Ren's pov
There were very few things in life capable of convincing me to leave home voluntarily before ten in the morning. Dungeons no longer qualified unless something particularly unreasonable crawled out of one, Guild emergencies depended entirely on whether Aaron used the words urgent, catastrophic, or Master, please answer your phone, and government meetings had never qualified in the first place.
Vehicle maintenance, unfortunately, remained undefeated.
Fluffy had begun displaying a maintenance reminder two days ago. Nothing sounded strange, the engine remained smooth, and there were no warning lights suggesting immediate mechanical death, but ignoring an oil-change notification simply because I could manipulate mana seemed like the sort of arrogance that eventually ended with a mechanic asking why an SS-rank Archmage had somehow destroyed an ordinary engine.
I preferred never having that conversation.
That was why, shortly after nine in the morning, Fluffy rolled into a service center on the edge of Chiba with my entire family inside. Ria occupied the passenger seat with coffee in one hand, while the three girls had spent most of the drive discussing whether changing engine oil technically counted as feeding the car.
"It does not," Ruri explained for what sounded like the fourth time. She leaned slightly toward the middle seat and moved both hands while trying to make the concept understandable to her sisters. "Oil keeps parts inside the engine moving properly. Fluffy is not drinking it because Fluffy is hungry."
Hikari stared thoughtfully at the dashboard from her booster seat. Her small brows pinched together as she considered Ruri's explanation, then she nodded with the confidence of someone who had finally solved an important scientific problem. "Fluffy's engine is hungry."
Ruri's shoulders dropped while Karin immediately grinned beside her. Karin pointed toward Hikari as though she had produced an expert witness and said, "See? Even Hikari gets it."
"That is the opposite of what Ruri said," Ruri protested, turning toward Karin with growing disbelief. "Neither of you is listening."
Beside me, Ria took another sip of coffee and covered the lower half of her face with the cup. Her crimson eyes were already smiling before the quiet sound of laughter escaped her.
I glanced toward my wife. "You could help."
Ria lowered the cup and looked entirely too pleased. "Why would I interrupt a valuable educational discussion?"
"Because you are their mother."
"That title does not require me to rescue you from every conversation, dear."
I sighed and turned into the service lane. "Nobody feeds Fluffy anything without asking me first."
Karin leaned between the front seats with the expression she wore whenever she sensed an opening. "What about gasoline, Papa?"
"That is different."
Karin's grin widened immediately. "So Fluffy does eat."
I stared at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Ria finally lost whatever restraint remained and laughed openly, lowering her coffee so she would not spill it while Karin looked absurdly proud of herself and Hikari nodded with renewed certainty about automotive nutrition.
"You walked directly into that one," Ria said, reaching over to pat my forearm with entirely false sympathy.
"I dislike this family."
Ria's expression softened immediately. She hooked two fingers around my sleeve and gave it an affectionate tug while her smile became warmer. "No, you don't."
Unfortunately, she was correct.
I parked Fluffy near the service entrance just as another familiar car turned into the lot behind us. Ruruka pulled into the adjacent lane, parked two spaces away, and climbed out wearing jeans, sneakers, and a light jacket over a white shirt. Her hair was tied into its usual ponytail, although unlike her Hunter appearances, she looked like someone whose greatest concern that morning was whether the polishing package she had booked would remove several irritating scratches.
"Nii-sama!" Ruruka called while locking her car. She looked toward me, then checked the time on her phone with exaggerated surprise. "You're actually early."
I stepped out of Fluffy and closed the driver's door. "I am always punctual."
Ruruka did not answer me immediately. Instead, she looked past me just as Ria stepped out from the passenger side.
Ria met my sister's eyes and slowly shook her head.
Ruruka nodded as though receiving classified intelligence. "That's what I thought."
I pointed at both of them. "This alliance is becoming irritating."
Ruruka smiled brightly. "Good morning to you too, Nii-sama."
The rear doors opened before I could defend myself. Hikari climbed out first and immediately hurried toward Ruruka with both arms raised, forcing my sister to crouch quickly enough to catch her before the youngest collided with her knees.
"Auntie Ruru!" Hikari exclaimed, wrapping both arms around Ruruka's neck.
"Yes, yes, Auntie Ruru is here." Ruruka laughed and lifted her easily, settling Hikari against one hip before turning toward the other two girls. Her expression became mock-serious as she asked, "Have you three been behaving?"
Ruri nodded immediately.
Karin hesitated.
Ruruka's eyes narrowed. "That pause concerns me."
Karin folded her arms and lifted her chin. "I behaved enough."
"That concerns me considerably more."
Ria came around the front of Fluffy and stopped beside me. She had chosen a simple black skirt and pale blouse that morning, and her silver hair fell loosely over one shoulder. Sunglasses rested on top of her head, making her look less like the former sovereign of Velmora and more like a woman reluctantly participating in an ordinary weekend errand.
The service advisor approached with a tablet tucked against his chest. He initially looked toward Fluffy's license plate, then toward me, and his professional smile stalled for barely half a second when recognition settled over his face.
"Arclight-san?" the advisor asked.
"That's me."
His gaze moved toward Ria and stayed there just long enough for the second recognition to arrive. Then his eyes flicked toward the girls, and I watched the exact moment he realized he was dealing with that Arclight family.
To his credit, the advisor recovered almost immediately. "Regular maintenance and oil change for this vehicle?"
"Yes," I replied. "Check the tires, fluids, brakes, battery, filters, and anything else that looks questionable. If something needs replacing, call me first."
The advisor nodded while entering the instructions. When Ruruka stepped closer, he glanced toward her vehicle and asked what service she needed as well.
"Full exterior polish," Ruruka answered, pointing toward the rear passenger door where several faint marks were visible beneath the morning light. "There are a few shallow scratches around there too. If they can be buffed out, please include that."
Karin immediately crouched beside the panel and inspected it with the seriousness of a crime-scene investigator. "Auntie Ruru scratched it?"
Ruruka's expression became defensive with remarkable speed. "Someone scratched it."
Karin looked up at her. "Who?"
"I don't know."
Ruri joined her sister, leaning closer without touching the paint. "It looks like something rubbed against the side. Maybe another vehicle?"
Ruruka stared down at both girls. "Why am I suddenly under investigation?"
Still resting against Ruruka's hip, Hikari narrowed her golden eyes with exaggerated suspicion. "Auntie Ruru suspicious."
Ria immediately turned her face away, although the movement of her shoulders betrayed the laughter she was trying to swallow.
Ruruka caught it immediately. "Ria!"
My wife looked back with flawless innocence, one hand resting against her chest. "I said nothing."
"You didn't need to. Your face said enough."
The service advisor became intensely interested in his tablet.
Once the paperwork was complete, he estimated Fluffy would need roughly three hours. Ruruka's polishing package would take nearly as long, which temporarily left all five of us without transportation unless somebody wanted to summon a taxi.
Ruruka apparently had better plans. She adjusted Hikari on her hip and looked toward the girls with dangerous enthusiasm.
"There's a bookstore nearby, a children's activity center, and a café with desserts," Ruruka told them. "Who wants to come with Auntie while we wait?"
Karin's hand shot into the air so quickly that she nearly slapped Ruri.
Hikari raised both hands despite already being held by the person asking.
Ruri looked toward me first, responsible even when the answer seemed obvious. "Can we go with Auntie Ruru, Papa?"
I studied my sister, then the three girls, and finally my sister again. Several peaceful hours suddenly became visible on the horizon.
