Episode 7: Mahiro's Role-Playing Game

Mahiro goes a step further in her social development, and of her own free will, approaches two boys to talk and socialize with them about video games.

### Location(s)

The Oyama household, middle school during test sessions, school during day classes, school during Home Ec class.

### Transition Highlights

Up until now, Mahiro has been getting used to being in social circles of other girls, as well as female students at school. Now she takes another step in her social evolution, she begins to associate with the boys in her class. Plus, Mahiro consents to be in a perceived for girls' class at school, namely Home Economics.

ONIMAI: I'M NOW YOUR SISTER

EPISODE 7 OF THE ANIME

(Manga Cross-reference---Chapters 24, 25, & 26)

## Previously

After Mahiro was caught in a video arcade by a Juvenile Officer, being as she is of school age, but not in school, Mahiro was quite shaken by the event, and told Mihari what happened. Doing this, Mahiro apparently thought that this will be a good excuse to revert back to staying at home, as they had been doing as a NEET. However, Mihari had other ideas, as she silently told herself that it is time to begin "Plan B" of Mahiro's transition. Therefore, Mihari concocced a story line to cover Mahiro's two year absence from school, including explaining away Mahiro's reclusive activities, plus accomplishing having Mahiro re-enter middle school at the same level where they dropped out, despite her being two years older than the other middle school students. Plus, it is strongly implied (in the manga) that the school admistration knows that Mahiro has been, and continues to transition from male to female, but will keep this information private and confidential. Thus, Mahiro begins her first day back to school, not without problems and challenges for her, but she makes it through the first day, more or less, unscathed.

## This Episodes's Story

Just before the finals exams, Momiji and Mahiro are having a study session at the Oyama home. In Mahiro's bedroom, Momiji is having a somewhat difficult time of solving her math problems, and is amazed that Mahiro has already done all of hers. In fact, Mahiro is goofing off by trying to balance a pencil between her upper lip and the bottom of her nose. When Momiji inquires how is it that Mahiro is so good at math, Mahiro merely rolls with Mihari's cover story; Mahiro was (supposedly) tutored by Mihari during her 'lengthy illness' (Actually, 'male' Mahiro has already been through this section of middle school, and remembers quite a lot.). Soon, Mihari brings in refreshments, tea and cookies. While Mihari is being helpful to Momiji with her math equations, Mahiro becomes overconfident about the exams, telling herself that she will ace them without hardly any effort. She then tosses cookies in the air, and catches them in her mouth.

>>>>>>>ANIME OPENING SEQUENCE<<<<<<<

Next morning finds Mahiro walking together with Momiji to school. Momiji confesses that she hates tests, and begins to tickle Mahiro, telling her that she is such a 'smartypants'. About that time, Asahi and Miyo-chan catch up to the two, and the four walk together. The normally bright and cheerful Asahi looks like 'death warmed over'. Tests are her uncanny nemesis, explains Miyo-chan. Mahiro tries to infuse some spirit into Asahi by stroking her cheeks with Mahiro's warm hands. Asahi pulls Mahiro to her chest and bemoans the fact that she probably will not do good on the exams, and may need remedial education. Both girls take solace in one another.

At the beginning of the test session, Mahiro starts off very self-confident, maybe a little too self-confident ? The Sensei (teacher) tells everyone to open their workbooks and begin. The beginning questions are relatively easy. Mahiro cruises right along, as she has done all of this before, and 'knows it by heart'. However, soon she notices the girl in front of her has not opened her workbook, nor started her tests, and actually seems to be only sleeping. Valiant and concerned, Mahiro pokes her in the back with her pencil to wake her up. Dazed and confused, the girl only now notices the test papers in front of her, and belatedly begins. As the test session grinds on, and with the bright sunlight coming through the window next to Mahiro, the warmth begins to affect her. Without realizing what is happening, Mahiro rests her eyes just for a few moments, then promptly, yet unknowingly, falls asleep herself !

Seemingly just a short while later, the bell sounds the end of the timed test session. The Sensei claps her hands to indicate that the test session is over, and to pass all the test papers forward. Mahiro awakens, stares at her papers, only to notice the many blank spaces meant for answers. Horror of horrors ! The sleepy girl turns to Mahiro and pulla her test paper out of her hands, and passes it forward ! Momiji looks in the direction of Mahiro and wonders what the obvious horror and angst are all about ? Vowing to 'make a come-back', Mahiro attempts to pay attention to the rest of the class instruction for the day, but fails miserably.

The next morning, in homerooms class, the results of the scored papers are passed out. Mahiro immediately falls into a hollow funk. How did Mahiro do, Momiji wants to know ? Mahiro is white as a ghost, and her two eyes are showing the unfathomable depths of vertigo. Asahi comes over with words of 'cheer(?)'---" I knew I could count on you MAA---HIGH---RON, to join me in taking cram school and the makeup tests together !" Asahi warmly hugs Mahiro, like a long-lost friend (Apparently, as foretold, Asahi didn't do so well either.) ! Momiji remarks that she likes a Mahiro closer to her pwn level of academia, after all. When Asahi finds out that Mahiro slep through the math part of the test session, she declares Mahiro to be 'a real slob' ! Miyo-chan comes over giggling to herself for no apparent reason.

