Chapter 45 – The Tomboy's Girly Side
Ritsu's POV
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"Will you stop taking pictures of me?!" I yelled at Miharu as she was repeatedly taking photos of me on her phone.
"*giggle* Sorry…but I just can't get enough of this. You working at this girly-as-hell café wearing a dog girl costume speaking in such a girly cute voice…who wouldn't find this enjoyable?"
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"*agitated groan* Gimme that!" I yelled again as I swiped this girl's phone from her hands. But once I did that, I heard this chime coming from it. and when I looked on the screen and saw the words "Message Sent"…
"Wow thanks, Ritsu. I was going to send those pictures to the others, but you managed to do it yourself. Saved me a lot of work."
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…" I fell to the floor in pure agony.
My life is freaking over…
So, you're probably wondering why someone like me is working at a café…let alone such a girly one like this…dressed like a dog girl and speaking with such a girly voice, right? Well…this is the summer job that mentioned four chapters ago. The one that I was too embarrassed to talk about.
And with what this job really is, you can see why.
To be honest, though…I had no plans to work here. Or to get a summer job in general. What made this happen is what some would call a stroke of pure luck. Though, I'm still not sure if it's good or bad.
It basically started last week during exams…
*LAST WEEK…*
"*moan* Damn these exams…such a hellish part of school."
"Don't you think you're overreacting?" My brother Satoshi said to me after I had collapsed on the couch next to him.
"As if. Tests are already so boring and hard…and then they give you a freaking exam at the end just to make you remember what you learned from MONTHS ago. And they expect you to know it all. It's ridiculous."
"With that thought, it's no brainer why you're failing."
"Shut it. I'm too tired to bicker about my grades."
"Yeah, clearly." Satoshi then got up from the couch and started walking away. "You're so tired that you didn't even notice that your skirt flipped up when you fell on the couch."
"What?!" I quickly sat up to cover up my exposed panties. "Geez! Say something earlier, you idiot!"
"By the way, Mom said it's your turn to cook dinner."
"At least acknowledge my anger!"
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"*sigh* Great, now I'm exhausted again."
It took a while, but I eventually got off the couch and went to my room to change out of my uniform. And now, I was laying in my bed scrolling through my phone on whatever's trending at the moment.
"Local Man Admits To Accidentally Masturbating To Younger Pictures Of His Mother…The hell?"
And it's the usual weird crap you expect in Japan.
"*sigh* Okay, that's enough internet for one day. I need to figure out what to cook for dinner. What to make…"
While I was thinking of what dish to make, my phone went off alerting that I received a call. And the name I saw listed on the caller ID was rather…surprising.
Yutaka? She's calling me? That's weird…
"Hello?" I answered the call.
"Ah. Ritsu-senpai. Glad I got a hold of you."
"Uh…sure, Yutaka. How did you get my number, though?"
"Oh, um…I asked Konata-oneechan for it. She was pretty surprised to hear that I wanted to talk to you. Her reaction was kinda funny."
"I see…"
Even someone like her is breaking the norm…we really have changed.
"So, what's up, Yutaka? It's rare that you wanted to talk to me of all people."
"I guess it is…but I actually called to ask you a favor, Ritsu-senpai."
"Ask ME a favor? That's even rarer."
"You see…I'm going to be out of town during the summer and my job needs someone to fill in for me."
"So, you need me to fill in for you?" I asked in a confused state. "That's a pretty random thing to ask of me, Yutaka."
"It may sound random, Ritsu-senpai…but you do owe me for getting that book for you."
"Tch! O-Oh, yeah…the book." I said in an exasperated tone.
If you're wondering what "book" we're talking about…w-well…I-I…
…
…
…
*sigh* I can't believe I'm actually going to admit this…
You see…I recently gotten hooked on this manga series that had just came back after a hiatus of sorts. So much so that I haven't read another manga since. I'm THAT dedicated to it.
And the name of this series is…w-well…
…
Magical Girl Dreamy-Pie Riko's Heart-Pounding Miracle Cure!
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…
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Wh-What?! D-Don't look at me like that! I-I can be girly too, damnit! I'm not 100% tomboy!
