Kämpfer Vol 1 Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Contents  [hide]  1 Chapter 3 1.1 The Secret Garden [1] 1.2 Going Shopping 1.3 Back on the Boy's Side 1.4 Natsuru and Natsuru 1.5 Introductions 1.6 Good Advice 2 Notes The Secret Garden [1]

I carried Sakura-san to the school nurse's office. The pa.s.sage to the girl's section was sealed off 'without permission men cannot enter the women's side' but now that 'I'm a woman' it was open to me.

I was carrying the fainted Sakura-san, feeling a bit unsteady at the situation. Akane left while laughing wholeheartedly. c.r.a.p, I'll get you for this. If I'm a pumpkin, you're a cabbage.[2]

Nevertheless, Sakura-san's body was light and soft, and my heart beat loudly. I was touching the body of a woman I yearned for, if I died at that moment I would have died happy.

The person in charge of nurse's office in the girl's section was a man with awfully long hair. His voice sounded like a soccer game narrator. He pointed to a bed, said "lay her there", without taking his eyes off the paper he was reading. What good is a nurse's office without a nurse?

While I waited for quite a while after I left the infirmary, I wasn't changing back to a man. Akane had said that the time it takes to return at first is highly random, but what to do for now.'

I could hide under the dead s.p.a.ce under the stairs of the first floor (is that where bad girls smoke?).

While I was a woman in the girls section it still was strange to not be in a cla.s.s. I wouldn't set off the "intruder alert" like I would if I were a guy, but still I couldn't just attend cla.s.s either. First of all there wouldn't be a seat for me. I couldn't escape the school without alerting the police and getting into worse trouble.

I made a decision, since I was already here I would stealthily explore the girl's section. Well, I couldn't look too stealthy without drawing attention.

I pretended I was an Iron Star Academy High School Girl's student, and climbed the stairs.

Now that I had the time to look around, the girl's side was quite beautiful. Even through the building's astringent era of style, the interior was spotless and clean. Coming from the boy's side the difference was immense, the boy's cleaning seemed sloppy. The smell of the place was inviting. To say that I wasn't curious to look around would be a lie. This heart-pounding feeling matched the exhilaration of a young grade school boy peeking into the girl's bathroom.

I wasn't discovered by school staff. Even though I had "I'm running an errand for the teacher" excuse prepared, it was never used. As I walked I grew more brave and started walking with a grand swagger.

A lone girl walked towards me. She had long hair, giving her a look of innocence. I quickened my steps as we approached. As she pa.s.sed she was looking down. She was wearing a sailor uniform with signs of wear, but the wear disagreed with the insignia on her collar indicating a first year student. She must be innocent.

As we pa.s.sed each other, and I started to feel relieved I heard a muttering "...she's so cool". Cool?

"I'm sorry."

She was hailing me.

"You're a senpai?"

My appearance is as her senior, so I silently nodded.

"How do I get to the student council room? I have to drop off something, but I don't know the way..."

Hahaa. Lost on campus? It's to be expected. The school may be small, but when you think everything is straight you'd end up at a dead end. It's like being in thick woods and not being able to see your way. After all, the school was constructed as addition on top of addition.

As for the student council room it isn't in this building, it's attached to the library.

When I thought about explaining, I realized I still had a masculine voice, so I pointed my finger in silence.

"...." the girl was confused.

"Well, uh ..."

Hmm, I decided to talk just a little. "Over there." I pointed my finger out the window and was about to walk off.

"That... what?" she was talking timidly. "Can't you guide me?"

"..." what a pain.

Of course I know how to get to the library, I just came from there. I entered the girl's side even though I'm not a girl. What happens if I return to a boy while guiding her? This seems to be my fate, or my ending. "FIN" / the end.

My answer, "even if you ask..." oops, I had used my natural voice. I talk too much.

The long hair girl looked disheartened, by recovered immediately.

"I want a senpai to show me around."

Why is that?

"I just transferred, I don't know my way around Iron Star Academy, but I'd like to know more senpai!"

I was drowned in the details.

Well, I do seem to know my way around. I'm a boy in the second grade, and someone just tried to kill me in the library. Of all the students on the boy's side, other than Higas.h.i.+da, I am the most knowledgeable about the girl's side. Higas.h.i.+da knows more, but he wasn't called.

I took a look at my bracelet to see if there were any signs of it glowing, it still looked fine.

I shrugged my shoulders and signaled her to follow.

The girl enthusiastically follows me, with a skip in her step. We walked out of the building into the courtyard.

She started talking casually.

"Second grade, huh?"

I can't deny it, my collar emblem can be easily seen.

"I'm glad I was admitted to a school with super-cool senpai!"

It made me feel good to get praised like that, plus it was my first time being called "senpai".

"Please tell me your name"

What should I say... The name Senou Natsuru is a man's name and not suitable for women. In the first place, I'm a boy who shouldn't be in the girl's section. I have no choice but to keep silent again.

"Hey, sen - pa - i!"

This girl, who I thought was shy, was becoming very familiar with me.

"Please tell me," as she casually grabbed my arm.

"..." of course I still pretended not to hear. The girl puffed up her cheeks.

"Fine, if you don't tell me I'll yell and get you caught. I know you're a second-year student cutting cla.s.s."

Wait, wait... If you did that, the story would get very complicated.

This girl obviously didn't care. It didn't matter that she didn't know the circ.u.mstances were so unusual, and didn't know my predicament. It looked like she was enjoying my nervousness.

"Eh ..."

"Better to just tell me, no?" she sidled up to me with a cruel, peculiar, smile.

Where could I run and escape? The same instant I prayed 'heaven help me' , and heard a bell chime.

' BONG' 'BONG' , the end of cla.s.s.

It was a boring math cla.s.s I had skipped, but I didn't care.

"Over there!" I pointed to the student council room with my finger and quickly turned my back. After being paralyzed I didn't want to face the students coming from the girl's section.

As I tried to move away, that girl still clung to my arm.

"Ah... please wait" she wasn't moving towards the student council room.

A crowd of school girls streamed out of the building. I could say that I had to quickly get to a specific cla.s.sroom. That should be an excuse to get away from her. Yeah, right, she wouldn't care.

"It's... Natsuru-san?" came a weak whisper. In a group of sailor suits, I saw a surprised Akane.

