Kämpfer:Volume 2 Chapter 5

Part 1: The Lull Before the Storm

I didn't go to school on Thursday, not because I was preparing for battle, but simply because I didn't want to go to a school full of rumors.

But what was surprising was that Kondou Mikoto didn't wake me up. She's really fickle.

I stayed home at noon on Friday. With nothing else to do, I caught a Seppuku Tiger to practice with me. Unexpectedly, it said, "Let's play Lily Chain." I was so angry that I threw it in the closet. Even if it's a toy, some secrets can't be easily revealed.

Then came night.

It was the middle of the night, when all the trees and grass were asleep. What was I talking about? In modern society, with lights on 24 hours a day, how could trees and grass have time to sleep? It was so late, and I was still awake, ready to go out.

On the way to Iron Star Academy High School, I met Akane. She had transformed into a Kämpfer.

"It's nighttime anyway, so don't be shy and have a good time."

Akane giggled, a Pocky in her mouth.

"How could you pick a time like this? You've prevented me from watching late-night cartoons. I'll send you to that world to vent my anger."

This girl transforms into a complete battle maniac. Even if she could see cartoons, she'd probably find a bunch of other excuses.

"Natsuru, why don't you transform?"

"Huh?... You make sense."

Normally, if a Kämpfer is around, I'll transform as well, but it seems not to be the case now.

"Why is that?"

"Hurry up and transform."

"Don't rush. It has nothing to do with my will."

"If you don't transform by the time you get to school, I won't care."

If that happens, I'll go home.

Iron Star Academy High School at night is a kind of hidden gem. While security is strict during the day, it's much more relaxed at night. The reason is that even if a thief gets in, there's nothing to steal. Of course, important areas are still locked.

That being said, to prevent couples from doing anything inappropriate, the doors to the girls' section are still closed, and the iron bars exude an indescribable sense of intimidation.

"Let's break the door down,"

Akane said again, her impatience rising.

"We'll be discovered, won't we?"

"What else are you going to do?"

"Let's sneak in."

Thinking ahead, there's always a way, so I decided to take the lead.

"Go ahead. I'll tell you if the police come."

"Just tell me?"

"Don't worry, I'll hide well."

How could I be so reassured?

Using the rope I brought, I finally made it to the other side of the door. I slipped twice along the way, and Akane pointed at me and laughed. Akane

infiltrated even more swiftly than I did, landing on the grounds of Iron Star Academy High School.

Part 2: A Desperate Chase and a Shocking Motive

My digital watch read 11:02, and I glanced around.

"This is my first time at school at night. It's so dark."

"Because the student council guys said they want to save electricity."

"It's dangerous, but it's better for us."

"So what's there to complain about?"

I'd been forced to go to the women's section several times before, so I had a general idea of what was going on inside. Anyway, we headed inside.

"Natsuru, where do you think the enemy is hiding?"

"It's not written on the challenge."

"That's right, so the battle started the moment we entered."

"It should be..."

We cautiously approached the first-year girls' school building.

Suddenly, there was a rustling sound.

A loud noise coming from a deserted place in the middle of the night. It wasn't the wind, so someone must be somewhere.

"...Finally?"

Akane waved her hand, and a stiff military pistol appeared. Then she waved the back of her hand, a gesture to get out of the way.

"Natsuru, stay away from me."

"Why?"

"You're useless without transforming, and you're getting in my way."

Damn it, but she's right, so I kept my distance. Akane,

in fierce dog mode, relentlessly observed her surroundings. I checked too, but besides the sounds I'd heard, there was nothing else.

"Where..."

It must be in the bushes to my right. I thought I'd heard leaves rustling just now, so it was very likely Akane was thinking the same thing and focusing on the same spot.

The school grounds were dim, and from a distance, it was impossible to tell what was happening on the other side. But even in this gloom, the stars still shone quietly overhead.

Suddenly, the starlight vanished.

For a moment, I thought it was clouds, but it wasn't. Something seemed to be lurking over there.

"...Up there!"

I yelled to Akane, and the next moment, something landed between us.

Her petite figure, clad in a Iron Star Academy High School sailor uniform, exuded a murderous aura and possessed impressive Gewehr gun skills.

