Kämpfer:Volume 9 Chapter 1

Volume 9, Chapter 1  

    ... That being said, educators simply don't want to give students time to play. This is a

serious problem. Lack of learning ability stems from a lack of human capacity, and perhaps

it's also related to a lack of national strength. The country wants to swiftly reform the

education system and advance it without reservation. So, what exactly is this saying?

Summer vacation has ended so quickly.  

    I, Senou Natsuru, had intended to live a happy summer vacation during my second year of

high school. On the last day of my freshman summer vacation, while reflecting on how

boring every day had been, I was determined to indulge in all kinds of fun duri ng my second

year's summer vacation. For example, I'd go to the beach with Kaede Sakura and enjoy a rosy

youth that everyone would envy. Or maybe it's like, "The mountains are indeed rosy." (This

sentence is a little unclear and may not be correct. The ori ginal text is: "Aru is the mountain,

yarra color toka.")  

    But reality wasn't quite as joyful as that. It's so annoying. I had expected to be happy.

Going to the beach turned into going to the pool, where I swam and stayed, and I even went

to Gunma. With all that, I could say I was enjoying my youth. But in re ality, it wasn't all that

wonderful, and I felt miserable. Or even wanted to die. The pool was a farce, and in Gunma, I

was forced to eat a lot of curry, and then I even lost my wallet. Never mind, my wallet will be

back soon.  

    Anyway, I was transformed into something called a Kämpfer. And when I transformed, I

turned into a woman. Even though I was, my appearance had changed a bit. And I became a

beautiful woman. Maybe it's just my health. So, after putting aside all the unn ecessary things

and sleeping in at home, summer vacation was over. So many worries, so few joys. In short, I

was exhausted. But if a high school student says that, the world must be over.  

    "I really want to do it all over again," I finally muttered to myself. My inner thoughts were

revealed. On the highway, a police officer would probably jump out and load me into an

ambulance and rush me straight to the cardiology department. Luckily, t his is my own room.  

    "What do you want to do over?" a voice called from the table. I turned my head. The

question was from a doll with its internal organs exposed, called "Seppuku Tiger." I figured

there was no need to explain why this thing, a pile of synthetic fibers, was speaking

Japanese. At first, I thought it was possessed by a spirit, but now I'm pretty much used to it.

Incidentally, the voice is that of the original Shizuku.  

    As for why this thing's intestines are exposed, it's because of the "Entrails Animal" series. I

heard that the toy company that produces these "Entrails Animal" dolls is trying their best to

address their financial difficulties. But I'm afraid nothing can be done about it.  

    "Of course, it's about the summer vacation," I replied. As expected of someone born to be

so troublesome.  

    "Is that so?" The Seppuku Tiger tilted its head to the side. Its neck was so short, so it was

hard to tell why it was tilting its head that way.  

    "Isn't it nice to just be like this without having to do anything else? It's pretty fun, isn't it?"  

    "How can I be happy?" As expected of a mere toy.  

    "I'm having a rough time, fighting, losing money, not even a moment to breathe. What's

there to be happy about? If only there was a safety button before I went to bed that day, I

could have gone back immediately."  

    But life is painful. There's no safety button, no reset button. And if you just sit there, time

will just slip away. A game without even a boss is terrifying.  

    "Huh?" Seppuku Tiger tilted his head to the side.  

    "Didn't we fight at the water park?"  

    "Didn't we? It was a heated battle with the white Kämpfer."  

    "Strange?" Seppuku Tiger seemed to be questioning something. His expression didn't

change, making it difficult to read, but a question mark seemed to surface.  

    "Is that so?"  

    "Didn't I say it was like that?"  

    "I didn't notice. It felt peaceful."  

    "Is there such a thing as peace?" Talking about peace while fighting clearly was a sign of

paralysis. Someone who can't live without fighting is probably someone like a mercenary.  

    "Dolls can get amnesia too."  

    "How would I know if a doll would get it?"  

    "Hmm—I feel like something's been called out."  

    Are there people who can summon the Entrails Animals? Are you a summoned beast? If an

animal with its entrails ripped out suddenly fell from the sky, the person who summoned it

wouldn't feel good either.  

    "Uh, I can barely remember what happened at this hotel and the water park back then."  

    "Is he succumbing to dementia?"  

    "But I feel a little bit like I've been summoned."  

    "What do you mean by summoned?"  

    Are there still people who collect Entrails Animals? Don't collect them. Your citizenship will

be revoked.  

    The tiger said leisurely, "I was summoned to a place, and I think I even listened to a

speech."  

    "Is it an election?"  

    "No, it seems like we're the only ones here."  

    "We, you mean?"  

    "Entrails Animals?"  

    "Disgusting."  

    A gathering of animals with their entrails exposed could only be a nightmare. The toy store

alone would have required a ton of carts.  

    "So what did you hear there?"  

    "Heard something..." "I forgot."  

    "Fool," I scolded. I've been putting up with your nonsense and asking you calmly, and

you're telling me you forgot.  

    "Isn't it a dream?"  

    "Do dolls dream?"  

    "I don't know!"  

    "Anyway, it feels that way."  

    "Were they just summoned? What about the other Entrails Animals? Are they selling off

their surplus stock?"  

    "I think those are our companions," the Seppuku Tiger said cheerfully. But he couldn't

quite believe what he was saying; it was so confusing.  

    I didn't believe what he was saying at all. Why listen to a guy like that? It's such a waste of

time.  

    "Anyway, it's true."  

    "Really? That's great. In that case, it should be of some use this time."  

    "That's not what I meant at all, or rather, I have a feeling that something bad is going to

happen to you, Natsuru."  

