conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  A few days later, I was in bed with a cool compress on my forehead, reading the book Katano had loaned me for the umpteenth time. My fever was gone, but my father was a worrywart who insisted that I rest, so I had nothing else to do. Then the door opened unexpectedly.
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “Rei, you have a visitor.”
conversations.prefix: Mom:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  “Mom, knock next time.”
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “I did knock. You just didn’t notice.”
conversations.prefix: Mom:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  Must have been too absorbed in my book.
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “What should I do? Do you want her to come up? She said her name is Katano.”
conversations.prefix: Mom:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  I was quiet. I’d assumed it was Misaki or Kosaki, and…to be honest, I was a little afraid of seeing Katano. There was something mysterious about her. But I did really want to thank her for the book. "Just for a bit."
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “Okay.” Mom says, going back out.
conversations.prefix: Mom:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  Soon after, someone knocked on the door three times. "Come in."
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “Hello. Oh, you look better than I expected.” Katano says, dropping her bag onto the floor. "This is…a pretty plain room, isn’t it?”
conversations.prefix: Katano:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  “Don’t look at it. I already know.” I didn’t like feminine furnishings, at least not at the time. I liked cute things, but I was so big and awkward that I never felt like they really suited me. Maybe I would get some more, now. “The novel was good.”
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “Isn’t it? What part did you like?”
conversations.prefix: Katano:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  We chatted for a while, discussing each of the characters and what we liked about them, and commenting on our favorite highlight scenes. It was the first time I’d ever talked this passionately about a book to anyone. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “It looks like you’ve treated more than just your influenza.”
conversations.prefix: Katano:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  “Yeah… Maybe I can face my own sexuality now.” The series was still ongoing, so we didn’t know what the main character would ultimately choose. Unlike her, I had never been strongly possessed of any particular faith, and so I had no intention to keep denying my own feelings. “It’s all thanks to you, Katano. I am really grateful.”
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “Then call me Shiko. It’s unfair if I’m the only one using a given name.”
conversations.prefix: Katano:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  “You’re right. Thank you, Shiko.”
conversations.prefix: Rei:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value:  “You’re welcome.”
conversations.prefix: Katano:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value:  In a way, I felt like Shiko was my Hijiri. Like Hijiri did for the main character in Between Prayer and Love, Shiko showed me a path forward when I was struggling with my queerness. Calling her by her given name felt right. I was bursting with newfound confidence, sure that I would never lie to myself again.
conversations.prefix: Rei: