Kämpfer:Volume 8 Chapter 1

Volume 8, Chapter 1  

    Sakura Kaede's hands were cool, clearing my slightly bewildered mind. I remember the Red

Bull slogan: "Tired, sleepy, drink Red Bull!" It seems Sakura Kaede's hands have the same

effect; they're truly numbing.  

    She kept smiling, watching me.  

    "What's wrong...?"  

    Sakura Kaede tilted her head slightly. Something about her tone struck me as eerie.  

    "Are you so reluctant to be with me...?"  

    No, no, no, not even a hint of reluctance. I was actually quite happy. This must be a reward

from God, because I've been such a good kid lately.  

    As you know, I, Natsuru, am a sophomore in the men's division of Seitetsu Academy High

School. I admire Sakura Kaede, also a sophomore in the women's division.  

    Sakura Kaede is the woman before me now, a beautiful, elegant, and traditionally beautiful

girl. Her indiscriminate kindness towards everyone has made her the most beautiful girl at

Seitetsu Academy. This number one is my benchmark. While the public mi ght vote for

Student Council President Shizuku, that scheming woman is a no -brainer. Hey? You

mentioned a beautiful woman whose popularity is rapidly rising? We'll discuss that later.  

    So, Sakura Kaede and I went to a theme park where we could play in the swimming pool.

Technically, it wasn't Sakura Kaede... but that doesn't matter. Then, after this and that, things

progressed to a nighttime fireworks display. We  

    were supposed to go with the other group, but Sakura Kaede suggested going alone with

me—with a charming smile.  

    "I want to watch it with Natsuru -san."  

    "Yes, yes."  

    "It would be nice to watch it alone with Natsuru -san."  

    "But those guys..."  

    "Those guys" refers to Shizuku, Akane, and Kondou Mikoto —the ones who were

supposedly trying to disrupt our honeymoon. Just call them "those guys." While calling them

that feels a bit conscientious, it's unavoidable for the sake of our close relationsh ip. Just

accept it, Akane.  

    "Let's go,"  

    Sakura Kaede held out her hand again.  

    "If we don't go now, it'll be too late..."  

    "..."

    "What's wrong? You're not going?"  

    "I'll go."  

    My silence wasn't due to hesitation, but rather to my intense focus on imagining the

heavenly scene that was about to arrive. A single man and a single woman watching

fireworks together at night —just thinking about what would happen was enough to make

me blissful.  

    "I'll go, I'll go anywhere I want with Sakura Kaede,"  

    she smiled. "The ends of the earth," I said, not a lie. I've always been obedient to Sakura

Kaede, and now I felt compelled to obey. Even if she said, "There's been an accident on a

Soviet nuclear submarine. Please go to the emergency shutdown system, dressed like this," I

would have done it. The only thing I cared about was that the Soviet Union had collapsed.  

    "Well then,"  

    Sakura Kaede took a step, and I followed.  

    Normally, I'd walk beside her, but this time, I chose a spot slightly behind her, the

atmosphere dictating it. If it were Shizuku, I'd hear a bunch of lechers would scramble to

follow her, carefully careful not to step on her shadow. It was really stra nge. We  

    walked out. It was getting dark, but the visibility was still good. But it would soon be out of

sight.  

    "That's it."  

    "Hmm..."  

    My mind was full of thoughts of spending the night with Sakura Kaede. You see, it's

nighttime. It'll soon be pitch dark, so it's best to sit side by side, watching the fireworks,

saying, "It's getting a little chilly," "Hmm," and then putting our arms around each other's

shoulders. Then Sakura Kaede leaned over to me and quietly squeezed my hand. I squeezed

back, of course. Under the fireworks, Sakura Kaede's beautiful face looked even more

beautiful. A conversation like this might have ensued: "What ar e you doing?" "I'm so

mesmerized." "Fireworks...?" "No, you." The atmosphere grew increasingly charged. Even

though it was summer, there was a slight chill, but our passion burned fiercely. "Why don't

we go somewhere else?" "Okay... preferably somewhere wi th few people." "Why?" "Because

I'm embarrassed." Then we went to bushes, behind buildings, places where no one could see

us... Ah~ we don't even need fireworks, right? There were  

    a lot of people outside, and Sakura Kaede nimbly navigated the crowd. I kept bumping into

people, as I was locked in a heated debate about how to control the timing of closing my

eyes during a kiss.  

    "Why don't we sit there..."  

    Sakura Kaede pointed to a clearing near the bushes. Sitting there would indeed be a clear

view of the fireworks, and most importantly, the bushes. This must have been an invitation.  

    She took out two handkerchiefs and spread them on the raised concrete.  

    "Please sit down,"  

    she said. Great, a real neighbor.  

    This happened back in junior high. The seat next to Sakura Kaede was as valuable to men

as an oil field. Sakura Kaede was a beauty, and the phrase "Sakura Kaede was beautiful" has

been undisputed ever since. You probably know from that that Sakura Kaed e and I were

classmates in junior high, right? I've mentioned that before.  

    So, whenever it was time to change seats, there would be threats and kneeling begging

around the seat next to Sakura Kaede. But generally, the seat behind her wasn't the one

everyone coveted, but the one behind her. It was closer, and you could always see Sakura

Kaede's back; it was even called a "sightseeing spot." A man with a male personality would

definitely covet the seat in front of Sakura Kaede, finding pleasure in being stared at all hours

of the day... It's beyond my comprehension. Of  

    course, being next to her is better than being behind her; it's close enough for physical

intimacy. She told me to sit, and I sat.  

    My heart pounded as I sat down, and Sakura Kaede followed suit.  

    Our bodies were pressed tightly together, wow~ my heart was pounding, and my body was

tense and stiff. If it was Kondou Mikoto, I wouldn't want to sit next to her, if it was Akane,

there would be almost no chance, and if it was Shizuku, I would be nerv ous in other ways.

Sakura Kaede's words were literal, and my innocent heart felt nervous.  

    A lot of people were gathering from all directions, it looked like it was about to start.

Shizuku and the others should be among the crowd, but it doesn't matter.  

    I felt the gazes and turned my head, wow, Sakura Kaede's face was right in front of me.  

    "S-Sakura Kaede...what's wrong?"  

    "Huh?"  

    She tilted her head slightly,  

    "Can't I look...?"  

    I always felt that her voice sounded very seductive, like the proprietress of a club, although

I have never been there.  

    "No, it's not that I can't..."  

    "That's fine, isn't it?"  

    Sure, I could, but I always feel like I'll get eaten if I'm not careful... No, no, no, I'd be

perfectly content to be eaten by Sakura Kaede.  

    Sakura Kaede just stared at me, the word "stare" so vividly recreated that I felt like a flea

under a microscope. Is my face really that weird?  

    Speaking of weird, when we were little, Kondou Mikoto used to scold me, "Your facial

symmetry is weirdly distorted." Now, it's escalated to, "Your distortion is god -level," and she

never lets up. She might mutter something like, "It's weird that I'd be  attracted to your

distorted face," but I'm not fooled.  

    Beep, beep, beep~~ music started, signaling the start of the fireworks show.  

    I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the front. Oh, yes, that's the purpose of my trip.  

    Speakers installed throughout the park began to announce things like, "Don't wander

around after dark," "Don't litter," and "Please keep your belongings safe." These were so

outlandish! If a theme park didn't broadcast them, I'd probably get complaints . When

Shizuku stole my lips in the room earlier, I wanted to sue the hotel. There's no point treating

a woman like that as a guest. Just find me someplace to lock her up.  

    Then the music started again, signaling the start of the fireworks.  

    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, bang.  

    Huge, colorful fireworks exploded in the night sky. Even though it was still a little light, the

fireworks were still clear to see. By the time they were done, it would probably be

completely dark.  

    Another one. This time it was a regular round one. I'm sure after two or three more, there

would be some strange, multicolored fireworks.  

    As I was thinking about this, a firework that looked like the face of a theme park mascot

exploded. Honestly, the fidelity wasn't very good, and the design itself was rather bizarre, so

I couldn't quite make sense of it. If it had been a Kyoto -made electric mouse or an American

black mouse, the kids would have liked it more. Although, that would have landed the

president of this place in jail.  

    Then, several more fireworks went off in quick succession, like a bombardment scene from

a war movie. Cheers of "Wow!" and "Ah!" emanated from the audience, their flashes

occasionally flashing from digital cameras. But is there any point in using a fla sh at this

distance? I remember Higashida saying that just switching to night photography mode would

be enough.  

    I stared at the fireworks with my mouth open like an idiot. Don't you think your mouth

naturally drops open when you raise your face? Mine does.  

    At that moment, I felt a slight discomfort on my cheeks.  

    I tilted my head slightly, and the woman of my dreams was still staring at me.  

    "Eh!? Sakura Kaede...!?"  

    "...What's wrong?"  

    There was a chill in her calmness, just like Shizuku.  

    "Have you been staring at me..."  

    "Yes,"  

    she replied unwaveringly.  

    "I've been staring at Natsuru -san the entire time. Is that okay?"  

    "No...it's okay,"  

    I replied, of course. What else could I say?  

