Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2
I dove into classroom 2-4, but I was still late First class had already started and everyone but me had taken their seats The infalared at me, pointed to the blackboard and said ”use yomikudashi+bun” That's transcription of Chinese classics into japanese, and I sonment after five attempts
I had returned to the appearance of a lowed and ed into a blazer and pants Harakiri-tora didn't lie when he said I'd change back autoe made me feel sick
I had no idea how Sakura-san was doing, probably answering for her tardiness in a similar way, but her class subject would be mathematics
Our school was segregated boys and girls didn't share classes, or even the sah School and it was open to boys and girls but wasn't co-ed Originally it was a girls' school founded before the war The term 'iron' was not in reference towoed 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 assumed it was to maintain the level of student fees collected
Although coraduates were influential in affecting ement Iron Star Academy did not deviate from that practice
The OG's (Original Graduates)[1] co, who knohat effect they will have on female students' Their recommendation was to 'separate the school by sexes at least' After debate the Board of Directors passed it by a narrow rounds were divided in tith a fence to separate the girls and boys sections Passage from one side to the other was closely monitored and rarely allowed It seemed like 'one hand doesn't knohat the other is doing' since information between the sides was severely limited To further please the OG's and avoid waste they printed the entrance exaazine
That's the dark history of Iron Star Acadeend 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 I'm enrolled in the boys' academy at Iron Star Now it seems the future isn't as certain
The previous class ended at 1:00 and it was tiiri I bought on the way in With the re time I planned to take a quiet nap Whenever I'm bored a nap is appreciated, and if it helped me pay attention in afternoon classes it was even eous
I went to the waste basket to discard the wrapper but a classely stylish yet iashi+da 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 na on the opposite side of a wall Sounds impressive, but who could confirm his answers?
”Senou, you're being called”
”If it's the teacher, tell him I'm dead”
”No dude,” Higashi+da's 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 class representatives Ordinary student needed a permit The procedure to obtain a perly convoluted That's not to say there weren't ways for the deteruarded 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 ca for you, there would be death squads formed to hunt you down”
Sakura-san is one of the two irls at Iron Star Academy Her reputation was stellar, but she had never visited the boys' side That made her a 'hell of a mystery' to the boys In addition to Sakura-san the other leading beauty was Student Council President shi+zuku Sangou
”Well, thisI met Sakura-san”
”Ah, it's true that Sakura-san was late for her first class just like you Just a miracle of a coincidence”
”Just telling you”
”If you had ashi+da oddly puffed his chest out with pride
”The girl who asked for me?”
”Oh yeah, in the hallway”
Thanks to Higashi+da I left the class rooirl, standing there she see an out of trend hair-band I wasn't sure but it appeared she wore glasses; I couldn't be sure because she was looking down The girl and I stood in silence for a while Although I was called on, she wouldn't talk first
”Well, you asked for me?”
” yes”
The conversation ain
”How did you et here I wonder”
”Yes”
”So, what's your name?”
”Oh oh I'm a member of the library committee”
”Huh?”
She ignored
”Since I'm in the library committee I'm allowed in the boys' side The library deals with both sides of the school”
She noticed that she hadn't answered ize
”Oh Please, I's I rarely talk to boys”
This was a pure-hearted and innocent girl Nervous in front of boys
”I'y so sorry”
She bowed many times
”Don't go that far,” I waved my hand
I'irls, but this was extreme
”Please don't worry about it, just let me know your name”
”It is”
”Yes?”
”Mishi+ma Akane”
”Huh?”
Myopen so far ht 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 unisex 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 wouldn't be as nervous there We sat face-to-face across a wide library table
Akane was as squir used to the location, but she began to speak The conversation turned to the main topic
”I' ht arm ”This is a Bracelet of Oath”
”Yeah, I've heard”
Page 59
”It's proof of being Kämpfer”
”I also have one but” my mouth dropped and irl fro?”
”Yes” Akane's face turned purplish-red, ”that was me”
”You said I had an 'aly fat ass' ”
”Yes”
”You'd 'kill me' ”
”Yes”
”Called me a 'bitch' ”
”Yes”
”You always becoirl when you're a Kämpfer?”
”Yes”
”with that personality?”
”Please do not tease me anymore!”
Behind her glasses, she was on the verge of tears ugh, she started crying
”Please forgive me Senou-san When I becos without thinking I'm truly sorry!”
Thanks to Akane koing and choking up crying, ere the center of attention fro students I was honestly embarrassed
”I'ood Don't worry about it, I was just surprised,” I reassured her while s
”I becoe, but I didn't know a Käe personality”
”It's true” Akane said as she raised her head slightly, still crying ”Even I can't believe it It's scary to think about I'm always surprised at what she does”
I took a harder look at her If I looked past the tiile voice, I could just irl I dealt with that
”Why did you fight me?”
”On my way to school I suddenly transformed I looked around all I saas Senou-kun and that other girl”
I also transfor Akane
”The opponent of a Käe 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 you're my partner”
She held out her arm and her bracelet was the same pale-blue as mine
”I shouldn't 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 I'er Her's is also an Entrails Anirotesque series, but I decided to pass There was a big difference in the aed Harakiri-tora was considerably ht-lipped
”How do you transform?”