    "Shut up! Idiot!"  

    I wasn't angry, it was just that the scales of life were tilting towards "unfortunate" and yet I

was still being told that.  

    I collapsed on the bed. It was just a terrible summer vacation, and wasting time discussing

this with a doll was like a fool.  

    All in all, it was a meaningless summer. If nothing had happened, it would have been fine,

but a bunch of things kept coming back to me.  

    However, no matter what, I still met Kaede Sakura.  

    The indelible smile of Kaede Sakura was left in the depths of my mind.  

    Kaede Sakura at that time was really the most beautiful. Because I used to not be able to

deal with girls who were a little mysterious and taciturn. Kaede Sakura, who was cheerful,

approachable, and treated everyone equally, was also the best. If she h ad a little bit of

coldness, she would be perfect.  

    But let me be clear, women who are cold at heart are the worst, such as the student

council president of a certain high school. (Infatuated men are good, but the man who hangs

himself on a tree and refuses to enjoy the beautiful world around him is a f ool.)  

    Kaede Sakura is now in a hostile relationship with us. Since she suddenly fought with us, it

must be true. It's really a horrifying thing.  

    But for me, who is infatuated with Kaede Sakura, I want to make this opportunity last a

little longer.  

    Because, if you think about it, I am the only man who knows her unknown side. Isn't this

an opportunity?  

    When a girl shows her true side to a man, isn't it the same as confessing to that man.  

    But in fact, it's not like being confessed to, how should I put it, it's just as someone who

admires her.  

    Now, just talking to her is very satisfying, and I think it would be great if we can develop

the relationship further.  

    Hostility and the like are just some issues that are not worth mentioning.  

    But now the war is being provoked, if we don't do something.  

    "Hey!" I called out to the Seppuku Tiger, who was daydreaming. I don't know what he's

been up to lately, never answering my questions, but this morning he was so active, which is

really rare.  

    "What's going on?"  

    "Do you know anything about Kaede Sakura?"  

    "You're asking me this all of a sudden, what should I say? I don't know anything."  

    "You were originally Kaede Sakura's thing, right? You should know something important."  

    "Hmm..."  

    "Kaede Sakura has suddenly become ferocious. What's going on?"  

    Seppuku Tiger crossed his arms over his chest...seemingly unable to do so, so he closed his

armpits in a troubled manner.  

    "I used to, but my memories before that disappeared after I came to you."  

    "What happened?"  

    "I started to act because I got the information from you."  

    "Were you sleeping all the time? You're a paper tiger, hibernating."  

    "That's not true. We only gain consciousness the moment we are handed over to the

person who will become Kämpfer. Before that, we are sealed, like an empty shell."  

    That's the first time I've heard of this. But words aren't enough, is there any proof?  

    "It's like a computer without a program written into it. It's useless."  

    "But didn't you say you bought it at a themed sale?"  

    "Is that so?"  

    "Was Kaede Sakura there at the time?"  

    Seppuku Tiger fell into deep thought again.  

    "You were bought by Kaede Sakura, so you should remember what happened back then,

right?"  

    "Didn't I say I have no memory before I came to you?"  

    It seems like she said something like that. But what exactly does Kaede Sakura want these

Entrails Animals for? She's a doll fanatic, even talking to them, so it's not surprising that she

buys them. Rumor has it she even names them and determines their  blood relationships.

Amazing.  

    "Was it Kaede Sakura who collected them?"  

    "Maybe."  

    "You're only saying that now?"  

    "Even if you ask me, I wouldn't be confident, because I'm a doll after all."  

    Sort of a doll or not.  

    What this guy said was completely useless. Never mind, I'll find out one day anyway. I

wasted time again early in the morning.  

    Morning? Wait, this kind of day always feels familiar.  

    "Aren't you going to school?"  

    "School," said the Seppuku Tiger, "that's another strange word... No!  

    So that's it! Today is the first day of the second semester! I'd been so caught up in my

seppuku fantasy, escaping reality, that I'd completely forgotten about it.  

    I quickly checked the clock. Oh no! Should I eat breakfast or not? It's such a tricky time.

What should I do?  

    Unsure of what to do, I grabbed breakfast and left. I can't get through the day without

eating, after all.  

    I went downstairs to make breakfast. That being said, there's a mountain of curry at home,

so I'll just have some. It's not like I'm unhappy. I defrosted it in the induction cooker, stuffed it

in, and it was done. It only took six minutes. Damn, that w as fast. Lately, I've been saying I

hate curry, but now I've changed my mind. Curry is a Japanese friend, after all.  

    I went back to my room to get ready to go out. "Are you finished already? Really quick,"

the Seppuku Tiger said.  

    I was impressed.  

    As I was shoving a few textbooks into my bag, the doorbell rang.  

    "Who is it?"  

    "Is he collecting newspaper fees?" said the Seppuku Tiger leisurely.  

    "I don't have money to pay him."  

    "In that case, is he here to pick you up?"  

    Why does he say that? I feel like I'm dead, but it could be someone else picking me up.  

    For example, Kondou Mikoto, who occasionally interferes with my personal life. If it's just

picking me up, that's fine; that guy only makes me curry.  

    "If it's Kondou Mikoto, then there's no point in her coming; she just had curry."  

    "Could it be Akane?"  

    "If so, what? Shall we go to school together?"  

    "There's no other reason."  

    Indeed, if it's picking someone up, that's what it's like.  

    But has Akane ever done something like this before?  

    I got ready and walked towards the entrance. It's nothing, it's nice to go to school together

sometimes. After all, you're alone, so you should be happy.  

    The doorbell was still ringing. "Here I come," I answered and opened the door.  

