Chapter 19

Rumi, after styling Akira's hair into a bun, like the way Rumi wears her hair, startles Akira by unexpectedly giving her a soulful hug.

## Features of This Chapter

### Story Setting

At school / at Akira's home / in Akira's bedroom

### Time Line

One day at school, that evening at home, that night in Akira's bedroom

### Transition Milestones

Akira wants to tell Rumi that she used to be a boy, but can't bring herself to do so, even in the intimate setting of midnight 'girl talk'.

### Relationship Evolution

Although a minor crack has appeared in their realtionship, Akira and Rumi are still girl-with-girl soulmates.

### Lessons Learned

Slowly, Akira is beginning to comprehend how teen girl's minds and emotions work, and how they relate to intimate friendships.

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

CHAPTER 19 OF THE MANGA (Revised English Translation)

## Previously

A first grade girl, Miu Goto, has made friends with Akira, calling Akira 'big sister', and looking up to her as an ideal role model. Akria is more or less pleased with this friendship development, but feels inadequate to fulfill the little girl's expectations. Little does Akira know or suspect that this innocent friendship from a little girl is actually causing Rumi to begin to have jealous feelings toward Akira and Miu. Akira and Rumi are still soul-mates, but a tiny crack has appeared in their relationship. Akira tries to comprehend what is happening to Rumi, but is left clueless and worried.

## This Chapter's Story

At school, whenever Akira found out that Miu Goto was in the Infirmary for observation, or whatever, she would make it a habit to go see Miu, and check on her. Akira tells herself that she has to be a 'big sister' to Miu, as that is how the little girl looks upon Akira. Today, Miu and the school nurse are doing origami together. Akira inquires of Miu, but is put off by the little girl who is in a deep state of concentration, poring over her origami project. Soon, Akira silently engages in folding origami herself. Eventually, Miu lightens up, saying that she wants to grow up quickly, because her illness will slowly go away when she becomes an adult. So that is why Miu was so eager to grow up ? Miu then asks Akira what she, Akira, wants to do when she grows up ? Akira remarks that she never thought much about it. But you are older than me, 'big sister' ! When Akira's origami figure is done, Miu unabashedly comments that Akira is really bad a origami.

That afternoon, at the school's locker area, Akira tells Rumi that earlier today, Miu-chan asked her what she wanted to be in the future ? Akira says that she could not give the little girl a proper answer. " Even though you are older than me ? ", that's what Miu told her. Akira berates herself saying that she, Akira, is not kind, nor is well suited for the role of a big sister, so unlike Rumi, who definitely is. Surprisingly, Rumi makes a sharp comeback---

**" I'm not kind to anyone ! "** Akira sidesteps the coarse remark, saying that she is going to buy origami supplies after school today, and can Rumi help ? Rumi fires off another round of irritation---

**" Sorry, I have other things to do today ..... ! "**

" Rumi, what's wrong with you ........... ? ", Akira silently, but painfully asks herself.

At home that evening, Akira, Mom, and Grandmother are at the table, all doing origami with the supplies that Akira bought earlier that afternoon. Mom comments on how clumsy Akira is folding her origami. Akira comments on how well grandma is doing with her origami. Well, it's because she had all that time in the hospital to practice. Akira redoubles her effort to fold the origami correctly. However her mind and concerns are elsewhere. She thinks to herself---

" Rumi, are you coming to dislike Miu-chan ? "

Later that evening, the door bell rings. Akira answers the door. It's Rumi !!! Akira asks what is wrong ? Rumi hesitates, then says that she had a bad argument with her Dad, and can't stay at home right now. So she wants to stay here tonight ! " What ? ", gasps Akira. Soon, Mom is on the phone, telling the Watai family that Rumi is here, and she is going to spend the night. Everything is okay. Akira carries a spare futon up to her bedroom. She frets that all this time she has been at Rumi's house, but now will be the first time that another girl will be in her bedroom. This makes Akira so nervous ! Akira lays out the two futons in her room, side by side. After a while, Rumi comes in, after she has had a bath, and tells Akira that she borrowed a set of Akira's clothes to wear. Rumi's damp hair is down, like how Akira styles her hair. Rumi tells Akira to get her some rubber hair bands. Sure ! Rumi wants to put Akira's straight hair into a bun, just like Rumi usually wears her hair. Akira sits quietly, as Rumi goes to work on her hair. In such an intimate setting, Akira's heart begins to beat loudly with anticipation. Rumi wonders to herself, acknowledging that Akira is not her usual energetic self lately, and what to say to cheer her up ? What to say, *what to say* ???

" I'm done. ", announces Rumi. Akira now has Rumi's bun-type hairstyle. " Rumi ", begins Akira ...... Akira was sitting on the floor, as Rumi was kneeling in back of her, to do her hair. Now, Rumi passionately hugs Akira from behind. Both girls are silent, locked in that Yuri embrace, until a clock chimes. Rumi then softly intones---

" Contrary to what Akira thinks, I am not as nice as you seem to think that I am ! Seeing Akira get along so well with Miu-chan, gave me a really unpleasant feeling. I never said anything to you because I didn't want to be hated. " Akira again thinks silently to herself that she has never seen Rumi act like this ........ what should I do ? Rumi is still hugging Akira, as Akira gently turns to face her---

" Don't worry, I could never hate you for something like that ! Rumi is Rumi ! Isn't that right ? " Rumi responds, " Yeah ..... I see ..... that's true..... "

In a while, both girls are in their futons, ready to go to sleep. But sleep will not immediately come to the both of them. So both begin to do intimate nightime 'girl talk'. Both girls are facing one another, faces only a couple of feet away from one another. Rumi muses that when she gets into junior high, she is going to get a smartphone! So that means that she can talk as much as she wants to, like she did today. Rumi then asks Akira, when Akira gets her smartphone, to please tell her Akira's phone number right away (Right now, Akira doesn't know or comprehend how immensely important this is to Rumi; according to Rumi this to her could be a friendship maker or breaker.) Rumi continues; she says that as sixth grade students, we have to make sure not to mess up in the upcoming choir contest that we will be participating in. This would include the trip to and from the competition arena. More random thoughts from Rumi; she says that she will accompany Akira to the Infirmary when Akira wants to visit Miu. " That's all I want to say! ", concludes Rumi.

Rumi next asks Akira if she has anything that she wants to say ? " Yeah ! " Akira immediately thinks to herself, in her own mind, that, " ***I*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) have to tell you about my (so-called) 'illness' (that I used to be a boy!)"! But what actually comes out of her mouth is---

" I've got hair growing in my armpits! "

" Huh ? Excuse me ? ", says a much surprised Rumi.

Akira silently tells herself that now is not the time to tell Rumi that she used to be a boy!

Next day at school, both Akira and Rumi are in the Infirmary, with Miu, and all three girls are making origami. Miu loudly exclaims that 'big sis Rumi' is really good at this. At that moment, Akira accidentally tears her origami. Rumi, in her inimitable fashion, says that A-chan is, after all, really clumsy.

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