[Koharu cosplay] Blue Archive: Afternoon Tea Time Log with Mika-senpai

This photo set was shot specifically for Koharu cosplay from Blue Archive. To recreate Koharu's everyday state of wanting to look yet being afraid to, while getting easily flustered and vigilant, I spent a lot of thought refining expressions. The prop book held in my hands was actually quite heavy; holding it up to half-cover my face in Photo 1 made my wrist sore, especially while deliberately peering out from behind the book, requiring multiple camera adjustments.

This is a great chance to talk about this close-bonding shoot with Mika. After all, capturing such relaxed interactions is quite rare. We chose a tearoom filled with lovely sunlight that day, where white curtains and wooden tables and chairs matched the setting perfectly. For the shoot, we first took the classic interactive composition in Photo 1: Mika standing and leaning over to look at the book in my hands, while I remained in a defensive posture. Later, to showcase a more intimate atmosphere, we sat together before the table, which was set with a three-tier afternoon tea stand, delicate teacups, rose-shaped desserts, and cookies. I wore the black sailor suit paired with a red skirt and small black wings on my back, while Mika wore her white angel dress. We prepared prop details well in advance and carefully picked wigs to match the original designs as closely as possible. The white halo special effect above Mika's head and my demon tail effect were added in post-production; making the lighting and texture look natural took quite some effort in retouching.

To capture character nuances during shooting, Mika and I did our best to recreate those deadpan yet slightly comical interactions in front of the lens. The peace sign and pointing poses at the camera in Photo 2 were brainstormed for a long time to keep them looking casual and natural. In terms of lighting, the afternoon side-light hitting the wigs looked fantastic, creating a wonderful contrast against the white curtains. Portraying characters with such distinct contrasts always requires getting into the right mindset—my understanding of Koharu is someone who looks like a strict Justice Task Force member on the outside, but is genuinely innocent and quick to blush on the inside. Having the opportunity to bond with Mika in the world of Blue Archive and recreate these adorable daily interactions was a truly satisfying cosplay experience.