IX. Nanairō's Story

Before I start telling the worst part of this book, I'd like to warn anyone listening or reading this. There will be mentions of things such as rape, molest, bullying, betrayal, so on and so forth. If you find any or all of the above to be unbearable please do not read further.

• • • • •

I mentioned before that I was jumped by my teammates, but this time was different. It wasn't my teammates, or anyone I remotely knew. And it all started on Valentine's day.

Miyuki and I walked into class and we were talking about how the ball was only the day before. Our desks had gifts stacked around them and we were both being eyeballed by all the girls in the classroom. "Um Miyuki?" He nodded. "Yeah, this happens to me every year, Haha." I made a noise of understanding. We both sat down in our seats, and were surrounded by girls seemingly as soon as we hit the chairs. I turned around and sat in my seat backwards so I could listen to Miyuki go on about his dance with the girl he never knew was me. "She was pretty, she had pretty long hair that made everyone else look plain." I laughed slightly. "How do you know it wasn't just extensions?" He shook his head. "I don't know, it just seemed so real." I grinned. "Well that is the point isn't-" I was interrupted by a group of girls. "Excuse me, Nakatomi-chan. We've been standing here a while." I sighed and looked at the group of five. "Well I'm kind of in the middle of a conversation, so either go back to your class or go back to your boyfriends." The rude chick who interrupted me scoffed. "How else am I supposed to give you chocolate if you won't listen!" She stomped her foot like a little brat. "Who asked you to get me chocolate? Sorry to rain on your parade but I'm not looking to date. That goes to anyone else here to confess to me." The five girls stomped off in what seemed like an insignificant rage. But what was insignificant then blew up in everyone's faces.

✾

"I heard it was the eldest Nakatomi girl!"

"I thought she went back to America?"

"Apparently not!"

"What did her father have to say about it?"

"SHH! There she is!"

I walked past a crowd of gossiping women while clutching my arms insecurely. I received many looks from those women and men who were all judging me as if I wanted it. "What a slut... To think I actually looked up to her."

✾

"Nakatomi-kun, you're needed outside."  I looked at the teacher from my backwards position in my seat. "Oh, yes ma'am." The teacher nodded to the rest of the class. "Now then, we will be having a visit from Prime Minister Nakatomi's eldest daughter and his wife. Unfortunately he is in Seoul at the moment and will not be available to come." I kept walking but panicked slightly at the teacher's happy words. Everyone else in the room made a noise of understanding. I made my way out and there was my step mother. "Get dressed fast. Do your makeup quickly as well." I nodded obediently and ran down the hallway and quickly changed. I put my hair extensions in did my makeup and took off my bindings. I changed into the clothes that were left for me and touched up my makeup before walking back out of the bathroom.

I walked over to where my step mother was waiting impatiently. "Not even nice clothes and makeup can turn a pig into a princess I guess." She walked in and almost closed the door in my face, but I caught it. I walked in shyly behind her. "Good morning, I'm Nakatomi Haruno and this is my stepdaughter Nakatomi Nanairō. I'm pleased to meet all of you." They all bowed politely. I smiled and bowed back while my stepmother did not. She whispered, "Make yourself useful and maybe you'll be good enough to use as a tool for your sister." I acted as though I didn't hear her as I turned to walk to the center so I could greet and meet them, but my stepmother wasn't so willing to let me be. As I took a step past her, she hooked her foot around my ankle in a subtle way and tripped me. I scraped my knee across the floor as I fell but I got back up and acted like it didn't bother me at all. I smiled and started talking. "Hello, how is everyone?" They all gave various positive responses. "I'm here to say Happy Valentines Day and that I wish you all happiness." There was a murmur of 'thank you's and 'yeah whatever's but I honestly didn't care. I bowed and left.

