Chapter Six: The Warm Light in the Studio and Another Face

I spent that weekend in a state of **** inner conflict.

The minimalist card in my hand felt like a red-hot branding iron, constantly searing my palm and my resolve. It contained only an address and an abstract logo—a "Y" and a mask profile—without any other text.

To go or not to go?

Reason tells me I should stay as far away from that circle as possible. That nightmarish scene in the mall, like an unhealable scar, constantly reminds me of the destructive danger lurking behind my passion. I've already died once; I can't take the risk a second time.

But emotionally, I was irresistibly drawn in. Xiaoya's expectant eyes, her words, "Don't punish your passion because of others' mistakes," and... that mysterious "Master Ya," the true creator of "Sakurajima Mai." I can't deny that deep down, I still harbor a longing and curiosity for that world that can mold fantasy into reality.

On Saturday afternoon, I finally made a decision.

I didn't wear any "gear," I just changed into a very ordinary T-shirt and jeans, and then went to the address on the card.

The studio's location was even more remote than I had imagined, tucked away in a creative park converted from an old industrial area on the edge of the university town. It was sparsely populated, filled with red-brick factory buildings covered in ivy and huge graffiti walls, exuding a strong artistic atmosphere.

I found the address on the card—an unremarkable gray tin roller shutter door. The door was tightly shut, and I couldn't hear anything from inside. After hesitating for a long time, I finally mustered up my courage and pressed the doorbell.

"Ding-dong—"

The crisp sound of the doorbell rang out loudly in the quiet air.

A few seconds later, the roller shutter slowly rose with a clatter, revealing the person standing behind it.

It's Xiaoya.

She wasn't wearing her café uniform today, but rather a baggy jumpsuit smeared with various paint colors. Her hair was casually tied back with a pencil, and there was a bit of white plaster powder on her face, making her look like a mischievous little kitten. When she saw me, she was taken aback at first, then a bright smile bloomed on her face.

"Zhe! You're really here! Come in quickly!"

She warmly pulled me inside. As the roller shutter slowly closed behind me, the sunlight and noise from the outside world were completely shut out.

I was so shocked by what I saw that I was speechless.

Inside was a huge, high-ceilinged loft space. The air was filled with a peculiar yet not unpleasant smell—a mixture of resin, paint, clay, and various chemical reagents. The walls were covered with all sorts of tools—spray guns, carving knives, sandpaper, electric grinders…it was like a small factory.

What impressed me even more were the "works of art" displayed throughout the space.

On the shelves against the wall, dozens of Kigurumi head models were neatly displayed, like rows of white masks waiting to be imbued with soul, gleaming softly under the light. On some tables, clay head models were being sculpted, while others were undergoing final painting. I even saw a few unfinished heads, with delicate facial features, so lifelike, as if they might open their eyes at any moment.

In the center of the studio, a soft carpet was laid out, along with beanbag chairs and game consoles. At that moment, three or four people were sitting or lying there, playing games and chatting happily. They all looked to be around my age, dressed in casual loungewear, and the atmosphere was as relaxed as a typical university club room.

One of them, seeing me enter, immediately put down the controller and stood up. She was a tall woman with neat, short, silver-gray hair, wearing a simple white T-shirt and black trousers, exuding a capable and calm demeanor. Her features were deep-set, and her eyes were so sharp they seemed to see right through people.

“Master, this is A-Zhe.” Xiao Ya pulled me forward and introduced him.

Master?

Looking at the powerful woman before me, my heart skipped a beat. She was… the real “Master Ya”?

The woman extended her hand to me, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Hello, Zhe. My name is Lin Ya. You can call me Sister Ya, or you can call me Master like Xiao Ya does."

Her voice was deep and magnetic, completely different from what I had imagined. I nervously reached out and shook her hand. Her palm was warm, and her fingertips had a thin layer of calluses from years of using tools.

"Ya... Sister Ya, hello."

"Don't be nervous, there are no outsiders here." Lin Ya let go of her hand and pointed to a few people on the beanbag chair next to her. "They are all members of the studio and like-minded people. Today we are just getting together to relax, so please sit wherever you like."

The group of people nodded and greeted me with friendly smiles. One of them, a guy wearing black-rimmed glasses, even waved his controller at me: "Hey buddy, wanna play a round of Mario Kart?"

This friendly and relaxed atmosphere gradually put my mind at ease. There were no scrutinizing eyes, no whispers, only a group of ordinary yet genuine people gathered together because of shared interests.

"Take a look around for now, I'll go get you something to drink," Xiaoya said, and ran to the small bar counter.

I stood there somewhat awkwardly, my gaze involuntarily drawn to the "works" in the studio. I walked to a display case filled with finished headshells, and through the glass, I saw many familiar yet unfamiliar "faces." There were characters from popular anime, as well as some original characters whose names I couldn't recall, but without exception, they were all exquisitely crafted, like works of art.

Are you looking for her?

Lin Ya had somehow appeared beside me and followed my gaze.

I nodded somewhat embarrassedly.

She smiled, took a key from her pocket, and opened the glass door of the display case. Then, carefully, she took out the one I knew all too well from the top shelf—"Sakurajima Mai".

