Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If there was one thing that Tai would consider the bane of his existence, it was silence. Silence meant a lack of action. A lack of decision. Where all that he had to do was think, and that was the last thing he wanted to do at the moment.

It was at this time of the day that he had utterly run out of things to occupy his time. Any homework he might have had was done during a free period. He had just gotten home from soccer practice. Neither Mom or Kari needed any help with anything and he had no new emails to get back to. All he could do was sit alone with his thoughts.

His mistakes. His anxieties. This nigh overwhelming sense of… something in his head screaming that something wasn’t right. He hated it. As far as he knew, nothing was wrong. In this world or the digital world. He always checked in with Izzy to make sure. So where did this itch come from? And how could he make it go away?

A grunt of frustration escaped him as he reached under his pillow, towards his last resort. If anyone in the house knew he somehow procured a magazine like this, they would no doubt flip. But he needed to think of something other than his own thoughts.

He flipped to a page he knew well. One of a model posing in that month's newest swimsuit. She was beautiful of course. All the girls in this magazine were. This one was just his favorite. Her rich brown hair, her immaculate tan, her cheerful looking smile. It tickled something in Tai that he liked to think extended beyond simple hormones.

‘Man, if only I could look like that,’ he thought.

Then he blinked, looking up from the magazine.

‘Wait, what?’

That was unusual. Tai had never thought that before in his life.

Well… there was one time when Kari came home with hair extensions and he had briefly wondered what getting them would feel like. And then there was the time Kari was nervous about using eyeliner for the first time so he let her practice on him. He’d liked how his eyes looked after that and kept it on until his mother insisted he take it off. Then there was the time when they were little and Kari roped him into a tea party with her dolls, complete with pink dresses and he thought he looked damn good in it.

“I let Kari get away with too much,” he sighed, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

Then he drifted back to when Mimi ran that cafe a few months ago based on some American restaurant chain. The highlight had been her and Meiko in cheerleader outfits, and yet Tai kept thinking that they looked comfortable.

“Okay maybe it’s not that unusual,” he groaned.

“What’s not that unusual?”

Tai tensed and his head snapped up to see Kari leaning against the doorway. Dammnit, he forgot to close it all the way. Not that a closed door ever stopped Kari from coming in. “Uh… nothing,” he insisted.

Kari narrowed her eyes skeptically before they fell on the magazine right beside him. “And what’s that?”

Tai lurched and snatched the magazine and shoved it in the space between his bed and the wall. “Just a.. Sports magazine!” he stammered out. “No, you can’t have it!”

Kari scoffed. “C’mon Tai, at least close your door if you’re gonna do that.”

Tai’s face grew beet red. “I WASN’T!”

“Uh huh,” Kari said before pulling something out of her pocket. “Anyway, mind if I use your D- Terminal charger? Miko chewed on mine.”

‘Course she did,’ Tai thought with a sigh. “Yeah, it’s on my desk.”

Kari nodded and walked towards his work station, the moment of quiet leaving Tai time to reflect once again. Yeah, it probably wasn’t a big deal that he had fleeting thoughts of… girlhood over the years. Like a… what was the word? An evergreen thing? Yeah, the forest looking greener on the other side… or something. Kari probably had the same thoughts about being a boy every now and again.

…Right?

“...Hey Kari?”

Kari plugged the charger into her D-Terminal and glanced up at him. “Hmm?”

“You ever wonder if the grass is greener on the other side?” he asked. “Like, gender-wise?”

Kari snorted. “No. Never.”

Tai frowned slightly. “Really? You never thought about what it’d be like to be a guy instead?”

“Oh definitely not. It sounds horrible,” Kari said with a giggle. “Why? You don’t think about being a girl, do you?”

Tai opened his mouth to respond, only to close it with a click of his teeth and look away.

Kari’s eyes widened slightly. “...Tai?” She drew closer and sat down on the edge of his bed. “Hey c’mon, this is me you’re talking to. What’s wrong?”

“Who said anything was wrong?” Tai asked, still not quite meeting her eyes. “Just asking a… hypothetical.”

“Really?” Kari asked, doubt clear in her tone.

Tai’s shoulders hunched slightly, his teeth clenching. This did not feel right. It never did. Kari worrying about him always felt like a gross inverse of how things should be. He was the eldest. He was supposed to have his shit together and look after her. But now he was too much in his own head and it was worrying her. Times like this he always just stonewalled the issue until she dropped it.

Of course, that barely worked at the best of times.

And besides, this was family. If he couldn’t trust her with this, who could he trust?

“I mean… I don’t know,” Tai said with a groan of defeat, falling back against his pillow. “Lately I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. If not with the world, then with me.”

“Like what?” Kari asked, leaning against him and resting her head on his shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Tai said, unconsciously wrapping an arm around her. “Nothing… feels right.”

“Is that why you were asking if I ever thought about being a boy?” Kari asked. “Do you think about being a girl?”

“I mean… in passing, I guess,” Tai said with a shrug. “But… I mean that can’t be it, right? I’m sure a lot of people have thought things like that. Whatever’s wrong has gotta be more serious than that, right?”

Kari’s lips pursed. Something about what Tai was saying sounded vaguely familiar. She was certain she’d read or heard about something like this before but couldn’t quite place her finger on it.

‘Wait, that musical with the scientist who was- no wait, he was the bad guy…’ she thought. She distinctly recalled Tai hating that movie with a burning passion and being unable to articulate why.

Then it hit her. A brief passing mention from Mimi about something from New York. She couldn’t recall the name but there were guys like Tai. A lot of them in fact.

“I have a theory,” Kari said, shifting to kneel behind him, hugging his shoulders.

“Hmm? ‘Bout what?” Tai asked, adjusting himself to better accommodate Kari’s comfort.

“About what’s going on in that spiky head of yours,” Kari said. “Say for the sake of argument I introduced you as my sister.”

Tai blinked. “Eh… come again?”

“Say we met someone new and I introduced you as my sister,” Kari repeated. “How would that make you feel?”

Tai’s brow furrowed, his thoughts turning inward. ‘For the sake of argument, she said. Okay…’ Pushing past the reflexive thoughts of ‘that’s not right,’ he thought about that scenario. Dwelled on it. On that single solitary word. Sister. Kari’s sister.

The thought gave him an unusual feeling of being at peace. Like all of his anxiety was melting away.

