I turned reality into a romantic comedy.

"You've worked so hard, brother. How can I make it up to you?"

Looking at Gu Linguo, who had turned to the side in her seat on the high-speed train, blinking her big eyes with a look of deep emotion, the male protagonist, who had just experienced a romantic comedy about a literary girl, felt completely at peace.

Sure enough, he still couldn't manage to reset his own mood and state when switching to the female lead's individual episode. Although Lin Guo was definitely not the type like Mu Mu who seemed to be wildly testing the boundaries of morality and law, her physical strength was only average, making her mental charm attacks seem rather ordinary.

"The best compensation would be if you did well on your final exam this time."

"...Let's not talk about studying and exams now that we're on vacation!"

"If Lin Guo didn't have her homework from the May Day holiday in her bag, it would be even more convincing."

"Can't you try to see things from a different perspective, senior?"

"Ok?"

"It's that kind of common scenario, like when you meet a colleague or even a senior while working at a voice actor, shogi player, or convenience store, and suddenly you discover that the other person is actually the same age as you or even younger, and that you were classmates at the same school. Doesn't it feel like a romantic comedy all of a sudden?"

"So, in which field are you a senior?"

"Bilibili content creator!"

"I feel... less experienced than me."

Once again stunned by Chen Junqian's words, Gu Lingguo puffed out her cheeks. She had always had a set of secrets on how to perform these mysterious little tricks in real life, and she had mastered them to a high level. Thanks to her excellent physical and mental attributes, she did indeed have the charm of a romantic comedy heroine.

"So, have you decided? What kind of cosplay are you going to do this time?"

To be honest, the two of them actually went on this trip in two different identities. On the first day, they were invited as guests as Bilibili animation section up hosts. On the second day, they were helping out at the stall at the request of Lin Guo's sister, Qingqing. Her business has been booming for the past two years. However, the bulk of the revenue is not actually the cosplay clothes they were initially looking forward to, but rather the self-printed various pirated merchandise. Various lucky bags priced at 9.9, 19.9, and 29.9 yuan, with the promise of "guaranteed to contain a certain value," are selling very well on online shopping channels. They have really fulfilled the mysterious vow of "if you can't beat them, join them" from back then.

"Okay, let's go out with Kaori Miyazono, brother, come with me."

As she said this, Gu Linguo rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window at the scenery rushing past:

"The first April without you has arrived..."

"Although, it's already May, and this should be my line, right?"

"Indeed, I will bless my brother from heaven so that he finds happiness again."

"Then I'll politely decline and just live a good life."

Because he had promised the other person back when they were playing 'cross-server chat' that they would cosplay as a couple at the next anime convention, Chen Junqian automatically put himself in Arima Kousei's shoes when he heard the other person say they wanted to cosplay as Kaori Miyazono, and muttered to himself:

"...You need to buy a pair of glasses."

"What's wrong with glasses? If you don't need glasses, you can buy non-prescription ones. They can just be accessories. I haven't seen how your glasses look yet."

Having just experienced the glasses play with Zhu Wenyun, and seeing Gu Lingguo swaying back and forth with her chin resting on her hands, full of anticipation, Chen Junqian felt that there was a reason why this kid's adaptability to romantic comedies could sometimes reach the highest level. So he reached out and patted her head again.

"Yes, then we'll be able to see it this time. I'm also really looking forward to Lin Guo's Kaori Miyazono."

"The age is just right, so there shouldn't be any problem. Besides, I've tried blonde hair before. The only problem is that my brother can play the piano, but I can't play the violin."

"It's okay, it would be nice if the two of us played a four-handed duet together."

They chatted idly, and the journey flew by. Although Wuhan and Guoning were not far apart, Gu Linguo had never traveled far before, so she felt particularly excited when she got off the bus. She held Chen Junqian's hand and looked around at everything. After a long journey, they finally arrived at their hotel together.

For Chen Junqian, who had experienced countless times being offered two rooms but ending up sleeping in one, seeing that the partner had actually booked them a room wasn't surprising at all. At least there were two beds properly placed inside, so he had no intention of questioning the partner in charge of communication. Instead, Gu Lingguo exclaimed several times while getting on the elevator, "Senior is too skilled. How come you're so skilled? How many times have you stayed in hotels and booked rooms with Sister Wenyun?"

Not long after the two of them officially checked in, a staff member from the organizers came to their door to make contact. Upon seeing them, the staff member seemed a little taken aback, and after a moment of hesitation, asked:

"Are you two the Bilibili animation section's Up-master, 'God of Love'?"

Well, it's true that being called by your online name in real life can be a bit embarrassing. But when Chen Junqian thought about how his account was originally named "Dreaming of Becoming a Master of Romantic Comedy," he felt that the embarrassment of Gu Lingguo changing her nickname back then was much less. After all, he really couldn't imagine the scene of the host shouting out this name at the event tomorrow.

