Balance Policy: Chapter 3

BALANCE POLICY: CHAPTER 3 OF THE MANGA

Kenji finally stopped crying. She is now laying on the floor, curled up in a fetal position. Masaomi is still sitting outside of the front door, quietly waiting for Kenji to get through whatever is troubling her, and trying to think of anything to say to her to try and calm her down. Kenji, for her part, is thinking about why she was so adverse to meeting or talking to Chitose. She acknowledges to herself what may be the crux of the matter---Male Kenji wanted to marry Chitose, even though she was a year older than him, and have Chitose bear his children. Now that will never happen, therefore it may be best to stay away from Chitose!

After a long while, Masaomi finally speaks. He comments that being turned into a girl all of a sudden must really suck. If that happened to him, he probably couldn't take it! That thought triggers something in Kenji's mind. She slowly arises to a sitting position, then slowly gets up off of the floor. She has a disapproving look on her face, as she walks outside onto the porch, then stands in front of a sitting Masaomi. He has his face buried in his arms, propped up on his folded up legs. He looks up at Kenji, and returns her sour look with one of inquisitiveness. He asks her what is wrong? "Kenji?" She turns to look away, but says that she wants the both of them to go to the 'secret base'.

Soon, both are on a bicycle, with Masaomi pedaling, and Kenji standing on the back axle, holding on, with her hands grasping Masaomi's shoulders. As they ride along, Kenji seems to gradually take on a better mood. She asks him if he knows that Japan's population is down to about 40 million? He knows. She further states that Japan's population before the pandemic was 120 million, meaning that now only a third of the people have survived the pandemic. They say that last year the live birth rate dropped below 10,000 for the first time, with less than 20% of that total were girls. "It's the end of the human race, isn't it?", Kenji quips. Masaomi remarks that she sounds unconcerned. Kenji replies that it concerns her all right; very soon hundreds more boys will be turned into girls, just like it had been done to her. Masaomi is strangely silent.

The two come upon a babbling brook. As they cross the small bridge over it, Kenji shouts for them to stop, as she wants to get a drink of cold water. They both dismount from the bicycle, as Kenji wades out into the stream, as Masaomi watches from the shore. She cups her hands, and drinks of the sweet water, remarking that country water is the very best! Masaomi tries to make pleasant conversation as Kenji seems to have cheered up a bit. He asks her how was it living in Tokyo for a year? She was at a hospital for all that time, right? Kenji bluntly proclaims that the stay at the hospital was the worst. "Absolutely revolting!" As Kenji spreads her arms out wide for emphasis to her words, she again loses her balance, and falls backwards into the water. Masaomi screams her name! For a brief moment, Kenji is completely under the water, but just as quick she opens her eyes, and bolts upright, soaking wet. Masaomi's gaze is transfixed on Kenji, as he yells at her, asking what was that all about, and is she alright? Kenji only groans. Masaomi then takes note that her clothes are all wet, such that her white sailor top is clinging to her chest, and the top is now almost see-through, showing her small, adolescent breasts. Kenji picks up on what Masaomi just saw, and bluntly remarks to Masaomi that he can look all he wants to. Masaomi then looks away, declining the offer. Kenji becomes annoyed, telling Masaomi that she knows that he wants to look after all. Masaomi tells her to *just stop it !!* Both are on the shore now, as Kenji grabs Masaomi's arm, and pulls it towards her, saying he can feel how wet she is. Masaomi violently pulls his arm away from Kenji, yelling---

**" WHAT THE ..........*STOP IT !!! "***

Kenji turns defiant, belting out, " What the hell was that for? I'm still Kenji, ya know! "

" I know that. "

Kenji becomes angry, shouting out, " If you know that, *then quit feeling sorry for me!!!* Stop trying to put distance between us, *we're best friends*, dammit!!! *"*

Masaomi is stunned into silence, as he only stands, looking at her, with a surprised look on his face. He then looks down to the ground, and says that's not it, it's just that......... But by then Kenji has mounted the bicycle, and yells at Masaomi to get on in back, as we are supposed to be heading for the 'secret base'. Gradually, the terrain becomes uphill. Masaomi offers to take over pedaling, but Kenji tells him to shaddup! Soon, though, Kenji is straining to just pedal, and is now sweating profusely. Finally, she can't go on, as her female body just does not have the strength or stamina of her former boy's body. She again flares in anger, dismounts, and kicks at the bicycle. *" It's uphill, dammit! "*, barks Kenji. Masaomi tells her that is what he said earlier. " YOU PEDAL UPHILL! ", commands Kenji. Yeah, yeah, bemoans Masaomi.

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