Elliot (changed it from DV cause I kept accidentally typing 'DD'): Okay, so I did write this story before, but I went back and re-wrote the prologue because the old one was shitty and I had no idea what I was doing. Now, I have a better idea and a better plot structure. Hope you like the edited version!

“Can you tell me your name?”

“Kuroko Emi.”

“No, I mean your real name.”

Kuroko hesitated. “What do you mean? That’s what’s on my records-”

“I mean the name you chose for yourself.” The therapist gave him a warm smile. “This room is a safe space for you to be whoever you want. So you get to go by whatever name you’re most comfortable with in here. And if you change it, that’s fine. If you change it, I’ll change it on my records. Okay?” After a moment, Kuroko nodded. “So what’s your name?”

He hesitated. “Kuroko Tetsuya.”

“Is it alright if I call you Tetsuya-kun, or would you prefer Kuroko-kun?”

“Either works,” he mumbled, not meeting her gaze.

“Which would you prefer?”

“Tetsuya, I guess.”

She nodded. “Any middle names?” He shook his head. “What age are you, Tetsuya-kun?”

“I turned thirteen a few days ago.”

“Did you do anything special?” Kuroko shrugged. “Did you hang out with your friends?”

He hesitated. “I don’t have many friends.”

“What about the ones you do have?”

“His name’s Shigehiro.”

“Did you do anything with him?”

“Yeah, we played a bit of basketball.” Kuroko’s expression never became anything more than neutral. “We’re both planning on joining teams in Junior High.”

The therapist smiled again. “Do you enjoy basketball?” Kuroko nodded. “My daughter plays basketball. Perhaps you know of her – Mibuchi Reo.”

“I’ve heard of her,” Kuroko replied. “She’s in Junior High already, right?”

The therapist nodded. “Nishimachi International School. She’s like you.”

Kuroko said nothing for a moment. “What team does she play on?”

The therapist sighed. “She plays on the boys’ team. They won’t let her join the girls’ but she said it doesn’t bother her enough to fight it. The boys on her team are all lovely to her anyway.”

Kuroko nodded. “I want to join the boys’ team.”

The therapist nodded. “What school are you planning on going to?”

“Teikō.”

“A few of my other patients are on sports teams there. You shouldn’t have a problem getting onto the boys’ team.” She tapped her clipboard with her pen. “I can give them a call if you’d like. What name will you be going by there?”

Kuroko blinked slowly. “I want to go by Tetsuya but my parents are saying I should wait at least another year before making that decision, so Emi.”

The therapist clicked her tongue. “If you want, I can talk to your parents about that.”

“They’ll just say I can’t make that decision so young.”

“You made the decision to try to kill yourself this young.” Finally, Kuroko’s expression broke and he looked down. “That’s not to make you feel bad, Tetsuya-kun. It’s to point out that if you feel you can make the decision to do that because you can’t see a time in the future where it’ll be worth staying alive, you’re old enough to make this decision. If your mental health is being affected by not being allowed to transition, then your parents need to take a long, hard look at why keeping you from transitioning is so important. Okay?” After a moment, Kuroko nodded. “Okay.” The therapist looked at the clock. Eleven forty five. “You’re only in for a taster session today, so we only have a few more minutes. Is there anything you want me to say specifically to your parents?”

Kuroko shook his head. “Can you just refer to me as Tetsuya when you’re talking to them?” He mumbled. “They think it’s a stage, and they only brought me here because they thought you’d see that. I think hearing you refer to me as a boy might help them see that it’s not a stage.”

The therapist gave him another smile. “Of course. Do you want to send them in? You can wait in the waiting room – I’ll only be a few minutes with them.”

Kuroko nodded and stood up, leaving the room. His parents were still in the waiting room, his mother thumbing through a magazine and his father on his phone. He cleared his throat and they looked up. “She wants to talk to you for a bit.”

His mother gave him a smile and nodded. “Okay. Did you have a good session, Emi?”

Kuroko nodded. “Yeah, it was good.” He took a seat as his parents left the room. There were a few magazines scattered around and he managed to find a basketball one under the fashion ones. Kyle Allums was on the cover – the first openly transgender NCAA Division One athlete. He flicked onto the interview page.

Allums was focusing more on the sport, while the interviewer seemed to be trying to get him to say what a divide there was between male and female bodies, and how hard playing on the boys’ team was, and how unfair it would be for a trans woman to play on a woman’s team.

He was barely finished by the time his parents came out. His dad didn’t look surprised by whatever had been said, but his mother was tight-lipped and white.

“Are you ready to go?” His father asked.

Kuroko nodded and stood up. The therapist followed his parents into the waiting room and he held up the magazine. “Is it okay if I keep this?”

“Emi, put it back.”

“No, no, he can have it.” The therapist gave him a smile. “It’s all yours, Tetsuya-kun. Not many people that come here like sports, so it won’t be missed.”

Kuroko nodded and placed the magazine in his bag. “Thanks.” He looked up at her. “When’s the next appointment?”

His mother cleared her throat. “Your father and I don’t necessarily think that Takeda-san is a good match, Emi.”

Kuroko didn’t take his eyes off the therapist. “I think she’s a good match for me, and I’m the one that needs to see her every week. When’s the next appointment?”

The therapist smiled. “If it works for you, how about eleven to twelve next Tuesday?”

“She goes into school that day,” his mother protested. “It’s her first day.”

“Wednesday or Thursday, then. You can call to confirm it.” The therapist’s smile grew. “You can tell me all about how your try-outs for the boys’ team went, and how it felt to go in as Kuroko Tetsuya.”

Kuroko’s eyes widened and he glanced at his parents. His father gave him a nod, and his mother a tight, forced smile. He looked back at his therapist and bowed. “I will. Thank you very much.”

“It was no trouble, Tetsuya-kun.” She nodded and looked at his parents. “And if you ever need to consider counselling for yourselves, you have the card I gave you. It has a list of all nearby facilities and-”

“We’ll consider it.” Kuroko’s mother nodded sharply. “We should go. Emi, you need to babysit for Yamada-san tonight.”

Kuroko nodded. “Bye, Takeda-san,” he murmured as he shouldered his bag.

“See you next week, Tetsuya-kun!”

His mother’s teeth clenched and she turned to leave the room. “Let’s go, Emi.”

Elliot: Okay, so I know it's short, but it was just a prologue. I promise promise promise I'll write at least the first chapter. Eventually. Hope you enjoyed! Please vote and review. See you next time, Murdering Majestors!