The gymnasium had been divided into a row of curtained stations, each labeled in neat kanji: Height, Weight, Eyesight, Hearing, General Exam. Students shuffled nervously from one to the next, nurses and teachers trying to keep the line moving.
Yu followed along in a daze, clutching his clipboard like it might sprout wings and fly him away.
First were the height measurements. A nurse called out.
"Next."
Yu stepped onto the platform, his back pressed ramrod straight against the measuring pole. The nurse slid the bar down toward his head.
"164.6 centimeters."
Yu blinked.
'Was that short? Was that tall?'
He didn't know—until he heard Sakura groan nearby.
"Ughhh, I didn't grow at all this year!"
Fumiko wailed.
"Neither did I!"
Meanwhile, Souma and Yamato compared who had shot up the most, already declaring a rematch for next year.
Yu, caught in the middle, thought.
'Maybe being small isn't so bad…?'
---
Next was the weight check.
This was worse. Yu hesitated before stepping onto the scale, every nerve screaming what if something looks off?
The nurse adjusted the sliding bars.
"52 kilograms. Normal range."
Yu sagged in relief—until Sakura clutched her head dramatically nearby.
"Nooooo, I gained two whole kilos!"
Fumiko fell into her arms, equally horrified.
"I gained three!"
Yu just stood there, utterly baffled.
'Why is that bad? Isn't it good to gain weight if you're healthy?'
The nurse gave him a patient smile and waved him on.
---
After that, it was the eyesight / hearing tests.
Here, Yu almost made a fool of himself when he panicked at the eye chart and started reciting letters backwards, until the nurse gently explained the process again. His eyesight was fine. His hearing too.
So far, so good.
But the next sign read: General Examination.
Yu's stomach twisted.
---
Finally, Yu was at the General Exam Station, the final and most important of the check up.
The curtain fell shut behind him, muffling the gym's buzz. A tall man in a white coat sat at the desk, his Japanese accented but fluid, his clipboard open. He smiled warmly.
"Yukio Hokohayashi?"
"Y-Yes!"
Yu squeaked, hands sweaty.
The doctor began the usual checks—blood pressure, reflexes, stethoscope pressed lightly to Yu's chest. Yu kept stiff, praying his disguise would hold.
But the man's eyes lingered, his pen pausing mid-note.
Then he leaned back, expression thoughtful.
"You're… biologically male, yes?"
He said quietly, in English-accented Japanese.
Yu froze. His heart stopped. Every excuse tangled in his throat.
The doctor chuckled softly.
"Don't panic. I'm not here to expose you."
"…You… knew?"
"I've seen many teenagers like you in America. Boys dressing as girls, girls dressing as boys. Sometimes cross-dressing, sometimes exploring gender. Perfectly normal at your age. You're… exploring your identity, aren't you?"
Yu blinked at him, utterly lost.
"…Exploring…?"
The doctor tilted his head.
"Do you know what pronouns are?"
Yu tilted his own.
"…What are… pronouns?"
For the next few minutes, the doctor gave a patient, gentle explanation. He spoke of he/him, she/her, they/them, of transgender people, cross-dressers, and the broader LGBTQ community. He explained how, in some places, such things were feared or mocked, but in others, they were respected, even celebrated.
Yu's eyes widened with every word.
'A whole community… like me? People who… live like this? Who are accepted?'
His chest ached with a strange, fluttering hope.
"I-I didn't know…"
Yu whispered.
"There's… really such a community?"
"Yes."
The doctor's smile warmed.
"And you might find comfort there someday. For now, here—"
He slipped a few pamphlets into Yu's hands.
"Resources, links, words. A start."
Yu stared down at the colorful covers, the strange English words translated into neat Japanese.
The doctor jotted something quickly onto the form.
"For official purposes, I'll note you as non-binary. That way, you'll be allowed your own changing space for gym and access to the teacher's lounge restroom. It should ease some of your daily worries."