"Yes."
Ruruka immediately narrowed her eyes. "You agreed suspiciously fast."
"I trust you completely."
"That is not why."
"It is exactly why."
Ria covered her smile with one hand while Ruruka sighed and turned toward the girls. "Fine. Auntie will take you, but nobody tells your Papa exactly how much I spend."
"Ruruka," I warned.
My sister started walking away before I finished saying her name.
Karin hurried after her while already asking whether dessert could happen before the bookstore. Ruri followed at a more reasonable pace and reminded her sister they had eaten breakfast less than an hour earlier, while Hikari twisted around in Ruruka's arms to wave enthusiastically toward us.
"Bye-bye, Papa! Bye-bye, Mama! Hikari protects Auntie!"
Ruruka stopped and looked at her. "You are supposed to be the one I protect."
Hikari considered that correction, then hugged her neck tighter. "Hikari protects Auntie emotionally."
Ruruka's expression collapsed into helpless affection. "Fine. Emotionally."
Ria and I watched until they disappeared down the sidewalk. Only after the last glimpse of Karin vanished into the morning crowd did my wife lower her hand and glance around the suddenly quiet service-center lot.
Her brows rose slightly. "This feels strange."
"Being alone?"
"That too." Ria glanced toward the street where the girls had disappeared, then back toward me. "There was no argument over who gets to sit beside whom, nobody asked for snacks, and nobody is attempting to touch machinery immediately after being told not to."
I nodded solemnly. "Suspicious."
Ria smiled and stepped closer. Her hand slipped naturally into mine, fingers interlacing without any of her old excuses about crowded sidewalks or preventing me from wandering somewhere irresponsible.
"What do we do for three hours?" she asked.
I looked toward the commercial district beyond the service center. "Walk around?"
Ria stared at me for several seconds before her mouth twisted in disbelief. "That is your entire plan?"
"I came here to change oil. I did not prepare an itinerary."
"You planned the destruction of the Artificial Sovereign more thoroughly than this."
"That was easier."
Ria laughed softly, shook her head, and pulled me toward the sidewalk.
The neighborhood surrounding the service center was busier than I remembered. Cafés occupied several street corners, specialty stores filled the wider road, and a large event hall sat less than two blocks away. Groups of people kept moving toward it in clothing unusual enough that even Ria gradually stopped pretending not to notice.
A man carrying an oversized foam sword passed us wearing elaborate black-and-silver armor. Ria's crimson eyes followed him for several seconds before another pair crossed behind him: a girl in a long pink wig and red military-style uniform dressed as Zero Two, accompanied by someone in an elaborate black-and-red gothic dress with mismatched clock-colored eyes.
Ria slowed.
I glanced toward the second cosplayer. "Kurumi Tokisaki."
My wife looked toward me with mild surprise. "You recognized her quickly."
"I watched Date A Live."
Ria's eyebrows rose. "Of course you did."
"That sounded judgmental."
"It was observational."
Before I could respond, a large Naruto group crossed at the pedestrian light. Naruto himself was arguing cheerfully with a Sasuke cosplayer, while Sakura walked several steps behind them beside Kakashi. Two members of the Akatsuki followed farther back, one dressed as Itachi and the other carrying a large foam scythe as Hidan.
Ria's gaze moved from one costume to another. She tried to maintain a neutral expression, but the small lift of her brows and the way her head kept turning betrayed growing curiosity.
Another wave of attendees followed. Several were unmistakably from Genshin Impact—Zhongli, Hu Tao, Furina, Navia, and Neuvillette—while just behind them came a Honkai: Star Rail group consisting of Kafka, Firefly, Acheron, Aventurine, and Sunday.
Then the style of the crowd shifted noticeably.
A small group in sleek urban outfits crossed toward the event hall, their clothing looking modern enough to belong on an ordinary Chiba street until the supernatural accessories and highly stylized weapons ruined the illusion. I recognized a Sakiri cosplayer first, followed by Nanally and Mint, while two others farther back had recreated Lacrimosa and Shinku in enough detail that even Ria's eyebrows rose.
"Neverness to Everness," I said.
Ria looked toward the group again. "You know them too?"
"I know enough."
Her gaze lingered on the Shinku cosplayer, whose red accents stood out against the more modern styling, before shifting toward Lacrimosa and then Sakiri.
"Their clothing is much closer to something someone could actually wear," Ria observed.
"Until the supernatural weapons appear."
Ria smiled faintly. "That part reminds me of your sister."
I considered that. "Accurate."
The group disappeared inside the event hall, but Ria continued watching the entrance long enough that I knew the maintenance schedule had already become secondary.
"What exactly is happening there?" she asked.
"Cosplay convention, probably."
Her gaze returned toward the entrance. "Anime and games?"
"Looks like it."
Ria nodded with exaggerated neutrality. "I see."
We continued walking for perhaps fifteen meters before she looked back.
I said nothing.
She faced forward again, although the corners of her mouth tightened because she clearly knew I had noticed.
At the next corner, Ria looked over her shoulder a second time. When she faced forward again, she caught me watching her and narrowed her crimson eyes immediately.
"Why are you being irritatingly quiet?"
"I haven't said anything."
"That is exactly what makes it irritating."
I gestured toward the hall with our joined hands. "Want to go inside?"
Ria straightened. "I did not say that."
"You looked back twice."
"Three times," she corrected automatically.
I raised an eyebrow.
Ria froze, and a faint wash of pink reached her cheeks.
"You counted," I said.
"That proves nothing."
"It proves at least three things."
Ria ignored me and looked toward the convention again. A Naruto cosplayer had stopped outside to pose beside a tiny child wearing an Akatsuki cloak, while another attendee dressed as Zero Two was laughing with a group near the entrance.
"We have three hours," Ria finally said. She folded her free arm beneath her chest and lifted her chin, presenting the matter as a logistical conclusion rather than personal interest. "Walking without a destination would be inefficient, and the convention is conveniently nearby."
"Extremely convenient."
Ria looked toward me. "You clearly want to see it."
"Obviously."
Her eyes narrowed because we both knew exactly who had been looking over her shoulder.
"Fine," she said with theatrical resignation. "Since you insist."
I squeezed her fingers. "Your sacrifice is appreciated."
Ria dug her nails lightly into my hand.
The convention hall was loud enough that we heard it before reaching the main floor. Music from multiple booths overlapped with stage announcements, camera shutters clicked from every direction, and the main aisle was filled with people adjusting wigs, comparing props, buying merchandise, or attempting to navigate oversized costumes without striking anyone nearby.
Ria stepped through the entrance and simply stopped.
For several seconds, she said nothing. Her crimson eyes traveled slowly across the hall, and there was no hiding the fascination in them anymore.
A large Genshin section occupied one side of the venue, where Raiden Shogun posed beside Yae Miko while Furina and Neuvillette stood beneath decorative Hydro symbols. Zhongli, Hu Tao, Navia, Arlecchino, and several Travelers drew their own clusters of photographers, and elaborate prop weapons lined the display behind them.
Nearby, Honkai: Star Rail had attracted another large gathering. Acheron stood beside Black Swan, Kafka posed with Firefly, and an Aventurine cosplayer somehow maintained a perfect smile while three photographers shouted contradictory instructions at him.
The Neverness to Everness area occupied a wider section farther down the gaming floor. Neon signs, urban-style displays, mock storefronts, and futuristic props gave it a completely different atmosphere from the fantasy-heavy booths around it.