My stepmother followed me out into the hallway and shut the door behind her. She shoved me forward. "What was that? It was just plain pathetic! How do you expect-" I interrupted her, "Yeah yeah, I've heard it before, how do I expect to live in life if I can't even meet my father's impossible and non-existent expectations? After all, he kind of has to care about my life to have expectations." She wound back and slapped the taste out of me and most likely left a handprint. It felt and sounded like it. She raised her hand to slap me again, "How dare you!-" A hand caught her wrist and held it stationary. "Ma'am, you shouldn't hit children in public." My heart pounded at that voice. My step mother grit her teeth and yanked her hand away. "Tch! Go back to class you pathetic kid!" I heard a snort. "Are all public figures rude and full of themselves? Or it just the ones in politics?" She snarled at the one I least expected to come to my rescue. "You think I'm full of myself, hitting this kid? Having this child in the family is the most demeaning thing that ever happened to me! I'm leaving!" She stormed off. "Ah... She was supposed to help me with the rest of the classes... I guess she'll end up pulling Nahi out of this school, so it doesn't really matter at this point." I looked up. "Thank you..." Miyuki grinned. "For what? I was actually out here waiting on my friend Satō. By the way, if you don't mind my asking, why is she so violent towards you?" I sighed. "Because I wasn't her child by birth, so she thinks I'm illegitimate. My younger sister is a love child that they had before my mom divorced my father. But when it boils down to it, I don't really want to be apart of this family anymore..." He made a noise of understanding. "I feel comfortable around you, Nakatomi. I think it's because you remind me of my pitcher. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm probably not the one to do it with, hahaha! Oh by the way!" Ugh... Moment spoiled... My eye twitched. I nudged him in the side without thinking. "Oi, oi, it's not that funny..." He stopped momentarily. What's this feeling... "I need to go now, bye!" I rushed off, straight to the bathroom to get changed.

I walked back into class scratching my arm wildly. Why am I so nervous... It's only class, it's not hard... I walked straight to my seat while receiving a questioning look from both Kuramochi and Miyuki. "What's up with you?" The two really were Tweedledee​ and Tweedledum, seeing as they said the exact same thing at the exact same time. Who do I respond to...? I made a quick decision. "What do you mean? I'm j-just itchy that's all! Honestly!" Kuramochi grinned at my nervous response. He leaned over and whispered for me to hear, "You still haven't told him, have you? He's crushing. On. You." I shoved Kuramochi over. He was cackling loudly while I was definitely turning red. I knew because my face was scorching hot. "What did he even say?" My face quickly paled at Miyuki's question. "Nothing. You definitely don't want to know. Never ask." He snorted. "Hahaha! Is it really that bad?" I nodded, which sent him into a cackling fit as well. Why does he get the right to laugh... He's just as involved as I am...

"I wonder would you make fun of your crush like that? Would Nakatomi Nanairo take it very well? What do you think, Kuramochi? How about you Kazuya?" They both were silenced by my retort. "Oh you thought I couldn't tell? Do I seem that oblivious to you Miyuki Kazuya?" They both sat silently, staring at me like children being reprimanded. My back hurts... Is this...? "What's wrong with you? You usually can take a joke, just chill out Satō." I scoffed. "What, did you think I liked being teased and pushed around like a toy?" Miyuki scowled. "Considering how you talk the same way when it's convenient, yes." My lips twitched. "Who are you to say something to me about convenience... Just shut up and get off." He grabbed his things. "Gladly. I'm so tired of your mentality. Oh poor you, your mom died when you were little, your step mother and half sister abuse you and your father is a drunk prick. Get over yourself." I stood up. "Screw you, I'm leaving." I walked out, leaving everything I owned in the classroom. "What's with him, acting like I slapped him across the face. I mean, is he really abused? Because I haven't seen a scar yet!" I pressed against the wall outside of the classroom door so I could hear what he said clearly. "Liar..."

✾

"What's wrong with Satōshi? Kuramochi! Answer me! Is he alright?"

"No. He is traumatized after what happened to him. What's your obsession with him, Miyuki? Ever since you two fought two days ago you've been bugging to find out how... Don't tell me... You're not-?"

"D-don't joke! I'm not gay!"

I walked away from the doorway before they were even aware I was there.

✾

I walked up the stairs to the roof access. As soon as I opened the door, I regretted my decision to give up on having a conversation with Miyuki. The door was shut and locked behind me, as I heard a click. "Hey little boy, why don't you come over here for a minute? You'll feel good." I backed away from the unfamiliar man. "Get away... Get away!" He grabbed me by the hair when I turned around to run away. "Where are you going huh?" I yelped when he yanked me back and put his head freakishly close to my neck before he licked my neck. "Stop please!" [Trigger warning, explicit content. Read at your own discretion.] He zip tied my hands together before I had the chance to stop him. "HELP! HELP ME! HELP-" The man slapped the sense out of me. "What's this? You think someone will help you? No one cares. You hear me? No one!" He put a piece of tape across my mouth, but at that point my will to scream had vanished. His words were echoing through my head while he started to take my clothes off. All I could do was lay on the ground and cry helplessly. "Oh? You're a tranny huh? Even better~" I seemed to have snapped out of my little hopeless moment, as I started struggling again. "What's wrong, sweetie? Don't like this?" I huffed in a panic and started squirming. It was all hopeless, though as he started groping me.

