Seiko sat on her bed, staring at her new roommate. Filicia, for her part, would glance in Seiko's direction from time to time to see the un-remitting stare.

"If you got something to say," Filicia finally broke down. "You tell me straight to my face."

Immediately, Seiko became aware of her unseemly and very rude behavior. "I am so sorry."

Filicia huffed softly as she went about finishing her unpacking. Seiko stood and offered to help with a broad smile. Filicia's expression softened as the two went about their tasks.

"I thought you were pissed about something," Filicia admitted.

"Pissed?" Seiko cocked her head. "If that means angry or upset, no I was not. I was only surprised to meet so soon another – person – like myself."

Filicia smiled warmly. "Get used to it, girl. Lots of us here."

"As I was hoping," Seiko nodded. "Ano, may I ask a rather intrusive question?"

Filicia stopped what she was doing and plunked onto her mattress. "We're going to be livin' together a while, might as well."

"How have your parents..." Seiko though carefully about her choice of words.

"How are they handling me becoming a girl?"

Seiko chuckled softly. "Yes."

"My dad was rather reluctant at first, mom just cried," Filicia began. "My oldest brother won't have anything to do with me and all my sisters think it's just a big joke."

Seiko watched as Filicia struggled to choke back her tears. Unsure of the protocol in America regarding comforting others, she chose to err with caution and moved to join Filicia on her rack. Filicia grabbed Seiko's arm and pulled her into an embrace.

"They all laugh and say I'm stupid to want to be a girl," she cried. "They think I'm a big fake and still call me by my old name."

Seiko returned the hug and remained silent while Filicia aired her pain. This went on for some minutes while Seiko held Filicia close.

"Sorry, mija," Filicia sniffed. "I shouldn't have done that…not so soon after we just met."

"It is okay," Seiko comforted. "We will need each other, I think. The next few years will be…interesting"

Seiko contemplated the words and their meaning.

The next few weeks passed in a blur. Seiko found herself almost out of her depth. Though her skills with English were competent and she had no troubles understanding the professors in class, the myriad of confusing dialects, speech patterns and slang were almost beyond belief. She had spent her time in Osaka in an English language cram school, tutored by a very proper English professor direct from London. His views on the language were taught as gospel and he would not tolerate any discussion about slang or colloquialisms.

She felt most ill at ease among those like herself, the study abroad kids who also knew English as a second language. In this regard, she nearly envied Filicia and her seemingly seamless transitions from Spanish to English and back again.

"I grew up here in SoCal," she explained one afternoon as they met up in front of the library. "My family all speak Spanish at home, but we learned English at an early age. Papa made sure we could function in the whole country , not just in the 'hood."

Seiko cocked her head. "Hood? What do garments have to do with language?"

Filicia laughed in spite of herself. "My bad, mija. Hood is short slang for neighborhood."

"It would seem I am learning more this semester than just chemistry," Seiko conceded with a subdued laugh of her own.

"How is that going, by the way?" Filicia asked. "I can't imagine that's very easy and all."

Seiko mused a moment before answering. "To be honest, it's not very hard. In Japan, a lot of scientific terms were imported from Germany in the 19th century, so I already knew them before coming here."

"Interesting," Filicia smiled. "I got a nice history lesson just now. Thanks."

"I should thank you," Seiko demurred. "Without you, I think my life would have been that much harder."

"I have something for you, mija," Filicia handed over a business card as Seiko sat at her desk. Seiko took a few moments from her studies to look the card over. Her eyes brightened as she realized what it really was.

"Where is this place?"

"On the corner of Atherton and Bellflower," Filicia responded jovially. "They can take you in and won't charge a lot because you're a student."

Forgetting herself, Seiko flung herself into Filicia's arms and cried happily. Recovering quickly, Filicia smiled broadly. Gender therapy was now within reach.

"When do you want to go?" she asked, opening her cell.

"As soon as possible," Seiko replied happily.

Filicia made the appointment for Seiko the following Friday. The next big step to womanhood lay only a week and a half away.

He phone chirped loudly as Seiko wandered the campus alone. In the six weeks she had this phone, only Filicia had called to to say she would visit with her parents and would not be home that weekend.

Without bothering to look at the caller ID, Seiko flipped the receiver open.

"Haruka?" she yelped, gaining the attentions of other students as they passed by. "How did you get this number?"

"I got it from your mum," Haruka sang jovially. "Took some convincing and a school photo, but she gave it up all the same."

"Stupid question, but why are you calling me?"

"I got…lonely." Haruka admitted carefully. "Ever since Risa and the midget went off to university, there is no one left I really wanna talk to."

"What about Nakao-san or Suzuki-kun?"

"They're 'occupied'."

Seiko screwed her face at the cryptic reply. "What the hell does that mean?"

"I called because I wanna talk to you," Haruka defended. "I was just curious what's going on over there in America."

Seiko huffed briefly before resuming her cheerful demeanor. "I can send you an e-mail."

Silence. Unusual for Haruka, especially when he felt he was being ignored.

"Haruka? Moshi - mo~sh!"

"I-I wanted to talk to you, not read words on a screen," he finally replied. "Even if it's just for a little bit."

Seiko took her turn in silence. What the hell was Haruka getting at? Was he making fun of her?

"Ano…" she hesitated slightly.

"Ah! I didn't mean like that!" Haruka quickly back tracked. "I just wanted to know how you were. Ah hahahahaha!"

Seiko stared at the handset for a few moments while Haruka laughed like an idiot.

"Aho-ya!" She teased. "Calling me up out of the blue like that."

"Risa was the only one to ever call me that," he admitted, clearing his throat.

"Um…sorry?"

"N-no, don't be," Haruka stuttered. "I just kinda – miss it – know what I mean?"

Seiko honestly had no idea. "I suppose," she fibbed.

Memories of her last year filled Seiko's vision. Times spent laughing, crying and just hanging out at Risa's café while the manager glowered at the unruly high schoolers. She could distinctly hear Risa's voice as she berated Astushi or Haruka for this or that minor inconvenience. She also recalled the incident in the school's infirmary…not her best confession.

"Seiko?"

Snapped from her reverie, Seiko quickly tried to change subjects. "What about you? It must be the middle of the night and here you are chatting me up half way 'round the world."

"I can't sleep," Haruka admitted. "Lonely, I guess."

"Huh?"

"I said I'm lonely."

"I heard that," Seiko growled "I was asking what you meant?"

"What do you mean, 'what do I mean'?"

"Nan iu ten nen!" Seiko huffed. "I'm asking what you meant when you said lonely. Ahoka omae?"

Further silence. Now she'd done it. She just insulted Haruka into hanging up. When no one else bothered to try and contact her, Haruka was the first…and so far, only…high school mate to do so.

"I miss the old gang," Haruka responded slowly. "I miss just hanging out, even if I had to deal with the dwarf."

"Oh," Seiko said. "I'm sorry for calling you stupid earlier."

"S'okay," Haruka replied calmly. "Risa called me far worse."

"You really miss her, don't you?"

"I guess, sometimes," Haruka danced. "Yes."

Seiko smiled to herself. Thought so. I knew he couldn't be interested in someone like me.

"But I miss you the most."