    Of course, I was still a bit hesitant. Normally, I'd believe everything Sakura Kaede said. If

she said, "I'm watching you," things would escalate to going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get

married that very day. But now, I didn't feel that way at all.  Instead, I felt like a grasshopper

about to be preyed upon by a mantis.  

    "Heh,"  

    Sakura Kaede laughed, perhaps.  

    "You seem scared, Natsuru -san. How strange."  

    "Yeah... yes. I find it... strange too."  

    I couldn't help but use honorifics. Actually, there was no need for that.  

    Sakura Kaede's eyes remained fixed on me. Everyone's attention was clearly focused on

the crackling fireworks, but Sakura Kaede didn't even glance at them. I felt like I was

mesmerized, unable to take my eyes off hers.  

    For some reason, looking into Sakura Kaede's eyes made my head spin, as if I were staring

into a kaleidoscope. Could it be a hypnotic effect?  

    "Am I... that scary?"  

    "How could I..."  

    "Yeah."  

    "Not at all..."  

    "Yes."  

    This conversation was a bit strange.  

    Sakura Kaede's gaze pierced my skin like needles. Oh no —a chill ran down my spine.  

    "Um, um, Sakura Kaede."  

    "..."

    "Sakura Kaede...?"  

    "...Hmm?"  

    "How about, talk ?"  

    "Do you want to talk?"  

    "No, I was wondering if Sakura Kaede had something to say to me."  

    The conversation was a bit lame, but it was genuinely terrifying.  

    Sakura Kaede's gaze remained fixed.  

    "Talk...let me think."  

    It sounded like she was searching for a topic just because I asked her.  

    "...What do you think of Shizuku?"  

    "Eh...eh?"  

    "Shizuku."  

    She was referring to the student council president, of course I knew. I was surprised she'd

asked that out of the blue.  

    "You asking me what I think...it's nothing."  

    "I want to hear your honest opinion."  

    I was lost.  

    Sakura Kaede and Shizuku have been friends for a long time. She must know her better

than I, who'd only just started interacting with her. And the fact she was asking about "my

current self" was surprising.  

    Now, the explanation is a bit confusing. I'm Kämpfer, and I can transform into a woman.

And I'm a stunning beauty, so beautiful that I've been voted one of the "Three Beauties of

Seitetsu." And Sakura Kaede has a crush on that woman, me.  

    In other words, she's not interested in men, so she probably doesn't care what I think of

Shizuku. Besides, recently... actually, just today at the hotel, she said something ominous,

like,

    "T-truly...?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Sakura Kaede's tone was coquettish, but it was undeniable.  

    "Please tell me."  

    Bang! The first fireworks illuminated us.  

    Time went back a little.  

    Kondou Mikoto had been frantically slumped in the hotel lobby.  

    "Ah—good god, what the hell is that jerk doing?"  

    This jerk, needless to say, was referring to Natsuru. They'd agreed to go get ready

individually, then reunite and watch the fireworks together. Kondou Mikoto was the first to

leave her room and go downstairs, but Natsuru wouldn't show up.  

    "Akane, what's Natsuru doing?"  

    "This is the tenth time you've asked me that question..."  

    Akane replied, her head bowed. A weak -willed girl to begin with, she was also worried.  

    "It doesn't matter if I ask you ten or twenty times, right?"  

    "It doesn't matter... Kondou -san, you're... worried too."  

    "Huh? I'm not worried about that guy... It's just, well... how should I put it, um... I don't

want to miss the fireworks, that's all,"  

    Kondou Mikoto said hurriedly. Then, as if urging Akane on, she patted her back hard.  

    "So, what about Natsuru? Did he have a heart attack somewhere?"  

    "Please don't say anything weird... Natsuru -san was clearly out of the room before me..."  

    Natsuru had left long ago at Sakura Kaede's invitation, so of course they didn't know about

it.

    "Did he go to the bathroom?"  

    "Maybe..."  

    "Really, that idiot is always so slow."  

    Kondou Mikoto pouted, and Akane opened her mouth into an O shape.  

    "Is that so...?"  

    "Yeah, he's been like this since we were little."  

    "Ever since then..."  

    "Yeah, he's always causing trouble for me, your childhood friend."  

    "...You know so much about his bathroom routines."  

    "Um...ah, no, no, no, no, that's not true!"  

    Kondou Mikoto panicked and waved her hands in denial, then finally realized how strange

her words were.  

    "I don't know about his bathroom routines, that's not what I meant. I mean, he's always so

slow."  

    Kondou Mikoto felt her face getting hot. Although they were childhood friends, they had

never used the bathroom together.  

    "Whether it's eating or being chased by a dog, I'm always faster than him. It's so

embarrassing even though I'm a man. If I run so slowly, it will be very troublesome when I'm

chased by armed guards in the diamond mine."  

    "I don't think ordinary people will encounter such a bad situation..."  

    "Having that, there will always be a situation like escaping from the mountains in South

America carrying coffee beans. Agility is very important. Oh, and the same is true when

taking a bath with him. That guy always stays in the bathtub. I wanted to g et out a long time

ago but he was still dawdling..."  

    Kondou Mikoto stopped here because she found that Akane's eyes were filled with tears

and her mouth was pointed.  

    Akane said resentfully,  

    "Are you bragging...?"  

    "No, I'm not bragging. It's just something that happened in the past, and I'm just

reminiscing..."  

    "Why does it sound like bragging? Even though you're childhood sweethearts..."  

    "T-T-T-No, that's not uncommon."  

    "I don't have a male childhood sweetheart."  

    "Is... is that so?"  

    "The one is Natsuru -san, I'm so envious..."  

    "Ah... wow..."  

    Kondou Mikoto glanced around. The crucial Natsuru hadn't shown up yet. Actually, Shizuku

was there, but she looked indifferent. It wasn't that she was ignoring them, it was that she

genuinely had no interest.  

    "...It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."  

    Kondou Mikoto was momentarily stumped before pulling herself together.  

    "I-I'm his childhood sweetheart. We bathed together, four times."  

    "Even remembering the number...that's too much..."  

    "So annoying! That's something even the president doesn't have. It's my advantage."  

    She said, checking Shizuku's expression out of the corner of her eye, but she had a "so

what" expression —she seemed to be listening.  

    "So, uh... it's my victory."  

    "Why is there a winner or loser? How despicable!"  

    "That's it! This is how the world works! Trading contraband with Middle Eastern tribes is

much more brutal!"  

    "I don't care about that kind of thing...!"  

    Beneath her breath, Kondou Mikoto couldn't back down at this point. The verbal exchange

between the two was about to escalate.  

    "Wait, just stop it."  

    At the perfect moment, Shizuku burst in.  

    "Weren't you talking about Natsuru -san not coming?"  

    "...Is that so?"  

    Kondou Mikoto shifted her thoughts. How could it have turned out like this?  

    "Uh... So, President, have you seen Natsuru?"  

    "No, I don't know if he went to the bathroom."  

    "You forgot about that trouble, so where is that guy..."  

    Though only slightly, a hint of unease still crossed her face. Kondou Mikoto might be a high

school student, but she'd experienced it all and possessed a certain amount of courage.

However, anything involving her childhood sweetheart made her concerned . If what

happened was that the ruby's raw stone was swindled away by the middleman, she would

readily decide whether to give up or to get it back.  

    "Kaede is not here either."  

    Shizuku said.  

    "Come to think of it,"  

    it didn't seem like she was approached anywhere. The two of them disappeared together

without a trace.  

    "Ah, Natsuru brought a cell phone, right?"  

    "...This."  

    Akane took out a simple cell phone, the same one Kondou Mikoto also remembered.

Natsuru's cell phone that would soon run out of battery.  

    "That guy is really stupid to the bone. Isn't the cell phone meaningless like this?"  

    "It's out of battery..."  

    "Tell him to buy a new one later."  

    However, a cell phone here means no means of communication. In modern society,

encountering such a situation would become very inconvenient.  

    "President, Sakura Kaede's cell phone..."  

    "I'm calling."  

    Shizuku pressed the ultra -thin black phone to her ear, a perfect match.  

    She listened in silence for a moment.  

    "...Isn't answering it?"  

    "Is it turned off?"  

    "It's ringing, is it on vibrate?"  

    "What should I do?"  

    "What should I do?"  

    If she were truly missing, the police would have to be called in, but they were Kämpfers,

their battles outside the law. If they were defeated, it would be a big deal.  

    "Could it be a fight with White Kämpfer?"  

    "That's a possibility,"  

    Kondou Mikoto asked casually, and Shizuku unexpectedly agreed.  

    "The tourists are all focused on the fireworks, so a little intense fighting won't matter."  

    "Then we have to help him quickly."  

    "But that doesn't mean we can't contact Kaede."  

    "That's right..."  

    Kondou Mikoto crossed her arms, thinking. It was strange that not only Natsuru and Kaede

were missing, but it was also strange that they were missing. What were they doing? Was it

something shameful? And why was she so worried?  

    Akane asked in panic.  

    "Well... could Natsuru -san and Sakura Kaede be alone..."  

    "It's possible... but,"  

    Kondou Mikoto said.  

    "Forget about the transformed Natsuru. Sakura Kaede has no interest in male Natsuru. It's

definitely not like they'd be anything more than good friends. Going somewhere together or

anything like that is out of the question."  

