Kämpfer Vol 1 Chapter 2
Chapter 2
I dove into cla.s.sroom 2-4, but I was still late. First cla.s.s had already started and everyone but me had taken their seats. The infamous Cla.s.sic Literature teacher glared at me, pointed to the blackboard and said "use yomikudashibun". Thats transcription of Chinese cla.s.sics into j.a.panese, and I somehow managed to do the a.s.signment after five attempts.
I had returned to the appearance of a man. While I was running to school my bracelet glowed and my sailor uniform changed into a blazer and pants. Harakiri-tora didnt lie when he said Id change back automatically, although the change made me feel sick.
I had no idea how Sakura-san was doing, probably answering for her tardiness in a similar way, but her cla.s.s subject would be mathematics.
Our school was segregated boys and girls didnt share cla.s.ses, or even the same buildings. I attended Iron Star Academy High School and it was open to boys and girls but wasnt co-ed. Originally it was a girls school founded before the war. The term iron was not in reference to miners, but to developing strong women. The school catered to teaching girls of privileged families domestic arts.
Ten years ago it began to accept male students. The announced reason doors were opened to male candidates was to keep with the times but most people a.s.sumed it was to maintain the level of student fees collected.
Although common to historic schools, opinions of graduates were influential in affecting management. Iron Star Academy did not deviate from that practice.
The OGs (Original Graduates)[1] complained that men are cunning, who knows what effect they will have on female students. Their recommendation was to separate the school by s.e.xes at least. After debate the Board of Directors pa.s.sed it by a narrow margin. The extensive grounds were divided in two with a fence to separate the girls and boys sections. Pa.s.sage from one side to the other was closely monitored and rarely allowed. It seemed like one hand doesnt know what the other is doing since information between the sides was severely limited. To further please the OGs and avoid waste they printed the entrance exam in a magazine.
Thats the dark history of Iron Star Academy. The legend continues that the initial separation was just a white line on the ground, but the boys crossed the line in droves to visit the girls. Honestly!
Until yesterday there was no confusion that I was male, so Im enrolled in the boys academy at Iron Star. Now it seems the future isnt as certain.
The previous cla.s.s ended at 1:00 and it was time for lunch break. I quickly ate the convenience store onigiri I bought on the way in. With the remaining time I planned to take a quiet nap. Whenever Im bored a nap is appreciated, and if it helped me pay attention in afternoon cla.s.ses it was even more advantageous.
I went to the waste basket to discard the wrapper but a cla.s.smate was beckoning me. It was the strangely stylish yet immoral Higashida. He was the self-appointed chairman of the Iron Star Beauty Research Club. It was a covert club, not that a club like that could ever be considered official. I had heard that he could know a beauty by the sound of her breath, and that he could actually name the girls walking on the opposite side of a wall. Sounds impressive, but who could confirm his answers?
"Senou, youre being called."
"If its the teacher, tell him Im dead."
"No dude," Higashidas voice was hushed. "A girl, a female student."
That woke me up.
The boys and girls sections are in separate buildings. The school strongly limits who is allowed to cross between the sides. As much as possible, restrict travel between sections. The academy even has separate main entrances for each section. The only students allowed to freely cross the boundary were student council members and cla.s.s representatives. Ordinary student needed a permit. The procedure to obtain a permit was complicated and amazingly convoluted. Thats not to say there werent ways for the determined students to find pa.s.sage. The loopholes were closely guarded secrets that were only given verbally. Large illicit activities based on these exchanges were also rumored to occur.
"A girl?"
"Asking for you."
"Is it Sakura-san?"
"Idiot, it would be big news for Sakura Kaede to visit the boys side. If she came asking for you, there would be death squads formed to hunt you down."
Sakura-san is one of the two most beautiful girls at Iron Star Academy. Her reputation was stellar, but she had never visited the boys side. That made her a h.e.l.l of a mystery to the boys. In addition to Sakura-san the other leading beauty was Student Council President Shizuku Sangou.
"Well, this morning I met Sakura-san."
"Ah, its true that Sakura-san was late for her first cla.s.s just like you. Just a miracle of a coincidence."
"Just telling you."
