Editing Kämpfer:Volume 9.5 Chapter 4





Volume 9.5 Chapter 4  


    In every way, I've become like this lately. All the troubles have piled up on me, leaving me 

exhausted, both physically and mentally. Then I crawl under the covers, sobbing. The only 

place I can find peace now is in my dreams. But my dreams are startin g to get strange. 

Finally, Shizuku appeared in my dream. It was only a fleeting moment, but I woke up 

screaming. Maybe I've gotten too sick.  


    Before I became Kämpfer, I was living a peaceful high school life, but the drastic change in 

the past few months is astonishing. If someone in Hollywood sees this, maybe it'll be made 

into a movie. Of course, I'd happily license it to them. The only th ing I'd have to sign a 

copyright agreement for related merchandise would be a deal. Ever since that terrifying day, 

or rather, ever since that day, after that day, when I was nearly raped on the library rooftop —

a daydream... no, a nightmare —I've been tryin g to keep a low profile.  


    Specifically, I can't go anywhere except the men's section. This place is a sacred place, and 

it's become one of the few places where I can find peace of mind.  


    I've heard rumors that "Senou from the Girls' Club seems to be taking another break," but 

I'll just ignore them.  


    Ever since then, even looking at the face of the "Idiot Leader" Higashida, I somehow think 

he looks like an angel. I stay in the classroom all day, even if it's pointless. But people also say 

it's disgusting to laugh to myself. I'm having trouble getti ng along.  


    That day, I didn't go home after school, lingering in the classroom, stalling for time.  


    "Why, Senou, you're staying again?"  


    Higashida asked. Normally, I'd be the first one out, but now it might be considered strange.  


    "Didn't you say you love your home?"  


    "Ah, I do."  


    "Is there something going on at school? If it's about the Beautiful Girls Research Society, 

you no longer have the right to attend executive meetings."  


    "Not that I particularly want to go."  


    The "Beautiful Girls Research Society" he was talking about is one of the many 

underground clubs at Seitetsu Academy. Ever since the brochure they released during the 

beauty pageant was a huge success, membership seems to be increasing.  


    I used to be a special advisor to the organization, but now I've lost all my qualifications. 

This is fine.  


    I wasn't , but this guy hinted, "It's just an obligation, you have to fulfill it." It's really 

annoying.  


    "What's going on with that? The relationship between the president and the woman 

named Natsuru?"  


    "Well, Mikoto is investigating it."  


    Of course, as someone involved, I know all about it. But I can tell him later.  


    "Mikoto is more proactive than me. I think there's a report by now."  


    "I think there's been some new developments recently..."  


    Damn, so he said he was going to publicize the relationship between me and Shizuku. That 

would really bother me.  


    Of course, it seems Higashida doesn't know any more. That's a relief.  


    "There's a surge in demand for beautiful girls lately, and there's also a catalog. I really want 

to know about it soon."  


    I have no interest in that catalog at all, and this logic doesn't make sense to anyone. Before 

I became Kempfer, I might have  


    gotten into some stupid shit with this guy, but now my stance has changed a bit.  


    "Don't you have any other sources besides me?"  


    "I do, but you're the most reliable. Hanzawa and the others are investigating Sakura Kaede, 

so they're shorthanded."  


    "Sakura Kaede doesn't talk much about herself, does she?"  


    "Yeah, but she seemed to have mentioned recently that she wanted to go back home."  


    "...Huh?"  


    "It would be fine if she went back on a holiday. A lot of people would be upset if she asked 

for leave from school."  


    Since Sakura Kaede is as famous as Shizuku, it's no surprise that she's in the news. There 

are also some guys who act  


    smug just because they go to the same school, even though they haven't even met them.  


    "You're upset too, right?"  


    "Huh?"  


    "It's Sakura Kaede."  


    "Yeah, of course."  


    Yes, I like Sakura Kaede more than anyone else. But lately, Sakura Kaede has been suddenly 

showing hostility and fighting with us, and my  


    feelings for her are often weakened.  


    No, no, I never would have thought that before. Even though  


    Sakura Kaede and I are enemies now, my loyalty to her won't waver in the slightest. I had 

to stop thinking like that quickly.  


