This one does seem to be focused on three of the characters specifically. But that was just because it fit with what was in my head on how it plays out. Hope you enjoy.
'Ichika, we should probably head back soon, the others are probably looking for you by now'
'Actually Charl, they were looking for you'
'well we still should go back'
'Ok'
After spending by their guess, an hour swimming after the discussion, both Charl and Ichika return to their respective rooms, Ichika contemplating how exactly he would tell the others about his decision. Charlotte however, was still glowing after hearing that she would be safe from her father and prison.
'Oh, Laura, I didn't know you were in here'
Charlotte was so focused on replaying Ichika's words over in her mind she was unaware that her roommate was sitting on the edge of her bed, with a look that in most other cases would make Charlotte fear for her life.
'Of course I'm here, it is our room after all, where have you been all afternoon'
'Sorry… I was thinking about something. Why are you so angry?'
Despite how she may act, Laura cared deeply for those around her, specifically Charlotte who was the first person that she was able to call a friend outside of her squad.
'I…we…were worried.'
'Laura, you are so cute sometimes'
Being dragged into a hug, Laura couldn't help but blush whenever someone called her cute. It didn't help that she was wearing her cat pyjamas that Charlotte got for her when they first became friends.
'So what were you thinking about that left you unable to understand that we would be worried?'
Laura immediately snapped back to her old self, after all, it isn't every day that Charlotte would do something like that.
'I…well um…'
Charlotte explained the whole thing to Laura, who was furious by the end. After all, she was going to be living with her bride for the break.
'How dare him. I have every right to cut him open with this.'
'Laura where do even keep those knives?'
'Irrelevant, still, he will pay for this.'
'Ichika doesn't des-'
'Ichika? He is saving you, he is doing what any man would do. It's your father I want to hurt.'
Charlotte had seen Laura mad before, but never like this. Though as much as she hated the thought, having Laura ready to go up against her father to protect her made her feel even more at ease. After feeling like she was alone only a few hours past, Charlotte couldn't help but feel like she was lucky to have the two of them. Not to mention that it meant only three girls would attack Ichika when the found out.
'Laura… Thank you'
No matter how he tells the others that Charlotte will be staying with him. There is no way they will take it well, they never do. It would be easier to have them all stay, that way none of them will be upset.
'Ichika, I'm coming in!'
'Hm... Oh Houki, what's going on?
'It's morning already, have you decided who is staying with you?
'Wait its morning already?'
After yesterday's events, it didn't surprise Ichika that he didn't sleep, after all, who would have been able to in that situation?
'Well?'
'Hmm? Oh yeah… I ended up going with charlotte'
'What!'
Ichika barely had time to partially deploy his IS before Houki came at him with her weapon drawn. He honestly did expect her to react like that, thankfully he had gotten used to her temper since they shared a room.
'Look it's a long story, I was going to explain to you and the others at breakfast, can you wait until then?'
'Ugh fine… but you better have a good reason.'
This was a lot harder than he thought. The expressions on the face of Houki, Rin and Cecilia would be enough to kill a man in most cases. Laura on the other hand just sat there, leg crossed with her eyes shut. As she normally does. Charlotte looked even more nervous that he was. Then again the looks of the three girls seemed to be aimed more towards her.
'Well… umm…'
No matter what he planned to say in advance. Ichika just couldn't find the words now when it mattered.
'Umm…'
'Charlotte's father called her back to likely take the fall for the corporate espionage that Charles was enrolled into the school for. So Ichika is doing this to save her. '
'Laura!'
'It's the truth, they deserved to know'.
The look on the girls' faces immediately changed to relief.
'So he doesn't prefer her over me?'
'Should have known it was something like that.'
'That explains yesterday at least.'
Charlotte immediately looked towards the ground, ashamed at herself. Even though she needed Ichika to protect her, she still didn't like how she used it to stay with him for the break.
