This panel is cancelled.
The four words that no one who had just spent the past half hour or more waiting in line wanted to hear.
How could this be? Why would this happen? What possible force in the universe would dare conspire to ruin the very first panel of the day, nay, the entire convention?!
Surely this was nothing more than a cruel joke. A prank committed by an unscrupulous and capricious volunteer. But no; the convention staff began ushering away the crowd, and a red marker crossed off the first line on the panel programming sheet.
Friday, 9:00 AM - μ'sic 4EVA
Cancelled.
And so, the line of eager convention attendees disintegrated, disappointed individuals scattering to the winds as they grumbled sarcastically about what a wonderful start this was to Super-Sugoi-Chibi-Kawaii-Desu-Desu-Neko-Neko-Moe-Con (or just MoeCon for short).
But above the cloud of despondency came a defiant voice as it shouted, "Then let's start our own panel!" Most of the people in line had already departed, but a scant few turned their heads. "Right here, right now!" continued Chika, "Let's make our own panel in the middle of the hall and talk about how much we love our favorite fandom!"
Chika turned to the girls next to her. "You'll stay, right? You-chan? Kanan-chan?"
"Of course!" chirped You, ever supportive.
The blunette however, was a little more hesitant. "I suppose I could," she said, "But there was that other panel I wanted to check out..." She flipped through the guidebook. "It starts in a few minutes too." The ginger aimed a pair of watery eyes at her, cheeks puffed up in pout as she silently begged the older girl to stay. Kanan sighed. "But if you're really going to make that face... I can stay," she muttered halfheartedly.
This was good enough for Chika though, and with a whoop of delight, the ginger ran off to recruit more people. Her first targets were a pair of girls younger than herself, a redhead and a brunette. "Hey, hey!" she cheered, "Wanna stay and talk with us? You're not doing anything else at the moment, right?"
"Piki!" squealed Ruby as she startled. She hid behind Hanamaru for protection.
Hanamaru blinked at the bright grin Chika sent her way. She glanced at Ruby, noting the nervous uncertainty in those big emerald eyes before returning her eyes to Chika. "Um... perhaps another time, zura. Ruby-chan doesn't seem to want to."
Chika's face notably deflated. "Aw..." she let out in disappointment.
Just then, a shadow fell over the eager ginger, and she flinched as she looked up into the severe face of Dia looming over her. "Just what are you trying to force my sister into?" she toned menacingly. Chika squeaked and fell to the floor, Dia's silhouette growing larger as she towered over the girl.
Hanamaru chuckled nervously as Chika spouted out platitudes and nervous apologies to the intimidating ravenette, but her amber eyes were soon drawn to a gothic lolita cosplayer standing at the very edge of the hallway. This unknown bluenette kept sending occasional, longing glances towards them, before burying her nose deep into a guidebook to avoid attention. Hanamaru tilted her head in confusion as recognition began running through her head. She approached the cosplayer quietly, Ruby moving with her to keep hold of her precious guardian.
"Excuse me, zura?"
Yoshiko startled as she looked up at the approaching girls before quickly making a pose, her guidebook falling to the floor. "Who dares approach the fallen angel Yohane and for what purpose?" she demanded.
"...Yoshiko-chan?" asked Hanamaru.
"Geh!" Yoshiko recoiled in disbelief. "Wh-Who is this Yoshiko person you speak of? I have no idea who this person could be, ha ha..."
Hanamaru looked at her, scrutinizing. "Rock, paper... scissors!"
Yoshiko instinctively threw out scissors in her uniquely stylistic way.
"It is you!" said Maru brightly, clapping her hands in delight. "Yoshiko-chan!"
The blunette shrieked as her secret identity was brought to light. "I... I...! NO!" cried the fallen angel as she ran off.
"Yoshiko-chan, wait!" cried Hanamaru as she followed.
"Hanamaru-chan, don't leave me!" cried Ruby as she trailed behind her best friend.
