After finishing the hair and makeup styling for Minazuki Hotaru and changing into this classic black, white, and red Sailor suit, I instantly felt immersed in character. In the Galgame Amatsutsumi, Hotaru has that playful, subtly mischievous 'little devil' sister persona, so when shooting this photo set, I specifically chose that iconic pose of pinching her ahoge (cowlick) and winking. Many of you are probably familiar with that meme expression used to act cute and play dumb when unsure of how to answer. While it looks simple, recreating the perfect curve of that ahoge required meticulous wig adjustments, and raising my arm to pinch the hair while keeping an effortless facial expression really made my arms sore during the shoot. Although the outfit appears to be a standard student uniform, the neckline tailoring and red-and-white color-blocking accents, paired with this bob-cut wig, exude a rich ACG aesthetic.
The lighting on the day of the shoot was wonderful. For makeup, to match the character, I gave the eyeliner a slight upward flick, wore light-colored contact lenses, and used lip gloss to create a dewy, glossy sheen. Cosplaying this character isn't just about the clothing—the real challenge lies in capturing her lively facial expressions. As a character from a classic title, encountering fellow fans who recognize the work brings immense joy. During shooting, I also strove to recreate the essence of the original visual novel CG art, hoping this ahoge and winking moment conveys Hotaru's charm and playful spirit.
This marks a meaningful milestone in my Anime Life Archive. Even though she originates from a Galgame, faithfully bringing her to life allows me to truly appreciate her unique allure. Instead of staging an extravagant set, using a minimalist white wall backdrop allowed the facial nuances and styling details of the Sailor suit to take center stage. I hope to have more opportunities to express the depth of vibrant heroines across various works through my own creative interpretations.