"If you had met an Iron Star Beauty, I would have heard." Higashida oddly puffed his chest out with pride.
"The girl who asked for me?"
"Oh yeah, in the hallway."
Thanks to Higashida I left the cla.s.s room and discarded my plan for a nap. In the hallway was a girl, standing there she seemed to have no presence about her; very somber, wearing an out of trend hair-band. I wasnt sure but it appeared she wore gla.s.ses; I couldnt be sure because she was looking down. The girl and I stood in silence for a while. Although I was called on, she wouldnt talk first.
"Well, you asked for me?"
"... yes..."
The conversation made it that far, then stopped again.
"How did you manage to get here... I wonder."
"Yes..."
"So, whats your name?"
"Oh... oh... Im a member of the library committee."
"Huh?"
She ignored my confusion and kept talking.
"Since... Im in the library committee... Im allowed in the boys side. The library... deals with both sides of the school."
She noticed that she hadnt answered me and bowed quickly to apologize.
"Oh... Please, Im sorry... Ive been saying strange things... I rarely talk to boys."
This was a pure-hearted and innocent girl. Nervous in front of boys.
"Im sorry... accept my apology... so sorry..."
She bowed many times.
"Dont go that far," I waved my hand.
Im not experienced talking to girls, but this was extreme.
"Please dont worry about it, just let me know your name."
"It is..."
"Yes?"
"...Mishima Akane."
"Huh...?"
My mouth hung open so far my jaw almost came loose. Akanes face turned bright red and she looked back at the floor.
Akane and I went to the library. The library is a separate building built on the border between the two halves the school. Since books are shared, the library was unis.e.x. It had guards stationed at both doorways leading to each half of campus. We came here because Akane had said the boys side... makes me anxious. Since she was used to the library she wouldnt be as nervous there. We sat face-to-face across a wide library table.
Akane was as squirmy as ever. She was probably still getting used to the location, but she began to speak. The conversation turned to the main topic.
"Im... also a Kämpfer," She said while showing me the bracelet attached to her right arm. "This is a... Bracelet of Oath."
"Yeah, Ive heard..."
Page 59
"Its proof... of being Kämpfer."
"I also have one... but..." my mouth dropped and my eyes opened wide, "youre really the girl from this morning?"
"Yes..." Akanes face turned purplish-red, "...that was me."
"You said I had an amazingly fat a.s.s ..."
"Yes..."
"Youd kill me. "
"Yes..."
"Called me a b.i.t.c.h. "
"Yes..."
"You always become that girl when youre a Kämpfer?"
"Yes..."
"...with that personality?"
"Please... do not tease me anymore...!"
Behind her gla.s.ses, she was on the verge of tears... ugh, she started crying.
"Please forgive me Senou-san... When I become Kämpfer... I say all sorts of vulgar things without thinking. Im truly sorry!"
Thanks to Akane kowtowing and choking up crying, we were the center of attention from the surrounding students. I was honestly embarra.s.sed.
"Im good, Im good. Dont worry about it, I was just surprised," I rea.s.sured her while smiling.
"I become a girl when I change, but I didnt know a Kämpfer could also change personality."
"Its true..." Akane said as she raised her head slightly, still crying. "Even I cant believe it. Its scary to think about... Im always surprised at what she does..."
I took a harder look at her. If I looked past the timidness and fragile voice, I could just make out the very same vicious dog girl I dealt with that morning.
"Why did you fight me?"
"On my way to school... I suddenly transformed. I looked around... all I saw was Senou-kun and that other girl..."
I also transformed suddenly, but in my case it was after meeting Akane.
"The opponent of a Kämpfer... is a Kämpfer. I did think it was strange that Senou-san was a boy."
"But you suddenly stopped fighting."
"I found out you were a partner."
"Huh, a partner!?"
"Your bracelet, blue means youre my partner."
She held out her arm and her bracelet was the same pale-blue as mine.
"...I shouldnt attack my partner."
"So, what about the enemy?"
"They have bracelets too, only red."
I was impressed, "you know a lot about it."
"Seppuku-kuro-usagi, my Entrails Animal stuffed toy told me."
