Cosplaying for Keeps
Part 1
by Unbearable_Desire
Since being exposed to movies in his youth like Battle Royale, The Last Samurai, and Kill Bill, Nathan had dreamed of traveling to Japan. Now, at 19 years old, he was finally making that dream a reality. He and three friends from college had saved up for the entire summer to fund their trip, and as young, (mostly) single, and extremely horny guys, they were determined to make the most of it.
It had been Nathan's suggestion to go to Tokyo. From early puberty, he had come to find that Japanese women were uniquely attractive to him. He couldn't really explain it, there was just something exotic and ethereal about them.
Not being a bad-looking guy, with some luck he hoped he would get to at least make out with a local girl (or two) on their trip.
The boys landed late in Tokyo and checked into their hotel. After a quick shower, they went to a local bar and sampled some authentic Japanese sake. The barman was friendly though there were only a few local patrons and no young women.
Nursing a few sore heads, they rose the next morning and planned to check out Anime Japan, a massive event where fans and cosplayers from all over the world gathered to buy merchandise, attend panels, and show off elaborate costumes. Nathan had never really been into anime, but he thought it would be an interesting cultural experience.
After breakfast, they managed to figure out the complicated rail system and soon arrived at the expo center. The Americans were not used to the eerie quiet of Japanese trains. It was a little surreal, especially compared to some of the wild New York subway rides that the boys were used to. As they walked through the station, they nudged each other as some hot local girls tittered as they passed.
When the boys entered the event, they meandered idly through the crowds, taking in the stalls and exhibits. Most people were plainly dressed, but Nathan was surprised by the sheer number sporting elaborate and detailed costumes. They really took their cosplaying seriously in Japan! He recognized a few characters in passing, some from Dragonball Z and One Piece, others from games like Final Fantasy and Overwatch, and a myriad he couldn't name.
As the crowd milled, his attention was suddenly drawn to one particularly beautiful Japanese cosplayer.
He had no idea what costume she was wearing, but she looked incredibly hot. Her outfit consisted of a styled blonde wig, fishnet stockings, black heels, and a fairly skimpy black bikini, which showed off her gorgeous bubble butt. Even without her hot ass, she could easily have been a bikini model. She also wore armbands, a garter, and a choker with fake spikes sticking out of them. She twirled for the cameras pointed at her with confidence and bravado, blowing kisses and winking. She handed each a card after their turn, no doubt for some kind of social media self-promotion.
A queue of adolescent teens waited for their turn to get a photo with the spunky girl.
"Whoa!... check out Bowsette," Jared said, before whistling. "Look at that ass!"
"Bowsette?..." Nathan asked absently, transfixed by the hot young woman.
"Oh, she's like a mix between Princess Peach and Bowser. Basically a slutty Peach."
Goddamn... Nathan thought. What a knockout!
Nathan's friend Drew nudged him, daring him to talk to her and get a photo. He hesitated for a moment, feeling nervous. Finally, he took a deep breath, steeled himself, and approached.
"Ummm... Sumimasen," he said, smiling nervously, scratching the hair behind his ear. He felt awkward using one of the few Japanese phrases he had actually learned. He held up his phone. "Could I... please get a photo?"
The cosplayer smiled back at him, her dark brown eyes sparkling. "Of course!" she said in good English, before striking a pose with her hand on her hip, blowing a kiss towards the camera. Nathan's friends cheered him on, and he felt his cheeks turning pink.
After the photo, the cosplayer smiled broadly as she handed him a business card. "American?"
"Is it that obvious?" She grinned.
"My name is Akane."
"Nathan. Very nice to meet you, Akane."
"Are you a... fan... of Bowsette?" she asked, her eyes mischievous.
"I guess I am now," he replied with a shy smile. She covered her mouth as she laughed.
"I see! Well, if you're interested in cosplay, you should come to some of the events I'm attending this week. We could... hang out."
Nathan felt his heart racing. He had never met anyone like this girl before, and he found himself a little intimidated by her confidence and beauty.
"Ummm... I'll have to check with my friends."
He turned to look for the guys but couldn't see them. Akane's brow creased.
"Oh, well... that's ok, I guess. Take care!" she said before he could stop her. An attractive though plainly dressed woman in her mid or late 30s (with distractingly large tits) took the girl by her elbow and led her away to another engagement.
"Goddamnit!" Nathan muttered.
Well... you really fucked that up, Nathan thought to himself.
He found the guys at a stall browsing anime merch. They ribbed him over not getting the girl's number. He laughed it off and joked with them, but his mind was on the exotic beauty who had just slipped through his fingers.
