Chapter 1: 1. The Misunderstanding

Content warning: mentions of vomiting, negative self-imagery //

Imabari was quite a choice for a family to move to for work, but when the money gets a little tight and your mother finally gets a teaching job with her special education training and your father is a remote IT specialist, you don’t get to complain as to the options.

Reon Hasegawa arrived with his mother and father shortly before he would enter junior high school, and his parting with his friends was bittersweet - he only made a few friends himself at that point, and he lost one friend already with a botched attempt at a confession. His mother, Miriam (the daughter of a Lebanese-American expat), wouldn’t hear of that story until well after the move, and her loving support, along with that of Reon’s father, Takumi, helped to ease some of his pain. “It does explain”, Miriam would add, “why you were also more able to make friends with girls, but you need to be careful who you say things to, and how.” The lesson stuck with Reon. He kept only friends he could trust with his secrets and usually kept to himself, instead helping teachers and volunteering for projects.

Reon met his best friend Daiki Murata in 7th grade when his science club was tasked to work with the student council for setting up the the annual science fair. Reon and Daiki hit it off quite well, and even with Daiki flatly stating his being gay to Reon, to the latter’s shock, the two had even more to connect over. They attempted a few dates over 7th and 8th grade, even some intimacy, but a private confession between the two in the 8th grade summer holiday made it so they would be best friends who shared something genuinely special. The two would occasionally share a kiss and a hand-holding, but only Daiki would be open about his being gay. Reon kept his cards close.

Reon told his parents of the romantic relationship and the confession towards the end of that same summer. He was too scared to have all the words come out, but after the terror and the crying and the words spilling out, all he heard was reassurances, statements of love; all he felt from without were two bodies surrounding him and providing warmth and a needed embrace; all he felt from within was a release of tension and lunch, of a secret he hid since elementary school, of shame.

Unfortunately, the government at large, even the prefecture’s, was considerably conservative. Reon’s and Daiki’s queerness would become a sticking point at school, but not much of one where it would impact their grades. In fact, it was thanks to Reon and Daiki being near the top of their class where they were both were approached by reps from Masataro High School, a private coed STEAM academy in the area, and offered scholarships for tuition. Their families would be on the hook for room and board and books, but at least the boys would be at a nice school and could spend more time socializing. 

By the time the two entered the high school, the rest of the 1st year class could tell that Reon and Daiki had something else between them besides friendship. Nothing that could be proven or justified outside of their being a little too chummy. The duo developed a close group of new friends from their respective clubs and classes, but always found time to hang out.

There was one class that Reon felt most comfortable in, but couldn’t place why at first - especially since his most comfortable subject was math. 2-E - Mr. Ueno’s classroom - was where 1st years would learn more about world history, as well as a bit of government studies. Mr. Ueno seemed a bit more relaxed as a teacher, compared to Reon’s other instructors, but that didn’t cancel out Mr. Ueno’s more passionate discussions on social justice and the importance of ethical and just behavior, contrasting it with a few existing laws that would serve as lessons on how to create rules that would be fairer for everyone. 

When looking for clubs, Reon spotted 2-E being used for something he felt was missing from his middle school experience. Something he and Daiki both wanted to request but were too scared to, due to their lack of experience with making a formal request and due to fears of how it’d be received. Daiki would join the school newspaper, occasionally getting in trouble for putting singles ads for himself in the paper, but somehow never getting kicked out because of his passion for words, and Reon would join the chemistry club, but the club in 2-E met on Wednesdays and didn’t conflict with their other interests.

2-E became their regular haunt, with Daiki being the self-appointed Queen Queer of the First Years (absolutely no one used that title) and Reon gaining a reputation for being an ally and an unintentional charmer.

—

It was a rather rough day for Reon, which was saying something regarding how things were going for his second year with homework and entrance exam prep. Gathering his belongings from the locker became an emotional chore due to his getting confession letters, words from secret admirers, and even outright statements of “I love you, please go out with me” with their names written on it. Rather than make a public show of it, he asked his parents for a paper shredder that he kept in his dorm room. He was lucky in getting a single-bed in the raffle for room assignments, and was allowed the privacy he wanted to decorate and be himself that having a roommate might endanger.

Every love letter he received, he shredded. Every meeting for a confession, he politely turned them down, saying that he had “too much going on” to be dating. His problem was his being too polite - even with the bad news, Reon always thanked the girl (or boy) for their choosing honesty with their feelings over being scared to talk about things and never shamed them for speaking up. He somehow got even more positive attention for it, and it was getting overwhelming. 