Apparently Im not the only one with a moderators messenger. Hers is also an Entrails Animal. I thought about asking if she liked that type of grotesque series, but I decided to pa.s.s. There was a big difference in the amount of information each of our messengers divulged. Harakiri-tora was considerably more tight-lipped.
"How do you transform?"
"If I want to I can transform myself. If there is another Kämpfer in the area I may also transform. In the morning I must have sensed Senou-san."
"How do you get back to normal?"
"When you havent been fighting," she was shy, but smiled.
Her smile was rather lovely, she was good looking behind her timidness.
I remembered it took a while to return that morning, "how much time does it take to return to normal?"
"Until you learn to change yourself it varies. At first its very random. It may be five minutes, but one time it took me two days."
Aw c.r.a.p, that sounds like trouble. I wouldnt be able to go to school, since my tuition only paid for the boys section.
"Come to think of it, you had a pistol. Do we get weapons?"
"I fight with a gun, Senou-san fights with magic. "
"I dont follow," this was all new to me.
"Item... I fight with a handgun, I cant fight empty-handed. When I transform the item I use is provided. Since Senou-san uses magic no item is needed."
"Oh..." it didnt make me feel any better. It came naturally to me that morning the first time I needed it.
"Seppuku-kuro-usagi told me there are three types of weapons for Kämpfer; gun, magic and sword. "
"Those only." Id never seen the sword. The only Kämpfer I knew were Akane and myself anyway.
"Theyre called Gewehr , Zauber and Schwert. They are hard to p.r.o.nounce since theyre German."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Also kämpfer is German, except the female noun would be kämpferin, but all I hear used is kämpfer. I wonder why though."
Sorry, but I have no knowledge of foreign languages.
"Why do we fight?"
"I dont know either...," Akane is apologetic. "Ive asked Seppuku-kuro-usagi, but she wouldnt tell me, no matter how many times I asked."
So, she doesnt know either, same as me. n.o.body seems to know, the reason still isnt clear. How many Kämpfer were there? Where were they? There werent any answers for me. All I could tell was what was put in front of me. If anything comes up it comes up.
Akane looked anxious, "did I say too much...?"
"Huh?"
"Im sorry, I can be obtrusive, I just say things without thinking..." her face looked tearful again.
I panicked, "oh, Im really sorry, I just got lost in my own thoughts. Please forgive me."
"Thats good..." her face looked relieved. Very different from the expression I saw at gunpoint on the way to school.
"Its just that... that..." she was fidgeting nervously. Probably not because she had to use a bathroom though.
"Se... Senou-san, can you tell me..."
"Yes?"
"Ah, ah... its the first time I... a Kämpfer and... talking with a boy... well... I want to hear Senou-sans story. Im sorry!" Akanes face turned bright crimson and she bowed low enough for her hear to rest on the table.
"Its impolite, right? Impolite, right? The first time to meet someone, to ask such a thing. I should be more polite, right? Ive been blushing so much because I am not accustomed to talking to boys. Its useless, but I want to talk more, I would like to hear all about you. Please forgive me, Im so sorry!"
She had talked without even a break to take a breath, there was no way for me to interrupt. Aw c.r.a.p... she began to cry loudly and buried her face in the desk. Id watch scenes like this on television, but never in person. I was at a loss at what to do. I was not used to dealing with girls. Students all around were intently watching us. I decided I had to do something to comfort her.
"Its not bad for you to ask. Mishima-san please raise your head."
Id rather say Im not bad. I know saying something like that can lead to the opposite effect, like a souvenir from Hokkaido of a carved bear with a salmon in its mouth[2]
"Ill talk... Ill talk... Ill tell you all about me." I began to talk without waiting for her reply.
I told her about my cla.s.s: (second year cla.s.sroom 4), my parents: (transferred to k.u.mamoto[3]), favorite TV genre: (variety show), grades: (average), future dreams: (none).
While I was telling her this I was thinking that I seemed so average. I made a perfect image of a typical high school student featured in a newspaper. I started explaining the less usual part about my parents moving away for their jobs and letting me stay behind. My insipid story seemed to be interesting to Akane, she was eager to hear more. She stopped crying before long, I was saved.
I also told her about my morning waking up in a womans body. How Harakiri-tora aggravated me and spoke in the voice of Shizuka-chan[4].
