Ch.113Episode 23. Comic World (4)

I’m completely overwhelmed.

Setting aside the chatter around me, everyone, regardless of gender, is busy doing their makeup while seated.

This was my first time experiencing the mental disorientation caused by such a dense crowd. Keeping my eyes tightly shut helped somewhat, but the person in front of me wouldn’t even allow that.

“Hey now. I told you to keep your eyes open.”

“Hey.”

“Just a moment, please. I’m busy with makeup, okay? I might be late since I’m doing yours first! Why don’t you know how to apply makeup anyway?”

She didn’t seem angry. It was just that with her urgency and the noisy surroundings, she couldn’t help but raise her voice.

Plus, she seemed frustrated by the parts that weren’t going as planned, since this was her first time applying makeup on someone else.

“I don’t know because I’ve never done it before.”

“Are you one of those ‘real men’ who only uses all-in-one products?”

“Of course.”

“I’m so jealous of your smooth skin even without makeup! Damn it!”

It’s quite impressive how she can keep talking non-stop while applying makeup.

“Hey, by the way.”

“Don’t talk to me. I’m busy.”

Does Gu Yeonhwa realize how close our faces are right now?

Considering her reactions to all my mischievous teasing so far, probably not.

She was clearly too rushed to finish the cosplay to consider these kinds of situations.

Honestly, this would be the perfect opportunity to tease her, but since she was short on time because of me, I decided to hold back. Plus, there were many people around.

“Other people won’t recognize me, right?”

“…Probably not.”

“What do you mean ‘probably’? They shouldn’t recognize me.”

“I don’t know. Whether they do or not.”

“You’re saying such irresponsible things so casually.”

She snickered at my words. Her lips, which had been pursed in concentration, relaxed, making her face much more pleasant to look at.

“All done.”

She finishes the makeup by applying tint to my lips. Yeonhwa immediately takes out a hand mirror and skillfully switches her makeup products.

“Thank—”

“Since you’ve already changed clothes, just check your outfit. The real style comes with the coat, but… it seems too hot with so many people around.”

Before I can even thank her, she starts applying her own makeup at high speed.

I quietly observed her.

Since Gu Yeonhwa already had her base makeup done, she confidently began applying eyeliner and mascara around her eyes.

Then, with various unidentifiable makeup products, she defined her facial contours more clearly. Her already sharp nose seemed to become even more refined.

Finally, she picks up the tint—the same one she used on my lips.

“Isn’t that what you put on my lips?”

“Eep!”

The tint stick she was holding to her lips slipped slightly, smudging around her mouth. After checking the damage in the mirror, she glares at me.

“Aish! Really…! Are, are you going to keep doing that?!”

“No, I was just saying.”

She might have taken it as teasing, but I had no intention of doing so. I just spoke without thinking.

…Is that worse?

“Sorry.”

“…Ah, seriously, I can’t even stay mad at you with that handsome face! If you’re sorry, then wear the coat too.”

She pointed to the long coat placed beside me.

I thought the clothes I wore in the room were all, but there was one more new item.

She called it a winter uniform coat, though she said the fabric itself was thin. Apparently, it needed to flutter well in the wind.

Still, it was undeniably burdensome to wear in the middle of August summer. Even with the air conditioning blasting.

“Alright. But understand if I take it off when it gets too hot?”

“It’ll be fine since you’re just draping it over your shoulders. Oh, there’s a button inside to hook it on? Secure it there. Hee-hee.”

She seemed to cheer up immediately when I agreed to wear it. She smiled brightly and took out powder to fix her makeup.

“You’re quite good at getting your way, aren’t you?”

I grumbled as I stood up and put on the coat. It was a black coat with gold armbands. The coat, which came down to around my calves, was thinner and lighter than I had expected.

After securing the inner button, I put on the wig cap and smoothed it out properly to prevent bunching.

Then I put on the black wig. I didn’t forget to wear the commander’s hat at a slight angle.

“Wow…”

Gu Yeonhwa paused her makeup and stared up at me in awe.

“Wow, seriously… that’s chilling. You really look like Kamiya Yuuki.”

Kamiya Yuuki was the name of the protagonist from “Among the Heroines, a Witch Who Will Destroy the World Hides.”

For reference, the character Gu Yeonhwa was cosplaying was Nishimori Kana, the final heroine from the same work, who was the witch appearing in the story.

“Did you secure the holster properly? Please check if the toy gun is there too. You’ll need it later for poses.”

I had already attached it to my waist. I pull the gun out of the holster. I’m not sure what type it is, but it looks like the kind of pistol officers typically carry.

“Poses? Do I have to take photos too?”

I asked as I put the gun back in the holster.

