Chapter 5: Friendship on the Rocks

MAIDEN TO THE MAX

FRIENDSHIP ON THE ROCKS

CHAPTER 5 OF THE MANGA

**"You and I are FINISHED !"**, shouts out Hana-chan !

That statement, and the disagreeable look that Hana-chan gave to Nozomu, keeps repeating over and over again in her mind, as she makes her way back to home from the Summer Festival. This because Nozomu inadvertedly lost the hairpiece that Hana-chan had lent to her for the festival, a hairpiece that had a lot of personal meaning and memories to Hana-chan.

At the end of the next school day, Nozomu, wearing the boy's school uniform (Unfortunately, Nozomu has to present as a male student at school), sees Hana-chan leaving the school at the same time as themselves. Nozomu calls out to Hana-chan, but she silently sends out a rather obvious snub, and walks away. Perplexed, Nozomu doesn't know what to do, until just at that moment, a text message comes across their iphone from Shuuji. He wants to see her this afternoon, sort of an impromptu date. Nozomu agrees to do so, and hurries home to change into a girl's short hemline, pretty black dress with gray ruffles, and sexy sheer gray above-the-knee stockings.

A while later, Shuuji is pleased to meet with Nozomu, and comments that the headband that he bought for her (to replace the lost hairpiece) looks so good on her. Shuuji takes her out to a soda shop, and treats her to an exotic juice-blend seltzer drink. When the casual date is done, it is dark outside. Intimately taking her hands into his, Shuuji says his 'good night' to Nozomu. Nozomu then walks home, wondering what Hana-chan is doing right about now ?

Next morning, a school day, Nozomu shows up at Hana-chan's home, to walk together to school as they always have done. Except, Hana's Dad says that she left earlier by herself. Didn't she tell you ? Nozomu disappointedly says that is all right, and thanks her Dad. Catching up to Hana-chan on the way to school, Nozomu calls out her name. However, at that moment, Hana grabs the arm of a dark-haired girl near her, one who she barely knows, and gushes out a 'Good Morning, Mika-chan', as Hana leads the two of them away from Nozomu. Mika-chan wants to know what is going on ? Did you, Hana-chan, have a fight with Nozomu or something ? "Not really .... ", nonchalantly says Hana-chan. So has been the same routine for the rest of the week at school.

That weekend, Nozomu once again goes out on a date with Shuuji. Nozomu is wearing what looks like a little girl's white party dress with ruffled short sleeves, and her favorite sexy, gray above-the-knee stockings. They go to a casual eating place, and have soft drinks. Nozomu is excitedly telling Shuuji about the differences between cats and dogs. He remarks that you are especially bright and happy today. Happy, until Nozomu casually makes a comment about Hana-chan. She then turns real depressed, real fast. Shuuji notices, too. After that, the conversation wanes, as Nozomu becomes quiet and steeped in melancholy. Inquiring, Shuuji wants to know what is wrong ? Nozomu merely says that it is nothing. This date wasn't much fun this time, muses Shuuji.

That evening, in her bedroom, laying on her bed but still wearing her little girl's party dress, Nozomu ponders with herself. All she can think about recently is; what gives with Hana-chan ? Is she not even going to talk to me anymore ? Wonder if she still feels that way ? And with that thought, Nozomu picks up her iphone and calls Hana-chan. Hana answers, as Nozomu excitedly and earnestly apologizes for what happened, saying that it was all my fault. Except, Hana bluntly states that she is busy right now, and rudely hangs up ! Perplexed and disappointed, Nozomu turns to the only friend that she has right now, Shuuji. She calls him, anxiously speaking his name. But Shuuji cuts her off, asking if she is free tomorrow ? She is. There is something that I want to talk to you about, explains Shuuji, as well as the two of us can go shopping for a while. Shopping ? Yes, so I will see you tomorrow at 5 PM, at the entrance to the shopping center near the train station ! " .... okay .... " And with that, Shuuji hangs up.

