Chapter 16

Chocolate exchanges are going on all over. Rumi gives her chocolate to Akira; likewise, Akira gives Yuri chocolate to Rumi.

## Features of This Chapter

### Transition Milestones

Akira gives chocolate to a boy who helped her, and a boy who tried to punch her. Akira tells herself that she is, socially, moving slowly in the right direction.

### Relationship Evolution

Akira becomes closer to the other girls at school with each exchange of chocolate.

### Lessons Learned

To forgive and forget is one of the most powerful human attributes that can be used for one's benefit, as well as the benefit of others.

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

CHAPTER 16 OF THE MANGA (Revised English Translation)

## Previously

The day before the St. Valentine's Day holiday finds Rumi and Akira at Rumi's house, mixing home-made chocolate to give out at school tomorrow. Both girls take turns with the preparation and molding of the chocolate. Akira remembers back to the day she had to intervene to stop a male bully from causing trouble for a boy and girl dating couple. When almost finished, Rumi and Akira 'compare notes' as to just who they will give their chocolate to. Next day at school, the chocolate exchanges go fast and furious. Akira finds the courage to give out her chocolate as she had planned. Erika comments that she is too shy to give chocolate to the boys. However, Akira gives chocolate to Shouma, the boy who took the punch meant for herself, and to Yuto, the boy who threw the punch aimed at Akira. Akira tells herself that the giving of the chocolate is meant to give closure to the bad incident wherein she had to try and break up a bully's distressful attempts at sick humor.

## This Chapter's Story

Tomorrow is the St. Valentine's Day holiday. Akira and Rumi are at Rumi's house making chocolates to give out at school. Akira reaches for a bowl of chocolate pieces, but her hand only grazes the bowl, and it tips over. She apologizes; Rumi says not to worry about it. When Akira reaches to upright the bowl and scoop up the chocolate pieces, Rumi notices the back of her hand is all scratched up. Rumi takes Akira's hand into hers, and remarks that her knuckles have scars on them now; she hopes that the scars eventually heal. Rumi declares, how dare that Kikuchi guy raise a hand against a girl. He's the worst ! Akira begs to disagree, and says that the scars were her own fault. A flashback to what happened that day races through Akira's mind---

FLASHBACK---Akira has her hand on Shouma's shoulder, as he holds a bloody handkerchief to his nose and mouth. Akira asks if he is okay ? Surprisingly, he says that he is okay ! Just then, two teachers, one male and one female, plus the girl that summoned them, walk through the door. The female teacher loudly asks if Fujimiya-san and Shouma-kun are okay ? The male teacher attends to the bad boy, Kikuchi, who is sitting on the floor propping themselves up next to the wall. The male teacher helps Kikuchi up, then has him come over to a desk. The boy blurts out a distorted version of what happened---

" I only tried to beat her (finger points to Akira) with one blow ........... Fujimiya, she........she tried to hit me many more times......! Why......Why only me ? "

(#End Flashback)

Akira absentmindedly rubs her knuckles with her other hand. Rumi, stirring melted chocolate, says that her hand hurts, and wants A-chan to take turns stirring. This she does. As Akira is stirring, she once again thinks to herself, back to the incident that day----

" Kikuchi and I (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) acted the same........back then........when ***I*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) let my emotions get the best of me, I became violent ..........but since I'm a girl now, everyone treats ***me*** (lit. *Ore* {masculine}) nicely. Next, a picture of Nana Shimazaki, looking very mature and adult-like when she addressed male Akira that day about flipping up her skirt and showing her panties, comes to mind. She is saying, " You (bratty male Akira) don't have anything to say for yourself, do you ? "