It was oddly unsettling.

“I… don’t think I would mind?” Tai said with an uncertain smile.

Kari’s eyes widened and she silently clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh shit, I’ve just discovered something.’ “Okay… well… what if I said to someone ‘I want you to meet my sister, she’s very important to me.’”

“I…” Tai trailed off, the feeling of peace growing within him. Did… did something flutter in his chest as Kari said that? Oh, what in the world did that mean? “That’s… kinda nice actually,” he said, his smile growing slightly more relaxed.

“Oh shit…” Kari whispered. “Tai, I think I know what’s wrong with you.”

Tai looked at Kari, his expression slightly sardonic. “I lost the gender coin flip?”

“Actually… yeah,” Kari explained. “I was having coffee with Mimi a month or so back-”

“Why were you having coffee with my girlfriend?”

“She was both our friends long before you two started dating!” Kari scoffed, swatting his shoulder. “Listen! Anyway she was telling me about this thing she saw in New York. There were women who… used to be guys.”

Tai arched a brow. “Used to be guys?”

“Yeah. They decided they would be happier as women and just changed,” Kari nodded.

“...This isn’t like that one guy from that shitty movie you made me watch, is it?” Tai pressed, frowning. “Because I do not wanna be like that.”

“No no no! They’re like… Candis Cayne!” Kari said.

“Who?!”

Kari got off the bed and grabbed Tai’s laptop, opening his browser and doing a quick search, before turning it and showing him the screen. There was a photo of a tanned woman with sleek blonde hair. She looked like she walked out of an 80’s fashion magazine.

“This!”

Tai’s eyes widened at the sight of the woman. His lips parted in an almost slack jawed expression. “Wait… she used to be a guy?”

“Yup, but not anymore,” Kari said with a smile. “Such is the power of modern medicine.”

“And… and you… you think this is me?” Tai balked.

“Well-” Kari set down the laptop and returned to the bed. “You liked it when I called you my sister, you liked it when I called you ‘she’ so like… what else is there?”

“I mean…” Tai hesitated, his teeth clenching. It… couldn’t possibly be this easy, could it? Whatever was wrong with him wouldn’t be resolved just by deciding he was a girl now. Right? “...Sure it worked out for this person, but whose to say it would work for me? What if I try looking like a girl and I look even worse than before?”

“Do you really think Mimi would let you go outside not looking absolutely fabulous?!” Kari huffed, planting her fists on her hips. “Or me for that matter?”

Tai’s eyes widened. “Oh, shit. Mimi,” he groaned, suddenly covering his face. “Oh, I didn’t even think about her. Oh, well I can’t do this now.”

“What? Why?”

“Well, what do you think she’d say if she saw me… you know, trying to do this?” he asked, gesturing to the photo on the laptop.

“She would be furious that we didn’t immediately call her and then rope us both into an entire day of giving you a makeover,” Kari said flatly.

A response was on the tip of Tai’s tongue, and stayed there. That… was absolutely something Mimi would do. “...Okay, point taken,” he relented. “Still… how can we be sure this is the answer?”

Kari sighed and sat back down beside him. “Well… we don’t have to haul you out for a Mimi-style makeover right away,” she said, glancing up at the messy rat’s nest that sat atop her brother-no, sister’s head. “...How about I do your hair?”

Tai blinked, furrowing his brow. “My hair?”

“Yeah, make it more feminine,” Kari said with a grin.

At that, Tai scoffed. There was no way that even Kari could accomplish something like that. Hell, not even Mimi, he reckoned. Which… meant that he had nothing to lose. “Alright. Good luck,” he said. “But no scissors.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it!” Kari grinned, taking Tai’s hand and hauling him off his bed. “C’mon, I’ve got everything in my room!”

Tai yelped as Kari yanked him through the door, speeding across the living room before almost tumbling headfirst into her desk. It was only when she shoved him onto her chair that the world stopped being a blur. He watched as she grabbed some things from the desk drawer and turned on her desk lamp. She seemed really gung ho about this. A part of him was starting to feel bad for knowing that this wouldn’t work.

‘...Unless it does work.’

Kari had been working for two hours parting every last tangle and knot by hand, slowly separating the mess from Tai’s head. Whenever she had untangled a section, she’d clip it and coat it in hair oil.

Tai’s hair was a nightmare. A testament to an athlete whose relationship to a brush could be charitably described as “estranged.” However it also spoke to something Kari was only just noticing: Tai hadn’t been taking care of himself. She hadn’t been paying attention to how bad his eating and sleeping habits had gotten, or even that he barely came out of his room anymore except for school or outings with Mimi.

How long had Tai been feeling… wrong?

She parted the last few knots, clipped them and oiled them. Then she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head. “When I’m done, you need a proper lunch.”

“Hmm?” Tai cracked one eye open, giving Kari almost a sleepy expression. Apparently, once tearing the knots out of his hair was done, he was starting to relax. “Oh, yeah I guess I could use a bite to eat,” he said sheepishly. “So long as it’s not that asparagus cake.”

“Sure thing,” Kari said, taking the brush and unclipping every strand. She ran it through his hair, pulling it back. She was thinking he’d look great with a wide ponytail. She looked up and craned her head around to his forehead and thought some bangs or a little swoop in the front would look good. Give him plausible deniability if Mom started asking questions.

Pulling the hair tie off of her wrist, she then pulled back as many of his locks as she could and applied it. Firm enough to keep most of it from escaping, but not tight enough to pull on his scalp and cause him headaches. Then, slowly, she withdrew her hands and beheld her work.

“Oh… oh I am an artist,” she beamed, eyes sparkling.

Tai cracked one eye open again. “Eh?”

“See for yourself,” Kari said, spinning the chair around so that Tai faced the mirror.

Tai blinked the blurriness out of his vision and beheld…

Wait. Who was that? Was that him? It… it looked like him. But also not. The hair was tied back, save for a few tufts of hair around his forehead and ears. His skin was clear, but there was no makeup. It was clearly him, but something was different. He didn’t look like Candis Cayne, or any of the girls from those magazines. But he looked… good?

“I…” Tai swallowed a lump in his throat. The hairstyle was unmistakably feminine. There was no way he could talk himself out of the uncomfortable revelation he was having. “...Kari?”

“Yyyeeeaaaahhh?” Kari asked, grinning ear to ear in the mirror. It was very clear that she was proud of her work and excited to know what he thought.

