Love Me: Chapter 5

LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM

CHAPTER 5 OF THE MANGA

Recently, one work day morning, Mogumo comes to the cafe only to find Ten-chan sweeping up. Ten-chan immediately notices that Mogumo has on new shoes with cute frilly socks. She loudly remarks if Mogumo bought them ? No, Mogumo borrowed them from a friend. Ten-chan exclaims that it is so fortunate that the shoes seem to be the same size that Mogumo can wear them.

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Mogumo recalls what happened yesterday. They were in their bedroom, on the floor reading a manga. The friend, a girl named Koto, opens the door carrying three shoe boxes. She announces that she bought shoes that would look good with a maid's uniform. But before the shoe display, comes the rebuff of Mogumo. Koto-chan berates Mogumo for having trash and bottles on the floor, and haven't put them in the trash can in the kitchen. Mogumo meekly squeaks out that they were going to do so later. Mogumo also points out that Koto-chan is getting more and more like Mother, all the time barking out demands. Mogumo says that they told their friend the other day the same thing. Friend ? The guy who offered you a job ? Yeah ! Mogumo pleads to show the shoes. This Koto-chan does.

One pair of the shoes are black with huge black bows on the front. The next pair is white, with white bows on the front, and an ankle strap, like ballet shoes. The final pair is white Mary Janes, with white bows both front and back. Koto-chan suggests that the shoes in the middle (bows and ankle stap) might be the easiest to walk in. Mogumo says that they like the black pair, as they look rugged, but so cute. Koto-chan mentions that the black pair are the least feminine. However, that is fine with Mogumo. That is the pair that they want to wear first.

Mogumo was lounging on the floor. Koto-chan sits on the floor next to Mogumo. Koto, in a serious tone, remarks that she was surprised that Mogumo did not ask or inform her prior to accepting the job. That is something really important that should have been discussed first. Mogumo silently thinks for a few moments, then apologizes for not doing that.

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Ten-chan finishes up her sweeping just in time for the Cafe to open up. By now, all the maids are dressed and ready for work. Later that morning, Mei is serving a customer who is reading a movie review and critic magazine. Mei sees the article that he is reading, and bursts out that she is dying to see that particular movie! The young male customer says that the movie is, indeed, really good ! He is a regular customer of Mei's, and further comments that Mei has been talking and presenting so very girly and ultra-feminine lately. Suzu comes over to the table where Mei is serving the male customer, and remarks that isn't it great that Mei is so absolutely feminine, so fitting for a trans girl, don't you think ? The male customer agrees; Mei sounds so natural and confident. The male customer then asks Suzu if they are going to transition to female, like Mei is doing quite well, too ? Suzu plainly states that he is fine staying as a cross-dressing male.

At the break time of this work day, when Mei's male customer is leaving the Cafe, Suzu tactfully asks Mei if she is getting used to presenting herself as an authentic girl, instead of a surmized 'girlyboy' ? Mei confesses that at times she gets embarrassed in front of her usual customers, but she is so very happy and contented to be finally proclaiming that she is a real girl, a trans girl to boot ! Suzu than nonchalantly suggests that since that is the case, has she though about beginning to wear a bra, even if it is only a training bra ? ***A BRA ???***, screeches Mei ! Suzu calmy relates that at times, she has worn a bra; it's not all that bad for a growing girl to get used to doing so. Sac-chan leans out the kitchen window and offers to loan Mei a new padded bra, so that she can have instant noticable boobs. Mei goes into a tizzy.

Around noontime, Mogumo asks Sac-chan if the cafe has any band-aids ? Her feet are getting blisters from the new shoes. Sac-chan mentions that there is a first-aid kit in the breakroom. Tetsu and Suzu are already there, so they can help you. But can you take this last order out before you head to the breakroom ? Sure. Meanwhile, in the breakroom, Suzu is leaning her head on the table in such a cute pose, and coyly asking Tetsu if he is romantically interested in Mogumo ? *"What the hell question is that ?"*, barks out Tetsu, "You're just so insufferably........" Tetsu is cut off by Suzu prophesying, "Hurry up and hook up with Mogumo, so we can go on a double date, you with Mogumo, and me with my male friend !" Tetsu casually remarks that you, Suzu, really have 'gone off the deep end' !