Michiru comes into the kitchen and eyes the chocolate. Rumi cautions her sarcastically by saying that the chocolate on the table is for Erika, Kanae-chan, Mayu, and Chika. So don't be thinking of eating too many ! Rumi then asks A-chan who she will give her chocolates to ? Akira answers that she will probably give chocolate to the same ones that Rumi gives her chocolate to. Plus chocolate for Mom and Grandmother. Then chocolate to Shouma-kun as a thank you ........ and one for Kikuchi, too, as an apology! Rumi loudly retorts, " DON'T GIVE ANYTHING TO THAT GUY ......... You never got along well with him to begin with ! " Akira counters with the thought that if things stay like this, it will only be a bad memory for the both of them. Rumi pledges that if that is the way A-chan wants it, she will help her do just that. Akira thanks her for her cooperation. Rumi then adds as an afterthought---

" Is Shouma-kun your favorite boy(to give lover's chocolate(\*) to) ? " Akira blows off the comment with the comeback, " NO WAY ! "

Next day at school, St. Valentine's Day, the classroom is abuzz with many chocolate exchanges going on at once. Mayu addresses Akira with a cheerful 'Good Morning', and becomes the first girl to give Tomo chocolate(\*) to her. Rumi is the second girl to give chocolate to her, Yuri chocolate (\*), with a cheerful holiday greeting. Akira thanks the both of them. Akira then gives Yuri/Lily Chocolate(\*) to Rumi, this for Rumi always being there for her. Suddenly, Shouma-kun enters the classroom with a G'morning. Erika teases him saying that it looks like he is not going to get any chocolate anyway, so i'll be generious ........... **" AKIRA, WAIT !"** , shouts Erika ! Akira walks away from the group of girls to address Shouma. " Eh? What? ", he exclaims. Akira hands him his wrapped chocolate, saying thank you for what he did that time. Erika whispers to Rumi, asking if it is Lover's chocolate(\*) ? Rumi whispers back that it is Giri chocolate(\*). Shouma thanks Akira for her chocolate. Keeping to herself, Erika admires Akira for giving chocolate to a boy. Erika tells herself that if Akira can do that, then she can muster up the courage and do that, too. Erika approaches Shouma and shyly gives chocolate to him (Erika is secretly in love with Shouma, making her chocolate gift secretly lover's chocolate). Erika turns away from Shouma, telling herself that she is so nervous about giving chocolate to boys. Akira then leaves the classroom, saying to herself that she has to find Kikuchi.

Walking through the hallways, a past memory assaults Akira's mind. She looks behind her, and (seemingly) sees Nana Shimakazi following her. Nana tells her, " I'll never forget what you did to me, and the rest of the girls! ". Akria answers Nana with a simple, " I know that......even so......I should have apologized to you went I had the chance. " Coming to the door of another classroom, in the doorway is Kikuchi. " Wow!", is all he says upon seeing Akira. " Umm, about last time..........", utters Akira as she tries to remember what she was going to say. But Kikuchi 'quick-draws' first. He says with gusto---

" **I'M SO SORRY !** I thought it was funny to make fun of Ishii-san and the others ! Although I started the altercation, getting hit by a girl made me lose my temper, and I reacted on crude impulse, and I couldn't stop myself ! This........please take it as an apology gift..........Gyaku chocolate (\*).........I don't know if it is a good enough apology, but .......... "

Akira takes the box of chocolates from his hand, and places another box of chocolates in his hand, saying---

" ***I*** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) **AM SORRY, TOO !** For grabbing your collar and then hitting you in the chest........it hurt, didn't it ? "

" It's okay. ", says Kikuchi, " It's........it's because *I'm a regular guy*. Girl's punches don't hurt at all ! I'm fine. "

" I see ......." , is all that Akira can think to say. She silently tells herself that while she still hurts emotionally over what happened between them, but to apologize and forgive, definitely means that her life is moving forward, little by little.

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At the end of that term of the school year, Akira graduated to the sixth grade.

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

(\*) List of the kind of chocolates given away on St. Valentine's Day---

## What Manga Fan's Are Saying About This Chapter

**UnluckyGrape / 7 days ago**

It is one thing to be caught up in the past and be sunk down into it

It is another to learn from it, to understand your wrongs, and try to improve beyond what happened.

**daijiobu / 9 days ago**

[The ones who apologized,] They grew up.

**Speak\_Easy / 9 days ago**

Very mature of him...her [Akira].

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(Click on Chapter 17 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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