[Kirari Momobami Cosplay] Kakegurui at Walpurgisnacht: An Introvert's Social Awakening

Walpurgisnacht was truly addicting—attending for the second time, it was still that feeling of being swept forward by the intoxicating energy. This time, I specifically did Kirari Momobami cosplay, combining a red and black uniform with silver-white braided twin tails, topped off with her iconic blue lips and heterochromia lenses, which turned out exceptionally photogenic under neon lights and dim venue settings. The candid shot of me sitting on the floor in the photos is my personal favorite; the texture of black tights paired with a plaid skirt looked stunning under stage lights. Though the posture is a bit casual, that lazy yet controlling atmosphere hits just the right vibe.

In reality, I'm extremely introverted at heart. Every time I go to an ACG drinking party like this, I stand there like a log, not knowing who to strike up a conversation with, resorting to frantically snapping photos of others or fiddling with props. But the vibe at Walpurgisnacht is truly different; everyone was so enthusiastic, actively coming over to ask for photos, and some even played mini-games with me using playing cards (even though my reaction time was a bit slow). The duo photo in Picture 3 was one I actively approached a fellow fan for; the girl with the tongue piercing had such an overwhelming aura that I completely froze when she pulled me in close, but the resulting photo turned out unexpectedly dynamic. This time I also brought the Student Council ID badge and gold-bordered cards; although the venue was dark, the props' texture popped beautifully under camera flashes.

Honestly, the charm of cosplay lies in borrowing a character's shell to accomplish things you'd never dare to do normally. An introverted person with social anxiety like me can only summon the courage to raise a peace sign in a crowd or sit comfortably on the ground showing off leg lines after putting on a wig and painting my lips blue. The organizers of Walpurgisnacht really know how to curate the mood—from the lighting and playlist to those hidden gambling easter eggs, every single element hits the exact spot for anime fans. Next time, I plan to do a bit of homework in advance and learn a few of the character's classic quotes so I don't go blank when handed a microphone.

I edited this photo set myself for a long time, trying my best to restore skin and lip tones close to character settings while preserving the hazy venue light sources. I practiced the card-holding pose in Picture 4 for over ten minutes—testing how to position my fingers to look skilled without seeming forced, only to discover that relaxing naturally actually looked best on camera. The Shanghai venue this time was also super atmospheric; alternating red and blue light strips along with confetti on the floor yielded a sense of story with every casual shot. Although I didn't win any gambling games, I won my own happiness, and that's more than enough. When the next Walpurgisnacht comes around, I'll wear this red and black uniform again, hoping to be even more outgoing—less like a stiff log, and with a bit more of the Student Council President's boldness. After all, I might never be a genius gambler in reality, but in the world of cosplay, I can borrow this outfit to be someone fearless for a single night.