Kämpfer:Volume 10 Chapter 2

Volume 10, Chapter 2  

    A few days later.  

    The weather was beautiful, even this hot, it was still very good, at least better than the

freezing cold. The breeze felt so comfortable against my skin.  

    I was woken up by the caller ID on my phone this morning. I had you so close to me so I

could replace that useless alarm clock, but you're completely useless. This could confirm if it

was Shizuku calling, but I didn't want to think too much.  

    First, breakfast. The curry Kondou Mikoto made is piled high, so I'll just defrost it and eat it.  

    Yesterday, I was so hungry I was growling. Well, there's nothing wrong with that.  

    But as time goes on, all I see is curry, and I eat it every day. I'm really too full, and this curry

training is really unbearable.  

    Curry paste in hand, I'm thinking about buying some bread to spread it on, but how could

this happen... And there's also the cold rice noodles my relatives gave me this summer, I'll

cook it up. What should I do with that curry?  

    Even in desperate situations, I still have some sense. Perhaps I've become a talented chef.

While my fate still revolves around curry, it can turn out well. Curry is quite suitable for this

situation.  

    Oh no! I cooked cold yammy and time has already passed without me noticing. I dashed

out with the bread in my mouth. I put my key on the entrance. I need to be more careful

here.  

    I glanced at the clock. Oops! It's already this late! I might be late.  

    By the time I get to Gunma, I'll either be barely there or late. This is bad.  

    "That..."  

    Oh no! It's not Akane... That girl never comes late. She's always been a punctual person. As

a library member, she never comes late. Even if she says, "Isn't it rude to be late?" it doesn't

seem to matter.  

    "Where have you been..."  

    "Here,"  

    a voice came from behind me, but it wasn't Akane's voice.  

    I turned around and saw  

    Akane standing there, but she wasn't the weak -eyed girl, but the fierce, aggressive woman

who screamed for war.  

    I couldn't help but swallow my saliva. Why did I transform?  

    "What are you dawdling about?"  

    "No..."  

    "I'm so late. I was thinking of rushing over to your house."  

    I never expected a girl to say that. But I was really afraid that she would actually do that.

But then again, she must have been waiting here for a long time in this hot weather.  

    "You're so nagging."  

    I said that anyway. I couldn't be weak in front of a fierce dog girl.  

    "I got up so early for you. I could have slept a little longer."  

    "Me too. I got up so early today. I went to bed early, which is usually the time when I watch

anime before going to bed."  

    What kind of excuse is that? At least it's a little embarrassing, right?  

    "So, what are we going to do?"  

    I asked. As expected, since it wasn't my invitation, I didn't take the initiative.  

    "What are you talking about?"  

    "Let's talk."  

    "Where do you want to go? There should be a shop."  

    "It's Gunma, so there must be one."  

    "Anywhere is fine, we can have tea or something, we have plenty of time."  

    But I only have an hour.  

    There's a small dispatch office next to the station, and there's a shopping street next to the

station. Because it's convenient for shopping, most people go there.  

    I said to Akane,  

    "There's a tea place on the first floor downstairs."  

    "Oh, there? I've been there once before."  

    "The clerk must be surprised to see someone as rude as you go in there."  

    "Before I transform, idiot."  

    "If that's the case, you should have said so earlier."  

    I wasn't the one leading the way, but no matter how much I tried to resist, the bulldog girl

still pulled me away.  

    There was indeed a coffee shop over there, and I said to Akane, "Let's go to the first floor

for tea."  

    "I'm low on money this month, so I need to save some money. Let's go there."  

    I said this, and even at this moment, Higashida, who had spent all his money, felt envious.  

    This shop is right on the corner, and it's usually where many workers go home from work.

Because this shop stays open late, people who missed the last bus just keep pouring in.  

    I put my bag down and sat down, but Akane didn't.  

    "What do you want to drink?"  

    "I'll decide."  

    "That's why I told you to."  

    "It's so annoying, one after another..."  

    After saying that, I was startled.  

    "You, you're going to buy it?"  

    Akane nodded, as if she was bothered. Ugh... would that bulldog girl do things for me? Or

is this some kind of punishment game?  

    "Hey, are you serious?"  

    "You want some holes cut through your body? Sure."  

    "But you'll do things for me too..."  

    "Decide before I change my mind!"  

    As she spoke, a gun appeared in Akane's hand. Hey, hey, people can see it!  

    "Stop, stop!"  

    I waved my hand to grab hers. If I left her alone, she'd really shoot me.  

    "Anything else you want to ask me?!"  

    Anyway, why is her face so red? Anyway, let's order the iced coffee first.  

    "Got it,"  

    Akane said, taking her wallet and sauntering towards the counter. I fidgeted. Asking a

woman to pay for something is probably something that only married couples would

encounter, right? But the woman I'm with now is a bulldog. The person who would kick  me

away at any time would actually buy something for me... By the way, this store is a self -

service cafeteria where customers can choose what they want to buy. Akane was waiting in

line over there.  

    After a while, she came back with a tray, and mentioned that her portion was mango juice.  

    "How much is it?"  

    "Two hundred."  

    This is what a buffet is like. It looks like there are many choices, but in fact, there is nothing

delicious at all.  

    Akane and I sat opposite each other and drank drinks. Akane put the straw into the cup

and sipped the drink in big gulps.  

    Thinking back to how I'd just finished curry and hadn't had any water before, my throat

was incredibly dry. Now it felt wonderful.  

    But the girl sitting across from me was still a little nervous.  

    "So, um... didn't you say you had something to say?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Akane replied firmly. Her voice was much stronger than before her transformation, and her

hesitant and troubled tone was replaced by a furious bark.  

    "Um, was that your idea?"  

    "Of course, it was me."  

    "Ah, not that... I meant it was my usual Akane who called me."  

    "Yes, but I'm meeting you in this state,"  

    Akane asked.  

    "Why? You're ready to shoot me now, or something. In short, you're ready to attack me at

any moment. Of course, you're different from your usual self."  

    "Now I have to say it."  

    "Is that so?"  

    It was hard to understand, and I couldn't add any exclamations.  

    "Natsuru, did you meet the president after that?"  

    "After that... are you talking about the anime store?"  

    "Yes."  

    That's right, they did meet.  

    When I said, "We'll meet at school tonight," Akane's eyes grew wary.  

    "Why at night?"  

    "Because she needs my help patrolling the school."  

    "Is that all?"  

    Though I didn't want to, I couldn't help but say it. After all, she's in bulldog mode, the type

to fire at a moment's notice. If the words don't line up, it'll be either hanging or the electric

chair.  

    She was getting increasingly angry.  

    "Enough," she  

    growled.  

    "You bastard, you think you can get away with just saying it now? I'm telling you, your face

looks as irritating to me as those online game developers. Tell me exactly what you did with

Shizuku."  