    "Sakura Kaede is the best. She's a beauty, an angel, a god. Just thinking of her smile can 

make me eat three bowls of rice. No, six. She's still in the girls' club, but she's destined to 

marry me someday."  


    "I know, I know."  


    Higashida waved his hand.  


    "I've heard your fantasy countless times. It's about living in a house with white walls, 

right?"  


    "Not only that, but also getting a dog."  


    This guy reacted like that because I'd been filling him in on my future plans with Sakura 

Kaede since first grade. Listen carefully, there's also the plan for our family to immigrate 

overseas.  


    "Senou, hurry up and get information on the president."  


    "What are you talking about? I touched Sakura Kaede's breasts..."  


    "What did you say?"  


    Higashida asked back, so I stopped myself.  


    It was a close call. I almost said, "I touched Sakura Kaede's breasts." Sakura Kaede and I 

almost stumbled into that kind of relationship on the riverbank. I was overwhelmed by her 

charm and touched her soft breasts. If someone hadn't interfered, thing s could have gone 

much further. Looking back, it's such a pity.  


    "What happened to Sakura Kaede?"  


    "Ah... no... Sakura Kaede and I are actually living a secret nightlife..."  


    "I don't want to know. It's not just you, Senou, who have such fantasies. All kinds of men 

have them. I'm tired of hearing about them."  


    "What a sinful school."  


    "You have no right to say that. Most of the stories are about the president. We keep 

shoving those YY novels into our hands. We're not doing doujinshi, of course."  


    "But we do something similar."  


    I'm starting to get some sense. Perhaps the group of people in the "Club Scolded by 

Shizuku Sangou -sama" had nowhere to vent their wildly inflated imaginations and ended up 

writing about it like this. If we don't talk about those dross and get rid of i t, people will 

become abnormal.  


    The bell rang. That's the code for "Hurry back." Unless it's the night before an event or a 

make -up class, it's hard to stay here forever.  


    "Senou, are you still staying?"  


    "I want to go home now."  


    "Then why not go back?"  


    "Something's going on. Maybe someone's lying in wait on the road."  


    "Who's targeting you? Skull 13?"  


    "Yes... nothing."  


    "Since you have so much free time, come and help me,"  


    Higashida said to me.  


    "If this is about the Bishoujo Research Society, then I have nothing to do with it."  


    "No, I'm also a member of the underground "Committee for the Normalization of Gender 

Relationships."  


    "So there's such an organization."  


    "They need a liaison."  


    "Ah—" 


    I gave him a vague answer. This so -called "Gender Relationship Normalization Committee" 

is an organization that's managed to circumvent the strict restrictions on relationships at 

Seitetsu Academy, gaining widespread support from both sexes. It's said to be modeled after 

the Underground Railroad, a pre -Civil War organization that helped slaves escape from the 

South, but its application in a Japanese school seems a bit exaggerated.  


    "You go over for a bit."  


    "Why me?"  


    "Have you forgotten how many times they've helped you?"  


    Higashida asked. I tilted my head.  


    "Is that true?"  


    "Didn't I tell you a lot about the contact information and the tunnel?"  


    It was true. Back then, I didn't have an ID card to join the women's department, so we 

needed their help.  


    "The student council later discovered that, and some of the lines were blocked. Didn't you 

dig a tunnel for us before?"  


    "Yes."  


    "That was blocked too. Our means of communication are almost exhausted, and it's going 

to be troublesome if we don't send a liaison from our side."  


    "And then you let me go?"  


    I always feel like I can't escape when something like this happens. Is it because I have so 

much free time?  


    "You know people in the Girls' Club, right? You won't be suspected."  


    "But I can't just  


    go there openly." "I won't force you."  


    Well, with my ID, getting to the Girls' Club is easy.  


    "Are you going now?"  


    "Yeah, there's a contact waiting in the library."  


    "...I don't really want to go."  


    "If I'm not in the library, I won't be able to contact anyone in the Girls' Club."  


    I know that, but if I go there, there's a good chance I'll run into Akane or Shizuku. And that 

happened on the rooftop before.  


    "Hurry up! It's almost time."  


    "Then what are you doing?"  


    "I'm going to a meeting of the 'Men's Club Secret Treasure Investigation Committee.' It's a 

coincidence that our dates overlap, and I'm already feeling annoyed."  


