Warnings for transphobia and bullying. You have been warned.

He

She sat in the shower, clutching her legs close to her naked body. The hot water hit her short hair and flowed down her pale body. She sniffed and pulled herself closer.

Him

Her chest was flat and she clutched it tightly, crying loudly. She didn't want this. She never wanted to be born like this. She was different; a freak in others' minds.

His

Her roommate knocked on the door. "Nitori. Are you okay? You've been in there for a long time."

Her voice cracked as she spoke. "I'm fine, Matsuoka-senpai. I just got some soap in my eye." She lied. Nitori looked down at her crotch and began to cry harder.

'I never wanted to be born as a boy.'

She stared at herself in the mirror, now calm. Her wet hair clung to her face. Nitori took a small lock and tried to measure how long it had grown. She knew it wouldn't long enough for her to pass. She knew people will still call her a boy. She lifted her shirt up, fit to a male's body, tracing her fingers along her bruises.

Some boys in town had lifted her skirt up and decided to teach her a lesson in 'not being a fag'.

She had walked home, clothes tattered and bloody, simply stating the boys had made her wear a skirt and then beat her up.

"Nitori, if someone's bullying you, just tell me. I'll beat them up! I was bullied a little in Australia, so I understand." Rin squeezed her shoulder in re-assurance. Nitori knew that Rin wouldn't understand. Nobody would.

Nobody would understand what it felt like to be a girl stuck in a boy's body.

Nitori walked silently behind Rin the next day, clutching her bag tightly. The collar on the shirt was tight, the chest area of the jacket too loose, and her pants were too tight. She stared down at the ground, barely watching where she was going, lost in her own thoughts.

When Rin stopped suddenly, Nitori bumped into him. "Cough it up." Rin crossed his arms. He was giving Nitori a stern glare, making her wince.

"W-what? Did I do something wrong?" She asked, looking around. She would have hated to do something wrong.

Rin sighed and ruffled Nitori's hair. "There's something wrong with you. What is it?" He asked, glaring down at her.

She knew that he would pressure her into saying what was wrong. There was no point in hiding anymore. "Could you do something for me?" Her voice was quivering, barely audible. Her breathing was erratic and she was dizzy. What if Rin didn't like her anymore because of it?

"Yeah, sure."

Nitori sighed and began to let the words pour out. "I've been feeling something lately. Something that has been bothering me. It's been driving me crazy, tugging at my heart every day. A-and I'm afraid. I'm afraid everyone will hate me."

Rin's face softened. "What are you talking about? I'd never hate you. You can tell me anything and I'll still be there for you." He smiled down at her.

Nitori sniffed loudly and tried to contain her tears. She knew she would break down eventually. "Well, the feeling tugs at my entire body, really. I just feel…different. I feel…like…" She paused and face dropped.

"…a girl."

She braced herself for the worse, expecting to receive a harsh blow or words from Rin. Instead, Rin threw his head back and laughed loudly. "You were afraid to tell me that?" He laughed, clutching his sides.

To be honest, Nitori was surprised. She thought he would hate her, but instead, Rin was laughing. "W-what?"

"You could have just told me earlier. I don't mind or care. You're still my kouhai, boy or girl." Rin grabbed Nitori's shoulders. "I could get some clothes from Gou if you need some. Whatever to make my little girl happy."

Nitori couldn't help herself. She lunged herself at Rin, hugging him tightly. She sobbed into his jacket. "T-thank you so much, senpai."

"Rin."

"What?"

"Call me Rin, Ai." Rin ruffled her hair.

Nitori smiled up at him and started to run off to class. "Okay, Rin Ai!" She giggled.

"Oh! You know what I mean!" Rin chased after her, angry.

Nitori was glad that there was somebody that cares about her.

'What are girls made of?'

Nitori stared out the window, eyes locked on a tree.

'Sugar, spice, and everything nice.'

She loosened her jacket up.

'Why.'

She grabbed her hair and bowed her head.

'Why couldn't I have been born a girl?'

She buried her face into her hands. Despite her best effort, she broke down. She sobbed like a child, unable to stop. When some boys asked her what was wrong, she didn't answer. When a teacher led her out of the classroom and into the clinic, she cried even harder.

He

She hated that word.

His

It wasn't hers.

Him

She didn't want to be called that.

Boy

Nitori grabbed the side of her head, threw her head back, and began to scream. She was alone in her dorm. The nurse didn't want her to go to swim practice, which she happily obliged to. She screamed as loud as she could, tears burning her face. Her chest was pounding and it felt like she was going to explode.

"I'm not a boy!"

She screamed the 4 words as loud as she could repeatedly until she eventually collapsed onto the bottom bunk and fell asleep from pure exhaustion.

