Chapter 7

Between the female hairdresser and Rumi, Akira is given the "innocently cute but 'drop dead' sexy" makeover. She instantly becomes the hit of the school homeroom class.

## Features of This Chapter

### Story Setting

At the women's hairstyle shop / at home / at school

### Transition Milestones

Akira not only has her hair styled to a super cute and alarmingly sexy style, her MOE goes through the roof when Rumi adds a lolita headband and ribbon to her hair.

### Relationship Evolution

Rumi grows closer to Akira with her 'makeover' of Akira's already dynamite hairstyle. Mom distances herself by removing Akira's lolita headband.

### Lessons Learned

A girl's grooming and style is her justice.

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

CHAPTER 7 OF THE STORY (Revised English Translation)

## Previously

It has been Rumi-chan's intention all along to remake and upgrade Akira's tomboyish looks to that of a cute, sweet, attractive teen/tween girl. The bonding that had occurred between them during the Summer Camp when Akira had her first period only served to further cement their shoujo ai / yuri relationship. When they got back from camp, Rumi loaned Akira a teen fashion magazine and a couple of shoujo manga volumes. Akira did not 'take' to the fashion magazine, but really liked the shoujo manga stories. In fact, Akira went and bought the entire series of shoujo manga from a bookstore, just so she could read the story all the way to the end. But now it is time for Akira to have her hair restyled. What will Rumi do now ?

## This Chapter's Story

CHAPTER 7---According to the MANGA version---

The next weekend after Akira bought the whole shoujo manga series, she is in her bedroom reading, coincidentally, a fashion and hairstyle magazine. Mom comes in and arbitrarily announces that she made an appointment for Akira at the hairdresser, so please go. " No! My hair is fine just like it is !", protests Akira. Mom wants to know why Akira is being difficult ? "Just look at you and your long bangs! If you don't get it cut, you will soon have to tie your bangs up ! ", argues Mom. " I get what you mean, I'll go. ", mutters Akira.

That afternoon, Akira is greeted by the hairdresser. She wants to know what kind of cut would Akira like ? Akira answers by saying just to cut a little off of the ends, a basic trim. As the whole 'trial by fire' begins, the hairdresser tries to make small talk, asking if Akira knew that her nephew (Shouma Sahara) is in the same class at school where Akira attends ? " Is that so ? " Akira wonders to herself just who this guy is, as she calls up mental images of various boys in her class ? Soon, tiny scraps of hair are covering the floor. When done, Akira pays for the hairstyle (2,500 yen / about $21.63 USD), thanks the stylist, and leaves. The stylish wishes Akira well and tells her to treat herself with the change from her payment.

On the way home, Akira can 'feel' that the hair cut and style is somehow different. She wonders if it is weird in any way. Once home, Mom announces that Akira's bath is all ready. Looking at herself in the mirror in the bathroom, Akira is stunned by how cute and sexy she appears to be with the new hairstyle !

" She cut my bangs straight across. It's pleasingly short . . . . . . I really *look like a **girl*** . . . . . . Is this *really **me*** ( lit. *Ore* {masculine})*?* " As she stares in the mirror, Akira's heartbeat begins to thump with excitement.

Mom comes into the bathroom to give Akira a towel, and only succeeds in scaring the living daylights out of Akira. Akira thinks to herself that she wasn't doing anything wrong, just admiring herself !

Next school day, Akira is dressing for her classes. Akira asks Mom if she is working the morning shift today ? She is. Mom says that she will drop by school in the afternoon to meet with the school's guidance consular. Akira catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror by the front door. She is both awed and frightened by how her straight cut bangs and hairstyle has given her the "innocently cute but 'drop dead' sexy" look.

" Doesn't **my** ( lit. *Watashi* {feminine})...........no.......... **my** ( lit. *Ore* {masculine}) hair look kinda weird ? " She reviews with herself that she only asked for a trim, and instead she got the 'deluxe treatment' ! This new hairstyle is really beginning to bother Akira !

" I don't want to go to school today ! " , belts out Akira.

Mom says that she has never skipped school before. Akira says that she thinks that her hair 'looks weird'. Mom says that it is not weird, but if it bothers you, just wear a baseball cap ! Mom pushes the cap onto her head with a note of finality. On the journey to school, Akira only 'digs herself in deeper' by imagining all sorts of bad situations. Boys will laugh at me, and what will Watai-san and the girls think and say about me ? By the time Akira walks through the front door of the school, she is really 'down in the dumps', with an upset stomach. Shouma tries to greet her with a cheerful *Ohayo* (good morning), but he notices her foul mood, plus her new hairstyle, and quickly turns away. Akira says that she knew that this style of haircut would be seen as weird, and wants to go home now !

