Kämpfer:Volume 7 Chapter 4

Volume 7, Chapter 4  

    "Ah—ooooh—"

    I groaned, collapsing onto the bed. I'd just transformed back into a man. I  

    stared blankly at the ceiling. It looked uncomfortable, the surrounding lighting reflecting

faces, and even a baby -like face nearby. If I dwelled too much on it, I'd probably miss sleep,

so I'd better forget it, but it was too late.  

    "You're back..."  

    Akane said. Just as she'd said, I had just returned.  

    After changing, Sakura Kaede didn't comment on my clothes, but she did want to know

where I lived.  

    "I want to go out and have fun, so please tell me."  

    Such a straightforward wish.  

    "No... I don't live here..."  

    "Hey—but if I don't live at the hotel, I can use the changing rooms."  

    Wow, why is she so sensitive only in places like this? As expected of Sakura Kaede... No, no,

no, now isn't the time for lamentations.  

    "Um... there are tickets for private changing rooms..."  

    I didn't know if such tickets existed, but it felt like an excuse.  

    "Is that so..."  

    She looked disappointed for a moment, but quickly pulled herself together.  

    "Then let's eat together."  

    "Didn't we just eat..."  

    "It's dinner. We'll be waiting for you."  

    It was hard to refuse such innocent eyes, so I finally agreed.  

    Then I separated from everyone else and went to the bathroom, transforming back into a

man.  

    Of course, I undo the transformation in the men's bathroom. If a man came out of the

women's bathroom, the police would be called, but if a woman went in, it probably wouldn't

be—that's my reasoning. Probably not, probably.  

    Then, calming down, I returned to my room. It was such a struggle to avoid being

discovered by Sakura Kaede (she was in the next room). I feel like I haven't been able to truly

relax since becoming Kämpfer.  

    "Ah—Akane,"  

    I said, lying on my back in bed.  

    "Hmm...?"  

    "What time is dinner?"  

    "The president said seven o'clock."  

    "Hmm..."  

    I glanced at the clock beside my pillow. It still had the time. I figured I'd still be playing at

this hour, so it was only natural. What should I do to kill time now?  

    ...I can't think of anything. Is watching TV the only option? Or maybe chatting with Akane.

What should I do?  

    "Oh my goodness, it feels so good to be bathing."  

    "Yeah, yeah, it really has to be that way."  

    It was so noisy, I couldn't help but stumble over the thought. Seppuku Tiger and Seppuku

Black Rabbit were actually walking towards me, laughing.  

    They said they were walking, but they could only move a little bit, so they looked even

more sluggish than turtles. But there was no doubt they'd emerged from the bag.  

    "Hey! Where have you been?"  

    I suddenly stood up and questioned them. Seppuku Tiger turned to me.  

    "Ah, Natsuru, you're back."  

    "What are you talking about so leisurely? What were you doing?"  

    "I took a bath with Black Rabbit."  

    "Taking a bath...did you go to the big bath?!"  

    This hotel was more like a resort than a business hotel. So, they had a big bath, too. They'd

dug a hole in the ground and channeled the hot spring water in.  

    Looking closely, I could see steam rising from their heads. This was bad. If word got out

about the dolls giggling and bathing, the reporters would be here.  

    "Oh my god, in that bathhouse?"  

    Seppuku Tiger said.  

    "No matter what, I won't use the big bath."  

    "That's right, we can't even reach the elevator buttons at our height,"  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit said. If you could reach it, you'd go.  

    "So no one saw us?"  

    "No, and I didn't order room service. The view from the bathroom is pretty good, though."  

    After a quick check, I found the bathroom and toilet were separate, the window was large,

and the view seemed pretty good too. I'll take a dip later.  

    I reached out and placed the two dolls on the table. I didn't have to, but seeing them

dawdling around like that was getting on my nerves.  

    "Oh, thank you so much."  

    "Natsuru, you go to heaven when you die."  

    "You're not going to be able to stop that stinky mouth of yours?"  

    "By the way, how was the pool? Did you have fun?"  

    Black Rabbit asked. I briefly explained.  

    "Nothing fun. The only thing I got out of it was shaking Sakura Kaede's hand."  

    "Too bad it's a female Natsuru." Damn, don't be so blunt.  

    "Oh, is the White Kämpfer here too?"  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit scratched her stomach.  

    "Yeah."  

    "Akane, did you fight too?"  

    "Yeah..."  

    Akane's voice became smaller. It seems that she has the habit of regretting it when she

recalls yelling at this or that during the battle.  

    Seppuku Tiger continued.  

    "Are all the White Kämpfer members here?"  

    "Who knows, I didn't see them, but they should all be here."  

    "Hmm --"

    Seppuku Tiger picked at his eye patch. He looked at Seppuku Black Rabbit from time to

time.  

    "It may be like this."  

    "What?"  

    "It's like this, Black Rabbit and I were taking a bath together just now."  

    "Oh, right, just use a hair dryer to dry your body, the table is wet."  

    "It will be dried in a while. Compared to this, when we were looking at the scenery

outside, an idea suddenly came to us."  

    "What's wrong, did you see naked bodies? Since they are dolls, no one should find it

suspicious."  

    "That's not the case. There are other messengers here besides us."  

    What? I couldn't help but ask. Akane, who was sitting on the bed, also leaned over.  

    "What's going on?"  

    "Uh... well, it's like this. I think it's the same principle as Kämpfer's attraction to each other.

We'll also feel something if there's one of our kind nearby."  

    "Could it be the Seppuku Black Rabbit?"  

    "No, it's quite far away."  

    "How far?"  

    "I don't know, but there's more than one."  

    "That must be the president and Kondou Mikoto's."  

    "That's possible, but why would they bring them?"  

    Really, there are several other lumpy, chemically fiber -like creatures like them. That would

be really troublesome. If they all talked at the same time, it would be incredibly noisy.  

    ...No, that's not the case. The Seppuku Tiger slipping into my bag must have been an

accident. I hadn't planned to bring it here. But, considering Akane also brought the Seppuku

Black Rabbit, this "accident" seemed to have a sense of human intervention .

    "Well..."  

    Akane began hesitantly.  

    "Maybe the White Kämpfer and the others brought it..."  

    It's very possible. That would make the idea that we were the only ones bringing dolls

seem unnatural.  

    "But,"  

    Black Rabbit asked,  

    "why did you gather us together?"  

    "Rather than calling us together, you guys just gathered for no apparent reason. I didn't

mean to bring you here."  

