Chapter 46: Makeup

Akira surprises everyone with his presentation of a edgy, provocative maid, done with skillful use of makeup.

## Features of this Chapter

### Transition Milestones

In a slight regression, Minami has to cross-dress as a cute, pretty maid in male mode, not as a girl like he thought that he would be able to do.

### Relationship Evolution

Minami experiences the fact that a male cross-dressing resembling a girl is a poor substitute for being a real, honest-to-goodness trans girl.

### Skills Learned

Minami is required to present as a cross-dressed male, and he does his best with Karin's helping with his makeup. But cross-dressing can only go so far, as it is only an imitation of the real thing.

### Lessons Learned

Minami learns (probably the hard way) that overconfidence can be just as troubling as a lack of self-confidence. He was so sure that winning the maid contest was a 'shoe in', and that only made his third place finish all the more agonizing.

Chapter 46: Makeup

[THE POWER OF] MAKEUP [COSMETICS]

CHAPTER 46 OF THE MANGA

## Previously

Early on, Akira, as the "female" Dark Lord, thought that they could get the better of the maho shoujo girls in the club with his raw power, but that turned out to be debatable. But admittedly, Akira was no match for the girls (especially the trans girl, Karii Maki / Maho Curry) when it comes to social and emotional skills, as well as all things feminine. Therefore, Akira set out on a project to acclimate themselves to being not just a Dark Lord, but to cross-dress and present as an innocent and attractive teenage girl. They got an unexpected boost to their 'girl power' when Akira's big sister paid an visit to home, and found out that Akira frequently cross-dresses as a girl. Big sis then went 'whole hog' with the idea, even helping Akira obtain necessary feminine clothing and other items. Thus, Akira is becoming more and more proficient in the fashion and social skills of teenage girls. How will Akria do at the Cultural Festival, dressed as a cute, pretty maid ?

## Chapter Overview

The class at school that Minami is in, their project for the school's Cultural Festival is that of a Maid Cafe. However, the girl who organized the Cafe waited until the day before the festival opens to pop it upon the boys that they will have to wear maid costumes and participate, too ! Minami is overjoyed, until he finds out that he can't use his Henshin to transform into a girl; he will have to wear the maid's costume as a male. But the hit of the male maids is Akira, provocatively dressed in the maid's costume, and looking oh, so sexy and attractive with skillful use of makeup. Minami reciprocates, having Karin apply makeup to him, too.

Sometime after the Maid Cafe opens, Yui and her real life maid and guardian, Ren, stop in to see how the cafe is going. It is a real hit with the students; everyone has been so busy ! Yui thinks that it would be fun to have Ren, an actual professional maid, to help out at the cafe, and orders her to do so. Ren complies, and begins working the tables. Later, Akira catches sight of Yui talking to Karin, and becomes memorized with her innocent, yet erotic appearance. Yui notices the attention, and sends a silent gesture to Akira that she thinks that he is really cute, too. Akira goes nuts, thinking about the seemingly romantic implications of what Yui did.

At the end of the festival and Maid Cafe, it was announced who won the day-long contest to see who was the most attractive and attentive maid. Surprisingly, Ren wins 'hands down', by a wide margin. Karin is pleased that Ren did so well, but Minami melts down and goes through the "Agony of Defeat".

## This Chapter's Story

Karin, Yui-chan, and male Minami are walking the school hallways between classes. Yui-chan mentions that the school's Cultural Festival is coming up soon, and she is really excited about it. This because her class is doing a Haunted House, with all the latest technology and electronic devices, courtesy of her father's company. Is that even fair to the other class projects ? Karin mentions that Minami's class is doing a cafe, right ? Not just any cafe, **A MAID CAFE !**

After the last class of the day, the students that are doing the Maid Cafe retire to the activities building on campus, to prepare for the Cultural Festival. One girl brings the first of a number of large cardboard boxes into the room, saying that the maid costumes have finally arrived. None too soon, as the Cultural Festival is tomorrow. Naoya becomes giddy, with the prospect of seeing all the girls wearing cute, mini-skirted maid outfits. The girl with the box tells him to be grateful that she proposed and implemented the Maid Cafe project practically all by herself. The girl picks up on Naoya's erroneous thought that the Maid Cafe will be staffed only by the girls. No way ! The boys in the class will have to dress in the maid's outfits and staff the cafe, too ! A look of horror and terror crosses the faces of several of the boys. The girl nonchalantly explains that she set it up that way, but never let on to the boys that they would be maids, lest they back out of the project. It's too late now; the boys are going to be maids, too ! Naoya is aghast, but Minami is joyous, as they have secretly been wearing a maid's outfit when they have been presenting as a girl, this for so many times already (see Chapter 16).

NEXT DAY, THE DAY OF THE CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Minami isn't joyous anymore, but is miffed and annoyed. He was told (probably by Chiyoko) that he can't use his Henshin to transform into a girl, and then wear the maid's outfit. That would be against the rules of the Maid Cafe, as well as not being fair to the other boys who can only cross-cosplay as maids. Therefore, Minami is wearing the maid's outfit, but in male mode. Karin, in her often tsundere mood today, reminds Minami that he has to cross-cosplay like all the other boys are doing; that's the rules. Soon, Naoya shows up, already dressed as a maid, but also in a funk for having to cross-cosplay. Yet he compliments Karin on her presentation of a typical adorable maid. Naoya then puts his hand on Minami's shoulder, as he declares for the two of them to do their best in dealing with the student creeps and weirdos that are certain to attend the Maid Cafe today.

