Cecilia felt as if she had hit in the face with a brick this entire day.
"So Cecilia," Houki Shinonono asked as they were changing for practical training. "How long have you known Yatogami-Kun?"
Cecilia took off her uniform and began to put on her one piece. "Well I met him when I was five. Our families know each other actually. We went to visit Kouta and his mom every few months for vacation in California." Cecilia couldn't help but reminisce about the times they played together back then. "Would you believe he was actually kind of chubby back then? He's changed so much…"
"Heh…" Charlotte Dunois smiled and patted Cecilia on her back. "Go get him Cecilia, we believe in you."
"Huh?" Cecilia asked, already feeling flustered.
"We saw the way you looked at him," Laura Bodewig chimed in. "Those were the eyes of lovers, not long time friends."
"We…We're not…" Cecilia denied it but she could feel the blood rushing to her head.
The three girls began to laugh at Cecilia's expense, before Rin came from the corner to greet them. "What's so funny? You guys better hurry up so the boys can change. Miss Orimura is getting kind of annoyed."
Cecilia stood a few rows back with Charlotte while Laura and Houki were up front. Finally, after a few minutes, Kouta and Ichika came from the locker room and joined them. Miss Orimura and Miss Yamada were up front directing the class.
"Alright everybody, those of you with a personal unit step forward," She ordered. "Today we'll be demonstrating basic movement and combat techniques."
Charlotte gave her a bump on her chest before taking off to hug Ichika's arm. She walked forward and joined the rest of the other students currently possessing a personal unit in class. She stole a glance at Kouta. He looked rather cute in that uniform. She really liked the stream lined black with stripes of red and white.
"Yatogami," Miss Orimura said. "What are you doing? I said everyone with a personal unit, step forward."
"Oh, right. I'm sorry mam." Kouta walked forward and joined the six of them to Cecilia's complete and utter speechlessness.
"K-Kouta…you're not…" But she was at a loss for words.
Miss Orimura smirked. "That's right. Your new classmate here happens to be three time champion of the Junior Mondo Grosso and the representative contender for the United States."
Everyone in both classes 1 and 2 broke out into chatter and utter awe. Even Cecilia couldn't contain her curiosity. She walked over and pouted in front of him.
"Kouta! How come you didn't tell me you were a representative contender?" She asked narrowing her eyes and pouting her lips.
"H-How could I? We never exchanged contact information and you left for London and never came back." Kouta said with an awkward smile.
"Well you still could have…" Cecilia was angry at the fact she wasn't informed of this information, yet she was all the more impressed and amazed at how much he's grown. "Whatever!" She mustered and went back in line.
"Alright, that's enough gossip for now," Miss Orimura cleared her throat. "Yatogami, I'm going to show you off for a bit so bear with me."
"Y-Yes mam," Kouta gulped.
"Orimura, Shinonono, Alcott, Huang, Bodewig, Dunois," Miss Orimura smirked. "I want all six of you to attack Yatogami with everything you've got. If I see you holding back for even a second, you will be punished."
"W-What!" Ichika cried.
"Miss Orimura, you can't be serious," Houki said.
"Either way you look at it, it's extremely unfair," Charlotte said.
"Instructor…" Laura said.
Cecilia smiled. "This sounds fun, why don't we do it?"
The five of them looked at her with jaws dropped. "Oh come on, he's the representative contender for America. Let's see what he can do."
"You heard the lady," Miss Orimura said. "Everyone, deploy your units. And for those of you watching, take notes."
Cecilia and Ichika looked to Kouta. He smiled back at the two with a playful grin. "Don't hold back now, ya hear?"
Cecilia turned her back and walked towards the girls.
"Let's go, Blue Tears!"
Her long ranged oriented IS deployed and equipped to her body. As she hovered over the ground, the others began to join her. She didn't know how Kouta could possibly hold them all of. Houki's Akatsubaki is the first 4th generation IS with capabilities still unknown. The Byakushki and Shenlong were terrifying fighters in close combat, and with Charlotte, Laura, and Cecilia providing cover fire…how could he possibly win this?
Everybody had their eyes on Kouta, waiting for him to deploy his IS.
He gave a smile to everyone. "Engage, Getsuga." An armored ring on Kouta's left finger started to glow. When Cecilia opened her eyes again, Kouta was in his unit. It was a red unit that reminded her of a knight. It's wings were actually smaller blades that worked from the base of the wings to larger, nodachi blades, at the ends.
"That's…" Cecilia recognized that IS.
"Getsuga," Miss Orimura informed the six of them. "Core number 003, nicknamed Getsuga the Thousand Blades. Alright, match begin!"
They all took off for the skies. As expected, the Getsuga was extremely fast. It wasn't unexpected from a first generation IS, however it wasn't a match for Akatsubaki. Houki caught up to him in an instant and slashed her sword, pushing him back.
"Charlotte!" Cecilia cried as she pulled out Blue Pierce and took aim at the Getsuga. She and Charlotte let loose a hail of bullets that created a fog cover.
"Did we get him?" Charlotte asked.
"Don't let your guard down!" Ichika shouted.