She chuckled when I said Shizuka-chan, "thats funny."
"That I like anime?"
"Not just that. I like anime too."
And shes part of the library committee? I started to loosen up. I tried to think, but Id never talked so openly to a girl before. Its not as if I had a girlfriend.
"Well, Mishima-san, its your turn."
"Eh, eh..." Her face turned red again, no more crying, but a bit different then before. "Oh, I... Im just a somber girl..."
"I doubt that. Start with your cla.s.s."
"The fourth cla.s.sroom... in the second year. My favorite subjects are... and I... I... I..." her voice got quieter and quieter.
That didnt seem like a good topic. Id have to find something easier to answer.
"When did you become Kämpfer?"
"Six months ago, I woke up and opened my eyes. My body was hot and I was holding a big gun that I strangely wanted to shoot. I had a feeling someone would knock at the door and would try to shoot me..."
This is j.a.pan, except for policemen and yakuza, n.o.body has a gun. Its more likely shed be shooting at a pedestrian walking by.
"Then Seppuku-kuro-usagi started to speak. You are Kämpfer. " Akane looked embarra.s.sed for some reason.
"Suddenly my gun was in my hand and I wanted to riddle Seppuku-kuro-usagis belly with bullets."
"I can understand that..." I chimed in, but there was a short pause after.
"I listened to her, and knew somehow it was true, I was Kämpfer. Although that was after I threw Seppuku-kuro-usagi out the window about six times."
That reminded me of tossing Harakiri-tora in the trashcan repeatedly, amazingly similar. Then I asked the most important thing.
"In the last six months have you had to fight other Kämpfer?"
"I..." she looked down slightly again, "I fought with a sword wielding Kämpfer. I thought I won, but it was only a draw. I shouted a lot of vulgar words..."
Sounds like it ended in trash talk. I got a taste of it that morning, so I didnt need to ask for details.
"I always try to find a way to control my language when I become Kämpfer, but it never does any good."
"Maybe thats just the way it works," at my words she paused to listen. "Mishima-san changes personality, I change gender. Maybe its like a fighting ritual for Kämpfer."
"...like a fighting ritual. Huh..."
Although it seems a bit much for a Kämpfer ritual to turn me into a girl.
"Well, thats what Im thinking. Its whats needed to turn someone ordinary into extraordinary."
"Transformed to a hero with the desire to defeat villains."
"Are we heroes or villains, and how can we tell?"
That stuffed animal didnt explain anything of importance after all, probably just turned me into a women with no reason. Akane started to look worried for some reason.
"Oh, forget what I just said, I was just thinking out loud."
"Its just that I have similar thoughts."
"Like what, Mishima-san?"
"That..." she hesitated. " Akane[5] is fine, thats what all my cla.s.smates call me. Even though Ive never been called that... by a man..."
She looked down and started to blush deeply. I thought I should reply quickly.
"Well, Natsuru is good for me also."
"Okay..., Natsuru-san."
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Lunch-break would be over soon.
I stood up, "Ill be heading back."
"I... Im... usually in the library. If you ever want to talk."
"Sounds great, thanks."
I remembered something Harakiri-tora told me that morning[6].
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Whats... that...?"
"I want to go out with you."
Akane batted her eyes and turned bright red, "but... Natsuru-san and I... we just met today for the first time..."
"I need to do some shopping and Id appreciate your help."
Her expression suddenly looked very odd and she slumped her shoulders. What kind of reaction was that!?
"I dont have any girls clothes, if I cant change back. I need help knowing what to buy."
"I see... If youre satisfied with my help..."
"Please."
Even though Akane was disappointed for some reason, I was greatly relieved. One of my big concerns about this situation would disappear. I still needed food if I didnt want more tsukudani[7]. I glanced at the clock again. My stomach was still empty, but it was time for cla.s.s. The teacher was already sore at me being late for morning cla.s.s.
"See you, Akane-chan," I said as I turned to leave.
Suddenly I saw glowing in the corner of my eye. The bracelet on my right arm was flashing, fast! Oh c.r.a.p, this was... The back of my head was. .h.i.t by a hard object.
