My schedule at the BW convention was packed to the brim this time. Because my primary goals were exploring the expo and catching up with friends, this photoshoot set only captured this single New Covenant look for Exusiai cosplay from Arknights.
When I initially decided to cosplay this version, it was the classic, handsome sharpness of the black, white, and red palette that won me over. The top is rich with geometric patterns and metallic trim; to faithfully recreate it, the belts around the waist, the little notebook, and that red vial were all hung in place one by one. The absolute highlight is this massive red cape emblazoned with jacquard patterns of stars and the moon, trimmed with blue stripes along the edge, looking extraordinarily majestic when walking. For the wig, I deliberately trimmed layered texture; while the red twin-tail style is faithful to the 2D character, running around the convention halls in it did feel a bit stuffy.
For the lower half of this outfit, pairing black shorts with over-the-knee White stockings and brown leather boots visually elongated leg proportions remarkably well, and I am quite pleased with how it translated onto camera. The long-necked stringed instrument prop held in my hands might look like I was effortlessly playing it in the photos, but it was far heavier than expected. Striking poses while holding it required serious core strength—especially during one-legged stances or when swooshing the cape—demanding that I maintain balance while keeping facial expressions under control, which was undeniably a physical workout.
The lighting inside the convention hall was actually quite complicated. Fortunately, the photographer was fantastic, scouting several spots with top lighting and utilizing bright on-site lightboxes as backgrounds, which resulted in a wonderfully theatrical, stage-like visual effect. Even though there was only this single set, I dedicated myself to coordinating every movement—such as miming playing the instrument, reaching out to interact, or stepping boldly forward—to let the dynamic flow of the cape show off to the fullest. Usually when doing cosplay, I rush through hectic outfit changes to hit multiple events; focusing entirely on a single set this time felt surprisingly refreshing, and right after wrapping up, I immediately joined the throngs of attendees exploring the expo floor. The joy of attending a convention lies not only in shopping sprees, but also in meeting so many passionate peers; exchanging costume-crafting tips across the halls created a wonderful atmosphere. With multi-layered fabrics, suiting up required an assistant's help to adjust the cape and waist accessories, ensuring nothing fell apart while walking. Despite the packed crowds, walking away with these satisfying Convention photos made this BW trip completely worthwhile. At the next convention, I will continue exploring more intriguing looks for Exusiai cosplay, hoping to bring characters of diverse styles to everyone!