"It's been so long. Did Miss Lily get lost finding that pet food store?"
I tap my foot impatiently on the cobblestone pavement, glancing at the vivid streets of Akihabara. Usually, the cacophony of games from the nearby arcade should have been enough to distract me, but my mind keeps drifting back to the time displayed on my phone.
Okay, patience, Ina. You aren't an immature high school girl anymore. From this April, Ina Watanabe is leveled up into an adult college girl. A new year, new me!
I puff my chest out a bit in pride.
Beside me stands a young silver-haired girl in white and pink, her wide eyes scanning the bustling streets. Clutching a bass case nearly as big as herself, she's reminding me of a certain introverted character from the recently popular rock band anime.
"Big sis said there are lots of ramen shops in big cities."
She says with a joyful lilt, her silver eyes gleaming with the same excitement as a fan seeing Comiket for the first time. It's... kind of adorable.
She's Blanc, Miss Lily's little sister.
"Pfft...I don't think dogs eat ramen." I giggle.
My neighbor once fed instant no to a stray dog, the poor thing got sick the next morning.
"By the way, I wanted to ask." I take a moment to look her over, admiring the intricate details of her outfit. "What character are you cosplaying? I don't think I've seen this one before."
"Character?" She tilts her head with confusion, "Blanc has looked like this since the evolution."
"Evolution? I see, you're really taking this act seriously." I nod in admiration.
I've heard of hardcore cosplayers who never break character, and I can totally respect that.
Miss Lily seems to refer to it as chuunibyou, but I think it's only natural. After all, are you really cosplaying if you aren't playing the character?
With a grin, I whip out a replica of Sailor Dawn's iconic wand, raising it high. "Alright then!" I make a peace sign with my left hand, flashing a wink. "Let me tell you about my cosplay, Sailor Dawn, the pretty guardian who fights for love and justice!"
"Justice?" The ears extending from Blanc's pink hat twitch, her eyes lighting up. "Does she protect the innocent? Like a Banchō?"
"I don't think she's like a delinquent, but you get the gist." I couldn't help but smile at her question. She must watch lots of old-school shounen.
"But big bro always used to say a Banchō is the pinnacle of justice!"
"Big bro?" I blink in surprise "Does Miss Lily have a brother too?"
"Blanc's big bro is very strong, a true warrior of justice," Her expression softens into a nostalgic smile. "But he isn't in this world."
Wait wait, did I accidentally bring up a painful memory?
I also have a younger cousin, he's a handful, but if something had happened to him...
I squeeze Blanc's hand lightly.
"I'm really sorry. It must've been hard."
"Sorry? Why?"
Blanc tilts her head, seemingly puzzled.
Does she not understand?
Well, it's fine, she's still a child after all.
"It's nothing." I smile and tug her along, trying to shift her attention. "Okay, till Miss Lily is back, let us hit the arcade!"
[K.O!]
[Player 2 Wins!]
"Again?! This is your fifth win in a row..."
I glance at Blanc in disbelief. And here I thought I got pretty good at Tekken... "Are you a pro King main or something?"
"This machine's data is easy to read," Blanc says with a grin, crossing her arms. "The security system is very simple."
I see...you're saying you've already anticipated all my moves and my defense is completely useless...
So I'm not even an opponent to you?
"You might be a pro..." I grab the controller again. "However, Sailor Dawn never gives up, and neither will I! Time for a rematch!"
[K.O!]
[Player 2 Wins!]
Ten losses in a row?...
The controller drops from my hand as I can't help but stare at the screen, defeated. I can feel a crack in my pride.
What's with those combos? It's almost like I'm up against a godly AI.
"Ina, are you okay?" Blanc grips my hand in concern.
"Maybe even Sailor Dawn isn't invincible..." I murmur to myself. "But it's just a childish game! An adult like me will never get upset over this!"
Yes, I'm responsible and mature! I won't mind losing to a younger girl!
