Greetings all. The Marshal presents a short chapter and offers apologies on behalf of The State for the long delay in updates. Without further ado...

Seiko sat on her rack and stared out the window. What did Haruka mean by "I miss you the most"? Was he having her for a laugh? Wouldn't be the first time, Seiko grimaced. He laughed at her when she was at her worst with the cold and continually harassed her during the beach party by flipping her bathing skirt. Even though her friends treated her with respect, they never honestly thought of her as a girl. It was disheartening to think that the closest any of them came was Risa's comment:

"No matter how I look at it, you look like a girl."

"Yoo hoo," the voice drifted across the years to bring Seiko to the present. Filicia stood by her bunk, watching Seiko look depressed.

Seiko fake smiled, but Filicia wasn't having any of it. "What's wrong, mija?"

"I just got a bit of a shock today, that's all," Seiko explained. "Someone I knew from high school called me on my phone."

Filicia invited herself to sit beside Seiko and took her in her arms. "Anything you want to talk about?"

"He said he missed me..."Seiko trailed off.

Filicia sat back at the revelation. "Who?"

Seiko stifled her tears, though a few managed to escape. "Haruka."

Filicia remained silent as Seiko cast her eyes to the floor.

"I take it this Haruka meant something to you?"

Seiko sat in deep thought for several minutes. "I am not sure. All he ever really wanted was to date my upperclassman, Koizumi-san. It seemed like my only function was to keep him away from her. He never took me seriously as a girl."

Filicia pondered this information while Seiko tried unsuccessfully to choke her tears back. The years of pent up emotion poured out as Seiko cried unabashedly into Filicia's shoulder. All her pain, frustration and hurt flooded in a torrent of hot tears and wails of lament. A few knocks on the door from the dorm Resident Adviser to confirm everything was alright brought both girls back to the present.

"Hi, Rachel," Filicia replied. "Seiko's just having a bad day."

"Anything I can help with?" the RA asked.

"I think she just needed a good cry," Filicia averred. "If anything comes up, we'll find you."

The RA smiled and took her leave. Filicia returned to Seiko's rack in time for the other girl to heave her last sobs before drying her eyes.

"I always seem to be crying around you," Seiko sniffed. "I apologize for taking such liberties."

"Hey hey hey," Filicia countered gently. "We're roomies. If we can be there for each other, what good are we?"

Seiko smiled at the counsel and wiped her tears onto the proffered tissue.

"Besides, you have an appointment this afternoon," Filicia reminded Seiko. "You don't want to be late, do ya?"

Seiko jumped to her feat and frantically check the clock on her phone. Noting the two hour lead time before she had to depart, Seiko calmed considerably and sat on her rack.

"Would you accompany me?" she asked. "I am really nervous."

"Absolutely," Filicia replied warmly. "I'll be with you all the way."

Seiko bowed deeply and thanked her roommate profusely.

She met Filicia in the waiting room, a grand smile on her face. Not only had she impressed the counselor with her optimism and convictions, but she remained resolute in the face of cursory scrutiny. All that remained was one year of therapy, and the next stage – hormones – would be her prize. Filicia offered to provide the name of a pharmacist in Mexico who could provide the meds no questions asked, but Seiko politely declined, stating her intentions to carry out her transition the correct way.

"Altering one's body chemistry is a dangerous thing to do alone," Seiko cautioned. "I want to be under the care of a trained physician."

Filicia considered this bit of information. "Too bad I don't have that luxury. It's either school or doctors. I can't swing both."

Seiko regarded her roommate with concern. "You should never compromise your health, nee-chan."

"At least I can die knowing I am a girl," Filicia replied flatly.

Seiko continued her concern for Filicia. The walk back to the dorms carried out in awkward silence until Filicia cracked a broad smile.

"That one great wish has been fulfilled. Everything else is frosting."

Seiko perked up expectantly at the word frosting. "Ah, does that mean sweets after dinner?"

Filicia laughed heartily. "Oh, you betcha!"

Seiko stared at her phone in disbelief. Haruka had sent not one, not two, but three texts in the few hours since he spoke to her.

"I really miss you," Seiko spoke aloud as Filicia packed for the weekend at her parent's house

"Sorry to bother you, but please call me. I want to talk to you again."

Filicia slung her pack over her shoulder, checked her purse for ID and bus passes and double checked her make-up in the mirror.

"I have something important to tell you," Seiko finished. Filicia waved her farewells as Seiko flipped the phone shut. She stood and hugged Filicia good bye and wished a safe trip and speedy return.

With Filicia gone, Seiko retrieved Haruka's number from the memory and dialed.

"Hello?"

"What's so important you gotta bug me all afternoon?"

"Hello to you to, Seiko-chan," Haruka chuckled. Seiko rolled her eyes as the laughter fell off.

"Well?"

"What?"

"I'm waiting," Seiko huffed gently and not for the first time that day.

"For what?"

"Aho ya!" Seiko shouted into the receiver. "Seriously? You mail up a storm and now you play shy? I'm hanging up!"

"Wait!" Haruka cried over the line. "I really do have something important I wanna tell you."

"Then tell me," Seiko responded in exasperation. "I don't like playing these kinds of games. You should know that by now."

Haruka, well aware of Seiko's preferred method of greeting the boys she likes, took his shot in the dark

"I think I love you"