Yu's mouth fell open.
"R-Really?!"
"Really."
He winked.
"You'll be fine."
When Yu stepped out of the curtain, his face was flushed but lighter somehow, the pamphlets hidden under his clipboard. Taichi immediately leaned in, eyes sharp.
"So? How'd it go? Everything good?"
Yu nodded too fast, stammering.
"Y-Yes! Totally fine! Healthy!"
But inside, something new buzzed—a secret spark of knowledge, a door cracked open to a world he hadn't known existed.
Yu's fingers pressed against the pamphlets tucked under his clipboard, hidden like contraband. The doctor's words replayed in his head with every step back to the classroom:
"Sometimes mocked. Sometimes celebrated."
Mocked. The word bit sharper than he expected.
His eyes drifted to where Sakura and Fumiko huddled, whispering dramatically about how much weight they definitely didn't want to gain. They both looked up the moment he slipped back into the row, waving him over like nothing was strange. Sakura even reached to tug him down beside her, chattering about her eyesight results.
And yet…
Yu's stomach knotted.
'What if… if they knew? Would they still want me near them? Would they still squeal and fuss over me like always? Or… would they look at me like I was weird?'
The thought stung worse than any needle.
He shook his head hard, forcing a smile at Sakura's chatter.
Inside, though, the worry gnawed.
DK01's voice hummed softly in the back of his mind.
[You're overthinking again.]
'B-But… the doctor said… some people are mocked… What if—'
[What if? Yu, you've survived worse. And besides, your friends—those girls—you know them better than anyone. They're not as dismissive as you think. They wouldn't turn on you so easily.]
'…You think?'
[I know. But you're right to be cautious. This world's script is delicate. Even a small crack in their perception could risk everything. Until you're ready—until you're safe—keeping this seed private is the smart choice.]
Yu's chest loosened a little at that. Still, he kept his eyes on the clipboard, not daring to let his friends see his worry.
He hated himself a little for doubting them, even for a second. But no matter how tiny the chance… he couldn't risk losing the first real friends he'd ever had.
So he swallowed it down, hiding the seed deep in his heart, and pasted on a smile when Fumiko leaned over with a whisper.
"You okay?"
Yu nodded quickly.
"Y-Yeah! Everything's fine."
And that was that.
The checkup ended with the air buzzing like a festival. Students spilled out of the gymnasium with slips in hand, comparing heights and weights as if it were a sport.
"Ughhh!"
Sakura groaned dramatically, clutching her slip like a death sentence.
"Why is it always two kilos more than I thought? I swear I was lighter last week!"
Fumiko fanned herself with hers, sighing as though she were on stage.
"I'm devastated too. I lost exactly one centimeter in height. How is that even possible?"
Yamato puffed his chest.
"I grew three centimeters since last year!"
Souma threw an arm around him.
"Liar. You stuffed your shoes."
The two of them wrestled noisily, drawing laughter from everyone around.
Even Yu found himself giggling, the sound slipping out before he could stop it. His own paper crinkled in his fist, the numbers neat and clear, proof that he was "fine, healthy, normal." Taichi walked at his side, slipping Yu's paper into his own pocket without even looking, as if to guard it for him.
"Don't worry about any of that stuff…"
Taichi muttered low, almost tender beneath the noise.
"You're perfect."
Yu flushed, caught between embarrassment and warmth.
The group's chatter carried them all the way out the school gates. Jokes about eyesight tests, about who had the worst posture, about Yamato threatening to "grow taller than Taichi any day now."
It was light, silly, easy.
Yu laughed with them. He let the current carry him.
And yet…
When the others peeled off for their routes home, Yu's smile faltered at the edges. His hand drifted to the pamphlets tucked in his bag, weighty as stones.
"Sometimes mocked. Sometimes celebrated."
