Chapter 23

Akira introduces her new friend to her established friend, Rumi. Rumi doesn't take that too well.

## Features of This Chapter

### Story Setting

At middle school, during the second day of classes.

### Transition Milestones

Akira experiences what it is like to have a girl's heart and soul thoroughly shredded and completely broken over a yuri (girl-with-girl) relationship.

### Relationship Evolution

A rather wide rift has just occured between Akira's and Rumi's friendship. Can it eventually be healed ?

### Lessons Learned

Blatant jealousy needs to be eliminated from one's personality, or at least be kept in check.

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

CHAPTER 23 OF THE MANGA (REVISED ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

(Part 3 of the Friendship Lost to Friendship Regained Story Arc)

## Previously

it is both surprising, as well as gratifying, that Akira has made it this far. She has entered middle school. She has survived a disagreement with Mom, and chose to wear the girl's middle school uniform for the rest of middle school, a sailor suit with a pleated mini-skirt. On the first day of classes, Akira found out that most of her female friends from previous grades would be with her in her classes. But she knew that ahead of time. But there are a few new girls to get to know and befriend, or to avoid. Akira meets another girl that has the same tomboy interests that Akira used to have as a bratty male. She also meets a girl who she takes an instant disliking to. Rumi is still right by her side as an intimate shoujo ai friend, to help her navigate through the new social dynamics of middle school. But is Rumi really okay with all the new challenges of the beginning of middle school ?

## This Chapter's Story

Shortly after the start of the new school year, Akira, after consulting numerous teen fashion magazines, decides to trim and restyle her hair. This morning, looking in the mirror in her bedroom, she is quite pleased with the results. Her hair is shorter now, like a boy's typical hair length, but is styled in a very sexy way, like a girl's hair would be. Her hair has been restyled so that it is now above her shoulders, but the ends curl inward toward her neck, all around. She still has long bangs covering her forehead. Akira tells herself that she wants Rumi to praise her, but first she has to get past Mom, who will probably dislike her new look. Unfortunately, Akira runs into mom at the last second before leaving for school. Thankfully, mom only asks if she did the restyle herself ? "Duh....well....I....that is.....", is all that Akira can spit out. Anyway, mom tells Akira to take an umbrella with her, since it is supposed to rain today. This she does.

At school, in front of the shoe storage area, Akira wonders to herself why mom didn't say anything positive about her restyle ? Kinda disappointing. Sure enough, Rumi tells Akira that she looks really good today. That makes Akira happy. Then Shion tells her that she looks just like a fourth grade little girl. That makes Akira annoyed. Shion then invites Rumi to go to the girl's room before classes begin. Rumi accepts. Shion asks if Akira is going with them ? No, Akira likes to go by herself. Akira is sitting at her desk, fuming about Shion's comment on her looks, and thinking that Rumi needs to distance herself from Shion. After a while, Aoi comes by and grabs Akira by cupping her hand over the top of Akira's head, slightly messing up her hair style. Akira fakes great vexation for that. Aoi suggests that the two of them exchange phone numbers and social media. Both get out their iphones and do just that. Aoi pledges to sent Akira lots of 'weird and unusual humorous pictures' Rumi returns from the girl's room, to see the two busy with the info exchange. Akira introduces Rumi to Aoi, her new female friend. Aoi asks Rumi if she, Rumi, is a 'Dueling King' ? Rumi wonders what that is supposed to mean, then saying it was nice to meet you, turns away. Rumi then directs her attention to Shion. Akira does not at this time realize the depth of hurt and sorrow that Rumi is feeling right now, because of learning that Akira has made another girl friend. Meanwhile, Aoi is trying to tell Akira about some websites featuring Duel Oh!.

The afternoon classes drone on and on. Quite boring, actually. Akira observes that Rumi and Shion are passing notes back and forth between them. Shion begins to giggle, but Akira has no idea why! After the last class is dismissed, Akira calls to Rumi. But very unexpectedly, Rumi merely turns her back to Akira, and calls out to Erika. Only now does it dawn on Akira that Rumi has begun to avoid any social contact with her. What did Akira do wrong ? Everything was seemingly normal with Rumi this morning. Should Akira ask Rumi point blank ? What if she says that she has come to hate ***me*** (lit. *watashi* {feminine} ? Suddenly, a heavy, black cloud of despair descends on Akira. Just as quick, a finger pokes her in the back; Shion asks Akira to follow her to the girl's restroom. This she does.