Ria slowed as soon as we reached the section.
A Sakiri cosplayer stood near one illuminated sign, while Nanally and Mint posed together beneath another display. Farther inside, Lacrimosa leaned against a darker backdrop while Shinku stood near the opposite end, red accents catching against the neon behind her.
Ria studied Shinku first, then Lacrimosa, then Sakiri.
I glanced toward my wife. "You're doing it again."
Ria looked at me suspiciously. "Doing what?"
"Cultural observation."
"You are going to make that phrase unbearable."
"Probably."
She squeezed my hand but remained near the booth long enough to confirm she was interested.
The Love and Deepspace gathering was impossible to miss farther ahead. Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, and Caleb cosplayers stood beneath professional photography lights while a line of visitors stretched well into the neighboring aisle.
Ria leaned slightly closer to me without taking her eyes off them. "Their costumes are remarkably accurate."
I turned toward her. "You know who they are?"
Her head snapped in my direction. "Advertisements."
"All five?"
"They appear frequently."
"In remarkable detail, apparently."
Ria squeezed my hand with enough force to suggest continued questioning might result in structural damage. "Keep walking, Ren."
I chose survival.
The anime section offered no relief.
A Zero Two cosplayer posed beneath a Darling in the Franxx banner while Hiro stood beside her. Several Date A Live cosplayers occupied the neighboring area, with Tohka carrying an enormous sword and Kurumi Tokisaki surrounded by photographers because the recreation of her red-and-black Astral Dress was absurdly detailed.
Ria studied Kurumi for several seconds. "She has a clock in her eye."
"Correct."
"That seems impractical."
"She manipulates time."
Ria gave me a sideways glance. "You sound enthusiastic."
"I respect efficient abilities."
"You watched the entire series, didn't you?"
I continued walking.
Ria laughed quietly and tightened her fingers around mine.
Farther ahead, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi had apparently acquired several more members. Gaara stood beside them with an enormous gourd strapped to his back, while Itachi and Pain posed with a group of children who seemed much more excited than frightened.
Ria smiled faintly at the sight.
Then we reached the gaming booths.
That was where her remaining composure began to fail.
Honor of Kings occupied an enormous section beneath a glowing display. Diaochan stood near the center in an elaborate skin recreation, surrounded by Yaria, Arli, Mai Shiranui, Daji, Lu Bu, and several other heroes. Visitors queued for photographs while tournament footage played on large monitors behind them.
Ria stopped completely.
I followed her gaze directly toward Diaochan, then looked at my wife.
She slowly turned toward me.
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
I raised one eyebrow.
Ria immediately resumed walking and lifted her chin. "I saw nothing."
"You stopped moving."
"My shoe felt strange."
"Diamond One."
Warm color appeared across her cheeks. "Ren."
"I'm providing relevant context."
"You are providing reasons for me to hurt you."
She elbowed me lightly, although the suppressed smile at the corner of her mouth ruined most of the threat.
Then Ria saw Luffy.
The reaction was considerably worse.
A One Piece gathering occupied an open photography zone near the center of the hall. Zoro stood with three swords at his side while Sanji adjusted his tie, Nami held her staff over one shoulder, Robin posed near a decorative wall, and a Chopper mascot waddled around entertaining children.
At the center stood Monkey D. Luffy.
The cosplayer wore the straw hat, red vest, blue shorts, sandals, and a wide grin. He had even recreated the scar beneath one eye and seemed physically incapable of standing without striking some exaggerated pose.
Ria stopped so suddenly that our joined hands pulled me half a step backward.
I looked toward her.
Her lips had parted slightly, and her crimson eyes were shining with so much obvious fascination that pretending otherwise was already pointless.
Then she noticed me watching.
Her posture transformed instantly. Her shoulders straightened, her expression flattened, and she lifted her chin with suspicious dignity.
"What?" Ria asked.
I studied her face. "You like him."
"I did not say that."
"You didn't need to."
Ria folded her free arm across her chest. "The costume is merely accurate."
"Very accurate?"
"I suppose."
"You want a picture."
"No."
The answer arrived much too quickly.
I smiled.
Ria noticed immediately and narrowed her eyes. "I do not."
"Your eyes sparkled."
"My eyes are crimson, Ren. Light reflects from them."
I nodded thoughtfully. "Impressive scientific defense."
Her cheeks warmed. "Stop enjoying this."
Before I could continue, the universe solved the argument for me.
The Luffy cosplayer looked in our direction. His grin disappeared for half a second before his eyes widened, and the Zoro cosplayer beside him followed his gaze with the same stunned expression.
Ria noticed.
The fascinated woman beside me immediately disappeared behind Astrea von Velmora's public posture. Her shoulders settled into regal alignment, her chin lifted slightly, and her expression became calm enough for a diplomatic summit.
The Luffy cosplayer approached anyway.
"Excuse me!" he called, slowing several steps away. His enthusiasm was obvious, but his shoulders tightened with nervousness once he was actually standing in front of us. "Are you really Ria Arclight?"
Ria blinked before giving him a small nod. "Yes. I am."
His entire face lit up. "I knew it!"
Several nearby attendees glanced over, and the cosplayer looked toward me next with the same excitement. "And you're Ren Arclight?"
I nodded. "Unfortunately."
Ria slowly turned her head toward me, disbelief spreading across her face.
The Luffy cosplayer burst out laughing, and most of his nervousness disappeared. When he turned back toward Ria, he clasped his hands together with an almost hopeful expression.
"Could I please get a picture with you, Ria-san?" he asked. "Only if you're comfortable with it."
Ria stared at him for a second, then looked toward me.
I kept my face completely neutral.
The universe had delivered justice with excellent timing.
The cosplayer apparently mistook her silence for reluctance, because he immediately raised his hands in apology. "Sorry, I don't want to bother you. My friends and I watched the Saitama broadcast, and you were incredible."
"A picture is fine," Ria interrupted gently.
The young man brightened again.
Ria tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind one ear. Her mouth curved into the smallest smile before she added, almost too casually, "Your costume is also... very accurate."
I turned my face away.
Her elbow found my side without her even looking.
The Luffy cosplayer grinned. "I'll definitely take that as a compliment."
Zoro volunteered to take the photograph, and Ria stepped beside Luffy before automatically assuming the elegant posture she used whenever cameras appeared during Guild events.
I stared at her.
She noticed.
"What?" Ria asked, one eyebrow rising.
"You look like you're signing a peace treaty with the Straw Hat Pirates."
Luffy laughed loudly while Ria's expression tightened. "I am standing for a photograph."
"Pose."
The cosplayer grinned and crossed his arms. "Want to do something more dramatic, Ria-san?"
For half a second, the spark returned to her eyes.
She tried hiding it.
Too late.
Ria crossed her arms and angled her body slightly toward the camera, one leg shifting back while her silver hair fell over her shoulder. Her crimson gaze sharpened naturally, and somehow she made a simple cosplay picture look like two rival rulers had agreed to meet on neutral territory.
The first photograph was taken.
Then another.
Before the third, the Luffy cosplayer removed his straw hat and held it toward her.
Ria stared at it.
Her entire expression changed.
I almost laughed.
"Want to try it?" the cosplayer asked, smiling carefully.
Ria looked toward me.
I nodded immediately. "Do it."
Her eyes narrowed. "Ren."
"You want to."
"I do not."
At this point, the lie had become insulting to everyone involved.
The cosplayer was visibly trying not to laugh.
