The girl was definitely under a meter and a half tall, and her slightly baby-faced cheeks made her look even younger. Although Rita's experience told her that the girl was probably high-school age, anyone would have believed her if she said she was in elementary school, given her build.
Looking at the girl ahead, Rita hesitated briefly. She abandoned the idea of leaving just yet and walked over again with her phone in hand.
As she approached the crowd, she saw that although the number of people taking pictures could not compare to the crowd around the idol earlier, it was still large compared with the other spots. After all, Hashiko Yui was a real idol, backed by money and a company. She was bound to gain popularity much faster than an ordinary cosplayer or even an internet celebrity. Individuals could not seize those tiny strokes of luck and turn them into fame. Only professional teams and financial backing could accomplish that.
There were plenty of people in this world who liked lolis. At conventions, a few kinds of people were especially sought after: those who did difficult cosplays and pulled them off well, and those with distinctive features that attracted the opposite sex. Whether they had legs you could admire for ages or a petite, loli-like figure, they fell into the second category. And Japan, in particular, had a soft spot for petite girls.
Several middle-aged photographers who looked thoroughly professional stood in front of the girl, taking pictures with their cameras. Some had brought their own lighting, while others had even enlisted their buddies to hold lights for them. Beside and behind these professionals stood people with phones and cameras, casually snapping a few shots.
Compared with those fully equipped photographers, who clearly looked the part, Rita was