novelraw Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Chapter 46
"Born from the beauty of this world, transformed from a heart of kindness—" White gloves spread open as a magic wand sparking crimson light spun between fingertips.
"To protect the world from destruction, to safeguard its peace—"
Scarlet and rose skirts billowed as the girl lifted one pale thigh slightly, the other leg planted firmly on the ground.
"Love Magical Girl Ali-chan, reporting for duty~"
Her right eye squeezed shut while the left, wearing a violet contact lens, sighted down the wand's gemstone as her right hand drew an invisible bowstring.
"Come then, evil minions! Let Ali-chan purify you!!"
Fully made-up with contacts and wig, Yua Lina sparkled brilliantly, her small face growing larger in Ashley's vision.
The next second, Ashley clutched her head in agony, face flushed scarlet as she shouted,
"Don't recite anime lines so naturally without any sense of shame!!"
Striking a pose, Yua Lina tilted her head in confusion, pouting at Ashley who was crouched on the ground covering her face.
"What are you saying, Star Magical Girl Bess-chan? Stand up and fight the monsters with me!"
"Aaaahhh!!"
Ashley covered her face, feeling Yan Huan, Sakuramiya Hitomi, and Hashimoto's gazes upon her. She really wanted to find a hole to crawl into and never emerge.
If only she hadn't let her soft heart agree to cosplay with this idiot!
She wanted to die—really wanted to die.
"Pfft!"
Hashimoto burst out laughing at the scene, silently raising his phone to take a picture.
But the crouching blue magical girl Ashley suddenly shot him a fierce glare through her blue contacts.
At that moment, Hashimoto might as well have been the "Photography Monster" from anime.
"Hey, Hashimoto. If you dare take a picture now, you'll die."
The Discipline Captain was terrifying!
"."
Hashimoto gulped and quietly withdrew his phone.
Sakuramiya Hitomi, holding a parasol, didn't quite understand, so she asked Yua Lina with some confusion,
"Yua Lina, did you make Ashley cosplay a character she's completely unfamiliar with?"
"Eh, no way?! Ashley loves watching Love Magical Girl!"
Yua Lina vehemently denied it.
Hashimoto chuckled and explained to Sakuramiya,
"Ashley probably did love watching it—just the elementary school version of Ashley."
Upon hearing this, Ashley's face grew even redder as she crouched, burying her head between her knees. Yan Huan felt a twinge of sympathy.
It was probably similar to the embarrassment of cosplaying from Balala the Fairies and having to shout "Balala energy, fairy transformation!" in public.
No, this had probably reached the level of having to sing the entire "Once upon a time, there was a fairy castle" song in front of everyone.
Sakuramiya rubbed her chin, still puzzled,
"So it's like that... but is it really okay to cosplay characters from childhood cartoons?"
Yan Huan smiled slightly as he replied to Sakuramiya,
"Of course. And based on my internet experience, things made for kids often end up having lots of adult fans."
"?"
Sakuramiya hadn't quite grasped what Yan Huan meant, but he gently pointed behind her.
She saw several people approaching with cameras, asking Yua Lina,
"Ah, these are Ali-chan and Bess-chan from Love Magical Girl, right?! So accurate! May we take your picture?"
"Eh?"
Ashley lifted her head blankly, looking at Yua Lina beside her.
Yua Lina met Ashley's eyes, then showed an innocent (devilish) smile,
"Sure!"
"No, wait—"
But Ashley was already pulled up by Yua Lina to stand together, striking a magical girl combination pose,
"Love and Star★, joint attack~"
"Aaaahhh!!"
Sakuramiya averted her gaze, no longer watching Ashley who looked like she was heading to execution, silently praying for her in her heart.
May the child be safe.
"It seems these cosplayers are taking photos outside instead of going in?" Sakuramiya glanced at the spacious area outside the exhibition center and asked.
At that moment, many cosplayers dressed as various characters walked around, with quite a few like Yua Lina and Ashley being asked for photos.
"Ah, because there's a queue to get inside. There are activities and booths inside, but for photos and meeting people, it's probably better outside," Yan Huan patiently explained to the seemingly clueless Sakuramiya.
"Also, the tickets are being scalped at high prices—not everyone can get in, so many people socialize and take photos outside."
Sakuramiya looked at Yan Huan beside her, covering her mouth with a light laugh,
"The President seems quite knowledgeable about this."
"Well, it happens every year. Even if I hadn't come before, I'd seen it online, and isn't Hashimoto in the student council?"
Scheming~
Of course, how could Sakuramiya not know?
Even if she hadn't understood before, after Nara's reminder, she had studied up and knew everything thoroughly.
She was actually hinting for everyone to hurry inside because most of her preparations were in the venue.
After all, outside, she couldn't do anything to the President!!
Just as Sakuramiya was about to say something else, Hashimoto picked up his phone—someone had messaged him,
"Ah, they've arrived too."
