The aftermath of ComiConclave was an explosion. Ectiqa's name was everywhere. Major cosplay magazines, popular forums, trending hashtags - she had gone from a rising star to a supernova overnight. Her follower count had doubled. Her inbox was flooded with sponsorship offers and interview requests.
For me, it was a time of quiet victory. My goddess was finally getting the recognition she deserved. I spent my free time scrolling through the thousands of positive comments, my chest swelling with pride, as if I had personally crafted her armor myself.
"Dude, have you seen this?" Kenji asked, sliding into the seat next to me in the school library. He spun his phone around to face me. "They did it. They finally made an official fan club."
On the screen was a slickly designed website. 'The Ectiqa Alliance - Official Fan Hub.' It had forums, a gallery, a news section, and a charter that spoke of 'promoting a positive and respectful community in honor of Ectiqa-sama's artistry.'
"It's about time," I said, a grin spreading across my face. "An organized base of support. This is exactly what she needs."
"I already signed up," Kenji said proudly. "My username is 'Ectiqa_Is_My_Waifu_69.' Classy, right?"
I winced. "Subtle as a brick, Kenji."
"Hey, it gets the point across!"
Naturally, I signed up the moment I got home, under my sacred moniker: Starlight_Knight_01. I spent the evening on the forums, getting a feel for the community. It was a mix of hardcore cosplay enthusiasts debating stitching techniques, newer fans gushing over her beauty, and a surprising number of artists sharing incredible fan creations. It felt like home.
A few days later, I received a private message on the fan club site. It was from one of the founding administrators, a user named 'M-Chan.'
M-Chan: Greetings, Starlight_Knight_01-san. We, the administration team of the Ectiqa Alliance, would like to formally thank you for your long-standing and profound support of Ectiqa-sama. We have all noticed your presence over the years. Your insightful comments and generous encouragement have been a cornerstone of the fandom long before we had a name for it.
My face grew hot. They had noticed me?
M-Chan: Because of your clear passion and deep understanding of the craft, we were wondering if you would be interested in taking on a more official role. We are looking for a 'Lore Master' to help moderate the character discussion forums and contribute articles about the source materials Ectiqa-sama works from. You would be a perfect fit. Please consider it.
My heart was doing the macarena. An official role? Me? A chance to help her, to support her in a real, tangible way beyond just throwing money at my screen?
It was an immediate, resounding yes.
Meanwhile, in the secret studio, Rina, Miki, and Hana were looking at the exact same website.
"The 'Ectiqa Alliance'..." Rina read aloud, a bemused smile on her face. "It sounds so... grand."
"It's amazing!" Hana chirped, bouncing on her toes. "Look at all the members! And the fan art gallery is incredible! They're so talented!"
Miki, ever the strategist, was scrolling through the forums with a critical eye. "The moderation seems solid so far. They're cracking down on inappropriate comments. The founders seem to know what they're doing." She paused, her cursor hovering over the 'Staff' page. "Oh. That's interesting."
"What is it?" Rina asked, leaning in to look.
Miki pointed to a name on the list of moderators. 'Lore Master: Starlight_Knight_01.'
Rina's brain momentarily short-circuited. "He... He joined the staff?"
"Looks like it," Miki said, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Your number one fanboy is now officially on the payroll. So to speak. He's a real company man now."
"Shut up," Rina mumbled, hiding her burning face behind her hands. It was ridiculous. Why did the mere mention of his username make her so flustered? He was just a fan. A very sweet, very dedicated, very cute fan who gave her the best gift she had ever received. Okay, maybe it wasn't so ridiculous.
The next few weeks were a blur of double-duty. By day, I was Rui Hinamata, student, part-time bookstore clerk, and increasingly suspicious older brother. By night, I transformed. I was Starlight_Knight_01, the Lore Master.
My life was a study in contrasts.
One evening, I was furiously typing up a detailed, 3000-word analysis of the Archon's backstory and its thematic significance for the fan club's main page.
"Onii-chan!" Rina's voice called from the kitchen. "The trash needs to go out! And you left your gross socks in the living room again!"
"I'm busy with important scholarly work!" I yelled back.
"It's a Gacha game, you colossal nerd!" she retorted.
Another afternoon, I was in a heated debate on the moderator chat about whether or not to ban a user for posting low-quality memes.
Ectiqa_Is_My_Waifu_69 (Kenji): But they're funny!
Starlight_Knight_01 (Me): They are disrespectful to the sanctity of the gallery! This is a place for high art!
M-Chan: Knight-san has a point. We must maintain a standard of quality.
As I was defending artistic integrity, Rina flopped onto the sofa beside me, sighing dramatically.
"That guy, Kenji, your friend? He asked me for Ectiqa's measurements today. For a 'custom body pillow project.' He's so gross."
I froze, staring at my screen where Kenji was currently spamming crying emojis. "Yeah," I said, my voice strained. "Total creep."
I was living a lie. A glorious, stressful, hilarious lie. I was one of the trusted guardians of my own sister's secret online empire, and I had absolutely no idea. I was just happy to be her knight, fighting for her honor in the digital realm, one banned meme at a time.