    My movements froze at that moment.  

    Standing at my door was actually our student council president of Seitetsu Academy,

Shizuku Sangou.  

    She was tall and had long, smooth black hair. I thought it would be troublesome to style it,

but such beautiful hair would be worth the trouble.  

    She looked at me with eyes that seemed like a model's, just like the example I mentioned.

Then she turned her left hand and glanced at the watch.  

    "Don't you think it's a little late? You're going to be late soon."  

    "Um..."  

    "If students are late too many times, they will receive a warning from the student council

to improve. If you want to maintain student autonomy, I hope you can exercise some self -

control."  

    "Um... President..."  

    "What's the matter?"  

    "Why did you come to my house!"  

    "Oh, is there no way?"  

    She didn't sound like she felt she had done anything wrong. Shouldn't she at least explain?  

    "As for me, haven't I been to Senou -kun's house before?"  

    "That being said..."  

    "Senou -kun has also been to my house and stayed there."  

    "...That was an accident!"  

    Damn it, it reminded me of something unpleasant. It was an "attempt," to be more

precise, but because I stayed at her house for a night, the scars in my heart have only

deepened. The damage has been multiplying like bacteria during this period, and it' s all this

guy's fault.  

    Anyway, what kind of scene is this? Why would an ordinary student be greeted by the

student council president in person? Was she trying to get some tutoring?  

    No, maybe, maybe she wanted to end things completely. Like, "My feelings for you are

over," or something like that. Even though there's no reason to end it, it doesn't matter

which one. Just being with her would drain my energy.  

    It would be a blessing to say goodbye to the president here. Of course, I have no intention

of rekindling my relationship with her.  

    "Let's go."  

    She said something heartless, ignoring my feelings. Just to be safe.  

    "Going... to school?"  

    "Of course."  

    "Together?"  

    "That's right."  

    You said it as if it was a matter of course. Do you know that just that one sentence of yours

deeply hurt a man's heart? (It's the hearts of thousands of men.) The reason why the

number of men who don't get married keeps increasing is because of you.  

    Even though I wanted to refuse, I put on my uniform and picked up my schoolbag.  

    "...I know, is that not enough...?"  

    I gave up resisting and walked out of the entrance. The second semester had just begun,

and I was so unfortunate.  

    Shizuku and I walked to school side by side. It was really incredible. When school started, I

never thought I would walk with her. At that time, I didn't even say hello. What should I say

now? About the recent politics in Japan? It's useless. Shizuku c an easily deal with me. There's

no chance of winning if I discuss the democratic system in Japan since the Meiji Restoration.  

    I had no choice but to say something casually.  

    "...The weather is really nice today."  

    "It's cloudy."  

    I was counterattacked so easily. Indeed. The cloud cover is indeed quite heavy. It looks like

it will rain. Because of this, I lost the chance to start a conversation. This is terrible. No, there

is no need to talk, right? Besides, why should I care so  much? Isn't Shizuku calm?  

    It seems strange no matter how I think about it. I am almost confused. Is this okay?  

    "...Um, President, doesn't our school prohibit dating between men and women?"  

    "Yeah, that's right."  

    "Wouldn't it be a bad thing if we go to school together?"  

    "It's not so good."  

    She said this, but walked so easily. And used a tone of "So what?" No matter how thick -

skinned you are, there must be a limit.  

    I had to find an excuse to get out of this situation.  

    "If the faculty sees me, I'll be suspended. You'll also lose your position as president."  

    "That's true."  

    And so the conversation ended. How did it come to this?  

    "That kid said something strange. She said everyone was being summoned."  

    "Huh?"  

    "While we were playing at the water park, the Entrails Animals seemed to be summoned

to a certain place and indoctrinated. They can't remember exactly, though."  

    It felt like I'd heard this before, somewhere. I'd just heard the same thing.  

    That's when I realized it. Ah, Shizuku invited me to school because...  

    She admitted it without even asking.  

    "As you expected, I just wanted to ask about the Entrails Animals."  

    She hadn't changed at all. This woman acts with a clear purpose. She never acts on

impulse.  

    So I ended up by her side, because I was being used. That's how it happened. Hmm. Is this

what they call a qualified man? One day, he'll be tossed aside like harvested spring rice.  

    Shizuku didn't seem particularly concerned.  

    "I was wondering what's going on over there, Senou -kun?"  

    "Same as you, President."  

    I briefly recounted my conversation with Seppuku Tiger in the room.  

    Shizuku was shocked when I repeated what Seppuku Tiger had said. I'd never seen her look

so surprised before.  

    "What do you think?"  

    "Why do you think... I think it's just Seppuku Tiger's nonsense."  

    "Indeed, I initially thought it might be a lie. But every doll in the hotel said the same thing

that day. It's only natural to think it's true."  

    "Are you talking about being summoned?"  

    "Yes."  

    Hmm... I'm a little reluctant to agree with Shizuku, but that's probably it.  

    Oh, I forgot to mention that the Entrails Animals are the ones who turned us into

Kämpfers. They think they're messengers, not the ones who turned us into Kämpfers, but it

makes no difference.  

    But it's not just me; the same thing is happening with Shizuku. The gathering of the Entrails

Animals wasn't a push sale or a clearance sale. Could something major be happening?  

    "Um... President, isn't it just us..."  

    "Yeah, I guess it's the same with Kondou Mikoto and Masumi Nishino."  

    Ha, as expected.  

    Any Kämpfer would have an Entrails Animal as a messenger. Those guys suddenly

transformed us, causing chaos. Can we trust them? Some of them, like Akane, seemed to

throw the Entrails Animals out the window when they chattered incessantly.  

