I'm sorry, Mark...

"Well, despite everything, in the end I am grateful to you, Akemi.

I never thought I'd say it, but it was an instructive experience. Two

weeks ago, when you proposed this temporary exchange, I accepted

only because I thought you were joking. And when I found myself

in your body, seeing "myself" in front of me... How much did I go

crazy? Hahaha! It was really tough the first few days... But in the end

I learned a lot about the female gender and your Japanese culture,

thanks to your family. I feel like a more complete and mature person

now. But now the two weeks to "recharge" the spell have passed, and

it's time to return to our bodies. After all, summer is ending, and you

and your family will have to return to Japan in a few days. Come on,

let's get ready to repeat the swap."

Akemi's thoughts:

Poor Mark, I can't tell him that I intend to keep his body and his

identity... These two weeks spent as an American boy made me

understand how limited my life was.

Males have far more freedoms and possibilities in life, and in my

country the situation for females is even worse than here.

My parents didn't want me to go to college, saying that the best thing

for me would be to look after my future husband, my home, and my

future children. My wishes never mattered to them... 

After tasting this life I could never go back there.

I'm sorry, Mark. I'm really sorry, but I'll have to fool you.

"Mysteriously" the spell to return to our bodies will not work, and

we will be forced to continue pretending to be each other at least

until next summer, when "maybe" you will return to America.

I'm sorry... but I can't do otherwise.