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Câu chuyện MidReal
My Secret Neighbor is My Hero
Bối cảnh:Two young women attend their buff but shy male neighbor's stage performance at an Anime/Hentai cosplay convention
Tạo phiên bản của tôi cho câu chuyện này
Eva
navigating life in a shared house with friends. She is observant, bold, and curious. Eva finds herself intrigued by her quiet and reserved neighbor, Kento, after discovering his impressive talent as an animator. She and her housemates attend one of his stage performances at an anime convention, where they accidentally meet him. Eva's curiosity about Kento grows as she learns more about him through social media and subtle interactions.
Kento
talented, and ambitious. Kento lives in a rented room near his friends' house and spends most of his time there working on his project. Unbeknownst to his neighbors, he occasionally performs stage acts under the alias "Akira" at anime conventions. When Eva and her housemates discover his secret identity, they are impressed by his skill and determination to achieve his dreams in the competitive animation industry.
It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was taking a break from studying.
I was lying on the couch with my laptop on my stomach, scrolling through social media.
My housemates were all out, running errands or something, so I was alone in the house.
I heard a knock on the door and got up to answer it.
I opened the door and found two of my friends, Yui and Mika, standing in the doorway with big smiles on their faces.
"Hey girls," I said, letting them in.
"What are you doing here?"
"We were just out running some errands," Yui said, walking in and closing the door behind her.
"We were passing by this venue, and we saw this poster on the wall. We thought you'd be interested."
She handed me a flyer, and I took it from her and looked at it.
It was an advertisement for an anime and hentai cosplay convention that was being held that very weekend.
There would be stage acts, food, drinks, merchandise, and cosplayers walking around.
There were also special guest appearances by some big-name manga artists and animators.
"Whoa," I said, looking at the flyer.
"This sounds awesome. I definitely want to go."
"I knew you'd be interested," Mika said with a smile.
"Hey Eva, can I ask you something?"
I turned my head to look at Mika.
"Sure thing."
I set the flyer down on the coffee table and leaned back against the couch.
"Shoot," I said.
"Well, I was wondering if you knew anything about this guy who lives in our building," Mika said.
"He's always up late at night working on something. I've seen him through his window when I'm walking by, and he's always hunched over his desk."
I nodded my head, knowing exactly who she was talking about.
That would be Kento, the guy who lived in the apartment next door to mine.
I had seen him through his window before as well, and it did look like he was always working on something.
His desk was always cluttered with papers and books and other things.
I also noticed that he was often gone on weekends.
Sometimes I would see him packing a bag or carrying a suitcase out of his apartment, but whenever I asked him where he was going, he would just give me some vague answer and change the subject. It wasn't until last weekend that I finally pieced together what was going on.
I was walking down the hallway when I caught a glimpse of something through Kento's open door.
It looked like some kind of costume sketching, but I couldn't quite tell what it was.
Then it hit me: all those late nights spent working on something, all those weekends spent traveling somewhere.
He must have been cosplaying at events around town!
And that would explain why he had been so secretive about what he was doing every weekend.
I pulled out my phone and opened up a web browser.
I searched for the convention's performer list and scrolled down to the bottom of the page.
Under "Special Acts," there was a picture of a guy in an elaborate costume, but his face was partially hidden behind a mask.
The only name listed for this performer was "Akira."
I stared at the screen, my heart racing, as I realized Kento's secret life was about to collide with mine.
I pulled up Akira's performance schedule on my phone to show Yui and Mika.
But before I could say anything, I heard footsteps approaching our door.
Three sharp knocks made us all freeze.
I hesitated for a moment before opening the door.
On the other side stood Kento himself, wearing a plain t-shirt and jeans, his gym bag slung over one shoulder.
His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Yui and Mika lounging on the couch behind me, the convention flyer clearly visible on our coffee table.
He shifted his weight nervously, his free hand fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"Hey," I said, stepping back to invite him in.
"Come on in."
I gestured toward the small kitchen table, where two steaming coffee mugs were waiting.
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between me and the flyer on the table.
Yui and Mika exchanged a knowing look, but neither of them said anything.
