#anna suehiro

Nitori fidgeted with the charm on her phone strap as she watched the scenery zip past the window of the shinkansen. She was excited to be seeing Ariga again but at the same time a small pocket of anxiety sat in her stomach as she thought of what was to come.

           She’d have to tell her parents fairly early on, there was no avoiding it. Sure when they talked just before she left to university both her parents had seemed largely ok with the whole thing, there was a difference between them accepting her while she kept everything under wraps and them accepting her transition.

          Queerness was acceptable to many so long as you didn’t ‘indulge yourself in those behaviours’ and when you did do something like finding a partner or transition it was ‘selfish’ and ‘detrimental to the family unit’ and a lot of people got a lot less ok with it. Her parents were probably a lot more ok with thinking that they had a son that cross dressed in his private time than dealing with the fact that Nitori was soon going to be visibly their daughter that they didn’t used to have that was dating another girl.

       Nitori pushed those thoughts out of her head. She didn’t have to cross that bridge just yet. She had thankfully dodged the bullet of explaining to her parents why she was suddenly back in town in the middle of the university semester by staying at Kanako’s place.

          Nitori turned her thoughts to her upcoming meeting with Ariga. She was excited to see her friend again as it had been almost eight months since she had seen Ariga. The two of them had talked throughout the semesters sure but Nitori hadn’t actually seen her in person since she left to university. Plus she was excited to for her friends transition.

          Nitori stared back out the window again, this time with a smile on her face. She fidgeted with her phone charm as the excitement welled up inside her.

  ******************************************************************************

 Anna paused in front of the door for a second, swallowing a lump of anxiety. The name of the door plate read Saito Kenta, Senior Administrator. After a second or two of anxious waiting Chii reached from behind from Anna and knocked on the door.

           After a few seconds a gruff voice called out ‘come in.’

           Anna looked back at Chii and they smiled supportively and gave her a nod. Anna reached forward and opened the door and the two of them entered the room.

           Saito sat hunched at an old looking computer on a plain wood desk surrounded by filling cabinets. He looked up as the Anna and Chii entered the room and the two of them bowed to him. He nodded at them and gestured to the chairs facing him and his desk.

           ‘please, sit’ he said.

           Anna and Chii took a seat each and Saito looked between the two of them

           ‘So what can I do for you ladies’ he asked

           ‘well sir, we’ve come to talk to you about the potential of having another student moving into our dorm room with us…’ Anna began but trailed off trying to pull her thoughts together and find a way of phrasing the next part of the request.

           ‘Ah yes Miss Suehiro, I have been informed of your room arrangements,’ Saito said and turned back to the computer, ‘what is the individuals name so I can arrange the room transfer?’

           Anna swallowed anxiously has the conversation started to deviate from her mental plan ‘Nitori Shuuichi, sir’

           Saito did some quick typing and then frowned at his computer. ‘It says on our records that Nitori Shuuichi is a boy,’ Saito said and looked sternly at Anna, ‘Miss Suehiro am I to understand that you’re requesting a boy move into the girl’s dorm, because that it unacceptable.’

           ‘Not exactly Sir,’ Anna started and she could feel her hands shaking, this wasn’t going to plan, ‘you see..’

           ‘Nitorin is transgender.’ Chii saw Anna was flustered and took the reins. ‘She is listed under the school records as a man but she is in fact a girl.’

           Chii looked to Anna and she smiled and gestured for Chii to continue while she collected herself.

           ‘Nitorin is looking to begin her transition,’ Chii continued, ‘And we all agreed that it was unsafe to do so in the men’s dorms’

           ‘I know it’s highly unusual and it normally wouldn’t be done,’ Anna said, ‘but Chii and I are friends with her and we would have no issue sharing a dorm room with her.’

           Saito looked between the two of them. Anna fidgeted nervously.

           'This isn't some elaborate ruse to get your boyfriend to move into the dorm with you is it?' Saito asked, a slight accusation in his voice

           Anna and Chii's faces both went dark with anger, and Chii opened their mouth to say something. Anna gave her hot headed friend a warning look before she answered herself

            'I guarantee you Nitori Shuuichi is not my boyfriend'

            Saito seemed to think about it for a few more minutes, typing on his computer and reading whatever had come up.

