Chapter 16: XV.

. . .

Zyla and I were now sitting in the office. Most certainly about to get in trouble over this.

‘I don’t regret anything,” I grumbled firmly. My face was still showing off that I was pissed. Because I still was.

Zyla nodded, “I don’t either. Diana didn’t deserve that.”

We both sighed as we waited to be called into the office to talk to the principal about our actions; actions that had full purpose and thought put into them.

Well I guess they didn’t have much thought put into them, but still. I'll defend her until the day I fucking die.

“...what do you think will happen now…?” I let out quietly, my expression shifting into one of worry and in a blank state.

Zyla looked at me with a confused expression as I glanced at her. “What do you mean?” She asked, I’m not sure how she didn’t understand what I was getting on about but, I guess it’s just the way it goes.

“With Diana. Nobody is going to want her to play on the soccer team if she’s biologically male, but it’s fucked because… well, I’m a biological female and… I’m stronger than her…”

I sighed once again, inhaling the shitty air of the environment. I felt empty.

It should’ve been me. I should’ve been the one to get outed. I should’ve been the one that got revealed.

“You’re trans too?” Zyla asked softly, she didn’t sound shocked or surprised, just genuine curiosity.

I nodded, “...I have been for a while. …do I pass well?” I asked her as she turned a little colder, softer.

“It’s not about how you pass, it’s about how you feel. About your happiness and your identity,” she assured me, giving me a light smile.

It was then that we got called into the office to have a little, calm discussion. I stood up, and so did Zyla as we went into the principal’s office.

“So, you both know why you’re here, correct?” He questioned, ensuring that we both knew that we had done something wrong.

I didn’t answer, but Zyla nodded. I sighed before nodding in agreement as well.

“Good. So, it has come to my attention that you both told Ms. Chiba… ‘eff you’, is that correct?”

“Yes,” I responded, knowing exactly what my next words would be, and… well, I wasn’t sure if they would come out nicely or not.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“May I inquire as to why?”

I inhaled, trying to keep my composure, “While I don’t want to justify my inappropriate actions, Ms. Chiba had… outed Diana Bianchi to the entirety of our class.”

His expression went a little blank before letting out a simple sound before typing down something on the computer. “Tell me exactly how she outed Ms. Bianchi.”

“Diana and I were a little late as we stopped at a coffee shop and I can only presume what had happened was, well, since Diana had been written in parenthesis, she used her deadname and, well, that would be outing.”

“I see…” He cleared his throat lightly, “...so what you’re saying is that her mistake was what caused you to say that to her?”

I shook my head, “I wouldn’t call it a mistake, just… transphobia, I don’t think she meant it as an accident.”

“How so?” He inquired as I sighed.

“She used the pronoun he on Diana, and, well, I mean, it wouldn’t be too hard to see the name in parenthesis match the one on the computer.”

“Maybe she thought that Diana was her deadname?”

“No, that wouldn’t make sense. I tried reasoning with her by lying and saying Diana had a brother and… she brought up that Diana was in parenthesis.”

He nodded, “Very well then. While I do think your actions were inappropriate and should not be excused, I see the morality in it. You two are free to go.”

We exhaled carefully before I spoke again, “Thank you, sir. I promise nothing like this will happen again.”

“I will look into all of this more carefully. Please inform me if something does in fact come up.”

. . .

By the time Zyla and I walked back into class, everyone was whispering to one another. I felt guilty, I mean, I know it wasn’t my fault but I still did.

Diana looked like shit, she didn’t look scared anymore, she just looked… tired, lacking energy and… wait, did she take her bra off?

It was noticeable that she didn’t have a chest like she usually did and her hair was… a little more messy than it usually was.

I glanced at Ms. Chiba, who was sitting at the desk on a laptop, fucking cunt, and then back at Diana, who was writing on a piece of paper.

偽の女の子

That’s what it said. Nise no on'nanoko. Just that, over and over again. I sighed before taking my seat, which had been the one behind Diana.

I touched her back with my pencil to get her attention, as she hadn’t even looked at me as I walked in.

She turned and had no make up on her face either, something she had on earlier. And her expression was cold, tired, lacking in everything Diana.

“Can I help you, somehow? Please?” I whispered to her. She shook her head no and went back to her paper. I glanced at Ms. Chiba. She was not paying attention, which meant I could get away with going on my phone.

I opened SnapChat and proceeded to message Hibiki.

can we invite zyla?

I got an immediate response.

Yes we can

Perfect, one new possible friend.

That makes seven guests; we just need thirteen more.