It was the form she had before turning into the vicious-dog girl.

"Oh... what went wrong?"

I whispered my answer, "the transformation hasn't happened yet."

"That's a long time, but why are you still here?"

"I was asked to guide..."

Just then the long-haired girl yelled "Oh wow, Akane!"

Akane was shocked, "Masumi-chan ...!"

"...is it, that Akane is an acquaintance of senpai?"

"Senpai... you mean Natsuru-san?"

Before I could say 'baka' , the girl called Masumi grew a foolish grin.

Akane understood, "Natsuru-san wasn't... referring to... ", she panicked.

I panicked too.

Masumi started laughing from her belly, "so, Akane and Natsuru-san are acquaintances!"

"...as for that... what is Masumi-chan doing in a place like this?"

"The teacher sent me on an errand, yup yup!"

I stealthily asked Akane ("you know each other?")

("It's... we've been friends since we were a year old...")

From a year old, compared to Akane, she had grown relatively impudent.

"Well Akane, thanks for teaching me Natsuru's name!"

"Teaching..."

"Yes, aside from you, I also want to be chummy with Natsuru-san. But... I think that may be impossible..."

"Why not just ask Natsuru-san directly?"

"That's... impossible. Akane will teach me then."

The actors may have changed, but the situation was familiar. Masumi was brandis.h.i.+ng Akane, just as the vicious-dog girl brandished her gun while yelling "kill!" There was no sign of the timid nervous girl from the hallway any longer.

I was nervous, too nervous. I had no clue when was the transformation going to happen. Fortunately there was no change in the bracelet, but I had to pay attention to it.

Akane was being interrogated by Masumi and looked about ready to cry.

I winked at Akane and indicated the boy's side with a flick of my eyes.

"I think... Natsuru-san is busy, therefore... and I have the same business as Natsuru-san, so..."

"When school ends... is a little..."

I stiffened... this could be trouble. I pulled Akane.

("You're exposing everything... you talk too much")

("I, what can I say... because I...")

("Just give a simple lie. Don't tell my whole story when you've just reunited.")

("...yeah, I understand, but we need to buy you some clothes.")

Page 99

("as far as that goes... it's already going to be painful.")

("Natsuru-san, you need to prepare for your needs.")

("...I'll just run away, anywhere but here.")

I ran away, with the feeling of being an antelope. Masumi's voice was pleading "wait you two" from behind us. Of course, I pretended not to hear; even a 20-ton truck couldn't stop me.

I escaped and decided to hide out in the women's bathroom of the library. I quietly locked myself in a private stall.

Trying to stay quiet and waste time in a toilet stall is not recommended. My bracelet still did nothing, I quickly got bored. I tried to sleep by leaning against the wall, but that didn't work either.

I sat in that stall until all cla.s.ses let out; it was praiseworthy. Even then there was no sign of transforming back to a man.

After the day's end rush went through I finally made it outside. My body ached and my bones creaked so loudly I thought my joins would break.

I blended in with the leaving students. I was excited, it would be my first time pa.s.sing through the girl's school gates.

Girls were staring at me from every side. Needless to say it felt like every student of the Iron Star Academy Girl's High School. My mood was still overcast from not being able to return to being a boy, otherwise the attention would have been amazing.

As I pa.s.sed through the school gates I heard a voice.

"Natsuru-san." It was Akane.

Her head was still down, but somehow it looked even lower than usual.

I walked up to her, "your homeroom got out early?"

"Yes... it got out early. Since Natsuru-san was going to shop for clothes, I decided to wait."

"Ah... that's right. Thank you."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Did something happen?

"There's a person who wants to go with us..."

"What?"

"She said that if Natsuru-san buys a dress, she absolutely must go also... I'm sorry."

"Like who?"

"...someone like me..." That girl I had escaped from earlier appeared with a smile from ear-to-ear.

Going Shopping

Her statistics:

Full name: Nis.h.i.+no Masumi.

Number of cla.s.ses taken: three for year one.

Blood type: B.

Hobby: likes to listen to music while sleeping.

Sizes: by all means please confirm her three sizes by yourself.

She told all this without prompting. In fact she was jumping with excitement to tell me. The only thing I didn't hear were her childhood diseases.

Of course, I asked Akane ("why her?")

("She... she chased after me and all attempts to evade her failed.")

("But she's so eager to join us.")

("True, when it comes to Natsuru-san, she has taken a keen interest...")

("Should we run again?")

("I doubt we'd escape...")

So, I ended up shopping with two girls; one quiet, one noisy. Masumi led us while skipping, Akane and I were depressed. To the world it appeared we were being led by a wonton G.o.ddess bewitching us.

"Natsuru-san, you're buying clothes?" The question accompanied Masumi's smile.

I didn't want to answer any more than necessary. "Yeah..."

"Wow, answered just like a man!" came her biting reply.

She wasn't wrong, I am a man.

"Just clothes, nothing else?"

I wanted to say 'absolutely' , but this sailor-suit wearing reporter will likely complain again. I glared at her, then refused to opened my mouth.

"Like today's dinner."

That was true. There was no sign of my transformation coming. I'd prefer to go home and stay indoors, but there's no food there and I wanted to have more than just water overnight.

"Natsuru-san, you cook for yourself? Whatever I shove into my microwave always bursts into flames and I get scolded by my mother."

I sympathize with her mother.

As for my cooking ability, I can make a decent curry. My remaining ability is limited to cup-ramen, but I wouldn't call that cooking; nothing to be proud of. According to rumors, Sakura-san is a very good cook. If I return to a man I'd love to confirm that.

Akane simply said "really...?" and wouldn't say any more after I had whispered that thought to her. She seemed awfully angry for some reason.

To my favor Masumi continued talking loudly, trying to decide where we should go.

"If you just want a side-dish, the shopping center's supermarket is super cheap. Let's go"

Masumi was leading. Is it human nature to follow whoever leads? We walked along in a triangle with Masumi at its vertex. Glances at us were coming from all sides; they were directed at me. Both men and women were staring. As a man walked by my body shuddered from his attention; it was so embarra.s.sing. 'Hey, this isn't a peep show!' I wanted to scream. But then someone would call a policeman, it's wiser to walk in silence.

