text; can you let me out? can you set me free from this dark inner world?

[truedetective]

[Why, what is this text message going out in the middle of the night?

It's someone who's hoping that not only will everyone be consumed with larger matters of what's happening in the world around them, but who will be fast asleep and not get this.

She knows she has to do this. She knows she needs to be honest with everyone, that she can't keep just hiding behind her assumed identity anymore.

It doesn't mean Naoto has to like it.]

"To thine own self be true." It's kind of a cliche saying at this point.
That doesn't make it inaccurate.

I can't think of any subtle or sensitive way to say this, so I might as well just be blunt: I've been keeping a secret from everyone as long as I've been living in this city. I haven't been honest.
While I've been outwardly presenting as male for quite some time now, I am-- and have always been-- a girl.

I apologize to anyone who feels that I've lied to them or deceived them. I'm sorry.
I hope this won't lead any of you to think differently of me, but that may be asking too much.

Good night.

[She hits send, and immediately regrets doing this at all. Oh god, this was a mistake.]

Comments

Private

[kagepuro]

I'm so proud of you, naoto

Private

[truedetective]

I hope I will be, too.
This feels like a mistake.

[kagepuro]

it's not

Do you remember when i told you that i wouldn't find you inspiring? As a woman? Because of how you shirked your identity

Well

You're really inspiring for finding the strength to do this

I mean that

[redarm]

[ What is sleep when you can stay up at absurd hours of the night ]

oh
ok

so which pronouns should i use at school?

[truedetective]

I don't know. The teachers have known this whole time, of course; I couldn't exactly forge paperwork. I suppose female. That's the truth, after all.

[redarm]

if thats what you want, ok.
you ok?

[cattack]

[Well. After October, Cleo'd known some stuff was up with Naoto in regards to that, but... It's odd to see her come clean like this.

She wonders if, somehow, she was forced into it...]

I'm glad you were comfortable enough to say it.
But are you all right?

[Cleo's not exactly close to Naoto, they don't exactly get along, but if Naoto was forced to come out about this somehow, she's going to fight someone.]

[truedetective]

Completely? Not really. This feels dangerously exposed. Like a nerve being touched. But secrets get people hurt. I couldn't keep the pretense up for ever.

private

[cattack]

Did something happen to force you?
After what happened in the fog, I'm worried.
And such a thing is your secret to keep, should you desire to.

Private

[standalonehuman]

This is what you were trying to tell me about obstacles.

We should talk. I'm not angry or disappointed. I'd still like to support you how I can. And this won't change things currently with the Department. But you're right that it does change things long term.

[truedetective]

Yes. It is.

The precinct captain knows. He, at least, remembered that Ken Shirogane didn't have
a son, but a daughter.
It does change things with the others, though.

[reaquila]

That's a huge secret to keep. I don't know you too well, but it takes a lot of courage to be honest.

Do you feel better after speaking up?

[truedetective]

I don't know.
I keep thinking it's a mistake, but one that can't be taken back.

I couldn't have kept the secret up forever, though. Pretending to be a late bloomer would only last so long.

[liberal_arts]

-Well, that's...-

I'll be honest with you, I couldn't tell either way. I tried to keep my language neutral in case I was mistaken one way or another.

[truedetective]

That's fair. I've never been under the assumption that I'd be perceived as anything but a very feminine boy, perhaps a late bloomer.

[scarlet_devil]

Wait, what?

[ A moment later. ]

Why the deception?

[truedetective]

With all due respect, Émilie, that's none of your business.

[maskreant]

[truedetective]

That is




strangely inspiring

[strawberrypunch]

So its ok to call you she now?

[truedetective]

I suppose.
If that's what you'd prefer.

[admiringly]

i want to be honest and say i'm not sure what to say here but naoto is still naoto right?
is everything okay?

[truedetective]

Yes. I'm still me. Honestly, the only thing I've ever been concealing has been my gender. Everything else has been genuine. Including my name, which I suppose I'm grateful was sufficiently masculine to not require any changing.

[livingdeadgirl]

oh! ok that clears that up
tbh i wasnt sure but i didnt know how to ask
thanks for letting us know! :)

[truedetective]

Oh. Well, you're welcome, then. I do admit I made a rather... feminine boy? For obvious reasons. Though to be perfectly honest, even before that, I was a boyish girl. And will probably continue to be one. I think my visual tastes just tend towards androgyny.