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 made my way toward his dorm, knowing full well that I was running at least half an hour late. Maybe if I showed up late enough, they would 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 started debating whether I should turn back and pretend I fell asleep, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen. Kudo. Of course.
I sighed before answering. "H... Hello?"
"KENJI! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" Kudo practically screamed into the phone.
I pulled the phone away from my ear, wincing. Damn, calm down.
"I'm coming..." I mumbled, already regretting my life choices.
"Hurry up!"
Before I could even respond, he hung up.
I groaned, shoving my phone back into my pocket. Great. No more stalling. I picked up my pace, breaking into a jog toward his dorm. Maybe if I ran fast enough, I'd trip and conveniently knock myself unconscious so I wouldn't have to go through with this.
No such luck.
I reached Kudo's dorm, and before I even knocked, I could already hear the music blasting from inside. It was some high-energy anime opening, the kind that plays when the protagonist is about to embark on a life-changing journey. Fitting, I thought. Because stepping into this room might change my life, for the worse.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Within seconds, I heard footsteps rushing toward it, followed by an enthusiastic, "FINALLY!" before the door swung open to reveal Kudo.
He was grinning like a madman. "You're so late, dude! We were about to start without you."
I blinked. "Start what exactly?"
He ignored my question, grabbing my wrist and pulling me inside before I could even consider making a run for it.
The second I stepped in, my brain short-circuited.
Kudo's dorm wasn't just decorated, it was a full-blown shrine to anime culture. The walls were covered in posters of characters I didn't recognize. One of the posters was so questionable, I had to look away. Shelves overflowed with manga volumes, and anime figures perfectly lined up as if they were part of a sacred ritual. And the worst part?
The two life-sized anime girl body pillows were propped up on his bed.
I stared at them in horror. "Kudo... why do you have two?"
He followed my gaze and shrugged like it was the most normal thing in the world. "One's my waifu, and the other is my backup waifu."
I didn't even know where to begin unpacking that sentence.
"Kenji!" Kudo suddenly grabbed my shoulders, looking at me with wild excitement. "Isn't it awesome? My entire collection is finally complete!"
I glanced around. There was an entire stack of unopened figurines in the corner, an absurd number of manga volumes neatly arranged on his desk, and what looked like a replica anime sword hanging on the wall.
The body pillows weren't even the worst part. He had a trash bin full of used toilet paper, and unmatched socks that looked questionable.
"Uh... yeah. Awesome," I said, nodding slowly, unsure if I should be impressed or concerned.
Kudo beamed. "See, I knew you'd get it!"
I did not get it.
Before I could respond, another voice chimed in from inside the room.
"Oi, if you're just gonna stand there looking like a normie, close the door."
I turned my head to see another guy lounging on the floor, wearing a hoodie with some anime logo on it. He was flipping through a manga while occasionally glancing at the TV screen, which was playing an actual anime.
Oh great, I thought. There were more of them.
Kudo nudged me. "That's Riku. He's in Class D. Don't mind him, he just acts all tsundere when he meets new people."
Riku didn't even look up. "Don't say weird things, idiot."
I blinked. Did Kudo just call a guy tsundere?
Before I could process what was happening, Kudo clapped his hands together. "Alright! Time for the main event, COSPLAY TIME!"
I froze. Oh no.
He wasn't serious.
...Right?
How could I tell him I didn't want to? How could I say it in a way that wouldn't make me sound like a total buzzkill? It wasn't like I had anything against cosplay, but wearing some over-the-top anime outfit just wasn't my thing.
I glanced at Kudo, who was practically bouncing with excitement as he rummaged through a bag filled with costumes. His eyes were sparkling, like a kid on Christmas morning about to unwrap the best present of his life. The anticipation was unbearable, and I could already tell that if I refused, it was going to crush him.
But still. No way.
I cleared my throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Uh... Kudo, listen, man. I-"
Before I could even finish my sentence, he spun around, holding up a maid outfit. A literal maid outfit. Frills, apron, thigh-high socks, the whole thing.
I took a step back, my soul leaving my body. "Not-"
"Come on, Kenji!" he whined, shaking the outfit in my direction. "This is peak entertainment! You have to wear something!"
"I don't have to do anything," I said, raising my hands like he was pointing a weapon at me.
"You already paid for the sleepover, didn't you?" Kudo smirked, using my own mistake against me. "3000 yen, remember? 3000."
I gritted my teeth. Damn it. He was right. I couldn't let that money go to waste, but at the same time... wearing that was not an option.
"Do you at least have something... normal?" I asked cautiously, hoping he had, I don't know, maybe just a cool anime jacket or something.
Kudo scratched his chin in thought before diving back into his bag. "Hmmm... normal, normal... Oh! How about this?"