…
A-Anyway…while it was on that hiatus, I read the first manga volume…a-and then read the 6 volumes after that. I was so hooked on it that I was DYING to read the next one.
But it was then that I learned that the series was on a hiatus. And there hasn't been a new volume in 5 months.
Needless to say…I was bummed as all hell.
So, then…3 months later…there was an announcement in a magazine article that the series was coming back after an 8-month hiatus! I was so happy I could've screamed.
…
But…I really couldn't. It was close to 1:00 in the morning when I read that article. And I would've woken up a lot of people.
Anyway…I was so stoked to finally get my hands on the next volume and continue the story. But the release date for the manga was on the same day I had to leave for Okinawa. So, there was no way I would be able to get it.
Skipping a bunch of pointless stuff, I found out that Yutaka was a fan of the series through Chinatsu (who is also a fan) and I basically begged her to buy me a copy. To which, she reluctantly did.
So, yeah. That's how I currently owe Yutaka something. Pretty crazy when you think about it.
"You know, Ritsu-senpai…I was really shocked to hear from Chinatsu-chan that you're a fan of this series. I always thought you were only into tomboy things."
"What is your definition of a "tomboy thing"?" I grew insulted.
"S-Sorry. So, can you do it?"
"*sigh* Fine. I do owe you for getting me that manga. Just send me the directions and I'll drop by tomorrow after school."
"Oh, thank you, Ritsu-senpai! You really are a lifesaver!"
"Don't mention it, Yutaka." I went silent for a bit. "Hey, by the way…what's this thing you're doing that's making you miss work for the summer?"
"Oh, um…I'm helping my friend Konno-chan with a Nega-Gravity Grand Prix that's happening in Kichijōji. It's a week-long event so I'm going to be busy."
"W-Wait, you're in a Nega-Gravity League?! And furthermore…you can RIDE a Nega-Gravity Board?!"
"Yes, but it wasn't easy. There was a lot of trial and error."
"And you're seriously taking part in a Grand Prix?"
"That's right. It's me, my friend Konno-chan, Minami-chan, Patty-chan, and Jun-chan. The five of us are a team."
"I-I see…" I gained a huge sweatdrop.
THAT'S why Jun's going to Kichijōji?!
"Well…good luck, Yutaka. I hope you guys win."
"Thank you, Ritsu-senpai. We'll do our best!"
The phone call ended and I sat on my bed in shock from the new hobby this second-year just revealed to me.
Yep…we really have freaking changed from our original manga and anime personalities.
With nothing else to do until I have to make dinner, the sudden urge came to me and I ended up taking a manga volume of Magical Girl Cutie-Wootie-Patootie Riko's Ultra Mega Cute Heart-Throbbing Miracle Curejust to re-read it for the hell of it.
"Magical Miracle Particle Requiem Kawaii Blast Shot!Gooooooooooo!"
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"Geez…if any of the others found out that I like this girly manga, my life would be freaking ruined." I said in an embarrassed tone.
*PRESENT TIME*
And so, long story short…I found out that Yutaka's job is a monster girl café (which was shocking), found out that Chitose also works here (which was BEYOND shocking), and today I started filling in for Yutaka as she was competing in a Nega-Gravity Grand Prix.
To which, I still can't really comprehend.
But now…not only did people find out about this part-time job of mine, but four of them are people I actually know. Three of them I go to freaking school with. I dreaded the chance of my friends finding out about this and it didn't even last a single day.
My life truly is over…
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"I'M GONNA BREAK THAT DAMN PHONE IF YOU DON'T STOP!" I yelled at Miharu as she was taking pictures of me AGAIN.
"Alright. Sheesh. No need to yell."
"It really is shocking that you work here, Ritsu-senpai." Ui said.
"I didn't think you were into this kind of stuff." Matsumoto-senpai added.
"I-I'm not. I'm just filling in for…s-someone."
"Someone?" Both girls asked.
