Story Arc 1: The Annoying Friend

THE ANNOYING FRIEND

Makoto-chan is late. So very late. It's late afternoon, already. She missed the subway train by seconds, and had to take the next one. Waiting at the subway terminal at the other end of the line is her very close and intimate friend, Yuuko-chan. Makoto sends a text message telling Yuuko that she will be a little late. Finally, the two girls meet at the above ground subway entrance. " You're late! ", quips Yuuko. Makoto apologizes for being late. Earlier, her homeroom class also ran late. The two close friends go across the street to an office supply store. Inside, Yuuko inspects a bottle of 'White Out'. Makoto asks how her manga is going ? Yuuko remarks that the story line is still the same. Makoto wants to read it as soon as possible. Yuuko says that it will not be ready until sometime around September. Leaning her head on Yuuko's shoulder, Makoto coos that she wants to be the first one to read the manga. " Of course! "

**" MAKOTO-CHAN !!! "**, a female voice bursts forth from somewhere behind the two.

Makoto looks behind her. " MIKI-SAN ! ", cries a much surprised Makoto. Miki comes upon the two and intrudes upon their shopping with a loud, " YOO-HOO ! What were you up to ? " Makoto says that they were only buying supplies. Miki next draws a bead on Yuuko.

" HoHoHo........your girlfriend ? ", asks Miki. " No........um........they're my lover........ ", squeaks out an embarrassed Makoto. Yuuko has a sour look on her face, but does not make eye contact with Miki.

" **WAAAA !!!** So it's true that you've got a girlfriend ! " , once again belts out Miki. " Miki-san! You're too loud ! " Miki asks Makoto if the 'girlfriend', is a Year Two (Junior in High School) ? " Yea....... " Miki continues with the probing questions, further embarrassing Makoto. Miki wants to know since 'she' is dating you, Makoto, does that mean that 'she' is bisexual, too ? " Hey, Miki-san! Come on! ", implores Makoto. But Miki trudges on, " Don't worry! I'm not prejudiced against any sexual preferences! "

" YOU'RE WRONG! " , Yuuko forcefully addresses Miki. " I don't know how Makoto explained it to you..........But we're ***not*** bisexuals. I identify as non-conforming.......I'm **agender** **(\*)** while Makoto is **bigender(#).** That's different from labeling someone as "bisexual" and whatnot. "

" What the ***hell***, it's not like I'm ***renouncing*** you! ", shoots back Miki, " ***Why*** are you giving me that ***attitude*** ? " " What attitude ?", offers a conciliatory Yuuko. Miki states that she is now 'ticked off', and wants to know why Yuuko suddenly picked a fight with her ? She then states that she is leaving, like right now. Miki pays for her purchases, and leaves in a huff.

After Makoto and Yuuko are finished shopping in the office supply store, they retire to a Burger Queen (Burger King). Yuuko honestly states that they are uncomfortable being labeled as a "girlfriend". Yuuko says that they identify as neither ***male*** nor ***female***...........how does one explain oneself clearly ? Makoto explains that Miki-san is the type who is easily offended.........so, Makoto promises to talk to her about it tomorrow at school.

" Makoto.......did you forget your hairclip ? ", says a concerned Yuuko, " You're gonna get ketchup on your hair. " Yuuko digs in her backpack and offers a hairclip to Makoto.

" Thanks !"

Next day at school, at lunchtime, Makoto is about to enjoy a peaceful lunch from her bento box. But the peace is shortlived, as Miki presents herself with a bang!

" *Aaaaaaaaah, Makoto-chan!* That is **so cute** ! That hairclip made into a kitten is nice. I love cats. Wanna eat lunch together ? "

" Miki-chan ! You scared me ! ", sheepishly replies Makoto.

