Chapter 3 & 4: A Teen's Romance!

WHAT MIKI DOES AFTER SCHOOL

A TEEN'S ROMANCE!

CHAPTERS 3 & 4 OF THE MANGA

(Chapter Note---Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 are identical in story content and story line. The only difference is that each chapter had a different Japanese to English translator. However, the translations of English word choice and sentence structure are virtually identical.)

Next day after school, the four friends and acquaintances meet up. The two boys are still in their male school uniforms. Izumi is wearing what she always wears to school, much to the consternation of students and teachers alike, the shirt and tie from the boy's uniform, but the jacket, mini-skirt, and knee-high socks from the female uniform. Miki has already changed out of her boy's school uniform, into what she wears nearly every day after school, a girl's sailor suit uniform with a pleated mini-skirt. A minor disagreement has broken out between the teens. Seems someone wrongly perceives Miki and Izumi as cross-dressing boys.

" You've got it all wrong, Hasegawa ! There are a lot of reasons behind this behavior ! Right, Miki ? ", insists Itsuki. Hasegawa is standing in front of Izumi and Miki, with a sour and disapproving expression on his face. Izumi sets the record straight---***" This isn't cross-dressing! "*** Yeah, agrees Itsuki. Izumi then becomes accusative towards Itsuki, wanting to know what's going on here, an inquisition ? Itsuki says that Hasegawa has been Miki's friend since childhood. But why was Hasegawa brought here with us anyway ? That's because you, Izumi, sent a picture of Miki and yourself to Hasegawa's cell phone. Cute maid's outfits, too! Why was that done, sent to Hasegawa ? Itsuki says that he doesn't know. After all, it was you, Izumi, who sent the picture in the first place. Itsuki becomes frustrated. He exasperatedly explains that Hasegawa merely wanted to see the two in the picture in person. Izumi recalls that she swears that she sent the picture to Itsuki, not Hasegawa ! So it was Izumi's fault, after all ! However, Izumi insists that Hasegawa should not have been brought along.

The "inquisition" now turns toward Miki. Hasegawa wants to know just what kind of relationship Miki has with Izumi ? Do you know her ? Where did you meet her ? Miki's self-confidence, as usual, begins to crumble and disintegrate. Izumi 'steps up to the plate' to pitch-hit for Miki. Izumi, coming in close to Hasegawa, wraps both her delicate hands around the hand of Hasegawa, cuddling it, and begins by saying---

" My name is Izumi Morishige. I'm a close friend of Miki's ! Be sure and call me *Izumi-chan* (first name basis means instant friendship and intimacy), okay ? "

***" I LOVE YOU !!!!!!! "*** , gushes Hasegawa as he boldly, in front of everyone, hugs Izumi around her neck and shoulders. He nuzzles his cheek against her cheek. An instant Love Confession !

***" GYAAAAA !!! WHAT ARE YA DOIN' , YA FREAK-A-ZOID !!! STAY AWAY FROM ME ! "*** , is Izumi's swift and forceful reaction.

Miki observes that it is obvious that Hasegawa has sudden strong feelings for Izumi. (S)he is cute, after all, counters Itsuki. Miki says that is true. Itsuki responds that he is glad that things did not get any more messy than they already have. Yeah ........

Hasegawa and Itsuki depart and are walking together. Hasegawa is throwing off an aura something fierce, an aura of sunshine, flowers, rainbows, and unicorns.

" IZUMI-CHAN ! ***SHE'S SOOOO CUTE !!!*** To think that we had *a girl like that* at our school !!! " " Yup!", groans Itsuki. He goes on to change the subject by asking Hasegawa why he, Hasegawa, wasn't surprised by Miki wearing a girl's sailor suit ? Hasegawa says he is used to it, ever since childhood. Miki as a child would frequently borrow and dress in his older sister's clothes, and wear her dresses and outfits to the playground. Hasegawa has a chuckle over those memories.

