"Hey, Masuki? Do you have a minute to talk?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Well... I just happened to click on your profile and I um... saw you put she/they in your profile. I... just wanted to... ask about it, I guess?"
"Oh... that..." Masuki seemed a little nervous to talk about that.
"If you don't want to talk, I'll drop it." Rei quickly stated.
This was an awkward conversation. She didn't know why she had to ask. It was just gnawing at her. She really wanted to know, but she was worried about overstepping her boundaries.
"It's fine. I just wasn't expecting to be asked. I thought I'd be the one telling everyone from the start." Masuki shrugged, "So... I'm... nonbinary. I've been for a while now. I just didn't know how and when to tell everyone. I finally decide it was time."
"So... is there a pronoun you prefer?" Rei questioned nervously.
"I..." Masuki sighed, "It doesn't matter."
"You sure?" Rei didn't seem convinced by that.
Masuki didn't say anything right away. They were nervously playing with their fingers.
"I guess... they/them... I'm afraid to ask people to just use that though..."
"If they can't respect your pronouns, you shouldn't want anything to do with them." Rei stated, "If anyone gives you trouble, you know we'd help you."
"I know... but it still makes me nervous."
"That's rare for you."
"This is a big deal to me..."
"I know. So, who all knows so far?" Rei asked. She definitely didn't want to accidently go and out Masuki to someone.
"No one. You're actually the first one."
"Oh."
"Do you... do you think everyone will accept me? Like, the other bands were friends with?" Masuki asked.
They seemed very worried about that answer, as if they expected it would be no.
"I can't say for sure, but I really doubt any of them will have a problem." Rei said as reassuringly as she could.
"I hope that's the case."
"We better get to practice."
"One minute. Can I... ask you something?"
Rei nodded, "Sure."
"Would you help me tell the others? I... want to do it one by one. I might need some help getting everyone alone to talk to them." Masuki requested.
Rei smiled at them, "Sure. I'll see what I can do."
Masuki smiled back at her, "Thank you, Rei."
"Anything for a friend."
Rei moved to leave, but instead she was hugged. Masuki had a tight grip on her. Rei returned the hug.
"Thank you..."
"It's nothing, Masuki. I just want you to be happy."
"I was so scared... that everyone would leave me..."
Rei pulled them closer, "Don't think like that. No one is going to leave you."
"Promise?"
"I promise. And if anyone does, I have a lot to say to them.
"Okay."
They stayed like that for a few minutes before they set off to go to practice. They managed to catch Rokka as she arrived. Rei went in to give them privacy to talk. The conversation didn't last very long and soon they followed inside.
"Good?" Rei asked.
Masuki nodded, "Yeah."
"You already knew?" Rokka questioned.
Rei nodded, "Sh- They told me earlier."
"Oh. Well, we better get going."
It took until after practice to get either of the last two alone. But eventually that happened. While Chu2 went to quick get something, Masuki pulled Pareo aside to talk.
When Chu2 returned, everyone gave them the room to talk alone. And with that, Masuki completed task one. Come out to the band was done. Now it was just a matter of deciding who else they wanted to come out to as well.
But that was enough for today. They could worry about that later. They needed a small reprieve from all the anxiety that came with coming out. Thankfully, everything had gone well. Everyone had been so accepting so quickly. It made them really happy.
Rei had decided again to just look at Masuki's profile. She cracked a smile as she saw the pronouns no longer included she in them. That was good. If Masuki didn't want those pronouns used, they shouldn't have them there. No matter what people wanted to say about it.