Editing Kämpfer:Volume 2 Chapter 3 (section)

=== A Peaceful Lull and a Startling Rumor ===
[[File:23752.jpg|thumb|Natsuru (male form) looks on in horror as his class reads the scandalous "Special Edition" of the Girls' Newspaper.]]
Yesterday passed peacefully after that. I was happy with the peace. Besides being a girl, I was able to finish class without any pressure. Outside of class, everyone's curiosity was focused on me, but thankfully, no one asked any difficult questions. Perhaps Sakura Kaede's "Shizuku asked me to look after Natsuru-san" strategy worked. Although our homeroom teacher bluntly asked for more drink money at the class meeting before going home, I pretended not to hear.

Regarding maintaining my female form, I don't know when I'll return, but at least I maintain it until I go to sleep, only to revert back to my male form upon waking. I asked the Seppuku Tiger about this.

"Once I'm relieved of stress or excitement, I can easily return to my original form," it said. So that's how it is.

"Don't doze off during class. You might even transform back in the middle of the class."

"But the transformation won't end until I go to sleep. Is that because I'm slowly accumulating experience?"

"I don't know, but it's true you're faster than the average Kämpfer."

It didn't seem like this guy knew the details, or maybe it knew and just didn't want to tell me.

The Seppuku Tiger scratched its eye patch with its short front paw.

"By the way, that girl wasn't here today?"

"What?"

"Is her name Kondou Mikoto? The energetic one."

"That's true."

It would bother me if she came every day, but it wouldn't bother me if she didn't. But she was so excited about coming to "wake me up," it felt a little lonely.

I had no choice but to eat breakfast alone. Yesterday we had such a luxurious meal, but today it's just bread and jam, and Japanese tea made with tea bags. What a hollow breakfast.

On my way to school alone, I couldn't help but think: once I'm used to having a big meal right out of the blue, I'll feel like something's missing. It's only been a one-time experience, but just the thought of it makes me want to have hot rice every morning... It doesn't have to be made by Kondou Mikoto, just having it makes me happy.

Personally, I'd definitely want Sakura Kaede to make it for me. If that were the case, I'd probably die of joy. No, even if I died after just one bite, I'd be happy.

But first, I'd have to invite her to my house, and the chances of that happening are practically zero. If it were a woman, I might have a chance, but that's a complicated matter. I'd really like to know if there's a good way.

By the time I was thinking this, I'd already arrived at Iron Star Academy High School. Once I entered the classroom, all those thoughts vanished.

My classmates were enthusiastically reading a folded flyer. I added that I was in Class 4, Grade 2.

I nudged Higashida.

"Hey, what's that? What are you all looking at?"

Higashida, also intently studying, looked up impatiently.

"Why are you so slow?"

"My alarm clock is broken and I can't find a replacement. What happened?"

"You didn't get this?"

He was reading the school newspaper, which looked like it had something like "Special Edition" written in large letters.

"What's wrong with that?"

"Just read it yourself."

I took a look and nearly fell to the ground in shock.

The text read, "Mysterious Returning Girls' Club Student: Yuri Mystery."

I nearly fainted, but I fought back the urge to read. The news item was about "Second-year Girls' Club student N.S." While beautiful, she wasn't interested in boys. "She doesn't hate boys, does she? Our newspaper's surprise interview team is trying to interview her." "I smell a hint of yuri," and the explanation was carefully included: "Yuri is a type of love between women."

This report is full of lies. "N.S made a blushing, blatant confession," I could tolerate, but it also included "because she doesn't want to regret being born a woman"? "She freezes at the sight of cute girls," "She kept making advances on other patients and nurses while hospitalized," and other nonsense. The word "homosexual" only appeared once, but it made it sound as if she had no interest in boys at all. Besides, I never said any of those things.

"The girls who returned to school this time are truly extraordinary."

Even Higashida couldn't help but be shocked.

"These kinds of things happen in all-girls schools, but this is the first time I've seen such a blatant and bold confession. It must take a lot of courage to say it out loud. It's quite impressive for a news agency to cover such a story."

"...This is the girls' newspaper, right? Why does everyone have it?"

"Someone randomly distributed it at the school gates. The teacher disappeared as soon as they noticed. Most people read photocopied copies. Getting the original is a treasure."

I looked at the newspaper again. It even had a photo of me as a girl. The eyes are covered with black squares. When was this film taken?

"Even though you can't see the eyes, she's pretty."

Higashida said, looking impressed, his voice lowered.

"Hey, Natsuru, I know the girl above."

"..."

The idiot, thinking he was a spy from some foreign country, spoke in a low voice.

"Didn't I tell you I saw a girl chasing a delinquent boy? It's this girl."

"Yeah—..."

"But I didn't expect she was a lesbian. No wonder she ignored me when I talked to her."

Higashida looked very unwilling. "Stupid, the idea of a girl accepting your advances is unbelievable."

Anyway, let's put this guy aside for now. This is a big deal for me. I think every boy and girl in school has seen this. I've become the most negative person in the world. At this rate, there's no way I can transform into Kämpfer. If I transform into a girl, I'll probably be surrounded immediately.

It's okay if I don't have to transform into Kämpfer. I'm happy and relaxed, but it would be troublesome if I transform randomly. Being caught up in such a mess, I wonder if my ancestor was actually a serial killer or something.

My classmates were already engaged in a heated discussion about the "mysterious Yuri transfer student." I feigned disinterest and listened, only to find they were even concluding, "One day, she'll devour all the girls in the girls' club." Ugh.

This couldn't go on. I checked the clock and saw there was still some time before class, so I tossed my bag on my desk.

"Senou, where are you going?"

"Library."

When did you become so serious? I ignored Higashida's words and sprinted down the hallway.