When it comes to costs in Small Claims...

[Lizmontague]

You're the Claimant and you lost.

Is it still possible for the Judge to consider it reasonable for you to have brought the claim, even if you did lose on the merits?

[echat11]

As long as you weren't a 'a frivolous or vexatious litigant', then yes.

Also judges are 'human' and are 'fallible'.