Swaying Natsuru and altering 'the plot'

-POV: Sakura-

The school day was beginning and oh, was it interesting. Natsuru turned back into a male and Akane Mishima visited him in class once lunch started. Of course, I was nearby, undetected by the two. Good that Natsuru is getting information about being a Kampfer but.. what is this conversation?

"T-Then I was holding a big and black and shiny gewehr..." Akane was.. describing her gun with a strange face.

"Big and black?" Natsuru asked, rightly confused.

"P-Please don't misunderstand me! A Gewehr! A gun! I was holding a gun! What on Earth are you thinking about!?" Akane explained in a panic.

~What..? Who wouldn't think of something dirty when you describe it that way, you degenerate~ I barely suppressed the urge to sigh at her.

It seems like Akane already sort of has a crush on Natsuru for saving her. That was surprisingly easy though. I guess she has no friends, never dated and doesn't socialize much. So, like a female incel but less creepy? That's a shame, she's cute and weird. As I thought about Akane, I heard books collapsing and looked back over to see Natsuru on top of Akane with books strewn across the floor.

~Well that's weird.. Natsuru has zero game. No way he pushed her down..~ And my thoughts were right.

"Senou-san, your stiff thing is.." Akane sounded oddly excited as she held her eyes closed.

"Here, I'll help you up" Natsuru offered his hand, but she still had her eyes closed.

"It's standing up!?" Akane asked, her pitch going higher.

~This girl truly needs to get laid or something..~ I couldn't resist shaking my head and mentally added her to Natsuru's possible harem.

It shouldn't be too hard to get her on Natsuru's side after I convert him. I continued to watch the idiocy before me until Shizuku showed up, looking quite annoyed at the ruckus Akane was making.

"Please be quiet!" Shizuku demanded with her usual stern expression.

"Think about time and place before you attempt to do sexual things. You're not estrous beasts" Shizuku finished saying with a smirk.

~A rather soft approach coming from you. Interesting.. She knows they're K-Oh of course she does, Natsuru's bracelet is exposed~ I giggled to myself at that as Akane tried to blame it all on Natsuru.

The end of lunch came and I decided to call it there. But Shizuku activated her Kampfer form and triggered Natsuru's transformation. How mischievous.. It warranted some more attention so I decided to make my appearance here and now and kick off my 'crush' with female Natsuru earlier than I had seen the other Sakura do it.

Walking out of the second row of library books, I see female Natsuru in all her glory. I had to suppress my lust when I saw her blue striped panties around her butt. Putting on my 'mask', I quickly ran over to them with a smile.

"Oh! Hello.. I've been looking for you, Miss.." I tilt my head and see Natsuru blush.

"N..Natsuru" Natsuru dumbly answered as she stared at me.

Akane pouted but took a look at me and I saw a tinge of pink on her cheeks. That blessing really is quite strong. I smiled politely at her and turned back to Natsuru, who was clutching her skirt.

~Besides that.. Really? Your male name? Okay then..~ I bow politely to show my thanks.

"Thank you for saving me earlier.. And Natsuru..? I have a friend named Natsuru!" As I said that, I saw her come to a realization and flinch at her own stupidity.

"E-Eh? Yeah.. I know him. We're.. cousins! Hahaha.." Natsuru explained and I nodded.

That was a feasible excuse. I can tell Akane wanted to pull her away to talk but I quickly grabbed her hand and pulled it into my chest, her knuckles grazing against my breast as my breath tickled her hand.

"Really!? You just moved here right? The truth is.. I.. I was taken back by your beauty and courage when you saved me earlier and I think.. I developed a crush on you. I know it's silly but can you please consider it? Ah.. I know I'm coming on too strong but.. maybe we can start out as friends?" I looked up at Natsuru and blushed as I requested.

Seeing this, Akane was getting really impatient and a little upset. Though not as much as she otherwise would have been, if not for my own blessing. Natsuru, on the other hand was red in the face and sweating. It hit quite hard and she really struggled to answer. It was adorable, frankly. Pushing too hard will cause her to run away so I backed up and smiled at the two while scratching my cheek.

"Oh, I'm sorry.. I interrupted, didn't I? I just got a bit ahead of myself there. Akane Mishima, right? You're really quite beautiful too. I'm sorry I rambled on.. Please, don't mind me. I have to go to class. Hopefully I can see you two soon?" I finish with a friendly request, seeing Akane smiling at my compliment while Natsuru swallowed and reached out to me.

"I.. Um.. yes, I'd love to s-start off as friends. Hehe.. see you later, Sakura.." Natsuru waved me off as she was pulled away by a conflicted Akane.

~Good. Their impressions of me went up a bit. Don't want or need to be too pushy with her either~ Deciding to end it there, I return to class.

-The next day-

Again, I was watching Natsuru and Akane. Again, I was facepalming at Natsuru. The shit that comes out of his mouth is baffling.

"I want her to like me as a male.. But how do you think I should do that?" Natsuru asked Akane.

~I think I should very plainly announce how lesbian I am to him. Poor Akane too..~ I rubbed my temples and watched as Akane transformed.

Shortly after, Shizuku attacked with her chained blades. It was more a probing attack, since she didn't actually get close enough to the two to really do any damage. The bell rung and I feel Shizuku leave the library quickly. It's getting close to the moment where Natsuru spouts that 'no kill' bullshit. That's not something I can let cement itself in his head.