    "So, could Natsuru -san become a female..."  

    "Hmm..."  

    Hearing her say that, it wasn't out of the question. Kaede would be incredibly enthusiastic

if the target was a female Natsuru.  

    "Let's go find them,"  

    said Shizuku, her phone already put away.  

    "Although it's a little awkward to ask, where should we find them?"  

    "Outside."  

    "Huh?"  

    "The fireworks are about to start."  

    "Of course, we're going to see them."  

    "Natsuru -san and Kaede will definitely be there too. They might already be in the crowd

outside."  

    "Well, that's generally the case... But what if he's attacked by the enemy Kämpfer? They

might be fighting right now."  

    Kondou Mikoto felt a lingering sense of unease and anxiety. Though she never said it out

loud, she desperately didn't want Natsuru to get hurt. Even though she could fight a snake

barehanded, she still had a girlish sentimentality about that, and the r eason was self -evident.  

    "There's no point in being too anxious."  

    "Aren't you worried?"  

    "There's no point worrying now. Besides, don't you think it's more likely they're already

outside?"  

    "Hmm..."  

    Even so, coming from such a calm and composed beauty, it felt rather dull, like a little brat.  

    "Let's go. If we want to look for them, it's best to do so before the fireworks start."  

    With that, Shizuku led the way out of the hotel and headed towards the theme park.  

    The sky was already darkening, and Natsuru happened to be looking at the same view, but

the three of them were oblivious.  

    Kondou Mikoto kept scanning her surroundings.  

    "Ah... he's not there?"  

    "Is he not there?"  

    Akane asked, but she couldn't find him.  

    "Where the hell is that guy?"  

    "I hope he's not wandering around..."  

    Humans, when they've made plans but haven't met up, have a habit of wandering around.

Even if you tell them to stay put, they'll wander off as they please. It doesn't matter to the

person involved, but it will be painful for the person looking for him.  Besides, there was no

specific appointment today, so finding  

    him would be quite difficult. "Whether it's Natsuru -san or Kaede, I'll be relieved if I find

one of them,"  

    Shizuku said. Kondou Mikoto nodded.  

    "Why don't we just shout loudly?"  

    "You're not an elementary school student."  

    "That's what you do in the mountains."  

    Even Kondou Mikoto, who never cared about other people's opinions, felt a little

embarrassed to do so in a theme park.  

    "Let's split up and look. We have cell phones anyway."  

    "That's fine, but President, the fireworks are about to start."  

    "So we have to hurry and tell me your number."  

    Shizuku, Kondou Mikoto, and Akane exchanged phone numbers. They had never

exchanged before, and there was no need to.  

    Shizuku had already walked to the left, and Kondou Mikoto spoke to her back.  

    "Remember to call me if you find him."  

    "Ah, it'd be nice to just watch the fireworks with Natsuru -san."  

    "Wait, don't be like that!"  

    "Just kidding, for now."  

    "Woo --"

    Shizuku started walking again, impressed by her decisiveness and swift action.  

    Kondou Mikoto had extensive experience exploring secret places overseas, so she was

confident in her ability to act.  

    "Akane, let's go there."  

    "Hey... shouldn't we split up and look..."  

    "Four eyes are better than two. Let's find Natsuru and teach the president a lesson."  

    "Okay, okay..."  

    Although Kondou Mikoto was younger, she had a leadership demeanor.  

    She leaped over the back of a bench and hopped through the crowd, searching for

Natsuru.  

    He wasn't there. Heads were lined up like cabbages in a vegetable field, but there was no

familiar figure.  

    An announcement began to ring in the stadium, announcing the fireworks were about to

go off, but it looked hopeless. The two leaned against the streetlight, catching their breath.  

    With a whoosh, the first firework exploded.  

    Cheers and applause, the red color of the fireworks reflected on their faces.  

    "...I'm so worried,"  

    Akane said, and Kondou Mikoto replied.  

    "I'm worried too."  

    "...Why are you the same as me?"  

    "I'm worried about something else that's different from him."  

    Akane turned to Kondou Mikoto, tears still welling in her eyes.  

    "Are you saying that to deliberately antagonize me...?"  

    "...Why would you even think that?"  

    "Because you're his childhood sweetheart, Kondou -san. Um, didn't you and Natsuru -san...

all sorts of things happened?"  

    "Wait, you're being too pessimistic. We bathed together, but nothing good ever happened.

I'm really disappointed."  

    "Is that so..."  

    Akane caressed her chest, and even from the look of her nose, she felt relieved.  

    "Don't be so relieved."  

    "Because, I don't have any advantages like Kondou -san or the president... If Natsuru -san

abandons me, I'm doomed... Ah."  

    As if suddenly remembering something, she fell silent.  

    "?"

    Akane averted her gaze, refusing to speak. She even blushed.  

    "What's wrong?"  

    "Nothing..."  

    "That's weird. Did something good happen?"  

    "...No."  

    "That's too suspicious."  

    Kondou Mikoto grabbed Akane's shoulders and turned her towards her.  

    "What's it? Is it about Natsuru? Tell me."  

    "Well, no..."  

    "Confession is treated leniently, resistance is treated harshly. I learned interrogation

techniques from the Turkish police, and their methods are quite brutal."  

    Under pressure, Akane's face twitched.  

    "Well, well... I once asked Natsuru -san... what type of girl he liked..."  

    "So what? It was Sakura Kaede, right?"  

    "Well... so I asked him about his choice after Sakura Kaede."  

    "Oh... and then?"  

    "...me."  

    "Huh?"  

    "I-I'm his type..."  

    Akane seemed weak but also a little proud. Kondou Mikoto felt the blood rushing to her

head.  

    "Huh? You're his type, Akane?"  

    "He, he said so, it's me..."  

    "You're kidding, aren't you!?"  

    "It's true!"  

    Akane replied firmly, her previous weakness long gone. The  

    words "fake" and "real" kept turning around in Kondou Mikoto's mind.  

    "That guy... didn't he say he liked Sakura Kaede?"  

    "So, besides Sakura Kaede, it's me he likes..."  

    "Wow —"

    A strange sense of defeat hit her, like a long -coveted treasure from a ruin being snatched

away by a nearby kid.  

    Until now, Kondou Mikoto had been reassured that only people with quirks like me would

have a crush on idiots like that. While touring ruins abroad, she'd thought, "If Natsuru gets a

girlfriend, I'll run around South America naked," and she never felt the slightest bit of

unease. The facts never betrayed her conviction. After returning home, Natsuru continued to

mutter "Sakura Kaede, Sakura Kaede" in his sleep.  

    Unexpectedly, rivals have appeared at once. With Shizuku, a beauty anyone would envy,

and the bespectacled girl, Akane, Natsuru, now also experiencing romantic luck, it seems like

swords are about to rain down from the sky.  

    Shizuku is one step ahead, and Kondou Mikoto is completely focused on her —as a rival, of

course. She schemes day and night to figure out how to get ahead of her.  

    However, if Natsuru's type is Akane, the situation will be completely different. Natsuru

always asserts that Shizuku is "not her type," so Kondou Mikoto hasn't felt any sense of crisis

yet.

    What should she do now? The mere mention of "liking" is too depressing. Wouldn't she be

relegated to the sidelines again?  

    "Let Akane die here..."  

    "Hmm?"  

    "Ah... nothing,"  

    she blurted out carelessly.  

    Akane tilted her head. It seemed the word "die" had gotten through, the seemingly

dangerous word had been heard.  

    Kondou Mikoto racked her brains, and as if not wanting to lose to fireworks, she spoke

with a purposely loud voice.  

    "Well, um..."  

    "Hmm?"  

    "Why don't we split up and look for her separately? Since we  

    both have phones." "Of course we can... but not just together  

    ." "I've changed my mind,"  

    Kondou Mikoto said, her tone emphasizing her.  

    "Let's just search independently. That way the world will be more peaceful." Without

waiting for a reply, Kondou Mikoto left, leaving Akane bewildered and abandoned.  

    After finally grasping the situation, her emotions were complicated. Previously, Kondou

Mikoto had dragged her here and there, and now she was being left alone. That wouldn't

have been a big deal, but no matter how you think about it, it was Natsuru. A pparently, the

words "I'm Natsuru's type" had irritated her, causing a noticeable change in her attitude.

Akane, naturally gentle and kind, didn't seem offended by this. Instead, she couldn't help but

think, "Kondou -san is so cute, even jealous."  

    Even so, she couldn't fall behind in the Natsuru matter.  

    (We need to do something.)  

    That being said, what should we do? Even though she admitted to being a poor student,

her enthusiasm was far from diminished.  

    After pondering for a moment, an answer emerged.  

    (I can find it myself.) I should  

    find Natsuru first. It's not about doing whatever I want after I find him; I just need to get

ahead of them. Finding Natsuru first will probably help to distract them.  

    It was a bit weak, but for Akane right now, it was already quite impressive.  

    Having decided on a plan, she had to get started. She glanced around, jogging forward.  

    Squeezing into the crowd, fireworks blared overhead. Since most people were standing or

sitting, it was relatively easy to spot someone. But it was pointless if she didn't get close.  