    "...Various things."  

    "Huh?"  

    "Various things..."  

    I stopped myself immediately. It was fine when she was being naive, but if I said that now,

the store would turn into a bloodbath. This guy would attack indiscriminately.  

    "You bastard..."  

    The chatter of her teeth could be heard even from where I was, and sweat broke out.  

    Just when I thought I was about to get a lecture, Akane acted surprisingly cautious.  

    "Well, you know it even if you don't tell  

    me." "Then don't ask."  

    "Shut up. I just want to hear you say it yourself, understand?"  

    What's wrong? I figured since I could predict it, there was no need to do anything extra.  

    "That sponge head. It makes me so irritated no matter where I am."  

    ("You didn't call me out two hours early just because you were irritated, did you?"  

    "Do I have that kind of fetish?"  

    Isn't that what you did right before my eyes?)  

    Akane pulled the Pocky out of her bag. Planning to hold it while walking? She held it to her

lips and immediately slurped it down. What was she thinking?  

    Akane's eyes drifted over.  

    "I didn't call you out for fun."  

    "It looks like it was for fun."  

    "Shut up. You, do you understand the purpose of today's trip?"  

    I neither nodded nor shook my head, and of course, I didn't complain. I just kept my mouth

shut and said nothing.  

    Akane took out a second pack of Pocky.  

    "I don't know what's going to happen. That kind of thing is something someone as quick -

witted as Shizuku would have to consider. But I do know that the decisive battle is

approaching."  

    "Really?"  

    "That's right. I was chosen for the Kämpfer before you, so I seem to have a stronger

intuition. It's almost here, I have a strong feeling."  

    Such a confident statement, but I honestly didn't know. But come to think of it, I think the

first signs of this were evident when we went to Sakura Kaede's house. I'm starting to feel a

bit nervous.  

    So, the only way out is to fight. Well, saving ordinary Sakura Kaede from the clutches of

that evil Sakura Kaede is going to be incredibly difficult. Speaking of which, Sakura Kaede's

parents are there too. Maybe there won't be a fight at all, but Saku ra Kaede and I will spend

the day together, wearing a kimono and surrounded by fireworks and good wishes.  

    And Shizuku seemed to have mentioned, "I think I took the internal organs with me."

Someone with far more experience as a Kämpfer than I do probably has a unique

premonition.  

    "But, no matter what happens, I don't care. Let's just go all out and kill them anyway."  

    "There's no need for such extreme rhetoric!"  

    "The problem is you,"  

    Akane declared, ignoring my words.  

    "What's wrong with me?"  

    "You, it's about time you noticed how I feel."  

    What's she suddenly saying? Your mood... the one that makes you want to punch even the

mere sight of someone passing by?  

    "The me before my transformation, the me now."  

    "Well... that has nothing to do with Anime Shop, right?"  

    "It does, idiot. I've told you plenty before!"  

    Akane banged her head on the table. How did the atmosphere turn into a criminal

interrogation?  

    The shop assistant noticed the noise, but was instantly silenced by Akane's gaze.  

    "Okay, Natsuru, in your heart, you have always thought of me as a rough person. But even

though it looks like that, I am also a girl. I have feelings too."  

    "That's unbelievable."  

    "You are such an inconsiderate bastard. My feelings are undoubtedly with you."  

    "But you keep saying you want to kill me."  

    "That's not what I meant! Are you going to make me explain it more clearly?"  

    She suddenly roared. What are you doing? Although it does look like anger, it's

meaningless, isn't it?  

    Akane stared at me with the eyes of a hungry wolfhound.  

    "...Well, after all, I couldn't say it myself. Maybe we are similar in our lack of courage

(probably referring to the pre -transformation period). But, we can't not cherish the limited

time we have now, so let's meet. The pre -transformation me said so."  

    Said so? What are you talking about? It's obviously the same person, isn't it?  

    "You occupy an extremely important position in my life. The pre -transformation me was

the same. So if I stop moving forward now, I will never have time again."  

    "Akane is sixteen... only seventeen."  

    "Physically, that's true. But didn't I just say that the decisive battle is approaching?"  

    "Ahhh"  

    "I don't know how it will end. It should be Shizuku's job to worry about things like that. But

after that's over, I might not be myself anymore."  

    My head tilted involuntarily. What are you talking about?  

    "You're Akane,  

    right?" "The me now is... well, this is the first time I've told you something like this, so you

might not understand. This me and the me with glasses usually coexist, but only at this

moment are they different. And as for the me now, I don't know if I 'll ever appear again after

this is over."  

    I tried to speak, but no words came out.  

    "At this moment, I still exist. That's all I can say for sure. I hope you'll remember this."  

    Seriously? Well, come to think of it, she's usually quite serious when she's furious, that's

for sure.  

    Akane in bulldog mode is either shooting around or spouting foul language. If someone

like that were around, she'd probably kill them one day. It's best to hope she doesn't

transform.  

    But now, Akane actually said, "Don't forget me."  

    "No fancy lines, just don't forget me right now, even if you think I'm a bulldog."  

    "You..."  

    "That's all I have to say."  

    "..."

    "Why are you acting so annoying?"  

    Akane took out a gun. Wow, doesn't she know what patience is?  

    The gun was pointed at my forehead. I wonder what other customers think about this gun.  

    "You are the only one thinking about you now."  

    "Ho, why?"  

    "How can I forget? You are pointing a gun at me now."  

    "What if there is no gun?"  

    "You are too strong. You still can't forget."  

    I am afraid that women with the same personality as this guy will never be found in Japan

again, right? Just like those valuables and natural monuments are so rare.  

    But such words can't be said now.  

    "...Then, that's it."  

    Akane put the gun away automatically.  

    "And you must also cherish the me before the transformation."  

    "You are you, right?"  

    "That's the way it is for Natsuru."  

    Akane stood up after saying that. However, there was still half a drink left in her cup.  

    "That's all I have to say. Go shopping by yourself."  

    "Akane, what are you going to do?"  

    "I'm alone, don't bother me"  

    After saying this, she turned her back to me and walked out of the store. For some reason,

I couldn't utter a word.  

    There were only two cups and two plates left in front of me. I inexplicably had the idea of

"what should I do with these".  

    I have been talking with Akane for so long that I have no time to rest.  

    This time I went to meet Shizuku. So I was late for this appointment, and this should be

caused by the conversation just now.  

    "I'm late,"  

    Shizuku said at the waiting place. Although I didn't intend to be late on purpose.  

    "I was thinking about why I called yesterday."  

    I was suddenly lectured. Was it because of what I said to Akane?  

    "It's good that I caught up."  

    "I wasn't that late, I guess I'm fine."  

