Vol 1 Chapter 18 – Kamera Komachi

“Hello, Tsukishima-san!”

“Sorry, Toudou-chan. The line for the shipping service to send my fan comics home was packed, so I’m late.”

Kameko.

In my past life, it was short for kamera kozou, or “camera boy,” but I hear in this world it’s short for Kamera Komachi.

And apparently, this woman, Tsukishima-san, is a famous one.

A tall, rather thin woman came running toward us, sweating.

Toudou-san had explained earlier that she was someone she’d met back when she herself was a Kameko taking pictures of male cosplayers for lewd reasons.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kajiwara Ichirou.”

“Yep, yep, I’m Tsukishima. I heard all about it from Toudou-chan! Actually, I was curious about you ever since I checked out your circle’s social media. I can’t believe the talked-about male salesclerk would show up in cosplay!”

“Awesome!”

As she said it, she shot me a sharp thumbs-up.

Tsukishima-san seems to be a very high-energy person.

She immediately began setting up her camera in the cosplay booth where we were waiting.

clatter, clatter

“You’re just my type, Kajiwara-kun, so big sis Tsukishima is gonna give it her all today! Looking forward to the shoot!!”

I wanted to offer to help, but that camera was clearly expensive.

I guess I’ll just make the offer.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Oh! No, I’m alright. Thank you for the thought.”

“Kajiwara-kun, you can’t get in her way. I get that you want to be helpful, though.”

After Tsukishima-san declined, Toudou-san stepped in to stop me.

“Would I really be in the way?”

“A Kameko has her own way of doing things. You can’t interfere in the sacred territory of her hobby!! A cosplayer’s job is simply to be photographed well. Besides, that camera costs at least 300,000 yen. If you clumsily touched it and broke it, you could never pay for it.”

She made a very logical argument.

Well, I guess she’s right.

“Unless… you wanna pay with your body? In a sexual sense. If so, I could somehow sell my kidney to pay Tsukishima-san back, and then I’d be the one you’d have to repay with your body.”

“I’d rather you didn’t sell off your kidney, Toudou-san, so let’s not.”

I shrugged, replying to Toudou-san’s black humor.

Alright, I’ll just wait quietly for her to set up the camera.

“Kajiwara-kun, look over here for a sec.”

“Okay.”

At the sound of President Takahashi’s voice, I turned to her with a huge smile.

click

A photo was taken with her smartphone.

I wonder if it came out well.

“Segawa-chan, sorry, but could you take a picture of me and Kajiwara-kun together while we have a chance?”

“Of course. Should we all take turns within the circle?”

Before I knew it, President Takahashi had moved close to me, standing right up against my side.

Should I be striking some kind of pose?

My first instinct was to show off my muscles, so I hit a modest side chest pose, trying not to rip my collared shirt.

Might as well take pictures with everyone, one by one.

“Um, for my picture, please have me punching you in the stomach.”

“Why a picture that looks like the scene of a crime?”

I was baffled by Emma-san’s request, but then I remembered that’s all she ever draws in her fan comics.

Things like being abducted and confined by mafia men in black suits, or being unilaterally assaulted by a salaryman in a black suit.

Is that what she’s into? It’s just in the 2D world, right? Surely that’s not her fetish in 3D. I’d like to think so, anyway.

Oh, right. In my past life, there was that whole genre of M-dudes who liked being forced into things by women.

And I had a perfectly normal understanding of that genre.

It’s not good to look down on people’s fetishes, so I obediently let her lightly touch her fist to my stomach.

Emma-san’s face turned beet red, and she seemed to be getting excited about something.

I don’t really mind, but seriously, is this person going to be okay? I’m genuinely worried Emma-san is going to get hooked by some weirdo.

“What time does the photoshoot at the cosplay booth start?”

I deflected to change the subject.

I don’t really get the hearts of women.

And I don’t have much confidence in my ability to cater to Emma-san’s particular tastes.