    (Natsuru -san, Natsuru -san...)  

    It was like a treasure hunt. The first person to find the treasure wins, and this inevitably led

to the idea of victory and defeat.  

    (Where on earth... ah?)  

    She covered her mouth and saw a group of boys in the distance. She remembered the

most conspicuous one: Higashida from the boys' club, meaning they were members of the

Bishoujo Research Society. She  

    instinctively tried to avoid them. It wasn't that she was doing anything wrong, but it was

just awkward to see them. She had never been good with boys to begin with; the only

people she could get along with were her father and Natsuru, and now she had fallen to this

point. Just as she was at a loss for what to do  

    , Higashida turned his head.  

    Their eyes met.  

    They were at a distance that was palpable to both of them. Akane prayed that Higashida

wouldn't at least remember her name, but that was impossible. Higashida had a

photographic memory for every girl's face and name.  

    (What should I do...)  

    What if Higashida approached with a smile (though that wouldn't be a bad thing) and

asked, "Are you alone now?" or "Let's watch the fireworks together?" Akane would be

completely at a loss. Facing this "attacker," Akane was completely vulnerable.  

    Higashida seemed to want to wave, but bad luck!  

    Akane quickly hid behind a nearby vending machine.  

    "...Ah!"  

    She exerted force on her right hand, and her body began to glow. Normally, one should be

aware of what others were saying, but thankfully, everyone's attention was focused on the

fireworks.  

    She had transformed into Kämpfer.  

    "Huh..."  

    Her clothes remained the same, but not only her height, but other measurements had

changed somewhat, making her movements a bit awkward. She  

    felt strangely irritated. She had transformed to change her appearance, but Higashida had

seen her transformed before. Why go to such lengths to find Natsuru? It's clearly the fault of

the guy who suddenly disappeared.  

    "That idiot, he just messes around,"  

    Akane muttered softly, striding out from behind the vending machine.  

    Higashida was nearby, apparently having come here specifically, his hand still in the air, his

expression still smiling. He was visibly stunned when he saw Akane.  

    "Huh, what?"  

    "Yo, fuck!"  

    Akane's delivery was rude, but that was normal for her now.  

    Naturally, Higashida looked incredulous.  

    "Long time no see... uh..."  

    Although he'd seen Akane in her transformed state, he didn't know her name.  

    "Uh, you idiot, if you have something to say, just say it."  

    "We've met before, right? Your name is..."  

    "Names don't really matter."  

    That was only half true. It was inappropriate to say "Akane" here, and half was just too

much trouble.  

    The other boys behind Higashida looked over, but they seemed wavering, confused. They

were surprised by the sudden appearance of this frivolous woman.  

    Higashida began to explain,  

    "Um... this is a friend of Natsuru..."  

    He faltered at this point. While it was certainly difficult to introduce, Akane wasn't

understanding at all.  

    "You can call me whatever you want,"  

    Higashida thought for a moment.  

    "Then the Big Sister."  

    "Huh? Am I some gangster's mistress? Think again."  

    "Big Sister..."  

    "Isn't it the same thing?"  

    "I feel like a dog..."  

    "You want to say the same thing as Natsuru!"  

    Akane kicked Higashida in the thigh with her right foot. He muttered, "It hurts," but his

face was dazed.  

    "...You, boy, do you feel good?"  

    "Hmm, ah..."  

    A closer look revealed that the members of the Bishoujo Research Society were also

excited, and some men looked at Higashida with envy.  

    Akane tilted her mouth and scratched her head repeatedly.  

    "Really? Why does Natsuru only know people like this?"  

    "Excuse me, is Natsuru also quite a dominatrix?"  

    "Are you suddenly using honorifics?"  

    "Unconsciously,"  

    Higashida replied, presumably implying that being a dominatrix can satisfy his quirks.  

    "I don't know if Natsuru is a dominatrix, but he's the king of perverts. He just follows

dominatrixes around like a bitch."  

    "Ah, as expected."  

    "What are you guys doing here?"  

    "We're here to watch the fireworks."  

    "Fireworks? Your goal is to secretly take photos of women engrossed in the fireworks,

right?"  

    A whisper of "How did she know?" emanated from the Bishoujo Research Society.  

    "Where's Akane...?"  

    "What do you care where she is?"  

    She was right in front of him, but there was no point in telling him.  

    "Ugh —" After a low moan, Higashida didn't pursue the matter further and turned to other

questions.  

    "Speaking of Big Sister, isn't Natsuru here?"  

    "So you call her Big Sister?"  

    "That's a good name."  

    It felt like they had formed a group.  

    "That idiot Natsuru disappeared, talking on his own. I'm looking for him..."  

    An idea suddenly struck her.  

    "Hey, hey, do me a favor."  

    "Oh"  

    "Natsuru should be somewhere in the park, find him for me."  

    "Is he watching the fireworks?"  

    "That's probably it. It's too much trouble to find it alone."  

    "Got it,"  

    Higashida nodded readily, then continued,  

    "Uh—in other words,"  

    "Fuck it!"  

    "Can you give me a reward?"  

    "Huh?"  

    Akane looked puzzled, while Higashida was delighted.  

    "Can you give me a reward after you find Natsuru... or more specifically, can you kick

me..."  

    "You, you brat..."  

    Akane couldn't help but panic. Higashida was a top -notch M. Even the other boys started

saying,  

    "Please beat me up!"  

    "I want a beating."  

    "Please call me 'you bastard'!"  

    Everyone's eyes sparkled, and they excitedly approached Akane.  

    Higashida spread his arms to stop them.  

    "Wait a minute, Big Sister's the first one to punish me!"  

    "Higashida, you're so mean! Big Sister should be shared by everyone."  

    "Yeah, yeah, I want to get kicked too."  

    "I want to be tied up shirtless and left all night."  

    The intensity of the M -style escalated, and the bachelors, their faces filled with pleasure,

must have been filled with all sorts of fantasies. The sound of fireworks only added fuel to

the fire.  

    Akane was speechless for a moment, but then she quickly realized.  

    "Ah—I know, I know! I'll satisfy you all, so find me something!"  

    "Prepayment..."  

    "There's no prepayment! If you want to get kicked out, find Natsuru!"  

    Higashida and the Bishoujo Research Society replied "Yes!" and dispersed.  

    "Really..."  

    Akane sighed, then waved her arm, and a pistol appeared in her hand, the "gun" Kämpfer

ability.  

    "Natsuru bullshit! If you're capable, go mess around with Sakura Kaede, and I'll give you

this," she  

    muttered softly.  

    Sakura Kaede's lines kept spinning in my head.  

    "Uh..."  

    I wet my tongue. "You can say all the bad things you want about that damn student council

president, but Sakura Kaede happens to be a good friend of hers, so hearing her badmouth

her wouldn't be a good thing." If a third party had asked me, I'd have al ready criticized her

with all my might. Shizuku, you're such a lucky woman.  

    "How should I put it... she's perfect for student council president, a very capable third -year

student."  

    Sakura Kaede listened silently, but for some reason I felt the urge to say something more.  

    "She's smart, and a beauty... Both students and teachers think highly of her, the perfect

person."  

    "...that's all?"  

    "...huh?"  

    Sakura Kaede leaned closer.  

    "That's all?"  

    "Well, what else could it be..."  

    "I'm asking you, Natsuru -san, what do you think of Shizuku?"  

    Please, what does this...mean?  

    Sakura Kaede smiled faintly, a seductive expression emerging amidst the darkness and

fireworks.  

    "It's literally what it means."  

    "Oh, oh..."  

    I was still nervous.  

    Honestly, facing Sakura Kaede right now, I'm just nervous.  

    "Didn't I ask you guys at the hotel? Are Shizuku and Natsuru -san dating?"  

    "Yes..."  

    "Shizuku said they were about to start dating..."  

    Sakura Kaede licked her lips, wow, like a snake.  

    "I want to know Natsuru -san's feelings."  

    "My, my, my feelings?"  

    "Yes, about Shizuku, what do you think of Natsuru -san?"  

    I repeat, I don't like Shizuku. Think about it, she's a rapist, so scary, and she's older than

me. She's a beautiful woman, but not my type. If I admit that here, wouldn't it be betraying

my love for Sakura Kaede? I'm a longtime member of "Honey" (Kaed e Fans). Even though I

just made up that organization.  

    So I shook my head.  

    "I don't have any feelings."  

    "Really?"  

    "How could I possibly have any feelings for her?"  

    "...Really?"  

    "Of course... I'm not interested in Shizuku, that's why I don't like her."  

    "Oh..."  

    Sakura Kaede smiled faintly, but what she said next really surprised me.  

    "How boring..."  

    ...Huh?  

    I couldn't help but look towards Sakura Kaede. Um, what did you say?  

    "Very boring."  

    Her smile and face remained at a distance from me.  

    "I hope you like Shizuku more, Natsuru -san."  

    "Why...why..."  

    I don't want to. If I showed any affection for her, I'd be swallowed from the head.  

    "Because Shizuku likes Natsuru -san..."  

    "How could that be possible..."  

    "I'm really sorry, even if you said it, Sakura Kaede, I still find it hard to believe.  