A red glow emanated from her right bracelet; it was the enemy, a Kämpfer.

"Asshole!"

Akane turned and fired simultaneously.

The enemy fled, and I lay flat on the ground, fearing being hit by stray bullets.

The sound of gunfire continued. Akane, a battle-loving gunslinger, seemed to be increasingly excited by the act of firing, her adrenaline surging.

The enemy counterattacked, though not as ferociously as Akane, but still firing continuously, trying to contain her attack.

Suddenly, it turned towards me.

"Oh no."

My eyes met hers, and I stood up and rushed forward.

I hurried to escape, but the enemy seemed to be one step faster than me. Does becoming a Kämpfer also speed up my pace?

She caught up with me in a flash, grabbing me by the collar and forcing me face to face.

Mysterious red gunman attack Natsuru and Akane during Night

The enemy's eyes were just as sharp as before, but compared to Akane's, they had a different kind of fierce expression.

"...Before transformation?"

The muzzle of her gun said hello to me.

"What happened?"

"...Yeah, so please spare me."

It was useless, but without weapons and nothing, I was no more than the average high school student.

"...I refuse,"

the enemy Kämpfer said, with the same cold words as Shizuku.

"Whether you transform or not, it has nothing to do with me."

"Wait...wait a minute."

I saw her hand about to pull the trigger, and I quickly spoke.

"Didn't you say before that you didn't have the time to fight me?"

"So what?"

"Then why are you sending me a challenge now? There's no point in defeating me before you transform."

Even if you're being unreasonable, there must be a limit. In the end, I couldn't help but lament how unfortunate I was.

"That's because..."

To my surprise, she blushed.

"...Why?"

"Shut up!"

the enemy kicked me hard, sending me flying.

"Things are different now. I won't forgive you. You know that!"

"Wait a minute! At least tell me why. What are you doing? Are you here to avenge Shizuku?"

"I'll deal with that guy later." That guy? This woman actually called her friend Shizuku that guy. What's going on?

But the question only lasted a moment, and then, perfectly suited to the dead of night, the all-black muzzle of the gun aimed at me again. "Hey, wait a minute, stop!"

"Stop begging for mercy."

"No, if you don't stop, I'll be in trouble."

Akane's shrill voice came from behind the enemy.

"That guy may be unreliable, but he's my friend. Put the gun down."

Akane's gun was aimed at the enemy's head. It seemed like Akane would shoot before the gun pointed at me was turned towards Akane.

"..."

"Don't think I'll let you go if you don't speak."

The woman gave up, her grip on the gun seeming to loosen, but then —suddenly, another gun appeared in her left hand.

"Double-gun woman...!"

The enemy woman didn't lower the gun she was pointing at me. She aimed her other gun at Akane, and pulled the trigger almost simultaneously.

"Yi!"

"Ouch!"

The first one was from me, the second from Akane. The bullet grazed my head and ricocheted into the muzzle of Akane's gun. The woman was probably nervous, so she missed, saving our lives, but even hitting the gun was terrifying enough.

Akane turned and kicked the woman in the shoulder with her left foot, causing one of her guns to fall.

"Run!" the

dog girl roared. I ran forward without looking back, and before I knew it, I was shoulder to shoulder with Akane.

"Damn it! Why didn't I hear she had two guns!"

"You only have one to use?"

"Generally speaking, one is enough!"

Thinking about it, Shizuku also wields two daggers, so this idea is possible.

We ran into the first-grade building. Though it was locked, Akane easily knocked the lock and chain open.

Behind us, we could hear the enemy woman chasing us. The door was no longer usable as a shield, so we decided to go up to the second floor.

The girls' building was three stories high, with only four classrooms on each floor. Usually, only two of them were in use, with the other two used as changing rooms. It was incredibly extravagant. The boys' building was old, but all the classes were barely crammed in.

I secretly turned my attention to the back.

"She's catching up."

"Oh no!"

We entered the nearest classroom, Grade 1, Class 3. I felt like I'd heard this somewhere before.

The desks and chairs were arranged much like my Grade 2, Class 4, but there was a touch of childishness, perhaps because it was for the younger students.