“Of course. Did you think we’d just cosplay and leave without taking photos? We’ll take some ourselves, and as we walk around, some people will approach us asking if they can take our picture. When that happens, don’t be surprised—just say yes and pose for them.”

“I feel awkward taking photos.”

“That’s why I suggested we take more photos when you were dressed in the room.”

“Wasn’t that because you wanted to have my photos?”

“…No. I was trying to help you get used to cosplaying.”

It was an incredibly shameless lie. I could tell just by her hesitation.

“You’re not even good at lying. You can just be honest, I won’t mind.”

“If I had no ulterior motives, then it would be a lie. Honestly, wouldn’t anyone go crazy seeing their favorite character right in front of them?”

When your favorite is right in front of you…

I couldn’t help but laugh as I mulled over her words.

Somehow, I found myself relating to it.

I knew what “favorite character” meant.

I’d seen plenty of readers commenting about their “true wives” and such when reading novels online.

If someone asked me if I had any characters I was fond of in the novel “The Hero Never Bends!” which this world is based on, I couldn’t say no.

I had my own moments of reflection when I saw the Special Class kids I was fond of in reality.

‘They must be exhausted as hell.’ I still remember thinking that.

Yet I decided to lead them.

While part of it was due to dissatisfaction with the novel’s development, it would have been impossible without genuine affection for them.

“Really? But for me… it wasn’t as surprising as I expected.”

“What?”

Even though one of my favorite characters was standing right in front of me, my eyes didn’t roll back in my head.

“Huh? W-wait, have you seen a cosplay of a character you like? What series? Which character?”

She stopped her makeup and frantically looked around at my cryptic remark.

It was a bit off the mark, but without understanding the concept of “possession,” this level of deduction was probably her limit.

“They’re not here.”

They’re no longer just characters. And neither are you, of course.

“Hmm. Then have you been to Comic World before?”

“If I had, I wouldn’t be this flustered.”

“Hmm? Then what is it? Is this a riddle?”

“Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t.”

I was curious what expression she’d make if she realized I was referring to her.

She clicked her tongue in disappointment and finished touching up her makeup, closing her hand mirror to signal she was done.

“How do I look?”

“Your makeup looks good. You’re pretty.”

While every cosplayer’s makeup style varies, cosplay makeup generally tends to be more dramatic than everyday makeup.

Because of that, it wasn’t exactly to my personal taste, but she was so naturally beautiful that it didn’t diminish her looks at all.

In fact, her now more defined features seemed to draw even more attention.

With the addition of teal-colored contact lenses, it was impossible not to stand out, even if she tried not to.

She put on a wig cap, gathering her long blonde hair in one place and carefully smoothing it out.

I had done the same as her, but Gu Yeonhwa, with her long hair, adjusted it much more meticulously than I did.

“You’re good at this. This isn’t your first time wearing a wig, is it?”

I remember that normally she just wore dresses without wigs.

“I tried it once when I came last year. But I was so clumsy then that I did it carelessly, and the hair looked kind of floaty. So I practiced a lot. Hehehe.”

“How does my hair look?”

She paused what she was doing, came over to me, and tidied my hair with a comb.

“It’s fine. It’s good. You did really well for your first time!”

Gu Yeonhwa gave me a thumbs up.

After perfectly putting on her wig cap, she picked up the silver wig she had set aside. As she arranged the hair, she handed me a mirror.

“Can you hold the mirror for me, please?”

“Sure.”

The silver hair matched surprisingly well with the black dress Gu Yeonhwa was wearing. It was as if she was showing me what Kana would look like in real life.

“The silver hair suits you well. However…”

It felt too familiar to me.

Is it because it’s not that different from the dresses Gu Yeonhwa usually wears?

Although she doesn’t wear them as often as before, she occasionally visits my room on weekends wearing a dress, so it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

I must be getting used to this.

“Hehe. I am quite beautiful, aren’t I?”

After her final check, she packed all her tools into her makeup bag.

“How do I look? Do you think you could fall for me?”

I don’t like her smug attitude. I approached her as she was organizing her things and crouched down.

“I’ve already fallen for you.”

“Y-yes…?”

I stared seriously into her sparkling teal eyes for about three seconds before breaking into a smile.

“Pfft. Why are you reacting like that? In reality, Yuuki and Kana end up dating at the end.”

“Ah… aah… r-right! Yes…!”

Gu Yeonhwa seemed to have a lot she wanted to say but forced herself to agree.

I gently stroked her hair, careful not to mess it up.

“Let’s go to the storage area.”

“Okay.”

We had 10 minutes left until entry. That seemed like plenty of time.

We neatly organized our belongings, checked them in, and then stood in front of a full-length mirror.

We made one final check of our outfits and wigs. Soon after, we heard the announcement that entry was beginning.

“Yeonhwa.”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

It was time to really start enjoying ourselves.