Love Me: Chapter 2

LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM

CHAPTER 2 OF THE MANGA

(This chapter's story begins with two flashbacks. The first one is back to the time when Tetsu was a pre-adolescent boy, and their older sibling was in their late teens. Satori had already begun transitioning from male to female. The second is a flashback to when Mogumo first entered the new school term wearing the female school uniform, a sailor suit with a pleated mini-skirt.)

FLASHBACK NO. 1---Tetsu thinks back to one particular day in the past. Satori is in the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror and applying lipstick to her lips. She has become quite skilled in the use of makeup. Today she is wearing a turtleneck sweater with a bolaro jacket over it, and a calf length skirt. Young Tetsu is peaking in the bathroom with the door barely open. He thinks to himself that his big {brother} has recently revealed that she is a girl on the inside, and will be transitioning to being a girl in all aspects of her life now. Satori turns to see him looking in at what she is doing. Tetsu continues to remind himself that Satori, despite being troubled with a boatload of worries concerning transition, has always been cheerful and kind. He is so proud to have a {brother} like Satori. Later, when the two of them are walking hand in hand on the sidewalk, a couple of high school girls walk past them going in the opposite direction. As the two pass by Satori and Tetsu, one of the girls utters an unkind remark, asking if her companion had seen those two that just walked by ? That older one, dressed in girl's clothes, WAS A GUY !!! Really ? OMG, WTF !!! Tetsu began learning at that moment that he had to be a friend and ally to transgender people, including his transitioning older sibling, and other gender variant ones, no matter what ! (End Flashback No. 1)

FLASHBACK NO. 2---Tetsu remembers the first day of school of the new school semester. Classmates were invited one by one to stand before the class and introduce themselves. When it was Mogumo's turn, she stood before the class wearing the female sailor suit school uniform, and announced that their name was Ryuunosuke Mogumo (a male name), and that it is nice to meet all of you. Yet Mogumo had a dull, unconcerned, vague look about their face. Tetsu could see that with Mogumo's cute, attractive, childlike appearance, and with their hair done up in sexy, provocative twin tails, several of the boys had already begun to steal clandestine romantic glances at {him}. However, for unknown reasons, it seemed hard to approach {him} to get to know them better. Tetsu remarked to himself that {he} must be a "girlyboy", and that my {brother} would want to eventually meet {him}.

Later that day during break time, two obnoxious boys gathered around Mogumo's desk. Mogumo did not move, only stared downward, with 'her' elbows planted on the desk, and 'her' closed fists on 'her' chin propping up 'her' face, stone-cold quiet. One of the clueless boys began asking Mogumo pointless questions; Why are you wearing a pleated mini-skirt if you are a {boy} ? Is that your *real hair* in twin tails ? The other curious boy observes; don't you think that Mogumo is way cuter than half the girls in this class ? I COULD GO FOR THAT ! Seriously, you're killing me ! A kind girl then comes up to the two delinquent boys, and yells at them to "STOP IT !!! Mogumo probably has some sort of complicated reason for being........." But then, Mogumo pulls out her iphone and boots it up. Then bluntly and dispassionately states that all of you don't have to bother with me, not at all........

Just before the end of the school day, Tetsu is walking down an elevated hallway that has windows on both sides looking outward across the school campus. Mogumo, all alone, was standing and blankly staring out one of the open windows, with the gentle incoming wind caressing and fluttering their twin tails. Tetsu silently thinks to himself as he walks past Mogumo, and then glances back at {him}, that he can't just force his way into Mogumo's private spaces and personal situations. (End Flashback No. 2)

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Today, at the end of the school day, Tetsu tells himself that what he just recalled in flashback, is what he has always though about Mogumo. But Mogumo wrote such a serious and passionate request on the slip of paper, and then even prayed about it. Suddenly, without warning, Mogumo comes up from behind him, and mentions that let's go to work together !

At the Question Café, Suzu is in the back room, already in his maid uniform, and putting up his hair into a sexy ponytail and ribbon. He hears someone coming through the back door. Turning to see who it is, Suzu is surprised and quite taken aback. It is Tetsu, with a look of surprise on his face, and Mogumo, with both of their arms entwined around Tetsu's arm in a passionate embrace, and with a look of divine bliss on their face. Both are wearing their school uniforms. "ARE YOU TWO A ROMANTIC COUPLE NOW ? Are both of you *already in love ?*", belts out Suzu. "Well, I wouldn't exactly say that.....", confesses Tetsu. Mogumo, for their part, says that this may, indeed, actually be love ! Suzu folds his hands and holds them to his cheek, and closing his eyes, dreamily says that yesterday it was such an amazing display that Mogumo revealed about {herself}. His heart was pounding all during that time. He goes on to say that he has a boy that he is interested in, too.