"Yo, ya got some b.a.l.l.s, adding chan ta mah name! Ya son of a b.i.t.c.h."
That wasnt Akanes shy voice...
I raised my hands like in western movies. I turned around slowly, praying she didnt shoot. Where Akane had been, I stood at the gunpoint of the vicious dog girl.
"Akane-chan, huh? Who do ya think Ay am, an obese cat lover livin in a condo?"
I know she didnt like it, but what was she saying? Theres no confusing this girl with the normal version.
"You told me to call you that."
Akane wasnt listening, "there are two things that Ay cant stand in this world. Ones letting peanut-b.u.t.ter toast fall to da ground, an da others when people add chan to ma name! Natsuru, friends are allowed to use ma first name, no honorifics!"
"Friend, or partner?"
"Did ya forget? That bracelet hangin from ya pale arm is da same color as mine. If ya werent a friend Ay would have sent you to Hawaii full of lead bullets."
"Of course I know were partners, but friend? "
"Ay know, but that little voice in ma head keeps whisperin yer okay. Yer ma partner, yer okay, so yer ma friend. Thats all there is to it."
"Guess thats it then." The whispers in my head were telling me to get my phone, call for help and hope someone could save me.
Akanes eyes were in serious vicious dog mode. "Paranoid d.i.c.kwad, yer thinkin Aym a character outta some Dostoevsky novel, huh? Ya complain and yall be missin everything from the neck up."
"We dont have time for this."
"Ya think Aym a fool? Just became Kämpfer if ya wanna fight."
Thats true; why had Akane suddenly turned into Kämpfer. If she didnt change herself there must be a reason. I had to make my friend think about it.
"Akane-chan..."
"Ya have a death-wish?"
"Akane... Why did you transform?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you become Kämpfer. Like you said before, there must be someone wanting to fight."
In the library a gust blew, "theres a Kämpfer nearby."
Before I could blink something blurred past my eyes. There was a loud thunk and there was a large dagger embedded deep in the table. Akanes handgun reacted. Her gun looked like it was American Government issue, spitting streams of death. Like hounds seeing a fox, a flock of bullets rushed to find their prey. It sounds poetic, but even if I say so myself, those shots all disappeared somewhere.
"Natsuru, hit the floor!" Akane yelled, as we both fell together to the floor.
"If ya wanna avoid skippin across the Styx change and get ready ta fight!"
"I refuse!"
"Then Ayll do it myself!"
I tried to resist but before I knew it I had become a girl, firmly wrapped in a skirt.
The other students in the library were surprised at the sudden firefight. They all ran off wailing loudly. Some of the female students were sobbing, they had fallen over each other trying to escape. They had my pity. I hope they werent traumatized.
I tried to see what the vicious dog girl was doing, but I was still face-down on the floor. I could hear the gun blasting continuously.
"You have such a thirst for blood. If its an old man Im sure he died of shock."
"Hey, lets flush out our target!" Akane looked at me with evil purpose.
"Get yer eyes off the ground and help. Is yer skull full of Baby Star Ramen, ya b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"
No my head isnt stuffed with Baby Star Ramen, Im just an amateur at fighting. Give me a break. I was smart enough not to say that to Akane though. She grabbed my collar and dragged me upright anyway. Man that hurt, what happened to us being friends?
"Natsuru, listen, run over behind that bookshelf over there, Ayll follow."
It was an encyclopedia shelf covered in dust, with no empty s.p.a.ces. I suppose it would make a decent shield.
"Run on the count of one... one! Go!"
I tried to jump towards the shelf and my foot slipped. d.a.m.n hot-headed girl, dont play at a time like that! I didnt want to get mad at Akane, but that wasnt the time to joke around.
"Ya failed at listenin to mah count."
"Yeah, I dont want to get sliced."
"Look, we gotta work together to attack the sword Kämpfer."
Was she serious? Akane kept cursing at me. This chick had just became a Kämpfer that morning while Akane had been one for six months. Less than one day compared to 180, her experience made a difference.
"Im not just worried about a haircut."
"Kill da skirt. Havent ya taken yer compulsory sword cla.s.ses?"
"So, what kind of sword is it?"