Ria eventually released a long, dignified sigh as though external pressure had forced the decision upon her. She accepted the straw hat with both hands and ran her fingertips briefly along the brim.
The tiny smile appearing on her face betrayed everything.
She placed it over her silver hair.
I already had my phone out.
Ria's head snapped toward me. Her crimson eyes widened when she saw the camera. "Why is your phone out?"
"Documentation."
"Ren."
"Cultural observation."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, but before she could continue glaring, Luffy burst out laughing.
Ria held the expression for another second before she failed. A laugh escaped her, her shoulders relaxed, and the hand holding the brim of the straw hat shifted naturally as she looked toward me.
That was when I took the picture.
Silver hair spilled beneath the straw hat. One hand held the brim while the other rested naturally at her waist, and her eyes were bright with genuine amusement.
Not Astrea the Demon Queen.
Not Ria the SS-rank Hunter.
Just my wife having fun.
I saved the photograph immediately.
Ria noticed the movement and reached toward my phone. "Delete that."
"No."
"Ren, I mean it."
"Absolutely not."
She took one step toward me, fingers stretching for the phone while I moved it beyond her reach. Luffy laughed harder, and the nearby Zoro and Nami cosplayers had started watching the argument with obvious amusement.
Then someone else recognized us.
A voice from the neighboring aisle exclaimed that the two people beside Luffy were actually Ren and Ria Arclight, and the atmosphere changed almost immediately. Heads turned throughout the nearby booths, phones rose, and a Naruto cosplayer pointed before Kakashi quickly pushed his arm back down.
Ria slowly removed the straw hat and handed it back to Luffy. Her cheeks were already pink as she smoothed her silver hair with both hands, while the cosplayer accepted the hat and grinned apologetically.
"I think I exposed you," he said.
Ria shook her head with a small smile. "You did nothing wrong. This simply happens more often now."
I leaned slightly closer. "Usually with fewer Straw Hats."
Ria stepped on my shoe.
I accepted the correction.
Once people realized we were willing to take pictures, the requests started arriving.
The Zero Two cosplayer reached us first, holding her phone against her chest while her pink wig shifted around her shoulders. She looked significantly less confident than she had while posing earlier.
"Ria-san, Ren-san," she said with a nervous smile, "could I get a picture with both of you?"
Ria glanced toward me, and when I shrugged, her posture softened. "That's fine."
The girl's face brightened immediately. She moved between us, but Ria instinctively remained close enough to my side that the Zero Two cosplayer noticed and started laughing.
"You two really are married."
Ria's cheeks warmed instantly.
I nodded. "Legally confirmed."
My wife turned toward me so quickly that several strands of silver hair swung across her cheek. "Why did you say it like that?"
"I was confirming the statement."
"You sounded like you were discussing government paperwork."
"That is how the marriage started."
The Zero Two cosplayer laughed hard enough that the first photograph came out blurred and had to be retaken.
After her came Naruto and Kakashi, followed by an Itachi cosplayer who initially attempted a dramatic kneeling pose. Ria's smile faltered the moment he lowered himself, and she immediately held out one hand toward him.
"Please stand," Ria said gently. "A normal photograph is enough."
The cosplayer rose at once, looking embarrassed. "Sorry, Ria-san. I didn't mean anything by it."
"I know," Ria assured him, her expression softening. "You did nothing wrong. I simply prefer standing beside people now."
Her final words came quieter.
I looked toward her.
Ria met my eyes.
Neither of us needed to explain.
Then Naruto loudly asked Itachi whether being rejected by the Demon Queen counted as losing the fight, and everyone around us started laughing again.
Kurumi Tokisaki approached next, or at least a remarkably convincing version of her. The black-and-red Astral Dress spread around the cosplayer in layers, and one eye had been recreated using a golden clock contact that made even Ria study her with open fascination.
"Your eye is impressive," Ria admitted when the woman asked for a picture.
The Kurumi cosplayer smiled and touched one finger beneath it. "Thank you. Yours are prettier, though."
Ria blinked.
The woman's gaze then moved toward Ria's horns. "And I'm guessing those aren't props?"
"They are not."
"May I ask what they're made of?"
Ria touched the base of one horn, visibly amused now. "Me."
The Kurumi cosplayer froze.
I covered my mouth.
The realization slowly reached her face before her eyes widened. "That is so much cooler."
Ria tried to look unaffected by the compliment.
She failed.
The photograph happened immediately afterward.
A few Genshin cosplayers approached next, followed by several members of the Honkai: Star Rail group. Furina wanted a photograph with Ria, Zhongli asked for one with me, and Hu Tao somehow convinced everyone nearby that a group photo was necessary.
Kafka complimented Ria's silver hair, Firefly asked about her horns, and a Sunday cosplayer stared at them long enough that Ria eventually noticed.
"Sorry," the Sunday cosplayer said, lifting both hands apologetically. "I'm just trying to understand how they're attached."
Ria tapped one horn lightly with her fingernail. "They aren't."
He blinked.
Ria's smile widened. "They are real."
The cosplayer's entire expression emptied.
Firefly covered her mouth while Kafka laughed, and within seconds the group had erupted into questions. Ria eventually had to explain, with both hands raised defensively, that the horns were sensitive, people absolutely could not touch them, and she had no idea which material would best imitate them for cosplay.
We had just finished that conversation when two more people approached from the far side of the crowd.
I almost ignored them.
Then Ria's fingers tightened around mine.
I followed her gaze.
One of the approaching cosplayers was wearing a dark hoodie, black trousers, and a messy black wig. Transparent blue acrylic pieces around one arm had been arranged to resemble Arcane formations, complete with hidden lights that pulsed faintly beneath the material.
The woman beside him had long silver hair, crimson contact lenses, carefully sculpted horns, and an elaborate black-and-red outfit modeled after Ria's demon form during the Saitama battle. Violet patterns had been painted along the sleeves to imitate Abyssal energy, while a cape fell from one shoulder.
I looked at them.
Then at Ria.
She stared back at me.
Neither of us spoke for several seconds.
The Ren cosplayer was the first to gather enough courage to approach. His attempt at imitating my tired expression vanished the moment he stopped in front of the actual version.
"Arclight-san," he said, visibly trying not to panic. "Could we get a picture with you two?"
His partner looked significantly more nervous. She touched one artificial horn and glanced toward Ria with obvious uncertainty. "Only if this isn't disrespectful, Ria-san. I really liked your appearance during the battle, so I wanted to recreate it."
Ria's expression changed immediately.
The surprise softened first, followed by something warmer.
"Why would it be disrespectful?" she asked.
The woman gestured helplessly toward herself. "Because you're actually you."
Ria stared for half a second.
Then she laughed.
The tension around the cosplayer disappeared almost instantly.
Ria stepped closer and examined the artificial horns while the woman stood very still. "You made these yourself?"
"Foam clay over a lightweight frame," the cosplayer answered, her nervousness gradually becoming excitement. "I kept replaying footage to get the shape right."
Ria leaned slightly to one side, silver hair slipping over her shoulder as she inspected the positioning. Her brows pinched together thoughtfully before she pointed toward the base.
"They should angle backward slightly more," Ria explained. "Mine begin farther behind the temple."
The woman's eyes widened. "Really?"
Ria moved her own hair aside and turned her head enough to show the exact placement. "Here."
The cosplayer stared at the real horns, then immediately nodded several times with the enthusiasm of someone receiving information unavailable anywhere else.
I looked toward the man dressed as me.
