Raito stared down at Detective Yumi Aikawa with a blank expression as she finished explaining the situation.
"The suspect… was just an unwell mascot?" he repeated, his tone flat.
Yumi nodded, looking equal parts embarrassed and exasperated. "Heat exhaustion, actually. The poor guy inside just got out of the suit to take a break but passed out backstage before he could cool himself down. EMS took him out the back without causing a scene, but now—well, we have a big problem."
Raito arched an eyebrow. "And what does this have to do with me?"
Yumi crossed her arms, lowering her voice. "The city assigned officers to make sure this year's Kawai Kitty Con went smoothly. It's a big PR event, especially with all the kids here. Losing the mascot halfway through the day is not ideal. We need someone to step in."
His stare didn't waver. "No."
Yumi blinked. "What?"
"No," Raito said again, turning to walk away.
But he stopped.
Kurai's voice echoed in his mind, amused. "Come on, Raito. You've worn worse for less noble reasons probably when you were a mercenary."
He looked down at Emi, who had fallen asleep again in his arms, a small Kawai Kitty rattle was clutched between her fingers now.
The thought of being able to wear the official mascot costume… an authentic one from the event… It would absolutely qualify as a collector's item. Rare. Limited. Exclusive.
He sighed.
"If I do it," Raito said, turning back to Yumi, "I want to keep the costume afterward."
Yumi blinked. "You—what?"
"And I'm not standing in line anymore," he continued. "You'll take care of Emi while I'm working, and you'll get everything else on my merchandise list."
He pulled a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.
Yumi opened it and immediately looked horrified.
"This… this is three pages long," she whispered. "Does Emi really need all of this?"
Raito didn't even blink. "Yes."
There was a silence between them. She stared at him. He stared back.
"…This is for you, isn't it?" she asked slowly.
"Yes."
She sighed hard enough that her bangs blew upward.
"You're serious," she muttered, scanning the list again. "Do you even know how long the line is for the limited-edition Kitty-chan transformation wand?"
"I marked it as priority."
Yumi pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm starting to think Emi might be the least spoiled member of your household."
"She hasn't earned her place yet," Raito said, adjusting the strap on the baby carrier.
Yumi muttered something under her breath but finally handed him a bag containing the Kawai Kitty mascot costume. The bright colors shimmered slightly under the overhead lighting.
"Fine. Go backstage and suit up. I'll hold onto Emi and try to survive your shopping list," she said, reaching out to gently lift the sleeping baby from Raito's chest. Emi stirred but settled quickly in Yumi's arms.
Raito looked at the costume for a moment, then turned away, his footsteps echoing as he made his way toward the staff entrance.
Behind him, Yumi stared down at the baby now in her arms and then at the list again.
"Kawai Kitty sticker tattoos, plushie backpack, rainbow sparkle figure, collector's mug, rare acrylic stand… Who is this guy?"
And with that thought, she disappeared into the crowd, while Raito disappeared into a different kind of role.
---
Backstage was a flurry of activity. Staff and handlers rushed around, communicating through headsets and walkie-talkies, making sure everything was running smoothly. In the center of it all stood the Kawai Kitty Statue—bright, pastel-colored, with the signature oversized head and glittery bow.
Raito stood before it, expression unreadable.
He unbuttoned his shirt slowly, neatly folding it and setting it on the table beside him. His jacket followed, then the undershirt, revealing a surprisingly defined physique beneath—lean muscle traced with old scars that caught the overhead lights.
The two female staffers assigned to assist the mascot swallowed in unison. One of them quickly turned around, pretending to check something on a clipboard. The other tried her best to act nonchalant while stealing a quick glance.
Why is he so composed about this? she thought, cheeks dusted pink. Is he a model? A bodyguard? No way this guy's just a fan...
Raito, of course, noticed none of it. He simply stretched his arms once—practical, efficient—and stepped toward the mascot costume.
"Do I need to remove anything else?" he asked, completely unaware of the flustered air around him.
Everything... one of them thought to herself but stopped herself from saying it.
"N-No! You're good!" the other said quickly, handing over the lower half of the costume. "Just slide into this part first."
The suit fit surprisingly well, albeit a bit snug around the shoulders. Raito adjusted the oversized mascot head last, letting it click into place with a soft snap. A soft mechanical hum activated near his ear as the voice modulator turned on.
The taller assistant stepped forward and tapped the side of the helmet. "Okay, so the voice box will play your lines. All you need to do is greet the fans, do some of the classic poses, and—uh—wave. A lot. Just act like the real Kawai Kitty. You'll do great!"