When that perfect face reappeared before me, my breath caught in my throat.

She was very well-maintained; her hair was smooth and her face was flawless. Her purple eyes, under the soft studio lighting, still looked so deep, as if they were quietly gazing at me.

"I heard about what happened that day from Xiaoya." Lin Ya held the head in her hands and gently stroked its cheek with her fingertips. "You were terrified, weren't you?"

I nodded silently.

"I know you might think that it's what caused you trouble," Lin Ya said calmly. "But, Zhe, have you ever thought about how the people who saw you reacted before you fell in the mall that day?"

I was stunned. I remembered the girls taking pictures with their phones, their exclamation of "So accurate!", and the excited and amazed expressions on their faces.

"You succeeded." Lin Ya looked into my eyes and said, word by word, "At that moment, you let them see the living 'Sakurajima Mai'. You made their fantasies a reality in that instant. This is the greatest charm of Kigurumi, and it is also the greatest wish of us creators."

“What we created is not just a mask, but a dream. And you are the most important ‘dream fulfillers’ who make this dream come true.”

Her words, like a warm undercurrent, silently flowed into my parched heart.

“But… I messed it up,” I said softly, my voice filled with resentment and self-blame.

“That was just an accident.” Lin Ya gently handed the skull to me. “Accidents can happen, and dreams can shatter. But as long as the people who create and protect dreams are still around, there is always a possibility that dreams can be pieced back together.”

"Take it." She encouraged me with her eyes.

I trembled as I reached out and took the skull back with both hands.

Its weight was still as heavy as ever. But this time, holding it in my hands, I no longer felt fear and shame, but a complex and warm emotion of something lost and found again. I could smell the lingering cherry blossom fragrance that I had sprayed on it; the scent was like a long-awaited embrace.

"Thank you..." I murmured to Lin Ya, and to the skull in my hand.

"Here you go." Xiaoya came over with a glass of iced cola. When she saw the skull in my hand, a relieved smile appeared on her face. "See, I told you, you still can't let her go."

I smiled a little sheepishly; it was the first time in a week that I had laughed from the bottom of my heart.

I spent the entire afternoon in the studio.

I didn't touch those gear again; I just stayed with everyone, nestled in the beanbag chairs, playing games, snacking, and chatting. We talked about the latest anime, game guides, and funny things that happened in our lives. Occasionally, we'd talk about Kig. The guy with the black-rimmed glasses shared his embarrassing story of being chased for three blocks by his neighbor's dog the first time he wore a leather outfit out; another girl who looked really cool showed me her glorious moment at a comic convention, wearing her own original character's leather outfit and being surrounded by dozens of photographers.

Everyone has their own story related to "skin." There's laughter, tears, embarrassment, and glory. My so-called "accident" seems less special and less embarrassing in the face of their stories.

I've discovered that beneath the surface, we're all just ordinary people. Students, office workers, programmers, designers... We've gathered here because of a shared passion that's not understood by the mainstream, offering each other comfort and support.

As evening approached, everyone gradually left. Only Xiaoya, Linya, and I remained in the studio.

"How are you feeling?" Lin Ya asked me as she packed up her tools.

"Very good," I said sincerely. "Thank you."

"We are the ones who should be saying thank you." Lin Ya stopped what she was doing and looked at me earnestly. "Thank you for not giving up. Every dream fulfiller is incredibly precious to us."

I carefully placed the "Sakurajima Mai" head back into the display case.

"Can I... leave it here for now?" I asked.

“Of course,” Lin Ya smiled. “This will always be its home.”

After saying goodbye to Lin Ya, Xiao Ya and I walked out of the studio together. The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of us.

"I'll take you to the subway station," Xiaoya said.

We walked side by side in the quiet creative park, our feet dappled with the shadows of the trees.

"Sister Lin Ya... she's a very capable person," I remarked.

“Yes,” Xiaoya said, her voice filled with admiration. “My master is a true ‘god’ in this industry. She single-handedly built this studio and gave us ‘weirdos’ a place where we can dream in peace.”

We chatted and before we knew it, we had arrived at the subway station entrance.

"Then... I'll go back." I stopped, feeling a little ****.

"Mm." Xiaoya nodded. She looked at me, then suddenly remembered something, took a small box out of her backpack, and handed it to me. "Oh, right, this is for you."

I took it with a puzzled look, opened it, and found a very exquisitely crafted chibi-style mobile phone charm featuring Mai Sakurajima as a bunny girl.

“I made this myself out of clay,” she said somewhat shyly. “It’s a worthless little thing, just consider it… a gift to make up for the fright you had last time.”

Looking at that small, cute pendant, my heart warmed.

"Thank you, Xiaoya." I looked earnestly into her eyes. "Really... thank you."

"You're welcome." She waved to me. "Take care on the road. And... let's chat on WeChat."

After saying that, she turned around and skipped away like a happy little deer.

I stood there, watching her figure disappear into the crowd, then looked down at the small pendant in my hand. The light of the setting sun shone on it, and also into my heart.

I feel that the door to my heart, which I had tightly closed, has been completely and gently reopened today.