Nise Suzuki II : True Self

A member of the soccer club asked, "Is Suzuki-Kun here?"

Nise answered, "I'm here."

The member of the soccer club entered the classroom and approached Nise while holding a paper. He puts down the paper on Nise's desk and complained, "What the hell is this, Nise?!"

Everyone in the classroom was surprised and it gathered everyone's attention. Sakura, who was sleeping at the time, woke up from that.

Nise replied, "It's what it says. I'm quitting the club."

The member wasn't pleased about it and yelled, "What do you mean you're quitting?!"

Nise insisted, "I'm quitting. Soccer ain't fun to me anymore."

The member was pissed off, "The tournaments are coming, who's going to replace you? We don't have any other defender on the bench either"

Nise responded, "That's not my problem anymore."

The member snapped, "You piece of shit!"

Yuuki interfered, "Sir, would you please stop shouting, you are quite making a ruckus."

The member pushed Yuuki to the side, "It's not your concern, get out!"

Yuuki nearly hit the other desk but luckily I caught her before hitting the desk.

I threatened the member, "Would you get out of our classroom right now, or I'll call the teacher."

The member replied, "What are you going to do about it?"

I responded, "Idiot, everyone in this classroom is a witness. It's strength in numbers right now against you. If I tell the teachers, who knows? Maybe, you might get suspended and not play in the tournaments and cause your team more trouble than before."

He realized how screwed up he is if this gets to the teachers. He left the classroom without saying a word.

Yuuki thanked, "Thanks, Shin."

I replied, "No problem, Yuuki."

Yuuki followed, "Uhmm...can you let go of my hand now? Everyone is staring."

I looked at my hand and realized I'm still holding her hand when I caught her a while ago. I let go and apologize, "I'm sorry, Yuuki. I didn't mean to hold it for long."

Yuuki spoke, "More importantly, you didn't tell us you will be quitting today, Nise."

Nise replied, "I had the letter for a while now. I just didn't give it because I didn't have the courage to do so."

So the paper a while ago was Nise's resignation letter

Miu asked, "Was that guy from the soccer club?"

I replied, "Probably."

Miu followed, "That guy is such a jerk."

Itsuki followed, "Yeah." then he asked, "By the way Nise, why did you quit the club?"

Nise responded, "I'll explain it later at lunch."

Itsuki replied, "I see."

Yuuki suggested, "We should go back to our seats. The teacher might come anytime soon."

We all went back to our seats while we wait for the teacher to enter the classroom.

—

It's lunch already, we are at our usual spot. 

Yuuki spoke, "Guys, Nise has something to say."

Everyone listened and Nise started to apologize, "First of all, I want to apologize to you guys because I lied."

Miu asked, "Lied? When?"

Nise explained, "I lied to you guys yesterday. When you asked about my nails and hand, I lied because I don't want you guys to be worried about me. For that, please forgive me."

Nise bows to express how truly sorry Nise is.

Sakura quickly demanded, "It's fine, it's fine, lift your head up."

Itsuki followed, "She's right. Lift your head up. We understand."

Nise lifts his head up and said, "Thanks, everyone."

Miu asked, "If you said yesterday was a lie, what really happened then?"

Nise explained, "Some of the members of the soccer team told me to remove it because it doesn't fit me at all. Originally, I don't want to remove it even though they told me to do so. But, when my father saw it, He slapped my hand off and told me to remove it immediately or I'll be gone in the house."

Miu, Sakura, and Itsuki couldn't even speak about what they heard.

Nise continued, "Back then, I wasn't originally going to join any clubs, even the soccer club. But, I was forced to join due to my parents."

Miu reacted, "That's harsh."

Nise continued explaining, "I have two older sisters and I became jealous of them whenever I see them."

Sakura was confused, "Jealous? Why is that?"

Nise replied, "Because they can wear makeups and lipsticks, polish their nails and color them. But if I do those things, people will judge me, they won't accept me, they will treat me as an outsider."

There are no words to mutter to what Nise said because it's the truth.

Nise continued, "And the worse thing about my family is that I have a fiance."

Miu reacted, "What?!"

Itsuki followed, "Do you even want this, Nise?"

Nise replied, "That's not even the issue here."

Sakura asked, "What do you mean by that, Nise?"