Yutaka did beg me not to tell anyone about her working here…
"Oh, that doesn't really matter!" Chitose said as she wrapped her arm around me. "Ritsu-chan here's been doing great here! Her cute girliness is already such a fan-favorite for the customers that they can't get enough! Mainly the female ones! *giggle*"
"Ch-Chitose!" I yelled with a small blush.
"W-Wait, hold on. Ritsu being cute? That's unheard of." Matsumoto-senpai said.
"W-Wait, what? What do you mean unheard of?"
"Well, I just don't see you as a cute girl. You're more of a tomboy than anything else."
"H-Huh?!"
"She does have a point, Ritsu-senpai." Ui said.
"Y-You too, Ui?!"
"Well…compared to the others, you don't really give off this aura of cuteness that girls normally have."
"An AURA? There's an AURA? And what makes you believe that I don't have this aura?"
"Well, for one…your personality. You really are a huge tomboy."
"S-So?" I started getting defensive.
"And then there's your hobbies." Matsumoto-senpai said. "From what I already know about you, you don't have any interest in things girls normally like shopping for clothes, talking about romance, or…for better or worse…staying clean."
"A-All of those are freaking stereotypes anyway!"
"And the biggest one is your semi-lack of a chest." Miharu said before going silent. "Though…I guess you can't really do anything about that, huh? I'll at least pray for you, Ritsu."
"I may be wearing dog paws on my hands and feet, but that won't stop me from kicking your ass." I said in a pissed-off threatening tone.
"Don't worry too much about it, Ritsu-chan." Chitose said. Now off of "work mode". "The fact that you look and act more like a boy is what's attracting the female customers in the first place. This place has always been male-dominate. So, it's nice to have someone that could win the hearts of girls in here."
"B-But I'm not trying to win the hearts of girls! I'm not a lesbian!"
"Oh…"
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…
…
"…Well, have you at least thought about it?"
"What?!"
"Once again, Chitose-chan…you're not helping." Ui said with a sweatdrop.
"Ui. I have retsurned from the restroom." Zoé said as she walked up to us.
"You were in there for quite a while, Zoé-chan."
"I am sorry, Ui. It is just...that Quadurupre Stsuffed Chocorate Marshmarrow Écrairu rearry gave me a stomach ache. I dó not thinku I can eat foru a whire...*moan*"
"Oh, dear. Zoé-chan…"
"Aw, geez…that's the third one this week." I heard mumble to herself.
Well, I know now not to eat here…
"Hey, Zoé. Can I ask you something?" I asked the foreign kōhai.
"Oh. Sure thing, Ritsu-senpai. Nani wourd you rike tū asku me?"
"When you first met me, you saw me as a regular girl, right? As in a straight up girl with a feminine aura around her?"
Zoé just stared at me with a huge look of confusion on her face. Then, with her head tilted, she asked me a question that will forever hurt my pride as a woman.
And that question is…
"Ritsu-senpai…you are a girru?"
"WH-WH-WH-WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
"Z-Zoé…d-did you seriously not know that Ritsu was a girl?" Miharu asked her childhood friend.
"I honestry courd not terru. I thought Ritsu-senpai was a boy this whore taim. Was I wrong?"
"Y-YES, YOU WERE WRONG! YOU WERE A MILLION TIMES WRONG! WRONG TO THE INFINITY, EVEN!" I shouted with the fullest amount of anger I've ever had in my life.
"Oh…Eh bien, alors je m'excuse profondément, Ritsu-senpai."
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU JUST SAID!"
"Zoé-chan…what made you believe that Ritsu-senpai was a boy?" Ui asked her girlfriend.
"Werru...aside from the semi-rakku of a chest..."
Why is that the first thing these French girls point out?!
"…heru hairstyre is nani got me confused."
"My hair?" I then took my phone out and used the camera as a mirror. "Don't it look feminine to you?"
"No, not rearry."
"Even with the headband?"
"Arru it rearry does is expose youru forehead a rittre. I dó not unnuderstand how it was supposed tū make you rooku rike a girru."
"Y…You're kidding…" I grew a depressed look on my face.
D-Do I…not qualify as a girl to most people?
"If you turrury wish tū rooku more rike a girr, Ritsu-senpai, then I wourd suggest you..."