However, there were a few letters that stuck out to him. He recognized who they were written by and carefully observed the authors. Two of them were acquaintances from Reon's work with other clubs. For some reason, there was a connection to be made with ten or eleven of them. No, ten. One of whom he already turned down, but for "complicated reasons".

Reon just wasn’t sure how to explain things, but he needed to do something crazy in order for things to happen, for a misunderstanding to be corrected.

Daiki was the perfect man to pitch ideas to.

 

—

 

“Okay, that’s absolutely fucking nuts.”

“Yeah, but it might work, right?”

“It could. Do you have your marker?”

“Yep. This should be quick work anyway.”

 

—

 

The next morning, a large group of students surrounded the school’s community flyer board. A rather large poster took up the whole of the board, and on the poster were love letters, wishes to meet up, and confessions written to Reon. The identifying markers had been blacked out with permanent marker, so the students could only send rumors flying about whose was what. The writing styles were all different but not easily discernible as to who wrote what and how - only the author of the letter would know who sent it.

Beyond the notes which were glued onto the poster, there was also a bold-faced message with a somewhat cryptic instruction -

 

IF YOU SEE YOUR LETTER, 
YOU KNOW WHERE I AM ON WEDNESDAYS.
MEET ME THERE TOMORROW.
I WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.

 

The rumor mill kicked up quite a storm - Who was this directed to? Where would they meet? Is it a club room? Which club? What meets on Wednesdays?

The message got out before it was unceremoniously torn down by the principal for the 3rd years. Reon hoped he would have the chance to talk with the right people.

 

—

 

There were a few students outside of those invited who sussed out the location, but they were turned away seemingly randomly by Daiki. Those spurned and returning resistance were treated to a rare instance of his mean side - Daiki was known for being a comedian and a man of well-chosen words, but he knew how to make an insult hurt. The tone choice was risky but necessary. Too many people were claiming to be one of the ten students Reon wanted to speak with, and those who saw a student being admitted occasionally tried to force their way in, only to be more sternly turned away by Mr. Ueno.

Once all ten arrived, both of the self-appointed bouncers cleared the hall of stragglers who were wanting to listen in on the conversation and soon shut the classroom doors, locking them so to prevent entry except to administrators.

Even with the sense of privacy and the guidance of his best friend and his teacher, Reon was nervous. What he was about to say was either going to make his life in high school hell or make it an absolute hell.

Around him was quite the motley crew of students. They were taking the time to absorb their surroundings in the classroom. As this was a history classroom, there were the usual government flowcharts and historical figures' biographies, and a few encouragement posters to boot. What was unfamiliar to them was the presence of flags that they knew weren’t for countries - there were pride flags in the mix.

In retrospect, what else could have been expected from the school’s GSA meeting room?

The students were as varied as the flags.

Iori Furisawa, the art club president, was the lone boy out of the 10, and not only that, but also the first to be clued in personally as to the rejection being complicated. It was Iori’s confession letter that impelled Reon’s arranging the meeting, because it was thanks to talking with Iori that Reon had figured out how to say things.

“I’m honored that you could trust me with telling me you were gay, but there’s something I can’t tell you yet that would help you understand why I said I like you as well … but not in the same way.”

It wasn’t exactly a rejection, but Iori felt that the phrasing was hinting at something important.

Haru Shirokawa, a first year, also from the art club, was present, but she, like all the others, with the exception of the delinquent in the room, was visibly nervous and trying to understand the context. Not that she didn't stand out with her brown hair that always seemed to have a paint stain somewhere. 

Haru spent an equal amount of time between worry and trying to understand why so many people she recognized were here: Emu Kazetani from math class and the manga writing club; Osami Musada, the soccer club manager; Tama Naegi, the softball club manager; Esumi Kozuke, a senior from the literature club; the Hamada twins, Kaede and Yurisa, from the fashion club, both identifiable with their bottle-blonde-and-orange-hair-dye styles; Natsuki Araya, the first 2nd year to become the kendo club captain; and the redheaded delinquent in question - Aneko Suda - who was more often skipping class or spotted working with her gang to fix older cars.

Introductions weren’t entirely necessary between the students, but still felt like a requirement. At the first opportunity to get attention, Reon, seated on a desk in the center of the room, called for the meeting to start.

