Chapter 33

Akira takes the initiative to reach out to Kazuki, and tell him that he is not weird for wanting to be a girl.

## Features of This Chapter

### Story Setting

At school, during practice for the school play

### Transition Milestones

Akira is able to intimately talk to a boy in her class, about a very touchy subject. Akira now knows that the ruff and tumble boy wants to be a gentle girl.

### Relationship Evolution

Akira establishes social intimacy with tough boy Kazuki.

### Lessons Learned

Gossip, good or bad, sure travels fast !

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

CHAPTER 33 OF THE MANGA (REVISED ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

(Part 3 of the Class Play for the Autumn Culture Festival Story Arc)

## Previously

It was decided by a majority class vote to do a 'gender reversal' play for the upcoming Cultural Festival. All of the students in Akira's homeroom class are expected to participate in one fashion or another. However, the whole range of attitudes about being in the play, not the least of which is the portrayal of one's opposite sex, affect the planning and organizing of the play. Akira has no qualms about presenting as a male character, as she was a male long ago ! The roles are assigned, and rehearsals have begun. The class bully, a rough boy named Kazuki, is recalcitrant about playing a female role, and is uncooperative with the directions of the other students regarding the play. Akira knows Kazuki's secret as to why he is so upset and sour, and tries to let him know that she cares about him.

## This Chapter's Story

Mustering up every ounce of his bravery, Kengo appears in front of the whole class dressed in female attire, a period dress, and a long blonde wig. The whole class is working out details on how to present their Class Play---*Cinderella*. This is the old-fashioned dress that Kengo will be wearing for the Class Play. Surprisingly, the reaction from his classmates is all positive. Many shout that he looks great, so much like a girl. Ome girl says that she sorta likes Kengo, but is told that Kengo already has a girlfriend. In fact, Kengo looks prettier than Cinderella! Shion comments to Akira that he looks very nice. Shion then asks for Akira's opinion. At first, Akira says, "Sure, whatever you say." Shion then comments that Akira's taste in boyfriends means that she only looks at the hansome ones. "Yeah..," quips Akira, although she is not quite interested in anything that Shion has to say.

Meanwhile, Natsumi is trying to get Kazuki to try on the Cinderella costume dress. He is doing his best to ignore her, until Natsumi screams into his ear, **"Get off your butt and help us out here!"** Kazuki merely puts his fingers into his ears. Rumi asks out loud if Natsumi is not scared of Kazuki? Aoi answers that the two are childhood friends, so no, she is not. Akira is busy trying on her Prince Charming costume. She tells herself that the costume will be okay. Nosy Shion complains that Kazuki will be too tall to be a proper Cinderella, and that Akira will be too short to be a proper Prince Charming. She offers that Kengo would be a better selection for Cinderella. Akira silently tells herself that Shion is always pointing out people's weaknesses and insecuritites.

Kengo gets a little too excited wearing the dress, and begins to 'get stiff' down below. Daichi, a new boy in class, loudly and callously points that out to everyone. Akira is about to say something, but Rumi, playing it safe, grabs her from behind and puts her hands around Akira's mouth, as Aoi stands in front of Akira so that she can't see what is going on! Akira is miffed (she used to have male equipment, after all), but Aoi tells her that she doesn't need to know the details of what is happening right now. Kazuki sees his chance to 'exit, stage right' during the turmoil. However, Natsumi sees him leaving, and loudly shouts---

**"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?"**

**"Toilet!"**

Meanwhile, Rumi has shifted her hands and arms from Akira's mouth, to encircling her from behind with her arms romantically clutching Akira's neck and shoulders. Anyone see the girl-with-girl romance going on right now? Rumi quietly asks Akira if she, Akira, thinks that the play will turn out okay?

