Entering a stranger's house through the window can be a good adventure

He had been right in being cautious, because even if it was just Wednesday, there already were some people around the building. They weren’t many, but if he had waited more days, it might have been too late.

Some of them were just passing by; others wearing their cosplays and taking photos or talking with people. Ken evaded all of them and went directly to buy the tickets.

Although it was one of the biggest anime-expo of all the country, held annually in his city, he never went. That was his first time ever, and he wouldn’t even think about going if it weren’t because of Mirena. He wouldn’t know what to do if he were on his own. But together with someone it could be fun.

After buying the entrances, he sat on a nearby bench. It was still pretty early to go back home. A part of him was saying that those were stupid fears, but he was scared to confront Mirena anyways. Not yet, he wasn’t going back yet.

—Maybe I can visit mom. She may be worried about my health after that accident.

He left the tickets in his pockets and then left the place. Just a few minutes later, Mirena arrived to that exact same place.

She looked for Ken, but he was nowhere to be seen. So instead she just walked near the people gathered there, watching the environment with curiosity. It was at that moment when she heard an unknown female voice talking in her back.

That way, even if neither Mirena or Ken had any idea about it, lesson 6 started.

—Y-you!! ­—exclaimed the girl. Mirena turned around, not knowing to whom that scream was directed to. But then, when she saw a slim finger pointing to her, she understood that she was the one being called on.

—Me?

—Yes, you. I can’t believe it. You’re just like her!

The unknown girl was as tall as Mirena and had a similar hairstyle, but hers was blonde. Her shirt and skirt were very bright and colorful, standing out even in a place like that, where some people were cosplaying. The girl wrapped her hands in Mirena’s. Her nails were very long, painted in pink and decorated with jewels.

Mirena thought if she already met a girl like that, but it was impossible. Even when her memory wasn’t the best (she was aware of this), there was no way she would forgot such a unique girl.

—Just like who? —she asked, confused.

—Like Mirena!

All the knowledge gathered trough those days was about to be tested. Mirena had in front a big anime fan, and she knew that any mistake would reveal her as a normie. Ken was a bit overdramatic about this, and that caused Mirena to take this situation very serious.

—Oh. Yeah, that’s true. — “I started pretty bad” she thought. Of course I’m going to look like me! I shouldn’t have asked ‘just like who?’—. I really love Mirena, and I always imitate her style.

—My name is Elizabeth, you can call me Eli, or Lisa, or Beth.

—Eli is cute.

—Whoa, those red lenses are really good! Have you ever cosplayed Mirena?

—Uhmm… yes! I mean no, but I will in the anime-con. I have the armor in home.

—Oh, that’s great! I would love to see you dressed as Mirena, you’ll look perfect.

—The only thing I don’t have is the sword, and I don’t think I’ll be able to find one in time. —Cleverly, she managed to bring the important topic on the table.

—Worry not, I have one.

—Eh? Really?

—Yes, I’m a cosplayer too. Actually I was planning going as Mirena this year too, but now that you’re here there is no way I would.

—Oh, if you want to drees up like Mirena don’t hold back just because of me.

—No, no, really, I want to see you cosplaying her. I have plenty of other costumes, it’s fine.

—If you’re agree then, I would gladly accept.

—Great! Can you show me your armor? I want to see how good it is.

—Yeah, sure. Let’s go to my apartment.

She learned from the best. All the way back to the apartment she was nervous, but managed to dissimulate it very well. Also, she held an intense conversation with Eli without revealing how new she was in the anime culture and this world in general.

The two girls had similar energies, so they get along pretty easily. None of them seemed to be aware of the fact that people normally don’t tend to have so much confidence with unknowns. So at the time they reached the apartment, they treat each other almost like besties.

Mirena rang the bell corresponding to Ken’s room, but nobody attended. He was still out. She shrugged her shoulders and said to Eli:

—Follow me.

—What happens?

—My roommate has the keys, but he hasn’t come back yet. So let’s enter through the window!

—What?!

They went into the alley and then up the stairs. Eli was confused about this, but she followed Mirena without saying anything. Like her, Eli also had an adventurer hearth after all.

—So that roommate of yours…

—He’s my cousin.

—Oh, I see. Does he like anime too?

—Yeah, he’s the one who introduced me into this world.

They reached the floor and entered into the apartment by the open window. The room was just as she left it a few minutes ago.

—It’s pretty tiny —said Eli.

—Yes, I came to the country some days before and I didn’t have any place to stay.

—Oh, you’re not from here?

And then, Mirena started to recite from memory all the lie Ken prepared for her. Meanwhile, she opened the wardrobe and looked for the armor and the silk clothes. They were perfectly saved, like if they were very valuables relics. Well, technically they were.

—Oh my god! This looks so realistic! —yelled Eli full of emotions.

—I’m glad you like it.

