Love Me: Chapter 7

LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM

CHAPTER 7 OF THE MANGA

Kotone Mizunoe's image and words keep running through Tetsu's mind, over and over again. He is in his bedroom, sitting on the floor, with a blanket wrapped around him for warmth. After being doused with ice-cold water at school, and staying wet for the rest of the day until he got home, he seems to have caught a cold. Surprisingly, no one noticed that his shirt and pants were wet, or if they did, they did not say anything. What was that altercation with Koto at school all about, anyway ? She certainly was scary and foreboding, if nothing else.

A FEW DAYS EARLIER, THE SAME DAY THAT MOGUMO VISITED MEI AT HER HOME

Tetsu and Suzu are at the local WacDonalds (McDonald's), in a booth and playing a combat video game together on their iphones. After a while, both have their last life killed, and they both lose the game. Tetsu wants to know why the two of them are doing a mundane thing like playing video games, instead of having some real fun ? Suzu says that the others are all over at Mei's home, trying on cute and pretty girl's clothes. Real girl stuff, don't you know ! That's okay, but you, Tetsu, looked like you needed someone to talk to. So here I am !

Confiding, Tetsu mentions that he was concerned, because he thought liking Mogumo meant that he was descending into eerie B.L. (boy's love/yaoi). But that is not the case, as Mogumo is not really a boy, despite their perceived birth sex. Suzu remarks that you probably never thought the kind of love you feel right now would ever come to you. Right ? Tetsu says that he has still not 'wrapped his head around' his relationship with Mogumo. But you, Suzu, you have been through a lot, haven't you ? Suzu says that he is still going through a lot ! Have you told anyone that you dress as a girl to impress a boy in your class, asks Tetsu ? No, no one at all, outside of the Café.

Alone in his bedroom, with only his thoughts to keep him company, Tetsu confesses to himself; so much for understanding what Koto did. Her words come back to him again, "You are only hurting Mogumo..." Tetsu tries to look at himself objectively. Wonder if I have hurt Mogumo without even realizing it ?

The next work day at the Café, Tetsu has to call in sick. After the Café closes for the night, Mei comments to Mogumo that Tetsu never gets sick. So what gives ? Mogumo relates that they saw him sneak into fifth period class, although he was all soaking wet. He whispered that he tripped over a bucket of water. Suzu breaks forth with a hearty laugh; you mean he tripped and ***just fell into*** an ordinary bucket of water ? No way ! That's crazy talk !

Moving on from Suzu's hilarity, Mei asks Mogumo, how did it go with the girl clothes that I lent you ? Mogumo says that she brought them here, to return them. They were nice and all, but I couldn't get comfortable with that style. Mogumo says that they are sorry. Maybe if I identified as a girl, which I do not now do, it wouldn't be so hard to wear that style. Suzu wants to know; did Mogumo really try a new fashion style ? Do you have any pictures on your iphone, Mei? Mei shows the outfit---***"SO, SO CUTE !!!"*** However, that style fairly screams, "Mei-chan, the trans girl", and not "Mogumo, the Gen X'er who has a female Gender Expression", explains Suzu. Turning her attention to Mogumo, Suzu states that it is not that Mogumo is not feminine enough, it's really the style itself that is off. What style do you like to wear, Mogumo ? Sailor fuku and maid outfits, mostly ? Mogumo says that they don't know if they really liked them, it's just they always wanted to wear them. Mogumo relates that, when in middle school, they always dreamed of how delightful and pleasurable it would be if they could wear the female sailor suit school uniform to school, instead of the mundane, awful boy's military style uniform that they were forced to wear. So you were stuck with the boy's school uniform all through middle school, Mogumo ? Mogumo only growls and does a slow burn.

Soon, Sac-chan peeks into the dining area, and asks, "Who wants to work through the upcoming summer break ?" All three girls are silent. Finally, Mei raises her hand, however, Mogumo is still giving off a sour and unsettling look, as she is much irritated, thinking about how she had to, in the past, wear the boy's school uniform. Notwithstanding the tepid reception, Sac-chan says that she thought that we could do something special for summer. She wants to go 'all out' this time around. Ten-chan comes into the area, carrying several sheets of paper, laying them out on a table.

**"Presenting our Special Summer Uniforms ! Maid outfits inspired by traditional Chinese dress !"**

On each page, there is a pencil drawing of a particular outfit that would be suggested for each girl. "THEY ARE ALL SO, SO CUTE !", remarks everyone ! Ten-chan says to let her know if you want to change anything about your assigned outfit ? Mei requests that the ordinary short sleeves on her outfit be changed to huge, little girl style puff sleeves ! Done, as Ten-chan redraws the sleeves on her outfit. Mogumo wants a change to their outfit; can you change the mini-skirt to booty shorts, as that is what I prefer ? This comes as a surprise to everyone, with Suzu whispering to Mogumo, that, y'know, Tetsu loves to see ones wearing booty shorts ! So attractive and erotic ! Ten-chan redraws Mogumo's outfit with booty shorts. **"Perfect!"**, shouts Mogumo ! Yet, Mogumo wrestles with the idea, if it is okay for them to wear clothes and fashion styles that they, not others, really like ?

When all the clothing adjustments have been done to everyone's liking, Sac-chan announces that there will also be a special summer menu. Mogumo has gotten over her sourness, and now has a silly grin on her face, probably thinking how cute and feminine they will look in their new summer uniform. This intense feeling is not lost upon Sac-chan. Mogumo asks if Tetsu's cold is better ? Sac-chan relays that he will be better, and be back here soon.

Later that evening, Sac-chan knocks on Tetsu's bedroom door, announcing that she is coming in. Tetsu is sitting on the floor, watching a TV program, with a blanket wrapped around himself. Sac-chan asks if he wants a bowl of watermelon cubes ? Sure, as he begins eating the watermelon. The program on the TV is a social drama of some sort between an adult man and woman. Sac-chan remarks that she has seen this episode before. Soon, she announces that the best part of the story is about to happen ! Suddenly, the woman throws a large glass of ice-cold water on the man ! Enjoying the scene, Sac-chan is giddy, however, Tetsu takes a dim view of what just happened. With an unpleasant look on his face, he asks Sac-chan if she has ever thrown water on anyone ? Yeah, in Middle School, when someone called me something awful, something about me being a trans girl. **"YOU HAVE ?!?"**, screeches Tetsu ! What's with you, implores Sac-chan ? "Nothing ! Never mind !!", yells Tetsu. And with that, he says that he is going to bed, and for you to finish watching the episode on the TV in the living room. What the...? Tetsu takes the remote, turns off the TV, and climbs into bed. "G'night!", he barks out with finality, as he covers himself with the blanket. "Come on....", implores Sac-chan, but to no good. Therefore, she says 'good night', and takes her leave. Just before shutting the bedroom door, she mentions that Mogumo has been worried about you, very much so.

Meanwhile, at that very moment, in her bedroom, Mogumo is laying in bed, gazing at the picture of her new maid uniform, but worrying about how Tetsu is doing.

(End Chapter 7)

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