    Are there even such underground clubs? I had no idea. Getting things done at this school is 

a real hassle, but doing things like this is incredibly dynamic.  


    I'll just ramble on.  


    "It's just once."  


    "I'll give you a secret photo of the president."  


    "I don't want that."  


    "Then I'll buy you a drink or something."  


    "That's good."  


    Compared to Shizuku's photo, this one is a hundred times better. At least it'll be useful 

when I'm thirsty. Photos and the like won't quench my thirst.  


    I immediately left the classroom and headed for the library at full speed. I might run into 

Akane, but I just had to be careful around there.  


    How about going in through the library window? Forget it. It would be troublesome if I was 

mistaken for a thief. So I watched carefully at the entrance.  


    There was a female student at the information desk, but she was an unfamiliar girl. Great, 

that way it's okay.  


    But even so, I had to go in quietly. I acted nonchalant and walked towards the summer 

vacation area.  


    It had been blocked off because of our further destruction, but now it's finally halfway 

usable. This seems to be thanks to Shizuku's skills. Akane was very grateful to her, so it must 

be true.  


    I tried to move to a less conspicuous place. Okay, where is the contact person?  


    "YEAH! It's me!"  


    A voice came, making me nervous. I knew who it was without even seeing their face.  


    I turned away in annoyance.  


    "...Masumi Nishino."  


    "Long time no see!"  


    Masumi Nishino, a first -year student in the girls' club. Yes, she's in quite a few underground 

clubs,  


    she said, her voice easily audible. I figured she wouldn't be suited to such secret 

gatherings.  


    "Natsuru -san, you and Higashida -san are good friends, right?"  


    "I guess so."  


    "Are they close?"  


    "Well, kind of."  


    Although I was wondering why I was friends with that idiot, I still acted like that on the 

surface. Thinking about it, a personal acquaintance was enough.  


    I put on a calm front for now.  


    "I've been asked to contact you."  


    "Yes, that's exactly it!"  


    "What's it about? I think we need to establish a new contact or something."  


    "No, that's not it —" 


    Even with the trailing edge of her sentence, she spoke quickly. A truly practical way of 

speaking.  


    "Well, actually, I have something to ask you, Natsuru."  


    "Ah? Me?"  


    I pointed at myself without thinking.  


    Masumi Nishino and I aren't particularly close. It's not like we don't know what kind of 

relationship we have, but we don't talk often. Especially since I've been so busy lately that I 

haven't really seen each other.  


    "Well, about that, please tell me a little bit about your relationship with the president. I 

heard you got dumped recently."  


    That's right, I wasn't dumped. Don't write nonsense. Speaking of which, can you please not 

ask women about me?  


    I was feeling annoyed, but she suddenly changed the subject.  


    "Forget about what happened just now. I'm here for something else today ." "  


    What did you say?"  


    "I'll listen if you're willing to talk."  


    "No. Something else?  


    " "Yes."  


    Masumi Nishino waved at me from the back of the bookshelf.  


    "She asked me to. Here, here."  


    A figure appeared. It was Mikoto.  


    Although she looked like my childhood friend, she looked nervous. Holding back the urge 

to go to the bathroom? No  


    problem , just go.  


    "You again."  


    "What do you mean, you again?"  


    Mikoto said angrily.  


    "Didn't we just meet?"  


    "Do you really hate seeing me?"  


    "Not that I do."  


    Mikoto thanked Masumi Nishino. Masumi Nishino said, "Enjoy yourself," and walked away.  


    "That's nothing."  


    "That girl's a member of the 'Committee for the Normalization of Relationships Between 

Men and Women.' I asked her to set you up."  


    "What good will it do to ask someone like that for help? You'll be in trouble later. They're 

no different from thugs."  


    "What's wrong with that?"  


    "Not at all. I'm going back."  


    "Ah, if you do that, I'll scream. Ask Masumi Nishino for help and tell her that you, Natsuru, 

assaulted me."  


    "You're tougher than me, aren't you?"  


    "Hey—! Masumi Nishino!"  


    she suddenly yelled, and I hurriedly covered her mouth. Mikoto glared at me. No one saw 

me, I hope. It seemed like no one was coming down from upstairs now.  