Tetsu then asks why Suzu begin to like this particular guy ? Well, it was from afar to begin with. And I began cross-dressing as a girl so that he would not feel odd or afraid to be seen out in public with me, another guy. I wore mostly sailor suits when I was with him. I didn't want to reveal the depth of my feeling for him, lest he become scared or confused. But I feel so much better since I started working her. And I really like wearing girl's clothes. (Mogumo is standing outside the breakroom door, listening to all that is said, and too embarrassed to open the door and announce her presence.)

Tetsu says that he has experienced that very kind of worry and upset emotions that you, Suzu, have gone through. I have seen the way that my older sibling was pointed at and teased by aquaintances and strangers alike, for being a trans woman. I wonder if any of that was covertly directed at me, since I was blood-related to my older sibling. That going on and on got me to thinking about many things related to emotion and inner-feelings. But as regards to Mogumo, I still technically have not received a Love Confession from them. And not knowing who Mogumo is romantically attracted to, boys or girls, or neither, I would not want to be the one to presumptiously do a Love Confession toward them. "Are you so sure.....???", remarks Suzu. (Mogumo decides that she can't enter the breakroom while such a soul-searching, emotional-baring incident is going on.)

Mogumo leaves the door of the breakroom, and heads on down the hallway. Mogumo, for some strange reason, begins talking to themselves, softly repeating the same word over and over again---*Watashi* (lit. a feminine reference to oneself). Finally, Mogumo's feet hurt so bad, that it's not possible to walk anymore. So they sit down on the floor, with their back propped up by the wall. After a while, Ten-chan comes down the hallway with two rice omlets in her hands. She sees a disressed Mogumo, and asks Mogumo what is wrong ? Mogumo doesn't answer right away, but eventually softly yet painfully says that their feet hurt. Ten-chan asks Mogumo to hold onto one of the omlets in their hands. Then with a superhuman dexterity, scoops up Mogumo under her one arm, and holding the other omlet with her other hand, rushes the two of them to the breakroom. Ten-chan bursts in like a tornado, and belts out if anyone knows where the band-aids are ? Both Tetsu and Suzu are startled, as much as seeing Mogumo carried like a cat does with a kitten in it's mouth, as much as for the dramatic enterance.

Tetsu and Suzu say that their break is almost done with, so they are going back to work. Ten-chan sets Mogumo down, and skillfully tends to her blistered feet. She finishes up with bandaids on the back of both feet. There, Meow, you are all well and good. The two then sit down and begin eating the omlets. Soon, Mogumo asks Ten-chan a personal question, "Are you really a guy, Ten-chan?" "Yep! But I cross-cosplay as a girl quite a lot!" Mogumo continues, "So you are a guy, and you like girls?" "You're embarrassing Meow now !" Ten-chan goes on to relate that she has had romantic feelings for girls all along. Ten-chan than makes a personal observation, "You must be in love, Mogumo-chan!"

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Next day at school, just before the lunch break, Tetsu finds Mogumo in the classroom at their desk, and asks them if they want to eat lunch together ? Mogumo is quite taken aback, gives off a surprised look on their face, then an embarrassed and smug expression, before saying okay. In one of the school's hallways, on a small bench, Mogumo and Tetsu are eating their lunchs, sitting right next to one another. So cozy. Tetsu has his own bento, however, Mogumo has only a food pouch of applesauce to eat. Wonder why ? Mogumo bluntly states that they don't want to eat much until they stop growing. Not the best of reasons. Isn't Mogumo hungry all the time ? Yes, but they are used to it by now. Just then, Mogumo's stomach loudly growls, as Tetsu remarks that they are not used to it after all ! Mogumo says that they don't want to get taller, as they feel that a smaller frame is so very much cuter. How tall are you ? 158 cm (5 feet, 2 inches)! Tetsu illustrates that it would not hurt one bit for the both of them to grow another 5 cm (just under 2 inches). Tetsu tactfully picks up an octopus ball out of his bento with his chopsticks, and romantically offers to feed it to Mogumo. This happens, much to Tetus's surprise. Tetsu blushes deeply at the erotic and provotive overtones of feeding Mogumo with his chopsticks. Mogumo remarks that it is so yummy ! But the sting from the blisters at the back of her feet blunt that wonderful feeling.

Just then, three girls walk past the two on the bench, who are so joyously eating lunch together. One of the girls remarks if that one sitting on the bench is your childhood friend, Kotone ? That one {boy} who always wears the girl's school uniform to classes ? Is {he} sitting with {his} boyfriend ? Koto-chan casually turns back to look at the couple. Does Mogu-chan actually have a boyfriend ?

(End Chapter 5)

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Click on Love Me: Chapter 6 to be taken to the next chapter.

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