It took nearly a month of preparation for our Cunning Hares trio from deciding on the roles to the official shoot. The character I cosplayed this time was Anby Demara, while my two partners took on Nicole Demara and Nekomiya Mana respectively.
The highlight of the entire outfit has to be the yellow-and-black tactical vest and the Black tights outfit featuring side-tape branding details. Pairing black over-the-knee stockings with chunky yellow-and-black sneakers elongated the lower-body proportions, and when combined with headphones and silver short hair, Anby's calm yet subtly quirky combat-girl demeanor emerged immediately. To faithfully replicate the gear, we custom-ordered weapon props with built-in LED lights and a square tactical pouch. They carried a solid weight in hand, requiring focused arm tension to stabilize the center of gravity while striking various weapon-wielding poses.
The shooting venue was set in a modern building featuring an expansive curved glass dome. The weather was fantastic, with natural light cascading from above, making the entire space feel bright and airy. Best of all was the flooring—polished to a mirror finish, it cleanly reflected our poses and props, greatly enhancing the sense of space and visual depth. However, shooting on such a reflective surface had its challenges; a slight lapse in attention could easily catch the photographer's light stands or tripods in the reflection, so we were constantly adjusting our blocking and positioning to avoid reflection bloopers.
Each member of the Cunning Hares trio brought their own distinct charm. I took on a bit more of the physical labor, such as moving the black bar stool and hauling heavy props, since Anby naturally acts as the combat powerhouse of the team. Nicole Demara's long pink hair paired with black-and-white shorts exuded the commanding presence of a team leader, while Nekomiya Mana's oversized red-and-white animal ears combined with her red tactical gear delivered immense visual impact. We took turns trying staggered vertical standing positions to ensure all three stayed sharply in focus while naturally portraying the Cunning Hares' signature laid-back yet synchronized combat synergy.
To achieve the best visual results, we also tackled several demanding poses. For instance, in our tiered trio formation, the orientation of each person's legs and the angle of held weapons required repeated fine-tuning. The prop sword couldn't obscure facial features while still needing to showcase its high-tech details; combined with the black stockings and asymmetrical hemline, the entire silhouette looked exceptionally sharp and sleek.
Although the preparation and shooting process was quite tedious—including outdoor transit, costume changes, and maintaining wigs and props—and left us thoroughly exhausted, seeing the Cunning Hares trio from Zenless Zone Zero come together in the viewfinder brought immense satisfaction. The photographer's lighting was remarkably professional, seamlessly blending the three high-saturation colors of yellow, red, and pink into the cool-toned backdrop without clutter or harsh contrast. Through this collaboration, we truly brought the collective spirit of the Cunning Hares to life.