Story Arc 5: Stark Confrontation

STORY ARC 5: STARK CONFRONTATION

(The conclusion of My Girlfriend is a Trans Girl)

One school afternoon, when it looks like it will rain sometime later, Makoto is at her desk, just before fifth period class is about to start. She has received a text message from Yuuko, with Yuuko stating that they want to meet up later today. How about later this afternoon at the park, since we have not seen each other lately ?

" Makoto-chan ~~~ ", comes out of nowhere. Yup. The annoying friend, Miki. Miki wants to know if Makoto is texting her 'girlfriend' ? Makoto tells her, Yeah! One could guess that, except that they're not my 'girlfriend', they are my partner. Zat so, questions Miki, because 'she' has "no gender", right ? But Miki observes that Kanzaki-san totally looks LIKE. A. GIRL. A completely ordinary looking one, at that. Makoto explains to her that Yuuko looks feminine simply because she is so used to it out of habit, as well as she is comfortable with the sex of her body (an atomically correct female), although she is asexual. Compared to psychological sex (Gender Identity), physical body sex is most often discounted. But Makoto believes, for herself at least, that the two factors carry equal weight in her mind.

" Zat so ....... ? ", as Miki blows off Makoto's thoughtful explanation by commenting that Miki's bangs are now totally drooping in her face now. Miki now wants Makoto to lend her the kitty hair clip in Makoto's hair. But Makoto can't, because it belongs to Yuuko, she only borrowed it the other day. Miki then concocts a daring scheme. She tells Makoto to give Yuuko a special kiss that asks for forgiveness. Miki places her hand on her lips and blows a kiss to Makoto. Why ? Because, suddenly and without warning, Miki reaches out and deftly removes the kitty hair clip from Makoto's hair, saying that she is 'borrowing it', and places it in her own hair !!! She then scoots away across the classroom.

**" WAIT, MIKI-SAN !!!** I planned on returning it to Yuuko today ! ", loudly proclaims Makoto. But Miki is long gone. From across the classroom, Miki bellows out that she will go with Makoto together, to meet with Yuuko. She wants the three of them to hang out together today ! Makoto shouts that is not possible. Miki shouts back that it is possible--she doesn't have cram school today. At the conclusion of the school day, both for Makoto, and also Yuuko (Makoto attends a regular high school / Yuuko attends the special 'encouragement' school), Makoto texts Yuuko to tell them that Miki stole the hair clip, and wants to tag along with her, Mikoto, to meet up this afternoon. Sorry about that !

On the way to the park where the meetup was going to happen, Miki is scooting right along with the hair pin in her hair, and Makoto is following. Makoto begs Miki to give back the hair pin. " Don't wanna ! " Makoto doesn't want Yuuko to see their hairpin on Miki. Miki makes an abrupt stop, turns to confront Makoto, and forcefully tells Makoto that she could at least be nicer to her. But just around the next corner is Yuuko, sitting on a park bench, a bench that is underneath a shelter roof. The skies look overcast and dark with rain. Miki approaches Yuuko, with Makoto just behind her. Miki gushes forth---

" Yoo-Hoo, Kanzaki-san. Long time, no see~~have you waited long ? " " .......Not really " " Nice, but you *always* look like you are kind of depressed. Are you the type that is always in a bad mood if the weather is bad ? " Yuuko asks if the hairpin that Miki is wearing is the one lent to Makoto ? Miki continues with the ruse---

" Ehh, is it ? I didn't know it was yours. Makoto-chan lent it to me because my bangs are too long. Right, Ma. ko. to. chan ? " Makoto states in her defense that she, Miki, knows that is not true. " Well, whatever it is .......... " , ejects Yuuko. Yuuko then jumps up from the bench, approaches Miki, tears the hairpin out of her hair, and exclaims in a loud, authoritarian voice---

**" STOP MESSING AROUND, BITCH !!!** I don't know what your purpose is, but is it *fun* to bother us, and screw around with us ? Do you *enjoy* messing around with other people's *relationships* ? *Don't* you have any *tact* ? "

Tears come to Miki's eyes, but one can't tell if it is from sorrow or anger. Miki explodes---

" Ugggh~*Shut up*, you violent bitch !! You talk *all* that malarkey about having no gender, but you are *obviously just a girl* !!! *Don't* fall in love and be in a relationship if you are **genderless** !!!