“I’m sorry that I needed to resort to something so dramatic as the poster, but I needed to try and get your attention because this was something important to me.”

Student and teacher alike didn’t immediately parse it, but the second instance made clear that they had heard correctly - Reon was using watashi to refer to himself. It didn’t dampen the feeling offense at such a public display. “What’s going on here?” “Why here?” “What’s the big idea for the poster?” Reon waited for calm to return so to answer.

“Again, I am sorry for how I did it. But, in my defense, it was better that I tell you all at once and have you all in the same room.” His face betrayed nervousness, in contrast to the even-toned speech. Suddenly, he lost his nerve. The words didn’t want to come. His breathing started to quicken, his heart racing.

Then he felt a hand tracing lazy shapes, a hand holding his.

Daiki’s.

Reon felt tears running down his face as the tension left him. It had to be said, and he still had his friend who knew how to help still the nerves. Reon whispered a quick thank you, briefly leaning his head onto Daiki’s and feeling the warmth return.

Feeling more resolved, Reon continued, addressing the new elephant in the room. “Yes, Daiki is my ex, and we’re still good friends, but the reason he and I broke up was my realizing that while I liked guys … ”

He waited for his audience to process the information. Iori was more visibly confused. It was better to go in with a one-two punch instead of trying to drag it out.

“I couldn’t date Daiki because I was straight.”

Stone silence.

The first to fully understand it was Iori. Soon after was Haru. Then the Hamadas. Then the rest. The only person who otherwise kept a cool visage was Aneko. Incidentally, she was the first to speak up.

“So you’re saying you’re only presenting as a guy right now.”

It wasn’t quite the summary Reon was expecting - in fact, it stunned him that it was put so bluntly - but it was the gist of it. If he weren’t still nervous about how these people would react, he’d laugh at the bluntness. All he could do was smile.

“Pretty much. Now, if you would allow me to properly introduce myself to all of you … While my school ID says one thing, the name I carry in my heart is -”

 

—

 

“Mom, Dad … I need to talk about me and Daiki.”

=

Reon had felt something was wrong with him. He was fine with liking guys romantically and being around girls, but there was this extra sensation that was bothering him. He knew it wasn’t sexual feelings, but it was just that sense something didn’t line up about him. Something that felt like a total mismatch that he didn’t have the name for. He was already out to his family as gay, but was that even correct?

He loved Daiki dearly, but something deep inside Reon made him feel like he was lying to his best friend, his boyfriend. He needed to meet up with Daiki about this, but he wanted to make sure of a few things. Reading through books at home and articles online all but confirmed Reon’s suspicions and made even more necessary the discussion … well,  discussions to be had.

=

"Daiki and I ... we were ... " 

Reon's panic set in. This was more difficult than trying to just talk to Daiki. 

Something else wanted to come out with the words. 

“I … I never … I’m not …”

You are reading story The Crew of 2-E at novel35.com

Reon couldn’t speak. He was too scared. Even with all of the research he did, finding the words that came more easily with Daiki, stressful as they were, were even more difficult to say here. He remembered how he felt when he was angrily rejected that one day before he moved. He …

No.

She wasn’t sure how to tell her parents. She knew they promised to always love her, but they promised it to a son, not a daughter. 

The bile came out. So did the stomach acid. And the words. The many words of feeling broken, mixed with words of fear, mixed with her trying to understand herself. And the tears. 

"We ... were ... dating and ... Ibrokeupwithhimbecauseimnotaboyandi ..." 

More bile. 

"Iveneverfeltlikeaboyeverandifeltwrongandithinkimtransandidontwantyoutohatemepleasedonthatemepleasedonthatemepleasedon-"

The tears flowed with heat and self-hate and fear.
The arms surrounded.
The voices soothed.
The words spilled from within her and poured out into her.
The fear escaped,
the fear escaped,
the fear escaped

… and love raced in. 

And she felt whole again.

=

“Daiki, I’m a girl.”

“Dude, I’ve seen your fine self in PE. You don’t have a vagina.”

“No, I mean …” Reon paused, too frustrated to speak. She wanted to hit Daiki, but made do with hitting his bed with a balled-up fist. It was the best she could do while lying down on the foot of the bed, with Daiki at her left.

“I never felt like a boy in the first place.” Eyes wet with anger were soon met with tears fueled by fear.

Daiki stared at his boyfriend - girlfriend? Friend? - trying to process this news. Daiki still liked only boys, so does that mean he’s bi now? No, he still only had crushes on his male classmates.

