Chapter 29

Akira ties on an apron over her school uniform, in preparation for the cooking class.

## Features of This Chapter

### Transition Milestones

Akira begins to learn how to function socially around boys, making small talk and such.

### Relationship Evolution

Two boys, Tsukumo and Shouma have given faint hints that they are interested in Akira. But is Akira interested in boys, seeing as she did a Love Confession to another girl (Rumi).

### Lessons Learned

Akira learns that when ones come to her for help, as Tsukumo did, it is better to try and help, rather than turning away in unconcern.

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

CHAPTER 29 OF THE MANGA (REVISED ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

## Previously

Akira, as well as all the other girls and boys in her class at school, went through a one-day special event. That special program was designed to teach and open up a dialogue in the class regarding sex, sexual expression, and social sexual situations and circumstances. Akira probably already knew quite a lot of information already about the basics of sexual development, what with her physical sex being changed from male to female at the age of 7. Then again, probably a lot more information and practical wisdom was gleaned from her association with Dr Kabota and Nurse Okobe. Mom may have had an influence on Akira, but one has to wonder how much of it was any good to her. However, all of this information has raised many new questions in Akira's mind regarding sex and gender issues. For instance, is she socially and romantically attracted to boys, girls, both, or neither. She has already done a Love Confession to Rumi, making that relationship a girl-with-girl Shouji Ai and/or a light Yuri shipping. But what will become of her future circumstances with both boys and girls?

## This Chapter's Story

Erika has invited three other friends over to her house for a get-together session, however, she uses this opportunity to review with her friends her own personal social plans. Erika mentions that she is in the same cooking class in school as Shouma, the boy that she likes. Therefore, she wants to make a good impression on him in class by displaying to him her personal 'girl sense', her ability to be the perfect girlfriend. But just how to go about doing that? Thus, she consults with her friends. Erika begins by asking what should be on the class cooking menu? Akira leans over to Rumi and quietly asks her if she knew that Erika was infatuated with Shouma? Rumi whispers a reply that she has suspected for some time now that Erika was romantically attracted to Shouma ! Erika comments that she wants to have many 'good times' and great memories with Shouma during the last of middle school. Meanwhile, Erika becomes worried regarding herself, wondering if she will be in the same high school as Shouma? Hard to tell. Akira and Rumi encourage Erika by saying that she has both their support and understanding. Rumi asks Akira what she, Akira, thinks should be on the cooking class menu? Meat Loaf !?! Erika speaks up to say that selection is just too ordinary. Boys want something that tastes so good, that they remember the girl who prepared it every time they eat that particular food. The feminine chit-chat continues unabated. But for herself, Akira begins to daydream, and becomes engulfed in remembering way back when, when she as a bratty 7-year-old male in school---

FLASHBACK---

During playtime at school, a cute, adorable twin tailed girl schoolmate (Nana) asks Akira (the boy) if he wants to "play house" with her? Meaning that she wants to create a pretend family of a husband and wife, and talk about how they would work together to plan and establish a family household. The little girl even holds up a doll house kit, to entice Akira to join her, and tells him that he can be the Father of the home. However, Akira, surrounded by his crass boy schoolmates, bluntly and callously barks to her, *"Not happening!"* He wants to go outside and catch some insects. Nana again pleads with Akira to reconsider. Akira only barks out that if Nana wants to play with him so bad, she can go out and help catch bugs. Nana is so disappointed, with a frown spoiling her pretty face. One of the boy schoolmates next to Akira asks him why girls want to 'play house' so much?

The next daydream that Akira has is when 'he' was visiting his grandmother at her house. This visit occurred shortly after he was physically changed into an atomically correct girl, but was still dressing, presenting, and thinking of himself as their former status as a boy. 'He' is alone in a room, recalling the time recently when all the girls in the class confronted him to tell him not to expect any help or consideration from any of them with regard to his sex reconfiguration, or for anything else for that matter. This due to his vile, toxic masculine personality that was still motivating him, even for a time after his transformation to that of a girl. Grandmother finds 'him' alone in the room, and asks for 'his' help with something. She wants help in mixing up and forming hamburger patties. Akira agrees to help. Both grandmother and Akira wear aprons, as grandma talks and guides Akira through the food prep process. Akira thinks to themselves that by agreeing to help grandmother with cooking prep, such an obvious domestic duty, it's like they are really turning into a proper girl. Grandmother does not know what to think of Akira? Boy or Girl? Masculine or Feminine ? What will it be? (END FLASHBACK)

Next day at school, in the cooking class, Akira is getting ready by putting on a clean apron over her female school uniform. She then takes note of Erika deftly slicing and dicing up an onion. Airka remarks to Erika that she is fantastic at such dexterous slicing. Aoi, at the same work station as Akira and leaning over Akira's shoulder, makes Akira think to herself that Aoi is just in the way of everyone else. Rumi is at the station mixing something up in a bowl. At another work station, Erika is cutting up green bell peppers, as Shouma, her love interest, is also at that work station, looking on. Another girl calls to Erika for help in peeling a lumpy potato. Making sure that Shouma is watching, Erika goes over to where that girl is to skillfully instruct her. However, Erika puts down her own slicing knife in an unsafe way, with the blade facing outward on the corner of the table. Akira sees the trouble, and goes over to move the knife to a safe position, remarking to herself that she will have to remind Erika later not to be so careless. A tall, beefy, blonde headed boy at Akira's workstation, named Tsukumo, is yawning in boredom. The female instructor scolds him, and tells him to take part in what the girls are doing, and not to just stand there and watch. He retorts that he does not know anything about cooking, not one thing at all.

Akira steps forward, to invite Tsukumo to help her in prep work, asking, "Can you help ***me*** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine})?" She carefully explains how to prepare the meat to make hamburger patties. Tsukumo cooperates, but ends up repeatedly staring at Akira (maybe because she is so cute and attractive these days?). Akira feels creepy. Sensing something is wrong, Tsukomo tries to 'lighten up' by remarking to Akira that she probably likes cooking just because she is a girl. Akira recalls something that her grandmother told her one time, namely, that food prep and cooking are common to everyone, as everyone has to eat. Cooking is not a gender-specific activity; after all, if you don't eat, you will die ! So Akira conscientiously tells Tsukumo that, " **I** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) like it because ***I*** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) like it, that's all!

Later, Erika asks Shouma why he is not eating any of the cooked items that were prepared at this class? He only states that he will wait and eat at home. Meanwhile, Akira has been thinking about her comment that she likes cooking for its own sake. She concludes that she is not weird in her feelings, she can like whatever she feels like enjoying. Shouma comes over to the sink where Akira is at, and says that he overheard her comment about liking whatever one likes to do, and he enjoyed hearing that. Akira can't recall what he is talking about, until he repeats the comment back to Akira. Immediately, Akira turns beet red with embarrassment by this intimate verbal exchange between Shouma and herself, peppered with just a slight hint of romance. Unknown to Akira, Tsukumo notices that she is greatly embarrassed by something, but what? Erika notices, too, that her love interest, Shouma, was talking (sure looks like it was personal and so, so intimate) to Akira just now. A mournful frown crosses Erika's pretty face, as Shouma lazily shuffles away from Akira.

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