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"Ren, you're very handsome, you know?"
He looked up at Kuniko, who was running her fingers through his hair. He smiled softly.
"It's been said to me many times... mostly by you, but you're still a person." He hummed, his eyes slipping closed. "Well a youkai, but-"
Kuniko slapped him gently, making him chuckle quietly. They sat in silence. Outside the room, there was the chirping of a bird, the rustling of some leaves. In short, it was only a peaceful scene. One could simply drift off... into sleep.
"Ren? Are you tired?"
His eyes opened slowly. He smiled up at his girlfriend.
"Nope. Wide awake. Never been better. You?"
"I'm not tired either. Just checking on you, I mean you seemed like you were able to sleep." She ran her hands through his hair. "What's on your mind, Ren?"
"Hmm..." He closed his eye. "...It's just a thought that comes and goes on occasion."
"Oh?"
"...Have you ever wondered what's it like to be the opposite gender? Like... being a boy?"
Kuniko watched him for a moment. She tilted her head slightly. "No... I don't think so." She looked down at him. "You've thought about being a girl?"
"Well..."
Before Rensuke could answer, there was a click and the door opened, and the couple looked at who entered.
"You know, boys aren't supposed to be here?"
It was Yuri, glaring at Rensuke. Kuniko pouted and was about to protest before Rensuke sat up, laughing quietly.
"She's right, Kuniko. I should head back anyway." He kissed her forehead. "See you tomorrow."
"See ya, Ren."
Rensuke exited the dorm and began his trek to his dorm. When he was outside, he saw various girls walking past him, getting to their dormhouse and chatting with each other.
"Oh, hey Ren."
He looked up and saw Beniko passing him. She adjusted her glasses and looked up at him.
"Hey, Beniko."
"What're you over here for? Seeing Kuniko?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, laughing. "I was, yeah. I was in Kuniko's dorm, but Yuri kicked me out."
"Mmn. Well, see you later." She continued on her way and Rensuke continued walking.
He looked around the sidewalk. It was almost the weekend... he'd need to go into work tomorrow. Might not be able to see Kuniko much tomorrow. His phone would definitely be charged.
"Ren, you're very handsome, you know?"
"...Being a girl..."
It really was a passing thought. One that happened more than most of his passing thoughts. He would have occasional dreams where he'd have longer hair, wear skirts and dresses. Being called a girl... wearing the sailor uniforms...
Usually when that thought came in, it was accompanied with thoughts about his teacher. He sighed softly and realized he was right in front of his room. He walked in and saw Hijita was lounging on the couch, flipping through channels.
"Hey, Ren."
"Hey, Hijita." He walked past him, heading to their bedroom before pausing. "Hey, I've got a question."
"Hm?"
"Have you ever thought about being a girl?"
Hijita shrugged. "Yeah, sometimes."
Rensuke looked at him before nodding. He walked back to his room and changed into sleep clothes. He climbed into bed and began to slip off. Maybe he was tired earlier...
As he dreamed, he thought about hanging out with Kuniko earlier. Except...
"Ren, you're very pretty, you know?" She giggled. "I mean... you're the prettiest girlfriend anyone could have."
She watched Kuniko as she combed through Rensuke's hair. She cuddled up to her girlfriend... and hugged her waist.
"I'm a pretty girl...?"
Kuniko leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"The prettiest."
BRIIIING! BRIIIIIIING!
Rensuke flailed his arm about before slapping his phone. He glared at his alarm for pulling him from that dream. That wonderful, wonderful dream... it felt so far away now... He sighed and fell back onto his bed.
"Come on, Ren, don't you need to go to work?"
He groaned and slowly pulled himself out of bed. Hijita was right, he just... didn't really want him to be right.
"Oh yeah, about your question last night."
Last night?
"I've thought 'what if I was a girl'... but never 'I want to be a girl'. I think there's a difference. ...I think."
Rensuke watched him. Once again, he was right; there was a difference between the two statements.
And Rensuke felt that his feelings were more the latter than the former. He slowly began dressing himself and picked up his phone and began leaving.
"Alright, I'll see you later, Hijita."
"Hey, dude, before you leave."
He looked up and saw Hijita approach him. He looked a little... confused. But, it's not like that expression was uncommon.
"Yeah?"
"...Do you think you might be a girl?"
Rensuke was reaching for the handle before pausing. He slowly turned back to Hijita, cocking his eyebrow.
"Where did this come from?"
"Well... your question last night. I mean... from the way you asked, it seemed like you've thought about being a girl. So, I guess I got curious." He raised his hands up. "But, it's not important- or... I mean, you don't need to tell me. I was just a little curious."
Rensuke watched him, his eye flitting between Hijita's eye and eyepatch.
"...I might be. I just... I don't know." His arm fell against his pants with a small slap. "I mean-... I keep having these thoughts about... being called a girl... I had a dream last night where I was Kuniko's girlfriend." He ran a hand through his hair. "And... I... I have longer hair, and I'm wearing the girl's uniform, and I-"
He was cut off by a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, he saw Hijita give him a small smile.
