Magical Ashley-chan (3)

꒰ঌ Magical Ashley-chan 3

.

.

"… U-umm… could you explain it one more time?"

"Naruko is a huge fan of an anime called 'Zodiac Angel Lucifen.' "

The day after I had met with Ruby and Mio, I once again met with Juvia. The meeting was taking place on a road by the side of my house.

"I understand that. And from the DVD package you brought me, it doesn't seem to be that sketchy." Juvia nodded while gazing at the Lucchan DVD case.

"So, I was thinking, what if you gave her a Lucchan figure that isn't available for sale? If you gave her that, I think she would be the happiest. It's something really difficult to get, and to people who like these things, it has quite a bit of value."

"Hmm, I still don't really understand what you mean, but if Haruto-san says that… then it probably is true."

Sadly, as far as Juvia was concerned, I was an extreme otaku. And that's why she spoke as she did.

"So… what do you think?"

"Alright. If that's what I need to get… I'm fine with it."

"I see."

"It's just, I didn't really hear you very well when you were explaining how I can get this not-for-sale figure. Could you please explain it to me one more time?"

"Sure. What I'm talking about is a figure called 'Alkaid Lucifen', the Ultimate form of Lucifen, and was sculpted by a famous figure sculptor. This is a specially made figure, and there's only one in existence. Being a big fan of the anime, Naruko would desperately want this figure. Of course, you can't get it in any normal way… it's the grand prize at a Zodiac Angel Lucifen cosplay tournament."

"… And you want me to participate?"

All the light went out from Juvia's eyes. Her shoulders trembled and she looked down at the ground.

"I mean, you're a model… and you're really pretty… this is like a beauty contest, right? And I think you definitely have a great shot at winning"

I would really pay to see that too if you cosplay as Lucchan's character, and I think it would be fascinating, but I didn't think she could win with that. But still, just in case I had to give advice to Juvia on the matter, I had done a bit of research on this tournament. The producers of the DVD for the anime had held one other official, very serious cosplay tournament before. For that tournament, the winner was an American girl who did a cosplay of Lucchan's rival, the Rose Princess Rozelia.

"Take a look at this magazine. This is a photo of the winner last time. No matter how much of an enchanting performance you give, do you think you can win against this?"

"I won't be giving this enchanting performance in the first place! What kind of revolting things are you imagining right now!?"

"D-don't be so rude! It's just a simulation!"

"Isn't it all the same!? Ecchi! Hentai! G-geez… you really are revolting…!"

Even while she flushed completely red and threw abuse at me, Juvia flipped to the page in question and looked at the magazine.

"… Ahh, she's imitating this character…? I'll admit that they really look similar."

"I know right?"

This was the first time I realized this, but even from the viewpoint of an amateur, foreign cosplayers were no joke. They were realer than the real thing. It was an amazingly perfect act, almost as if the character had slipped out of the TV screen and had been transformed into real life. If this person participated in this tournament as well, she would be a terrifying competitor.

"But, that doesn't mean you don't have a chance. If we're talking about just natural beauty, I think you have her beat, and after all's said and done, you're the professional model. You also have the know-how to put clothes on display. Depending on what costume you choose, I think you can even beat the foreigners. And, if you can successfully win this competition, you can get a present that Naruko would really want."

"… I see. I understand. From what you've said, there's a character that I resemble, right? Well, let's take a look, Haruto-san. Show me the costume that you think I should wear."

"Alright, it's this one."

Juvia returned the magazine to me, and after flipping through a few pages I returned it back to her.

"One of the magical girls in the Zodiac Angel Lucifen, the Water Maiden Levia. Like the majority characters of Zodiac Angel Lucifen, Levia possesses a deep respect towards the heroine Lucchan. For Levia, she holds a highly passionate, obsessive love for her friend Lucchan. She was the yandere perverted stalker of Lucchan. She once sink an entire city with a huge tsunami just because someone was badmouthing her precious Lucchan."

"What the hell are you talking about and she's pretty much naked isn't she! Dieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

With an angry expression that would fit a last boss perfectly, Juvia sent a high kick right into my face. I toppled over pathetically, but still managed to talk with my hand covering my nose.

"… T-this is just something I've heard, but the judges are all male otaku, so ero costumes would definitely be the strongest! And Levia was voted the most sexiest character on a poll, you know!? Levia is really popular with the otaku, and—"

"Shut up, shut up, die! Exactly how much do you want me to wear ecchi clothes like this!? Don't tell me you treat Naru the same way!? I'll report you! I'll report you right now!"

"I'm really not that much of a hentai, dammit! If there's a brother who would make his sister wear ero cosplay and be happy about it, I would be the first to find that person and kill him!"

"Saying something like that with a nosebleed isn't convincing at all!"

"You were the one who kicked me, dammit!"

What the hell was going on with this conversation!? Why did I have to deal with such a pointless argument with one of my sister's friends!? I just thought that if Juvia cosplayed Levia, she would definitely look ero and be really popular! It's not like I want to see her in that cosplay or anything, and to the very end I was just making a good suggestion out of kindness…! What was wrong with this world!?

"A-anyways! I definitely won't wear something as inappropriate as this!"

"… Then, what are you going to do about Naruko's present? There are a few other ideas I have, but I don't think you can say any of those things would 'make Naruko the happiest.' "

"Ugh…" It looked like I hit a weak point. Juvia looked as if she had been driven into a corner. She embraced herself with one hand and her cheeks flushed red. She frustratingly bit her lower lip. "… Ugh… t-this hentai…."

This girl! Why is she giving me a look as if I'm trying to force her to do something!?

N-no, it really isn't like that. It might look like that I'm desperately trying to convince Juvia to wear sexy cosplay, but it really isn't like that. Honestly, all of my actions up until now have been purely out of thought for Naruko and Juvia's friendship. Honestly. I'm not lying.

"Well, what are you going to do then? I've said all I have to say. Everything else is up to you."

"I-in summary, a victory at this cosplay tournament would be the goal, right?"

"Hmm?"

Those were words I was not expecting to come out of the cornered Juvia.

"As long as the tournament is won… and we get the prize… I don't have to wear these clothes, right?"

"That's certainly true… but I don't think any other costume would win against this foreigner. It's not enough to just look pretty."

"No, we can win."

Juvia made that declaration. W-where was her confidence coming from…? Her steady glare was pretty frightening though.

Juvia looked away from me, and began to talk while looking downwards on a slant.

"In short, a cosplay tournament is just a beauty competition with a concept attached. It's a competition to see which girl harmonizes the most with her costume, and how to execute the concept the most beautifully. In other words, this girl who looks exactly like this Rozelia-san… if we find a cosplay that is cuter than hers and which matches better than hers, then we can win. Right?"

"It's exactly as you say… but is that possible?"

Just so you know, the character that you match with the most is definitely Levia.

Juvia handed back the DVD of Luccan that she had still been holding onto. She began to do something on the phone she had been gripping for a while, and showed me a certain photograph.

"… I know someone that can help us. Please take a look at this picture."

"… T-this is…!? Y-yes! We might be able to win with this girl!"

.

.