Mogumo releases their titan like grip on Tetsu, and asks a rather awkwardly personal question of Suzu---

"Are you into B.L. (\*)?"

Just then, before Suzu can think of a good answer, Mei comes in the back door, in her school uniform dress and holding a textbook. Hearing what was just asked, Mei promptly takes the textbook and wacks it on Mogumo's head, shouting out that---

"SOME PEOPLE FIND THAT WORD AND CONCEPT HURTFUL, SO DON'T SAY IT WITH THAT KIND OF IMPLICATION !"

Mei then apologizes to Mogumo for the wack on the head. Mogumo gets up from kneeling down from the impact, and humbly says that they didn't know it would be taken that way. Mogumo next jumps up to embrace Suzu, apologizing profusely. Suzu says that later we can have a heart-to-heart talk, and then I will forgive you. With the situation calming down now, Suzu leans his hands backward onto a table, and asks Mogumo if they like Tetsu, doesn't that make you the same as me ? Mogumo candidly states that they don't really feel that Tetsu and themselves are of the same sex or gender. Therefore, we are not the same. "I see....", remarks Suzu. Suzu goes on to say that when true love is present, all other considerations pale in comparison. Love is love !

The afternoon duties get underway with the beginning of the after school shift. Mei says that she will instruct Mogumo on how to service the customers coming to the Cafe. She begins by stating when a customer comes in the door, you say---

"Welcome to the Girlyboy Cafe called *"Question"!* And then when the customer is seated, you say---

"Welcome ! Did you know that I am a 'Girlyboy', born a boy but dressed as a girl ? Is that okay with you ?"

You have to look and sound as cute and adorable as possible ! After that.......But Mogumo is looking down to the floor with a look of shame, disgust, and mild defiance on their face. "I'm not doing that !!!", utters Mogumo. Geez, what now ? Mogumo looks up with a more pleasant, inquisitive demure, confessing that if they say that they are a "girlyboy", then it is like they are going out of their way to say and assert that they are a "boy".....and they do not like to do that, not one bit. Mei rebukes Mogumo, pointing out that {she} is the one who wants to work at a Girlyboy Cafe ! "ABOUT THAT...", shouts Tetsu through the kitchen window. He goes on to confess that he never flat-out told Mogumo that the Cafe was a "Girlyboy Cafe"! And Sac-chan naturally thought that Mogumo knew that fact when they first came in here. To make matters worse, he never saw a proper time to correct this misunderstanding with Mogumo. Mogumo tries to go to Testu's defense, assuring that they were told that they could stay just the way they are now (Gen X, with an undetermined gender). Tetsu said that **I did not have to be a *"boy"*!** "RIGHT, TETSU-KUN ?" Tetsu, in a quandary, 'digs himself in deeper'. He declares that since Mogumo is not a "girl", then he thought that they would have to be the opposite, a "boy". No problem. Yet discarding all hope of resolution, Tetsu bows deeply at the kitchen windowsill, and loudly declares that he is sorry, and that everything is *all his fault* !

Just then, Sac-chan and Ten-chan come through the door from the dining area. Sac-chan apologizes on behalf of her little brother, and boldly proclaims that she doesn't mind if the "girlyboy" part is left out of the initial greeting. She adds to that by saying that if an employee is hurt by that designation, the she will prioritize that accommodation. Everyone here should be who they really want themselves to be. Mei loudly protests. "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS ! IF THAT IS HOW IT IS, THEN I WILL....." Sac-chan cuts her off, adding for everyone to discuss this issue, and decide among yourselves how you will want to address this issue.

The four maids retire to the dining room, where there are no customers now, as it has been a slow day. Suzu speaks up first, outlining that he first began wearing cute girl's clothes to match what the boy he was trying to impress liked. That boy really liked sailor suits with a pleated mini-skirt. So that is what he wore. After a while, the more that he dressed pretending to be girl, the more that he liked it; it was a lot of fun ! Therefore, if ones don't like it, he does not mind dropping the use of the designation "girlyboy".