    How could Shizuku possibly like me...I've stressed this countless times lately. Someone like

her would naturally be more suitable for dating the sons of oil tycoons or older IT

professionals, using their funds to start her own company.  

    Akane, Kondou Mikoto, and White Kämpfer all said so, but I absolutely don't believe it. Her

taking my lips was rape, and the longing she displayed was just to make her tease me more

effective afterwards, a form of punishment game.  

    Women are such cruel creatures, they love to deceive men like this and then flaunt it like a

medal. Readers, don't be fooled.  

    If that's the case, couldn't I have just turned her down when Shizuku asked me out? That's

what I said, but this is a matter of personal relationships. It'd be terrible to get bullied at

school if I did something wrong, like having thumbtacks stuck in your shoes.  

    I denied it again.  

    "How could that be..."  

    "It's true,"  

    Sakura Kaede said with certainty, albeit a bit mechanical.  

    "Shizuku really likes Natsuru -san, and Akane and Kondou Mikoto... Natsuru -san, you're

really popular."  

    Here we go again, please don't make fun of me. I shook my head.  

    "Impossible."  

    "No, Natsuru -san, you've vaguely noticed everyone's affection, haven't you?"  

    "..."

    It's more like she didn't notice than she didn't want to know. I only like you.  

    Sakura Kaede smiled.  

    "Well, none of that matters."  

    "That...?"  

    "Natsuru -san?"  

    Sakura Kaede's voice trailed off. Everyone around her was focused on the fireworks, which

were crackling and the radio playing. She lowered her voice even though she didn't have to

worry about being heard. Even so, I still heard it clearly.  

    "Why don't you just fall in love with Shizuku?"  

    "...Huh?"  

    A rather lame voice slipped out.  

    "So, I hope you'll fall in love with Shizuku."  

    "Why, why, why, why?"  

    Why?  

    Liking Shizuku is like standing naked in front of a lion and saying, "Please eat me." As long

as Shizuku is willing to be eaten by her at any time, anyone who has such thoughts will be

"scolded by Shizuku as a member of the club."  

    Besides, I don't even want to look at any other woman besides Sakura Kaede, because

looking at other women means being unfaithful. It may not be apparent on the surface, but

my view on love is very innocent.  

    "Please fall in love with her"  

    "That's too..."  

    "Please fall in love with her"  

    You're not listening to me.  

    "So...why..."  

    "That way, we can defeat Shizuku."  

    "...Huh?"  

    "Don't you understand?"  

    I'm completely confused.  

    It's strange that anyone could understand in this situation. Sakura Kaede's explanation is

ambiguous, and fireworks are loud. Ah, we're here to see fireworks, so calling them loud

seems a bit unreasonable.  

    "Then I'll tell you,"  

    Sakura Kaede slowly puts her mouth close to my ear. Wow, it tickles.  

    "So...Shizuku is a nuisance to us."  

    "...?"  

    "Shizuku is smart and strong."  

    I understand that. She's the type whose IQ and motor skills are directly connected. And

she even displays abilities beyond what's expected of a student council president. She's

simply inhuman.  

    "So we're in a bit of a pickle. We finally managed to get Red and Blue to fight."  

    "Uh..."  

    "If this goes on, everything we've done will be wasted. Thanks to Shizuku, that's what I

think."  

    Sakura Kaede's voice sang into my head, melting my nerves, so I could only grasp a few of

the hidden meanings in the lines.  

    I tried to rethink my thoughts, but there was no need. I couldn't have been more grateful

to be melted by Sakura Kaede's words.  

    "Uh... you mean... we?"  

    "Oh, do you care?"  

    "No... not really."  

    "Hehe, I'm not alone, it's 'we'. But Shizuku is also a problem for us."  

    "Could it be... White Kämpfer..."  

    "It's unclear."  

    Are you trying to keep me in suspense? Just say "yes."  

    Sakura Kaede's mouth has been constantly in my ear since a while. Her breath tickles me,

and her hand on my back allows me to feel her warmth. Ah, is this heaven? It must be.  

    "We can't fight in this world, so we need proxies. Kämpfer exists for this purpose, and the

viscera dolls are the ones who deliver the orders."  

    "..."

    "So far, everything's been going smoothly. Distributing the viscera dolls and having them

fight as Kämpfers, you'd think things would go smoothly from here on out."  

    My mind was still a blur. I couldn't understand anything I heard. It was all mumbling, uh —

one plus one equals two, two? Three wouldn't be a big deal.  

    The words continued like a hypnotic drug.  

    "So we made Shizuku a Kämpfer, but unexpectedly, she started investigating and refused to

go along with the flow."  

    "..."

    "To be honest, someone like Shizuku might have value as a Kämpfer, but being too smart

can be tricky. Now she's working against us, so at this point, you'd probably be thinking

about what to do with her, right?"  

    "No... this..."  

    What's that?  

    Part of my mind (which was currently turning into a tofu) barely grasped the dialogue.

Uh... so Sakura Kaede and the president are enemies?  

    "Please don't get me wrong... I like Shizuku very much."  

    My thoughts were seen through, so scary -

    "It's Shizuku who wants to be hostile to us, which will be very troublesome for us, so we

hope that Natsuru -san will help us."  

    "Uh... help..."  

    "Yes, please like Shizuku."  

    "So... why... why"  

    "Shizuku is very fascinated by you, Natsuru -san. Now she seems strong because of your

attitude, Natsuru -san. If you, Natsuru -san, like her, Shizuku will definitely collapse."  

    An incredible assertion. She whispered gently in my ear like tickling, but the tone was so

strong that I couldn't resist.  

    "So please like Shizuku and make her yours."  

    "Becoming mine..."  

    "So you mean by forcing yourself on me."  

    "How...how do you do that?"  

    "Oh...you want a girl to say it?"  

    "No..."  

    "Hehe,"  

    she laughed disdainfully, so lewdly.  

    This...doesn't it just mean that she wants that? It's okay to do something like that, isn't it?

Generally speaking, it's a crime, a criminal offense.  

    "Natsuru -kun, didn't Shizuku forcefully kiss you, too? Just think of it as an extension of

that."  

    "After all..."  

    There's no such thing as an extension. This theory is like saying that since you've already

stepped on an ant, killing it doesn't matter —that's it.  

    "No way..."  

    "Just think of it as a counterattack."  

    "You're kidding..."  

    "Shizuku won't sue, and she might even get caught up in it."  

    Generally speaking, she wouldn't get caught up in it. That guy has such a strong sense of

pride that she'll never forget it. Either a lawyer will show up at my house one day to demand

civil damages, or the police will come and take me away. Unless I fl ee to Alaska, I'm doomed.  

    "That's absolutely impossible..."  

    "Shizuku is the type who's completely defenseless around guys she likes, so it's okay."  

    I couldn't tell.  

    "Is it impossible?"  

    "This... Uwaaa!"  

    I cried out in pain. Sakura Kaede licked my ear.  

    "Natsuru -san is so cute, your voice is just like a girl's,"  

    she chuckled. Anyone would react to someone's ear being licked unexpectedly.  

    "Well, if Shizuku becomes yours, I'll give you a reward."  

    "Reward...?"  

    "Yes."  

    My face was suddenly grabbed.  

    Sakura Kaede's hands pulled my face towards her. Though her strength wasn't great, I

couldn't resist.  

    "Please look at me."  

    "Uh..."  

    Upon closer inspection, it looked different from Sakura Kaede's usual self. There was

something dark lingering in her aura, something not typical of a high school student. Had she

been replaced?  

    "Please look into my eyes."  

    "..."

    I couldn't look away. Even if Sakura Kaede hadn't said anything, I'd have been staring at

her.

    Her eyes were dark, a bottomless black. A hazy, endless darkness. Human pupils can be so

deep.  

    I can even feel my consciousness being sucked in.  

    What's going on? I feel like I'm being taken somewhere deep down. She's clearly not

supposed to go, but she can't let go of my hand. It's natural, as it should be.  

    "You understand what I mean, right..."  

    "..."

    "...Is that it?"  

    "You'll do what I say, right?"  

    I always do whatever Sakura Kaede says. Something feels off.  

    My head is spinning. I feel like I have to obey everything, but it doesn't seem like it.  

    "Please listen to me."  

    "...Yeah."  

    "You absolutely can't tell Shizuku about this, but please fall in love with her and bring her

to us."  

    "..."

    "...Hmm...what should I do? Should I fall in love with that girl who's as cold as liquid

nitrogen? But since Sakura Kaede said so, it must be right.  

    Sakura Kaede's words are sinking into my mind, and...  

    suddenly her hand tightens.  

    "...Hey!?"  

    Inching closer. Wait, wait, Sakura Kaede, too close.  

    "...Do you hate me?"  

    How could that be?  

    "Then please do as I say. If you fall in love with Shizuku and conquer her, I'll reward you."  

    "How...?"  

    "Like this..."  

    Sakura Kaede's lips approached mine.  

    The ritualistic music of "GJ!" and the alarm of "Danger!" echoed simultaneously in my

head.  

    At this rate, Sakura Kaede's lips would touch mine, meaning a kiss. The fantasy I'd been

dreaming about was about to come true. How could I not be happy?  

