Kämpfer:Volume 2 Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Sunday Morning

Holidays are for sleeping—that's what the law says, maybe the civil law or the criminal law? Oh, it doesn't matter. Sleeping doesn't need a reason.

I, Natsuru, am an ordinary high school student, and on Sunday morning, I'm lying there, sprawled out like a dead pig. Honestly, it's not just holidays, I want to sleep like this on weekdays, too. If possible, I'd sleep until I die. But it seems a little too early for that now. Because of this, I'm barely out of bed. Personally, I don't want to get up at all.

"Get up," I said, like the hoarse voice of Shizuku (the previous generation).

"Please get up quickly."

I tossed and turned in bed, trying two or three times to get up. But if I just got up like this, would I still be considered a man? Something happened, so I'm not sure if I can still be considered a man. Anyway, I just don't want to get up.

"You didn't hear me calling you to get up?"

It's just too annoying. Okay, I'm not a man, at least. Reluctantly, I slowly got up.

Still sleepy after waking up, I half-closed my eyes and looked towards the source of the sound. It was coming from the old desk. There was a stuffed tiger on it.

It looked incredibly bizarre, with a patch over one eye and its internal organs sticking out. It looked ridiculous, transcending the realm of cuteness and exuding a strange, sickening aura. Its name was Seppuku Tiger, part of the Entrails Animals series.

Most people probably haven't heard of this, and I had no idea it existed until I got this stuffed tiger. A toy manufacturer was hoping to cash in on the cute stuffed animals, but the overly avant-garde idea of combining animals with internal organs was undeniably poorly received. I'm told their inventory is so large it could bury Tokyo Bay.

So, why was this Seppuku Tiger talking?

"Finally up."

"Shut up, you're up."

I rubbed my eyes. Ah—I'm so sleepy.

The Seppuku Tiger's mouth kept opening and closing. The more I looked at it, the more I wondered if it had vocal cords or a speaker. Of course, there was a reason it could speak, but I'll explain that later.

"Being woken up by a doll so early in the morning was like a nightmare. If anyone saw me, they'd think I was crazy. I have my own alarm clock. Please, please, control yourself."

"What are you talking about? You broke your alarm clock yourself."

A digital alarm clock, its screen cracked, lay at my feet.

"It was ringing this morning, but you threw it against the wall while yelling, 'This is so noisy!' If I hadn't woken you, I think you would have slept all day."

So, in my dream, I felt like I was throwing something. In my dream, I was an American soldier fighting on the Normandy coast, hurling grenades at the German enemy camp. Although I successfully captured the enemy camp, my alarm clock also died heroically.

"The alarm clock has done its job perfectly. How pitiful."

That's true. I'll have to bury it properly in the trash later. Non-burnable trash is thrown out every Thursday.

"What time is it?"

"About twelve."

No way, I slept so long.

"Why are you waking me up?"

"Oh, yeah, there's a visitor."

"What?"

I pricked up my ears. It sounded like someone was knocking on the entrance door.

"It's been knocking since a while."

"It must be a salesman. If I don't respond, he'll go back. I'm not interested in insurance, newspapers, or fiber optic internet. If it were my mom, she'd invite the salesman over and start preaching about the wonders of her religion, trying everything she could to convince him to convert. Actually, my mom is a die-hard atheist. She's memorized a bunch of useless knowledge just to keep the salesman away. She's really awesome."

The knocking seemed to fade, and there was no one calling out, "Mr. Senou—" What a timid salesman.

"You really won't give up."

"I think I have something important to tell you. So, don't you have a doorbell?"

"It's broken a long time ago."

I walked downstairs in my pajamas.

---

Akane's Visit

Akane visits Natsuru at home

The knocks continued, but seemed to be getting quieter.

"Okay, okay, come open the door."

I unlocked it and turned the doorknob.

"Sorry...ah!"

The girl standing at the entrance, startled, was a girl named Akane. She was a sophomore at Iron Star Academy High School, just like me. This girl with glasses always looked down at the ground, giving off a delicate aura. I met her because of something, which I'll explain later.

"Um...that...Natsuru-san..."

Akane looked at a loss, probably because the buttons of my pajamas were undone.

I buttoned them up.

"What's up, Akane?"

"Um... I had work today, so I just went to school."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Akane is a member of the library committee. She seems to be very serious by nature, even going out on weekends to help out at the school library. Compared to me, who is always late or skips sweeping duties whenever I can get a free moment, her brain must be completely different.

"Um... I just... I bought some snacks on the way home. If you don't mind, Natsuru-kun, would you like to try some too... S-Sorry!"

Why apologize?

Perhaps it's her personality. Akane always has a lower aura. She always gives way to others when walking on the street. Even when buying something, she would never say, "Please give me this." But why would a girl like her buy me a snack? That's a mystery.

She was holding a plastic bag from a cake shop, not a convenience store snack.

"Thank you!" I stretched out my hand, but Akane maintained the same posture and refused to give it to me. Why?

We were in a stalemate for a while.

"...Well...I think it would taste better with tea..."

"Ah."

I thought about it. Since I don't drink coffee, I only have black tea or Japanese tea at home. I wonder if the stock I bought before is left.

"Would you like to come in?"

"Huh...?"

"Come in, you brought some snacks."

"Ah... okay,"

Akane said as she took off her shoes, her expression brightening.

I took her to my room, changed into my house clothes, and then spent a long time searching the kitchen shelves. It looked like all the black tea was gone, leaving only the sencha tea bags. I checked the label inside, and the expiration date was only last month. Never mind, it probably wouldn't kill me.

I took the casually brewed tea upstairs.

Akane sat upright on the pillow.

"Thank you..." I opened the cake box and found puffs inside. I was about to say they looked delicious, but I had no idea what was good or not. I figured they had to be good.

I took one.

"You're so tired, having to work on the library committee on Sunday."

"It wasn't that hard, actually."

Akane slowly took a bite of the puff.

"The library committee is going to buy new books this time, to supplement the books that have broken down the bookshelves."

"Is that so..."

I took a sip of tea. Hmm, the taste hasn't changed much. Japan's technology is really good. I think this tea can be kept for another year.

"I'm in charge of buying books. I'm responsible for purchasing the books selected by the library committee."

"That sounds like fun."

"Yes, because I love books the most."

Akane said with a smile. People who love books like her will have their eyes sparkling whenever they talk about books. If they enter a library or a bookstore, their feet will be rooted to the ground and won't move even if the sky falls. It's completely different from me, whose head starts to ache when I read books other than comics.

"By the way, what's the matter with you coming to see me?"

"What...?"

"You must have something, that's why you came to my house."

"Hmm... I guess... That's right..."

She seemed a little dissatisfied. Was it because I ended the topic of the book?

She lowered her head and muttered something. Was she saying, "If you don't have anything, why can't you come over..."

"Hahaha."

The Seppuku Tiger laughed.

"Akane, you can't expect too much from Natsuru. He's known as the king of slow-wittedness."

You idiot, you bastard, what nonsense! Who said I was slow? I was very sharp in school. When it comes to guessing questions on exams, I have a 70% correct answer rate. Everyone respectfully calls me "Guessing Master Natsuru."

