This chapter was somehow hard to do, I'm not the comedic type, and this was all cramped into one single chapter, but... there is a plot twist somewhere in this chapter, and some OCs have been revealed. Next chapter will have a serious turn, so expect some drama in the next one or two chapters :) ~
~Narrator's POV~
"Welcome to the GENDERBEND COSPLAY COMPETITION! Oh and by the way, I'm the emcee for the night, Tsukimiya Ringo desu~! We'll be starting shortly, everyone, are you ready?" Several cheers came from the crowd, mostly girls though. Saotome Gakuen's auditorium was full, no one knows what they came for. The experience or the once in a lifetime opportunity see them as girls.
Nanami Haruka was sitting in the front row, she was told to sit in a special seat at the front. She was the only judge for tonight, she wondered why her of all people. She felt uncomfortable of waiting, until Ringo-sensei said they will be starting shortly.
"Psssst... Haruka-chan~" Ringo-sensei was telling her to go there backstage.
-Backstage-
"Ringo-sensei? What is it?"
"Hehehehehehe~"
"Ringo-sensei, you're creeping me out."
"Haruka-chan~ Wear this hehehehe~ Oh, and don't ask me how I knew your sizes :) ."
"It's beautiful... but... why do I need to..?"
"A girl has to look special on a special day, that much I know~" said Ringo-sensei with a smile.
"Ringo-sensei, how can you know that much that I don't know?"
"Because... you're just that dense, Haruka-chan." Ringo-sensei pushed Haruka into the girl's dressing room and closed the door.
~Haruka's POV~ -specially prepare dressing room-
"A girl has to look special on a special day..."
Was it really a special day? Well, I hope this helps cheer up all of them. They have been in down spirits ever since the competition was announced, due to... some boy reasons I honestly don't know. It was a dress with a low bodice, which came with a matching rose brooch supposed to be attached to the center. Now that I look at myself, I wonder why STARISH's members treat me as someone special. I'm not beautiful, I can be pretty dense, and I don't even know much about myself, much less other people. The person I see in the mirror doesn't even look like... me, seems like a completely different person... Now that you mention it... won't Saotome-san know about this contest? I mean, it's held in the school. Never mind, I'm sure Saotome-san would understand, they worked hard for this day.
I moved on and knocked at the door of the boy's dressing room.
-In the dressing room- (boys section)
"Honestly, I don't want to wear this stuff!" said Syo who was examining the frills in the dress in his hands with a disgusted expression.
"You chose that yourself, so you should wear it."
"Same goes to you, Masa, you seem veeeeeeeeeeery reluctant in wearing that." Referring to Hijirikawa unable to wear his cosplay yet was meant to be a joke, or not.
"You don't look good in that either, Ren."
"Ran-Ran looks good in that if you ask me hehehehehe! Ai-ai too~"
"No. Just. No. Why the heck is this happening to me?" said Ranmaru.
Suddenly, Haruka entered the door in a beige-coloured dress, seeing some boys, topless.
"Kyah! I'm sorry, I'd better excuse myself..." Nanami left the dressing room and they all exchanged gazes.
"I'm not sure who was more embarrassed, me or Nanami."
"Anyway, we can't have Little Lamb waiting, let's just change."
"You make it sound so easy, yet earlier you didn't even want to wear those clothes."
"Heh, Little Lamb's a different case."
-5 minutes later- ~Narrator's POV~
"Umm... can I come in now?"
"Sure, just... don't be too surprised we look dweeby." She came in with her left hand holding a sort of purse, trying to look away.
"Uh... Do we look that bad?"
"No, that's not it, it's not what you think. Just that..."
"Just that what?"
"The show's about to start, so... I came here to tell all of you. But since I'm a judge, I couldn't possibly spoil myself, yet it's rude to close my eyes, in a way. Is it right for me to say 'do your best'?"
"Just the encouragement we need... thank you, Nanami."
"Uh... no problem?"
"We appreciate it, really. Just, try not to laugh at us." said Syo.
"Yes, I'll try." smiled Haruka.
-competition starts-
"This contest has two parts, an elimination round and due to lack of contestants, we'll advance to the finals. However, we have people's votes as well, so whenever the people's choice is not among the finalists, that man will have a chance for the finals! Well, good luck boys! The prize will be a kiss with Starish's Composer, Nanami Haruka, our judge tonight! Oh, and no one can see the kiss." Ringo-sensei sticked out his tongue.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAW!" the audience shouted, and then followed: "WE WANT TO SEE IT!"
"Sorry folks, that won't do, give us more enthausiasm and I'll reconsider." Suddenly the crowd was going wild, most were Saotome Academy students.
"OKAY FINE! But at least let them change clothes. As for our special guests... we have HEAVENS!"
"We're here to see more and more and more humiliation from STARISH and Quartet night, well, we plan to enjoy. Right people?"
"YEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD'NT LET HEAVENS WATCH!" shouted someone from backstage.
"Aww... no need to be shy! Okay, we only held the contest here but... who said we couldn't spread the news." Ringo-sensei looked satisfied.