Top and bottom I wore an Iron Star Academy High School uniform. My uniform wouldn't draw attention since it's a popular school in that area. Glances at me increased... but I had no idea why. If a new freshman started wearing the school uniform, wouldn't it be similar?

There was too much attention. I am not very self-conscious, but all the gazes centered on me was very distracting; I even forgot that we were shopping. Does being a woman feel like this?

"People are looking at Natsuru-san..." Masumi had a way of speaking without any form of delicacy.

"Since Natsuru-san is cool and tall, she is the center of attention. Stares are being shot her way."

Why was I being targeted? It could be my height. I was average height for a man, but a head taller than most women. Certainly the tallest of us three.

Maybe my transformation mixed parts of a man and women together... just as I was starting to develop an idea someone called.

"Hey!"

It was a man's voice. I tried to ignore it and keep walking.

"Wait," as my shoulder was gripped.

His coat was familiar, a boy from our school. I recognized his face, it was my cla.s.smate Higas.h.i.+da, idiot; reduced to a fool.

"Such a group? So lovely!"

Dense guy; was this a pick-up? Maybe it was casual flirtation. Higas.h.i.+da relaxed his expression and scoped me out; yeah, it was a pick-up.

From the badge on my collar he knew that I was also a second grade student.

Frightened Akane hid behind me. Masumi said "hey hey, stop flirting, let's go."

Higas.h.i.+da, however, was talking only to me.

"Hey, I also go to Iron Star Academy. Tell me your name, I'm second year student Higas.h.i.+da."

Why me? His tone of voice was very creepy. Being a woman at the moment gave me a completely different view of this guy. I had no idea that he talked so easily to girls, or talked so much. He could compete with Masumi for nonstop talking. I wished both would follow Akane's example.

Higas.h.i.+da continued, "I'm not bad, not an otaku, I'm a normal guy." This coming from the chairman of the Nymph Club, trying to catch me. Normally I wouldn't care, but right then it would be a problem.

I shook his hand off my shoulder. How can a guy like this act in a totally familiar manner to an unknown girl? The feel of the conversation was disgusting. I had to be careful.

Higas.h.i.+da took out a digital camera. "My hobby is taking photos, I'd like to get one of you. Right now I'm collecting pictures of beautiful girls from Iron Star Academy High School. No problem, right?"

How could any girl fall for that lame pick-up line? It must have worked at least once though.

Masumi shouted "I... I am...?" Akane still hid behind me, powerless in fear.

I silently shook my head.

In the case of that guy, he may recognize my voice.

"I'm asking you because you'd make a lovely model. It will only take a moment, no problem, right?"

Guys must think I look lovely. From looking in the mirror at myself that first time I know how lovely I look.

"Shall we start?"

"Hey..."

"You have an astringent voice, my favorite kind."

Any girls voice is your favorite. You'd say the same to Masumi. You're trying to court the Senou Natsuru who attends the same cla.s.s as you. If he ever determined who I really was, his bubble would burst and it would be a trip to the hospital for me.

I ignored him and walked away. I had to buy a meal and some clothes. I even wanted to buy my weekly manga.

I could feel the back of my neck tingling, was it a mosquito?

"Forget the food for now, lets buy clothes first." I told both my companions. "Let's run!"

"...hey!"

"Where are you going? Don't you want to be in my photo collection? Model girl..."

Akane and I signaled each other with our eyes, excluding Masumi. Higas.h.i.+da could still be heard "...I want you in my collection. It's a chance of a lifetime."

Akane and I dashed of unexpectedly, Masumi quickly followed. Model your own photos.

We escaped the shopping center and made it to the front of the station. The crowds were very thick and Higas.h.i.+da was left far behind. However I still have to buy some women's clothes. Maybe in Ito-Yokado or Jusco? I decided to ask Akane.

"Right inside the station is a cute shop with nice clothing. Turn in right here."

I did as she said. I'd never been shopping for clothes here before. I had bought a lot of box lunches in the station bas.e.m.e.nt, but they were usually stale. I jumped through the shop's front door and caught my breath. Higas.h.i.+da never found us.

"Well..." I looked at the store directory. The store name on the sign looked like Buddhist scriptures written in Sanskrit to my eyes.

"It is this shop."

Akane pointed to the third floor.

As we rose on the escalator Masumi was excitedly saying "clothes, clothes..." I wondered if she had done some bad drugs.

We ended up at a select shop, permeated with a sense of loveliness. The age group it targeted was high-school or a bit higher.

"Because Natsuru-san is so beautiful, I thought of this store..." Akane said while she blushed slightly.

I said "thank you..." and gave her a bow. I have no edge when it comes to fas.h.i.+on. I couldn't even answer a single question when it comes to brand names; even less about women's fas.h.i.+on. Even if the shop was named 'A Fas.h.i.+onable Brand popular in Zaire' I would believe it.

Masumi quickly danced into the store saying "I'll also choose a dress...". Akane slowly entered, and I followed timidly.

In that way I entered into a women's clothing shop the first time since I was born. Dresses were lined up from the walls to the corridors. The variety of choices was huge when compared to a men's shop. There was everything from t-s.h.i.+rts to skirts and socks to regrettable underwear. 'Regrettable?'

I vacantly watched the two girls going through clothes. I had no idea what would look good from all these ladies things, even if this trip was for me.

Masumi started screaming "over here, over here..." then "Natsuru-san, this, this!" She held up a t-s.h.i.+rt covered by a picture of two crossed chainsaws. Over the chainsaws in bold text was 'KILL Teacher, KILL Cop' .

"..."

"It totally suits you, please wear it to cla.s.s!"

Would she take responsibility for me when I get expelled? I silently shook my head. Would it be worn under the uniform or over it?

Masumi immediately takes out another "...then maybe this."

It was a s.h.i.+rt showing a large Christian cross with words underneath 'an absolute swindler ↑' written in Gothic font.

"During Christmas let's wear this and walk around town." j.a.panese people are mostly tolerant of religious views, but how much before it's considered rude? Should it be worn just to irritate Christians?

Before I could even shake my head Masumi showed another. "There's also one like this, it's perfect!"

'BURN! BURN! NUKE, BURN!' What's not perfect about that, heh.

It's useless, this woman can't find anything good for me.

However, why just those items. Is this shop for punk rockers and fans of death metal? Do they carry any decent clothes?

