Takara looked at herself in the mirror with a beam that could fill even Achlys’ heart with joy. Her turquoise wig was carefully combed for meticulous accuracy. Her makeup made her look just like the character and he violet and bright blue costume was made out of the most exquisite materials her money could buy. Suddenly the hours spent working in a restaurant did not seem so gruelling after all.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QgDi8TEm7 維尼
She prayed that no one would make fun of her for cosplaying as a light-skinned character despite having African heritage.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVQifeLbgM 維尼
She looked at the image of her favourite anime character on her laptop. “Oh,” she said. She searched her vanity table for her red pendant. She eventually found it underneath a beanie. She hurriedly fastened it around her neck as she heard her mother call out to her.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡuktbnaN8t6 維尼
She raced down the stairs, tripping every few steps. She slammed her head in the door before opening it. Her mother laughed, placing a dark-skinned hand over her own mouth.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAMdCxX2EA 維尼
“Is that part of your character?” she asked. Takara pouted, entering the car at the same time as her mother. “So what anime’s this from?”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fjGohT48U 維尼
“Can’t you tell? It’s Megumi from Merry Merry Megumi.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMfwDUVYAs 維尼
“How am I supposed to know that? I don’t watch the stuff. So what’s it about?”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzjhtnrjUr 維尼
“An angel falls down from the sky and loses her memory. She is looked after by this nerdy girl and they both can change into magical girls. They fight the monsters made by the person who pushed Megumi from the sky. Megumi has cloud powers and the other girl has earth powers.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLyH8XYu3a 維尼
“That sounds like a children’s show.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrsQrwQbAo 維尼
“W-well, it is, but it’s really good. A lot of adult men watch it.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡyadZej89PD 維尼
Takara’s mother almost spit in her coffee. “Why would a grown man want to watch it?” Awkward silence filled the car. Takara peered out the window as the buildings appeared to push themselves backwards, occasionally revealing a clear sky.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡAauHWH2wgh 維尼
The air inside and outside the car was pleasantly warm. As if Tawhiri decided that the day was too perfect to not throw some chaos into the mix, the wind outside her window blew with infuriating strength.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUTjfWFI2F 維尼
Half an hour passed before the car arrived at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center. Takara’s mother laughed. “Nope, there’s no way I’m going to find a parking spot here.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRHTmJiKUa 維尼
Takara frowned, her chin rested in her hand, as her mother drove several blocks until she found a spot. “Bye, sweetie. Ring me when you’re ready to go home.” Takara nodded and inhaled slowly, preparing to walk all the way to the convention from the spot with heels that whichever god created her did not intend for her to wear.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsIHDEAD12 維尼
“Damn you, Mum.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG0cq2dji2 維尼
She tripped over no less than three times. The third time was when she had almost reached the building. She closed her eyes and prepared for her face to hit the concrete. When her face felt no sensations, she opened her eyes and looked up.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSy3jVg7JQ 維尼
Her arms were being held by a girl in a similar but different costume to Takara’s. It was green with traces of gold. The girl’s wig was long, black and in a princess cut.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKvjsTeNH5 維尼
“Are you okay?” the girl asked in a deep and smooth voice. Takara nodded. “I thought Megumi was light on her feet.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnTGLyAntN 維尼
Takara blushed and gritted her teeth. “Well, isn’t Junko supposed to protect Megumi without asking questions?”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡAea49QCD53 維尼
“That’s not official. Did you make that up?”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIGKobAkKD 維尼
“Huh. I must have read a lot of Megunko doujinshi.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXwKRa8rLd 維尼
The girl laughed and Takara smiled. “So have I. Isn’t that pairing the best? That moment when Junko says that she’s glad she knows Megumi and Megumi blushes is just the cutest!”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWgEy8jDnn 維尼
Takara was taken aback by the girl’s sudden change in demeanour to a coolheaded young lady to a bubbly fangirl. She smiled, hoping that the girl would keep showing this side of her.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mG3fNF16M 維尼
“Not as cute as that episode when the two have a sleepover and sleep in the same futon!”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrowsUv3gj 維尼
“How could I forget?” The girl took Takara by the arm and began lightly pulling her into the building. “I wish the pairing was more popular. Why on earth would people support Megumi and Hotaka? He’s the villain!”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LA05BJCYD 維尼
“I always thought that was weird. So what doujin are you planning on buying?”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFpBNSbJ51 維尼
“Lots and lots of yuri,” the girl replied with a small but genuine laugh. “Oh, we haven’t introduced ourselves, unless you want us to just call each other by our character names. I’m Tsubaki.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38kM6HgVme 維尼
“Takara.” The two shook hands.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl5iPYs5oa 維尼
The lines were long and the judgemental eyes on Takara made the experience tiresome, but the two new friends were able to pass the time by chatting about anime, especially yuri. “Everyone at school thinks it’s weird that I like yuri so much,” Takara said.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkZF1iZuXz 維尼
