Chapter Eleven: A Duet of Light and Stars

That's how our relationship was established.

Everything seemed to fall into place so naturally, as if it were meant to be. The studio became our second home, and "Xiaoguang" became the first and most important witness to our love.

However, deep inside me, there remains a small, unhealed knot. Although the accident in the mall, with the help of Xiaoya and my friends, helped me recover, it still lingers like a tiny thorn in my subconscious. I'm still afraid of crowds, afraid of those uncertain, scrutinizing gazes. I no longer have the courage to bring "Xiaoguang" to public places.

Xiaoya seemed to see through the shadow in my heart.

One rainy afternoon, we were nestled in the beanbag chairs in the studio, watching the pattering rain outside the window. Suddenly, she put down her paintbrush and looked at me intently.

“Ah Zhe,” she said, “there’s the biggest anime carnival in the city next month. Let’s… go together.”

My heart skipped a beat: "Should we...go and take a look?"

“No,” she shook her head, her eyes sparkling with a light I had never seen before, “we’ll go in leather.”

"What?" I almost thought I had misheard.

“You’re wearing ‘Xiaoguang’,” she said, holding my hand, her palm warm and strong, “and then… I’ll stay with you.”

"Will you stay with me?"

“Yes,” she nodded emphatically, a mischievous smile spreading across her face, “I’ll also be a head, a completely new character. A… partner who belongs only to ‘Xiaoguang’. The two of us, going together.”

My mind went completely blank from the shock of her bold and crazy idea.

She...is she going to enter that shell too? To face with me that world that once shattered me to pieces?

"Why..." I asked hesitantly.

“Because I don’t want you to be alone.” Her voice was gentle yet firm. “Where you fell, I want to be there with you, to help you get back up, and to make you shine brighter than anyone else. Zhe, your dream shouldn’t just exist in this studio. I want everyone to see how beautiful ‘Xiaoguang’ is, and how amazing you are to have created her.”

At that moment, looking into her eyes, which shone brightly in the sunlight reflected from the window, I knew I couldn't refuse.

It was from that moment on that I truly understood the weight of the word "soulmate".

For the next month, the entire studio entered a state of frenzied preparation.

Xiaoya named the character she designed for herself "Star". If "Dawn" is the gentle light of dawn, then "Star" is the tranquil starlight of midnight. She has long, silver-white hair and deep, purple eyes that seem to contain the entire Milky Way. Her outfit is an elaborate, gothic-style black dress, which contrasts sharply with "Dawn's" fresh and clean dress.

Light and stars, day and night. We are destined to be each other's other half.

This time, I was no longer a bystander. Under Sister Lin Ya's guidance, I participated in the creation of the head shell for the first time. I learned how to shape it, how to make the mold, and how to polish it. With my steady hands, which had once served architectural models, I helped Xiao Ya step by step turn "Starry Sky" from a design drawing into reality.

Together we mixed paints, sewed clothes, and styled wigs. Countless nights, we sat side by side at our workbench under the light of a desk lamp. The air was filled with the smell of resin and paint, our fingers were covered in various colors of paint, but our hearts were filled with an unprecedented joy and anticipation of creating together.

Finally, on the night before the carnival, all of "Star's" equipment was completed.

When Xiaoya held that perfect head in her hands, we smiled at each other. We knew that this was not just a Kigurumi character, but the fruit of our love, the armor we would soon be fighting side by side with.

***

On the day of the carnival, instead of going directly to the venue in leather, we booked a room in a nearby hotel as our "preparation room".

The huge suitcase was opened, and inside were all the "parts" of "Xiaoguang" and "Xingchen" neatly stacked.

The main light in the room was off, with only the warm light from the bedside lamp on, creating a private yet ritualistic atmosphere.

"Are you ready?" I asked her.

"Yes." She nodded heavily, her eyes showing nervousness, but even more so excitement and determination.

We began the familiar, complicated transformation ritual. But this time, I wasn't alone.

I helped her put on the custom-made, full-body Kigurumi leather gown; the cool, smooth touch traveled from my fingertips. I could feel her body trembling slightly beneath the fabric, a result of her nervousness. Carefully, I zipped up the back of her garment; the zipper hissed shut, as if giving her a flawless layer of skin.

Then, it was her turn to help me.

Her fingers, through her gloves, brushed across my back as she zipped up my jacket. In that instant, an indescribable, intimate trust flowed between us. We were about to completely conceal our truest selves, presenting only the most perfect "illusion" to each other and the world.

We dressed each other in elaborate dresses and stockings, tied the lace bows at the necklines, and put on exquisite headdresses.

Finally, we each picked up our own skull.

In the final moments before putting on the masks, we looked into each other's eyes. In each other's real eyes, we saw the same emotion—love, trust, and…fearlessness.

"Click." "Click."

Two soft sounds.

The world has changed before our very eyes.

I became "Xiaoguang", and she became "Xingchen".

We stood in front of the full-length mirror in our hotel room. Reflected in the mirror were two perfect, two-dimensional girls, as if they had stepped out of a painting. One was as gentle as light, the other as serene as a star. Standing together, they were so harmonious, so inseparable.

Unable to speak, we could only reach out and clasp hands tightly. Through her gloves, I could feel the warmth and strength of her palm.

Together, we left the hotel and headed towards that unknown and chaotic battlefield.

The carnival venue was bustling with noise and dazzling lights.

The moment we appeared at the entrance, hand in hand, as "Dawn" and "Stars," we immediately became the focus of the entire event.

"Wow! Look! Those two kiggs! They're so beautiful!"

"Is this an original character? The design is so striking! The clothes are so exquisite!"

"Light and stars... Oh my god, what an amazing couple!"

Countless gasps of amazement, accompanied by a constant series of camera clicks, surged toward us from all directions. This time, those gazes and lenses that once filled me with fear transformed into affirmation and praise.

I am no longer afraid. Because she is by my side.

I could feel Xiaoya's grip tighten. I knew she was nervous, being watched by so many people for the first time. I gripped her hand back firmly, using my strength to tell her: Don't be afraid, I'm here.

Together, we slowly made our way through the venue. With my slightly more experience, I guided her, helping her avoid the crowds and watching her step. She, in turn, used her keen eye as a creator to adjust our postures from time to time, ensuring we presented the most beautiful composition for the camera.

We became the most compatible partners.

With just a glance or a subtle gesture, we can understand each other's meaning.

Together, we accepted the photographers' invitations and posed in various ways in front of meticulously arranged scenes. Sometimes we stood back to back, like comrades fighting side by side; other times we faced each other, as if whispering secrets that no one else could understand.

We didn't have a single line of dialogue, but everyone understood our story.

Finally, we were even invited by the organizers to go up on the center stage.

Standing on the high stage, facing the dense crowd and countless flashing lights below, I felt an unprecedented calm. I felt no tension or fear, only an indescribable, immense sense of pride.

Holding my "star" hand, I stood in the center of the stage. Then, at the same time, we both bowed deeply to everyone in the audience.

At that moment, thunderous applause and cheers resounded throughout the entire venue.

I turned my head and looked at "Xingchen" beside me through "Xiaoguang's" eye socket. She was also turning her head and looking at me.

Although we were all wearing masks, we couldn't see each other's expressions.

But I know that at this moment, we are all smiling behind our masks.

That was a victorious smile, and a smile of happiness.