Do I like cosplay? No. Nothing about my personality screams, "I'm into anime." But Kudo? He doesn't just look the part, he acts like he spends his weekends at anime conventions, debating over which character would win in a fight. And somehow, I got roped into this.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind people who are into that stuff. I can talk to most people if I try, but that doesn't mean I want to get dragged into things I have zero interest in. The real problem isn't the cosplay, it's the fact that I let myself get pulled into it. And worse… who else is going to be there? If Kudo has other friends who are just as into this as he is, I might not survive the night.
But one thing is certain: I am not dressing up as an anime girl. No matter how much he begs.
I make my way toward his dorm, knowing full well that I'm running at least half an hour late. Maybe if I show up late enough, they'll have already finished the stupid costume part and moved on to something normal, like, I don't know, existing like regular people.
Just as I start debating whether I should turn back and pretend I fell asleep, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen. Kudo. Of course.
I sigh before answering. "H… Hello?"
"KENJI! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Kudo practically screams into the phone.
I pull the phone away from my ear, wincing. Damn, calm down.
"I'm coming…" I mumble, already regretting my life choices.
"Hurry up!"
Before I can even respond, he hangs up.
I groan, shoving my phone back into my pocket. Great. No more stalling. I pick up my pace, breaking into a jog toward his dorm. Maybe if I run fast enough, I'll trip and conveniently knock myself unconscious so I don't have to go through with this.
No such luck.
I reach Kudo's dorm, and before I even knock, I can already hear the music blasting from inside. It's some high-energy anime opening, the kind that plays when the protagonist is about to embark on a life-changing journey. Fitting, I think. Because stepping into this room might change my life, for the worse.
I take a deep breath and knock on the door. Within seconds, I hear footsteps rushing toward it, followed by an enthusiastic, "FINALLY!" before the door swings open to reveal Kudo.
He's grinning like a madman. "You're so late, dude! We were about to start without you."
I blink. "Start what exactly?"
He ignores my question, grabbing my wrist and pulling me inside before I can even consider making a run for it.
The second I step in, my brain short-circuits.
Kudo's dorm isn't just decorated, it's a full-blown shrine to anime culture. The walls are covered in posters of characters I don't recognize. One of the posters was so questionable, I had to look away. Shelves overflowing with manga volumes, and anime figures perfectly lined up as if they're part of a sacred ritual. And the worst part?
The two life-sized anime girl body pillows were propped up on his bed.
I stare at them in horror. "Kudo… why do you have two?"
He follows my gaze and shrugs like it's the most normal thing in the world. "One's my waifu, and the other is my backup waifu."
I don't even know where to begin unpacking that sentence.
"Kenji!" Kudo suddenly grabs my shoulders, looking at me with wild excitement. "Isn't it awesome? My entire collection is finally complete!"
I glance around. There's an entire stack of unopened figurines in the corner, an absurd number of manga volumes neatly arranged on his desk, and what looks like a replica anime sword hanging on the wall.
The body pillows weren't even the worst part, he has a trash bin full of used toilet paper, and unmatched socks that look questionable..
"Uh… yeah. Awesome." I say, nodding slowly, unsure if I should be impressed or concerned.
Kudo beams. "See, I knew you'd get it!"
I do not get it.
Before I can respond, another voice chimes in from inside the room.
"Oi, if you're just gonna stand there looking like a normie, close the door."
I turn my head to see another guy lounging on the floor, wearing a hoodie with some anime logo on it. He's flipping through a manga while occasionally glancing at the TV screen, which is playing an actual anime.
Oh great, I think. There's more of them.
Kudo nudges me. "That's Riku. He's in Class D. Don't mind him, he just acts all tsundere when he meets new people."
Riku doesn't even look up. "Don't say weird things, idiot."
I blink. Did Kudo just call a guy tsundere?
Before I can process what's happening, Kudo claps his hands together. "Alright! Time for the main event, COSPLAY TIME!"
I freeze. Oh no.
He's not serious.
…Right?
How can I tell him I don't want to? How do I say it in a way that won't make me sound like a total buzzkill? It's not like I have anything against cosplay, but wearing some over-the-top anime outfit just isn't my thing.