Akane joined us carrying a one piece dress. Black with thin shoulder straps. Certainly a fas.h.i.+onable style worn by girls.

"This might... look good on Natsuru-san..."

I wouldn't know. I wasn't used to thinking of looking good in a dress. It was thickly embroidered in silver skulls with crossbones. How to refuse?

"I... I think it suits Natsuru-san."

Masumi showed me a jacket with the back covered by a picture and the words 'Vlad the Impaler exterminates the Turkish army.'

Akane took out a skirt "how's this?" It was embroidered with 'come ON enteritis.' I had to look up enteritis at home, enteritis? [3]

Next was a s.h.i.+rt with a picture of two people, a farmer holding a hoe and a tax collector. Under the picture were the words 'Don't get a lawyer to fight a child's battle!'

Masumi held up a jacket with a picture of a Tokugawa Shogun riding a motorcycle and holding up his sword overlaid on a picture of a richly colored flame-red phoenix in flight. The back had the text 'I AM SHOGUN, HAHAHA!'the front had smaller letters 'I. Tokugawa' . [4]

It seemed out of character for a girl like Akane to like clothes in these styles, but, if you think about it, for a girl with a hobby of Entrails Animals it must be fitting.

These avant-garde clothes were giving me a terrible headache. To think that Akane and Masumi shared a pa.s.sion for this style let me see how girls from different years and such opposing personalities could have become friends. I could understand that, but why involve me in it, this isn't my style.

I felt like I was being pressured to buy wares from competing Israeli street merchants. I gravely yelled, "stop shopping!"

The result was me looking at the faces of two shocked girls.

"Shopping... you don't... you want to stop?"

"I'm just looking for 1 thing, this much... If I go much further I'll die!" It felt like the truth.

I left the store in silence and Akane followed without any complaint. Masumi held up a skirt printed with 'Touch Freely!' on the back. "Wear this, at least wear this!" she cried. Wearing something like that would attract the worst kind of human fungus.

After all, we were supposed to be headed to the supermarket, then to the shopping district. To all appearances we should look like side-by-side girls, and actually we were.

"Hey you" lightly came a man's voice, but it wasn't Higas.h.i.+da.

Three wannabe-jocks were standing there.

"We're going to karaoke, but we need more people. Do you want to join us?"

That was fishy. Most likely they couldn't afford to enter on their own.

They were wearing s.h.i.+rts hand-dyed to look like soccer uniforms from Milan Italy. Western printing was covering the snake logo. Their eyes were darting nervously.

I am currently a woman. It can be a.s.sumed what would happen if all of us were alone in a closed room.

One of them held Akane's arm. "The karaoke room is just over there."

"...it's..., I won't go."

"Don't be so cold. It'll just be us dudes and you three."

An idea, likely from thinking of Higas.h.i.+da, comes to mind, and I tug Akane's sleeve. "Once you have transformed..."

"It's... but because Masumi-chan is here." I hadn't thought of that.

"That lovely daughter needs to come too." Meaning me. That talk came from one of them with Mohawk hair that made me think of a white leghorn chicken.

I hesitated, trying to think of a comeback that a transformed-Akane would say, "Hey!" My arm was taken and he wet his lips with his tongue.

"Best to stay away b.a.s.t.a.r.d. You'll fall one-by-one." Chicken head was startled by a man's voice coming from 'girl' me.

"As far as going with you tone-deaf b.a.s.t.a.r.ds... I'd rather give you something to keep the c.r.a.p in your bowels company." As something hard was pressed against his belly.

"This amateur..." I pushed harder.

"Don't open your mouth or I'll stuff it with the skin I peel off your back." I gave him a powerful stare.

The three glared back at me. Chicken head glanced down to see what was in my hand.

"Hey! Look down and die!"

"...c.r.a.p!" he spewed out of his mouth as they all ran away.

I put the lighter back in my pocket. I had started to regret bringing it, because it was a bit uncomfortable, but it came to be surprisingly useful.

"This is what girls deal with, crude pick-up attempts?"

"I... I'm not always being picked-up..."

"But?"

"It's because Natsuru-san is beautiful."

"Definitely, Natsuru-san is gorgeous. Men will flock to her," Masumi loudly agreed.

I was happy to hear their praise, but had strongly mixed feelings about it.

"Impressive, you're strong." came a familiar voice from a different direction, along with an instant headache.

"I've been watching. Those jocks are notorious but you drove them off with ease! The look on their faces..."

"...so" what else could I say.

"So, I'll take photos now. Also with her." He pointed to Akane.

"..."

I stealthily quickened my pace and somewhat forcibly pulled Akane's hand.

"Wait... just a single picture."

I looked over my shoulder and he was starting to catch up.

"Get lost!"

Higas.h.i.+da had a wide-eyed open-mouth expression, but he stopped advancing.

"Great one Natsuru-san. He wasn't getting your hint."

"Natsuru-san... will... your friend be alright?"

"Yeah, he's the same as a bird, he'll forget everything in a minute."

Higas.h.i.+da and I are a pair of guys from boy's year 2 cla.s.s 4. Best highlight of our current year; 70% of the cla.s.s never finished the j.a.panese History homework a month ago. Our teacher fainted with his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish. The next day he led cla.s.s with preaching, crying and tearing out his hair; I found the memory to be pretty refres.h.i.+ng. Of course I was part of that 70%.

"...forget that, let's eat there!" Masumi jumped up and down pointing straight ahead.

"It's over there. Across the pedestrian overpa.s.s near... WHOA!"

Masumi yelled so loudly I jumped.

"What... What?"

"Natsuru-san's wrist is sparkling!"

Although it is not a wrist but a bracelet, seemingly she was convinced that my wrist itself was emitting light.

"Do your veins glow, like an angler-fish?"

I smiled, I would have laughed, but it wasn't a laughing matter.

("Natsuru-san, this is serious...!")

Akane's face paled at the indication that I would start transforming from female back to male.

Although I'm glad to return, the location is a problem. Transforming in a high-traffic area would be a s.e.x-change show. Besides that, Masumi was still with us. I'd most likely be s.h.i.+pped off to a zoo or research laboratory for in-depth study.

("Akane-san, become a Kämpfer!")

("Yeah... but Masumi... If I was to...")

I pleaded to Masumi "I'm sorry... a little."

