The next week goes far too fast. One day after another, with our ordinary classes, our ordinary lives. We start on our self-sufficiency lessons in life skills, and it's good to get some proper instruction on the basics of cooking and cleaning I've mostly been picking up on my own so far.

I'm... not as surprised as I should be to find most of the guys not paying any attention, and the teacher not giving a single damn about it. The girls meanwhile, mostly do, and get scolded when they slack off or lose focus, told that they'll never make decent wives if they don't know this.

The sexism and double standards are staggering to watch.

I do get the necessary enrollment paperwork from the doctor and fill it all out, giving it back so she has it on hand for when we go to the school administration.

I keep sitting out gym, but this is my last week. The gym teacher even starts to hassle me about it; they know how much I'm working out every day, so they know my excuse is bullshit. By Wednesday, I get called to the administrator's office during last period.

----------------------------------------

“You! I did not call you!” the bitchy woman, Janice Monasta jabs a finger at Leona as she enters the administration office with me. Leona starts to argue back, but I reluctantly wave her off this time.

“Just wait outside, I just have to talk to her.” I know we had it planned for over the weekend, but now I'm thinking we might want to do it a little sooner so they have time to change all my enrollment information.

“Alright, I'll be right outside. Yell, or bang on the door or something if you need me.”

“Sure.” We share a small nod, then Leona leaves.

I step forward as the silver-haired administrator's eyes roam, scanning me up and down. I tense, immediately self-conscious under the gaze, like she can see right through me. I become extra aware of the slightly uncomfortable, sweaty feeling across my skin from all the exercise I've already done today, mixing with the nervous sweat quickly starting to join it.

“So, Seiko Maka-san,” she begins, already haughty and imperious without Leona around to check her. She slides a form across the desk. “This is the doctor note you turned in for an exception from gym class for 'undisclosed medical reasons.'” She throws on the sarcasm and makes patronizing air quotes, because of course she does.

“It has been brought to my attention by Varn-san,” she refers to my gym teacher, “that you have no physical issues which would keep you from participating in class as usual. In fact, once I asked, it became clear that you have been seen doing strenuous physical exercise all day, every day, for weeks now, for reasons no one can explain.”

Here, her hands clench on the top of her desk, her voice dropping lower, more threatening. “I spoke to the doctor who supplied your note, but she refused to tell me anything about your condition either. In fact, she refused to supply any information about you whatsoever. I would have her removed from her position for insubordination, but...” she leaves it there. Is she... threatening the doctor's job? For doing her what she's supposed to and obeying psi-ops by protecting my medical records?

“I will not stand for a student making a mockery of this school and corrupting its officials.”

I grit my teeth, but keep myself composed the best I can. “That's wrong. It's not the doctor's fault she can't tell you anything. She has orders to keep my records confidential.”

“So?” That's when I realize, she already knows that. Doctor Belinda would have said as much herself. But she's threatening her anyway? How could that be legal? A school administrator firing a medical doctor for obeying the orders of high ranking military officials? There's no way that would be allowed, would it?

“Now, out with it. Tell me what is going on, or life here is going to become very unpleasant for you and the people around you.” Of course she has to go there... I close my eyes and take a few breaths. Yeah, I knew the time was coming, but I didn't want it to be like this. With this bitch of an administrator no less...

“Damn it.” I mutter and go back to the door. Monasta makes a surprised scoff at my back, and I have a feeling she thinks I'm about to walk out on her. I open the door, Leona standing just on the other side. She turns halfway around to face me.

“Hey, Leona, can you go get the doctor? Tell her I think it's time.” My face and tone tell her everything she needs to know. With a nod, her eyes flash, and she's gone. When I close the door and turn back, the administrator is just standing there, glaring at me. I do my best to withstand it.

“Just wait a minute,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest to steel my nerves. She doesn't respond, and we stay standing in our tense staring match, until there's a knock on the door a couple long, long minutes later.

“Come in.” The door opens, Leona bringing the doctor inside. Monasta snaps at her to leave again, but the doctor speaks up.

“I actually need Vicca-san to stay here,” she says.

“Oh?” That draws her angry glare onto the doctor.

“Yes.” Doctor Belinda takes a deep breath, steadying herself, and meets my eyes. “Think you're ready?”

“I don't think I'll ever be ready, but there isn't much choice now, is there?” I reply unsteadily even though I'm trying my hardest to keep it together. The glaring administrator looks between us a few times during our exchange, our words lost on her.

