Chapter 11

Rumi comforts a frightened and crying Akira in her bedroom.

### Transition Milestones

Intimacy hits a new depth between Akira and Rumi, as they share a sleepover. Akira comes to the realization that she has to speak up for herself and her decisions regarding her life.

### Relationship Evolution

Rumi and Akira share an unplanned sleepover in Rumi's bedroom.

### Lessons Learned

Friendship grows deeper with each new crisis.

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

CHAPTER 11 OF THE STORY (Revised English Translation)

## Previously

Akira had been doing, more or less, okay since Mom and herself moved in with grandmother. Both, at least at first, were seemingly supportive of Akira's presenting as a girl, both at school, and out in public. Akira and Rumi continue to be 'Best Friends Forever'. However, grandma fell at home, and badly injured herself. She is now in the hospital awaiting surgery and afterward, physical therapy. Mom has to work to support the three of them, so Akira is many times left to herself, both socially and family wise. But it seems that Mom may have other plans for Akira, school wise, and with other concerns, too.

## This Chapter's Story

Chapter 11---According to the MANGA version---

( Chapter Note---Chapter 11 begins with a flashback to the time Akira was a male child. )

FLASHBACK---The time male Akira was about 5~6 years old, he jumped off of something, and upon landing, twisted and sprained his foot. A visiting nurse was able to treat and wrap up the injured foot. The nurse tells Mom that his foot is only sprained, and will heal quickly. Mom counters with the observation that Akira is a normal, rambunctious boy. Things like this will happen. Meanwhile, Grandmother and Akira are in the next room, with grandma showing Akira a family picture album. Akira is shown a photograph of when Akira was born, and Mom is holding him as a newborn, while in the hospital bed. " That's ***me*** (lit. Ore {masculine})? " Grandma says that Akira was born sometime after Mom and Dad were married. Grandmother then makes quite the prediction for Akira---" Maybe you and Nana will get married and have children, too ! " (End Flashback#)

One day after visiting grandma, who is still in the hospital, Akira, at home, took a long bath late that afternoon. Getting out of the tub, and still soaking wet, she sat down on a stool and began to ponder her situation. She recalls when grandma said that she thought that Akira would marry Nana. Yea, right! Akira thinks to herself, " ***I*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) can't live up to those expectations. " She dries herself off, then blow-dries her hair, puts on a clean pair of panties and a New York logo shirt, and goes out to the front room. There, Mom informs Akira that she, Mom, will be working an all-nighter, therefore, arrangements have been made for her to stay tonight at Rumi's house. They will pick you up here and take you to their house this evening. Akira sits on the couch, but only fidgets with the TV remote control. By time the clock on the wall strikes 7PM, Akira is trying to take a cat nap on the couch after putting on a pair of sweat pants, and wondering why they haven't shown up yet ? Mom had already gone to work.

Just as Akira had fallen off to sleep, the front doorbell rings ! It is Rumi and Michiru come to get her. They apologize for being late, and ask if Akira is ready to go ? She is, putting on her socks, shoes, and a sports jacket ! Akira asks Michiru if the sailor suit she is wearing is her high school uniform ? It is, but paradoxically, Michiru inquires if Akira would want to try it on ? She declines. Rumi mildly protests saying that Akira would look so cute wearing a sailor suit ! Rumi also remarks that Akira seems to have just had a bath, and she smells so sweet and clean. Then Rumi scolds, saying Akira needs to dry her hair properly. Michiru takes a call from Akira's Mom, saying that they are leaving now, and reminding Mom to pay her back for this favor of watching Akira. Michiru also suggests that the three of them stop for snacks at the convenience store (apparently, Michiru is now old enough to drive). This will be Michiru's treat! At the convenience store, Michiru asks Akira what kind of sweets does she like ? Akira had been staring at an action figure of 'Mannish Man', their hero from so long ago. " ***I*** (lit, *Ore* {masculine}) usually don't snack between meals. ", simply states Akira. Michiru quips that she doesn't understand that logic at all ! "A girl who doesn't like to snack ? " Such frightening 'girl sense' (+)!", adds Rumi.

At the Watai home, Mom and Dad Watai are in the front room, and offer their 'good-evenings' to Rumi and Akira as they go upstairs to her bedroom. Michiru wants a highball like what Dad is drinking. Mom bluntly tells her, don't you dare! In Rumi's bedroom, Akira remarks that this family seems to get along very well. Rumi says, "Not really!" The two girls sit on the floor and go through the school's yearbook, looking at the guys and gossiping about their looks and personalities. Rumi points to the pictures of Mayu and Kengo, saying that those two have begun spending a lot of time together with one another. Next, Rumi wants to go through all her fashion magazines, showing them to Akira one by one, and pointing out which clothes would look good on A-chan. After a while, Akira yawns, and Rumi asks Akira if she is sleepy ? Akira tells herself that she just has to keep up with Rumi's energetic style. Just then, Michiru opens the door and wants to join the 'girl talk'. NO WAY ! DON'T BOTHER US ! "How about taking a cute picture of Akira ?", coos Michiru as she gives Rumi her iphone. That is okay. However, one picture turns into about a dozen or more, including a picture of Akira wearing cat ears ! Akira tells herself that she is so at ease with Rumi. " She accepts ***me*** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) for who I am! ", notes Akira to herself.