We hid in a corner, out of sight.

As we ducked, the enemy had already reached the second floor. She gave up running and walked instead.

She clattered open the classroom doors and began checking each room one by one.

"…Why are we hiding?" I said. "Can't you defeat her with your own strength?"

"You're just too unreliable!"

Akane cursed softly.

"Her firepower is twice as great as mine. With your Zauber magic, I should be able to handle her. You're still a boy!"

"How would I know about that?"

You're right, but I don't know why I can't transform.

"Stop arguing, or she'll find out." "Hmph,

watch out, I'll blow your head off first."

So, hurry up! Weren't you the one who just said you'd abandon me if I didn't transform?

But Akane didn't seem to have any intention of abandoning me, nor did she tell me to "get over there." As for why, I don't know.

The door to the adjacent classroom seemed to have finished its investigation, and it clicked open.

"…Don't come here."

"I think she'll come."

Akane glanced at her gun.

"Hey, Natsuru, should we try that method again?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Using the sprinkler."

During the fight with Shizuku, we used this method in a critical moment: using a large amount of water to dull the dagger's movement.

"Let's scare that guy into peeing her pants."

"I don't have a lighter."

Without a fire, there's no point. Right now, I only have my wallet, completely empty-handed.

Akane glared.

"Useless guy."

"Sorry."

"I can't help it. If she gets in, I'll kill her. Hitting her will send her to hell."

The mastiff girl pointed her gun at the entrance.

Nothing happened for a while, but the silence felt longer than the time it takes to wait for instant noodles to soak when you're starving.

The door moved slightly.

"Go to hell!"

Akane fired, nearly piercing the entire door. This guy truly has no sense of restraint. The noise was so loud that the first-grade classroom turned into a popcorn machine.

The door, battered beyond recognition, swayed and fell.

Silence returned.

"Is that woman dead?"

"Uh..."

I cautiously peeked out. It was dark, so I couldn't see anything, except for someone lying there.

I squinted my eyes and crept slowly into the hallway.

The only thing in the hallway was the collapsed door.

"No one!"

I screamed, and the sailor suit flew towards me, carrying two guns.

Akane fired at her. The woman ducked low, fighting with one hand while keeping the other pointed at me.

Ugh—I don't have any weapons!

I quickly kicked the table in front of me to use as a shield. It wasn't bulletproof, but at least it gave me some cover. Textbooks and handouts clattered out of the table. I checked the name on the handout: Kondou Mikoto. This was her classroom.

"Natsuru, get out!"

Akane fired as she moved down the hallway, and I hurried after her.

But before I could do that, the enemy woman blocked my path.

Oh no! This guy separated me from Akane. She must have been targeting me from the start, so even if she shot, it was just a response.

"Hey, Natsuru!"

Akane yelled over her shoulder.

"Don't move,"

she warned both me and the Mastiff Girl, both guns pointed at me.

"I won't let you escape."

A deep, terrifying voice —wow, it felt like it came from hell.

"I'll send you to that world... Wake up."

"Being sent there by you would be a disaster!" I raised my hands above my head, even if I struggled a little, I wanted to live longer.

"Please don't hit me. I don't have any weapons."

"It has nothing to do with me."

"No, it has everything to do with me. Why are you only killing me?"

"Because I hate you,"

she said clearly.

Akane shouted from the corridor, "I can't hear what you're saying —" But the enemy didn't seem to be showing any mercy.

I don't recall ever doing anything to deserve resentment. I didn't borrow money or bully my classmates. Just a week ago, I even fed sausages to stray dogs on the street. So, that counts as a good deed.

"No, you should know,"

the girl said.

"Someone got hurt because of you, and I'm here today to avenge her."

"Huh? What did I do?"

"You. That person was devastated."

The woman's eyes grew fiercer, and she gritted her teeth.

"It's all your fault... You're saying you have a crush on someone and hurt Sakura Kaede."

...Huh?

"I said you hurt Sakura Kaede."

"What?"

What the hell? What are you talking about? Sakura Kaede, what does that have to do with this woman?

The shocking thing was yet to come. The woman before me actually began to tear up.

