NOVEL NEXT Chapter 158: [Side Story] Not A Legend, But A Legend
Lisa and I confidently stepped onto the stage.
Woaaaaah!
Then, an enthusiastic cheer erupted from the audience.
Had it not been for my experience at Onjuku Beach contest, I would have been too nervous to move properly.
The MC alternated his gaze between Lisa and me, unable to hide his admiration.
“Wow, it’s like the characters themselves have come to life and are pretending to be cosplayers!”
His gaze was not fixed on Lisa, but on me.
He asked,
“Mr. Baoou, are you by any chance a professional bodybuilder?”
I shook my head in response.“No, I’m just a student who likes to exercise normally.”
“Oh, a college student?”
“I’m a high school student.”
The MC, seemingly in disbelief, asked, “Really~? You’re joking, right?”
Feeling a bit sad that I looked that old, I replied without showing my emotions, “It’s true,” and then passed the microphone to Lisa.
Lisa, momentarily taken aback, took the microphone and spoke.
“Ahem, as you all know, the cosplay we prepared is Sophia, the heroine, and Baoou, the protagonist’s half-brother from Last Fantasy 7. Please show lots of love for the Last Fantasy 7 remake.”
Lisa, having delivered a line that advertisers would love, smiled gracefully and waved to the audience.
Then, male otakus in the audience started shouting, “Sophia Mom! We love you!”
“Mom! Mom! Mom!”
Truly overwhelming popularity.
On the other hand, it was a scene of collective madness.
Lisa, pretending to be embarrassed, covered her cheeks with her palms and repeatedly said “ara ara,” but she didn’t seem to mind.
It meant our chances of winning the popularity contest were rising.
Meanwhile, the MC, perhaps feeling sorry for me standing like a totem next to her, suddenly extended the microphone and asked,
“While your teammate clearly appealed her charm, Mr. Baoou, do you have anything to say?”
Hearing that, I glanced over at the audience.
Everyone was looking up at me with expectant expressions.
They must be expecting that ‘line’.
The final words of Baoou revealing his character’s life view.
Swallowing nervously, I raised the great sword in my right hand high above my head and spoke in a theatrical, grandiose voice,
“Then, farewell! The woman I loved! Although I failed in this life, next time, it will be the Conquering King Baoou who claims you!”
In the original, after delivering this line, Baoou, who was hanging by a thread of life, heroically meets his end by stabbing himself.
After delivering all the lines, I looked around to gauge the reaction.
Complete silence.
I had tried my best to mimic the original voice actor, unsure how it sounded.
But perhaps those worries were unfounded, as soon after…
Woaaaaah!
Loud cheers and applause erupted from all directions.
“You’re the best! Baoou!”
“I’ll call you ‘brother’ for life!”
“Kyaaaaaah!”
Amidst the chaotic mix of sounds, one thing was certain—our team was sure to score high in the popularity contest.
After that, several cosplay teams came and went from the stage.
Among them was Sakuya, the cosplayer who had greeted us earlier.
However, perhaps due to the high-quality cosplay we had just seen, the audience’s reaction to them was lukewarm, significantly boosting our team’s chances of winning.
Without any clear dark horses or strong contenders, it seemed likely we would win.
After a tedious yet anxious period, finally, the results of the popularity contest were announced.
“The first place in this contest goes to the LISA team for cosplaying Sophia and Baoou from Pentagon’s masterpiece, Last Fantasy 7!”
Waiting behind the MC with other participants, we hugged each other in joy when the results were announced.
It was a heartwarming moment!
“Ah, sorry.”
Realizing later what was happening due to the soft touch, I hastily stepped back from Lisa’s embrace, and she, seemingly aware of her silly act, blushed and coughed awkwardly.
“Is… is this a secret from your husband?”
“Of course.”
After this dramatic compromise, we each held one handle of the winning trophy and expressed our feelings about the win.
“I want to thank everyone who has always loved my cosplays. I’ll continue to repay you with good activities.”
Lisa spoke first, followed by me.
“I never expected to receive such a big award on my first participation. Personally, I want to dedicate this victory to Lisa, who prepared everything for this event.”
After saying that and lifting Lisa up, she shyly turned her gaze away for the first time.
The grand finale had finally ended.
Having achieved our purpose at today’s Comiket, we decided to head home.
“Thank you for dropping me off in front of my house.”
As I said this and bowed, Maria responded with a tease, saying it was only natural to do so.
“Then, I’ll talk to my husband about preparing the limited edition goods we discussed before.”
“Ah, thank you. Honestly, I was just waiting for that.”
As I said this and visibly brightened, Maria chuckled and said,
“Compared to what you’ve done, Yu-seong, this is nothing. Your performance on stage earlier was really great.”
Honestly, I didn’t know how to react to the continuous compliments.
“Ah, Mama, really. You should limit your praises.”
