Chapter 4: First Date at the Summer Festival

MAIDEN TO THE MAX

FIRST DATE AT THE SUMMER FESTIVAL

CHAPTER 4 OF THE MANGA

"Nozumu ..... If you don't wake up, you will be late for your first date .... "

So coddles Hana, as she sits atop Nozumo's bedcovers, sitting on top of Nozumu herself. Nozumu is awake now, but puzzled as to why Hana-chan is in her bedroom, first thing in the morning ? "I came to wake you up !", is the curt reply. Nozomu finally gets her wits about her, and realizes that today is the day of her first date with Shuuji-san. She is becoming so excited, as it is her first date as a Trans Girl, and this will be the first time that she will wear a sexy yukata ! Hana-chan watches Nozomu take off her nightgown, and begin dressing in her pretty yukata. A thought crosses Hana's mind, but when she addresses Nozomu, she merely says it was 'nothing'. When all done, Hana-chan belts out to Nozomu, "Yeah ! You look really cute today, too ! I knew my sense of color-coordination was the best ! But in all fairness, you already look so cute to begin with, Nozomu !"

But now for the final touch ! Hana-chan retrieves a hair ornament that was given to her by Nozomu, quite some time ago, from a booth at the summer festival when the two of them were in elementary school. Hana-chan carefully pins the ornament onto Nozomu's wig. "This is to wish you the best for your first date !", exclaims Hana-chan, as she holds hands with Nozomu. Leading Nozomu to the front door, Hana-chan sees her off with a 'have a good time' ! Waiting for about a quarter-hour, Hana-chan then changes her clothes, dons glasses, and heads on out to the summer festival herself, in disguise, of course. She tells herself that she is interested in the two of them, and are they becoming romantically involved with one another ?

At the Shrine, the site of the Summer Festival, Nozomu by herself waits for her date to show up. In a while, Hana-chan is watching Nozomu from afar, to see what happens next. What happens next, for better or for worse, happens to be a major milestone in Nozomu's transition to that of a cute teenage girl. Two high school guys come upon her, and 'hit upon' her for companionship and potential love-making. "You sure are a cutie, wanna hang out with us ?", is offered to Nozomu. Hana-chan, watching, tells herself that she just knew that something like this would happen to Nozomu. Bravely, Nozomu tells the two guys that she is waiting for someone, so no ! Being persistent dudes, the two guys insist that she come with them. "Come on, let's go have some fun !" Nozomu becomes quite distressed ....

"SORRY, I'M LATE ! DID I MAKE YOU WAIT ?", comes a loud, friendly voice from afar.

"BOO!", spits out one of the boys, "She already has a boyfriend. And he looks older than us ! Let's get out of here !"

Nozomu greets Shuuji with a big smile on her face, and loads of relief. From her hiding place, Hana-chan tells herself that with the presence of Shuuji, she has no reason to worry about Nozomu. Yet, her spying job is not done, as she tails the two, but always keeping her distance.

Nozomu and Shuuji head on out, this for some real fun and adventure, checking out all of the booths and games that are at the festival, and sampling all the exotic food that is offered. Time seemed to 'fly by' for the two on their enjoyable date with one another. About an hour or two into the festivities, Nozomu almost trips, as she is not used to wearing sandals. Therefore, Shuuji nonchalantly and tactfully begins to hold hands with Nozomu, giving all the more impression to other festival goers that the two of them are obvious young, romantic lovers. Nozomu doesn't really notice that his hand is holding hers, or if she did, she doesn't say anything. Soon, Hana-chan notices the hand-holding, and remarks to herself that in times past, she was the only one to always hold hands with Nozomu. Yet, she acknowledges that seeing the two romantically holding hands, it gives her a 'pain in her heart', that she has never felt before. Hana-chan decides that she can't bear to watch anymore, and decides to go home.

Being unaware that Hana-chan had been following them, but now is gone, the two lovers continue to experience all the fun and pleasures of the festival. Shuuji silently admits that he has not ever seen Nozomu so happy and likeable before, and that makes her all the more attractive and desirable. Time slips away, and in the early evening, it will soon be time for the fireworks to begin. Shuuji suggests that the two of them find a spot wherein it will be a spectacular view of the upcoming spectacle. However, as the evening progresses, and it becomes closer to the time of the fireworks, the Shrine grounds fill up with many, many people, such that it has become somewhat difficult to move and walk around.