"Sakura Kaede-senpai likes you as a girl, but you actually said you like me as a boy... Do you know how hurtful that is..."

"Hey, hey, I don't understand what you're talking about. Why would you be so interested in something like that..."

"Of course I'll investigate things about someone I like!"

So... this girl is already in love with Sakura Kaede!

Her hands are shaking, probably from anger, and her face is tense. She glares at me fiercely like a demon. I never thought a human could get so angry about someone other than themselves.

From my perspective, I really don't know what to say except that I'm baffled.

"Sakura Kaede-senpai is truly wonderful. I'd be content if she could find happiness, so even if it was you, I wouldn't say anything. But you, you dared to play her like that? I can't just stand by and watch her get hurt!"

"She should have gotten back on her feet by now."

"But the scars are still there. She's just putting on a forced facade, but I can't stand this."

"Just keep swallowing it!"

"If only you weren't here!"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Two guns pointed at me. Perhaps so angry, the guy forgot to even shoot.

"You...you don't have the right to make Sakura Kaede-senpai miserable!"

"I didn't make her miserable, seriously!"

I'd be furious if anyone dared to hurt Sakura Kaede, but that incident was really just an accident.

I tried to take the opportunity to escape, but there was no opening. The guns would react instantly if I moved even the slightest bit.

"Don't even think about escaping. If you do... I'll kill your true lover."

"Who are you talking about..."

"Don't play dumb. It's that guy in the hallway."

"No—!"

How could it be Akane? I'm not interested in the Bulldog Girl, I just got close to her. Please don't misunderstand me, okay?

But the enemy seemed to find me more unforgivable and ignored my nearly wailing defense.

Part 3: A Turning Point and a Cold Betrayal

"I'm going to knock you down right here..."

She pointed the gun between my eyebrows.

"And then I'll free Sakura Kaede's heart... We'll talk about that Shizuku guy later."

What did you say?

The question that floated in my mind vanished as I saw her finger tremble as she pulled the trigger. Hey, hey, hey, if she's serious, I'm doomed! Suddenly,

my palm felt warm.

More accurately, it wasn't my hand, but my fingertips. And it wasn't heat, but a feeling of power, a slowly overflowing strength.

The enemy pulled the trigger and my fingertips thrust forward with power almost simultaneously. There was

a loud bang in the classroom, a flash of light and a boom.

As the light faded, I transformed into a Kämpfer.

I didn't do anything special, just thinking about becoming a Kämpfer, and then Zauber magic activated, deflecting the bullet.

But this proved I could transform on my own.

"Natsuru, keep your head down!"

Akane screamed, and then bullets sliced through the wind, striking the enemy with one in each shoulder.

She gritted her teeth, slowly backing away, then suddenly rushed out.

I unleashed a fireball, but she didn't fight back. Instead, she fled to the window, crossed her arms, and leaped toward the glass.

"She's escaping!"

Akane's voice, the sound of shattering glass, my suppressed fireball, and the enemy's figure almost vanished into the night campus... but she didn't.

Instead of making it outside, she landed on the inside of the window, unconscious from the fireball. The chain entangled her ankles, literally tripping her, preventing her from escaping.

I remember this chain. It belonged to a Kämpfer, the master of the Schwert sword, who wielded a chained dagger.

"If she escapes, I'll be in trouble,"

Student Council President Shizuku said triumphantly, standing at the classroom entrance.

Instead of letting up on the tension between Akane and me, we became even more alert, confronting Shizuku.

The Student Council President's lips twitched slightly.

"Don't look so scary, I'm not going to fight you."

"Then what are you doing here?"

Akane pointed her gun at her.

"I have something to say to that girl."

She slowly approached the unconscious girl on the ground and turned her face upward.

"Look carefully, her transformation is unravelling."

A faint light enveloped the girl, and her face slowly changed.

"She's..."

"Don't you remember her?"

I think I've seen her two or three times, in front of the Student Council President's office. She's the first-year student, I think her name is Kuzuhara.

"She's a very useful girl, actually. No matter what I say, she always does it. What a shame."

"She's your partner, isn't she?"

