Vol 1 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter 4

The weather was clear and sunny I'd call the color of the sky 'Pecan'Not from the nuts, but froarettes that Higashi+da buys I'd buy the brand just to gaze at the color, but I don't smoke

I was idly waiting in front of the Metro station, just before 10:00, right on ti as a man, but it couldn't be helped Today, it's complicated Perhaps my situation will stay complicated for my lifetime

Akane was besidemode first because I still couldn't transform myself However, she returned to normal immediately after

Naturally I protested, but Akane refused saying ”because” while nearly crying

”Why?”

”so Sakura-san and Natsuru-san can be alone”

”Huh?”

”Because it's when I change everything I say is vulgar, everything irritates me, the whole world is at fault I can't help but quarrel, even with you”

”But if Akane-chan isn't transfor a man at any time”

”Then even Sakura-san ant to shoot you”

That would be troublesoinal form I buried my head in my hands

”If I change back in the middle of ine”

”Sounds like a good ti Harakiri-tora

”God rant the prayer, but I doubt the moderator would care”

I deeply regret bringing her out, but she pleaded to get out of the boring room

”Don't you have a way to extend the transfor?”

”Like I said before, the only way is to gain experience”

”Added together I have about a day of experience”

”That's just,” she shook her head indicating it wasn't good crap!

”Just try it when you need it If it doesn't work, the worst that can happen is you get a hole through your head” That ca because it had complained so noisily

”You'll get it eventually if you keep trying, there's no predicting it That's all Harakiri-tora was saying”

”Just keep to positive thinking If anything happens run and hide”

That's easy to say

Keeping h Plus it's rude to be preoccupied while dating, positive thinking aside Akane was slouching and silent She had Seppuku-kuro-usagi in one arm and Harakiri-tora in the other Like a doll collector

”It's OK,” I gave up, ”I'll date Sakura-san the way things are”

”I'm sorry”

”Akane-chan, you need to hide somewhere”

She replied, ”yes” in a low voice As she left the stuffed ani for favor,” and ”even if you fail you can still laugh about it”

Then I was alone The sunlight was shi+ning and I watched herds of people exiting the station Wondering how h school boys that becoe nuh not likely, I was told that there is a tendency for Kämpfer to appear near others It's bound to happen before too long After all, Akane and I were already the target of one enemy

”Sorry to keep you waiting”

I was back to reality Sakura-san was sood in her uniform, but a short skirt and a short sleeve top suit her very well; she was lovely

”I'm sorry, were you bored?”

I shook my head I could think later, noasn't spare time

”I worried about what clothes to wear But I couldn't be late for my first date with Natsuru-san”

It's understandable; I also fretted about what to wear

Sakura-san was looking at the clothes I earing

”I've only seen you in your uniform, you always look cool, even in plain clothes”

I earing denim jeans with a wide belt over a thin shi+rt On my neck I wore a silver necklace They were my own clothes, men's clothes No women live at my house, so there's no wo, so I did what I could The shi+rt was tight around my chest and my ass barely fit in the jeans I borrowed the necklace from Akane, she said it was needed

I had to plan for an outfit that wouldn't be a problem if I transformed A sailor suit uniform would be very odd to wear on a date There was no way to tell when or where I would need to transform, or ould happen to my clothes when I did If I become naked, it would be very hard to slip away in japan Akane was carrying a spare clothes just in case Oh, what a thrilling idea for a first date

”Shall we go?” Sakura-san said

I never asked 'where are we going?' I wonder if she would have told me

She already had tickets I glanced back nonchalantly and saw Akane with a stuffed toy in each ar with an autoain the upper hand

We passed through the ticket gate and went to the platform

Akane was still struggling to get through the auto the two stuffed ani how I could hold up the train fro, but when I looked at the smile on Sakura-san's face all I could think of was my future happiness I'd be even happier if I wasn't a girl though

”I'm so happy”

I looked at her, what a coincidence

”being together, you know?” Her cheeks were red with embarrassment

”I've been looking forward to having fun today I'm thrilled to be on a date with Natsuru-san”

I couldn't help but look around to see if people would react to two girls 'dating' The train pulled in, and it was very crowded After waiting for the train to empty we boarded The train was half eood seats

”Where?” I started to ask

”if you don't ht we'd see a movie”

Movie, that sounded good

”I've been looking forward to it, but it's just a screening Unless you're not interested”

I agreed Recently I'd only seen a few movies, Hollywood or Studio Ghibli, and those were video rentals It's not that I dislike theaters, but I rarely think of going After a short tiot off a few blocks fro redeveloped and a new cineplex had just been built

Sakura-san tugged my arm, ”this is it”

There was a big sign 'A Poet's Love' A romance film, perfectly suited for a date Sakura-san purchased the tickets It felt odd to have her pay and she must have seen it on my face

She said, ”since I invited you”

She handed the tickets to the woman behind the velvet ropes and alked in We went past the entrance for 'A Poet's Love'

Huh?