He stole a glance back as his friends walked their way down a different black. Sakura's bright chatter, Fumiko's dramatic gestures. Taichi's steady warmth at his side being the only thing he could feel now.
'Would they still… if they knew?'
Yu forced his gaze forward, blinking away the heaviness before Taichi could see. His laughter earlier still echoed in his ears, but inside, the knot was back, smaller now, but coiled deep.
And so, even with the spring breeze and the cheerful voices around him, Yu walked on with a shadow tucked quietly in his chest.
---
A week had passed since the health exam, the pamphlets still hidden deep in Yu's bag where he dared not touch them.
Now, the after-school sun poured in through the Home Ec room windows, catching on the steam rising from Yu's latest attempt at a cream stew. The aroma was rich, the balance of flavor just right. Yu knew that much. The problem came when he ladled it into the bowl, wiped the edge with a napkin, and frowned at the way it still looked… plain.
"Mm…"
Yu muttered to himself, tilting his head.
"It tastes nice but… it doesn't look nice. How do people make food look like the pictures?"
Across the room, Isuke Sasaki set down his own project—a neatly sewn apron, stitches perfectly even. He glanced over at Yu, saw the concentration pinching his brow, and started walking over.
"You're overfilling the bowl."
he said calmly, voice carrying that quiet authority he always seemed to have.
"Try serving a smaller portion, then garnish with—"
"President Sasaki!"
A chorus of voices cut him off. A group of girls swarmed his desk, waving their half-finished projects in front of him.
"Can you check mine first?"
"No, me! Please—just tell me if my stitches are straight!"
"Ah—President, look, mine's almost done! Isn't it cute?"
Yu blinked, spoon still in hand, as Isuke was swallowed up by the eager cluster of girls. His advice evaporated under the chatter. Isuke's polite smile stayed in place, but his eyes flicked briefly back toward Yu—an unspoken wait—before one of the girls tugged his sleeve and he was pulled into their circle.
Yu looked down at his stew again, cheeks puffing with a tiny sigh.
"…Guess I'll just… try again on my own."
He grabbed another clean bowl, determined. However, the result was the same.
Yu set down the second bowl, took a careful step back, and squinted at it like he was inspecting a math problem. The flavor was there. The effort was there. But the presentation? Still… off.
He chewed his lip, spoon in hand, when a gentle voice spoke up.
"Um, Yu-chan? If you tilt the garnish a little, it'll look more balanced."
Yu turned, startled. One of the other first-years but in a different class—Haruka Minami, soft-spoken but quick with her hands—stood beside him, pointing toward the sprig of parsley he had plopped clumsily on top.
"Here, like this."
She said, adjusting it delicately. Then she drizzled a thin line of sauce along the edge of the bowl.
"See? That way, the eye follows the curve. It looks more professional."
Yu's eyes widened. He clapped his hands together.
"Ohhh! That really does make it look better!"
Haruka laughed behind her hand, cheeks faintly pink.
"It's nothing. I just… like plating food prettily."
"It's not nothing!"
Yu said, bowing slightly.
"Thank you, Minami-san. You saved me—I was going to throw this out and start all over."
They started chatting—about little tricks with color, how presentation mattered almost as much as flavor, how one small detail could change the whole impression of a dish. Yu listened earnestly, eyes sparkling, jotting down notes in the corner of his practice book. His stew wasn't just edible anymore—it looked almost restaurant-ready.
Across the room, Isuke's polite smile wavered. He leaned down, answering another girl's question about stitches, but his gaze kept flicking back toward Yu. Toward Yu's bright smile, his obvious relief, the way he leaned in closer to listen to Haruka Minami's advice.
He pressed the bridge of his nose for a brief second, annoyance flashing hot under his calm exterior.
'That should have been me.'
When one of the girls tugged his sleeve again, Isuke straightened, face composed once more. But in the corner of his chest, something twisted tighter.
