Yes, if there was a reason why Okumura didn't feel good with Nifuji, it was because Nifuji reminded him of the guy, who his mother had left and abandoned her family, which made him experience deep trauma.
Yet, Okumura also knew that Nifuji wasn't that guy, but Nifuji also had helped him a lot, especially with the problem of Ririsa, whether it was sales or the uncomfortable feeling that came from the thought of Ririsa selling naughty photos in a cosplay.
Due to Nifuji's words, without a doubt, Ririsa wouldn't sell the naughty photos, which made Okumura feel so relieved, and because of that, Okumura didn't want to treat Nifuji like this, as he respected Nifuji as an adult who had educated him and stopped Ririsa on the path without return.
"I see..."
Yet, Nifuji was calm and understood why Okumura was like this. "I won't force you to like me, but as her boyfriend, you should be prepared."
"B-Boyfriend?!" Okumura's face quickly reddened, as his focus quickly vanished, and he tried to deny his relationship with Ririsa. "W-We're not in a relationship! W-We're just a senior and a junior! We're not a couple!"
"Well, even if you aren't one, as a man, you have a duty to protect her, especially when this is her debut cosplay." Nifuji didn't care whether Okumura was in a relationship or not, but he had to remind Okumura about his duty. "I can see that she loves cosplay, and you need to protect her since the cosplay event isn't all bright."
"..."
Okumura fell silent as he looked at Nifuji in a daze.
Was it time for him to think about his uncomfortable feelings?
Okumura realized what kind of kid he was.
When Ririsa trusted him so much, Okumura felt that it was too childish of him to keep thinking about the feelings in his heart.
No, Okumura knew that it was difficult for him to face his trauma, but even so, at this moment, at this time, he wanted to be someone whom Ririsa could depend on, too!
Still, what did he need to protect Ririsa from?
"Creepy fans."
"..." Okumura.
There might not be a dark serial killer "serial killer" like how one might see in Oshi no Ko.
However, Nifuji saw many of the "creepy" sides of fandom as he walked through the event, primarily through the sheer pressure of the crowd and the concept of "Gachi-koi" (obsessive love).
"C-Creepy fans?!"
Okumura was startled, but somehow he felt a jab in his heart, for he was one, too!
"Are you okay?"
"I-I am okay... I-I just realized that I might be one of those creepy fans, too."
"....." Nifuji.
The love of an otaku is intense.
For their love, they could do or be anything.
Nifuji knew that Okumura must have been obsessed with his waifu, and even did many creepy things in public, or private, but—
"You can think of that later. Your focus should be on Amano."
"Y-Yes, Nifuji-san!"
Yes, Okumura knew that he might be a creepy otaku, but even so, his desire to protect Ririsa's love for Liliel remained the same!
Okumura didn't want that girl to be hurt by those creepy otakus!
Even if Okumura knew that he was also included among those creepy otakus!
Yet, for now, let's focus on protecting Ririsa!
"S-So, what should I do, Nifuji-san? Should I try to see whether there is someone creepy?"
Okumura looked around, trying to find a suspicious individual.
"..." Nifuji.
"No, what you need to protect her from isn't one specific evil stalker, but the 'Kame-ko' (Camera Boys). Those guys with the camera."
"Why?!"
Okumura looked at Nifuji dumbfoundedly since he thought that those camera boys, who held the expensive cameras, were all harmless, right?
"...."
This was why teenagers were so naive, Nifuji thought.
Still, Nifuji decided to explain with a sigh. "I have seen her cosplay, and she is beautiful."
"....." Okumura.
"Still, I am fine, but what do you think those cameramen will do when they see her?"
"When they see her?"
As Okumura was in deep thought, Nifuji directly gave the answer, "They will surround her, making a 'wall' (Kakomi) around her, so she can't run away."
"...."
Okumura wanted to say something, but he knew that he couldn't.
When one saw a beautiful cosplayer, it was a natural desire for one to wish to take photos of the cosplayer.
"While most are polite, some can be intimidating, and can you imagine how she will react when she is surrounded by a sweaty mass of lenses?"
"..." Okumura.
"Yes, they aren't evil, but they represent a suffocating, possessive force that wants to consume her image."
The feeling of wanting to devour her, to take her image to their cameras, their possessiveness might be too heavy for Ririsa, who was a beginner.
Or rather, even if one was a veteran, it didn't mean that they could face all of those things easily.
"Also, the most important is the Low Anglers."
"Low anglers! The one who tries to shoot from the ground?"
"That one." Nifuji nodded. "If there is someone who tries to squat, stop them or report them to the staff directly." Still, he thought of something and said, "I might be able to help, but I can't stay with you two all the time, and in the future, you will go together, so if you can't do this by yourselves... You know, right?"
"I..." Okumura knew how heavy his responsibility was, but even so, he nodded. "I understand."
Ririsa loved Liliel; that feeling was similar to his, and because of that, he wished to protect her.
"Don't be stiff." Nifuji patted Okumura's shoulder with a smile. "Those otaku are timid. If you raise your voice slightly, they will run away."
"...." Okumura.
"Also, I can see that you are trained. If you see them in your body, I am sure that they will run away."
"Nifuji-san..." Okumura felt like he was being teased somehow.
"Well, in a confrontation, fighting using fists isn't the only way. Sometimes, the fight can end without the need for violence, such as by making yourselves intimidating, like the rooster."
"Rooster? You mean a chicken?"
"Yup. You can see them raising their body proudly despite being a chicken, right? You should be like that instead of hunching down. Even if you are not confident, you should show so, so those whom you want to protect will be relieved and feel secure."
"I-I see..."
Okumura learned a lot.
"Also, lastly, the most important."
"There is more?!"
"It's only one more."
"What is it?"
Somehow, Okumura felt like he had met a reliable big brother figure.
Yes, firstly, he wasn't good with Nifuji, as Nifuji reminded him of the man who had taken his mother away, but Nifuji wasn't that man, and the one who was horrible was his mother, who decided to leave despite having a family.
"The boyfriend's taboo."
"...." Okumura.
"I...!"
"Yes, you two aren't in a relationship, as you have explained before."
"..." Okumura.
"However, how do the other things feel when they know that their favorite cosplayer is close to a man? I can imagine the fans will burn her merchandise, especially those otaku who believe the cosplayer is their "girlfriend" and will turn into haters if they see her with another man."
Nifuji gave serious advice. "Anyway, just keep my words seriously, and learn since there are many things that you need to watch out for. You might stumble at first, and mess up, but as long as you keep trying and improve yourselves, you can protect her and be a better man."
"Yes, Nifuji-san!"
"..." Nifuji.
While Nifuji felt weird by Okumura's change, he heard Mayuri's voice.
"Hirotaka!"
Only, at that moment, when he turned his eyes, he saw an angel had descended.