    "So annoying, Natsuru! Anything goes. It can't be a reunion of the Entrails Animals, right?

We don't have much to reminisce about; at most, we'll just take a bath together."  

    That's true. So why did they gather together? Was it really just a coincidence?  

    If it were just the Entrails Animals gathering, I'd have witnessed it. Unfortunately, it was in

a toy store basket. What sticks with me is seeing a girl pounce on them, saying, "So cute!" It

made me feel sick to my stomach.  

    "Didn't you receive any instructions?"  

    Anyway, I'll ask first.  

    "Did you receive any beeping radio waves and unknowingly come here..."  

    "How could that be?"  

    "No,"  

    was suddenly denied, and by two of them.  

    "We're not cell phones."  

    "Things about receiving radio waves are only said by crazy people. Oh, Natsuru, you've

finally lost your mind." So annoying! You're the one who's lost your mind.  

    But if it's not radio reception, well... I don't know.  

    I'm not very smart. Rather than worrying about this kind of thing, I'd rather relax by

watching a comedy show. As Kondou Mikoto put it, "Your brain is too relaxed; it's not like

melt -in-your -mouth cheese."  

    Anyway, let's not think about it now. I have a feeling I'll be forced to find out sooner or

later, even against my will.  

    "Natsuru -san... why don't you just ask... the president or Kondou -san..."  

    Akane said. She's right, it's so simple.  

    "Well, ask at dinner... ah... Sakura Kaede is there too."  

    This is getting more difficult. While it's dangerous if the messenger story gets revealed, it's

even more likely they'll dig into the details.  

    As you know, Sakura Kaede is a huge fan and collector of Entrails Animals. Bring up that

topic at dinner, and it'll instantly turn into a recital. Sakura Kaede will definitely talk about

rare, almost unknown products, or how to tell which factory made even identical dolls by the

stitching.  

    That's just hearsay. A second -year girl apparently had the same experience. She

supposedly held out for thirty minutes, but then apologized, saying, "Kaede, please spare

me," and was released.  

    This situation needs to be avoided. As someone like Sakura Kaede, I can probably hold out

for a few hours (probably), but the other girls are in danger. Akane is probably going to be

anemic.  

    "Let's ask quietly later..."  

    Akane said. "That's certainly better..."  

    "By the way, hey, you idiot tiger."  

    Seppuku Tiger's brows furrowed slightly.  

    "What's wrong? Please call me."  

    "I'll call you if you stop sneaking into other people's bags. Don't you know where your kind

are?"  

    "I don't know."  

    "Answer quickly."  

    "We're not GPS. We just know they're here."  

    If they were in this hotel, at least they could tell the white creature was nearby and

formulate a countermeasure. But there are three hotels and a theme park adjacent to each

other.  

    "Are you guys that worried?"  

    Seppuku Black Rabbit asked.  

    "Compared to you, you really don't have anything to do with it."  

    "I'm just a doll."  

    "Then let's go out and take a look. Please leave the door unlocked."  

    "You're kidding."  

    A talking, walking doll —are you trying to throw the hotel into a panic?  

    "What? Wouldn't that make things easier for you, Natsuru?"  

    "You're just looking for some fun,"  

    the Seppuku Black Rabbit said with a laugh. "Have you been seen through?" This doll is

truly incredible.  

    I tossed the Entrails Animal aside and lay back down on the bed. My shoulders and back

felt hot, probably from the sun. They'll probably hurt tomorrow.  

    A hilarious ringtone from a comedy band rang beside my pillow.  

    It was my phone. The battery life was too heavy to carry around, but I brought it along

since I was staying overnight. It was plugged into the charger, so I couldn't take it outside. It

had become a personal landline.  

    I glanced at the LCD screen. It was Higashida.  

    Startled, I pressed the call button. Did this guy realize my true identity?  

    "...Hello?"  

    (Hey, Natsuru, it's me.)  

    Normally, I'd say, "I don't have anything to say to you. If you have any questions, please

contact me through my lawyer." and then hang up, but I'll forget it this time.  

    "...What's up?"  

    (Hey, hey, hey, today is our training day, eh? Did you forget?)  

    "I forgot, so what?"  

    (There's still time, come on, there are so many girls here.)  

    It's fake. I'll just ask anyway.  

    "Which girls?"  

    (You won't be scared to death, the beauties from the girls' club are all here, including

Sakura Kaede up front.)  

    "Up front?"  

    (No, no, no, she's there. Oh, heaven! Spring has finally arrived for the Bishoujo Research

Society. Special advisors have to attend, too.)  

    What are you talking about? I guess you're just a man without any pampering, so you want

me to share your misfortune or something.  

    Who would fall for your trick? Or maybe I'm closer to Sakura Kaede.  

    "...Where are you guys? Isn't it by the beach?"  

    (No, no, no, no. At a luxury hotel next to the theme park. I got some money, so I went on a

luxury training camp all at once.)  

    "What hotel?"  

    "This... the New East Asia Hotel."  

    Phew. Not with us. Ours is a foreign -owned hotel called the Continental Ocean Hotel or

something. If I remember correctly, that New East Asia is haunted.  

    (Natsuru, come too! It'll be fun, all girls.)  

    "No thanks,"  

    I declined. I could hear the noise of the Bishoujo Research Society on the other end of the

line, but no matter how hard I strained, I could only hear male voices —no female ones.  

    I'm really grateful for inviting me. In that sense, Higashida, you're a good person, but the

timing is terrible. He'd be shocked if I ran into him less than ten minutes after hanging up.  

    I said, "Call me next time, and don't mention anything about the Bishoujo Research

Society," and hung up.  

    "Are those... those people from just now..."  

    Akane asked.  

    "Yeah."  

    "Those people... are they called Higashida -san? Are they also in this hotel...?"  

    "No, somewhere else."  

    "Really..."  

    Akane's expression looked both relieved and a little disappointed.  

    "Did anything happen?"  

    "Um... it was when we opened the maid cafe..."  

    Was that the time at the class president's house?  

    "Higashida -san... praised me so much... so cute, so suitable... and even asked for my email

address when we got home..."  

    "Huh..."  

    Surprisingly. That idiot actually tried to flirt with me. He was so coy by the pool, but he's

actually quite active. Even though the atmosphere is there, it's not something she could do

so easily.  

    Akane looked up at me.  

    "Akane, did you just tell him your email address?"  

    "No..."  

