Our Cosplay Relationship Story

Episode 18: The Intrusion

As the days turned into weeks, Aiko's presence at school became increasingly hard to ignore. Tatsuya had started to feel like he was living in a sitcom—one where the guest star was a cheerful, overly enthusiastic girl who seemed determined to make her mark on his and Mikano's lives.

"Hey, Tatsuya!" Aiko called out one morning as he walked into the cafeteria with Mikano. "Do you think you could help me pick out some accessories for my cosplay? I really want to make a great impression at the next convention!"

Mikano's grip on Tatsuya's arm tightened. "Sure, Aiko," Tatsuya replied, trying to keep the conversation light. "I can help you after school."

Aiko beamed, leaning closer as she added, "Great! I have a ton of ideas, and I'd love your opinion."

Mikano rolled her eyes subtly, her expression darkening as Aiko chatted away. "You know, I really thought we'd be working on our project together today," she said, her tone a mix of annoyance and disappointment.

"Yeah, I know," Tatsuya said, glancing at her. "But Aiko seemed really excited, and I didn't want to let her down."

"Right. Because helping a classmate is so much more important than spending time with your girlfriend," Mikano said, trying to keep her voice steady, but she could feel her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Throughout the week, Aiko made it a point to pop up wherever Tatsuya and Mikano were. She'd sit next to him in class, ask for help with her assignments, and frequently pull him into conversations about cosplay, all while completely ignoring the discomfort radiating from Mikano.

At lunch one day, Kaito, Mikano's older brother, watched the scene unfold from across the table, a sceptical look on his face. "Tatsuya, don't you think Aiko is getting a little too close?" he finally asked, leaning forward.

Mikasa, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I mean, it seems like she's always around. Is she trying to steal you away from Mikano or what?"

Tatsuya glanced at Mikano, who was poking at her food with a frown. "It's not like that. Aiko just needs help with her cosplays, and I want to be supportive."

"Supportive?" Kaito replied, raising an eyebrow. "Dude, there's being supportive, and then there's practically being her personal assistant. You need to be careful."

Mikano's heart sank as she listened to them talk. She didn't want to be that girlfriend who was insecure or controlling, but Aiko's constant presence was testing her patience. "It's just cosplay," she said, trying to play it off. "But it feels like Tatsuya's more interested in helping her than spending time with me."

Kaito exchanged a glance with Mikasa, who looked equally concerned. "You should talk to him about it," Mikasa urged. "Communication is key in a relationship."

Later that afternoon, while Tatsuya was deep in conversation with Aiko about fabric choices, Mikano felt the weight of her feelings grow heavier. Watching Tatsuya laugh and smile with Aiko was like watching a scene play out that didn't include her. It was infuriating.

"Hey, can you stop making moves on my boyfriend?" Mikano blurted out, surprising herself with her own words. She didn't want to confront Aiko directly, but the jealousy boiled over.

Aiko turned, her eyes wide in shock. "I'm not making moves! We're just friends—cosplay friends!" she insisted, her voice earnest.

"Right," Mikano shot back, crossing her arms. "But it feels like you're trying to take him away from me."

"Mikano, I promise it's nothing like that," Tatsuya said, stepping in between them. "Aiko's just excited about her costumes. I'm not trying to replace our time together."

Mikano sighed, feeling the frustration roll off her in waves. "I know, but can't you see how it looks from my side? You're always helping her with her stuff, and I feel like you're abandoning our projects."

"Come on, Mikano, it's just cosplay," Aiko piped up again, her cheerfulness grating on Mikano's nerves. "I thought you'd want to support him helping a fellow cosplayer!"

Mikano shot a glare at Aiko. "It's not just cosplay. It's the time we're missing together."

Tatsuya's heart raced as he tried to mediate the situation. "I'll make sure to balance my time better. I want to spend time with both of you, but I'll talk to Aiko about not taking up too much of our time."

Aiko nodded, though her smile faltered slightly. "Okay, I understand. I just wanted to make sure I was doing things right."

As the confrontation simmered down, Mikano felt a mix of relief and lingering frustration. She wanted to trust Tatsuya, but with Aiko's constant intrusions, it was becoming increasingly difficult.

As they walked out of the school building, Kaito and Mikasa fell in step beside them. "You okay, Mikano?" Kaito asked quietly.

"Yeah, I just need to figure this out," she replied, glancing at Tatsuya. "We need to talk about boundaries."

"Just remember," Mikasa added, "you two are a team. Don't let anyone else come between you."

Tatsuya nodded in agreement, determination settling on his features. "I promise I'll make it right. You're my priority, Mikano."

As they walked towards the parking lot, Mikano felt a sense of hope mixed with uncertainty. She wanted to believe him, but Aiko's presence loomed large in her mind, and she knew they had a lot of work to do to keep their relationship strong.