Chapter 60

Always ready to sling gossip, Shion approaches Akira with some 'juicy tidbits'.

### Transition Milestones

Akira is comfortable enough to do girly things, like play around with various hairstyles.

### Relationship Evolution

Rumi has a 'bad day', and bites back at a comment made by Akira. Yet, Rumi later apologizes for her nasty remarks to Akira.

### Lessons Learned

Everyone has a 'bad day' once in a while.

ORE GA WATASHI NI NARU MADE (UNTIL I BECOME ME)

CHAPTER 60 OF THE MANGA

## Previously

Recently, Rumi, Akira, and Aoi have been spending a lot of time together. Rumi and Akira's Shoujo Ai (girl's love) relationship go back a long way. But the occasional addition of Aoi to the two's friendship circle seems to be going well. The three friends recently spent time at a Café together, then went to a bookstore to look around and see what was interesting. While there, they ran into Yuto Kikuchi. He was buying a sports magazine. Later, the three friends decided to have an all-girls sleepover at Aoi's home. Aoi's Mom is delighted to see that Aoi had brought with her two friends, as Aoi always seemed to Mom to be a tomboy and loner. After Aoi was asleep, Rumi and Akira had a heafty dose of intimate girl talk, which left Akira unable to go to sleep right away. Yet there is always someone who likes to try and break up friendship by gossip, and that person, Shion, approaches Akira at school. What does Shion want to talk to Akira about, seeing as Akira dislikes Shion anyway ?

## This Chapter's Story

Akira is in her bedroom, dressing in her school uniform. When done, she takes a careful look at herself in the full-length mirror. She quietly stares at herself for quite some time. Then, in all seriousness, speaks out loud and does a 'dry run' in what she is thinking about, and what she contemplates telling Rumi---

"Rumi ..... *I* (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) ..... I used to be a male, you know ..... ! Just kidding ! Yet, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE WOULD BELIEVE ME !"

Now at school, at her desk, the proposed confession that she tried out earlier this morning continues to bedevil Akira. She has been worried sick about it since she left home for school. Akira holds her head in her hands, looking downward, and silently announcing to herself that she is going to tell Rumi, today, as soon as possible. If she doesn't do it today, she may never work up the courage to ever do it again at all. More troubles with her friends and schoolmates are brought up in her mind. Like, when she had a falling out with Rumi, when she turned down Shouma's Love Confession, the time that Erika doubted her sense of fairness and judgement, and when Rumi offered for Akira to tell her, Rumi, her deepest, darkest secrets.

Trying to find an acceptable solution to her worries and grief, Akira pulls out the iphone, and brings it online. There, she researches Internet articles about her malady, "Idiopatic Sex Change Syndrome". Maybe she should show the friends the old photos of herself as a bratty, toxic boy ? But when to tell them ? Where to tell them ? Suddenly, from behind her---

"Hey ! Hands off the iphone in class !"

It's Aoi, playing the joker. You came to school so early today ? Why ? Aoi relates that she woke up and could not go back to sleep, so why not ? Sitting down with her arms on Akira's desk, Aoi thanks Akira for her concern last Saturday. Aoi goes on to state that she is happy that someone took the time to listen to her heart's hopes and desires. No big deal, Akira was glad to help. Continuing, Aoi relates that she never had another girl with whom she could share her tomboy nature with. Not until you, Akira. So glad that I got to meet with you that one day. Stunned, Akira begins to tear up as Aoi says that she is going to the girl's restroom.

Just as Aoi is leaving the classroom, in steps Shion. She whips out her iphone, and rips off a selfie of Akira with tears in her eyes. "Two timing on Rumi, are we ?", mocks Shion. What would happen if "someone" were to tell Rumi ? Miffed, Akira retorts, "Who do you mean **"someone"** ?" Shion blows it off, saying that she was only kidding, and don't get mad (Akira has always disliked Shion) ! "Anyways, about last Saturday .... ", begins Shion. But she is interrupted when Rumi enters the classroom, looking like 'death warmed over' !