    She shook her head slightly. Then she observed my reaction.  

    "Natsuru -san..."  

    "Hmm?"  

    "You're not going to be jealous... are you?"  

    "What?"  

    I still quite like Coke, but unless there's a fish bone stuck in my throat, I wouldn't get

jealous, right?  

    "No... nothing..."  

    Akane sank for no apparent reason. This won't do. Life should be more optimistic.

Although I've been cursing my fate a lot lately.  

    I checked the clock. Four o'clock. What a ridiculously awkward time. It would be

ridiculously too late to go to the amusement parks or go shopping now.  

    "Let's go to bed."  

    "Eh!?"  

    Akane, who had been sinking like a pirate's shattered ship, suddenly jumped up.  

    "You said sleep...sleep, um...broad daylight...Natsuru -san."  

    For some reason, Akane's face flushed crimson, and she looked bewildered. What's

wrong?  

    "I-We're in the same room...but suddenly...I need to be mentally prepared...or this and

that...even though I reserved the room...even though..."  

    What are you talking about?  

    "Well, well...since Natsuru -san said that...well...it'll be a little while...I'm pretty happy to be

ahead of the president and Kondou -san...not that I have any grudge against them or

anything."  

    "...Um, Akane. I just wanted to take a nap...that's all."  

    "...nap...huh...?"  

    "Yeah."  

    "Ah...is that so...ah..."  

    As expected, her face darkened with red. She's really busy.  

    I threw back the covers and got in, dressed. I had a yukata on, but I'd just let it go.  

    Ring, ring, ring. The phone rang, and Akane answered.  

    "Hello..."  

    (Akane!?)  

    It's Kondou Mikoto. It's really loud, I can hear it from here.  

    (Did you just think of doing something weird? I have a feeling it.)  

    "No..."  

    Akane's response was quite dejected.  

    "Nothing..."  

    (Really? My antenna is working.)  

    "Really... He didn't do anything..."  

    (...Oh. Sorry, I've been thinking, there's no way Natsuru would take the initiative.)  

    "Yes..."  

    Then, for some reason, Kondou Mikoto muttered something like, "It's hard for both of us

dealing with that idiot," and Akane replied, "Hmm..." Hmm? Is she saying something bad

about me?  

    Girls always get excited when they say something bad about a guy, right? Forget it,  

    I'll just pretend I didn't hear it. Thinking this, I closed my eyes. For some reason, in my

dream, Akane and Kondou Mikoto, transformed, were cursing at me together.  

    When I opened my eyes, it was already past 6:30. There was still some light outside the

window, but it would probably be dark soon.  

    So, I had dinner. These days, even just having a good meal takes a lot of nerve.  

    We could eat at the hotel or out, but Kondou Mikoto insisted that "eating at the hotel is

better," so we ate at the hotel.  

    "I don't really eat at hotels."  

    My childhood friend said,  

    "I did eat at a shabby cabin inn in Africa. Back then, anti -government guerrillas were

fighting in the streets, and it was quite troublesome."  

    This guy's "trouble" went beyond the realm of high school.  

    We arrived at the hotel's second floor, where there was a large hall. It was a buffet, so you

could pick whatever you wanted. In short, it was all you could eat.  

    Buffets are usually quite shabby, but the variety at high -end hotels is vast. There were

eight kinds of bread alone, twenty kinds of soup —it was hard to tell the difference.  

    After randomly selecting a table, Kondou Mikoto eagerly shouted, "Let's eat!" and ran to

the area where the food was laid out.  

    The seating was random, too... but it was crucial for me. I wanted to sit directly across

from Sakura Kaede. I had to be prepared to take her seat just in case.  

    But Sakura Kaede, the crucial one, wasn't there.  

    "President, what's wrong with Sakura Kaede?"  

    "Kaede? She said she went to the restroom... but she's not here anyway."  

    "I'll go look for her."  

    I stood up, having been about to sit down. Only at times like this could I close the distance

between me and Sakura Kaede.  

    "I... I'll go too..."  

    For some reason, Akane followed. Oh, no need to force yourself. You should learn to eat

like Kondou Mikoto. Look, she's putting so much on her plate that it's enough to overwhelm

the chef.  

    "Go eat."  

    "No... Natsuru -san, if you're alone..."  

    I didn't know what would happen if I were alone, but since I'd said that,  

    I left the restaurant and looked around. Sure enough, she wasn't there.  

    "In the women's room?"  

    "Well, she should be out soon..."  

    Anyway, I went back to my room.  

    We had to take the elevator upstairs, but if Kondou Mikoto was there, she'd say, "Let's take

the stairs, stairs," which was really nerve -wracking. There was no telling how strong she was.  

    As I pressed the button to wait for the elevator, Akane glanced to the side.  

    "Huh... Sakura Kaede...?"  

    There was indeed someone who looked like Sakura Kaede at the end of the hallway. What?

There was no need to go upstairs. We'd been planning to chat leisurely as  

    we headed back to the dining hall. But Sakura Kaede didn't come over. After glancing

around, she turned away.  

    "Huh...?"  

    Akane tilted her head.  

    "Let's go get her."  

    I jogged towards Sakura Kaede, and Akane followed.  

    Peeking around the corner, I saw Sakura Kaede's back. She opened a door marked "STAFF

ONLY ." Well, aren't guests allowed in there?  

    She went in, and Akane and I checked that no one was around and peeked through the

"STAFF ONLY" door.  

    Inside was still a corridor. Since it was for staff only, there were no decorations, or perhaps

the floor was just cement. The various pipes were also mounted directly on the wall, but that

was probably for easier inspection.  

    I heard footsteps, and Sakura Kaede was walking forward.  

    "Where is she going...?"  

    I couldn't help but wonder.  

    "What's in there?"  

    "Who knows..."  

    Akane's question made me shake my head. We stared at each other for a moment before

deciding to follow her.  

    The ceiling lights kept it bright. But because of the good visibility, it's difficult to deal with

Sakura Kaede turning around. I'll  

    quietly follow behind.  

    "...What is she going to do..."  

    "I don't know. If you ask me..."  

    I racked my brains. I thought of something Sakura Kaede might be doing.  

    "Practice...how about this?"  

    "Huh?"  

    "Sakura Kaede is practicing confessing her feelings to someone she likes. She's too

embarrassed to do it anywhere else, so she's found a place where no one is around."  

    Akane's expression was like she was chewing a hundred worms. I'll be serious for now.  

