Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 113: The Cosplay Date Challenge – Ava & Ryan in Costumes?!

Chapter 113: The Cosplay Date Challenge – Ava & Ryan in Costumes?!

The following morning, Tokyo’s electric energy buzzed through the air as Ava and Ryan arrived at the next matchmaking event—The Cosplay Date Challenge.

Ava had read the itinerary, but nothing could have prepared her for the sheer chaos unfolding before her eyes.

Shibuya’s vibrant streets had been transformed into a cosplayer’s paradise. Dozens of participants strolled through the festival grounds dressed as everything from anime protagonists to video game heroes. A DJ spun upbeat J-pop remixes in the background, and various booths lined the streets, offering themed snacks, fan merchandise, and impromptu photoshoots.

Ava exhaled slowly. This was fine. She could handle this.

Then, Ryan leaned in, his voice dripping with amusement. "So... any chance we can skip this one?"

Ava gave him a flat look. "No."

Ryan sighed dramatically, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I figured."

Before Ava could fully process everything, a familiar cackling voice cut through the noise.

"Ah! There they are! My two favorite victims— I mean, participants."

Ava groaned audibly before even turning around.

Mei.

Mei, who was beaming as if she had personally orchestrated this chaos.

And beside her?

Harold. Also smiling. Also suspicious.

Ava crossed her arms. "You’re up to something."

Mei placed a hand over her heart, feigning offense. "Ava, my dear! Have I ever led you astray?"

Ryan coughed. "Paris."

Harold nodded. "Oh, and let’s not forget the ’accidental’ locked rooftop incident in New York."

Ava huffed. "Exactly."

Mei waved them off like they were children. "Pfft. Details."

Ava wasn’t buying it. "What did you do?"

Mei’s eyes gleamed. "Nothing much... Just signed you both up for the couples’ challenge."

Silence.

Ryan blinked. "...The what?"

Ava’s eye twitched. "You signed us up?!"

Mei grinned innocently. "Of course! What kind of matchmakers would you be if you didn’t experience the challenge firsthand?"

Ava turned to Harold. "And you let her do this?"

Harold shrugged. "She bribed me with mochi."

Ryan exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay. What do we have to do?"

Mei clapped her hands excitedly."Oh, it’s simple! Each couple gets a themed costume based on their personality compatibility."

Ryan froze. "...Costume?"

Ava narrowed her eyes. "What kind of costume?"

Mei held up two neatly wrapped packages. "Here you go, my darlings!"

Ava snatched the one labeled with her name and unwrapped it. The second she saw the fabric, her soul left her body.

Red and white silk. A fluffy, nine-tailed fox stole. Delicate gold bells.

A kitsune outfit.

Ava turned slowly, staring at Mei with pure betrayal. "You made me a fox spirit?"

Mei wiggled her eyebrows. "Sly. Mischievous. Impossible to pin down. Seemed fitting."

Ryan hesitated before opening his.

Then paused.

Then let out the longest sigh in history.

Ava peered over his shoulder and wheezed.

Ryan. In. A. Samurai. Costume.

Dark armor, an ornate hakama, and even a damn katana prop.

Ryan stared blankly at the outfit. "You’re joking."

Mei grinned. "Oh no, dear boy. You’re a man of honor. Stubborn. Protective. Willing to duel anyone who insults Ava." She winked. "You’re a perfect samurai."

Ava cackled. "Oh, I am enjoying this."

Ryan shot her a deadpan look. "You are literally a fox spirit."

Ava smirked, fluffing the tails. "What can I say? Some of us are just naturally devious."

Ryan muttered something in Korean before turning back to Mei. "I refuse."

Mei gasped dramatically. "You refuse?"

Ryan crossed his arms. "Absolutely."

Mei shrugged."Suit yourself. But you know... if you don’t participate, Julian wins this round by default."

Ava snapped her head up. "Wait, what?"

Mei smiled innocently."Oh, didn’t I mention? Julian’s team is competing too."

Ava and Ryan exchanged a look.

Julian? Winning?

Over their dead bodies.

Ava sighed, already accepting her fate."Fine. Give me the damn costume."

Ryan groaned, rubbing his temples."I hate this."

Ava grinned. "Yet here you are, putting on the samurai armor."

Ryan glared at her."Enjoy this while it lasts, Lee."

Ava winked, tail swishing dramatically."Oh, I absolutely will."

And so, the two of them marched toward the changing rooms—Ava, far too smug, and Ryan, already plotting revenge.

When they stepped back into the main event area, absolute mayhem had already broken out.

Couples and singles alike were in full costume, from princesses and warriors to superheroes and fantasy creatures. Some were deep in conversation, others screaming enthusiastically about their favorite fandoms, and a few had already broken into impromptu sword fights.

Ava barely had time to take it all in before Julian’s voice cut through the noise.

"Oh, this is rich."

She gritted her teeth."And here we go."

Ryan, already annoyed, turned slowly. "What do you want, Ashcroft?"

Julian, looking far too pleased with himself, eyed their outfits. "I just never thought I’d live to see the day Ryan Kim willingly participated in something this ridiculous."

Ryan’s jaw ticked. "I was forced."

Julian smirked. "And Ava?"

Ava flipped one of her fox tails dramatically."Oh, I’m thriving."

Julian chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, this should be fun. Try not to lose to me again, Lee."

Ava snorted."You’re delusional."

Ryan, still adjusting his armor, sighed. "Can we just get this over with?"

Mei clapped her hands. "Alright, lovebirds! The challenge is simple: Each pair will be given a scenario. You must improvise a ’date’ based on your characters!"

Ava groaned. "Great. LARPing. My worst nightmare."

Ryan leaned in, voice low and smug."Nervous, Fox Spirit?"