    What a thoughtful woman! It reminds me of Yamashiba, the tardy demon from Class 4,

Grade 2, Boys' Club. He's  

    usually at least five minutes late, but the day before summer vacation, he showed up late

and caused quite a stir by yelling, "Yamashiba's here!" But I'd already left early by then, so I

didn't think anything of it.  

    I was ready for Shizuku to pepper me with questions, but when she simply said, "Let's go,"  

    I started to panic as we headed towards the large mall in front of the station.  

    "Are there any shops here?"  

    "A lot."  

    "I don't know."  

    "Natsuru -san isn't interested in clothes, and their underwear is lacking variety."  

    As I took the escalator, the scene before me was a dazzling rainbow. It was all women's

clothing brands. As Shizuku said, "Even if the mall in front of the station is small, there's

bound to be a wide variety of women's clothing." So that's how it is. Compared to this, the

men's clothing is pitifully small. Is that the difference? Everyone's complaining!  

    "There must be a specialty store for women's underwear."  

    "Is that so?"  

    "Yes, you can try them on."  

    "Try them on?!"  

    Although there is no problem with hygiene. If a man wears something like this, it will cause

a riot.  

    Shizuku imitated the way of tightening the shoulder straps. Ah, that's it. But if you really

wear underwear, it would be a bit...  

    Coming down from the third floor, this floor is completely buried with women's products.

In front of me is the area selling perfumes and cosmetics.  

    "This way"  

    Shizuku pulled me to a wider area.  

    There are not only so -called "underwear" there, but socks and handkerchiefs are also sold

together. Of course, the customers are also distributed like this.  

    This is completely unknown territory for me. I have no idea about the manufacturers or

anything like that. There shouldn't even be a high school boy with a connection to women's

underwear stores, right?  

    "The prices aren't that high,"  

    Shizuku said. You know all this stuff, you know.  

    "You can buy Natsuru with confidence."  

    "That shouldn't be the issue,"  

    I grumbled.  

    "Oh, then why?"  

    "Don't you think it's strange for a man to buy something like this?"  

    "Ah,"  

    Shizuku chuckled. It was quite unusual for her.  

    "That's true. You're in a male pose right now. I'm so used to it I didn't notice." "I'll pay  

    a little attention. I feel like I'm already attracting attention."  

    It might be my own over -consciousness, but it felt like the women in the store were all

looking at me. This is women's territory, not for men to enter. At the very least, you should

need a passport and visa.  

    I felt like Shizuku was watching me with interest.  

    "Then I'll do the shopping."  

    "Please do it."  

    I won't be blamed, and I won't be looked at with hostility. Wouldn't it be better to just do it

this way from the beginning?  

    "Then, come here."  

    "Hey, w -why do you need me..."  

    "Didn't we agree to buy together? I don't even know your bra size."  

    "You still want me to choose?!"  

    "Of course."  

    Ignoring my objection, she dragged me inside.  

    It was a truly lewd world, beyond my comprehension. Since most people don't have

experience choosing women's lingerie, it was  

    n't the colorful, rainbow -colored scene I'd imagined. There weren't many fancy colors,

mostly conservative whites and beiges.  

    "If it's a fancy color that doesn't match the lines of the skirt, it'll be obvious."  

    Shizuku really can read minds.  

    "It's okay to stare at it. If you want to look now, it's summer vacation, especially now."

(Does she mean there's less clothing?)  

    "Then why not just pick out the skirt first?"  

    "That's just how women are,"  

    Shizuku said.  

    "I want a cute dress, but I don't like being seen by people I don't like. For people I like, I still

have to choose the underwear carefully to win over them."  

    "I don't quite understand."  

    "That's enough for you to understand."  

    "What are you like, President?"  

    I felt unhappy and didn't want to be bothered by these answers. "Want  

    to take a look?"  

    "...No thanks."  

    I do remember it was a white one. I saw  

    it at a sleepover, but it was my first time choosing underwear. Shizuku was like a guide, and

my heart was beating fast.  

    Shizuku gestured at me,  

    "Is my chest size probably this?"  

    "Who knows?"  

    "You bought it yourself, right?"  

    Hey, hey, how did you know? You said you'd bought one before, but I didn't.  

    "I don't really know the cup size,"  

    I said honestly.  

    "Since you don't know the size, you have to choose carefully. You need all three

dimensions."  

    "Everything a woman needs?"  

    Don't let a man like me ask that.  

    She was meticulously selecting.  

    "I'm just relying on my memory, so it might be a little off. Don't complain."  

    "It's better to try it on."  

    "Chest protectors are for elementary school, but this one is more adult -friendly."  

    Is there a saying about these things?  

    Shizuku chose a light -colored bra marked E. It really suits me.  

    "Looking at this, you'll probably think you're choosing underwear for me," she  

    suddenly said, a strange thing.  

    "That's because I'm a man."  

    "Couples come here specifically to choose underwear for nighttime togetherness, right?"

(Nighttime service isn't necessarily true.)  

    "What do we do together at night?" (Don't you know?)  

    It's true that Hamamatsu has the phrase "eel cake," a "nighttime confection." What does

"together" mean? She didn't say what it was, but this guy said things like "you and me" so

matter -of-factly. I need to learn some lessons.  

    Shizuku picked out several bras, and I still couldn't understand why she had to choose so

many different colors and styles.  

    Then she walked over to the underwear section. How should I put it? She walked over in

one go.  

    "My butt doesn't seem to have changed much."  

    "Yeah, it feels like it's gotten bigger."  

    "How about this style?"  

    You never know.  

    When you look at yourself in the mirror, you can see your breasts, but not your butt. I

don't have eyes on my back. If it were a split mirror, that would be a different story. But if you

even have to scrutinize this part, wouldn't that be narcissistic and perverted?  

    Shizuku said, "This one might be okay," as she selected her underwear. The color matched

the bra.  

    "You really have to match them."  

    Haha, so it's not just horizontal comparisons, but also tops and bottoms?  

    And so she waited at the underwear checkout counter.  

    There was a young woman at the counter, but she was definitely older than us.  

    The older sister who was at least a year older than her looked at Shizuku and asked,  

    "...are these okay?"  

    "Hey," Shizuku said,  

    "that's a bit rude. I feel like they don't fit your size."  

    "Ah..."  

    "It's best to choose underwear that fits you best. It's best to get measured before

choosing."  

    "I'm sorry, it's not mine, it's for this person."  

    Shizuku looked at me.  

    Of course, the older sister looked surprised. But she was a customer after all, so she kept

her voice down.  

    "This... this male customer...?"  

    "Because he needed it..."  

    "Huh..."  

    "If it were me, I'd choose a bolder bra, but it's his first time choosing underwear, so this is

enough."  

    "Is that so..."  

    The older sister looked at me with a startling gaze, as if I were a filth. Wait, I'm innocent.  

    I hurriedly said, "Oh, that, rather than saying it's mine..."  