He looked down at his own hoodie.
Then toward mine.
Then back down.
"It's accurate," I told him.
His head snapped up. "Really?"
"The hoodie is good."
His entire face brightened.
Ria glanced toward us and smiled. "You two have remarkably low standards for costume complexity."
I looked toward the glowing Arcane prop around his arm. "That probably took longer than your horns."
The Ria cosplayer gasped softly.
My wife turned toward me.
"Careful."
I reconsidered the sentence.
"Both costumes are excellent."
"Better."
The two cosplayers exchanged relieved smiles before asking if we could all stand together.
Their friend raised the camera while Fake Ren positioned himself beside me and Fake Ria stood next to my wife. For the first picture, all four of us simply faced forward.
The photographer lowered the camera immediately.
"This is way too normal," he complained.
Ria's brows rose. "Normal?"
The photographer looked embarrassed but excited. "Could you maybe recreate the Saitama battle pose? The one that went viral?"
He pulled out his phone and showed us an image.
I recognized it immediately.
Ria stood slightly ahead in the photograph, Abyssal power wrapped around one hand while I stood behind and beside her surrounded by Arcane formations.
Ria studied the image for several seconds.
Then she turned toward me.
"You look terrible."
"I had damaged pathways."
"You still look terrible."
"Thank you, wife."
The cosplayers laughed.
Ria's lips twitched before she moved into position, and her cosplayer carefully mirrored her stance. The man dressed as me tried reproducing my posture beside us but remained too straight.
I looked at him. "Relax your shoulder."
He obeyed immediately. "Like this?"
"Less heroic."
The cosplayer blinked. "Less heroic?"
"I was exhausted."
His shoulders dropped.
I nodded. "Perfect."
Everyone around us started laughing again.
Ria looked toward me with open disbelief. "You are teaching someone how to look tired."
"I have expertise."
"That may be the most accurate thing you've said today."
The photographer started taking pictures before our argument could continue.
After several shots, the fake Ria asked whether Ria could help adjust the cape because she had never been certain how it sat during the battle. My wife immediately stepped closer, repositioned the fabric farther along the shoulder, and smoothed the edge with both hands.
"Here," Ria explained. "It falls from the shoulder rather than around the neck."
The woman checked herself in her phone camera, then looked back at Ria with visible delight. "That looks so much better."
Ria smiled. "Good."
The Ren cosplayer turned toward me hopefully.
I stared at him.
He waited.
I pointed toward his hood. "Put it up."
He did.
I studied him for another second before nodding. "Now you look like you don't want anyone to speak to you."
His grin became enormous. "Perfect."
Ria covered her face with one hand.
For the final photograph, the photographer asked the fake couple to stand in front while we stood behind them.
Ria looked toward me.
Something mischievous appeared in her eyes.
That usually meant trouble.
Before the photographer took the picture, Ria slipped one arm through mine and rested her head lightly against my shoulder.
The woman cosplaying her noticed immediately.
Her eyes widened.
Then she copied the pose with Fake Ren.
The crowd around us reacted at once.
I looked down at my wife. "You did that deliberately."
Ria looked extremely pleased with herself. "I have no idea what you mean."
The Ria cosplayer laughed. "I'm matching the reference."
"That was not a reference."
Ria squeezed my arm. "It is now."
The picture was taken while both fake versions struggled not to laugh.
Before leaving, the pair asked for our autographs as well. The Ren cosplayer offered the inside surface of his Arcane prop, while the woman held out a small corner of her cape.
Ria looked toward the Arcane construct. "That is suspiciously close to signing a weapon."
"It's not a weapon," I replied. "It's a construct."
The Ren cosplayer nodded eagerly. "Exactly."
Ria stared at both of us as though witnessing an alliance she had never approved. "Fine. Apparently magical technicalities are acceptable."
I signed the inside of the prop.
Ria took the marker next and signed the lower edge of her cosplayer's cape, adding a small crown beside her name before realizing I was watching.
"Do not," she warned.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to mention Honor of Kings."
"Probably."
The woman laughed while carefully inspecting the signature.
Before they left, she looked toward Ria one more time. "Is the costume actually close?"
Ria studied her properly—the silver wig, the horns, the cape, the markings, and the black-and-red design. Her expression softened before she reached up and lightly touched the edge of one artificial horn.
"You look beautiful," Ria said. "Move these backward slightly before your next convention. Other than that, you did very well."
The cosplayer's eyes widened, and for a moment she looked close to crying.
"Thank you, Ria-san."
Ria smiled warmly. "You're welcome."
The pair left with their signed costume pieces while several friends immediately surrounded them.
I glanced toward Ria.
She knew what was coming.
"What?"
"You liked that."
Ria kept her gaze forward. "It was strange."
"But you liked it."
"She put considerable effort into the costume."
"You liked it."
Ria sighed and turned toward me. "Yes, Ren. I liked it."
I smiled.
She pointed one finger at my chest. "Do not become unbearable."
"I would never."
"You already are."
Her hand slipped back into mine anyway.
We had only taken a few steps before somebody behind us shouted toward the Ren cosplayer.
"LOOK MORE TIRED!"
His response came immediately.
"THE REAL ONE TAUGHT ME!"
Ria stopped walking.
I closed my eyes.
Then my wife started laughing so hard that she had to grab my arm with both hands.
Apparently my legacy was secure.
Once she recovered, we continued through the gaming section and eventually drifted back toward the Neverness to Everness booth. This time, Sakiri noticed us first and waved, followed by Mint and Nanally. Shinku leaned toward Lacrimosa and said something that made both women smile.
Ria squeezed my hand.
I glanced toward her. "You want another picture."
"They are already looking at us."
"That isn't an answer."
Ria's mouth curved. "It is enough of one."
The NTE group approached and asked whether we would join them for a photograph. Ria agreed without the slightest hesitation this time.
Sakiri, Nanally, Mint, Lacrimosa, and Shinku gathered around us beneath the neon city display, and somehow I ended up beside Sakiri while Ria stood nearer Shinku and Lacrimosa.
Just before the camera lifted, Mint looked toward my wife with a grin. "Ria-san, Shinku said you kept staring at her outfit earlier."
Ria's entire posture froze.
Shinku immediately raised both hands. "I did not say it like that!"
I slowly turned toward my wife.
She looked at me.
I smiled.
Ria narrowed her eyes. "Do not."
"I haven't said anything."
"You are about to."
"I was going to compliment your cultural observation."
Lacrimosa laughed while Nanally covered her mouth.
Ria elbowed me just as the photographer pressed the shutter, resulting in a picture where I was slightly hunched from the impact while she was visibly trying not to smile.
Apparently everyone preferred that one.
The NTE group asked for autographs afterward, and Ria signed several promotional cards while complimenting the costume details she had been studying earlier. When Shinku handed her a card, Ria added a tiny crown beside the signature.
I looked at it.
Ria noticed.
"That is not an Honor of Kings crown."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to."
"Probably."
By then, the autograph requests had become unavoidable. Naruto offered me the inside cover of a convention program, Zero Two returned with a printed card for Ria, and someone dressed as the Genshin Traveler tried handing me a replica sword and a marker.
Ria immediately intercepted the weapon.
"No."
I looked toward her. "No?"
"You are not signing a sword."
"Why?"
"Because it is absurd."
"You signed a cape."
"That is fabric."
I folded my arms. "Discrimination against swords."
The Traveler started laughing.