“I think… I think you… might have been right,” Tai said, his voice cracking toward the end of his sentence.

Kari’s grin faltered slightly at seeing how emotional Tai was getting. She gently hugged him around the shoulders. “You think so?”

Tai sniffled and wiped his eyes before nodding.

Kari smiled and squeezed her tighter. “Feel better?”

Tai wanted to answer, if only the words could come out without the urge to bawl like a baby. It took a moment to regain composure, to swallow down the emotions building up for just a moment longer, before nodding. “Yes,” she said. “I feel so much better.”

Kari smiled and pressed a kiss to her sister’s cheek. It wasn’t until she saw a genuine, albeit teary, smile on her face that Kari realized how little she’d smiled the last few years. She was happy that she could ease Tai’s malaise, even if she only knew how by happenstance.

“Love you,” she murmured.

“Love you too,” Tai said with a whimper, thankful that Kari hadn’t wanted to also experiment with makeup.

Kari knew she’d opened a gate for her sister. There wouldn’t be any going back, and there were almost bound to be difficulties. Their parents alone were certain to be utterly clueless and take at least three months to get with the program (and Kari was being generous there). As for school… she shuddered at the thought.

But Tai would have her and Mimi. Kari was under no delusion that Mimi would be anything other than completely supportive and excited, and Kari would insist that Tai tell her as soon as possible.

Later. Once she was done getting her hugs in.

Chapter Text

She held the phone aloft in her shaking hand. Mimi’s contact was clear as day on the screen. All she had to do was hit call, let it ring a few times and then tell her the big news. She could do this. She knew that Mimi of all people would understand. She was a travelled individual, experiencing more of the world on a regular basis than the rest of them. She would definitely get it. Both she and Kari were certain of that.

So why were her hands still shaking?

“...You do it,” Tai said, holding the phone out to Kari.

“Wha- me?” Kari sputtered. “Why me?”

“I can’t,” Tai said, looking away with a mixture of anxiety and shame. How was it she could stand up to giant monsters that could destroy the city with their agonized screams, but this was the point where she had to tap out?

Kari sighed and took the phone. “Alright, if you’re sure,” she said, hitting Mimi’s contact.

It rang twice then the familiar voice graced her ears.

“Ooo, just when my ears were burning,” Mimi said cheerfully just before her voice dropped maybe half an octave. “Was someone thinking about little old me?”

“Hey Mimi,” Kari greeted warmly, resisting a snort of amusement as she could feel the record scratch in her friend’s head.

“Wh-? Kari?” Mimi asked, the whiplash clear in her voice. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

“Y-Yeah! Everything’s fine!” Kari said, stifling a giggle. “There’s just… been a development regarding Tai.”

Mimi gasped. “Oh my god, you’re pregnant.”

Kari’s brain completely jammed. “I… huh?! How does that have anything to do with- OH FUCK YOU!”

Mimi did not hold back her laughter, merciless vixen that she was.

“Those jokes were not funny in middle school and they’re not funny now!” Kari huffed.

“What did she say?” Tai asked, brow furrowed with concern.

“Nothing,” Kari insisted through clenched teeth before bringing the receiver back to her mouth. “Are you ready to behave like an adult now?”

“Oh honey lighten up, it’s been a year. You’ve gotta laugh some time,” Mimi giggled. “It was very silly of you.”

“I thought they were from her coach, not her manager! That would have been extremely inappropriate!” Kari exclaimed, gripping the chair so hard she could hear wood crack. “I was being responsible!”

“Oh good, this again,” Tai said with a weary sigh, rubbing her eyes.

A year prior, Tai had received a very generous Valentine’s gift from the manager of her soccer club. When Kari had seen it she’d erroneously misread the name as being from her coach instead, a woman 20 years her senior. She had completely freaked out that Tai was being preyed on and reported it. The resulting investigation had gone on for three months before Tai was even made aware of it and could set the record straight, leading to a very embarrassed Kari making a profuse apology to Coach Haruno.

The rest of the Digi-Destined had completely refused to let Kari live it down since.

“And we applaud you for your vigilance,” Mimi said, doing nothing to hide the laugh in her voice. “If you were correct in your assumptions, we would have applauded you. As it is, however, you provided us with a magnificent comedy of errors.”

“I am going to hemorrhage and it will be your fault,” Kari hissed. “The curse upon your house will be carved into my tombstone.”

Mimi cackled. “Okay, okay. I concede. Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?”

Kari, her mood utterly soured and feeling deeply spiteful, simply said “I turned your boyfriend into a girl.”

A beat of silence passed before Mimi asked, “Scuzi?”

“Don’t say it like that!” Tai whined, face flushed.

“Well it turns out Tai is the… the thing you were talking about a month ago,” Kari said.

She heard something creak on the other end. Mimi had apparently sat up so fast her couch was making noise. “Tai’s transgender?!”

“Transgender! That was the word!” Kari said, patting Tai’s knee.

“Oh. My. GOOOOOOD!” Mimi exclaimed so loud, Tai could hear her. “Put him o- I mean, put her on! Put her on the phone! I want her on the phone right now!”

Kari handed the phone over. “Here.”

Tai picked it up and nervously put it to her ear. “H-Hey Mimi.”

“Tai, is what Kari said true?” Mimi asked urgently.

Slowly, hesitantly, Tai swallowed the lump in her throat. “Y-Yeah. I’m… what it is she said,” she confessed, managing a brittle smile to herself. “...Surprise.”

At that, Mimi squealed. Not of terror or disgust. No, at this point Tai liked to think she knew Mimi’s squeals quite well, for she had several. This sounded like the squeal Mimi gave when she saw a purse or a top that she absolutely had to have. Or when Palmon struck a cute pose. This was a very approving squeal.

“Omigod, Omigod, Omigooood! Tell me everything! When did you find out!? How long have you been feeling this way? When can I take you shopping?”

Mimi’s enthusiasm made Tia’s anxiety slowly melt away, the same way Kari’s gentle reassurance had. Her sister had been right that Mimi would be extremely happy about this. “I uh… I found out just today. Kari kinda wrung it out of me,” she rubbed the back of her neck rather sheepishly. “I’d been feeling this way for a while, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Always felt like something was wrong.”

“Oh, honey,” Mimi cooed sympathetically. “Oh, I should have said something. I had an inkling about this, myself.”

