Yep, that's right. There are otakus in Mississippi. They are hard to find though, especially in my little town (I HATE it here; I'm a big city girl stuck in a small country town) with a population of about 400. The problem with this, if you stick out, you get slammed down. So everyone here tries so hard to be like the person next to them, afraid to be different. Let me tell you, it's plain hard to be an otaku in this. I only know three friends there who are otakus. Everyone else is hiding away. Want more detail on life there? Everyone hunts deer, wears camo, and talks about drinking 24/7; Mention anime they say "Whhaaattt?" - so in came my master plan.

I decided to wear a shinigami, Bleach cosplay outfit to school in order to bait some otakus out of hiding. (Felt awesome to look different from everyone else too) I was able to find Soifong's Captain's uniform for cheap. Good idea because if there are otakus here, they should all be able to pick up on Bleach. Kinda proved wrong later. Also, there is no anime con for miles!! So where else should I wear a 100 dollar costume? School of course!

My dad was seriously unsupportive of me. Number one, he thought it was plain weird (Expected); Number two, the principal was most likely going to send me home (Expected); Number three, the students will most likely tease, gossip... the normal stuff. (Expected) My brothers, on the other hand, loved the idea and were purely jealous. (One of them is in college, and the other is in my grade, Junior) My mother bought it for me when I asked but gave me a funny tone when talking about it, so I guess she's on the edge. Anyway...

The morning I wear my costume to school (March 17th, St. Patrick's day), my brother decides to try to fake a stomachache on me and stay home. (Unexpected!!) But I was able to drag him with me to give me moral support... just in case it went bad.

Well, I get there, walk through the parking lot to get to the cafeteria, and everyone is staring at me! My first response was from a friend (who is probably the most red-necked guy at my school), and he did that thing where he puts his fist in his palm and bows. I took this as, "This should work out fairly well". Turns out the principal couldn't care less, which was a huge load off my shoulders; I mean, I had spare clothes in my bag just in case. Sadly, there was only 5 minutes left 'til the first period bell rang, so I was stuck outside starving to death with all the students staring at me. I couldn't help but laugh-a LOT. ^^

As I was walking to first period Senior English, some girl behind me said to her friend, "What is she suppose to be?!" For some odd reason she put a little emphasis on the word 'she'. When I got to my locker, my 7th grade friend who watches some Naruto (But obviously not Bleach) asked me what in the world I was wearing. I laughed and made my way to English. There are got few responses, just the 3 girls sitting around me. One was a black girl, so you can imagine the way she said this, "Jean, this ain't no Halloween. Are you crazy?" (Expected). The other girl is a normal senior girl with "I think it's pretty cool." (Unexpected). And then I got the rebellious girl who had the most funny response of "So let me get this straight, you're wearing that because you want to?" *I nod* "Now thats cool!" Then I had to try to explain cosplay and anime to them, but I gave up. Thats way too far out of these people's mind range.

Outside at break, I was seriously shocked because the teacher on duty out there knew I was cosplaying, although he didn't know the show. He also guessed right when he said that one of my reasons "cosplaying" was to observe reactions. I can't help it, I'm a Sociologist in training here; I observe people! Anywho, I was jumped by another junior who kept asking me why I was wearing the costume. I simply responded, honestly, that I wore it because I wanted to. He couldn't wrap his head around it! He just kept going "...But why?!" Finally got out of there and went to homeroom. There the class responded when I first walked in. I had another friend in there - he too is a redneck who dips tobacco, other redneck crap, and he watches Naruto (but not Bleach). But he started doing the freakin ninja sound ...I guess you can call it. The one you make when mocking kung-fu.. anyways!

In second period Pre-Cal, one girl asked what I was wearing and why. (Get this straight, my answer to both of those were always "A costume" and "I wear it because I want to" ...at least I told that to the people I knew wouldn't understand the term cosplay or anime) Then the Pre-Cal teacher asked about it, but I told him it was a cosplay outfit hoping he would understand. Don't know if he did though. And that was it for second period notables. I realized the pattern in this though. People asked questions in like the first 5 minutes of class and then suddenly dropped it, never to ask again. It was odd. I expected people to be more enthusiastic about it... seeing something that different.

