Chapter 223: Chapter 222: Do You Have Those Kinds of Feelings for Me?Support me at /CulturedOne and read 50 Advanced Chapters
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"Hey, hold on a second. This is actually getting a bit out of hand." Yukino had finally realized that something was wrong. The crowd surrounding them was growing far too large.
Within the Haru-Yuki Animation, Haruto’s identity was a strictly guarded secret, and he had never participated in fan meet-and-greets or public PR events. Because of this, Yukino had a very vague understanding of his actual drawing power. Now, she was genuinely stunned. They had only been inside the convention hall for five minutes, and it felt as if every person in the building was closing in on them.
"It’s Shiori Takahashi, right? It has to be him!"
"He seems to be wearing light makeup, but that face shape, it’s definitely Takahashi-sensei."
"Maybe it’s just one of those influencers with god-tier makeup skills trying to bait clicks by looking like him?"
"Is makeup even that good? To look exactly like him? I don’t buy it."
"And who’s that Asuna with him? She’s so cute!"
"Is Sensei at Comiket with his girlfriend?"
"Don’t spread rumors. I thought Sensei was dating Shizuru-sensei?"
"What are you talking about? I read online that he and Reina-sensei are a couple."
"They’re classmates and they almost always sit together in lectures. Half the students at university say so."
The whispers and debates among the onlookers were already reaching a fever pitch.
"Are you Shiori Takahashi?" someone nearby suddenly shouted.
"No, I just happen to look like him," Haruto replied.
But the moment Haruto spoke, the crowd reached a consensus. Faces can be imitated, but a voice is a different story.
The ecstatic fans immediately surged forward.
"Takahashi-sensei, can I get a photo with you?"
"Could you give me an autograph?"
"Sensei, when are Takumi and Natsuki finally going to get some real romantic development?"
"What do you think about the debate online between you and the Warrior of Love?"
Haruto looked at the scene with a helpless expression, but he decided to stop fighting it. If he was going to be treated like a panda in a zoo, so be it.
"Make sure you stay close to me," Haruto said to Yukino, glancing at the human wall closing in. "If you fall behind, I doubt you’ll be able to push your way back in."
"Understood." Yukino moved a few inches closer to him. The crowd generally maintained a level of decorum; they were staring and surrounding them, but no one was grabbing at their clothes or getting physical.
Yukino stayed pressed against Haruto’s side, following his lead as the circle of people moved through the hall. Since this wasn’t an official work event, Haruto decided to skip the usual routine of signing autographs or posing for individual photos.
If he started doing that, they would never leave the hall. Once you open that floodgate, there is no closing it. The fans seemed to understand his intent and didn’t press the issue, instead opting to take photos to post on social media and text their friends in a frenzy.
"Oh, look! They already have Initial D merchandise?" Yukino’s attention shifted to a nearby exhibition booth.
There were beautifully detailed models of the AE86, the FD, and the FC. Beyond the cars, there were life-sized statues of Asuna, plush rabbits from To the Moon, and displays featuring the Soul Gems and transformation outfits from Madoka Magica. Everywhere they looked, the hall was filled with elements from Haruto’s various works.
Haruto explained quietly from her side, "These items haven’t actually hit the market yet."
"They’re scheduled for a rolling release starting next month. Right now, they’re just here for a promotional display."
Through his dealings with manufacturers arranged by the company, Haruto was well-informed about the merchandising timeline.
At that moment, security personnel from the convention arrived.
While they didn’t explicitly disperse the crowd, they acted as a buffer to ensure no one did anything reckless like throwing drinks or eggs, which sometimes happened between rival fanbases. If anything like that occurred, the convention would be the top trending topic on the news for all the wrong reasons the next day.
However, the reality of the situation meant that their original plan for a fun day at Comiket was effectively ruined.
No matter how mentally resilient they were, it was impossible to wander aimlessly through an exhibition area while being gawked at by over a thousand people.
Thirty minutes later, following the apologetic but firm glances from the security team, Haruto and Yukino beat a hasty retreat through an employee exit. There was no other choice; more and more fans were rushing to the hall after hearing the rumors. If Haruto stayed any longer, he would have accidentally hijacked the entire convention and turned it into an impromptu fan meeting.
Still, it wasn’t a total loss. They managed to make a few quick purchases of merchandise they liked before heading out.
Back in the parking garage, inside Haruto’s car, Yukino let out a long sigh. "What a waste. I woke up so early for this, and I finally got to dress up as such a cute character..."
"My bad." Haruto took the black sword from his back and placed it in the rear seat. "I should have worn a mask to hide my identity."
"Then what would be the point?" Yukino shot back immediately. "A cosplayer in a mask looks like they’re walking out of a sewer. It ruins the aesthetic."
"That’s true," Haruto laughed. "But it wasn’t a total waste. Even though we couldn’t stay long or interact with others, at least your Asuna cosplay was incredible. It’s the fans’ loss that they didn’t get a better look at it, but at least I saw it. So it wasn’t a waste of time."
Yukino blinked, stunned for a second.
She looked at Haruto closely and joked, "Wow, Haruto. You’ve gotten much better at talking lately. Did you finally have an epiphany? Or have you been staring at me every day until you finally realized how charming I am?"
"A bit of both, I suppose," Haruto paused, then smiled.
"Your Asuna is truly lovely and cute. It shouldn’t be surprising that I’d be a little captivated by a high-quality cosplay of a character I created myself."
When Haruto said those words, Yukino’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. She couldn’t quite tell if he was being sincere or just teasing. "So... are we going back now?"
"It’s not even noon yet. What would we do back at the villa? The company is on break, and I’ve already turned in my manuscripts for the next two issues. I don’t have to work over the holidays," Haruto said.
"There are just too many people who recognize me at a convention. We’ll just go somewhere else."
"Somewhere else?" Yukino looked at her white knight outfit and his black swordsman gear. "In these clothes? And you’ll be recognized wherever we go."