Editing Kämpfer:Volume 2 Chapter 2 (section)

===Early Morning Intrusion===

Making disturbing noises early in the morning isn't just for roosters anymore. Personally, I think even if it were just roosters, it's a bit much. I never expected girls — high school girls, at that — to do the same thing.

"Natsuru, get up—!"

"Wow!"

Instead of the alarm clock of death, her voice exploded in my ears. It wasn't a gentle whisper, but like firecrackers, the kind you see during Chinese New Year or Vietnamese New Year.

"Hey—it's almost late, why don't you get up!"

Kondou Mikoto stood by my bed with an impatient look on her face.

"If I don't get up soon, I won't have time for breakfast. I have to eat a good breakfast, or I'll be sluggish all day."

"I'll eat,"

I said, rubbing my eyes. Don't look at my unusual diet; I still eat breakfast. Please don't compare me to those teenagers who have acquired a bunch of lifestyle ailments. Rather than saying it's a habit, I should be thanking my parents who always pull me to the dinner table in the morning.

I got out of bed, wondering if there was any toast left, when it suddenly occurred to me.

"Hey, Mikoto!"

"What's going on?"

"What? What's going on? Why are you in my house?"

I didn't even notice because she acted so naturally. I live alone, and no matter if it was Mikoto or anyone else, it would be weird for them to be here at this time.

"I came here specially to wake you up."

"No, that's not it. I meant how did you get in?"

"I unlocked the door."

Mikoto said as if nothing had happened. I don't remember giving you the key to my house. You must have opened it without my permission. Speaking of this guy's lockpicking skills, it's at genius level. She can open a large safe used for business even without any tools. Although she said that this is a necessary skill in the field of archaeology, does Indiana Jones also have this skill?

"Who told you to go home together but you didn't keep your promise, so I came here early in the morning."

"Then I'm really sorry."

"Didn't I wake you up every day in elementary school?"

"I'm used to getting up by myself now."

"Don't be shy. I'll be responsible for waking you up from now on."

"Don't mind my business."

I don't know if she meant it, but it's true that she used to call me. Back in elementary school, she came almost every day. Thinking about it, I think she was more interested in my mom's breakfast than in taking care of me. Facts are facts.

"Breakfast's ready downstairs."

"Hey, you're not going to make breakfast for me, are you?"

"Yeah, you need to eat."

I'll go downstairs first, she said, and went downstairs first.

After making sure she was gone, I grabbed the Seppuku Tiger<ref>Named after the Japanese ritual suicide. A sentient plush toy that serves as Natsuru's advisor.</ref>: off the desk.

"When did that guy get here?"

The one-eyed tiger, who had been pretending to be a doll, began to stir.

"She probably woke you up about an hour ago. I heard the lock being unlocked."

"She's not thinking of turning to thieves, is she?"

"She must have really come to wake you up. She didn't take your passbook."

Even if she did steal, it would only be a few hundred yen.

I changed and went to the kitchen. Breakfast was already neatly laid out on the table: rice, miso soup, dried horse mackerel, and pickles.

"Where's the bread and jam I bought a few days ago?"

"You won't get enough nutrition if you only eat those,"

Mikoto replied crisply. There shouldn't be any ingredients at home. There was only bottled juice in the refrigerator.

I stared blankly at the horse mackerel's eyes.

"These are leftovers from yesterday, so just make do with them."

This meant she brought them from her own home.

Anyway, I sat down, said, "I'm going to start," and started eating.

"...Yeah,"

Mikoto said, smiling as she sat across from me.

"How's it? It tastes good, doesn't it?"

It wasn't bad, actually, delicious. The salt was especially well-controlled, not too salty, and not too strong. But I couldn't just give in. I had to pretend, "No one asked you to make me breakfast." (There's nothing cute about boys being tsundere about this.)

"...Huh."

"Is that all?"

"..."

"Heh—it seems someone else thinks it's delicious."

Damn it, she found out. To quickly wash away this shame, I ate my breakfast at full speed.