    But this development was a bit strange. Just like my earlier fantasy, I should have ignored

the summer heat and said, "It's a little cold," "It's okay with Natsuru -san." I should have

created a good atmosphere and then reached the destination. Now, how  can I put it? It's like

a dog being fed.  

    Thinking about it, this is worse than a dog. It's a form of coercion, and the unreasonable

demand that I fall in love with Shizuku is unacceptable.  

    But then again, kissing Sakura Kaede is a sweet temptation. It's as sweet and beautiful as a

swan made of sugar. Those unpleasant memories with Shizuku will be forgotten. So

refreshing~ My soul's first kiss is indeed Sakura Kaede's.  

    Her lips edged closer, and I waited anxiously, or perhaps it was because I couldn't move.

Well, it's okay not to move; I'm a non -resistance person.  

    The closer her lips get, the slower she moves. It's not like I'm a spaceship traveling at near -

light speed, so hurry up!  

    Bang, bang! The fireworks reached their climax, launching one after another as if for a

grand finale. The audience clapped. None of that mattered; what was truly important was

what was before me.  

    "That's the reward..."  

    It was so close, I could almost touch it with my tongue. Just as that frivolous thought

crossed my mind,  

    my vision went dark.  

    Kondou Mikoto strode forward.  

    Though not as fierce as the transformed Akane, her eyes were fierce, and the atmosphere

was distinct. It wasn't quite as sharp as a bite, but it was more than enough to scratch.  

    "Natsuru, where are you —!"

    she called out, trying not to disturb others but still with enough force. A nearby couple

shuddered in fear.  

    In her mind, Kondou Mikoto had already settled on the worst -case scenario: that Natsuru

and Kaede were already together.  

    (Natsuru invites Sakura Kaede, and the two of them mess around... No, no, no, that coward

wouldn't be that enthusiastic.)  

    But what about the other way around?  

    (Sakura Kaede invites Natsuru, and they sit side by side... and the two of them chat

enthusiastically, ignoring the fireworks...)  

    The image of Natsuru and Kaede happily watching the fireworks flickered in and out of her

mind.  

    (And then Sakura Kaede says, "Natsuru -san, please look at me," and then they kiss, kiss,

kiss, kiss...!)  

    Though it was all just her imagination, the terrifying thing was that it was almost true. And

she, blindly, believed it.  

    (To just throw her childhood sweetheart aside like that... unforgivable!)  

    Rage flared, and even the smallest matter involving Natsuru made it hard to calm down.  

    Her knuckles crackled.  

    (Heavenly punishment...)  

    "Kondou -san,"  

    someone called, and she turned to see Shizuku.  

    "What's going on...ah, President?"  

    "Have you found Natsuru -san?"  

    "Not yet. Where's the President?"  

    "No."  

    For a moment, Kondou Mikoto wondered if the President was hiding something from her,

but it seemed she hadn't. Finding someone in this sea of people was truly difficult.  

    "...Where is that guy, and what is he doing in such a short time?"  

    "Who knows?"  

    "...You're so calm."  

    Kondou Mikoto looked at Shizuku.  

    "President, aren't you worried?"  

    "What are you worried about?"  

    "Natsuru and Sakura Kaede, think about it... how should I put it... a dark and windy night, a

man and a woman alone, what if..."  

    Shizuku expressed all her worries, but she was remarkably calm.  

    "Kaede and Natsuru -san? What could happen? Kaede wouldn't have such intentions...ah,

Natsuru -san, a woman, is hard to say, but he won't transform, will he?"  

    "That's true, but Natsuru might be doing this and that?"  

    "If Natsuru -san was so proactive towards women, I wouldn't have put so much effort into

conquering him."  

    Shizuku's bluntness left Kondou Mikoto bewildered.  

    "President... I think I should ask, what do you mean by 'hard work'?"  

    "Oh, Kondou -san, you saw what I did in my room, didn't you?"  

    Kondou Mikoto was speechless. A clear image of Shizuku and Natsuru kissing passionately

flashed through her mind.  

    For some reason, her ears felt hot.  

    "Yes, President!"  

    "Why?"  

    "Oh, I almost forgot, you're my rival too!"  

    "Rival?"  

    "So, Natsuru's... well..."  

    Shizuku raised her lips.  

    "I'm glad you consider me your rival."  

    "Of course."  

    Despite the conversation, Kondou Mikoto knew that Shizuku was currently ahead. Not only

had they gone on a date, but they'd kissed, while she couldn't seem to even remember

holding hands.  

    "At least I have the advantage of having a childhood sweetheart."  

    "Yeah, I'll have to work hard too."  

    "If you work harder, it'll bother me," Kondou Mikoto muttered to herself.  

    Naturally, the two of them turned to Natsuru. It was slow, but there was nothing they

could do. It was better than being ahead.  

    Several fireworks had already been set off, and the theme park was bustling with activity.

Looking for someone at this hour was a complex matter.  

    "...President?"  

    "What's wrong?"  

    "Why are you so obsessed with Natsuru?"  

    "Kondou -san, aren't you obsessed?"  

    "Don't answer questions with questions."  

    "I think the question just now was the answer."  

    Hmm, she was at a loss for words.  

    Actually, there was no need to ask. Looking at Shizuku's behavior towards Natsuru up to

this point, there was only one answer. Even after all this, she's still unsure, like, how should I

put it, checking to see if she locked her door twice before leavi ng.

    "With someone like you around, doesn't our chances of winning be slim?"  

    "Not saying you can't win is very Kondou -san's style."  

    "She's both beautiful and so smart, don't you think that's unfair?"  

    "I've never been proud of my looks."  

    That was true. Kondou Mikoto had just returned to school, so she didn't know, but no

matter who she asked, they would answer, "The president never flaunts her beauty." The

hype surrounding the three beauties of the Seitetsu group was just bystanders.  

    "A beauty like the president would quickly submit to you. He's a man who simply can't

resist status."  

    "You asked that before, but unfortunately, you were wrong. Natsuru -san doesn't submit to

me at all."  

    "Really?"  

    "Yeah, if he'd just come to me on his own, I wouldn't have done this."  

    "Really? If he'd come to me, you'd have been able to conquer Natsuru even further, right?"  

    Shizuku chuckled.  

    "Possibly."  

    "You're kidding."  

    "But it's the first time a guy has ever gotten me this far. That's true."  

    (I think so, too) Kondou Mikoto thought. The president, who gave the impression of having

no interest in men, would actually go all out. The calm pressure was even more powerful.  

    "You're actually capable of that?"  

    "It's simple. Just a little decisiveness."  

    "Not most people have that."  

    "Then from now on, it's in my favor."  

    I don't want that. And Shizuku continued.  

    "But the fact that you're my childhood friend is also a plus, Kondou -san."  

    "That's all I have."  

    "Having a beautiful childhood sweetheart is great, isn't it? I don't have that advantage."  

    "He doesn't realize it, does he?"  

    Since they're childhood sweethearts, they should go out together, go home together, or

something like that, but he had no intention of doing that. She even thought if he kept

ignoring me like that, she'd just go to Turkey for excavation research.  

    "But Natsuru -san is so relaxed with Kondou -san, but never with me."  

    "Is he afraid of you?"  

    This isn't limited to Natsuru; all the students at Seitetsu Academy are more or less

intimidated by Shizuku. Kondou Mikoto, with her extensive social experience, isn't

particularly intimidated.  

    "Maybe,"  

    Shizuku muttered, seemingly to herself.  

    "I actually tried hard,"  

    Kondou Mikoto muttered. Though only for a moment, a shy, self -conscious expression

crossed Shizuku's face. It was only for the brief moment, illuminated by the fireworks, but

she was indeed shy. The contrast between her usual stoic demeanor and the har dened face

of a news anchorwoman was stark.  

    She couldn't help but say it.  

    "…Wow, just like a girl."  

    "I'm a girl."  

    "President, you'd be more suited to being a mercenary captain or something."  

    "Being born in Japan doesn't make that any sense."  

    "…Speaking of which, you've made it this far, so why isn't that idiot Natsuru interested in

you?"  

    Setting aside personal feelings, I do think so. Of course, it's lucky for Kondou Mikoto, but

it's like a big fish swimming towards you, saying, "Please eat me."  

    "If I were a man, I'd probably choose you as the guildmaster. It's a bit pathetic to say it

myself."  

    "Maybe it's because Natsuru -san likes Kaede."  

    "Sakura Kaede doesn't give a shit about him. Why is he so persistent...Sakura Kaede likes

him, even though she's a girl."  

    "Boys' thoughts are so unpredictable... But he also likes you, Kondou -san, right?"  

    "Me? Impossible."  

    "Like I said, Natsuru -san is most relaxed when he's with you."  

    "But if you put it that way, Akane is better than me. I heard Natsuru's type is her."  

    For a moment, Shizuku stopped moving. Though it was so subtle that even Kondou Mikoto

couldn't detect it.  

    "...What?"  

    "I heard that besides Sakura Kaede, his type is Akane. I was surprised when I heard that

just now... Hmm?"  

    Kondou Mikoto couldn't help but look at Shizuku.  

    She stopped walking, her eyes fluttering anxiously from side to side. This behavior was

truly unlike her.  

    "President?"  

