[Sunohara Kokona cosplay] A Wonderful and Fulfilling Day at Hangzhou Blue Archive Only

The very first thing I did after entering the venue was rush to a corner to look for a hot glue gun left on the floor by an unknown Sensei, because my prop gun had come loose from the bumps during luggage transit. Looking at the white prop gun in my hands that needed to be re-glued, I found a spot by the floor-to-ceiling windows and sat down to repair it. Luckily, the glue gun on the floor was still warm, and the melted glue solidified quickly. By the time everyone gathered around me for group photos in the second picture, the gun was firmly fixed without a single visible crack.

To be honest, when taking this solo photo, I was still privately stressing over the details. I was constantly conflicted about whether I had captured Kokona's distinct vibe of 'trying hard to act mature while still inherently feeling like a child,' especially given the real-life age gap between me and the character. To make up for this gap, I made special adjustments to my makeup—making my eye makeup rounder to give my eyes a more innocent and youthful look. I also chose clothing with a light and flowing texture, paired with fluffy animal ears and her iconic halo, hoping that the joyful atmosphere of the convention would help me immerse myself fully into the character.

The lighting at this Hangzhou Blue Archive Only venue was remarkably bright and airy. The sunlight streaming through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows shone onto my silver-white wig, capturing even the silky sheen of the hair strands. The design of the maid outfit cosplay was also very flexible for movement; whether crouching on the ground or bending down to interact, it never felt restrictive. The black bodice contrasted vividly with the white ruffled apron. Although the white stockings could easily get dirty while walking around, at a convention there's simply no time to worry about such details—my mind was completely consumed with collecting stamps from booths and taking photos with other attendees.

Being asked for photos by so many 'Senseis' was truly delightful because the atmosphere at Hangzhou Only was just so warm and welcoming. Fellow fans on-site were polite and truly understood the character. Every photo and interaction made me feel that all my cosplay efforts were well worth it. Everyone greeted me with 'Instructor Kokona!' and some even asked, 'May I pat your head?' That feeling of being recognized and addressed as the character instantly fills a cosplayer with a deep sense of accomplishment, wiping away all lingering doubts and anxieties.

The interaction with another Sensei in the second picture was another highlight of the day. We were chatting when the other person suddenly closed their eyes and got into character, so I naturally leaned in playfully, and the photographer captured that exact moment. While my primary intention was to portray Kokona's cuteness, having such candid expressions and body language captured felt even more like an authentic moment of having pure fun at a con.

February 22, 2026, was probably the most fulfilling day of cosplay I've had in recent years. Even though it started with the panic of repairing my prop gun, and the heavy crowds later made my wig a bit frizzy, the overall experience was fantastic. The lighting, backdrop props, and event schedule of Hangzhou Only were all executed wonderfully. Being able to attend as Kokona on this day and create so many joyful memories with everyone who loves this character made me feel truly blessed. Saying that February 22nd made me 'the happiest person in the world' is, for me, 100% the honest truth.