Akane blushed and lowered her head.

"Even if you explain it nicely, he probably won't understand."

"..."

"No matter what you do, he won't notice, hahaha."

The Seppuku Tiger kept laughing, while Akane remained silent. I really had no idea what it was talking about. Was I really as clueless as it said? I guess. For a while, we ate puffs in silence.

---

The Transformation

"Ah..."

Akane raised her head.

"By the way, I want to ask you something."

"Huh? What?"

I don't have many secrets. Of course, everyone has things they don't want others to know, like test scores or where they keep their A-level books. My A-level books are tucked away in the back of the cabinet. I guess every high school student is like that. Other secrets aren't that big of a deal.

No, there's probably one more.

"Is anything strange happening?"

"What?"

"About the transformation..."

I was about to ask why when my right hand began to glow.

More accurately, the bracelet on my right wrist began to glow. The blue-white light flickered, slowly enveloping my entire body.

"Huh, huh, huh, huh?"

Before I could say anything, I was enveloped in light from head to toe.

When the light faded, my transformation was complete.

"Why..."

I quickly glanced at my body. My slender waist and legs were slim, and two large breasts dangled from my chest. I had completely transformed into a woman.

"Why?"

"Why... Because you're a Kämpfer,"

the Seppuku Tiger said impatiently.

"Of course I know that, but there's no need to transform now, right?"

This might require some clarification.

Kämpfer means "warrior," literally meaning someone who exists for battle. One day, this talking doll suddenly declared me a Kämpfer warrior. The shock I felt was beyond imagination, but I'll skip that story for now.

Kämpfer's enemy is still Kämpfer. I've fought in countless battles, so that wasn't a big deal. But when fighting, I always transform into a woman, as if I couldn't be a Kämpfer without a woman. Just explaining how troublesome this Kämpfer thing is.

In reality, Akane is also a Kämpfer, a senior who came to the game six months before me. Like me, she wears a bracelet that glows blue and white, proving she's an ally. Enemies wear red bracelets.

Transformed into a woman, I panicked, but thankfully, my clothes stayed the same, so there were other reasons.

"Where are the enemies?"

"I don't think there are any..."

Akane said calmly.

"Then why did I transform?"

Kämpfer means that if there are other Kämpfer nearby, they will transform as well, meaning there must be an enemy nearby.

"If there are no enemies, it's impossible to transform."

Even if there are allies, it's possible to transform.

"That's why I asked if anything strange happened,"

Akane explained slowly.

"Well... when you first become a Kämpfer, you can't transform on your own accord, right?"

"Yeah."

I'll skip the details for now, because it's caused me so much misery.

"But as you gain experience, you can transform on your own accord. That's how I got there."

"Yeah."

"So, before you can transform on your own accord, there's a period of uncertainty."

"Huh? What's going on?"

"I transformed automatically, regardless of whether there are enemies around. That was the same thing with me before."

"What...? It has nothing to do with my conscious will?"

"Yes."

"Automatically?"

"Exactly."

I nearly fell backward in shock. So that's it! I finally understood why I could transform even without enemies or companions. There was nothing I could do.

But now's no time to relax. This means the risk of transforming into a girl in the classroom or on the street has greatly increased. If you were to transform into a girl in the middle of class, if you were lucky enough to just get startled, people would probably call the police, an ambulance, or even take you to the zoo.

"But don't you have to accumulate a certain amount of experience before you can transform on your own? Isn't that too early for me?"

"I was surprised too. Maybe Natsuru-kun is a little bit special..."

It was like being declared a "weirdo." If it were just "You're so special and interesting," I'd be happy, but being treated as a weirdo in this regard just adds to my troubles.

"Then what should I do..."

I couldn't help but complain.

"Maybe after a while, I'll be able to transform freely on my own..."

"Maybe?"

"Hmm..."

You're not sure either? Oh, there's nothing I can do.

After becoming Kämpfer, although I haven't had many battles, my worries have increased a lot. This kind of thing is like interest, and it's a very high interest rate in an underground money lender.

There's nothing I can do. I can only pray that I don't suddenly transform at school and hide under the covers at home. Time will probably solve everything.

"You didn't transform, Akane?"

"I can control it now."

Akane's transformation was even more exaggerated than mine. Her words were as vicious as a navy sergeant's, and she was ready to shoot at anyone, regardless of the situation. I secretly nicknamed her "Bulldog Girl."

"But..."

Akane murmured. "Natsuru-san, you're really beautiful..."

"Yeah, I guess so..."

It felt strange to say it myself, but after transforming, I was truly an incredibly beautiful girl. Even when I first saw her, I couldn't help but doubt my own eyes.

"I just feel so bad..."

Her cheeks puffed up. Alas, I really don't understand women.

Even so, Akane's little gestures were truly adorable. Although she was usually so plain that she was even omitted from the "Iron Star Academy High School Beautiful Girls Guide" published by our school's underground Beauty Research Club, she was still incredibly attractive. Although it's unimportant, I'll still mention that the president of the Beauty Research Club was a boy from my class named Higashida.

After a while, Akane's cheeks returned to their normal state.

"…I should probably leave,"

she said, neatly putting away the opened box of eclairs.

"Oh, I remember."

Just as she was about to go downstairs, Akane turned around.

"I heard at school that there's a transfer student coming tomorrow."

"Transfer? To the women's department?"

"Yeah,"

I replied casually. Although I could transform into a woman, I was still enrolled in the men's department. There was a strict division between the men's and women's departments at Iron Star Academy High School, with the central dividing line under tighter surveillance than East and West Germany during the Cold War. What happened in the women's department was like something on the other side of the Iron Curtain to us.

"It looks like she's a first-year, and she doesn't seem to be a transfer student..."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure..."

"Yeah—say hello to that new student for me,"

I replied casually. I wasn't Higashida, who was busy gathering intelligence on girls all day. This kind of thing had nothing to do with me. I'd just treat it as a casual after-dinner conversation, I thought, as I watched Akane leave.

I was so naive, and I'll soon realize this truth.

---

Monday - School Day

No matter how leisurely Sunday rolls on, Monday will eventually arrive. I always figured a little delay wouldn't cost me anything, but the world just doesn't work the way I want it to. I wonder what politicians are up to. Without relying on my smashed alarm clock, I used incredible willpower (it seems strange to say this myself) to crawl out of bed and wash my face. Strangely enough, just doing this completely sobers me up. It's a habit I've had since childhood, like a conditioned reflex.

I changed into my uniform and was just thinking about having yogurt for breakfast when I heard a knock on the front door.

For a moment, I thought it was Akane again, but this time the knock was rude. Sunday knocks sounded polite, but this one sounded like a rock drill at a roadside construction site. Who on earth could it be?

Knock, knock, knock, knock. I rushed to open the door, treating it like a talking drum.

"I'm coming —who's from where?"

"Good morning, Natsuru!"

Standing there was a high school girl with short, sparkling hair.

Her cheerful tone and demeanor, her eyes sparkling like something out of a manga, her lively demeanor so brisk she had no idea what depression was.

