Disclaimer: I don not own Infinite Stratos nor any of its characters.

This is in Ichika's POV. There's not much action in this chapter, more of moments between CharlottexIchika. I hope the story works out fine. Please bear my horrible comedic sense. Im not a good comedic. T.T

So, once again, please enjoy the second chapter, read and review! Do also provide me with constructive criticism! =] On we go...

I could hear my jagged breathing, partly due to the training between Houki and me which ended faster than I thought it would. My arms were still sore as ever. I let out a sigh of relief. Thank god that was over. For now, it'd be best for me to change, get a quick breakfast (P.S. I was fighting Houki with an empty stomach) and then return back to my room. I cringed as the muscle cramps started to kick in. Luckily, no one occupied the boy's changing room except for me. Well, at least, after Char revealed her identity. A hint of loneliness sprouted itself in me but I swatted it away quickly before it could grow. Speaking of which, I hadn't seen the girl since morning. I stood up from the bench I was lying on. Maybe I should return to my room first, see if she was there... then we could get breakfast together. I changed as fast as I could, struggling to get out of the elastic suit which clung onto my skin, doused in sweat. Urgh... if only I got that suit that Char was wearing the time she was still Charles.

I took slow, painful... yes, painful... steps towards my room door. I remembered the time when Char revealed herself to be a girl. It was havoc! Rin almost killed me, and Laura... Laura Bodewig kissed me. Thank god, Chifuyu-nee talked some good sense in her, but considering the fact, she was a stubborn girl, I was uncertain if it even entered that brain of hers. Again, I sighed. Geez, I was beginning to sound like an old man. I knocked on the wooden door once... twice, to make sure I wouldn't run into an embarassing and possibly life-threatening situation like the time Char was changing. I could feel my cheeks burn.

"Char... Char? I'm coming in..." I spoke aloud, opening the doorknob carefully.

Half-expecting an empty room, I smiled faintly to find my roommate seated on desk, writing on god-knows-what. I approached her slowly, seeing her face full of concentration made me laugh. This definitely caught her attention, her head turned to face me, a hint of pink on her pale cheeks.

"What?" she asked, pouting as she looked at me.

I stopped laughing at the girl, smiling at the cute pout she was giving me. Her features seemed to enhance her face, especially during this morning. I couldn't help staring at her for a few seconds. Before I knew it, I was leaning so close towards her face. I could see her entire face go red.

"Ahh, eh! Sorry, sorry... I don't know what I'm doing," I looked away, face beet-red, then attempted to change the topic, "So... what're you doing Char?"

She quickly turned to face the papers on the desk she had previously been writing on. Seconds later, she turned to face me, the violet pools in her eyes distressed and panicked.

"Ichikaaaaaaaa... I forgot to do the assignment Orimura-sensei gave us," she whined, her voice shrill and her face flustered.

And guess what I did? A, I gave her my assignment to copy? B, I reassured her everything was okay? Or, C, I helped her with the assignment?

The answer is... none of the above. I stared at the blonde confused.

"W-W-W-W-We had an a-a-a-assignment to do?"

Complete silence engulfed the room, with the both of us staring at each others' faces dumbstruck. Then, the silence disappeared as Char broke into endless laughter, tears forming in her eyes and her hands slamming the desk repeatedly.

I couldn't help it. I broke into laughter as well, our voices reverberating around the entire dormitory. I practically rolled on the floor laughing, grasping my stomach in an attempt to stop. We stopped soon after, realising that lesson was in... an hour?

"We're gonna die... And at such a young age..." I said, my face losing its colour.

Charlotte looked at me with gentle eyes, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand. She took the chair beside her and beckoned me to sit next to her.

"I don't intend to die this young! Like Ichika said, I'd be okay for at least 3 years here, remember? Don't suddenly tell me I'm gonna die... and its not even my 2nd year yet!" she exclaimed, breaking out in a beautiful smile.

"Lets do this, we have 55 minutes, I think," she continued, handing me a piece of paper and a black ballpoint pen as I sat next to her, a look full of uncertainty.

