Chapter 13

Male Akira, in the second grade in school, was forced to wear a female sailor suit to compete in the obstacle course race, thereby generating a profound hatred of all things feminine.

## Features of This Chapter

### Transition Milestones

Akira begins to incorporate dresses in her wardrobe, and wear pretty dresses while out in public and with her friends.

### Relationship Evolution

From hating to wear a female sailor suit, to welcoming the opportunity to wear a pretty dress, Akira has come full circle with regard to female fashion and style.

### Lessons Learned

"Never say never", especially given changing circumstances.

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

CHAPTER 13 OF THE MANGA (Revised English Translation)

## Previously

Ever since Grandmother had been admitted to the hospital, Akira has been coming to see her on a regular basis. One time, however, grandma's room was filled with a group of other women, and except for the hairdresser, ones who Akira did not know. Later, grandma told Akira privately that she may not want to come to visit her, because Akira *will be treated like a girl !* Akira is quite puzzled by the comment, as she tells herself that she has no real objection to be seen and treated *like a girl.* During one visit at the hospital, Akira was given a pretty dress, and encouraged to try it on. This she does. Now out in the hallway, Akira is having her first taste of wearing a real, actual dress out in public. At least she is at the hospital, where all manor of people are coming and going. Suddenly, an orderly wheels grandmother through the hallway and she catches sight of Akira wearing the dress. She shouts to Akira, and Akira's 'blood runs cold'. Not knowing how grandmother feels about seeing Akira in a dress causes all sorts of emotions and memories to run through her mind in rapid succession. A flashback to when she was a bratty male comes to her mind, and plays itself out in a matter of seconds !

## This Chapter's Story

During one visit, not knowing how grandmother feels about seeing Akira wearing a pretty dress causes all sorts of emotions and memories to run through Akira's mind in rapid succession. A flashback to when she was a bratty male comes to her mind, and plays itself out in a matter of seconds---

FLASHBACK---It's four years ago. Male Akira is in the second grade. The school's athletic festival is going on, featuring several events for the students to take part in. Akira is competing in an obstacle course race. But the twist on this competition is that the contestants must not only run the obstacle course, but do so in a cosplay costume drawn at random before the contest ! The costume selected for Akira to run in is *a girl's sailor suit school uniform !* He comes out of the boy's dressing room wearing the sailor suit, but with his face bright red with embarrassment. No one knows how much Akira fervently hates girl's fashion, or anything to do with girls, for that matter. Nevertheless, Akira runs the obstacle course, and finishes in first place. Afterwards, people come up to him and tell him that the cosplay costume makes him look so silly, and definitely does not suit him, not at all. Akira yells at the people, saying not to take any pictures of him ! He silently but solemnly vows to himself that he will **never wear a skirt or dress, ever, ever again !** (#End Flashback)

And for the here and now, in the hospital, Akira is doing just that, and liking the feeling of wearing a dress, to boot ! Grandmother shouts out the comment, " That outfit ............. " , but doesn't finish her thought. Akira stands still with a fearful and worried expression on her face. After a pregnant silence, grandma merely tells the orderly to let Akira pilot her wheelchair to her hospital room. Nurse Okabe says that would be fine with her. With grandma and Akira alone in the hallway, as Akira pushes the wheelchair, grandma makes the offhanded comment that her physical rehabilitation ended early today. Akira says nothing, but continues with a look of worry and trepidation. Akira tells herself that she needs to tell grandmother right now that she wants to attend the same school that Rumi Watai is going to attend, but the flashback memory of a person telling Akira that wearing the sailor suit with the pleated mini-skirt is so silly, overrides any effort on Akira's part to say anything at all. Akira unfortunately has to postpone her request to attend Rumi's school, a school that has a sailor suit as the school's official female school uniform. She tells herself that Mom and Grandmother would certainly understand and accept the fact that she, herself, wants to select which school she will attend in the future. But by her decisions, will she, Akira, be able to live up to the expectations of both Mom and G'ma ? What if they fine me repulsive ? Akira tells herself that she thinks that she is feeling somewhat sick right about now----

**" Akira !!! "** , shouts grandma, as she says that she has been thinking about something ever since she entered the hospital. What now, thinks Akira to herself, as her eyes become moist and tearful. Yes, she is scared about what she thinks is about to be said, probably about her wearing the plaid dress---

" I may not be able to walk normally again, even when I'm discharged, because my leg bones have been broken. ", begins grandma. " And I'm getting old, so I don't know how long I'll be able to watch Akira growing up. So please, until you graduate junior high school, can you continue to stay at my house ? It may be annoying ....... " Akira breaks in to say, " **NO !** It's not annoying at all ...... " " Thank you so much, and sorry for the trouble that I've caused you! ", continues grandmother.

" Grandma ! Um......***I*** (lit. *Ore*{masculine}) ........ ***I*** (lit. *Watashi*{feminine}) ........." stammers Akira.

" You don't have to give me an answer right away. Let me know when you have thought this request over. No matter what happens, Grandmother will be on your side ............. by the way, you look really nice today ............ "

Akira wheels grandma into her hospital room, as Dr. Kubota is sitting by the bedside. She sees Akira wearing the dress that she gave to her earlier, and exclaims---

" Oh, Akira ! **You look great !** "

ONE MONTH LATER

One month later, Grandmother has already been discharged from the hospital. This morning, Akira is fixing breakfast, as Mom had to get up extra early to go to work. Grandma comes into the kitchen. Akira greets her with a 'good morning'. Grandma sees the table set, including a plate of eggs sunny side up. She asks if Akira fixed this breakfast. She did ! " It looks delicious! " " Yes, let me get you some rice to go with that, Grandma. " When breakfast is just about done, the telephone rings. It's Rumi ! She wants to know of Akira can go shopping with her and her older sister this morning ? Yes ? Then let's meet at the 7-11 store !

In her bedroom, Akira is changing out of her shirt and sweat pants, and into the plaid dress given to her from Dr. Kubota. She thinks back to when see last saw Nurse Okabe. The nurse was told that grandmother is doing much better. So to celebrate her success, Nurse Okabe gave Akira an adorable hair pin to wear. Akira is putting the hair pin in her hair as the final touch before she leaves to meet up for a shopping spree. Akira tells grandma that she is going shopping; grandmother exclaims that Akira looks great in that dress, and her hair pin ! Akira is off, with a cream colored hoodie over the plaid dress, black tights, and sporting her new hair pin !

"Thank you, I'm off ........ see you later! ", replies Akira.

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

Seems like grandmother liked Akria's new dress after all !

## What Manga Fan's Are Saying About This Chapter

**Siikalahna / 3 hours ago**

Ooh, this is getting very good! I'm liking where this is going.

**Yunie123love / 14 hours ago**

This is beautiful ! Now I can die..... wait ... still have more chapters !? hell yeah!

**MELODY / 6 hours ago**

So good, cute and beautiful, I really liked It [this chapter], perfect

**imahuman / 10 hours ago**

GAWD! THE END OF THIS CHAPTER IS SO DAMN CUTE !!!!!!!

**alethiolet / 9 days ago**

Really happy to see Akira be accepted. <3

**smashman42 / 10 days ago**

Will you guys keep doing your version after all that [fan's] drama? Your releases are higher resolution, dunno if it is better raws to start with.

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(Click on Chapter 14 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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