There are so many people, that Nozomu and Shuuji keep getting people trying to come between them. With the crowd pressing in on the loving couple, Shuuji inadvertently lets go of Nozomu's hand, and Nozomu gets sucked into the crowd. Looking backward, Shuuji sees Nozomu being jostled farther and farther away from him, and begins fighting his way toward her. As two strangers push past Nozomu, her body is rubbed on both sides. Her wig becomes twisted, comes loose, and falls to the ground, along with the hair ornament. But there is no way to retrieve it, as people are so packed together, and the wig is getting stepped on over and over. Panic overcomes Nozomu, as she grasps her head in her hands, and silently tells herself that she will (supposedly) now appear to be merely a cross-dressed boy, and not the authentic girl that she truly is. What is she to do ?

**"NOZOMU !!!"**, comes a familiar voice from the crowd.

A hand is gently laid upon Nozomu's arm, and she is pulled into the intimate company of Shuuji. "Are you okay?" Shuuji apologizes for getting separated from her. With tears forming in her big, wide eyes, Nozomu looks up to Shuuji. She says that she is okay, but when she again touches her head, she pleads that she is not okay. She is touching her own hair, and not the wig that she had on earlier, which is now lost. Nozomu is heartbroken that she lost her wig and hair ornament, as well as appearing in public with her own natural hair. However, Shuuji coyly tells her to hold out her hand. This she reluctantly does. Shuuji places in her hand another hair ornament that he purchased earlier at one of the booths, and kept it hidden in his male yukata, to give to Nozomu some time in the future. But now it as good a time as any ! Lovingly having the new ornament carefully placed in her natural hair, Nozomu silently tells herself not to cry.

Continuing to silently muse with herself, Nozomu notes that although she was born perceived as a boy, she, as an authentic girl, loves wearing cute girl's clothing and accessories. Plus, when she is with Shuuji, her chest tightens with joy and fulfillment, and her heart races ! All this even though she was formerly a boy. Giving voice to her concerns, Nozomu asks Shuuji if it is wrong to be different from other teenagers ? Replying, Shuuji says that it's hard to say.

The two companions are now sitting on a park bench. Suddenly, the fireworks explode in the sky in a blaze of wonderful colors and exciting noises. "Everything is so, so pretty !", exclaims Nozomu. After a while, during a brief pause in the fireworks, Shuuji comments that you, Nozomu, you need time to decide the many things about yourself, your teenage years, and how you wish to present yourself and your life to others as a Trans Girl. You can just take your time to sort out your feelings, and find the best way for you to transition.

When the fireworks are done, Shuuji slowly gets up from the bench, and offers his hand to Nozomu as she gets up, too. They once again begin walking intimately hand-in-hand. Nozomu remarks to herself that even if it was difficult to decide about going on a date, or not, she is glad that she ended up coming today to the festival with Shuuji. Nozomu then states a profound secret that she carefully lays into the depths of her innermost heart---She has decided that she is okay with falling in love with Shuuji, despite the age gap between the two ! And for help with getting ready to go to the festival, all thanks go to Hana-chan.

Nozomu and Shuuji part ways at the festival, and Nozomu walks home by herself. Coming upon her home, Nozomu spots Hana-chan waiting for her to return. The two friends exchange greetings, as Nozomu replies that the date went well, thanks to your efforts, Hana-chan ! Nozomu continues, telling Hana-chan that she was able to talk to Shuuji, not in a weird way, but to honestly tell him her true feelings toward him. Nazomu has come to like Shuuji. However, Hana-chan wants to know what happened to your wig, Nozomu ? Nozomu, not realizing the gravity of the situation, joyfully explains that the wig had come off in the packed crowd, but Shuuji gave her a new hair ornament, and placed in her natural hair ! Immediately, Nozomu realizes the implication of what she just said, and profoundly apologizes to Hana-chan about losing the hair ornament that she had given to Nozomu. It was on the wig when the wig came off and is gone now.

"Even though that hair ornament was my treasure .... ", somberly states Hana-chan.

"Hana-chan .... ", calls out Nozomu, to no avail.

**"I can't .... take any more of this .... *YOU AND I ARE FINISHED AS FRIENDS .... !!!"***, spills out of Hana-chan, as she bursts into tears and bitter anguish.

(End Chapter 4)