    "Sakura Kaede is finally interested in men. She must be looking for a mirror to practice

confessing."  

    "...But let me ask, who is she attracted to?"  

    "I'm fine."  

    "...You know it yourself. I don't think it's her."  

    Don't be so blunt. I hope I can keep fantasizing about Sakura Kaede forever.  

    Oh no, I'm going to lose her. There's only one main road, but there are always smaller

roads that branch off.  

    "...It seems like she didn't hesitate at all,"  

    Akane said. There really wasn't a single moment of hesitation, as if she had a purpose.  

    "It shouldn't be anything serious, probably the guard's lounge or the back door at most."  

    "The back door... is she planning to leave..."  

    "How could that be?"  

    It's almost dinner time. The only thing I can think of is buying me a surprise gift, but today

isn't my birthday or any anniversary. No, it could be something like "I've met Sakura Kaede

xxxx times."  

    I tried to explain, but Akane seemed uninterested in my fantasy, unwilling to listen.  

    "...Huh? Where's Sakura Kaede?"  

    I looked forward, but Sakura Kaede was nowhere to be seen.  

    "Did she turn the corner...?"  

    The corridors did indeed branch off, and Akane and I were about to run out when

suddenly...  

    "Ouch!" "Huh!"  

    "Ah!"  

    Something fell from overhead. It was just like when Akane jumped down earlier that day,

but there wasn't an elevator here.  

    Looking up, I saw several thick pipes on the ceiling. Was she hiding there?  

    The person who jumped was holding a firearm in her right hand, larger than a pistol but

smaller than a rifle. It was a machine gun.  

    "Long time no see, Natsuru -san."  

    Wow, it was Ryoka Yamakawa. Holding a weapon means you've become a Kämpfer.  

    "Please take this,"  

    the gun is pointed at us, wow.  

    I fell to the ground at the same moment as the gunfire. Incidentally, it wasn't an

instantaneous movement, but rather a matter of chance. Akane also jumped to the left,

seemingly by chance as well.  

    I exerted force on my right hand. A bluish -white light enveloped me, transforming me into

a woman.  

    "Ah!"  

    The muzzle of a gun seemed to be pointed at me, and I cast my magic without hesitation.

A fireball flew out.  

    Three gunshots rang out, accompanied by the sound of exploding flames. A mid -air

collision, though it missed Ryoka, didn't hurt me either.  

    "Two against one, you're at a disadvantage!"  

    Akane screamed. She transformed as well. That guy was also using a gun, so it was a clash

of projectiles.  

    The Bulldog Girl pulled the trigger. With no ammunition limit, this was no different from a

machine gun. She was determined to pummel the other person like a hornet's nest.  

    "Go to hell, bitch!"  

    "Oh, that's too much!"  

    Ryoka leaped back, their attacks missing.  

    "Hey, Natsuru, fight too! Or kill that damn bitch!"  

    "You're always so extreme!"  

    "I could kill you first!"  

    Forget that. I didn't want to die yet, so I fired a spell. It was dodged.  

    "Tsk, you loser!"  

    "You didn't hit her either."  

    "I just slipped... I missed on purpose. Hit her right!"  

    "That's so unreasonable, you bastard."  

    I wondered if calling a girl "bastard" wasn't a good idea, but well, whatever.  

    "If you dare disobey me again, I'll knock everything off your neck."  

    "Don't you know how to comfort your partner?"  

    "Someone obsessed with a dead woman like Sakura Kaede and the president's beauty is

the perfect match for a tombstone!"  

    Don't talk nonsense. When did I ever become obsessed with the president's beauty? I've

lost all my soul to Sakura Kaede.  

    "Partnering with someone like you, I'd rot myself. Hey, Natsuru, just die right before my

eyes."  

    "Why?"  

    "I could feel better."  

    "Doesn't it matter what happens to me?"  

    "Corpses don't complain."  

    Is my death already certain?  

    There's a reason I can exchange insults with Akane.  

    Ryoka stayed far away from us, not attacking, and seemed to be gradually increasing the

distance.  

    "...What's that woman doing?"  

    "Don't ask me."  

    "Hey, Yamakawa! Where are you going? Hurry up and settle it!"  

    "I'm so sorry I can't stay longer,"  

    Ryoka said as she distanced herself.  

    "Fighting you here isn't planned. Let's save the real fight for next time."  

    "That's fine now."  

    "Now's not the time for that."  

    I doubt anyone would accept Akane's rude challenge, but as the White Kämpfer, she truly

had no desire to fight. Rika's thoughts were all about fighting.  

    I put aside Akane's dog -like chatter and asked.  

    "Hey, are you guys staying here too?"  

    "Please allow me to remain silent."  

    "If you're not staying at this hotel, why are you here?"  

    "Because there are people like you. Like bodyguards, I guess."  

    "Bodyguards...?"  

    My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of gunfire. Akane suddenly fired. Wow, right

next to my ear! What if my eardrum ruptures?  

    Ryoka tilted her head to avoid it, and Akane muttered, "Are you Rambaral?"  

    "If you want to fight, please move somewhere else. We'll meet again soon anyway."  

    "Wait, when do you say soon?"  

    I asked her, but she didn't answer. Backing away, I checked behind me.  

    Ryoka heard the sound. She turned and ran.  

    "Don't run!"  

    Akane fired, but Ryoka turned a corner and took off. We immediately gave chase.  

    We turned the corner. But there was only a swaying steel gate, no one there.  

    We stared at it for a moment.  

    "...Hey, Natsuru."  

    Akane nudged me with her elbow.  

    "What's going on?"  

    "Did you hear that just now?"  

    "...Yeah."  

    That was the only answer I could give; I had heard it myself.  

    "It must have been an illusion."  

    "Oh, really? And that figure from Sakura Kaede was also an illusion? Did you take drugs

and lose your memory?"  

    "How could a high school student do something like that?"  

    I distracted myself with these little arguments. Akane's foul mouth is still there, but she

probably needs to calm down, at least she didn't point the gun at me.  

    The voice that called Ryoka just now.  

    It was indeed Sakura Kaede.  

    Akane and I untransformed and returned to the original corridor.  

    I always feel heavy -hearted. Even my nerves, which can always think positively about

anything related to Sakura Kaede, seem to be a little worn out.  

    I returned to the restaurant without saying a word, at least to fill my stomach.  

    "It's so slow~"  

    We were greeted by a mountain of food and Kondou Mikoto's complaints.  

    "Alright, let's start eating."  

