I'm Inside Naruto Manga

What does it feel like to encounter someone in reality whom you've never met yet feel an immediate sense of familiarity with?

Summer wasn't sure, but when she saw the young man in front of her lift his head, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Or rather, a sense of déjà vu. Summer just stared blankly, and soon, she realized where the sense of déjà vu in her heart came from, it was the manga. However, as soon as she realized it, common sense stepped in. She knew such thing was impossible.

"Are you alright? Did you get hurt?" When Logan saw the beautiful girl looking directly at him without saying anything, he immediately asked. Although he knew his face was indeed attractive and might stun someone at first glance, he still needed to interrupt her fantasy.

"Oh, I'm fine, I'm fine." Summer hastily averted her gaze. She knew that staring at a boy for too long could easily lead to misunderstandings, especially when she was so good-looking. After all, Otakus would always harbor the fantasy of 'Did she fall in love with me at first sight?' when meeting a beautiful girl.

But after she spoke, she couldn't help but glance back at the boy's face. She searched for the source of the sense of déjà vu in her heart and confirmed... the information she had researched late at night, the few official or fan-drawn images, and the impression of Hattori in the Manga were all etched into her mind. Keep in mind that there are countless characters in the anime world with similar looks or hair colors. However, she believed she could recognize her favorite character's merchandise amid the dazzling convention through a few distinctive gestures and poses.

'The boy in front of me really resembled Hattori. No matter which art style of Hattori it is, he had a similar vibe to them...' At this moment, she might have encountered someone who looked a lot like Hattori.

"Hello, um... You suddenly reminded me of someone..." Summer said with a smile. The idea of Hattori being impersonated in reality made her inexplicably unhappy.

'My words seemed to guide the conversation. The boy might have been told he looked like Hattori before. I hoped he would reflect on it. Otaku guys shouldn't get conceited because of a lucky coincidence. Hattori is untouchable!'

Logan was about to leave, but when he heard the words, he frowned slightly, 'Reminded you of someone... What a low-effort pickup line. Sure enough, this pretty girl really has some ideas for me? That wasn't good...'

'Wait!' Logan's eyes glanced downward. Well, not at the long white legs under the short skirt, but at the book in her hand. The cover featured none other than himself.

'Could she have figured something out?' Logan felt a surge of apprehension. The likelihood of being recognized in reality was low because no sane person would point at a handsome bald man and shout, 'Oh my God, Saitama-sensei, did you cross over? Did you break the dimensional barrier?'

Such a scene would be overwhelmingly embarrassing, so Logan actually felt quite safe walking around the convention. After all, David and his other group's members hadn't noticed either.

However, Logan was always conscious of his status as a handsome guy.

"Ahem, really? This…" Logan pretended to be embarrassed, "Then, should we exchange our numbers?"

Summer was startled for a moment, and then understood. Her face turned red at a speed that was visible to the naked eye. She stomped her foot in frustration, her eyes brimming with emotion, but she couldn't find the words even as her ears turned red.

"Summer, what are you spacing out for? Let's go!" Suddenly, Hannah, who had been waiting for her to finish looking at the Doujinshi, urged her impatiently, "If you want it, just buy it. Staring at the cover won't get you anywhere..."

"I-I'm done..." Summer clutched the hem of her clothes and quickly replied to her friend. She glanced at Logan again, took a deep breath, and left without saying another word, humming softly through her nose. She also left without taking anything. She wasn't a Fujoshi, she just couldn't resist looking at Hattori's merchandise.

With the pretty girl gone, Logan breathed a sigh of relief. Just in time, David called him over to leave. It seemed Julia and Sophia had returned from the restroom. He headed towards the open area to meet up with them.

…

"Hey, I saw you talking to a guy earlier. What was that about? Was he hitting on you?" Hannah asked teasingly as they walked towards the event area.

"No, I just bumped into him by accident." As they stepped onto the escalator leading to the third floor, Summer looked back at the Doujinshi Area. However, the spot where she had seen the boy was now crowded with unfamiliar faces, making her feel a bit downhearted for some reason.

Hannah didn't press further. When she saw Summer's expression, she thought she was still worried about tomorrow's matters, so she held Summer's hand comfortingly.

"Don't worry, think positively. You never know, the person assisting you might turn out to be a real cutie. I've heard it happens sometimes." Hannah said with a smile, trying to uplift Summer's spirits. The worry Summer had shown from last night to today reminded Hannah of her own past concerns.

'It's an experience that, no matter how much time passes, never becomes a pleasant memory.' Hannah sighed.

"I know, don't worry, Hannah." Summer replied, holding Hannah's hand tighter. It was unclear if she was giving strength to Hannah or to herself. This was voluntary, done for the sake of life.

At this time, Summer and Hannah's phone chimed with a notification. Both she and Hannah checked the message simultaneously. It was a final confirmation from the so-called 'agent', with content largely similar to previous messages.

"This time, I've arranged a big spender for you. Very generous, didn't even haggle. Might be an exhibitor at this convention... By the way, Hannah, is your new friend reliable?" The man on the other end of the chat mentioned. Typically, such questions were unnecessary, but wealthy otaku were no longer just otaku; they were successful, and service mistakes must be avoided.

Hannah glanced at Summer, quickly typing a reassuring message back.

Summer tightened her grip on her phone. A few seconds later, she closed several small group chats and private messages, silently reassuring herself that it was nothing significant. Losing an anonymous night was no big deal. Panicking now would only make things worse. Repeated self-assurance brought her back to her usual state of mind.

…

"David, can you really read all the books you bought?" In the light novel section, Logan accompanied David as they queued up. This area was even more crowded than other parts of the venue but maintained a surprisingly orderly line. People quietly waited as they weaved through safety lines, slowly inching towards the sales counters.

"Why not? And besides, there's only one chance a year in our country. It's not just about getting the official copies, as the special editions have a different significance. Plus, a few light novel authors are also here to hold a book signing." David said, already holding a bag of books. He stood on tiptoe, trying to see the counters, " But damn, I don't recognize any of the Japanese folks in there... Whatever, I'll get a handshake and autograph first. Logan, remember to take a photo!"

"I know, I know..." Logan replied wearily, 'What's the point of a photo if you don't recognize them?'

He looked around at the queuing crowd, starting to understand why people patiently waited here. The shared sense of purpose and the rare feeling of belonging under the collective consciousness were strong motivators. Especially at an official event, the tangible presence of the second dimension's atmosphere was a rare treat, something usually only seen on screens. For those craving the fantasy's beauty, this outweighed any material gain.

The fan group had done their homework before coming to Los Angeles. Since everyone had different places they wanted to visit, the vast and numerous venues made it impossible to stick together. After some discussion, they decided to split up.

The time was spent in various queues and walking with broken legs. By the end of the day, Logan felt exhausted, wondering how David managed to carry his large bags filled with things.

Returning to the hotel in the evening, everyone ate quickly. Even the energetic middle school girl, Julia, collapsed on the bed, unwilling to move. So the original idea of exploring Los Angeles's night scenery was shelved.

Logan didn't buy much. After receiving another rejection from David, he shook his head and left the hotel.

The cool evening breeze felt refreshing after the day's heat. Logan stretched his stiff limbs from a day of walking, 'Should I go for a run?'

'Forget it.' Logan calmed down and took out a leaflet from his pocket. It was handed to him that afternoon, and introduced the details of tomorrow's official Naruto exhibition.

"Let me see, the Japanese collaborators..."