-After school-

Making my way to the exit and pulling out my phone, I start to make a few calls. It took a bit of digging, connections and planning but I finally have everything set to turn this around. A simple text message and I altered the fate of the dear dumb protagonist. Smiling to myself, I head outside and meet with Natsuru, who was waiting at the gate.

"Sakura! H-Hey, I was waiting.." Natsuru smiled at me, one I returned back to him.

"Hello, Natsuru. Where's your cousin..? I was hoping to talk to her again" I ask with a faux hopeful smile.

"Eh.. She had to stay home. She was a bit sick.." Natsuru explained.

"I see. Give her my best, will you? I'd love to take her on a date soon" As I say that, his eyes light up and he smiles.

"Really? Um.. I can go if she says no.." Natsuru replies hopefully.

~Ah.. about time I clarify then~ I shake my head with a strained smile.

"I don't mind going as friends-" Natsuru smiled hopefully.

"-But um.. I'm only interested in girls, Natsuru. I'm sorry.." I say with an apologetic smile.

"...Huh..? Really?" Natsuru frowned, looking a bit crushed by the news.

"If only you were a girl.. I can see it working" I say, seeing him start to internally consider it as we made our way to the street we usually separate at.

"M..Maybe I can change her mind.." I hear him mutter as I roll my eyes.

"Well it's time for me to head home. See you tomorrow, Natsuru" I smile and wave at him as I start walking away.

"O-Oh sure! Have a good night!" Natsuru waved me off and I giggle to myself.

~Oh I know I will.. My dear, dense protagonist~ I hum on my way back to my house.

-Later that night, Natsuru's house. POV: 3rd-

Natsuru was browsing the internet on his PC before going to bed. Having completed his homework, he wanted to see if anything of note happened in the world news. Usually, he would only spend five minutes on that before masturbating to the thought of Sakura and going to sleep, but he got a message from Sakura's email.

"Sakura messaged me! Weird.. she never messages me this hour. Maybe..." His hormonal mind was hoping for something risqué when he opened her message.

All he got was a link and a message above it.

<Natsuru I looked into the South African war going on and I was worried when I saw the names in the link> Was what he read before swallowing and opening said link.

What he saw brought tears to his eyes. His parents, Haruka Senou and Kazuya Senou were dead. Marked in a list of casualties of the war in South Africa. His mouth was dry as he hyper focused on the names. Quickly pulling out his phone, he tried to call his parents. All while he heard the faint sounds of his email being messaged. Over and over, he tried to call, but it always went to voicemail.

He fell off his chair, ignoring the words coming out of Harakiri Tiger's mouth as he shivered in disbelief. His eyes flooded with tears as he slowly dropped his phone. The world around him felt so grey and lifeless as he came to the grim realization that his parents were well and truly dead.

"No.. No.... Mom.... Dad... please let this be a nightmare.." Natsuru begged while the tears never stopped.

It all came to a close once he felt warmth spread across his back. His numb feeling lightened as he heard a soft voice near his ear. Sakura's voice. He felt like it was a dream but still clung to her warmth and voice.

"I'm so sorry, Natsuru.. I'm here for you. I'm here, Natsuru.." Sakura spoke to him.

Gentle words of comfort in the darkest moment of his life. He clung to her warmth, without care or even asking how and when she got inside. He didn't even notice he had turned into his female self and buried her head into Sakura's shirt. Sakura gently running her hands along her blue hair with a soft smile.

"Cry as much as you need to, Natsuru.. I won't leave you here alone" Sakura said as Natsuru clung to her.

"Please... don't go... I don't care if this isn't real.. Please... Please, Sakura..." Natsuru, muffled in her shirt, begged as she held on tight.

Tight enough to shatter the bones of any normal adult. Sakura simply smiled and stroked her head, embracing her.

"I'll be here as long as you need me, Natsuru. Let it all out. Let all your anger and sadness out. This world isn't fair. It's sick.. But there's still hope. You still have people who care for you" Sakura said as Natsuru's tears soaked her shirt.

Her grip tightened in anger as she heard about the world being sick. Sakura's words echoex within Natsuru's mind as she continued to cry.

A seemingly neverending cycle of anger and sadness permeated within Natsuru's mind as she considered and agreed with those words.

What was a highschool crush on a kind girl had began to change. Dependence, desire and love gradually making an appearance within her subconscious as she laid there, crying into her crush while she was being soothed and comforted.

"I hate pointless wars that kill good people, Natsuru.. I really do. For such stupid reasons as money and political power.. I intend to change that all.. No more people like your parents have to die for it.. Never again" Natsuru heard her determined words and closed her teary eyes before drifting off to sleep.

Having spent hours comforting the upset girl, Sakura smiled as she drifted off to sleep. Her mind was a blank canvas as throughout all the hours of crying, Sakura began to paint Natsuru in her colors. Though it wasn't completely solid yet, Akane and Shizuku had no real influence on her yet. And after this, they never will.

"Just as planned.." Sakura smiled as she saw the sun begin to rise.

-Omake-

As Natsuru opened the link, he was sent to YouTube. Clicking the play button, he heard a song play.

"Never gonna give you uuup! Never gonna let you dooown! Never gonna turn arooound and hurt yooou!!" He heard the song and collapsed to the floor in a fetal position, starting to cry.

"No.... No.... please no... NOT RICK ROLL! NOT IN 2023!!!!" Natsuru screamed in despair.