---
The club wrapped up with laughter and the clinking of utensils being packed away. Yu wiped down his station, humming faintly, the glow of accomplishment still on his face from Haruka Minami's help.
"Yu-chan."
Haruka said, sidling up beside him as they walked toward the doors.
"You really picked things up fast today. I'm sure you'll be plating beautifully in no time."
Yu grinned, scratching his cheek.
"Only because you showed me how! Thank you again."
Haruka hesitated, then held up her phone.
"Um… do you want to exchange numbers? That way, if you get stuck outside of club, you can text me. I'd be happy to help."
Yu's eyes lit up.
"Really? That would be amazing!"
He fumbled with his phone, nearly dropping it in his excitement, before they exchanged contacts. Yu gave a relieved sigh once the ping confirmed.
"Now I won't have to keep ruining dishes before I figure things out!"
From the far side of the hall, Isuke Sasaki paused, having just been freed from another gaggle of girls. His eyes narrowed, irritation bubbling.
'So it's Minami who gets his number first…'
Just as he was about to turn away, Haruka tilted her head curiously at Yu's contact list.
"Wait—Yu-chan, you don't have Arifuku-san's number?"
Yu blinked.
"Oh… well, we're always together, so I never thought it was necessary."
His voice softened, and a faint blush crept across his cheeks.
"But… I do want it now. I really want it."
Haruka giggled, covering her mouth.
"That's so cute. I'll leave you to it then, Yu-chan."
She waved lightly before trotting off toward her next club activity.
Yu waved after her, cheeks still warm, when Isuke's low chuckle carried faintly from the hall. He was already walking away, lips curled in a smug smirk.
'Even his so-called boyfriend doesn't have his number. Some perfect romance this is.'
Yu didn't notice.
Instead, as he turned back toward the hallway, a familiar figure strode up—Taichi, towel draped around his neck from basketball practice.
"Taichi!"
Yu beamed, stepping forward and holding out a fresh towel and water bottle like Sakura had taught him. Then, with both hands, he carefully presented a small container.
"And this—I made stew today in the Harmony Life Club! It's not perfect, but… I worked really hard on it!"
Taichi's grin softened, his eyes crinkling.
"You're incredible, Yu."
Without hesitation, he shifted everything into his own arms—his bag, Yu's bag, and even the container of stew.
"You don't have to carry a thing."
Yu blinked up at him, cheeks pinker still, but his smile stretched wide. The two of them fell into step, walking side by side as the sun dipped low, Yu chattering excitedly about plating tricks and Haruka's tips, and Taichi listening as though nothing else in the world mattered.
---
By the time they reached the apartment complex, dusk had settled, painting the sky in soft purple streaks. Yu clutched his bag a little tighter, walking beside Taichi in a thoughtful silence. He'd spent the entire walk turning over Haruka's words in his mind, cheeks warming each time. Finally, just before they reached the elevator, Yu tugged lightly on Taichi's sleeve.
"Um… Taichi?"
Taichi blinked down at him.
"Yeah?"
Yu fidgeted, staring at the tips of his shoes.
"I… realized something today. I don't… have your number."
For a moment, Taichi just stared. Then his ears turned bright red.
"M-my number?!"
Yu nodded quickly, pulling out his phone with both hands like it was some sacred relic.
"I want it. Please."
His voice cracked on the last word, and his face went scarlet.
Taichi's chest did a strange, tight flip. He scrambled for his own phone, nearly dropping it in his rush.
"Of course! Yes! Gimme a second—wait, wait, don't move—here, I'll—ah—"
The two of them fumbled, phones bumping against each other, fingers brushing as they awkwardly typed in digits, double-checking and triple-checking. When both phones buzzed at once, they froze, glancing up with the same startled expression before breaking into shy, relieved smiles.
"There."
Taichi said, a little breathless.
"Now you can call me anytime. Or text. Or both. Whatever you want."
Yu clutched his phone against his chest, glowing.
"Now I'll always be able to reach you."