"Dont know. Ay saw as it flew in front of us; too small ta be a two-handed sword, too big to be a knife. Ya wanna know more, go ask the attacker."
Id ask, but I havent seen the attacker yet. Akanes fierce eyes shifted left and right doing reconnaissance like a dog. I tried to follow her example, but had no idea what I was doing.
"Lets get ta work..." She began to count, "one, two, three!"
We dashed at the same time. Our movements werent full of confidence, but for the distance we had to go it didnt matter. We both dove behind the bookshelf. I ended up underneath Akane. Her stance reminded me of a hunched vicious dog, ready to attack. She was surprisingly light, and soft. No, that was her considerable chest. She had a lovely scent to her. Because we were both wearing skirts our bare legs got firmly entangled. I hadnt been thinking like that for even half a second, but Akanes fierce burgundy eyes glared at me.
"Hey, ya lookin at me like a lesbian. The way ya were picturin me in yer head, try picturin yerself bein killed."
Uh, no, I want to live. I followed the warnings and decided to look away from Akanes body. Clang... clang... a metallic sound rang out.
Akane chuckled, "our opponents weapon cant get through. These books are tough."
Books were heavier than they appeared, even more so for thick encyclopedia volumes. The shelf was st.u.r.dy steel designed to support a heavy load. It made the perfect shield.
"Ready to counterattack, my lesbian buddy?"
When was I promoted from partner to buddy? Hey, hope she knows Im not really a lesbian.
"You say counterattack, but wheres the enemy?" I gingerly looked through a crack between volumes. I could only see dust dancing, not a chance of seeing our enemy.
"Hiding like a cancer. We gotta treat it the same way."
"So, hows this counterattack going to work?"
"Buddy, thats where yer needed." Akane looked down towards me and grinned as she approached. "Perfect plan. Ya run out from hidin, enemy attacks, Ay counterattack."
"Is that your plan?"
"Either that or ya suck on mah gun like its a honeycomb..."
"Okay, guess Ill go!" I had been volunteered to become a decoy. Perfect plan my a.s.s, the way things were looking, my role would be to get chopped up.
Akane was impatient and getting angry, "yer thin, yall make it one way or another."
"You probably wont take responsibility for me if I die."
"Ayll be responsible for makin ya die if ya dont go." She put both hands over my mouth as I was about to scream, stupid aggressive girl. "Its da end of da discussion."
"You call that a discussion?"
"b.a.s.t.a.r.d, ya got magic. Ya got speed. Find a place that ya can defend and leave da enemy ta me." Akane smiled, "Aym countin on ya buddy."
I was puzzled by her smile. She is truly lovely when she smiles. Deceived by that smile I crawled to the edge of the shelves. Still no sign of the enemy.
"Akane, give me a signal when I should run."
"Go whenever ya want. Yall manage, somehow."
Her smile and words didnt match, another thought crossed my mind. The timing to run out without getting hit only works if someone is looking for enemy fire. Maybe my magic could deflect the knife. Hmm, my mind was pondering, by the counter argument was staring at me from much closer. If Akane wasnt overly concerned I have to match her resolve.
I took a breath and prepared, "Ill go."
"Go quickly!"
I kicked off the floor and left the cover of the shelves. At the same time I thought what is my trigger for my magic? I had no idea. First the vicious dog girl says whatever words would get me to go, then I foolishly rush into the decision to go. Turns out I didnt have to worry, the enemy wasnt attacking me.
Then I saw the gleam of the shiny blade right behind me; I had been ignored. The enemy saw through my decoy attempt. The blade continued past me. As I had thought, the enemys weapon was a dirk; a long dagger or a short sword. There was no doubt, I saw it clearly, I bet Akane saw it as well. There were two dirks, attached to chains. I saw them freely moving like snakes, but the enemy remained invisible. The enemy Kämpfer manipulated them safely from a distance. All I heard were metallic sounds as the blades cut through the steel bookshelf with ease and it started to collapse on Akane. c.r.a.p! I turned and pulled her hand before it fell on her. One dirk turned and pointed at us, Akane fired and the blade was deflected. It withdrew into the distance.
"Lick-a-b.i.t.c.h!" Akane said as she spit out blood. Had her mouth been cut? "Aym patient, Ayll send em to da netherworld!"
