The twins, Taylor and Amy, could barely contain their excitement as they raced toward the entrance of AnimeExpo, their dream destination. Every summer, they’d begged their older sister Maya to take them, and every year, she’d shrugged them off with a “Maybe next time.” But this time, Maya was busy with her college friends, including her best friend Lex, exploring a mall they’d all been eager to check out.
This meant freedom. Pure, exhilarating freedom for the twins.
They were here, and it was going to be epic.
Taylor adjusted the three swords strapped across his waist, completing his Zoro cosplay from One Piece. He’d spent hours perfecting the look, from the bandana around his arm to the green sash. Beside him, Amy fiddled with the intricate hairpiece that complemented her Shinobu cosplay from Demon Slayer, her violet eyes narrowed in concentration as she adjusted her fake katana.
"Think Maya’s having as much fun at the mall with Lex as we are?" Amy asked with a smirk.
"Not a chance," Taylor replied, chuckling. "She’s probably stuck browsing clothes or something. I bet she’d be totally jealous if she saw us here."
They both shared a grin, then pushed through the crowded entry, marveling at the sight before them.
The convention center was packed with fellow fans dressed as every imaginable anime character. They passed a towering mech suit, a perfect Naruto, and even a gang of characters from Attack on Titan with towering prop weapons. The vibrant colors, bustling sounds, and sheer energy of the place made them feel like they’d walked into a new world.
"This is insane," Amy breathed, her eyes wide. "Do you think we'll actually see any anime premieres? Or maybe we’ll catch some exclusive sneak peeks of next season’s shows!"
"Only one way to find out!" Taylor shouted as he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the Exhibit Hall. Vendors shouted out special deals, cosplayers posed for photos, and somewhere in the distance, the faint sound of J-pop added an extra layer of excitement.
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The Ultimate Convention Checklist
The twins whipped out their checklist, an itemized plan for the day. They had spent hours perfecting it down to the minute:
1. Visit the Exhibit Hall for exclusive merch.
2. Stop by Treasure Trove for mystery bags.
3. Visit the Artist Alley for custom posters and keychains.
4. Check out the Courtyard cosplay contest.
5. Catch the exclusive anime premieres and panels.
They made a beeline for the Exhibit Hall first. Inside, the vendors’ tables were stacked high with limited-edition figures, art prints, and custom-made accessories. Taylor ogled a replica of Zoro’s swords while Amy contemplated a sword that looked suspiciously like Shinobu’s.
But then, Taylor spotted the perfect souvenir: a massive plush of a chibi anime character they both loved. “We’ve got to get this,” he whispered, clutching it like a treasure.
"Not if I get it first," Amy taunted, snatching it out of his hands and running down the aisle, laughing. They wove in and out of the crowd, their spirits soaring with a kind of joy they hadn’t felt in ages.
But as they ran, Amy couldn’t shake a feeling. “You know, it’s weird not having Maya around,” she admitted, once they stopped for breath.
“Yeah,” Taylor said, his expression softening. “Wonder if she’s thinking about us right now…or if she’s caught up hanging out with Lex and the others.”
They shared a moment of quiet, thinking about their big sister. But before they could linger, the sounds of laughter and excitement around them pulled them back in.
Snacks and Surprises
With their checklist halfway completed, the twins decided to grab some food. They ended up with armfuls of snacks: Pocky sticks, takoyaki, and, of course, boba tea. As they munched, they joked about the endless rows of fans and how their sister would’ve rolled her eyes at the sight.
"Imagine if Maya were here," Amy said, laughing. "She’d be dragging us away from all the fun just to take pictures."
“Right? I bet she’d make us go to every ‘educational’ panel,” Taylor added with a mock eye roll.
As the day went on, they began checking off items from their list. Every corner of the convention held something new and thrilling. They posed with a gigantic Pikachu, joined a dance circle, and managed to snag some limited-edition pins that would make their friends jealous.
Finally, as the day started winding down, Taylor pointed to a crowd gathering near one of the screening rooms. “Premiere time?”
“Premiere time!” Amy confirmed, her face lighting up.
They joined the line, buzzing with excitement over seeing exclusive clips of new anime. The anticipation was almost too much, but as they settled into their seats and the lights dimmed, they knew this was the perfect way to end their day.
Little did they know, the "perfect day" was about to take a dark and terrifying turn.