It was the last day of the event — same venue, same buzz, just slightly fewer people.

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She came in the same outfit as yesterday. The pleated skirt had a slight crease, and her stockings had been re-washed overnight. But it still worked.

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She had worked hard on this cosplay, and honestly, she couldn’t afford to prep more than one full look.

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She stood by the side aisle of the hall, posing again as another photographer snapped away. Her bright green contact lenses shimmered under the fluorescent lights, drawing attention even in a crowd.

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He spotted her almost immediately. Something about her drew his eyes like a magnet — or maybe it was just the fact that she looked exactly like his favourite anime character, brought to life.

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This time, he didn’t hesitate. When a gap opened in the crowd, he walked up with a friendly smile.

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“Back in action, huh?” he said. “You pull this character off too well.”

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She smiled, brushing her bangs aside. “Thanks. It’s the only one I could manage, so… might as well go all in.”

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“I was hoping you’d be back. He added. “Can I get your number?”

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She looked hesitant, then shrugged and showed him her personal Instagram. “I’m not really famous or anything — just started recently. Mostly for fun.”

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That night, he scrolled through her feed. A few shots from the event, one mirror selfie from her polytechnic hallway, and photos of bubble tea, instant noodles, and occasional late-night rants in IG stories.

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Her bio read:
19 | Poly life 💤 | New to cosplay 🌸

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He paused, then typed a message.

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"Hey, we met at the cosplay event today — I’m the guy who took a photo of you in that outfit. You totally nailed the look."

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“Hey, I have a small idea. Would you ever consider a private cosplay shoot? It’s just for personal appreciation — nothing will be shared. I’ll explain everything over lunch. No pressure at all — just good food, and if you’re not into it, we walk away. Fair?”

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Her reply took a while.

“I don’t usually meet strangers.”

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“Totally understand. Just thought I’d offer. Lunch is at a nice café, my treat. No strings, no pressure. You can say no any time — even after we meet. Worst case, you get a free meal.”

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She stared at the message for a long time. She hadn’t had café food in weeks. Living off $3.50 caifan and toast sets, the idea of air-con and pasta didn’t sound too bad.

And he had been polite, clear, and honest.

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“Okay. Just to talk. That’s all.”

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“Deal. See you tomorrow.”

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To be continued.