With the younger girls departed, all that remained were Chika and Dia, the former being thoroughly chewed out by the latter.
"...and if you ever try to lay even a finger on my precious little sister I will make your life an endless vortex of agony!" threatened the overprotective older sister. "Do I make myself clear?!"
"Crystal!" cried Chika in absolute terror.
But Dia still wasn't satisfied. "Are you so sure? Allow me to further educate you on the ways you shall suffer..."
Thankfully for the ginger, it was here that a certain wealthy blonde chose to make her entrance. "Now, now, Dia," she said chidingly as she strode between them, pushing Chika away from the personification of wrath. "You blame this poor girl for trying to invite your sister into a nice discussion, but she's already run off with a new playmate!"
"Mari-san?!" exclaimed Dia in surprise. She was taken aback, eyes filled with uncertainty as she gazed upon a woman she hadn't known if she'd ever see again. Her heart swirled with mixed feelings of elation, puzzlement, anxiety, and regret.
Mari waved playfully, an easy smile on her face. "Nice to see you again, Dia."
That was when Kanan and You came up to them to check on their resident ginger. "Hey Chika-chan," began Kanan, "Did you find anyone to..." The blunette stopped short as she recognized the blonde and the ravenette, eyes shooting wide open in recognition and fear.
"Kanan-san?!" "Kanan!" exclaimed Dia and Mari respectively.
"...On second thought I'm gonna go to that other panel after all," said Kanan quickly, "Bye!" she called as she rushed off.
"Kanan!" cried Mari longingly. She took a step forward to pursue, but it was already too late. The athletic blunette had disappeared into the crowd of convention goers. A stab of anguish bruising her heart, she turned to Dia, sadness in her eyes. "You won't run away from me, will you?"
Dia looked at her with uncertainty as she chewed her lip in silent consideration. "...I suppose if my sister has run off, then I'm available to remain as your company."
The blonde smiled gratefully and took Dia's hand as she led her away, the ravenette following without protest and only the faintest hint of a blush crossing her cheeks.
Chika sighed. "Great..." she lamented, "Not only did I not get anyone to stick around, I lost Kanan-chan."
"You've still got me! And hey, it's not over yet," encouraged You. She looked around and smiled when she zeroed in on a target. "What about her?"
Chika looked up, following You's gaze to an anxious redhead as she stood silent, staring at them nervously. The ginger bounded up with You in tow, practically getting in the redhead's face. "Hey! Would you like to stay and talk with us?" she asked invitingly. "We really love school idols, but you must really really love them if you were first in line for the panel!"
Riko shrunk back, looking between Chika and You. On one hand, she didn't really care for idols, only having come for the yuri subtext. On the other, the two girls were super cute, and her gaydar was going haywire. "...Okay?" she agreed hesitantly.
"Yay!" cheered Chika as she threw her arms up in the air in celebration, "We made a new friend!"
And with that, Chika and You sandwiched their new friend and dragged her off to find something to do, chatting all the while.
Such was the beginning of MoeCon.
.
AN: This actually happened to me at a convention about 10 months ago back in May 2017, almost to the day. It was a Sunday afternoon and the Love Live Sunshine panel got cancelled, so about 25 of us who had waited in line got together and started our own impromptu panel, complete with a makeshift conga line to an open area outside where we played and sang Love Live music and danced.
Sadly, I didn't make any new friends that day, but it was a wondrous and magical experience for someone like me. Looking back, I don't think I've ever felt so included in a fandom.
I only hope I can do that feeling justice, whatever form that may take. I'm not an emotional writer, or a romantic writer, and sometimes I even drop the ball on comedy. And knowing me, I'll likely end up dropping this story too. But I'll try. Whatever the end result is, I guess we'll find out together.
As always, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed.
Also, sorry for the long AN. I'm feeling contemplative today, and apparently this is important to me or something, lol.