"Yes, I'm Lin Guo, who's in charge of copywriting and voice-over, and he's Zi Qian, who's in charge of editing and post-production."

The name Ziqian also has a subtle feel to it.

"But you two are younger than I expected. Are you still in school?"

"Yes, we are still students."

"That's impressive. Hmm... I hope you two have a great time at the event tomorrow."

Seemingly feeling that discussing work or business with two minors was a bit abstract, Gu Lingguo and Chen Junqian were instantly treated as amateur content creators who were "just there to have fun." So, after giving them two passes for tomorrow and saying a few words of advice, the other party left quickly, leaving Gu Lingguo feeling somewhat annoyed.

"I feel like we're being underestimated. Do we really look that unreliable?"

"There might be a bit of doubt, after all, we look like students, and we're even minors. They might already be starting to doubt whether we're real or not."

"Wow, we have hundreds of thousands of fans, why do you look down on us?"

"Don't worry, there will definitely be fans who will recognize your voice at the event tomorrow."

"That's true. Let's see who still calls me an old hag using a voice that's gone through puberty then, bah—"

Looking at Gu Linguo, who had also learned to stick out her tongue in real life, Chen Junqian did find her cute. In fact, cute girls are cute no matter what expression or little action they make; it's just that Gu Linguo actively studies and imitates this skill.

"By the way, what do you think it would look like if I wore a white wig?"

"Are you going to cosplay as Bell?"

“Brother Bell, I can show you Hestia.”

"It feels like... the size isn't enough."

"Be serious, it's not like I don't know that Ella is my favorite character this season."

"I only remember someone shouting after watching 'Your Lie in April' that they would never watch such depressing anime again, but then they turned around and fell into this huge pit where you could tell how the rest of the story would go after watching just the first episode."

"But some plots, if acted well, can still be very moving even if you know them. Just like the so-called model operas or classic scenes, the very fact that they exist shows that they have stood the test of time, or that they are very useful. At least I especially like the performance and character design in this film."

Unlike a certain soon-to-be high school student who claims to still be in his rebellious phase, Gu Lingguo seems to have genuinely entered that stage, sighing melancholy as she does so.

"If you knew from the beginning when your lifespan would end, how would you accept it? For example, if I had a thousand or two thousand hours left to live, what would my brother think?"

"Although I really want to complain about the previous sentence, 'If you're going to ask me this, you might as well ask me who I would save first if you and your mother fell into the water,' if I were to answer seriously, I would probably prevent this from happening in the first place and let Lin Guo live a good life."

"Hmm, that statement really captures the spirit and feel of the male protagonist. I'll give you an extra point, brother."

"Didn't anyone say I was having a chuunibyou episode?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Lingguo, who was lying on the bed, turned her head and looked at Chen Junqian with gentle eyes:

No way.

"Because you've already done this kind of thing before."

P.S.: Thank you for reading and subscribing.

PS2: I checked the playlist, and the ending theme of Plastic Memories has been in there for ten years, hmm.

Chapter 89: Don't feel disgusted, your sister knows you (4k5)

So, what exactly is anime convention to otaku?

The next morning, as Chen Junqian woke up and prepared to head to the meeting, a question suddenly popped into his head when he stood in front of the mirror washing up.

Although he can now fully call himself an anime expert or a 2D otaku, the past few years since his rebirth still seem rather short compared to his previous life of over twenty years. As a result, when he thinks about these issues, he often unconsciously detaches himself from the perspective of an observer.

As for his question, Gu Lingguo, who stood next to him and bore no resemblance to him except for their movements, yet claimed to be imitating a certain Blue Ribbon Goddess, could offer her own answer:

"I think it's better not to think about such questions in the first place. It's the same as going on a trip. You go to see the scenery and people. And some people will feel bored after they come back from a trip. After all, anime is just a hobby, just like liking drones, motorcycles or other things."

Chen Junqian thought what the other person said made a lot of sense. It wasn't until the two of them officially went out that he realized that Gu Lingguo, who had been talking so eloquently in the room, was now sitting there feeling uneasy.

"What's wrong with Lin Guo?"

Watching his companion walk down the road and start to show off his toes digging out a four-bedroom apartment, Chen Junqian reached out his hand and let the other person perform a textbook-level "snake-on-stick" maneuver, instantly shielding him in front of him as if he wanted to hide in the shadows.

"...Suddenly I feel a little out of place in this kind of atmosphere."

"Hmm? I thought Lin Guo would like this feeling, seeing cosplayers every few steps. Oh, there really is a Kaori Miyazono over there. Lin Guo, do you want to go up and meet a fellow enthusiast?"

As he spoke, Chen Junqian looked around at the scene. Unlike the first anime convention in the small county town that the two of them had gone to, this so-called anime culture festival was obviously much larger in scale. Therefore, even before reaching their destination, they could already see many customers heading there. They could see members of the "Akatsuki" organization wearing the iconic black robes with red clouds squatting by the roadside, lifting the hem of their robes to eat breakfast. They could also see a girl with high twin ponytails wearing Rin Tohsaka's classic red casual clothes, happily drinking the same cup of milk tea with Kirito, who was wearing a black trench coat and carrying two huge swords. The direction he was pointing to was a blonde cosplayer.