Tai blinked. “Wait, you did? Since when!?”

“Well… remember that time you told us about Kari’s princess parties?”

Tia’s face flushed and her posture became very rigid. “I was just making my sister happy!”

“Of course sweetie,” Mimi giggled. “But this time, you may want to clear your schedule, because we are going to make you an absolutely beautiful princess. With no pretenses this time.”

And the anxiety was back in full force. “H-Hold on Mimi, don’t go too fast, I haven’t learned to walk in heels yet!”

Mimi gasped. “Oh! Beautiful turn of phrase!”

“I… Oh, thank you,” Tai said, a smile returning to her face. “Huh. That was completely by accident too.”

“What a poet,” Mimi sighed. “Anyway, I’m not throwing you into the deep end, trust me on this. Let me take you shopping!”

Tai took a breath, trying to calm the hammering in her chest. This still felt like a lot at once, but… it was Mimi. She could trust her. “...Okay.”

“Great!” Mimi exclaimed. “You and Kari meet me at DiverCity on Saturday!”

“Okay, but… could you keep this on the down low for now?” Tai asked. “I do wanna tell our friends. Just… you know. Not right now.”

“Oh totally,” Mimi smiled. “Don’t worry, we’ll do everything at your pace, sweetie.”

Tai’s chest fluttered. Mimi’s pet names always found a way to make her feel warm and fuzzy. Especially now. “Thanks, babe. You’re kinda the best.”

Kari gagged beside her. Tai threw her a frown.

“Excuse me, I need my insulin,” Kari said, giving her a playful shove.

Tai smirked. “Why? Eat a lot of Valentine's chocolates lately?”

Kari’s frown deepened. “You-! I help you find yourself and this is how you repay me!?”

Tai giggled and wrapped an arm around Kari’s shoulders, pulling her into a combination cuddle and headlock. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“You are the worst!”

A faint giggle could be heard from Tai’s phone. “Love you, Kari!” Mimi cooed playfully.

“Lies and deceit!” Kari hissed, struggling in Tai’s grasp.

“Aw, don’t be like that!” Mimi pouted. “I need your help to pick out your sister's new outfits on Saturday!”

“I’ll be there, but I’ll be there under duress,” Kari huffed, giving up the fruitless struggle to get out of Tai’s grasp.

Tai laughed and kissed the top of Kari’s head. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, you ingrate,” Kari puffed.

“Oh, this is going to be magnificent!” Mimi exclaimed. “Oh! First things first, however. We should take some time before going out to do something about your hair, sweetie.”

“Hmm? Oh, um…” Tai paused, wondering how best to break the news to Mimi. “...Kari kinda beat you to it.”

“Whaaaat?” Mimi gasped, a pang of hurt in her voice. “Without me? No fair!”

“Well if she hadn’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation!” Tai huffed.

“She looks great! I gave her a sporty ponytail,” Kari said.

“Really? Oh, now I have to see it!” Mimi pouted. “Send me a photo!”

“Hey! Nobody’s taking pictures of me!” Tai exclaimed. “You’ll see it on Saturday!”

“Oh, I don’t think I can wait that long anymore!” Mimi whined. “Maybe I’ll pop by later today to bask in the new you. Give you tons of praise.”

Tai’s face turned red hot. “Y-You can’t do that! My parents will be here!”

“I’m not coming in a bikini, Tai,” Mimi snorted.

“Yeah, but… they don’t know yet,” Tai said quietly.

“Ohhhhhh,” Mimi said, before her voice dropped an octave. “I get it. Alright, then I’ll keep all the fawning and ‘pretty girl’s for when we’re alone.”

‘Pretty girl’ Tai’s heart picked up in her chest.

“I can hear you, you know,” Kari huffed.

“Okay hear this,” Mimi said. “You turned her into a girl, I’m going to make her a woman.”

“M-MIMI!” Tai balked.

“CEASE AND DESIST!” Kari scowled.

Mimi only responded with thunderous laughter.

“I gotta go,” Tai said, her face absolutely beet red. “But… thanks, Mimi. It means a lot that you’re so cool about this.”

“There was doubt?”

“Irrational doubt.”

“Good girl,” Mimi cooed. “Love you!”

“Love you too,” Tai whispered.

A pleased sound came through the speaker before the call disconnected. Tai let out a heavy sigh as she closed her phone and sagged in her seat.

Kari laid her head back against her sister’s shoulder and shifted to hug her. “How are you feeling?”

Tai sighed and the arm around Kari tightened. She felt strangely emotionally drained, and there was an eerie sense of dread at facing their parents. They wouldn’t notice right away, but the more Tai embraced this side of herself, the more likely it was they would.

Despite all that, however, she actually felt really good. She felt energized for the first time in a long time, as if despite the dread on the horizon things were actually looking like they might turn out okay. The strange emptiness in her chest felt less cavernous.

“I think I’m alright,” she told Kari. “Still kinda bracing myself for the worst, but feel like things will turn out okay.”

Kari smiled and nestled under his chin. “Don’t worry. You know I’m in your corner no matter what. And so is Mimi.”

“Thanks,” Tai said, the tension in her body unspooling further. “Honestly, the only person I expect to take this all poorly is Matt, but that’s mostly because he’s just impossible to please.”

“And Davis,” Kari said.

“Wait, why Davis?”

“He’s gay and thought you were hot.”

Tai’s brow shot past her hairline. “...Okay what? When was this development?” she asked, lifting her head up. “I thought he was into-”

“Me? Yeah, apparently that was a subconscious reconciliation for his fixation on you,” Kari said matter of factly. “Had a bottle of his parents sake one night and fessed up to all of it.”

“Wow,” Tai said.

“The things he said he’d do to your ‘washboard abs.’”

“OK, that’s enough!” Tai gagged.

It was seven in the evening when Yuuko got home from work. Tai and Kari had taken to watching another one of her DVD collections. This time a science fiction show from America about a spaceship trapped on the other side of the galaxy.

“Kids?” Yuuko said, stepping into the living room. “Why’s it so dark in here?”

Tai looked up at her and silently pointed to the TV, where the Captain was lecturing an alien with a rotting face.

Yuuko’s eyes trailed from the show, to Tai and Kari. Kari was laid out on the sofa, her head in Tai’s lap fast asleep. “Why’s she napping on your leg?”