But bedtime eventually comes, and Akira is in the upper bed of twin bunk beds. The bed cover is so fluffy ! Rumi took the lower berth. Akira, unable to fall asleep, stares at the ceiling, and reviews in her mind many troubling thoughts. Tonight was really fun. The Watai family seems to be very close knit and kind. She then thinks about grandmother and her upcoming surgery. Will she be okay ? Mom has been working so hard to provide for her and grandma, including working the midnight shifts. Akira's thoughts begin to turn dark and very personal when she tells herself that it's all her fault that she turned into a girl. " Am ***I*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) allowed to have this much fun ? " And what is to become of her as a girl ? Thoughts spiral downward and turn ugly, until Akira begins to spontaneously cry. Tears begin to drip downward. This awakens and attracts the attention of Rumi, who looks upwards towards her from the bottom berth.

" A-chan ! Are you having your period ? "

No, that was two days ago ! Akira tries to act as if it is nothing, saying that she is 'just fine'. But seeing tears streaming down her already wet face only arouses Rumi's suspicion all the more. Rumi says that Akira sure doesn't look 'fine'. Rumi climbs up to the upper berth, and sitting on the bed, tells Akira that she, Rumi, can't sleep if she is worried about her friend. An already distraught Akira tells herself that Rumi is (supposedly) angry and scolding her. But far from it. Rumi scoots up to in front of Akira, already kneeling and scrunched down almost into a ball, and gently puts her arms around her. Rumi cuddles Akira, pressing Akira's head onto her chest, and having Akira hold still on her lap. Akira apologizes for the trouble.

" It's okay. My sister used to do this for me when my Dad would get angry about whatever. ", soothes Rumi. " Your Dad seems really nice, though.... ", chokes out Akira. Rumi retorts, saying that when he gets mad, he is scary.

The two girls, one in anguish, one offering love and kindness, silently huddle together for quite a while. Akira tries to calm herself by telling herself that she can go ahead and cry like this when she is sad, because she has an intimate girl friend who understands, comforts her, and can be trusted. Akira silently tells herself that she has obviously become a girl all the way down to her heart. When Akira is finally calmed down a bit, Rumi has her lay on her stomach, prone on the bed, then positions herself next to her, also prone, and pulls the covers over the both of them. Right then and there, whether Akira knows it or not, the two girls are going to have a very private, 'stay awake' girl's sleepover. They begin by looking at pictures of guys that are in their class at school, this from Rumi's iphone. As the joyful time passes, Akira tells herself that she just has to go to the same Jr. High as Rumi. Akira ponders for a bit, then quietly asks---

" You know, Rumi, there is a favor that I'd like to ask of you ................ "

## What Manga Fans Are Saying About This Chapter

**subliminal / 4 months ago**

It's fictional gender swap. The guy can become a fully functional girl with only the fading memories of thinking they were a guy.

That is the difference between fiction and reality. They jump from one fully functional sex to another.

**SmileyGuy / 4 months ago**

You actually brought a very interesting point of view.

And Akira was born XY[male DNA code], that is made very clear. He just had a weird disease that magically(?) transformed him into an XX[female DNA code] like if he were born girl, and probably I don't think it's easy for any parents to accept that your boyish son transformed into a girl out of the blue and that he is not resisting it, but rather accepting it.

**NuMu / 4 months ago**

Akira seems to have accepted that she's a girl, now that she's made friends with girls at school. Her anxiety about being a girl seems like it was somewhat to do with fearing rejection from her peers.

Is the mother viewing her daughter as a boy and wants her to live as one despite her physical gender? It looks like she told the grandma that Akira [supposedly] wants to be a boy too. It's something that's popped up in the news, where mothers view there child as a different gender and force them to transition. This has the added sci-fi twist of the condition.

I'm not sure how the science works in this piece of fiction. Was she always a girl XX but displayed male characteristics until puberty? Or did her DNA change from XY to XX? I'm willing to bet those details aren't that important to the story the author wanted to tell.

**Joron / 4 months ago**

It seems the mother dislikes to see people treat her son as a girl, and start putting pressure on Akira to avoid being treated as a girl.

**Lag / 4 months ago / 3 likes**

It feels like something awful is about to happen.

**Tiny Anvil / 4 months ago**

Feels like she's gonna have a crossroads moment soon!

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