"Never mind, there are a lot of other passersby here too. Um, I think it would be better if everyone changed their costumes after they got inside the venue?"

Upon hearing the other party's hesitant reply, Chen Junqian quickly discerned the meaning:

"So, is Lin Guo making the same old mistake of making others feel embarrassed?"

"Wouldn't that be strange?"

"It's pretty normal, isn't it? When Xiaoxi first came with us, didn't she say something similar? She said that just seeing cosplayers would make her imagine them walking down the street in their costumes and being stared at and talked about by passersby. But I think that's the beauty of anime conventions. It would be a bit strange if someone was walking down the street in weird clothes, but with so many people around, there's no need to feel particularly good about yourself. Not many people will pay special attention to you. Besides, this isn't Guoning, so nobody should know me or Lin Guo here."

It was probably the last sentence of those words that reminded Gu Linguo of something, because Chen Junqian could feel that the other person's expression relaxed immediately, but he still didn't let go of her arms.

As they got closer to the venue and fewer people passed by, Gu Linguo was finally able to start pontificating and writing passionately, focusing intently on the many cosplayers passing by, or rather, the various equipment and costumes they wore.

As the designated successor to the hugely successful romantic comedy "The Dress-Up Doll Falls in Love," Gu Lingguo herself has only done cosplay twice, but she still has a lot to say about cosplay costumes. Even the cosplay costume of Kaori Miyazono that she will wear tomorrow is a handmade design that she altered stitch by stitch, including the costume for Chen Junqian. However, she would never admit that she learned to make these things just to find a legitimate reason to measure Chen Junqian's body size.

"Look over there, senior! That Kaneki Ken cosplayer's work is quite exquisite. She even made the kagune on the back, and it even glows. It feels like cosplayers are getting more and more hardcore in making props these days. In the past two years, people are no longer limited to buying ready-made ones. Many of them are cutting and painting EVA foam bit by bit."

In May 2015, the popularity of Tokyo Ghoul had not yet completely dissipated. Everywhere you could see teenagers with delusions of grandeur shouting, "It's not me who's wrong, it's the world." However, compared to those cosplayers with more flamboyant or even rudimentary costumes, Gu Linguo would pay more attention to those who had made careful preparations and then think about whether they could be applied to his own production career.

Chen Junqian looked in the direction the other person was pointing, and then nodded in agreement:

"That was really well done. Lin Guo, would you like to take a picture with it?"

"Forget about this, I'm not really interested in taking photos with others."

"What if someone wants to take a picture with you after you cosplay tomorrow?"

"I'll say that you're my boyfriend, so when we do cosplay as a couple, it can only be the two of us taking pictures together. Of course, if anyone asks you to take a picture with them, you should say the same thing."

Having experienced Chen Junqian's cosplay once, Gu Linguo was well aware of the attractiveness of the boy next to her after he put on makeup. Even though the character of Arima Kousei was not based on being handsome, she had no doubt that he could easily attract a lot of attention.

To reiterate, even in a setting like an anime convention where "flirting" is relatively easy, it's still too much of an overestimation of an otaku's social skills to try and flirt with a girl who is clearly still a minor and has a male companion. Therefore, Gu Lingguo has no doubt that when the two of them arrive tomorrow, the girl next to her will be more likely to be the target of flirting. So, it's best to make that clear in advance.

After finally arriving at the venue entrance, the first thing that caught my eye, besides the long queues of people waiting to enter, was a line of more than a dozen itasha (decorated cars) with anime characters and designs. A large crowd of people were taking pictures around them, making for a rather impressive sight.

In the small square next to these itasha (decorated cars), dozens of boys dressed in support cloaks and holding various colored glow sticks were gathered in a circle. They were dancing a support dance in perfect unison to the song "Snow Halation" playing from their portable speakers. Every wave of their glow sticks and every synchronized shout attracted passersby to stop and watch, making Gu Lingguo's teeth ache a little.

"It feels like I see Lala members at every comic convention. It's like they're in military training."

"Even military training might not be this neat and orderly."

As if there were some kind of inherent barrier, after entering the area of ​​the comic convention, Chen Junqian could clearly feel that many people around him were becoming more energetic, or rather, letting loose. Two people who didn't know each other at all would recognize each other as family members because of characters related to the plot, and even put on an emotional performance on the spot amidst the cheers of others around them. Even just being a spectator on the sidelines made Chen Junqian feel a little more cheerful.

"It's only a few o'clock, but I feel like the sun outside is already quite strong."

After watching from the sidelines for a while, Gu Lingguo also covered her forehead with her hand:

"Senior, do you still remember where that exclusive passage they mentioned yesterday is?"

"Okay, here, take out your pass first."