The door alked towards had a large sign 'Entrails Animals - The bloody Prison Gates'

”Entrails Ani forward to it and knew I had to bring Natsuru-san It's early, but let's go in”

She led me by the hand into the theater The room was almost empty The film was so poorly pro people in We sat in the middle of the front row Akane came in and sat towards the back Even with her there it made five customers, no more than could be counted on one hand

Sakura-san showed me a pamphlet she had purchased TheCPR for the unpopular Entrails Animals series' At least one vendor appeared to have been deceived to think the series was co back

By the tih people to need a full two hands to count The story was aupon the Edo period and reht, sort of But about halfway through the ed into an alien-armored-tank-monster possessed by an evil soul if I could understand what I was seeing Sakura-san, however, was engrossed, staring at the screen

”It's interesting”

I couldn't quite agree though, did I ?

On screen the 'Entrails Ani theabout the castles of the Edo period while trailing its intestines

”Well a little”

”it is Very few people understand the fun of Entrails Ani it”

Enjoyht come when the movie is done By the end of the movie it had becoa to place the entrails back into their respective abdoht?

Sakura-san's profile is still beautiful even in a dimly lit room However her empathy is clearly sided with the Entrails Anieon's scalpel appears on screen

Someone entered the theater, likely soeon was made to suck on LSD and the characters all turned to psychedelic colors worked through with distorted CGI Maybe this orth the ticket

I glanced at nal that I would transform soon Too soon and acid wouldn't be needed to surprise Sakura-san Finding herself seated next to a hts turned on, she'd scream for the police

I looked back to where Akane was seated I beckoned to her excitedly, but she didn't notice She was staring at the screen Oh my God, she's also a fan of Entrails Ani faster, this was no joke Just as I prepared to run the blinking stopped I hurriedly checkeda man

I was relieved, out of the woods, but why? Harakiri-tora told h to control it myself

I leaned back in my chair and relax The movie came to its climatic point and children yelled 'Our Heroes, the Entrails Animals!' There had been no children in the movie, even for a second, until then

What's up with that?

After the movie Sakura-san and I went outside She said, ”It was really interesting It held me in suspense!”

You could say that The 'cattle ed internal organs while screa enough I had started to sweat Soon I eating trying to unravel the mystery of why I hadn't transformed If I didn't have the skill to stop it I couldn't let uard down

”Are you hungry?” Sakura-san pressed her stoo”

The Italian restaurant had a green sign over the door I had never heard of it, so it probably wasn't a restaurant chain Even though it was lunchtime there were few customers and ere able to be seated immediately The waiter asked our order and Sakura-san chose the shi+take and cod roe spaghetti I picked a pasta soup

Akane came in and also ordered She still had the stuffed toys The waiter gave her a strange look, but didn't say anything

”It was fun,” Sakura-san said ”Being on a date with Natsuru-san is like a dream come true I have never” she looked down and her cheeks flushed brightly Apparently she didn't have any dating experience either It seems we both do now if you can call this a date The ordered food came and we ate in silence for a while

I finished first

”I think that” she stopped to take another bite, ”Natsuru-san is interested in men?”

I denied it by slowly shaking ay

”Really? I'lad” Sakura-san clearly showed relief, ”from the first tiet Last night I dreamt that”

Without looking up she clearly said, ”Would you continue dating me?”

My face was stuck looking like the Toei Aniotten a love confession from Sakura-san Is there anyone more fortunate in the world? However, why did I have to receive it while I was female?

I Looked at Sakura-san, she was motionless in anticipation It was as is a barrier was surrounding the table blocking all sound from the other tables What should I do?

To start with, it was ht it would be like it is in gairl says 'I like Natsuru-san,' and I reply 'I like you too' I thought a real life confession would only be slightly different

In truth when I was confessed to my face turned pure white, I couldn't think clearly, and ht ahead

I was in the form of a woman when she said it I was interested in a heterosexual relationshi+p with her Do they call this a 'lily' or 'lesbian' relationshi+p? Either will do More iht red She aiting for a reply The ball was in my court

”That,” I reduced my voice as much as I could, ”me why?

