| Just let yourself get immersed in it.
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Just let yourself get immersed in it.
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...Yeah. We talked about that, didn't we?
I do feel like I'm starting to understand. But still...
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Listen, Chihiro. You don't need to rush things.
Just keep your goal in front of you, and move toward it at your own pace.
Changing your outlook is good, but it's not as simple as just rushing headlong toward something.
It's okay for you to figure out the right speed to move at.
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Makoto...
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Even if that means taking things slow, as long as you don't give up, you'll always be making progress.
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Yeah...you're right!
Thank you. I feel like...maybe I'm not afraid anymore.
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That's good! I'm glad I could help.
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Th-Then...do you mind if I take my first step...right here?
If I don't do it now, I feel like...once I get outside, I won't be able to do it.
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Of course I don't mind. But is it really something you can do right here?
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Y-Yeah...
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Chihiro closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly...
And then...
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I want to tell you something, Makoto. If you can, please don't be too surprised.
...
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I...I...
I'm...a boy.
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Huh? What do you mean?
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W-Well...um...
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I'm actually...a guy.
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...
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...
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...
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U-Um...Makoto?
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Whaaaat!?
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Ah!
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Oh, s-sorry! I scared you, didn't I? But, I mean...
I didn't mishear you, right? You just said...you're actually a guy?
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Y-Yeah... I tried to be more like you.
Does it...not suit me?
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It's not even about it suiting you. I mean, since you're a girl...
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No, I mean it... I'm a guy.
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Um, listen...I don't know why now of all times you're trying to be funny.
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...
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You're right... It does seem like a joke, doesn't it?
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But it's the truth...!
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Tears stood in his eyes, but his face was determined, unwavering.
Chihiro *wasn't* joking, that much was clear. But at the same time...
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I-If you really want proof...you can go ahead and...ch-check.
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Check...?
I mean, I obviously can't tell just by looking at you. Are you saying I should...touch...?
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I can't do that!
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Th-Then—!
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H-Hold on! Chihiro—!
Without warning, he grabbed my arm. I yelled out, but he ignored me and...
Uwah!
...pushed my hand up against his chest.
Huh...?
But the shape, the form I'd expected to feel...wasn't there.
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Now do you believe me?
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Y-Yeah...
I was still confused, so confused, but I nodded.
Chihiro—he was a man. No different from me...
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I did surprise you, didn't I?
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Well...I'm surprised you're a boy, yeah. But I'm more surprised at how bold you were.
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W-Well, that's...
It's just cuz I had to be.
To become who I really am, to have the strength to tell the world who I am... To reach my goal...
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So...can I tell you my story?
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From there, Chihiro explained how he had taken on the identity of a girl.
He told me how he'd been teased for being so frail as a child, and how that had affected him.
He told me how he retreated into a feminine identity and embraced the assumed "weakness" of it.
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But...
Being here with everyone, talking to you so much...
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I decided that I wanted to change.
I didn't want to be weak anymore. I didn't want to lie to anyone.
I wanted to become my true self, so that we could all become true friends!
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Chihiro...
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So, Makoto...
After hearing all that, it might just cause you even more trouble, but...
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Even though I pretended to be a girl... Even though I've been lying to you this whole time...
Will you still...be my friend?
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...Yes, of course!
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Huh? You mean it...?
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I respect your strength and your courage so much...
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R-Respect...!?
No, I'm not that strong. I don't think I could tell anyone else but you...
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Don't say that!
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Huh...?
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You're stronger than anyone I know!
It's hard for anyone to acknowledge their own weaknesses, you know?
But you faced your weakness, and you took steps to overcome it.
So don't say you're not strong. Because you are!
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Makoto...
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Ehehe... Thank you.
You're always there to encourage me like this.
Whenever I get scared and want to stop, you're right there behind me, pushing me forward.
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So...
Until I'm strong enough to be my true self in front of everyone...I hope you'll be there to support me.
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Maybe I'm just being naive, but...
...can we keep spending time together like this, just talking about whatever comes to mind?
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Absolutely! We're friends, right? You can talk to me about anything, whenever you want.
And I feel like I can talk to *you" about anything. So there's no reason we can't stay close.
I'll be counting on you too, okay?
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Okay!
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We may not always be there for each other individually, but we still have to all work together.
We know we're not alone, which helps us work harder even when we *are* alone.
And embracing that hope, we take step after step into the future.
And that's how my school life at Hope's Peak Academy came to an end...
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