Chapter 36: Mahiro and a Surprise

The friends are planning a surprise for Mahiro, but it can't be too obvious.

MAHIRO AND A SURPRISE

CHAPTER 36 OF THE MANGA

Japanese Title: *Mahiro To Sapuraizu*

## Previously

Mahiro, thanks to the friendship and loving guidance of her friends, and the good role models of Kaede and Mihari, is doing relatively well in school. She spends time with her friends away from school, too. Mahiro enjoyed a sleepover with them during winter break. At school, during St. Valentine's Day, Mahiro got to exchange chocolate gifts with all the girls, as well as giving away chocolate to a few of the boys. Sometime before the time of the spring equinox, Mahiro's birthday came and went, with little or no notice. Later, Momiji realizes what happened, and plans on doing something about that, something that will 'throw Mahiro for a loop' !

## This Chapter's Story

At the end of one school day in the early part of spring, Fujimi is sleeping at her desk. Across the aisle, Mahrio is asking Momiji if the two of them can walk home together ? Surprisingly, Momiji declines, saying that today is a bad day to ask. Mahiro then asks Miyo-chan. Same reaction, Miyo-chan has something important to do. Soon, both Momiji and Miyo-chan leave the classroom together, whispering to one another as they go. This does not go unnoticed by Mahiro. Puzzling, indeed ! In another classroom, Momiji is saying that it has to be a surprise, nothing but a surprise. With her are Miyo-chan and Asahi. Asahi mentions that Mahiro's birthday has already passed. Momiji states that is true, but doing something later now is better than not doing anything at all ! Asahi agrees ! Momiji reasons that not just a surprise, but a *surprise attack* would, no doubt, make Mahiro even happier. A surprise attack would be too obvious on her actual birthday. It will only work on a day that's not her birthday, a day where she is completely unawares. Miyo-chan thinks to herself that Momiji right now, is like a bad movie producer, working out some cheesy script. Momiji tells the others to get their presents ready, and keep everything a secret ! Asahi lets out a hearty cheer !

Meanwhile, Mahiro is still at her desk, in the other classroom. She reasons with herself about today's developments. Just like in the shuojo and yuri manga that she has been reading lately, what is happening today is like a 'falling into a misunderstanding because they avoid you' plot device. Mahiro tells herself that she will not give into that kind of flawed logic, and will keep a calm stance. Asahi seeks into the classroom where Mahiro is, to retrieve something, but she catches Mahiro's eye, nonetheless. Mahiro gets up and grabs her shoulder, telling her that she knows what is going on, and to just spit it out ! Asahi twists away from Mahiro, and shouts to her---

**" STAY AWAY..........ASAHI PROMISED NOT TO TELL MA--HIGH--RONN ANYTHING AT ALL !!! "**

(Asahi talks in the third person.) She then scoots out the door, and is gone.

Mahiro is utterly devastated. She kneels down on the floor with a black cloud over her head. Painfully and mournfully she declares to herself that. " *It is all over* " !

That was Friday afternoon at school. Mahiro came home, went straight to her bedroom, and has not come out at all. It is now late Sunday morning. Mihari is in Mahiro's bedroom, trying to wake her up, telling her that it is noon already. From under the covers, Mahiro moans---

" ***I*** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) want to be a shellfish, so go away ! "

Pleading Mihari says that the girls did not mean anything horrible ! With no response from Mahiro, Mihari grabs hold of the futon and pulls it away, saying that she is confiscating it. Mahiro tumbles out, and immediately, with such a mournful face and broken spirit, begins to cry in Mihari's lap. Mihari soothes her by saying that she is so sensitive, and should be more confident. Just then the front doorbell rings ........Mihari coaxes Mahiro to come with her to the front door. The door is opened, showing Momiji, Asahi, and Miyo-chan.

However, Momiji has what looks like a "handgun" grasp with both her hands, and is pointing it at the head of a very scared and disturbed Asahi. Miyo-chan is in the background, merely onlooking. Momiji then points the "handgun" at Mahiro, and shouts loudly---

***" THIS IS A RAID !!! "*** She then pulls the trigger, as the look of emanate death contorts Mahiro's face !

A ton of streamers and confetti blasts out of the gunbarrel.

***" HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! "*** , the three girls all shout at the top of their lungs !!!

Mahiro is hiding behind Mihari, still with the look of resounding death on her face. That look gradually changes to one of utter and absolute surprise !

