Shy Girl (TG)

I had never been to a convention of any type, so going to Anime Weekend Atlanta (AWA) was a prospect that had me anxious. Even more nerve-wreaking was the fact that I dared to cosplay. I had my costume in my backpack as I walked across the bridge that connected Cumberland Mall to the Cobb Galleria.

I passed by so many cosplayers that talked lively about how excited they were to be there. I was too, although, it made me a bit bummed that I was by myself. I went to the Renaissance Waverly hotel for check in, then halfway out of nervousness and halfway out of practicality I went to the nearby bathrooms to change into my costume. There was a tight schedule of places I wanted to go and panels I wanted to see so I could not afford to waste a single moment.

I found a free stall and opened my backpack. On top was the package from MarioCosplayMaker85, the Shy Guy mask I commissioned from him. The package was sealed with his large emblem, a watercolor image of a winking bearded man with a Green Mario hat emblazoned with an L. He also gave the V peace sign like Mario and Luigi tended to do. Also with him was a smiling girl with a princess crown. I remember viewing on his page he had a girlfriend on DA that went by Princess Lover Aya. Unfortunately for the emblem, I already cut through it before to verify it came through good before I left for AWA. It looked good though now that I had the box lid back to how it was.

Their DA page was covered with pictures of their Nintendo cosplay on mannequins, themselves, and others. The masks caught my attention though. They made every mask from the Zelda series and many from unexpected sources like Meta-Knight’s mask and some Pokémon. However, I emphasized with the Shy Guy one. It struck me as one I was going to buy, so when they had a sale I jumped at the chance.

It seemed like such an easy cosplay to make and be recognizable. I bought a red hoodie with the one pocket that can fit both hands, and I also bought black gloves to add to the mysterious effect. The buying stopped there though as I just opted to keep on blue jeans and my sneakers instead of trying anything inventive. Hey, it was my first cosplay so I was going to cut myself some slack.

All I needed to complete my first cosplay was the mask. Thankfully, it arrived the week before AWA weekend. I took it out of the box for the second time. The whole thing was like a Balaclava because it went over my head, but the material they used to black out my features was both breathable and concealing. The simple white mask that covered the face of the balaclava had eyeholes and a mouth hole so I could see and talk, both of which were good features.

I put on every other article of clothing first, just the hoodie and gloves really, then I took the mask out of the package for the second time. After I spared a few seconds admiring the mask I owned, I set it over my head shifting it until I could see out the eyeholes. Just as I was ready to leave so I could check myself in the mirror, a strange sensation washed over me.

It felt like I was swimming underwater. I was bathing in a soothing energy that washed over my body eroding what it did not want away like a stone in a river. The bath made my figure curvier (but not too much so), delicate, and lacking any masculinity. Then, the worst of it happened. I watched in stunned silence as the powerful sensation pooled at my chest. I gasped as my hoodie stretched to accommodate the new additions to my torso.

I panted as I ran my daintier hands over my new body. Yep, it’s all real. Some things were still the same. My hair was the same short length it felt like... although, I do not dare take off the mask. What if it makes the changes permanent? What if it is unremovable? What if... I shook the “What ifs” out of my head. I can’t dwell on them. I need to get out of this stall. I could still salvage my con going experience as long as no one looks carefully at my tag...

I stare at the door for a good five minutes, then finally work up the nerve to touch it. After another good five minutes, I cautiously open the door. Men went about their business as usual, and I did my best to slip out without being seen. Few things in life prepare you for swapping genders in a bathroom stall of the newly opposite sex.

I saw a yoshi cosplayer washing his hands and I shuffled past him and back out into the convention… so many people… I blush as I walked through the crowd with my hands in the pocket. I was afraid to take off my mask lest I or anyone else see my face...