one second, try to be friends?"

The sincerity, the sheer weariness in my voice, does what their anger could not. It breaks the tension.

They just stare at me, then at each other. The fire in their eyes flickers, replaced by a grudging, resentful understanding.

Haruka is the first to break the silence. She lets out a long, weary sigh. She looks at me, and for the first time, I do not see a predator. I just see a tired, lonely girl.

"He is not worth this much trouble," she mutters, more to herself than to us. She gives Rina one last, long look, a look that is not filled with hate, but with a bitter, resigned defeat. Then, without another word, she turns and walks away, disappearing down the empty corridor.

The viper is gone. The battle is over.