Two other girls join Makoto and Miki outside for lunch. As the 'girls only' conversation begins, the brown haired girl exclaims in astonishment that, " Makoto-chan has a "girlfriend" ? " Miki states that she heard about it from way before today. Nooooooo! The brown haired girl says that Makoto-chan *is all hers*, as she playfully bangs her fist on the outdoor table. The twin tail girl states that Makoto-chan is not 'all hers'! Miki states that she was surprised, too, and then asks Makoto if she, Makoto, likes only girls ? The brown haired girl nonchalantly states that 'the girlfriend' (Yuuko) told her that they themselves were not a transgender teen. Miki replies that she thought that the two girls (Makoto X Yuuko) were both bisexual. The brown haired girl plainly asks Makoto if she 'bats both ways' ( is Makoto bisexual?) ? Makoto thoughtfully replies---

" It's not about sexual orientation. How should I put it ......... ? I like Yuuko-chan simply because they are Yuuko-chan, as plain or as complicated as that. "

A little slow on the uptake, the brown haired girl asks, " Who is Yuuko ? " Miki wedges in by saying that it is the "girlfriend" of Makoto's who is and has been under the discussion now taking place. The discussion about Yuuko becomes more lively, as Makoto wants the ground under her to sallow her up in order to hide her.

The brown haired girl becomes crass when she asks Makoto if she, Makoto, has 'gotten to third base' with Yuuko yet (had sex with Yuuko)? Without waiting for an answer to that, the twin tail girl asks Makoto which high school Yuuko is from ? Higashi Sakura! The twin tail girl wants to know if Higashi Sakura is the high school without a deviation score (+) ? Miki expresses surprise that there are high schools without a deviation score! The brown haired girl says that it must be **that kind** of 'encouragement school' ($). Miki flatly mentions **that kind** of school allows girls to have bleached blonde hair and multiple ear piercings. So the "girlfriend" is actually a social delinquent ? *" YOU'RE WRONG !!! " ,* screams Makoto, " .......... i'm sorry ......... " Miki is 'loaded for bear' as she emphatically states---

" So the "girlfriend" has bleach blonde hair, has had her ears pierced multiple times, is going to **that kind** of high school, so ........doesn't that prove that 'she' is just plain *stupid* ? Ya know, I don't know why I am being yelled at, just sayin' ! "

" Miki, I think you have said too much already ! " , intones the brown haired girl.

Makoto silently thinks to herself that Miki is *wrong* ! I can change my appearance (Gender Expression) as much as I like. But my form and identity (Gender Identity) will remain the same !

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Click on Story Arc 2 for the next section of the story.

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(\*) **Agender**

**Agender** people ('a-' meaning "without"), also called genderless, gender-free, non-gendered, or ungendered, are those who identify as having no gender or being without a gender identity. Although this category includes a broad range of identities which do not conform to traditional gender norms, scholar Finn Enke states that people who identify with any of these positions may not necessarily self-identify as transgender.

(#) **Bigender**

**Bigender**, bi-gender, or dual gender is a gender identity that includes any two gender identities and behaviors. Identifying as bigender is typically understood to mean that one identifies as both male and female or moves between masculine gender expression and feminine gender expression, having two distinct gender identities simultaneously or fluctuating between them. This is different from identifying as genderfluid, as those who identify as genderfluid may not go back and forth between any fixed gender identities and may experience an entire range or spectrum of identities over time. The American Psychological Association describes the bigender identity as part of the umbrella of transgender identities. Some bigender individuals express two distinct personas, which may be feminine, masculine, agender, androgyne, or other gender identities; others find that they identify as two genders simultaneously.

(+) **Deviation Score**

Deviation Score (Hensachi): Universities in Japan are ranked based on a Hensachi score. This tells how far from the statistical mean (average) a typical student admitted to a university, scores on an entrance test. A score of 50 is at the mean, the average. It's generally believed that the best universities have the hightest Hensachi scores.

($) **Encouragement School**

A kind of school that has a flexible and basic curriculum that allows students to think about their own way of living and to establish basic and fundamental academic achievement, the kind of school that responds to everyone's motivation and support them.