The inside of the event felt like a small universe in constant motion.
Colored lights reflected off the fabrics of countless cosplays, creating an almost hypnotic spectacle. In the distance, anime songs echoed from a stage, blending with the lively voices that filled every corner.
Rows of booths stretched out like displays from another world.
Rare manga.
Detailed figures.
Giant posters that seemed ready to leap off the walls.
Everything pulsed at once.
Amid that flow of people, Aoi, Souma, Hina, and Mio walked together.
Up ahead, Hanae and Misaki had split off, heading into an area filled with manga shops. Hanae looked completely enchanted, analyzing every cover like it was a masterpiece. Misaki, on the other hand, observed everything with a sharper, more critical gaze—as if searching for something truly worth it.
Behind them…
Aoi and Souma walked side by side.
The white armored dress of Arcelina reflected the light with every step, while Souma's dark cloak created a perfect contrast—like light and shadow moving together.
Then suddenly—
Two girls came running toward them.
"AAAH!"
Aoi and Souma turned at the same time.
One of the girls pointed excitedly.
"The Crimson Valkyria couple!"
The other added, almost out of breath:
"Kuol and Arcelina!"
Aoi blinked in surprise.
Souma froze completely.
"C-can we take a picture?" one of them asked, clasping her hands.
Aoi glanced at Souma.
"O-of us…?"
"Yes! You're perfect!"
For a few seconds, the world seemed to stop.
Behind them, Hina watched in silence.
She was smiling.
But discreetly… she wiped her forehead.
A faint layer of sweat.
Beside her, Mio kept a neutral expression.
Aoi took a deep breath.
And, a little awkwardly, nodded.
"O-okay…"
The girl nearly jumped with excitement.
"Thank you!!"
Aoi stepped a little closer to Souma.
They stood side by side.
Close.
Too close.
The camera clicked.
But to Aoi…
The sound felt distant.
Because in that moment—
All she could hear was her own heartbeat racing.
A few meters away from the crowd…
The world felt quieter.
Hina and Yamada stood facing each other.
Still.
The air between them felt heavier than the entire event.
Yamada took a deep breath.
His eyes wavered for a second.
"You don't have to answer…" he said softly. "I'll just say it… and then I'll leave."
Hina swallowed.
Her heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt.
Her fingers lightly gripped the fabric of her blue dress.
"Y-you can say it… Riku-kun…"
Yamada looked down for a moment.
Then back at her.
"Hina… I've wanted to tell you this for a while."
He exhaled slowly.
"But… when you stopped talking to me… I thought you hated me."
Silence.
Hina didn't look away.
Yamada continued, calmer now.
"I never thought of you that way before."
A faint smile appeared.
"We barely even talked…"
He lifted his eyes again.
"But… the way you enjoy things… your excitement… your happiness…"
He shook his head slightly.
"That was enough to bring me back to normal."
Hina's chest tightened.
Each word felt like it was reaching straight into her heart.
Yamada took another deep breath.
"I started thinking about you…"
He laughed nervously.
"Every day."
Their eyes met.
"And… well…"
He gestured lightly around them.
"Here we are."
His gaze moved over her cosplay.
The cape.
The book.
The light in her eyes.
He smiled.
"Even like this… I can still see you."
Hina brought a hand to her mouth.
Yamada inhaled one last time.
And said—
"Hina… I like you."
His heart raced.
"I really like you."
Silence fell.
The world around them faded.
Yamada watched her reaction.
Her wide eyes.
Her still body.
Then—
He gave a small, sad smile.
She doesn't know how to reject me…
He turned.
"It's okay… I said you didn't need to—"
"I WANT TO DATE YOU!"
Hina's voice cut through the air.
Loud.
Clear.
Yamada froze.
Then slowly turned back.
She stood there—
Eyes closed.
Face completely red.
Hand stretched toward him.
Trembling.
But firm.
He walked toward her.
Step by step.
And without hesitation—
He pulled her into a hug.
"Hina…"
His voice came out like a whisper.
She opened her eyes in surprise.
Then slowly…
Wrapped her arms around him too.
"Riku-kun…"
In the middle of a crowded event—
It felt like only the two of them existed.
The rest of the day flowed like a rushing river.
Bright lights.
Photos.
Laughter.
Moments that felt special.
On the main stage—
"And the winner of this year's cosplay contest is…"
A pause.
"VELMIRA NOCTIS!"
The crowd exploded.
"HANAEEE!" Aoi shouted.
"LET'S GO!" Souma raised his arm.
Hina jumped excitedly.
Mio simply smiled, clapping calmly.
Further back…
Misaki watched.
But not the stage.
Instead—
Aoi and Souma.
Laughing.
Close.
Natural.
She looked away.
"I guess… that's it for me…"
And began to walk.
Alone.
Outside—
SPLASH.
Misaki fell into a puddle.
"No way I could miss you in that ridiculous outfit."
She froze.
"…Megumim."
Megumim stood there.
With two other girls.
Smiling with disdain.