I stared at her intently, wondering if I knew anyone this pretty.

"Let's go to school together."

She was wearing a Iron Star Academy High School uniform. So that was it. That gave us a reason to go to school together, but why me?

The girl had her hands on her hips, an angry expression on her face for some reason.

"It's me, it's me!"

"...What?"

"What's that face of yours? Your childhood sweetheart has returned home, and you've already forgotten about her."

"...Ah —!"

I jumped up.

"Mikoto!"

"That's right."

Kondou Mikoto smiled at me.

I've known this girl since we were little. She's a year younger than me, and our connection started in kindergarten. Normally, you'd call this kind of relationship childhood sweethearts, but unfortunately, I don't think so.

Actually, her parents are both academics, constantly traveling around the world, and this girl follows them everywhere.

Normally, if parents move so frequently, they'd want to keep their children in one place, so they don't move around. But Mikoto went along just because she thought it was fun. In third grade, she took a three-month leave of absence. When she returned, she had a snake on her hand —a massive five-meter-long boa constrictor. It caused a huge commotion in the classroom, and the teacher was hospitalized from the shock. She was called to the principal's office, and unknowingly, a giant spider popped out of her hand, frightening both the principal and the dean of discipline to the point of fainting. I heard the case was even reported to the Board of Education.

She attended Iron Star Academy High School like me, but she didn't attend classes properly. Then, she suddenly dropped out, saying she was traveling to the Middle East, supposedly to join in on a ruins excavation.

"...When did you come back?"

"The day before yesterday..."

Mikoto said with a grin.

"We were almost finding our excavation target, so I came back."

"You haven't changed at all! I wish your uncle and aunt had come with you."

"I'm not a child anymore. You live alone in Natsuru."

"That's true."

My parents were transferred far away for work, and while I had the freedom to live freely, my diet was a mess.

"Then let's go to school together."

"Wait, school?"

"Yes, Kondou Mikoto is officially back at Iron Star Academy High School starting today!" For some reason, she gave me a military salute.

So, that's the transfer student Akane was talking about. Well, I'm not sure if she's even a transfer student, really.

Mikoto pulled me firmly.

We walked towards school together. It's been ages since we've been to school together. I think I went to school with her quite often in junior high. That being said, Mikoto often got into trouble, so it was tough. For example, we suddenly tried to destroy a hornet's nest, and the angry bees kept following us. In the end, we basically had to run away to school. So, you could call it "going to school together because we're close friends."

I stole a glance at Mikoto and saw she seemed to be humming a song.

"You seem to be in such a good mood."

"Because I haven't been back to Japan in ages —"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, Natsuru too. You were surprised to see me getting prettier, right?"

What are you talking about?

She's definitely getting prettier, though. She's more of a kawaii type, but she seems more feminine than before she went to the Middle East. Being feminine in high school is no small feat.

"What did Natsuru do while I was gone?" She did everything. It was all stuff I couldn't talk about.

"…Nothing."

"Really —"

Mikoto kept staring at me.

"Nothing?"

"Yeah."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Poof!" Even though there was nothing in my mouth, I couldn't help but spit it out. It wasn't just choking; I almost thought my stomach was going to back up. "How could I possibly have a crush on someone like that? Who do you think I am?"

"Don't be so proud of something so bizarre, okay? You're so unpopular with girls, aren't you?"

"Even I wouldn't tell you."

"What's up with that hot girl from Seitetsu? Is her name Sakura Kaede?"

"Don't talk nonsense. She's a top beauty."

"Is Mount Fuji that high?"

"As high as Mount Everest."

That being said, the distance between Sakura Kaede and me has narrowed dramatically lately, almost rapidly. It's all because Sakura Kaede has fallen in love with me. Normally, this would be cause for celebration, with firecrackers and visions of a rosy, happy life after graduation. However, there's a reason I can't truly rejoice. Sakura Kaede has fallen in love with the female version of me.

In other words, she's in love with the me that's become Kämpfer. People might call this homosexuality or lesbianism, but Sakura Kaede doesn't seem to mind. It's me, on the other hand, who's troubled. Nothing in this world can go as planned.

Although I'd successfully evaded Sakura Kaede's request for a relationship, I couldn't let it go any longer. It had become one of my many worries.

"Just go for it and try."

"You'll definitely fail. That would be disastrous."

But failure presupposes a male appearance.

"Proactive guys are more popular."

"I'm afraid of getting hurt. My heart is more fragile than glass, you know."

Mikoto isn't rude, but rather straightforward. She can make a quick judgment on other people's problems. However, love-related troubles are usually quite troublesome, making them unsuitable for discussion. On the contrary, even if we argue, she doesn't hold grudges, making her the perfect friend.

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're just a coward. It has nothing to do with glass, okay?" Damn it, how dare you call me a coward? I should show you what I look like as Kämpfer... Never mind, it's just a woman.

Mikoto was startled, then burst into laughter.

"I see —so Natsuru doesn't have a girlfriend, sweet, sweet."

"What do you mean sweet, sweet?"

"I saw you were lonely, so I was just trying to comfort you."

"You're younger than me, and you dare to say that!"

Being comforted by a girl a year younger than me is like putting my face on the ground. But I'm not a very handsome face anyway, so let's not worry about that for now.

"What's age got to do with it? I'm your childhood sweetheart."

"You're always flying around abroad. How can we be childhood sweethearts if we don't see each other often?"

"What's the big deal? We're childhood sweethearts anyway."

Mikoto was walking with a skipping pace. She was really energetic.

(...Hmm?)

I looked back.

"What's wrong?"

"...Nothing." It felt like someone was there, but it must be my imagination.

Just as I was trying to convince myself that, the bracelet on my right hand began to glow.

"...Oh no!"

I hurriedly covered my sleeve with my hands. Mikoto seemed completely oblivious.

This was a sign of transformation. I didn't know if it was my own will or if there were other Kämpfers nearby. As I mentioned before, since my experience points are currently hovering around, I occasionally undergo random transformations.

There's no time to explain myself now. I can't turn into a girl in a place like this. Mikoto will definitely think I'm a pervert. She's called me a pervert before, but I don't want to be called a pervert.

"...? What's wrong with you, Natsuru?"

"Uh, nothing..."

The bluish-white light gradually became impossible to ignore. Oh no, this is bad.

But in the next instant, like the receding tide, the bracelet's light vanished again.

I carefully looked at it, but nothing had changed. Of course, I still looked like a man.

I let out a long sigh.

"What? Why are you sighing like that? You're so weird! I'm not a pervert. Is this weird? What am I talking about?"

As we approached the school gate, I waved softly.

"Bye."

"Huh? Saying goodbye?"

She looked displeased. We weren't children anymore. How could we be together forever?

"The girls' gate is over there."

Iron Star Academy High School is very strict about men and women interacting with each other. As I mentioned before, the boys' and girls' sections are separate, and even the gates are separate. Plus, there are Gestapo-like staff patrolling the school, instantly scrambling to separate any suspicious couples they see together. I'm already exhausted from what I just did, and if I keep talking to this guy, I'll probably run out of energy.

"If you don't want to get caught, then hurry up."

