Licht starts going over his memories, wondering when and where something happened. He remembers soon after that it happened that one day one of his art class friends was awarded for his work in an art contest. The memory starts up a flashback, and Licht thinks about how the spotlight shining on someone that wasn't him was so bright. The adults all praised the boy's talent, yet the boy doesn't even twitch an eyebrow at it all. But if Licht were in his place, he'd have been spinning on the balls of his feet with glee. So why didn't he win? He tried so hard, enough to spew blood for his work. He wanted to win, but he couldn't make it. What went wrong? Whose fault was it? No one answered the thoughts that welled up within him, so he left the venue to get away from it all.
Licht wasn't in the mood to go back to Roppongi, so he just wandered around and ended up in Akihabara. Over there he happens to see a poster inviting people who are true creators to come inside to a salon cafe, and he decides to go inside out of curiosity. Inside Licht ends up joining Masanori's table, and Masanori starts talking about what the place was before it became what it is then. Long ago before the Gates had opened, the cafe used to be a library for novelists who were also known as revolutionaries. Now it's a place where creators meet up and talk about their work.
Masanori says he's picked up the posthumous works of those old writers too. There's a lot of stuff that emotionally touched him, which includes the works of expressionists who have come to Tokyo as well. He comments that art and creation are wonderful things, and he's impressed that creators who have long passed can still sway minds after they're gone. Masanori says he also wants to be a literary man who could do the same thing, but he was confronted everyday by his lack of ability and poetic wit. Licht empathizes as the two start talking and hitting it off, and Masanori eventually declares that creating something has to be your inescapable penance facing against your work. Licht narrates that at that time, he just nodded over and over. Masanori then says that he believes that doing so is how you can get influence to move other people, even in death. He starts ranting like a man possessed as he says that's how you can gain the influence to make people think your work applies to them even after you're gone.
Things tune back to the present with Licht making a face, prompting Tsathoggua to ask him out of worry if something's up with the video creator. Licht says says he met him once before, way before he had met you. Neither of them were able to achieve anything with their creative works, and they both had talents in other fields. Licht thinks about how Masanori's storytelling style was impressive since it did made people think they were someone else for a bit. The viewers start posting zealous comments after the video ends, and Licht says he's feeling that something is amiss. Licht then apologizes when he notices he's got a call from someone in the Summoners. When he answers, he first asks why whoever on the other end is so flustered before reacting in shock at the news he gets.
Back to your end, you are in the middle of being abruptly attacked by your no name schoolmates. You try to ask why they're doing this as you desperately try to avoid their assault. They yell about you being the main culprit, so you try to ask them what they mean and talk your way out of a fight. Shirou however comes in to save you by blowing a fire extinguisher to make a smokescreen and leads you out of your room. When they try to chase after you, Sandayu stops them and refers to what they're doing as mischief. The students are surprised to see him, and Sandayu sighs to himself about how much work it is to be a teacher.
When you and Shirou escape to the outside of the dorm, Shirou is relieved that no one has chased after you guys, then tells you to listen closely to him and run away after that. You thank Shirou, ask for an explanation for what's going on, then ask where everyone else is. Shirou explains that the rest of the guild is acting as decoys so that you can escape. Shirou then starts explaining by jumping to the main point: part of the game's hidden parts has been revealed, specifically the part where the game's main players' (re: World Representatives) goal is you. People now know that there are people who have been given large advantages in the game. You either are confused at this, start to get what that means, or say aloud that you get what's happening. C gets an extra line of Shirou being impressed you're more calm than he is.
Anyways, Shirou says that this means all guild battles up to this point have been shown to be irrelevant, and everyone else never had a chance of winning. Most people thought the game was fair, but the outrage at finding out it wasn't is huge. Of course, as far as Shirou knows nothing has been doxxed about the World Reps' positions. Everyone's anger has been concentrated on you now, and even things that don't involve you have been forcibly distorted to do so. You've been partly doxxed with your size, your school affiliation, your ambiguously human or Transient status, and your current physical position You either ask in shock why that happened or ask if the game is changing up. Shirou says the Reps have never exposed you to danger like this before, and the game is unmistakably changing right now. He's about to say more on that when he decides there isn't actually time to be going over it now, so he tells you to focus on getting away from Shinjuku. There needs to be time for the madness to pass.
You ask Shirou where you're supposed to go if people know what you look like. Shirou says he's had the rest of the gang looking into other guilds for refuge, but Ikebukuro, Aoyama, Roppongi, and Kamata are all dangerous right now. Right now, the members of every guild are blowing up with anger over not being informed of things. The best place for you to go to would be someplace that has as little to do with guild battles as possible, and if possible it should be somewhere where you can disguise yourself completely to lay low. You ask if there actually is a place like that since you've never disguised yourself before.
Shirou says you would stand out if your disguise changed your face and stature. A professional doing it would be one thing, but amateur work would give you away eventually when people notice something off with it. And if you're the only one with makeup on and standing weirdly, people are going to notice that too. But if everyone around was also disguising themselves, then it might work, and Shirou says maybe he'd have an idea. Licht picks up on the phone with Shirou and says he does know of a place like that. He then starts quickly making a phone call to someone else. If he were his old self, he'd never have thought to ask for help, but he isn't his old self anymore. When the call picks up, Licht is on the phone with one of his art class friends and asks for a favor.