I glance at Kudo, who's practically bouncing with excitement as he rummages through a bag filled with costumes. His eyes are sparkling, like a kid on Christmas morning about to unwrap the best present of his life. The anticipation is unbearable, and I can already tell that if I refuse, it's going to crush him.
But still. No way.
I clear my throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Uh… Kudo, listen, man. I, "
Before I can even finish my sentence, he spins around, holding up a maid outfit. A literal maid outfit. Frills, apron, thigh-high socks, the whole thing.
I take a step back, my soul leaving my body. "Not"
"Come on, Kenji!" he whines, shaking the outfit in my direction. "This is peak entertainment! You have to wear something!"
"I don't have to do anything," I say, raising my hands like he's pointing a weapon at me.
"You already paid for the sleepover, didn't you?" Kudo smirks, using my own mistake against me. "Fifteen thousand yen, remember? Fifteen thousand. That's a full price figure, my dude."
I grit my teeth. Damn it. He's right. I can't let that money go to waste, but at the same time… wearing that is not an option.
"Do you at least have something… normal?" I ask cautiously, hoping he has, I don't know, maybe just a cool anime jacket or something.
Kudo scratches his chin in thought before diving back into his bag. "Hmmm… normal, normal… Oh! How about this?"
He pulls out a full-body Pikachu onesie.
I stare at it. He stares at me.
Riku, still sitting on the floor, finally looks up from his manga and snorts.
"It's okay, Kudo, he wouldn't understand the extraordinary pleasure to take place in this spectacular event, I suppose."
Who in the world talks in such high language?
Kudo rummages through his collection of costumes, shuffling through various fabrics and bright colors like a man possessed. Finally, he pulls out the maid outfit and hands it to me, looking way too pleased with himself.
"There you go, dude," he says, patting me on the shoulder like he's just handed me a legendary treasure.
I stare at the outfit in my hands, feeling the smooth, ruffled fabric between my fingers. My expression remains neutral, but inside, I'm screaming.
Riku, who's been sitting cross-legged on the floor, leans back on his hands and glances at me. "You gonna wear that?" he asks with mild curiosity.
I keep a straight face. "Can I take one to my dorm?"
Kudo blinks. "Huh?"
"The costume. Can I just take it with me?"
Kudo shrugs. "Yeah, dude, it's yours. You paid for it. Just pick one."
I nod like it's a normal request. "I'll take the maid."
Riku snorts. "Dressing up in secret, huh?"
"No," I say quickly. "I have a sister who's into this kind of stuff. I'll just hand it over to her."
"Ohhh, okay." Kudo nods, completely buying it.
An oblivious lie. I don't have a sister.
"Give me the Pikachu," Riku suddenly says, pointing lazily at the bright yellow onesie buried in the pile.
Kudo tosses it over without hesitation, and Riku catches it one-handed before shaking it out and inspecting it like it's some high-end designer piece. Then, without a care in the world, he slips it on right over his regular clothes. The ears flop slightly as he moves.
Kudo turns back to me, eyeing the maid outfit still clutched in my hands. "Okay, great! So now you just put it on, "
I tighten my grip on the fabric. "Yeah, no."
Kudo freezes mid-motion, his entire expression screaming betrayal. "Kenji," he says slowly, dramatically placing a hand over his chest. "You have to wear something. That's the whole point of this!"
"I am wearing something," I deadpan, gesturing to my actual clothes.
"That's not cosplay," Kudo protests, flailing his arms in frustration. "You can't just show up in regular clothes at a cosplay sleepover! It's like… against the rules of the universe!"
Riku, now fully dressed in his Pikachu onesie, lazily flips open a manga. "This is peak," he mutters, not even looking up.
Kudo flops onto his bed with a dramatic sigh, like I've just crushed his dreams. "Dude, just something simple. I'll find you something non-embarrassing, I swear."
I sigh heavily. I don't want to wear anything, but at this point, I can tell Kudo won't let it go. Maybe if I just put on something minor, he'll shut up about it.
"Fine," I mutter. "But nothing ridiculous."
Kudo bolts upright, grinning like a madman. "YES! Okay, hold on, hold on!"