Once again, Nozomu lays back on her bed, and falls into melancholy. What is happening with Hana-chan ? What is happening between Shuuji and me ? Does Shuuji see me merely as a cross-dressed boy ? A 'gender-bender' or a young, obnoxious drag queen ? No ! Definately not ! Shuuji sees me for who I actually am, a real girl, a Trans Girl ! If that is the case with how Shuuji views my correct Gender Identity, then how does Hana-chan view me ? Getting up from the bed, Nozomu goes over to her closet, wherein she keeps her boy's school uniforms, and all of her girl's clothes and outfits. Opening the closet doors, she gazes inside. Does Hana-chan see me as a boy ? A girl ? A combination of both ? Neither ? A no-gender ? A gender-bender ? Or something else entirely ?

Next day, Nozomu dresses and heads on out in the afternoon to the meeting place to see Shuuji. She catches sight of Shuuji, and greets him with a friendly 'Good afternoon'! Yet, Shuuji has a look of surprise and concern on his face. Is it because Nozomu dressed in boy clothes in front of him for the very first time ? Is Shuuji disappointed about not seeing Nozomu in a pretty dress ? Nevertheless, if Shuuji thought anything of it, he doesn't show any reaction. He puts his arm around Nozomu, and leads them off, saying that today we are going to do some shopping, as well as talking about what matters to us.

Nozomu is lead to a ladies' specialty shop, a store that sells wigs. Once inside, Nozomu is asked which ones do they like ? Explaining, Shuuji says that he is partly to blame for Nozomu losing her wig at the summer festival, so he will make up for that by buying a replacement wig for Nozomu. Nozomu looks around, but is silent and seems dejected. Noticing that, Shuuji remarks that something must be bothering you, Nozomu, so for a change of pace .... However, Nozomu breaks in to solemnly state that they are no longer going to wear girl's clothing. Immediately, that puts a real damper on the shopping spree.

Later, with the both of them sitting on a park bench, Nozomu is trying to explain their circumstances, but it is difficult to get the words out.

" .... I knew that I wanted to begin presenting as a girl .... however .... I .... I could not work up the courage to do so .... but .... the one who encouraged me to take that first step that day you saw me on the train, was Hana-chan. She did her best to help and console me .... yet what I did .... losing her hairpiece .... really, really hurt her feelings."

Shuuji silently ponders for a few moments. He then asks why did you, Nozomu, end up going to the festival with me, dressed as an adorable teenage girl loli ? "What?" Furthermore, why do you think that you were able to continue to authentically present as a girl without your wig and hairpiece that night ? Either way, you were your natural self, a pretty girl in a pretty yukata, having a lot of fun. Shuuji continues,

"Despite losing the wig and hairpiece, and with Hana-chan reacting the way she did to that, I don't think that Hana-chan expected you to give up your transition to being a girl, and go back down into the irksome 'rabbit hole' of supposed 'boyhood' !", soothes Shuuji. He continues, "If you were able to be true to yourself, and present yourself as your correct Gender Identity of a female thanks to Hana-chan's heartwarming comfort and impetus, how about you go see her in your most authentic and convincing fashion, as the Trans Girl that she has helped mold and inspire ?"

*"That is what I will do, right now !"*, proclaims Nozomu.

"Take this with you !", advises Shuuji, as he reaches behind the park bench, and hands a shopping bag to Nozomu. Inside is a black long-haired wig identical to the one that was lost. That wig is, or can be, like a touchstone to you, Nozomu, to remind yourself that despite all that has gone down, good or bad, you are, above all else, a real girl, a faithful girl, a proud Trans Girl ! At with that realization, Nozomu does a silent, mental, heartfelt Love Confession toward Shuuji !

"I LOVE YOU, SHUUJI, WITH ALL MY HEART AND SPIRIT ! But right now, I have to go see Hana-chan, and set matters straight."

Shuuji bestows 'well wishes' upon Nozomu, as they hurry off.