    "Maybe it's better to check," Shizuku said. Akane and Mikoto, right?  

    "Haven't you asked them yet?"  

    "Yeah."  

    Talking dolls gathering in one place must be quite noisy. I wonder what's going on, but are

they just sitting there listening to someone's speech?  

    "I think what they're saying is just nonsense, but..." Shizuku muttered, as if to herself.  

    "Who could possibly have ordered them to gather?"  

    "Who?"  

    It definitely wasn't the Seppuku Tiger. How should I describe that guy? He's always causing

trouble. It's probably not Akane's Seppuku Black Rabbit. He's clearly a rabbit, but he's acting

like a wolf.  

    Shizuku, as if she'd prepared an answer, said, "It's very likely there's someone."  

    What if it wasn't just one person, but a single person...?  

    "It's Kaede Sakura."  

    I was silent. The Kaede she was referring to was Kaede Sakura. Since she and Shizuku grew

up together, she just called her by her first name.  

    What a rude guy! Adding "classmate" at the end, like me.  

    Everyone knows that Kaede Sakura is admired by everyone at Seitetsu Academy, not just

me.

    One thing I want to say in particular is, "A woman with a dark heart like the president is a

bit..." (this is a derogatory term). This view is widely held. Of course, I'm one of them.  

    But recently, her usually gentle and beautiful face has suddenly changed, becoming as if

she's ready to attack us out of nowhere. Attack us, of course. Back in the summer, we got

into a fight at school, and she was incredibly powerful. Seeing that gent le Kaede Sakura

acting so aggressively was truly astonishing. Looking back, it's a bit strange that she (Kaede

Sakura) was at the center of the incident and the one giving out the stuffed animals.  

    But looking at it that way, doesn't the fact that "Kaede Sakura is the enemy" weigh heavily

on me?  

    I feel a weight growing heavy inside. Her beauty captivates me, but...  

    "Why has my Kaede Sakura become like that?"  

    "That's an unnecessary word, but logically, a mediator is also her friend, right?"  

    "But Kaede Sakura has spoken to me normally, too. And you, President, were playing with

her at the water park, too."  

    "Yeah, yes. Just like usual. She didn't mention anything about the mediator, just like an

ordinary girl."  

    "What's going on?"  

    "Kaede Sakura has a dual personality. It's easier to understand if you think about it that

way."  

    "You're saying some troublesome things again. Are you trying to say that the personality is

split into two? That's the world of psychiatry or science fiction. But it's quite convincing.

Indeed, after seeing her changed appearance, it's hard to understa nd if you don't think that

way."  

    "Maybe," Shizuku continued.  

    "The Kaede Sakura who fights is her true appearance."  

    "..."

    That's a bit annoying.  

    As for why it's only "a little," as I've said before, it's because Kaede Sakura, when she's

showing hostility, is so handsome.  

    Even so, I like her. But if she charges at me with a weapon, it's still really hard to deal with.

I hate pain.  

    How can I avoid that?  

    But is that Kaede Sakura an illusion? "The Kaede Sakura I saw was an illusion." You could

think that way. She's still as gentle as ever, with a touch of coldness, the most beautiful

woman in Seitetsu. Well, it's better to think that way. Thinking that way will make the future

happy.  

    Thinking that way makes the words of the woman next to me unnecessary.  

    "I can probably imagine what Senou -kun is thinking, but it's also important to face reality,"

Shizuku brought the conversation back.  

    What are you talking about? A beauty like that remains beautiful no matter how she

changes; that's proven. That's reality.  

    Shizuku sighed softly.  

    "You, even after what happened, still adore Kaede Sakura?"  

    "To give up my faith would be to shake who I am."  

    "Faith? Religion?"  

    "Is it more like philosophy?"  

    I felt like I'd said something incomprehensible. But if you give up something you believe in,

you're no longer a believer. Long live the Sakura Cult!  

    "You're truly hopeless. Can't you change your mindset?"  

    "Isn't that a good thing? It's my freedom."  

    "You're really bothering me."  

    I don't know what you're talking about. Why would you be bothered? Or perhaps I'd rather

you support me, who admires Kaede Sakura.  

    "I've been a Sakura Cult believer since middle school."  

    "I know about Kaede Sakura's past, too. But now that she's become an enemy, we have to

take some measures."  

    "There's no need to hate her just because she's an enemy," I replied excitedly. That Kaede

Sakura was also incredibly handsome.  

    But it didn't seem to have anything to do with Shizuku.  

    "I just told you that I'd be troubled."  

    "Why?"  

    "That's exactly what happened. Besides, have you ever thought about why I came to pick

you up?"  

    "Just to find out about the Entrails Animals."  

    "It's more than that."  

    Shizuku looked at me with a fearless face.  

    "But if you think about it, you just want to discuss this."  

    "No."  

    She said it more straightforwardly.  

    "Because I want to go to school with Natsuru."  

    Damn, she mentioned this again and used "Natsuru". Don't call it that.  

    I looked around hurriedly. There didn't seem to be anyone I knew nearby or anyone from

school. If they caught us in this situation, I'd probably be thrown to the gallows or forced to

eat my stomach.  

    Shizuku came over as a matter of course. She said a car was approaching.  

    "Um, President."  

    "What's up? Want to get closer?"  

    "No, you see, we're almost at school."  

    "Looks like we won't be late."  

    "That's good, but... compared to that, if someone finds us here, we're screwed. What if we

get called to the principal's office?"  

    "That would be really troublesome."  

    "That's right, so I'll..."  

    "Does Natsuru hate being with me?"  

    "..."

    "...?"  

    "...Do you hate her that much?"  

