Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to consider the question! I agree that the final two versions lack that lovely ambiguity, but I'm also torn because with queer themes, sometimes it's best to be explicit so it doesn't get straightwashed or seem like queerbaiting. The character is still trans in the 100-word story, but I'm not sure everyone would get it, whereas the longer stories are somewhat more explicit (though also, notably, never use the word trans).

I hope you do try out the exercise. It's quite a fun challenge to expand a story with very strict limitations, and see where it goes.