Chapter 158: [Side Story] Not Just a Legend, but the Legend
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: [Side Story] Not Just a Legend, but the Legend
LISA and I walked confidently onto the stage.
Waaaaaaah!
The moment we did, a fiery cheer erupted from the audience.
If I hadn't had the experience of competing at Onjuku Beach, I would've been too nervous to even move properly.
The MC looked back and forth between LISA and me, unable to hide his admiration.
"Wow, this is on a whole other level. It's like the actual characters showed up and are just pretending it's cosplay."
His gaze was fixed not on LISA, but on me.
He asked.
"Mr. Baou, are you by any chance a professional bodybuilder?"
I shook my head at his question.
"No, I'm just a student who enjoys working out."
"Ah, a college student?"
"I'm a high school student."
The MC, as if he couldn't believe me, asked back, "Aww, come on~ You're kidding, right~?"
I felt a pang of sadness, wondering if I really looked that old, but I tried not to show it and said, "It's true," before passing the baton to LISA next to me.
LISA seemed momentarily flustered, but she took the microphone and began to speak.
"Ahem, the cosplay we've prepared today is, as you all know, Sophia, the heroine of Last Fantasy 7, and Baou, the protagonist's half-brother. Please show a lot of love for the upcoming remake of Last Fantasy 7."
After delivering a line the sponsors would surely love, LISA gave an elegant smile and waved to the audience.
At that, the male otaku in the audience started shouting, "Sophia-mamang! I love you!"
"Mamang! Mamang! Mamang!"
Truly overwhelming support.
At the same time, it was a scene of mass hysteria.
LISA just looked flustered, cupping her cheeks with her hands and repeatedly saying "Ara ara," but she didn't seem to mind it too much.
After all, it meant our chances of winning the popularity poll were going up.
Meanwhile, perhaps feeling sorry for me standing there like a totem pole, the MC suddenly thrust the microphone at me and asked.
"Your teammate made a strong appeal. Mr. Baou, is there anything you'd like to say?"
Hearing that, I glanced at the audience.
They were all looking up at me with expectant expressions.
They probably wanted that line.
The final words that define the character Baou's philosophy on life.
I swallowed nervously, then raised the greatsword in my right hand high above my head and declared in a grand, theatrical voice.
"Then farewell, my beloved woman! I may have failed in this life, but the one who will claim you in the next is I, the Overlord Baou!"
In the original work, after delivering this line, the barely-clinging-to-life Baou meets a heroic end by stabbing himself in the stomach.
After I finished the line, I cautiously glanced around.
Complete silence.
I'd tried my best to imitate the original voice actor, but I had no idea how it came across.
But it seemed my worries were for nothing. A moment later—
Waaaaaaaaaah!!
A thunderous roar and applause erupted from all sides.
"You're the best, Baou-chan!"
"I'll call you Hyung-nim for the rest of my life!"
"Kkieeeeeeeek!"
In the midst of that pandemonium of noise, one thing became certain: our team was going to score very well in the popularity poll.
*
After that, several other cosplay teams came and went from the stage.
Among them was the cosplayer named Sakuya who had greeted us earlier.
But perhaps because they had just seen such a high-quality cosplay right before, the audience's reaction was lukewarm, and as a result, our team's chances of winning skyrocketed exponentially.
It seemed that unless a clear dark horse or rival appeared, we were on a straight path to victory.
And so, after a boring yet anxious wait,
The results of the popularity poll were finally announced.
"The winner of this competition is Team LISA, for their cosplay of Sophia and Baou, characters from Pentagon's masterpiece, Last Fantasy 7!"
We had been waiting behind the host with the other participants, and the moment the results were announced, we hugged each other in joy.
Squish!
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Realizing what was happening only after feeling something soft, I hastily pulled away from LISA's embrace. LISA, too, seemed to realize she'd done something unbecoming, blushing and clearing her throat.
"Th-This is a secret from my husband, okay?"
"Of course."
Having reached a dramatic compromise, we each took one handle of the winner's trophy and gave our acceptance speeches.
"Thank you to everyone who has always loved my cosplay. I'll continue to repay you with great work in the future."
LISA spoke first, and then it was my turn.
"I never expected to win such a big award on my first try. I'd personally like to dedicate this victory to LISA, who prepared this entire event."
As I said that, praising her, LISA looked shy for the first time and averted her gaze.
The grand finale was finally over.
Having achieved everything we came to Comiket for today, we decided it was time to head home.
*
"Thank you for driving me all the way home."
As I said this and bowed my head, Maria chuckled and said it was the least she could do.
"Well then, I'll talk to my husband and get that limited-edition merchandise we talked about ready for you."
"Ah, thank you. To be honest, that's all I've been waiting for."
When I showed my obvious delight, Maria chuckled and said,
"It's nothing compared to what you did for us, Yoo-Sung. Your performance on stage earlier was really great."