    Of course I do. Need I say that?  

    Although I'd love to say it, I can't bring myself to say it. Disliking and hating others is a real

chore, isn't it? Even if I have the energy to hate someone, it's probably going to hurt the

person I don't hate. Someone once told me, "I hate you," in e lementary school, so I know

this all too well. Of course, it's just a way for people to resist being scolded; it doesn't matter

if the person is Shizuku or not.  

    Although I've always avoided Shizuku, I shouldn't have said I hated her. Just the word itself

is so heavy. Although I'm just a young man with little life experience, I intend to understand it

here.  

    That being said, being with Shizuku is still quite annoying. It feels like I'm being eaten. Like

a frog entangled by a snake, really.  

    After a moment's thought, I nodded vaguely.  

    "Do you hate me?"  

    "Ah...that..."  

    "Can you explain it more clearly?"  

    "How should I put it..."  

    "...that."  

    Her intuition is spot on. It's as if she already knows what I'm going to say. A lonely look

suddenly crossed Shizuku's face... No, not at all. Instead, she smiled.  

    "As for me, I really like Senou -kun, even though he hates me so much."  

    Then, she grabbed my hand tightly.  

    "Well, let's go, everyone see."  

    And so, I was dragged away. Hey, we're almost at the school gate. You're a woman, why do

you have so much strength?  

    "Hey, hey, idiot, let go!"  

    "Isn't it good? You're happy."  

    "I'm not happy at all. I still hate you. Go to hell!"  

    "If I live to be a hundred, then dying won't matter."  

    What the hell is this guy's nerves made of? Maybe it's useless to hate her. I hesitated just

now, but now I regret it. I hate people like you. Hate, hate, hate. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! She

put on a face as if she could really live to be a hundred or tw o hundred years old.  

    Oh no! The school gate is just around the corner. The Discipline Committee must be

hanging around there at this hour. It would be disastrous if we were caught by those

Gestapo -like guys.  

    "Stop! President! I'm calling the police."  

    "Then I'll become a lawyer and fight."  

    "You don't understand. Stop! No! Please stop."  

    "I won't stop."  

    This guy is the worst. Wow, idiot! Tell your mother. This is truly the worst. Even if the

faculty doesn't see us, it would be terrible if the boys from Seitetsu find us. Since Shizuku is

so popular, the crowds of boys will probably guillotine me. They' ll definitely turn into those

cruel guys in the Revolutionary Tribunal during the French Revolution. Save me, Robin Hood.  

    I shuffled towards the corner. It was a big help that this road was deserted, but it

connected to a busy street. Shizuku and I would soon be seen hand in hand.  

    There was only one way to save ourselves.  

    I channeled my strength into my right hand.  

    The air around me began to vibrate, and then I was enveloped in pure white light.  

    In an instant, my body transformed into a woman's. I had transformed into Kämpfer.  

    Shizuku's face expressed a blatant expression of disgust. "Hmm, well, there's nothing to

say about holding hands in this situation. We're all girls... although some people might have

all sorts of fantasies about it, it's basically fine."  

    "Senou -kun seems to have used this method to escape before," Shizuku's voice was a little

low. Huh, what's wrong? Are you regretting it?  

    "I value my life."  

    "It doesn't matter if my relationship is known."  

    "It's a matter of life and death."  

    "Becoming a woman is too much of a stretch."  

    She paused, as if thinking about something.  

    "...Never mind, that's fine."  

    "Then let me go quickly."  

    "That won't do."  

    Shizuku continued to pull me forward.  

    We turned the corner and reached the main road. The crowd suddenly increased. Most of

them were students from Seitetsu. Everyone's eyes were fixed on us. Especially the student

council president next to me, a famous figure on campus.  

    "Good... good morning, President."  

    "President... good... good... good morning."  

    "Good morning."  

    Several people came over and nodded to the president. The woman next to them politely

responded to them one by one. The students first greeted the president, then looked at me

with puzzled eyes, or perhaps questioning eyes, or perhaps with shining eyes . Everyone

thought the woman next to me was something like a bug.  

    When I reached the school gate, I got anxious.  

    "Hey, President, this is the women's department."  

    "That's right. Didn't you decide? Because we're both women."  

    "Even so, then I can't go to the men's department, right? I'll definitely be late."  

    Ah—! Being late on the first day of school would definitely get a good scolding from the

homeroom teacher, and that Higashida guy would think I was a fool.  

    "So it's better to look manly, isn't it?" Shizuku said.  

    Even so, if I were a man, I'd definitely face a more tragic fate. Everything was going badly

there, so I had to take a more complicated approach.  

    There was a female teacher standing at the school gate, but she just looked at us

suspiciously and said nothing. "It's good that nothing happened," Shizuku said.  

    Then, as we entered the school, the girls waiting there all cried out in surprise.  

    "Ah, the president and Natsuru -san..."  

    "I was just thinking Natsuru -sama and Kaede Sakura were already together."  

    "Wow, this is big news!"  

    They were all making irresponsible remarks. Anyway, who are these girls? They've gone to

such great lengths to wait for Shizuku and me. I should have mentioned before that I always

have a group of girls following me around, more like stalkers than fans . Shizuku and I have

them too. She's the student council president, after all. And Kaede Sakura has them too. It's

like a Three Kingdoms -era power struggle.  

    But the most aggressive of them all are actually my fans. Because I play both male and

female roles, I only have half the time. And since I don't often go to school dressed as a

woman, I'm quite popular as a mysterious female student. Rumors suggest th ere's an

organization called the "Natsuru School Chart Analysis Society." I'm a Pokémon.  

