The line had finally died down, but Akemi Inoue barely noticed.
Her pen hovered above the autograph sheet, fingers idle. Her thoughts kept circling back to that guy—the one with the baby. The unbothered, plainly-dressed, deep-voiced guy who had somehow ruined her mood with nothing but honesty and an annoyingly calm tone.
Most fans were predictable. They came with shaking hands, awkward stammers, or overblown declarations of love. A few even tried cheesy pickup lines that made her want to gouge her ears out. But this guy? No fanfare. No attempt to flatter. Just... there.
"I came for Kawai Kitty's signature. Not yours."
Her hand tightened slightly around the pen. Who the hell said that to her face?
"Earth to Akemi," her assistant Haruka's voice cut through her spiral. "You're still thinking about him, huh?"
Akemi blinked and leaned back with a fake laugh. "Please. I've already forgotten about him."
"You're doodling angry eyebrows on Kawai Kitty."
Akemi looked down. Her last three signatures had inadvertently turned into scribbled expressions of barely-suppressed rage. "…Tch."
Haruka leaned closer, her voice lowering. "Seriously, go cool off. You've been in good-girl mode all morning. You need a break."
Akemi groaned dramatically. "I can't just waltz off, Haru. You know how tight the security is. My parents would have me on a leash if they could."
"That's why," Haruka said, pulling a plain white mask and large sunglasses from her purse, "you're going in disguise. Like a normal person. Just for an hour."
Akemi's pout transformed into a grin as she snatched them. "You're my favorite assistant."
"I'm your only assistant," Haruka muttered, pushing her gently. "Go. I'll handle the guards."
Akemi slipped into a hoodie and tugged the mask and glasses on. A thrill ran through her—finally, a chance to move without cameras in her face.
The con floor was packed, buzzing with music, laughter, and the shrill voices of vendors selling everything from plushies to limited-edition figurines. Akemi had been the voice of Kawai Kitty since the show's first episode, yet it had been years since she'd seen the convention from the ground level.
Her eyes darted across booths and displays, glittering with pink and pastel colors. She grabbed a quick snack from a vendor and nibbled as she strolled, keeping her head low and her hoodie up.
Then she saw the mascot.
Kawai Kitty herself—towering in full plush glory, surrounded by a crowd of kids and fans. The mascot waved, danced a little, and struck silly poses for selfies.
But what really caught her attention wasn't the costume—it was how natural the person inside seemed. No awkward stumbles or nervous energy. The way the mascot moved, like they knew the character inside and out, even when swarmed by attention.
Wow, Akemi thought, hiding a smirk behind her mask. They finally hired someone who knows what they're doing.
The kids around the mascot screamed with delight, and the voice box chirped out one of her own recorded lines: "Friendship sparkles brighter than the stars!"
Akemi chuckled despite herself. "Okay, okay, not bad."
She leaned casually against a booth, watching the mascot work the crowd like a seasoned pro. She had no idea that the person inside was the same man who had irked her earlier that day—Raito, now hidden beneath a giant plush smile and a swirl of pink fur.
Still watching, she murmured to herself, "Whoever you are… you've got decent moves for a grown man in a cat suit."
She popped the last of her snack in her mouth, adjusted her sunglasses, and slipped back into the crowd
For now.