In third period Botany, my friend, who seems like an otaku to me but is not, was like "So Jean, what is this thing about the costume you decided to wear?" Don't ask what I said because I can't remember if I answered him or not. Nobody asked after that, probably because most of them have either 1st period, 2nd period, or homeroom with me. I went to go turn in my drawings when another freakin redneck (This one as stupid as a #%^& rock) asked me what it was. I told him it was a costume, not even making an attempt to tell him about cosplay or anime. -- Now the funny part. Me and my brother were called down to the office. Turns out my dad came to check up on us. On me, to make sure I was still emotionally intact and if I was forced to change into normal clothes; on my brother, to see if he was still feeling sick and if he wanted to check out. He stayed. ^^ My dad tried to make me walk home though.

4th Period PE. A restless young group ranging from grades 7-11. They all stared, of course. When I sat down in the bleachers I was jumped by my 7th grade friend and another friend from the same city as me before the hurricane hit, wanting to know what I was wearing. I didn't answer them though, because the guy in front of me (who I knew watched Bleach) responded very loudly with "That is awesome!! She looks like she can walk on leaves!" (I think he missed the part where you say walk on leaves AND not break them.) "I want one! I mean, it's way better than my clothes!"

We went on to play kickball. Throughout the whole game when someone looked at me, including the junior who jumped me at break, they proceeded to do that ninja sound that I told you about in the third paragraph! And then one 7th grader persistently asked me why I was wearing the costume. I responded like always. But for some stupid reason, he was certain there was a special reason, like a performance or play. I told him I did it because I wanted to, but he was like "No, there is another reason. You couldn't have done it because you wanted to!" I don't now why people couldn't accept that fact. I was getting ready to leave for 5th period when the guy's friend (The one with the big response) asked me if I was cosplaying Bleach. I wasn't that surprised, I expected that since he was hanging out with him, he would watch Bleach too, but it's good to know he spoke up about it.

In 5th period History it was the same people as homeroom, just one new guy, who almost hit the show with the guess of "Inuwasha". I laughed so much at that. But hey, at least he guessed an anime even though he said the name wrong. And when this black girl asked me about it and I stupidly tried to explain anime, he knew what it was and explained it to her better than I could have. By the way, how do you explain anime to any person who has a short mind limit (a closed mind or not a big imagination, I guess you can say)?

Then lunch. Another fun event. I walked to lunch with one of my biggest otaku friends; he watches a little more anime than the usual country otaku (they usually only watch Naruto, Bleach or Death Note). I told him where I got my costume from and whatnot. When I walked through the cafeteria to get into the line, all the little kids (This is an attendance center where K-12 attend) were staring at me. So hilarious! Then while waiting in the line, he was talking about how he was going to get Itachi's full Akatsuki outfit and the Sharingan contacts and we were going to have a cosplay battle at school. I was able fit in my ideas about having a cosplay day at school, but I don't think it'll happen in the next two months, cause he graduates this year. All my otaku friends do. T_T

But anyways, I was about to go to my table when he starting begging me to let him wear the captain's jacket. I was considering what his girlfriend would think and (stupid me) I thought she wouldn't care. So I let him wear it. While he was at my table putting the jacket on, this girl came from this other table full of 9th grade preppy girls and asked me if it was from Bleach. I was shocked and asked if she watched it; she said she loved it and that it was her favorite.

I was about to walk into 6th period class when my otaku friend came back and handed me my jacket; turns out his girlfriend made him give it back. I felt bad because he was so sad. No comments in 6th period though. Then that was my day.

The only thing that annoyed me was the fact that when I told them I did it because I wanted to, they couldn't accept it. Like you don't do things you want here; better yet, they couldn't understand that I would do something that made me stick out so much. Who knows. Country people are so weird.

But I did discover some new otakus. I finally found a female otaku! I didn't think I would find one at my school! Now I'm planning on having a cosplay day, and if I get lucky enough, have an anime club. (Although my luck is always short).

It's been two days, and I'm still getting responses. One girl in my 5th period class told me she thought my "karate outfit" was cute and if she had one she would it to school too. Then the female otaku asked me where I bought my costume on the to lunch because she has been looking for one. My cousin who came into town today saw it and said it was awesome, and if he had one he would wear it too.

So overall, I didn't get many responses, but the comments I did get were pretty surprising. Even though countless people asked me why I was wearing the costume. So when I do cosplay at school next time, I hope to have more cosplayers with me. ^^

Hope that was interesting to you. I thought some people would be intrigued on how cosplay and anime are treated here in Mississippi. Obviously we need more otakus!