    If they were following a guy like me, I'd be a little happy, but that's impossible. What an

extreme life.  

    The girls watched Shizuku and me from a distance, whispering among their friends. It's

terrifying.  

    If we move, the girls follow. And there are onlookers outside, following us. It's become a

massive movement.  

    "What's going on?" I sighed.  

    "That's what I saw, isn't it?" The president next to me remained calm as always.  

    "What about the opening ceremony? Just walk to the classroom?"  

    "They'll disband then."  

    "When do you mean then?"  

    "Then."  

    So, do I have to endure this hellish situation before then?  

    Shizuku closed the distance between us and took my arm. Wow.  

    Cheers of "Wow!" echoed from all around. It sounded lewd. Because it was a girl, the

screams hurt my ears.  

    Of course, the people who had come along to watch the fun also joined in the booing, and

I felt like I was thrown right in the middle of the noise. "President, get out of here!"  

    "Why."  

    Nothing can be done if this goes on.  

    "That's right."  

    Oh my, she actually accepted it so easily. Is it because of the third -grade building right in

front of her?  

    "The opening ceremony is about to start, we can't keep making such a fuss."  

    What a serious guy. Just deal with it casually. It's completely different from me who finds

everything troublesome.  

    "That's right."  

    "What?"  

    "Can you ask Kondou Mikoto and Masumi Nishino about the Entrails Animals for me?"  

    I said this on the way. As Shizuku kept leaning towards me, I even forgot to breathe.  

    "That's fine, but..."  

    "Please."  

    "But that... action..."  

    It feels unnatural. I feel like I'm going in a good direction with this woman? If possible, can I

ask myself.  

    "Is it annoying?"  

    "Not really..."  

    I felt something warm on my cheek. Shizuku pressed her lips against mine. Then I heard

"Wow." Cheers.  

    "Wait... Hey!"  

    "Please."  

    After saying that, she quickly walked into the third grade classroom.  

    I rushed into the classroom just as I was about to be late. Of course, it was the girls'

department. For the boys, if they didn't show up on time, they would be considered late.  

    After that, I fled in panic because of the excited girls rushing in, and I almost broke my

bones. It was like a tsunami or a locust attack. If I provoke those girls, it would only end in

tragedy.  

    Then there was the opening ceremony. It was just lining up in the gymnasium and listening

to some boring talk. It was boring, but there was no use booing it. There is something called

a necessary ritual in time. It is also a ritual.  

    The classroom can be a temporary shelter, but the female head teacher is there to confess

to the students: "During the summer vacation, the teacher was at home playing online

games all day." Although it is said that people who have bad nightlife in the  department

cannot become decent adults, if you say such things to students, it can be said that you only

have games in your mind.  

    And after that, everyone was asked to tell what they did during the summer vacation.

Although this was stopped by boos from all sides, maybe everyone did some 18+ things with

men during the summer vacation and was afraid of being exposed.  

    In any case, it can be said that I spent the first day of school in the women's department

without any problems. The adults also made a mistake.  

    Besides, nothing bad happened.  

    I took advantage of the break to walk towards Akane's seat. She was studying very

seriously.  

    "Akane -chan, I have something to tell you."  

    "Yes?"  

    She cast a dark look at me. I stepped back a little. Although she was not such a cheerful

and lively girl before she transformed, this was a bit too gloomy. Was this a joke? Or did she

have a stomachache? If she had transformed, she would have exploded  a long time ago.  

    "What's wrong..."  

    "Well, there's something I wanted to ask... Are you okay?"  

    I finally said it. I felt like she cared more about her situation than my problem.  

    "It's not very good."  

    "Uh, why?"  

    "Because Natsuru -san..."  

    "Me?"  

    I tried to speak in a low voice because my voice would be the same as when I was a boy,

and if I messed up, people would find out I'm not a girl.  

    "Natsuru -san, you..."  

    "......?"  

    "Oh my, what are you doing there?"  

    Another voice came from the side.  

    "I feel like one of the girls is getting depressed."  

    "Why does Akane -chan look like she's about to die?"  

    "Are you putting on a play?"  

    This is the specialty of this class, the trio of the class monitor, vice -class monitor, and

accountant. I became more alert. It's basically no good when the three of them come

around. They're more like the epicenter than the source of trouble. And if w e use farming as

an analogy, the class monitor is responsible for providing seeds, the vice -class monitor is

responsible for fertilizing, and the accountant is responsible for harvesting.  

    "...What should I do...?"  

    The three people's expressions changed and became more cautious while interrogating

me.

    "Natsuru -san hurt Akane -san."  

    "Natsuru -san is a bad woman."  

    "I think it's better to prepare a civil lawsuit right now."  

    They said some bad things.  

    "Why...?"  

    "It's not just Masumi Nishino. There are many girls who were hurt because of Senou -san's

fault."  

    The class monitor said so. What was that?  

    "Why did it happen?"  

    "It happened this morning, at school."  

    "That's because you were kissed by the president. Everyone was disappointed because of

that."  

    "...Uh."  

    I was speechless with surprise. How did you know about that? Are you also in that circle?  

    "Why..."  

    "It was Masumi Nishino from the News Department who spread the news everywhere."  

    It was Masumi Nishino. She probably wasn't there, but she might have informants among

them. There are rumors that the Girls' News Department is building an intelligence network

on campus.  

    "Don't you feel ashamed that our class was hurt like this?"  

    "Because being surprised can't make money."  

    The accountant stole the show. She still believes that money is everything.  

    Damn, if Akane -chan heard this she would be depressed.  

    Then the vice -class representative laughed heartily, "Wow, haha." They didn't look like

they had any bad intentions at all.  