Wondering what is wrong, Akira, much concerned, asks Rumi what is bothering her ? Are you sick ? Physically, no. But take a look at this .... Rumi shares her iphone; it is displaying a celebrity gossip website. A picture of a famous actor, Taisei Yamaguchi, is shown, with the tag line saying that he assaulted (sexually?) a woman at a private party, wherein there was a lot of drinking going on. Rumi hands the iphone to Akira, as Shion looks on. Stating that she has been a fan of Taisei for a long time, Rumi wishes that she did not have to find out about this scandal. Handing the iphone to Shion, Akira comments that it is good that you found out what kind of person he was in his private life. Besides, you, Rumi, should be glad that you would have never been in a position for him to 'come on' to you. Rumi explodes, as she grabs the iphone away from Shion---

"THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU, AKIRA !!!"

And with that, Rumi leaves in a huff. Shion chides Akira, croaking that wasn't the best thing to say to Rumi, ya know ! Now you have done it, Akira !

Later in class, Akira steals glances of a very upset and troubled Rumi (their desks are across from one another). The class is working out problems on sheets of paper. While the Sensei (teacher) has her back to the class, Aoi (who sits in front of Akira) deftly slips a note onto Akira's desk. Quietly opening it, the note says---

"I really hope that Rumi feels better soon. (Shion must have gossiped to Aoi in the restroom.). Do you know of anything that might cheer her up ?" Signed---Aoi.

Thinking to herself, Akira admits to herself that she wouldn't know ..... for one thing, who is this Taisei guy, anyway ? That, and to begin with, do ***I*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) even have what it takes to cheer up Rumi ? Aoi writes another note and intrusively passes it forward to Akira.

"You could probably come up with more ideas than I possibly could do. Anything, really." Aoi.

At breaktime, Aoi comes over to Akira's desk and implores her to "Do my hair!" Responding, Akira says that she is not really good at that. Aoi then offers to do your hair, Akira ! The two become intimate with one another, as Aoi begins fondling her hair, remarking how straight and lovely Akira's hair is. In a rather erotic pose, Aoi begins stroking Akira's hair. Looking across the aisle, Rumi does a slow burn. Soon, Rumi moves a chair up next to Akira's desk. "It's frustrating that I got lured into you two's Yuri moments together." Akira started it, invokes Aoi.

Rumi begins by apologizing for what happened this morning. Nah, I'm is the one who should be apologizing, states Akira. As the three-way girl session plays out, Akira has her hair put into a sexy ponytail, whereas Aoi is now sporting a bun on the top of her head, just like how Rumi wears her hair ! Aoi declares that she will be charming all of the guys at club this afternoon. So strange !

Leaving as the group breaks up, in the hallway, Akira ponders if she should say anything more to Rumi about the celebrity debacle. Maybe not. Soon, Akira is stopped by Shion. Is Akira going to club this afternoon ? Yes. Will Kikuchi be there ? Yes, probably. Shion wants to show Akira something on her iphone. I saw Kikuchi at the bookstore last Saturday, and got this picture of him from behind, standing at the sales counter, without him or anybody seeing me. Sure looks like he is trying to shoplift a soft-core p\*rn mag, doesn't it ? Isn't that really bad of him ? Plus, I heard that a while ago, he assaulted a girl at school ! Do you know who she was ? (It was Akira, but Akira remains silent.) Kikuchi is really a dangerous person at heart, isn't he ?

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

definitionofinsanity

Mar 7, 2023

From Akira's point of view, as far as it goes telling the others she was born a male and via this syndrome/disease (I forget what they labelled it before ["Idiopatic Sex Change Syndrome"]) that he turned into an actual girl... I can see how she's conflicted about how to tell them. Like, (s)he brought up [the] idea of showing them the pictures from before he changed... But from just looking at the pictures and not actually knowing that Akira was a boy... You'd just think she was a tomboy and wore boys clothing. And, of course, she has no idea how they'd receive her telling them.

I mean, probably the best way would be to have them sleep over at her house and her mother could confirm it for her if they didn't seem to believe her. I just hope that there is, eventually, that scene where she tells them.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

ntn9713c

May 6, 2023

The guilt is eating her (him?) alive.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

(Click on Chapter 61 to be taken to the next chapter.)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_