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After school as always, the five friends huddled into their booth and excitedly chatted about the roadmap for their new band. Ever since Tsugumi’s idea took root, it grew under everyone’s daily attention. From assigning songs to practice, discussing lyric topics, and branding their overall look, all five girls looked forward to getting together when the chance came up. Himari showed off the doodles of the group’s outfits she made in class, gleefully Moca teased her for lack of concentration while going back and forth with Tomoe on what to order. Everyone was doing something at the daily session. Ran was also up to something, but it wasn’t band related. She stared coolly at the table ahead of her and sipped on the strawberry soda in front of her. She disconnected from the conversation, the only thing she could feel was the bubbles from her drink and the only thing that preoccupied her mind was how she would–
Tap, tap-tap. “Earth to Ran, Earth to Ran. Did aliens come and take you from your beloved friends?” She snapped back to the scene and the food was on the table. Ran reddened in embarrassment, how long was she out for? As she reached for a fry, she could feel her hands itch to write.
“I thought I was totally done for, thanks, Himari!” Tomoe was loud as ever and patted Himari on the back much like one firmly pets a friendly neighborhood dog. “The teacher was gonna kill me if you didn’t bring my notebook! I’ll treat ya to something tomorrow!” Himari puffed out in response.
“I shouldn’t be treated for something so small...but I do want pancakes and there is a new place that opened.”
Never change, Ran felt the thought bubble in her head. Please don’t change. She kept eating her fies, and before everyone finished and got ready to leave, grabbed a fistful of napkins. The gang continued their talk outside on the way home. Now Tsugu and Moca shared stories of how practice went with their instruments and planned to book the first official band practice in a studio. With the napkins pressed into her palm, Ran straggled behind a bit and scratched and scribbled with the pen she carried everywhere, she dyed the white napkin a messy black with the ink.
She looked frustrated and flipped over to a cleaner corner of the paper. She glanced up from her work at the back of her friends’ heads, and felt her heart tremble a little. They wouldn't want to be in a band with me if they knew. She looked back down, resolve sprouted within her, But I have to make them understand! So into her work was she that Ran barely felt Tomoe as she nudged into her. By reflex, Ran crumpled the napkin up.
“Been real quiet, somethin’ on your mind?” The other girls slowed their pace, Tomoe was always just a little too loud. Himari reached for and hid behind Tomoe’s arm and peeked at Ran with eyes that said, “Yeah tell us! You’ve been so quiet :(,” somehow she also made an emoticon with her glance.
Ran sighed, she’d hoped for a better time to bring this up. “I guess,” she smoothed out the napkin, the ink dyed her hand, “I wanted to tell you guys something really important and it better not change how you see me. I like girls. I’m a lesbian.” Everyone started to clamor at once, Tomoe pulled Ran in with an arm, Himari dove in as well, Tsugumi was out of words but she still gleamed ear to ear.
“Ran, congratulations, but we already knew.”
Huh?
Aside from joy, no one looked shocked at this development. Ran’s face ran red as she looked back and forth between the four. Himari was the next to speak up, “I always thought it was so cute when you played Moca’s wife and helped run the flower shop and bakery when we were kids!”
Tomoe laughed heartily, “Yeah! And the way you looked at Moca in class this one time right when sh–” Ran cut her off there with a deep, desperate sigh.
“I was a kid! I’m never telling you guys anything.” Though she sounded grim, they could all see the little smile that blossomed on her face.
“Wow, it sounds like you have a crush on sweet little Moca chan. Is this why you came out, to confess your undying love for me? I’ll have you know I like girls, too. Tsugu chin, didn’t you always have a crush on our neighbor until she moved?” Tsugumi nodded, embarrassed that anyone remembered. “And Tomoe aren’t you always talking about,” Now Tomoe cut someone off.
“If I’m gonna come out, let me do it! I do like girls though, a lot.”
“Wow! I can’t believe we’re all childhood friends and lesbians!” Tsugumi added.
“I’m bisexual,” Himari corrected.
Ran was happy, probably more than that. Her friends really could remain by her side and support her, they'd remain her same as always.