    They were a different kind of thick -skinned person than Shizuku.  

    "As for Akane -chan, if you have to say, you are also a fan of Natsuru -san."  

    "No... but..."  

    This had to be denied.  

    "Just because of such a small thing..."  

    "Oh? Such a small thing?"  

    The class representative's glasses reflected a suspicious light.  

    "For Natsuru -san, it's just 'such a small thing,' but for the fan girls, it's a big deal."  

    "That's right, because Natsuru -san was stolen by the president."  

    "Is... that so...?"  

    I asked back unconsciously. This is almost beyond my understanding.  

    The accountant took out the memo.  

    "Of course, according to my information, your fans all abide by their rules. No one will take

action against Natsuru without authorization. Anyone who has improper thoughts about

Natsuru will be beheaded (this should be the meaning here)."  

    How is it possible that if you have improper thoughts about me, you will be beheaded? But

think about it, although the accountant has a bad heart, her information should be true.  

    "In their hearts, you are like a saint. Do you know how big a blow this incident has dealt to

them?"  

    After the accountant finished speaking, the class monitor and the deputy class monitor

started to make a fuss and said, "Yes, yes."  

    "Not only Natsuru's fans are like this, but also Kaede Sakura's fans. This is the so -called

faith in the saintly mother."  

    "..."

    I can't refute that I am also a believer of the Sakura Cult. If Kaede Sakura falls in love with

someone else, I will be furious too.  

    "As one of the three most beautiful girls in Seitetsu Academy, you should fulfill some

responsibilities," the class monitor sighed and said.  

    "Yes, that's right."  

    "What are you going to do to calm this storm down?"  

    Why do I suddenly feel like I have done something wrong? This can't go on.  

    "Ah, I did that because the president threatened me."  

    "I was threatened..." The class monitor's glasses gleamed as he said this.  

    "What kind of threat was it?"  

    "Ah, no...it's..."  

    "What kind of threat was it?"  

    "No, I can't tell this. If I tell them about my relationship with the president and the matter

of Kämpfer, I will be in trouble."  

    "Well, actually, it's like this..."  

    "What is it?"  

    "This...that..."  

    "Well, if you don't want to say it, you don't have to say it."  

    Hey, can you not say it? Just as I was secretly rejoicing,  

    "This may be a good news material."  

    "?"

    "By the way, during the summer vacation, we learned a shocking news about the

president, that is, she was actually dating Senou Natsuru from the boys' club."  

    "Huh..."  

    "Oh my, didn't you know?"  

    Why did they know my name?  

    "Although we were not very sure at the beginning, we first sent emails everywhere to

confirm this person, and then the president personally admitted her relationship with the

male Senou classmate, so we spread the news everywhere."  

    It's a big deal. It's true that Shizuku told them about our relationship at that time, but don't

you guys know how to keep it a secret. (Why do you do this, are everyone as stupid as you)  

    "That is to say, Natsuru -san wants to snatch the president away from the male Senou

Natsuru."  

    After saying this, the class monitor now showed a very satisfied smile (Your brain is not

working well either).  

    "You vixen, vixen."  

    I can't believe that such words are still used in the 21st century (You are crazy too).  

    "We need to calculate the compensation."  

    At this time, the expressions of the three of them were: the class monitor was smiling, the

vice-class monitor made a victory gesture and laughed loudly, and only the accountant had a

blank expression.  

    These three people were still the same. The only thing they would not lose to anyone was

doing evil things.  

    "Why...why is it so?"  

    The class monitor took over my words and said,  

    "You want to know why I should compete with him for the woman, right? Could it be that

you and the president have some shameful deal?"  

    "That's right, you are very sensitive."  

    "But this is impossible. In this world, there are some things that can be done, and some

things that absolutely cannot be done. So we will not spread any information that is

detrimental to the president."  

    "How could it be so..."  

    "The Natsuru of the women's department wants to snatch the president from the Natsuru

of the men's department. If such a perfect fight for women in the world were to spread, it

would definitely be a good interview material."  

    She said this so fluently, this is not a good thing for me.  

    My head was buzzing. Originally, I was the male Natsuru and the female Natsuru. How

could I take Shizuku back from "me"? In fact, it would be better to not have anything to do

with Shizuku.  

    "Then Natsuru -san will be the villain, and some of your fans will applaud."  

    "Girls really do like dramatic genres."  

    The vice -class representative nodded and gave affirmation.  

    The boys will be very happy too. The guys from the "Association Insulted by Shizuku -sama"

will also welcome it. There will definitely be crazy shouts like "Men, disappear!" in a disaster.  

    It doesn't matter what kind of perverts they are, right? Why are the class representatives

and the others so happy? Their enthusiasm seems to be stirred up by a torrent that suddenly

appears on the plain. There should be nothing for them to be happy ab out. She looks so

cute, why is her mind so twisted.  

    "That is to say, the competition for the president has begun now," the vice -class monitor

laughed,  

    "and originally, Natsuru -san and the boys' Senou Natsuru were also very good friends."  

    "It's really confusing," the class monitor also tried to make peace with it. Really, the vice -

class monitor's tone seemed to be even happier.  

    "This is just a fantasy, right? Little Akane must be devastated."  

    After taking a look, Akane's eyes welled up.  

    But after all, she knew the male and female me were the same person, so I didn't think

she'd be upset.  

    "And we kissed..."  

    Ah, I nearly fainted. And this...  

    Even though the situation looked dire, it seemed okay. A kiss or not, the important thing

was the facts. Akane seemed still unresponsive, sitting motionless in her seat. I didn't dare

meet her eyes. The pressure on my heart was greater than my sense of  presence.  