"Grab her."
They seized Misaki by the arms.
And dragged her into a nearby alley.
The space was narrow.
Poorly lit.
Megumim stepped forward.
A punch landed.
"You caused us problems!"
Another.
"We had to transfer schools!"
Another.
"And nothing happened to you?!"
Megumim was breathing heavily.
Blood ran from the corner of Misaki's mouth.
Megumim tilted her head.
"Not going to cry?"
Misaki spat blood in her face.
Megumim screamed.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
The two girls holding her got distracted.
That was enough.
Misaki stomped hard on one's foot.
She let go.
With her other arm free—
Misaki punched the second girl.
And ran.
She ran through the streets.
Breathing heavily.
"Help me!"
"Please, help!"
After a few blocks—
She stopped.
Megumim stood in front.
The other two behind.
Surrounded.
Misaki dropped to her knees.
"It's over for me…"
Then—
A voice echoed from the end of the street.
"Hey."
Megumim turned.
There they were—
Mio.
Hina.
Aoi.
And someone else.
Misaki's eyes widened.
"Y-you… what are you doing here?"
Mio answered calmly.
"That guy saw us together at the event."
She gestured subtly as he walked away.
"He came to tell us they dragged you into an alley."
Aoi nodded to him.
"Thank you. You can go now."
Megumim clicked her tongue.
"Get them."
The two girls rushed forward.
But Mio took two steps—
And in seconds—
Torceram seus braços e os jogaram no chão.
Fixado.
Megumim deu um passo para trás.
"Caramba…"
Aoi caminhou em direção a ela.
"Você era a pessoa que estava no banheiro, certo?"
"Ainda fazendo isso?"
Megumim surtou:
"Vocês não sabem nada sobre nós!"
"Fique fora disso!"
"Isso fica entre nós e a Misaki!"
Aoi respondeu firmemente:
"Não posso fazer isso."
"Você precisa ir embora."
Megumim sorriu.
A poucos metros de distância—
Ela tirou algo de dentro da bota.
Uma faca.
"Você vai pagar por interferir!"
Os olhos de Aoi se arregalaram.
Megumim levantou o braço.
"Vamos começar por você!"
"Sua garota estúpida!"
Mas antes que a lâmina pudesse cair—
Uma mão agarrou seu braço.
Souma apareceu atrás dela.
Ele torceu o braço dela para trás.
A faca caiu.
Souma chutou a bola para longe.
"Aprendi isso com a Mio-chan."
Megumim gritou:
"SOCORRO! ESSE CARA ME BATEU!"
Mio cruzou os braços.
"Você deveria calar a boca."
"Essa faca era sua."
Megumim cerrou os dentes.
"Caramba!"
Misaki deu um passo à frente.
Sangue em seu rosto.
"Pensei que você tivesse se esquecido de mim."
Aoi começou—
"Misak—"
"QUANDO VOCÊ VAI ME DEIXAR EM PAZ?!"
Misaki gritou.
E deu um soco em Megumim com toda a sua força.
Souma recuou.
"Droga, Misaki!"
"Já chega!"
Aoi a agarrou.
"Já chega! Vamos embora!"
Misaki começou a chorar.
"Isso não é justo!"
Ela olhou diretamente para Aoi.
"Ele escolheu você…"
"Aoi."
Aoi piscou, confusa.
"E-ele me escolheu?"
"Do que você está falando—"
Misaki aproximou-se do ouvido dela.
E sussurrou:
"Não se faça de desentendido."
"Você sabe exatamente o que eu quero dizer."
Ela lançou um olhar para Souma.
"Ele olha para você de forma diferente."
Então deu um passo para trás.
Instável.
"Obrigado… a todos vocês."
Ela limpou o sangue do rosto.
Você é incrível.
Hina correu até ela.
"Vamos para um hospital!"
"Isto pode ser sério!"
Misaki deu um leve sorriso.
"Gosto de você."
"Mas eu costumava ser exatamente como eles."
Ela tocou a própria bochecha.
"Vai inchar."
"Isso é tudo."
Hina ainda parecia preocupada.
"Tem certeza?"
"Sim."
Misaki assentiu com a cabeça.
"Obrigada… Hina."
O silêncio de Aoi
Aoi não conseguia mais ouvir nada.
As palavras de Misaki ecoaram em sua mente.
Ele escolheu você.
Ela levou as mãos ao peito.
Seu coração estava acelerado.
Ela olhou para Souma.
Ele estava conversando com Mio, enquanto as duas garotas permaneciam imobilizadas no chão.
Então-
BIP.
Um som de notificação.
Todos checaram seus celulares.
Uma mensagem no grupo Eternal Aegis Online .
Aoi abriu.
Takeo havia escrito:
"Quer jogar hoje?"
"As provas estão chegando, mas eu quero terminar esse jogo logo!"
Aoi olhou fixamente para a tela.
O brilho do celular refletia em seus olhos.
Mas na cabeça dela…
Só restava uma frase.
Ele olha para você de forma diferente.