Next is Ten-chan. She declares that cross-cosplay is her supreme and ultimate hobby. Even if she no longer uses the word "girlyboy", it doesn't bother her as long as she can wear cute female outfits, here, at anime conventions, and at other times, too. No matter what costume I am wearing, as long as I can be *Ten-chan*, then everything is a-okay with *meow*. However, how would we explain this Cafe's concept ? Using the name "girlyboy" is the fastest and easiest way to let guests know what we are all about.

"RIGHT ON !!!", screams Mei, "THIS IS OUR JOB!" Customers come in here because they understand what a "girlyboy" cafe is all about. I don't like the idea that customers coming in here not knowing that all of us dressed as cute maids were born or perceived as boys. Besides, it's scary not having a unique and different name. I don't want the label "girlyboy" TAKEN AWAY FROM ME OR ANYONE ELSE !

Mogumo tactfully approaches Mei, and suggests that they be the only one not to mention or apply the term to themselves. Mei retorts, you mean that you are going to go into a lengthy explanation every single time just because you do not want to say the word, "girlyboy" ? THAT IS SO LAME ! But.....I'm.....not a "boy"..... is Mogumo's meek response. Mei counters. But I.....but I.....(Mei hesitates because she is about to reveal something very secret and profound about herself).....I.....chose to be a "girlyboy". Thanks to this word and designation, I can dress and present the way that my heart is telling me to, as an authentic girl (Mei is actually a trans girl, not a "girlyboy"). Mei grasps Mogumo's wrist in her hand, and asks Mogumo if {she} has always ran away if things did not go {her} way ? If you run from this, will that solve all your problems ? Tears break out in Mogumo's captivating and expressive eyes, and begin streaming down her delicate cheeks. Mogumo then unconsciously grabs the edge of her extremely short mini-hemline dress and petticoat, and pulls it upward, almost exposing and revealing her pink, lacy rumba panties. "No.....so....I don't want to run away any more...." Mei is still clamped onto Mogumo's wrist, as Mogumo kneels down onto her bent legs and feet. Mogumo moans and pleads for ones to give them just a little more time.....

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With questions unresolved, Mogumo today is temporarily reassigned to kitchen duty. Washing dishes at the sink, they silently think things over in their mind. If this is the place where they will stay, then this is also the place where Mei will stay. If I stay, am I going to squeeze out Mei from her rightful place here ? But Tetsu-kun said that I could have my own special place here. If I run away from here, then I go back to my previous place in this world that was so boring, humiliating, and demeaning. Tetsu is at a nearby table doing food prep. Mogumo nonchalantly speaks up---

"Is it really okay for me to be here ? You said all along that I did not have to be a "boy", and that made me really happy. As I have grown up, I have always been told that I *have to be a **boy**!* So it was as if you were delivering a revelation from the Devine, telling me otherwise. But it looks like in the end....I'll *have to* either be a "boy" or a "girl". I'm just causing a lot of problems for all the others here."

Tetsu humbly replies that you should stay the way that you are, yet Mei has to stay the way that she is, too. Tetsu acknowledges that he is very glad that Mogumo is making an effort to stay here. He is sure that there is something that can be worked out. Just now, a saying that Tetsu affirmed long ago pops into his mind---

"I'm the one who has to be here as a friend and ally to gender variant people, no matter what!"

He speaks to Mogumo---

"Let's solve these problems together, shall we ?"

(End Chapter 2)

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(Click on Love Me: Chapter 3 to be taken to the next chapter)

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## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

**B. L. (Boy's Love AKA Yaoi)**

B.L. / Boys Love, primarily known as Shounen Ai, in Japan, is a Japanese genre of fictional media, mostly Anime and Manga, focusing on romantic relationships between male characters. If the male relationships contain sexual depictions, then it is known as Yaoi. B.L. and Yaoi are typically marketed for a female audience, and are usually created by female authors. Outside of a very narrow fan base, most people dislike and avoid B.L. and Yaoi.

In certain instances, B.L. and Yaoi can be found IRL (In Real Life), as is the case here with Suzu. Mei mistakes Mogumo in using the term in an improper way, however, the opinion is that Mogumo said nothing wrong, at least nothing wrong meriting a wack on the head !