Balance Policy: Chapter 11

BALANCE POLICY

CHAPTER 11 OF THE MANGA

After her bath with Nee-chan, Kenji is taken home by Masaomi on his bicycle. They say their 'goodbyes' as Masaomi goes to return to his home. For whatever strange reason, as a final gesture, Kenji flips up the hemline of her dress to reveal her clean, white panties. Masaomi is nonplussed, silently telling himself not to react in any visible way, so as not to encourage her in doing such embarrassing things. "Shocked speechless.....?", retorts Kenji. More like bored to tears at her quirkiness, thinks Masaomi to himself.

As Kenji goes through the front door, she is greeted by Dad. She only groans that she is home now, and walks past him. At dinnertime, Mom, Dad, and Kenji eat in silence, broken only by Dad remarking that he went out and bought fireworks. Maybe later, remarks Kenji. Kenji finishes first, gives thanks for the meal, and leaves the table. She goes to her bedroom, and stays there the rest of the evening.

At about 11pm, Kenji, in her PJ's, has already fallen asleep on the floor, instead of on her futon. However, there is a knock, knock on the outside door to her bedroom. Who could that be, out so late ? Kenji gets up and slides open the door. Surprisingly, it is Mi-Ko, come for another after-dark, clandestine visit with Kenji. She has on a t-shirt and booty shorts, and is holding a large shopping bag in her left hand. Mi-ko steps inside the bedroom, as Kenji asks her why is she here ? "Nuttin' much!" Sarcastically, Kenji asks Mi-Ko if she has come to laugh at the fact that she, Kenji, is a girl now ? Mi-Ko only hands the shopping bag to Kenji. Mi-Ko then states that she wants to talk to the 'male' Kenji, therefore, change into and wear the male clothing that is in the shopping bag. This Kenji does.

Kenji remarks that wearing a boy's dress shirt and dress pants does not change her back to being a boy ! Mi-Ko says that she knew that it would not; she just thought that it would be easier to talk to you if you at least looked like a boy. "So, let's talk....." Mi-ko begins by saying that more than a year ago, back when you were a boy, if you had wanted to do.......with me......you know......! But Mi-Ko can't continue, as she rebukes Kenji for 'looking at her with a girl's face'. Kenji gets flustered, countering with the fact that she has a girl's face now, thanks to the surgery. Can't be helped. Mi-Ko gets up from sitting on the floor, and turns out the overhead light, so that the bedroom is now in darkness. She sits back down on the door's threshold, and reveals that when you, Kenji, left to go to Tokyo, she 'gave up' on you. Or so she thought. Mi-Ko goes on to say that she 'let go' of all her feelings regarding you, Kenji, but now she finds that she has gone back on her own proclamation. Really, inquires Kenji, sitting on the floor a little ways away from Mi-Ko ? Mi-Ko confesses that she has always liked you, Kenji. Kenji says that is okay, but why did you sneak into my bedroom the other night ? Mi-ko retorts that she wanted to see if Kenji was actually a girl, with a girl's body ? And that being the case, remarks Mi-ko, it is a sure thing that you, Kenji, will fall in love with a young man, and begin producing children. Right ?

Mi-ko covers her face with her hands, and bursts into tears. "Why, Kenji, why did you have to go and get turned into a girl ? Why ? Kenji says that she wants to know, too. Mi-ko continues to cry. Kenji scoots over to where Mi-Ko is by the door, and scrunching down, looks Mi-Ko directly in the face. Kenji matter-of-factly states that the way she looks at it, it's not her who has changed. Everyone else are the ones who have changed. Sure, my body changed, but I am still good ole Kenji. Kenji states that her folks can't even look at her straight in the eye anymore. And as for Masaomi, he is trying really hard to understand, but a lot of it has not sunk in with him. Even Chi-neechan treats me differently now, like we are soul-sisters or something.

Mi-Ko implores that her feelings toward you, Kenji, have not changed. At least she thinks so. She thinks she is still in love with you, Kenji. Kenji rebukes her, calling her an idiot. Why, you, Mi-Ko, were one of the first ones to change your perceptions and what you thought of me. Kenji gets up, and offering a hand to Mi-Ko, helps her to get up. They both go outside. Once there, Kenji retrieves a bag of fireworks, and lights up a sparkler. She tells Mi-ko to grab a firework and light it up. Mi-Ko only sits on the steps. She asks Kenji what she meant, saying that she changed her mind about you, Kenji ? Kenji replies that if she had been born a girl, would Mi-Ko have come into my bedroom and have a look-see at what my body looks like ? Well, you, Mi-Ko say that you liked me when I was a boy. You should still like me, as if there was no change or difference between a boy or a girl. Boy or girl should not affect how you think about or interact with me. Kenji sets off a skyrocket.

A shocked and surprised look comes across Mi-Ko's face. She tries to speak, but words only come stammering out. She finally belts out that you, Kenji, just dumped me as a friend and lover. Saying that friendship and romantic relationships feel like and are the very same between boys and girls. Saying that it's all the same. "What...?", squaks Kenji. "You wouldn't understand, you dummy!", retorts Mi-Ko. Mi-Ko then gets up, and grabbing a sparkler, lights it up. Kenji's parents are looking out of a window at the two playing with the fireworks. Mom asks what that girl is up to with Kenji ? Dad merely says that the two of them are only having fun with the fireworks, that's all.

(End Chapter 11)

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Click on Balance Policy: Chapter 12 to be taken to the next chapter.