This was different, painful, special. And Daiki could see the pain in Reon’s eyes. The two sat up.

“I haven’t ever felt like a boy, really,” she continued. “I think the word for me is … transgender.”

The silence could physically be touched. It was broken apart by the sound of Daiki scooting over towards his friend and the sound and sensation of a thud, a head leaning onto Reon’s shoulder and head, the sensation of two hands holding her left hand, Daiki's tracing lazy shapes like he usually did, the continued sensation of tears running down Reon’s face unbidden.

“Do you still want me to call you Reon?”

Maybe the two wouldn’t be boyfriends, but the two felt a genuine love for each other.

=

“You need to be extremely careful about who you tell this to, but we’re going to support you all along your journey, and your mother and I want you to know we love you and we want to learn with you.”

=

“Only at school and around my parents, unless they’re cool with my telling them the news. In private, you can call me …”

 

—

 

“Reina. The name I go by in this club and at home is Reina. I use feminine pronouns when I am around my family, several teachers, Daiki, and, hopefully, all of you.”

Silence again. Thick tension. Fear crept back in. Daiki’s right hand returned, holding Reina’s left tightly, letting her know she still had support.

“I see now why I never had a shot.” Iori’s voice broke the ice. Reina looked towards the art club president and saw a loving smile. The other students had similar expressions.

There was no anger in their hearts - maybe about how the meeting was called, but not towards Reina’s being true to herself. Even Aneko was tearing up. She would deny it later, of course.

“Actually, can-”

Reina heard two voices, and saw two hands raised. She acknowledged the two girls - Haru and Yurisa. Yurisa spoke first after Haru deferred to her senior.

“Not to take away from your moment, but I was wondering if I had a shot if I didn’t identify as a girl … or a boy.” Kaede held her sister close, whispering something that seemed congratulatory.

Haru was now less nervous about her own addition. “I was wondering the same, but if some days I felt more like a girl, and other days like a boy.”

Reina felt the tears coming back, but it was clear to her that they were tears of joy and relief. She was being offered the same gift of trust as she offered to what would eventually be called The Crew.

“I’ll get back with you on that.” They were, after all, good questions, but Reina felt more relieved to tell these people. She was right to trust them.

The discussion had to end eventually, with the PA announcing that all students should leave the school building if not involved in clubs. The ten invited had left, promising to meet up again during the GSA meetings, with Reina and Daiki staying behind with their teacher. Reina offered a formal gesture to her teacher and a private word.

“Thank you, Ms. Ueno, for your help.”

 

—

 

(< Girl, you knocked that out of the park!)

(Shut up, that was a near disaster. >)

(< I mean, it was, but they don’t hate you for telling them the truth.)

(I guess. >)

(But we also got a larger friend group out of it. >)

(< For sure.)

(< I’m going to work on an article for the paper. Proud of you.)

(Have fun, and thank you. >)

(< Good night, the one one and only girl I’d go straight for ;) )

(Get back to your writing, jerkass :P >)

(Love you too >)

 

—-

 

“‘We’re so proud of you telling people, sweetie!”

“It’s so nice to talk to more people without having to put up a front.”

“Thanks, mom and dad. I’m still scared about how this is going to work, but I know I’ve got more people in my corner.”

“I hate to repeat the advice we gave a while back, but you’re still going to have to live a double life around your classmates. Don’t burn yourself out.”

“I know, dad. But thank you.”

“Get some sleep, kiddo.”

“Will do, mom. Love you both.”

 

—-

 

Reina was burned out from the entire day - going to dinner in the cafeteria with … she wasn’t sure how to name the group she was out to. All she could think of for now was The Crew. But between dinner with her new friends, catching up on homework, texting Daiki, and talking with family, she had no social battery left. All she wanted to do was shower and sleep, and she was about to do just that.

The chaos in her mind was filled with fears for the future - how others would react was the big one. Students were relatively easy to predict, but teachers weren’t as easy. Just because an adult was older didn’t mean they were wiser or safer to talk to. Little things like presentation, transition, and college prep filled in the gaps, but she had a strong craft to navigate the turbulent sea.

For the first time since she came to school, Reina went to sleep with a smile on her face.

 

//

You can find story with these keywords: The Crew of 2-E, Read The Crew of 2-E, The Crew of 2-E novel, The Crew of 2-E book, The Crew of 2-E story, The Crew of 2-E full, The Crew of 2-E Latest Chapter