Makoto is now caught in the crossfire between two people who are tossing symbolic daggers and thunderbolts toward each other. " .......stop, both of you.......", Makoto almost whispers. But Yuuko reloads for another round---

" For you information, it is *not* that I don't have a gender. There's just no term to describe people like me. And since *when* do you *need* to have a gender to **like** someone ? " The wind now begins to really pick up, just prior to the rainstorm. Wind begins swirling around Yuuko, disheveling her hair, fluttering the fluffy bow tie around the neck, and blowing upward and outward their pleated mini-skirt to show everyone her pure white panties. Just enough time for Miki to reload, too, but she aims this time at Makoto---

" ......F\*ckin' gross ! Hey.......Tell me why you are dating this kind of girl ? She doesn't match you at all ......... blonde hair and multiple ear piercings ......... not to mention that you and me are from a top high school. This kind of person who goes to an 'encouragement school', that has a low deviation score.......there's no future...... with a dork like that ........ "

Makoto fires back, " ***STOP IT !!!*** You don't even *know* Yuuko-chan's circumstances. Please don't just make your own assumptions. Whether we match or not, it's *not up to Miki-san to decide !!* "

Miki begins to falter, as tears come to her eyes, and she turns red with embarrassment or shame. She tries to continue---

" No.......ah......eeh...... ? Why....? Why are you getting mad at me ? 'cause I ........ 'cause I actually ........ I like you, ya know !?! "

Makoto makes it bitter and to the point, " **I DON'T** !!! I *HATE* people who badmouth others. **I REALLY HATE THAT !!!** "

Miki, overcome with sorrow and defeat, turns and slowly trudges away, obnoxiously crying all the time. When she is lost sight of, Makoto, who herself had begun crying, painfully observes, " That was quite pitiful .......... " " Yeah ", agrees Yuuko with a blank, solemn look on her face.

The two lovers sit in silence for a while, as the wind continues to whip and swirl around them. As portended, the rain breaks forth and comes down with a steady beat. Both lovers are too tired to move, but are slowing getting wet from the blowing rain. Yuuko erotically leans on Makoto's shoulder. Eventually, Makoto hears a whisper---

" Wanna ......... come to my house ......... "

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Inside Yuuko's family townhouse, in Yuuko's bedroom, both teens are soaking wet, soaked to the bone. Yuuko offers Makoto a dry towel to dry her hair, at least. Yuuko already has a towel around her head. Makoto apologizes for dripping all over the floor. " It's okay " Both are silent as they try and dry off. Thoughts begin to scamper across Yuuko's mind---

" What does it mean.......to be in love ? When Makoto rejected Miki, I was so overjoyed and relieved that my mind went blank. I like Makoto. I like Makoto so much that I could die. I LOVE MAKOTO ! I wasn't able to express myself to her properly, my feelings, my gender (or lack thereof), I couldn't fully put them into words. .....It's okay if we couldn't say it out loud, as long as our feelings are transmitted to each other...................... "

Yuuko's line of thought is interrupted by Makoto, who is kneeling on the wet floor---

" Yuuko-chan ......... I'm sorry .........(Yuuko themselves kneel on the floor a little away from Makoto)........ for always troubling you.........(Makoto begins again to cry uncontrollably) ..........it's all because I'm too weak and indecisive.......... that I've hurt .........Yuuko-chan ......... I'm so, SO SORRY ! "

Yuuko is silent, but seeing the pitiful and sorrowful look on Makoto, as her tears become a gushing torrent, quickly tears at Yuuko's heart, and brings tears to their own cheeks. Yuuko then springs forward, and lands prone onto Makoto, gently pushing her down into an equally prone position. Yuuko is now in the *Tachi position* (\*), with Makoto in the *Neko position* (\*). Both are wet from the rain, and wet from their own overflowing tears. Yuuko grabs onto Makoto's long hair, as Makoto wraps her arms around Yuuko's backside. Both dive in for a most erotic, passionate, explicit, filled with joy and sorrow, sensually arousing, and of course exceedingly wet kiss.

As the kiss climbs to higher and higher summits, a thought comes plowing through the exquisite feeling of extreme pleasure and wonderment that is flooding Yuuko's saturated mind---

" What is love ? As long as you love me, I can forgive you of anything ! Remember our First Kiss ? When my mother walked in on us, it was really terrible. "

After ages, the two lovers separate, gasping for air to cool the flames of love. Barely audible, Yuuko whispers ever so softly and erotically---

" ............my parents are not home today ........... " Makoto whispers equally quietly, " ...........sorry.........right now, I'm really feeling like a boy does.........."

The second kiss is 10X times the passion of the first.

**" I love you !!! "**

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( The End )

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(\*) **Tachi and Neko positions**

[In Japanese modern culture,] the two participants in an [intimate] relationship are often referred to as *Seme* (攻め, "top") and *Uke* (受け, "bottom"). These terms originated in martial arts; *seme* derives from the ichidan verb "to attack", while *uke* is taken from the verb "to receive". Although not the same, a [romantic] construct similar to *"seme and uke"* is the concept of ***"Tachi and Neko"*.** This archetypal pairing is referenced more often in older [manga] volumes; in modern [manga], this pairing is often seen as already encompassed by *seme* and *uke* or simply unnecessary to address. The ***Tachi*** (タチ) partner is conceptualized as the member of the relationship who pursues the more passive partner, the latter of whom is referred to as the ***Neko*** (ネコ). *Seme* and *Uke* are **similar but not identical to *Tachi* and *Neko*** because the former refers primarily to sexual roles, **whereas the latter describes personality**. Although *seme* and *uke* roles are already used in some manga to describe which member of the relationship is more dominant and which member is more passive, there are just as many manga novels which subtly or overtly differentiate between the two [sets of terms, to show the subtle differences that exist in intimacy].

