(aka: The Great Cosmic Miscommunication)
When Rin came out to his family as trans, they were supportive, patient, loving—the whole Hallmark package.
When he came out as half-spirit?
Yeah, that support evaporated fast.
He and his sister Mara fled their hometown after their parents unveiled a shiny new weapon designed to “deal with” spirits—one that hit Rin square in the torso on his way out the door.
They hopped train after train until they found themselves in a gloomy, chaotic city called Blackwater, ruled by a surprisingly gentle city-spirit who welcomed them into her haunt without hesitation.
The problem?
That weapon did real damage. The kind you can’t shake off.
Rin’s spirit-core had partially necrotized. That meant:
Days he couldn’t transform at all
Manageable in a city where he didn’t need to use his powers often—but definitely mood-ruining.
Still, they rebuilt their lives.
New name.
New haircut.
New friends who respected both his gender and his otherworldliness.
Sol was bright, funny, empathetic, and had also lost his parents in a… complicated way. Mara adored him. Rin adored him. His job was secretive, but Rin checked—no extermination agencies involved—so he didn’t pry. He just knew Sol’s entire family worked for the same big private foundation in the city.
Everything was perfect. Rin, Sol, Mara, and the entire wonderfully weird household.
Until Rin’s core suddenly burned like a star going supernova.
He barely made it to the bathroom before vomiting.
Mara followed, steadying him as he retched.
“Is it the core?” she whispered.
“It’s fine,” Rin hissed, wiping his mouth. “Just—give me a second.”
They didn’t know two members of Sol’s family had followed and overheard.
And completely misinterpreted the conversation.
To them?
“Core” = obvious codeword.
Neither Rin nor Mara knew this.
Which is why, a week later, Rin walked into Sol’s family home…
and found balloons, pink and blue confetti, and a giant banner reading:
Rin: “...Congrats for what?”
Sol, sweating: “Um. So. Funny story…”
Sol’s brother: “DUDE. Did you get him pregnant?!”
Sol: “NO?? WE DIDN’T—WE HAVEN’T—IT’S NOT—???”
Mara is in the corner laughing so hard she’s wheezing.
And Rin?
He hasn’t even recovered from the core flare-up.
Now he has to explain he’s half-spirit, not pregnant.
The cosmic embarrassment could power a small city.
