Bad summary I know, but this idea kept me awake for a whole night and I had to write it. This first chapter is some of it I've written so far and I wanted to know if there is any interest for the story, so I know if I should continue writing. I have it all planned out but not that much written. Reviews are appreciated :) Also posted on AO3

They had been living in their new house for about three days, when Makoto got mad at her mom. The reason for her anger was forgotten soon enough, but the result of it would alter her life. Thinking back about it Makoto vaguely remember that something was lost in the move, something she didn't really like but still got upset about losing.

She remembers that she screamed at her mom and locked herself in the bathroom, leaning against the door. Everything from the shelves to the sink to the bathtub was so unfamiliar from her old bathroom that she started tearing up. It was unfair. It wasn't like she left behind any friends in the old town, but she had been forced to leave the home she had spent her short life of eight years.

Her mom knocked on the door and gently called for her, but Makoto refused to listen and instead walked away from the door, not wanting see her mother's sad face and apologetic smile. She found herself in front of the mirror, a rectangular shaped mirror on the middle of the wall. Her face was red and her long strands of hair had stuck to the fresh tear streaks on her cheeks.

Makoto hadn't meant to do it. It was as if something had forced her. One moment she was looking into her own eyes, the next she turned around and rummaged through on of the boxes on the floor, filled with a strong urge. She found the scissors almost immediately and brought it without hesitations to a long strand of hair and snippet it off. Her hand found another lock of hair and then another, which she all snippet off with the scissors.

As she let the last lock of hair fall down to the floor, she looked up to the mirror again. Her hair was very unevenly cut, not to mention short. Suddenly realising what she had done, Makoto dropped the scissors in the sink. She remembers the fear she felt when she thought how her mom would react. Makoto glanced at the floor, filled with locks of her brunette hair.

A thought of jumping out the window and hide was quickly dismissed. Her mom would find out either way. With a shaky breath she walked to the door and unlocked it, before opening it up and revealing herself.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled and suddenly felt fresh tears escaping her eyes. However, instead of being yelled at, she was embraced into a hug. She felt her mother's hands caressing her short hair and she too mumbled that she was sorry. For what, Makoto didn't understand.

Later the same day when her dad had gotten home and seen her hair, he had been shocked. Then after a small talk with her mom he had put on a careful smile that made Makoto felt guilty. He had taken a step forward and gently ruffled her hair.

"It suits you, Makoto." He had said.

The next day it was Monday and it would be Makoto's first day in the new school. She felt a bit insecure about her hair, but her mother had kindly trimmed it for her so it didn't look as bad as it did. The elementary school she was attending had no school uniforms and seeing as it was in the middle of autumn she dressed in a big green hoodie with a pair of jeans.

It was quite windy outside and Makoto held onto her father's hand as they walked to the school. It didn't take more than ten minutes to reach the main gate and the schoolyard was filled with kids, some running around, some playing soccer and some other just talking to one another. Makoto realised that most of the other kids that would be in her class would have known each other for at least a year. They walked through the entrance door and her dad led her to a room that was her new classroom. A small sense of panic filled her as she felt her dad let go of her hand. She looked up at him with wide eyes, begging him not to leave her alone.

"Don't worry Makoto. I'll come pick you up the minute school ends, but right now I need to go to work." He said and smiled at her. When she didn't reply he sat down on his knees and gave her a small kiss on the top of her head. "You'll be fine." He promised and stood up. She gave a small nod and a careful smile while her dad walked away while waving.

As if on cue, a bell rang loudly and echoed in the empty corridors. Voices where heard followed by quick steps, and Makoto silently slinked in the classroom and sat down on a chair while secretly hoping she hadn't taken anyone's place. Not sooner than she had taken a seat did students barge in through the door, laughing and yelling. All of them took sat down on the chairs, and it seemed that nobody noticed Makoto.

She let out a sigh of relief where she sat, when she suddenly felt something poking at her. She turned her head and saw a raven-haired boy with blue eyes. He stared at her with a puzzled look but didn't make any move suggesting that he would speak.

"Hello, I'm Tachibana Makoto. This is my first day here." She said and gave a tentative smile. The boy just continued to stare at her and Makoto felt a bit uncomfortable. "Um, what's your name?" she decided to ask while glancing around the classroom. So far nobody else seemed to have seen her, except for this boy.

"Nanase Haruka." He answered shortly. She was surprised that his name sounded so girly, but she didn't get the chance to ask about it as Haruka broke eye contact with her to look at the door. Curious, Makoto also turned around and saw an older woman with a kind smile walk in the classroom. As soon as the other students saw her they went quiet.

"Good morning class." she greeted them and took a seat in the front. "Today, we have a new student joining us." She continued and looked down at some papers on her desk. At her statement all eyes moved to Makoto as if they just noticed her.

"Please welcome Tachibana Makoto-chan" The teacher said. However, before she could continue, Haruka, the boy sitting next to Makoto raised his hand. "Yes, Haruka-kun?" she gently said with a smile.

"Sensei, Makoto is a boy with a girly name like me, so please drop the 'chan'." He stated calmly. Makoto looked at the boy with wide eyes, which seemed to go unnoticed by the rest of the class and also Haruka. Was he messing with the teacher? Or had he really mistaken her for a boy?

"Ah, sorry Makoto-kun, my mistake." She said with a flustered look on her face. Makoto however wasn't sure what to say. The whole class is looking at her now, and she nervously scratches behind her ear. Not wanting to bring any unnecessary attention to herself she puts on a smile and releases a hesitant chuckle.

"D-don't worry sensei, i-it happens sometimes." Well, it had never happened to Makoto before. She glanced at Haruka, but he showed no signs of emotions on his face.

At the end of the day, when Makoto was picked up by her dad as promised, he asked her about her day. She told him about her teacher and that she was really nice. She told him about the boy, Haruka who was the first one to talk to her. She told him about how the boys in her class had played soccer during recess and had asked her to join in, all while sporting one of the biggest smiles her dad had ever seen on his daughter.

"So you've made friends already? That's great Makoto." He didn't question the fact that she didn't mention any of the girls; after all it didn't matter who she hung out as long as she was happy.

The moment she stepped inside the house she made her way to her room and stopped in front of the mirror. She stood in front of it for minutes, turning around in different angles and studied herself. With her now short hair she did look like a boy and the hoodie she wore didn't help to say otherwhise. Though oddly enough, she realised that it didn't bother her. Not as much as it should have at least.