Nise stopped. I could tell the nervousness that Nise is feeling right now.

I looked at Yuuki and I think we have the same idea.

We both stood up and gave Nise a little pat on the back. I said "Don't be nervous," while, Yuuki followed, "You can do it, Nise."

Nise calmed down and continued, "I'm gay, guys. I'm not interested in dating girls."

The others are surprised by it when Nise told them.

Nise continued, "I know people won't accept me that easily for what I am but this is what I want to be. I don't want to stay jealous of my sisters who can wear makeup and lipsticks, and have polished and colored nails freely. I'll wear those, break those boundaries, and I wouldn't care less if people won't like or accept me because this is what I want and I want to be true to myself and that's the kind of me that I wanted to embrace for a long time."

The others went dead silent.

Nise asked, "Will you guys accept me and support me for what I am?"

Miu crying, she beamed, "Of course, you idiot!" and jumped out to hug Nise.

Nise replied, "Thanks, Miu." 

Sakura followed, "I'll support you through the end, Nise."

Itsuki added, "Follow your heart, Nise. I'll be there to support you."

Nise thanked, "Thanks, guys."

Nise looked at me and Yuuki and appreciated, "Yuuki, Shin, thank you so much."

I replied, "Don't worry about it."

Yuuki followed, "Be strong and stay strong, Nise."

Nise just smiled at us.

I asked, "How about your parents?"

Nise replied, "I'll handle them by myself. I can do this. I'll fight for myself and for my freedom."

Miu realized, "Come to think of it, why Shin and Yuuki weren't surprised by it."

Nise answered, "Remember the other day when some members of the soccer club are finding me?"

Miu replied, "Yeah, what about it?"

Nise explained, "Yuuki and Shin saw me getting bullied by the members of the soccer club when they saw my nails."

Miu looked at us and scolded us, "Why did you guys didn't told us about this?"

I was about to answer but Nise explained, "It's technically my fault. When they heard that I lied to you guys about the nails, they realized that I don't want you guys to worry about it. Seems like I made you guys more worried than I thought. I'm sorry."

Miu understood, "Don't be sorry about it. It's fine."

Nise was relieved by it.

Miu insisted, "But, from now on, no more secrets guys! You got that?!"

I giggled, "You got it."

Yuuki responded, "No more secrets."

Everyone agreed to it and giggled. But this time, no more secrets. 

But promises are meant to be broken...

—

"Mom, Dad, can we talk for a bit."

Nise asked that while eating dinner with the family.

The father asked, "Right now?"

Nise nodded at him.

The mother responded, "Then, let's talk."

Nise started talking, "It's a lot of things but...I'm not interested in dating girls. I'm gay."

Nise's mother didn't faze at all, but the father is a different story.

The father yelled, "What do you mean you're gay?!"

The mother insisted, "Dear, sit down. Let Nise talk first."

Nise's father calmed down and sat down.

Nise continued, "I want to be true to myself and I can't take it anymore. I've been lying to myself just to make the people around me accept me. But, that's not fair at all. That also includes you guys."

The father didn't do anything this time and he realized what his own son is talking about.

Nise continued, "I don't want to join the soccer club, I resigned earlier. I don't want to do soccer nor have any interest to join. I know that you guys must be disappointed and I want to apologize for that but I want to live on as myself this time."

Nise's mother spoke, "Nise, you're our dearest son. You are a gift to us and it's impossible for us to be disappointed in you. I'm sorry if we forced you to join something that you didn't want to do. I don't know about your father but I want to see the real you this time. I love you, Nise."

Nise smiled and was about to cry but prevented it from happening.

Nise's mother asked, "What about you, dear?" as she looked at Nise's father.

The father spoke, "When I first saw the nails the other day, I just lashed out at you. You're my only son, Nise, that's why I lashed out. I forced you to join the soccer club and play other sports when you were still in elementary, not leaving any freedom for you. I must put you in a tight spot there, son. I'm sorry."

Nise started crying.

The father continued, "As parents, the only thing that would make us happy and be proud of you is seeing our little son be happy with what he does. Son, this time, I won't tell you what to do anymore, I won't force you. I want to see you happy, Nise. I love you."

The tears in Nise's eyes kept flowing and said, "I love you guys too."

No more lies, only the truth, and smiles this time.