Bonding Arc Chapter Nine: Chihiro’s Secret! Kyoko’s Anger?
- Original Release: April 15, 2020 (Fanfiction.net), April 16, 2020 (AO3)
Summary
When Makoto accidentally finds out the truth of Chihiro's gender, the Ultimate Programmer swears him to secrecy. When he refuses to tell Kyoko upon being asked, she becomes angry with him, despite his apologies. Will their misunderstanding threaten to drive Naegiri apart before it can truly blossom?Tropes
- An Aesop: Treat others with the same respect that you would want to be treated. If someone identifies as one or no gender, regardless of how they look or sound, refer to them how they want to be referred to as.
- A Friend in Need: When Junko starts making fun of Chihiro, all of Class 78 (sans Byakuya, Mukuro, and Toko) rally behind him.
- Hypocrisy Nod: Kyoko acknowledges how hypocritical she was in being mad at Makoto for keeping Chihiro's secret when she had him keep her secret.
- It's All My Fault: Chihiro blames himself for causing a tear in Makoto and Kyoko's friendship due to him making the former keep his secret.
- Internal Reveal: Makoto and, eventually, Class 78 find out that Chihiro is actually a boy.
- Mythology Gag:
Word of God states that Makoto and Kyoko's fight over Chihiro's secret is supposed to be a pre-Tragedy counterpart of their argument over Sakura's secret. - Unsettling Gender-Reveal: Makoto finds out that Chihiro is a boy after he accidentally presses his knee against his groin.