Of all assignments I forget... I forget an essay. AN ESSAY! Once again, I stared at her fully-concentrating face. She looked adorable. My cheeks felt hot... not again! I shook my head vigorously, I have an essay to do... an essay! Char seemed to realise me staring at her, she glanced at me then laughed. I swear I could see a tiny speck of pink on her cheeks! OKAY, ORIMURA ICHIKA... CONCENTRATE!

I scribbled onto the piece of paper, thinking as I wrote. Once in a while, I would stare at the wall clock above the desk but other than that, I wrote and wrote and wrote.

Time flew past really fast. I heard an announcement through the speakers of the room, but it was pretty muffled... and I was too busy finishing my forgotten essay to even bother. The clock struck 1, and the academy bell rang. I finished just on time. I looked at my piece of essay. My handwriting was... the most beautiful handwriting on this planet. Okay... maybe the thing looked like crap but HEY! At least, I finished!

I glanced at Char's essay. As expected of the neat and tidy girl, her handwriting was beautiful and the essay didn't look a bit like it was done at the last minute. The blonde looked at me then at my essay... then another series of laughter started.

Books? Check. Forgotten assignment? Check. We're off to go. Side by side, we walked towards the classroom, talking to one another as we went on our way.

"So, Char? Where were you this morning? I didn't see you anywhere," I voiced out, looking at the violet-eyed girl curiously.

"Oh...I-I-I went to take...take... uhh... breakfast! Yeah, breakfast!" she piped up, smiling warmly towards me.

I smiled back, nodded then realised... Breakfast... Then my stomach made the most horrible sound ever, as if a monster was gonna explode out of the thing.

I could see Charlotte staring at me, then frowned, "You haven't..."

I nodded. I'm gonna die of hunger! Within seconds, I saw a cheese bun in front of my face. You nust be kidding me... Now I'm daydreaming of food!

I saw the slim pale hand holding it. Oh... Charlotte.

"Eat up... I saved this for later, but its best you eat. We're reaching soon, so quick," she said, then with a smile, beckoned me to open my mouth, "Say, 'Ahhh...'"

My face heated up again but I accepted her offer wholeheartedly. After all, this wasn't the first time we fed each other. I opened my mouth, took a huge bite. Instantly, a smile broke out of my face.

"It's like I haven't eaten for YEARS! This is the best bun ever!" I exclaimed, overexaggerating... obviously.

The blonde beside me laughed. I smiled watching her. I could live just listening to her laughs, I thought to myself.

We entered the classroom to find Chifuyu-nee massaging her temples, seated on the chair behind the teacher's desk. No one was in the classroom.

"Chifuyu...wait, no, Sensei... what's wrong? Isn't class in session?" I spoke up, walking towards her.

"You didn't hear the announcement? All students are to stay in their rooms. There seems to be an IS attacking the academy. Its being stopped by the teachers as we speak. Return..." she spoke, her voice hoarse and tired but then paused, "Charlotte... Charlotte Dunois?"

Char nodded beside me.

"I need to speak to you."

"What about?"

I looked from Char to Chifuyu-nee... Char to Chifuyu-nee... Char to...

Wait a sec...

SO ALL THIS WHILE WE WERE DOING THE DAMNED ESSAY FOR NOTHING? I felt like screaming. But just when I opened my mouth, Chifuyu-nee spoke,

"The IS attacking us... is one from Dunois corporation... from your father's company. A Revive model..."

I saw it. The look of complete disbelief on Char's face. Her pale face, growing even paler. She took a step back, then stumbled. I pulled her into my arms just in time to stop her from falling. She grasped onto my shoulders, supporting herself. Tears were streaming from the violet pools in her eyes. She looked at me in utter fear. I've seen that look before. The look when she had those nightmares. I would do anything to wipe off that look from her face.

"Ichika,"she called out my name, her breathing unsteady, "My father's coming... to get me,"

My eyes widened in complete shock.

Yay, 2nd chapter up! Next chapter... its about time I fit everyone into the story. As of now, only... Charlotte, Ichika, Houki and Chifuyu has been introduced. So next chapter, maybe, Laura, Rin and Cecilia may pop in?

Do review and give your comments! =D