***" GEEZ ! YOU REALLY HAD ME GOING !!! "*** , shouts Mahiro in response.

Momiji conjectures that the surprise was successful, then ? Now pointing the "handgun" again at Asahi, Momiji apologizes for keeping everything a secret. Then again, Asahi is horrible about telling lies, so if she was to say anything the other day, you would have found out right away what was going on.

Now comes the fun part ! The opening of the presents ! Momiji's present is a nice pair of girl's gloves. Mahiro thanks her for the gift. Miyo-chan gives Mahiro a paper bag sealed with tape. It is a book that she highly recommends. Mahiro already can guess what kind of book it will be ( see Chapter 34 )! Asahi gives Mahiro a hundred dollar bill of Monopoly money. Written on it is, " Anything You Want Ticket " ! Asahi further states that the bill means that you can order everyone here to do anything that you want ! Both Momiji and Miyo-chan are suddenly quite shocked at the implications of Asahi's gift to each one of themselves ! Mahiro immediately redeems the bill by saying---

" Everyone ! Let's keep being close, good friends ! " There are big smiles all around, showing universal agreement with Mahiro's wish. Except for Asahi, that is ! She objects, saying that the bill is for manual labor, or similar. Mahiro says that her wish wrapped up the wish so nicely. Asahi then begins to rub Mahiro's shoulders, saying that a massage will fit the bill. Here, enjoy it, intones Asahi.

After the massage, Momiji brings out a plastic tray with a lid on it. Inside is a layer cake. Momiji says that 'everyone' got to make it yesterday, including Miyo-chan (who can't cook worth a darn)! Mahiro whispers to Momiji asking if that means the cake will really be okay to eat ? Onee-chan (lit. big sister {Mihari}) was supervising, so all is well. Then Momiji cuts the cake and very romantically feeds the first piece to Mahiro. Next, Mahiro says that she is thirsty, so Miyo-chan offers up a cold drink. Then Mahiro orders Mihari to turn on the TV. " Am I part of this, too?", questions Mihari ? Mahiro begins crying with pure joy !

Soon, Mahiro says that she needs to use the toilet, soon. Asahi misunderstands, and thinks that Mahiro is only playing the 'anything you want' game. Asahi then announces that she will be the one to go and use the toilet. Asahi jumps up and rushes into the toilet, locking the door (apparently she had to go, too). In a flash, Mahiro is knocking on the toilet door---

**" HURRY UP, ALREADY !!! "**

Mihari thinks to herself that it is karma, pure karma, nothing more !

## Chapter Lookback

The mangaka comments on this chapter---

THE OMAKE CHAPTER 37.5 MINI-EXTRA PIX FOR CHAPTER 36

## Manga Fan's Commentary on This Chapter

**CufiL / 3 months ago**

LOL, the toilet .......

**AncientWatcher / 10 months ago**

Making a noisemaker look like a Desert Eagle [weapon] seems like a bad idea.

**smashman42 / 10 months ago**

That "It's a raid" cracked me up!

**Jumbo Wheat / 10 months ago**

Unconsciously using *watashi (*feminine*)*? Onii-chan is most certainly done for. How much longer until [s]he accepts h[er] role as *imouto* (lit. little sister) ?

**Caio Thomas De Siqueira Pires 44 weeks ago / 1 like**

This manga has a new level of MOE, it's so f\*cking cute!

**José Pérez / 44 weeks ago**

? People actually get presents on their birthday?

**Diego Tapia / 44 weeks ago**

How old is mahiro ?

**Sheep in Wolf's Clothing / 9 months ago**

The mangaka, or the manga itself, does not say for sure. But one can figure it out. Mahiro dropped out of middle school, making them about 13-14 years old when they did so. They spend about 2 years isolated in their bedroom as a Hikko NEET, making them about 15-16 years old when they transitioned to a teenage girl. Their age apparently did not change during or after the transformation, making female Mahiro, after a year of girlhood, now about 16-17 years old.

**Taper / 10 months ago**

Being excluded by the girls was okay when [Mahiro] could justify it, but once Asahi was all "Stay away! I promised not to tell you anything!" h[er] pessimism won.

**Nazdrovie / 10 months ago**

Normally, Mahiro uses “Ore” when alone or with Mihari, but he uses “Watashi” around Momiji and the others to look more like a normal girl. It’s a notable detail in context.
EDIT: Oh snap, I just realized that the line itself is just a reference to a movie called “I Want to be a Shellfish”, so the use of “Watashi” here is more likely just a joke rather than an actual slip or anything. That’s a big mistake on my part, sorry.