@ERode@Duoya@WilliwawOrbit Portal Company Investor Booth - Dianoid, District 15
Had it been anywhere but at Kanacon, the representative flagged down by Yu-ri would likely have been just another suit, a faceless man or woman who would have been utterly forgettable beyond the details of the company they had been hired to shill for. That was the nature of the investor booth, where many businesses failed to produce even a single individual with any form of charisma to reassure existing and potential shareholders that they would be profitable.
However, this booth was at Kanacon. And the Orbit Portal Company was not a business that lacked in interesting individuals. As expected of a company that called the walking, asymmetrical fashion disaster known to the world as "Ladylee Tangleroad" their Chief Executive Officer, the representative answering Yu-ri's questions had also strayed from what society deemed to be correct fashion, albeit to a far lesser extent that her employer. Her black suit and white dress shirt were akin to those worn by employees of other, less space-focused companies, but the blue necktie snugly hanging from her neck was covered in five-pointed stars (an inaccurate but easily recognisable depiction of the actual astronomical objects). A fashion faux-pas, but one that could be considered "eccentric" rather than disastrous.
But the real "ugh, no honey" was above the neck. The combination of a dyed-pink faux-hawk, plus the visor made to replicate the famous shades worn by Kanamin's rival in Integral, was a mistake that could only be made by the youth. In the past, this would one day go unacknowledged, but the prevalence of social media meant that Megumi Motome, age twenty-six, would have to deal with the consequences of her fashion indiscretions for the remainder of her adult life.
Of course, given her choice of employment, she was at least surrounded by fellow deficient individuals.
"I certainly have a minute," she said warmly to the middle schooler who had called her over. "What burning questions do Sakugawa have for our company?"
---
Haruma's chosen representative was less of a weirdo.
Kyuuichiro Idemitsu (twenty-nine, twice divorced, father of two) also wore a suit (though both jacket and trousers were navy), but his was far plainer, having chosen not to pursue a childish necktie design like his fellow Orbit Portal Company employee. The only major standouts were that he had chosen to wear a light blue plaid waistcoat (the colour of which was shared with his tie), and that around his waist was an utility belt containing Kanamin's wand, a Bible that had clearly been stolen from an American hotel somewhere, and a walkie-talkie.
He did have a shock of black hair too, but that was less a lack of fashion and more a lack of morning self-grooming (he had chosen not to brush his hair before leaving for the convention).
"I am Kyuuichiro Idemitsu."
That was the response given to Haruma as he politely, but tersely, accepted the teenager's business card. There was no acknowledgement of the minor faux-pas in business card exchange etiquette, because he was willing to produce his own, personal card as well (plus the company's) to provide to the Noriaki student.
"That isn't something I would mind," the representative continued. "We have brokers who can assist you. If you're interested, I can -"
He trailed off at Beppu's arrival.
"I can ... wait for you two to finish."
@DarkwolfX37Stage - Dianoid, District 15
All concerts needed security personnel, and Iguchi's upcoming performance was no different. If Shion were to look around the stage area (which still wasn't fully filled given that the concert had yet to begin), she would notice a black-clad individual not too far from her standing in the shadow of a balcony overhang. An armband with the word "SECURITY" could be easily distinguished, but the rest of the garb wasn't exactly that of a normal security guard. Particularly the helmet hiding their identity.
In fact, they seemed to be separate from the rest of the guards.
Catching sight of Shion already present, however, the black-clad individual waved.
@Krayzikk@Plank SinatraMagi☆Mint Chip Ice Cream - Dianoid, District 15
Before the dawn of the Anthropocene, primates had already been enslaved to the divine ambrosia known as sugar.
Orangutan and chimpanzee would spend their days in the glades searching for ripe fruit and sweet nectar, to give worship to the sweetness that sustained their monkey brains. For sweetness was a signature of more sugar, and with more of that heavenly hydrocarbon, the greater the edge primate could possess over their rivals, whether they be predator or fellow ape. So the primate palate honed itself. It refined itself. Sugar was strength, so it selected for sweeter. If the monkey that loved fruit was the monkey that would be king, then the monkey tongue would develop a taste for those children of their home trees.
Even when ape left the forest, their worship did not change. In fact, that preference extended beyond mere fruit. From the honey of the bees to the saps of the maple, the primate chose to embrace sugar in all forms. It allowed its sweet tooth to guide its path into the light.
And today, that light had become ice cream.
With regards to sugar, no difference existed between the nerd and the ape. Had one dressed a
gorilla in the garb of Magical Powered Kanamin, it was inevitable that they too would seek out Magi☆Mint Chip. The special edition, limited time ice cream recipe that could only be found in the halls of the Dianoid. None could resist it. Nerd, monkey or some hybrid of both were united in their quest for the creamy, sweet wealth in the ice cream.
If there was one difference, then it would be that apes were infinitely more tolerable.
They could not speak, and thus were far less inane.
"I saw Cosplay Girl Olivia!"
"Really? Wow, did you get her autograph?"
"No, she was airborne. That jet engine of hers is just too sweet."
"Big mood."
The young man stared straight ahead, the inane chatter of his customers drifting into one ear and out the other. After the indignities he had suffered during a prior night, he had discovered that what once would incite his choler now seemed so paltry and insignificant to him. He could now tolerate the inelegant blubbering of the common man, though it tarnished his sense of elegance to admit so. However, it was also a situation of necessity: as disgustingly debilitating it was to debase himself through such dreadful deeds, it was his duty, and to approach it without any professionalism or subtlety would only bring greater shame.
"Your Magi☆Mint Chip is 900 yen," he declared, the register chiming beneath his skilled fingers before he handed over the customers' strange purchase. "Please, enjoy your day."
To his left, an individual wearing a deformed facsimile of the fictional protagonist turned to face him.
"My friend, you look like you want to 'blow off steam', yes?" asked his comrade from within the costume with unfettered joy, voice distorted by the technological wonders of Academy City to replicate Yuka Iguchi's role. "Do you want to 'take five'?"
"No. I am able to handle this," replied the young man stone-faced. "However, why are we here?"
Why were they at an anime convention in the first place? Why had they lowered themselves to sell Magi☆Mint Chips? He could not comprehend the reasoning behind their presence.
"When you feel a bit 'under the weather', as they say, it's hard to do things you like, right?" mused the costume lackadaisically. "I wouldn't know, but we can 'get a leg up' on our reputation if we can hold 'their feet to the fire', yes? That is the saying?"
"Again, I do not speak English."
The costume shrugged, as costumes were wont to do.
"Ah well," his comrade said. "We have been 'press-ganged' as volunteers, but we can still 'have a blast', right? And next time, she can 'pick up the tab' inst -"
The costume caught sight of more customers.
"- oh, welcome! Would you like some Magi☆Mint Chips?"
