Chapter 1: Do You Remember Me ?

GIRL MORPHED FROM A BOY

DO YOU REMEMBER ME ?

CHAPTER 1 OF THE MANGA

(Story Note---As the Main Character, Akira, has already transitioned from male to female while she was in Thailand for 10 years, female designations will be used for her throughout the story.)

One morning at the local high school, the classroom is all abuzz with talk and excitement about the new transfer student that will be introduced shortly ! Who are they ? Are they a girl or a boy ? What do they look like ? What kind of personality do they have ? A male classmate approaches Yuusuke to ask if he is excited about having the transfer student introduced today ? Yeah, sure, whatever, mopes Yuusuke. Soon, the homeroom Sensei (Teacher) enters the classroom, calling the class to order. In a short while, the new transfer student enters the classroom.

The transfer student is a girl, cute as hell, and wearing the female mini-skirted sailor suit school uniform. She writes her name on the blackboard, *Akira Mizuhara*, and states that she is pleased to meet everyone. Almost the whole class erupts into hoots, hollers, and well wishes, especially the boys ! "She's so damn cute, I'm gonna die !", is heard from several of the boys ! Sensei says for Akira to take that empty desk in back, next to Yuusuke. This she does. Approaching her desk, Akira takes a good, hard look at Yuusuke. Do you remember me, Yuusuke ? He is dumbfounded, squeaking out if this person in front of me is *Akira* ? Akira, for her part, gives Yuusuke a whopping bear hug in front of everyone. Again, the classroom boys go nuts, but this time with jealousy !

After the end-of-day school bell rings, a gaggle of students surrounds Akira. A girl with black hair and glasses introduces herself as the Class Representive and Chairperson, and urges Akira come see her about anything at all. Several boys come up to Akira and personally introduce themselves, gushing over Akira's good looks and demure. However, the get-acquainted party is quickly broken up when Akira shouts out to Yuusuke, for him to walk home with her, seeing as they were childhood friends. Yuusuke agrees, much to the disgruntlement of the other boys. Akira 'rubs salt into the wound' when she happily tells the other boys that she will see them tomorrow, before leaving the classroom with her arm around Yuusuke's arm.

Walking together, Akira remarks to Yuusuke that she can't believe how much this neighborhood has changed in 10 years. However, the little sweet shop and candy store is still here ! Plus, the public park that we used to play in is still around. Akira goes inside the sweet shop and buys two lollipops. Standing outside is Yuusuke, so she tells Yuusuke to open his mouth, and when he does, she shoves a lollipop into it ! With both joyously sucking lollipops, Yuusuke offers that he is beginning to remember the times that they spent together so long ago. After a short while, Yuusuke asks Akira if he can ask her a personal question ? Sure !

"You were born a boy, weren't you ? Right ?"

"Yeah ! But I'm a girl now ! A Trans Girl ! However, I still have what boys have .... ", as she begins to reach down to grasp the hem of her pleated mini-skirt !

***"STOP THAT !!!***, yells out Yuusuke. "I will take your word for it !"

After walking together for a while in silence, Yuukuse turns to yell at Akira, *"How long are you going to follow me ?"* With a calm and sweet disposition, Akira answers, as long as necessary ! Don't you remember ? We used to live next to one another. And now I'm back as your next door neighbor. A half a block later, Akira shouts out, **"AUNTIE !"** The woman is still the neighbor on the other side of Yuusuke's house. 'Auntie' remarks on how Akira has grown. She had thought back then that Akira was a boy, but obviously she is now a pretty, young girl ! The two chit-chat for a while, as Yuusuke tries to dredge up long-lost memories. Finally, just before she goes in her house, Akira tells Yuusuke to be a good friend and neighbor to her, just like he did so long ago ! Why has he forgotten so much from those times, wonders Yuusuke ?

Sometime during the wee hours of the morning, while Yuusuke is sleeping, he has a rather bizarre dream. He dreams that he is wearing a soldier's uniform, is bleeding from all over, and dying on the battlefield from gunshot wounds. He takes out a picture of female Akira, and sorrowfully confesses that he will not be able to go home to her and marry her ! At the thought of marrying Akira, he wakes up and bolts upright in bed, sweating profusely. *"What the hell ...."* Yuusuke gets up and opens the window to get some fresh air. It is early morning, and across the way he sees Akira standing before an open window. She is wearing only her training bra and panties, and is putting on the school uniform sailor top. *"Close the damn curtain ...."*, belts out Yuusuke. Akira only smiles sweetly at him, and says that he has seen her like this, wearing girl's panties, many, many times when we were children !

Walking to school together, Yuusuke is in a foul, nasty mood, but is silent and continues to ignore Akira. "What are you so upset about ?", questions Akira. When the two walk into the classroom, they notice that someone has written graffiti on the blackboard, alleging that Akira and Yuusuke are girlfriend and boyfriend. Yuusuke promptly erases it, drawing criticism from the other boys. One boy puts his arm around Akira, and bluntly says it is not good to get Akira involved in Yuusuke's questionable fantasies. Akira only smiles, and tells the other boys that she will leave the details of her intimate relationship with Yuusuke to their morbid and debased imagination. Just then, the homeroom Sensei (teacher) comes into the classroom, and casually remarks that it is good to see that you, Yuusuke, have made friends with Akira so quickly. Several boys protest that comment, but the twin tailed girl who is the Class Rep yells at the boys to **JUST SHUT UP, YOU JERKS !!!**

