Chapter Text
The alarm wakes Cosmo up with a loud ring. It's the first semester of university after the long summer. Luckily, he submitted a dorm application during the spring so he'd have somewhere to sleep for the next one or two years.
The fun part is he's going to share a dorm with someone! Maybe he can make new friends other than Shelly and Astro. They're both research assistants, though. Making them extremely busy most of the time. So it'd be great if he made new allies.
Cosmo had other friends. He lost contact with them after high school, though. Finn and Boxten, their names were. Cosmo wanted to call them, but he wasn't too confident they'd answer. Maybe some other time.
By the time Cosmo reached the bathroom sink, he got a message on his phone.
"𝘾𝙊𝙎𝙈𝙊!!! 𝘿𝙊𝙉'𝙏 𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙂𝙀𝙏 𝙏𝙊 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀!! 𝙄'𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪:(( 𝙊𝙝, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚'𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙮! "
Shelly was practically screaming in Cosmos' face with all those exclamation marks. Cosmo barely had a word in, and Shelly was already reminding him like he was still in bed.
"𝘽𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣! :))"
Cosmo wore his new washed blue uniform. It was similar to a tuxedo; it's not like Cosmo minded, just that he didn't usually wear fancy clothing. He liked wearing oversized white hoodies, shorts and thigh-high socks. He doesn't know why, but thigh-high socks felt comfortable. Even though they were seen as feminine.
Cosmo was trans, and almost everyone knew it. He never had any kind of surgery since it was too expensive. Besides, he felt comfortable with his body as it is. The only thing that ever changed was his gender. Cosmo doesn't like talking about it much. It just reminds him of how feminine he looks.
Cosmo picked up a lunchbox with his baked goods inside. He loved baking more than anyone else. He'd eventually eat everything he bakes, which made him a bit chubby. He had plush, soft skin that perfectly fit him. He liked it.
With his bag and jacket on, he was set to go. "Ginger, I'm leaving now! I'm gonna stop by the store after school, so text me if you need anything!" Cosmo yelled while recklessly putting on his backpack and vest. He heard an understandable hum from upstairs.
"Yeah, yeah.. Just don't buy half the store like last time. "
"Hehe.. Won't happen again..! "
Cosmo rushed out the door, hoping to get to the bus station in time. What's university gonna be like? Could he really handle it? Gosh, he just couldn't even consider whether he wanted to try his best or give up completely. He was stunned when he turned around a corner to see the bus station... AND HIS BUS!
Cosmo didn't know his bus came this early! Gosh, he should've double checked!
Cosmo got ready to dash and ran as fast as he could. When he saw the bus slowly seal the doors, he lost hope in his chubby legs until someone picked him up, carried him and ran into the bus.
"Shelly! You saved me big time!" Cosmo exclaimed in relief.
Shelly isn't the fastest toon. But you'd be surprised how dedicated she is to helping friends.
"Anything for you, Cosmo! You'd better thank me by baking some of those dinosaur cookies..." Cosmo chuckled and nodded. He settled himself down on the floor and sat on a nearby seat. Shelly sat beside him. The bus wasn't too decorative, nor grubby. The seats were a bit filthy, though. Cosmo liked being fresh and clean, so it bothered him a lot.
"Gosh, Cosmo! Isn't this exciting?! New semester! Well... Apart from all the assignments we're gonna get... " Shelly gave a weak laugh.
"I'm more worried about you! Aren't you gonna get, like, a BUNCH more work to do? You and Astro have big roles after all. "
"I'll be fine! You should know this by now! "
Cosmo and Shelly have been friends since high school. Not best friends, they didn't talk enough for that label. But Cosmo still enjoyed talking to her. Not in a crush way. Cosmo never found his "soulmate". Maybe he would someday, though.
Shelly would constantly pass her classes despite her lack of studying. It was amazing how lucky she would get. And because of her grades, she got a high role in university, which she was sure she would do well in. Cosmo wasn't doubting her. That girl could do anything.
