My Worst Nightmare! How Can I Prevent What's Already Happened?

"I know your secret."

That message played like a doomsday trumpet in my ears. The final stroke before everything collapsed.

My first thought: who?

My second: how?

I decided to play dumb.

"Who is this? What are you talking about?"

The reply was almost instantaneous. "Don't play dumb, Harumi Hanamura. I know what you are."

So this mystery number knew my name? Just how much more did they know?

"Enlighten me."

They replied with an eyeroll emoji.

"You're actually a guy who got his photo stuck all over the internet by a bunch of jerks from your old school. Satisfied that I'm not kidding?"

Shiiiit... "Who ARE you?"

"It's Takahashi."

If I'd been drinking anything, you can bet it would've gone all over my computer screen. "How do you know?"

The reply was slow to come. "I thought I recognized your face, so I ran some face ID on your school profile and found a few crop-ups on the internet. Nice of your sister to make those fake IDs."

I was terrified. Not only did she know my secret, she knew Hina had made me a fake ID, and illegally modified her own. She could do anything with that info.

"I know what you're thinking." Akane continued. "I could easily blackmail you and get you and your sister stuck in prison."

I sent a pleading emoji. "Don't. Hina doesn't deserve anything like that."

"I'm not going to." The reply was like a ton of bricks being lifted off my shoulders. 

"But..."

Of course there was a 'but'. "But?"

"I want you to promise me something."

That was it? "What?"

"I... Need your help with some stuff. I'll explain more on Monday."

I decided to save Akane's number to my phone - that way I wouldn't have to try and remember who it was.

I had to go down and tell Hinata about this. She had as much right to know as I did.

"What???!!" She squeaked, dropping her ladle into its saucepan. "Show me."

I unlocked my phone and handed it over. I didn't trust anybody with my password, not even Hina. That's why my face-ID is so acute; so that Hina's face wouldn't register as mine.

She read the messages. "Oh, Rumi..." She sighed. "What now?"

I knew what she meant. Fight or flight trigger. Well, I was done running. Akane might know, but I'd lost the will to care what people thought anymore. And besides, society's been evolving a lot - guys dressed as girls aren't half as weird as some other stuff going around.

"I guess we'll find out on Monday, huh?" I replied, face set in what I hoped was a determined expression.

She must have seen the look in my eyes, because she nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Awww, my little brother's all grown up..."

"Alright, quit it." I said. If she started getting all mushy she'd get me going as well.

That's it for this entry. A lot to take on board, I know. Reading through my actual diary whilst typing this made me realize just how much happened that weekend. Anyway, for anyone interested, I'll explain more about Akane and her problem next time.