Chapter 24

" Did you get into a fight with Rumi ? Want me to help reconcile you to her ? "

### Transition Milestones

Akira begins to understand the finer points of having and maintaining a girl-with-girl yuri relationship, especially after it has been damaged. Quite the task for a former bratty boy who hated all girls.

### Relationship Evolution

Rumi has backed away from friendship with Akira, but Akira is not willing to give up on her, and accepts the help of Shouma and Erika to try and repair the damage to their yuri shipping.

### Lessons Learned

Akira is about to learn a valuable lesson on how to repair a damaged relationship, even if she did nothing wrong.

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

CHAPTER 24 OF THE MANGA (REVISED ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

(Part 4 of the Friendship Lost to Friendship Regained Story Arc)

## Previously

When the new school year began, Akira found out that many of her previous schoolmates were still in her class. Such good fortune. However, a few new girls were also assigned to Akira's classroom. One such girl, Aoi, became almost instant friends with Akira, given that many of their interests were the same, such as a love of the card game, Duel Oh! Akira was even invited to spend time with Aoi in her home, intimately so in her bedroom. This Akira did, accepting Aoi's hospitality and friendship. However, this newly established friendship between Akira and Aoi did not sit well with Rumi, Akira's longtime intimate girlfriend. Akira is lured into the girl's restroom after school the next day, and given, unjustly, an ugly confrontation and a smackdown by Rumi and a few other girls. Akira is devastated and brokenhearted, as she can't figure out wherein she did anything wrong!

## This Chapter's Story

Although Akira's tears made her think that it had begun raining, the sky is actually only getting ready to rain. Akira is (supposedly) on her way home, but per chance she comes by the home and shop of the local hairdresser and stylist, Junko Sahara. The rains start just as Junko is seeing a customer off, sharing with them an umbrella and well wishes. Junko then catches sight of a very tearful and distressed Akira, and with the rain beginning to come down, invites her inside the home/shop. Crying, Akira is ushered into the front room, and offered a glass of juice. This calms her somewhat. Junko says that person just now was the last customer of the day, and she is going to close the shop. Being a good hostess, Junko tells Akira that she will prepare some fresh strawberries to go with the juice. Alone in the front room, Akira is quite startled when the front door opens, and it is Shouma Sahara (the boy who took the punch meant for Akira, see Chapter 15) who walks through the door. He immediately wants to know why Fujimiya-san is here ?

In a while, Shouma and Akira are at the table, and eating the strawberries together. Shouma explains that Junko is his aunt, and as such, he comes here sometimes for dinner. But then Shouma pops an explicit, personal question to Akira---

" Did you get in a fight with Rumi ? "

Akira is shocked and surprised that he would know such private information. However, he claims that it is just from simple observation that he deduced this. For instance, you guys didn't talk much today at school, and went home separately. Akira is too stunned to say anything, so Shouma offers to help Akira reconcile with Rumi. He gets out his iphone to call someone he knows that can offer advice. After less that an hour, the doorbell rings. It is Erika Ebihara, come riding on her bike in the rain. Erika says that it is only drizzling now, so she is okay. She then pulls Akira outside, a little ways away from the front door, and putting her arm around Akira, whispers to her. Erika wants to know why Akira is spending time with Shouma ? Did Akira pester him about Rumi ? No, it was the other way around ! Akira then picks up on why Erika is acting like this---

" Could it be that you and Shouma are, really like.........no, in love......... ?!? "

Erika goes into immediate denial, saying that he is no more than a childhood friend. Stuck together like with glue. But both girls know different. Erika then 'comes clean', saying that Akira guessed correctly. Erika than offers a deal to Akira---You, Akira, keep your paws off of Shouma, while helping me to get close to him, and I will help you make amends with Rumi. Deal or no deal ? By this time, Shouma is greatly puzzled as to what the two girls are whispering about, in the drizzling rain to boot ! Once inside, and Shouma has been clued in, then the three friends get down to business.

A 'battle plan' begins to be developed. Erika says that when classes are over tomorrow, she will separate Rumi from the other girls. You, Akira, need to keep in mind a place where you can lead Rumi to, where it will be just the two of you alone. At that time, you need to apologize to Rumi. Until then, you need to stay away from Aoi, as that was the genesis of this problem to begin with. If this doesn't work tomorrow, we will try for the day afterward. Akira wants to know just what to apologize for ? How should Erika know ? Rumi is your friend and soul mate. Figure it out for yourself !

Erika next says that she wants to get some sort of revenge on Shion, for luring Akira to the girl's restroom, then leaving Akira all alone and brokenhearted. Is that really necessary ? Of course ! If you, Akira, don't do something to squelch this, it will keep coming back again and again. Shouma mumbles to Akira that 'girls are scary', and gets a 'if looks could kill' response from Erika. However, dinner is drawing ever near, so Akira says that ***she*** (lit. *Watashi* {feminine}) will see what she can do. Akira then thanks Erika and Shouma for their concern. At the dinner table, Junko consoles Akira by telling her that she already has permission to eat dinner with us. The dinner was pleasant and delicious. After dinner, Akira and Erika are ready to leave, and ushered outside by Shouma.

Both Akira and Erika need to go in the same direction, so Akira walks, while Erika walks alongside her bicycle. It has stopped raining. Akira silently thinks to herself that she doesn't hold Erika in very high regard. Just at that moment, Erika states to Akira, out loud, that apparently she gets on Akira's nerves most of the time ! Akira emphatically states that is not true. However, Erika sees right past Akira's denial, and tells her that right now, you are hiding your true feelings about me, and furthermore, you are obviously hiding your true feelings even from Rumi ! Erika then becomes emphatic---

" I'll say it again ! What is it about you that you are *so careful to hide* ??? That is why the same situations will keep happening over and over !"

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

So it has become noticeable about Akira that she is hiding something ? Something like the fact that she used to be a boy ?

## What Manga Fans Are Saying About This Chapter

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