Three of Us III

I nodded, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. This was my first time attending a cosplay event, and I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was determined to make the most of it, to explore this new world and learn more about the people who inhabited it.

Dove excused herself, leaving the three of us standing amidst the colorful chaos of the festival.

"Where is she going?" IM asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Irune, ever knowledgeable about Dove's activities, chimed in. "She's probably changing into her cosplay and heading to her booth," she explained.

"She has a booth?" I asked, surprised.

"Well, not exactly," Irune clarified. "She's being sponsored to fill one of the booths, selling her merchandise."

I nodded, beginning to understand the intricacies of the cosplay world. It seemed like a mix of passion and business, a place where creativity and commerce intertwined.

"Well then, shall we go explore?" I asked, turning to Irune and IM.

"Sure!" Irune chirped, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "There's so much to see here!"

We made our way through the crowded hall, taking in the sights and sounds of the festival. We passed by booths selling anime merchandise, cosplayers posing for photos, and even a stage where a live band was performing a J-rock song.

"Woah, look at that guy!" Irune exclaimed, pointing at a cosplayer dressed as a character from a popular video game. "His costume is so detailed!"

"He looks amazing," IM agreed, a hint of admiration in his voice.

As we wandered through the convention center, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. I glanced around, but couldn't see anyone who seemed out of place. Maybe it was just my imagination, or perhaps it was the lingering paranoia from our encounter with the demon the night before.

"Let's grab some snacks," I suggested, hoping to distract myself from the unsettling feeling.

We found a food stall selling takoyaki, a Japanese snack of fried octopus balls. I ordered a plate, and we found a quiet corner to eat and people-watch.

"This is so much fun!" Irune exclaimed, her mouth full of takoyaki. "I've never been to a convention before."

"It's a whole new world," IM agreed, his eyes scanning the crowd with interest.

I smiled, enjoying their company. It was nice to have some normalcy in my life, even if it was just for a few hours.

As we ate, I couldn't help but notice a group of people staring at us from a nearby table. They were all dressed in black, their faces obscured by masks and hoods. I nudged IM, who turned and met their gaze.

A shiver ran down my spine. There was something about those figures that felt familiar, yet sinister. Were they Seers? Or perhaps something even more dangerous?

IM's eyes narrowed, a silent warning passing between us. It seemed our adventure was far from over.

"Are you Irune?!"

A high-pitched voice suddenly cut through the din of the cafeteria, causing all three of us to turn around. A group of cosplayers, their faces obscured by masks and hoods, stood before us, their eyes fixed on Irune.

I looked at Irune, who was beaming with excitement. "Heh, it's me!" she replied, a playful glint in her eye. "Are you fans?"

The cosplayers erupted in cheers, nodding enthusiastically. "We love your cosplays!" one of them exclaimed. "You're so talented!"

I looked at Irune, surprised. "You cosplay too?" I asked.

"Occasionally," she replied with a shy smile. "But not as often as Dove. She's the real expert in our family."

The cosplayers' excitement reached a fever pitch. "Dove is here?!" they squealed in unison.

"The goddess Dove?!" another exclaimed, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"She's changing right now and will be at her booth soon," IM informed them, a hint of amusement in his voice.

The cosplayers erupted in cheers and squeals, their enthusiasm almost contagious.

Weirdos, I thought to myself, shaking my head. But deep down, I couldn't help but admire their passion and dedication to their hobby.

"So, do you guys want to take a picture with me, or what?" Irune asked, her voice a playful sing-song.

The cosplayers eagerly nodded, their excitement bubbling over. They quickly gathered around Irune, posing for pictures and chatting animatedly.

IM and I watched from the sidelines, a comfortable silence settling between us. We finished our takoyaki, the savory flavor a welcome distraction from the overwhelming energy of the festival.

Just then, a wave of commotion swept through the cafeteria, with people rushing towards the exit, their voices a chorus of excited squeals and shouts.

"Goddess Dove is at her booth!" someone yelled, and the cosplayers who had just been taking pictures with Irune bowed respectfully before joining the stampede towards the main hall.

Irune returned to our table, a bemused smile on her face. "Well, that was... interesting," she commented. "What's wrong, IM?" she asked, noticing his pinched expression.

IM was holding his nose, a look of disgust on his face. "One of them... smelled bad," he muttered, his voice muffled.

"Really?" Irune asked, sniffing the air. "I don't smell anything."

"Should we go find Dove?" I asked, concerned about the commotion.

IM reluctantly lowered his hand from his nose, still grimacing slightly. "Let's just hope she doesn't cause too much of a scene," he muttered, ever the cautious one.

Irune giggled. "Oh, IM, you worry too much. This is Dove we're talking about. She knows how to handle a crowd."

With that, we made our way towards the main hall, where Dove's booth was supposedly located. The crowd was even thicker now, a vibrant sea of cosplayers and anime enthusiasts. We carefully navigated through the throng, dodging oversized props and enthusiastic photographers, until we finally reached the booth.

And there she was, in all her Red Giel glory.

Dove had perfectly captured the character's essence, from the iconic Red Girl to the mischievous grin. She posed for photos with fans, her energy and charisma radiating through the crowd.

"She's pretty popular, isn't she?" I remarked, watching as a crowd gathered around Dove's booth.

"Yeah," Irune replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "She's kind of a big deal in the cosplay community."

"Dove-sama! Give us your Beauty Wink!" a fan shouted from the crowd.

People chuckled, recognizing the reference to Dove's signature move.

"Oh, you want that?" Dove asked, a playful smirk on her face. She leaned forward and winked, but without activating her power.

To my surprise, several people in the crowd dramatically pretended to faint, clutching their chests and falling to the ground in mock swoons.

"What the...?" I muttered, confused by their exaggerated reactions.

Irune chuckled. "They're just playing along," she explained. "It's become a bit of a running joke among her fans."

IM nudged my arm with his elbow, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Xian," he whispered, "that guy over there..."

"Hmm?" I turned my gaze to follow his subtle nod.

"He's been watching Dove from a distance, wearing a mask," IM said, his voice low.

"Yeah, so?" I replied, not quite understanding his concern.

"What if he's a stalker?" IM suggested, a hint of worry in his voice.

< Chapter 098 > Fin.