'I could never choose between you five, besides, it's a big enough house, you guys can come visit whenever you want, and just let me know in advance this time if you all stop past.'
'You are the worst Ichika…'
'Charl?'
The rest of the day went about as usual, the group of them talking about their plans for the break, where they wanted to see. What food they wanted to try, it was all rather calm despite the circumstances. Even Tatenashi and Kansashi joined after a while.
'So what are you do two doing for the break?
Tatenashi looked absent minded for a while, as if she hadn't actually planned anything for the break.
'I was going to ask Tatenashi to train me now that I have my own IS, so she contacted some of her friends in Russia to help.'
'Oh that's right, you are the national representative of Russia, I keep forgetting that.'
'What's that supposed to mean Ichika?'
'I keep forgetting?'
This was the first time in a while that they had all been able to just sit and talk like this, peacefully. Time seemed to fly after that and it wasn't long before the sun had set and everyone was due to leave the academy. With the girls heading back to their rooms to pack their things, only Ichika and Kansashi were left in the room.
'Hey Kansashi, you're not heading off as well?'
'I already packed, besides had to give you this'
Kansashi handed Ichika a small rectangular shaped object wrapped in paper. Ichika was well aware what it was, after the discussion they had a while back.
'Oh cool more anime, thanks Kansashi.'
'Oh and this as well'
'Hm… What's this?'
'It's an emergency beacon which attaches to your Byakushiki, just press this button here and myself, Tatenashi and all the others will be alerted. You know just in case.'
'Why would I ne-'
Before Ichika could finish that sentence Kansashi was already walking away from him. This left an uneasy feeling in his chest, then again the beacon that Tatenashi had may have been the only thing that saved her. That reminded him. He still had not asked the girls what happened that day.
Ichika, all packed up and ready to head home, figured it would probably be best to grab charlotte from her room so they could travel together. Seeing as they would be spending a lot of time together there was no point in travelling separately, especially if she got to the house first as he hadn't given her a key yet. After knocking on the door it was a surprise to Ichika that Laura was the one who opened.
'Oh hey Laura, where's Charl?'
'Showering, can't you hear the water?'
He did hear the water, he just tried to avoid thinking about the girls showering, something about it just made him feel guilty.
'Ah yeah that… makes sense. Anyway, didn't expect you to still be here?'
'Charlotte is my friend too, until you take her I will look after her'
'She's lucky to have a friend like you Laura, we all are'
Yet again Laura found herself blushing at the words she just heard. Despite no longer being in the army, she struggled to accept any compliments she is given.
'So what are you up to for the break then? A lot of training I'm assuming?'
Even though it was intended as a joke, it wouldn't surprise Ichika in the slightest if that's what she actually planned to do.
'Actually I was planning on finally exploring Japan, I even found a really nice hotel in the area that has an impressive array of training equipment… so actually yes.'
'Oh wait I know that place I think, it's around the corner from my house, you should stop by whenever you get the chance'
'Really? I had no idea.'
That was a lie, the reason she had chosen this particular place to stay was because of its proximity to the Orimura household. But she did plan on exploring Japan, that part was true.'
'Yeah come over, after all it will just be me and Charl-'
In the middle of saying her name, as if saying it made her appear, Charlotte walked out from the bathroom in just a towel, completely oblivious to Ichika standing in the doorway. Ichika on the other hand was completely oblivious to the fact he stopped mid-sentence to stare at her.
'Judging by your eye level and the expression on your face, it appears that you are staring at her-'
'ICHIKA!'
Charlotte had only just noticed Ichika standing there, staring at what she could only assume to be her chest, at least based on where Laura's sentence was going.
'Hmm… well in a towel I can definitely see why you would stare. After all, they are quite big.'
'LAURA!'
It took Ichika until this point to realise that he hadn't averted his eyes, Laura's comments probably saved him. Without those comments he would usually be knocked out by something.
'Ch-Charl I'm sorry!'