"Well be the ones dying if we dont find the enemy."
"Next time execute dat motherfscker like Ceaușescu[8]! Got it?"
A dirk flew at us again, we crouched and it grazed us.
"Da enemy heard and reacted."
"Was Ceaușescu disliked?"
"An enemy of science, just like Gihren Zabi[9] shot in the back of the head."
"But does that mean..." I suddenly saw a foot at the edge of my vision.
Akanes gun turned as fast as my gaze. Standing next to that partially destroyed bookshelf was Sakura-san. Why was she here?
Akane yelled, "its the motherfscker."
Just like that morning, Sakura-san was under gunpoint.
"...playin with us eh? This time yall playfully die!"
Akane was on the verge of pulling the trigger. I grabbed Sakura-sans arm and pulled her out of the way while Akane showered bullets at us. I held tight to Sakura-san and rolled on the floor.
"Akane stop!"
"Ya pumpkin head! Shes da enemy!"
"Whos the pumpkin!? Sakura-san isnt a Kämpfer!"
Akanes angry eyes softened slightly.
"Say what?"
"She doesnt have any weapons. Shes a normal person."
"Maybe she dropped em."
"That doesnt make sense."
From above both blades flew at us. We quickly jumped out of the way. They left a hole in the floor then retracted to the distance, not to Sakura-sans hands.
"See."
"...c.r.a.p!" Akane was frustrated and turned the other way.
"Look how scared she looks, is that the face of an enemy?"
"Da chains are comin from further away."
It was true, it seemed to be coming from just outside the doorway. Aiming for our hiding spot, but staying invisible. Akane was getting more grumpy.
"Tell dat Kaede wh.o.r.e ta stay outta da way when Aym fightin Kämpfer!"
Hey hey, why are you calling her a wh.o.r.e? Sakura-sans face was pale. I tried to calm her mood.
"Why are you here Sakura-san?"
"... oh... I had to look up some references in the library... There was a terrible sound and I tried to escape, but couldnt get past."
What bad luck to be caught in the middle of Kämpfer fighting twice in one day, both times involved me.
"Even if she was a doddering ol hag, shes dead if she get in da way again!" Akanes rage wasnt lessening, she was full of hostility.
I started to confront her and got her guns muzzle between my eyebrows, so I quickly stopped.
"Dats right, back off."
"Im not backing off. Ill vouch for Kaede, if she gets in your way again, take the punishment out on me."
This girl, even if she and one man were the last people on the planet she would turn them into enemies. She would try to push her way through a scrum[10] line of policemen.
"Yo Natsuru, talkin back aint in yer nature. What ya think ya are, my husband?"
"Not a chance in the world, unless by gunpoint."
"Alright, but I get ta shoot ya if she bothers me?"
"Whatever, just leave her alone."
"Yer lucky, Kaede survives, for now."
Akanes eyes had a dull glow. Is she serious? Just when it appeared that she was about to fire at me a dirk came between a gap between books. I pushed Sakura-san out of the way. The blade nearly grazed her neck. Akane opened fired as I rolled out of the way. By the time I twisted around to look the dirk had disappeared. Dangerous! I was almost skewered and sold as a new style of kebab.
"d.a.m.n it, so annoying!" Akane had turned her wrath from Sakura-san to the invisible enemy. "Yer gonna have a face full a holes so yer brain can cool off! Natsuru, yer silly girl over there sprung a leak."
I looked, but she wasnt leaking, she had fainted from the sudden volley of bullets fired by the vicious dog girl. She had crumbled to the floor, unconscious, still as death before my eyes.
"Pinch er and see if shes dead."
No, fainting is a normal reaction, your nerves are just too thick. Mine must be too, my head was calm as if nothing was happening. Another byproduct of the Kämpfer transformation?
Kin-Kon, Kan-Kon The end of lunch bell sounded.
"c.r.a.p, Aym gonna be late," Akane lamented.
"Youre serious?"
"Of course, even tho Ay may seem like a meek girl, Ay love ta study, despite my looks."
"Even with a foul mouth?"
"Hey, Ayll miss cla.s.s at this rate!" Akane pointed the gun at me again. I knew my comment was risky.