Finally, Kento stepped inside, carefully placing his gym bag by the door.
His hands trembled slightly as he accepted the mug I offered him.
As he sat down at the table, I caught a glimpse of something in the side pocket of his bag: a badge that read "Akira - Convention Performer."
Kento took a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of apprehension and resolve.
"I guess you figured it out," he said quietly, glancing at the badge peeking from his bag.
Mika leaned forward, her curiosity barely contained. "So, you're Akira? Why didn't you tell us?"
I shot her a warning look, my voice softening.
"Hey, let's not put him on the spot right off the bat. Let him tell us in his own time."
Kento's shoulders remained tense, his eyes fixed on the coffee mug in front of him.
But as I spoke, I noticed his grip on the mug loosening slightly.
Mika and Yui exchanged another glance, then scooted their chairs closer to Kento, creating an intimate circle around him.
I leaned forward as well, my elbows resting on the table.
When Kento finally looked up again, I caught a glimpse of relief in his eyes.
He was still fidgeting with his performer badge, but now he was looking at us with a hint of curiosity.
I reached over and tapped the "Akira" name tag playfully.
At the same moment, Kento's hand moved to adjust the badge on his shirt.
Our fingers touched briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through both of us.
We froze, our eyes meeting for a moment.
The kitchen fell silent, the only sound the hum of the refrigerator in the corner.
Mika cleared her throat, breaking the tension.
I quickly withdrew my hand, knocking over my empty coffee mug in the process.
Kento instinctively reached out to help me catch it, but stopped himself mid-motion.
Instead, he busied himself with adjusting his shirt collar, his face flushing red.
I grabbed a handful of paper towels and mopped up the spilled coffee, avoiding Kento's gaze.
"I'm sorry about that," I mumbled, tossing the soaked towels in the trash.
As I settled back at the table, I forced myself to look at him directly.
"So, um, how was your last show? The one with the red costume?"
Kento's eyes widened, his mouth falling open slightly.
He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he swiped through photos.
"You've seen me perform?" he asked quietly.
Before I could respond, he turned the screen toward me, showing a picture of himself on stage in an elaborate samurai outfit, his face partially obscured by traditional face paint.
"Yeah, I was there," I admitted, feeling a bit sheepish.
Mika leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You were incredible! We had no idea you were living this double life."
Kento's expression softened, a small smile playing on his lips. "I didn't think anyone would recognize me under all that makeup."
He glanced at me, his eyes searching for something.
I couldn't quite decipher the emotion behind his gaze, but it was different from the usual awkwardness.
There was a hint of excitement, mixed with uncertainty.
Mika leaned forward, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"We should totally come to your next show!"
Kento's eyes widened, his smile faltering.
"I don't know... it's not really—"
"Let me check my schedule," Mika interrupted, pulling out her phone.
She scrolled through her calendar, then looked up at us with a triumphant grin.
"When is your next performance?"
Kento hesitated for a moment before pulling out his own phone and checking the calendar app.
"It's this weekend. There's a convention about two hours away."
Yui snatched her laptop from the counter and opened it on the table.
"Let me see if I can find some hotel deals," she said, typing away furiously.
Mika jumped up from her chair and rummaged through the kitchen cupboards, pulling out bags of chips and cookies.
"Road trip snacks!" she exclaimed, dumping them onto the table. Kento's face paled as he watched us spring into action.
"Guys, you don't have to—"
I caught his gaze darting toward me again, his expression a mix of apprehension and something else... hope?
I smiled softly at him, trying to reassure him that we were just trying to be supportive friends.
But deep down, I knew there was more to it than that.
We were all drawn to this hidden side of Kento, this secret passion that brought him to life in ways we'd never seen before.
And I couldn't deny that seeing him on stage had awakened something within me as well—a spark of attraction that went beyond mere friendship.
As Yui called out that she'd found a cheap hotel near the venue, I reached for my credit card and booked two rooms without hesitation.
I sat back in my chair as Kento pulled up the schedule for the upcoming convention on his phone.
His hands were steadier now, and he showed us the details of his performance with a quiet confidence.
He was scheduled to do a sword fighting scene, complete with full samurai regalia and face paint.