✾

"Satōshi, talk to me please. Is this because of our argument? If it is I'm sorry... All I meant is that you believe what your family says about you. You're not a failure or a mistake."

I sighed. "If I tell you something, can you keep it a secret?"

"Yes."

✾

The door to the roof slammed open and Kuramochi came rushing forward. The man stopped groping me to look at Kuramochi, right as a fist met his face. Luckily it was a knock out punch, and the guy was on the floor. I felt so relieved that someone had come to take me away from this horrible obscenity. "Satōshi!" Kuramochi pulled the duck tape off of my mouth and cut the zip tie. "Thank God! He didn't... You know..." I nodded. "H-he was getting ready to go that far... I-I was almost..." He draped his jacket over me and handed me what clothes I had that were intact. I put them on shakily, grateful that I still had some dignity left since I still had my underwear on. Something told me that he wasn't doing it for the forced sex though, otherwise I'd have been completely bare. I later found out what it was really about.

Kuramochi led me off of the roof and to the nurse's office. The nurse turned her attention towards us when we walked in. "Ma'am we need your help, but this can't be released at all." She stood. "What is it? Somethings I can help, others I can't." I looked at her. "I was... Just molested..." She seemed alert after hearing this. "W-what?! By who!?" I looked at the ground. "And here's the secret part... I'm actually a girl..." She stared at me for a moment. "... Okay, I'll help you. I'll keep your secret... Follow me, Kuramochi-san please stay out here."

~Timeskip two days later~

Two days had passed by in a flash, and a lot happened in those two days. Kuramochi and I became closer friends, Miyuki avoided me like the plague, and the fact that the older daughter of the Nakatomi family had been molested was released by some 'anonymous' person. I knew it was my step mother and sister, and I knew I had to leave that family immediately. I was also having trouble with not being near Miyuki, not only because I needed my friend that I had once before, I also couldn't pitch to him at all. Ultimately, the person I most needed made me feel strangely hurt and hollow. Who knew loosing such a rude person could be devastating? When I was forced by my family to go out in public and release a statement, I also noticed the hateful atmosphere...

"I heard it was the eldest Nakatomi girl!"

"I thought she went back to America?"

"Apparently not!"

"What did her father have to say about it?"

"SHH! There she is!"

I walked past a crowd of gossiping women while clutching my arms insecurely. I received many looks from those women and men who were all judging me as if I wanted it. "What a slut... To think I actually looked up to her!" I grit my teeth at that and choked down my pride and the retort that was about to come from my mouth. I'm a slut...? I've never even been kissed or touched in a remotely affectionate manner at all... Groping doesn't count as affection...! I continued walking forward until I accessed the standing microphone on a short platform. "Good afternoon... As you know this press release is about the supposed molestation. The truth is..." I paused momentarily with a fake smile. Do I tell the truth or do I lie...? "I was not molested by that man nor did we have any interaction at all. I have no clue whatsoever on who did this and why, but it is a false rumor." I bowed. " Ms. Nakatomi, could you please say it in English?" I nodded. "Certainly, sir. I was not molested by the man in the picture nor did I have any kind of interaction with him whatsoever. That is not me in that picture. Thank you." I bowed and left in a rush to avoid having to suffer through another translation.

✾

"Satōshi! Where were you all day!?" I nodded towards Miyuki when Kuramochi approached me while I was on my way to the dorms. "Ah... I'll tell you later." I walked ahead with Kuramochi trailing beside me while we had an unenticing conversation. "Talk to Miyuki will you...? He's been worrying over you all day. He's just stressed, that's all." I turned my head at Kuramochi. "Eh? But I didn't think he would care... We had a fight... Besides... How am I supposed to tell him I was moody because of my-" Kuramochi put his hand in my face and turned red. I was snickering. "J-just go talk to him! And tell him your secret. He'll understand!" I hummed and nodded. "Alright~! Fine! I'll apologize to him and catch up with you later!" I walked off leaving Tweedledum in a mess.