Ria stared at me for several seconds before pinching the bridge of her nose. "Please sign his convention pass before I reconsider bringing you anywhere."
I signed the pass.
The requests continued anyway.
Ria adapted much faster than I did. She asked people their names before signing, complimented costumes she genuinely liked, and adjusted her signature depending on what they handed her.
One girl wearing a casual Genshin-inspired outfit admitted she had started playing Honor of Kings after seeing Ria's gaming habit mentioned online.
My wife froze.
"You saw that?"
The girl nodded enthusiastically. "You looked really serious."
I looked at Ria.
Her crimson eyes immediately shifted toward me. "Do not."
"I haven't said anything."
"You are about to say Diamond One."
I smiled.
Ria turned back toward the girl and added another tiny crown beside her autograph.
Fate eventually delivered us to the Honor of Kings booth.
The Diaochan cosplayer recognized Ria immediately, and her entire face lit up.
"Ria-san!"
My wife stopped, and I felt her fingers tighten around mine before the cosplayer hurried closer.
"Someone told me you actually play Diaochan," the woman said excitedly. "Is that true?"
Ria became perfectly still.
I turned my face away.
She noticed immediately. "Ren."
"I said nothing."
"You told someone."
"I genuinely did not."
The Diaochan cosplayer laughed. "It was already online. Somebody recognized you playing in public."
Ria's crimson eyes widened. "Someone photographed that?"
"Not clearly," the cosplayer reassured her. "They just recognized you."
Ria looked toward me.
I shrugged.
"Diamond One."
Her heel landed squarely on my shoe.
I accepted the punishment.
The Diaochan cosplayer laughed behind one hand. "Diamond is good, especially if you only started recently."
Ria straightened slightly, clearly appreciating the validation. "I learned less than a week ago."
"Our daughter is Grandmaster," I added.
Ria's head snapped toward me.
The cosplayer stared. "Your daughter?"
"She barely plays," Ria muttered, injustice returning instantly to her face. "She plays three or four matches, looks at the map, refuses stupid fights, and somehow continues ranking up."
The Diaochan cosplayer blinked. "Your daughter is terrifying."
I nodded solemnly. "That is what I keep saying."
Ria glared at me. "You are supposed to support your wife."
"I support you emotionally."
"That is not helping me reach Grandmaster."
The cosplayer laughed hard enough that she had to steady herself against the booth.
She eventually asked for a photograph with Ria, and my wife agreed almost immediately.
Interesting.
Ria stood beside Diaochan with one hand resting lightly at her waist while the cosplayer mirrored the pose. Her expression began elegant and controlled, but when the photographer jokingly asked them to look as though they were competing for mid lane, Ria's crimson gaze sharpened with enough genuine intensity that several spectators reacted audibly.
The picture looked excellent.
Ria knew it.
The tiny satisfied smile afterward proved it.
For the next hour, we stopped pretending we were only killing time.
Ria took photographs with Luffy, Zero Two, Kurumi Tokisaki, Naruto and Kakashi, multiple Genshin and Honkai: Star Rail characters, Sakiri, Nanally, Mint, Lacrimosa, Shinku, Diaochan and several Honor of Kings heroes, our own accidental duplicates, and eventually the entire Love and Deepspace group.
That last one deserved investigation.
I looked at the photograph after it was taken.
Ria stood in the middle surrounded by Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, and Caleb.
She looked very pleased.
I turned toward her.
Ria immediately noticed. "What?"
"You collected all five."
Her brows drew together. "All five what?"
I stared.
She stared back.
Then understanding reached her.
Warm color spread slowly across her cheeks.
"They asked me for the picture."
"I didn't accuse you of anything."
"You were thinking something."
"I was wondering whether I should be concerned."
Ria's mouth fell open slightly before she slapped my arm. "Ren!"
I laughed and caught her wrist before she could hit me again. Ria tried maintaining the glare for several seconds, but the embarrassment kept breaking through until she finally looked away and muttered something about ridiculous husbands.
By then, her bag had acquired several free souvenirs. A Genshin sticker rested inside one pocket, an Honor of Kings art card had been carefully tucked between two convention flyers, a small Kurumi Tokisaki print sat beside a Neverness to Everness promotional card, and several people had somehow convinced her to accept additional badges.
The most obvious addition, however, was the miniature straw-hat keychain resting in her palm.
I looked at it.
Ria noticed immediately.
"It was free."
"I didn't ask."
"You were about to."
"I was thinking about lunch."
Ria stared at me. "We already ate before coming here."
"Then I was thinking about dinner."
"You are lying."
"Probably."
She looked down at the tiny straw hat again, running her thumb slowly across the miniature brim. The defensive expression faded, leaving something much softer behind.
I smiled.
"You really like Luffy."
Ria's eyes rose toward mine. "He is amusing."
"You like him."
"He is persistent."
"You like him."
"He possesses admirable loyalty toward his friends."
"You like him."
Ria stopped walking.
I stopped beside her while the convention crowd flowed around us.
For several seconds, she stared at me with the exhausted expression of someone realizing she had somehow entered a debate she could not win.
Then she sighed.
"Yes," Ria admitted, a reluctant smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "I like Luffy."
I smiled.
Her eyes narrowed immediately. "If you become irritating about this, I will deny the entire conversation."
"Understood."
Ria carefully attached the straw-hat keychain to the zipper of her bag and checked that it was secure twice before slipping her fingers back through mine.
We continued through the convention at a slower pace, and by then Ria no longer pretended we had wandered inside because of me. She stopped whenever something caught her attention, examined handmade props, watched Naruto cosplayers perform a short skit, and spent several minutes studying handcrafted Genshin Vision accessories.
When I glanced toward her, she immediately defended herself.
"I am appreciating the craftsmanship."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were going to."
I smiled and squeezed her hand.
She squeezed back.
My phone vibrated while we were leaving the merchandise area.
Ruruka's name appeared across the screen.
I answered immediately.
"Nii-sama," my sister said, and the tiredness in her voice suggested three children had successfully defeated a low-S-rank Hunter. "Where are you?"
"Nearby."
Ruruka became suspicious at once. "That answer means something."
"It means I am nearby."
Behind her, Karin shouted loudly enough to reach the speaker that she wanted another puzzle. Ruruka covered the phone briefly and told her one was enough, only for Hikari to announce somewhere nearby that Auntie Ruru had bought ice cream.
Ruri's voice followed immediately. "Only one scoop! Hikari, don't make it sound like Auntie bought the whole store."
Ria leaned closer to my phone, amusement already warming her expression. "How are the girls?"
Ruruka's voice softened immediately. "Fine. Ruri found three books, Karin convinced me to buy a puzzle she absolutely did not need, and Hikari has been carrying a rabbit plush for twenty minutes."
"Hikari loves rabbit!" Hikari shouted in the background.
Ria smiled. "I can hear that."
I asked my sister about her car, and Ruruka told me the polishing was almost finished. When she asked about Fluffy, I checked the service-center notification and told her we had another forty minutes.
Ruruka sighed deeply. "You still call the car Fluffy."
"It has a name."
"It is a vehicle, Nii-sama."
"Fluffy has feelings."
Ria pressed her knuckles against her lips and failed to hide the laugh escaping through them.
Ruruka sounded even more exhausted. "Hikari spent this morning telling my car that it needed to eat oil because of you."
"That was Karin."
"I do not care which branch of the family caused it."
Behind her, Hikari's voice rang out again. "Auntie Ruru's car hungry too!"
Ruruka groaned.