"Hmph —then you have to have lunch with me."

"Idiot, you'll be shot if you get caught."

"Then we have to go home together."

"No way."

"Then I'm going home!"

"...I got it," I said casually, but that was impossible. The surveillance after school was even stricter than during the day, and there was a reward system for informing on others, creating a tight network to keep those without boyfriends or girlfriends on the lookout for each other. The resentment from those without the opposite sex was terrifying. If anyone dared approach Sakura Kaede, I'd definitely report them. It felt like living in a dictatorship.

Mikoto waved, "Bye," and I waved back. The tumultuous morning was finally over, and I could finally relax. Bye!

After watching Mikoto leave, I checked my bracelet. Sure enough, there was no movement at all. What the hell was going on? Was there an enemy nearby, or was it just a random transformation? Why did it suddenly stop mid-transformation? Forget it. Worrying any longer will make me bald. With so many worries, as serious as my country's debt problem, there's a high chance I'll end up bald. I'll probably worry about that later.

Feeling a little relieved, I headed for the boys' school gate.

---

Student Council Summons

Classes are such a chore. Some people find them interesting, and it'd be a shame not to enjoy them after all the hard work they've put in. But just thinking about it doesn't make it any fun. Aren't the chemical element symbols and the like defined by humans themselves? The thought of it makes me lose all motivation.

That being said, I'm not completely unable to keep up with the course. I just need to memorize the bare minimum to pass. I really admire whoever came up with this system, but that's understandable; the officials at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology aren't stupid.

So, I desperately tried to memorize everything I might need to know about the exam, and before I knew it, class was over.

Most people would go to the bathroom or chat, but there was this incorrigible guy in Class 2, Grade 4 who always came up to talk to me.

"Hey, Natsuru."

This guy, with his features so unrefined they resembled a flat drawing, was called Higashida. As I mentioned before, he's the president of the underground Beauty Research Club. He keeps all the information about girls under his thumb. As president, he should be very busy, but for some reason, he keeps coming up to me to talk. I don't think he really likes me. It's really annoying.

"What's up? I don't want to buy your photos."

"Don't say that. I have some popular candid photos of a first-year girl. I've already sold fifty. Do you want one?"

I said I didn't want any.

The photos this guy sells in large quantities are actually of very good quality. The focus is on the face and the photos are very clear. But there are no photos I want to buy because there are no photos of Sakura Kaede.

Higashida's hand rested on my shoulder.

"Hey, it seems like Mikoto has returned to Japan."

"How do you know?"

"Because I usually contribute money to the faculty, of course I have information. She dropped out of school when I was about to take a photo of her, and I've been tracking her the whole time."

She's just a high school student, but she acts like an Italian mafia member.

"She might go abroad again soon."

"That's impossible. She left her parents behind and went back to her country. It's impossible for her to go somewhere else on her own."

"You're very sensitive about this kind of thing."

"Can you ask Mikoto to take a few photos for me?"

"I've already told you that I refuse. You can ask her yourself."

"If it were you, she'd probably agree."

Well, that's hard to say. If she heard her photos were being sold, she'd probably punch me, kick me, or both. Since I've known her for a long time, she wouldn't hold back. That guy's childhood sweetheart thing was just a casual remark... that's all.

"By the way, didn't you ask me for something before?"

What do you mean by "by the way?" I don't recall ever asking you for anything.

"What?"

"It's about the secret passage to the Women's Department."

"Oh, that."

A while ago, I had to go to the Women's Department for some business, and I used this guy's help. Since we're both members of the underground society, he seems to have connections in the "Co-ed Underground Dating Committee." Of course, I paid him for it. I used Akane's body... ah, when I say using my body, I just mean taking pictures.

"That matter is over, right?"

"That's true, but you don't know how terrible it was after that. The student council actually intervened and buried the secret tunnel, and the president was in charge personally."

"Wow --that's really tragic."

Is this my responsibility? I personally think it shouldn't be, or is it? In fact, it may be true, but I would also be troubled if I were asked to take responsibility.

Higashida shrugged.

"There's no way, there are other routes, but this time we must not be discovered again."

"Oh, it's really Higashida!"

I really admire him. This guy has extraordinary courage for such things, and he is reliable in doing things. It's amazing. I think this kind of talent will never come in handy in the future.

"Of course I won't tell you about the secret passage to the Girls' Division, not even if you beg me to."

"There must be legal means, like forging passes."

"That was reported two weeks ago, and now they've added lasers. The text glows when scanned by ultraviolet light, making it impossible to forge."

Of course, there are still ways to legally travel between the boys' and girls' areas, such as joining various committees or issuing official passes. Forged passes were so prevalent for a while that the checkpoints were practically useless, so the school has begun tightening regulations.

Higashida shrugged.

"That's right. For now, don't even think about going to the Girls' Division. Just behave yourself."

"I know,"

I nodded. I didn't have much business to do, so if I just behaved myself for a while, I thought everything would be fine.

"Sorry, but how did the president know about the secret passage? Could there be a spy in the student council who told her..." Uh, this really seems to be because of me. Sorry.

I put my hands together and prayed to Higashida in my heart and left the classroom. My reason? To go to the bathroom.

Sakura Kaede confronts Natsuru in the boys' restroom

The boys' restroom is off the hallway. For some reason, there's no light around here. Even at noon, it's still dark. I don't know if it's because it's a bad time, but there's no one else around. There have been rumors of ghosts appearing before, and a news agency even did a special feature on it. It's said to be the spirit of a female student who committed suicide.

Incidentally, the same thing happens in the women's department. While they also have a dark, blinding restroom, everyone just laughs off the idea of a ghost. Girls are so resilient.

I was about to push open the swing door.

"No, excuse me,"

someone called out.

I turned and saw a female student standing there.

"What...!"

My heart nearly jumped out of my mouth. Even if I was just imagining a ghost, it was too much for it to suddenly appear in real life. It's broad daylight, and this isn't even a restroom.

"Natsuru-kun,"

the ghost said, looking at me. "What the hell? This guy even knows my name!"

"Great... I'm relieved to see Natsuru-san."

"Huh."

It wasn't a ghost. Standing there was my idol, one of the two most beautiful girls at Iron Star Academy High School, Sakura Kaede.

Sakura Kaede had been grounded for some incident, and I thought it would have left a mark on her, but seeing how energetic she was now, I felt relieved.

She stared at me with watery eyes. Perhaps because she was so nervous about being alone in the boys' club, she had a kind of beauty that was hard to describe. The other beautiful girl was the student council president, Shizuku, but I definitely recommend Sakura Kaede.

"S... Sakura Kaede, what's wrong with you?"

"I have something to say to Natsuru-san."

She glanced around nervously.

"Excuse me, should we find a place..."

She said, but the only place in sight was the boys' restroom.

Sakura Kaede said, "Over there."

We went into the restroom, and I felt awkward about this for her. A flower stuck in cow dung, like a diamond in industrial waste. Even so, Sakura Kaede seemed completely unfazed. I hadn't expected her to be so impassive.

"Um, Sakura Kaede, why did you end up in a place like this?"

"I begged someone to give me a permit."

