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Chapter 11

August 9, 2019

The first day of Comiket had just started. With Akari being off from school, she, Chieko, and Shizuka were able to attend all four days from start to finish. Akari had a large suitcase with her, as well as a second ticket in addition to her badge that would allow her to get into the cosplay changing area. Shizuka meanwhile had a smaller suitcase filled with business supplies and artwork she intended to sell at the Shimizu company booth that year. As the three of them got off the train together, Shizuka told Akari, "You know the drill for the cosplay stuff, right?"

"Yep," she replied with a nod. "Get in line, get a booth, and head on out."

"You know," Chieko then added. "I heard at conventions in America, they don't actually have those changing rooms. People actually enter and exit in cosplay."

"Yep," Shizuka nodded. "I've seen photos and videos from American conventions. They're pretty different from Comiket. Aside from the fact cosplayers can enter and exit in cosplay, they're a bit more... Commercialized. Doujinshi manga isn't really that much a thing over there, but fanart is huge. Conventions tend to have a much larger presence from anime studios and manga publishers over there, although I will say their presence at Comiket has definitely grown over the years."

Akari then asked her, "Have you ever thought about going to an American convention?"

"Maybe, but my schedule probably wouldn't allow it. I've thought about it this year, though. Anime Expo, the largest in America, already happened in July in Los Angeles, but maybe I could pull some strings and go to Anime NYC in November. Anzai-sensei's actually taking a brief hiatus from Uncontrollable Battle to go there, so maybe I can talk to the executives and see if I can tag along."

Chieko then asked her, "Wait, where's Anime NYC hosted?" In disbelief she asked such an obvious question, Akari and Shizuka looked at her with dumbfounded expressions. "...What?"

Both Akari and Shizuka said at the same time, "New York City!"

"Wait, New Yo-" Chieko then realized what the NYC part of Anime NYC meant. "Oh... New York City..."

"I'm gonna leave before I lose any more brain cells," Akari joked before walking away to go to the cosplay line. "I'll see you guys inside!"

"Bye-bye," Shizuka waved to her. She then turned to Chieko and remarked with a laugh, "Really? You didn't know NYC is an English abbreviation for New York City?"

"Give me a break," Chieko replied with a blush, embarrassed by her mistake. "I sucked at English in school."

Shizuka pointed out, "Most of Japan sucks at speaking English. Act accordingly."

...

As Chieko and Shizuka were sitting at the Shimizu industry booth, they spent their time talking to several company staffers and even some passers-by who did not recognize Shizuka due to her wearing her hair in a bun and having a hat on. After a while, though, Shizuka got up and told Chieko, "I'm gonna head out and look at the doujinshi circles. I got money to burn."

"I'll see you around," Chieko replied with a wave.

As Shizuka walked away from the booth, she noticed someone in a cosplay of the main female character of Uncontrollable Battle walking towards her. "You don't recognize me?"

"Wait a minute, Kunugi-san?"

Akari, who had walked over to the industry area of Comiket to see Shizuka, laughed and replied, "Wow, I must have done a good job if it took you that long. So, how do I look?"

"Woah, you really pulled it off well," Shizuka replied as she pulled out her phone. "I gotta take a picture of this and send it to Anzai-sensei."

"Go ahead. I can't pull the sword out here, though. I gotta be in the cosplay area for that."