          ‘Very well.’ Saito said, ‘University protocol states there must be a year of transition before anything like this is allowed but as you both know Mr Nitori and are ok with him moving in then we can wave that requirement.’

          Anna and Chii both stared daggers at the administrators seemingly deliberate misgendering of Nitori but said nothing.

          ‘I will lodge the transfer forms, but he will need a psychological evaluation before he is allowed to move dorms,’ Saito continued, seeming oblivious to the hostile stares, ‘now is there anything else?’

          Anna shook her head and the two of them stood and left the office.

          Chii waited until they were out of earshot of the office before breaking down laughing, shooting Anna an amused look

          'What?' Anna asked but Chii just continued giving Anna the amused look

          'What I told him was 100% the truth, she isn't my boyfriend at all,' Anna said and shrugged, 'it's not my fault that he's a bigot’

 ******************************************************************************

 Nitori pushed open the door to the bakery and cafe, the bell on the door jingling. At the sound of the bell several voices chorused a welcome to the store. Ariga turned to the door to see who had entered and then turned back to the back of the shop.

           ‘Mum, Nitorin is here!’ Ariga called out, ‘I’m going to go on break’

           ‘Alright darling.’ Ariga’s mum called back.

           Ariga turned back to Nitori and grinned, gesturing her to a table in the corner. Nitori grinned back at Ariga. Her hair was longer now, almost to her shoulder and she wore a green long sleeve winter dress with grey leggings. The most noticeable change, however, was how Ariga carried herself. Where before she was awkward, nervous and uncertain, she now held herself with confidence and surety and she looked so much happier. Nitori felt a slight twinge of jealousy.

           ‘You look amazing,’ Nitori exclaimed.

           ‘Thank you,’ Ariga said flushing slightly at the compliment

           ‘what was all that fuss last year about you not making as cute of a girl as me, because it’s not true’

           Ariga smiled broadly ‘God mum was so angry at you,’ she said and laughed ‘I had just come out to her and her reaction was get angry at the person making me feel bad.’

           The two of them smiled and laughed at the memory.

           ‘See and I told you that you had nothing to worry about,’ the voice of Ariga’s mum cut in from beside them, surprising them. Nitori and Ariga too focused on each other to notice her approach.

           ‘It’s so nice to see you again Nitori,’ Ariga’s mum said with a smile and then pulled her note pad out from the front of her apron, ‘Now, ladies, what can I get you two?’

           The two of them ordered their respective drinks and Ariga’s mum left to make them. The two of them made small talk while waiting for their drinks. It didn’t take long before they had been place on the table.

           ‘How as university been treating you?’ Nitori asked

           ‘Good all things considered,’ Ariga replied, ‘classes have been going well and I haven’t run into too many problems with teachers and my transition.’ Ariga made a face, ‘I’ve had one or two bad students but they’re mostly just harmless idiots’

           ‘That’s good to hear’

           ‘Also that reminds me.’ Ariga said and reached into the pocket and pulls out two cards, ‘This is the details of the clinic that I go to and the psychologist that I saw for my assessment.’

           ‘Thanks Ariga.’

           ‘Hikari!’ Ariga’s mum called from the kitchen, ‘We need you off break.’

           ‘Coming mum!’ Ariga called back and then turned back to Nitori, ‘Sorry got to go.’

           Nitori raised an eyebrow at Ariga before she could run off. Ariga flushed a little, embarrassed as she realised.

           ‘Right, I forgot to mention,’ Ariga said as she pulled her apron back on, ‘I have a new name’

           ‘It’s a lovely name,’ Nitori said, ‘I guess I’ll see you next time I’m in town.’

           ‘Drop by anytime.’ Ariga replied smiling, ‘it was nice seeing you, and next time we should catch up when I have more time.’ Ariga turned and walked hurriedly back to the kitchen.

           Nitori made her way to the counter to pay, and as the staff member rang up her drink Ariga’s mother appeared from behind the counter.

           ‘Today’s drink is on the house,’ she said, ‘it’s not every day that Hikari’s best friend comes to visit and I feel bad that you two couldn’t chat for longer.’

           Nitori bowed and thanked her and then turned to leave the cafe. As she made her way from the cafe to the train station she pulled one of the cards from her pocket and dialled the number written on it. The phone rang for a few seconds before a woman’s voice answered.