That evening in the Oyama household, Mihari is holding the text results in her hands, as Mahiro sitting at a table, writing something down. "This is too much, even for me...!", belittles Mihari ! Just then, Mihari sees what Mahiro is doing; writing on stickers and putting them on her video game sleeves that say, ***NO GAMING WHATSOEVER!*** Mihari immediately softens considerably, seeing Mahiro doing self-discipline, probably for the first time ever. So, rather than the planned tongue lashing, Miahri goes over to where Mahiro is sitting and tells her to do better next time, but that she will raise her allowance just a little. Mahiro tells Mihari that she, Mihari, is a goddess.

>>>>>>>ANIME EYECATCH (Fujimi Nemu in her school uniform, sleeping peacefully.)<<<<<<<

A few days later, after the finals exams, the four friends are gathered around Momiji's desk. They are talking about how everyone has nicknames that are used exclusively among the four. Momiji was given a masculine name, as she is such a tomboy, who often dresses looking like a young boy. Later, during class time, Mahiro looks like she is all absorbed in the Japanese language textbook. But looks are deceiving, as Mahiro is using it as a prop to conceal what she actually is doing in class. Mahiro is writing down notes on how to level up and succeed in a new video game that she has recently obtained ! She is self-satisfied with herself, and tells herself that the game will be 'a piece of cake'. Fresh ideas on how to beat the game are now coming fast and furious, and as Mahiro struggles to write everything down, and as such, becomes ever more jittery and fidgety. This does not go unnoticed by fellow classmate Momiji. Momiji misinterprets Mahiro's facial expressions, but nevertheless formulates a plan of action to help Mahiro anyway. She raises her hand and asks the teacher for permission to go to the girl's bathroom. This is granted. Next, she gives Mahiro the 'high sign' to follow her to the restroom. But Mahiro is not needing to go right now, leaving Momiji 'high and dry' with a trip to the toilet without purpose or anything to do !

At lunchtime, the four friends are sitting together enjoying their bento boxes. Momiji berates Mahiro for giving her the impression that she was fidgety because she wanted to go to the toilet. Not the case, intones Mahiro. Mahiro was all jitters because she was acting out how to play the new video game that just came out, *Lost Quest 9*. The girls are puzzled about what Mahiro is talking about, but give her smiles all around anyway. Asahi pipes up and says that she knows about the Lost Quest series of video games, because Asahi used to watch her brother play it. Boys sure like their video games, Miyo-chan adds. Mahiro notes that the girls are not gamers, and will become bored if she, Mahiro, continues talking about such games. "So what do girls usually talk about ?", Mahiro asks nonchalantly, trying to be congenial. Asahi offers to talk about whatever you feel like. And for Mahiro, that means video games. Mahiro is so cute when she is like that. However, Momiji is quickly 'ticked off' when Mahiro lovingly embraces Asahi. Miyo-chan suggests that we talk about romantic girl-with-girl encounters, as that is what will make her happy.

Back at her desk during an afternoon break, Mahiro wishes to herself that she could have had a deeper discussion about the video game earlier. But she then overhears two boys talking about some sort of video game ? Like a moth to a light bulb, Mahiro wanders over to where the two boys are sitting. She asks if they are talking about *Lost Quest 9* ? Yes, they are ! You play LQ ? Mahiro says that she, indeed, does. Mahiro apologizes for 'butting in', then proceeds to grill the boys on specific game play. Soon, Mahiro confronts one of the boys as to what his favorite series of LQ is ? It has to be Six, right ? You can't call yourselves a True Gamer until you have played through Version Six ! The boy comments that ***Version 6 was released before they were even born !!!*** Mahiro then realizes that she just 'put her foot in her mouth'. Brought to her knees on the floor due to her social guffaw, Mahiro mournfully keeps repeating to herself what the one boy just told her--

**"before I was born, Before I Was Born, BEFORE I WAS BORN ... !?!?! "**, as the gravity, awkwardness, shamefulness, and revelation of it all slowly sinks in.

Momiji comes upon Mahiro, and sees her kneeling on the floor, in a state of complete devastation. Inexplicably, Mahiro 'blows it off' as nothing at all ! Two girls in class that are not part of the four friends social circle, nevertheless, now come over to see what the commotion is, and immediately become judge, jury, and executioner ! One of the girls belts out to the boys, **"You made Mahiro cry !"** Yet the boys are baffled; what did they do wrong ? They leave the volatile atmosphere of the classroom, and head for the vending machine to get milk drink boxes. Returning, the two boys are suddenly separated, as Mahiro comes out of the classroom and walks between them. With the twin tails of her still fluffy hair flowing ever so sumptuously with her movements, Mahiro turns and apologizes to the two for what just happened. The two are mesmerized, as such a cute, yet blatantly erotic girl would even look at them, much less talk to them about boy stuff, namely video games.

