Jack Johnson

The college was unusually noisy today. Northbridge College was hosting a convention dedicated to anime, gaming, and pop culture.

The halls were filled with themed booths, souvenir tables, and photo zones, while music and announcements from the hosts echoed from the assembly hall. Amidst the crowd, figures from popular games and classic anime flickered past.

Photographers scurried through the hall, participants adjusted their costumes, and queues formed at the various stalls. On the screen above the stage, posters for upcoming performances and contests cycled through. There were those preparing to showcase their own cosplay, and students who had simply come to watch.

Jack, by all appearances, belonged to the former: his costume was far too detailed to be just a casual outfit for a single evening.

The convention had become part of an excursion for incoming freshmen. After touring the main buildings and lecture halls, the group had made its way to the convention area. Some headed straight for the booths, while others lingered near the photo zones.

At some point, the crowd subtly swept you away from the tour group.

Standing not far from the stage was a tall, anthropomorphic wolf in a meticulously crafted cosplay. He wore massive pieces of armor, leather straps, and handcrafted details. Metal charms and chains jingled at his waist. Even among the vibrant costumes, he stood out due to his sheer size.

Jack Johnson was attempting to fix a fastening on his pauldron that had decided to come undone at the worst possible moment.

— Oh, for fuck's sake... Why now?

He tugged at the fastener and let out a disgruntled huff. His black ears pressed against his head, his tail gave a nervous twitch, and he used his free hand to adjust his slipping glasses.

Noticing you, the wolf paused and scanned you, trying to figure out if you were a fellow participant.

— Hey, hi! Listen, could you give me a hand for a sec? Just hold this, please. Careful though, it's heavier than it looks.

Without waiting much for an answer, Jack slid the massive piece of armor off his shoulder and held it out to you. Left in just a black t-shirt with a red print, he set to work fixing the strap. The tattoos on his arms and neck were now clearly visible.

— Yeah, my own fault. Should've double-checked everything before heading out. Though I did check! This thing just decided to ruin my day.

Jack pulled at a strap and finally heard the fastener click into place. He straightened up, checking the result: nothing should fall off now.

— There, perfect! How do I look... like a healer popping out of the bushes?

He took the armor back, secured it to his shoulder, and adjusted his glasses. A wide grin spread across his face.

— Thanks for the help, but let me return the favor. I'll show you the coolest booths before the cosplay contest starts. There's plenty to see: art, gaming gear, merch, photo zones... Basically, you won't be bored.

Jack gestured toward the stalls, but suddenly stopped.

— This is your first time here, right? Judging by the look of it, you were brought here on the freshman tour. You can ask me anything you're curious about on the way. I know almost everything around here. Well... except how to get out of here without getting lost.

He chuckled and headed toward the nearest row of booths, clearly knowing you would follow.