Work Text:
It was just another normal day. Classes had ended a while ago. Mostly everyone had left the school already. Akira remained still. She had opted to get some extra work done before going back to the dorms. It was just her in the student council room. Everyone else was long gone.
At least, she had thought so until the door opened and Mei Fan entered the room. She seemed nervous, Akira noted. Did something happen? Had someone done something wrong and they sent Mei Fan to tell her? There were many possibilities for why Mei Fan could be here. Most weren't good possibilities.
"H-hi..." Mei Fan greeted her, "Can I join you?"
Akira nodded. Mei Fan wordlessly took a seat next to her. She refused to make eye contact and started playing with her hands below the desk. She must have something to say then. That was all Akira could assume. She was here to tell her something. Now the question was just what exactly did Mei Fan have to tell her.
Akira went back to her work as she waited to see if Mei Fan would say anything more. She didn't want to force it out of her. It didn't tend to end well when she had before with others. Hopefully Mei Fan would talk soon. It was a little distracting knowing there was a conversation coming soon.
"C-can we talk?" Mei Fan asked quietly.
"Sure." Akira set down her pen and gave Mei Fan her attention.
Mei Fan didn't speak for a while still. She was trying. Her mouth opened, but then nothing would come out and she would close it again. Akira waited silently. She wished this would go faster. She had things to do. She didn't have time to play this game. But, at the same time it was apparent Mei Fan was under some distress and pushing her aside would only make matters worse.
"I... I'm trans..."
That was not what she had expected to hear. But now she had to figure out a response. Did she offer support? Was she supposed to just accept it and move on? What would Mei Fan want her to do? Akira had a lot of questions as well about this. Did she ask them first?
"So... are you not a girl?"
Mei Fan's eyes lit up in panic, "N-no! No... I... I am a girl..."
Akira realized her mistake now. That probably was not going to help her case. She had accidently hurt her by questioning that.
"Sorry..." Akira mumbled, "Um..."
"I... I'm sorry too. I should've clarified." Mei Fan replied.
"Why are you telling me this?" Akira questioned. She was also curious about that. Had Mei Fan told the others too? Or was it just her?
Mei Fan stared down at the table, "Some other students found out and... threatened to out me to you. I... needed to tell you first. Before they did."
Akira scowled, "Who?"
She did not take lightly to that. No one was getting away with that type of behavior on her watch. She wouldn't allow it.
Mei Fan whispered the names of the students to her. Akira noted them down. She would give their names to Michiru. Michiru would handle the rest.
"Are you alright?" Akira asked, "I assume you weren't ready to tell me."
"I... I'll live. But yeah I... I didn't plan to tell anyone so soon." Mei Fan replied.
"I'll keep this between us. Don't worry."
"Thank you..."
They fell into silence for a while. Akira had more she wished to say, but was unsure if shooting a million questions to Mei Fan was the best way to go. Since she hadn't wanted to tell her yet, Akira felt bad about prying even more.
"Do you know why they specifically wanted to tell me?" Akira asked the question she felt would be least invasive first.
"They said something about how you'd hate me then and kick me out of the edels..."
"Where on earth did they come to that conclusion?" Akira was confused now. Why would they have even fathomed that idea? Was she not openly supportive enough? It wasn't like any of them were straight and the student body knew it. Why would this be any different?
"I don't know. I knew it was an empty threat but... I still didn't feel very comfortable with the idea I wouldn't get to come out on my own terms, even if I knew you wouldn't care."
"That's understandable."
...
Akira had said she would keep it between them, but that wasn't entirely the truth. She was going to tell someone. Just leaving out any indication of who she was talking about.
"Michiru."
"There you are. You done working?"
"Yes. But, I need to discuss something in private with you."
Akira had returned to the dorms soon after. Mei Fan had already left by then. She wasn't anywhere in sight. She might be in her room already.
"Alright." Michiru agreed to talk to her.
They went to Michiru's room and sat on the bed. Akira wasn't sure where exactly to start. There were a lot of things she needed to tell Michiru. What was the best thing to start with?
