Katsuragi-kun strode into Gakkan Land.
I couldn't stand being left behind, so I hurried to follow.
After passing through the automatic doors of the entrance and walking a short distance, Katsuragi suddenly stopped.
I was walking right behind him and couldn't stop, so we ended up bumping into each other.
"Oh, sorry."
"...No, it's fine."
I apologized immediately, and Katsuragi-kun replied in kind, but he had a sour look on his face.
I was worried that the collision had really bothered him that much, but it seemed that what he was concerned about was the front of his car.
My gaze was drawn in that direction.
Whether it was because it was a holiday or for some other reason, there were a lot of people dressed in strange outfits near the moderately crowded front desk.
They might be dressed like princesses, or in outfits that look like they've jumped right out of a famous anime, or in strangely flashy school uniforms.
I wondered if the staff here were dressed like that to greet customers, but there were just too many of them.
After thinking about it for a while, I understood.
Everyone there is a customer, and those clothes are what you'd call cosplay; this is a facility where people can have fun in cosplay...
"I'd heard about it, but I think the person who built this place must have a couple of screws loose in their head."
"Y-Yeah, that's right."
A series of unexpected events threatens to shatter his ability to maintain a "normal" demeanor, but he manages to give a safe and unremarkable response.
I'm not entirely sure if that was the correct answer, though.
"I have no intention of doing something like that, but what about you?"
Huh? That? You want me to cosplay as that?
"No way!"
I couldn't be bothered to act "normally," so I instinctively refused.
I regretted what I said right away, but luckily Katsuragi-kun doesn't seem to mind.
"I really can't understand what kind of person would do something like this."
"After all, no matter how much you try to imitate a two-dimensional being, it can never truly compare to a three-dimensional being."
"Uh, yeah...?"
What's the right way to respond?
I really need someone to help me.
My sister is supposed to be here in an hour, but there's no way I can keep her entertained until then!
However, for better or for worse, my worries turned out to be unfounded.
Katsuragi-kun, who had been leisurely looking around, suddenly began to stare intently in a certain direction, as if he had spotted something.
I followed the direction of their gaze and...
"Pretty Girl Game Uniform Enhancement Week!"
There was a poster that said:
In short, it's a week where people cosplay as video game characters.
I wondered if I should try to bring up a topic of conversation, but for now I just looked back.
Katsuragi was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh? What's going on!?" I frantically looked around.
And there he was, easily found. Katsuragi-kun was making a fuss at the front desk.
"Hey, call the person in charge of this cosplay project!"
The costumes are full of mistakes!!
She didn't seem to notice me at all, even though I was with her, and started ranting at the front desk staff.
I can see that they're angry about the cosplay outfit, but I have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.
"Look, this uniform has a different colored ribbon, and the emblem is on the wrong side!"
"These two high school uniforms are all mixed up! And neither of them has an emblem on their summer uniform!"
"Is this blazer only available as a girls' uniform?! Boys' and girls' uniforms may look similar, but there are definitely differences!"
"Yes, if we swap this ribbon with that ribbon, it'll be just right!"
"There were some regular cosplay uniforms on that shelf over there that weren't related to the special event week, right? If we tweaked those a bit, they'd look pretty similar!"
"See, if we use some spare gold thread, it'll look much better. What? You keep that stuff in the basement? Hurry up and get it!"
It seems that he's not just complaining, but also giving sound advice...or so it appears.
After a while, someone who appeared to be in charge came out looking very grateful.
"That's wonderful! Please become our fashion advisor!"
"Well, if it's just clothes related to dating sim games, then yes."
It seemed like Katsuragi-kun had completely forgotten about me, as he readily agreed.
Of course, I couldn't do something so reckless as to say something in that situation, so time just passed by.
...Actually, about an hour.
...In other words, until my sister and Elsie arrive.