Shooting Hoshimi Miyabi (Hoshimi Miyabi cosplay) this time took considerable thought and effort, from early preparations to the final shots. The layers of this Cosplay outfit are very distinct: a white dress shirt, black tie, draped teal jacket with eye-catching yellow color-blocking at the shoulders—the overall color palette is dynamic yet retains the sharp cleanliness of a uniform. The trickiest part was that pair of black Bunny ears; to secure their angle properly, I tested multiple hair clips and wire supports, finally getting them to look naturally erect and poised before the camera.
We shot two sets across outdoor and indoor locations, and the selection here features the vintage indoor scene. The first set featured red brick walls and illuminated light boxes, paired with a retro red rotary dial telephone and an English typewriter, giving off the classic vibe of an old-school recording studio or secret base. When sitting on the edge of the bar counter, the photographer guided me to relax as much as possible with legs naturally crossed. The combination of Black stockings and black ankle boots had fantastic texture under the warm lighting, with distinct details on the metal zippers and chunky heels. In Photo 4, a wine glass was added as a prop; holding the glass took several attempts to avoid glare on the glass while maintaining a cold, detached gaze, taking a dozen shots to get the right take.
Another scene moved to the leather sofa area, where the dark blue wall in the background displayed several sci-fi posters alongside vintage televisions and audio equipment, creating a more intimate, subdued ambiance. Here, I mainly experimented with blade-wielding poses, resting the long scabbard against the sofa edge or propping it directly on the floor. The weight of this weapon was more substantial than expected; the cord wrapping around the hilt felt great, though holding it one-handed for extended poses made the wrist a bit sore. However, to faithfully recreate the character's temperament, that tension of being ready to unsheathe the katana at any second was essential.
Black stockings and ankle boots were key focal points of this styling, especially in the seated sofa poses where leg lines were elongated beautifully, and the side zipper design of the heeled boots added extra toughness to the overall look. The red knotted cord armor on the arm was also a standout detail, which, paired with black tactical gloves, fit the combat style seamlessly. The wig was a custom straight black long wig with blunt bangs, trimmed carefully so that wearing the Bunny ears wouldn't obstruct the line of sight.
During the shoot, the photographer utilized contrasting warm and cool lighting. For example, behind the sofa scene was a beam of bluish-purple ambient light, while a warm yellow key light was provided from the front, highlighting facial contours while making the reflections on the leather sofa and metallic props more three-dimensional. The close-up lighting on the blade's edge was superb—overhead light fell across the blade, pulling a sharp highlight streak, and I immediately knew this shot would be impactful.
In truth, this Cosplay outfit isn't overly heavy for daily wear, but combined with the long katana and Bunny ears, frequently adjusting angles during the shoot still brought some fatigue. Yet seeing expressions and postures in the final photos that align so well with the character setting made all the prep work worthwhile. Whether in the composure of sitting or the cold sharpness of holding the blade, I did my best to capture the dual essence of dignity and swagger that defines Section 6 Chief Hoshimi Miyabi in Zenless Zone Zero. The vintage props also gave me room to improvise—such as interacting with the telephone and typewriter, breaking the monolithic combat impression and adding a touch of everyday charm.
The overall shooting experience was very complete, from prop prep to on-set coordination, with great chemistry with the photographer. I hope this photo set allows everyone to feel this character's calm, powerful aura deep inside the Hollows.