"I need you to punish these students." Akira handed her the names, "They threatened to out someone against their will. I won't allow it."
Michiru seemed displeased as well when she heard that. It was all she needed to agree to handle them. There was a reason Akira herself wasn't getting involved. A reason only Michiru was aware of, but no one else ever questioned. They all just went along with the fact Akira pushed things like that onto Michiru.
"Um... Michiru?" Akira hesitated before she finished her sentence. "There's... someone like me here."
"Huh? You... met another trans girl? Here?" Michiru was surprised by that statement. Akira wasn't surprised by that. Michiru had looked into seeing if she could find out any hints on if there could be another trans student in Siegfeld and had failed.
Akira nodded, "Yeah. I can't tell you who but... I'm not the only one. I was really surprised to find that out too."
"Did you tell them?" Michiru questioned.
Akira shook her head, "No. Not yet. It didn't seem like the best time to tell them about me."
"Well, I think you should tell them at some point since they told you. I'm sure they'd feel relieved to not be all alone here as well."
"I will eventually. I just don't know how I want to bring that up to them yet." Akira replied.
That was her issue. She really did want to tell Mei Fan but how did she do that? It felt weird to think of just dropping it casually in a conversation. At the same time, she wasn't sure if talking about that while Mei Fan brought up anything about her would go over well either.
...
"Akira-san? Can I join you?"
"Hm? I guess."
Ever since then, Mei Fan had seemed to be getting closer to her. She often would try and hang out near her. Akira wasn't sure why and also wasn't sure if she should ask. She was very worried about messing all of this up and chasing her away with a wrong word.
Mei Fan entered the student council room and took a seat next to Akira. Akira debated asking her to do some work since she was here. But then she started talking.
"Um... can I vent?"
"Sure?"
That was a new request. Akira didn't really want to listen right now when she had things to do but... Mei Fan had sought her out for this. It would be rude to turn her away. It also really wouldn't inconvenience her that much to spare a few minutes of her time for this.
"I just... I kinda hate being the only trans kid here..." Mei Fan mumbled, laying her head on the table. "Especially since I'm so far from home. I have no one to really talk to. It'd be nice to have someone who could understand me better than just allies."
"How can you be certain you are the only one?" Akira questioned.
Even she hadn't thought that despite not knowing about Mei Fan before. You could never truly tell. And look at them now. She had been right. There was someone else.
"Those students were positive it was only me. They said they did a lot of digging and I was the discrepancy. So, I just assume I am the only one. They would've found it otherwise."
"I wouldn't trust them. They can't access too much information. It wouldn't be that hard for the school to hide that per a request." Akira said, speaking about her own experience.
She had been able to make sure nothing could link back to her official documents. Everything about her that said she wasn't a girl was hidden from prying eyes. To any normal staff member here, she was a cis girl. And that was the way she liked to keep it. She had enough of getting harassed before because someone leaked her documents and parents found out.
"Then tell me who here is trans. No one you know, I'm sure." Mei Fan grumbled, "I'm sick of being the odd one out."
Akira reached over and held one of her hands, "Mei Fan-"
"Just leave me alone..."
"I'm a trans girl too."
Mei Fan's eyes went wide. Akira waited for her to speak. She would probably have a lot to say to her now, wouldn't she? She had brought this on herself for telling her in this scenario but what other choice did she even have?
"You..." Mei Fan sat up and faced her.
Akira nodded, "Yeah. You're not alone here."
"B-but... you..." Mei Fan was seeming to have a hard time processing this new information, "Why... why didn't you tell me...?"
"It felt like the wrong time to drop it on you." Akira understood her question even if she didn't finish it, "Even now I didn't exactly plan for this to be the conversation I came out in."
Mei Fan opened her mouth and seemed to be preparing to say something more, but instead she just started crying. Akira panicked. What did she do?
Akira didn't really know what she was doing as she moved and held out her arms. Mei Fan hesitated for a split second before she threw herself into Akira, grabbing her tightly. Akira pulled her into a hug. She tried her best to offer some comfort as she cried.
