*knock knock knock*

Gabi opened the door and gave her guest a smile. "Hey, Marina! Did you need something?"

The cute, pink octopus smiled back and nodded. "I just wanted to spend some time with my gal pal! It's been a while since we spent any time with just the two of us."

"Aww, well thanks! Do you wanna come inside?"

"Yes please, that'd be lovely." Marina entered the bunny's home and looked around the living room. "I don't think I've ever seen the inside of your house before… It looks really cozy and cute!"

Gabi blushed. "Shucks, that means a lot. Put tons of work into putting it all together. Those DIY pieces don't build themselves, after all!"

Marina gazed around some more before sitting in a soft armchair. She looked to the adjacent table beside her and noticed a cute photo on it. The picture housed a family of rabbits, with one particular boyish-looking bunny sticking out to her. "Awww, this is a cute photo! Is this your little brother?"

"...Huh? What do you mean?"

"This picture. This is your parents and brother, no?"

Upon being handed the framed picture, Gabi felt her blood run cold. "Ah… W-Well, you see, that's not my brother. I don't actually have any siblings."

Marina looked back over the picture. "So does that mean that's you? You were an adorable tomboy!"

"...Yeah, tomboy. We'll go with that." Gabi gulped and set the picture back down. She sat in the chair opposite from Marina. Her gaze was permanently fixated on the floor. She seemed to fidget ever so slightly. Her cheeks were totally flushed. Her foot was bouncing more than usual. Something wasn't right here.

"Gabi? Are you okay?" Marina asked, waddling over and rubbing Gabi's shoulders.

Her friend shuddered and sat back up. "Y-Yeah, just… something I'm really scared of," Gabi admitted.

"Why, what's wrong?" Marina asked. "Does it have something to do with that picture?"

Gabi slowly nodded. "Yeah. The truth is I… actually was a boy. But starting when I was a teenager, I felt really unhappy with how I saw myself."

"Oh dear…" Marina held Gabi's hand. "So you really did…?"

"Yeah. Had to go through lots of therapy and surgery to accomplish it, but in the end, it was worth it." Gabi gave a weak smile before quickly frowning again. "I didn't want anyone to know, though. Always afraid of what others would think of me. In their eyes, I'm just a regular girl, not some weirdo who changed their gender."

Marina squeezed the bunny's hand. "But you're not a weirdo..."

"...Huh?"

"It doesn't matter if you were born a boy or a girl. You will always be my gal pal. It's really sweet and brave of you to come out like this…" Marina looked Gabi straight in the eyes. "But just know that you transitioning won't change my opinions of you in the slightest. Be who you want to be, Gabi. Don't let the fear of what others may say get you down."

Gabi went silent. She wasn't used to someone being so supportive of her decision. All she could do was cry quietly to herself and take it all in. Marina opened her tentacle arms for a hug, which Gabi immediately accepted. "...Thank you."

Marina rubbed Gabi's back. "There there… I'll always be here for you, Gabi. And if anyone bullies you for your identity, I'll… I'll show them a good smacking!"

"Heheh. Thanks, Marina." Gabi sniffled and let go from the hug. "So, uh… Wanna do something that doesn't have to do with old shame?"

"Maybe we could go fruit picking and bake something together?" Marina suggested.

"Sure, that'd be fun."

With that, Marina led her friend back outside. Whether or not Gabi would come out to the rest of the island was entirely up to her. It was a scary thought, mentioning to everyone that she was transgender. But if she saw herself as a real girl, then she's a real girl. No one can change that but Gabi herself.