Another maid enters the Maid Cafe. They are especially attractive in a provocative way, and immediately catches Naoya's attention. He gives the teasingly incendiary maid a look of wonderment and approval. However, the provoking maid blasts back a sour look and an abrasive comment to stop ogling and to get to work ! The pretty and attractive maid ? THAT'S AKIRA ASABA, WEARING THE MAID'S UNIFORM, AND SPORTING RAVISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL MAKEUP, ROCKING THE MINI-SKIRTED MAID COSTUME, AND PRESENTING AS A FASHIONABLE TEENAGE GIRL !!! Akira continues with the caustic comments, saying that he had no intention of being humiliated, and part of the goon squad of rank obvious boys who are so badly cross-dressed today. Akira silently thanks his big sister for doing his makeup earlier this morning (see Chapter 44). Naoya's eyes turn into pink hearts, as he gazes upon Akira with lovelorn feelings, yet telling himself that he is now descending into the pits of hell. (Akira has become quite skilled in presenting as an adorable teenage girl.) Minami has an entirely different reaction to Akira, that of mild outrage and jealously, as he clenches his fists. He then drags Karin to the Drama Club's room, and using a makeup kit, has her studiously apply makeup to his face. When done, Karin smiles at her outstanding efforts. Minami is now also looking like a fresh, innocent teenage girl maid, certainly at least on the same level as Akira in abject cuteness and covert sexiness.

The Maid Cafe gets underway, and opens for business. And business is swift, with all helping out, girls and boys alike. In a couple of hours, Yui-chan comes by for a look-see, along with her real life maid, Ren. Minami notices that Yui-chan is here, as Karin welcomes Ren to the Maid Cafe. Yui-chan is greatly impressed by the cross-dressed Minami, with Minami asking her if he 'looks good'? Why the self-centered attention, wonders Karin? Minami explains that just before the Maid Cafe opened, a fashion and popularity contest was created, with patrons voting all day for the cutest and best performing maid. Minami then questions Karin as to just who is this person, also dressed as a maid ? Karin explains that she is Ren, the personal attache of Yui-chan. That means Ren is a real, actual, professional maid, who always dresses as a maid for her 24/7 job. Minami jokes that maybe he should ask Ren to join the Maid Cafe today ? Yui-chan overhears the joke, and decides that it would, indeed, be fun for Ren to work with all the would-be student maids today. She orders Ren to begin helping out. Ren tells Karin that she is ready to help out.

After an while, Yui-chan is still in the Maid Cafe, talking to Karin. From a short distance away, Akira catches sight of the two girls talking. He pauses, to muse on the fact that the girl in the school uniform would be Yui, and that Yui is the new manager of the Maho Shoujo Club. Still staring at Yui, Akira goes on to speculate that Karin might somehow be connected to Yui and the Maho Shoujo Club. Yes, No, Maybe ? (Karin is in the Club, and is Pretty Saku-Nyan!) Akira is so affixed on Yui, that Yui notices the attention. She flashes back an innocent and obvious smile, and coyly waves her hand to Akira, that indicates that he is such a cute, adorable maid ! Akira is flabbergasted and gobsmacked at the implication of Yui's reply. Karin asks Yui if she knows Akira ? No, not really, but he was staring at her so intently, so she reciprocated in a most sweet and feminine way.

Naoya catches the silent exchange between Yui and Akira, and the romantic implications that were seemingly implied. He nudges Akira, saying that Yui-chan is pretty cute herself, ya know ! Right up there with your own cuteness, Akira ! Akira grits his teeth, and tells Naoya to "SHUT UP!" But as the day wears on in the Maid Cafe, Akira's mind keeps taking him back to that romantic exchange between Yui and himself as a female maid. Akira 'can't get Yui-chan out of his mind' !

The last customer has been served, and has left the Maid Cafe. IT'S OVER ! And so the Cultural Festival comes to an end, too. When the cleanup is mostly done, the girl who arranged and managed the Maid Cafe displays the voting box, and announces the results of the maid's cuteness and popularity contest. Minami is oozing and dripping with self-inflicted overconfidence, as he tells himself that although he could not transform into an anatomically correct girl, still, he presented as a damn-good maid. "The 'Thrill of Victory' is mine !" And the winner is, affability intones the girl---

"THE WINNER IS ...........THE FURUMI FAMILY'S PROFESSIONAL MAID, REN-SAN !!!"

"As one would expect from a real maid !", expresses Karin.

Minami melts down into a puddle of goo, conspicuously displaying the "Agony of Defeat" !

## Chapter Lookback and Commentary

A non-canon, doujinshi style alternate ending to this chapter would be that, Ren, of course, won the first place Gold Medal for being the best maid in the Maid Cafe. Second place, and taking the Silver Medal, is Karin (shown below). And finally, tied for third place, both taking Bronze Medals, as the third best looking and performing maids, would have been Akira and Minami, both for their skillful use of makeup, and their excellent presentation of boys dressed as and cross-cosplaying as cute, adorable, and convincing girls !

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The English Translator wonders aloud about how Karin did Minami's hair for the Maid Cafe.

Manga Fan's Commentary
XZ

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(Click on Chapter 47: Child Fantasy, Part 1 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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