I walked towards the last spot I saw Miyuki, but he wasn't there. I looked around for any sign of him but I ended up not finding him. I sighed and walked around the side of the cafeteria. "You okay?" I jumped at the sound of that annoyingly refreshing voice. "J-jeez! Can't you say hey or give me a forewarning that you've come to talk to me at least!?" He grinned with a slightly awkward laugh. "Ah... Sorry. It's pretty entertaining to startle you though, since you react so boldly." I let out a deep breath that had been caught in my throat before. "Why are you so relieved to see me? How do you know something won't happen?" I snickered and started walking away. "You? Nah-" I was cut off by a sudden Kabe-don. "W-wha-" He looked very frightening yet I got the feeling that my heart was pounding for a completely different reason. "You always run away when I'm less aggressive. So stop treating me like I don't exist." I blushed slightly. "What... Are you... Jealous of Kuramochi?" He blushed. "N-no... I just realized what I did..." He covered his face with his open hand and groaned, causing me to snicker a little bit. He didn't move an inch though. "I just mistook you for a girl right now... You're not right? You can't be. There's no way..." My heart panged slightly, giving me a slight feeling of hurt and injustice. "...yeah..." He nodded and backed off. "So we're good now right?" I nodded. "Kazuya..." He looked at me. "What is it?" I paused for a moment. "What if... I was a girl?" He stared blankly for a moment. "I'd know that the anxiety I feel around you isn't just anxiety and I'd also feeling inferior to you... I wouldn't be able to cope with it..." I nodded. Do I... Do I tell him...? "Ah, I see."

I sat next to Kuramochi at dinner. "You know, it's all a little much... Should I take a break from school I'm top in scores anyway..." He shrugged. "It's up to you. Maybe you can charm the dean with your Kansai Dialect! Kyahaha! Speaking of charming people, how'd it go?" I sighed deeply. "I couldn't tell him the truth... He was so uncharacteristically nervous... He even did Kabe-don... Or was it Kabbedon... I was shocked." Kuramochi was snickering. "Pfft... He did Kabe-don? You don't po-... I'll be right back..." Kuramochi stood and left his food and went to speak to Miyuki. I smiled at Nori, causing him to stare at me curiously. "You're having trouble with Miyuki-kun when trying to tell him about your true gender? Or is it feelings?" I stared in shock at Nori. But I never told him...! He smiled innocently. "I've known it for a while, I knew you were hiding it from the others for your own reason... But how  will you handle Miyuki and his feelings if word gets out?" I turned red. "W-wha- he doesn't have feelings for me!" Nori frowned. "Did you ask him?" My mind went blank. "No it nev-" I was interrupted by a certainly unwanted presence.

"Oh look~! It's Princess!" I froze at the voice. H-he... No! I jumped away from my seat, where the man was standing. "I saw your press conference~ such a dirty liar~" Everyone in the cafeteria was now silent. "Oh~ by the way, I brought my friends that paid me off to do what I did to you with me~. You're so unappealing that no one would ever try to touch you voluntarily." The basketball guys that I fought with verbally before walked in, all of them grinning ear to ear. "No, I think you have the wrong person-" The molester grabbed me by the fringe and tilted my head up. "Don't lie sweetheart~ we had such a great-" Before he could finish, Kuramochi punched the guy in the face, obviously fuming with anger. "Hey! You're that D-bag molester right? I saw you on TV! Screw off jag! Didn't you hear him say you have the wrong person?!" The guy rubbed the side of his face. "You really have some kind of punch there~." Kuramochi growled. "Hey... Satōshi, what's he talking about? What does he mean 'what I did to you'? You don't know this man do you? Just say no-" I stared back in shock at Miyuki. "She knows me alright~ So does the one who just punched me." I grit my teeth. "Screw you... SCREW YOU!" I punched the guy in the face hard enough to knock him down. My knuckles were bloody. "What... He just called Satōshi a she... Kuramochi, Satōshi, you don't know him right?" I was grinding my teeth at Miyuki's question. "Not now Mi-" he grabbed my forearm and stopped me from walking away. "Hey! Answer my question!" I sighed. "Yes... I've met him before." Kuramochi grabbed my other arm and drug me away from the cafeteria and into my room. "Nanai-san, you need to-" I was crying in sudden shock of the situation.i didn't realize it myself until I felt the tears slip down my face silently.

✾

"The truth is..."

"I'm a girl."