A few hours later as they left the event, Nathan spotted the woman who had led Akane away.
He chewed on his lip, debating with himself whether to approach her.
Fuck it, he thought.
He walked up to her as his friends looked on, nonplussed. "Hi, I mean... sumimasen. I was talking to uh Akane earlier... and she said that she might want to hang out later."
"Is that so?" she replied in perfect English, one eyebrow raised dubiously.
"Uh... If I um give you my number, would you please pass it on to her?"
"Hmm... sure, I guess."
"Oh, thank you very much!" Nathan said, bowing his head to the woman. She took his details and he turned to rejoin his friends.
Arriving back at the hotel, the guys showered and ate before planning on hitting a local karaoke bar. None of them were particularly interested in singing, but Drew assured them that was where attractive young Japanese women congregated.
When he got out of the shower, Nathan checked his phone. His heart skipped a beat when he saw one message received from a Japanese number. He opened it and was treated to an image of Akane in her Bowsette costume gritting her teeth and holding up her hands like claws. The caption under the image read "RAWR!"
He smiled as he typed a response.
TERRIFYING!
She responded seconds later.
IM MORE TERRIFYING IN NORMAL CLOTHES!
Nathan laughed. Before he could reply, he received another message.
HAVE YOU EATEN YET?
_________________________
At first, the guys didn't believe a word when Nathan told them that Bowsette had messaged him. When he showed them the messages though, he saw barely disguised envy in their eyes.
"Lucky motherfucker!" Jared said.
"Guess I'll see you guys later! Enjoy the crooning!" Nathan said brashly, feeling like Don Juan for once.
Akane and Nathan arranged to meet at a sushi restaurant not too far from the hotel. He could hardly contain himself. Spontaneous dates were not something he was used to. Usually his tactic for attracting women involved getting drunk at college parties and hoping a girl would initiate conversation. For some reason, he felt like a different person on his vacation, and he decided to see if he could reinvent himself as suave and confident, for at least one evening.
He selected his nicest clothes, slate gray slacks, and a crisp, carefully-ironed white shirt. He completed the outfit with a pair of black Italian leather shoes and a thin belt with a silver buckle. He felt nervous but excited too.
When he arrived at the restaurant, he saw Akane waiting for him. She looked beautiful even outside of her costume. Without the wig, her long black silky hair hung loose, partially covering her eyes. She had nicely shaped lips, flawless pale skin, and a perfect white smile. She rose to greet him and they hugged. Nathan felt heady as he smelled the girl's strawberry shampoo.
They sat down to eat, and as they talked, Nathan found himself relaxing a little as the conversation flowed easily. Akane was intelligent, witty, and well-read. He was surprised to learn she was 24 and had been a professional cosplayer for over 3 years.
As they chatted, she ordered a selection of sushi for the two of them. While they ate the delicious food, she gave him tips on Japanese culture and etiquette. She told him about the best local activities, what common faux pas to avoid, and even the symbolism behind different types of food.
He told her about his upbringing in a strict religious household, and how he had chosen to break free from his family's restrictive influence when he was 18. He had worked after school, over weekends, and during summers for 2 years to go to college, hiding his savings and intentions from his parents.
Akane listened, wide-eyed, keenly interested.
"Wow, Nathan," she said after he had finished. Her eyes were sad as she stirred her cocktail. "It is funny maybe, but I'm... jealous. I... wish I was brave like you."
"What!?! You wore a bikini in front of hundreds of horny teenage boys today!" Nathan laughed. "Pretty sure you are the brave one!" She grinned, bit her bottom lip, and flicked a drop from her straw at him.
"I mean, I did have Michi there..."
"Oh, is she your manager?"
"Yes... She keeps weird guys away and the company off my back. Mostly."
"The company?"
"Ah... I should not say. Cosplay Agencies have..." she clicked her fingers, searching for the right word, "...'kibishii' contracts. Strict! Everything I must do, everything I must not do."
"Oh... I thought you worked independently..."
"No, no. Michi looks after me though. She is a good friend, but..."
"But?"
"Well... I should not say..." She stirred her drink, her mood suddenly somber. "It is... complicated."
"Hmmm... Fair enough."
Nathan decided not to press the matter and changed the subject.
After the meal, they walked together through the streets of Tokyo, casually talking and joking. Surrounded by the novelty of a wildly different city, Nathan felt like he was walking through a dream, living a stranger's life for one night... and he didn't want it to end.
