Chapter 52

Aoi, wearing a different hairstyle, and dressed in male attire so that she looks like a teenage boy, meets with Rumi and Akira to try and resolve a social problem from long ago.

## Features of This Chapter

### Story Setting

On the sidewalk in front of a high-rise apartment building.

### Time Line

One day during summer break, plus a flashback to one day at school.

### Relationship Evolution

Aoi and Akane find that forgiveness is a powerful tool to resolving personal conflicts.

### Lessons Learned

Aoi learns the mature concept of trying to make up for mistakes that one has made in the past, if that is possible in the present.

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

CHAPTER 52 OF THE MANGA

(Chapter Note---This Chapter is about Aoi, and how she committed a social blunder some time ago, that has bothered her for a long time.)

## Previously

Akira has had a lot of social drama put upon her recently. First, she did something that she had never done before---wear a sexy yukata and sandals to the Summer Festival. At the festival, Shouma popped an unexpected Love Confession upon her, and she ended up doing a snap judgement by declining it. Then, when Erika and the other girls at school found out, gossip about Akira was widely circulated. Plus, Erika went into an emotional meltdown after she tried to confront Akira about her seeming relationship with Shouma. Finally, Akira herself fell into a mild depression, as she told herself that she just could not handle the drama that was happening all around her. Yet the end of the school term came and went, with the summer break helping to calm things down and for Akria to do a reset. However, not everyone is settled. Aoi is in distress over something that happened to her a long time ago....

## This Chapter's Story

One morning before classes start in school, a girl named Kobayashi announces to the whole class that when summer break begins, she will be moving to another city due to family and personal reasons. Various ones offer well-wishes to her. That afternoon, after classes have ended, as the students were filing out of the classroom, Akira stays at her desk, thinking about some of the social dilemmas that she has had to experience lately. Seems like a lot of ill feelings were still left simmering among the friends and were never resolved. Troubles such as the seemingly unplanned or unexpected Love Confession that Shouma popped on Akira, and the resulting gossip that made the rounds in all the classes. Erika's meltdown when she found out that Akira declined her Love Confession from Shouma. Erika somehow felt that because she was declined, she wanted Akira to take her place in Shouma's romantic aspirations. Natusmi and Shion had a 'hissy fit' in front of the other girls over what to think of Erika's recent social and emotional behavior. Akira agonized over her up and down relationship with Shion, and fell into a brief period of depression.

Yet the end of the semester came, and along with it the Graduation Ceremony. Now with school over with for a while, Akira and Rumi meet up at a convenience store one day. Both are enjoying ice cream treats as they wait for Aoi to show up. Aoi had asked to meet with them, as friends who could offer her moral and spiritual support as Aoi seeks to resolve a long-standing social error that she committed a long time ago. Aoi did not disclose the nature of the problem, but Rumi and Akira agreed to help out nonetheless.

While waiting for Aoi, Rumi discloses a bit of conspiracy regarding Akira, for her consideration. Rumi tells Akira that she and the other girls had been told by Erika that Shouma had told her, in the aftermath of his denial of her Love Confession, that he liked Akira instead of her, Erika. Therefore, the other girls took Erika's opinion at face value, and agreed among themselves to try and tweak things so that you and Shouma would be by yourselves and alone together at various arranged times. It must have been bothersome for you, Akira, or it may be that you were clueless as to why Shouma was acting like he had been doing. Rumi then apologizes for the covert actions by herself and the other girls. As such, Rumi offers Akira the bag of snacks that she had bought earlier at the store. Plus, Rumi tries to give Akira the Dreamcicle that she had bought for herself, but it slips out of her hand, and lands on the dirty pavement. Akira is surprised by Rumi's confession of complacency, and offers her own apology for how she acted during and after the Love Confession. Akira had no idea that Shouma was going to do that.