>>>>>>>ANIME EYECATCH (Mahiro dressed as the Battle Maiden in the *Lost Quest*  video game. A pix of the big-busted Home Ecomonics teacher.)<<<<<<<

The next day, during the Home Ec class, the Sensei (teacher) announces that the entire class will begin a class project next week. The teacher says that teams of four students are going to be doing a 'hands on' project of making cookies from scratch, with the school providing all the ingredients. This sits well with Mahiro, as she loves to *eat cookies !* That afternoon, the four friends are talking about the upcoming cooking class, as they will comprise a team. Miyo-chan says that she loves to make cookies, and clutching a cookbook to her breasts, ponders on what kind of cookies to make ? Quietly, Asahi and Momiji pull Mahrio aside and give her the 'scoop'; don't encourage Miyo-chan. She is terrible at cooking ! The two want Mahiro to follow along with them so that Miyo-chan doesn't have to do very much during the cooking class. Since Mahiro may be in the 'same boat' as far as not being able to cook, she asks the two straight up if they can do it all ! Momiji and Asahi look at each other with trepidation and concern.

Walking home from school with Momiji, Mahiro suggests that she ask Mihari for cooking advice. After all, Mihari cooks like a mad scientist (which she is!) But what if Mihari slips a drug into the recipe, silently wonders Mahiro ? On a whim, Momiji invites Mahiro over to her house, to be taught by a really good cook, namely Kaede ! But unexpectedly popping in on her right now is not the best thing to do right now. After all, Kaede is lounging on the couch, reading a fashion 'zene, and dressed in a skin-tight boob tube, boy shorts, and a loose fitting jacket showing off her narrow, sexy bare midriff.

Kaede makes a quick fashion change to less provocative clothing, then intones, "So the plan of action is how to make cookies?". She says to leave it to her, she will share with the two all her 'little secrets' ! Mahiro thinks to herself that this sounds vaguely lewd. After all three put on aprons, Kaede procedes to give 'hands on' instruction to Momiji and Mahiro. Kaede confesses the she always wanted to do something like this for both her 'little sisters', Momiji, and honorary little sister, Mahiro. As Kaede swings into action, she casually tells Mahiro that she taught Mihari all she knows about making cookies. Plus Mihari was so eager to make cookies for her older sibling. Mahiro recalls that Mihari did make a lot of cookies back then. Kaede goes on to say that the 'secret ingredient' of cooking is love. Imagine the joy on someone's face when they eat your cookies, remarks Kaede. Mahiro becomes melancholic, as she realizes that the 'someone' who Mihari was backing for back then was themselves !

The day of the cooking lesson finally comes. The four friends are at their work station, ready to begin. Miyo-chan asks what kind of cookies are we going to make ? Mahiro suggests that black tea cookies be made. This is agreed to. Miyo-chan is given the 'important job' of overseer, and reading off the recipe instructions from the cookbook. Momiji kicks things off with the initial mixing of the ingredients. Next, Mahiro sifts the tea leaves for flavor into the mixture. When the dough is rolled out, Miyo-chan wants to mistakenly cut out the cookies with a large bowl. Asahi stops Miyo-chan by placing herself next to Miyo-chan such that the bowl lands on her head ! Up 'till now, Miyo-chan has just been 'The Nonworking Boss'. But now she is allowed to carefully, under much supervision, cut up the dough, and put the filled cookie sheet into the oven. When the 'ding-ding-ding' from the microwave is heard, the cookies are done ! The result actually looks like real, honest-to-goodness cookies ! Not even burnt to a cinder, too ! Momiji does the first 'taste test'. *"Two thumbs up, says Siskel and Ebert !"*, declares the Sensei when she tastes one of the cookies. As the four cookie cooks are sitting around their work station, Asahi is about to make a rude comment about how Miyo-chan did not do all that much. However, Momiji force-feeds Asahi a warm cookie to get her to shut up just in time ! Mahiro bites into a cookie for the first time, and also gives it "two thumbs up!"

Late that afternoon, Mahiro has just arrived home, when Mihari next comes through the front door. For some unknown reason, Mahiro is in somewhat of a sour mood. Mahiro offers Mihari a small plastic bag of cookies, stating that they are from the Home Ec class. All Mihari can spit out is---

"***You*** made these ?"

For some vague reason, showing exasperation, Mahiro only offers a rebuke; that the cookies are not as good as hers, that is, Mihari's cookies. Retiring to her bedroom, Mahiro boots up her video game computer. Fun time with LQ 9 ! Mihari also makes her way to her bedroom, and flops down on her bed, still holding the precious bag of cookies. She cries out to herself, rattled with admiration, vexation, and complete wonderment---

"I can't eat these, not ever ....."

In a little while, Mihari renegs, and tastes one cookie.

"They are just perfect....", she quietly whispers to herself.

(End Epsiode 7)

>>>>>>>ANIME CLOSING SEQUENCE<<<<<<<

## Episode Lookback and Commentary

Doesn't female Mahiro make an excellent Battle Maiden !?!

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(Click on Episode 8: Mahiro's First Girls Sleepover to be taken to the next episode)

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