Tai looked down. “She’s wha- HEY!” she shook her sister awake. “Don’t make me watch this and then nod off!”

“Hzmah?” Kari groaned, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The sight of the decaying creature on screen then jolted her fully awake. “Wah! Dammit, I always forget about this episode.”

Tai scoffed and patted her shoulder. “Yeah, I was about ready to lose my lunch.”

Yuuko looked back at the TV and frowned. “Why are you watching this in English?”

“You gotta watch it in the original language! It’s the intended experience!” Kari insisted.

Yuuko and Tai both rolled their eyes. Kari’s obsession with American movies and TV dramas was both an expensive hobby and the source of some of the most pretentious nonsense either of them had ever heard.

“The Americans wouldn’t have packed in other languages if that was the case, Kari.”

“That is a mandate made by the producers to maximize revenue!” Kari countered almost petulantly. “The writers, the directors, the actors, everyone actually involved with the craft have a clear vision! It’s that vision we have to respect!”

“Didn’t most of the actors hate working on this show?” Tai asked.

“Those comments were taken out of context!” Kari argued.

“I’m sure they were,” Yuuko said with a sigh, about to turn back towards the kitchen when something caught her eye. Her eldest had rather conspicuously managed to tame that rats nest on his head. “Tai, are you wearing a ponytail?”

Tai tensed and the arm around Kari tightened. This was it. Her mother would notice and all hell would break loose, or she would remain comfortably oblivious and leave Tai wondering when the powderkeg would explode. “Uh… yeah. Kari did it.”

“Really?” Yuuko asked.

“Y-yeah,” Tai stammered, her gaze cast wayward. There had to be an explanation that wouldn’t prompt further questions. “Um, hair kept getting in my mouth when I ate. She offered this as a solution.”

Yuuko glanced at Kari in bewilderment. “How long did that take you?”

“Three hours,” Kari smiled, snuggling against Tai’s side. “As you can see I’m being appropriately thanked for my hard work.”

“Three hours?” Yuuko gaped.

“Mhm,” Tai nodded. “But I’m sure it will take a lot less time now. Just gotta take better care of my hair.”

Yuuko simply stared for a moment before giving Tai a smile. “That’s a good idea,” she approved. “Though honestly, I’d say you’re overdue for a proper haircut.”

That thought sent a horrific chill down Tai’s spine.

Kari felt Tai tense up and immediately moved to intervene. “I think that should be Mimi’s call.”

Yuuko sighed. “I don’t know about that. The girl has… expensive taste.”

“Still you can’t lop off the ponytail before she’s had a chance to pull on it.”

Tai sputtered. “KARI!” she exclaimed, swatting her shoulder.

“Young lady! Where did you hear such language!?” Yuuko demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

“Mimi, obviously,” Kari giggled.

Tai pulled her arm off Kari’s shoulders and stood up. “Well as fun as this is, I’m going to turn in early before Kari starts growling at chocolate.”

“Aw, but we haven’t finished the season yet!” Kari pouted as her head hit the couch cushion.

“You shouldn’t watch too much of one show in one sitting, Kari,” Tai said, dusting bits of popcorn off of her shirt. “You’ll run out of show to watch too fast and just be hungry for more.”

“Aw, but-”

Tai retreated into her room before the inevitable argument could start. As soon as the door closed, her mother’s voice became muffled background noise. With a sigh she sat down on the edge of her bed and looked at herself in the mirror.

The ponytail fanned out over her back, and the fringe that Kari left untied framed her face in a way that hid her bone structure. It made everything… softer. It looked more natural to her than she’d ever looked before. Frankly her reflection may as well have been a stranger’s.

It was hard to believe that in only a few hours she’d gone from feeling empty to actually liking herself for the first time in her life. The dread was still there, but it felt closer to something like the Dark Masters than an existential threat to her very existence, ironically. Her mother’s obliviousness wouldn’t last forever, and while she was certain she wouldn’t do anything drastic like kick her out, it would be an uphill battle to make her mother get it.

But she had Mimi and Kari in her corner, so at least she didn’t feel alone.

Chapter Text

Tai was really hoping these newfound nerves would fade eventually. It was so unlike her to be this jumpy.

Mimi and Kari had dragged her all over DiverCity’s boutiques to find her new clothes. True to Mimi’s word they were extremely subtle. Flared jeans and fitted shirts, a few cardigans, a lot of things that were suitably sporty. Tai could notice how different she looked, but she was starting to understand what Mimi meant by not holding up to a glance. If she just passed her eyes over her reflection, she looked more or less the same as she always had.

Except the hair.

They left DiverCity late in the evening with a number of bags in hand. Mimi had her arm around Tai’s and was leaning against her.

“You are so cute! Kari really did wonders with your hair!” she cooed.

A healthy flush grew on Tai’s face, looking like a girl with a fresh crush. She wasn’t unaccustomed to Mimi’s compliments. Far from it. It’s just that she wasn’t used to Mimi complimenting something about herself that she was really happy about. It felt extra flattering. “Heh. Yeah. She’s a miracle worker. I never thought I could get it to cooperate like this.

“Well, if you want it to stay this well behaved, you are gonna have to start taking care of it,” Kari said, holding aloft one of the shopping bags. “Hence these products.”

“I hadn’t realized that hair care was so… involved,” Tai admitted.

“Well with your texture, it absolutely is,” Mimi nodded, twirling a thick lock from Tai’s ponytail around her finger. “Worth it, though. God, you look so good.”

Tai smiled and squeezed Mimi’s arm. “Thanks,” she said softly. “And thanks for taking me to do this. It was nerve-wracking, but… I’m glad we did.”

“We knew you had it in you,” Kari said warmly, resting her cheek against Tai’s shoulder. “You just needed a little nudge.”

Mimi glanced at a nearby cafe and perked up when she saw they were having a discount for couples. “Oooh! Let’s stop for some coffee! You can get changed into something nice! We’ll just say Kari’s our third wheel.”

“...I will accept that negative connotation if it means free coffee and food,” Kari said, jutting her chin out.

Tai chuckled. “We will honor your sacrifice,” she said fondly before looking at the many outfits in her bag. “You… think it’s okay to wear any of these already?”

“Oh sure, go with the jeans, and…” Mimi rooted around the bag in her hand. “Oooh! This!” She pulled out a black, fitted shirt and an open flannel overshirt that stopped at the ribs.