    "You, don't you know where my house is? Why don't you just come to see me like usual?"  


    "I don't want the president to know. Besides, we're going to be stricter after that,"  


    Mikoto lowered her voice. I felt like she was suspicious.  


    "What's going on?"  


    "I'm being targeted."  


    I stepped back a little. People like that sometimes appear. They think they're being 

targeted by the CIA or being spied on by aliens. I once saw someone shouting in front of a 

station, "I have treasure buried by the Imperial Army, and I'm being hunted by the FSB 

(Russia's Federal Security Service)." Then a large group of police arrived and took him away. 

What happened next?  


    "They were probably some secret police."  


    "I'm not crazy. It's the student council, the president's men."  


    Even that's a terrible delusion. You're not thinking the student council is actually a murder 

ring, are you? Shizuku is the only one with violent tendencies there.  


    Mikoto looked around.  


    "The president is trying to keep an eye on me. It's so tight, there's no loophole."  


    "How would she do that? Even if the president is so powerful, she wouldn't be that bad."  


    "She has a way. It's not like she hired spies. She just told the girls in our class, 'If Kondou -

san does anything, tell me.'  


    We all respect her, so we'll help her."  


    Yeah, that's possible. Speaking of intelligence networks, Masumi Nishino's news 

department is the largest, but the student council also operates one. They usually gather 

student opinions, but it seems they're primarily focused on gathering information about 

underground clubs. Because they're so trusted, they have a lot of supporters.  


    The reason for all this is because underground clubs exist. Therefore, to keep the school 

from noticing, the student council has to have a good grasp of some of them. That's quite 

remarkable. This information is from Mikoto, so it should be quite usefu l. 


    "So, if you and I get caught, it'll be a bit troublesome."  


    "Why me?"  


    "You're really slow. After all, didn't the president say we should have free competition after 

last time?"  


    "Ah—come to think of it, he did."  


    That was truly amazing. I was suddenly pushed down and nearly raped. Anyway, it had 

nothing to do with my will.  


    Shizuku and Mikoto are an amazing combination. This is the cold -blooded student council 

president and this steam -powered woman who toyed with the world and wreaked havoc. If I 

hadn't transformed, I would have been brutally raped.  


    I can't erase this painful memory, so I can only treat it as a dog bite. Thinking about it, it 

wouldn't be so bad to just be happy and let it go. But forget it, what if I get used to it?  


    "So, what about that time..."  


    Why is she suddenly so reserved? What's wrong?  


    It's rare for her to be like this. She's a woman who likes things to be clear and easy to 

understand. She even said she liked Othello, after all. Because there are only two colors.  


    She lowered her head slightly, her face a little red.  


    "What's wrong? Choked on a pancake?"  


    "So, compared to that... um —about what happened last time."  


    "You mean that time on the roof? That really scared me."  


    "I'm sorry."  


    "Okay... huh?"  


    "I'm... sorry."  


    I was stunned.  


    Mikoto was apologizing to me. This girl doesn't often bow her head. She's the kind of 

person who either shows weakness or acts superior, depending on the person she's dealing 

with. Especially when it comes to me, she absolutely refuses to apologize. Sh e always finds a 

plausible excuse for everything she does. She even manages to make others think the same 

way, which is a talent. But she apologizes to me. What's wrong with that?  


    "I went too far... I'm sorry."  


    "No... it's nothing."  


    The doubts I'd felt earlier had vanished completely. How could I not act this way, with a girl 

in front of me, her face buried in her astonishment, her heart filled with regret?  


    Mikoto's voice faded, almost fading.  


    "As expected, even with Natsuru, that's not okay..."  


    "Of course..."  


    Mikoto looked up at me.  


    "Were you hurt?"  


    "Not really..."  


    "That's good."  


    "But it was a huge shock."  


    This memory has become an unforgettable one. Being pushed down and stripped naked by 

two women together is probably the only time in my life I've ever experienced that. The 

thought sends a chill down my spine.  


    I glanced at Mikoto, whose face was as red as if it had been boiled.  


    "You, if you're shy, don't do it."  


    "I'm sorry... because it was my first time doing that, too."  


    "Who would have experienced something like that?"  