Stepping out of the arcade after my crushing defeat, my eyes catch a glimpse of the clock on a large screen on a building.
[12:01 PM]
Is it this late already? What's taking Miss Lily so long?
The limited edition posters... All of them will be sold out at this rate.
"There is no choice!" I turn to the young girl beside me. "Blanc, we're going ahead!"
"Going ahead? But didn't big sis tell us to stay here?" Her hands tighten on the straps of her bass case.
Sure, Miss Lily told us to wait, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! What kind of Sailor Dawn fan will let this just pass by? There is no time for hesitation!
"Don't worry, I'll let her know in GriMM." I retrieve my phone from my skirt pocket.
["We're heading out! Let's meet up right at the Collab venue~! o(ω)o"-Ina]
There, problem solved.
After sending the text with GriMM's SNS, I take Blanc's hand.
"Okay, now follow me!"
"Thump thump thump."
I halt my steps, observing the surroundings.
"Ina, why are we walking in circles?" Blanc tilts her head innocently.
"In circles? Now that you mention it...I think we passed by that store earlier."
Nope nope nope! I definitely am not lost!
Maybe I should've kept the address, but who knew I'd leave the flyer with Miss Lily?
Should...we have waited there? No, as a proper adult, I won't let this blunder get in the way between me and the posters.
I glance at Blanc and point my wand forward. "Don't worry! I know the route like the back of my hand! Follow me!"
"Okay~!" With a pure smile, she walks beside me.
["Hey, check out our new café. We have free stickers with exclusive desserts."]
["Your cosplays look beautiful. How about a photoshoot?"]
["That plushie you have is adorable. Do you want to take a look at our cat café?"]
While navigating through the bustling streets of Akihabara, several maids and vendors call toward us.
Stop right there, I won't let you sway us from our goal!
Before I could refuse, Blanc holds her hands together and bows to them.
"Thank you, but Blanc is full and doesn't have money. So, Blanc can't accept the offers without paying."
["Oh, what a polite girl."]
["She looks so young but is so sensible. Unlike my kid."]
["Wait, I want to take a picture of your cosplays."]
As Blanc lifts her head, I move next to her.
"I'm surprised, I thought you'd end up going with them."
"Blanc knows not to go into shops without money." A flicker of nostalgia flashes in her silvery gaze. "Blanc once ate from Digitamamon's restaurant without paying, so Blanc had to do the dishes for six months."
"For six months? What kind of debt you put yourself into?"
And isn't that child labor? Is it part of her character's backstory too?
Actually, never mind, we have more important things to worry about.
I look at the towering buildings and flashy shops encircling us like a Pac-man level.
Come on...any hint.
As I was looking for a solution, a voice calls for us.
"Hello, ladies~ Are you going to the Magica Wonder Fes?"
The young man was draped in a dark-blue cape like the midnight darkness, a sleek tuxedo shimmering under it, his top hat casting soft shadows over his mysterious eyes, hidden by a black mask as seen in Western superhero comics.
"That costume...you're cosplaying Tuxedo Man?"
Tuxedo Man is the enigmatic hero and the main love interest in Sailor Dawn—straight up a knight in shining armor from a shoujo manga.
"So you recognize it. And I see you're Sailor Dawn." The man takes out a rose from his pocket and points it at Blanc. "But I don't know that character."
"Apparently Blanc is cosplaying as some super niche character," I shrug. "She seems super obsessed with it tho."
"Haha, there are too many magical girl anime coming out nowadays, back then we only had a few." He laughs and twirls the rose between his fingers. "Ones like Cardprincess Sakura, Pretty Momo, and Sailor Dawn, all could be counted in one hand."
Wow, he seems to be a true magical girl otaku. I never expected to meet a fellow fan at a time of crisis.
"Ina, who is he?" Blanc's clear silver eyes scan Tuxedo Man.