She had a ribbon hanging around her neck.

"Actually, I can't stay here this long, but there's something I absolutely want to know..."

For an excellent student like Sakura Kaede, the permit review process would be somewhat lenient. Of course, it still depended on their behavior. If they broke the rules about the length of stay, they might not issue them again. Even at this risk, would she still stay in the men's club?

"Natsuru-san."

Sakura Kaede stared at me intently.

"Is that...?"

"That person... you know her, right? The woman with the same name as Natsuru-san."

"Ah..."

The air escaped my mouth more like air than a reply.

Of course, the "female Natsuru" that Sakura Kaede was referring to was me. More precisely, it was me after I became Kämpfer. As I said before, Sakura Kaede had fallen in love with the woman I was.

"I've been looking for that person, but no matter how hard I try, I can't find her."

"..."

"She's wearing the girls' uniform, so she must be from Iron Star Academy High School, but no one I ask in the second year knows her..."

Of course she doesn't. I don't have two bodies. I'm usually a boy, so how could I possibly be attending the girls' club?

Looking at Sakura Kaede's heartbreak, I really want to do something for her, but there's nothing I can do about it.

"Natsuru-san."

"...Hmm?"

"Can you please let me meet that woman again?"

It's heartbreaking. If the place were better, we'd probably have some background music, but unfortunately, this is the bathroom.

"Eh—"

"Please!"

She bowed her head.

Well, it's possible, but it's difficult. I could just transform into a woman and meet her again, but the problem is, Sakura Kaede will definitely ask, "Please date me!" She's already confessed to me once before, and it's a mess. I was able to get away with it that time because I was fighting the enemy, but this time, she's probably asking for an answer to that question.

"Uh--... Well, that might be difficult,"

I managed to force out an answer. I knew the corners of my mouth were probably trembling.

"Because she's... uh... busy."

"Does she have a part-time job?"

"Hmm... well, she's very popular."

Sakura Kaede's eyes widened, and mine did too.

"Oh, so maybe someone else has confessed to her?"

"Look, she's so beautiful, so even if she's just walking down the street, there are people coming up to her and saying, 'Go out with me, have sex with me,' and so on."

"Are there any... girls among them?"

"No matter the gender, age, or sex."

As I explained this to her, I began to feel truly miserable. In real life, I had no affinity with the opposite sex confessing to me. Of course, I'd secretly prayed that this would change one day, and my popularity with the same sex wasn't that great either, but that aspect would just remain as it is.

"Let's talk about it next time," I was about to say when Sakura Kaede's eyes gleamed brightly.

"Then, please let me see her soon!"

"Eh...eh?"

"I don't want to be disturbed by anyone else! Natsuru-san, please let me meet Natsuru-san!"

"Please Natsuru-san, let me meet Natsuru-san!" "Please Natsuru-san, let me meet Natsuru-san!" What kind of tongue twister is that? But now's not the time to be idle. Sakura Kaede is serious. She has incredible willpower. I like even little things about her, but this is a bit scary.

"Please!"

"Uh—"

"I won't cause any trouble for Natsuru-san."

What's the point of causing trouble, right?

I wanted to refuse, but I didn't know what would happen if I turned her down. She'd be devastated. The only person I could connect with was the male Natsuru-san. If I lost that connection, she might never want to see me again. Sakura Kaede would even run to the boys' restroom just to do this. Without that drive, she probably wouldn't even want to see my face.

"Hmm... I see." I answered her, eyes closed. "I'll find a way to contact her and meet you."

"Thank you so much!"

Sakura Kaede's expression instantly brightened.

"Everyone should have friends, after all. Natsuru-san, you're so reliable."

Thank you! If it were me, I wouldn't ask a friend so distressed about this matter. She thanked me several times, and I mechanically nodded and left the boys' restroom.

Ding-dong, ding-dong, the bell for class rang, and Sakura Kaede hurried back to the girls' room. I've always had this feeling. The so-called school bell feels like the "homework begins" signal in prison. I've never been to such a place, but I imagine it must be like that.

Seriously, it doesn't suit my mood at all.

Mikoto declares her search for the female Natsuru

During lunch break, I quickly grabbed my lunch. Today, I had bread. When I first started living alone, I passionately thought, "I'm going to make you guys a super delicious bento that'll leave you speechless." But the next day, I started eating bread, and I still do. Isn't that what students are like? Besides, I don't know who's going to be left speechless with my lunchbox.

I tossed the empty plastic bag into the trash and headed towards the library.

Iron Star Academy High School's library is coed, a rarity for a school where everything is gender-neutral. But due to protests like "buying two copies of the same book is uneconomical," the library is shared. So, why not just consolidate the campus into one?

The library is a separate building, spanning the first to third floors. I headed towards the book counter.

I raised my hand slightly to the female student I was looking for.

"...Natsuru-san."

Akane smiled at me, lowered her head, and walked out of the counter.

"Are you here to borrow a book?"

"If you have manga, I'll borrow it."

Books with just words are impossible for me. I could barely understand what a textbook said, but who could possibly read something crammed with text? Where would I even begin? At the beginning?

"We don't have manga here,"

she said, surprised. Of course I knew that. Didn't this girl realize I was joking?

"Is there something else?"

"Well, a little..."

I made a signal to go to the corner. The library is a free zone for us. Only here can men and women meet freely. But in order to prevent things from developing in a bad direction, the school has also put a lot of effort into arranging the bookshelves and desks to avoid creating blind spots. However, students can still find places suitable for trysts. Akane and I are moving to such a place.

I told her what happened on the way to school, of course including the sudden transformation and the stop in the middle. I didn't say anything about Mikoto. Akane tilted her head.

"Do you know the reason?"

"I don't know... If you feel something strange, there may be an enemy nearby, but..."

"But?"

"The fact that it can be restored to its original form isn't due to Natsuru-kun's power. It wouldn't be surprising if it transformed into a Kämpfer under the original circumstances..."

I see. I understand your logic. Under the original circumstances, it should have transformed.

"So, can I interpret this as me being able to choose whether or not to transform?"

"Well... maybe it's just a coincidence. I'll ask Seppuku Black Rabbit for you when I get back..."

This Seppuku Black Rabbit is one of Akane's Entrails Animals dolls. It can talk, of course, and while it looks like a rabbit, its tongue rivals Akane's.

"Being able to control it yourself is definitely better than random transformations."

"Yeah..."

"Also, I ran into Sakura Kaede just after class."

"Why are you here again..."

I quickly explained that she'd even come to the boys' section just to see me. As soon as I mentioned this, Akane's face changed. Could she have a stomachache? "She can't seem to give up on me being a girl, so she's asking me to let her see her. What should I do?"

"What do you mean by 'what do you mean'? There's nothing I can do..."

"That's why I wanted to ask if you have any ideas."

"..."

Beneath her expression was apathy.

"If there were a way to avoid disappointing Sakura Kaede, that would be great."

"...I don't know."

Her tone was also cold. Hmm... I'd already thought Akane might dislike Sakura Kaede, and it seems she's right. I must find a way to reconcile them.

