Nine o' clock.
He sat at his computer desk as he input paper after paper into the Ministry's computer system.
"Veinticuatro, agrega tres por ciento. Hmmm ..." [24, add 3%. Hmmm...]
"Veinticuatro punto setenta y dos." He looked back up at the computer screen. [24.72]
"Pero espera, eso no tiene ningún senti-" [But wait, that doesn't make any sen-]
Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door.
"Ummm…" He slowly got up.
"Uh, yes." He opened the door.
"Hello, Reno." A man smiled at him.
"Oh, Professor!" Reno nervously greeted.
"Yes yes, I've come over to talk to you, uh, may I come in?"
"Yeah yeah, come in." Reno moved out of the way.
"So, I heard today's your last day before surgery."
"Yeah, I'm going in on Friday. I've already asked for my days off, and they've been approved."
The professor sighed, "I never really understand what it is with you kids and this whole 'gender' thing, but if it somehow makes you feel better, it probably shouldn't be my place to speak, I assume."
Reno sighed back, "Professor… It's fine. Just… It's not a big deal!"
"I never said it was, I just personally find it a bit… strange, however, it is your choice, not mine."
"Mmmhmmm." He nodded.
"Are you… bringing anyone with you, or are you going alone?"
"Oh, I-I uh… I don't know yet."
"You should take someone with you, in case something goes wrong, like maybe Astro."
Reno's eyes suddenly widened. "Uh… haha, yeah… M-maybe I'll bring him."
"Well if that's the case you better act now before any of his other friends book him for the weekend."
Reno chuckled, "I should probably get a move on then, hmm?"
"Ah yes, I'll leave you to it then. I'll be back later to hear what he says." The Professor left the lab.
Reno sighed, he couldn't figure out what exactly he would say to Astro when he called.
He knew Astro would be accepting, so that aspect was covered, but he still couldn't fathom to think of perhaps how such news would change the friendship they both spent years working on.
Without hesitation, he picked up the phone and dialed for Astro.
"Hey, Reno! What's up?"
"Hey. Ummmm… I-I uh… was wondering, uhhhh… on Friday, I-I'm uh, going in for surgery."
"Oh, really? Something happen?"
"Nonono, hmmm… well… No. Nothing's happened."
"Oh. Is it ummm, something serious?"
Reno bit his lip as he looked down, "Hmmmmm, kinda."
"Well I'd be happy to come with you if you'd like, I'm available this whole weekend."
"Yeah yeah, the professor told me when he came not too long ago."
"Oh, the Professor was there? If he comes back, tell him I said hi!"
Reno chuckled, "Will do, buddy."
"Yeah, don't worry about it Reno, you'll go in and hopefully it'll go smoothly and you'll have a speedy recovery."
"Thanks… it… it means a lot coming from you."
"It's no problem, really! Do you know what you're going in for?"
Reno froze.
"Umm… ye-yeah… of course! Of course Of course Of course!"
"Well that's good, you want me to meet you there or meet you at the Ministry?"
"Either or is fine."
"Alright, I'll see you then, right?"
"Yeah, just uh… can you promise me something?"
"Uh… okay…?"
"When this is all said and done… please still know I'm Reno."