Ch.225Epilogue. What I Wished For (3)

I never thought the day would come when I’d do “cosplay” in my life.

It was a bit embarrassing, but also fun.

With three genuine pretty girls walking around together, it was inevitable that we’d attract attention.

Cameras clicked away at us. To be honest, the atmosphere felt a little awkward.

I’m used to having my picture taken, but usually it’s friends or Kagami taking them.

“Sh-should I pose?”

Even Yuka, who had seemed quite relaxed until just now, stumbled over her words as if feeling pressured by the atmosphere.

“…Should we?”

After thinking for a moment, I decided to strike a pose.

When I crossed my arms and struck a “tsundere pose” like when Yuka had pointed her camera at me earlier, I could feel even more cameras turning in our direction.

Honestly, it was getting a bit scary. Looking around, I could see similar scenes playing out everywhere. Our outfits weren’t much more revealing than everyday clothes, but elsewhere there were people showing their bare midriffs or even just wearing bikinis.

“Whoa?”

Koko tilted her head in confusion at the cameras pointing her way.

And this gesture must have looked incredibly cute to people, because more cameras turned toward Koko.

By this point, I was starting to worry.

Unless we planned to continue cosplaying, having so many photos taken meant our pictures would eventually end up on the internet. Almost all the cameras I could see were digital cameras.

It’s not a huge problem, but… well.

How should I put it? I suddenly came to my senses when I realized that about ten years from now, my friends might find our cosplay photos and tease me mercilessly.

I hadn’t been thinking about it because I was so excited about finally attending an event I’d always wanted to visit, but once the thought occurred to me, I couldn’t help but worry.

Not many kids do this kind of “cosplay.” You might wear something unusual for Halloween, but none of my friends would easily accept dressing up as manga characters like this.

Yuka must have had the same thought, because she looked at me.

Our eyes met and we nodded simultaneously.

“Whoa?”

As we each took one of Koko’s hands, she made that confused sound while tilting her head.

Then we quickly made our way through the crowd.

Even so, I was honestly enjoying myself. Having this kind of experience was something I’d dreamed about since childhood.

Meeting special friends, sharing the things I love, and maintaining those relationships.

Even if we ran away like this but photos still end up online, and years later my friends find them and tease me, that too would become a pleasant memory.

Because this was the first time the three of us came to a place like this together.

After escaping back into the building away from the cosplayers and photographers, we caught our breath and burst into laughter.

This is fun.

Just spending time together like this is enjoyable.

“We still haven’t seen a lot of places.”

It was too crowded to see everything. Even if we had walked around, there was still a lot we missed. When you’re constantly walking, some things don’t catch your eye. When your attention stops at one place, you might miss what’s right next to it.

So.

“Let’s look around some more.”

“I think it wouldn’t be bad to stay until closing time.”

Yuka said.

“We’re not busy today anyway, right?”

“…Yeah.”

I nodded at Yuka’s words.

I’m glad I’m here with Yuka. Other friends might have come along if I’d asked, but they wouldn’t have genuinely enjoyed it together like this.

“Koko, are you okay?”

“Huh?”

When I asked, Koko tilted her head.

“Not tired?”

“Not tired!”

Seeing Koko’s response to my question, Yuka and I laughed again.

And we started walking again.

Right, I haven’t really picked out many things I want to buy yet.

Let’s walk a bit more and buy anything else we want. We still have plenty of day left.

*

After walking around for quite a while, when our legs were starting to ache—

The announcement for the closing of Comic World came over the Tokyo Big Sight building’s speakers.

People who had stopped walking and looked up to listen to the announcement all applauded lightly.

Applause that conveyed satisfaction, that today had been enjoyable.

I don’t know if the atmosphere was like this at similar events I attended in Seoul when I was a student, since I never stayed until the end—

But still, I felt proud.

Proud that we had stayed until the very end.

As Yuka and I clapped, Koko also applauded loudly with a smile.

Our hands were full of quite a few items. It was good that I brought a shopping bag just in case. It wasn’t a huge amount, but still, there was no need to show everything to people on our way back.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Yuka said.

People were slowly moving toward the exit.

Everyone had smiles on their faces. Some looked a bit tired, but still.

“Koko, let’s go.”

“Okay!”

Koko responded to my words with a smile.

Though she was dressed as a character from an animation, Koko was still Koko. Her expressions as herself were much stronger.

Next time, maybe I’ll choose a character Koko might like more.

At least until the 2020s when I was alive, Comic World was held consistently. It remained one of the representative doujin events.

So, until then, there would be steady opportunities twice a year.

“Should we go straight home?”

Yuka asked.

Since it would be a shame to part ways right after exploring Comiket together, we had planned to go to Yuka’s place after closing.

We had also planned to stay overnight.

Above all, it seemed fun to spread out all the items we bought at Comiket and read them together.

Otaku always crave discussing the things they love with others. It’s just not easy to find such people.

Kagami would probably try hard to read manga if she thought that’s what I wanted, but I didn’t want to force her to learn.

It would be different if she naturally picked it up and asked to read together.

“Should we stop somewhere else first?”

I suggested to Yuka.

It was still only 4 PM.

There was plenty of time before shops and restaurants closed.

“I thought it might be fun to… look at manga books together.”

Right. Why not stop by a bookstore on the way?

I still had some allowance left, so we could buy manga and sprawl around the room reading together. It was something I hadn’t done since coming to this world.

Yuka looked a bit surprised, then thought for a moment before nodding with a bright smile.

“That sounds good. What do you think, Koko? Do you like manga?”

“Yes! I like it!”

Whether it was from when I read picture books to her, or she just happened to like the manga I had bought—

Thanks to my efforts not to show her anything too sexual or violent in front of Koko, she quite enjoyed slice-of-life and school stories. She wasn’t extremely passionate about them, but she didn’t dislike them either.

“Then, let’s look for a bookstore nearby.”

“We could also rest at a café and have some snacks.”

Come to think of it, we had a really quick lunch. Just a piece of bread.

“Yeah, let’s play a bit more. We have plenty of time until tomorrow anyway.”

We have plenty of time.

No, to be honest, we don’t have that much.

It’s not like my life is in imminent danger, or some terrifying entity is chasing after us.

It’s just that time itself is flowing very quickly.

When this summer ends, I’ll only have one more summer as a high school student. Having experienced it once before makes it feel all the more precious.

So.

“Yeah.”

I answered.

So, I’ll cherish each and every day.

Unlike my previous life, I don’t want to lose anything.

Even if bad things happen, I don’t want to live like that again. I want to live without regrets.

I feel anxious, but I won’t rush too much.

The three of us walked side by side.

As we exited the building, the blazing sun greeted us.

It was a clear day without a single cloud. Honestly, with such a hot summer, I wouldn’t mind a few clouds.

Click.

I took a photo of Koko and Yuka in that sunlight.

Both of them were smiling so brightly, looking so young and energetic—it felt such a shame that this day’s time was passing.

Time that would flow whether I was part of it or not.

“Let’s go.”

Yuka, who had been playfully glancing at me after hearing the camera sound, laughed at my words.

“Right. I didn’t notice when we were inside, but the weather is too hot. Shall we quickly get into another building?”

“Yes!”

Koko enthusiastically agreed.

Mingling with the crowd pouring out of the building, we moved briskly.

We hadn’t decided where to go first or what to do.

If you think time is precious, you might question if this aimlessness is too casual, but well.

Since I think it’s precious because I want to spend time together, isn’t it enough just to be together like this without any particular plan?

To hide the smile that was spontaneously appearing, I walked energetically forward.