Her mother had always wanted a boy. Haruka hated herself for that, not being a boy. She resolved that her mother would get what she wanted and that she would be the perfect son.

I will be a boy. I will be a boy. I will be a BOY! Haruka used to repeat it over and over, hoping that it would come true, just to please her mother.

Haruka, you are not a boy and I love you because you are mine. Her mother used to say to her.

At the age of five Haruka had all the things that she wanted, toy cars and motorcycles, boys clothing and a boy's haircut.

When they went shopping, an activity that Haruka detested, people would stop and say 'What a lovely little boy, how lucky you are.' To which her mother would always reply 'Haruka is a girl and I love her more than anything.'

Trouble started at junior high school. The day before her first day, Haruka refused to wear the female uniform. Instead, she took her savings and went to buy the male uniform and sold the other second hand. The sales girl looked at her oddly but let the strange teenager do as she wished.

At school the first real problem was physical education. As Haruka approached the girls change rooms the class rep stopped her. 'The boys change rooms are that way.' She pointed out.

'But I'm a girl.' Haruka protested.

'Ha ha, that's funny. Tenou I didn't know you were a pervert.' The class rep started pushing her towards the boys.

Haruka stopped and turned to face her. 'I am a GIRL!' and dragging the class rep into the toilets she then pulled down her pants. 'I am NOT a boy, I am a GIRL.' The class rep went bright red and fled. Haruka leant against the wall and decided that it wasn't worth the trouble and changed in a toilet cubicle.

Haruka soon came to realise that not only did people think she was a boy, girls soon began to start shyly asking her out, and she also realised that, unlike other girls, she didn't want a boyfriend.

Miko. Oh god. How could she ever forget that incident.

After a Friday track meet for train, Haruka was approached by a girl, who, grabbed her by the arm and dragged her behind the stands. The girl looked up at Haruka and kissed her. Not on the cheek, on the lips. Haruka went bright red, not because this was a girl kissing her, but because she actually liked it a bit. 'Haruka, will you be my girlfriend?' The girl looked serious. 'My name's Miko by the way.'

'Uh…' Haruka was lost for words.

'I was hoping that… because you hang out with the guys and, well, haven't gone out with any of them.' She smiled uncertainly.

"HARUKA!'

'That's my ride, I have to go.' Haruka was somewhat relieved.

'Just think about it ok?' Miko winked at her.

Tony, Haruka's best friend, noticed that something was up the instant that Haruka got in the car.

'What's up bud?'

'Nothing.'

'You could fry an egg on that face.'

'It's just this girl.'

'And?'

'She wants to go out with me.'

'Haruka, all of them do. What's really bothering you?'

Haruka swallowed hard.

'She knew I was a girl. She KISSED me.'

'Aah. That could be a problem.'

'But Tony, I liked it.'

'Oh... So will you…'

'Maybe...' Haruka looked up at her friend. 'You can't tell anyone.

'No.'

The next day, Haruka saw Miko. She was walking with a boy. They were laughing. She kissed him. Haruka walked away.