Chapter 194: The Most Dangerous Q&A in Cosplay History

The stage is set for a bloodbath, or at least a very polite, very public, psychologically brutal evisceration. The four titans of cosplay are seated in a row, a visual representation of the chaos ruling my life: Ichigo, looking relaxed and charmingly androgynous in his/her 'Crimson Striker' pilot suit; Rina, who looks like a beautiful, smiling time bomb in her neon-pink "Cyber Magical Girl" outfit; Haruka, who is projecting an aura of icy, analytical rage that perfectly matches her "Street Gothic Lolita" aesthetic; and Aiwa, who has retreated into her perfect, silent LUNA doll persona, her "Techno-Fairy" costume shimmering with a light that seems almost mournful.

The host, a man who is clearly paid to be enthusiastic and not perceptive, seems blissfully unaware of the apocalyptic tension radiating from the stage. "Welcome, everyone! It is an honor to have all four of you on one stage! The talent here is just… unbelievable! The power!"

The crowd roars. Kenji, from the front row where he somehow managed to secure a seat (probably by trading his soul), is already weeping tears of pure, unadulterated joy.

"Let's start with Ichigo-sama!" the host says, turning to the cause of all my problems. "Ichigo, your performance today was legendary! You have such a powerful, transformative connection to your characters. What is your secret to embodying these complex male heroes so perfectly?"

Ichigo/Izumi leans forward, bringing the microphone to his/her lips. He/She is using the smooth, masculine Ichigo tenor, but I can hear the subtle, mocking undertone of Izumi's amusement in it. "Thank you. That is a great question." He/She pauses, as if thinking deeply, though I know he/she is just enjoying the drama. "For me, the secret is not just acting like the character. It is understanding them. You have to find their core, their true motivation. Why do they fight? What do they fear? What secrets are they keeping?" He/She gives a charming smile, his/her gaze sweeping across the other panelists. "You have to find the part of yourself that resonates with them. Even if that part is… hidden away, deep inside. You have to be willing to be completely honest about who you are, even when you are pretending to be someone else."

His/her answer is met with wild applause from the crowd, who find it deep and inspiring. Rina, Haruka, and Aiwa just stare, their expressions tightening. The words "hidden," "secrets," and "honest" feel like direct, personal, passive-aggressive taunts.

"Wonderful! So profound!" the host gushes. "Now, a question for our queens! Ectiqa, Hime-Hime, LUNA! You are the three biggest stars in the female cosplay scene, and your rivalry is legendary. How do you maintain such a high level of artistry while competing so fiercely? Ectiqa-san, let's start with you!"

Rina takes the microphone, her Ectiqa smile bright, flawless, and utterly terrifying. It does not reach her eyes. "Competition is the engine of innovation," she says, her voice practically sparkling with weaponized cheerfulness. "Knowing that Hime-Hime and LUNA are constantly pushing the boundaries just inspires me to work harder, to be better, to protect what is precious to me, and to ensure," her gaze flickers towards me in the wings, "that loyalty is always rewarded." Her emphasis on the last word is subtle, but to me, it sounds like a gunshot.

Haruka takes the mic next. "I agree," she says coolly, her voice like ice. "Rivalry sharpens the blade. It forces one to analyze, adapt, and overcome. You learn your rival's strengths, their weaknesses, their… tells." Her gaze flickers for a split second towards Aiwa, then to Ichigo, a silent, analytical challenge. "It exposes those who rely on tricks, and rewards those who rely on true, verifiable skill and strategy."

Aiwa, when the mic is passed to her, just gives a serene, LUNA-like nod, and whispers, "I agree with them," her voice the deep, LUNA tone, before passing the mic back, refusing to engage further. Her perfect mask is firmly in place.

The Q&A continues like this, a masterclass in passive aggression, veiled threats, and smiling psychological warfare. Rina keeps making pointed comments about "honesty" and "family bonds." Haruka keeps using words like "transparency," "deception," and "efficient data gathering." Aiwa remains a beautiful, silent, shimmering enigma. Ichigo just looks endlessly amused by the whole thing, occasionally dropping cryptic comments about "the joys of a good mystery," "the fun of playing a complex game," and "the unpredictable nature of battlefield alliances."

Then, a fan from the audience steps up to the microphone. It is a girl dressed, ironically, as Princess Astra from 'Starlight Paladin'.

"A question for Ichigo-sama and LUNA-sama!" she says excitedly. "I noticed you both have 'Starlight Paladin' accessories! Ichigo-sama, you have been seen with a keychain, and LUNA-sama, you have your pendant! As a huge fan of that classic, obscure show, I was wondering what your connection to it is? Is it just a coincidence, or is there a story there?"

My heart stops. Aiwa visibly tenses. Rina and Haruka both lean forward, their expressions identical masks of intense, sudden interest. This is it. The ultimate probe.

Ichigo/Izumi chuckles softly, taking the mic first. "What a wonderful, specific question," he/she says, his/her voice full of warmth. He/She looks down at LUNA. "A coincidence? Perhaps. Or perhaps," he/she adds, that infuriating charm back in full force, "it just shows that we both have impeccable taste in tragically underrated anime." He/She skillfully avoids the question, turning it into a compliment.

Then, he/she does the unthinkable. He/She hands the microphone to LUNA. "What about you, LUNA-sama? What is your connection to that old, heroic story?"

He/She is deliberately putting Aiwa on the spot. Forcing her to lie or reveal something, right here, right now. It is a cruel, brilliant move.

Aiwa is frozen, the microphone in her trembling hand. The entire auditorium is silent, waiting. I can see the panic in her eyes, even behind the LUNA makeup.

She takes a shaky breath. She looks down at the mic. Then, she looks up, her gaze sweeping past the crowd, past Rina and Haruka, until it finds me, standing in the shadows of the wings. Our eyes lock.

"The story," LUNA says, her voice still the deep, practiced tone, but now trembling almost imperceptibly, "is about a hero. A hero who keeps his promises." She does not break eye contact with me.

The crowd oohs, finding the answer romantic and mysterious.

Rina and Haruka, however, both turn their heads and stare directly at me. The connection is now public. The 'childhood promise' is no longer just a rumor; it has been hinted at, on stage, by LUNA herself, linked directly to me.

Ichigo/Izumi just watches the exchange, a slow, satisfied, almost diabolical smirk playing on his/her lips. He/She is not just a troll. He/She is a master chaos coordinator.

And I… I just want to faint again, but I have a sinking feeling Kenji has used up our entire quota of dramatic unconsciousness for the day. My life is officially a public spectacle, and I am the unwilling, deeply terrified main character.