    "Isn't it yours?"  

    "It's mine..."  

    "But it's different, don't say it in such a dismissive tone."  

    The older sister wordlessly read the barcode and displayed the amount.  

    I took out the money. Even though it was my own underwear, this was still a

misunderstanding.  

    The older sister said, "Thank you for your patronage," expressionlessly. Shizuku and I left

the store.  

    Shizuku raised her hand and checked the time.  

    "There's still plenty of time."  

    "..."

    "Let's go have some tea somewhere."  

    "...President."  

    "What's wrong?"  

    "Why did you say you chose it for me?"  

    "Isn't it yours, Natsuru?"  

    "Yeah, yes... but it's not for men, me,"  

    I screamed. This will definitely make me look like a pervert. A man choosing women's

underwear for the sake of choosing underwear —what kind of person is that? I was so

embarrassed I wanted to find a hole to jump into.  

    And just as expected, Shizuku's expression remained unchanged.  

    "It's something you'll use after you become a woman, I know."  

    "Then the clerk doesn't know..."  

    "I know, that's enough." How could she be  

    so unreasonable?  

    "I bought you necessities, so you should thank me, right?"  

    "I've never thanked someone in your position, the president, since I was born."  

    "So, I'm the first one." She  

    acted like she'd accept any protests. This was more than just a thick skin. What on earth

did this woman eat? The government should implement an emergency health check and

stop the production of this  

    secret food.  

    Shizuku went down the escalator one floor, and I was about to stop in protest. But the

waiter's sidelong glance at me made me give up. Did she really think I was a pervert and was

afraid  

    of disrupting their business?  

    The first floor, which doubles as a station passage, wasn't very spacious. However, at one

end of the street was a "tea corner," where Akane and I had drinks.  

    "Hey, how's it going?"  

    "Sure."  

    "Yeah, sure."  

    "You talk like you've just been here."  

    That being said, it's okay.  

    This is my second time here. Let's find a seat first and then buy a drink.  

    I looked at the prices on the menu and picked something random. I wasn't feeling thirsty,

having already had one.  

    "What's Natsuru going for?"  

    "Hmm... iced coffee."  

    "Then I'll have that too."  

    The two of them were very close, placing their drinks on trays. Of course, their close

relationship was just Shizuku's subjective opinion.  

    We sat opposite each other at a round table. It wasn't very quiet, but it was still a

comfortable place to sit, even if it wasn't very quiet.  

    There was still plenty of time. Anyway, we were on our way to Sakura Kaede's house, so

why were we doing this here?  

    "President, is it really okay to have a drink here?"  

    "I don't mind,"  

    Shizuku replied without hesitation.  

    "Standing outside all the time isn't an option."  

    "But doesn't it look like we're alone now?"  

    "We are,"  

    she replied, taking it for granted.  

    "It's a special date."  

    I'm still saying this,  

    but I'm always wondering how to put it. It feels like I've been "alone with Shizuku" way too

many times. I "failed" to stay over at this guy's house, and then went to school that night. If

Shizuku's fans knew about this, it would be a big deal. There a re so many fanatics at school

who adore her.  

    It's nice not to be hunted down right now, but sitting here like this feels like an illusion.  

    "But... doesn't it feel strange?"  

    "What's strange?"  

    "Look at that, the president... confessing to me."  

    "Yes, I did."  

    "But why are you so relaxed?"  

    "What's this?"  

    Shizuku didn't seem surprised. Isn't she a bit slow?  

    "Maybe, this is what I want?"  

    "Am I special?"  

    "To me, yes."  

    So that's how it is, it's not me, it's you.  

    "The confession didn't get a reply, but at least I want to leave a good memory."  

    "Is this a good memory?"  

    "Yes, I'm very happy."  

    Shizuku smiled at me. This girl doesn't often smile, but now she looks really beautiful.  

    "Going shopping with the man you like, and then chatting here like this, isn't it great?"  

    I only bought bras and panties.  

    "If it's with Natsuru, I'm willing to pay any price."  

    "President, when did you start treating me like a comrade?"  

    "This might be the last time."  

    "Huh?"  

    What an unexpected line! I couldn't help but raise my voice.  

    "Besides, everyone might die after this incident is over."  

    "President, you won't die even if a nuclear war breaks out."  

    "Since I've confessed to you, I hope you'll give me a response after this is over."  

    "Well?"  

    "But it won't necessarily be a yes."  

    "..."

    Well, maybe. Shizuku is a beauty and smart, but she's not my type.  

    I haven't decided how to respond to the confession yet, as it's a matter of my reputation.

So I told them, "Let me think about it." It's neither yes nor no, still undecided. After all,

there's still the matter of Kondou Mikoto's confession. Shizuku's o pinion is the majority:  

    "I think Natsuru will say yes."  

    Wow, she's quite confident. It was terrifying to hear such unpleasant words.  

    "But we also have to consider the possibility of failure. If the answer is no, I can't do this

with you anymore, so at least I want to enjoy myself here."  

    "It seems like I read a lot of manga before the exam."  

    I often do that too. So there are many times when I accumulate the thought of "a little bit"

and sleepless nights.  

    "Let's not worry about that kind of thing... But what exactly do you feel about that thing

you mentioned?"  

    "We should also consider the possibility of failure."  

    "I hate failure, but if my opponents are Kondou Mikoto and Akane, I have to be more

cautious."  

    Why not include Sakura Kaede? And why go to her hometown?  

    It seems that Shizuku has not considered Sakura Kaede at all. This person seems to have

been dating me as a "potential boyfriend" and has not considered the possibility of Sakura

Kaede and me dating at all.  

    This is not okay. How about this? It's possible that normal Sakura Kaede and evil Sakura

Kaede have different personalities; it's also possible that Sakura Kaede likes me and Sakura

Kaede who doesn't feel the same way but knows about it. It's like rece iving radio waves. This

concept is quite good.  

    "I've been thinking about Sakura Kaede, too. It's just that the confession was for something

else. Kondou Mikoto, Akane, and I don't want to split up. Let's share."  

    "That's hard to say. We should be more careful."  

    "It's possible, but there are other things. That's what Kämpfer has to deal with."  

    I fell silent. It's not that I think Shizuku can predict things like a psychic. With recent events,

as more evidence surfaces, it's like the puzzle pieces are falling into place. Maybe it's because

she didn't speculate until after most of the events ha d happened?  

    She's a really smart woman, much smarter than confessing to me.  

    But Shizuku and Akane both kept saying things like everything was almost over. Sure

enough, I still lacked the experience of a Kämpfer.  

    "So, did it happen back home in Sakura Kaede?"  

    "I'm not sure."  

    "Could Sakura Kaede's parents have wanted a girl?"  

    "Not that."  

    "That's fine."  

    "If there's nothing, there's nothing."  