At home, in her bedroom, Nozomu picks out her prettiest, loveliest, frilly, pure white little girl's style party dress, and quickly changes out of the drab boy clothes, and into this proper, rightful girl's outfit. Soon, Nozomu is out the door and running toward Hana's house. Bursting inside through the front door, Nozomu whizzes past Hana's Dad with a 'Hello, Sir', and nothing more. Making a bee-line up to Hana-chan's bedroom, Nozomu comes to a screeching halt in the hallway in front of the door. Nozomu shouts through the closed door, "HANA-CHAN ! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE ! Please talk to me even if it is through this closed door !" Surprisingly, Hana responds, asking why are you here ? Hana-chan, wearing only a nightshirt and panties, gets up, and coming over to the bedroom door, leans on the inside of the door. Nozomu pleadingly begins a fervent explanation---

"HANA-CHAN ! I'm sorry for taking you for granted up until now. For the first time, I have come to understand that I have lost something important to me ! Thank you for supporting and encouraging me when it came to my shipping with Shuuji. Furthermore, I had no idea just how much your encouraging me to dress as a girl, ended up giving me the desire and courage to do so, and then go out in public, where I met Shuuji ......."

***GO AWAY !!!***

Tears come to Nozomu's eyes, as she fights back the urge to cry her heart out. She redoubles her efforts---

"All this time, the only one who accepted me as both a 'boy' and a girl, was *YOU*, Hana-chan ! Being my authentic self as a girl was fun *because you were with me, Hana-chan !* IF YOU ARE NOT WITH ME, I AM NOT HAPPY AT ALL, REGARDLESS OF WHAT I AM DOING ! SO .... Please .... I - I .... "

***ENOUGH !!! THAT'S ENOUGH ! You're such an* idiot*, Nozomu ....***

And with that, Hana-chan opens the door to her bedroom. Nozomu dashes in, and putting her arms around Hana-chan's neck, bursts into a flood of tears and wailings. Both stay in that passionate embrace, as Nozomu cries and sobs so mournfully and sincerely. Finally, after there are no more tears left to shed, Hana-chan gently whispers into Nozomu's ear---

" .... geez .... you're hopeless without me .... aren't you .... ?!?"

After Nozomu has calmed down somewhat, the two friends settle down for some intimate girl-talk ! This goes on for a while, as each one bares their heart and soul to the other. Included in the narative was Nozomu relating what all happened on a couple of dates that she had with Shuuji. Really, asks Hana-chan ? Something like that happened to you ? Good for you !

When all was said and done, and their friendship was patched up 'good as new', Nozomu goes to take her leave. But then she remembers that she should text Shuuji, as he was worried about her. This she does from the bedroom before she leaves.

Meanwhile, at a local bar near the college campus, a certain guy is trying to come to grips with his current situation with his girlfriend. The guy, Shuuji, has had 'one too many' hard drinks, and is flopped down onto the bar, with his head down and his arms outstretched above his head. His tears are flowing freely, as he incoherently mumbles to himself,

".... no matter how cute and adorable .... 'he' .... no, she .... no, they .... they .... no, she was born a boy .... that makes her .... makes her .... a .... what is she .... she is .... what should I say .... a pretty girl.... a cute boy .... no, definately a girl .... I'm buffaloed .... gawd .... blimey .... what's to become of me .... I - I .... I'm in love .... with her .... love .... what a dilemma ...."

"BARKEEP .... SOMEONE .... TAKE HIS DRINK AWAY .... AND TELL THAT GUY .... NO MORE DRINKS FOR TODAY' ", is shouted across the length of the bar.

About this time, Shuuji's iphone buzzes with a text from Nozomu. It says that she made up with Hana-chan without any problems or hard feelings. Hana-chan wants the three of us to go on a picnic or something next weekend. Hana-chan says that she wants to have some fun with you, too !

Shuuji tries to get up from his barstool, but only falls down onto the floor in a crumpled heap .... !

(End Chapter 5)

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**Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion**

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