Rika, putting a timely brake on the situation, soon waved her hand through the open window and said,
“I had fun today, Ryu-chan. See you next time.”
“Okay. Go on in.”
We briefly said goodbye and parted ways in front of my house.
Unless something special happens, I probably wouldn’t see Rika again until after the summer vacation ends.
Fiddling with the phone case gifted by Maria—no, LISA—I pulled up the shop’s curtain and entered, saying,
“I’m back!”
3ch.
It ess a massive, comprehensive community, renowned even in Japan.
It was where the commonly referred ‘threads’ originated, and the functionality of the Darknet forums used by the underworld’s Japan branch was benchmarked from this site.
More precisely, they bought the core technology, but such things were commonplace in the underworld.
And now, at the end of the second day of Comiket, there was one particularly active forum.
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- From an anonymous VIP: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:23:18.47 ID:PotoKano
Did you guys go to Comiket today?
- Chotenshichan Kawaii
Not even gay, but why go there on the second day. Do you like BL stuff?
- Hikari-chan is my Wife
Are you serious?
- Anonymous Otaku
I’m a Bocchi lover! Bocchi lover!
- Anonymous Writer
No, maybe it’s a girl.
- Anonymous Unemployed
A girl lurking on the 3ch cosplay forum at this time? She’s my ideal type.
- From an anonymous VIP: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:28:34.12 ID:PotoKano
…Anyway, LISA showed up at the cosplay plaza today.
- Hikari-chan is my Wife
LISA, the legendary cosplayer who’s been active since 20 years ago?
- Anonymous Otaku
The LisaLisa with rumors of being a vampire?
- Chotenshichan Kawaii
Guys, she’s a real person, so be careful with your words. I’ve opened my notepad.
- From an anonymous VIP: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:32:46.34 ID:PotoKano
That LISA was hired for the Pentagon booth this time, and the quality of her cosplay was no joke.
- Anonymous Writer
Which character did she cosplay?
- From an anonymous VIP: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:33:11.58 ID:PotoKano
Sophia and Baoou.
- Anonymous Writer
Ah, I heard Last Fantasy 7 is getting a remake, so it must be for that.
- From Anonymous, VIP Posting: 2017/8/12 (Sat) 18:34:53.13 ID:PotoKano
First, you guys take a look too.
[Attached Photo]
- Hikari-chan is My Wife
Wow, amazing. How does she look like a cosplayer who’s been active since 20 years ago?
- Anonymous Otaku
These days, Photoshop rules. Clearly, she’s had several touch-ups.
- Anonymous Unemployed
Welcome, newbie. LISA is famous in this industry for her preservative-like appearance. Rumor has it she has a high school daughter.
- From Anonymous, VIP Posting: 2017/8/12 (Sat) 18:40:23.11 ID:PotoKano
Anyway, LISA’s Sophia cosplay was amazing, but the Baoou she team-cosplayed with was a total hit.
- Super Angel-chan Kawaii
A Baoou cosplay with an Asian physique? Don’t lie.
- Anonymous Writer
Why? You think an Asian did it? LISA is a naturalized foreigner, so maybe Baoou was also done by a foreigner.
- From Anonymous, VIP Posting: 2017/8/12 (Sat) 18:43:17.52 ID:PotoKano
But it was an Asian, though?
[Attached Photo]
- Super Angel-chan Kawaii
Wow, what is this? Look at those muscles. Is he even the same species as me?
- Anonymous Otaku
Please let the night be short. Please let the night be short. Please let the night be short.
- Hikari-chan is My Wife
He must be on steroids. There’s no way he could have such big muscles naturally.
- Anonymous Writer
Anyway, he’s seriously huge. He must be almost 190 cm tall. A physique that transcends Asian standards, I admit.
- Super Angel-chan Kawaii
Whether he’s on drugs or not, the sync rate with the original is insane. It’s almost as if the character himself has come to life.
- Anonymous Otaku
Please let the night be short. Please let the night be short. Please let the night be short.
- From Anonymous, VIP Posting: 2017/8/12 (Sat) 18:49:21.35 ID:PotoKano
The quality is one thing, but listen to this from 1 minute 41 seconds. [Attached Video]
- Super Angel-chan Kawaii
Wow… what a voice…
- Anonymous Writer
Almost like a professional voice actor. Insane diction.
- Anonymous Unemployed
What rank is this person in the popularity poll? No, never mind. I can guess.
- From Anonymous, VIP Posting: 2017/8/12 (Sat) 18:53:17.24 ID:PotoKano
If he can maintain this quality, a new legend might be born in the industry. Does this person have social media? I’ve become a total fan.
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In a dark room, a girl reading a thread on the 3ch cosplay forum instantly recognized the face of Kim Yu-seong, who attended the same school, and her eyes lit up.
“This looks interesting, doesn’t it?”