"He is Tuxedo Man," I explain. "A warrior who protects the magical girls from danger."
"Protect? Does this mean he is a warrior of justice too?"
"You bet!"
"Hahaha!" The man chuckles before handing his rose to Blanc and glancing at his phone. "But we should hurry now, or we'll miss the autograph session."
Is he going to the Fes too? Bingo! What is the chance of a Tuxedo Man guide in the middle of Akihabara?
"This way, ladies," He flashes a grin before swaying his cape dramatically, earning an excited glance from Blanc.
Huh? Did I ask him to show us the way? Well, maybe he's just too kind, just like the real Tuxedo Man.
"Blanc, let's join him."
Blanc nods before hurrying behind us with small steps.
The crowds start to thin out as we traverse through the labyrinths of Akihabara, following Tuxedo Man. The busy sounds of tourists and vendors start to fade out, replaced by the occasional hum of machines from some used electronics shop.
"Excuse me, Tuxedo Man, are you sure this is the way?" I couldn't resist asking.
"Oh, this is a shortcut, we need to reach there before the event is over, right?" He flashes a warm smile, yet his eyes are unreadable under the black mask.
"I guess that makes sense."
While talking to the man, Blanc trailed beside me.
"Don't worry, Ina. Big sis said this world is peaceful, so we don't have to worry about being eaten by a strong monster."
There she goes, sticking to her character. It's truly amazing how dedicated she is.
"So...our world is peaceful to them, huh?" The man mutters. For a moment, it felt like there was a hint of surprise mixed in his voice.
After a moment, the man halted before a dimly lit alleyway. "The event venue is on the other side."
"We're there already? Let's hurry, Blanc!"
I pull her along excitedly, the ears on her klobuk-like hat seem to twitch. I wonder if it's electric-powered.
I knew alleyways weren't exactly known for their bright lighting, but this is a whole new level of spooky. I couldn't help but glance around, squeezing Blanc's hand a little tighter.
Following the man, we reached the end of the path. He halts, his dark cape casting a shadow against the dim light.
"A dead end? Have you perhaps forgotten directions too?!" I wondered aloud.
"No, this is the ideal path…" The man finally takes off his mask and reveals high-tech-looking black goggles underneath. "After all, I never expected a Digimon not belonging to NSoC in this world."
Digimon? What is he talking about?
Tuxedo Man's fingers swiftly reach for his phone, a mechanical voice is heard the next moment.
[Starting ReArise...]
"Materialize! Guilmon!" His words slice through the air as a chilling fog engulfs the alley, dense and pink.
I shield my eyes from the haze, and when I open them, Blanc is already in front of me.
The fog is starting to swirl, condensing in front of her, and soon a claw bursts forth. What emerges is a black dragon, covered in red patterns, its ears resemble bat wings as seen on vampires. Its eyes, like molten gold falls over us, freezing me in place as my heart thuds instinctively.
A hologram? But aren't those super expensive light shows?
"Hey, Tuxedo Man, is this some kind of performance?"
"Ina! Stand back!" Blanc's silver eyes narrowed.
"CRASH!"
As soon as Blanc calls me out, the dragon lunges, its claws tearing apart Blanc's guitar case, a shining golden lance appears from within as she hits the dragon's face with it, pushing it back. Its claws leave sharp markings on the asphalt.
"There's something wrong with Guilmon…" Blanc murmurs, gripping the radiant triple-pronged lance in her hand like a magical girl ready to vanquish evil.
My twin tails flutter from the shockwave as my mind races.
"Holograms…shouldn't be able to do that!"
...Have I gotten myself into a real anime?
AN:
Since Digimon can freely manipulate data, facing one in a video game is practically like battling a cheat-like gamer, so it's no wonder Ina feels like she's up against an unbeatable AI.
On a related note, Tekken being canon to Digimon lore will always be funny—at least this time, there's no Emilie De Rochefort to kick a Demon Lord awake.