Mika and Yui debated which cosplay outfits to wear, while I glanced at Kento periodically, noticing that his shoulders seemed to relax more with each passing minute.
As he described the intricate choreography he'd been practicing for weeks, a small smile even played on his lips.
Just then, his phone buzzed with an alert.
"Rehearsal reminder," he said, standing from his chair.
"I should probably head home."
As he reached the door, he paused and turned back to us.
"Guys, are you really sure you want to come? It's not exactly—"
I nodded firmly.
"We wouldn't miss it for the world." A grin spread across Kento's face, a mix of excitement and gratitude.
"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you about the long lines and crazy fans," Kento chuckled, his eyes twinkling with a newfound ease.
Mika waved a dismissive hand, her voice teasing. "Please, we live for chaos."
Yui chimed in, her tone playful yet sincere. "Besides, it's not every day we get to see our friend transform into a samurai warrior."
Kento nodded, his smile still plastered on his face.
"I'll see you all tomorrow. And don't forget to wear your costumes!"
With that, he slipped out the door, leaving us to our excited chatter and preparations for the convention.
As we settled back into our seats, I leaned forward, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Kento?"
He paused in the doorway, his eyes meeting mine.
"Yes?"
I took a deep breath, the words tumbling from my lips before I could think twice.
"I'm really looking forward to seeing you perform again."
A soft smile spread across Kento's face, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"Me too."
And with that, he stepped out into the hallway, leaving me to wonder if there was more to this shy neighbor of mine than I'd ever imagined. As we drove toward the convention center, Kento sat beside me in the passenger seat, his eyes fixed on his phone.
Mika and Yui were chatting excitedly in the backseat about their cosplay outfits and the various panels they wanted to attend.
I glanced over at Kento periodically, noticing that he seemed more relaxed than usual.
Perhaps it was because he was surrounded by people who accepted him for who he was, both on and off stage.
Or maybe it was simply because he was closer to his element now, ready to unleash his inner performer once again.
I couldn't help but steal glances at him as we drove along.
His profile was striking against the passing scenery—a mix of angles and curves that seemed almost otherworldly.
His hair was styled differently today, swept back from his face with a few loose strands framing his features. He looked up from his phone and caught my gaze.
For a moment, our eyes held each other's, a silent understanding passing between us.
Then he looked away, a hint of a blush rising to his cheeks.
I returned my focus to the road ahead, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at the thought of what lay ahead.
We were about to witness Kento's second act—the one where he transformed into a sword-wielding samurai warrior with supernatural abilities.
The anticipation was almost palpable in the car as we pulled into the parking lot and made our way toward the entrance.
Once inside, we were immediately immersed in a sea of colorful costumes and excited chatter.
As the crowd's energy surged around us, I knew this was only the beginning.
I stood in front of the hotel mirror, adjusting the hem of my black minidress.
It hugged my curves more than I'd anticipated, but Mika and Yui had assured me it looked great.
The thigh-high boots added a dramatic touch, making my legs seem endless.
I tugged nervously at the hem, wondering if it was too much for Kento's performance.
Through the thin walls, I could hear him practicing his lines in the next room.
His voice sounded different, more confident and theatrical.
My fingers traced the soft leather of my boots as I recalled his surprised expression when I mentioned dressing up.
I hoped he'd see that this was for him, a gesture of support and something more.
I sat down on the bed, my heart racing as I opened the camera on my phone.
The black minidress rode up my thighs as I posed, trying different angles in the dim light of the room.
After a few attempts, I captured a shot where the dress hugged my curves just right, and the boots shone in the lamplight.
I heard Kento's voice through the wall, his words indistinguishable but his stage voice unmistakable.
My fingers hovered over the send button as I typed out a flirty caption.
Before I could second-guess myself, I hit send.
The message showed as "delivered" for a moment before changing to "read."
A moment later, my phone buzzed with a response.
"Wow, you look amazing! Can't wait to see you in person," Kento's message read, followed by a winking emoji.
I felt a flutter of excitement mixed with nerves as I typed back, "Thanks! Hope I don't distract you too much on stage."