'It's… It's ok, I am starting to get used to this now, it does seem to happen quite often… But, can you let me get dressed first?'
'Ah yeah, sorry'
Charlotte closed the door on Ichika, leaving him out in the hallway for the time being, she could finally let herself show the horror she tried to hide from the incident.
'Laura why would you say something like that!'
'Just pointing out facts, after all he definitely was staring'
'I…still.'
'You won't take my bride from me, remember that Dunois'
'What are you on about?'
Laura's expression was different now, she seemed annoyed at Ichika completely ignoring her as soon as Charlotte walked out, and he wasn't in the room so she could finally say it.
'You will not take him!'
As if something triggered inside her Laura lunged towards Charlotte, or so she thought. Despite Laura lunging straight past her, Charlotte's reflexes kicked in, sidestepping away from her, bumping the desk and knocking the lamp off in the process. Laura was actually going for the window, as she noticed blonde hair poking out from a plant outside.
'That explains the mood change'
Laura and Charlotte, while both rivals for Ichika's affection, would be civil towards each other, Laura being the complete opposite towards the others.
'Most of the academy could have seen you then, you need to survey the area more carefully next time.'
Immediately after that sentence was finished, Ichika bust down the door, tumbling into the room, brushing past Charlotte and ending up next to Laura.
'Is… everything ok? I hea-'
As if the situation earlier wasn't bad enough. When he tumbled into the room he accidently grabbed Charlotte's towel trying to save himself. All three of them are just standing awkwardly in the room. Charlotte frozen out of shock, Laura with her mouth wide open, and Ichika staring at the towel he was holding in his hand.
'Aahhhh!'
Charlotte only just realising what has happened, immediately went a bright shade of red and attempted to cover herself with her hands. All this happening immediately before they were meant to be living together for a while.
'L-L-Laura!'
'Consider it done'
'Wait wh-'
Ichika couldn't even finish two words before Laura rendered him unconscious.
Two hours passed before Ichika regained consciousness, no matter friend or foe, no one can question Laura's effectiveness in close quarters.
'Ugh…. How long was I out?'
'Two hours, hit you harder than I intended.'
'Where's Charl?'
'Over here!'
Charlotte was on the other side of the screen, finalising her packing, in a significantly more cheerful mood than earlier. After all, she was about to go live with the man who saved her from everything she had to, or was afraid to deal with.
'Is that everything?'
'Yeah, I'm ready to go'
'Let's go then, if we leave now I can accompany you two home and still get some training in'
'wait… accompany us?'
Charlotte thought this would finally be the chance she was waiting for. No one else, just her and Ichika. She felt stupid assuming that would be how it played out, something always prevents it.
'I am staying around the corner, I only found this out when Ichika told me he knew the place.'
'Oh… ok'
'Relax, I will only be present when invited.'
Ichika peered his head around the corner after hearing the discussion between the two girls.
'Laura you are always welcome, come over whenever'
Charlotte immediately shot a glare towards Ichika that would rival even his sisters in terms of severity. Whatever it was she didn't like, she really didn't like.
'Um…uh… well we should probably get going, it's starting to get late now after all.'
Hearing those words, Charlotte perked up immediately, the moment she had finally waited for has come. Her and Ichika alone in his house. Just the thought of the possibilities caused her to almost squeal in excitement.
'Ok let's go!'
And so they set off towards their places until the break ends. But as soon as they stepped foot out of the academy. The three of them felt something in their stomachs. There is something they aren't realising, Chifuyu was adamant that no one could stay over last time they were there, yet now she said someone had to. Laura knew something was likely to happen, that's the real reason behind her staying in close proximity to Ichika, and you can almost guarantee that Cecilia and Rin wouldn't be too far away either. Charlotte on the other hand felt that her father wouldn't let her escape if he meant he would be imprisoned instead. And Ichika… he knew he had to act know or he will miss his chance to say something he wanted to say for a while.
'Can we get something to eat?'
