Chapter 39: Bonds (of Friendship)

The new girl, Yui, zeros in on Pretty Saku-Nyan with an offer of girl-with-girl friendship, instituted with an intimate photo shoot.

## Features of this Chapter

### Transition Milestones

Yui meets Karii Maki for the first time. However, Yui is infatuated with Pretty Saku-Nyan, and wants to photograph her in several different poses.

### Relationship Evolution

Yui wants to try and do a girl-with-girl Yui X Karin shipping.

### Skills Learned

Friendship is not automatically given, it is patiently earned.

### Lessons Learned

Social interactions can be do or die trying situations.

BONDS (OF FRIENDSHIP)

CHAPTER 39 OF THE MANGA

## Previously

With the reintroduction of the Maho Shoujo Club at the beginning of the new school year, all the previous members, as well as the President, are all present and accounted for. But the beginning of the school year brings a new girl to the club. She wants to be a member, although the President says that she is not now taking in new members. However, an exception is made, and Yui, the newest member, is welcomed into the club. Yui doesn't get off to a very amicable start when she objects to male Minami being in a club meant only for girls. But then again, male Minami can transform into the anime girl, Maho Curry, as well as the ordinary teenage girl Karii Maki. Yui understands now. On the other hand, just how is Yui herself supposed to fit into the club. Is she going to be an anime girl, too ?

## Chapter Overview

One recent afternoon in the club room Yui is having the time of her life. She is having a photo shoot with Pretty Saku-Nyan. The other club members are there, too, but only as onlookers. However, they take turns asking all about Yui, the newest member. Yui 'strikes a cord' with Foret Noire when Yui quotes an exact saying that Pretty Sugar quotes in one episode of the anime.

After the photo shoot, Yui implores Pretty Saku-Nyan to be her personal and intimate girl-with-girl friend. Pretty Saku-Nyan is quite taken aback, but agrees nonetheless. To kick the shipping off on a good note, the two girls agree to address one another by their first names, something not normally done in everyday society. Karii Maki becomes disenhanted when she (supposedly) feels that she is excluded from such style of friendship because she is not (supposedly) a *real girl* ( Karii Maki is a male to female transgender teenager ).

## This Chapter's Story

The newest member of the Maho Shoujo Club sure is having fun one recent afternoon in the clubroom. Yui is having Pretty Saku-Nyan hold still in many different poses, while Yui takes pictures of her with an iphone. Yui is at such an emotional and spiritual high right now, Karii Maki can't help but take notice, and comment on this obvious display of fan's admiration. Again pressing the issue, Karii Maki wants to know why Yui isn't an anime girl herself, or even wants to become one ? Yui answers with an illustration. There are those people who partake in various sports, and then there are people who do not play, but are avid fans of that sport. Yui says that she is the latter. Foret Noire comments that love comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms, does it not ? Yui thanks her for her understanding.

Yui turns her attention back to Pretty Saku-Nyan, telling her that she is simply fabulous. She then lists her adorable features---Innocent looks, especially as a maho shoujo girl, a small, childlike physique ( a typical teen loli ), and that ubiquitous awkward smile that says, " How did I ever get dragged into becoming an anime girl ? " ! Pretty Saku-Nyan thinks to herself that the part about 'being dragged into it' is all too true, thanks to male Minami ! At this point Pretty Saku-Nyan detransitions back to herself as Karin Saku. Yui comments that the last time she had such fun, and saw such talent, was when she hired a cosplayer to come to her home and perform. Karii Maki wants to know if Yui really did hire a cosplayer ? If so, rich people are unbelievable. This Yui actually did ! Asking again, Karii Maki wants to know why she joined this club, when one could just hire a cosplayer at any time at all ? Yui remarks that it was fun, but the only connection that she had with the cosplayer was the money, and that really felt a bit empty. Yui then puts her hands on her heart and says in a very impassioned and reverential tone---

***"Most important of all ....... are the bonds that link are hearts together !"***

When Foret Noire hears this, she goes nuts, loudly exclaiming that what was just said is Pretty Sugar's speech from Episode 23 of the anime ( see Chapter 6 )!!! Yui shouts that she expected no less from Foret Noire, as the two immediately bond over their love of the *Pretty Sugar* anime. Yui ponders the thought of such friendship, saying to herself that such is accomplished by having emotional and spiritual bonds to the person, human or anime girl, that is your role model. Next, Yui turns to Karin and taking Karin's hands into hers, loudly exclaims that she, Yui, wants to bond with friendship to Karin, right here and now ! Taken by surprise, Karin is now quickly taken aback, and Yui goes into panic mode, showing a murky and disoriented expression on her face ! Maybe Karin is not that enthusiastic about being friends with her ?!? Yui then surmises toward Karin that the friendship request must have really bothered her ........ ? Karin says that is not it. Just being in the club, and having the clubs goals and ideals in mind, is sufficient bonding for lasting friendship between the members. We are already friends on that basis. Yui is deeply moved, and shouts---