    "The last time I looked at a man's underwear was a few years ago..."  


    "And you almost touched it."  


    "So, that's... huh? You didn't!"  


    "Really?"  


    Actually, it was true. I wasn't touched. Because I escaped at the critical moment. I'm still 

innocent. But I dared to joke about this.  


    "You pervert! A perverted childhood friend!"  


    "Wait..."  


    "You've become a perverted woman."  


    "Don't say that... idiot."  


    Mikoto sat down. Oh, oh no. Normally, shouldn't Mikoto have just punched or kicked me 

right here and there as the ending scene?  


    She crouched there, chattering non -stop. I panicked. It looked like I was bullying Mikoto. It 

would be bad if someone saw us. Like Akane or Shizuku. Or any other student. The worst part 

would be if a teacher saw us.  


    Luckily, no one noticed. Maybe there were still many students who didn't know the library 

was available. If someone saw us, like a teacher or the student council, it would be 

troublesome.  


    Mikoto let out a breath into her shoulder.  


    "I feel so powerless just thinking about it... so ashamed."  


    "Is it that serious?"  


    "For me, it is."  


    Anyway, stand up first. I grabbed her hand and pulled her up.  


    Mikoto's hand was very warm. She slowly stood up.  


    "Ah, this is so embarrassing."  


    "I was just planning on living a longer, better life."  


    "I actually went through all this trouble to hide it from the president for a man like you."  


    "Let's talk about the theft, too. Don't dig up ruins again. UNESCO will sue you."  


    "Everything I do is legal. I just hand it over to a third party when I sell it. ...That's okay."  


    She regained some of her spirits.  


    "Um... Natsuru... I apologize."  


    "Yes."  


    "So that's over."  


    "I guess."  


    "And, although the order may be a little out of order, I have something to say to you... I'm 

saying it now, but I've been meaning to say it for a while."  


    "Keep it short."  


    "Keep it short... Um, Natsuru, go out with me."  


    I frowned slightly. I hate this kind of anticlimactic way of talking.  


    "Haven't I been with you since kindergarten? Where do you want to go this time? First of 

all, overseas is not an option because I don't have a passport."  


    Mikoto paused for a moment, then seemed to understand what I was saying and quickly 

changed her tone.  


    "That's not it. I want you to be my boyfriend."  


    "Cares (homonymous with boyfriend)? Is that the newly discovered satellite of Saturn?"  


    "Who knows? I'm talking about love."  


    "Between me and Sakura Kaede?"  


    "Of course not! You're dating me!"  


    "Why?"  


    "Really? Because I like you!"  


    This time I heard clearly.  


    I was caught off guard, and something jolted me. What? You're saying you like me? You're 

telling me this now, are you kidding?  


    But Mikoto's expression said it wasn't a joke. Maybe this is the first time I've seen him look 

like that. Even more serious than when he was reading about the ruins.  


    "Are you serious...?"  


    "Didn't I tell you I've liked you for a long time? Even though you never realized it."  


    "Because you're my childhood sweetheart."  


    "Don't just being childhood friends mean it's enough! You're not saying it's wrong."  


    I really can't stand you guys, but whether we're dating or not is another matter.  


    "You clearly want to see you so badly, yet you're always talking about Sakura Kaede and 

Sakura Kaede, and you kind of like Akane -chan, and you even kissed the president."  


    I did, but it wasn't my intention. It was more of an accident. If I thought otherwise, I'd go 

crazy.  


    "That's..."  


    "Natsuru, I like you! I want to date you."  


    I was speechless, staring at her intently.  


    Mikoto's breathing was a little off. Could this be Higashida's doing? I surmised. At least 

punishment games don't require this. That really surprised me. Even though she's beautiful, 

it's a bit strange to be confessed to by a childhood friend. Is  


    n't confession from a girl you've known since kindergarten something that only happens in 

games? Or am I just in the middle of a game?  


    No, this is a genuine confession. Mikoto told me she loves me.  


    "Well, I didn't want the president to get ahead of me, so I called you out before you got 

home..."  


    I couldn't answer. Oh no, I'm speechless. What should I do?  


