The Winter Comiket venue was overflowing with people. Even outside the exhibition halls, crowds and cosplayers moved everywhere. The freezing winter temperatures couldn't dampen their enthusiasm in the slightest.
This was the twice-yearly grand festival of ACGN culture, and in the eyes of many, it was also an extraordinary holy war!
"So amazing..."
Sato suddenly heard Katou Megumi mutter softly behind him.
He stopped walking and looked at her curiously.
"What's so amazing?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri also stopped and turned to look at her.
Pointing at the cosplayers, Katou Megumi calmly said,
"Even in weather this cold, they're still dressed like that. That's really impressive."
Hearing this, Sato swept his gaze across the surroundings.
He had to admit Katou Megumi had a point.
Many of the cosplayers around them wore shoulder-baring outfits, exposed midriffs, and all kinds of costumes without any cold-weather protection at all, all for the sake of accurately recreating the characters they were cosplaying.
Some even wore short skirts and knee-high socks without leggings despite the bitter winter cold.
Eh?
Sato watched with great interest and suddenly found it hard to look away.
Although it was certainly tough on the hardworking cosplayers, from a visitor's perspective it was extremely pleasing to the eyes.
"Nohara-kun~"
Katou Megumi's voice drifted faintly into Sato's ears.
Sato immediately felt a jolt run through him. Turning around, he saw Katou Megumi calmly staring at him.
Beside her, Eriri was enthusiastically observing the surrounding cosplayers.
Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms beneath her chest and smiled faintly.
"Miyabi-sensei, aren't the beautiful girls here already enough for you to look at?"
She glanced around before suddenly clicking her tongue and shaking her head.
"Although I don't really want to say this, the cosplayers here don't seem as attractive as this little blonde over here. Whether it's appearance or..."
Suddenly, she crouched down and lightly touched Eriri's thigh.
Feeling the delicate tingling sensation on her leg, Eriri, who had been looking around, instantly broke out in goosebumps.
She jumped aside as if electrocuted, then whipped around to glare at Kasumigaoka Utaha with embarrassment and anger.
"Y-You oversized woman, what are you trying to do?!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's eye twitched slightly, but she worked hard to maintain a calm expression as she looked at Sato and continued where she left off.
"Or perhaps... these ivory-like white and delicate thighs."
"Huh?!"
Eriri frowned in confusion as she looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha and Sato, then lowered her head to glance at her own thighs wrapped in white stockings.
What was this about?
"You've taken a liking to my thighs?"
She raised her head and looked suspiciously, and somewhat warily, at Sato.
Sato: "..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Katou Megumi also stared at Eriri in astonishment, while Utaha helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Stop saying things that sound so dangerous!"
While complaining, Sato casually smacked Eriri on the head with a hand chop.
A faint "bonk" sound seemed to ring out, almost as if proving there was nothing inside...
"Ugh!"
Eriri held her head pitifully and looked at Sato, her large blue eyes misty with tears.
"B-But the oversized woman started it first..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha had been standing there with her arms crossed, happily watching the show, but upon hearing that, her eyes suddenly narrowed.
Sato's eyelid twitched as well.
He quickly covered Eriri's mouth and dragged her off to the side. The girl's soft cherry lips pressed warmly against his palm, slightly damp, and he could vaguely feel her soft tongue brush against his hand.
The moment her mouth was covered, Eriri's eyes widened, her face turning red like an apple.
After pulling her aside, Sato released her and looked at her with exasperation.
"Eriri, you really should learn your lesson already. Do you seriously think you can out-argue Kasumi Utako?"
"B-But it was obviously her fault! Why did she suddenly touch me like that?"
Eriri looked deeply wronged.
Hearing this, Sato lowered his gaze slightly.
The blonde girl before him wore a plaid short skirt, and the pair of legs hidden beneath it stood gracefully like twin lotus stems. Wrapped in white stockings, they looked especially slender and adorable.
"Maybe... she was jealous. Her legs aren't as slim as yours. They're too... thick."
Sato glanced backward. Seeing that Kasumigaoka Utaha was some distance away, he lowered his voice and spoke against his conscience.
Although Eriri's legs were slim and cute enough to fit perfectly in one's grasp, Kasumi Utako's legs possessed a fuller kind of beauty.
"Really?"
Eriri froze for a moment before becoming excited.
"Yeah, really, really."
Looking at the cheerful little girl in front of him, Sato suddenly felt somewhat guilty.
Eriri was just far too easy to fool. Her thoughts were much too simple...
"Nohara-kun, I've already spotted Asuna."
Katou Megumi's calm voice suddenly rang out.
Sato replied that he understood before turning to warn Eriri,
"Remember this. Absolutely do not try arguing with Kasumi Utako again. You can't beat her, understand?"
"Hmph! I got it already!"
Sato let out a sigh of relief and brought Eriri back over.
Eriri's pleased expression was impossible to hide. Under Kasumigaoka Utaha's puzzled gaze, she proudly raised her little head and gave a light hum, clearly in a very good mood.
Very silly, but also very cute.
"Where's Asuna?"
Katou Megumi waved toward a certain direction.
Sato followed her line of sight and quickly spotted a figure in the crowd who seemed oddly out of place.
She carried a very unique aura around her, one that clearly didn't belong to the otaku crowd.
The otaku passing nearby stole cautious glances at her, but not a single person dared to stare openly.
Yuuki Asuna was currently looking around in every direction. When she saw Katou Megumi waving, a look of delighted surprise appeared on her face, and she quickly walked over.
"Long time no see, Megumi, Sato!"
The beautiful girl with flaxen long hair stopped in front of them, a dazzling smile blooming across her face. The joy she showed was genuinely moving.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression immediately grew serious.
The smile on Eriri's face gradually disappeared.
Even his online friends were beauties of this level.
This guy... was terrifying.
Their gazes slowly drifted toward the completely oblivious boy.