After this, no matter how many times I've discussed this with her, Akane always acts clueless. Oh, oh, oh, I'm not going to have to solve this problem alone. It's a headache. I can't think of any good ideas.

Is there any way to revive her? As I was thinking this, I felt a shock from behind.

"Natsuru!"

Someone hugged me from behind.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey?"

"Hello, why are you startling? It's me!"

The short-haired woman smiling at me was Mikoto. She clutched my neck tightly. "Hey, let me go! I'm not a clothes hanger. Back in my grandparents' time, they used to call it a clothes hanger."

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

"Why are you so shy? You're like an idiot."

You're the idiot. It would be terrible if the faculty saw us in a place like this. You couldn't have known that. Besides, even though there weren't any faculty around, Akane had already witnessed it.

Akane's eyes were wide open, completely terrified. That was natural. If we were on opposite sides today, I'd probably be like her.

Mikoto, on the other hand, took it all in stride. Whenever she interacted with me, she showed no signs of shyness or embarrassment. It must be mercury running through her veins, not blood.

Even so, pressing her whole body against me was a bit too much. I didn't expect her breasts to be so large, which made me even more uncomfortable.

"What's going on? Does having people watching excite you more?"

"I told you to let go, didn't you?"

"Don't say that! You're obviously happy."

"I'm not."

"Don't try to be so stubborn, hehe... Oh my..."

She seemed to finally realize Akane's presence. So, being seen bothers you too? So you're...

The ancient Japanese saying of a clothes hanger. This person still has some sense of shame. Why are you talking to me in such a cocky tone?

Mikoto's hand slipped away from me and patted herself.

"Isn't that Akane?"

"...Mikoto-kun."

My legs went weak with fear.

"Wait a minute, you two don't know each other, do you?"

"What? We live nearby."

"Huh?"

"We lived close together in junior high, so we've known each other for a long time, right?"

Akane nodded timidly.

So, besides frequent business trips abroad, Mikoto's family also moves around a lot. And it wasn't for any big reason. Both of my parents are scholars, so their book collection grew. When their living space got too small, they moved. I really wanted to tell them, "Don't they know there are secondhand bookstores?" But that probably wouldn't work for a book lover like me. This wasn't the case when Mikoto was in elementary school. It only became so after she started junior high. "Living near Akane's house" is just like one of those houses a hermit crab moves from place to place.

"So you and Akane have known each other for a long time?"

"...Yeah."

What the hell? Why is Mikoto so smug? This woman gets inexplicably smug when she's close to someone, but are they really friends? She addresses me, who's older than her, directly, but uses a nickname for Akane, but I don't feel offended. Maybe I know that's just her nature.

Akane looked apologetic. "Never mind, don't feel guilty about it," but I still felt like I'd lost at gambling.

"Natsuru, how come you also know Akane? Is it a coincidence?"

"I guess so."

"Huh - there are such coincidences in this world."

"Really."

Although I can agree with it, it is definitely just a coincidence. If it weren't for Kämpfer, Akane and I would never have the chance to meet in this life.

Mikoto put her arms around my neck again, wow, it's so hot.

Although it was only for a moment, Akane showed a slightly unhappy expression. This girl sometimes reacts like this when she talks about Sakura Kaede. I always thought she was not feeling well, maybe with cavities.

Mikoto smiled lightly. In my opinion, that's the way it is.

"Are you really a friend of Natsuru?"

"Yeah..."

"How did you two know each other?"

"Well... it was just a coincidence."

"Even if it was a coincidence, there must have been some chance."

"..."

Akane looked a bit confused.

"What kind of chance... is it..."

"Because it's impossible for Natsuru to have any female friends besides me. I've never heard of it before."

Damn it, you woman, even though you're mocking me, you're really perceptive. I wonder if it's inherited from your scholarly parents? There's no need to use your expertise on such trivial matters.

Akane was clearly sweating.

"Hmm... is that it..."

"Hmm?"

"I-we're just friends."

"That's why I asked how you two met?"

"... well..."

It would have been nice to say it was because of the Kämpfer, but we're probably the only ones who would feel comfortable saying it. Mikoto wouldn't believe it. After all, if I suddenly mentioned something like the Kämpfer, few people would understand.

"No... nothing..."

Akane trailed off. Hey, what's the meaning of "nothing"? That kind of thing doesn't justify being friends.

"Nothing?"

"Hmm..."

"Hmph —is that so? Never mind."

That's fine. "Nothing" —isn't that just something you're forcing out of people?

"If you don't want me to ask you, you have to promise me one thing."

"What is it..."

"Will you keep it a secret?"

"Huh... a secret?"

"Yeah, no one can tell anyone."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone anything personal."

What an amazing girl! If it were Higashida, his moral standards would be even lower than a film and television reporter's. He'd blurt out anything. Telling Higashida a secret would be like telling a thief the layout of your own home. Mikoto lowered her voice.

"Actually, I have something I want to discuss with you."

"What?"

I said.

"Just something to discuss."

This guy actually had something to discuss. I thought she'd never need headache or stomach medicine. High school students seem to be mentally and physically stable, but that's not the case. I'm still surprised. There's so much trouble in this world, so those fortune tellers are so popular on TV.

But it's understandable that I have these doubts. This person actually has troubles; her personality shouldn't be the same as that. You can't just judge people by appearances.

"What do you want to discuss?"

"I have something to ask Akane and Natsuru."

"What is it?"

"Well, it's about my friend."

"Who?"

"It's me —" A girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stood above us.

"Yeah —yeah —everyone's here."

This inexplicably high girl's name is Masumi Nishino. She's a member of the women's division of the underground "Co-ed Underground Dating Committee." I borrowed her help last time, and I thought I'd have nothing to do with her anymore, but it seems that's not the case.

"Mikoto, you have so many friends —"

Masumi Nishino said, and I agreed, whispering to her.

"Isn't that Masumi Nishino? How come you and I always look like the same people?"

"What's the connection? Masumi Nishino and I have known each other for a long time."

A closer look revealed that they were both wearing the same badge, meaning they happened to be in the same class.

"Ah—you're the one from the tunnel, right?"

Masumi Nishino bowed her head to me like a locust.

"His name is Natsuru Senou, my childhood sweetheart."

"Huh —you're Natsuru —I knew a girl named Natsuru, too."

I knew her, but of course I played dumb in front of her.

"Yeah —just happened to have the same name as mine."

"That's what I want to discuss..."

Mikoto leaned closer.

"Masumi Nishino has seen that girl named Natsuru at this school."

"She's really cool!"

"She wants to see her again, but she can't find her no matter how hard she tries."

"Why does she want to see her?"

Masumi Nishino replied.

"Because I wanted to visit her."

"But we can't find her. What a mysterious female student."

Haha, you actually asked the same question to Sakura Kaede. The female version of Natsuru is really popular, but of course I continued to play dumb.

"Then she's probably not a student of Seitetsu."

"That's impossible. She wears the same uniform."

"She must be a second-year student,"

Masumi Nishino said, and Mikoto continued.

"We searched every second-year classroom from beginning to end, but we couldn't find the female version of Natsuru. What do you think?"