"Oh FUUUUUDGE! YOU DON'T DO THAT TO ME!" shouted someone again.
-backstage-
"Syo, no need to say... unnecessary things we already know."
"Maybe he couldn't help it, even my patience is at my limit."
"We have part 1 of the contest~ Show your costumes everyone! This will be an elimination of three contestants, so beware of how you look!"
"Easy for him to say."
"We have contestant number 1, he's famous for his cool, charismatic endeavour, but oh folks, you won't get a taste of that tonight! We have Jinguji Ren dressed up as Anaru from Anohana!"
"Just as Yukiatsu loved to cross-dress as Menma, well I tried."
"Well, Miss Nanami," said Ringo-sensei, purposely changing the way he called her. "What do you think?"
"Umm... How should I say this? It's good but... the legs are too... muscular hehehehehe~ But when over 100, I guess 70?"
"Well ladies, even though I'm in girl attire, the real me is still in here." Okay, he was stripping, but of course he had clothes inside. He looked more like the natural Ren, loose buttoned shirt and black pants. (Anyone know how the pants appeared? Not me :) )
"I never fail to charm, do I ladies?"
"REN-SAMA!"
"So? I'm eliminated right? I'm disqualified."
"Yeah, but before that. One question: Did you cry manly tears in Ano Hana?"
"Sad to say, I did. Well, that's enough right? Adieu." He exited the stage with an aura that seemed like rose petals.
"Well, that escalated quickly."
"To think Ren actually had feelings, awww..."
"Tch. Of all questions... they revealed my universal secret."
"Nanami sure asks the best questions. She was spot on."
"Next, contestant number 2! He's famous for his career as HAYATO, and he is famous as one of the prince of songs. Ichinose Tokiya! Cosplaying as... Alice from Pandora Hearts!"
He was wearing a dark purple dress that Alice from Pandora hearts wore, along with a wig.
"So... how does it feel to wear those kind of clothes?"
"Feels... awfully breezy."
"Why, of all characters did you choose to cosplay Alice?"
"Because... I guess I couldn't fathom myself as any other female character. This whole genderbending experience is not exactly the best experience on stage. Besides, as a female character Alice is not as moe as others, at least, not frequently."
"So? What can you say? Miss Nanami?"
"Hmm... It is unexpectedly okay on him, to be honest I was worried for all of them. 80 over 100. Although honestly, I'm not even the right judge for this, it is not right for a girl to judge men dressed as girls... is it?"
"HAYATO-SAMA, NO TOKIYA-SAMA, you look good in whatever you wear!"
"I'm not sure you're all being honest here..." muttered Tokiya.
"Next contestant! He's famous for his advertisements and bright personality, we have Shinomiya Natsuki cosplaying as Saber from the Fate series! Eh? Wait why is Natsuki here? Uh... sorry folks, he shouldn't even be here..."
"WE WANT TO SEE NATSUKI-SAMA!"
"Okay fine, but he won't be joining the contest. Even if he gets the highest score, he won't be the winner. Okay with that folks?" said Ringo.
"YEAH!"
"Natsuki was already kissed by Nanami right? I mean uh... Satsuki."
"Oh well, who cares. Natsuki probably didn't know he wasn't supposed to be there, he brought his own doom upon himself."
He wasn't wearing Saber's armour though; just that normal suit that Saber wears in Fate/Zero, along with a wig and it seems contact lens.
"That's against the rules, Saber wears guy clothes in Fate/Zero. But... umm... since you're not a contestant..."
"That's not all, hehe~" He started removing the suit and revealed he was wearing Saber's outfit in Fate/ Stay Night. The one with the white shirt and blue skirt, along with long black socks.
"Why of all characters... Saber?"
"Because she's cute! She resembles my dog Elizabeth!"
"Honestly, what is his definition of cute?" sighed Hijirikawa.
"I wouldn't call Saber cute, and besides, didn't he say that Nanami resembled his dog too?"
"Next time, Natsuki will be saying we resemble his dog too."
"So, Miss Nanami?"
"Let's say Shinomiya-san and Saber have complete reverse personalities, yet it somehow compliments Natsuki in the way Sats- I mean, uh... It somehow looks okay in him. 82 over 100. Am I being too harsh here?"
"No, in fact you were too kind to even give Ren a 70. Honestly Ren, you looked awful." teased Hijirikawa.
"I know people, I know. Anyway, what was the cause of the sudden change of topic in Little Lamb's judgement?"
"I guess it's because she almost mentioned Satsuki." said Tokiya.
"If Natsuki turns into Satsuki, and then equipped with Excalibur, he might become Saber # 2."
"Say, Saber is a girl right?"
"I guess?"
"He's lucky Saber has gender confusion."
"I have more respect for the girl population now, how could they wear this stuff every day?" thought Ranmaru.
"Next, we have contestant number 4! He's famous for his acting skill, Hijirikawa Masato cosplaying as Kawashima Ami from Toradora, student version!"
