Naoki's flat refusal to represent Pandai as a member of the panel earned him a folding chair offstage, with a fairly unobstructed view of the long table in the spotlight. Although Tanaka had no trouble with questions in English, Dylan took it upon himself to make sure that Kotoko understood before answering. The delay caused by his quick whispers created some entertaining openings. The last one was a doozy.

"Kotoko, at what point in development of the game did you become involved?"

By the time Kotoko nodded her comprehension to Dylan, Miss Lee had leaned forward to better display her endowments and was speaking. "I was selected to be the face—and voice—of Kotorin for the English-speaking world late last year. This was probably due to my extensive resumé in the film industry. I appeared in such shows as…"

Familiarity with Kotoko's body language caused Naoki to snort out loud. Her rigid posture, the way she gripped the edge of the table, and the quick turn of her head to glare at the other woman let him know that, barring divine intervention, a fireworks display was about to ensue which would dim the one they missed at Disneyland.

The auditorium's inhabitants were cheated of that sight as Dylan broke in, "Yes, we are aware of your filmography, as you have listed it three times already. But I believe the question was addressed to the young lady at this end of the table." Sparks flew between their eyes before she reluctantly subsided into her chair.

Even though Dylan's prediction that Kotoko would prove more popular than the voice actress came true, it didn't prevent Kotoko from fuming at the end of the day. "I still think Scarlett Johansen would have been a better choice!"

"At least you don't have a new nickname," Naoki groused back at her. "Mr. Kotorin, indeed!"

The voice actress had quickly recovered from her temporary setback and again made an attempt to hog the spotlight during the autograph session at the now woefully overmanned—and overcrowded—Pandai booth. Although Dylan had forcibly "convinced" her to put the coat back on (yet somehow she neglected to fasten any buttons above the belt), she was left to figuratively twiddle her thumbs for the next several hours. The single-file autograph line snaked through the aisles between vendor exhibits, with Kotoko the first stop. Unconscious of the time she was taking, she chatted, shook hands, and took a photograph with any who asked. As Miss Lee was a quick scrawler and showed little inclination to speak with anyone who appeared unable to advance her career, her only potential conversational partners were Naoki and Tanaka. The result of her brief exchange with Naoki made him the recipient of a dramatic cold shoulder, which he appeared not to notice at all. Thus she was left with Tanaka, who frequently talked memory requirements and slow frame rates with fans she had chosen to pass on quickly.

A gamer reaching the front of the line, handing over a poster to be autographed, asked Kotoko who was the person next to her. Upon being told, "My husband," a rumble of murmurs traveled backwards in waves through the crowd, even those not waiting for an autograph. "She's married?" "Kotorin has a husband?!" "What a disappointment!"

Miss Lee shot Kotoko a nasty look then rose to her feet and waved with a smile. "Don't worry, guys! I'm still single!" She was taken aback when the majority of fans ignored her ploy. One brave soul who had missed the panel asked loudly, "Who's that?!"

The heavy hand of Dylan pushed her back into her chair. He leaned over and whispered, "I'm single too, but no one asked us, now, did they?" Unphased by the nasty glare she sent his way, he added, "Remember what I told you earlier, this appearance is about Racquet Warrior Kotorin, not your personal aggrandizement."

"But I am Kotorin!" she protested.

Dylan shook his head and gave her a pitying look. "No, darling, you're just a pale reflection in a slightly warped mirror. Don't forget that."

She sniffed and deliberately turned her head away from him.

Naoki continued. "At any rate, that madhouse was enough to convince me to let you do future public appearances on your own. I don't know how you can stand all that noise!"

"Huh? That was no louder than just about any day in Class F at Tonan High! By the way, I noticed you watching That Woman pretty often this afternoon. What were you so focused on, anyway? It couldn't have been her costume, now could it?"

"Not at all," he denied. "Even though I doubt my wedding ring would have stopped that She-Devil, she lost interest when I admitted that I had nothing to do with the company." He chuckled. "What I was admiring were Tanaka-san's slick skills. I think he convinced her to have dinner with him."

"Surely he has better taste than that!"

"Do you care to place a wager?"

Kotoko leaned forward and called across the airplane aisle. "Tanaka-kun, are you feeling well? Did you not get enough sleep last night?"

Dylan gave a slightly evil laugh. "You'd know the answer to that if you'd seen who made the 'Walk of Shame' out of his room this morning."

Naoki held out a hand. "Pay up, Kotoko."

She scowled at him before turning a baleful gaze to her friend. "Really, Tanaka-kun?"

He gave her a sheepish grin and shrugged. "What can I say?"

"You're way too nice for her," she warned him.

Tanaka shook his head with a twinkle in his eye. "Not really." He turned to Dylan. "You're going back in July, right?"

"Yes. We've reserved a booth at Comic Con. Why?" he inquired. "Do you want to join us and have a second go-round with her?"

"No." Tanaka's grin exhibited a touch of spite. "She was very clear about aiming after the highest salary possible. She is extremely eager to meet the future head of Pandai."

Kotoko gasped. "You didn't!"

"Unfortunately, I failed to mention that he was not yet in middle school… So, please," he clasped his hands together. "Send me a photo of her expression when she comes face-to-face with Yuuki!"