Akira also remarks that she wishes that she could apologize and make amends with Erika. Rumi advises that can't be done now, as Erika has recently fallen into a mild depression, and it will take some time for her to pull out of it. You, Akira, will have to wait for that to happen. Akira silently thinks to herself that she has had to deal with her own personal discouragements, too. Why, today, she told herself that she wishes that Erika would transfer to a different school. What an unkind thought ! That, and hiding the fact that she used to be a bratty boy that would bully and torment girls. Plus forcing her own burdens upon the friends, and keeping up false appearances like nothing was wrong with her. How terrible. How dirty, just like the dirty melting Dreamcicle laying in front of her on the hot pavement.

However, soon comes the call of "Sorry, I'm late!" Aoi has finally made it to the meetup place. She is cross-dressed in boy's attire, a boy's dress shirt and dress pants, but for a tomboy like Aoi, that in nothing unusual. Her hair is even styled like that of a young boy, with the hair parted across the side. Yet, Aoi greets the two with a concerned and apprehensive look on her face.

Aoi explains her dilemma. Back in elementary school, she was the typical tomboy, and had mostly boys as her friends. However, there was one girl, named Akane, that liked Aoi a lot, and she became friends with Aoi. Akane was a cute blonde girl, ultra-feminine, who only ever wore pretty dresses to school. One day at school, Akane confided in Aoi that she likes a certain boy in class, a boy named Shinjo-kun. In fact, he was one of the boys that Aoi would always hang with. Akane implores Aoi to help her to be introduced to Shinjo-kun, and to help her become friends with him. About this time, Shinjo-kun comes into the classroom and invites Aoi to join the boys in a game of dodgeball. Aoi, without thinking about how rude and callous her comments would be, shouts out for almost all of the class to hear---

"HEY SHINJO ! AKANE HERE SAYS THAT SHE LIKES YOU A LOT ! REAL GIRLY ROMANCE ! HOW 'BOUT WE INVITE HER TO PLAY DODGEBALL WITH US ?"

Hearing that, Akane burst into tears, crying her heart out, as a few of the other girls in class gathered around her to try and calm her down, and show their support for her having her most secret desire blurted out by Aoi. After that, Akane and Aoi's friendship broke up, and they never talked to one another at all.

Aoi, along with Akira and Rumi, are on the sidewalk near a high-rise apartment building. Inside is Akane's apartment. Today, Aoi wants to try and make amends for the social blunder that she caused, and for the hurt and distress that she brought upon Akane that school semester. Aoi looks up at the apartment building, and says that she wants to apologize to Akane, although she doesn't know if Akane would ever want to forgive her. Aoi confesses that she is so upset and nervous right now, and that is why she needs her friends to be with her today. A small bag of Tomo (girl-to-girl) Chocolate to give to Akane as a peace offering is in Aoi's hand. A shudder ripples through Aoi as she wonders how Akane will react to seeing her at the apartment door.

Just then, a cute, ultra-feminine, covertly sexy girl with blonde hair, and wearing a pretty sailor suit comes upon the three from behind. Surprised, the girl utters---

***"AOI ? That you ?"***

The pretty girl is Akane, on her way up to her apartment. "Long time, no see .....", remarks Akane. Aoi barely manages to stammer out an apology, saying that she is so sorry for broadcasting your intimate feelings in front of everyone in the classroom that day. Akane belts out---

**"WHY NOW OF ALL TIMES ?** That happened centuries ago ! I barely remember any of that, it's been so long ago. No biggie ! It's all rather funny now ! Makes me laugh thinking about it. Is that why you are here, Aoi ?"

Aoi squeaks out a "Yea!" That is why she is here today. Akane then offers an apology of her own, for not talking to Aoi after all that happened. It was nothing worth breaking up a friendship over. Akane then mentions that, why not the four of us go to a nice restaurant and get caught up on all that has happened ? The four agree to do just that.

After a long social session with the four girls, with two of them now once again fast friends, Aoi and Akane have not stopped talking about everything and nothing since they met earlier in the afternoon. At the front of the apartment building, Aoi and Akane are together, and Akira and Rumi are together a little ways away. Rumi comments to Akira that the two newly activated friends, being bathed in the setting sunlight, the two of them looked so beautiful together !

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

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