"Umm... Hijirikawa-san, what do you think of the anime Toradora?"
"It is a romantic drama and somehow comedy that shows the aspects of daily life in a unique way, Kawashima Ami was the only alternative left for me when I was browsing through my list of anime girls, due to the fact that finding anime girls with blue hair and blue eyes that I am capable of cosplaying is quite difficult. Can anyone imagine me cosplaying as Sayaka Miki? Or perhaps Aoi from Twin Angel? Kanazaki Tsubasa? I hope not."
"I see you have put a lot of thought into this... Hijirikawa-san, due to your acting talent, would you mind acting out a bit of Kawashima Ami?"
"Yes I definitely would mind, even if it came from your mouth, Nanami. Uh... did you ask the other guys to do this?"
"... That is uh... no."
"Fine... if you insist... Kawashima Ami: 'Oh my I'm so sorry, hehe. I blew it, everyone says I'm such a klutz and an airhead. Really, I'm sorry~' And please don't tell me you want the personality change too."
"Uh... it won't be necessary, Hijirikawa-san. Anymore of that and I'll be knocked-out, I meant it in a good way. Well, 79 over 100~"
"Next time I need to act out Kawashima Ami, I need to go to the restroom first." Hijirikawa seemed to want to puke.
"I feel you, you're not alone."
"You looked bad too, take that." teased Ren.
"Next we have Kurosaki Ranmaru cosplaying as Neko from K Project! Sorry people, not the naked version of Neko."
"So, Kurosaki-senpai, why of all characters, Neko?"
"Because that is uh... somehow a secret?"
"Look at tsundere Ranmaru-senpai go nyahahahaha."
"Shh... keep quiet Cecil. You're not even participating."
"I see, well I won't force you to tell me, Ranmaru-senpai. Well then, does you choosing this character somehow relate to you having heterochromia?"
"No, K- K Project is just something I stumbled upon in the internet. I was somehow interested in Neko's character and before I knew it my brother bought a Neko costume for me from a nearby store."
*laughter*
"Wasn't that the answer to question # 1?"
"He probably didn't notice he said everything."
"Eeeeh... So Ranmaru-senpai has a brother..."
"Ran-ran's brother is pretty pushy, he wouldn't be Neko now if it weren't for Izuki."
"Izuki is his brother's name?"
"Well, yeah, younger brother. He has a big family, he's actually not as he looks. He's actually pretty kind, although he lies to himself sometimes."
"Isn't that exactly how a tsundere acts?"
"Perhaps, it's Ran-ran after all~"
"So... Miss Nanami," shouted Ringo, "Your verdict?" His voice echoed through the auditorium.
"Umm... Of the whole cosplay, you lack only one thing. I trust... the boys watching this contest here would agree. I have nothing else to say, 78 over 100."
-backstage-
"I think I knew what Little Lamb was saying about him lacking something in his cosplay."
"Femininity?"
"No, she probably meant the... the..."
"P-L-O-T."
"Ai-ai, you seem to know a lot about this~"
"It's a common internet joke, although I don't understand why it's funny for others."
"Better to stay innocent as a robot Ai."
"Drat, this humiliation will last for the rest of my life." grumbled Ranmaru.
"Next contestant! Beware of this folks, one of the most formidable of our contestants, we have Kurusu Sy- Eh?" Suddenly, the lights turned off and the whole auditorium was completely dark.
"Phew, thank god, this means my appearance will be delayed."
"Calm down everyone, due to technical difficulties, there will be a short break."
"MWAHAHAHAHA, I don't think so folks. This show is over!"
"Doesn't that voice belong to..."
"PRESIDENT SAOTOME!" they all shouted at once. Suddenly, there was a single spotlight, and there was Shining Saotome.
"Sorry, I am not here for comedy. What is a contest with the prize gone?"
"What do you mean gone?!" Suddenly the spotlight was aimed at Nanami's seat. Nanami Haruka was gone.
"She was just there seconds ago..."
"Syo," said Hijirikawa, "Do not underestimate seconds, in fact it was probably enough time to..."
"You can't be serious?"
"Well, we have no choice. We were too slow." Ichinose Tokiya looked at Nanami's seat for what seemed to be regret.
"How could you say that so calmly?"
"Well, STARISH and Quartet Night, if you want Nanami Haruka to be back, you'll have to go through me! However, as for the consequence... you'll lose your career, and when I mean lose, I mean your future. If one from the group goes, all will lose, unless you could convince me. If you dare, meet me at my office. Well, ciao!" Saotome's farewell boomed through the hall, and everyone was left speechless. The lights were back, but for STARISH and Quartet night, the room was still the same, with light or not.
"Unfortunately, guests, this show is cancelled for the time being, we shall continue it when all of this is resolved, please take an orderly exit."
And after that, 1 hour had passed, that 1 hour seemed like a very long time for STARISH and QUARTET NIGHT, like an eternity, an eternity without Nanami Haruka.
ext chapter will have Syo moments~ And this is again, about the no love rule drama~ :) Stay tuned! :))
-BerryBliss