“Ooo, yes! That will look great on you!” Kari beamed.

Utterly red hot in the face and her heart thumping uncomfortably in her ribcage, Tai nonetheless nodded in agreement. “T-This should be fine,” she said. “So… where should I get changed?”

“We’ll head to the bathroom after we have our seat,” Mimi smiled.

“Got it,” Tai nodded, inhaling deeply before taking her first step towards the cafe.

The stepped inside, sat down at an empty table by the window, and got comfortable. It wasn’t long before a waitress shuffled over to them, looking like she was just itching to clock out and go home.

“Welcome, what can I get you?” she said, glancing up from her pad at the three of them. “We don’t do the discount for polycules.”

“She’s a third wheel,” Mimi said, gesturing to Kari.

Kari accentuate the point with the biggest doe eyes she could muster.

The waitress narrowed her eyes slightly before offering a resigned sigh. “Alright. What can I get you?”

“I’ll- Tai swiftly cut herself off, pressing a hand over her mouth. Shit. Was that too low a voice? Would it get her funny looks from everyone sounding like this with what she was wearing? Mimi said the clothes were stealthy, but what if her voice gave it away? Clearing her throat, she tried again. This time at a slightly higher register. “A mocha please.”

“Mocha, got it. And you two?”

“Decaf coffee,” Mimi smiled.

“Tea,” Kari said.

The waitress wrote them down and hurried back to the counter. Satisfied, Mimi picked up one of the bags.

“Alright, let’s get you changed. Kari, watch the bags!”

“Roger,” Kari said, offering a salute as Mimi and Tai rose from their seats.

Tai worked her jaw, bracing herself for what was to come. She never thought she would ever change in a cafe bathroom, but she would be lying if she said she hadn’t done infinitely more outlandish things in the path.

“Uh, babe?” Mimi suddenly tugged on Tai’s sleeve as they reached the restroom door.

“Huh? What is it?” Tai asked, brow furrowed in perplexment.

In lieu of a verbal answer, Mimi simply smiled and pointed at the other door that Tai just walked past. The door to the women’s room.

Tai felt an intense shot of dread run up her spine. She could understand where Mimi was going with this, and it made sense to her, but the thought of causing a scene left her paralyzed. “Mimi, I… I can’t go in there…”

Mimi blinked. “What? Why not?”

“I… I mean c’mon,” Tai said, gesturing between herself and the women’s room. “Isn’t that illegal?”

Mimi’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m not exactly up to date on the laws,” she admitted. “But I’d be with you.”

Tai’s hackles remained raised, her gaze cast down to the floor. All she could think of was something going wrong. Some woman screaming. Getting kicked out. Possibly ending up on the news. It all seemed like such a big risk.

“Are you sure you want to go in there?” Mimi asked, gesturing to the men’s room.

Tai nodded. “Yeah. I mean if someone raises a stink about what I’m wearing, I can still lay them out. But if someone raises a stink about me being in there… I don’t know how to fix that.”

Conflicted feelings deepened Mimi’s frown. Like she wanted to argue that point but didn’t exactly know how. There was a time where she would insist that someone was being ridiculous and then just drag them along towards her whims. This time, however, she simply looked at Tai with a muted, crestfallen expression. “...Okay,” she said, continuing towards the women’s room.

Tai watched her disappear inside and grimaced. “She’s mad at me, isn’t she,” she thought, taking her clothes and heading into the men’s room. She appreciated Mimi’s support and enthusiasm, but wished she could adequately convey how many risks she was willing to take this soon.

She then promptly slapped herself when she realized that was exactly how she should have done it.

She headed into the stall and began undressing. She still hadn’t had time to really process all of this. Once Kari figured it out, they’d been ushering her from one step to the next. She needed them both to slow down and let her figure things out at her own pace. She was still trying to parse the newfound fear of being spotted, with the sense of delight and just how right all of this felt.

Her thoughts began to creep back to the present as she pulled her new jeans up and over her hips. They fit perfectly. Hugging her legs in a way that no pair of jeans or dress pants ever had before. They outlined her legs before flaring out past the swell of her calves. They felt nice. They looked nice.

She allowed herself a small smile as she reached to put on the shirt next.

It fit snugly over her, hugging her body in a way that Tai couldn’t describe other than comfortable. She didn’t feel like she had to adjust it every few seconds, it just stayed in place. Had women’s shirts always worked like this? Her old clothes would just hang off her in a way that never felt right.

‘Damn. I guess it was a good idea to let Mimi measure me after all,’ she thought to herself with a smile. She put on the flannel shirt and found it was also surprisingly comfortable. With another steadying breath, she stepped out of the stall and faced the mirror.

Wow.

She looked good.

Tai felt all the tension in her body unwind. The entire day of buying new clothes, she’d been nervous that she would see herself and look either dumb, or everything would look decidedly not right. Instead she felt she was seeing the real Tai for the first time in a very long time. “Hey,” she said to her reflection. “Where’d you vanish to?”

‘Waiting for you to nut up and catch up, idiot,’ she answered to herself

Tai let out a soft chuckle and leaned forward against the counter. She hadn’t known it was possible to feel this normal. To feel like nothing is wrong. She’d become so accustomed to always feel bad that she forgot what a truly good day felt like. She turned and left the bathroom, feeling a lot more confident, and a lot less anxious.

Surprisingly, she returned to the table to find that Mimi had actually beaten her back. She must have spent longer in the bathroom than she had thought. Mimi’s eyes widened at the sight of her, a definite sparkle in that gaze. “Oh my goodness, look at you,” she whispered.

Tai smiled and sat down beside her. Well, if Mimi was upset with her earlier, it certainly wasn’t showing in her face now. “You like it?”

“I love it,” Mimi purred, running a hand down Tai’s chest. “I love it so much, I just wanna tear it right off you.”

“Excuse me,” Kari huffed. “Third wheel over here doesn’t need to hear this.”

“You can’t blame me,” Mimi said, leaning against Tai. “She looks delicious!”

“Mimi!” Tai and Kari exclaimed in unison, Tai with a deep blush on her face.

Mimi cackled, about to offer another shameless retort when the waitress returned with their drinks. “Here you go. Will there be anything e-?” the Waitress paused, her gaze suddenly flicking between Tai and Mimi. “...Did you two change?”

Tai wasn’t sure what prompted her to say, “No.” Nonetheless, that was her response.

