"Look who it is."

"Yeah. If it isn't --"

This was the one thing Ako never wanted to happen. She had been found again by... by people who knew her before she was out. People who despised her for coming out.

And they had just done it in front of the people she absolutely under no circumstances wanted to find out. But now they knew. Roselia knew...

She was so screwed, wasn't she?

"You have the wrong person. That's not me." Ako stated.

"I think we do. Still trying to live this way? How pathetic." One of them got physical and shoved her.

Immediately someone stood in front of her.

"Get lost. I will not allow someone to harm my band mate." Yukina growled as she sent glares to the two perpetrators.

"I wouldn't want someone like him in my band. Just saying." The two girls walked away, their held held high and proud.

Ako was on the ground, curled up into a ball and sobbing. This was it. She had been found out. They wouldn't want someone like her in the band. She was going to be kicked out.

"Ako, are you alright? Did she hurt you?" Yukina knelt down in front of her.

"N-no." Ako managed to get out through her sobs.

"Ako-chan..." She felt Rinko pull her into a tight hug, "Let it out."

Ako buried herself into Rinko's embrace and started bawling her eyes out even more than before. She was scared.

"So... I don't know how to ask this..." Lisa said.

"Ako-chan is a girl. There's nothing else to say about it." Rinko went on the defensive a bit.

"Yes, she is, but she isn't a cis girl. And that's why they were harassing her, correct?" Lisa had to tread very carefully with her words.

Rinko nodded and lowered her gaze, "She came out in middle school and some kids didn't like that at all."

"Ako, you're safe with us. If we see them again, they're going to regret ever messing with you." Yukina stated.

"Indeed. They chose the wrong group to mess with." Sayo agreed.

Ako nervously glanced over at Yukina, "So... I'm fine? You aren't gonna be mean, right?"

"Why would we be?"

"I... I just didn't think anyone would ever accept me... since it seems like everyone I've told hates me..." Ako mumbled.

"Can I ask who you've told that we know?" Lisa asked.

"Onee-chan and her friends know. They're the only ones who accept me. Except for Rin-Rin."

"And now you have us as well."

Ako cracked a smile, "Yeah..."

"Now, how about we go find that arcade?"

"Okay!"

After giving Ako a little bit to calm down and for Rinko to help her look more presentable again, they set off to go find the arcade that they heard was around this place. Yukina had been hesitant to allow it as it was a distraction from their reason for being here: to perform at a festival. However, after what happened, it would do Ako some good to have a distraction with something she loved dearly.

"Hey, guys? Um... did you ever have any suspicions I was trans?" Ako asked.

Everyone shook their heads. They had never thought of that. Ako seemed very... abnormal as it was. That wasn't something that would have stood out with her personality.

"Good. I was always afraid I was noticeable as... not being cis..."

"It shouldn't matter. People should respect you no matter what you look like."

"I just wish that could always be the case..."