" **Thank You, Kindly** ! "

Karin states that she is somewhat embarrassed by this display of emotion. Yui turns to walk away, then swiftly returns to Karin with an afterthought. Just like two female friends that are baring their souls to one another, Yui says that up 'till now, she has always had trouble making friends, and the few that she did befriend, she has lost contact with them. So Yui implores Karin to 'teach her the basics' of becoming friends. Karin is a bit puzzled, then in a few moments, suggests that the two of them begin calling each other by their first names (\*) ---

" Nice to see ya, Yui-chan ! ", intones Karin in a friendly way.

" Nice to see you, too, Karin-san ! ", replies Yui.

All this time Karii Maki has been listening in on the conversation between Yui and Karin. However, at the end, when the two girls called each other by their first names for the first time, Karii Maki becomes melancholic and depressed. She tells herself that she wants to be part of the fun between these two teenage girls, but (supposedly) there is some kind of 'real girl' aura at work here, keeping out 'fake girls', like herself. Karii Maki resigns herself to that of a foreigner and having an outlier status, this because (supposedly) she is only a male to female transgender girl, not a *real girl.*

## Chapter Lookback and Commentary

(\*) Using first names with your friend for an increased romantic interest---

Of course there are times (especially in anime) when they overdo it.

Many instances of this romantic trope in Japanese works may also fall under First-Name Basis. In Japanese culture, it is customary to use family names plus an honorific (usually "san", sometimes "senpai" for one's elders, "kun" for underlings, "dono" or "sama" for works set in older times, etc.) when addressing someone else, even directly (they rarely use the pronoun for "you" in formal settings, although they do have a few for informal situations). Children, especially girls, will often use first names with friends, although adults will usually only do this if they've been friends since childhood or are otherwise intimate, romantic friends. But when a couple has moved ahead in their relationship, they will often switch to using first names as well. In media, the first time a character calls their romantic interest by their first name (whether out of affection or a desire to become intimate), the scene often ends up being an example of this custom.

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So far, Yui seems to be okay for now with the fact that male Minami is a male to female transgender teenager, who transforms into female Maho Curry, or at other times, female Karii Maki. But what is Yui's real innermost thoughts and feelings about transgender people ?

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Foret Noire feels left out because Yui chose Pretty Saku-Nyan to be her first intimate girl-with-girl friend, and not herself.

Manga Fan's Commentary
MidnighTea / 6 months ago
Oof! The "real girl aura keeping out the fakes" thing is such a trans[gender] mood. Like, it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. Either you don't bring up that you feel uncomfortable and stew in your own juices, or you speak up and replace all the energy and happiness with uncomfortable awkwardness. Either way you wind up unable to sleep later, reflecting on how you should've said something or how you ruined something.

Combat Fox / 25 weeks ago / 2 likes
Teruto [Chiyoko / Foret Noire] really knows how to make a great pose... She's doing it most of the time though!

Rahardian Dwiprastyanto / 25 weeks ago / 4 likes
I forget why I follow this manga. Is it because deep inside my subconsciousness, I want to become a magical girl.., or is it that I just like cute girls? I just don't know anymore. But it doesn't matter cos YOLO [You Only Live Once], right?

MidnighTea / 5 months ago
It's good to know that I've had a positive presence on [the] genderbend comment sections though! I've been trying to be less overtly combative but still en**gender** a positive atmosphere for people who like fluffy stuff and decent stories as well as fun kinky times. I think this is our time.

And yeah, back on topic -- I do really feel bad for Minami here from a trans-interpretive version of this story. I actually agree with people who'd say this manga's "trans energy" isn't necessarily intentional on the part of the author but... well...... the author's [feeling] is in play. If "Magical Trans!" is meaningful to you that way, it's meaningful that way **period**. It's inherently valid. And yeah, in that light, I think it makes sense to feel bad for Minami here.

Ancient Watcher / 6 months ago
Karin is the best wingwoman. She and Minami should just start officially dating. They would make a great couple.

Sheep in Wolf's Clothing / 9 months ago
That has been the premise all along. Karin is in love with male Minami, and she is learning to be in love with their female self, Karii Maki ! That would make Karin bisexual, at least socially and romantically.

Redice / 6 months ago
That's no "real girl" aura, that's called "Yuri" aura.

1234muse / 6 months ago
I really don't like her [Yui], it just doesn't sit right with me

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(Click on Chapter 40: A Rough Situation to be taken to the next chapter.)

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