"They?"
Yan Huan looked at Hashimoto and asked,
"Who?"
"Didn't I say I'd introduce some industry insiders to you? They're a power couple in the inner circle. They're also exhibiting this time, selling their new work in the doujin area."
"The inner circle?"
This time it was truly outside Sakuramiya's knowledge. She blinked, looking at Hashimoto and Yan Huan as if asking for an explanation.
But the two didn't immediately respond, instead exchanging a silent conversation through glances.
Yan Huan tilted his head: Hey, you said you'd introduce the big shots—you explain what the inner circle is to Sakuramiya.
Hashimoto blinked: Huh?! You want me to explain this stuff? If her family finds out, they'll definitely kill me!
Yan Huan: Then why did you say you'd introduce her to industry insiders when you knew she's a young lady?!
Hashimoto: People have to grow up, President. So, you be the one to make Vice-President Sakuramiya into an adult!
Yan Huan: .
Yan Huan blinked, turning to Sakuramiya who was holding her parasol with a puzzled expression.
Seeing her furrow her brows, she asked,
"Is it some secret code between you boys?"
"Not really..."
Yan Huan glanced back at Hashimoto, only to find the guy had silently backed away several steps, already looking for cosplayers to photograph.
Despicable otaku!
As the saying goes, the more you try to hide something, the more curious people become.
This was probably such a moment.
Sakuramiya's eyes narrowed as she inched closer to Yan Huan, full of curiosity.
Someone who prided herself on knowing Yan Huan inside and out couldn't let any topic he knew that she didn't go uninvestigated.
"President?"
Yan Huan sighed helplessly and crooked a finger, signaling her to come closer.
As Sakuramiya leaned in slightly, he stepped forward into the shade of her parasol.
Feeling Yan Huan's approach, Sakuramiya's face flushed instantly, even her parasol hand trembling slightly.
Wait...
Though it felt a bit strange, was this somewhat like sharing an umbrella?
But before Sakuramiya's shyness could last even a second, Yan Huan had already leaned to her ear, speaking softly.
"So-called inner circle refers to..."
As she listened, her eyes gradually widened in disbelief, her lips parting unconsciously.
All these works with such-and-such content~
The imagined scenes flooded her blank gaze, occupying all her brain's memory at that moment.
"."
Under Yan Huan's gentle but relentless coaching, Sakuramiya Hitomi crossed the threshold into adulthood that very afternoon.
Behind them, Hashimoto didn't turn around—he simply raised a trembling thumbs-up at Yan Huan's back, a silent anthem to the boy's bravery.
After delivering the final, excruciating detail, Yan Huan stepped back out of the shade of her parasol.
"That's more or less it, Sakuramiya."
"..."
Hitomi's lips parted; her cheeks burned like she'd come down with a fever.
She couldn't help staring at him—then flinched as if the gaze scalded her.
Under his eyes, her cheeks puffed up in slow motion.
"Uu..."
With a huff she swung her small fist and tapped his shoulder.
"Tap~"
Soft, weightless—Sakuramiya the delicate scholar couldn't whip up a ripple.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry~"
"Uu..."
Yan Huan rattled off apologies, though the blow had felt more like a shy little plea for affection.
He put on a "wretched with remorse" face—at least he hoped it looked repentant.
A few steps away, Hashimoto—who'd been scouting cosers—finally turned.
The sight hit him like a flashbang at point-blank range.
*Zing!!*
Gyah!!
Run for your lives!!
The normies are casting holy-light magic! Retreat to the caves!!
This time, the other boy truly wore a face of agony.
He was genuinely repentant: why had he come to this con with these cursed normies?
Hashimoto pulled out his phone with tears in his eyes, checked the group chat, then asked over his shoulder, "The two teachers are already inside. So—do we head in now or wait?"
Yan Huan glanced at Yua Lina and Ashley, still surrounded by cameras. "Let's wait till they're done and go in together?"
"That could take forever. Hmm—actually I want some shots too, Mr. President, Miss Vice-President, you—"
Comms were the heart of any con, yet Yan Huan's gaze drifted to Sakuramiya, standing beside him with zero clue about otaku culture.
"..."
He smiled. "Sakuramiya and I will queue first. We didn't bring anything to carry, so getting inside early beats standing around bored."
"Roger, Prez. Ping me on Plane when you're in; I'll come with Lina and the others."
"Deal."
Hashimoto hoisted his voice-support wand—already loaded with his own catchphrase—then slung his camera and marched off, back ramrod-straight.
Under her parasol, Hitomi patted her still-pink cheeks.
She wasn't that innocent; she just hadn't expected—
So. Close.
His breath had brushed her ear as he whispered impossible things, and every word sent sparks skittering down her spine.
A fizzy, tingling storm rose inside her. She adored it, hated it, couldn't control it—so her fist flew out on its own.
Why?
