It was Ren's secret spot. A place outside of town that probably at least one of every generation of Yasuda's youth found. Ren had lucked out in being the only one so far. The clearing was just far enough off the only road into and out of town that it couldn't be seen from there, and a thick overgrowth left just enough room under it for a six year old to crawl in. Beyond, there were a few logs in a wide circle, and a tall tree stump with a hollowed-out core that was perfect for hiding things.

And at that stump, Ren Amamiya was sobbing. It had been almost an hour since he'd retreated here, and school was still in session, he knew. The teachers would be furious, and his mother…

That thought brought him up short. Maybe it would be best to just go. Still, he knew running away from home wouldn't be as easy as just deciding to. After the incident with Taro, he realized he'd at least need train fare. Maybe he could find a temple like in the old stories to take him in.

Ren reached under the tree stump. Awhile ago, it had contained everything he had managed to save up over the past year. Unfortunately, he had been hauled on a trip to Sapporo by the school, and forced to spend some of it. Then he'd snuck off and managed, in complete secrecy, to buy a few things for himself. These he'd stored in an old plastic box to ward off the elements and stuck in here, to ensure his parents didn't find them.

Two Lovely Star hairclips, a small compact mirror, a brush, and a number of colored ribbons, to be exact. The shopkeep had assumed they were for his little sister, and he hadn't bothered to correct her.

Unfortunately, that left him with a single five hundred yen coin in reserve. Enough to make it to Sapporo, maybe, but not as much as a cup noodle beyond that. A fresh round of tears came to Ren's eyes. He was going to have to face the music.

...but not right away. He pulled out the mirror and gently attached the two clips to his hair, just like Lovely Star did in her costume for fighting evil. He tried to tie the ribbon in back, but recently he'd been forced to cut his hair so short it was almost to the scalp, as punishment for some transgression he couldn't remember anymore. There seemed to be so many in the past year.

He tilted his...or her head. If it weren't for the very boyish t-shirt and shorts, he could almost imagine…

A sound, coming from the side of the clearing. He tried to rip his treasures off fast enough not to be caught with them, but Amamiya Seiichi was too quick. Ren had never wondered what was past this place, but apparently there was another way in. His father was a tall man, or at least Ren thought so. He kept his hair and beard neatly trimmed. Apparently, Ren's disappearance had had his father so distraught he hadn't bothered to take off his lab coat.

Seiichi sighed. "I should have guessed you would claim this place," he said, taking an awkward seat on the largest log. "You realize your mother is worried half to death about you."

Ren winced, but found himself saying "I don't care," without thinking. He knew he'd made a mistake as soon as he said it. His father's expression darkened for several moments, but then something Ren wasn't expecting happened.

Seiichi gave his son a very sad smile. "I suppose the obligations of filial piety can only extend so far." Ren was about to ask what he meant when he held up a hand for silence. "Ren, I have been speaking with one of my colleagues. You won't have heard of him, but Saito-sensei is very knowledgeable in a field of expertise that is well outside general medical practice."

Ren thought about that. It didn't seem relevant to the conversation at hand, but...well, there was only one topic that her father couldn't seem to handle. If he'd been talking to a specialist doctor…"Can he fix me?" he asked.

The question cause Seiichi's face to change several times. First was anger, quickly quashed. The second was a long, examining look at Ren, almost as if he was seeing something about his son that wasn't there yet. Third, a sort of resignation, before acceptance. "It will not be easy. There will be many challenges along the way. Ren…" His voice hitched. "I have done as much research as my limited ability allows. According to the latest scientific research I can find that has not been thoroughly discredited...there is nothing wrong with you."

"Mom sure doesn't think so," Ren muttered, kicking a stone as he finally stood in front of his father, one hairclip still decorating his head. A bit louder, he asked "If he can't fix me, what good is he?"

Seiichi looked at his son, and sighed. "You may be a bit young yet to understand the difference. Saito-sensei cannot fix what isn't broken. But...I fear that what might be termed a 'normal life' is not for you, whatever you decide." He sighed. "I will get to that in a minute, of course. We have a more immediate issue to deal with." Ren winced. "Why are you not in school?"

Ren groaned. "I just...couldn't stand it anymore. All I said was that Lovely Star is better than Featherman this year when the - " his voice hitched. "- other boys were talking about it."

Seiichi raised an eyebrow. "An interesting, and possibly valid, point. How does this relate to taking an early day without permission?"

Ren's voice went very quiet. "They all said that Lovely Star is stupid because it's a girls' show. I just said that if girls are stupid, then girls being awesome would be even more awesome."

Seiichi's eyebrow raised higher. "I still do not understand the connection."

"...well, then we...kinda started fighting," Ren admitted.

The strike to his bottom came so fast he barely had time to register the pain, although it didn't last longer than a minute. After a moment's shock, Ren's father shook his head. "Ren, that was completely unacceptable. I can only allow for your...unusualness so much." Ren was still baffled. Finally, Seiichi sighed. "So...Ren, there will be times in your life you will need to fight. I wish I could keep you safe from that, but it's not an option. However, you must learn when a fight isn't worth fighting, even if you win. Can you explain to me how successfully asserting a belief that one television show is innately superior to another leads to a victory worth having?"

"I...I didn't think about it."

Seiichi nodded. "I didn't think so...however, there was a correct answer to that question." At Ren's quizzical expression, Seiichi smiled. "The reason you fought, I believe, is not that Lovely Star is the better show, which it so clearly is. It is because they told you that girls are inferior." Ren blinked. "Do not believe that, even for a moment. No matter what anyone tells you, girls are as capable as boys. That belief will be important to you in the future."

"To assist you with this lesson…" Seiichi went on "I have decided on four martial arts schools in the city. You will select one. Alongside your work with Saito-sensei, you will achieve at a minimum the rank of first dan. I will not allow my child to enter the world unprepared to face the challenges it will present." Ren's eyes widened. "You had but a small taste of these hardships today." He took a deep breath. "If you truly wish to be a girl, many people will try to stop you, cause you to doubt, even to question your own mind. Your training in the martial arts will test your resolve, as well as giving you the strength to meet those who would harm you for your choice."

Ren's eyes were the size of dinner plates. "Dad? You...I mean…"

Seiichi paused, then nodded. "A daughter can be my heir as easily as a son. It will...take time for your mother to accept this, but I'm certain we can convince her. But, for now...you will need to pretend, except with me and your new doctor." He took a deep breath. "There is one other task you need to do, but it need not be now. I want you to select a new name. For now, I'll only use it when we're alone so you can be safe, but eventually it will be the name the world knows you as."

Ren smiled. "I already know, father. My name is. . . "