[Shimoe Koharu cosplay] Celebrating Birthday with Sensei in Blue Archive's Classroom

Releasing this Part 2 of Shimoe Koharu today perfectly coincides with the character's birthday, which can be considered an incredibly clever timing. It actually took quite some preparation time from getting this costume to the official shoot, especially the black wing props on the back and that iconic pink halo on top of the head—the texture restoration looks pretty decent. To fit Koharu's earnest yet somewhat shy and awkward feeling in the setting, the classroom, library, and ball storage locker room were chosen as backgrounds for the shoot, hoping to create a realistic atmosphere of daily school life.

Compared to Part 1 which focused on character close-ups, this Part 2 set of photos experiments more with different compositions of squatting, leaning against desks, and extending leg lines. The black sailor-collar uniform paired with the bright red pleated skirt, along with the white loose slouch socks and thick-soled loafers, indeed offers very rich visual layering. Every time I put on the beret and wings, I feel like I've truly stepped into that world full of everyday wonders. The shooting process was hard work but also very interesting, especially when striking poses inside that iron mesh cart piled with basketballs and volleyballs; it felt like quite a test of balance, but the moment the final product came out, I felt everything was completely worth it.

As a lover of Koharu, I'm very glad to recreate this character's traits in my own way. Personally, my processing of the photo set's overall color tone leans toward a softer natural light feel, so the clashing contrast of red and black won't appear too abrupt, but instead highlights the translucent purity of a high school student. Shooting this type of academy-themed cosplay is indeed a major test of expressiveness, because the closer the background elements are to daily life, the more you need to convey the character's personality through expressions and movements. In terms of prop details, such as the badges on the clothes, the pink tie, and that beret, I tried my best to fine-tune the details according to the reference images. Whether it's the shadows cast by the light on the wing feathers or the costume folds when running or leaning, they are beautifully presented in the final photos.

After posting this set, I actually feel quite sentimental because on the day of the shoot, our entire team ran back and forth in the corridors and the library just to find the right classroom lighting. In fact, good cosplay works are not just about looking alike on the outside, but more importantly, about being able to showcase some of the character's own personality arcs. With this set of Koharu released today, I hope friends who see the photos can feel that unique sincerity and effort belonging to her. The photographer and makeup artist were truly amazing, and I will continue to work hard to enhance my expressiveness for mecha-musume and Anime girl characters like this.