Raito nodded once from within the plush mask, silent and composed.
"You're, um... surprisingly cool-headed about this," the shorter one said, trying to meet where she assumed his eyes were.
"I've seen worse," Raito replied flatly, the voice coming out in a peppy, pre-recorded "Let's sparkle together, nya~!" that made both women jump slightly.
He moved toward the stage entrance with all the calm of a soldier walking into battle.
"Good luck, Mr. Kitty!" one of the assistants called out, biting her lip to stop from laughing.
Raito turned slightly, gave a thumbs-up, then stepped into the light.
On the convention floor, a small crowd was already gathering at the Kawai Kitty photo zone. Children clapped excitedly. Parents pulled out phones. Fans in homemade cosplay squealed.
"IT'S HER!" one shouted. "KAWAI KITTY'S HERE!"
Raito walked forward, surrounded by cheers, the massive costume swaying gently with his measured steps.
He lifted one paw and waved slowly. The voice box played, "Always keep your paws positive, nya~!"
With every step, he felt the absurdity of it all—yet he remained focused.
He was here for the merchandise. The experience. The legacy.
And if that meant dancing in a mascot suit while a voice chirped out pre-recorded cat puns?
So be it.
---
The line had finally died down, but Akemi Inoue barely noticed.
Her pen hovered above the autograph sheet, fingers idle. Her thoughts kept circling back to that guy—the one with the baby. The unbothered, plainly-dressed, deep-voiced guy who had somehow ruined her mood with nothing but honesty and an annoyingly calm tone.
Most fans were predictable. They came with shaking hands, awkward stammers, or overblown declarations of love. A few even tried cheesy pickup lines that made her want to gouge her ears out. But this guy? No fanfare. No attempt to flatter. Just... there.
"I came for Kawai Kitty's signature. Not yours."
Her hand tightened slightly around the pen. Who the hell said that to her face?
"Earth to Akemi," her assistant Haruka's voice cut through her spiral. "You're still thinking about him, huh?"
Akemi blinked and leaned back with a fake laugh. "Please. I've already forgotten about him."
"You're doodling angry eyebrows on Kawai Kitty."
Akemi looked down. Her last three signatures had inadvertently turned into scribbled expressions of barely-suppressed rage. "…Tch."
Haruka leaned closer, her voice lowering. "Seriously, go cool off. You've been in good-girl mode all morning. You need a break."
Akemi groaned dramatically. "I can't just waltz off, Haru. You know how tight the security is. My parents would have me on a leash if they could."
"That's why," Haruka said, pulling a plain white mask and large sunglasses from her purse, "you're going in disguise. Like a normal person. Just for an hour."
Akemi's pout transformed into a grin as she snatched them. "You're my favorite assistant."
"I'm your only assistant," Haruka muttered, pushing her gently. "Go. I'll handle the guards."
Akemi slipped into a hoodie and tugged the mask and glasses on. A thrill ran through her—finally, a chance to move without cameras in her face.
The con floor was packed, buzzing with music, laughter, and the shrill voices of vendors selling everything from plushies to limited-edition figurines. Akemi had been the voice of Kawai Kitty since the show's first episode, yet it had been years since she'd seen the convention from the ground level.
Her eyes darted across booths and displays, glittering with pink and pastel colors. She grabbed a quick snack from a vendor and nibbled as she strolled, keeping her head low and her hoodie up.
Then she saw the mascot.
Kawai Kitty herself—towering in full plush glory, surrounded by a crowd of kids and fans. The mascot waved, danced a little, and struck silly poses for selfies.
But what really caught her attention wasn't the costume—it was how natural the person inside seemed. No awkward stumbles or nervous energy. The way the mascot moved, like they knew the character inside and out, even when swarmed by attention.
Wow, Akemi thought, hiding a smirk behind her mask. They finally hired someone who knows what they're doing.
The kids around the mascot screamed with delight, and the voice box chirped out one of her own recorded lines: "Friendship sparkles brighter than the stars!"
Akemi chuckled despite herself. "Okay, okay, not bad."
She leaned casually against a booth, watching the mascot work the crowd like a seasoned pro. She had no idea that the person inside was the same man who had irked her earlier that day—Raito, now hidden beneath a giant plush smile and a swirl of pink fur.
Still watching, she murmured to herself, "Whoever you are… you've got decent moves for a grown man in a cat suit."
She popped the last of her snack in her mouth, adjusted her sunglasses, and slipped back into the crowd
For now.