"Stop telling people you're a girl. You aren't."

"Do it again and you won't see them again."

Tsugumi was used to that by now. She was banned from telling people she was a girl. Because her parents didn't believe it. But, she was. She knew that she was.

But they kept insisting she was a boy. But that wasn't true. She was a girl. And if she wasn't going to be called that, she would correct people. But that would get her in trouble again.

"You want to join us?"

"Yeah."

"But, this is a group for girls."

"I'm a girl too!"

"No, you aren't. You're a boy."

"I'm not! I'm a girl!"

Tsugumi encountered that conversation a lot. For some reason a lot of friends divided by gender. She was never allowed in with the girls. It was hard. She wanted to be with them.

That changed when she met the rest of Afterglow for the first time.

"Um... can I join you guys?"

"But boys are playing baseball over there."

"I'm not a boy."

"You aren't?"

"I'm not."

"Oh. Then you can join us."

Tsugumi was happy. They were the first to believe her. They were the first to accept her for who she was. But, if her parents found out...

That did happen. After all, the others wanted to hang out with her more. That meant they had to have their parents talk. And of course, that came with the questions.

Her parents were furious with her again. They told the others' parents that she was confused. That she was a boy. Tsugumi hated them for that.

But, her friends didn't believe them either.

"I don't get why they say you're a boy."

"Yeah. You said you're a girl."

"They're mean. Why can't you be a girl?"

Tsugumi was grateful to have them by her side. It helped. Especially as she got older. As they started middle school, Tsugumi faced problems with her parents again. They didn't want her going to a girls' school.

But at this point, the others' parents got involved. They defended her. They stood up for her when she couldn't.

Tsugumi felt like they were her parents more than her actual ones. They all actually cared about her. They were always there if she needed a place to stay for the night. Always there if she needed to talk about something.

"Guys... I'm really glad I met you."

If they hadn't ever given her a chance, she wouldn't be where she was today. She wouldn't be herself. Wouldn't have a family who cared about her when her own wouldn't. Wouldn't be able to fit in with her peers.

But, she still had a long way to go.