Chapter 12: Swimming Pool Party

NOZOMU NOZOMI

SWIMMING POOL PARTY

CHAPTER 12 OF THE MANGA

One recent school day, after the day's classes have ended, several of the boys on the baseball team meet up at the train station, as from there various ones go in different directions to get home. All of the boys are still wearing their male school uniforms. The group of boys are waiting for Yasu, who is a bit late. When Yasu finally arrives, Tao hands him his ticket to the evening's activity. The baseball club has obtained enough tickets to the local swimming pool for the team members to spend this evening at a pool party during the beginning of the spring break. Ide-san and Kanae, wearing their girl's school uniform, are also with the group. Yasu says that he knows that he can't be late this evening, but his voice breaks. Ide-san asks him if he has a sore throat ? Yasu confirms that it is his voice changing, probably due to the beginning of puberty. He clears his throat, and asks what is up with you guys ? Why the interest ? Tao wants to know in what way is his voice changing ? Yasu says that it is becoming more adult-like, one more step toward adulthood. Ide-san replies that Yasu's brain is, still, that of a little kid ! Yasu shoots back at Ide-san with the complaint that, why can't you congratulate me, instead of dissing me ? He then nudges Tao, asking Tao if he is a little bit jealous of him regarding the voice change ? However, Tao is deep in thought, wondering if his voice will change, that is, change to that of a higher pitch and inflection, just like that of a teenage girl's voice ?

Yasu then turns his attention to Kanae, asking why is she here getting a ticket for the pool party ? Kanae, with her usual masculine infused personality, sharply answers that she is the Assistant Manager now, and has every right to be part of what the team was invited to do. The tickets were for everyone on the team, after all ! Yasu looks at Kanae with puzzlement on his face, then belts out that Kanae with her boyish traits sure looks at odds with the cute and feminine female school uniform that she is wearing right now ! Such an obvious stark contrast. Yasu then adds insult to his crass comment, saying wouldn't Kanae's female school uniform look so much better if Tao was wearing it ? "YASU !", shouts Ide-san, in protest to his innapproprate joke. The other guys look at Tao with inquisitive thoughts, seeing that Tao and Kanae do look so much alike. Other than Kanae's longer hair, they could easily trade school uniforms, and nobody would notice the difference. Ide-san quietly remarks to Kanae that she, indeed, would look so cool wearing the boy's school uniform. Kanae acknowledges that her comment would be so 'right on the money'. Just 'one of the boys', that Kanae. Ide-san then silently thinks to herself that Tao would, as pointed out, look just as good wearing the female school uniform, as he seems to have covertly become more and more feminine in recent times. Last year, Ide-san continues to think to herself, she thought that Tao was quite handsome and masculine, and she liked that about him. But now........? Teasing, Kanae, in front of everyone, asks Tao if he would want to try on and wear her girl's school uniform sometime ? Tao swallows real hard, and asks her what she is talking about ? With all of the tickets distributed, Ide-san reminds everyone to meet back here at the train station by 6 PM this evening. OKAY, let's have some real fun !

That evening, in the men's dressing room at the indoor pool, another boy is challenging Yasu to beat him in a 25-meter swim race. Think you can win over me ? Tao, off to the side, sees Yasu undressing, taking note that he has a nicely developing male body. This brings Tao to thinking about their own developing body, developing female, that is. Tao tries to allay the fears, saying that if they are wearing baggy surfer swim trunks, nobody will be able to discern that there aren't any 'boy bits' anymore. That, and wearing the swim trunks under their pants, they don't have to fully strip down in front of the other boys.

Just then, Yasu looks over toward Tao, and of course, picks up on the fact that he was, in fact, wearing his swim trunks under his clothes, and is still wearing a t-shirt. Hiding something, Tao ? Thankfully, a couple of other guys yell at Yasu to 'knock it off' with the teasing, and leave Tao alone already. However, Tao is already lost in thought, that is, how are they going to dress afterwards with wet swim trunks ? That was not thought of ! Tao opens a locker door, and begins to stash their belongings in it. Next, looking down to the floor, and seeing a student school I.D. wallet and folder lying on the floor, Tao wonders who does it belong to ? Tao reaches down to retrieve the folder, noting that it is not theirs, because the color of it is different. As Tao grasps the cover, it unfolds, revealing on the inside of the front cover an I.D. picture. The I.D. picture is that of Yasu ! Tao mentions to Yasu that he had dropped his folder. But when Tao brings the folder up to eye level to hand it to Yasu, Tao sees the picture on the next page. ***IT IS THE PICTURE OF HIMSELF, TAO, WEARING THE PRETTY DANCE DRESS,***the day that the team wore the Titan's cheerleader costumes, after losing the baseball game to them.