Taichi's grin softened, almost breaking into something dangerously tender.
'You'll never have to call. I'll always be right there the second you need me.'
The thought burned in him, possessive and fierce, but he swallowed it down. If Yu thought he was too much, too clingy, he might pull away. And Taichi couldn't bear that.
So instead, he let the feeling filter into his expression, exaggerated into a broad, puppyish smile. He leaned closer, bumping Yu's shoulder with his own.
"Guess that makes me the most reachable boyfriend in the world, huh?"
Yu laughed softly, still pink but brimming with quiet happiness.
And for that night, under the glow of the apartment lights, Taichi tucked away the vow he couldn't speak aloud—that no matter how many numbers they exchanged, Yu would never need to shout across a distance for him. He'd always be there, as close as breathing.
---
The following day at school, the classroom was a buzz of noise between morning classes. Taichi was leaned back in his chair, talking lazily with Souma and Yamato, when his phone buzzed against his thigh.
He almost ignored it—until he saw the name.
Yu: Taichi? 🥺👉👈 Are you busy?
Taichi nearly dropped his phone. His entire face went red at once.
"Oi, Taichi, what's with your—"
Souma started, but Taichi was already ducking his head, turning away from them with ears blazing.
Another buzz.
Yu: I'm hiding in the bathroom rn 🚽💦 I wanted to try texting you! ✨
Is this… okay? Or weird? 😳💦
Taichi slapped a hand over his mouth, muffling the ridiculous sound that tried to escape his throat.
'Weird? It's the cutest thing I've ever seen in my entire life—'
His thumbs flew.
Taichi: Not weird at all!!! (๑>◡<๑) I'm so happy you texted me omg
You can text me anytime. Bathroom, classroom, middle of the night—ANY time.
Another bubble appeared almost instantly.
Yu: Really? (⁄ ⁄>⁄ω⁄<⁄ ⁄) I'll… I'll text you more then! Sakura and Fumiko showed me the stickers too—
A flood of sparkly bear stickers, hearts, and food emojis filled the screen.
Taichi was gone. He bent forward over his desk, clutching his phone like it was a lifeline, practically vibrating with joy. Souma and Yamato exchanged confused looks behind him.
"Did he… just fall in love again?"
Yamato whispered.
"Looks like it."
Souma muttered.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom stall, Yu grinned at his phone, biting his lip nervously before sending one last line.
Yu: Thank you for being my first boyfriend 💖
Taichi made a strangled sound so loud the teacher snapped at him to quiet down when class started. He didn't even care. His girlfriend—no, his Yu—was texting him. And it was perfect.
By mid-morning, Taichi had given up any hope of concentrating in class.
It wasn't his fault. How was he supposed to focus on math equations when his phone buzzed every fifteen minutes with Yu's "practice" texts?
Yu: Look Taichi! 🐱🐶🐰🐺🦊🐼 It's our friend group! (≧▽≦)
Taichi bit back a laugh. Since when were we a zoo…
Another buzz.
Yu: And this is u 👉🍞🍚🍲🍳🍗🍙🍜🍰🍓🧋🍡
Bc ur always hungry!! 😂😂😂
Taichi slapped a hand over his face.
"...I can't take this…"
He groaned under his breath.
At lunch, while Souma and Yamato were horsing around, Yu proudly showed Sakura and Fumiko his screen. The girls squealed at how many stickers he'd downloaded, coaching him on new ways to spam Taichi.
Yu: 🌸💖🌸 Ganbatte in class Taichi!!
From ur Yu ✨✨ (´｡• ω •｡`)
Taichi's ears turned scarlet. From ur Yu— He nearly face-planted onto his tray.
---
After school, the group split for their clubs, and later Taichi and Yu walked home side by side. Taichi was unusually quiet, fiddling with his phone until they reached the quieter stretch of road near their apartment complex.
"Yu."