    "Sorry, we'll eat first."  

    It was Sakura Kaede who echoed Kondou Mikoto, eh!?  

    Akane and I were stunned. The person sitting on the chair was indeed Sakura Kaede, eh?

Then who was the one we lost in the corridor just now?  

    She tilted her head.  

    "Um...what's wrong?"  

    "Um... where were you up there, Sakura Kaede? We're here to pick you up."  

    "The restroom... I don't think I was there long. Sorry to bother you."  

    That's fine. By the way, could she possibly go around there and get back to the dining room

before us?  

    Akane's face was a puzzled expression. That's true. I was also confused.  

    "Please sit down,"  

    the president said calmly as always.  

    "What's the matter?"  

    "Um... well..."  

    I replied vaguely.  

    "I'll hear from you later. Let's eat first."  

    Yes, yes, yes, I get it.  

    Akane and I went to the food area and grabbed a variety of dishes. Because of the hallway

commotion, I thought the best dishes would be gone, but there were still quite a few left. I

checked, and the White Kämpfer wasn't there. So, what was going on?  

    Dinner went smoothly, if a little awkwardly, actually. Akane and I were both worried about

what happened, while Kondou Mikoto kept getting food, and Shizuku seemed lost in

thought. The key point is that Sakura Kaede is a fan of female Natsuru, not me, a guy.  

    "Natsuru -san isn't coming? We had plans to have dinner together."  

    Is she?  

    Shizuku said, chewing on a roast chicken.  

    "Looks like she went back. She said she didn't have an appetite."  

    "Ah—did Natsuru -san go back?"  

    Ah, Sakura Kaede's disappointment was obvious, and I felt lost.  

    "She said she might come tonight,"  

    Shizuku added subtly.  

    "Will she stay the night?"  

    "That's uncertain. There's extra expenses."  

    "I'll just pay for the accommodation."  

    Sakura Kaede is so gentle. Please share even a ten -thousandth of that gentleness with me,

a guy.  

    Dinner was over, and we decided to go back to our room.  

    But there was still time before night, even though it was already night, meaning before

bedtime.  

    Since it's a theme park, there should be some entertainment, fireworks or something.  

    "I think there'll be fireworks later,"  

    I asked, and Akane replied.  

    "I think we can see it from the room, but I'd rather see it outside."  

    "Yeah."  

    "Let's all play together before then,"  

    Shizuku said. It's so rare for you to bring up something like that.  

    "Outside?"  

    "No, in our room. It's probably bigger than yours."  

    With no other suggestions, we just went along with Shizuku's suggestion.  

    There's a convenience store on the first floor of the hotel. While it has everything, it's only

open until 11 PM. The fact that it's not open all night is a bit tricky.  

    We had to finish our shopping before closing, so Kondou Mikoto and Akane went

shopping. Kondou Mikoto  

    took the money from me (for some reason, I ended up paying for everything) and asked.  

    "Uh, Natsuru, what do you want to eat?"  

    "Anything's fine, snacks and juice."  

    "At least specify one."  

    "Anything's fine."  

    "That's a plastic bucket and a turtle brush?"  

    That's not food, is it? I remember there was this funny joke in Ishii Juichi's manga.  

    She seemed to have more to complain about, so I said, "Chips and soda." If she didn't have

any, I'd have to leave it to Kondou Mikoto to decide. I doubt she'd actually buy a bucket and a

brush.  

    Shizuku went back to her room first, and I waited in the hallway. A few  

    minutes later, the two of them returned, carrying food and drinks, disposable plates and

paper cups, but no bucket.  

    They carried plastic bags into Kondou Mikoto and her room.  

    The room had two beds and a tatami area. It was a nice touch; many elderly people

probably weren't used to sleeping in beds.  

    I spread out the bottles of drinks and snacks I'd bought, and the atmosphere was similar to

the last time I stayed over at Sakura Kaede's house. I poured drinks into paper cups and

toasted, though no alcohol, of course.  

    The window in this room was large, and it was already pitch black outside. If there were

fireworks, I'd be able to see them clearly from the room.  

    We chatted for a while, though there wasn't much to talk about.  

    As expected, the topic of conversation turned to school at this point, and after all the

detours, we finally got back to it.  

    The conversation was mostly about the girls' club: who got a boyfriend, who broke up,

which teacher was always giving them a sour face.  

    It was Sakura Kaede who brought up the topic. She was the one who, comparatively

speaking, enjoyed it the most. She apologized from time to time.  

    "Natsuru, I'm so sorry I keep talking about the girls' club. You might not understand."  

    "That's fine."  

    I didn't join in the conversation. It wasn't because I didn't know, but because I knew too

much. In a moment of triumph, I'd let slip something only girls knew, and my girlish secrets

would be exposed.  

    But Sakura Kaede was considerate and changed the subject.  

    But then Akane only talked about books and the library committee, while Shizuku's topic

would drift to the student council and the Japanese economy. Kondou Mikoto kept talking

about reptiles and the South American anesthetic monopoly, which was ignored .

    So, helplessly, the topic naturally turned to what had happened today.  

    Sakura Kaede said, grabbing some potato chips.  

    "Shizuku, was there a fight while we were swimming?"  

    "Ah, why do you ask?"  

    "I seemed to hear the sound of something breaking."  

    Startled.  

    A chill ran down my back. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I saw that although

Kondou Mikoto was still munching on her snacks, Akane's face had turned blue.  

    "Nothing happened,"  

    the iron -faced student council president replied.  

    "Really?"  

    "Did you hear any screaming? Normally, things would be pretty noisy."  

    "That's true."  

    "So it's nothing serious, maybe some equipment is damaged."  

    This woman lied without batting an eye, as always. It's amazing how she always makes

people accept "I guess so now that you put it that way."  

    Sakura Kaede didn't say anything else, instead saying, "Ah —I really want to meet the

female Natsuru -san," which put me in a very awkward position.  

    Everyone, including me, was sipping drinks one after another. At these kinds of events,

drinks are always sold out first, and the salty snacks make it even more so.  

    "Natsuru -san, help me get that."  

    "Oh."  

    "And that."  

    "Okay, okay."  

    I sat next to Shizuku, always being ordered around. Seriously, wouldn't it be better to let

the "Being Scolded by Shizuku -sama Club" handle this?  

    "Thank you,"  

    she poured two Cokes and handed one to me.  

    "This is a thank you gift,"  

    Shizuku gently kissed the cup before handing it to me. Wow.  