“Fair enough.” Returning her attention forward, Doctor Belinda draws an honest to god, official wax-sealed envelope from the pocket of her white medical coat. Monasta's eyes go wide as saucers.

Even her tone is stiff and official. “Leona Vicca-san, I'm formally requesting the permission of the Meridan Psionic Operations Division to transfer classified information to Janice Monasta-san.” She hands over the letter, and Leona swipes a finger across, breaking the seal. She draws my enrollment papers and a typed note from inside. The doctor showed me some of it as she was working on it, so I have a good idea what it includes already.

First off is that my sex is female, alongside the results of a DNA test proving that even my sex chromosomes support it. That one was a pretty big surprise, whatever changed me was thorough, all the way down to a molecular level. As such, the included enrollment papers should be used to change me from a male to female student in the school's records.

Unless the note went through some drastic rewrites that I'm sure Leona would reject anyway, she made sure to exclude any mention of the cause, or of psionics. That's all clearly a secret we don't want an already hostile school administrator knowing.

Leona nods seriously. “On behalf of the Meridan Psionics Division, I accept your request. Janice Monasta-san, the information herein is for your eyes only. You are required to share it as necessary to manage Seiko Maka's school enrollment, and no more. This includes informing the school staff, but no one else.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

The administrator makes a small, unpleasant noise, but Leona ignores her and barrels on through a somewhat familiar spiel. “Beyond that requirement, divulging this information without direct authorization from Psionic Operations or military high command is punishable with imprisonment or mandatory military service for a period no shorter than two years.” How many times has she said this to people...?

“This includes but is not limited to: Seiko Maka's family, the student body, and any government personnel below clearance level five. You are only cleared to discuss the contained information with Seiko Maka, myself, Aalin Mejja from psi-ops, or any persons with level five clearance and above. Do you understand?”

I'm not surprised to see Monasta's jaw hang open in the face of Leona's legal threats. As much as I've learned of the horrific downsides of military dictatorships online lately, they're great at keeping people in line...

“U-understood,” the school administrator eventually chokes out, and Leona hands her the paperwork. Monasta's eyes only make it through the first couple lines before her head snaps back up, straight at me. “Is this a joke? Maka-san is a man. You can't just...” then she stops, her eyes going to Leona. “It's you, that's why psi-ops is involved. He's like this because of of something psionic related, isn't he?”

Of course, no one answers. “That has to be it.” Then she turns and sneers at me. “How does it feel, Maka-san, being trapped in the body of a little girl?”

I wince a little, but I'm not just going to take her shit. “I am a girl.” I declare it, looking her straight in the eye.

“Hah!” she laughs derisively. “I don't know what you people are expecting, telling me to admit some faggot as a female student-”

“We're expecting you to do your job,” Leona deadpans. “Otherwise, we'll gladly direct our inquiries to your higher ups. I'm sure they'll love to hear from psi-ops.”

That knocks the smile off her face. “I can't just change his records like this,” Monasta argues anyway. “His records say he's male, a doctor's note isn't remotely sufficient to overrule that.”

“Yes it is,” Leona rolls her eyes. We already looked this up and made sure we have everything set, that we're following all the rules and regulations to the letter. “Fine, then I'll make it an order. Janice Monasta-san, as a member of psi-ops, I order you to do your damn job and update Seiko Maka's school records as directed by Seiko's doctor.”

“You don't have the authority to order me!” the administrator snarls. “Inside these walls, you're just another student!”

“Want me to call Aalin Mejja again?” Leona starts to raise her voice. Monasta cringes, finally backing down at the threats.

“That... is not necessary...” There's so much rage in her eyes as she glares at me, but she's holding her tongue.

“Good.” Leona glowers at her, and it's up to the doctor to step in.

“As it states in the paperwork there, we originally meant to begin this process on Friday. You have until Sunday to put through all the necessary enrollment and records changes. The staff will need to be informed and Seiko Maka-san is to be reintroduced into her classes next Monday. As for dorm assignments, she will need to be moved to the female dorm.”

“I can't put him in the women's dorm!” Monasta exclaims.

Doctor Belinda gives her a look. “You would have her,” and she gestures a hand at me, smaller than even the other girls, “in a dorm surrounded by men?”

“Yes! No matter what he looks like, he's still a man. I can't allow a man to intrude in a space that's meant for women.”