He dives headfirst into his suitcase of cosplay treasures, mumbling to himself as he sifts through endless amounts of polyester and fake accessories.
I look over at Riku, who's still completely unbothered, flipping through his manga like this entire situation is beneath him. "You seem weirdly calm about all this."
"I don't mind," he replies without looking up. "Just let him win. It's easier that way."
Great. That's reassuring.
Kudo suddenly emerges from his chaotic mess of costumes, holding up something dramatically. "Aha!"
I immediately regret my decision.
A frilly, pastel pink, magical girl outfit.
Complete with ribbons, puffed sleeves, and a sparkly skirt.
I felt my soul leave my body.
"NO." I took a step back like the outfit itself was cursed.
Kudo grinned like a mad scientist. "C'mon, Kenji! This is peak culture! You have to wear it!"
"I will never, in my life, wear that."
Kudo held the dress up to me, squinting. "I dunno, dude, I think the size fits, "
I took another step back. "No."
Riku, who had been lying on the floor in a Pikachu onesie, barely glanced up from his manga. "Just put it on."
I shot him a disgusted look. "Are you insane? Why would I, NO!"
Kudo draped the outfit over his arm, dramatically placing a hand on his chest. "Kenji, my friend, you agreed to this sleepover. That means you agreed to the experience."
"What experience?! Being humiliated?!"
"You don't get it." Kudo shook his head, looking almost disappointed in me. "Cosplay is about becoming someone else. Transforming into something greater than yourself."
I pointed at the dress. "That's a magical girl."
"Exactly."
"I'M NOT WEARING IT."
Kudo's expression turned mischievous. "Fine. Then I dare you to."
"I refuse."
For two minutes, we went back and forth, he insisting, I injecting, and Riku occasionally throwing in sarcastic remarks about how I was "denying my true calling."
"I'm not gonna become a femboy."
"It's not like we're femboys, it's just for the fun!"
Just as I was about to launch into another argument, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
I grabbed it, desperate for any excuse to escape this nonsense. When I saw the name on the screen, my stomach flipped.
Ichika.
I picked up right away. "H-Hello?"
"Kenji! Hey!" Her voice was as cheerful as ever.
Salvation.
"Oh, hey! What is it, homework? Yeah, sure, I'll come help right now!"
"W-What…?"
I turned to Kudo and Riku. "I have to go."
Kudo narrowed his eyes. "You just got here."
"I-I gotta go with a friend"
Kudo's face twisted in exaggerated pain. "You'd abandon me for a girl?!"
"H-huh?!" How do they know it's a girl??
"Who's that girl that called you?" Riku asked
"Umm, just a friend.."
"y-y-you have a girlfriend already!?" Kudo asked like he's getting abandoned
"No, I don't! We're just friends from different classes!"
Riku gave a lazy thumbs-up. "Respect, Riku, and I will never find love. "
"Speak about yourself! I'm gonna date my anime crush!"
"We're not dating." I protested
"Whatever you say, we don't believe you," Riku said
I was walking to the door when suddenly Kudo blocked the door
"H-hey, what are you-"
"DON'T LEAVE! YOU CANNOT ABANDON US FOR A GIRL!"
Two options, I use force and get out in my power, in the case that I'm stronger than Kudo, or do I try to reason with him?
I look over his muscles, he doesn't work out, neither do I, so I don't know what my next move should be..
"I'll force my way out."
"No, you don't, try me!"
Riku sighed, putting his manga down. "Kenji, go."
"But-"
"I'll hold him off."
Then, without warning, he tackled Kudo like a true warrior, giving me just enough time to escape.
"Fast, get out before he breaks free!"
"Kenji, NOOOO!!" Kudo wailed, dropping to his knees. "You would abandon me for some mere human female?! Have I meant NOTHING to you?!"
I didn't wait around to hear what that meant. I was already halfway out the door.
I shut the door behind me, breathing hard. My hands were shaking. I had survived.
I pulled out my phone… wait. The call was still going.
"I hear you're having fun with friends?"
"N-No!"
"You can come back. I'm still with my friends."
"…Yeah. I will. Thanks."
Ichika… you just saved my life, and you don't even know it.