    Akane let out an "Ah," and Kondou Mikoto gasped, stiffening.  

    "Shizuku... so stylish,"  

    Sakura Kaede said.  

    "Really?"  

    "Shizuku has always been good at things you only see in movies."  

    "My parents made me watch a lot of movies and musicals. I guess they wanted me to be

an actress back then."  

    Her answer was lighthearted, but since she said "back then," it probably meant she had no

such ambitions. I wonder if she still wants to do comedians.  

    "But Shizuku has such a great figure, I think she could be either a model or an actress."  

    "I'm happy you praised me, but I'm not interested."  

    "That's a shame, Natsuru -san, you think Shizuku will have a great career in showbiz, right?"  

    "Well... I think she will."  

    I agreed, not just because Sakura Kaede said it; I felt the same way. With both her looks

and her brains, it would be easy for her to climb the ladder. Even in situations that require

political maneuvering, it seems like she'd be no problem. I feel lik e she could easily overcome

the traps set by other agencies.  

    Shizuku, sensing something from somewhere, turned towards me.  

    "Oh, Natsuru -san also suggested it to me."  

    "It wasn't a suggestion, I just thought you'd be perfect for it."  

    "Since Natsuru -san said so, why don't I give it a try?"  

    Are you planning to put the blame on me if you fail?  

    But Shizuku wouldn't fail, right? Not just an actor, but also a police officer, a bureaucrat, a

politician—she seems capable of anything. There's no such thing as a high school student.  

    Shizuku, sipping a Coke beside me, leaned towards me. Are you drunk? No alcohol.  

    "Um, can you help me get that?"  

    "Again. Is it this shredded squid?"  

    "Do they really sell this at the convenience store? ...That chocolate bar."  

    "Is it the square one?"  

    "No, it's this. Forget it."  

    She forced her hand past me. The two of us were stuck together, and anything worked, but

it was heavy.  

    "Hey, President, don't come any closer."  

    "It doesn't matter."  

    "It does."  

    Trying to push her away only made us stick closer. Damn, isn't this going to make me fall

too?  

    Sakura Kaede looked at us.  

    "...I felt that way when we were at the swimming pool. Shizuku and Natsuru -san are really

close."  

    "How could that be..."  

    "Yeah,"  

    Shizuku said as if to drown me out. Hey, what should I do if I'm misunderstood?  

    Sakura Kaede showed an interested expression.  

    "Ah, as I expected."  

    "It seems so. It's not like there's anything to hide."  

    No, no, no, I'd better hide it, or maybe it's all fabricated.  

    As usual, the atmosphere between Kondou Mikoto and Akane started to get sinister.

Kondou Mikoto was staring at me even though she wasn't drunk, and Akane was wilting like

a flower that hadn't been watered.  

    "Wait a minute, President,"  

    Kondou Mikoto interrupted.  

    "Don't say such weird things. Are you and Natsuru really that close?"  

    She said something inexplicable. Wasn't it you who started talking about Shizuku and me

in the first place?  

    Shizuku's expression was calm.  

    "Of course, you know about it, right, Kondou -san?"  

    "You know about it, I know... No, how could I possibly admit it!"  

    "It would be weird if you kept it a secret."  

    "Even though you and Natsuru were on a date..."  

    "Hey, Shizuku and Natsuru were on a date?"  

    Sakura Kaede was surprised. She said she didn't know about it, so I hurriedly said,  

    "Listen, that wasn't a date..."  

    "Yeah, we were. We went to the aquarium and had a lunchbox."  

    Shizuku actually said it first. Hey, stop messing around,  

    Sakura Kaede stepped forward and asked.  

    "Ah, are you saying Shizuku made it herself? Shizuku is really good at cooking."  

    "Yes, she did,"  

    she said, as if to say, "It's only natural." Kondou Mikoto's eyes widened as she listened,

while Akane looked like she might collapse at any moment.  

    "President, you even said this..."  

    "Kondou -san, didn't you hear what Natsuru -san said?"  

    "How could I have heard it? How could this idiot say it himself?"  

    She wanted to retort, "Who are you calling an idiot?", but it seemed like Kondou Mikoto

wouldn't listen and just stared at Shizuku.  

    "Hey~ Shizuku, how was your date? Did you enjoy it?"  

    Sakura Kaede just smiled innocently...very innocently.  

    "It was very fun."  

    "It's rare~ Shizuku is on a date. Who invited you?"  

    "It's me,"  

    the president said. Sakura Kaede cheered, "Ah~~!" and I wanted to yell "Ah~~" too.  

    "President!"  

    This isn't me, Kondou Mikoto. I was speechless; she almost rolled her eyes at the mention

of Akane. It seemed like Sakura Kaede was the only one enjoying herself.  

    "Kondou -san, calm down."  

    "I'm calm!"  

    "I can't tell. Let me tell you about my date with Natsuru -san."  

    "How can I calm down like that?"  

    "Ah~ I want to hear it!"  

    Sakura Kaede's ears had become like those of a little elephant, absolutely bulging. She

seemed determined not to listen.  

    "What did you do!?"  

    "Just a normal date."  

    "What do you mean by normal?!"  

    "We had dinner in the park and went for a walk together."  

    "Hey, Shizuku, you're just like a normal girl. I thought you were going to sit in on a seminar

or something."  

    It certainly sounded like something Shizuku would do. But I didn't have the mental energy

to agree. I was at a loss.  

    "No matter what, I wouldn't go on a date like this."  

    "And then, that..."  

    Sakura Kaede's eyes were like those of a mischievous child. Could it be...  

    "Did we kiss?"  

    Shizuku answered cheerfully.  

    "Yes."  

    "Ah~~!!"  

    Sakura Kaede danced with joy, and my heart was dancing. What is this guy talking about?  

    "Wait... Natsuru!!"  

    Kondou Mikoto's anger turned on me.  

    "Was what you said just now true!?"  

    "No... this, it's fake...!"  

    I tried to answer.  

    "No... or maybe I fell asleep and didn't know."  

    "He was sleeping on my lap."  

    "Knee pillow?!"  

    Kondou Mikoto was furious again. This was fake... but it wasn't.  

    My silence seemed to be taken as a tacit agreement. Kondou Mikoto's hand stretched out

to my neck.  

    "I should have stopped you breathing then!"  

    "Stop, hey!"  

    Doesn't this guy have any taboos about killing people? We are childhood sweethearts,

after all.  

