Let's Imagine: Cause and Effect!

I'm drawn in by her peppy town and beaming look.

"I'm actually here to watch the premiere of Callistus. This is the place...right."

She stops for a moment and looks at her clipboard, "Callistus, Callistus," she repeated, sliding her index finger down the list.

Her long pink nail stops, and she smiles.

"Ah yes, the premiere of Callistus is set for around 17:15 today...which is actually just in about 15 minutes, you're right on time! Could you show me the voucher you received for being one of the first-time readers of the series?"

I pull out my phone and open up the email. She takes a tablet from behind the reception desk and types in the voucher code, a ding is heard from her device.

"Alright, you're ready to go!"

She pointed toward the path past the "New Readers" sign.

"Please make your way down the hall and take a right, there you should see a tower of Callistus manga situated on a stand in front of a room. That's where the viewing party will be held."

I bow slightly and start walking toward the way she tasked me with.

That receptionist was super nice...and kind of hot, heh heh.

I look back at her blond hair and blue eyes busy at work near the receptionist's desk. Now sitting, she pokes her head above the desk and flashes me a charitable smile.

C-crap! I dash through to the end of the hallway.

The rest of the cafe was separated by large bookcases full of manga, with several different seats, tables, and other tucked-away reading places around every nook and cranny.

I walked towards the end of the hallway and noticed a sword-like model entirely of Callistus manga!

Taking a closer look, I noticed that the sword anatomy was similar to the hero arc's main points in the series.

The sword hilt is Callistus Volume 3, where she starts off her adventure and decides to become a knight after her father's murder.

The grip (used for holding the sword) is Volume 5 demonstrating Xylantra finally coming to realize that vengeance isn't the way, and she needs to fight for something more righteous to live on!

Volume 6 was the cross-guard (protecting the wielder's hands).

I chuckle as I get the inside joke.

The writer actually had to lay back on the blood and imagery in this volume and more grisly points.

Finally, the fuller (the start of the blade) was Volume 8-11. I suppose the sculptor wanted to showcase the rise of her hero arc.

And then, at the very tip of the sword was Volume 12, showcasing the pinnacle of the chapter where she learns the demon lord is her own father.

I inspected the table that housed the sword manga model.

It lies on a modern glass table with a small and thin base. Alongside the sculpture was a sign-in sheet, a coffee maker with cream and sugar, and a yellow bowl with cookies, pocky sticks, and other sweets delicately arranged.

The entrance to the room housed a dark brown door with a long yet slim window engraved in the middle of it.

I see the door is cracked open, so I knock, making sure I'm not intruding.

"Is anyone in here?"

I push the door open slowly.

After making enough room for me to squeeze in, I step in to observe my surroundings. The room had black speakers on the front and back corners of the room.

The walls were striped with light red and smooth cyan. Well-known large anime characters' stickers were aligned across the wall including Zero Two and Ryuko Matoi.

The flooring was a dark grey wood tile; on top were bean bags, Ro lounge chairs, and high stools all red, white, and orange scattered across the brightly colored showroom. Low and high tables were also insight.

In front of me exhibits an enormous black screen, assuming that's where the show will be displayed.

I look for any sign of others being in here before me; nothing seems out of the ordinary. The room was silent except for the J-Pop being lowly played by a Bluetooth speaker on a nearby table.

Guess I'm the first one here.

I decided to set up camp at a purple beanbag nearest to the edge of the room, leaning my schoolbag on its side.

I walk over to the door and peek outside to see if there were any workers nearby. Before I could venture out, I caught a glimpse of a pack of strawberry Pocky sticks on the table housing the "manga sword."

The smells of the shopping districts' delicacies flood back, and I can't hold back my urges.

"I assume these snacks are for us..."

I stick out my hand, going for the strawberry biscuits.

"Caught you!"

Tensing up, I drop the pack on the ground.

"You should see your face!"

A boy with short brown, and scruffy hair with lip piercings, sporting a navy blue school uniform with a yellow tie, laughs with ferocity.

"That was rude, sorry about him."

A slender male with glasses and light blonde hair wearing the same uniform as his companion offers an understanding smile.

They both stop in front of me, and the blonde starts to bend down to pick up the pack of Pocky sticks. I swiftly dive down, padding the front of my skirt, taking the pack, and walking away.

"Uh, oh, looks like someone's a bit mad."

The brown-haired boy teased as I walked away.

I walk over to my reserved beanbag and slump down, opening the pack of pocky sticks.

"At least those idiots can't annoy me in here."

I start chewing on a stick.

"Hey man, this is the room where they're premiering Callistus, right?"

I swirl behind me to see them eyeing the manga sword exhibit through the blinded windows.

Oh great.

. . .