I dashed and dove into the underground parking entrance. Akane was fl.u.s.tered, but followed close behind.

White luminescence wrapped my body as I went running down the stairs. I can't remember how many steps I descended, but when the light stopped I had returned to a man.

"Oh no..."

I wasn't sad, just a bit disappointed at the location and bad timing.

I sat on the stairs. Akane stared at the ground.

"Did anyone notice?"

"No, but..."

"There was someone?"

"Well... I just felt... someone was watching."

She sounded timid as ever, but the tone of her voice was dead serious.

I looked up towards the street and caught glimpses of pa.s.sers-by. None of them were looking towards us.

"When?"

"For... for a long time. Since the department store."

I pressed the back of my neck. When I was a Kämpfer, I was feeling on edge. Was it because someone was watching me? Was it the person we fought? Did they know Akane is my partner? If they followed and watched as I transformed, they'd know that I changed from a girl to a boy...

I was trying to think. When we fought in the library, I never saw our enemy's face.

"...let's get out of here," I said to Akane.

"If we leave, Masumi-chan is still there."

I wasn't thinking straight. I quickly hid under the stair landing just as I heard Masumi's voice.

"Where'd you go?... I finally caught up with you. Where is Natsuru-san?"

"Uh, er... she left!"

"Why! Why did she leave?"

"Yeah... she gave her apologies to Masumi-chan."

I never said that, but she had to be polite.

"She didn't say where I could see her again?"

(Ugh, don't tell her anything!)

"Hey, how did she leave? Isn't this a parking lot?"

"How did... the reason... motorcycle, she rode a motorcycle out..."

"Wow, ultra-cool! She... I want a ride! Which way did she go? I've got to get a ride!"

So, I have a motorbike, and old enough for a valid license. Akane was getting too far off with this. Before long I was a racer, and soon I'd be a fighter pilot.

"Oh, let's go home ... Hmm, I wonder where Natsuru-san went to eat."

Although I could finally leave, the outcome wasn't great. It was going to be cup-ramen again. My descent into malnutrition steadily progressed.

Back on the Boy's Side

I carefully made my way back home without any incidents or attacks. At home I couldn't stand listening to Harakiri-tora, so she spent the night in the crowded closet. I wanted to have a long quiet sleep.

The next day, to avoid getting stuck in a rut, I ran to school. I got to school early and a cla.s.smate said "what happened, did h.e.l.l freeze over?" I responded with my middle finger; violent-Akane's att.i.tude was rubbing off on me too much.

When cla.s.ses were properly finished I quickly got ready to go home. Why? Simple, I had taken a break, but that night my plan was to open a can of whoop-a.s.s on Harakiri-tora, the ringleader of my troubles. I will make her take responsibility.

As I was formulating my plans I heard a too-familiar voice.

"Senou!..." It was Higas.h.i.+da.

His face showed no recognition from the day before. Honestly?

"I'm about to leave, is it fast?"

"I have business."

Just like the day before, he put his hand on my shoulder. Again, I shook it off.

"Take a nap, then let's go shopping in Tokyo. It's something you'll like."

"Let me guess, you're going to buy special paper for printing out camera pictures."

"Close, I'm going to a print shop to get pictures of a girl that were secretly taken. For friends.h.i.+p sake, I'll give you a discount price."

"No need."

I have to resist, even if it's a picture of Sakura-san, which I would enjoy. Higas.h.i.+da's artistry is taking voyeuristic pictures which he then sells at school. I don't want to be punished as an accomplice, it's best to keep away.

"Don't be so cold. Yesterday I found an undiscovered beauty of Iron Star Academy. The pictures I am having developed should be ready."

"What... who is this girl?"

"I don't know her name I just ran across her on my way home. As the chairman of the Iron Star Academy High School Nymph Club I'm shamed that one so cute was never seen."

No, you've seen her, it was me.

Of course I didn't explain the situation. I just silently turned away and returned to my preparations to leave.

Higas.h.i.+da kept right on talking. "You're being quiet and unsociable. She is incredible. Some big guys tried a pick-up line, but they were rejected and driven off ruthlessly."

"Sounds like they deserved it."

"Idiot, they were bold and gave a manly attempt. I'd like to see Natsuru do better."

Same goes for him.

"It was amazing to be abused by her; being yelled at, threatened, then she disappeared."

"..."

The propensity of this guy is beyond belief. I wouldn't want the true ident.i.ty of that girl to be exposed.

"I'll sell you a picture of this G.o.ddess, I know you'll want it."

"I'm tired."

"Don't be so cold. I'd trade you for a picture of Kondou Mikoto-san."

My eyebrows lowered.

"Ask her for one."

"My request is ignored. I rely on you."

"Even I don't know when she's coming back."

The girl just mentioned, Kondou Mikoto, used to live near me. You could call us childhood friends. She's a year younger than me and would be in first-year high-school, except she's on a leave of absence. Her parents travel all over the world, and Mikoto was pulled along.

She is lovely and strong-willed, and may model for Higas.h.i.+da. I tried to say so, but he is just looking to put a check-mark in his notebook next to her name.

"You're only happy when you're taking pictures of girls."

"It's my hobby. It's a thrill to be looking through a telephoto lens from a hidden spot at the girls swimming in the pool."

He'll be arrested someday, and I'll have to testify against him saying 'he's done many things like this before.' It may benefit the world.

"Speaking of girls, did you hear anything about the disturbance in the library yesterday?"

I was shocked, it's unlike him to change the topic away from photographing girls.

"Huh, like what?"

"I heard it was a dispute; more importantly, between girls!"

This guy is very quick to spread rumors.

"A quarrel between 3 or 4 girls."

"What was the quarrel about?"

"n.o.body knows, but they knocked over a large bookshelf. The school board is in a fuss about it."

"Hmm."

I was pretending indifference as much as possible; give no clues. If I was careless and slipped in the least, the rumors would reach Argentina by tomorrow.

"Have they found the people responsible?"

"They ran away before anyone could see who it was. I don't blame them for keeping quiet."

"True." I had to concentrate not to look as relieved as I felt.

"By the way, where were you during lunch yesterday? Oh yeah, I remember you went with that girl you met at the station... the one waiting for you in the hall..."

c.r.a.p, "...hey, the fight was between women, I'm a man."

"So, did you see anything or not?"

