Mo Ikkai! at Haikyuu Cafe S2

What do you say when you want more? “One more!”

Red Monster Shop might have left the Haikyuu café attendees wanting more. On August 20, a day after the Haikyuu Day, Red Monster Shop and Café gave the Haikyuu Café  a second season: Mo Ikkai! Battle Start-o!

The Café was a whole day event divided into three main sessions: Lunch, Recess, and Dinner (or as they call it Dinner Sinners). All attendees of the sessions may also enter the special session: After Hours where they engage in more activities and have Haikyuu merchandise auction. VIPs get a free random Haikyuu Cosplayer Mug and a cap to identify them.

I attended the Lunch session with my two friends Liz and Shay who were VIPs. When everyone had confirmed their attendance, the fifteen (at that time) wonderful cosplayers gave their warm welcome. Before we were seated, there was a photo op with the cosplayers. As the last attendees were seated the event started.

Aside from the usual merchandise that were on display in the shop, posters and prints of the cosplayers were the decorations in the café. The second season of Haikyuu was on loop on the television, and of course Karasuno’s “fly” banner was present.

The café had seventeen cosplayers. However, only fifteen were present during the lunch session. Even so, they gave the attendees an enjoyable and fun session.

GAMES, START-O!

The cosplayers also prepared mini games to play with the attendees. The first to approach our table was Yamaguchi with the “Rhino Hero” game which was a combination of jenga and Uno. It was hard to balance the cards especially when you have to place the rhino in a critical place.

Later on, Kuroo approached us with Kenma and said, “Kenma wants to initiate a game but he’s shy.” All Haikyuu fns know Kenma is a master at video games. So his mini game was Color Switch. If we beat him, we get a prize. To everyone’s surprise, we won.

Akaashi Keiji melted attendees with those eyes with Ketchup as the mini game. Once you look at those eyes, you know you already lost—figuratively and literally.

The Bro tandem, Kuroo and Bokuto let us play with the (dog game) where we’re supposed to get the bone the cards assigned. There was an intense control and concentration to get the bone until the dog startled everyone and lost.

The Seijoh Captain approached us with a barrel game of himself. The one who will make mini-Oikawa fly from the barrel loses. Later on, Ushijima joined the game and won, proving Oikawa should’ve come with him to Shiratorizawa.

The cosplayers have their photo cards and letters as prizes for the attendees. We were delighted to have their photo cards, especially when we got our favorite characters.

VOLLEYBALL DORKS

The attendees had fun seeing their favorite characters come to life as cosplayers go in character. I personally like it when the Kuroo and Bokuto cosplayers called each other “bro” and exchanged “oya oya oya’s.” Tsukishima was either on the corner or throwing salty remarks. Even Lev was there to bug Kenma and Yaku. Ushijima was calling HInata by his full name in which Hinata replies with “Japan!” And of course, Ushijima telling Oikawa he should’ve come to Shiratorizawa instead.

One attendee came as the beautiful Shimizu Kiyoko-senpai who was also in character. We’ve witnessed Tanaka and Nishinoya stand by her table to admire her beauty and greatness.

Later on, Kuroo initiated “Dr. Quack Quack” (though he and Bokuto argued if it will be called Dr. Kakaw or Dr. Hoot Hoot instead) with the cosplayers. Daichi, who just arrived, successfully solved the tangled volleyball dorks.

GOING ONCE, TWICE, SOLD!

The night before the café, Miss Grace held an FB live session of the items to be auctioned which left attendees excited.

Tanaka and Kuroo called everyone’s attention for the auction, and the battle was on. However, a few items were up for the session for it was just a glimpse of what more there will be on the café’s After Hours.

Ukai’s shop banner, Hinata’s jersey bag, and keychains were auctioned. Cosplayers were also allowed to bid so when the Nishinoya keychain was up, the Nishinoya cosplayer had tension with another bidder. In the end, she got it and did Rolling Thunder to celebrate.

MO IKKAI… AGAIN!

Time surely goes fast when you enjoy. We thought we still had more time until Kuroo announced that we have last five minutes to interact with them. So we all spent our five minutes taking photos of and with the cosplayers, our favorite characters, and of course the ships. There were hugs and gift giving too.

As the session was nearing its end, Karasuno did the “Oniku kamisama” dance when that part flashed on the television, giving us one last of their shenanigan before saying goodbye.

Haikyuu Café Season Two was indeed a blast. Attendees, such as my friends and I, agreed that the we all had our time, but we still crave for more. We’re definitely looking forward to Season three.

-HT