The waitress frowned before setting the drinks down. “Whatever. Will there be anything else?”

“No thanks, we’re good,” Mimi smiled, taking her coffee and sipping it.

“Finally,” the waitress muttered, turning around and leaving.

“Nice girl,” Kari said between sips of her tea. “I hope she gets a raise.”

“Mmm! Especially if she’s the one who made this coffee!” Mimi cooed. “Yum!”

Kari leaned over and noticed something unusual: Mimi’s coffee was black. She looked at her with a mixture of confusion and disgust. “You take nothing in your coffee?”

“Mhm! Black for me,” Mimi giggled. “And this particular roast is so rich. I have to know how they do it!”

Tai snorted. “If you take nothing in your coffee, why even drink it? Why not just eat the beans straight out of the bag?”

“Well, they do make chocolate covered espresso beans!” Mimi chirped, her usual dazzling smile lighting up the room. “A great little treat if you need to cram for a test or anything. Maybe we can find some on the way back to your place.”

Tai smiled back and nodded. “Sure thing. My treat.”

“Awww! You sweetie!” Mimi crooned, stealing an affectionate peck from Tai before returning to her drink.

Tai draped her arms around Mimi’s shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze and pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Sorry for chickening out, I’m just… not ready to take certain risks this soon.”

Mimi looked up and smiled. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t push you.”

Tai sighed happily before letting go of her, then turning to Kari and sweeping her into a tight, almost bone crushing hug. Kari actually yelped, nearly spilling her tea. “Tai!”

“Sorry,” Tai said, not sounding the least bit sorry. Since the experience in the bathroom she was struck with an overwhelming affection she hadn’t ever felt before. She wanted to grab both Kari and Mimi and squeeze them until they pleaded with her to stop. “I feel a lot better now thanks to you,” she said, letting go of her sister.

“Ngh! You’re welcome,” Kari said breathlessly. “Just try not to snap me in two, yeah?”

“Yeah I’ll try,” Tai said, her smile widening. As she was feeling so much better, everything just felt stronger. The urge to sweep Kari up into a tight hug, the urge to go for a run, the urge to let Mimi drag her somewhere fancy she would no doubt end up hating.

“I love you girls, so much,” Tai whispered.

“Aww!” Mimi beamed, eyes glistening with emotion as she rose from her table and wrapped her arms around Tai and Kari both. “Love you too, Peanut!”

Tai blinked. “Peanut?”

Mimi giggled. “Just seems like a good little pet name for you,” she reasoned. “Not a fan?”

Tai shrugged. “It’s alright,” she said, returning the hug. Frankly after today, Mimi could call her anything she wanted. Just as long as it wasn’t “Him.”

Tonight would mark the second time Yuuko would come home to find her children in an unusual position. This time Tai, Kari and Mimi were collapsed in a pile on the sofa while some terrible American movie was playing on TV. Mimi was slumped against Tai’s chest, her arm around his waist and her head resting on her shoulder, while Kari appeared to have fallen back against his side like a precariously placed doll on a shelf.

“...Why?” Yuuko asked. “Why do the two of you always fall asleep in a pile?”

“Hmm?” Tai’s heavy eyelids strained to stay open as she craned her head upward. “Oh. Hey, Mom. How was your day?”

“Fine,” Yuuko said evenly. “Still letting your sister use you as a pillow, I see.”

Tai glanced at Kari and narrowed her eyes. “Hey! Don’t fall asleep during the movie you put on! What’s with you?! First Star Trek, now this?!”

Yuuko frowned. She’d been hoping that as they got older, Tai would stop giving Kari whatever she wanted. Alas it seemed her son was completely whipped. “And why exactly did you rope poor Mimi into this?”

Mimi lifted her head. “Hi Mrs Kamiya,” she mumbled, tightening her arms around Tai’s chest and snuggling closer.

“This is officially too weird,” Yuuko said, shaking her head. “Why are you sleeping wi- Why are you cuddling both of them at the same time?”

“We had a long day Mom, we fell asleep,” Tai said, rubbing her eyes. “It’s not like this happens all the time.”

“Mhm,” Mimi said, sitting up and stretching. “Oh that couch is terrible for my posture.”

“I’ll crack your back before you leave,” Tai offered with a smile, pressing a kiss to the top of Mimi’s head.

“Mmm, you’re a peach,” Mimi mewled, nuzzling underneath Tai’s chin. A free hand reached over and patted Kari’s shoulder, who still had yet to actually wake.

“Heh. Thanks,” Tai said softly, a strong blush spreading over her cheeks.

“Wait, you three spent the whole day shopping?” Yuuko asked, realizing just how many shopping bags were around the sofa and chair. Looking into one, she could see several folded articles of clothing. The materials each looked rather… expensive. “...How much did all of this cost?”

“Twenty two thousand,” Mimi said, sitting up again and popping her back. “Technically I was under budget!”

“...Under budget. You don’t say,” Yuuko said, her brow nonetheless furrowed. ‘A high schooler with more than twenty two thousand in her back pocket? How rich is her family?’

“She is very good at sniffing out deals,” Kari said with a yawn. It seemed she was finally awake.

Yuuko hummed and set her bag down. “Kari, get off your brother,” she said, heading into the kitchen. “You kids want liver sticks?”

Tai grimaced, her stomach twisting slightly. After days of being called ‘Sister’ or ‘Girlfriend,’ the word ‘Brother’ felt like a haymaker to her good mood. She had only started living like this since the other day. She still thought she was a guy earlier this week for heaven’s sake. Yet now, to even consider that idea again… it felt wrong. It felt foul on her senses. Like…

Well, like Liver Sticks.

“We ate while we were out. Thanks,” Tai responded diplomatically.

Yuuko sighed. “Of course you did.” She closed the fridge and switched on the kettle instead. “I really wish you kids would start thinking about eating healthy.”

Kari sat up and stretched. “We eat healthy, we just don’t drink onion juice.”

“Wait, onion juice?” Mimi arched a brow. “Was… Was Izzy not joking about that?”

“I wish he had been.”

“I’ll believe you eat healthy when you’re not falling asleep during the day,” Yuuko said, coming back over and pressing a hand to Kari’s forehead. “You are feeling okay, right? You’re not sick?”

“I’m okay, Mom. Promise,” Kari said patiently, though she’d been increasingly annoyed with the near-constant worrying about her health. If she so much as got drowsy both her mother and Tai would start freaking out. “I just had tea while I was out and it made me sleepy.”

