"So, care to explain what we just saw?"

"I-I..."

"We told you. You do as we say, or we'll send you off. Stop this at once."

"B-but..."

"No buts. We catch you doing this again, expect severe consequences."

She thought she was being careful. Using a stage name. Changing her appearance. Not letting anyone know much about her. But... it didn't work. They found out. And they freaked out in front of her friends. Now she had to tell them what was going on. She didn't want to do that.

"Um... what was that all about?" Ayumu was the first to speak.

"Leave me alone."

Setsuna couldn't do it. She couldn't tell them. It was all too sudden.

"No. You're talking." Karin stated.

Setsuna was grabbed and kept from walking away. Great. Now she was stuck. She really didn't want to explain anything.

"I'm not talking." She growled.

"Then we aren't leaving." Ayumu declared.

It seemed all of them were determined to get this information out of her. Would she be able to talk her way out of it? Could she get them to give up if she just kept quiet for long enough? Or, should she just tell them?

They were her friends, after all. They knew she was trans already. But that was it. They didn't know much about her home life. Or about how her parents felt. Did she trust them with that information?

"Setsuna, please?"

"They don't approve of me." Setsuna mumbled.

"What were they talking about?"

"They have their ideal way for me to act as a girl. If I break that idea, they won't let me be myself. They keep saying they'll send me off to my relatives and they'll straighten me out."

It sounded so stupid. Bizarre, even. Her parents let her be a girl, but only if she acted the way they wanted. It didn't sound real, but it was. And she hated it with everything.

"They can't do that!"

"Like they care." Setsuna grumbled, "They hate me."

"Don't let them talk to you like that. If they try anything, report them for child neglect. Make them afraid of you."

"And out myself in even more danger?"

"If you feel unsafe, leave. They can't stop you. And if they try, they'll have to answer to the law for making you fear living with them."

"Please just leave it."

Setsuna just wanted this conversation to end. She was too afraid to try and change her life. Too afraid that change would destroy everything for her.

"No. They're hurting you too much. We can't just sit back and let it happen."

"Getting involved won't end well for you."

Setsuna didn't want anyone interfering. She had to deal with this on her own. She couldn't let anyone else get hurt.

"You aren't going home. You're staying with someone. We can't trust them with you."

"Please... just let it go."

"No. Come on, Setsuna. You can't let them control you like this!"

"East for you to say. You don't know what it's like!" Setsuna raised her voice.

"Maybe none of us do, but we want to help you. Just tell us what to do. And nothing isn't an answer."

She was really stuck. They were set on helping her through this. Maybe it was time to try and change her life? Even if it seemed very scary to her. She really shouldn't keep living this way. It wasn't healthy for her to.

"Then tell them off for me. They won't listen to me. See if they'll listen to you."

Setsuna doubted they could change her parents' minds. But, if they wanted to help her, that was what they needed to try and do.

"Deal. But you are staying with someone."

"I'll think about it."

"Don't take too long."

Setsuna felt scared. But... she also felt a bit relieved. Maybe having them supporting her with her family issues was a good thing? Could they really help her? Only time would tell. But, she felt better now.

Maybe getting all of that off her chest helped.