Love Me: Chapter 8

Love Me: Chapter 8

LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM

CHAPTER 8 OF THE MANGA

Mei-chan reviews with the other three waitresses the changes for the summer that are coming to Question Café, what with the new menu items and the new style uniforms that everyone is to wear. Ten-chan will be overseeing the creation and construction of the new Chinese-inspired uniforms. After the uniforms are done, everyone should try them on, and if okay, we need to take pictures to post on our website, handouts, and social media. Ten-chan suggests that we get Kame-chan, the professional photographer for anime conventions, to take our pictures. He does a good job every time ! Ten-chan goes on to say that she, if she had enough time, she could construct all of the clothes. But, unfortunately, she has to go to cram school during the summer, so she needs the rest of you to help out. Suzu says that she can try and help out, but she has never made clothing before. Mogumo offers that they know of someone who they could ask to help out !

"Come on ..... PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE .... All you have to do is a few things on the sewing machine .... !"

An impassioned plea is heard in the kitchen. Mogumo is at the apartment of Koto-chan, pulling on the back of her blouse, while Koto-chan is cooking at the stove. Koto-chan bites back, saying if it is so easy, you, Mogumo, can do it yourself, without me. Mogumo pleads that they can't even sew, let alone work a sewing machine. Sitting over the dinner that Koto-chan had cooked, she reiterates that no way is she going to help those 'cross-dressed' guys at the Café. But they are not 'guys' per se, points out Mogumo, they are people like me. Koto-chan says that what really bothers her is guys like Tetsu who cross-dress in the most ridiculous fashion of that of an obnoxious drag queen. *Tetsu doesn't cross-dress !*, points out Mogumo. Actually, Tetsu-kun works in the kitchen, so he dresses in a male chef's uniform all the time, remarks Mogumo. Plus, right now he is out of commission with a bad cold, so he would not be there to help anyway.

"Well, in that case ..... ", offers a more reasonable Koto-chan.

The day before the clothing construction party, a loud blood-curdling scream is heard at the Café, just as someone has entered. "I *knew* it was going to be a bunch of---**yuck**---***boys'!***", comes out with indignation. The first persons that Koto-chan sees in the Café are Ten-chan and Suzu, dressed in their regular mini-skirted waitress uniforms. Koto-chan tugs on Mogumo, also dressed in the uniform, and lambblasts Mogumo ! "You told me all wrong !", belts out Koto-chan ! Mogumo responds that they didn't really know what you consider to be 'okay' as far as being around boys. Mei comes out of the kitchen to see what that scream was all about ? Did someone enter the Café ? Mei is quite taken aback when she sees Koto-chan. "She looks so lovely ....", quietly remarks Mei. Mogumo states that Koto-chan is going to help us make our special uniforms. Koto-chan introduces herself as, "Kotone Mizunoe". Mogumo adds that Koto-chan doesn't get along very well with *boys*, so be nice to her. Ten-chan silently thinks to herself that if she hates all boys, is this really going to work out ? An awkward silence follows, until Koto-chan pulls out her iphone to check on something, then remarks that she will be here tomorrow at 10 AM sharp ! And with that, she takes her leave. Once gone, Ten-chan asserts that she and I are not gonna get along. Suzu says that same thing. However, Mei has been mesmerized by Koto-chan's cuteness and attractiveness. Mei, the Trans Girl, says that she wants to have the same fashion and looks that she has, this would be one way of being just like her !

The next day, at the home of Tetsu and Sac-chan, the two are having lunch together. Sac-chan asks if Tetsu's cold is getting better ? It is. Yet it is obvious that something is eating away at Tetsu. Bullied at school ? No. Tetsu now opens up to Sac-chan. He begins by saying that he always felt detached from what the others at the Café were going through with their daily lives. This was especially the case with Mogumo, as he did not know anything about a Gen X'er, and therefore would inadvertently say stupid and inconsiderate things .... Tetsu is now brought to tears. Getting up from the table and hugging Tetsu, Sac-chan lovingly says not to cry. There is nothing for him to be ashamed of. You, Tetsu are doing so much better around Mogumo, and you are facing your concerns head on. That can't be a bad thing.

Later, after lunch, the two are in the front room, drinking coffee. Sac-chan points out that if you, Tetsu, began dating Mogumo, and others (wrongly) perceived you as gay, because they (wrongly) perceive Mogumo as a cross-dress 'male', would you give up on Mogumo ? Tetsu stares at the floor for a while, the jumps up and says that he knows what to do now ! He is going down to the Café this very instant ! As he reaches for the front door, he turns and tells Sac-chan that he is going to start calling her 'Big Sister' ! Big Sis says that she will like that very much. After he leaves, Sac-chan becomes giddy with joy and happiness. "Big Sister", indeed !

