The Vt Stands For Very Trans

The chapter starts with Yuki texting her mom about the trip. But what caught Yuki's attention was the way her mom finished the chat after she mentioned she was bringing someone along.

"I understand"

Just that. Nothing else, just "I understand." It's....strange. She wanted to poke her mom after that, but work got in the way.

But enough about work because we immediately shift to...

SENDAI! They're here! Yuki's so excited to show Totoko her old stomping grounds, though there's a hilarious moment when a statue she thought was going to be by the station wasn't. Turned out, irl, the statue got moved elsewhere and even Sensei took note of that for a quick gag lol

The two immediately get into sightseeing mode, though. They check out a few stops, simply enjoying the time together, having a...vacation together! Wow!

There's familiar sights and cuisines, though time marches on and even Yuki is surprised by some new offerings, like the clownfish monaka in the upper left corner (monaka are traditional Japanese snacks but this style was a twist on it, of course)

Eventually, though, the time has come. Specifically, the time Yuki agreed to meet her mom. Just her mom, though. Her parents divorced sometime after Yuki moved away from the area. We have a little time indicator moment when Yuki says it's been a year since she last visited Sendai since she skipped out on Christmastime.

She had said she wanted to tell her mom about her relationship with Totoko, and this was THE moment to do so. Even as they get to the apartment complex and enter the elevator, anxiety begins to spike...though they remember what Nagumo said about her and Yako also being by their side, as their Chosen Family.

At last, the scary elevator ride is over, and they're in front of the apartment. This is it. No turning back.

Such an awkward moment of silence...but here we are. Everyone, meet Maya! She's Yuki's mom! (Maya insists that Yuki looks more like her father, but Totoko makes a note how they have the same eyes at the very least)

And Totoko immediately gets super formal, bowing at the most formal angle and offering her a gift because she does NOT want to mess things up, and it's kind of adorable. Don't worry, though. Maya tells her to relax and to just call her "Maya." It relaxes her enough to let the older woman know she can call her "Totoko"

But things start to derail in a hilarious manner because Maya has a tendency to blabber! Poor, poor Totoko. Yuki feels bad for not telling her lol

Maya then offers the ladies some coffee and continues to chat a little. Yuki is getting caught up in her thoughts. She realizes this is, literally, the moment. "Now or never," she thinks to herself. But she starts getting nervous. The anxiety is spiking....Oh, Yuki's weakness is starting to crop up again.

Like an angel from above, and despite having her own qualms about it in the previous chapter, Totoko steps up and directly announces:

"...Maya-san, I'm...in a relationship with Yuki-san. I'm her lover. I've also moved in with her recently."

Though there is no immediate reaction, Totoko's actions were enough to fire up Yuki to finally make the announcement she's wanted to give:

"Mama! I'm a lesbian. I am attracted to women. Kasuga-san is the woman I love! [in another panel: And I wanted you to know that, Mama.]"

Her mom reacts in a...strange way, though. She smiles softly, placing her cup down and asks Yuki if she remembered her childhood dreams - the ones about cooking up a big castella cake for the forest critters and others to enjoy with her, and how she cried when no one came...

Well...that's not quite the reaction Yuki was looking for. She's kinda stunned, letting her mom continue rambling.

Maya then talks about how that seemed to be the start of Yuki's love for cooking. She eventually asked if she could make zoni...and then it just grew from there. But there were some more recent dishes that reminded her of that time, like that giant bucket pudding (reminds her of the cake), or how that Shiba-Pup character bento was so adorable (Yuki's always loved shibas, huh~?)

Wait.

Wait a moment.

How does Maya know about....

TURNS OUT MAYA WAS FOLLOWING YUKI'S FOOD ACCOUNT FOR A WHILE NOW!?!?

(but not because she was stalking her daughter or anything. It just happened to pop up on her timeline thanks to viral algorithms, I bet. And she managed to figure out it was Yuki because of certain cooking techniques, but she assures her daughter only she would know something that intricate so her anonymity remains intact)

But you know what else that means?

She saw the post when Yuki came out to her followers (Chapters 49 and 52). She was there that evening, seeing that post as it got shared.

She didn't know what to think at first. She was confused. Stunned. How could it be? How could that girl...

Who would always shrug off any urging of finding a boyfriend...

How could that girl...

Who would always reply "no" whenever she asked her if she's found a man yet...

Oh.

....Oh...

Had she been bringing Yuki down every time? Because she didn't really listen to her? Because she kept urging these things that society seems to expect her to be/have by a certain age?

But it especially hurt seeing the negative comments Yuki was receiving. One is highlighted where the user says if they were in Yuki's shoes, they would've just kept quiet and not bother. These posts shake Maya.

Maya recalls how Yuki's earlier posts featured such small, "perfect" dishes, but then she saw that sudden shift: The gyoza party. The gigantic omurice. The pile of donuts. It reminded her of Yuki as a child...

The eager child who wanted to make amazing food and had fun doing so. Yuki has always been like that, deep down. But society pressed her to do other things for so long. This mother pressed her daughter to do things she didn't want to do. Maya needed to change her mindset.

I'm going to share this page in its entirety and translate it for you. Because it's beautiful, and, if you have been reading this comic since Chapter 1, you know how meaningful this is:

Maya: Yuki...You finally found that person who will finish your meals with you. It was Totoko-san, wasn't it? ....Thank you for letting me meet her. Yuki: Mama...

Such a touching moment...but we need to reel it back a bit. Maya knows just how to do that! She's hungry! Yuki! Make something for all of us!

Wait, what??! Who makes their guest cook? Yuki is miffed.

Even Totoko gets dragged away by Maya after offering to lend a hand. No no! She wants a dish cooked by Yuki and Yuki alone! Feel free to use whatever's in the kitchen. Just cook up something good~

And she does. Turns out, it's a dish her mother taught her: mapo yakisoba. Of course, Yuki is nervous again, but now it's because the "master" is judging the "student." She made it with all her heart, though. It's gonna be good...right?

It is. Yuki has won her mother's approval in the world of cooking as well~

After the meal's had, the ladies have to head back to their hotel. Yuki lets her mom know that they plan to be at the Sendai Pride event, and we learn that Maya has done a little research on her own. She's still new at lgbtq stuff, but she's getting there, and she wishes nothing but a fun time for the two.

I'm so glad to see such a supportive blood relative, to be honest. I know not everyone has their family ties after coming out. Some are dangerous. It's best to break them. You find solace with others, and they become your "chosen family." They are just as special, of course! But...it's nice to see an example of a blood relative that loves and supports their child after coming out.

The rest of the chapter is the beginning of Sendai Pride. The ladies are in awe. So many amazing sights, so many amazing people! Sign language interpreters are spotted, as well as a teenaged couple for Nomoto and Kasuga to be wowed at (because, in their day, so hard to be out. Still is, but I think they're amazed that those two could be out and proud with the rest of them)

This post is already so, so long, but I will add that Sensei (and probably the editor) went out to the most recent Sendai Pride and interviewed folks and grabbed refs for this moment. Sensei tried to capture the diversity she saw while they were there, though she admits it personally proved to her she's got a ways to go. She's gonna improve on that!

But it's a sight to behold....

Makes you feel...proud, huh?

"Let the rainbow's brilliance reach you freely, endlessly."