Honestly, I didn't know what to do with all the continuous praise.
"Geez, Mama, that's enough. Don't praise him too much."
Rika, putting on the brakes at just the right time, waved through the open window and said,
"Today was fun, Ryu-chan. See you next time."
"Yeah. Get home safe."
We exchanged simple goodbyes and parted ways in front of my house.
Unless something special came up, I probably wouldn't see Rika again until after summer vacation was over.
Fiddling with the phone case Maria... no, LISA had given me, I pushed aside the noren hanging in front of the shop and went inside, calling out.
"I'm home!"
*
3ch.
One of Japan's most prominent and massive complex communities.
It was the birthplace of the post format commonly known as a 'thread,' and the bulletin board function used on the Japanese branch of the Darknet was a direct benchmark of this site's system.
To be more precise, they had paid to have the source technology stolen, but such things were commonplace in the underworld.
And now that the second day of Comiket was over—one particular board was especially active.
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33\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:23:18.47 ID:PotoKano
You guys go to Comiket today?
34\. Choutenshi-chan Kawaii
I'm not a fucking fag, why would I go on the second day? You into BL or something?
35\. Hikari-chan is my wife
U srsly gay?
36\. Anonymous Otaku
It's a trap lover! A trap lover!
37\. Anonymous Author
Hey, they could be a girl.
38\. Anonymous Unemployed
A female loser lurking on the 3ch cosplay board at this hour? That's my ideal type.
39\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:28:34.12 ID:PotoKano
…Anyway, LISA showed up at the cosplay plaza today, you know?
40\. Hikari-chan is my wife
LISA? You mean the legendary cosplayer who's been active for like 20 years?
41\. Anonymous Otaku
You mean the one they call Lisalisa, the one rumored to be a vampire?
42\. Choutenshi-chan Kawaii
Guys, she's a real person, so watch your angles. I'm opening Notepad just in case.
43\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:32:46.34 ID:PotoKano
That LISA was hired for the Pentagon booth this time, and the quality of her cosplay was insane.
44\. Anonymous Author
What character did she cosplay?
45\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:33:11.58 ID:PotoKano
Sophia and Baou.
46\. Anonymous Author
Ah, I heard the Last Fantasy 7 remake is coming out. Guess she did it for that.
47\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:34:53.13 ID:PotoKano
Anyway, you guys should see it for yourselves.
[Attached Photo]
48\. Hikari-chan is my wife
Whoa, damn. How does she look like a cosplayer who's been active for 20 years?
49\. Anonymous Otaku-ssi
Photoshop is amazing these days. It's obviously been edited all over.
50\. Anonymous Unemployed
Welcome, newbie. The reason LISA is famous in this scene is because of her ageless looks. Rumor has it she has a high school-aged daughter.
51\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:40:23.11 ID:PotoKano
Anyway, LISA's Sophia was amazing, but the Baou who did the team cosplay with her was the real deal.
52\. Choutenshi-chan Kawaii
An Asian physique can pull off a Baou cosplay? Stop lying.
53\. Anonymous Author
Why assume he's Asian? LISA is a naturalized foreigner, so the Baou could be a foreigner too.
54\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:43:17.52 ID:PotoKano
He was Asian, though.
[Attached Photo]
55\. Choutenshi-chan Kawaii
Whoa, what the hell. Look at those muscles. Is he even the same species as me?
56\. Anonymous Otaku-ssi
Please have a small dick. Please have a small dick. Please have a small dick.
57\. Hikari-chan is my wife
He's on juice. There's no way you get muscles that big otherwise.
58\. Anonymous Author
Anyway, his build is no joke. At that size, he must be almost 190cm tall, right? I admit, that's a non-Asian level physique.
59\. Choutenshi-chan Kawaii
Whether he's on roids or not, the sync with the original character is insane. Isn't this basically the real guy showing up?
60\. Anonymous Otaku-ssi
Please have a small dick. Please have a small dick. Please have a small dick.
61\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:49:21.35 ID:PotoKano
The quality is one thing, but listen to this from 1:41. [Attached Video]
62\. Choutenshi-chan Kawaii
Whoa… what's with that voice...
63\. Anonymous Author
Isn't that almost professional voice actor level? His diction is insane.
64\. Anonymous Unemployed
What place did this guy get in the popularity poll? No, don't even have to ask.
65\. From an Anonymous VIP User: 2017/8/12(Sat) 18:53:17.24 ID:PotoKano
If he can keep up this quality, I think a new legend could be born in the scene. Does this guy have social media? I'm a total fan now.
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In a dark room, a girl reading the thread on the 3ch cosplay board instantly recognized the face of Kim Yoo-Sung, who went to the same school as her. Her eyes lit up.
"This could be interesting."