"What do you mean by 'what do you mean'? If she's not here, then there's nothing we can do. Could she be a ghost? You know, they say there are female students in the boys' restrooms..."

"That's unscientific. The female version of Natsuru really does exist."

Sweat was practically dripping down my back, but I feigned indifference.

"Do you have any evidence?"

"My intuition,"

Mikoto said confidently. It was so stupid! I wanted to laugh at her for getting away with it, but I couldn't bring myself to say it. This girl has a really sharp sixth sense. I've even heard stories of her leading a search team in the dense jungles of Africa without GPS.

Of course, I could only try to dissuade her from using her intuition.

"If we can't find anything even after investigating, then forget it."

"It's just that our investigation isn't enough. You know, when you start digging, you start from scratch. No matter how small the clue, you have to believe it and give it a try."

This guy spoke with such persuasiveness.

"...Why are you interested in something like this?"

"I have a feeling there's something big going on. Maybe there's some grand conspiracy behind the female version of Natsuru. It's just my intuition. It's really sharp. But the conspiracy thing is a bit wrong. There are definitely hidden things, secrets that can't be shared."

"That's what's going on. Do you know anything?"

Her face was so close.

"No..."

"Oh, huh? What about Akane?"

"Huh..."

Akane looked away, her awkwardness too obvious. This girl's acting is really bad. She's the type who can never put on a poker face.

"I... I... I don't know."

Her face was cramped. If it were a detective drama, the criminal would have confessed by this point. Even without the pork cutlet rice, it looked like she would have spilled everything.

"You don't know?"

"Yeah..."

"You don't know, forget it."

I didn't expect Mikoto to give up so easily. Hmm, she's nothing like "Rattlesnake Mikoto" —a nickname I gave her in elementary school.

"Then you have to help us,"

Mikoto ordered Akane.

"...What help?"

"Let's find the female version of Natsuru."

Mikoto turned and looked at me again.

"You have to come too, Natsuru."

How else could we say anything but agree? If anyone knows, please tell me.

After lunch break, the afternoon class was physical education. This time, it was softball. Our team's pitcher was terrible, giving up eight hits in a row. In his place, I, who was trying to hide a secret, came in to bat. I, who couldn't handle the ball to begin with, gave it my all, finally setting a record of ten consecutive walks. I could have broken the record, but the next batter was out, and the inning ended in a dead ball.

The next PE class was modern Chinese. The exhaustion from pitching had me utterly sleepy, and I wasn't the only one feeling the effects of sleepiness. More than half the class was playing chess with Zhou Gong. What, you don't know what that means? It means falling asleep without waking up. The class was incredibly quiet, which only accelerated our sleepiness. The bell rang, and I woke up too. The teacher left the classroom in despair. It was pathetic. My class had no ill intentions, but we were constantly trying to stymie the teacher, and I was certainly complicit.

The class meeting before going home had concluded successfully, and it was time to go home.

"Natsuru, let's go home."

Even without looking at his face, I knew it was Higashida.

"Why are you with me again?"

"What's the matter? I have so many things to ask you."

This guy only had one thing in mind: girls, girls, girls.

And to see the transformed Akane, he kept asking everyone, "Who is that girl?" He seemed to enjoy Akane's relentless scolding.

"I don't have anything to ask you."

"Don't say that. I'll sell you the new photos at a super discounted price."

I said I didn't want them.

Just then, there was a knock on the classroom door.

Knock? It wasn't class time, and who in the world would knock on a classroom door these days? I didn't think it was polite, just plain stupid.

I peeked out and saw a serious-looking first-year student standing there. "Excuse me, is Natsuru-senpai here?"

Higashida whispered from behind me. "Oh, you're from the student council."

"Yes,"

I said, raising my hand gently.

"The president wants to see you."

"What?"

"Please come to the student council president's office,"

the boy said, then turned and left.

Higashida looked at me, his mouth wide open, and said, "Hey, what good did you do for the president?"

I didn't answer him directly. I'd done a lot. My plans to go home with Higashida are temporarily on hold, which is great. Going home with that guy is never going to end well, but being called in by Student Council President Shizuku is a real problem.

Speaking of the perfect warrior at Iron Star Academy High School, it's none other than Shizuku. She reigns supreme, towering over the entire school. Whether studying or playing sports, she's flawless. Plus, she's a stunning beauty. Logically, she shouldn't have anything to do with someone like me. Being called in by someone like that would be like hailstorms. But that's just for ordinary students. She and I have a deep connection.

I hurried towards the Student Council President's office. It's in the same building as the library, and there aren't separate male and female student councils, so I can go in. Incidentally, the classrooms are on the fourth floor.

Standing in front of the Student Council room was a girl, still reminiscent of a junior high student. A petite first-year, she remained motionless even when she saw me.

"Excuse me —"

I said to the short gatekeeper, but she didn't react at all. She probably didn't intend to let me through, not even looking away.

The Student Council at Iron Star Academy High School is an organization designed to facilitate the smooth running of campus and student activities —at least that's what the student handbook says.

But students these days wouldn't believe such naiveté. The entire Student Council has become a subordinate of President Shizuku, becoming like a special organization. There are many different theories, but the complete transformation of the internal structure was completed in the short time since Shizuku became president. This is detailed in "The Inside History of Iron Star Academy High School, Third Edition," published by the Second News Department of the Underground Society.

The entire Student Council operates in Shizuku's favor, requiring absolute obedience from all members. In return, the president promises these members enormous benefits, such as employment at top companies and guaranteed admission to their first-choice university. Shizuku's current orientation aligns with that of the rest of the student body, so there's no problem. Even the school seems to see no problem. This kind of organization would probably terrify even the secret police, but it's quietly accepted at our school.

No one knows the full extent of the student council situation except Shizuku. While Higashida said, "There are spies I sent to the student council," it's unclear how much he could help Higashida. He could be a double agent or a double agent.

The girl standing in front of the door doesn't obey anyone except Shizuku's orders. I never imagined high school students could have so much power over personnel decisions.

I was about to say the president wanted me when a voice rang out from the student council president's office.

"Katsuhara, let him in."

It was Shizuku's voice. The girl quietly opened the door. So, her name was Katsuhara.

"Excuse me," she said, but it turned out to be Shizuku and Akane.

"Natsuru-san..."

She said it, but she didn't look surprised. Perhaps she'd heard about it beforehand.

"Welcome, Natsuru-san. Please take a seat."

Then I'll take a seat. A sense of tension hung in the air, and Shizuku smiled faintly.

"Your expression is terrifying."

"Of course." I couldn't smile at all. Shizuku was my enemy, the enemy Kämpfer with the red bracelet. That's why we have such a deep connection.

Honestly, she's incredibly strong. The last time we fought her, I thought I'd die, but thanks to some unexpected turn of events, we were victorious. I wouldn't have the confidence to fight her again.

"That's hard for me to say."

"Then I'm going back."

"No, how about this?"

In an instant, the president was enveloped by a white light.

When the light faded, Shizuku's body remained unchanged, but the inside of her hair turned a light golden yellow. She had transformed into Kämpfer.

