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TN: Sorry folks. Chapters are taking too long to translate in a timely manner, considering the other 2 novels I also have to translate every week. So, I will be splitting each chapter into 2 parts for the time being. By the way, I would like everyone to say hello to PrunJuice [Fruit]. He agreed to take on this series as editor. Thanks a lot bud!
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ED: PrunJuice [Fruit]
“Onee-chan, good morning.” (Mii)
[Nnnn] (Tsukasa)
“Onee-chan, are you still asleep?” (Mii)
“…Mii-chan, calm down. I'm not going to give you the sea urchin. …There's blood all over your mouth.” (Tsukasa)
“Onee-chan, are you talking in your sleep? Come on, get up. It’s morning already.” (Mii)
“Wait, don’t throw the shell away until you eat the sea urchin. …ah, salmon roe, then…” (Tsukasa)
“She’s having strange dreams again. Onee-chan, wake up.” (Mii)
[Mmm] “Eh? Oh, Mii-chan?” (Tsukasa)
I slowly lift my heavy eyelids to see a blurry person in front of me and rub my eyes.
“Mii-chan, good morning. What time is it?” (Tsukasa)
“Onee-chan, good morning. You finally woke up. It’s already after nine. Mom will be mad if you don’t get up soon.” (Mii)
[Fua] [Heh] “I like to sleep in on Sundays.” (Tsukasa)
I sit up in bed and stretch as my hair slips off my shoulders tickling me as it does so. While reaching up to clear the sleep from my eyes, I look up to meet Miyuki eyes.
“What's wrong Mii-chan?” (Tsukasa)
“It’s nothing onee-chan. Yes, that’s right. Are you going to eat breakfast?” (Mii)
“In that case, don’t look so serious.” (Tsukasa)
“O, o, okay, breakfast should be ready, so come down soon.” (Mii)
Miyuki says flusteredly and quickly leaves the room. My cheeks feel a little hot, but I’m sure it’s nothing but my imagination. I get out of bed and walk over to open the curtains. The sky is a gorgeous blue and the sun is shining so brightly. It’s another beautiful day.
Spring is the most popular time of the year, except for those with allergies, because the flowers are blooming and the temperature is perfect. It’s also the beginning of a new year, new schools, new classes, new workplaces. Although, for some, it’s a gloomy season for those same reasons.
Luckily, I’m not gloomy and I don't have allergies. I'm looking forward to the entrance ceremony, so I can start my new school life. As I said, it’s a beautiful spring day.
Although, I seriously wonder if I can even go to college since I’m a girl now. Before anything else, something has to be done about me in the family registry. I’ve asked mom about it several times, but all she keeps saying is ‘leave it to your mom’. To say I’ve got bad feelings about this would be putting it mildly.
Well, something has to be done. There’s no other choice. Like the saying goes, when you hit a wall you have to stop and think of a way to get around it. I’m not one to procrastinate when something needs to be done. That’s me in a nutshell.
I’ve been a girl for three days now. Although, I’ve been holed up inside the house all that time, the world around me seems to be peaceful and quiet.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
I walk out of my room heading toward the dressing room. I look at myself in the mirror over the sink as I wash my face and comb my hair. I then take a contact from the case on the sink and put it in my left eye.
Yesterday, I told my mom that ‘my eyes are too conspicuous to go outside’ and this is her answer to that particular problem. She had headed to the opticians to get me these colored contacts so now my left eye is the same color of blue as my right eye.
My eyesight has always been good, so I’ve never had to wear contacts before. It takes quite a bit of time for me to put it in. Someone else might be able to do it quickly even without a mirror but, needless to say, I can’t.
I finally manage to get the contact in place, at least now both eyes are blue. I check my hair once more, nod approvingly, and leave the dressing room to head for the living room.
“Morning, Dad.” (Tsukasa)
“Oh, good morning.” (Father)
I say pleasantly as I entered the living room. My dad is sitting at the dining table drinking coffee with newspaper in hand. It’s a normal, everyday event you see on TV and in homes around the world. Why he still buys newspapers is beyond me when you can read the same news on the internet for free. Maybe he thinks print is better.
As I sat down across from my dad Miyuki serves the bread and salad. There’s already strawberry and blueberry jam on the table, but personally, I prefer my bread with only margarine. In a pinch butter also works.
