Summer in Japan is always synonymous with scorching sun. However, the blistering heat did nothing to dampen the spirits of the otaku who flooded the comic convention venue.
At every entrance, long, winding queues were visible, filled with enthusiastic people, some even dressed in cosplay costumes of their favorite characters.
"Only a comic convention could possibly get this group of otaku out of their homes."
Ren smiled wryly at the scene in front of him. His hand still faithfully held Miku's.
Hearing the comment, Miku immediately puffed out her cheeks like a hamster's mouth full of food.
"That's not true! What Ren said was hikikomori; otaku and hikikomori are different! Not all otaku stay home!"
"Yes, yes, yes.... Miku-san is right, I'm wrong." Ren replied casually, not really caring about Miku's argument about the difference between otaku and hikikomori.
"By the way, Miku-san, next time don't invite me out so suddenly. If you had told me yesterday, I could have used my connections so we could go straight in without having to queue."
"Really? Ren can do that?"
"Of course. Many problems can be solved with money; if not, it just means there isn't enough money."
The weather was already scorching, and with so many people crammed in front of the entrance, the air was thick with the smell of sweat and body odor.
Because of Miku's sudden invitation that morning, Ren didn't have time to use his connections with the Shinomiya and Momobami Families to get special entry privileges or VIP tickets.
"Your words are very flamboyant, Ren, just like an arrogant young master in a story."
Miku chuckled, no doubt Ren wasn't just bragging and was truly capable of doing such a thing.
The surrounding otaku who saw Ren and Miku laughing and joking couldn't help but feel envious.
After all, Miku was a beautiful adult woman, with a plump figure like a MILF, fair skin, and large breasts. Without a doubt, 90% of the virgin otaku there were immediately aroused.
"Tch! What the hell is this? These riajuu (normies) are polluting this place! Can't riajuu stay away from defiling this holy land of the second dimension?!"
"They think just because they're handsome, they can flirt with pretty girls and take them to a hotel. What scoundrels!"
"This world truly isn't fair. People like us who know the meaning of true love for 2D characters have to see this disgusting sight."
"Damn riajuu couple! Can't you show your affection somewhere else?! This is our heaven, the second dimension! Don't contaminate it with your real-world stuff!"
"That onee-san... why would she be with a guy like that? She's as beautiful as my favorite character. What a shame..."
"Tch, just hurts my eyes. Better to look at my 2D waifu, more loyal and won't hurt my heart."
Many otaku at the scene disliked them more the longer they stared at Ren and Miku.
While the men were cursing, the women there had different opinions.
"Oh my gosh, he's so handsome! Look at his skin, fair and clean. He must rarely get sun exposure."
"Is he a model? So cool!"
"Is the woman next to him his girlfriend or his sister?"
"If only I could have a boyfriend that handsome..."
"I prefer guys who are a little mysterious like that. Makes me curious."
"Ah, I want him to be my real-life husbando!"
Hearing the whispers around them about the two, Miku felt embarrassed to be considered Ren's girlfriend. However, when she realized the other women were looking at Ren with greedy eyes, an unpleasant feeling surged.
Miku hugged Ren's arm tighter, causing his arm to sink between her large breasts.
"Miku-san?"
Feigning innocence, Ren already knew the reason behind Miku's actions.
"So we don't get separated, Ren. The queue is so crowded, I don't want us to get lost in this crowd."
Miku reasoned. Her face was flushed, but her gaze at the other women showed a clear warning: this man was hers!
"The doors are open!"
Someone shouted. Instantly, the crowd behind them surged forward as if piranhas had smelled blood. People pushed frantically towards the entrance, creating an irresistible wave of pressure.
Ren and Miku were pushed forward, squeezed between bodies jostling against each other.
In the midst of the chaos, some men tried to take advantage of the situation. Naughty hands began to grope women's bottoms, and Miku was no exception.
A dirty hand tried to touch her backside.
How could Ren let that happen? He already considered Miku his woman; it was only a matter of time before he fully claimed his sister-in-law.
With swift movements, Ren swatted away every hand that tried to harass Miku, his gaze sharp, hinting at hidden danger for anyone who dared to try again.
Once they managed to escape the crush at the entrance and the crowd began to disperse inside the event area, Miku was panting.
"Thank you, Ren. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't here."
Ren just waved his hand, as if it were no big deal.
"It was just a small matter. More importantly, let's go to the booth Miku-san wants to visit quickly. Otherwise, the merchandise will sell out."
"Mm."
Miku nodded, then enthusiastically pulled Ren towards her target booth.
Along the way, rows of booths lined the convention aisles, selling various doujinshi and ACG merchandise.
Some booths even featured cosplayers posing in captivating costumes as a promotional attraction to increase sales.
After walking for a few minutes, Ren and Miku arrived at a booth with a relatively short queue. Without having to wait long, Miku managed to buy the Warring States Period merchandise she desperately wanted.
With a happy expression clearly visible on her face, Miku turned to Ren.
"There's nothing else I want to buy. Do you want to go straight home?"
"It doesn't feel right to just go straight home. How about we look around?"
"Mm."
Of course, Miku didn't refuse. On the contrary, she really wanted to spend more time with Ren.
Miku's wrist was gently held by Ren, guiding her through the increasingly dense crowd in the convention aisles.
The air inside the building felt cooler than outside, but it was still filled with the distinct scent of new paper, ink, and a faint body odor from thousands of enthusiastic visitors.
"There's a booth selling figures over there. Perhaps Miku-san would be interested?"
Ren pointed towards a stall with rows of display cases filled with anime character figurines.
"I do like looking at figure collections, but I never buy them because Nino doesn't like them."
"In that case, let's go take a look."
They approached the booth, and Miku observed the details of each figure, occasionally taking out her phone to snap photos.
Ren stood beside her, occasionally offering brief comments about the quality of the sculpt or the accuracy of the character design. He wasn't particularly interested in figures, but observing Miku's enthusiasm was enough for him.
After quite some time there, Miku pulled Ren's arm again.
"Let's go see the doujinshi area! I love reading fan-made stories."
Then, they entered a busier and slightly darker area, where hundreds of tables were lined by independent artists selling their doujinshi works.
The smell of paper and ink became more dominant here. Some doujinshi had provocative covers, momentarily catching Ren's attention before he refocused on Miku.
"Huh? Ren is interested in this?"
Miku noticed Ren's gaze on a doujinshi with a somewhat revealing image of a female protagonist.
"Just curious. What are you looking for here, Miku-san?" Ren asked back.
"I-I'm looking for stories about Oda Nobunaga."
Her cheeks flushed. Miku was too embarrassed to admit that she also liked doujinshi with certain themes.
"..."
Ren didn't comment further, letting Miku get lost in her search.
Several hours passed by. They stopped for lunch in the bustling food court area, sharing a bowl of instant ramen and hot takoyaki.
Ren let Miku choose a seat, quietly observing her as the girl seemed to enjoy this small moment. Miku even told him about some of her favorite historical characters, and Ren listened and occasionally asked questions that made Miku feel heard.