Yuuko’s frown nonetheless remained plastered on her face as she turned to Tai. “What about the two of you?”

“Oh we had coffee,” Tai said before blinking in surprise. “...Actually, why would the coffee make us sleepy?”

“I had decaf, you had a mocha,” Mimi said, standing up and kissing the top of Tai’s head. “Also dark living room, quiet movie, comfy girlfriend.”

Tai smiled, briefly looking Mimi up and down. “You are very comfy,” she confirmed.

Yuuko sighed. “Teenagers. Absolutely shameless.”

“We’re not shameless, Mrs Kamiya. We’re sincere,” Mimi said, wrapping her arms around Tai’s shoulders and nuzzling her hair. “We’re bursting with passion! We’re-”

“You’re taking your partner out and dressing them up like a barbie doll,” Kari smirked.

“Dress them up?” Yuuko arched a brow at Tai. It was only then she noticed that her new clothes were decidedly unlike the clothes he’d always worn. “You really will just let girls do whatever they want to you, won’t you? What else have they got you doing?”

Tai coughed and stepped around all three of them. “Anyway, I’m going to go take a nap.”

Mimi stepped around Yuuko and followed after her. “I’ll join you.”

Yuuko whirled around. “Mimi, Tai’s not allowed-” The two of them slipped into Tai’s room and the door closed “-to have girls in his room.”

Kari giggled. “Gotta be a little quicker, mother dearest,” she said before kneeling down to grab a few shopping bags.

Yuuko’s frown deepened as her gaze turned to the one closest to her. At the very pricey looking materials. “...These aren’t all for your brother, are they?”

“Mimi wanted to take Tai shopping,” Kari shrugged, parsing through the bounty of paper bags with fiber handles. “One of these is mine. Got some comfy looking jeans and a turtleneck vest that I thought was cute. I just have to find it.”

“Why did you go?”

“Mimi wanted my input and also to be annoying.”

“Input?”

“I know what Tai likes,” Kari said with a casual smile. “Their sense of fashion, their preference for comfort, what they’re insecure about. I was an invaluable source.”

“...Kari, I’m beginning to feel like you know just a little too much about your brother,” Yuuko said, consternation as clear on her face as her freckles.

Kari tilted her head and looked at her mother with a mixture of confusion and amusement. “I know as much as anyone who’s known Tai this long would.”

“Well, that may be,” Yuuko conceded. “But it sounds like you're keeping a list. And that’s not healthy behavior. I should know. My sister used to keep a list.”

“Really?” Kari said, stepping around her mother and toward the kitchen. “A list of what?”

“Oh God, what didn’t she keep a list of?” Yuuko responded, a weary breath escaping her. “What I liked, what I didn’t like, who I supposedly had beef with at school, all the recipes we tried to create when we were young. My ‘best outfits’ even! It was all absolutely inane!”

“Well I don’t keep a list, I just know,” Kari laughed, pouring herself another cup of tea.

“I’m not sure if that’s better or worse,” Yuuko sighed, her gaze turning back to Tai’s locked door. “And who do they think they’re fooling, ‘Taking a Nap,’ at 8pm?”

Kari snorted. “C’mon, you really think they’re going to do that with us in the house?”

“I know for a fact that whatever they’re doing, it’s certainly not napping,” Yuuko countered with a slight huff.

Kari set her tea down and headed for Tai’s bedroom door.

“Kari, what are you- Kari don’t open-”

Kari grasped the handle and swung the door open. Inside, Tai and Mimi had passed out, fully clothed, on Tai’s bed in a heap. Their limbs tangled together in what appeared to be a failed attempt to snuggle comfortably before they were out like a light. “Oh my goodness,” she said sarcastically, clapping her hands over her cheek in feigned shock. “What decadence on display in front of my innocent eyes.”

Yuuko simply stared at the two in perplexment. “They’re… actually sleeping?”

“Looks like it. Who would have thought?” Kari asked with a giggle.

A tick of silence passed where Yuuko just stared at the two of them. “Well they shouldn’t have called it a nap. It’s already dark out. Waking up now is just going to mess up their circadian rhythm,” she sighed, rubbing her eyes. “This is what I mean when I say you kids need to be more conscious about your health.”

“Well… early to bed early to rise and all that…” Kari trailed off. She stepped into Tai’s room and snatched a blanket off the floor, draping it over the two of them.

Yuuko groaned, clearly not satisfied. Though it was just as clear that she wasn’t going to get through to any of them tonight. “I should call her parents. Tell her she fell asleep here. Either they’ll come to pick her up or say it’s alright to stay.”

Kari adjusted each pillow so they were resting their heads on something before heading back to the door. “You do whatever you want, Mom. I’m gonna get some tea and go to bed myself.”

“Alright sweetie,” Yuuko said, leaning down to press a soft kiss to the top of Kari’s head. “Nighty night.”

“Night,” Kari said, taking her teacup off the countertop and retreating into her bedroom.

Once the door closed, Yuuko glanced back at the bags on the table. It was unusual that Tai would go clothes shopping with two girls and come back with this much. Since he started high school he’d always dressed in very simple clothes. She approached and opened one, pulling out what looked like a dark blue blouse and underneath a brown skirt. The more she inspected the garments, the more her nose wrinkled. Whose was this supposed to be? This blouse. This skirt. Both of them looked far too big for Kari or Mimi. Was this supposed to be a gift for someone else? Who else in their friend group would wear this size? This looked like it would fit…

“...Wait.” Yuuko’s eyes widened slightly.

Tai had gone to bed wearing clothes that were unusually… fitted. The jeans, the fitted shirt, the flannel. Combined with the change of hair he’d looked unusually feminine. Yuuko hadn’t noticed until just now but something about Tai had been different the last few days. The hair in particular had stood out, and Tai was weirdly cagey about why he’d decided to change it.

‘You’re taking your partner out and dressing them up like a barbie doll.’

“...No. No he wouldn’t,” Yuuko said, shaking her head. “That’s ridiculous. He plays soccer for crying out loud. He’s not like that. Right?”

She looked at the blouse in her hand, the satin material against her fingertips not giving her a reassuring answer. She glanced back at Tai’s door, worry settling on her face.

“...What’s wrong, Tai? Why won’t you talk to me?”