Tsukishima-san read the room and deliberately helped steer the conversation away.

“Officially, it starts at one in the afternoon, so you still have a little time. Oh, if you’re going to take pictures, you should take your circle group photos now. No one will get mad at you for taking pics with your own group before it starts. Besides, once it begins, you won’t have a spare moment for that.”

“I won’t?”

“Nope. You should not underestimate the popularity of male cosplayers. Especially since you’re underage, right? The ero-starved Kameko will come swarming. And besides—”

Tsukishima-san’s face turned serious as she murmured.

“I dunno how to put this, but… you’re erotic. The fact that you’re underage makes it even more so. What is with that packed, muscular body? How do you even get like that?”

Is that true? I have a good grasp of the value of men in this world, but I don’t really understand my own. It’s a little hard for me to judge just how much demand there is for a super-buff macho man.

“Kajiwara-kun, is it o-okay if we hold hands? I’m gonna show this to my little sister who makes fun of me for having absolutely no luck with men. I’ll brag to her that there’s such a great guy in my club.”

Toudou-san called out to me.

I didn’t mind at all.

“Of course, go ahead.”

The two of us held hands, and Segawa-san snapped a photo with her smartphone.

After that, I took a picture with Segawa-san, and with that, we’d finished taking photos within our circle.

Tsukishima-san, who had been watching us with her arms crossed, finally let out a “Right,” then looked around and announced,

“You’ll all probably get some jealous stares, so it’s better if everyone from the circle stands a little farther away. I’m going to run the show from here on out, so don’t you worry.”

“Please take care of Kajiwara-kun.”

President Takahashi bowed her head respectfully to Tsukishima-san.

The moment my club members moved away, the Kameko—the Kamera Komachi—started to gather.

Every single one of them was holding an expensive-looking camera—and about 30 of them were now surrounding me.

I was completely encircled.

Wait, this many people show up for this?

“Isn’t this a lot of people?!”

“Nah, if there’s an underage male cosplayer, a crowd this big will gather in no time…”

Tsukishima-san said with a completely nonchalant expression.

Really? Is that how it works? Maybe I was a little naive about how this reality operates.

“The cosplay booth photoshoot will now begin.”

A female volunteer in cosplay announced the start time.

Tsukishima-san immediately took the lead and started calling out to the crowd.

“Alright, the cosplay photoshoot is starting! I’ve received permission from the cosplayer, Kajiwara-kun, to act as the organizer this time! I have his special permission to continue shooting the entire time, but for everyone else, please form a line! Each person will have five minutes to shoot, with a maximum of 10 photos!! As a rule, posting these photos on social media is forbidden!! You must first send me a direct message on social media with the photos you wish to post to receive permission!!”

Instantly, a line of Kameko formed next to Tsukishima-san.

No one seemed to have a problem with the rules.

I assume this is Tsukishima-san’s area of expertise, so I won’t say anything.

My only concern is that photos can be posted to social media with permission—but, well, I doubt my mom would say anything.

The only time my mother gets angry is when I’m not acting with confidence.

“Thank you for this opportunity!”

The first Kameko in line bowed her head politely.

“If you have a favorite scene from the original work, let me know. I’ll have him do the pose for you.”

“Okay!”

Tsukishima-san spoke kindly to the Kameko.

Wow, Tsukishima-san is really taking charge. Just as you’d expect from someone Toudou-san introduced.

The only problem is—

“Excuse me, Tsukishima-san. I love the original work, but I haven’t read it so thoroughly that I can strike a pose the instant someone names a scene…”

“I know. Don’t worry.”

tap, tap

Tsukishima-san tapped her temple with her index finger.

“Every pose for the character you’re playing is packed right here in this brain of mine. You just have to follow my instructions without a single worry, Kajiwara-kun!”

“…”

Tsukishima-san is incredible. As expected of someone Toudou-san knows. I was so impressed I was at a complete loss for words.