The sweltering weight of the Kawai Kitty mascot costume pressed down on Raito like a furnace. Despite the costume's hidden ventilation, hours of waving, posing, and reciting catchphrases had begun to wear on him. The voices, the flashes of cameras, the tugging of sleeves—it was too much.
He had managed to distract the swarming fans by loudly declaring, "Photo op by the main booth in ten minutes!" and dramatically skipping in the opposite direction. The stampede worked exactly as he expected. Kids and adults alike dashed toward the main stage area, buzzing with excitement and cameras at the ready.
Raito, meanwhile, ducked into a lesser-used hallway near the photo booths and kept walking until the crowd noise finally softened behind him.
Kurai's voice echoed in his head, dry as ever. "So much for a peaceful hobby. You look like a heatstroke waiting to happen."
"Worth it," Raito replied silently, still walking. "Besides, I got the plushie set."
The silence around him was calming. He turned a corner and spotted a girl sitting alone near some folding chairs and an abandoned water cooler. Her hoodie was pulled low, a mask hung under her chin, and she looked like she wanted nothing to do with the rest of the con.
Raito paused for a second. He didn't recognize her—and didn't know she was Akemi Inoue herself.
But one person was easier to deal with than a crowd. He'd bought himself enough alone time. Maybe it would be easier to pass the remaining minutes of his mascot shift chatting with a single attendee, get through the job, and collect the reward—his Kawai Kitty costume.
He padded toward her in silence, the oversized feet of the costume muffling his steps. When he got close enough, he lifted a paw and tilted the mascot head playfully.
Then, with the cheery pitch of the character voice box, he said:
"—What's going on, my fan?"
The girl jolted upright like she'd been electrocuted.
Raito paused, head tilted again behind the mask, watching her reaction.
He had no idea what was coming next.