"It's fine, yeah?" He gave him a bright smile. "I mean, I'm not the smartest on this, but... a guy usually doesn't have thoughts like that, y'know?"
Rensuke thought about his words before nodding slowly. "Yeah... I can see that."
Hijita patted his shoulder. "Aaand, not to mention, you should probably head out to your job."
Rensuke looked at his phone before swearing and opening the door. "Yeah, yeah! Alright, see ya later!"
"Bye, dude!"
Rensuke slammed the door on his way out and ran down the hall, passing by several classmates on his way out. It wasn't easy, but Rensuke managed to make it in before he was considered late to work. He huffed as he tied the apron around his waist and made his way to the counter. While he waited for people to come up to him, he tied his hair into its small ponytail and rested his head in the palm of his hand.
"Hey, dude."
He looked up and saw Sano with Mame on his shoulder, standing next to Momoyama atop Yanagida.
"...I don't have the brain capacity to ask why they're hanging out."
He slowly stood. "Hey. What can I get you guys?"
Sano pulled out his wallet. "Just some soda cups. Needed to make a quick pit stop."
"Are you three heading somewhere in particular?"
"Yeah, Seimei enlisted our help to pick out an outfit for him."
Rensuke snorted and took the money. "What does he need an outfit for?" His hand reached out for the cups.
"Apparently, he's got a date with the doc!" Mame whispered, giggling with Momoyama.
Rensuke's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously?"
"Yeahhh... I was shocked too. I thought Seimei only loved sailor uniforms, but I guess he can love people too." Sano took the cups. "See you later, Ren."
"Yeah, see ya, Sano."
The day was a blur, but it went by so slowly. Just taking money, handing out orders, counting change... and repeat. Repeat. Re... peat...
It allowed for his mind to easily drift. To earlier, when he was talking with Hijita. Even earlier than that when he had his dream. Even earlier, when he was in middle school and he tried growing his hair out longer than his dad would usually let him. Long enough to where his ponytail was longer. Long enough to where, from behind, one could mistake for a girl.
And they did. Plenty of people called him "miss" and "ma'am" when they saw him from behind and it never bothered him. But when Kurai or the pervert maid would see him from behind, it was always "sir". And he didn't really realize it at the time, but hearing that made him... a little disappointed.
Was that saying something? Hijita was right when he said most guys don't like being called a girl. Mistaken for a girl. Being a girl. Rensuke hummed.
"Am I girl...?"
He closed his eye and thought about it for a moment before he was ripped from his thoughts with a single question.
"Was I supposed to hear that?"
His eye snapped open and he saw Kuniko and Yuri standing in front of him. His face slowly heated up and he turned away.
"Wow, I've been working for such a long time, I should go take my lunch break!"
He prepared to speed walk away, but felt his arm get grabbed.
"Haaang on, I think we need to talk about this."
He considered trying to rip away from her but he didn't want to risk her bones or Yuri grabbing him next. He sighed and slowly walked back to them, eye still on the counter.
"Now then... do you think you might be a girl?"
Rensuke shrugged. "Dunno. I was just thinking about it... Cause.... cause I've thought about it a lot."
"A lot?" Yuri echoed. "I mean... guys don't think about being a girl a lot."
"She has a point..."
Rensuke sighed, letting his head droop. "Hijita said the same thing..." He slowly pick his head up and looked Kuniko in the face. "...I think I might be a girl."
There was silence between the three before Kuniko reached out and held his face.
"It truly doesn't matter your gender, Ren." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I waited so many years for us to be together. It's you who I like. All parts of you."
His-- no... Her face flushed red and she leaned into Kuniko's hands. There was a slight pat on her cheek making her look up.
"Besides... I'm bi, so I really don't have a preference between genders!"
"You're bi?!" Rensuke and Yuri turned to her. They then turned to each other before saying, "I thought you would've-..."
Kuniko giggled at their shock. "Yeah... I guess it never came up!"
"Makes sense..." Yuri mumbled. "Anyway-- ...so, you're a girl. Are you going to change your dorm arrangements?"
Rensuke shrugged. "I dunno. I did move in with Hijita for a reason. Besides, I wouldn't want to make any girls uncomfortable." He chuckled dryly.
"Oh, Ren..." Kuniko held his face.
Yuri scowled at the sight but her face slightly softened. She crossed her arms and looked away.
"I wouldn't feel uncomfortable."
They both looked up at her.
"Huh?"
"I said I wouldn't feel uncomfortable. You're a girl. Girls live in the girls dormitories. Beniko doesn't have a roommate, no one wanted to be her roommate. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
Rensuke softly smiled at her words, making Yuri glare back at her.
"What's that look for?"
"I was just thinking... you're kind of nice, Yuri."
Yuri frowned but softened her glare. "Whatever. Come on, Kuniko, we shouldn't keep her longer."
"Ah... yes, you're right! Sorry Ren-- uh... do you want to be called 'Ren' still?"
She thought it over. "Yeah, you still can." She kissed her cheek. "Let me take your order first, yeah?"
"Oh, yeah!"
When her girlfriend and Yuri went to go sit down, Ren looked down at the counter before smiling wider.
"...I'm a girl."