I decided silence was safer.
Then my sister noticed the noise on our side of the call. "Wait. Why are there announcements and people screaming behind you?"
I looked toward the main stage, where a Naruto group was currently receiving enthusiastic applause after a performance.
"Cultural event."
Beside me, Ria immediately laughed.
Ruruka went silent for several seconds. "What cultural event?"
"I'll explain at the service center."
"Nii-sama, what did you do?"
"Nothing."
Ria leaned toward the phone with an amused smile. "That is technically true."
Another silence followed before Ruruka's voice became more suspicious. "That somehow makes me more worried."
We agreed to meet back at the service center and ended the call.
Ria slipped her own phone into her bag while still smiling. "She is going to be furious when she realizes where we went."
"She'll survive."
"You should show her the Luffy picture."
I slowly turned my head.
Ria's smile vanished.
Her crimson eyes widened as she realized what had just left her mouth.
"No."
"You suggested it."
"I changed my mind."
"Too late."
I took out my phone.
Ria immediately grabbed my forearm with both hands, her expression becoming alarmed. "Ren."
I raised the phone slightly.
She followed it with her eyes. "Give me that."
"No."
"Delete the picture."
"Never."
Ria stepped closer and tried pulling my wrist down while I held the phone beyond her reach. Her silver hair slipped over one shoulder, her face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and laughter, and several passing cosplayers smiled when they realized the supposedly terrifying former Demon Queen was wrestling her husband over a photograph.
"You are an awful husband," Ria accused, pressing against my side so she could reach higher.
"You married me."
"I was emotionally compromised."
"That was months ago."
"It is a chronic condition."
I laughed.
Ria tried one last time, failed, and finally gave up. Instead of stepping away, she stayed against me and rested her forehead against my shoulder while still loosely holding my arm.
Her breathing slowed, but the smile remained.
I looked down at her. "Had fun?"
Ria remained quiet for several seconds. When she finally lifted her face toward me, there was no embarrassment in the answer and no attempt to create another excuse.
"Yes," she said softly. "I did."
I bent down and kissed her forehead.
Ria's eyes closed briefly, and when they reopened, her expression had become smaller and warmer. She reached up and lightly straightened the collar of my shirt, fingertips lingering there before she spoke again.
"You should have taken a picture with Luffy too."
"I did."
Her brows rose. "When?"
"I'm visible in the background of yours."
Ria stared at me for a second before her lips twitched. A moment later, she started laughing and leaned against my arm again while several people nearby turned curiously toward us.
By the time we returned to the service center, Fluffy was parked outside with fresh oil, checked fluids, proper tire pressure, clean filters, and a windshield polished enough to make the rest of the vehicle look unfairly dusty.
Ruruka's car gleamed beside it.
My sister stood near the entrance with all three girls around her, and the contrast between their expressions explained everything about the previous three hours. Ruruka looked exhausted, while the girls looked as though they had experienced the greatest morning of their lives.
Karin carried a puzzle box beneath one arm. Ruri held a shopping bag containing several books, while Hikari hugged an enormous white rabbit plush nearly half her size.
"Papa!" Karin called when she saw us. She hurried forward and pointed enthusiastically toward Ruruka. "Auntie bought us stuff!"
Ruruka immediately lifted one hand. "Do not phrase it like I volunteered for all of it."
Ruri gave her aunt an apologetic smile and hugged the book bag closer. "Thank you, Auntie Ruru. I really like the books."
Hikari squeezed the rabbit plush and beamed. "Auntie Ruru best auntie."
Ruruka's exhausted expression softened instantly.
Weak.
Very weak.
I understood completely.
Then Karin's attention shifted toward Ria's bag.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Mama," Karin said slowly, pointing toward the tiny straw-hat keychain hanging from the zipper, "why do you have that?"
Ria looked down and then toward me.
I kept my expression neutral.
Her gaze immediately became threatening.
Hikari noticed next and leaned forward against her enormous rabbit. "Mama got tiny Luffy hat."
Ruri stepped closer, recognition spreading across her face. "That's One Piece merchandise."
Ruruka slowly turned toward us and folded her arms. "Nii-sama. Where did you two go?"
I looked toward Fluffy.
Escape existed approximately eight meters away.
Ria lifted her chin with impressive dignity. "There happened to be a cosplay convention nearby."
Karin's mouth dropped open.
Ruri's eyes widened.
Hikari hugged the rabbit more tightly.
Karin reacted first and looked personally betrayed. "You went to a cosplay convention without us?"
Ria immediately raised both hands. "It was unplanned, Karin. Your Papa and I were simply walking while the vehicles were being serviced."
Ruri stepped closer, suddenly much more animated than usual. "Were there Genshin cosplayers?"
Ria hesitated.
That was enough.
Ruri's shoulders dropped. "Mama."
"There were several," Ria admitted.
Karin immediately asked, "Honor of Kings?"
Ria's eyes moved toward me.
I smiled.
She pointed at me before I could speak. "Do not."
Hikari bounced behind her rabbit plush. "Mama saw anime people!"
Karin's eyes suddenly moved toward the phone in my hand.
Her expression changed.
"Papa has pictures."
Traitorous child.
Ria immediately caught my wrist. "No."
Karin's eyes widened. "Mama has pictures?"
"Hikari wants see!" Hikari declared, abandoning the rabbit long enough to hurry closer.
Even Ruri stepped forward, her usual composure overwhelmed by curiosity, while Ruruka's exhaustion disappeared beneath a slow smile that promised disaster.
I unlocked my phone.
Ria stared at me with increasing horror. "Ren Arclight."
Full name.
Serious.
I opened the photograph with Luffy.
Everyone leaned toward the screen.
For several seconds, there was silence.
Then Karin screamed, "MAMA WORE THE STRAW HAT!"
Ruruka bent forward laughing so hard that she had to brace one hand against her knee. Ruri covered her mouth, eyes shining with delight, while Hikari pointed repeatedly toward the screen.
"Mama Luffy! Mama Luffy!"
Ria's entire face became bright red. She grabbed my sleeve with both hands and tried pulling the phone downward. "It was one picture!"
I swiped to the next photograph.
Diaochan appeared.
Karin produced an even louder sound. "Mama took a picture with Diaochan!"
Ria turned toward me in horror. "Ren!"
I moved the phone out of reach while Ruruka laughed hard enough for tears to gather at the corners of her eyes.
Then came Zero Two.
Kurumi Tokisaki.
Naruto and Kakashi.
Genshin.
Honkai: Star Rail.
The Neverness to Everness pictures.
Ruri leaned closer immediately. "That's Sakiri. And Nanally. Mama took one with Mint too?"
Ria folded her arms and looked away. "They asked."
Karin leaned over Ruri's shoulder and pointed at the next image. "Wait, that's Shinku!"
Ruri nodded quickly before I swiped again. "And Lacrimosa."
Hikari tilted her head toward the screen. "Hikari likes red lady."
"Shinku," Ruri corrected gently.
"Hikari likes Shinku."
Ria looked toward me with narrowed eyes. "Your daughters know far too many game characters."
I raised an eyebrow. "Diamond One."
Her elbow found my side immediately.
Ruruka started laughing again.
Then we reached the photos of the Ren and Ria cosplayers.
Karin stared.
Ruri stared.
Hikari stared.
Even Ruruka became quiet.
On the screen stood four people.
Two Ren Arclights.
Two Ria Arclights.
Karin slowly looked from the photograph toward me and then toward Mama. "Someone dressed as you?"