Upstairs in the building that houses the Café, the costume making party is getting ready to begin. Ten-chan, dressed in a shirt and pants, and looking more male than female, begins by explaining how the construction is going to proceed. However, Ten-chan is talking 'cutesy', as they often do in girl mode. Koto-chan points that out to him, with Ten-chan being surprised, and going 'white as a ghost'. Suzu, also dressed in male attire, but wearing a typical girl's hairstyle, tactfully tells Koto-chan not to tease Ten-chan. That wasn't her intention, and Koto-chan promptly apologizes. She mentions that kind of speech is really very cute, like how cute your clothing designs are. Mogumo says, "I contributed some of the ideas, too !" Mogumo is very much excited to be working on the new uniforms, and wonders to herself how she will look in hers.

The work steadily progresses without further verbal clashes. As Koto-chan, Mogumo, and Mei are cutting out fabric from patterns, Mei casually asks Koto-chan if the dress she is wearing a "Mary Cute" teenage girl's Fashion Original ? Yes it is, from the Spring collection. Met remarks that Koto-chan is really amazing, and that she, Mei, would want an ultra-feminine styled dress like that, too. Admitting that the dress was a tad pricey, nevertheless, Koto-chan had to have it, and bought it with her New Year's money. Mogumo remarks that your outfits, Koto, are all way too expensive. The comeback was, that's because all of your clothes, Mogumo, come from hand-me-downs that you find at the thrift stores, or from give-aways, or maybe even out of a dumpster. Well, "Each to their own!". Ten-chan and Suzu merely 'roll their eyes'.

As the party continues, Ten-chan is working the sewing machine, while Suzu is sitting next to him, hand sewing the decorations. Suzu casually remarks that he showed your clothing design that you, Ten-chan, did for me to my 'boyfriend', and he really liked it. When done, Suzu is going to send him a picture of it, when the official pictures are taken and done. Those comments stop Koto-chan 'dead in her tracks'. Motionless and stoic, Koto-chan repeats; you just said, "boyfriend", didn't you ? Must have misheard you. No, you heard correctly, mildly states Suzu. Koto-chan is jolted out of her mind, but says nothing. Suzu notices, and quietly says that must be surprising to you, Koto, but let's just keep this a secret between us, okay ? Looking like a stone statue for a while, yet eventually Koto-chan says, "All right." Seeing trouble brewing again, Mogumo bangs hands on the table, and says to quit chit-chatting, and return to work. This everyone does, once again restoring the peace.

Work proceeds throughout the morning, and into the afternoon. Thankfully, by this time, all the friends were able to work together in unity, without any more rifts or guffaws. Finally, in mid-to-late afternoon, all is done. Screams of pleasure and fulfillment are offered all around. Koto-chan merely smiles at the results. Suddenly, without warning, Suzu, Ten-chan, and (surprisingly) Mogumo, begin to remove their clothing, set on trying on the costumes immediately ! Not much was taken off before Mei screams---

***"HOLD ON !!! DON'T STRIP DOWN IN FRONT OF US GIRLS !!!"***, gesturing to herself and Koto-chan.

Apologizes are offered and accepted. Once again frazzled, that she has seen a boy with no shirt on, Koto-chan mentions that she is going to make a run to the convenience store for snacks, as they all worked right through lunch. Not more than a half-hour later, Tetsu-kun comes through the door with a bag of takeout fast food. Buy this time, all have changed into their new uniforms, including Mogumo. Mogumo is first to meet Tetsu at the door, and inquires if he is feeling better ? He is much better. Next, Mogumo steps back to model her new little girl's style oriental outfit. "What do you think .... ?", offers Mogumo ? "It's just wonderful ! It looks perfect on you !", belts out Tetsu. "Really .... ?", asks Mogumo, as their face turns beet-red with embarrassment.

However, Tetsu-kun now turns very serious. Mogumo and the others become worried and concerned, staring at Tetsu. He begins with a somber tone in his voice---

"Mogumo .... I .... uh .... I-I have .... something very important to tell you .... ?!?!?"

Meanwhile, Koto-chan is just getting off of the elevator, and heading down the hallway to the room where everyone is at ....

(End Chapter 8)