Meanwhile, over in the women's dressing room, Kanae and Yuka are undressing. Yuka (Ide-san) is asking Kanae if she is getting used to her new classes at school ? Kanae says that she is so grateful for the academic support of Yuka-sempai. Yuka modestly points out that Kanae quickly became the class representative and leader through her own efforts. Yuka has changed into a dark blue tank-style swimsuit. Kanae, for her part, is dressed in a revealing, sexy black bikini swimsuit. As Kanae is putting her things in a locker, Yuka says that we should get going. Walking out to the pool, Kanae compliments Yuka on the fashion style of her swimsuit. Yuka responds that Kanae is acting just like a playboy now, admiring a girl wearing a nice swimsuit !

Back in the boy's locker room, Tao is holding the student folder, and asking Yasu why is he carrying around a picture of himself, Tao, wearing a pretty dress and presenting themselves as a girl ? Tao exclaims that he did not know that such a picture even existed. Yasu yanks the folder out of Tao's hand, and sharply declares that it is none of Tao's business what is in his folder. One of the Titan boys took the picture, had several prints made, and Yasu later obtained a copy. So what ? If you want one for yourself, Tao, I can get one for you. Tao objects, saying that is not what they are concerned about. Why does Yasu have that picture when he wasn't even at the ball game, due to his broken arm ? Why would Yasu want to do something like that ? Yasu retorts that he is the Captain of the Team, and that means he can do as he pleases. Besides, what's wrong with keeping pictures of the boy that you like, the boy that you are attracted to and want to get close to ? And with that, Yasu takes his leave, and heads for the indoor pool. Tao yells after Yasu, shouting for him not to go, and to stay and explain himself. What do you mean ? Are your comments implying '*romantically* attracted to' ?

Now left to themselves, Tao 'writes if off' as only one more thing that Yasu can use to tease with. Then Tao sinks into a funk, worrying that if Yasu finds out that they practically already have a female body, they really don't know what will happen. Really, will I ever change back ? It has been *almost a year now*. At the very least, I would like to know if it is even possible to change back at this late date. But, if I can't ever change back, what will happen ? Let's see. I'll have to tell Dad, and he will go bananas, absolutely stark raving mad. I will have to undergo medical examinations to see just how much my body did change, right down to the DNA. When they see that I am unequivocally a female, they will have to change my family registry to "female". My name will have to be legally changed to a female's name. I will live the rest of my school life as a girl, wearing the girl's school uniform. Someday, I may get married, get pregnant, and have a baby. Then, for the rest of my life......but......even though I greatly cherish dressing and looking like a girl, only a tiny part of my mind now is telling me to return to being a boy. Would that even be possible, given that my mind has almost completely changed over to being that of a girl ? (Tao is pulling off the t-shirt, up and over his chest.) "OUCH !" The fabric scraped across and over their chest. What gives ?

Tao looks down to their chest, and the sore nipples. Huh, what's this ? No way.....I've never even noticed.....my chest.....it has started growing......am a becoming an adult woman......with breasts.....??? Tao takes note that they now have noticeable 'muffin top' breasts, prominent enough that they would already need to be wearing a girl's swimsuit to cover them. Out in the pool, one of the guys comments as to where is Tao ? Is he still in the locker room all this time ? He yells for Tao to hurry up and hit the water ! Tao peeks around the corner of the wall and yells back that they are coming. Tao has both their hands covering their chest. They tell themselves that if they cross their arms in front of their chest, and run into the pool, then have their chest stay under the water, nobody should notice. At least that is what is hoped for.

Tao bolts out of the locker room hallway, runs pell-mell toward the edge of the pool, makes an almighty leap into the air, and wamps down into the water with a tremendous splash. The lifeguard yells at Tao not to run ! Yasu cheers them onward for such a spectacular enterence ! The rest of the boys were ogleing Kanae in her captivatingly revealing black bikini, as she was standing at the edge of the pool. Yuka is standing next to Kanae, but gives Tao a stern look of, what the hell do you think you are doing ? However, all eyes are now fixated on Tao. They break water, and think to themselves as to why is everybody looking at me ?

Later, in the pool by themselves, lest anyone see their new small boobs, Tao wonders if their chest will get bigger, or stay flat like what Kanae looks like ? In two months, swimming classes will start at school. What then ? Tao speculates to themselves about two realitites. One, that they are probably not going to be able to turn back. And two, they are going to be eventually found out to be a girl !

(End Chapter 12)

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Click on Chapter 13: Rite of Passage to be taken to the next chapter.