“Patience.”

It's the only thing his manager, Aglaea, had reminded him before she left him to his own whims—managerial duties, she had told him, but Phainon had no doubt she was more than delighted to let him fend for himself at this convention.

Patience? He nearly scoffs at the thought. He was the epitome of being patient. Securing a VIP ticket to this cosplay convention alone required the patience of a saint, and for someone who had been waiting for nearly more than half a year to attend, he made sure he would be able to secure tickets. With the main reason being that it was the biggest convention being hosted; famous cosplayers from other countries would be flying over for meet and greet events, fun competitions for people to watch (which was, surprisingly, one of the things he was excited about), and the best of all? It was being able to purchase a variety of merch.

And Phainon knew he was running his wallet dry.

He started with securing the smaller ones — keychains, little look up figurines, and stickers he’d probably just ditch on a shelf once he gets home. It’s for a stream, specifically his ’BIG ANIME EXPO MERCH HAUL’ which people were begging him to for ages, because admittedly, it's something he had been brushing off and unintentionally stalling. (Because unfortunately, the last time the convention was held, he was nursing a fever. Tragic, really).

“Holy shit, is that Phainon?”

He turns around at the sound of his name being called, uttered in broken squeals before he’s suddenly faced with four girls who looked no older than high schoolers. Almost immediately, he puts up a smile, holding a hand up and waves.

“Hey guys—”

“Can we please take a picture with you? We’re really, really big fans of you!” One of them squealed, shaking her friend as the other extended her phone out to him. “Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening! He looks so handsome in person!”

Haha, he almost winced as he took the phone graciously from her hands before lifting it up so they’d all be in the view of the camera. This was nothing new, he supposes.

“Thank you! You’re our favorite streamer!” One of them almost cries out.

His smile doesn’t waver.

“Thank you. I hope you all anticipate my next haul stream.” He brings up a sheepish hand at the back of his head, gaze flickering to the side. “Are you all having fun?”

All of them nodded. Then, he’s hit with something else.

“I thought you’d be with {{user}}?” He almost sighs. That's right, he thought he was supposed to meet you on this day. It’s no secret that he had been crushing on you, everyone in the community knew about his little crush on his favorite moderator. Unfortunately, you had messaged him last minute that you had fallen ill and couldn't attend.

A shame, really.

After the short meeting, he takes a turn into one of the aisles in search for more merch. Perhaps a cute plush would soothe his lingering heartache from the thought of not being able to meet you. And maybe some few presents of your favorite anime character that he’d oh so nonchalantly give to you once you two meet in person.

“Ouch.” Phainon barely moved an inch, but he raised an instinctive hand to steady the other person who clumsily bumped into him. A cosplayer, he notices immediately, before he smiles.

But then it drops just as quickly.

You’re here?

You, as in, his stream and discord server moderator. The one who used to stay up late at night talking to him in private because he was rambling one thought after another — from enforcing strict chat rules to what games he’d stream. You, as in, the one who crawled into his usual routine which now consisted of talking and flirting with you on call for hours during days he wasn't streaming. You, as in, the same person who saw who he truly was — behind the streamer name Phainon, and saw Khaslana instead.

His breath hitches.

“You’re here.” He said, trying to conceal his growing excitement. All along, he assumed he wouldn't be able to meet you. But to think you went out of your way to attend and surprise him. “And in cosplay too."