”If I want to I can transform myself If there is another Kä I must have sensed Senou-san”
”How do you get back to normal?”
”When you haven't been fighting,” she was shy, but smiled
Her s behind her timidness
I re, ”how much time does it take to return to normal?”
”Until you learn to change yourself it varies At first it's very random It may be five minutes, but one time it took me two days”
Aw crap, that sounds like trouble I wouldn't be able to go to school, since my tuition only paid for the boys' section
”Coet weapons?”
”I fight with a 'gun,' Senou-san fights with 'ic' ”
”I don't follow,” this was all new to me
”Iteht empty-handed When I transforic no item is needed”
”Oh” it didn'tthe first time I needed it
”Seppuku-kuro-usagi told un,' 'ic' and 'sword' ”
”Those only” I'd never seen the sword The only Kämpfer I kneere Akane and myself anyway
”They're called 'Gewehr' , 'Zauber' and 'Schwert' They are hard to pronounce since they're German”
”Is that so?”
”Yes Also 'kämpfer' is German, except the female noun would be 'kämpferin,' but all I hear used is 'käh”
Sorry, but I have no knowledge of foreign languages
”Why do we fight?”
”I don't know either,” Akane is apologetic ”I've asked Seppuku-kuro-usagi, but she wouldn't tell me, no matter how many times I asked”
So, she doesn't know either, same as me nobody seems to know, the reason still isn't clear How many Kämpfer were there? Where were they? There weren't any answers for me All I could tell as put in front ofcomes up it comes up
Akane looked anxious, ”did I say too much?”
”Huh?”
”I's without thinking” her face looked tearful again
I panicked, ”oh, I'hts Please forgive me”
”That's good” her face looked relieved Very different frounpoint on the way to school
”It's just that that” she was fidgeting nervously Probably not because she had to use a bathrooh
”Se Senou-san, can you tell me”
”Yes?”
”Ah, ah it's the first ti with a boy well I want to hear Senou-san's story I'ht crih for her hear to rest on the table
”It's iht? The first ti I should besoto boys It's useless, but I want to talk ive me, I'm so sorry!”
She had talked without even a break to take a breath, there was no way for an to cry loudly and buried her face in the desk I'd 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 'so' to comfort her
”It's not bad for you to ask Mishi+ma-san please raise your head”
I'd rather say 'I' like that can lead to the opposite effect, like a souvenir from Hokkaido of a carved bear with a salmon in it's mouth[2]
”I'll talk I'll talk I'll tell you all aboutfor her reply
I told her about my class: (second year classroom 4), enre: (variety show), grades: (average), future dreams: (none)
While I was telling her this I was thinking that I seeh school student' featured in a newspaper I started explaining the less usual part aboutto Akane, she was eager to hear , I was saved
I also told her aboutup in a woravated me and spoke in the voice of shi+zuka-chan[4]
She chuckled when I said 'shi+zuka-chan,' ”that's funny”
”That I like anime?”
”Not just that I like anime too”
And she's part of the library committee? I started to loosen up I tried to think, but I'd never talked so openly to a girl before It's not as if I had a girlfriend
”Well, Mishi+ma-san, it's your turn”
”Eh, eh” Her face turned red again, no , but a bit different then before ”Oh, I I'irl”
”I doubt that Start with your class”
”The fourth classroom in the second year My favorite subjects are and I I I” her voice got quieter and quieter
That didn't see easier to answer
”When did you become Kämpfer?”
”Six o, I woke up and opened un that I strangely wanted to shoot I had a feeling someone would knock at the door and would try to shoot me”
This is japan, except for policeun It'sby
”Then Seppuku-kuro-usagi started to speak 'You are Kämpfer' ” Akane looked embarrassed for some reason
”Suddenly i's belly with bullets”
”I can understand that” I chimed in, but there was a short pause after
”I listened to her, and knew soh that was after I threw Seppuku-kuro-usagi out theabout six times”
That re Harakiri-tora in the trashcan repeatedly, a
”In the last six ht other Kämpfer?”
”I” she looked down slightly again, ”I fought with a sielding Käht 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 , so I didn't need to ask for details
”I always try to find a way to control ood”
”Maybe that's just the way it works,” at es personality, I change gender Maybe it's like a fighting ritual for Kämpfer”
”like a fighting ritual Huh”
Although it seeirl
”Well, that's what I' It's what's 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 ani 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”
”It's just that I have sihts”
”Like what, Mishi+ma-san?”
”That” she hesitated ” 'Akane[5]' is fine, that's what all h I've 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, ”I'll be heading back”
”I I'm usually in the library If you ever want to talk”
”Sounds great, thanks”
I re[6]
”Can I ask you for a favor?”
”What's 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 so and I'd appreciate your help”
Her expression suddenly looked very odd and she slumped her shoulders What kind of reaction was that!?
”I don't have any girls' clothes, if I can't change back I need help knohat to buy”
”I see If you're satisfied with my help”
”Please”