Sakura-san's face was still lowered as she answered, ”Natsuru-san is strong, silent, cool and her voice is low and husky I've yearned for such a person so long that it hurts”

'Silent' is just so e back to a man my voice will stay the same

”Sorry, ae, but I like all of Natsuru-san's virtues”

Nohat? She invited ive a straight answer But right then I wasn't a man The answer is either 'yes' or 'no' like the check boxes on old questionnaire postcards, except this is a verbal answer There is only room for yes or no

I want to return the confession while I'm a man, then the ansould be a definite 'yes' I had no idea when I would return to inal form, but my essence is still a man I took a slow, deep breath Two choices, what do I choose? Actually there's a third way, ”excuse me a minute” I stood up and walked to the bathroom I needed time to think and clear my head

In the corner oftowards the bathroonored it and aled direction towards the red sign[2]

Inside the women's restroom was a beautiful washstand The room seemed unusually clean and pure when compared to the typical men's bathroom It was an alien territory to me Since I've never seen the men's room here it may also be clean, but it just felt like a different world

The door slowly opened and Akane came in with a stuffed animal in each arm

”Akane-chan” I started without any prelude, ”she confessed, what a to do?”

It was the stuffed animal in her left hand that answered, ”Ahahahaha, so clueless Hey Natsuru, I'll tell you what you can do”

Seppuku-kuro-usagi is so much fun, I think everyone needs one

”Like what, ?”

”Those are great soothing words! Did they help?”

It's no use, I had to ignore the rabbit and ask Akane

”Don't you think it's better in this situation to give her a proper answer?”

”As for that probably I think so?” Akane's answer ca confidence

”A 'yes' is htful?”

” a 'no' , makes someone very sad”

That was such a girly response, but a man would feel the same It's hard to have love denied However, I want the response that solves all the issues Most importantly I don't want to hurt Sakura-san, but for that I would have to date her in the form of a woman She may never become chummy with me as a man Each of us are insects, and one is about to be squished

”There's no such thing as a perfect solution, hahaha!” said Harakiri-tora ”To gain you h price to pay?”

Easy choice for you To be preached at by a stuffed toy; the saood question”

”What?”

”I'll change back to a man and tell her Natsuru the woreat solution But I grabbed Harakiri-tora's head and said, ”it's because of you I may hurt Sakura-san, this unnatural situation you put me in”

”Don't you have another choice?”

I was too angry at the stuffed toy, such an opinionated fellow

”It's okay” I rinsed o back to the seat”

”You're not giving her an answer?” Akane asked

”No, I'll just delay some more as best I can”

It had to be postponed, I was too indecisive, no wonder I'irls I came out of the bathroom and there were even fewer custoer at our table instead

”Welcoh”

Student council president, shi+zuku, was cal

I was confused, I was only gone for atable No, where Sakura-san had been sitting o there was shi+zuku

”Please take a seat Let's talk”

The pasta dishes were gone and only glasses of water remained I sat down

”Looks like you were finished, was the food good?”

shi+zuku's hair was black but was glowing brightly somehow A stuffed animal was on the table in front of her Was it an Entrails Animal?

”I have business with you Mr Senou Natsuru”

I was shocked again, how could she knohile I' and flickering, she obviously could perceive my true character clearly

”Don't be surprised I've knoho you were and what you've been doing from the start I've had my eye on you”

I felt a chill down my spine, how much did she really know? She slowly rolled her sleeve up her right ar red

”I am also Kämpfer, your enemy”

My body moved on its own I kicked my chair over and flipped onto my belly on the floor The Kämpfer within me reacted automatically

”Don't be hasty,” shi+zuku said I stopped ht, unless necessary It would have been easier in the cinema”

”You followed?”

”You should thank inal form if I weren't there”

I must have been careless She was there and I didn't notice at all Childhood friends used to call me 'oblivious' She motioned me to sit and I did

”Join us,” she said to Akane who came up behind me

I was re in the film lab clubroom earlier, just a bit bloodier

”I got Kaede to leave since I don't think she would understand our conversation”

”Says the student council president”

”I'm fine with 'shi+zuku' ”

Page 199

I didn't hesitate to change the tone of the conversation, ”shi+zuku-san, are you against us?”

”As I said, I'm an enemy Kämpfer As you can tell by my red bracelet”