Chapter 21

Akira meets a new girl on the first day of Jr. High, and surprisingly, her interests are more in line with Akira's interests, more so than Rumi is !

## Features of This Chapter

### Time Line

The morning of the first day of classes of Jr. High

### Transition Milestones

Akira sorta decides for herself that it is best to make friends only with other girls. In the back of her mind looms the dilemma of who she should be romantically attracted to---girls or boys, or both ?

### Relationship Evolution

Akira is establishing more contacts and friendships with other girls. This both makes her happy, as well as distressing her about her shipping with Rumi.

### Lessons Learned

One can have many intimate friends, not just one.

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

CHAPTER 21 OF THE MANGA (REVISED ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

(Part 1 of the Friendship Lost to Friendship Regained Story Arc)

## Previously

Akira has come a long way from when she was in the third grade, and went to school for the first time as an atomically correct girl. So much has changed in her life. New residence, new school, new friend, new clothes, new monthly girl's distress ! Yet, she, somehow, has kept her sanity and self-worth in check. Truly, Akira has learned, maybe the hard way, to 'play with the cards that fate or destiny has dealt to you', and to be content with outcomes that you can neither predict, nor change. Now Akira begins another phase of her life, the beginning of the Jr. High School years. Now she begins to wear the female school uniform, a sailor fuku (sailor suit), to show everyone her status of that of a Jr. High girl. But what new challenges await Akira, and her friend Rumi ? What lessons of life are to be learned in Jr. High ?

## This Chapter's Story

For Akira, today is a very important day. It is the first day of her attendance in Jr. High. Akira is all dressed and ready to go. She is wearing a crisp, clean female sailor fuku (sailor suit school uniform), the school uniform that she will wear for then next few years. Before Akira leaves for school, she checks herself all over in front of the full-length mirror. She admires her new, longer, sexier hairstyle. Everything looks good! However, Mom is about to pull some skulduggery on Akira. Mom calls Akira into another room of the house. There, Mom greets Akira with a 'Good Morning', then 'drops the hammer down'. She holds up the male school uniform, the military styled one, and tells her to change into it for school. Come on, COME ON ! " No! " Mom says you can just drape it over your shoulders, and take it with you ! **" I SAID NO !!! "**, barks Akira as she slaps at the male uniform, almost knocking it from mom's hand.

" I gotta go ........ ", quips Akira as she hurries out the door.

Walking to school by herself, she reasons with herself. She doesn't know why she got so mad at mom. Then again, it was like mom was denying everything that she, Akira, had worked so hard for, to assert her girlhood and femininity. Soon, Akira meets up with Rumi. Rumi states that she is glad to get to see A-chan wearing a sailor suit every day now. Rumi senses that something is upsetting Akira, but when asked about it, Akira says that it is nothing. Rumi next wants to exchange iphone information. But Akira had forgot to bring her iphone ('cause of mom's antics?). Rumi asks, what's the point of having one ?

At school, all the students have to check the information board to see what class number and class room they are assigned to. Rumi and Akira are in the same class ! Rumi says that she is so happy ! Akira thinks to herself that she already knew that she would be with Rumi. The homeroom teacher, Mz. Iizuka, had clued her in earlier that all of Akira's schoolmates would be together (the school administration knows that Akira used to be a boy, but keeps that info private and confidential). Akira recognizes a few other students that she already knew from previous classes. The pretty, regal looking girl sitting directly behind Akira says that Akira's hair is so shiny and beautiful, and asks what shampoo she uses ? Akira says that she does not know, as the label is in English. The girl then politely introduces herself; she is Shion Miura. Akira returns the introduction, saying that she is Akira Fijimiya. They shake hands, but Akira feels that Shion makes her feel uncomfortable, nonetheless. Shion says that she is glad to meet such a pretty girl on the first day. Akira silently thinks to herself that she is *definitely not...a 'pretty girl'*. Suddenly, Rumi crosses the room, and puts her arms around Akira, giving off the definite aura of girl-with-girl romance. Rumi says that Akira and herself have been friends for a long, long time. Shion says, "That is nice to see".

To start off with, the homeroom teacher gives a long-winded speech about achievement, and who knows what else ? Akira thinks to herself that her first impression of Shion is that she has a bad feeling about her. What did Shion mean by the comment, 'that's nice'? Did she mean that someone like ***me*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) should be so grateful that I'm friends with someone like Rumi ? Well, she would be right about that, reasons Akira. "If I were still a boy, that kind of girl-with-girl friendship would have never happened !" Near the end of the speech, a seemingly careless and hastily groomed looking girl bursts into the classroom, apologizing for being so late. She is scolded by the teacher. But when she plops down her backpack on her desk, the desk in front of Akira, a stack of Duel Oh! (Yu Gi Oh!) cards spill out all over the floor. She is scolded again for bringing play cards to school. The girl, Aoi Fujiki, apologizes and gathers up her cards. Akira leans over her desk to look at Aoi restacking the deck of cards, but says nothing. The teacher, noticing what just happened, then says that she will confiscate the cards right here and now. Aoi cries out, **" NO WAY! "**

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

With the entrance into Jr. High, Akira and Rumi, no doubt, will meet new students, and that means that the both of them must decide just who to make additional friends with, and who to avoid. With so many additional friendship and shipping choices available, how will that affect the already established relationship between Akira and Rumi ? Can deep friendship really be shared with multiple friends, and under varying circumstances ? Will jealousy arise and spoil an already intimate friendship ?

## What Manga Fans Are Saying About This Chapter

**imahuman / 29 days ago**

Page 4 is really uncomfortable [mom with the male uniform], just in a "oh geez, she's trying to be a good mom, but there's just a lack of communication" type of way. On the other hand, [Akira saying] "The future is bright" immediately preceding Shion being catty like that... I have a bad feeling. Like, yeah. But I don't like her [Shion, either!]

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(Click on Chapter 22 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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