Ava turned, smirking."Not at all, Samurai. Just waiting for you to embarrass yourself first."

Ryan’s lips curled."Oh, I plan to make it worth your while."

Ava blinked.

Ryan grinned, stepping forward as the first challenge was announced.

The event was about to begin.

And if he was going down, he was damn well taking Ava with him.

Let the games begin.

---

The cosplay challenge had officially begun, and the chaos was immediate.

Couples around them launched into dramatic reenactments of anime romances, heroic battles, and questionable romantic subplots that probably should have stayed in fanfiction.

Some were fully committed, spinning elaborate backstories for their characters. Others had absolutely no idea what they were doing, awkwardly reciting pickup lines while hoping their costumes would do the heavy lifting.

And then there was Ava and Ryan.

Or rather—the mischievous fox spirit and her brooding samurai.

Ava, wrapped in her red and white kitsune ensemble, tails swishing with every step, was already thinking of ways to steal the show.

Ryan, who looked way too good in his dark samurai armor, was resigned to his fate but still oozed confidence like he was born to play the role.

"Alright, pairs! Time to act out your chosen scenario!" The event coordinator’s voice boomed through the festival grounds.

Ava tilted her head curiously. "What scenario?"

Ryan exhaled. "I don’t know. We weren’t given one."

Mei popped up beside them, grinning like a demon who had orchestrated their doom.

"Oh, but you were."

Ava’s stomach dropped. "What did you do?"

Mei beamed, holding up the small event card with their assigned prompt.

"A forbidden romance between a samurai and a fox spirit, tested by fate!"

Ryan blinked slowly. "...You did this on purpose."

Mei shrugged innocently. "I simply gave you two the material you were destined to act out!"

Ava groaned, rubbing her temples. "So, we have to act like we’re in some tragic romance where we’re from opposing worlds?"

Mei nodded enthusiastically. "Star-crossed lovers! The world stands against you! Tragedy! Passion! Forbidden longing!"

Ryan leaned over to Ava, voice completely unimpressed. "This is basically a historical drama. You’re the trickster spirit. I’m the brooding swordsman. I assume I have to betray my clan to be with you?"

Ava grinned wickedly, flipping one of her fluffy fox tails. "Only if you beg, Samurai."

Ryan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "Alright, let’s do this."

The moment they stepped forward, the crowd fell into a hush.

Maybe it was because Ryan looked exactly like a legendary warrior stepping out of an Edo-period drama, or maybe because Ava, with her sly smile and flicking fox tails, had a presence that commanded attention.

Either way, people stopped to watch.

Ava and Ryan took their positions in the center of the festival stage, the lanterns casting a soft golden glow over them. The entire event space had fallen into a cinematic silence, waiting for their performance.

Ava made the first move.

She prowled toward Ryan, tails flicking, a teasing glint in her eye as she circled him.

"Tell me, Samurai," she purred, voice sultry and full of challenge, "why do you hesitate? Should you not strike down a creature like me?"

Ryan’s expression didn’t waver—only his sharp gaze followed her like a predator tracking prey.

His fingers tensed around the hilt of his sword, but he didn’t draw it.

"If I were truly your enemy, you would be dead already." His voice was low, laced with something dark and unreadable.

The crowd shivered collectively.

Ava’s lips curled, her voice dipping into something softer—something dangerous.

"Yet here I stand, untouched. Perhaps you are not as bound to duty as you claim."

Ryan exhaled sharply, jaw clenching.

"I should not want you," he said, his voice rough—deliberately holding back. "And yet, I do."

The audience collectively gasped.

Mei actually squealed.

Ava took another slow step toward him, lifting a delicate hand toward his face but not quite touching him.

"Then take me, Samurai."

Ryan’s breathing deepened.

The tension between them crackled like fire meeting ice—hot, slow, inevitable.

Ava could hear the crowd holding their breath.

Then, in a single, fluid motion—Ryan moved.

Before she could react, his strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

The crowd screamed.

Ava, momentarily stunned, let out a startled gasp as Ryan dipped her backward—his grip firm, possessive, claiming her completely.

Their faces were mere inches apart.

Ryan, still fully in character, murmured darkly, "Then allow me to seal my fate."

And then?

He kissed her.

Not a chaste, simple kiss.

Not a teasing peck.

A deep, slow, theatrical kiss that could have been straight out of a romance movie.

The crowd lost their collective minds.

Mei threw a confetti bomb.

Harold actually fainted dramatically onto a tatami mat.

Julian, from somewhere in the crowd, looked absolutely offended.

Ava, completely caught off guard, melted into the moment.

It wasn’t just for show.

The way Ryan’s fingers tightened against her waist, the way his lips lingered, teasing her into wanting more—it was entirely, undeniably real.

And when Ryan finally pulled back, he smirked against her lips.

Ava, still reeling, barely whispered, "You really committed to the role."

Ryan grinned, his forehead resting against hers. "Told you I’d make it worth your while."

The announcer finally broke the moment by declaring them the winners.

"Ava Lee and Ryan Kim—undisputed champions of the Cosplay Date Challenge!"

Ryan turned toward the crowd, keeping Ava close. "Do I get a prize?"

Mei cackled."Your prize is the honor of being Tokyo’s most desirable samurai!"

Ryan rolled his eyes, then turned back to Ava, lowering his voice just for her."Well, that’s disappointing. I was hoping for another kiss."

Ava snorted, pushing against his chest. "Control yourself, Kim. There are children present."

Ryan chuckled, his arms still refusing to let go.

"Then I guess we’ll just have to continue this later."

And by the wicked glint in his eyes?

Ava had no doubt that he meant it.

Tokyo had officially crowned them the ultimate power couple.

And, as always—

Ryan Kim had won again.