“What’s so weird about it?” Tsubaki asked. “You shouldn’t care about what they think. Well, I guess that’s hypocritical of me since no one else knows about me liking it. Everyone assumes I’m not into anime.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdtBYqc9wY 維尼
“So what do you talk about with other people?”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ786FmKn0 維尼
“Sport, usually.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYqQuyObMJ 維尼
Takara scanned her eyes up and down Tsubaki, noticing her well-defined arm and leg muscles. “That makes sense,” she whispered.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFNj8xz4wp 維尼
Tsubaki stared at her with an amused smirk. “Are you done looking at me like that?” Takara nodded.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUmomCTQqG 維尼
“Sorry.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UNTubMKXK 維尼
“Don’t be.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4gmsQjesI 維尼
Takara began to sweat underneath her costume due to the bodies pushing past her to enter lines. Tsubaki appeared to be unfazed by the rising heat of the building, much to Takara’s admiration and jealousy.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVfczWHiJu 維尼
The two decided to have a food break. “Why is everything so expensive here?” Tsubaki asked as she sipped her ice tea. She tapped her fingers on the table and leaned forward so as not to spill anything on her long dress.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkK58rXV0H 維尼
“Haven’t you been to a convention before?” Takara responded, taking a doujinshi from her bag. Tsubaki shook her head. Takara began reading the doujinshi in her hands.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡka3gf6rmSY 維尼
“Haven’t you ever talked with another human being before? You’re not supposed to read when having a chat with someone.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTv1h5MIQ7 維尼
“Sorry.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnl4jjJKg9 維尼
“Don’t be.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2U9q6JtBno 維尼
The two ate their food and continued to discuss the merits of magical girl anime. Out the corner of Takara’s eye was a man wearing a chillingly precise cosplay of Hotaka. She grabbed her camera and ran to the man. Tsubaki followed her, asking her where she was going and receiving no immediate answer.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWrOU92DcX 維尼
“Can… Can I take a picture with you?” Takara requested. The man nodded and Takara gave the camera to Tsubaki.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBn1O0ZLfz 維尼
Takara froze in a fighting pose. The man leaned back, his hands up in surrender. Click! The two changed their poses to Takara pointing at the man as if giving him a speech. Click! The final pose was another battle, but Takara struggled to keep balance on one leg as she pretended to be kicking Hotaka. She quickly toppled over.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSDX2owTzt 維尼
Tsubaki honked with laughter before hastily covering her mouth. “I have the worst laugh,” she said softly.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrFMaA9abe 維尼
Takara gave her a reassuring smile as she was helped up by her new friend. “I think it’s fine.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Ilk7V1Xn 維尼
The man sniggered when he saw how close the two were and suggested they take a few yuri cosplay photos together. Takara asked Tsubaki if she’d feel comfortable doing this and the latter nodded her head. Takara handed the camera over to the man.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x0ZiFhL8w 維尼
The two girls were unsure of what poses to do. They started by holding hands and facing the camera. Click! They turned towards each other and looked in each other’s eyes, raising their hands upwards until they were at the same level as their chests. Click!8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vTMLBm3hH 維尼
Tsubaki decided to risk embarrassment and touch the other girl’s cheek. Takara put her hand on Tsubaki’s and leaned into the latter’s hand, closing her eyes. Click!8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv0edXD8pl 維尼
“I’m sorry,” Tsubaki told Takara. “That was rude of me.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9omZPLoEI 維尼
“Don’t be.” The two chortled and the man remarked on how beautiful the photos were. Takara thanked the man and took the camera, taking a look at each image. “He’s right. These are really nice. Can I put them on World Cosplay? I can include you in the description if you want”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFOK8fQnAY 維尼
“Of course. I don’t have a World Cosplay account, though. I haven’t even heard of that site. Sorry. You can just post these photos without mentioning me.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcBD7SfMzp 維尼
“If you insist. I can at least get your email address so we can chat some time, right?” The two exchanged emails.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq9cDyhm4A 維尼
Tsubaki heard her cell phone ring and walked outside to answer the call. Takara followed her. Tsubaki’s smile transformed into a gloomy long face faster than Hermes could deliver a message.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16T8re8eKo 維尼
“I’ve got to get home. It was nice meeting you.”8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Ao01muAj 維尼
The two gave each other a quick and uncomfortable embrace. “Bye,” Takara muttered. “I already can’t wait to see you again.” Her whisper died in the wind.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡytyelWf2wG 維尼
As Tsubaki wave goodbye, Takara stood, shivering in the now cool air, with crimson cheeks and a rapidly beating heart.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAFAgdO8Jb 維尼
“So this is how main characters in yuri anime feel,” she said to herself, her chuckles swirling around the air with nowhere to go.8964 copyright protection644ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVE3i323Al 維尼
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