Then, Akane and I were also enveloped by the light. Akane transformed into a fierce-eyed bulldog, and I into a woman.

"You two can continue this conversation, right?"

"You're kidding, top student."

A gun appeared in Akane's hand. She was a Kämpfer warrior wielding the "Gewehr." Mine, by the way, was using "Zauber Magic."

"You're asking us to transform here? I'll assume you want to fight us." The muzzle of a gun was pressed firmly against Shizuku's forehead, her finger already positioned on the trigger.

"Put it down."

"No."

"I told you to put it down."

A chained dagger appeared in front of Akane's wrist. It was Shizuku's weapon, the "Schwert." Before Akane could pull the trigger, the sharp blade would probably sever her wrist.

The muzzle remained motionless, but the strength of her index finger slackened.

"Let's just continue this friendly conversation."

"How dare you call it friendly when you're pointing weapons at each other?"

"I'm not planning on fighting today, don't worry."

"Don't laugh at me."

I felt the same way as Akane. An icy beauty like Shizuku, her tone never changes, so even if she's lying, we wouldn't be able to tell. Even if she says she doesn't plan to fight, she might still suddenly attack us.

"I've always kept my promises, haven't I? I haven't attacked Sakura Kaede since then."

"You kidnapped her, and you still dare to say that? What if it scars Sakura Kaede?"

"She doesn't remember anything anymore. I used a little trick to make her forget everything." It's like a magician or a hypnotist, but if it's Shizuku, it's very possible.

I still spoke with caution.

"Did you call us here just to hear you brag?"

"Of course not."

Shizuku sat back down in her chair.

"Well, there's a problem in the girls' club."

Problems? It's only natural that wherever there are students, there are problems. I can't believe such a thing comes from the mouth of the perfect student council president. You're supposed to be the type to solve problems as soon as you spot them.

"Sakura Kaede has been making a fuss about something lately."

"What's wrong with Sakura Kaede?"

"She's been looking for a girl she really likes. She's tall, quiet, and handsome. You should know about this, right?" What do you mean by known or not? I just heard about this from Sakura Kaede, the person involved.

"She's been looking everywhere and making a big fuss. It's spread among the second-years. And there's a first-year named Masumi Nishino who's also looking for you. It's really outrageous. She's yelling in the classroom, 'Is Natsuru-san here?'"

Ugh—I really don't want to hear that kind of news. It's easy to imagine Masumi Nishino screaming like a madman. The students in the classroom must be inconsolable. Shizuku continued.

"There's another first-year girl named Mikoto who's also looking. She's quite clever, having already thought of asking the faculty."

After checking my expression, she continued.

"She started looking today, even though she just returned to school. She's quite the proactive person."

"...Is that the problem you're talking about?"

"That's right. There's no such person as Natsuru in the Girls' Division. But because Sakura Kaede, Masumi Nishino, and Mikoto have been searching, rumors have spread. I don't think that's a good thing. I don't want the general public to know about Kämpfer's existence."

I felt the same way.

"That's why I asked you to come."

"What do you want to do?"

"Simple. Natsuru-san invites you to the Girls' Division."

Boom boom boom, my mind raced like the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, or winning the jackpot at pachinko, or a gas tank exploding. That was the most shocking thing I'd seen today.

What's the point of asking me to go to the women's department? Don't be fooled by my appearance, I'm a man. Although I'm a woman now, I'm a man in my household registration. At least let me stay in the men's department for classes. Asking me to move to the women's department is too much. Are you crazy, woman?

Shizuku seemed to notice my mood.

"I'm serious."

"Really?"

"I'm not asking you to give up being a boy. You'll be enrolled in both the boys' and girls' divisions. You just need to show up occasionally."

"I'm even more confused when you say that. Why would I go to the girls' division?"

"Like I just said, Sakura Kaede, Mikoto, and that first-year girl named Masumi Nishino have been making a fuss lately. If things keep going like this, someone might find out about Kämpfer's situation one day."

"To put out a fire?"

"I guess so," Shizuku agreed.

So, she was trying to use my enrollment in the girls' division to stop Sakura Kaede and the others from doing things, fearing that Kämpfer's situation would be discovered.

But just for that, she was asking me to go to the girls' division. Those rumors were really troublesome. Even Higashida knew about the female version of me and wanted to take my picture whenever he got the chance. If he ran into any idiot like that, he could just give him a beating. But you can't do that to a girl. Even so, calling me a schoolgirl was a bit much.

"I don't mean anything else. I just want to give Natsuru-san an identity that allows you to enter and leave the Girls' Division openly. I'll also issue you a pass."

"Aren't you just giving salt to your enemy?"

"I prefer salty and spicy food to sweets."

She looked nonchalant. What on earth was she thinking? I'm your enemy. Doesn't it feel like a trap set for me to fall into?

In contrast to my confusion, the bulldog girl sitting next to me was laughing heartily.

"Hahahahaha, this is so funny, Natsuru, why don't you just come to the Girls' Division?"

Even though she was laughing, she didn't show any intention of lowering her gun.

"Let's storm the third-grade classroom together and smack the president, who thinks she's a Hollywood slicker."

"...That's what makes women with dirty mouths so annoying."

"Sorry, I just don't get along with top students."

"I'm talking to Natsuru-san."

Shizuku didn't consider Akane a negotiating opponent at all; she just wanted to know what I meant. Damn, this is even more difficult than the day before the high school entrance exam. Back then, I had diarrhea and couldn't think about the next day. I even forgot everything I'd learned.

"Natsuru-san, you seem troubled."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, you don't have a choice. I've already registered you for the girls' division."

What are you talking about? You were the one who said there was a problem, but it's already been solved. And that was all based on my agreement.

"The teachers and school staff would probably find it strange."

"I've already changed the written and computer data. You're now legally in the Girls' Division."

"How could you suddenly transfer in? That's unnatural."

"I said you were on leave before. I've already informed your homeroom teacher. You're sick, so it's okay if you're away from school for a while. It's up to you whether you want to come or not."

"I can't run back and forth between the two."

"I said I'd get you a permit."

Shizuku pulled out an IC card. The IC chip and laser for the inspection gate were already ready. It even had a photo of me, as a female student, on it. When was that photo taken? I kept staring at my permit. It was the real deal. She could even register me in the Girls' Division. How much power does Shizuku have in this school? She's like a mafia boss.

"Your name's still Natsuru Senou."

"Do you want to change it? You'll definitely feel awkward then."

"...Even if I join the Girls' Division, it probably won't be good, because I'm your enemy."

"Of course I know that."

"Then what's your real motive?"

"I'm not stupid enough to say it in a place like this."

Surely there's something else going on.

The choice isn't mine. On second thought, being enrolled in the Girls' Division isn't a bad thing for me, but accepting Shizuku's favor repulses me. This student council president doesn't look like someone who would act without considering the consequences. It's really infuriating to ask me to obey someone like that.

Shizuku moved to the table and seemed to be attending to student council matters, completely ignoring us. She probably wanted to send us back after she finished her words.

Akane and I stood up, feeling the transformation slowly dissolving.

Translator's Notes

This chapter was translated from the Chinese translation of the original Japanese text.

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