Chapter 78: The Winter Comicon Heats Up

The arrival of Aiwa Matsuki at school throws our entire social ecosystem into a state of chaos. My daily life is now a delicate balancing act. I spend my time trying to fend off Rina's increasingly clingy, territorial behavior on one side, Haruka's new, confusingly flirtatious rivalry on the other, and now, Aiwa's quiet, shy attempts at friendship in the middle. It is exhausting.

But the world of cosplay waits for no man's romantic troubles. The Winter Comicon Festival is fast approaching, and Team Ectiqa, now with Haruka as a reluctant, tsundere auxiliary member, is in full preparation mode.

The event organizers, clearly wanting to capitalize on the "fated rivals" narrative, have placed Ectiqa's and Hime-Hime's booths directly opposite each other in the main hall. It is a prime location, a veritable arena for the two queens.

"This is perfect," Rina says, a competitive fire in her eyes as we look at the floor plan. "Everyone will be able to see her booth slowly die as all the fans flock to mine."

"Do not get cocky, Hinamata," Haruka retorts, though there is no real venom in her voice. "My new costume will put that tired goddess aesthetic of yours to shame."

Their rivalry has become almost… friendly. A comfortable, familiar banter that pushes them both to be better. They are no longer trying to destroy each other; they are trying to out-shine each other. It is a huge improvement.

The day of the Comicon arrives. The hall is a sea of humanity, a vibrant, chaotic celebration of all things otaku. Our booths are magnificent. Rina, debuting a new "Winter Solstice Angel" costume, is a vision of silver and ethereal blue light. Her booth is decorated like an ice palace. Haruka, as a "Frost Jester," is a stunning contrast of deep purples and sharp, mischievous angles, her booth a twisted, frozen carnival.

The fans love it. The lines for both of them are huge, snaking back through the hall. They are in their element, two titans at the top of their game. I am playing my usual role, a frantic, multi-tasking handler, running back and forth between the two booths, fixing a loose feather on Rina's wing one minute, helping Haruka with a stubborn zipper the next.

Kenji is in his own personal heaven, acting as the self-appointed hype man for both of them. "BEHOLD!" he bellows to the crowd. "THE TWO QUEENS OF WINTER! LIGHT AND SHADOW! GRACE AND MISCHIEF! CHOOSE YOUR ALLEGIANCE, MORTALS!"

Everything is going perfectly. They are the undisputed stars of the show.

And then, we hear it.

It starts as a low murmur from the other side of the hall, then grows into a roar. It is a sound of pure, unadulterated shock and awe. A wave of people from our lines starts to peel away, their curiosity pulling them towards the source of the commotion.

"What is that?" Rina asks, her smile faltering for the first time all day.

"I do not know," Haruka says, her own expression turning serious.

The crowd at our booths, once a mighty river, has slowed to a trickle. The roar from across the hall intensifies.

"Kenji," I say, my own sense of unease growing. "Go see what is going on."

He nods, his expression grim, and plunges into the crowd. He returns five minutes later, and he looks like he has seen a ghost. His face is pale, his eyes are wide, and he is completely speechless.

"Kenji?" Rina prods. "What is it?"

He just points a trembling finger towards the other side of the hall. "You… you have to see it for yourselves," he whispers. "It is… impossible."

A new star has just appeared in their sky. And it is threatening to eclipse them both.