The bus ride wasn't too long. At least for Cosmo. Shelly complained the entire time about being tired. In reality, the ride was an hour and a half. Class didn't start yet. In fact, there was a bit too much time before class.
" Oh, oh OH!! COSMO!! I totally forgot to tell you! "
"Tell me what? "
"I met my friend from a few years back during the summer, he's our age and goes to the same university as us! He's also a research assistant, just like me! "
Cosmo was amazed that Shelly even knew the guy. Shelly was much quieter when she was younger. Cosmo did want to know more about this mystery man. "Whoa, really? What's his name? "
"Sprout! He's not the nicest guy, though. But trust me, he's a sweetheart when you get to know him!"
Cosmo looked out the window and stroked his cheek. "𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘵, huh? Well, I hope I get to see what's so great about this guy... " Maybe Sprout will be a new friend to him. Cosmo was great at making friends after all, right?
The bus stopped near the university. When Cosmo stepped off, he could see the huge building before him. The atmosphere was breathtaking. Cosmo didn't know how or what he did to get to such an astonishing place. Cosmo liked things that were unique and aged. Fortunately, his university was just so.
"Whoa! " Cosmo gasped.
"I know, right? Here, come! Let me show you around! Luckily, because of my great role, I was able to get a tour of the university beforehand! "
"Wait, you're allowed to get that? "
"I'm not! But I am allowed to convince people... "
"Shelly... " Cosmo shakes his head in defeat.
"Let's go, LET'S GO! "
Shelly grabs Cosmo by his arm and skips to the doors. The inside was even bigger than the outside! It was covered in posters and glistening lights. Cosmo was speechless. Shelly noticed his awe and snickered.
After the extremely long tour. Cosmo was able to check out his schedule and locker.
Cosmo was putting all his stuff in his locker when he suddenly saw the time. His class started in five minutes!
"Oh shit, oh gosh! Where did Shelly say the classroom was again? What class was it?! Something biology?? " Cosmo panicked. There's no way he's going to be late for the first class. There's no way-
"You need a hand? You seem stressed. "
Cosmo turned to a strawberry-faced guy with green leaves. He had his leaves up in a ponytail, not like it was too long anyway. No facial hair, straight up smooth skin. His clothes seemed a bit ragged. Like he hadn't ironed them for days.
"YES! Yes! H-here's my schedule! Please help me find my class! I-I can't be late! "
Cosmo handed the schedule to him.
"Looks like we have the same class together. "
"Great! I'll just follow you and-"
"Too bad I'm not helping you. "
"What...??? "
The strawberry gave Cosmo the schedule back with a satisfied smirk and ran away giggling.
"Piece of shit. " Cosmo said under his breath.
Cosmo came 20 minutes late to the lesson. He was forced to check every classroom to see if it was his. At least the nightmare was over. Or was it?
"Young man, care to explain why you're so late? " Dyle said in the middle of teaching. He was holding a stick-like object. Pointing at a few images and drawings on the board.
"I'm so sorry, sir! It was hard trying to find the classroom! "
"You know that there are maps at the entry of the university, right? "
Cosmo groaned in frustration. "No, I did not. " he mumbled in his hand.
"Take a seat, there's only one in the back. " Said Dyle and pointed at a spot.
Cosmo looked where he was pointing. A desk in the back. And right next to it...
"Not him again... " Cosmo didn't want to make a fuss the first day, so he walked over to the desk and sat down.
"Looks like you found the class, huh? " The strawberry leaned over to Cosmo. "Looks like you didn't need my help after all. "
"Zip it. " Cosmo demanded. He was already in a bad mood, and the strawberry was just making it worse for him.
The strawberry raised his hands in defeat and leaned back into his seat. Cosmo tried in all his might to ignore the guy. But he would not stop chatting.
"Are you two talking? " Dyle raised his voice.
"No, sir." Cosmo's face went red with embarrassment.
"This is gonna be a long year... "