“How are you doing?” (Tsukasa)
“Ah, not bad at all.” (Father)
“That's good.” (Tsukasa)
Even though I am now a girl, nothing has changed in the way Dad sees me. Well, other than trying to name me ‘Charlotte’. He even gets on Mom’s case when she goes too far out of control. Although, I’m still in trouble even with his support because Miyuki supports Mom.
Well, I’m sure this is also difficult for Dad. I maintained the balance in the house until now, but since my change it’s now a three to one female to male ratio. He might feel as if he is outnumbered, but without him on my side I might have to move out of the house, so I’m a little worried.
By the way, you might recall that I found out mom had been using Dad’s credit card without permission. Since that incident, Dad has had to carry cash on him to avoid borrowing money from his kohai. Why do i bring it up you ask? Simple. If Miyuki or I need pocket money now, he says he doesn’t have it. It’s enough to make you cry.
“Onee-chan, are you going to stay dressed like that?” (Mii)
I look from the bread I’m eating to Miyuki when she speaks up. I’m wearing a skirt with a jersey, but for some reason, Miyuki is looking at me as if she’s unhappy.
“All of my other clothes no longer fit. I borrowed this from you, remember?” (Tsukasa)
I’m a lot smaller now that I’m a girl and the few old clothes I can still wear are being using for sleepwear. By the way, the clothes I borrowed from Miyuki are also a little large on me, but I’m not stupid enough to bring it up.
“Where is the outfit Mom gave you?” (Mii)
“You want me to wear that?” (Tsukasa)
The outfits Mom had given me to wear were ones that Miyuki had bought to wear in junior high school. All of the dresses and skirts are trimmed with either lace, ribbons, or ruffles. There isn’t even a single pair of classic men’s trousers in the whole pile. All of the separates are coordinated together, along with headbands, necklaces, and other such accessories for every outfit. There are pants, but they’re the more girlish style, which emphasize a girls femininity. In general, I don't want to wear any of them.
“It suits you onee-chan.” (Mii)
“Mii-chan, whether it suits me or not isn’t the issue. Do you get what I am saying?” (Tsukasa)
“Yes.” (Mii)
“I’ve got to say that’s rather refreshing to hear.” (Tsukasa)
“Even if you put it off, you have to wear them someday, so you might as well wear them now.” (Mii)
Miyuki, as usual, is persistent, so I ignore her and quickly finish my breakfast. Once I’m done, I clear my dishes from the table, set them in the sink and go sit on the couch in the living room. Then I flip on the TV and see a historical drama. I wonder how such shrill screams can come out of men cut with a sword. Is it normal to think it’s funny?
“Hey, is there anybody home? (Mother)
While I’m watching TV, I hear mom call out from the front door. Miyuki is doing laundry, dad is reading the paper, so that only leaves me to yell back ‘Yes’ and answer the door to see what she needs.
Mom is at the front door with quite a few garbage bags. They are mostly opaque, so you can’t easily tell what’s inside, but they are soft to the touch.
“Help me load these onto the truck over there.” (Mother)
“Okay. I got it.” (Tsukasa)
A blue truck is parked outside the still wide-open entrance gate and an older man stands by it. He could be a scrap paper collector or maybe an electric appliance recycler. I give the man a nod and begin to carry the garbage bags out to throw into the bed of the truck.
While I was carrying the bags, he asks me ‘Are you a foreigner?’ and seems to be very surprised when I respond by saying ‘No, I’m Japanese. I look this way, but I can’t speak English.’ then smile at him. For some reason, he’s now looking at me as if I’m some kind of space monster.
Once we have loaded up all the garbage bags, Mom and the man quietly exchange a few words then bow to each other. He then hops his truck and pulls away as we return to the house.
“That was a lot of trash. What the hell were you throwing away?” (Tsukasa)
I ask out of plain curiosity, no other reason. Yet…
“What do you think I was throwing away?” (Mother)
My mom responds, then smiles maliciously. Suddenly, I have a bad feeling about this.
“Here’s a hint. It’s something you use every day.” (Mother)
Something I use every day? Something soft?
“Umm, clothes?” (Tsukasa)
“Correct answer. I don’t need to say any more than that, do I?” (Mother)
It can’t be! I rush inside and run down the hallway. While I’m running, I think I hear the door intercom chime, but mom can get it. When I reach my closet, I grab the handle and yank it open.