The convention photos from Nanning Blue Archive Only 2.0 are out, and I picked two of my favorites to share. This time I portrayed Hanaoka Yuzu from the Game Development Department. Preparing for this Nanning Blue Archive Only 2.0 event (part of the Nanning Anime Convention circuit) took considerable thought and care. First was this red wig—to recreate the fluffy texture from the game, I spent quite some time teasing and styling it. The final color saturation and the signature yellow halo accessory on top felt very true to the setting. For the costume, I chose a classic white ruffled maid dress over a black base, and the custom grayish-blue plaid necktie at the collar blended harmoniously with the overall palette. The black-and-white striped trim on the cuffs combined with the uniform styling gave off an approachable daily feel while retaining the unique identity of the Game Development Department.
On the day of the shoot, the photographer captured two distinct states. In the first shot, I angled my face slightly away from the camera, arms clasped naturally in front of my chest with a detached gaze; I was actually just waiting for the right light, but this casual moment turned out surprisingly soft and gentle. The second shot carried an entirely different mood: I held the long black-and-yellow prop gun, whose mechanical details and side white markings I had carefully checked. To meet everyone's expectations on-site, I dialed into a focused expression, aligning my gaze along the gun's top rail forward to strike a crit-fishing combat pose. As a member of the Game Development Department in a dedicated booth, how could I not aim with full focus?
The atmosphere at Nanning Blue Archive Only 2.0 was buzzing with excitement, and many fellow fans came over to interact. Everyone understood the Game Development Department memes and would ask how my critical hit rate was today. Posing with a gun to fish for crits has become part of the department's soul in everyone's hearts. In my usual cosplay, I pay close attention to prop handling and stances; to make the pose look less stiff, I practiced aiming the gun in front of the mirror at home several times, coordinating my gaze and micro-expressions to convey genuine focus. In these two Anime-style photography shots, side lighting gave the red hair rich dimension and made the black-and-white contrast of the maid outfit stand out vividly.
To me, cosplay is not only an interest, but a way to experience a character's life. When I put on this costume, wear the wig, and raise this prop gun, I genuinely feel like that introverted girl in the Game Development Department who holds her own vast inner universe. Collaborating with the on-site photographers—who guided my angles and gaze—helped me bring out the character's best state. Although the convention was packed, once entering shooting mode, the entire world seemed to focus onto that small space before the lens.
Reviewing the convention photos, I feel some styling details still have room for improvement, like the mounting angle of the yellow halo, which tended to slip at certain angles; next time, I'll build a sturdier internal support. The prop gun grip also needs to become more natural, as discovering the best tension points takes multiple shoots. In summary, this visit to Nanning Blue Archive Only 2.0 was immensely joyful. Meeting friends in the real world of 2D culture is meaningful in itself. Spending half a day in front of the booth as Hanaoka Yuzu remains a very special memory.