"No, nothing," I lied. I was one of the guilty parties, but there's no way I'd tell him that.

I finished my conversation with Higas.h.i.+da. More time had pa.s.sed than I thought. Even though my anger has dissipated somewhat, I was still in a hurry to get home and punish Harakiri-tora.

"I'm leaving."

"Not joining me..."

"I think you can handle it."

"You'll miss out on a deal for the treasured photos."

"I'll pa.s.s."

I walked quickly. I didn't want to get caught up in Higas.h.i.+da's hobby again now that we had mentioned photos.

As I was about to go through the door out of the cla.s.sroom I suddenly stopped. Higas.h.i.+da ran into my back.

"Hey, why'd you stop."

I ignored him. There was a girl in front of me.

"That..." came Akane's weak and timid voice. She had been waiting for me.

"That, you have business with me, right?"

"It is..."

"What?"

"Eh... ...should introduce..."

"I've met Akane-chan." I cringed as Higas.h.i.+da called her 'chan' but she wasn't in vicious-dog mode, so there was no comeback.

"...not me..."

She took a step back and from the other side of the corridor came another female student, waving to me.

"Natsuru-san!"

Sakura-san; it was the third time I'd seen her since yesterday. Even seeing her so frequently, my appreciation of her never diminished. A beautiful woman can't be encountered too often to enjoy.

Higas.h.i.+da stood behind me, astonished, since Sakura Kaede came to see me.

"Oi... oi..." as he grabbed my uniform. He seemed fl.u.s.tered, but I am used to talking with Sakura-san.

"Why, that person..."

As I looked behind Sakura-san I became as astonished as Higas.h.i.+da. Standing behind her was the student council president, third grade genius, the Iron Star Academy's perfect impeccable girl, Sangou s.h.i.+zuku.

The body and face of a fas.h.i.+on model, sophisticated demeanor, topmost athletic ability, and nerves of steel. She has maintained absurdly perfect scores for every cla.s.s. Faculty and the board of education wondered if a mistake had been made that such a perfect student would enter the Iron Star Academy. She had become the student council president as soon as she entered her first year, and had maintained an authoritarian control ever since. The girl's academy had gone from loose and carefree to the currently strict control it now displayed; the ranking of the school had risen greatly.

I whispered to Akane "hey ...does the student president have business with me?"

"Yeah..." Akane quietly nodded.

"There's some business between the boy's and girl's section, namely Natsuru-san's cla.s.s, and I'm taking the opportunity to meet with representatives..."

"Why?..." It wasn't me who asked, but Higas.h.i.+da.

Why would the cla.s.s president meet with us, four second year students. At least that's what Higas.h.i.+da seemed to want to ask. I silently agreed.

s.h.i.+zuku had put in appearances on the boy's side of the academy previously, but no conversations ever took place and she never lingers. There had never been an opportunity for anyone to talk to her. Students even said it was easier to talk to Kaede or to be accepted to the University of Tokyo than converse with her; if you ever did talk to s.h.i.+zuku-sama your life would be greatly extended.

"s.h.i.+zuku-sama" is not how I refer to her, but it's the term used by an non-sanctioned club of m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t boys that '...want to be abused by s.h.i.+zuku-sama.'

s.h.i.+zuku watched me with total lack of emotion.

"Er... well..." I stammered. Anyhow, this student council presdent doesn't have spare time.

"..." the reaction was equally blank. Most likely I was being taken to identify a severed head or to my execution.

Higas.h.i.+da went back into the cla.s.sroom muttering "camera, camera."

He left me, alone and helpless.

Since it was unavoidable, I asked "What business is it?"

President-sama unexpectedly answered. "Not me, Kaede."

s.h.i.+zuku made my jaw drop. Sakura-san lowered her head and bowed.

"Oh... really?"

"Some with me also." s.h.i.+zuku added curtly.

I bowed deeply. Both male and female students must respect a direct visit from the student president. Basic ch.o.r.es and requests would be handled by her minions. It's still not clear if she has minions.

The hallway was getting loud from the attention of having these two present. It was rare to see either of them on the boys side, but to see both was unheard of. Before long there would be a school idol photo session starting up.

"Oh, uh well."

Akane was no help, her face and eyes were aimed at the floor. In a minute Higas.h.i.+da would return with a camera. I pressed forward and lead all of us out of the cla.s.sroom.

 

I guided everyone to an unused room in the boys club room building. In Iron Star Academy, extracurricular activities and facilities for them are also divided by gender. For example, a literature department would have both "boys literature section" and "girls literature section." With the limited staff available, clubs with too few members were often eliminated, leaving the a.s.signed room empty. It made it easy to find a spare room.

Splitting the clubs between boys and girls was a big success, not even the fringe activities were breaking school rules.

We ended up in the film studies club room. In previous years the club not only watched movies but elected a manager, producer, script writer, cameraman, prop supervisor, lead and supporting actors. But the club had dwindled down to the last remaining member until last year when he graduated.

Since it had been less than a year since the club dissolved the fixtures and club materials still remained. We pulled some chairs together to sit.

It wasn't a circle that was formed, but a line of Akane, Sakura and s.h.i.+zuku facing me. It was more like an interview.

"First of all..." I couldn't take the silence any longer. "What kind of business does the president of student government have with me?"

"The library at lunchtime, I think you know what I mean." s.h.i.+zuku said bluntly. No excessive chat or small talk. Another of her traits that lead to her being known as 'daunting.' Well, I was one of the parties involved but I couldn't give that answer.

"I've been talking with Higas.h.i.+da. He's dedicated to researching for his beautiful girls club."

He had been spreading rumors that the incident was a fight between girls and one of those involved, a beautiful nymph, was targeted for inclusion by the beautiful girl society. He also knew I was going to the library that day and he may have said something, d.a.m.n Higas.h.i.+da.

"Were you in the library?" My heart was ready to leap out of my chest. d.a.m.n him again, what did that big-mouth idiot Higas.h.i.+da tell her?

"Oh... that..." Akane gave me a flickering gaze. I continued to worry.

"Yes?"

"I think he... borrowed a book, or..."

"Not that."

s.h.i.+zuku could smell an excuse, and she wasn't willing to listen to one.

"You are a witness, you should have come forward." She crossed her arms and stared at me.