"Are you alright?" Akira asked. She didn't know what had happened to cause this. Was it something bad or was this a normal reaction to have?
"I... I'm fine... I just... never thought this would happen..."
Akira didn't know how to respond to that, "Um... me too, I guess."
"Sorry... I shouldn't be such a crybaby over this..." Mei Fan pulled away and started trying to wipe away her tears.
"You don't need to apologize."
Mei Fan took a few deep breaths, "So... um... does anyone know that you're trans...?"
"Just Michiru." Akira replied, "Actually it was her who told me I was probably trans in the first place."
"Had you... planned to tell the rest of us?"
"I don't know. I've wanted to but I never could decide if I would."
"Do you think... I should tell the others? Since... people know."
"Only if you want to. If anyone is threatening to out you just tell me and I'll handle it."
"Maybe... I should tell Michiru-san... since she already knows about you... she'd be nice to me about it..."
"If you told her she'd also be able to help you if anyone was giving you problems. You know that."
"Yeah... now I see why you made her do all the dirty work."
"She offered. I would've done it if she wouldn't have." Akira stated.
"I'll have to think about it." Mei Fan said, "I don't know what I would say..."
"She's aware that someone here is trans." Akira said, "When I asked her to handle those students I had to explain what they had done. I of course left out any details that would link it to you."
"So if I told her... she would kind of be expecting it?"
Akira nodded, "Yes. She'd put it together quickly."
"But what about Yachiyo and Shiori?"
"They'll be accepting. I'm sure of that."
"This is a lot to consider..." Mei Fan mumbled.
Akira grabbed one of her hands, "If it would help... we can tell them together."
"You... you'd do that?"
"I feel as though if one of us tells them the other will feel obligated to do it as well. It would save the hassle of another talk."
"Let me think about it."
"Of course."
...
Akira had yet to hear if Mei Fan had decided on her answer yet. It was now the late evening. Her and Michiru were in the living room going over papers about their play. Shiori had gone out with friends earlier. Yachiyo was nowhere to be seen still. Mei Fan had left earlier as well to do something.
"I think it would look better this way."
"You think?"
"It matches the set better."
"I don't know. I like the old design."
"But it's so bland."
They were discussing small tweaks to the set design. There were a few pieces that Michiru had issues with. Akira didn't share the sentiment that she did. They bickered about it for a while, until the door opened and someone came back in.
"What are you guys doing?" Mei Fan had returned.
"Discussing things about the set." Michiru replied.
"What about it?"
"Just considering making some slight adjustments to some pieces. That's all."
Mei Fan took a seat on the couch nearby. She silently stated between the two girls for a while. Michiru had already gone back to talking about the changes she wanted to make.
"Um... can I... say something?" Mei Fan nervously cut in to their conversation.
Michiru glanced up at her, "About what?"
"J-just that... um... I uh..." Mei Fan took a deep breath, "I'm... I'm trans..."
Michiru looked at Akira, "This is what you were referring to?"
Akira nodded.
"Well... alright." Michiru said, facing Mei Fan now, "I don't think I need to say much. Just let me know if you need me to do anything for you, okay?"
Mei Fan nodded, "Yeah..."
"Are you planning to tell Shiori or Yachiyo?"
"I... I don't know..."
"I'm sure they'll be fine with it too."
"I know I just... it's a lot." Mei Fan sighed.
"It is a lot to think about." Akira agreed, "There's a reason I haven't told them."
"Told who what?"
Speak of the devil... Looks like they found Yachiyo. Seems she had been in her room this entire time. Of course now she would decide to come down.
"None of your business. This conversation is between the three of us only." Michiru was quick to reply.
"You can't even let me in on it? I thought we weren't meant to keep secrets between us edels." Yachiyo pouted in mock sadness.
"This discussion isn't about you."
"Come on. What's there to hide?"
Mei Fan was seemingly the most anxious about where this conversation was going. She was pale and trying to steady her breathing. That made Michiru even more snappy at Yachiyo with each reply, but it only egged her on more.
