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“I have something to tell you all…” Chihiro said to her classmates, catching most people’s attention. It was break time and the teacher had stepped out. Celestia knew that the girl speaking was...dull to say the least. A nerdy computer girl? She was hardly a new or interesting concept. Chihiro looked somewhere behind Celeste, the gambler followed her line of sight with a slight turn of her head, just in time to see that biker gang leader give the programmer a thumbs up with a smile. “I...I’ve been meaning to tell you all this for a while a-and if you don’t want to be friends with me anymore, that’s...okay with me,” Chihiro stated in a half-defeat, half-confident tone of voice. She must be telling them something rather personal? Scandalous, perhaps?
“Come on, Chihiro! Whatever you want to tell us can’t be that bad, we’ll support you no matter what!” Hina encouraged. Speak for yourself. Celestia thought, the swimmer girl did have a tendency to put words in people’s mouths. Chihiro seemed to pull herself together hearing that, nodding at the other girl with a smile.
“Okay. Everyone, I have to tell you that...I’m a boy.”
Well...that was unexpected.
Her...His statement seemed to surprise everyone just as much as it surprised Celeste. Chihiro’s words even got the attention of Toko and Byakuya by the back of the room. Sayaka was the first one to speak up, “Uh...I’m sorry Chihiro, but what do you mean by that? Are you transgender or…?” She trailed off, leaving room for interpretation. This seemed to catch Chihiro by surprise, “O-oh, um, no I was born a boy and I am a boy.” Oh. Hina spoke up, “Ah, that actually answers a question I’ve had, I’ve never seen you in the girl’s locker room for gym. You just kind of show up outside.” Chihiro half-laughs and cups his hands in front of him. “Yeah...I’ve been getting changed in the bathroom and going outside through the other doors.” He explained.
Celestia’s classmate’s voices kind of blended together as she was collecting her thoughts. Chihiro. A boy who passes so well as a girl. Was it effortless? Did he put as much work as she did into passing? Or was he a natural? The idea that such a boy existed angered Celestia. She has worked so hard throughout her entire childhood to be naturally addressed as female, she even fooled the school’s administrators into thinking that she was assigned female at birth. And he did the same thing...just by wearing a skirt and some cutesy mary janes? It was outrageous.
Overall, the classes’ reactions were either positive or neutral, despite a few close-minded comments by Leon and Hifumi. The teacher came back in a few moments later and continued where they left off. But Celestia’s mind was on anything but the lesson. She had to speak to that boy sometime after class, or the questions weighing her mind would give her a migraine.
-
It was just after dinner time and everyone had either retreated to their rooms or to a similar place of solace. Celestia was usually found in her room or the rec room, but tonight she was walking down the halls towards the computer room. There he is. She thought to herself as she peeked in the doorway. She lightly knocked on the doorframe, unintentionally startling Chihiro.
“O-oh, Celestia! Sorry, I didn’t see you!” He quickly greeted while saving and shutting down a program. Celestia nodded, stepping into the room, and closing the door behind her. Chihiro closed his laptop and the gambler took a breath before speaking. “Chihiro, I wished to speak about the announcement you made during class,” Celestia spoke, pulling up a chair for herself before taking a seat. Chihiro looked nervous, “Okay, what did you want to talk about?” He said and for some unknown reason, it angered her more.
“Does your handbook list your gender as male or female?” Celestia wanted to start with the lightest topic. Chihiro proceeded to take out his e-handbook, he turned on the power and showed the screen to Celeste. It listed his gender as male and Chihiro turned the book off again. “The school has known for only a few days...they weren’t happy that my dad lied to them and they expect me to only use the boy’s locker room and bathroom now.” He added, laying the handbook on the computer desk next to him.
“I see,” Celestia started, “Now, I have only one more question.” Chihiro nodded, ready for whatever it might be. Celestia leaned forward towards the boy. “...How did you do it?” She asked, a look of confusion overtook Chihiro’s facial features. “How did you pass so...effortlessly?” Celestia elaborated. Chihiro cupped his hands in front of him, “I-I don’t really know. I was often bullied for being too girly so that had something to do with it.” “So? I don’t see how just ‘looking girly’ convinces people of that. There must be more to it.” Celestia almost cut off her classmate’s response. “Did you wear makeup? Wear only the best pushup bras?” Celeste interrogated and Chihiro recoiled but answered anyway.
“I-I’m sorry, I really don’t know what you want me to say.” Chihiro squeaked out, tears forming at the edge of his eyes, “I-I did wear a bra, b-but no makeup.” He answered, going on to ask, “Celestia, why are you so passionate about this?” Wrong question.
“Wha-Why am I passionate about this? I am not passionate just...just-” Celestia started, frustration building within her, “I want to know why people just saw you and just knew that you were a girl when you barely tried, but they didn’t do the same for me!” There it is. But she kept going, “What made you so special ?” She almost shouted, but Chihiro calmed down on his own, processing what she told him.
“Celestia, are you…?” Chihiro trailed off and she filled in the blanks. Great, he knows. Great. Celestia huffed and stood up to leave. “W-wait Celestia!” Chihiro tried to shout after her, Celeste’s hand was on the door, “Wait, Celeste, I d-don’t mind that you’re trans. It-It’s who you are and...you shouldn’t feel ashamed about it.” Chihiro tried to comfort the girl as best as he could. Almost as if he wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to run away.
Celestia and Chihiro stood still for a few moments. The tension in the room was overwhelming. Celestia broke the silence with a sigh and slightly turned her head to face Chihiro. “Don’t you dare tell a living soul about this or I will throttle you. ” Celeste threatened. “I would never, I know what it’s like to...not be ready for others to know about things like this.” He replied calmly, sitting back down. She stared at the boy for a moment. He was...not going to tell anyone? For...for real? This boy had to so, so innocent to act in such a way.
Celestia turned back to the door and turned the handle. “Thank you for trusting me, Celeste. It...means a lot.” Chihiro said before the door was open. Celeste looked back at him and saw a small, hesitant smile on his face. Celestia scoffed lightheartedly and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.