Its tru

The estrogen my toddler buys is so expensive can we get this socialism thing started?

I know that Renge is a first-grader, not a toddler, but I’m just imagining that frigging Non Non Biyori “summer Santa” bit except instead of handing out tomatoes, Renge is just making sure that everybody in the village who needs it is stocked up on estrogen.

The new socialist government (Asahigaoka Soukoku Ikki, it’s a long story) recently decided that prescription medicine was free and that minors could fill out some prescriptions on other persons’ behalves. Kazuho heard about this new policy, and figured that running errands like picking up medicine would make Renge more independent.

Kazuho told Renge that women often take estrogen when they get a little older. Renge mentioned that she overheard that the new young lady in town, Makoto, who looked no older than 16, also takes estrogen. Kazuho said, “Oh, yes, Makoto-chan takes estrogen, too. You should ask her if she’s running low, too!” – before Kazuho could explain anything else, Renge was already out the door on the way to Makoto’s house.

On the way to Makoto’s house, Renge reflected on an earlier observation of hers: that Makoto looks strangely similar to Nacchan and Koma-chan’s older brother… Who disappeared right around the same time that Makoto first appeared in Asahigaoka! Nacchan and Koma-chan’s mom was even crying about “losing her only son” when Renge visited last time. Odd!

Taking these facts into account, Renge’s running theory? Makoto is actually a hundred-year-old yokai who eated Koma-chan’s brother and absorbed his powers! Makoto needs estrogen because she’s actually very old, and Kazuho did once say, “You are what you eat”, so it only makes sense… Renge remarked to herself, “Makoto is just like Korby from that video game I played when I visited Nacchan last time… ooooooo…”

Renge rang the doorbell to Makoto’s place. Makoto answered. Renge told Makoto nervously, “K-Kazu-nee sent me to ask if you need your estrogen perscription filled. S-she wants me to practice going to the pharmacy by myself.” – to which Makoto replied, “I’ve got nine days of estrogen left, so it would be very nice if you could fill out my prescription for me. Let me go find it. Why don’t you come on in for a bit?”

And so Renge came in, still looking a little nervous. Renge noticed a five-stripe pastel-colored flag on the living room wall, and promptly asked, “Are you an immigrant from a foreign country, Makoto-san?” – Makoto then explained that she was a “francejender”, as Renge heard it – “Is that like a French sosunser?”, Renge asked the new lady. Makoto laughed a little, not quite sure what a “sosunser” was supposed to be, and explained, “No, being transgender means that I was a boy before but I’m a girl now.”

Renge gasped! “S-SO YOU REALLY ARE A YOKAI! TH-THE BECOMES-A-GIRL YOKAI! HOSPITAL! WE NEED TO CALL AN AMPERSAND! W-WE NEED TO CUT KOMA-CHAN’S NII-CHAN OUT OF YOUR BELLY, BEFORE HE BECOMES POOPIES!”

“Renge-chan!”, Makoto laughed, “Koma-chan’s nii-chan was me! That’s the boy who I used to be! I take the estrogen now to become and stay a girl. Don’t tell me you really thought I ate myself!”

“KOMA-CHAN’S NII-CHAN WAS A YOKAI THE WHOLE TIME, AND I NEVER KNEW?! J-JUST LIKE KONOMI-NEE AND NACCHAN AND KOMA-CHAN WERE ALL DOESN’T-NEED-DOCTORS YOKAI, AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME?!”

“I’m not a yokai, Renge-chan!”, said Makoto, “But you’re quite right that I didn’t tell anybody that I was transgender for a very long time.”

“You didn’t tell anybody anything for a very long time, Makoto-san.”

“Heh heh, yeah, gender dysphoria does that sometimes.”, said Makoto.

“What’s a gender dysphoria?”, asked Renge.

“Hmm…”, said Makoto, “Well, it means that I didn’t like being a boy. That’s why I decided to start taking estrogen pills so that I could become a girl instead.”

“ooooooooooo”, said Renge, like her third eye was being pried open.

Makoto handed Renge her estrogen prescription. Renge thanked Makoto for a very enlightening conversation, and headed off to the pharmacy.

Later, at the pharmacy, Renge presented Makoto’s prescription to the pharmacist and said, “1 free estrogen please. I am not transgender, but I like free stuff.”

Because of socialism, the pharmacist had to comply.