    "Wait, Kondou Mikoto, listen to me."  

    "Go to hell and tell the King of Hell!"  

    "Don't kill me! I really don't know if we kissed or not!"  

    "Kondou -san, he's not lying."  

    Unexpectedly, Shizuku came to my rescue, her finger reaching for my throat still.  

    "...Really?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Shizuku said confidently. Sakura Kaede looked a little disappointed.  

    "...But you said we kissed..."  

    "We've kissed before that."  

    "...Huh?"  

    "The first time was at the cultural festival."  

    "Ah~!"  

    "Natsuru!!"  

    The first was Sakura Kaede, the second Kondou Mikoto. Me? I was busy trying to get my

nearly stopped heart to beat again.  

    Kondou Mikoto blinked like a goldfish on the surface of water, forcing a word out of the

back of her throat.  

    "What you said just now...was it true!?"  

    "...This..."  

    "It's true!?"  

    Oh, I really wanted the courage to deny it completely right now. I couldn't say anything

under pressure.  

    "You, someone like you, actually kissed..."  

    "There's nothing I can do!"  

    Ah, the sound came out.  

    "That's not what I was thinking! That was rape, the kind you'd win if I sued her!"  

    "A kiss is just a kiss!"  

    Oh no, I couldn't think of a rebuttal.  

    I racked my brains but couldn't come up with anything. Sakura Kaede looked at me with

amusement. Sorry, I didn't mean to betray Sakura Kaede, it was Shizuku who forced it.  

    "Hey, President!"  

    I yelled at the source of the evil.  

    "What are you talking about!"  

    "Isn't it true?"  

    "It's not about whether it's true or not..."  

    "We kissed in the preparation room for the cultural festival."  

    Don't make it sound so easy. Why are you so calm? At least be a little embarrassed.  

    Is this woman a demon? A fallen angel sent to send me to hell? There's no benefit in

letting me fall.  

    "It's still a kiss!"  

    As I pondered the demon, the demons started arguing nearby.  

    "Who are you? Are you dating?!"  

    "We're not dating..."  

    "We're not dating,"  

    Shizuku echoed. I was just thinking, "I'm saved," but it turned out to be impossible.  

    "Because we're dating now."  

    "Ah~!!"  

    Sakura Kaede seems very happy. She really loves the topic of love.  

    "That's amazing! Natsuru -san is the first one to get Shizuku to say that."  

    Is that so? I'm not happy at all.  

    "Are they in love?"  

    "No, that..."  

    "I'll give you my blessing."  

    All I can think about is Sakura Kaede's reserved seat. Not only that, it even has a sign saying

"Shizuku, no entry allowed."  

    But this rogue student council president paid no attention to any of this, simply entering

my heart and taking her seat calmly. How high -profile! Are you still a high school girl? You

should be more low -key.

    "Start dating... dating now...!"  

    It's strange, but right now, Kondou Mikoto is my only lifeline. Even when she's furious,

she's far superior to Shizuku. The enemy of my enemy is my ally, that's the theory.  

    "When did you decide on this?"  

    "A long time ago."  

    I couldn't figure out which of Shizuku's words were true or false.  

    "If you mean earlier, I was much earlier than you! We're childhood sweethearts!"  

    "That doesn't matter."  

    "It does matter a little!"  

    Good job, Kondou Mikoto. Keep going! Don't lose! Beat Shizuku. I seem to be pretty lame.  

    Kondou Mikoto's face flickered red and blue, looking miserable, while the student council

president's expression remained largely unchanged. Is this guy's face made of titanium?  

    "Kondou -san is surprisingly innocent, so shaken."  

    "No... no! It's just that as childhood friends, I don't allow the Natsuru to be so unethical!"  

    "So, if we're not just kissing but also dating, then that's even more unacceptable?"  

    "It's not allowed now! Kissing isn't allowed in the Natsuru!"  

    Anyway, that's a bit unreasonable.  

    Shizuku seemed to have a similar thought.  

    "Kissing's okay, Natsuru -san's lips are actually very soft, don't you know?"  

    "What... how could I know that? And you sneaking around is the most unforgivable!"  

    "Then do it openly."  

    As soon as I finished speaking, Shizuku's hand hooked around my neck. Huh?  

    I was suddenly pulled in, leaving me no chance to protest. By the time I realized it, my lips

were already blocked by Shizuku's.  

    "Mmmmm --!"

    was all I could say. Shizuku's lips completely sealed my mouth, and I couldn't move. Hey,

hey, hey, you rapist president, give me some... wow wow wow wow wow, your tongue is

sticking in my mouth!?  

    "Hmm! Hmm!"  

    I struggled, but Shizuku's grip on me was tight, and I couldn't break free. Hey, I can't

breathe.  

    I heard Sakura Kaede's voice.  

    "Shizuku... how dare you..."  

    "President, Natsuru! Separate us!"  

    Kondou Mikoto leaped over and forcibly separated Shizuku and me. I was saved.  

    My childhood friend stood there with her eyes drooping.  

    "President! Why are you doing this in public...?"  

    "Didn't you say we can't sneak around?"  

    Shizuku didn't change at all, and I, too traumatized, couldn't even boast.  

    "You don't mean we can just do this openly! What was that just like?!"  

    "Kondou -san is really short of breath."  

    "Generally, everyone gets angry, right? It's not just me, look at Akane too..."  

    Wow, oh, Akane too. Kondou Mikoto alone is troublesome enough, but once Akane

transforms into a fierce dog, it's impossible to handle. Everyone will be swimming in a sea of

blood.  

    But there's nothing from Akane, not even a reaction.  

    Kondou Mikoto looked surprised.  

    "Akane?...Akane!"  

    Kondou Mikoto rushed over in a panic.  

    Of course, there was no response; Akane had already fainted.  

    Anyway, let Akane lie down on the bed in this room. She wasn't foaming at the mouth or

hitting her head, so she should wake up soon. If she died like this, I think not only Shizuku but

I might be held accountable too.  

    Meanwhile, Kondou Mikoto was still fuming.  

    "Ah—I saw something disgusting, I really want to wash my eyes."  

    She was truly sorry. But it wasn't my fault.  

    "Natsuru, could you please be more restrained?"  

    "Why me? Go talk to the president."  

    "The president isn't the type to just listen to what she's told."  

    I don't think that's entirely true; she has to make her own judgment and accept it before

taking action.  

    But that kiss just now was nothing; I felt like fainting too.  

    "...Why are you so calm, President?"  