    Such a simple conversation, of course, I didn't believe it. Since we were going back home,

it must be possible. That's what I decided.  

    Shizuku checked the time, and so did I. Wow, it's almost time. We'd been chatting about

some nonsense, and it was already that time.  

    I downed my coffee, cleared the plates and cups, and hurried to the meeting place.  

    Akane and Kondou Mikoto were already there. It looked like Shizuku and I had just been

together, and that was exactly what we were doing.  

    The girls were all dressed in casual clothes, which was quite avant -garde. Akane wore a

cute jacket and skirt; Kondou Mikoto and Shizuku wore denim. Kondou Mikoto had been to

many untouched places, so she liked to wear that outfit. I didn't expect Shiz uku to wear the

same dress. This woman always looks good in everything she wears. I'm afraid you can't

compare to her unless she's an actress.  

    "Good morning,"  

    Akane greeted, her earlier aura of a fierce dog gone. Since we were meeting again, I

replied, "Good morning."  

    "Natsuru -san, you're up really early. I thought you were going to sleep in."  

    "You're up."  

    It's true I like to sleep in, but Akane and Shizuku have met before.  

    Shizuku just looked at us.  

    "I called him yesterday, so you're up early."  

    "President, did you call Natsuru -san?"  

    Akane asked.  

    "Yes."  

    "But Natsuru -san, you're still later than us. Maybe I should call,"  

    Akane said with a smile. At that moment, Shizuku made an expression  

    as if to say, "Oh, is that so?" "It's better for me to call."  

    "Is that so?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Shizuku said as if concluding, though it felt as if there were no extra lines, which was quite

unusual. Kondou Mikoto, the curry provider, was watching the situation from the side. To be

more precise, she was watching me,  

    but when she got closer, her gaze turned to another direction.  

    This was also unusual.  

    "Mikoto..."  

    "Ah, Akane -chan, the train hasn't come yet, is everything ok?"  

    I finally wanted to say hello, but Kondou Mikoto ignored me and went to talk to Akane.  

    Akane didn't even look at her watch, but looked directly at the light board on the platform.  

    "It's okay, there should still be time."  

    "Really? That's good."  

    Kondou Mikoto muttered to herself,  

    "Um --, are you ready, Akane -chan?"  

    "As for a change of clothes..."  

    "That needs preparation, too. I'm asking about the internal organs."  

    "Yes,"  

    Akane mechanically answered Kondou Mikoto's question, feeling a bit distant. I then asked

Shizuku,  

    "President, have you tried to contact us about the internal organs?"  

    "Yes,"  

    Shizuku said. "So, you didn't just tell me, you called everyone."  

    "I told everyone I'd bring them with me, and everyone understands."  

    Then you added unnecessary things.  

    "Getting up early and making some preparations is essential."  

    What a scoundrel.  

    Speaking of which, Sakura Kaede isn't here, but that's understandable. She's waiting at

home, preparing a reception. Incidentally, it's to welcome me. It would be great if only I

went, and Shizuku and the others would just be in the way.  

    "Then let's take the train,"  

    I urged everyone,  

    but Shizuku seemed to be observing something, standing there motionless.  

    "Hey, President, aren't you taking the bus?"  

    "Yes."  

    "What are you looking at?"  

    I looked in Shizuku's direction. Nothing special had happened, just some passengers

getting on and off the bus.  

    Shizuku retracted her gaze and said,  

    "I feel like I see a familiar face."  

    "A teacher from school?"  

    "No,"  

    was the only answer she gave, and she took the first step.  

    So, we got on the bus. After buying the ticket and getting on the bus, Kondou Mikoto's

attitude was very stiff.  

    Did she really want to ignore me?  

    Sakura Kaede's hometown is in Kanagawa Prefecture. After several stops on the tram,

there were many male passengers hunched over and resting inside the bus. The work must

be really hard.  

    Kanagawa is very big, and it existed even earlier than Yokohama. Shizuku and I knew the

address, and I heard it from Sakura Kaede.  

    "President, where is Sakura Kaede's home?"  

    "Natsuru heard it too, right?"  

    "I'm not familiar with the terrain here."  

    "Here,"  

    Shizuku showed me the menu bar of her phone, and it said Odawara.  

    "Did Sakura Kaede say that?"  

    "Huh?"  

    "What did she say?"  

    "Phone number"  

    It's really ordinary, to be honest.  

    "Sakura Kaede also said, 'Is it okay that Natsuru didn't hear me tell you the address?'"  

    "Yeah, actually, you told me…"  

    "That kid, it seems like she doesn't remember."  

    Well… this is also circumstantial evidence. And Shizuku also felt it. I feel more and more

excited. Will this trip end safely?  

    "It's really far, by the way."  

    "We haven't even reached Atami yet."  

    That's nonsense, that's Shizuoka Prefecture.  

    But it's really hard to stand like this, but to be honest, I'm still young and can handle it.  

    When we arrived in Kanagawa Prefecture, most people got off, and the whole car became

an empty car with only four people.  

    "Natsuru -san, let's sit down,"  

    Akane said, and we bent down.  

    "I, I'll sit next to Natsuru -san."  

    Akane hurriedly sat down, much faster than Shizuku who didn't say anything. She seems to

be much bolder recently.  

    Then Kondou Mikoto didn't even look at me, and sat diagonally across from me.  

    "I didn't expect you'd have to stay the night,"  

    Akane said, clutching her suitcase.  

    "It's so far, so this is better."  

    "Sakura Kaede, have you always lived alone?"  

    "What's it like?"  

    I looked at Shizuku. She must know everything about Sakura Kaede.  

    Sensing my gaze, Shizuku spoke.  

    "I lived in Tokyo with my parents when I was little, though I've never seen them."  

    "Eh—"

    "It seems they have houses in Tokyo and here. So, when you go to school in Tokyo, you

might come over sometimes."  

    "Is Sakura Kaede's family wealthy?"  

    "Compared to the average standard of living, it's certainly higher,"  

    Shizuku said, something incomprehensible.  

    Come to think of it, I know next to nothing about Sakura Kaede's personal life. The

information collection published by the Bishoujo Research Society only lists the composition

of her family.  

    This is the perseverance of a believer who believes, "Even if I don't know, as long as I love

you, I can do it." It's not just me; many boys who like Sakura Kaede feel the same way. But

recently, I've seen a slightly frightening side of Sakura Kaede, a nd I can't help but feel

nervous.  

    By the way, Shizuku is the most talked about when it comes to these fanatical believers.

There are even those who, after all, would dance with joy just by picking up a strand of this

woman's hair. I know of one who obsessively photographs footprints le ft on walkways and

other places on rainy days, desperate to collect them. An album of this kind was officially

released not long ago, and despite being such a tacky thing, it seems to be selling briskly. Are

these the only perverts left in the world?  