“As we've said,” the doctor says through her teeth, a hand rubbing her temple, “Maka-chan is a woman. Mentally, scientifically, biologically, and empirically. There are no grounds for your argument.”

“Yeah right,” she flips her silver hair and rolls her eyes. “Keep trying to say that after he assaults some defenseless woman.”

The doctor's mouth falls open. “A-are you joking? Maka-chan is the one who's been assaulted! By your own daughter!”

“Do not bring Lacey into this!” Monasta slams her hands on her desk, making me jump. “Not after that monster attacked her! She was hospitalized for a month!”

“Good,” Leona grunts.

“Not my point!” the doctor goes right over her. “Maka-chan is not and has never been dangerous. She has been bullied and attacked since a young age for being who she is. She's always been a victim, never an assailant, and nothing she has said or done has ever given any indication that will change.”

“Like I give a damn about that!” Monasta shouts.

“Then what is it?!” the doctor finally shouts back, totally exasperated at this point.

“Maka-san is male, nothing will change that!” There's a moment of stunned silence.

When the doctor speaks again, it's clear she doesn't care anymore. “Fine, whatever. Your opinion doesn't matter. You will do your job, or you'll be receiving some very unpleasant calls from your superiors. Do as you are ordered, that is all. Come on, kids.” She waves for us to go, and we walk right out on the still dumbfounded administrator.

“Maka-chan,” she calls me as we head away from the office, “I have serious doubts about this, I'm not going to let her screw things up. Come early on Monday so I can take you to the staff room and reintroduce you to the staff. I'll help with your homeroom introduction too. Do you have your new uniforms ready?”

“Yeah. Thanks a lot, Doctor.”

“Very good. You're welcome.” She ruffles my hair a little, asking, “Are you coming back to the infirmary?”

“Not right away, I still have to work out a little more. I want to do everything I can to burn my energy down, especially with everything coming up.” If only I'd been able to do it faster, but I know at the rate I'm going, I won't make it in time. That doesn't mean I can slack off though.

“Sure, see you in a bit.”

Once she splits off, Leona leans down and asks, “Are you doing alright, Seiko?”

“I...” I want to say it's alright, but I'm really shaken up after all of that. Even with DNA test results in her hand, she simply refused to listen to anything we said. How could a person just... ignore every shred of evidence before them like that? It doesn't make any sense...

“I don't know,” I shake my head. “I just want to run for a bit, alright?”

“Sure, whatever you want.” She climbs up on my back like usual. I've gotten a lot stronger, better able to hold her extra weight. It's still a strain, but not as much as it used to be. I should ask her to start carrying extra weights if I really want to be efficient burning energy off...

For now though, I set off running, circling the school building. The exertion helps take my mind off things a bit, but my stomach still feels all twisted into knots. The run isn't all that long, I aim to arrive back at the infirmary when I'm pretty tired, panting and sweating, but otherwise alright. When I set Leona down, she praises me again, but I can tell she's thinking the same thing I was. With a few words, we agree that we need to add more weight for future runs.

“Still, your strength is pretty incredible, Seiko,” she continues to praise me as we walk into the infirmary. As always, I can only offer a forced smile. It feels weird when she praises me for my minuscule strength. Sure, I'm a lot better than when I was first weakened, but it's still just a tiny fraction of my usual strength. I haven't been struggling against Leona lately since her ribs took a while to heal and she was trying not to push herself too hard, but I still can't hold a candle to her as I am now.

It's just weird, being praised as strong when I'm so clearly not. I still have an uncomfortable, nervous feeling in my gut through Leona's daily check, which only gets worse on our return to the dorms, with the knowledge that we've told the school administration. Even if it was a few days early and nothing will really happen immediately, the ball is rolling and there's no stopping it.

Once my class knows, word will spread like wildfire through the whole school. Eventually, it will make it back to my parents. Mom's on my side, so she might keep things under control back home, but sooner or later, Dad will find out too. I could have weeks or months, but it will happen at some point.

I don't know how I'll deal with that, but I have much more immediate concerns. Mainly my teachers and classmates. And the dorms. What the hell am I going to do about my room assignment? Who will I be with? Even being a girl and everything, I'd still feel incredibly uncomfortable if I end up rooming with someone like that awful woman - someone who refuses to accept me despite everything.

Best case scenario would be sharing a room with Leona like we put in my enrollment change paperwork. She said she doesn't have a roommate so it would make sense, but there's no way that bitch would actually do something helpful for me. I guess we'll just have to see...