Time passes and the scene shifts to Akihabara in Taito Ward. Here stands a certain unique guild, known to give precisely zero craps about guild battles. That's not to say that they maintain neutrality out of interest in it like the Crafters are, and it's not like they use their own power to reject outsiders like the Outlaws do. There is only one condition to being accepted into the guild, and that is to be a creator. You are then welcomed by a bunch of maids who cheerfully give you a pack of canned foods meant for creators working hard on stuff. You have the option of using the sewing machines in the shop if you want to use them for making cosplay outfits, and you can buy threads and fabric at the desk if you need to. If you want to use any electrical outlets or USB chargers, you can go ahead and use them since that service is included in the entrance fee.
Some time passes as Catoblepas says he's done with the resizing for his next cosplay costume. He then asks you if your make is done yet, then prompts you to put your arm through the sleeve and pose together with him. You are either baffled as you try to keep up, ask if you're doing it right, and/or pose as directed. The costume you've been given is noted to be unrealistic, and you now look like somebody completely different. Not even the people who know you should recognize you in this state.
Kuniyoshi is geeking out about how the combination of kimono, katana, and a long haired kemono is the best thing ever and yells about all the *~inspiration~* coming to him. He then asks Catoblepas to raise his arms a bit and you to lower your jaw as he furiously scribbles into his notepad. He's not the only one in the cafe space going all in on drawing though, as a dog lady next to him is doing so as well. She asks Catoblepas to pose towards her since she's having a problem catching his expression on paper. Her directions include stepping forward closer to her and him holding you more firmly around your back. She wants the hateboner mood going on with you two looking angrily at each others' eyes!
Catoblepas apologizes to you as he complies with her request, then asks Hecate if he got it right once he's in position. Hecate has a nerdgasm and tells him to stay like that, ranting about her shipping brain processes are kicking into high gear and saying she should have enough material for five black magic books for the weekend. You either wonder why you're cosplaying in resignation, ask what the hell kind of place this is, or suggest a different pose and shift around into it. C has Hecate and Kuniyoshi surprised but get even more inspired as they say you totally get the essence of the thing. Catoblepas in turn asks if you're also a drawer as he admires you.
Anyways, Catoblepas explains to you that the shop is a famous shared space for creators in Akihabara. It's pretty much a 24 hour manga cafe and studio mashed together. It used to be a more refined production salon, but it was renovated into what it is now just recently. Kuniyoshi adds that their guild often uses the place when they're busy with doujin printing. Hecate says there's a lot of members who do their work totally online, but those who work offline find the shop convenient. Catoblepas adds that they can't actually use sewing machines to make costumes online after all. Kuniyoshi wishes you could've been introduced to the guildmaster earlier, but that can be done in steps. For now though, he welcomes you to the Akihabara Creators.
You repeat the name Creators in shock, attempt to ask who everyone is, and/or try to get an explanation. Kuniyoshi realizes no one's actually introduces themselves yet, so there's gonna be some talking to do. He explains that they're all members of the Akihabara guild, and the Creators are a gathering of creators. That includes artists, writers, cosplayers, costume makers, and a lot of otaku nerds. It's the guildmaster's policy that the guild is a collection of people who make things. He then introduces himself, saying he's a friend of Licht's as he politely greets you. He does doujin work mostly, and he's totally into furries. That said he specifically denies being into them so much that he's an otaku.
Hecate introduces herself next, describing herself as a shipping otaku and having a little giggle about enjoying the chemistry oh so much. If she senses a ship, then racial differences and inorganic or organic base states of the relevant parties be damned. Also, she says she might not quite be an otaku in terms of her interests. Catoblepas introduces himself as an apprentice cosplayer, and he also passes off as identifying as an otaku since he feels that'd be presumptuous of him.
You introduce yourself back to the three, say everyone looks like an otaku to you, or comment it's like a random sampling of otakus. Kuniyoshi asks you if you're an otaku and guesses you're one for cosplaying. Catoblepas is happy at the idea since it means there's more people dressing up, and he says he hopes he can go attend an event together with you. You are surprised at the otaku status question, and Kuniyoshi is surprised in turn as he tells you Licht said you wanted to focus on cosplaying while you were taking a break from school. Licht even said you were dying to go cosplaying and asked Kuniyoshi to help you.
You are further taken aback to Kuniyoshi's mild confusion, but then you remember that Licht had told you that was the story he told people in Akihabara. He doesn't really understand much, but he says that the best way to blend in there is to go declare yourself an otaku. If you aren't, just play the part as best you can and hide. Back to the present you quickly claim you are totes an otaku and politely hope to get along with them while you do the cosplay thing.
Catoblepas cheers at having a new cosplayer friend, though he did have costume maker friends already. He asks what kind of anime and manga you like, but he also says cosplaying as an original character is cool too. He has tons he wants to talk to you about, and he wants to wear a lot of costumes and take a lot of pictures with you. Catoblepas then catches himself and suggests taking a break first, so he says he'll get you something from the cafe's drink bar and wanders off.
You think to yourself about the Akihabara guild being a thing and act like a tourist as you look around the shop. Kuniyoshi notices this and asks if the place looks that unusual to you, so Hecate wonders if you're the kind of otaku who normally does things alone. Kuniyoshi then reminisces that Licht was like that too the first time he came here. You ask if everyone in the cafe is a creator, ask if they're also guild members, and ask if they're all otaku. Kuniyoshi thinks on the question briefly, then says that while there's a lot of otakus around, not all of them are. It's not that you have to be one to be allowed inside the shop, but he and Hecate say they'd be happy to have people in if they get along. They're about to say more on that when a new voice walks in and comments on hearing Hecate and Kuniyoshi. The two immediately bail to your confusion, shock, or your curiosity in someone new coming in. Akiha Gongen then walks up and wonders if you're a new otaku, and the episode ends with him introducing himself to you.
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