---Taken from Wikipedia (edited for brevity, words in brackets [...] are added for clarity, some bold and italics added )

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Manga Fans Critique of *My Girlfriend is a Trans Girl*

**Sommeguy / 11 days ago**

AAAAAAAAAAAAA ACTUAL GOOD NON BINARY REPRESENTATION--HOW HAVE I NOT FOUND THIS UNTIL NOW 💛🤍💜🖤

The storytelling was a bit rough, but simply having an accurate portrayal of a bigender character and an agender character that aren't just the archetypal androgynous non-binary characters.

**uragaaru / 2 years ago**

While I agree some of the plot was a bit convoluted and the themes were a bit ham-handed presented, I liked the characters and their issues well enough (they felt like realistic high school students with some variety of queer angst) and the flashback in particular to Makoto's coming out and the emotional issues that emerged because of it. They were the strongest part of the story (contrast that with the whole romantic triangle stuff with Miki which was pretty damn weak and one-dimensional to make the revelation [of gender] really have a good impact).

**Svelandria / 2 years ago**

Could have been executed far better, but overall it was good. As someone else mentioned in the comments, could have been worse.

As for the potential message that may have been presented, my thoughts on the matter is: people should mind their own business. If someone wants to dress a certain way, act a certain way, speak a certain way, then so be it. So long as they aren't doing harm to themselves or others. I suppose it's in our nature to instinctively judge other people to determine whether or not that person is a threat or a boon to our lives, but that mentality tends to get way out of hand when it involves people who don't know better or people who are unwilling to try to understand.

In regards to Miki, it was simply her jealousy that prompted her to attack Yuuko. Given that she is (or rather was) friends with Makoto while somewhat aware of Makoto's circumstances, and Makoto's circle of friends seem to at least be aware of and accepting of Makoto (to what extent I'm unsure), then that means Miki wasn't all that ignorant or unwilling to try to understand, she simply didn't like Yuuko. She definitely didn't have a complete understanding, but her dislike of Yuuko made it impossible for her to want to understand. Of course, using Yuuko's circumstances against Yuuko was clearly a bad decision as it was clearly hurting Makoto, but Miki either wasn't thinking clearly due to her emotions or was still willing to take the risk in an attempt to break them up through indirect means. She should have seen the potential outcome from a mile away should her actions backfire, so she knew what she was getting herself into. She dug her own grave.

As for the other two, Makoto definitely should have been more firm with their words sooner. I understand that it isn't easy to explain things when it will end up unraveling the status-quo and risk destroying what friendship one has, but Makoto needed to stop being hesitant and stand up for Yuuko while also properly explaining things, or at least try to explain. As for Yuuko, while lashing out at someone for being ignorant is far from good, Yuuko likely had already been dealing with sh\*t and their emotions got the better of them. What they said wasn't wrong, but how they went about saying things could have been better. Miki definitely wasn't making it easy. Overall, they all had problems and all of them went about doing things poorly, some more so than others.

On another note, the "I have an illness called transgender" part pissed me off. I don't blame the author as I'm sure it was intended to be an infuriating scene, but it seems all too easy to assume something [awful] like that actually has happened and probably will happen again to someone in the world. Funny how I was talking about intolerance, yet I want to kick that f\*cking teacher off a bridge cause I'm intolerant of how much of a bigot he was.

**VawX / 2 years ago**

Interesting, I never really understand the whole LGBT thing since there are just so many variations, but this manga can actually convey the story in such a way that most people will sympathize with the main characters even though they're a bit different.

**yougogirl / 2 years ago**

I'll try to analyze this from an "objective" standpoint. At times, it's pretty hard to tell who's talking about who, especially at the beginning. And for most of the story, it's less about the relationship between the two of them or even actually about exploring their identities so much as just... throwing the concepts out there in hopes that it makes things interesting. For a few pages, it becomes an interesting story about a trans girl... except, they then make the character bigender so it kind of w[affles] its way out of that by making him comfortable with being a boy as well. At the end, when the two are embracing, it gets kinda cute and the "I really feel like a boy" line makes it almost matter that the character is bigender, but... I dunno, man.

The side character [Miki] who was in love with the bigender [Makoto] exists purely to be demonized even though she's basically just having a bad reaction to her worldview being challenged. It's hard for me to see her in as bad a light as the story clearly does, and from an audience perspective, she really should be the perspective character. She has an interesting conflict--a girl who has a rigid understanding of gender, yet falls in love with a [transgender]/bigender boy. She has a deep character flaw in that she can't hold back speaking poorly of people, which could be interesting to watch her work through as she comes to accept a new perspective on gender. Her rejection could serve as a turning point, and even if she ends up never getting her love requited, she'd come away from it a changed and better person.

Overall analysis: The art is appealing, so it definitely has that going for it. I'll definitely be watching this artist to see what they come up with next, even though I thought this one wasn't good. There's a lot of unrealized potential here.

( End fan's critique)