*Intense stomach grumbling*
"*moan* Mai stomach. It hurtsu so bad..." Zoé then held onto her stomach in pain from the dessert she ate earlier.
"Zoé-chan!" Ui panicked as she held her up. "Sorry, guys. But I'm gonna take her home. She's definitely not feeling well."
"Oh, okay." Matsumoto-senpai said. "Though tell her sister you're leaving so that they could plan to see each other again."
"Okay. Come on, Zoé-chan. I'll take good care of you."
"Thenk you, Ui. You rearry are a gureat girrfriend...*moan*"
"Well, with that being said, I'm leaving, too." Matsumoto-senpai said. "I promised Akari that we would spend time together during the break. She said she always wanted to go to Odaiba…"
"Ooh~! Odaiba! I heard that place is really fun!" Chitose cheered.
"Yeah, especially since it's apparently been a hotspot for idols as of late. Kinda odd, though."
"Huh…" The three of us said.
"See ya." Matsumoto-senpai then left the café with her college friends. Making Miharu, Chitose, and I the only ones left.
"Welp…break time's over! Back to work, Ritsu-chan! *giggle*" Chitose said while back in "work mode".
"You mean I gotta continue working even after the mess I just experienced? *sigh* This is just woofing great…"
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"YOU DAMN BITCH! GIMME THAT PHONE!" I then yelled at Miharu as I chased her out of the café for taking yet another photo of me.
"Gah! Dog girl attack! Dog girl attack!"
"Such a lively day as always…" Chitose said with a sweatdrop.
After that shift from hell was finally over, I went home and pretty much stayed in my room. thinking of all the…rather hurtful things I heard from everyone today.
"Well…compared to the others, you don't really give off this aura of cuteness that girls normally have."
"From what I already know about you, you don't have any interest in things girls normally like shopping for clothes, talking about romance, or…for better or worse…staying clean."
"And the biggest one is your semi-lack of a chest."
"Ritsu-senpai…you are a girru?"
That last one still bugs me like hell…
"So, nobody really sees me as a girl, huh? I'm a full on tomboy with no feminine qualities…that's how people truly see me as?
…
Is that was Mio and I were able to become friends so easily? I mean…compared to me, she's the ultimate girly-girl. And while the others aren't as girly, they do have traits of a girl.
…
Noticeable traits, from what I've been told."
Remembering that part of the conversation, I went over to the mirror I had in my room and stared at my reflection. More specifically, the yellow headband that rests on top of my hair.
Mom got this for me because I always messed up my hair when playing outside. It put a lot of ease when it came to styling it up and such. But if this is really the reason why someone couldn't tell that I was a girl…
I then did something that haven't really done in quite a long time…I took the headband off. And shuffled my hair until it was fully down and in a mess.
"Wow…I never really realized it before, but…I look a lot like Yui with my hair down like this."
…
I guess that's a start…
"Hey, Satoshi! Can I borrow your brush?"
It was from this night onward that I was determined to change everyone's perception of me. To hopefully have them all see me as one of them…a girl that can be actually seen as a girl. And not just a tomboy.
It won't be easy. Not in the slightest. I mean, there are some parts of me that I can't change no matter what I do.
…
Like my freaking chest…
But if I can at least change up my hair a bit…and maybe act a little more girly at times…
M-Maybe people will see me as a girl…a woman, even…
…
I-I hope…
Author's Note: After being discovered about her embarrassing summer job, Ritsu realizes the shocking truth: No one sees her as a girl. More so a tomboy with not a single ounce of female qualities within her. And she's taking it all to heart.
You know, when you look at a picture of Ritsu with her hair down, she kinda does look like Yui. I'm not sure if it's the similar hair color or the fact that they technically both have bangs…but it's what I saw when I finally found a picture of it. Honestly took longer than it should've.
This will probably be the only time Satoshi will ever appear in this story. To be honest, I forgot up until now that Ritsu even HAD a brother. I only added him here just for consistency.
Next chapter, it's off to Yui. The only person who didn't leave town for summer break. Thanks for reading. Later.