Ria's embarrassment shifted into something much softer. She looked at the picture again before nodding. "They did."
Ruri leaned closer to the phone, fascinated. "The horns look really good."
Ria immediately pointed at the screen. "They need to be slightly farther back."
I looked toward her.
She noticed.
"What?"
"You're still reviewing your own cosplay."
"The placement is still wrong."
Ruruka started laughing again. "Oh my God, Ria."
Hikari pointed toward Fake Ren. "Other Papa tired too."
I closed my eyes.
Karin nearly fell over laughing.
"That's because Papa taught him!" Ria said before she could stop herself.
Everyone went quiet.
I slowly turned toward my wife.
Ria realized she had exposed the information.
Ruruka's grin became dangerous. "Nii-sama taught his own cosplayer how to look tired?"
"He was standing too heroically."
Karin collapsed against Ruri.
Ruruka covered her face.
Hikari nodded solemnly. "Papa expert tired."
I chose not to defend myself.
Then the Love and Deepspace photograph appeared.
Ruruka's laughter stopped.
She stared at the screen.
Then slowly turned toward Ria.
Ria stared back.
My sister's eyebrows rose. "All five?"
Ria's face somehow became even redder. "They asked me!"
I nodded solemnly. "That is what she told me."
Ria slapped my arm.
Karin started laughing again while Ruri leaned closer to identify each character correctly. Hikari had apparently returned to the Kurumi picture and kept asking why the lady had a clock for an eye.
Eventually, Ruri returned to the Luffy photograph.
Her expression softened.
"Mama looks really happy."
That stopped everything.
Ria's fingers loosened around my sleeve.
Her gaze shifted back toward the picture.
For a moment, embarrassment remained visible across her face, but gradually her shoulders relaxed. The blush stayed, although a small smile appeared with it.
"It was fun," Ria admitted.
Hikari immediately raised one hand. "Next time Hikari goes too!"
Karin pointed toward herself. "Me too. I want the Honor of Kings booths."
Ruri hugged her book bag closer, eyes brighter than usual. "Ruri wants to see Genshin, Star Rail, and NTE."
Ruruka sighed and adjusted her ponytail with one hand. "Apparently Auntie Ruru is going too, because somebody has to supervise this disaster."
I looked toward my sister. "You volunteered."
Ruruka stared at me. "I heard myself, Nii-sama."
"That seems legally binding."
"Nii-sama."
I decided not to continue.
The girls immediately began discussing costumes for the next convention. Karin wanted somebody from Honor of Kings and kept changing between three heroes, while Ruri considered Genshin and Neverness to Everness characters much more carefully. Hikari announced that she would simply cosplay as a dragon.
Ruri looked toward her youngest sister with immediate concern. "Hikari, cosplay means dressing like something. You cannot just transform into your actual dragon form."
Hikari blinked. "But Hikari best dragon."
"That is exactly the problem," Ruri replied, rubbing her forehead while Karin started laughing beside her.
Ruruka looked exhausted all over again.
Ria quietly slipped her hand into mine as the argument continued.
I looked down at our joined fingers, then toward the tiny straw-hat keychain attached neatly to her bag.
She noticed where I was looking.
"Do not say anything," Ria warned, but her voice carried no real threat.
"I wasn't going to."
"You were thinking something."
"Probably."
Her fingers squeezed mine.
Karin was already demanding that we schedule the next convention, Hikari continued insisting authentic dragon anatomy would improve her cosplay score, and Ruri desperately tried explaining why revealing the family's largest remaining secret would probably be considered bad convention etiquette.
I turned toward Fluffy.
Fresh oil.
Checked brakes.
Healthy battery.
Proper tire pressure.
Several more months before another scheduled maintenance appointment.
By every reasonable standard, the original objective of the day had been completed successfully.
Admittedly, I had not expected routine vehicle maintenance to result in my wife wearing Monkey D. Luffy's straw hat, discussing Kurumi Tokisaki's eye, comparing Honor of Kings ranks with a Diaochan cosplayer, taking photographs beside characters from Genshin, Honkai: Star Rail, Neverness to Everness, Naruto, and Love and Deepspace, or meeting a woman who had built an entire costume based on her.
That last part seemed to stay with Ria more than she admitted.
She glanced once toward the picture still visible on my phone—the one with both real and imitation versions of us—before her gaze lowered toward her own horns.
Three years ago, humans had seen those horns and reached for weapons.
Today, somebody had spent days carefully making a pair because she wanted to look like Ria.
My wife noticed me watching.
Her expression softened.
Then she leaned against my arm, silver hair brushing my shoulder while her fingers remained comfortably intertwined with mine.
Fluffy was healthy.
My wife had discovered cosplay conventions.
Apparently we had cosplayers now.
And judging by the increasingly complicated costume discussion happening behind us, next time we were bringing the entire family.
I was beginning to suspect the oil change had been the simplest part of the day.
*****
End of Chapter 68
Arclight Parenting Status
Parents:
Ren Arclight — Retired Archmage / Dragon Dad / Cosplay Accuracy Consultant
Ria Arclight — Former Demon Queen / Dragon Mom / Straw Hat Denialist
Current Family Objective:
Service Fluffy
Survive three child-free hours
Definitely not attend a cosplay convention
Children Under Protection:
Ruri — Ice / Emotional Anchor / Responsible Merchandise Consumer
Karin — Fire / Chaos / Convention Exclusion Victim
Hikari — Light / Reality Risk / Future "Authentic" Dragon Cosplayer
Today's Activities:
Completed vehicle maintenance
Accidentally attended cosplay convention
Met multiple anime and game cosplayers
Encountered Ren and Ria cosplayers
Returned to three extremely betrayed daughters
New Developments:
Ria officially likes Luffy
Ren discovered his greatest cosplay contribution is looking tired
Ria personally reviewed her own cosplay accuracy
Next Arclight convention trip is already inevitable
Household Status:
Vehicles Maintained
Parents Entertained
Children Betrayed
Convention Plans Escalating
Parents Stress Levels:
Ren
Relaxed
Entertained
Photographic Blackmail Secured
Ria
Embarrassed
Delighted
Straw Hat Compromised
Parenting Skill Growth:
Ren: 100% (Child-Free Date Opportunity Exploited)
Ria: 100% (Spontaneous Fun Successfully Accepted)
Family Synergy: 100% (Next Convention Attendance Unanimously Demanded)
Current Parents Status:
Ren
Active
Amused
Expert Tired
Ria
Active
Happy
Culturally Observing
Immediate Priorities:
Protect Luffy photograph
Prepare for next family convention
Prevent Hikari from using actual dragon form as cosplay
Stop Ruruka from acquiring additional blackmail material
Operational Assessment:
Mission Type:
Vehicle Maintenance + Accidental Date
Difficulty:
Cultural Observation
Emotional Status:
Ren
Amused — Content — Victorious
Ria
Embarrassed — Excited — Genuinely Happy
Future Outlook:
Family Convention Trip Inevitable
Ria Cosplay Accuracy Standards Established
Hikari Dragon Identity Containment Required
Straw Hat Keychain Permanently Attached
Ren's Tired-Looking Legacy Secured
Parents Personal Statement:
Ren:
"Cultural observation."
Ria:
"Do not say anything."
Reality's Response:
"They left home for an oil change. They returned with cosplay photos, convention souvenirs, three jealous daughters, and proof that even a former Demon Queen could become an excited fan for an afternoon."