Sometimes even I wonder what possesses people to decide things.

Take Teruhashi for instance. Of course I'd heard her thoughts so knew it was a possibility but I didn't think that she would actually decide on cosplay for our festival display... what a pain.

Since it was Teruhashi that suggested it, the vast majority of the class is up for it. We love to make complete and utter fools of ourselves in Class 3. Like that time we got buzz cuts after sports day.. good grief, I'd rather not remember that day. We eventually agreed to dress as characters from movies, anime, video games or books, much to my distaste.

Don't misunderstand. I don't not like the idea of cosplaying. I just don't think it's really for me since I don't like to stand out. I could cosplay as myself and still technically be taking part, since there's an anime about me but then people might ask awkward questions that I'm not prepared to answer since only you and I know about the anime. Or there's the more likely scenario of people accusing me of not taking part which would make me stand out more.

I have to pick a character that won't really stand out much, but won't be so bad that people notice me for that. I have to try to be decidedly average. And how can I do that? Hypnosis. I'll use my hypnosis to make it appear like my costume is of a decent quality but make sure it's far from the best in the class.

My attention is diverted from this for a moment as Shun Kaido wanders over to my desk.

"So, Saiki... Who are you planning on dressing as? I'm going to go with Jellal Fernandez from Fairy Tail. He's so cool!"

I love how he asks me a question and then gets distracted by describing what he's planning on doing instead. Saves me answering.

I'm just beginning to wonder as I listen to him jabbering on about Fairy Tail characters whether we can go home soon, and glance towards the clock when, from my peripheral vision, I see another nuisance trudging towards my desk.

Riki Nendou sniggers. "You couldn't pull him off if you tried, runt."

"I can too!" Yelps Kaido, startled by Nendou's sudden appearance. "If you're so sure then who are you dressing as?"

"Baron Cola from Cyborg Ciderman Number 2. People say I vaguely resemble him."

He's the spitting image of Baron Cola, never mind vaguely resembling him. The uncanny resemblance creeps even me out.

"Oh. He's kind of ugly though." Kaido mused. "You'll do a great job!"

"Why thanks!" Nendou grinned, not picking up on the insult. "Wanna go get some ramen?"

Holy crap, he's dumb. Shaking my head, I get up and leave the class along with the others. Finally I can go home.

Or so I thought until Teruhashi collared me at the shoe lockers. I thought I'd gotten away! What a pain.

"Saiiikiii!" She calls in a sing song voice. She runs over to me and stands there smiling like a Cheshire Cat. Well, not quite as creepy as the Cheshire Cat but it's not far off.

I continue to change my shoes without acknowledging her. Undeterred, she tries again to much the same result. She acts as if this doesn't bother her, due to her facade of the 'perfect pretty girl' but in her mind it's a different story.

It goes something like this: 'Why did he not say anything? He must've heard me! I hope he doesn't think I'm an illusion because I'm the real deal; I'm the perfect pretty girl! How could he ignore me when I'm so perfect?! Oh I know! He's so afraid he'll say the wrong thing that he feels compelled not to say anything at all! Well, Saiki, I don't think anything you say can be wrong, except when you don't say, 'Oh wow!' When you see me... well you'll simply have to say it when you see my cosplay - it's going to blow your mind, Saiki! Then you really will be stunned into silence.'

It continues but I'd rather not put you though the torture of listening to it like I have to. I continue to ignore her. Sometimes I wonder if she ever pauses in her seemingly infinite train of thought.

Thankfully, she is soon surrounded by other classmates as always and I'm able to make a swift getaway. Not even Teruhashi could like the popularity all the time, though the annoyance I hear in her thoughts isn't carried through to her actual words. I guess sometimes her popularity is advantageous for me as well, like in situations such as this.

The rest of my journey home is pleasently uneventful.

Perhaps I can start reading that new manga when I get home...