    And Sakura Kaede's family is wealthy. Being invited to her childhood home wouldn't be a

problem at all...  

    "What do Sakura Kaede's parents do?"  

    "They seem very busy,"  

    Shizuku answered. This guy's parents seem like workaholics, too.  

    "Will you meet her parents?"  

    "Do you want to?"  

    "I think it's reasonable to say hello,"  

    I replied. Of course, greetings include all sorts of things, like about getting married.  

    If I marry Sakura Kaede, I'll probably have to move to Kanagawa Prefecture, right? But she

has an apartment near the school, right? It's really nice to have parents like them, unlike my

two who are having fun in Kyushu and don't even care about their s on's life or death.  

    Shizuku glanced at me for some reason, her gaze saying, "Thinking of something stupid

again." Why is she so sharp? She's always right, but it's just annoying.  

    I pretended not to notice; it was good for my health.  

    "Speaking of parents,"  

    I turned to Akane.  

    "Isn't Akane's house close to Sakura Kaede's?"  

    "Oh, yes,"  

    she said, as if to say, "Finally, you're asking me."  

    "In that area. My parents moved here before I was born. Dad worked in planning and

development at a manufacturing plant, but he changed jobs a while after I was born."  

    "Hey —get a promotion?"  

    "No, he became a carpenter."  

    How did that happen? It doesn't sound like a bad thing, but the change is incredible, isn't

it?

    "But Dad's arm strength is incredible. He could send me to high school in Tokyo with just

one hand."  

    That's impressive, even though my parents are happily living in Kyushu. Rather than

working hard for me, it's more like they're just too happy to leave.  

    "So, I went to elementary school here."  

    "Hmm —"

    I had to get something out of the way.  

    "Did you hear about Sakura Kaede when you were little?"  

    Akane tilted her head.  

    "...No. But Sakura Kaede was in Tokyo, right?"  

    "Did you hear about Sakura Kaede's parents, too?"  

    "...I think...probably not."  

    Yeah, we were still in elementary school, so there was nothing we could do. If I could get

some information about Sakura Kaede's parents here, I'd make a good impression.  

    "Natsuru -san, why do you want to know that?"  

    "Oh, that's nothing."  

    I tried to smooth things over appropriately. It would be troublesome if my grand plan were

exposed. But Shizuku was there, glaring at me coldly. I'd better give up trying to hide it from

her. Then Kondou Mikoto looked over.  

    The train began to shake, and before I knew it, it had entered the mountains. The scenery

here was completely different from Tokyo.  

    I changed trains once, finally boarding one that ran quite frequently along the way.  

    My stomach was empty.  

    "Wouldn't it be better to buy a bento at the station?"  

    "Not yet,"  

    Shizuku said, checking the time.  

    "It's a long train ride, so I can buy it next time I change. And I can even leave without

eating."  

    What should I do? I'll have to negotiate with my stomach.  

    "Besides, you want to eat with Sakura Kaede, right?"  

    Sakura Kaede is quite a cook, so maybe she's already prepared something for me.  

    "I'm a good cook, too."  

    You don't need to.  

    The train slid through the fields. So far, we'd been able to travel by train, but now it was a

local line.  

    Another transfer, and we arrived at a local railway line called something other than JR, Asia

Central. I had no idea what it was. A train geek might be able to figure it out, but I couldn't.  

    We got off the platform and walked across the pedestrian bridge to the side platform.

Hungry as hell, we bought a bento at the station —enough for everyone, of course.  

    The next train also had seating for four, and we unpacked our lunch boxes as it departed.  

    It's lunchtime. I pick up my chopsticks and look across.  

    "..."

    "What are you looking at?"  

    Shizuku glances at me.  

    "Seno -kun, you like watching girls eat?"  

    "No, that's not true. Um... President, you eat really fast."  

    Shizuku's lunch box is almost empty.  

    "Fast" isn't a compliment or a sarcastic remark, it's just really fast. She moves her

chopsticks like she's fast -forwarding a video. And there's barely any chewing. Does she

usually eat this fast?  

    "Eating fast isn't a good thing for a girl, is it?"  

    "Is... is that so?"  

    "Because we all have student council work, we've developed a habit of eating fast. Even

meal time is precious, and I haven't thought about slowing down."  

    Everyone knows Shizuku is busier than the average high school student. She's often

blamed for any stupid things the students do without her permission. But, I think she also

had lunch with me on the rooftop.  

    "Well, because we were eating with Natsuru, we finished work early."  

    Ah, so that's what's going on... hey. The word "together" startled Akane.  

    "I'm kind of used to it now,"  

    the student council president said, closing the lid of her lunch box and rewrapping it in its

original wrapper, but without the chopsticks.  

    I was just about to take a bite of the kelp roll when Shizuku suddenly reached out her

chopsticks and snatched it away.  

    "Hey..."  

    I was about to ask why she was doing that when the chopsticks were right in front of me.  

    "Come on, ah —"

    I froze. Hey, are you planning on doing that here?  

    Akane and Kondou Mikoto fell silent, staring at us. "Hey, you're watching me so closely!"

Shizuku, however, acted nonchalant, as if this was a matter of course. And what I wanted to

emphasize was: how should I treat the kelp roll in front of me?  

    "You're not going to eat it?"  

    "No..."  

    "This is Seno -kun's."  

    She said that, but you took it without my permission. Eat it yourself.  

    But Shizuku isn't the type to listen. And then there were all these people watching. I'm not

used to it yet.  

    Somehow, the memory of our kiss suddenly came back to me, and that made me even

more embarrassed.  

    But there was no way to escape. Just as I was considering whether to eat it, a hand

reached out from the side.  

    "Give it to me."  

    Akane took the kelp roll off and put it in her mouth. Then she looked to the side.  

    "President, you've been too harsh on Natsuru -san."  

    "It's Mishima -san. Don't you think she's been very bold lately?"  

    "It's normal for me to do this."  

    A certain tension surged in the car. I had no choice but to bury my head and concentrate

on finishing my lunch box quickly. It was obvious that a tense atmosphere had risen between

Akane and Shizuku. I didn't know what the four people sitting there wer e thinking. Let's call

the National League to put a stop to this.  

    The tension still persisted after eating. In such an occasion, it is really necessary to say

something to relax people, right? In the second -year fourth group of the men's department,

talking about boring things at such a time would provoke contemptuou s eyes, as if I had

done something wrong. The mere sight of her could kill me. Incidentally, there's no such

clueless person in the women's club. While the vice -president might seem strange at first,

she's actually quite good at making people laugh.  

    The announcement blared from the train compartment, announcing our arrival. Shizuku

lifted her face and said,  

    "We're here,"  

    and we prepared to get off.  

    The station we were getting off at was a typical local station... Even so, the people of

Kanagawa are so stingy, aren't they? There wasn't even a single tourist information post.