—With this, you’re gonna outshine everyone out there!

Eli inspected every single detail of the armor. Her eyes never saw such a perfect costume ever. It was a masterpiece of cosplaying, the opus magnum that every single cosplayer wants to achieve.

—My house is not so far away —said Eli—. If you give me time, I’ll go and come back with the sword.

—Yeah, sure. I’ll make some tea in the meantime.

All this was going on without Ken suspecting a thing. He was having a chat with both of his parents eating lemon-flavored cookies and drinking black coffee.

After a long time, he decided it was time to leave. It was still early, the sky was yet blue, but he wanted to go back home since he couldn’t know what kind of troubles Mirena could step into if alone for too long. Hopefully, she would have fallen into the rabbit hole of Vtubers and done nothing but watch the screen. However, he had the feeling that that was not what happened.

Every step he was closer to the apartment, the fear grew more and more. It was like if it emanated an ominous aura that was stronger the nearer he was.

He started to believe he had been a fool. He had already warned Mirena about the dangers on the internet, but he forgot something important: she wasn’t scared of dangers. She was an adventuress after all, she pursued the danger. Because of that, every step was faster until he almost began to run.

The seconds the elevator took to go back and up again felt eternal. But finally he was at home. He heard some giggles that made him calm down.

—Looks like she’s still watching —he said to himself. Then, opened the door—. I’m back ho… What?!

In the middle of the room there was Mirena, wearing her iconic armor, silk clothes and wielding a sword. And next to her there was an unknown girl. Of all the things he expected to see when opening the door, that was probably the only one he didn’t see coming.

The unknown looked at Ken, and then opened her eyes very big. Then she pointed towards him.

—Yes! He’s perfect too! —she said.

So, not only there was an unknown girl in his home, but also she was saying that he was perfect. “Yes, this day is definitely more unrealistic than the one when Mirena incarnated in this world” he thought.

Speechless, he just looked to Mirena, who was still posing with her new sword. It took her a few second to notice Ken’s glance and realize that he was asking, no, demanding for explanations.

—Oh hi Ken. This is Eli.

—Hello Ken, nice to meet you.

—Hello —he said, while thinking: “this is not what I expected as an explanation.”

—I met María in the ticket box for the anime-con, and I was absolutely amazed by her resemblance with Mirena. She told me that the only thing left in her costume was the sword, and since I’m also a cosplayer, I brought this replica.

“Well, that’s a better explanation.”

—I look good, don’t I? —said Mirena, still swinging her sword. It was way lighter than the real one, but the feeling was similar and the appearance the same.

—Well, now there is only one mystery left: what did you mean when you said I was “perfect”? —asked Ken.

—Yes, what did you mean? —repeated Mirena—. I see nothing but imperfections on him.

—Really María? I thought you’ll notice it just like me.

—Huh?

—Don’t you think you both are the perfect couple to cosplay as Mirena and Mask?

—Ehhh??!! —yelled both of them at the same time.

—See? You’re already coordinated.

—I don’t think I’m appropriated to do a Mask cosplay.

—Oh it’s okay, there is nothing a good makeup can’t fix! —Eli said, winking.

“I know I’m the one who implicated it, but ‘no, you’re looking good’ would have been a better response” Ken thought, feeling his soul leaving his body with a sigh.

—He’s not similar to Mask at all, why did you came with such idea? —asked Mirena.

—Yeah, maybe he’s not so similar as you to Mirena, but he certainly has that aura, if you know what I mean.

—That aura?

Mirena stared to Ken. At the beginning she was very skeptical about the idea, but the more she was looking to him, the more she was convinced. Certainly, he had an aura. The personality was similar, specially the attitude towards her. The only thing that differentiated him from Mask was the eyes. Those black eyes seemed like screaming all the truth Ken was hiding behind his acting.

After all those days with him, and specially, after seeing his real self watching anime and playing videogames, the acting was useless. She finally understood what was hidden behind that façade, and the eyes were the only part of him not lying.

So, if he covered those eyes with a mask…

—I’m really flattered because I love Mask, but c’mon. I’m sure you have tons of friends that can pair with María better, for sure. Right María?

—I think it would be perfect —she said, with a completely serious tone of voice.

—W-what?!

—And most importantly, I think it would be fun.

—Hmmm… But I don’t have enough money.

—No problem —said Eli—. I have a friend that has a Mask costume, he’ll lend it to me, for sure.

Ken had no arguments left to continue. He never did cosplay before, and as usual, he had a lack of confidence. But if Mirena asked for it, and if he was going to be assisted by a veteran cosplayer then… He sighed.

—Then I guess I have no choice. Fine, I accept.

—Great! I’ll start right away —said Eli, about to explode because of the excitement. Both Mirena and she started to talk about a bunch of things about what would be good or not, completely ignoring the suggestions of the one who, after all, was going to be the protagonist.