    "I feel like this is really cowardly and inappropriate myself. I thought maybe I should tell 

you after I make you some curry, but I'm afraid Akane  


    and the president will outdo me, so I can't hold it in  


    any longer." You're overthinking it. You're the kind of woman who could live in the desert 

for days if necessary. And the curry is enough.  


    "Even if you ask me what I like about you, I can't really explain it... but what can I say? I can 

say stupid things with you without worrying about it, right? We're already on a first -name 

basis, so there's no need to pretend. I think about you, Natsur u, all the time when I go to 

bed. I often see you in my dreams..."  


    Mikoto kept talking to herself. It felt like she'd let out everything she'd been holding back.  


    She'd become a chatterbox now. But this wasn't just a personal matter, like linking 

everything happening in the world to curry. This was probably the first time this guy had  


    confided .  


    "And whenever I think of you, my heart inevitably becomes heavy. So, maybe dating you 

would make me happier and more relaxed."  


    "…" 


    "That's all. So, I think I've fallen in love with you, Natsuru."  


    I was just surprised that this guy wasn't talking about the Southeast Asian gem trade, but 

rather the typical worries of a girl. It's not that being girly is bad, but I don't think it's like 

Mikoto. She's different from Shizuku; she lives in a differen t world from me and enjoys it.  


    As her childhood friend, just being able to touch a part of her experience is exciting and 

satisfying enough.  


    And yet, by confessing her feelings, she's lowering her lifestyle to my level.  


    This is really difficult. It would be better to give her an answer. What's the best line? 

Because it happened so suddenly, my mind is a little slow? Although I don't usually think that 

way either.  


    "Ah—that."  


    So, I said something ambiguous to stall for time, a bad habit.  


    "My mind isn't very good."  


    "Yeah... I know."  


    That was a really harsh statement. But if both parties agreed, there was nothing I could do.  


    "So it'll probably take some time to get the answer. It might be more efficient to use a 

desktop or personal computer..."  


    Is that even possible? What kind of man would use a computer to calculate the answer to 

his confession? There's definitely no software for that.  


    I sounded like an idiot. I slowly closed my mouth. Mikoto continued.  


    "Ah... yes, yes. You don't have to answer right away. I guess Natsuru hasn't experienced 

anything like that either."  


    She said something unnecessary, but it wasn't.  


    "We'll discuss it after we get home... No, um, just tell me next time... Yeah, right, aren't we 

going to Sakura Kaede's hometown? That's fine after that, there's plenty of time."  


    Mikoto, who had always spoken clearly, panicked. She fanned her hands like a round fan.  


    "So, so, tell me later."  


    "...I get it."  


    "We've agreed. Please... answer me properly."  


    "Mikoto..."  


    "...Ah—" 


    For some reason, she screamed and ran off. I was left here alone. I replayed the events in 

my mind. What on earth was that?  


    No, no, I don't understand what Mikoto is doing here at all. It's beyond my expectations. I 

can't believe that powerful woman would seriously confess her love to me. I had always 

thought we could keep this ill -fated relationship going, that we could re main childhood 

friends forever.  


    Does Mikoto like me? Wow, what should I do? What's going on? My heart suddenly races. 

They say girls change a lot when they grow up. She's become a completely different woman, 

a stunning beauty. Even Higashida wants her picture. Maybe I should be happy. Bu t why? 

Isn't it strange?  


    I try to control my heartbeat, and as I expected, it's beating fast. Damn, the drums are 

getting faster, and at this rate, the rhythm and vocals won't keep up.  


    What will happen next? I might even find it hard to look that guy in the face. If this hadn't 

happened, we could still exchange bad words tomorrow, but now it's hard to do. Ah—I 

realize it. This is what they call hiding one's true strength. This isn't right at all. I can't even 

crack a proper joke. I could only try to stay calm in the deserted library.  


    By the time I got home, it was literally pitch black.  












==Translator's Notes==
This chapter was translated from the Chinese translation of the original Japanese text.
<br />
<references responsive="0" />

<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin:0; text-align:center; border:none;"
|+
|-
| [[Kämpfer:Volume 9 Chapter 1|← Back to Volume 9 Chapter 1]]
| [[Kämpfer|Return to Main Page]]
| [[Kämpfer:Volume 9.5 Chapter 3|Forward to 9.5 Chapter 3 →]]
|}