The Otaku and a Certain Spotlight

As me and Ichika stood next to each other, trying not to smile too wryly at the judges passing by, a sudden realization hit me.

There’s a LOT of people in here!

Scanning through the crowd with my trained eye, I spotted many cosplayers and standard otakus alike checking out us, the participants, lined up against the wall to the side like sheep ready for slaughter.

Was it the air conditioning?

Incidentally, the competition was divided into two sections: one for pre-made costume cosplays and another for costumes made by the cosplayers themselves. Each section further branched into individual and couple categories.

Of course, we found ourselves in the former section. I honestly couldn’t really read the judges’ minds at all, though I get the self-made costumes, but what were they evaluating US for? How well the costume fitted? Or if the colors matched our eyes?

Incidentally, mine did, but that’s beside the point.

To my delight though, I hadn’t yet come across any familiar face through the crowd as I scanned our surroundings time and again.

I mean, I knew I was all nervous about it, but what are the chances they’ll actually show up HERE of all places in the convention? There are tons of other places crawling with nerds, like Chihiro said, right?

And EVEN IF they did find themselves here, me and Ichika are like a drop in the ocean. However, our position on the side, almost cut off from the crowd, wasn't ideal.

Maybe I had put myself in a dangerous situation?

Congratulations Haruhi, you played yourself.

Eh, then again it will probably work out… I’m the main character after all. And let’s not forget I’m wearing a vigilante mask!

If Robbun could keep his identity hidden, why couldn’t I?

“Hey!” Right as I was praising myself to high heaven, Ichika suddenly elbowed me.

“What?”

“Come on, scoot closer!” one of the judges passing by gestured for us to move closer to each other, examining us as if we were really up for professional appraisal.

With a shrug, I did as I was asked, and I pressed the side of my arm, or more like penguin fin, against Ichika’s.

“Hey watch it!” Ichika hissed, probably deciding that was close enough.

Maybe I was too big for my own good…

“Hm….” The judge, that wore a hat, and had a light grayish mustache looked at us from head to toe. “Interesting…”

He muttered once again, as he made the rounds once more.

What’s interesting is how cliché you look, pal.

“Phew…” I relaxed momentarily. “Good riddance.”

This whole situation definitely felt weird, and my costume was starting to feel too stuffy in the crowded room.

Probably sharing a complaint or two, the girl beside me balled up her hands into fists.

“Agh!” With an exasperated groan and a tested battle cry, she ultimately tossed her wig to the ground in one fell swoop.

“Hey!” I protested as she turned to glare at me.

“Enough is enough!” She hissed, pointing an accusing finger, “Explanation!”

Wow, Ichika turned her brute switch on really fast there!

“Okay, okay relax…” Sensing the malicious intent in her gaze, I threw my hands up in mock surrender and began explaining. “My friends were in the area, and through our group chat I saw they were coming to check the convention out…”

“What? Why would they do that?”

“They wanted to make fun of Otakus, I guess…?”

“Tch.” Ichika clicked her tongue, as she turned away from me, crossed arms and all. “Stupid normies...”

“Yeah, that’s why I needed the cosplay, you know?” i tried to appease her, realizing she was about to blow a gasket.

“Tch.” With another click of her tongue, she widened the angle of her neck.

Oye, we don’t you turning into a malevolent spirit straight out of a horror movie, Ichika-chan!

On the other hand, her blonde hair flowing freely down her back after discarding the wig was a welcome addition to her new look.

Despite my lapse of judgement, she looked even better without it. Almost like a new and improved take on Lilia-chan the magical girl. With her pink colored contact lenses that made her eyes look like bewitched jewels even through her glasses, she definitely did seem sort of…

Magical.

Not going to lie, I dig that look.

“Wow!” The same judge from before exclaimed, astonished by Ichika's sudden transformation. Even her huffy expression sort of added to her mystical aura. “What an interesting look there, young miss!”

The judge leaned in from different angles, opting to see her from all sides. I was actually really hoping he wasn’t staring up her skirt. Not unless he wanted to start collecting his teeth directly from the floor.

“HaruIchi, huh…?”

The judge finally muttered our team name, and after another brief cry or two, he trotted back to his colleagues as he whispered animatedly.

Ichika was somehow stealing the show all of a sudden!

Well my costume was one any type of person could pull off, so of course nobody gave me extra notice, but Ichika on the other hand was rocking that fit perfectly!

But wait, didn't her cosplay just downgrade? What were they even judging?

There was some room for teasing here, however…

“Heh.” A chuckle escaped me, and Ichika shot me her signature side-eye.

“What?”

“See those judges over there?” I pointed at the bundle of people huddled together. “They were totally blown away by you in a Lillia-chan dress!”

“Huh?!” As her face suddenly turned beet red in a mere moment, Ichika shook her head frantically almost like trying to put out a fire breaking out within her brain. “Y-you’re just pulling my leg!”

“Nah, it’s the truth!” I shook my head, thoroughly enjoying Ichika's embarrassment. “…Ditching the wig definitely gave you extra points too. I’d say you look way cuter now!”

“HHNNGG!” Suddenly transforming into a teapot, Ichika released a stream of smoke through her ears, her face so red you’d think she was a tomato.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Like a broken record, Ichika repeated over and over as she clamped her palms over my mouth.

“Hah—!” My laughter was muffled, as she pressed her palms against my mouth.

“Oh…!”

Suddenly, the judges cried out in astonishment, as they looked over at our little quarrel.

Jotting down on their notepads in a hurry, the three men then retreated back to their whispering spell.

Something was telling me, that this little moment gave us extra points!

Ichika really was a force to be reckoned with when embarrassed…

<><><><><><><>

After the appraisal phase, it was time for the results to be announced. With no sign of my friends in sight and having enjoyed some laughs along the way, all that remained was to listen to the announcements and make our way home. It was getting late, after all.

With a dramatic drumroll and the buzz of the crowd, the winners for the self-made costumes were announced.

And then it was our turn. Soon, we would be free to go.

“And the winner for the couple’s category…” Another dramatic drumroll resonated through the hall as the announcer, again, looking dead tired, twirled like a fairy on stage, pointing towards the winners.

...For their unique tsundere portrayal of Lilia-chan and her assistant, Pingin…”

You have to be…

“HaruIchi!”

Suddenly, as the announcer declared us the winners, and the hall’s spotlight fell briefly on us, my heart started hammering against my chest.

“HaruIchi?!”

“Tsundere?!”

As it seemed, we both had different complaints about the matter, but the main question remained:

How the hell did WE even win?!

Scanning around the crowd nervously, I spotted Kirara and that young cosplay-tent attendant next to her, snickering like a pair of mischievous foxes.

Did they set us up?!

As my gaze wandered further, I caught sight of a very familiar group gawking at the cosplayers on display. Painfully familiar.

It was Chihiro… Riku… and the girls.

Oh, for the love of everything that is holy and mighty…

Unwillingly, I gulped, and searched desperately for a silver lining.

Calm down, calm down! Maybe they didn't recognize me, right? I don't normally look like a plump purple penguin, right?!

Just as I was struggling to convince myself with every ounce of my being that what I prayed for was actually true, Chihiro raised his camera’s lens and aimed it directly at…

Me and Ichika. In a fraction of a second, my entire body froze.

Checkmate.