Editing Kämpfer:Volume 2 Chapter 3 (section)

=== Seeking Help and an Ominous Warning ===

Why do I always run to the library? Because I have no other companions, so this is my only option. The only person I can rely on is my Kämpfer partner, Akane.

But Akane wasn't here today.

I tried asking the seemingly inconspicuous first-year student sitting at the counter.

"She's not here today."

"Huh... isn't she supposed to be on duty?"

"Yeah, it's Akane's class, but she's off today."

"Did she come to school?"

"I don't know about that," the girl who answered me said, "I have a class later, so I have to leave first," and left.

I was left there, bewildered. It was terrible that I couldn't contact my only companion. My current situation was quite precarious, and it would be even more unsettling if I had no one to talk to.

My heart sank when someone suddenly patted me from behind.

"Natsuru—"

Behind me was Kondou Mikoto.

"Why are you looking so sullen? It's not good for your health. Cheer up."

"Something happened."

"You look really bad. Do you have a cold?"

"No."

She looked worried, but it wasn't a cold; I was just mentally exhausted.

"That's good... You should keep yourself warm when you sleep. I heard the colds that are prevalent this year are hard to cure."

"Don't worry about me. Why did you come to the library?"

"What... I thought I'd see you here."

"Looking for me? What do you want?"

"Here."

Kondou Mikoto took my hand. This guy can casually hold or touch anyone, even if they're boys. I'm used to it, so it's okay, but it's not nice to do that to other innocent boys.

I was taken to a secluded area of the library.

"I'm asking you, have you seen the special edition of the Girls' Newspaper?"

"Yeah, it's just a photocopy."

That's what's been bothering me.

Kondou Mikoto smiled boldly.

"That was Masumi Nishino's doing, but I was the one who instigated her."

"So it was you!"

Because of the situation, I was only slightly surprised. I'd known Masumi Nishino was the culprit, but I hadn't expected someone else to pull the strings.

"Yes, because I wanted to test that mysterious female student."

"Why would you do something like that?"

"Don't you find it strange?"

Kondou Mikoto said forcefully.

"She'd been on sick leave, and now she's suddenly back, and her name is also Natsuru. Aren't you shocked?"

She had a point. If I'd changed my stance today, I'd be terrified. Even if I hadn't, I'm still shocked as the person involved.

"And did you know that person's last name is also Senou, exactly like yours."

"How did you know her last name?"

"Everyone in Class 2, Grade 4 is talking about it. A girl who looks like the class president."

It was that person.

It seemed like everyone in the girls' division knew my last name, and it was only a matter of time before it spread back to the boys' division.

My stomach started aching again. Ever since I became Kämpfer, I've been getting more and more headaches, stomachaches, and other physical ailments. Now, even my back seems to be aching.

Kondou Mikoto looked at me in surprise, pressing my stomach with a pained expression.

"...Hey, aren't you scared?"

"What?"

"There's a female version of Natsuru, with the same name and surname as you. Why can you act so nonchalant?"

That's true. It would be unnatural not to be scared at a time like this.

"Wow—that kind of person actually exists. It's terrifying."

"...What do you mean?"

"I'm scared."

"That's ridiculous."

"You were the one who told me there was a girl named Natsuru, and now that we even have the same surname, of course I'm scared."

"That's true..."

She seemed displeased. Hmm, this girl's instincts are really sharp. If I act badly, she might notice. I better end this conversation quickly.

"If it's all right, I'm going to go back."

"I have something else to do."

Kondou Mikoto's face suddenly moved closer to me.

"You saw that report about the women's version of Natsuru, Yuri, and her doubts."

"...It seems so."

"Although Masumi Nishino wrote about her doubts, I don't know if that's actually the case."

No, that's just a rumor.

"I heard Masumi Nishino keep harping on those topics during the interview. I heard she wasn't just targeting the nurses and patients at the hospital, she was even targeting the nearby female university students, and she seemed quite proud of it."

"..."

No, no, what female university students? I'm not that diligent. That last time wasn't really an interview, more like coercion. The truth wasn't even reported.

But I can't express my opinion. Not being able to tell the truth is truly painful.

"It's not just Yuri, she's a lesbian. I must expose that woman's true colors."

"...What true colors? She's not a criminal. It's just a personal interest."

"There should be a limit. I can't stand it if she's targeting everyone around her."

"What's the problem?"

"This is about the chastity and reputation of the female students at Iron Star Academy High School."

"That Natsuru has her own reputation to protect, right?"

As I spoke, I wondered why I had to defend myself in this way. It was so embarrassing. I have no interest in homosexuality at all, but being accused of something I didn't even know existed was enough, and I had to defend myself so frantically. It was truly baffling.

"That's true. If she wants to hide it, that's fine, but now that the news agency has reported it, rumors will start to spread around here. Then, rumors about it being a yuri school or a lesbian school might start circulating privately."

"But maybe she's just an ordinary girl, and that report was just a lie."

Hearing what I said, Kondou Mikoto crossed her arms over her chest.

"That's true. Although I was the one who instigated Masumi Nishino to do this, I didn't expect the report to be so exaggerated."

"That's right. She must be an ordinary girl who likes boys, that's for sure."

Although that was strange,

"Whatever the case, we won't know the truth unless we investigate."

"It's better to leave this to the student council or the discipline committee."

"Those guys won't do anything. We students have to investigate it ourselves,"

Kondou Mikoto asserted confidently. Although this guy sometimes helps with some of the theft, she's very righteous in this matter.

"And I'm really upset that there's a girl with the same name as you, and she's such a beauty."

"Why?"

Kondou Mikoto glared at me for a moment, making a "wuu..." sound like a puppy.