"Hey, just so ya know Aym an honor student."
"Unfortunately, I think youre going to be late. I gave up trying after I was late three times."
"Dont be proud a that."
"Im not a good boy, its my way of not standing out in cla.s.s."
We both paused and fell silent. We listened but there was no sound of the enemy. Even though the attacks werent constant, the gaps never had lasted this long. No sound of dirks cutting through the air or chains snaking along.
"The attack stopped..."
Akane said, "no sign of em."
"Thats a first."
"Were not done, whered ya go?"
I didnt answer, there was no way to know. After a short time we both got up and came out from our cover. It was a gamble, but sure enough there was no attack.
"Our enemy is gone."
"Sounds like cold feet ta me."
"Im not so sure."
"What did ya say?"
The enemy had been calm and didnt even fall for my decoy attempt. I dont think we had the upper hand. There must have been a reason to call off the attack.
Akane was kicking the floor of the library, "late ta cla.s.s and didnt get anything ta eat."
I wasnt too worried about being late. I didnt have a perfect attendance to maintain. Suddenly a thought came to mind.
"Hey Akane, maybe our enemy in an honor student."
"Yeah? Why would ya say that?"
"Seeing how much youre worried about it, maybe the enemy didnt want to be late either."
"Same as me?... Ya think our enemys an honor student at Iron Star?"
"Well, its a thought." I was guessing of course, there was no evidence. Somehow my intuition led me to think I was right. Another power of being Kämpfer?
"Aym headin back to da womens section. Natsuru, yer on yer own."
"Ill go home, but what about Sakura-san?"
She was still pa.s.sed out on the floor.
Akane was pretending to pick her ear, "dont make a woman do strenuous work. You can carry her."
"But Im a woman now too."
"Just words, yer bad-a.s.s enough to handle er."
"Youre just complaining to get out of it."
"Aym a white-collar worker."
I was about to say, you and me both but I said h.e.l.lo to her guns muzzle instead.
"Physical labor is a mans work, right?"
The pistol was more convincing than any words that could pa.s.s my lips. I accepted without hesitation.
She clucked her tongue and stored the dirk in her cuff. The chain and other dirk were put away silently. She checked her left wrist, it was already time.
"...cant be late!"
Any good student hates to miss cla.s.ses. Being a good student doesnt just mean living up to the image, it also means denying yourself of fun to avoid a bad reputation. Her hand slapped a table and dust flew up. The library was in a sad shape. She hated harming the books, but it was worth it. Besides, she could get the budget committee to buy new books.
While walking calmly to her next cla.s.s at Iron Star Academy she brushed her school uniform and made sure it was perfect. Just before the teacher came through the door she sat at her desk.
Notes
Jump up↑ OG - original text used "OG". I a.s.sume it refers to Original Graduates and could be a play on the term "Original Ganstas".
Jump up↑ Hokkaido Carved Bear - the most common souvenir to bring back from Hokkaido is an Ainu carved bear. The Ainu are indigenous people of j.a.pan. They believe bears and salmon represent G.o.ds on earth. Most carved bear souvenirs arent made by the Ainu. I think the author is referring to these carvings being known to be mostly fakes.
Jump up↑ k.u.mamoto - main city in large island in south-west j.a.pan, a 95 minute flight from Tokyo.
Jump up↑ Shizuka Minamoto - the main female character in Doraemon.
Jump up↑ Akane-chan - Akane doesnt specify the honorific to use, but it can be a.s.sumed that she should be called "Akane-chan" by a fellow second year student like Natsuru.
Jump up↑ Harakiri-tora told Natsuru that girls clothes would be needed if he transformed when he wasnt wearing his school uniform
Jump up↑ Tsukudani - a side dish of seafood and seaweed simmered in soy sauce and mirin (his cupboards are empty).
Jump up↑ Ceaușescu - Romanian Dictator : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_Ceau%C8%99escu
Jump up↑ Gihren Zabi - see Mobile Suit Gundam The Plot to a.s.sa.s.sinate Gihren : http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam_The_Plot_to_a.s.sa.s.sinate_Gihren
Jump up↑ Scrum - a tight rugby formation and struggle to gain possession of the ball.