Silence settled over the hallway like a thick fog after the chaos. The air still carried the scent of sweat, cheap cologne, and just a hint of burnt electronics from the half-broken voice box tucked into Raito's mascot chest.
Akemi blinked slowly at the heap of unconscious men. At the towering pink figure in front of her with his giant foam fists lowered in victory. And then… she started laughing.
It wasn't ladylike or graceful or demure. It was loud, unfiltered, and oddly refreshing.
"You… You just beat up like ten guys… dressed as Kawai Kitty," she said between gasps, her hand covering her mouth as the laughter bubbled up again. "What even is my life right now?"
Raito turned toward her, raising one oversized paw in a sheepish sort of wave. Sparks fizzed faintly from his voice box as it sputtered back to life.
"F-friends always… bzzzzt… have each other's backs…nyaa-"
His distorted attempt at a heartwarming line from the show only made her laugh harder.
Then her smile faltered, just a little. She looked at the battered foam mascot, her arms folding over her chest. "Why… Why save me?" she asked, quieter now. "You could've just run away. I told you to."
Raito tilted his head.
There was a pause. Then the voice box clicked again.
"Kawai Kitty must make sure… this con is the best con ever!"
Akemi gave him a flat look. "Really?"
Raito paused again, this time longer. Then his tone shifted, even through the glitching static.
"…Because I really like your voice."
Akemi blinked.
Raito continued, slowly. "I… grew up listening and watching Kawai Kitty. That voice helped me sleep. Kept me company when I didn't have anyone else. It reminded me of things worth smiling for. So when I realized who you were… I knew I had to protect you. Not just because I'm wearing this high value collectible suit, but because… your voice means something to me."
Akemi felt her heart skip a beat. Her face warmed—just slightly—and she looked away, the corners of her lips twitching into something between flustered and touched.
"Y-you're weird," she muttered, cheeks faintly pink.
Raito, still very much in costume, placed a giant paw on his hip and pointed another dramatically to the side.
"Kawai Kitty's official advice for dealing with rude fans—" bzztk "—ignore them! You're fine the way you are, nya-"
Then came the buzz and the soft click of death. The voice box let out one final wheeze and went completely silent.
Raito's next words came from his real voice—low, deadpan, and unmistakably unimpressed.
"But if it were my advice… I'd say stop whining. You're being a spoiled brat."
Akemi's eyes widened. "Wh—?"
But before she could react, Raito leapt backward like a ninja in pink fluff, bounding over the broken goons with the last remnants of agility he had in the suit.
From down the hall, voices began to echo—security, attendees, even Yumi's voice faintly among them.
Akemi took a step forward, then stopped.
She stared at the retreating mascot as he rounded a corner and vanished from view.
"That's the man from earlier isn't it...".