Interview Log
Fusuke Noi
Wait, you wanna interview me? I mean, I guess I don’t mind, but…shouldn’t you be interviewing her instead? Isn’t that how these things usually work?
Oh, you already have?
Ahhh, gotcha. And now you wanna get everyone else’s takes, okay. Fair enough. But are you really sure you wanna hear from me, of all people? I mean, yeah, there was a time when I used to think we had a nice friendly rivalry going on, and she and I did spend a good amount of time together back in freshman year, but…I really don’t think I’ve got anything interesting to say about her, if I’m being real with you. Don’t think I ever had a very good handle on who she actually was or what kinda stuff she was going through. And now we don’t even talk anymore, so…
Wait, for real?
She asked you to come talk to me?
Huh. You don’t say.
Okay, I get it now. Let’s go ahead and do it, then. Though I’m honestly not the most well-spoken guy, so if you wouldn’t mind, you know, editing my words a little on your end so that they sound a bit nicer before you publish this, I’d really appreciate it.
So, about Ushio… Well, I met her on the track team our freshman year, obviously, and she was easily our best athlete for as long as she was there. She started off as a short-distance runner, then suddenly pivoted to doing long-distance stuff after a while. She was great at both, though—set some really impressive school records that stand to this day. Her form was incredible too. She had, like, this insane spring in her step on every single stride. But it was her hard work, more than anything, that really propelled her to a higher level. She’d always talk about how hard it was for her to crawl outta bed because of her low blood pressure or whatever, but she’d still show up bright and early for morning practice without fail. And even after she quit the track team, she still went out running on her own time every single day… Now that’s real dedication, if I’ve ever seen it.
Did I look up to her? Yeah, I’d say so, at least to some extent.
She was a great sprinter and marathon runner, and everybody on the team liked her, even the upperclassmen… On top of that, she was one of the most popular kids in school, just in general. Obviously, back then, it was mostly with the girls fawning over her all the time… But now I think she gets a pretty equal amount of attention from guys and girls in that regard. She’s got, like, a whole fan club of guys on the track team. Some of them joined specifically because of her, and she’s not even on it anymore! All their locker-room talk can get a little grating sometimes, honestly, but I guess I can’t blame them for being in awe of her. I mean, I kinda was too, for a long time…
Er, but not like that, obviously!
I just mean as, like…a fellow human being, y’know? She just has this magnetic sort of charisma about her. You probably got a little taste of that yourself when you were interviewing her, I’m guessing. Like, she has this really refined, almost delicate look to her, yet at the same time, there’s this aura about her that commands respect. And boy, lemme tell ya, you don’t wanna get on her bad side. That girl will really let you have it if you ever do or say something that pisses her off…
Although, I’ve gotta admit…there was definitely a period of time last year when she kinda lost that for a little while. Back when she first came out, I mean… Or said she wanted to live her life as a girl from now on or whatever. It was like she went from a superstar to an outcast literally overnight. And I guess seeing her so weak and vulnerable all of a sudden… I dunno. It was a shock to the system for me, to be honest.
Like, I found it kinda hard to even look at her for a while afterward. Because in my mind, she’d always been this really strong person, and I didn’t want to have to see her like that… Which I realize is a pretty selfish thing to say. But you know what I mean, right? It’s like when your favorite baseball player falls off, or some scandal comes out about them that makes you see them in a totally different light. You never want to see someone you used to idolize lose the spark that made you look up to them in the first place, y’know? Pretty sure most people can relate to that.
Hm? Did I notice any signs beforehand?
Ohhh… Yeah, I guess there were a couple things, in retrospect. She always did seem kinda distant and closed off from the rest of us on the track team. Like, she’d never come along when me and the other guys would all go to take a leak together, for one thing.
But it was still pretty sudden and unexpected for me, I’d say. And for a really long time, I just kinda refused to accept it. Even tried to fight her on it, like that would change her mind or something… Which was pretty stupid of me, looking back. So you can probably imagine why we’re not on speaking terms anymore—I was one hundred percent in the wrong there, no doubt about it. Can’t even blame her for hating my guts, honestly.
But you’re saying she specifically gave you my name, huh?
Yeah, I really don’t know why she’d do that.
Is there anything I’d like to say? To Ushio, you mean?
Oh, right. Of course she’s gonna see this eventually, duh…
Yeah, okay. Lemme see here, uh…
Hey, Ushio. If you ever feel like you wanna seriously get back into doing track and field again…just let me know. ’Cause I’ve been really putting in the work myself lately, FYI. Don’t think I could ever be as dedicated as you were, but…if you ever want a rematch, you know where to find me. Just don’t expect to win so easily next time.
Oh yeah, and try not to hurt yourself, all right?
Toka Shiina
Yes, okay. I understand.
I suppose I can say a few words, if you like. I’m guessing you just want to hear any general thoughts or impressions I have about Tsukinoki-kun as a person, correct? I can certainly do that, though I can’t promise I’ll have anything of interest to say.
I’m, well…not the most eloquent person, let’s put it that way. People always tell me I give off “smart-girl vibes” or what have you, but I don’t consider myself all that wise or intelligent. I mean, my best friend Marine knows me better than anyone, and she thinks I’m a bit of a space cadet, actually. Anyway, all that is to say I’m happy to answer questions, but please don’t get your hopes up for any profound insights, for example.
N-no, you’re too kind. But thank you, I appreciate it.
Well then, um… Let’s see… So I’m not sure if this will make for very good interview material, per se, but you probably noticed that I referred to her as Tsukinoki-kun a moment ago, correct? And to be clear, that’s what I’ve always called her, ever since we first met and became friends in sophomore year. But I have to say that lately, I’ve been feeling more and more uncertain about it.
I don’t think I even registered that I was doing it until about two months or so after she came out, at which point I was like, “Hm… Should I still be using masculine honorifics for her now that she’s a girl?” I suppose it felt easier and more natural to stick with the status quo, so I didn’t end up making a change. I mean, it’s a little intimidating to start calling someone something completely different all of a sudden, don’t you think?
Yes, thank you! It does take a lot of courage! I’m glad you understand.
My friend Natsuki calls her “Ushio-chan” now, but I don’t think I’d want to use something quite so girly as that. Not because I don’t see her as a girl, mind you—it’s more that it sounds a bit too cutesy and childish for my liking. I’ve always thought of her as a very demure and elegant person, so I feel like something a bit more mature and ladylike would be a better fit, if anything. At the same time, she and I aren’t that close to begin with, and she explicitly said after she transitioned that she really doesn’t mind if people keep referring to her the same way they always have, so I feel I may be overthinking it and assuming it’s a bigger deal to her than it actually is.