Kampfer 05

Summary:

Preparations for the Cultural Festival are in full swing with Natsuru and Akane providing fanservice in a Class Committee Trio organised cosplay photoshoot. Which Sakura turns up too late to see and runs off after being told by Akane that Natsuru is not interested in dating girls. On his way home, Natsuru ends up cheering on a depressed Sakura in her quest for his female self's love. She thanks him but reaffirms their rivalry. Shizuku who had been watching from up high comments that she shouldn't have worried about Sakura.

The day of the Cultural Festival beauty pageant finally arrives and Natsuru is stunned by Sakura's wedding dress outfit but Akane drags the latter away so the former can change. Shizuku pops up ninja-style again and Natsuru leaves at once, having no interest in seeing her change. Natsuru takes to the stage in male garb but his plan to use his Zauber attack as a magic trick is foiled by a sudden uncommon burst of HSE but Sakura improvises a skit about the Entrails Animals which provides cover for the fight that subsequently breaks out when Natsuru defends Sakura against Cowgirl Kampfer Akane. Shizuku, dressed as Zero, turns up to pwn everyone and later takes (male) Natsuru's first kiss. Natsuru's postcard-sending childhood friend has finally returned, receives an Entrails Animal and hears its voice.

Reaction:

The manic atmosphere of the Cultural Festival is certainly consistent with the Natsuru Yuri Mania earlier on but the funniest part, for me, was how even the aunties outside of the school found it completely normal. And with all that going on, I was slightly surprised that most of the girls didn't immediately know what the Entrails Animals were and didn't find them all horrendously kawaii. I had assumed that the animal plushies were some kind of in-universe popular culture item with a status like Gekiganger in the Nadesico universe but it looks more like a sub-culture item more like Kujibiki Unbalance in Genshiken. Or does Sakura simply give birth to them offscreen while she is in Alien Queen mode?

I get this feeling that Shizuku is the author/producer's favourite character (and divine's). She gets most of the best lines and the cool moves in contrast to the rest of the cast who seem to casting around in the dark albeit having a riot while doing so. However I would like to know much more about her backstory and intentions before I can find it easier to like her as a character - though there's no difficulty in finding her interesting. On the other hand, Sakura's Entrails Animal mania has boosted her way up in my rankings, displacing Kampfer Akane from second place and threatening Kampfer Natsuru's throne.

What Others Are Saying:

• WRT Shizuku's intentions, as Netto observes, it is now plain as day that Shizuku wants to BE FRIENDLY with Natsuru.
• Though Shizuku has gotten first dibs, I am 110% behind Crusader: observation: "No doubt Shizuku-sama is a GREAT kisser, but nevertheless THAT ONLY COUNTS AS ONE. Also she who takes Natsuru Girl-types first kissu will be declared the Winner and a Woman of Destiny."

P.S. All this talk about entrails and guts is making me very very hungry.

Related posts:

1. Kampfer 07
2. Kampfer 08
3. Kampfer 10