24 ✒ OTAKU FESTIVAL DAY 1

OTAKU FESTIVAL DAY 1

KHEIN was staring at his phone when he realized that the day today was Saturday. He was planning to go to the 2 Day Festival with some of his friends or by himself. Whether be it alone or be with someone, he never planned to waste the opportunity to attend the once in a blue moon event. Khein loved Anime for his entire life and going to the festival has always been a part of his dreams. He spent watching movies last night that he forgot to prepare for today's event.

"MOM!!" Khein yelled as his mother rushed towards his room to ask what was wrong. Khein reached out his hand like a kid asking for a candy. His mom raised a brow and asked him what he wants.

"Am I in debt to you now?" Khein's mother asked as she crossed her arms across her chest. Khein chuckled and made a shy gesture by rubbing his fingers at the back of his neck.

"Why are you asking for money? You've been throwing your wallet anywhere and now what? You're gonna ask me-"

"You gonna give me or not?" Khein hissed as he cut his mother's words.

"Of course I will!" Khein's mother said and handed him enough money. Khein smirked as his mother turned away to cook lunch for them.

"Where are you going anyway? I'm sure you'll go there alone" Khein's mother stated as if she already knew Khein's plan.

"How did you know that I'm going alone?!" Khein shouted as he went to the bathroom to take a shower.

"Because you just asked money from me! If you didn't, obviously someone will spend for you. Definitely, you're going somewhere all by yourself!" Khein's mother yelled from the kitchen. Khein heard the splashing sounds from the sink and assumed that it was his mother washing the veggies. It took longer than the usual before Khein finished taking the shower. He immediately went to his walk in closet to tidy up himself. He wondered what he would wear at the festival. He remembered he received a 'Bleach-Animated series' themed white T-shirt from one of his friends so he chose to wear it. A black pair of pants and a limited edition pair of Air Max shoes. He didn't bring a single wheel today since the festival was held inside a mall. It was held on one of the biggest malls in the country and the main venue was at the garden.

"You sure you're not going on a date?" Khein's mother asked as Khein finished his lunch. He shook his head and picked up his backpack and a tote bag.

"You're going to buy groceries? No?" Khein's mother asked again. Khein rolled his eyes and gave her mother a puppy's glare.

"I'm going on a festival, 'Otaku Festival'" Khein emphasized the last two words so his mother won't ask him further questions. She just nodded and gave her son a peck on the forehead.

"Don't forget to bring me sushis then" she added which made her son chuckled out of embarrassment. His mother knew how badly her son wanted to go to the festival. She added another batch of peso bill and tucked it inside Khein's pocket. The rebel guy's grin grew wider as he saw what his mother did. He got no conscience and he was raised as a spoiled rotten brat by his mother. He never intended to return the additional money and even planned to spend all of it.

"Enjoy there!" Khein's mother yelled as the rebel boy happily left his home. He tried to leave with a straight face but the glimmer in his eyes were undeniably and obviously excited.

•••

THE sun was steaming hot while the people at the festival seemed to enjoy despite the skin burning heat. Khein arrived at one in the afternoon and noticed the numbers of attendees increased abruptly. Most of them came with their friends. The people seemed to enjoy the festival by groups. Khein on the other side didn't give a damn. He purposely went there to enjoy the festival all by himself. He started buying merchandises and souvenirs and placed them inside his tote bag. Most of the attendees brought their tote bags too, some were already full and others were just getting started to fill their own. Khein bought a lot of anime pins, hentai pens, oppai mouse pad, a kawaii neck pillow with an earmuffs and any other stuffs. He also bought a neko headphone which he wore on his neck for the rest of the times. The cat ears on his headphones looked cool as the rebel boy wore it with a straight face. Some girls would randomly asked him for a selfie and the tough looking guy would agree though. Some high school girls thought that maybe Khein was cosplaying a typical high school guy. Or, some of the girls just wanted to grab the chance to act 'normally' and grabbed someone in the event to take photo with them. It would be too rude if you would refuse anyone to take picture with you in these kinds of events. Khein's phone vibrated so he picked it up but could barely hear enough his mother's voice because of the loud music. There was a live band playing nonstop on the stage and the people were headbanging wildly which seemed pretty contagious.

"MOM! 'CAN'T HEAR YOU! DON'T WORRY I WON'T FORGET WHAT YOU SAID!" Khein shouted on the phone as he looked at the Japanese food stalls in front of him. There  were takoyakis, dumplings, fruit drinks, tempuras and of course assorted sushis. Khein gulped as he stared at the mouthwatering dishes in front of him. He ended the call and texted his mother that he would definitely bring a lot of them when he go back home. As the rebel guy calculated the possible amount of foods he could take in his stomach, he remembered something, someone. He remembered the person who was always giving him foods. He suddenly remembered the psycho guy who usually gives him delicious and new foods. He thought, 'Should I bring something for him too?'

Khein mentally slapped himself for acting like a typical high school girlfriend. Suddenly, a question entered his chaotic mind, 'Does he like Anime? If yes, is it possible that he might come here?'

Khein felt his hairs stood at the back of his neck as he realized how long he had been thinking about the psycho guy. Khein awkwardly shook his head to get rid of the weirdest ideas he had ever thought in his life and he started ordering finger foods.

"Hey! It's Kon!! Wahh I want to hug him!" A girl screamed and then later on, the crowd started to go to the said mascot.

Khein thought as his takoyaki together with his fingers still inside his mouth, 'Did I hear it right? Kon is here?!'

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Note: Kon was a character in the Anime Series 'Bleach'

He was a cute lion teddy bear that speaks because a candy soul accidentally entered his mouth.