"...."
Nifuji was at a loss for words, as he almost couldn't recognize this shy high school girl, who had always hunched down.
Instead of that gloomy girl, all he saw was an angel who took away everyone's hearts.
Nifuji was sure that he wasn't the only one who felt this way, and everyone who saw her would feel the same way.
Yet, he had to say her costume was quite "naughty."
Her main outfit (often called the "Angel Airborne Corps" uniform or simply the Battle Suit) is a mix of tactical military gear and a magical girl aesthetic. The outfit is predominantly white and pastel pink, with sharp black accents (ribbons and lining) that give it a "cool" combat look.
The base is a white leotard-style bodysuit that fits tightly, designed to accentuate the body's lines (which mirrors the "ecchi" nature of the fictional anime).
Still, if that were all, then Ririsa wouldn't be able to take everyone's heart. Instead, her intense love for the character led her to create and dress herself down to the last detail.
Like her, the wings on her back, the collar, the gloves, and the boots.
Yet, without a doubt, compared to her physical transformation, all of those clothes and accessories were just an extra.
She removed her signature red-framed glasses and put on crystal blue contact lenses that were unnaturally bright, mimicking the large, expressive eyes of an anime character.
She also wore a high-quality pastel pink wig. Unlike her natural hair, which might be messy, the wig is styled perfectly with "anime gravity"—the bangs and side locks frame her face exactly like the 2D character.
Also, most importantly, the "gloomy" aura of Ririsa vanished. She wears a benevolent, saintly smile (often described as the "Holy Mother" expression) that seems confident and divine, concealing her inner shyness.
But without a doubt, the reason Okumura and the fans are so captivated is the sheer contrast.
The original Ririsa?
She slouches, looks down, hides behind glasses, and wears a loose sweater vest.
So what about now?
She stands with perfect posture, makes direct eye contact, and radiates a "noble" aura.
"I understated her." Eli, who had returned, stood by Nifuji's side as she looked at Ririsa with a sigh of amazement. "I never thought that she held so much potential with her."
"My eyes aren't wrong." Mayuri pushed her glasses up the frame as she marveled at Ririsa's transformation. "She might be a newbie, but I am sure that in the future, when she gains her experience, she will become an existence that will surprise all of us."
Eli and Mayuri had been in the world of cosplay for so many years, so they knew who held the potential or not.
Only, Nifuji was in silence, wondering why the slice of life work had become a shounen style now.
Yet, he also understood their feelings since the thought of watching a small figure slowly grew into a titanic figure that shook the entire world of cosplay.
If one thought carefully, it was like they had become part of history.
If one followed the shounen manga concept, it was like they, Nifuji, Eli, and Mayuri, were the mentor figures who had watched the protagonist grow up.
Still, who was the protagonist in this story?
Nifuji looked at Okumura, who was standing still, clearly dumbfounded and mesmerized by Ririsa's charm. He smiled, then patted Okumura's back.
"Ah!"
"Wake up. Protect her."
"....."
Okumura woke up, but he was stunned since he didn't know what to do.
"....." Nifuji.
He patted his forehead, but he also wasn't sure how to handle the crowd at the cosplay event, so he looked around before he locked on his target.
"Eh...?"
The sexy, female cosplayer, who had her booth right beside Ririsa, was stunned when Nifuji looked at her. Her face quickly turned red, feverish, clearly exuding the womanly charm, or even being in a heat, thinking of what might happen between the two.
Yes, she knew that it might seem easy, and she was like a slut, who would accept Nifuji's advance, even though it was their first meeting, but what could she do?
His face just happened to be her type~!
At this moment, she was like a man who was being seduced by a sexy, lewd woman, and unless the man had steel-like nerves, how could he refuse, right?
Only—
"Excuse me, sorry for bothering you, but can you help me for a bit?"
"Ah, yes!"
The female cosplayer was ready to help, but Nifuji shook his head and said, "No, I am asking the guy."
"Eh? Me?"
The stout, glasses guy, who had been silent and unable to say anything as the female cosplayer, who was also his crush, went after the handsome Nifuji, was dumbfounded.
Yes, he knew that the female cosplayer was tempted by Nifuji, but what could he do?
He, Ogino, was just a cameraman, the support guy, and her number one fan, so if the female cosplayer wished to be with Nifuji, then he could only remain in silence despite having the feeling of being betrayed.
Yet, he also knew that as a man, he had lost to Nifuji, especially when he saw how handsome, tall, and prim Nifuji was.
As long as the female was sane enough instead of choosing him, the stout guy, who didn't have a nice job, or a nice amount of wealth, wasn't it better to choose Nifuji, who was successful?
Also, while it was infuriating, he also had to admit that Nifuji was charming, so when he saw Nifuji approach the female cosplayer, he could only close his eyes, hoping this torment would end as soon as possible.
However, Nifuji came to him?
"M-Me...?"
He asked once again.
Nifuji nodded. "Yes, it's you. Sorry to bother you, but can you help him manage the crowd? Both of them are newbies and just beginning their debuts, and I am not familiar with how everything works, so can you guide him on how to become the spotter or the guardian of the cosplayer?"
"...."
The man was in a daze by Nifuji's words, as he kept staring at Nifuji's respectful and polite expression before he looked at Okumura's nervous expression, who then bowed his head respectfully.
"Please!"
Okumura bowed his head deeply. "I-I want to give her a good experience in this event! I-I don't want her to be hurt and have a fun experience as a cosplayer! I want her to have a good memory instead of a nightmare! So, please teach me how to be better, Senpai!" Naturally, he wouldn't be able to think all of those words, but Nifuji was there, and Nifuji had whispered to him what to say, but his feelings were real!
Okumura wanted to make Ririsa have a good experience instead of being destroyed by the creepiness!
Then, as expected, the man seemed like about to cry.
He, Ogino, was entrusted with a huge responsibility, and that was to teach the next generation the correct way to protect their "Oshi!"
And, because of that!
"Follow me, Kouhai (Junior)!"
"Yes, Senpai!"
In Ogino's words, Okumura took his first step as a spotter, the guardian of the cosplayer for Ririsa!
Yet, without a doubt, despite Ogino's stout figure, his figure appeared to be reliable and immense.