"Ten book collections and two steel bookshelves were ruined. Although there is no desire to investigate responsibility, I need to determine if liability can replace lost property, understand? Your a.s.sistance will help reduce the student council's workload."

I was one of the parties involved. Nevertheless, s.h.i.+zuku's tone was very cold and made me feel like she was scooping out my insides. Even so, a part of that feeling was enjoyable and made me understand the desires of the m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic boys club.

"...that..." as for meddling Akane.

"Natsuru is a boy. The library disturbance were girls..."

"Weren't you also in the library?"

"Eh..."

"You were."

With those few words s.h.i.+zuku sealed Akane's argument.

"As for women being involved, that is known from the students who fled the scene."

As she said that her glare never wavered from me.

Page 133

"Whether it was a man or woman doesn't really matter, the result is that women caused the disturbance."

"..." Akane and I clammed up.

There was an implication in s.h.i.+zuku's words. Although her expression didn't change, there was a hint of her knowing additional details. She had the upper hand and Akane and I were at a disadvantage. Was I being accused?

"If you have something to say, please do."

"..."

I had nothing I could say without condemning myself.

"Nothing to say?"

I didn't.

s.h.i.+zuku stood up. The conversation was done. Did she think that Akane and me lacking anything to say was backing up her reasoning?

"I'm returning to the girls section," s.h.i.+zuku said.

"Ask Kaede why she came to talk with you. She'll reveal her secret only to you... Besides, women staying too long on the boys side will confuse public morals."

With those words the student council president left without a goodbye. She simply walked out of the film studies clubroom.

As soon as s.h.i.+zuku left I suddenly started to sweat.

"Whoa, that was scary." I almost shook out of my chair. "It was my first time talking with the student council president, she wore me out."

"Ah, Sangou-san is always..." Akane was also weary.

"She also attends the book committee meetings occasionally and it is a harsh thing. When there is a discrepancy in the budget no one is allowed to leave the meeting until... The committee members always give in, either to her forcefulness or her beauty."

That would be true, how would I be able to deal with her. At least I was able to spend time with...

"I'm sorry," Sakura-san said.

Why was she sorry?

"The thing is, I spoke to s.h.i.+zuku-chan about the library. I said Natsuru-san was there and suddenly she wanted to go with me to the boy's side..."

That was a revelation, but more shocking was Sakura-san calling her 's.h.i.+zuku-chan.'

Sakura-san noticed my shock. "We've been friends since we were small. I've called her s.h.i.+zuku-chan since then."

"That's the first time I've heard that."

"We used to talk to each other often, but in elementary school a professional entertainment scout convinced her to go to a performing arts school. But now we're together again."

The thought of Iron Star Academy's two top beauties being close friends was enough to inflate the imaginations of any male student.

Akane's expression made me feel she knew my thoughts. If she were in fierce dog mode I'd already have a hole in my head.

"So Sakura-san, you came on an errand..."

"Oh, right!" Sakura-san sat up in her chair and corrected her posture.

"In fact, that's why I was looking for Natsuru-san in the library."

"Ah."

"It is that..." for some reason she blushed. "Just a quick word... There is something personal I want to ask you."

"Oh, uh..." Akane quietly rose from her chair. "I should... just step outside for a moment," as she opened the door.

Huh?

Sakura-san silently mouthed the words 'thank-you' to Akane as she closed the door behind her.

"...Natsuru-san," she said formally.

"Yes," I replied in similar formality.

"The person that I've been anxious to talk about..."

She started to blush, leading me to only one conclusion. This must be a confession! She was trying to be indirect. Don't laugh, it has to be it. Why else would she say 'the person that I've been anxious to talk about'?

"Since yesterday... I cannot get that person out of my mind..."

Her face tipped down and she couldn't look directly at me. I was having difficulty hiding my smile. Hiding my smile was an unreasonable request. I was rejoicing, one of the two campus beauties was about to confess to me. If I died right then my short life would still be complete in happiness.

That would explain why Sakura-san was seeking me in the library, that was the reason. She tried to find me, but because of the disturbance she never had the chance.

It was good that I hadn't been popular. If I had been 'popular,' the popular Higas.h.i.+da would have never let me be alone with her.

When Higas.h.i.+da hears this news he'll have a heart attack. My happiness is more important than that fool's life anyway.

"It is that I..." She was having trouble getting the words out. Take your time Sakura-san, anytime was fine with me.

"Natsuru-san, what I'd like to know..."

"Yes?"

"Who is..."

"Eh?"

"...that woman?"

My eyes were blinking with surprise and Sakura-san leaned forward.

"That cool girl who saved me, I don't know her, but Natsuru-san does, right?"

Her words struck me right between the eyes, hard. Somehow I managed a reply.

" 'Cool girl' ... do you mean the violent..."

"Not the one with the gun, the nice girl, the one who helped me."

"Eh?"

"She was wonderful and cool, but not very talkative."

"She... she is..." my head was confused. If it wasn't Akane-san there was only one other person there.

"Please introduce me to her... her name is Natsuru-san!"

Sakura-san's eyes were beaming with joy. In contrast I fell off my chair, lost for words.

Natsuru and Natsuru

"A-ha ha ha," Harakiri-tora laughed like an old woman.

"Another of your misfortunes!"

The stuffed toy was thrown into the trash bin as a subst.i.tute to an answer.

"Please stop the garbage treatment, it's so childish."

"Quiet!" I yelled toward the trash can.

"Sakura-san, she frustrates me, but I just can't get angry at her! Beautiful Sakura-san open your eyes!"

"But she likes Natsuru-san, right?"

"...as a woman!"

I picked up the trash can and turned it over. Harakiri-tora fell out along with the waste paper. I picked up the stuffed toy and violently brought our faces together.

"There are two reasons why I'm shocked and angry!" I said imitating Akane's fierce-dog mode.

"One is that Sakura-san found the person she desires. The second is that Sakura-san fell in love with a woman!"

In the past Higas.h.i.+da had said 'Sakura-san has refused all invitations by men. The rumor is she must be a lesbian.' Of course I took it as a joke, while both Higas.h.i.+da and I laughed. I was completely shocked that the rumor turned out to be true.

"And it's all your fault!"

"How does that add up?"

"The whole situation wouldn't be so confusing if you didn't turn me into a woman! It's no good even apart from her fondness for women."