After school classes had ended for the day, Yuusuke finds the homeroom Sensei in the Career Counseling Room. He approaches her and wants to know what the big deal is about Akira Mizuhara ? Did you not know, Sensei, that she was born a 'boy' ? Sensei states that, of course, she knew that Akira was born perceived as a 'boy'. She knows all about her students, after all ! Is that fact about Akira upsetting to you, Yuusuke ? Are you really not okay with that about Akira ? Yuusuke becomes embarrassed, and says nothing. The Sensei goes on to remark; not to worry over insignificant details about one's private concerns. Insignificant, wonders Yuusuke ?!? Sensei goes on to relate that in the early days of the push for equality between men and women, Japan introduced co-ed high schools. And in those early days, boys and girls talked together, ran errands together, played sports together, transgender kids used the restroom according to their correct Gender Identity, and did all manner of things together, without any real qualms or troubles arising, to speak of. Ultimately, one's choice of Gender Identity or Gender Expression is not anything to squabble about. Teenagers know themselves, with regard to gender concepts, better than anyone else, despite what hardcore transphobic toadies have to say. Next, the Sensei, wearing a white blouse and a black leather mini-skirt, drops a bombshell of information on Yuusuke---

"You know, I, myself, **was born perceived as a 'male'**. Unfortunately, I am still listed on my Birth Certificate and Family Registry as a 'male', too. However, I transitioned from male to female when I was in teacher's college, and continue to live my authentic life as a female to this day. You, Yuusuke, can check with the school administration yourself, if you don't believe me." Yuusuke is dumbfounded, but says that he is fine with all that, and leaves the room.

Outside the room, the boy who earlier had his arm around Akira in the classroom, confronts Yuusuke. "Let's have a friendly, little chat ...." ! Meanwhile, Akira is looking around for Yuusuke. She is going up the stairs, when she hears a loud altercation occurring at the top of the stairs. She hears a fist crack against flesh. Hurrying to the top, Akira sees Yuusuke and the boy having a heated slug-fest. Yuusuke has just taken a punch to his face, as the other boy yells at him. "**This is all your fault !** You are way too intimate with Akira ! You are always around her ! You talk to her a lot. You make 'romantic' gestures toward her ! You even walk to and from school with her ! You need to be 'taken down a few notches' !!" Yuusuke tries to state that is not true at all, but instead gets a another punch, this time to the mid-section, and is down for the count !

***"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW !!!"***, screams Akira.

"Akira-chan, my love .... ", coos the boy, as he goes to hug Akira.

With the boy's arms wide open, Akira doubles up her fist, and plants a haymaker of a punch right into his stomach. He falls backward, hits the floor, rolls over a couple of times, and is smashed up against the hallway's wall ! He is 'out like a light' ! Nevertheless, Akira gives him a 'piece of her mind'---

"YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF ! Bullying someone who is obviously weaker than yourself."

Akira turns toward Yuusuke, and asks if he is okay ? You were obviously in no condition to do anything to that bully ! Yuusuke pleads that he did not do anything to 'set him off'. In fact, Yuusuke doesn't even know or understand what this is all about ! Akira states that back in the day, back when we were children, you, Yuusuke, would regularly get beaten up for protecting me. Do you remember ? You even have a tiny scar on the side of your face, from when you were fighting for me back then---

FLASHBACK---

On the neighborhood playground, a boy bully, a bit older than Akira, is trying to 'shake her down' for money, or because today 'she' was wearing a girl's jumper dress, or whatever. He is standing over Akira, glaring at her while she is sitting on the ground, crying her heart out. Akira is wearing a white T-shirt, and a cute dark gray, short hemline jumper dress, showing her bare legs. Yet, everyone on the playground already knows that Akira was a 'boy' who would frequently wear girl's clothing. After all, Akira really did look like a girl. Yuusuke comes upon the altercation, and yells at the bully to cease and desist ! "Don't bully Akira !", shouts Yuusuke, as he comes at the bully with instant fearlessness and his fists swinging. However, after a valiant effort by Yuusuke, the bully leaves, with Yuusuke laying on the ground, with blood gushing from the side of his head.

"Yuusuke-kun, YUUSUKE-KUN !", wails Akira over and over, as she kneels down next to him. "I'm safe now ! Are you okay ? Answer me ! You saved me ! ANSWER ME .... !"

Yuusuke is awake, bleeding, but mumbles "something" into Akira's ear .... (End Flashback)

Do you remember that incident ? You saved me from that bully ! That is how you got your scar. Akira is standing over Yuusuke, sitting on the hallway floor, wiping blood with his hand. Akira offers him her handkerchief. I think I remember a little bit about what happended, confesses Yuusuke. Well than, states Akira, do you remember the promise you made to me on that day on the playground ? Promise ? Yeah, a promise, a real promise ! What promise ? So, you can't remember that promise, dryly states Akira ? WHAT PROMISE ??? Akira turns away from Yuusuke, but then turns her head back to look at him. "So, until you remember your noteworthy promise to me, I'm going to keep it as my secret !", confides Akira.

Soon, the beaten and shaken boy gets up from leaning on the wall, and comes over to where Akira and Yuusuke is. Acting like he is 'punch drunk' he pleads with Akira---

"Akira-chan, my love, my Princess ! Give me another "Love Tap" again, just like you already did earlier ! Hit me with your best shot !"

(End Chapter 1)

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