In the aisle way between the stall doors, Shion and Akira, appearing to be by themselves, face off for a confrontation. Shion begins by asking if Akira thinks the two of them are friends ? Akira agrees (supposedly) that they are. Therefore, Shion asks why didn't Akira come to the girl's room this morning, when a group of girls went ? Obviously, Akira doesn't care about any of the other girls, and was going to go home without saying a word. Right ? Akira becomes somewhat angry, telling Shion that the two of us are basically strangers, and you, Shion, do not know what you are talking about !

" Rumi and ***I*** (lit. *watashi* {feminine}) ........... " , begins Akira, before she is cut off by Shion, as she confronts, and smirks directly at Akira.

" Right, and you and me are *only strangers, nothing more* .......... " Akira is stunned into silence. Shion continues, "Well then, I guess that good 'friends' should be talking to each other.........right ? "

Rumi, Erika, and a couple of other girls were listening in on the conversation, out of sight elsewhere in the restroom. They now show themselves to Akira.

" Rumi ?", quips Akira. But Rumi's reply cuts deep to Akira's heart and is excruciatingly painful---

" *Phone numbers* ....... ! You promised me that *I would be the first one* who you would give your number to, remember ? Was it fun playing cards with Fujiki-san ? I'm sorry, I don't know how to 'play that game'! Akira only squeaks out that, "You're wrong......" Rumi continues, "You don't have to pretend. You even gave Fujiki-san a nickname, but you have never bothered to do that with me ! I've been thinking about this for a while ....... Akira and I are very different, and have kept some distance between us after all, didn't we ? I'm sorry, but maybe we should spend some time apart from one another ! Amen ! "

And with that, Rumi and her entourage leave Akira in the restroom, now stunned into silence. After a while, in a confused daze, Akira wanders back to the classroom, and sits at her desk. There, Aoi asks her if she wants to go to her house, again, today ? Akira, in a quagmire of feelings, declines, saying that she just wants to go home. The classroom is now empty, but Akira is still sitting at her desk, absentmindedly running her hands through her hair, and messing it up.

" Akira and I are very different ......... I don't know what happened ? " This keeps echoing through her mind. She finally makes her way to the shoe area, and changes into her street shoes. More ideas assault her mind---

" Will Rumi-chan forgive me if I apologize to her properly ? But that would mean that I wouldn't be able to play with Ao-chan anymore, right ? But if I don't apologize, things will continue as they currently are. "

The picture of all of the girls confronting the male bully Akira, so long ago, comes up into Akira's mind, as clear as if it happened a few hours ago.

" This time I can't screw up like I did back then..... " , muses Akira as she steps outside the school's front door, as it locks behind her. A wet droplet hits the ground in front of her. " Rain ? Now I remember, I was told that it was going to rain today ........ and I forget to take my umbrella, it's back inside the school !" But it is not raining........ the droplets of water are her own tears, falling from her wet cheeks. Without realizing it, she had begun to cry. Now crying profusely, she lets out a long screech of utter despair and desperation, as her tears are now falling like rain.

## Chapter Lookback, Commentary, and Opinion

Are Akira and Rumi on the verge of breaking up ?

## What Manga Fans Are Saying About This Chapter

**ShaiHH / 3 days ago**

Yo, been there. Close friend from Kindergarten, we did everything together. Then had a silly fight in the 6th grade and while we made up, it never was the same, and we drifted apart.

**Tiny\_3\_vill / 1 month ago**

Second day at school, lost her best friend! Damn, [girls] change there minds fast!

**imahuman / 2 months ago**

My heart is sinking even though I *know* this is fiction. Like, it's blatantly scribbles [bad plot device].

But........

**hohohobag69 / 2 months ago**

Noooooo baby don't cryyy !!!!!!!

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(Click on Chapter 24 to be taken to the next chapter.)

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