    But then Rumi comes by with a cheerful greeting of, " Good morning, Akira-chan! ". Immediately, Rumi wants to know if Akira got her hair restyled ? Rumi goes on to say that the new haircut looks good, actually very, very cute !!! Akira gives Rumi a look of disbelief and remorse. But Rumi says to wait a sec. Before she knows what happened, Rumi has removed the baseball cap and affixed a lolita headband and bow to Akira's new hairdo. Rumi states that she just knew that such an addition would definitely suit her, and only add to Akira's attractiveness, as she readjusts the lolita headband ! Akira repeatedly thanks Rumi for her efforts.
And, my, my ! How that addition put Akira in the spotlight ! All through the classes, one girl after another would compliment Akira on how nice her new hairstyle was, and how attractive it makes her appearance. It's like Akira became an instant celebrity. Erika is especially impressed by Akira's new look, and adds to it by making the back of her hair into tiny pigtails with little beaded ties holding them together. But all the attention has begun to take it's toll on Akira. She becomes more and more embarrassed with all the attention. Erika's efforts result with another layer of cuteness, plus a heavy dose of MOE , instantly added to Akira's presence and presentation. Erika further tells Akira, that she needs to check out the latest teen/tween fashions in the magazines that she lent to her, and not to take her pigtails down until her next bath. Akira's promises to do just that. Akira can't believe how different she looks from just yesterday. Then justifying her assessment of herself, Akira tries to reinforce her thinking by telling herself that at least she can now get along with the other girls, not just Rumi. But a sour memory spoils her mood as she remembers what the girls said to her at the other school---

    **We'll *never forget* what you did to us !!!**

Akira's mood instantly changes to apprehension as the bad memory assaults and haunts her mind. Mayu asks Akira if she suddenly has become sick ? Akira tells them not to worry.

At the end of the last class of the day, the homeroom teacher asks Akira to go with her to the Staff Office. This she does. Rumi is disappointed that the two of them can't walk home together, like they always do now. Mom was waiting outside the office. " WOAH ? " , was Mom's first reaction to Akira's hairstyle upgrades. " Did Rumi do this to you ?" "Yeah!" "I see, trying to fit in with your friends really has taken a toll on you! ", announces Mom as she removes the lolita headband and undoes the pigtails. For Akira, it's like the brutal Inquisition all over again. A tear comes to Akira's eye as she realizes that she can't keep the ribbon and headband, and thereby has broken her promise to Erika to wear the hairstyle upgrade that Rumi and Erika both patiently gave to her.

The school counselor steps into the Staff Office along with Mom and Akira, to tell Mom that she has some information for her. The counselor wanted to discuss the future school options that can be realized for Akira. She gives Mom a pamphlet regarding a specialty school in Kyoto that allows transgender teens and gender non-conforming students to attend. **The Kyoto Shiyama Middle and High School** is emblazoned across the top of the cover. The cover even shows a teen perceived as a female wearing the male school uniform and sporting braided hair, and a teenage student perceived as a tall male wearing the female school uniform of a shirt and vest, a huge bow at the neckline, and an attractive pleated mini-skirt.

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## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

The fact that Akira has fully accepted the reality that they are physically a girl seems to be sealed when she went through her first period. However, there is still some indecision in her mind, as one would surmise from a Bigender Gender Identity. This is shown by the many times Akira still refers to themselves as *Ore* (masculine), while it is still a minority of times that she refers to herself as *Watashi* (feminine). Rumi-chan is slowly but surly changing Akira from an *Ore* to a *Watashi* ! But that is embodied in the title of this manga.

## What Manga Fans Are Saying About This Chapter

**urugiru / 2 hours ago**

Don't worry. The mother I'm sure would better support Akira if she understood the evolving situation. But it is also on Akira to be honest with her mom. You can't expect the mom to be a mind reader.

If you think about it, the offer at the end of the chapter could allow Akira to be whoever she wants to be. It is a judgment-free school where everyone can be however. So Akira could be a guy or a girl, it would all be fine.

**Kato Shuu / 4 months ago**

The mom wasn't being mean or anything, because previously he didn't want to be a girl, cried about it, bullied by the boys, and ignored by the girls

And being a girl, Akira became "weak" mentally [and physically]. Some sort of trauma you could say, that's why the mom wants Akira to be "strong" and energetic like he used to (didn't know he was a bully).

**ChristineGuinne / 4 months ago**

I believe that the mom is doing what she THINKS the child wants, because initially, (and understandably), "he" was upset at becoming a girl, but I think SHE is starting to change her mind, (which is kinda the whole premise of the manga.)

**Basil D / 4 months ago**

When she took Akira's ribbon away, my heart sank... I feel for the mom cos it's confusing, but it's a bit premature to be deciding the best way for Akira to make friends, you know.

**Tersione / 4 months ago**

Every chapter, my heart just aches for the poor kid with everything going on.

**Joron / 4 months ago**

It appears that the mom doesn't like her "son" to act as a girl. The way she took away the ribbon, it seems to disprove of [her] wearing girl [items.]

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(Click on Chapter 8 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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