He said suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
Yu blinked up at him, wide-eyed.
"Eh? Did I text too much? Was it annoying?!"
Taichi shook his head so fast his hair fell into his eyes.
"No! Never. But…"
He rummaged through Yu's bag, got his phone out then shoved it into Yu's hands, ears red.
"Call me."
Yu tilted his head.
"We're right here."
"That's not the point!"
Taichi grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I want to hear you say my name on the phone. Just… try it once, okay?"
Yu fumbled, cheeks burning, but obediently tapped Taichi's contact. A second later, Taichi's own phone lit up in his hand. He answered, heart hammering.
"...Taichi?"
Yu's voice came through the speaker, soft and nervous.
Taichi melted.
"...Yeah. I'm here."
Yu peeked up at him from behind the phone, a shy smile tugging his lips.
"This is silly…"
"Cute."
Taichi corrected instantly.
"Do it again."
They stood there, side by side but talking into their phones, until Yu's laughter bubbled out, warm and bright. Taichi couldn't stop grinning like an idiot.
---
Unbeknownst to them, Isuke Sasaki had been passing by on his way to the train station. He stopped dead at the sight: Taichi and Yu, both flushed, both giggling into their phones like lovesick kids.
A strange tightness pulled in his chest.
"…Ridiculous."
He muttered, jaw tightening as he turned away. But even as he walked off, his thoughts churned.
'It's unsafe for Yu to only rely on Arifuku like that. If something happens, he should be able to contact me too. For safety. Just safety. That's all.'
His fists clenched.
'One way or another, I'll get Yu's number. Not because I want it… just because it's necessary.'
But his scowl lingered as he disappeared down the street.
---
Yu was still giggling when they finally made it to the apartment complex. His cheeks were flushed, and his phone clutched close to his chest as if it were some precious treasure.
Taichi, still buzzing from the sound of Yu's voice through the speaker, leaned down and muttered,
"So… you'll call me again tonight, right? Before bed?"
Yu blinked up at him, startled, then puffed his cheeks.
"We're in the same room before bed!"
Taichi grinned like a mischievous puppy.
"Still want it."
Yu groaned, covering his face with both hands.
"You're impossible…"
But when Taichi nudged his shoulder, Yu peeked out from between his fingers, smiling shyly.
"...Okay. But only once."
That earned Yu a triumphant cheek kiss and a laugh loud enough to echo down the hallway.
---
The next day, their new "phone intimacy" bled into everything. Yu started sending Taichi doodles of his lunch, little good luck emojis before tests, and even accidental blurry selfies that made Taichi's heart skip a beat. Taichi responded with simple texts—short words, but long, adoring stares whenever Yu wasn't looking.
Even Fumiko and Sakura noticed, whispering to each other at how disgustingly cute the two had gotten.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on campus, the sweetness between Yu and Taichi was curdling into something darker in Isuke Sasaki's mind.
He sat alone in the quiet of the student council office, the golden late-afternoon light painting sharp lines across his desk. The scene of Yu and Taichi laughing into their phones replayed over and over in his head.
'Yu relies on him too much. It's dangerous. If Taichi ever steps away, even for a moment, Yu will be stranded. Vulnerable.'
His fingers drummed against the desk. He couldn't just ask for it outright, for two reasons: first, it would draw unnecessary attention to Yu from the girls who surround him constantly which could incite jealousy and envy from them towards Yu. Second, Yu was also always surrounded by either Taichi, the girls or their whole friend group, making it nearly impossible for him to speak with Yu alone and he doubted they would let him get Yu's number.
Then his gaze fell to the neat stack of student files by his elbow.
As student council president, every student's basic contact information was only a request away. A few signatures. A "safety check." Nobody would question it.
Slowly, a smile crept across his lips.
'If Yu won't give me his number, I'll take it. For his own good.'
The clock ticked quietly in the background, marking the moment his jealousy turned into a plan.