He pulled out a full-body Pikachu onesie.
I stared at it. He stared at me.
Riku, still sitting on the floor, finally looked up from his manga and snorted.
"It's okay, Kudo, he wouldn't understand the extraordinary pleasure to take place in this spectacular event, I suppose."
Who in the world actually talked like that?
Kudo rummaged through his collection of costumes, shuffling through various fabrics and bright colors like a man possessed. Finally, he pulled out the maid outfit and handed it to me, looking way too pleased with himself.
"There you go, dude," he said, patting me on the shoulder like he'd just handed me a legendary treasure.
I stared at the outfit in my hands, feeling the smooth, ruffled fabric between my fingers. My expression remained neutral, but inside, I was screaming.
Riku, who had been sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaned back on his hands and glanced at me. "You gonna wear that?" he asked with mild curiosity.
I kept a straight face. "Can I take one to my dorm?"
Kudo blinked. "Huh?"
"The costume. Can I just take it with me?"
Kudo shrugged. "Yeah, dude, it's yours. You paid for it. Just pick one."
I nodded like it was a normal request. "I'll take the maid."
Riku snorted. "Dressing up in secret, huh?"
"No," I said quickly. "I have a sister who's into this kind of stuff. I'll just hand it over to her."
"Ohhh, okay." Kudo nodded, completely buying it.
An oblivious lie. I didn't have a sister.
"Give me the Pikachu," Riku suddenly said, pointing lazily at the bright yellow onesie buried in the pile.
Kudo tossed it over without hesitation, and Riku caught it one-handed before shaking it out and inspecting it like it was some high-end designer piece. Then, without a care in the world, he slipped it on right over his regular clothes. The ears flopped slightly as he moved.
Kudo turned back to me, eyeing the maid outfit still clutched in my hands. "Okay, great! So now you just put it on..."
I tightened my grip on the fabric. "Yeah, no."
Kudo froze mid-motion, his entire expression screaming betrayal. "Kenji," he said 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 deadpanned, gesturing to my actual clothes.
"That's not cosplay," Kudo protested, 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 flipped open a manga. "This is peak," he muttered, not even looking up.
Kudo flopped onto his bed with a dramatic sigh, like I'd just crushed his dreams. "Dude, just something simple. I'll find you something non-embarrassing, I swear."
I sighed heavily. I didn't want to wear anything, but at this point, I could tell Kudo wouldn't let it go. Maybe if I just put on something minor, he'd shut up about it.
"Fine," I muttered. "But nothing ridiculous."
Kudo bolted upright, grinning like a madman. "YES! Okay, hold on, hold on!"
He dived headfirst into his suitcase of cosplay treasures, mumbling to himself as he sifted through endless amounts of polyester and fake accessories.
I looked over at Riku, who was still completely unbothered, flipping through his manga like this entire situation was beneath him. "You seem weirdly calm about all this."
"I don't mind," he replied without looking up. "Just let him win. It's easier that way."
Great. That was reassuring.
Kudo suddenly emerged from his chaotic mess of costumes, holding up something dramatically. "Aha!"
I immediately regretted 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 objecting, 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 was getting abandoned.
"No, I don't! We're just friends from different classes!"
Riku gave a lazy thumbs-up. "Respect. Guess we're never finding love."
"Speak for yourself!" Kudo shot back. "I'm gonna date my anime crush!"
"We're not dating," I protested.
"Whatever you say, we don't believe you," Riku said.
I made a break for the exit, but Kudo suddenly blocked the door.
"H-hey, what are you-"
"DON'T LEAVE! YOU CANNOT ABANDON THE BOYS FOR A GIRL!" Kudo yelled, dramatically throwing his arms out to block the door.
I stared at him, exhausted. I didn't want to fight him, but I also wasn't about to stay in a room with a magical girl outfit. "Kudo, move."
"No! I will defend this door with my life!"
Riku sighed, tossing his manga onto the floor. "You're both annoying."
Before Kudo could react, Riku lazily reached up from the floor, grabbed Kudo by the ankle, and yanked. Kudo yelped, losing his balance and tumbling onto his own bed in a mess of flailing limbs.
"Go," Riku mumbled, already pulling his manga back out. "Before he starts crying."
"Kenji, NOOOO!!" Kudo wailed from the mattress, reaching out dramatically. "You're abandoning us for the 3D world?! Traitor!"
I didn't wait around to argue. I slipped out the door and shut it firmly behind me, breathing hard. My hands were actually shaking. I had survived.
I pulled out my phone... wait. The call was still going.
"I hear you're having fun with friends?" Ichika asked.
"N-No!"
"You can come back. I'm still with my friends."
"...Y-yeah. I will. T-thanks."
Ichika... you just saved my life, and you don't even know it.