Nitori walked down to the cafeteria, receiving strange looks from the other boys. They pointed at her and laughed, whispering amongst themselves. When she went to sit down, the boys pulled her chair away, making her fall.

"Sorry, we don't let girls sit with us." One of them spat.

Her heart dropped. There was no way anyone could have heard her. She was alone. "What are you talking about?" She managed to say. Nitori was nervous, feeling like she was about to faint.

Another spoke up, kicking Nitori, who was still sitting on the ground, lightly. "We heard what you were screaming. You're such a freak." He growled.

"No…" Nitori tried to cover her ears.

"You're not a girl."

"You're a boy."

Their words seemed to drown her, pulling her further down, about to kill her.

"Leave me alone, please." She whispered, trying to get them to stop.

"Oh? He's asking us to stop. Too bad, sissy. If you want to be a girl so badly, then just kill yourself and pray you're re-born a girl." The first one hissed.

One of the others laughed. "We could make him one tonight, with a knife."

Nitori shook her head and cried loudly. "Don't touch me!" She stood up, trying to run away. There weren't any teachers in the room, so Nitori wouldn't be helped.

Just as she had given up on hope and rescue, somebody said behind her, "Hey. I've been looking everywhere for you." Rin grabbed Nitori's shoulder. "And what are you all talking about? Nitori's just like the rest of us." He tried to defend Nitori. She knew he felt bad for miss gendering her, but she knew it was for her safety. "He's a boy. Maybe you heard someone else."

"No. It was him." The leader, the first boy, pointed at Nitori. "Are you another fag? Maybe his boyfriend?"

Rin glared at him, ready to fight, until he glanced at their ids. "Oh? You all are first years. I'm a second year, so I can make you all do exactly what I say. Isn't that right, Nitori?" He glanced at Nitori, who nodded. "You all better scram before I go and get your roommates. It would be bad if I told them that you were bullying another student and disrespected an upperclassman."

The boys looked at each other and sighed. "We're sorry." They bowed and ran away.

Rin turned to Nitori and smiled. "I'm sorry about that." He apologized.

Nitori glanced down at her shoes and grabbed her arm. "No, I should be sorry. I dragged you into this." She managed to say. Her eyes were droopy. "I guess I'll always be a boy. Forever."

Rin rolled his eyes and grabbed Nitori's wrist. "Come on, stubborn. I have something I need to show you." He dragged her out the doors.

Nitori cocked her head, running after Rin. What could he have planned?

Nitori put her hands against the wall, trying to balance herself. Rin had insisted on not letting her see anywhere where she was going. She knew Rin wanted to show her something, but they were just walking to their room! Rin covered her eyes, leading her into the room. "No peeking." Rin slapped Nitori's head when she tried to look.

She had to cover her own eyes when Rin tried to get everything set up. The curiosity was killing her; she wanted to know what he was hiding!

"Alright…now." Rin gently put her hands down. "You can open them."

When Nitori opened her eyes, she gasped and had to cover her mouth. On her desk lay a sailor uniform (one of Gou's old uniforms) and a long grey wig, to match Nitori's hair. "R-rin…" She picked them up.

"Do you like them? I bought the wig and got, well, stole the dress from Gou." Rin bounced on his feet like a child.

Nitori's mood darkened. It was a nice effort, but the incident earlier was still bothering her. "I like them, but I'm not a girl. I never will be. I'm stuck as a boy. Forever." She dropped the wig on the ground. "Those boys were right. I'm not a girl, I'm a boy. My dream will never come true."

Rin shook his head, grabbed the wig off the ground, and brushed it. He turned Nitori around and stroked her face. "Ai, forget those boys. Plus, I have a question."

"What?"

Rin bopped her nose and hugged her. "Will you go on a date with me?" He asked, voice peppy.

Nitori pushed herself back and shook her head. "I thought you didn't like guys."

Rin laughed and brushed Nitori's bangs back, placing the wig on her head. It went past her shoulders and blended in. He tilted his head to get a better look. "Well, I'm bi. So both, actually. But guys aren't really my thing."

Nitori's eyes dropped to the ground and raised a hand to pull the wig off. Rin grabbed her hand and held it in his. "I like pretty, sensitive, and smart girls. Like you." He pulled her close.

Nitori wrapped her arms around him. Rin hugged her tightly and ran his fingers through her wig. "Do what makes you happy, Ai. You want to be a girl, so be it. You're a girl. You'll be a girl."

Nitori smiled and hugged tighter. "Thank you. Am I a pretty girl?" She asked, eyes shining.

"The most beautiful and loved girl I've ever met."