Transliteration of languages is a gift that keeps on giving.The character ン is glossed as "n" in most kana tables. Like several Japanese consonants, though, it changes to be easier to pronounce in certain positions/words. Such as the way "Hashi" becomes "Nihon-Bashi" in the name of bridge.
The actual Japanese pronunciation of "Senpai" is "Se m' pa i." Just like the famous station in Tokyo is written on the station sign as "Shimbashi," and the Portuguese loan-word is intended to be pronounced "Tempura."
But the actual character used (since the む/ム was retired), is always ン or ん.
And that means that out of the half-dozen or more transliteration systems for Japanese, there isn't agreement about whether to follow the kana or follow the pronunciation. It is the same problem as "Arigatou/ Arigatō."
And due to historical peculiarities, there are a lot of English-speaking fans of Japanese media with all the fire that a little knowledge brings, ready to shout angrily at you if you used senpai. Or if you used sempai. And every single one of the little kouhai are willing to lecture you in a pitying way if you don't follow the version they learned.
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