Harakiri-tora wriggled its way loose from my hand.

"Don't discriminate. Be more liberal and accepting in your thinking."

"I want her to be charmed with me as a man!"

"But Natsuru-san the man has no charm."

I tried to kick the stuffed toy in the style of a free-kick, but it was too quick, all my foot caught was air.

I remembered the blurry events after the recent confession(?) in the clubroom. I fell off my chair half-conscious, being nursed by Sakura-san, saying 'the cool girl who helped me.' She had continued, 'even though she wore our school's uniform, I've looked everywhere and can't find her.' Even though the person she was looking for had just swooned before her eyes.

Thinking over the story leading up to then made me want to cry. The conversation at the time was like skillful warriors battling. It took all my talent not to expose the ident.i.ty of her new favorite woman.

I could lie to myself, that I was important to Sakura-san and that she liked Natsuru-san. But the Natsuru-san she liked wasn't me, and I'm not p.r.o.ne to imaginations of megalomania. Even if it would be a white-lie to myself.

Even though my emotions were at odds with themselves, Sakura-san asked me 'please keep this a secret. Rumors of h.o.m.os.e.xuality spread very quickly.'

I agreed while not being totally conscious yet. There could be no other answer than 'yes' when asked a question by such a beauty. She also pulled out my consent to 'introduce me to that woman.' It's a wretched story, but I had no ability to refuse.

How on earth could I manage an introduction? She and I share one body. d.a.m.n, I had to go to Harakiri-tora for advice; I didn't get 'how can I help?' No, from the start I got laughter.

Even with time Harakiri-tora didn't stop grinning or laughing. Originally the stuffed toy had a sewn on faint smile, but her huge smile couldn't be hidden.

"How about meeting while you're a woman?"

"I could do that but my voice would still be a man's voice. I'd be exposed."

"...being exposed - that's inconvenient?"

"I would be despised... with my size how could I be seen other than a weirdo with a transvest.i.te hobby?"

No, since Sakura-san is kind, she wouldn't despise me. But certainly my rank would fall drastically from 'a junior high acquaintance.' In a worst-case scenario, she would 'avoid him as much as possible.'

"To top it off, I'll hurt Sakura-san who has been yearning to meet her 'cool girl'. Another reason for her to hate me."

I rolled around holding my head. If someone saw me they wouldn't hesitate to call for an ambulance, most likely a yellow one.[5]

Harakiri-tora didn't call an ambulance. Probably because her cat-like cloth hands couldn't dial a phone easily.

"I'll just give up and choose the road to being Kämpfer. Having a woman with me isn't necessary to fight."

"But to start a fight you must first be a woman."

I sat up, "can I transform myself into a woman intentionally?"

"If you increase your skill a bit, you could."

"Skill?"

"Oh - you've seen others do it Natsuru-san, do you still think it's difficult?"

That's true, Akane easily transforms intentionally. I suddenly recalled I hadn't told Harakiri-tora about the attack in the library. This time the plush toy was unusually silent.

"Ho, so you finally met an enemy Kämpfer?"

"The attacker was powerful, and stayed hidden. I never saw who it was."

"Sounds like an experienced fighter, this is serious."

"Fast and forceful. Would the attacker have been a woman?"

"There's no doubt."

"She's also an Iron-Star student?"

"I'm certain of it. Kämpfer tend to gather in certain locations."

"Say what?"

"Let me put it this way. If one Kämpfer appears, another will appear to fight the first, then another to support the others and so on."

"How can you transform people so freely?"

"It's the moderator, don't you think?"

I had to think hard. This was a pain, every time I went to school I'd have to be cautious. I was at a considerable disadvantage.

Consulting Akane wouldn't help much. When she wasn't transformed she was too timid to be any help; after transformation 'kill anything that moves.' Efficient plans would not be formed effectively with her.

"Excuse me," Harakiri-tora was saying.

"How can a stupid stuffed toy help?"

"Since you're worried how stupid am I if I have good advice?"

"Like what?"

I watched Harakiri-tora with doubt. There's no trusting her, no answers came easily, nothing but puzzles. Thinking back, the description that came with the Entrails Series toy said 'Harakiri-tora - even it's stomach is black.'

"To start, the enemy is likely just one person. If there were two or more you would have lost."

That made sense. The only weapons we saw were two dirks[6] attached by a chain. That weapon kept us both occupied, if there were any other enemies we would have been overwhelmed.

"Should I worry about another enemy showing up?"

"Probably."

"But what chance is there of that?"

"Like I said a while ago, Kämpfer tend to gather in one area."

"I heard you, I was there."

"Well..."

"You're useless," I said harshly before I could stop myself. She made an essential point there. How could I uncover others?

"With patience and good searching, you'll certainly find them."

"The only evidence is the bracelet. Without seeing that there's no way to tell." I hit my arm where mine was firmly attached. Rolling up girls sleeves, what difference is there to flipping skirts?

Harakiri-tora thoughtfully pondered, "that reminds me." Seeing a toy with intestines spilling out, looking intently thoughtful was beyond strange.

"Look for someone like me!"

"Huh?"

"All messengers are like me..." Harakiri-tora skillfully pointed her short forefoot at herself.

"No way."

"Search for people who have Entrails Animal series stuffed animals, right? Akane-san has Seppuku Kuro Usagi. Not every Entrails Animal will be an adviser but each adviser a.s.signed to a Kämpfer will be an Entrails Animal."

I think messenger is a better fitting word than adviser, but aside from that it wasn't a bad idea. Not as direct as checking bracelets but easier to talk about.

"So why only look for Entrails Animals?"

"The moderator chose to use us. For gathering Kämpfer it's easier to use the same series of stuffed animals."

Harakiri-tora was proudly rubbing her exposed viscera. Pride in a series of stuffed toys.

"There are many series, why them?"

"Maybe because they're no longer being sold. Anyway, it's better than rolling up sleeves."

"How do you know they stopped selling them?"

"I've checked into it," I noticed my computer was turned on and a browser window was opened up on it. The window was dense with information, apparently someone had been net surfing.

"It gets boring being in this room all day. Clicking is hard, but I manage."

With those paws I bet it would be difficult.

Anyway, I was relieved. Searching for stuffed toys was a lot easier than searching for enemies through grop