Chapter 32

Angry and upset Kazuki grabs Akira by her wrists, and pins her to the wall. Akria cries out that he is hurting her!

## Features of This Chapter

### Time Line

One evening in a deserted classroom, the next morning and afternoon in class.

### Transition Milestones

Akira tells herself that she has convinced many others that she is an authentic girl, so maybe it is time to convince herself. Akira declines to wear lipstick at school.

### Relationship Evolution

Akira reserves judgement as to Kazuki's behavior until she can know more about him, and why he seemingly wants to be a girl.

### Lessons Learned

Akira is becoming more stable and mature emotionally, as shown by the fact that she is not going to pass judgement on Kazuki when knowing so little about him.

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

CHAPTER 32 OF THE MANGA (REVISED ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

(Part 2 of the Class Play for the Autumn Culture Festival Story Arc)

## Previously

With the upcoming exams near, all the female friends of Akira, including herself, gather to do a study and cram session. However, more gossip and 'girl stuff' seemingly gets done than any actual studying. Nevertheless, Akria, for her part, was able to pass her tests with above average scores, making her well pleased for her study efforts. Now that the work of exams is over, time for the fun parts, namely putting together the Class Play for the school's Cultural Festival. It has been decided that the play will be a gender reversal play, with girls playing the male parts, and boys playing the female parts. One boy in particular, Kazuki, is acting like a bully to Akira and others. But this is because deep within his heart and spirit he is very conflicted. He was born perceived as a male, and has grown up big and hefty, but he seems to see himself as a girl inside. Akira begins to pick up on the fact that something is eating away at Kazuki's mind and heart. But what?

## This Chapter's Story

Coming into the darkened and deserted classroom, Akira notices Kazuki crouched on the floor, wearing a female fashion wig, and bent over his iphone looking at something. Kazuki, as soon as he hears someone come in, quickly pulls off the wig that he was wearing. Akria is the first to speak, saying, "**I....I** (lit. *Watashi*{feminine}) forgot my cell phone......that is why......." But Akira never gets to finish her explanation. Kazuki gets up, approaches Akira, grabs her wrists, and forcefully pins her against the wall. With a look of terror and anger contorting his face, he screams at Akira, telling her not to ever tell anyone about what he was doing. Akira tries to scream herself, but only manages to feebly squeak out that she will not do so, and that Kazuki is hurting her! Just then, Akira's phone in her desk begins to loudly buzz with an incoming call. Kazuki yanks on her arms, as he releases his grasp, and backs away from Akira. Akira drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. The phone continues to buzz. Kazuki again loudly orders Akira not to tell anyone about what she saw, as he thankfully goes to leave ! Akira crawls on the floor over to her desk, and sitting on the floor in a heap, retrieves and answers her phone.

The incoming call is from Aoi. Aoi wants to know if Akira has found her iphone ? Akira has calmed down somewhat, as she pops an unusual question to Aoi. "Have you, Aoi, ever thought that you wanted to be a boy?" Aoi retorts as to why all of this all of a sudden ? But then, matter-of-factly she states that, yeah, she has though about wanting to be a boy. And you, Akira, have you ? (Such irony !) Akira becomes silent, then oddly proclaims that she, yeah, has thought about that, too ! Aoi then asks if 'that guy', namely Kazuki, do you think that he has thoughts of doing the same, becoming a girl ? Akira is stunned into silence.

Later that evening, in her bedroom, laying on her bed, Akira ponders on what happened earlier. She wonders what the deal is with Kazuki? Then, a thought comes to her. She calls Nurse Okabe, asking her if it is weird for a guy to want to dress as, and actually become, a girl? Okabe-sama misunderstands the nature of Akira's request, thinking that Akira is speaking about herself. Therefore, Okabe-sama tells Akira that she has nothing to worry about, as she, Akira, will stay as a cute, pretty girl. Akira further ponders to herself. She tells herself that she has, through her efforts, seen a lot of people accept her for who she is, a cute teenage girl. Yet, is that only because of the extra effort that was done by me, since **I** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) was a transformed "male" to begin with ? Kazuki, silently remarks Akira to herself, must think that it must be nice if he could transition to being a girl, no doubt.

Next morning at school, Akira enters the classroom, and immediately Rumi comes to her, looking toward Akira and directly into her face, and asks Akira if she notices anything different about her, Rumi, today? Akira is confounded, as Rumi is too, too close to her for Akira to notice anything about her. Akira merely states that she does not know. Rumi grabs Akira's cheeks with her hands, and announces to look closer (!!!) ! With pride, Rumi announces that she is wearing colored lipstick for the very first time! Shion calls from across the classroom, asking Akira if she wants to try on lipstick? Girls should take good care to protect their pleasing appearance! But before Akira can say anything, Erika calls out that she will take the offer. Erika wants to borrow the lipstick case, to apply lipstick to her own lips. After doing so, Erika sure looks different, that, and she is sporting a new shorter hairstyle. Akira asks why? Erika is confident, stating that she is going to 'make her moves' regarding her romantic aspirations at the upcoming Cultural Festival! Akira says that she sees, thinking to herself that certainly Erika is going to do a Love Confession to a certain boy, probably Shouma !

A certain boy, namely Shouma, comes into the classroom. He says 'good morning' to Akira, but when approached by Erika, only states that he doesn't know who she is! "YOU JERK, that's just mean!", barks Erika. Akira thinks to herself that the only persons that she has seen dating one another for real are Mayu and Kengo. Mayu was really, really happy at that time, as Akira wishes that Erika will turn out to be happy. Akira goes over to her desk, but is approached by someone from behind, someone who puts their hand on Akira's shoulder. Without knowing who they are, Akira turns and violently smacks their hand away! She then sees who it is---IT IS KAZUKI! Thankfully, his facial expression is entirely different today, he is calm, peaceful, and reverential. Akira asks what is it? Kazuki simply and earnestly says that he wanted to apologize for his conduct yesterday. And with that said, he turns and goes.

This sure looks like a piece of juicy gossip, so Shion asks Akira for the low-down on what happened between her and Kazuki? Akira, true to her word, says that nothing happened, nothing at all! Shion annoyingly says, "If you say so..." Akira sits down at her desk, and begins thinking to herself over what did happen yesterday. She tells herself that she really wants to hear what Kazuki would have told her, had he been in a better mood. Questions pop into Akira's mind that she would ask him if she could have the chance---

Do you want to be a girl?
Why? Since when?
Does any one else know about your gender concerns and desires?
Could it be you have the same malady as **I** (lit. *Ore*{masculine}) do ?
But how am I supposed to ask him these questions?

Later in the day, in the early afternoon, a group of students are making plans and arrangements for the Class Play at the Cultural Festival. It is announced that the play will be *Cinderella*! However, it was already decided that the play will be a gender reversal play; boys playing the girl's parts, and girls playing the boy's parts! All the various roles will be decided by a lottery system, this so because we know that the boys won't just 'volunteer' to play girls. Just prior to the lottery, an announcement is made saying not to complain about the role that anyone gets. When her turn comes, Akira draws a folded paper out of the lottery box, and opens it. Her eyes go wide with surprise and trepidation.

The results are soon posted on the blackboard, according to the lottery draw---

**CINDERELLA: Kazuki Tsukumo**

**THE PRINCE: Akira Fujimiya**

FAIRY GODMOTHER: Daichi Himi

STEPMOTHER: Yuuto Kikuchi

EVIL STEPSISTER A: Kengo Nakasone

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