Cute aggression.
A real psychology term: when the brain meets something unbearably adorable, it overcompensates with an impulse that looks like the opposite of affection.
That mechanism had hijacked Sakuramiya Hitomi thirty seconds ago.
"He won't think I hate him, will he?"
Under the parasol, cheeks still flushed, she watched Yan Huan's back.
The next second he turned—she jerked the parasol forward to hide half her face.
But he only smiled. "Let's queue, Sakuramiya."
"Mm."
They joined the snaking line for the east entrance. Soon the tail stretched far behind them.
"Tickets, Sakuramiya."
"Thanks, President."
He handed over her ticket; Bai Yi had given him a QR code for the VIP lane, but he stayed beside her.
As the queue inched forward, Hitomi kept sneaking glances at the boy scrolling on his phone.
She pressed her lips together, ready to explain her earlier fist.
Before she could speak, a voice floated in from the side.
"Um, big bro—could we take a stamp with you?"
Hitomi blinked. A cluster of shy girls hovered around Yan Huan.
Stamp? That means a photo, right?
Wait—hold on!
All morning she'd been busy posing and setting "traps" inside the venue; she'd forgotten to take the first-ever picture with him.
And now strangers were about to steal that first photo?
Stamps—what a hateful custom!
Posing with random guys—don't they think that's weird?
Since she wasn't getting the photo herself, Sakuramiya Hitomi launched a fierce internal critique of con culture.
Should she stop them?
But—on what grounds?
Her persona wouldn't allow it, and stamp-collecting is normal here.
If Yan Huan doesn't refuse, they'll step right up, cameras ready.
They'll open beauty filters, slap on cute stickers—he'll look adorable with cat ears stuck on his face.
"Big bro, you're so handsome~" they'll coo, then smoothly ask, "Add me on Plane?"
They'll chat nonstop on Plane, sparks will fly, and one day after graduation they'll marry and send her wedding invitations. She'll have to give cash gifts every time they pop out a kid.
That's Longguo culture—terrifying.
Stamp culture at cons is downright scary.
It must be eradicated. First ban it in Sakura Country, then spread the ban worldwide.
In the span of five seconds, Hitomi's imagination went supernova.
"Miss, could we take your picture?"
"Eh?"
Just as her smile grew ever more gracious and perfect, her aura dropping to sub-zero, a male voice cut in behind her.
She pivoted the parasol and found several boys with DSLRs waiting hopefully.
Without hesitation she declined, "Sorry, I don't really do photos."
After Yan Huan had rushed to delete Spencer's shot earlier, there was no way Sakuramiya Hitomi was posing for strangers.
"Hey, pretty girl, you're absolutely stunning. I'm a pro photographer—I'll shoot you for free, no charge."
The guy still wouldn't take no for an answer.
"."
Sakuramiya Hitomi kept her polite smile and stayed silent.
Just as the photographer opened his mouth again, Yan Huan's voice cut in from behind.
"Didn't you hear her? She said no pics."
Hitomi blinked. The photographers, spotting who stood behind her, offered quick, apologetic grins.
"Got it, bro."
"."
President... what expression was that?
Once the crowd had scattered, Hitomi turned to Yan Huan, but his face had already reverted to its usual easy smile.
"...Thanks, President."
"Least I could do."
Hitomi glanced at the spot where the girls had been; they'd vanished.
"Those girls who wanted photos with you earlier—didn't you take any with them?"
"Nope."
Yan Huan eyed the still-long line ahead and smiled.
"Your family doesn't like you leaving photos out in the wild, right?"
"Exactly. If pictures leaked it could cause trouble at home..."
"Mm. Felt wrong running off to collect snapshots while you had to stand aside. Plus, I'm not big on photos either."
Hitomi's pupils shrank a fraction.
Her heart clenched; heat crept up her skin. She gripped her parasol tighter, angling it to hide her flushed cheeks.
"You... don't like photos?"
"Looking at myself feels kinda... embarrassing?"
"Pfft, what kind of reason is that, President?"
Beneath the lace-trimmed parasol, Hitomi muffled a laugh.
"Still, maybe if you took more you'd get used to it."
"Could be."
Tap-tap.
Yan Huan's voice drifted over, and Hitomi felt gentle knocks on the apex of her parasol—like someone knocking on a door. She froze.
He was tapping her parasol.
She slid the umbrella aside along her shoulder and revealed her face.
Looking up at the handsome boy, she found him lifting his phone, smiling.
"So, Sakuramiya—want to collect one stamp together?"
"..."
Her lips parted slightly; in his phone screen her reflection seemed to melt into shimmering light.
"O-of course, President."
The answer came out shaky, almost breathless.
Her knuckles whitened around the parasol handle; each heartbeat hammered against her ribs.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The drumlike rhythm in her chest rewrote her earlier thoughts.
Convention photo culture...
was the best thing ever!!