I questioned Shizuku. This girl, like her, is a Kämpfer with a red bracelet.

Shizuku reveal that Midori is working for the mediator

"Yes, but she seems to have some issues with what I'm doing. She's been spying on me and reporting to the higher-ups. She's getting in my way."

"Reporting to whom?"

"The mediator."

I fell silent. She was the one who had turned me into a Kämpfer without my consent.

"That's why I'd like her to leave, but it's not convenient for me to defeat my own partners, so I'm asking you for help."

"Who's asking you for help?"

Akane said.

"The outcome is the same."

"Hmph, so that's why you insisted Natsuru join the women's club and spread those weird rumors?"

"If I said yes, that would cause some problems."

"You said Natsuru, the female, liked Natsuru, so you could shake that shameless woman, Sakura Kaede, and lure this guy out. Am I right?"

"Student council leaders are a bit of a jerk when it comes to talking about homosexuality, but sometimes they just turn a blind eye."

Shizuku was very careful not to let us catch any errors in her language.

She pulled the fallen female student to her feet and carried her on her shoulders. She was quite strong.

"Anyway, thank you. I'll take care of this later,"

I asked.

"What will happen to that girl?"

"She's still alive."

"I mean after her."

"...So, you don't seem to know what will happen to the defeated Kämpfer, right?"

"Yeah."

"She'll disappear from this world, beautifully."

Akane and I fell silent.

Shizuku didn't sound joking. Was she really saying that? The defeated Kämpfer wasn't even allowed to exist.

This is too much. The reason for fighting vanished from the world without a trace. Is it just pure luck that I'm standing here now?

Shizuku's tone changed slightly.

"Oh, yes, Seno-san, you're welcome to visit the girls' club often."

"What did you say?"

"You don't have to give me that student ID back."

The student council president carried the girl on her back and slowly walked out of the classroom.

Suddenly, I felt weak all over and fell to the floor.

"Ah, ah... We've been used."

Being forced into the women's club, spreading strange rumors, accepting challenges — everything went according to Shizuku's plan. Seriously, my life is so miserable.

"Can I trust the position of president anymore? I've long disliked that bitch."

Akane joined me in scolding her. Putting the position aside, I share Shizuku's trustworthiness. It just so happened that we weren't hostile to her this time. If we'd just listened to her, she might have set up even more despicable traps.

"But speaking of which, it seems you can transform on your own now,"

Akane said. I glanced at my right hand, and the color of the bracelet seemed different from before.

"Maybe."

"How would I know if you put it that way? Try using your own power to change back."

Thinking of returning to my original form, I applied a slight force to my wrist.

I was immediately enveloped by a burst of light, and when it faded, I had transformed back into my male form.

"Isn't it done?"

"Really?"

I couldn't help but stare at my body. No matter who looked at it, there was no doubt it was a man. There was no way it could be wrong. I could control it with my own will.

"That's great."

"I'm so happy... I didn't expect you to learn it so quickly."

"Much faster than me."

Even the Seppuku Tiger said that it should only be achieved through experience. My situation must be unique. Well, the worry of randomly transforming without my will is finally over. This way, I can sleep peacefully from now on, especially during class.

Feeling much more relaxed, I stood up.

"Finally, one of my worries is gone."

"That's great, but there are still all the rumors about you."

"Ah..."

"Not only are you called a yuri, but there are also rumors that the female version of you likes the male version of you."

"Ahh..."

I couldn't help but feel lost, and sat down again, swaying.

Part 4: A New Normal and a Final Shock

A week later. On Monday morning, it wasn't Kondou Mikoto who visited my house, but Akane. She had something to do at the library on Sunday, so she stopped by to see the first-grade school building.

"It looks like nothing happened,"

she told me.

"Just like Shizuku said, there's no sign of fighting at all."

Shizuku was very true to her word in places like this. I don't know how she managed to clean it, but it's strange just thinking about it.

"How's it going with you, Natsuru-kun?"

"I've tried a few times since then, and I've been able to transform successfully."

I've mastered the timing of my transformations, but I'm not sure what would happen if the other Kämpfers were around.