    Shizuku replied after a moment.  

    "...So his type is Akane..."  

    "Yes, that's what you said."  

    "That's going to be tough."  

    Shizuku's expression was unusually heavy.  

    "What's tough about that?"  

    "Akane and I are the exact opposite, right? If someone like that were his type and a rival, it

would be quite a hassle."  

    "...I guess I could be considered your rival, too."  

    "Of course, even one rival is too many... Let's hurry up and find one. I don't want Akane to

get ahead of me."  

    "Hey, President..."  

    Kondou Mikoto asked timidly.  

    "What's going on?"  

    "Are you anxious?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Shizuku admitted readily.  

    "Where the hell did that pile of cow dung go?"  

    Akane muttered, unbelievably a line from a high school girl, crossing her arms.  

    She crunched the pocky she'd brought and stamped her foot impatiently. She could go

look for him, but then she wouldn't be able to hear Higashida's report. They hadn't

exchanged phone numbers, and receiving daily texts and calls like, "Please bully me, " "Please

trample on me," would only cause her blood pressure to spike.  

    A few men approached the anxious Akane, but they all backed away after a glare. Seeing

that look in her eyes, they probably expected her to be bitten to death, and that was

probably the right call.  

    (What should I do after I find that guy...)  

    Anyway, I'll just shoot him in. It might kill him instantly, so I'll have to avoid vital areas. As

he writhes in agony, I'll stomp on him, then kick him. Then, whatever else I'm doing, it

depends on my mood.  

    (Well, if I really kill him, I'll have nightmares, so I have to pick someone who'll make him

suffer for the rest of his life...)  

    "Big sister, I found him!"  

    Higashida yelled, running towards them, as if he'd discovered a new world. It was not in

vain that so many people were mobilized, as they found it so quickly.  

    "Where is it!?"  

    Higashida pointed in the direction they came from.  

    "There!"  

    "Really? Well, let's go and kill him."  

    To her, the trigger of a pistol was lighter than a feather, and she was absolutely serious.  

    "Is he alone?"  

    "Uh... seems to be with someone... That's Sakura Kaede, right?"  

    "What did you say!?"  

    Akane grabbed Higashida's collar. Although Higashida was a little taller, Akane still lifted

Higashida up with anger.  

    "Is he with Sakura Kaede!?"  

    "Seems... seems to be..."  

    "Seems, what the hell, give me more specifics!"  

    "It's Sakura Kaede. Although it's dark, I remember the face of the girl from Seitetsu..."  

    "Good job,"  

    Akane put Higashida down, sparks coming out of her eyes.  

    "That bastard, I'm going to kill him,"  

    Akane was about to sprint.  

    "Well, well..."  

    Higashida said cautiously,  

    "For my reward..."  

    "Huh? We'll talk about it later. I'll give it to you after I kill that guy. Don't worry."  

    Higashida's expression lit up.  

    "Really?!"  

    "Really? My face, anywhere. I'll do it. Wait."  

    Leaving the fluttering Higashida aside, Akane took off.  

    She checked the pistol, gripping it tightly with her right hand, ready to fire at any moment.  

    Her murderous intent was always serious.  

    The blackness before my eyes was a fleeting judgment, a result of my body's own whims.  

    I was avoiding Sakura Kaede and kissing the floor, so it would be strange if it didn't.  

    Meanwhile, my right wrist glowed, a sign of transformation. It wasn't my own will, but

rather a trap being drawn by the other Kämpfers.  

    Before falling, I forced a glance back.  

    A kusarigama was passing right where I'd been.  

    "What a pity! I missed it."  

    The girl pulled back the kusarigama and stuck out her tongue. It was Ryoka Yamakawa, the

violent, lolita -shaped girl.  

    "Don't move! I'm going to chop your head off this time."  

    Why would I let you do that?  

    Anyway, I fled into the bushes, then extended my right hand and emitted a magical flame. I

didn't really want to use it in a crowd. Well, it doesn't matter; they'll probably mistake it for

fireworks.  

    The kusarigama flew over again, firing with controlled force.  

    They collided in mid -air, and the kusarigama landed in a fiery blaze. Ryoka pouted.  

    "Just go die!"  

    "Fuck you!"  

    I was only a sophomore in high school, and I hadn't even kissed Sakura Kaede yet, though

that scene was a bit weird.  

    Ryoka sauntered over, giggling like a rational killer, happily walking the fine line between

normalcy and madness.  

    "Ryoka, I haven't chopped off anyone's head yet."  

    Neither had I.  

    "So, let me do it."  

    She was already broken. Would the rage within her, now that she was a Kämpfer, also

erupt?  

    Of course, my response was,  

    "I refuse."  

    "Eh—why?"  

    "Who says 'OK, you go ahead!'?"  

    "That's what you said to Ryoka."  

    "Even more so."  

    "Then I'll do it myself."  

    The kusarigama flew over, this time from above.  

    "Ouch!"  

    The chain whirled, falling like a tornado. Unable to aim quickly, I rolled away.  

    "Damn it! Hold still!"  

    "Didn't I say no?"  

    "Ouch!"  

    The sickle snagged my pants. Ah, it had ripped off by about ten centimeters, and I had only

just bought these.  

    Of course, Ryoka didn't care. Not only did she not care, she was laughing, "Woo

hehehehehe." Hey, hey, hey, don't laugh so scary.  

    I finally got up, but Ryoka's hands were merciless.  

    "How about this?"  

    The kusarigama flew at me again, and this time I also wanted to shoot it down from the

front.  

    The fireball launched... but the kusarigama landed and leaped up.  

    "Wow!?"  

    The sharp tip of the blade pressed against my throat. Damn, was this guy really going to

chop off my head?  

    "Go to hell!"  

    I closed my eyes.  

    A gunshot rang out, and the kusarigama was shot down.  

    "Damn it!"  

    Standing diagonally behind Ryoka was Akane. The one who shot down the kusarigama was

the fierce dog girl.  

    "Akane!"  

    I naturally let out a reassuring sound. Even if it's just a dog, it's always nice to have a

companion.  

    But Akane was gritting her teeth.  

    "Hey, you little girl. Don't meddle in other people's business. I was aiming at Natsuru, but it

went off the target."  

    "Huh? So you were aiming at me!?"  

    Akane's gaze turned towards me.  

    "Nonsense, I'm going to kill you right now, so just stay still."  

    "Why are you going to kill me too!?"  

    "I'll tell you the reason after you die. I'm getting mad just talking to you."  

    That's too unreasonable.  

    Speaking of which, the bulldog girl's mind is full of logic. I almost forgot that this guy is a

gun maniac. That's not right. Why are there more enemies? If you think about it calmly, this

is too weird.  

    Ryoka was still pouting.  

    "No, he's my prey, Ryoka."  

    "No, he's mine."  

    "Don't mess around, first come, first served."  

    "I've wanted to kill him for eight hundred years."  

    "He's Ryoka's anyway!"  

    "Then you go die too!"  

    Without a second thought, Akane pointed her gun at Ryoka and pulled the trigger.  

    The bullet flew straight at the loli -sized girl.  

    "Ah!"  

    Ryoka dodged, clutching her head. Alas, she managed to dodge it. Turning into a Kämpfer

really makes her a lot more agile.  

    "What are you doing, little dog!"  

    "So annoying! This guy's my prey!"  

    "Ryoka, come and kill him! Dogs, get out of the way."  

    "How dare you call me a dog, you idiot!"  

    That's what I usually curse in my head.  

    The two of us faced each other, weapons drawn.  

    I was about to sneak away.  

    "Hey!"  

    Akane roared.  

    "Don't move there."  

    "Hey hey...?"  

    "I'll come after you after I kill this loli. Until then, don't move."  

    Is this woman a demon?  

    Akane was brimming with murderous intent, and so was Ryoka. The situation now was like

two people staring blankly at each other, with the winner coming to kill me. What kind of hell

is this?  

    The murderous intent on both sides was growing. Can't you just be nicer? Impossible.  

    Ryoka moved first.  

    "Ah!"  

    The kusarigama flew low, twisting and turning like a living creature before charging

upwards, just like when they attacked me.  

    Was it unexpected for Akane? She didn't move at all... With that  

    thought, she suddenly broke into a sprint. She was heading straight for her ideal. She had a

gun, a convenient long -range lethal weapon, but what was she thinking?  

    The bulldog girl aimed her gun straight at Ryoka, intending to fire a shot at her from super

close range? This was a dog charge, a hound's way.  

    "Die!"  

    Akane roared, pulling the trigger.  

    Amidst the sound of fireworks, a gunshot rang out. This girl would shoot regardless of

fireworks, right?  She's the type who, when angered, disregards the opinions of those around

her.

"Ah!"  

Rika was sent flying, the bullet hitting her.  

"Dead!?"  

Akane cheered. No, not yet. Though only seen for a moment, Rika retracted her kusarigama

and blocked the way. Akane's precise aim actually saved her life.  

After rolling a few times, Rika stood up.  

"What are you doing, you dog!"  

"Tsk, how are you still alive? Kämpfer really has tough skin."  

"Don't kill people casually!"  

She said this, but her feet were wobbling. It looked like she'd taken some damage.  