Even though this is within the commuter zone connecting to Tokyo, there w eren't any

souvenir shops or tourist information centers in this area.  

    Outside, the sun was incredibly strong, and I couldn't help but sweat.  

    "I'm craving some ice cream..."  

    I heard Kondou Mikoto mutter.  

    "Let's go buy some?"  

    With just that, Kondou Mikoto jumped up like a girl who'd been shoved into a bug from

behind. Although, she's actually quite resilient to bugs.  

    "No... I don't need it. If you don't want to buy it..."  

    "You can buy something else."  

    "No, don't bother..."  

    "What are you upset about?"  

    "Depressed or what... No..."  

    Kondou Mikoto's voice gradually faded.  

    Kondou Mikoto's reaction was very different now, and the difference between her and

Shizuku was also a stark contrast to her previous bold and fearless personality.  

    Thinking about it, this was the first time I'd spoken to Kondou Mikoto today. It felt like she

barely even glanced at me today.  

    "Nothing... well... nothing..."  

    She looked like she wanted to hide in a hole.  

    "How about ice?"  

    "..."

    There was no answer, and I was just wondering what to do when Shizuku suddenly

interrupted.  

    "I want some ice, too. How about buying everyone a portion?"  

    Kondou Mikoto seemed to be saying something like, "President, thank you," but why

wasn't she thanking me?  

    "Does that include your share, President?"  

    "Of course."  

    "Go buy it yourself."  

    "You, are you planning on having girls do the manual labor?"  

    "Didn't they say that in ancient Japan, women also did manual labor?"  

    "This is modern times."  

    Of course I know about that sort of thing, but that's not what I want to say.  

    Although Shizuku is undoubtedly a woman, she's no less athletic than a man. She's no less

impressive than Hanzawa, who's a baseball pro. She can run long distances, so she's

definitely better than me. She's the best woman in sprints, so she's definitel y better than me,

too.

    In short, she's definitely better at sports than me, so why should I buy it for her? Why not

buy my share too?  

    But Shizuku clearly wasn't the type to think that way.  

    "I'll pay for it."  

    "Isn't it because the president is older?"  

    "Then running errands should be for the younger ones."  

    She's quite adept at that kind of conversation.  

    I got the money from Shizuku and went to a convenience store near the station to buy

popsicles.  

    I didn't buy a cup of iced drink because I was too lazy to do so. I didn't want to stuff both

my hands.  

    I bought popsicles according to the number of people. What was surprising was that the

money I received from Shizuku was not changed to a cent. Could it be that even this was

considered good?  

    The girl working at the convenience store said "There is also a sports lottery" to attract

customers, but I could only go back frustrated. I didn't want to trouble the sister working

part-time to comfort me who was hit hard.  

    I distributed the popsicles to everyone, and Kondou Mikoto still refused to look at me and

took the popsicle.  

    "Thanks, this is a thank you gift."  

    Shizuku handed over the wallet.  

    "Hey, this is your wallet."  

    "Men are more popular with it."  

    "What do you mean by popular now?"  

    "Well, Natsuru is actually popular enough without doing this."  

    She was still using Natsuru as a direct name, and where was the evidence to prove that I

was popular?  

    If I use my standards to define being popular, it means that girls will stare at you intently

when you walk on the street; the beautiful actress in the drama forces you to say "give me a

hug"; and the beautiful girl who inherited a large fortune wants to marry you. Where is the

popularity that you mentioned as the student council president?  

    "Natsuru -san is excellent,"  

    Akane said something off -topic.  

    "Although he is not popular, I think he looks good."  

    Hey, what a subtle opinion.  

    After tearing open the popsicle bag, Akane's travel bag seemed to have become a little bit

bigger. It looked small to begin with, but the handle part was strangely shaped, and it looked

like it was tiring to carry.  

    I stretched out my hand.  

    "Akane -chan, let me take it."  

    "Oh... no need, like this."  

    "Let me take it."  

    "Really? Then..."  

    She handed the bag to me.  

    I took it. Ugh... It's so heavy. Are all girls' bags this heavy? Could it be makeup? Like those

bottled ones?  

    Of course I don't carry makeup. I do have some underwear, but the weight of it is barely

noticeable.  

    It was all good intentions, but now I regret it. Having agreed, I can't just take the bag back.  

    "That sounds like a lot of trouble. How about I carry it?"  

    Shizuku said. Indeed, if it were this woman, she'd be stronger than me. I heard she has a

strong grip, and she's the most athletic girl around, so she's got a lot of stamina.  

    I flatly declined.  

    "No problem."  

    "You look a bit manly."  

    "It's not that heavy."  

    "Then why don't you help Kondou Mikoto with her travel bag?"  

    This jerk actually said something so unnecessary.  

    I ignored her and said the same thing to Kondou Mikoto.  

    "Mikoto, I'll help you."  

    "...No, it's okay."  

    Kondou Mikoto slowly backed away, her hands still clutching her travel bag. Did she think I

was going to steal your bag?  

    "I'll get it."  

    "It's okay, really...it's okay."  

    But she still refused to let go.  

    Sakura Kaede was waiting at home, and we walked from the station. Shizuku, who knew

the address, led the way, and I walked at the end, carrying my things.  

    As we walked, a thought suddenly occurred to me.  

    "By the way, aren't you going back to your family, Akane -chan?"  

    "Oh, right."  

    She hurriedly pulled out her cell phone, still the unassuming girl, tapping away at the

buttons.  

    Akane covered the mouthpiece with her hand and replied, "Yes, yes." She looked as if she

were talking to a client,  

    chatting with friends as cheerfully as she did with her friends. There were also men in the

group who used honorifics when speaking to their parents. That was Hanzawa, because his

parents were wrestlers, and he didn't know what kind of punishment he wo uld suffer if he

showed any disrespect. As he put it, "honorifics are a way to protect yourself."  

    She hung up.  

    "Um... it seems like they haven't come back yet."  

    "Huh?"  

    "They went out earlier, saying they were at a friend's house."  

    These are truly carefree parents.  

    Akane seemed to be saying, "Finally, we get a chance to introduce Natsuru -san to them." It

couldn't be better for me. First, Sakura Kaede gets priority.  

    We strolled along at a leisurely pace. The weather was nice, a bit like a picnic. The breeze

blew against my skin, but I didn't sweat much. But as a porter, I didn't really have the heart to

enjoy the scenery.  

    After walking for a while from the station, the high -rise buildings behind us gradually

receded. Next, I saw houses and fields. There were mountains so close.  

    "It's such a quiet place,"  

    I said. As expected, after being away from the station for so long, I don't have the

residential atmosphere anymore, but it's not that spooky nighttime atmosphere either...  

    "This is a villa area, huh?"  

    "Huh?"  