"He's still practicing his transformations in front of the mirror,"

Seppuku Tiger said, adding more unnecessary words.

"He's transformed into a girl several times, and he nods as he watches. Natsuru is such a narcissist."

I grabbed Seppuku Tiger, threw it in the trash, and covered it with magazines so no one outside could hear what it said.

Then a voice came from the entrance.

"Natsuru —going to school —"

It was Kondou Mikoto. That guy had come to my house again without permission. She forced the door open.

"Are you up —?...Ah, it's Akane, I see you here so often."

"Yes...yes."

Akane's expression twitched a little, but Kondou Mikoto didn't seem to mind.

"I'll make you breakfast, go eat it."

"I've already eaten. Akane made it for me."

She said she felt embarrassed to come empty-handed, so she brought ingredients. Akane's cooking skills were on par with Kondou Mikoto's, and her food was also delicious.

Kondou Mikoto looked surprised, and Akane lowered her head apologetically, muttering, "I'm sorry..."

"Well...never mind, it's easier if someone else makes you breakfast."

"You don't have to come to my house so early anymore. I want to get a good night's sleep."

"Yes, yes, then go ahead,"

she said, nodding several times.

Afterward, the three of us went to school together. Because the school was heavily guarded and had separate gates, we had to separate along the way, but that was okay.

It's a gloomy day today, but it's still better than rain. Since I have one less worry, I can barely tolerate this kind of weather.

"Natsuru..."

It was Kondou Mikoto who spoke.

"You're really popular."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I said you're really popular with girls."

What the hell are you talking about? Akane also looked confused.

"Although I've known you since childhood, I didn't expect so many girls to like you."

"That's not true."

"Yes, there's a pretty girl who likes you too, the one who's all the rage lately."

You mean... the female version of me? How can this be considered popular? To put it nicely, it's just narcissistic masturbation, but it's really painful not being able to say it out loud.

Kondou Mikoto sighed.

"I thought I was the only one interested in someone like you..."

"Really? Only you could do something as weird as coming to my house every morning to wake me up. Stop coming to my house like you're looking at wild animals in the zoo, okay? Stop treating people like exotic animals."

"...I didn't expect I'd have a new cooking rival."

She glanced at Akane beside her, only to see the less imposing library committee member shrink even further.

"Plus, you keep spouting about Sakura Kaede and Sakura Kaede."

"Isn't it okay?"

Despite all the trouble I've been facing lately, my feelings for Sakura Kaede haven't changed at all. You could say I live for her.

"But it's still the same. Your beloved Sakura Kaede seems to only see you as a friend."

"What's the matter? She'll understand someday."

"But I heard she's attracted to someone lately."

That person is me, the female version.

Right now, Sakura Kaede is completely obsessed with the female version of me and has no interest in the male version at all, but it's okay. I believe things will change eventually. Although Shizuku's tactics left her a little hurt, she seems to have bounced back. Speaking of which,

the idea of the female version of me liking the male version of me is a bit strange when you think about it. The female version of me had been absent from school due to illness, and now it's suddenly reappeared. We have nothing in common with the male version of me. I really hope Sakura Kaede can calm down and think about it. And the same goes for Kondou Mikoto.

As we approached Iron Star Academy High School, the number of students started to increase.

"That Natsuru-san, almost..."

"Goodbye, Peach Blossom Boy."

I said I wasn't a Peach Blossom Boy.

I waved to the two people who were walking towards the gate of the girls' school, but I stopped halfway.

Because a female student was jogging towards me.

The girl turned out to be Sakura Kaede, and she was now walking towards me in a straight line.

Suddenly, she stopped in front of me.

She kept staring at me, and I felt my heartbeat getting faster and faster.

What could it be? A confession? It seemed that there was a similar situation before, but it was different. Akane and Kondou Mikoto were watching, and the other students were also paying attention to us.

She took a deep breath.

"Natsuru-san..."

"Yes... yes."

"That person is mine, and I will never lose to you!"

After saying that, she turned her back to me and left.

It was really terrible.

It must be the worst thing that happened this century.

I was so scared that I couldn't close my mouth, and I stayed there for a long time, unable to move.

Translator's Notes

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

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