After the two boys left, Izumi and Miki retired to Izumi's bedroom. Izumi is lounging on her bed, with Miki sitting daintily at the foot of the bed. Izumi callously remarks what an annoying guy Hasegawa is ! Right, Miki ? However, Miki has other matters on her mind. She approaches Izumi, addressing her face-to-face, and honestly remarks that she was thinking that Izumi-chan is so unnervingly and indisputably ***cute*** ! What brings this on ? This because Itsuki intimately and candidly told Miki that you, Izumi, were **so, so cute !!!** So? Miki becomes embarrassed, but continues on. Miki bashfully remarks that she was thinking if it is somehow possible that she, Miki, could ever become as cute as Izumi is ! Why ? Izumi wants to know if Miki is wanting to do this exclusively for Itsuki ? Miki becomes even more beet red, and begins to fidget uncontrollably. " No, it's not that ....... ", says Miki stating the opposite of what it actually is ! Izumi picks up on what Miki is trying to get across, however poorly. Izumi boldly confirms---

" It's fine ! Miki, I'll make you cuter that you ever though possible ! Just leave it to me !!! "

Later that evening, Itsuki receives a cell phone call. The caller ID says that it is from Miki. But when he speaks into the phone, it is the voice of Izumi. She says that there is 'a little something that I want to talk about', and can he come over to her apartment right now ? Itsuki says that he will pass, however, he is told that Miki has already told her that he would come. Fine. In a short while, Itsuki is just outside the apartment complex. He is speaking into his cell phone, and the answer back is to come into the apartment, as the door is not locked. This he does. Just inside the door is Miki. But once again, what the heck is she wearing ? Miki is wearing a girl's pink short-sleeve dance leotard, and over that is a frilly white maid's full sized apron. Itsuki is surprised as all get out---

"**MIKI !!!** What's with that outfit ?" Miki apologizes. "Izumi, get out here; I'm sure it was you who made Miki put this on !", bellows Itsuki.

"Wait, Itsuki-kun !", cries Miki. She grabs him from behind, and wraps her arms around his waist, to restrain him. "Izumi-chan is not at fault ! She is the one who helped me with this idea ......... "

Itsuki pleads with Miki for her to change. Sure. But first, Miki wants to know Itsuki's honest and objective opinion---

"Do I look cute in this outfit ???"

**"You don't look cute at all !!!"** , bluntly retorts Itsuki. He wonders out loud if Miki somehow got seduced by Izumi, or just got too carried away by this idea ? Miki dejectedly says that she guesses that he is right. Itsuki again calls for Izumi to show herself. Meanwhile, Itsuki spies a bedcover, and wraps Miki in it. Miki becomes distressed and begins crying. You okay ? Itsuki wants to know if it is something that he said ? Suddenly, Izumi appears, and whacks Itsuki on the head. **" YOU IDIOT! Making Miki cry!"**

In a little while, the apron is on a hanger, hanging on the bedroom wall. Miki is back to wearing her perennial sailor suit school uniform. Miki has calmed down considerably, and again apologizes to Itsuki. He says that Miki does not have to apologize, since it obviously was all Izumi's fault ! In her defense, Izumi says that it was Miki's idea because she stated so matter-of-factly that she wanted to become so much more cuter. All Izumi did was to help out. Itsuki points to the apron and wants to know how did it turn into something like this ? Well, speculates Izumi, a popular fantasy is to have a cute girl wear an apron over her clothes, and welcome home her boyfriend, isn't it ? Where did you pick that idea up ? From the soaps ! QUIT MESSING WITH MIKI ! Izumi retorts that Itsuki still doesn't 'get it'! Miki *did it for you*, Itsuki, you knucklehead !

A pregnant silence ensues, as all three silently review the whole affair. Finally, Itsuki looks directly at Miki, into her eyes, and tells her that the pink leotard and apron outfit she had on earlier was, indeed, the *cutest outfit that he has ever seen her wear !* But Miki doesn't have to push herself that hard, as she is already insanely cute in ordinary clothes. Izumi says that Itsuki needs to offer more praise and thanks for what Miki just did. Itsuki whispers to Izumi that surprisingly, Miki takes compliments all too well. Miki, meanwhile, has morphed, and is now happy as a clam !

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Click on Chapter 5: A Maiden's Heart to be taken to the next chapter.

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