    "It was a famous villa area before the war. It's not anymore, but there are still some left,

right?"  

    I see. So, the spaces between the houses are indeed quite spacious. Unlike the borrowed

house, it has a more serious style. The quietness is probably because most people are staying

at home.  

    "Isn't Akane's family in this area?"  

    "Yes, over there,"  

    Akane pointed diagonally to the left.  

    "Isn't it... a villa?"  

    "It must have been newly built, since the area was developed after the war."  

    "Is it okay if you're not home yet?"  

    "There's still plenty of time."  

    Where on earth had Akane's parents gone? Shizuku turned countless corners, not even

checking the notes on her phone. "Did you memorize the address?" She's such a navigation

system.  

    Gradually, the trees grew more numerous, and the houses became fewer and fewer.  

    Suddenly, a large house appeared before us.  

    "Is this it?"  

    Shizuku looked up, and I looked up too.  

    It looked more like a noble mansion than a residence, and a Western -style one at that. The

walls were painted a birch -white color. The garden in front was very spacious, probably also

used for parking, although there was a garage.  

    The entrance was also very large, with doors that opened in both directions, which amazed

me.

    "Isn't this... a huge mansion?"  

    "It looks like it,"  

    Shizuku said calmly, leaving Akane and Kondou Mikoto speechless with surprise.  

    "Come in."  

    "Hey, are you going in?"  

    "Why else would you be here?"  

    It certainly looked like that.  

    But this, no matter how you look at it, looks like the kind of mansion you'd see in a movie

or a play, and it's a large, modern villa. Is this truly private property? If an accountant resells

it and pockets the difference, what kind of property would t hat be?  

    Shizuku walked briskly forward and rang the doorbell. She pulled it instead of ringing it,

didn't she?  

    After a moment, the door opened.  

    "Welcome,"  

    Sakura Kaede smiled, stepping out.  

    "Sorry to bother you walking from the station. I was supposed to pick you up."  

    "It's okay. The scenery here is beautiful, and it's a pleasure to walk and see it."  

    So, I guess Shizuku wasn't really enjoying the scenery just now. Was she trying to cut

Sakura Kaede off?  

    "Kondou Mikoto and Mishima Akane, I'm glad you're here too,"  

    Akane said. "No, no... I'm surprised," while Kondou Mikoto muttered, "It's like the ruins in

Peru." Both of them seemed a bit strange.  

    "Don't be nervous, welcome, welcome."  

    Sakura Kaede held their hands. I'd thought so before, but she really does get along with

girls.  

    And so, Sakura Kaede finally approached me.  

    "Welcome, Natsuru -san too,"  

    and that was the end. Am I the last one?  

    Sakura Kaede said, "I'll take you to your room," and then,  

    "Ah, what's wrong with Natsuru -san?"  

    "I'm right here."  

    "I meant the female Natsuru -san."  

    Oh, so that's it. I had to perfunctorily say something like, "I'm here," and "I'm not."  

    Even though Sakura Kaede had a crush on me as a woman, she obviously didn't like seeing

me in my normal self.  

    Shizuku interrupted,  

    "I'll be here later."  

    "Is that so?"  

    "Oh, you don't seem to like getting up early, and you're always late for school."  

    Shizuku glanced at me briefly. "Why are you blinking? Is there something in your eyes?"  

    Sakura Kaede looked regretful and ended the conversation. Then, she led us inside.  

    Holding onto the iron railing, we ascended the stairs. The living room seemed to be divided

into two levels. It was quite spacious, so staying the night wouldn't be too much of a hassle.  

    I casually walked closer to Shizuku.  

    "President."  

    "What? If this is private, please whisper."  

    "I get it... Why did you say that to Sakura Kaede?"  

    "A girl's Natsuru?"  

    "That's right."  

    "It's better if you come than not."  

    "It's not good for me at all."  

    "That's fine. You haven't forgotten who invited us here, have you?"  

    "Isn't it Sakura Kaede?"  

    "It's the darkened Sakura Kaede who invited us. You might transform into a Kämpfer fighter

at any moment. But if you transform, the current Sakura Kaede won't know. It would be

troublesome if they saw you."  

    Oh—I see. It's true. It's possible they might be seen. She's a very quick thinker.  

    But there are still things she'll worry about.  

    "How about this, after I transform, I'll just stay outside and not come back?"  

    "Is that so?"  

    "Oh no! That's bad!"  

    Something similar happened before at the class monitor's house, and I was almost dizzy.  

    "Compared to people who shouldn't be there, this is less of a burden. It's better to

minimize any awkward situations if possible."  

    That being said, it would be incredibly difficult for me.  

    Shizuku interrupted, seemingly ignoring everything she was saying. Is the student council

president really that stubborn?  

    "Right here."  

    We'd already reached the room before I knew it, and here too, what a large door.  

    "This is the room for everyone to relax and unwind. It used to be a meeting room."  

    "So?"  

    "This, when it was bought, it was like a hotel,"  

    Sakura Kaede answered my question. So, the original owner probably sold it because it was

too large and luxurious, and the maintenance costs were considerable.  

    "That's why it's so big, and the ceilings are so high. And by the way, there's a swimming

pool in the courtyard."  

    "That's amazing..."  

    "But since the pool is a little small, we had construction workers come in and widen and

deepen it when we bought it. And there's a little secret about it."  

    All I could see was Sakura Kaede's smile. I'll leave the secrets behind. Let me also imagine

the renovations of the new house. It's definitely one of those systems where you can flip a

bed out by the pool at the touch of a button, allowing you to swim and sleep at the same

time.  

    "And that's Shizuku's room,"  

    Sakura Kaede gestured to the room nearby.  

    "That's Kondou Mikoto's, Akane's over there, and Natsuru's over here."  

    Anyway, the original meeting room was at the back, and from there outwards, Shizuku,

Kondou Mikoto, Akane, and I were all assigned our own rooms.  

    "There's no room for Natsuru and Shizuku together, so please be patient and don't do

anything weird."  

    She seemed completely convinced that Shizuku and I were dating. While there were

rumors, I'd forget about being with Shizuku.  

    "Where's Sakura Kaede?"  

    "I have my own room downstairs, separate from everyone else. After all, I've lived there

since I was a kid."  

    I understand being reluctant to leave. When I was little, I couldn't sleep without my

favorite blanket. It's like a character from a manga with a beagle, that's what my mother said.  

    "Well, please put your luggage in front of your room door. The key will be brought to you

later."  

    After leaving that, Sakura Kaede went downstairs. It seemed as if we were left here.  

    "Anyway, let's go to our respective rooms first,"  

    said Shizuku.  

    "After that, how about we all gather in the conference room? It's better to explain some

things first."  

    "What?"  

    "Of course it's Sakura Kaede's business,"  

    Shizuku answered my statement without hesitation.  

Translator's Notes

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

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