"Next time, I'll definitely kill you."  

"Idiot!"  

Rika cursed, then began to spin her kusarigama, not to attack Akane, but to throw it at the

tree behind her.  

Then, she hung there to create a reaction force.  

"Ah!"  

Akane screamed and fired again, but Rika, using the reaction force from the back -and-forth

movement, leaped and fled deep into the bushes.  

The loli figure instantly disappeared from sight. "Damn it!"  

Akane stomped her foot.  

"Remember this, next time, I'll definitely kill you!"  

Then she blocked my way as I tried to escape again.  

"Hey, asshole."  

"Whoa!"  

I nearly jumped, the muzzle of Akane's gun waving in front of me.  

"That little girl's gone, that's a good thing. You dare to play tricks on me, kid."  

"Hey, I didn't do anything!"  

I raised my hands in surrender, but this guy didn't care.  

"You dare say you didn't do anything...? How much do you think of me?"  

"Nothing!"  

"Aren't you with that bitch Sakura Kaede?"  

"...How did you know?"  

"Someone tipped me off. It's a Soviet -level secret police state. It's so dark, how dare you be

alone together? What were you doing?"  

"No, nothing..."  

"No, damn it! How could you not have done anything?"  

The muzzle of the gun is approaching. "Don't get so close, idiot!" And take your finger off the

trigger. Your index finger is still trembling.  

"Honestly, I could fuck you right here, right now."  

"Why are you so short of breath..."  

"Shut up, it's all your fault."  

"That's unreasonable."  

"Not only is it unreasonable, but I'll fuck you too. If you don't say anything, I'll fuck you right

now. If you say something, I'll fuck you after you finish. Pick one."  

Of course, I shouldn't choose either.  

Judging by this trend, this theory doesn't seem to be working. Bulldogs don't need theories.  

Anyway, why do I have to die here? What did I do to deserve it? What's this girl got so angry

about? She's always angry.  

"Ah... uh... you're asking about Sakura Kaede, right?"  

What was the "right"?  

Oh, right, she said she was going to give me a reward. And that passionate kiss with Sakura

Kaede...  

"Why are you blushing, little brat!?"  

Akane roared again. Wow.  

"What are you thinking, you slut!"  

This guy really has an endless stream of insults. I have to say something about this. Uh...  

"No, no, no, there's nothing between Sakura Kaede and me, how about this..."  

"What's the matter, you scumbag?"  

"Really, there's nothing, just go ask Sakura Kaede..."  

It suddenly dawned on me. Anyway, where's Sakura Kaede?  

I turned around, no one was there. Rika wasn't there, of course, but Sakura Kaede wasn't

there either.  

"...Hey"  

The muzzle of the gun appeared before my eyes again, wow.  

"Where's Sakura Kaede?"  

"She should be right here...huh?"  

"Where is she? Just dig your eyeballs out, you useless piece of shit. If you don't want to dig

them out, I'll do it for you."  

"Wow, stop it!"  

She probably didn't have a knife with her, because even if she didn't, she'd probably use the

muzzle of the gun to dig them out. I shook my head frantically.  

I danced with joy.  

"Wait a minute, Akane."  

"Did you think of your last words? I won't listen."  

"Are you a ghost? That's not true. Sakura Kaede wasn't here from the beginning."  

"Huh? The snitch said he saw it."  

"That guy lied to you. I just wanted to watch the fireworks alone."  

I made up a really lame excuse. As long as I don't die, anything will happen. Although I don't

know the reason, Akane's anger is not a little bit.  

Akane stared at me tightly.  

"Hmph..."  

The pistol disappeared, huh?  

"I'm done with it."  

"Huh?"  

"It's no use killing you. You're just a jerk with all the frivolous excuses."  

She spat out.  

"Besides, killing you now might be a little troublesome."  

She looked up and saw that the fireworks had long since finished, and the audience was

leaving in groups. It would indeed be noticeable if she opened fire now. This guy, who never

cared about the opinions of those around her, would actually stop at this po int.

"I'll probably have nightmares after I've shot you like a hornet's nest."  

"I definitely will, and for the rest of my life."  

"I'm so annoyed."  

Her eyes, filled with rage, pierced through me.  

"If you mess around with Sakura Kaede again, I'll really kill you. If you want to die, just be

quiet."  

"...Okay,"  

I replied. I've always been a quiet person, it's the people around me who always drag me into

this.  

Akane spat. "Hey, hey, hey, that's uncivilized!" Just then, I heard a cry.  

"Ah—found it!"  

"...?"  

She glanced to the right, and I followed her.  

Kondou Mikoto and Shizuku came over.  

"Akane's here too! Hey! What are you two doing?"  

"Nothing!"  

Akane yelled before I could explain, her transformation still in place.  

The two ran over.  

"Where's Sakura Kaede? Aren't we together?"  

"I don't know. How dare this guy pretend he hasn't seen her?"  

She lied, but it was true that she was gone.  

"...It's not strange that Kaede's here,"  

Shizuku said. So did Kondou Mikoto.  

"I think so too."  

It was true, and even if she wasn't, there was nothing I could do.  

Shizuku came over to me, her eyes, as always, unconvinced and focused on the truth.  

"Natsuru -san"  

"What are you doing? Sakura Kaede, she's not here."  

"I know that from looking at you. I'm not asking you that. What were you doing before?"  

"What were you doing?"  

"I'm asking you what you and Kaede were doing. What were you doing before Akane came?"  

Wow, so perceptive! Why do you always hit the nail on the head?  

I was speechless. I felt like the bulldog girl would kill me if I said anything. More importantly,

Sakura Kaede's words flashed through my mind.  

(Please love Shizuku)  

What's this? Did I make a promise? I probably did, since that line popped up.  

(It's better not to tell them...)  

I don't know why, but I feel that way. This is also a promise with Sakura Kaede... right?  

"No, nothing."  

"...Is that so?"  

Shizuku didn't pursue my denial. Though it looked like she simply stopped asking questions,

her doubts lingered.  

"But if Kaede isn't here, I'll have to look for her again."  

"The fireworks are over, so she must have gone home,"  

Kondou Mikoto said. That's true. What about  

Akane? Noticing she'd untransformed, she seemed incredibly down and lost. It's typical, and

I regret my rude words when I think of them. Her personality transformation is truly

remarkable, so I won't blame her.  

Shizuku was on her phone.  

"...Isn't answering?"  

She must be referring to Sakura Kaede.  

"No way, let's go back."  

"Ah—really? I didn't even see the fireworks."  

Kondou Mikoto kicked me.  

"It hurts! What are you doing?"  

"That's my line. I didn't even get to see the fireworks."  

"Then what are you doing?"  

"Of course I'm looking for you!"  

She kept kicking me in the buttocks. I knew it.  

All the way back to the hotel, she kept kicking me.  

"Huh..."  

Rika breathed after a long walk.  

She pressed her forehead, the pain throbbing. She'd blocked it with her kusarigama, but it

was a direct hit from the bullet after all. It was a miracle she survived.  

"That damned bitch, I'll kill her one day."  

She cursed, then sheathed her weapon. She couldn't keep carrying it.  

She had to reunite with her companions. They had only come to see the fireworks, but she'd

slipped away.  

She heard a rustling sound.  

"Ah..."  

Suddenly, a woman stood before her.  

"Kaede -sama!"  

Rika breathed a sigh of relief. Sakura Kaede looked at her expressionlessly.  

She opened her arms to hug her. Kaede always held her tenderly, and this time, she would

surely comfort her after being bullied by the bully.  

"Rika..."  

"Kaede -sama, Rika was bullied by that dog -like woman."  

"..."

Rika felt a pain on her cheek just as she was about to hug her.  

"Ah..."  

Kaede slapped Rika without changing her expression.  

"You, what are you doing...ah"  

She slapped her again in silence, and then again. Kaede slapped Rika with mechanical

movements.  

"It hurts, it hurts, Kaede -sama."  

"Why are you meddling in other people's business?"  

"Because, because we found Natsuru..."  

"You want to kill him, right? What is our mission?"  

"Pull Natsuru to our side..."  

"You're going to take the female Natsuru as your companion? Then why did you try to kill

him?"  

"Because, he and Kaede -sama..."  

Rika burst into tears, completely defenseless, letting her do whatever she wanted.  

But Kaede didn't stop.  

"Don't mind what I do, didn't we agree?"  

"B-but..."  

"Do you still want to be beaten?"  

"I-I get it!"  

she cried out.  

"I won't... try to kill Natsuru again."  

Then Sakura Kaede gently embraced Rika.  

"You're my most important companions, so listen to me, okay?"  

"Yes..."  

She buried her face in Kaede's chest, feeling warm and a strange sense of security wash over

her.

"But... Kaede -sama."  

"What's wrong?"  

"What about the other Kämpfers?"  

"You can't kill Shizuku."  

"That little dog..."  

"As for the rest, you can do whatever you want."  

"Really...?"  

"Yes, that's what you want, right?"  

"Yes..."  

Rika breathed a sigh of relief, nuzzling her face against Kaede's chest in peace.  

Translator's Notes

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

← Back to Volume 7 Afterword

Return to Main Page

Forward to 8 Chapter 2 →