"Fine." Akira broke into their unending argument, "We were discussing how to tell you and Shiori that I'm a trans girl."
"Oh." Yachiyo went silent and looked embarrassed, "I... I'm sorry..."
"It's not the end of the world. You are right that we're trying not to keep secrets which is why we're talking about that."
"Well uh... guess now you just gotta discuss how to tell Shiori, huh?" Yachiyo offered nervously.
"I suppose so." Akira nodded.
"I'm gonna head back to my room..." Yachiyo retreated quite fast.
"Are you alright, Mei Fan?" Akira looked over at said girl in worry.
Mei Fan nodded, "Y-yeah... thank you..."
Akira shrugged, "Honestly that was easier to do than expected."
"I didn't think you'd go that far." Michiru nudged her in the shoulder, "I just thought you'd tell her to shut up."
"She wasn't going to stop questioning until she got an answer. It truly isn't a bother that I came out. I really didn't feel worried about it." Akira shrugged it off.
"Well then, you got your answer to how Yachiyo will take it." Michiru stated, "Now how do we tell Shiori... since Yachiyo knows about you but not her we can't really drop the bomb together..."
"Perhaps I should just tell her on my own and then we can have Mei Fan tell them together whenever she is ready." Akira suggested, "Or else it would have to be a quite messy coming out. She'd have to tell Yachiyo and then technically Shiori could be made aware of us together but that might be a bit much."
Michiru nodded along, "I agree... I think it would work well if you lead the way. Then it can seem as thought Mei Fan got the confidence to tell them because you had. What do you think of that, Mei Fan? Any suggestions of your own?"
"I... I think it would be okay to do that... and then just maybe I tell everyone together and... you two just act like you weren't aware beforehand?" Mei Fan offered.
"If that's how you want to play it out I think we can manage that." Michiru agreed, Akira also nodding.
"Then... just let me know when Shiori is aware and I'll... figure out when I'm ready to do it myself."
"I think you should wait a week or more after I tell her so it doesn't seem as planned." Akira stated, "So it seems like you were debating everything since I've told everyone."
"I do wonder if Yachiyo may question how come Mei Fan knew already..." Michiru commented.
"What lie shall we tell her?" Akira looked at Mei Fan.
"Uh... maybe I just uh... accidently found out?" Mei Fan said.
"Like you... walked in on her changing or something?" Michiru questioned.
"Y-yeah. Something like that. I just saw something I wasn't supposed to so you had to tell me." Mei Fan nodded.
"If she asks then that it our story."
"Anyway... that's enough for tonight. I'm heading up to bed." Michiru closed the folder of plans and went off.
Akira and Mei Fan stayed sitting for a while. Neither spoke. They just sat their in silence and stared awkwardly around.
"Akira-san?"
"Yes?"
"Um..." Mei Fan gulped, "I... I like you."
"You like me?" Akira repeated.
"I... I have a crush on you." Mei Fan closed her eyes as she waited for the response.
Akira didn't know what to say. That was a sudden confession. Though... this wasn't the first time someone has hinted to her that Mei Fan might have a crush on her. Looks like they had been right.
"I like you too." Akira eventually said.
Mei Fan's eyes shot open, "You do?! Ah, sorry I... I just thought you'd reject me..."
"Why did you think that?"
Mei Fan shrugged and stared at the floor, "I don't know... you just... don't seem like you'd settle for someone like me."
"I'm not really following."
"Just... forget it. It's really just stupid worries."
"Fine." Akira didn't want to drop it, but she did.
"So... um... how do we... throw in this? It'll be hard enough with telling them this stuff and now... we have to tell them we're dating..."
"We don't have to."
"But we should. I don't like keeping secrets..."
"We don't have to tell them right away." Akira modified her original statement to fit what Mei Fan said.
"The more we put it off the less it'll ever happen."
"Why don't we just focus on the first task. Then we can consider what to do about this. Okay?"
"I guess..."
"It'll work out. I'm sure of it."
"I hope you're right."