    "Would it be better to panic?"  

    Shizuku asked back. This guy is too calm.  

    "Kissing in front of others?"  

    "I don't mind."  

    "At least be considerate of the onlookers. Someone fainted."  

    "Kondou -san, are you coming too?"  

    "Don't...don't be ridiculous!"  

    Kondou Mikoto roared, her face flushing red. I felt the same way.  

    "But be careful, Natsuru -san will stick his tongue in there."  

    "Hey hey!?"  

    "Hey, it's the president sticking her tongue in there, right?...Ah!"  

    Kondou Mikoto glared at me.  

    "You guys even French kissed —!!"

    Kondou Mikoto looked like she was about to burst into flames, but thankfully she didn't

transform into Charizard. Spit flew everywhere.  

    "Ugh, that's terrible! We're so far behind. I wonder what's going on? The fireworks haven't

started yet."  

    Kondou Mikoto checked the clock. It was still early. It seemed like the fireworks were

deliberately scheduled late in the summer so that only the guests staying overnight could see

them fully. It's true that most guests are more concerned about the las t bus.  

    To change the subject, I continued Kondou Mikoto's words.  

    "You've seen fireworks, right?"  

    "They're not often seen in the Middle East. It's a different story in the rich, oil -producing

Gulf states. We usually see them right in the middle of the desert, fighting and stuff."  

    Your experience is still so bold.  

    "So I want to see the Japanese fireworks."  

    "Oh~"  

    I poured the barley tea from the bottle into Kondou Mikoto's cup. Just a small thank you

for what I said earlier.  

    "Ah, that's all."  

    The bottle was completely empty, the paper cup only half full.  

    "I'll go buy it,"  

    Sakura Kaede stood up.  

    "I'll go too,"  

    I said, but was stopped.  

    "No, please sit down. It's my turn to buy things now."  

    The ability to say such things so naturally and heartfeltly is Sakura Kaede's charm. Beauty is

in the eyes of the beholder? So what?  

    Sakura Kaede walked out of the room with her wallet. Then Kondou Mikoto said,  

    "Ah, did she have her keys?"  

    "The keys are right there,"  

    I pointed to the small table beside the bed.  

    "We're all here, so it's okay."  

    Akane moaned, "Hmm..."  

    "Are you awake?"  

    "I'll call her."  

    I tried to get closer, but Shizuku got there first. She was holding a bottle of Pocari Sweat.  

    "Are you awake, Akane?"  

    "President..."  

    Akane dazedly opened her eyes.  

    "Hmm..."  

    "Can you get up? I think drinking this will help."  

    Showing her the bottle, Akane nodded ambiguously.  

    "Drink..."  

    "Can you get up?"  

    This time, she shook her head.  

    "Really?"  

    Shizuku unscrewed the bottle cap and took the drink inside.  

    Then, surprisingly, she brought her lips close to Akane's.  

    "...Wa..."  

    "...Where's Sakura Kaede?"  

    "Shopping,"  

    Kondou Mikoto said.  

    "Let's meet downstairs,"  

    Shizuku said.  

    "How can we contact her?"  

    "She has her cell phone."  

    This guy must know Sakura Kaede's number; they're good friends. It's so sad that I didn't

know.  

    Sakura Kaede actually wanted to know my female phone number, along with my email

address. Maybe I should have just given her my male phone number back then.  

    Akane and I went back to our rooms. It wasn't winter, so there was no need to dress

warmly, but I changed my socks anyway, for no apparent reason.  

    Akane rummaged through her bag, as if searching for something.  

    "What's wrong?"  

    "I'm looking for... my digital camera. I remember bringing it..."  

    I heard it's quite powerful. Her father is a photography enthusiast, so I borrowed it from

him.  

    "Then I'll go out first."  

    "Sorry... you go down first,"  

    I did as she asked. It didn't matter, but why wasn't the Entrails Animal there? Was it in the

bath again?  

    I walked into the hallway, but Shizuku and Kondou Mikoto hadn't emerged yet. It seemed

like men were overwhelmingly quicker in getting ready.  

    I was standing there, doing nothing. Then,  

    "Natsuru -san..."  

    Someone called me from the hallway. Oh? It was Sakura Kaede. "Have you finished

shopping?"  

    She waved at me. "Okay, okay, I'll be right there." But it was rare; I'd never seen Sakura

Kaede call anyone over.  

    "Have you finished shopping?"  

    I asked.  

    For some reason, Sakura Kaede smiled but didn't answer. That smile was plastered on her

face. Was that the way Sakura Kaede smiled?  

    She had nothing in her hands, wasn't she shopping? Or did she mean she wanted to go to

the convenience store with me?  

    "Natsuru -san..."  

    "What?"  

    "Let's go together..."  

    "Convenience store?"  

    "No, to the fireworks..."  

    Of course we were going, everyone was going. Even ignoring Shizuku, Kondou Mikoto, and

Akane, I made sure to sit next to Sakura Kaede.  

    I looked back, but the other girls hadn't come out yet.  

    "They'll be here soon, and then..."  

    "Hehe, no."  

    Huh? Did I say something weird?  

    "Natsuru -san and I... two people..."  

    "...Huh!?"  

    I was startled. There are only two of us, Sakura Kaede and I. And it's not the female me,

but the male me. What happened? Is it going to snow? It's too unexpected and I'm almost

confused. Let's call Higashida over and have him take a picture of this.  

    Sakura Kaede smiled slightly.  

    "I'm not kidding...are you unwilling?"  

    "No, no, no, I'm not unwilling. I'm more than willing...but is Sakura Kaede okay?"  

    As an unpopular boy, I couldn't help but ask this question. But Sakura Kaede still didn't

refuse me.  

    "It's Natsuru -san..."  

    Wow, such dreamlike words.  

    I agreed without hesitation. It felt like Bon Festival and New Year's Day had arrived

simultaneously, even though Bon Festival was almost here.  

    "Let's go just the two of us..."  

    "What about them?"  

    "Leave them alone, I don't want anyone to get in our way..."  

    Yeah, that's true. I'd regret it forever if Shizuku and the like interrupted such a happy time.

As expected of Sakura Kaede, she's so thoughtful.  

    She extended her hand.  

    "Please hold it, don't let go..."  

    Yeah~ That's fine.  

    I was ecstatic from the bottom of my heart, but I pretended to be calm as I shook Sakura

Kaede's hand.  

    That hand was strangely cold.  

Translator's Notes

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

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