    I've always had a weak immune system to stress. Even though I imagined wars and fires,

when something unexpected happened in real life, I could only hope that others would

handle it. But I had to keep this in mind while I was at Kämpfer.  

    Suddenly, the class monitor said,  

    "But then, Kaede Sakura would be lonely."  

    "Oh, that's really true," the vice -class monitor chimed in.  

    "I almost forgot about your dangers."  

    "It seems like Kaede Sakura is really obsessed with Natsuru -san. So, what about the

president's situation now..."  

    "Oh, so Kaede Sakura's heartbroken?"  

    "And the person she's in love with is her best friend."  

    "Natsuru -san is such a villain, ruining the friendship between the president and Kaede

Sakura!"  

    "Even the male Senou -san gets involved! Wow, there are so many characters!"  

    The accountant pointed at me with her unchanging expression and said,  

    "...I'm related to the president as a woman, but the president is also related to me as a

man. Kaede Sakura likes me as a woman, and I also like Kaede Sakura as a man. I like me as a

man...  

    What kind of relationship is this? How did it come to this? It seems even advanced

mathematical analysis can't solve this complex relationship. I guess only VTA can help.

Fulankelin can find the answer.  

    I thought, looking back, thinking Kaede Sakura might suddenly appear.  

    "Kaede Sakura will be late today," the class monitor said.  

    "How do you know all this? And why do you know what I'm thinking? So that's how it is."  

    Should I feel relieved or regretful?  

    "First, about the changes in Natsuru -san."  

    "It's just right that Kaede Sakura isn't here. I can just barge in now," the vice -class

representative shrugged vigorously (?).  

    This is a major turn of events. Speaking of which, it's really scary to have Akane remain

silent like this. It feels like if I say anything, I'll turn into a corpse.  

    I grabbed Akane's hand.  

    "Come here, I have something to say..."  

    "Don't touch me..."  

    Is she disliked? But even so, I can't say it here.  

    So I tugged at Akane.  

    "...outside."  

    As we headed out into the hallway, I heard voices behind me, like, "Oh, now it's Akane -

san's turn," "This is kidnapping," "This is a criminal case," etc., but I only realized those things

later.  

    Even leaving the classroom and heading into the hallway wouldn't help. Where should we

go? But time was running out, so I dragged Akane to the end of the hallway.  

    This place was a bit special. Normally, you couldn't go anywhere else. The iron gate would

only open in extreme emergencies.  

    Akane and I stood facing each other, finding conversation difficult. I tried to act like a man,

but it didn't seem to work.  

    Akane's eyes seemed sharper, and even her mouth looked pointed.  

    What should I do? I was growing increasingly anxious.  

    "Akane..."  

    "What's wrong?"  

    "Why are you angry..."  

    "Of course I need to tell you. Both Natsuru and the president..."  

    "Oh, that's the male Natsuru."  

    So, maintaining this feminine posture was a convenience for dealing with unexpected

events.  

    Akane's eyes suddenly dimmed, and she turned her head away.  

    "That's not what I meant. You and the president came to school together and stayed

together."  

    "Yeah."  

    "So the male Natsuru is also with the president, right? Why? The president even went to

your house to greet you?"  

    Wow, so perceptive. Are all girls like this? Even though I've transformed into a woman, my

keen senses still can't keep up with them.  

    "No, that's..."  

    "As I expected, that's too much. You clearly said the president isn't your type..."  

    "But that was the president's own words."  

    "You even said I'm your type..."  

    Uh... It's hard to deny what Akane said.  

    The president is indeed a great beauty and has a good brain. She's the type who would

become an overnight sensation if she appeared on TV, but I just can't get along with her.

She's certainly beautiful, but I definitely don't want to take a bath with h er and sleep in the

same bed with her. What do you want to do? The hospital is waiting for you.  

    It's true that Akane is my type, but, this kind of thing...  

    She kept sobbing and talking. Although the violent girl in bulldog mode is annoying, this

look is also very disturbing.  

    While I was thinking about what to do, I suddenly remembered the key thing.  

    "Um, Akane -chan"  

    "What's wrong? As expected, you're with the president and not with me?"  

    Seeing Akane's moist eyes,  

    "Has Akane -chan's Seppuku Black Rabbit become strange? Has it been gathered together?"  

    "That child hasn't changed much, but he also talked about being gathered together."  

    Yes, that's how it is.  

    It's not just me and Shizuku. If Akane is like this, then Kondou Mikoto must be the same.

What exactly do they want to do by gathering them together?  

    Although it seems that there is nothing wrong, the statement I heard is not like that.  

    "Well, well..."  

    Akane asked with a hint of fear,  

    "What was that..."  

    "Oh, it just so happens that the same thing happened to the president's Entrails Animals."  

    "The president again..."  

    She looked deeply disappointed and upset.  

    "Ah, I'm sorry. Did something bad happen? I didn't know..."  

    "Yeah..."  

    She looked a little dizzy, as if she'd been criticized.  

    "Apologizing to comfort me? I like that, too."  

    Akane's face brightened, as if full of determination.  

    "Hey, Natsuru -san?"  

    "What?"  

    "Um, please..."  

    Just then, the announcement in the hallway blared. I had originally planned to attend the

opening ceremony with the men, but it was clear that I wouldn't be able to. Well, I'd have to

attend the opening ceremony for the girls' department.  

    "The bell rang..."  

    "..."

    "Um, sorry, what did you want to say..."  

    "...Whatever," Akane quietly walked away without saying a word. I just watched her walk

away, and we didn't say anything to each other. Really, it's so hard to understand what girls

are thinking.  

Translator's Notes

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

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