Sunday morning came with a burst of sunlight that spilled across Mei's apartment floor. She woke up earlier than usual, buzzing with anticipation. The little plastic star she had successfully printed the night before sat proudly on her desk, a reminder that her cosplay dream was no longer just talk—it was happening.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Hana:
"Ready to hunt for fabrics and wigs? Meet me at the station in 20."
Mei's pulse quickened. She grabbed her notebook, stuffed it into her bag, and quickly got dressed in casual jeans and a soft sweater. Before leaving, she glanced once at her action figure shelf. Captain Marvel seemed to stare back at her, fists raised as if cheering her on.
"Wish me luck," Mei whispered before locking the door behind her.
---
The fabric district was alive with color. Rows of stores spilled onto the street, bolts of cloth stacked in every shade imaginable. Silk shimmered under the morning sun, cotton rolled in neat towers, and satin caught the light like water. The air carried the faint scent of dyes and dust, mingling with the chatter of shopkeepers calling out their wares.
Hana was already there, bouncing on her heels. "There you are! Okay, cosplay shopping rule number one: don't get distracted by shiny things."
Mei's gaze immediately locked onto a shimmering silver fabric that glittered like starlight. "Too late."
Hana groaned. "Focus! You're Lady Veyra, remember? Dark gray dress, black lace, dramatic, powerful."
Mei opened her notebook, flipping to her sketch. Together, they entered the first shop, where fabrics hung from the ceiling like waterfalls. Mei's hands trailed over the textures—rough linen, smooth velvet, delicate lace. Each one whispered possibilities.
"What about this?" Hana held up a deep gray fabric, heavy and elegant.
Mei touched it, imagining it as the flowing gown from her sketch. It felt right. "Yes. This one."
They spent nearly an hour debating laces, trims, and ribbons, Hana making jokes about Mei being too picky while Mei argued that every detail mattered. Finally, they left the shop with two bags stuffed with fabrics, the weight of them both literal and symbolic.
---
Their next stop was a wig shop tucked into a side street. Inside, mannequin heads lined the walls, each wearing wigs of different colors and styles—fiery reds, icy blues, glossy blacks, pastel rainbows.
Mei hesitated at the entrance, her heart racing. A wig felt like the final step in leaving "ordinary Mei" behind.
"Don't worry," Hana said gently. "It's just hair. But the right hair makes the character come alive."
They moved through the aisles until Mei spotted it: a long, chestnut-brown wig with subtle waves, strikingly similar to Lady Veyra's hair from Crimson Petals. She reached out, fingertips brushing against the synthetic strands.
"This one," she whispered.
Hana tilted her head. "You sure?"
Mei nodded firmly. "It feels… like her."
The shopkeeper helped them try it on in front of a mirror. As Mei slid the wig over her head, she barely recognized the reflection staring back at her. Her usual soft auburn hair was gone—replaced with the fierce, commanding locks of the character she admired.
Her chest tightened. For a fleeting moment, she was Lady Veyra.
Hana beamed. "Oh wow. Mei, that's it. You look amazing."
Mei smiled shyly, removing the wig with care. She placed it back into its box, her decision made.
---
By the time the two returned to Mei's apartment, their arms were heavy with shopping bags, but their laughter was light. They spread everything across the floor—fabrics, laces, the wig box. Mei's living room looked like the beginning of a tailor's workshop.
Hana flopped onto the couch. "So? How does it feel, future cosplay queen?"
Mei sank to her knees among the materials, her hands trembling as she touched each piece. "It feels… real. Like I'm finally building her. Building me."
She smiled, her eyes shining with a mix of nerves and determination. The path ahead would be hard—she knew that. But sitting there, surrounded by the first true pieces of her cosplay, Mei felt like she had taken one step closer to becoming the character she always dreamed of.