Out in the school hallway, Kazuki shuffles along toward the boy's restroom. Suddenly, he hears his name called from behind. It's Akira's voice. Kazuki looks to the side but keeps on walking, stating that he actually has to use the boy's room; he will go back to the practice and do his part when he is done. Akira waits by the girl's room door until Kazuki comes out of the boy's room. Right now there is no one around except for the two of them. Kazuki nonetheless takes a quick look around to make sure. **"WHAT?"**, barks out Kazuki. Akira tries to be congenial. She begins by saying about the other day---But she is cut off by Kazuki, who wants to say something to her first. He asks her if she remembers that day in June when they had the health class? When the subject of pregnancy came up, Kazuki confesses that he only wanted to see what he would look like as a young pregnant woman. He saw his opportunity, and tried on the plastic form to make him look pregnant. Kinda weird, right? And with that revelation about himself, he flatly states that the two of them should head back to the classroom, before Naksuki gets angry again. But Akira has yet to say what she wanted to say. As Kazuki turns to go, Akira belts out what was on her mind---

"*It isn't weird!* What you did isn't creepy at all.......!"

Two girls actually followed Akira and Kazuki, and are peeking around the corner of a wall. The two, Kanae and Kokoa, speculate that they are seeing an actual, live Love Confession in Real Time; Akira toward Kazuki. Kanae says that they should not be interrupted or spied upon. Kokoa says that she just has to know! However, Kazuki hears the commotion, and kicking the wall next to where the girls are, yells at the two girls to---

**"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!!!"**

The two girls turn tail and run down the hallway. Kazuki, not really angry, thanks Akira in an appreciative tone that, by her commments, she made him feel much better.

Later that afternoon, after classes are done and the cleanup crew is taking care of the classroom, Natsumi asks Akira if she, Akira, likes Kazuki? Rumor seems to have gotten around about some sort of Love Confession! Akira is quite shocked and taken aback that such obnoxious gossip is already making the rounds. "Why would you think that?", pleads Akira. Natsumi presses her advantage by pointing out that Akira almost never interacts with the boys, but now she is seemingly intimately hobnobbing with Kazuki. What gives? Shion overhears the exchange, and sticks her nose into the gossip. Shion matter-of-factly states that Kazuki is not Akira's type of boyfriend, as Akira prefers only good-looking boys, and Kazuki is a 'hound dog'. At the shoe lockers, Rumi also wants to question Akira. Akira silently thinks to herself that it is true that she not very good at being around boys, that is why she has not gotten involved with them. She only tried to help and encourage Kazuki, and now they think that she has fallen for him. Is that how it is between teenage boys and girls ? Rumi breaks her line of thought---

*"Do you like Kazuki???"*

**"YOU, TOO, BRUTUS? NO I DON'T!!!"**, blasts back Akira !

Rumi observes that *something* happened between Akira and Kazuki. Akira ponders on what to tell Rumi? She finally cooks up a plausible answer---Kazuki told her (supposedly) that he is not fit for the *Cinderella* role. Akira tells Rumi that attitude reminds **her** (lit. *Watashi*{feminine}) of how she, Akira, used to be. Akira implores that she just wanted to help Kazuki. But it looks like her efforts were misunderstood. And that could anger Kazuki. What can she do to set the record straight? Rumi offers that Akira is just amazing ! Eh? This because Rumi always pegged Kazuki as a scary person. Yet, Akira is getting along with him fairly well. That is something that Rumi could never do. Akira says that it was just a coincidence, and that she has not done anything really important. Akira doesn't want to 'screw up', so she should just 'back away' from the whole social deal. Rumi implores that Akira wants to help, and what is wrong with that? Rumi says that she believes in Akira's efforts, and offers her hand in friendship. They hold hands, as Rumi says that she will help Akira with whatever is on her mind. Akira silently thinks to herself that Rumi is always like that ! But can *I* (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) do the same ?", Akira ponders ? The two continue walking, and romantically hold hands like a loving girl-with-girl couple.

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

A revised and more extensive flow chart for all of the characters of *Until I Become Me* was placed at the end of Chapter 33.

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(Click on Chapter 34 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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