Suddenly, a wave of energy radiated from the fog, cutting it apart and pushing all of them back. Getsuga shot out from the cover and charged at Akatsubaki, crossing blades.
"So this is the 4th generation IS I heard about," Kouta said. "Akatsubaki. A close range oriented unit with specs designed personally by Tabane Shinonono. Must be pretty convenient, having her as a sister, huh?"
"Why you," Houki pushed back.
Cecilia tried to help by blasting him from behind, however the bullets seemed to phase out of existence the closer they got at the Getsuga. Kouta began to push back harder, Getsuga's katana began to glow as he pushed Houki back.
"Heaven's Wheel."
The blades that made up Getsuga's wings began to move on their own, forming a circle around Kouta. All of them suddenly struck down and pierced the Akatsubaki's shield.
"W-What!" Houki's shield energy…it was at 0.
Houki flew back down to the ground since her shield energy was reduced to 0, it meant that a first generation IS just took down a 4th generation with ease. "What the hell just happened?" Rin asked.
"Houki…she didn't even…" Charlotte said.
"What is that thing?" Laura asked.
A picture of Miss Orimura popped up on all of their screens. "A little advice since you all seem to be having so much trouble. The Getsuga is a first generation IS, however do not underestimate it's offense capabilities. That thing is loaded with offensive weapons that can match it with the Shirokishi."
"We already know that," Ichika said.
"Well here's something you don't," Miss Orimura smirked. "The Getsuga's main ability, is the ability to absorb energy based attacks and redirect them into his own shield energy, or into his weapons. That means-"
"That means we can't use laser based rifles," Cecilia realized. Blue Tears is a long range fighter, most of her arsenal were all energy based or laser based weapons. She won't be able to support the others.
"But that's not all-"
"Miss Orimura," Kouta said. "You're going to spoil the fun if you reveal all my tricks at once."
Miss Orimura smirked. "I suppose you're right. You have ten minutes, make it a fun one."
Kouta took a deep breath. "Heaven's Wheel." The blades began to surround him again. "Flying Thunder God." All of the blades shot out in every direction. An omnidirectional attack, he was trying to push them back and single out a target. But he knows that Blue Tears is a laser based IS by now, which means…
The Getsuga appeared before Cecilia. He didn't just move, it was as if he folded space and teleported.
"Hey Lia," Kouta smiled.
"K-Kouta…" He swung his sword but it clashed with her Absolute Defense.
Charlotte pulled up and was about to shoot, when it happened again. It was instant, as if he had teleported from Cecilia to Charlotte in an instant. And then again to Rin, and then to Ichika. What was happening?
"Ichika! Charge at him!" Laura shouted.
Ichika did as asked. He charged at Kouta with his Reiraku Byakuya. Kouta didn't move for a moment, before Cecilia realized it was a trap. Kouta was standing right in front of Laura, which meant that if he disappeared again, Ichika would…
"Ichika! Don't-" But it was too late. As Cecilia expected, he teleported again. The attack hit Laura and her shield energy hit 0.
"What the hell?" Rin growled. "We have to go at him together! Charlotte, Cecilia, cover us!"
Ichika and Rin flew at Kouta, however he easily blocked both attacks and had them locked with two blades. Blades? Cecilia realized what was happening.
"Charlotte, he's teleporting to the blades. He's using it as a beacon so that he can teleport to them. If we can-"
"I'm on it," Charlotte smiled. The two began to shoot, not at Kouta, but at the swords surrounding them. Blowing them away so Kouta couldn't get to them.
"That strategy," Kouta smirked. "Won't work so easily."
He pushed Rin back, and kicked her into Ichika. He then threw a blade directly at Cecilia, however before it could hit her shield, Kouta appeared before her. Grabbing the sword, he threw it back at Ichika and Rin, however he grabbed both Cecilia and Charlotte's arms and tossed them towardsIchika and Rin. They all collided with each other mid air and couldn't move.
Kouta appeared before them, from the sword that he had thrown, and pointed the blade at Cecilia. "Heaven's Wheel: Grand Chariot!" Every single blade teleported above Kouta, and with just a swipe of his sword, they all rained down on them like deadly snow.
In a single attack, he took down all four of them.
They all convened back on the ground, to the amazement of the students and the arrogant smile of Miss Orimura. "Nice work, Yatogami. I see you've improved since the last Junior Mondo Grosso."
"Thank you, Miss Orimura, but I'm nowhere near your level yet," Kouta smiled.
"What the hell just happened…" Ichika asked, speechless. "He took us all out, so easily."
"He target Houki first since her IS posed the biggest threat," Cecilia explained. "After the biggest piece on the board was removed, the rest of it was just clean up. That omnidirectional attack was just to get us into position, he wanted Ichika to attack with his Reiraku Byakuya. And that last attack…"
"Grand Chariot," Houki said.
"How could anyone be this strong?" Rin asked. "And he's still a first year like the rest of us."
Cecilia looked to Kouta as he spoke to Miss Orimura and Miss Yamada. The difference in their level was just too great…
…
Koutaro sat in the locker room feeling like the biggest douche in the world. Not only was it his first day, but everyone found out he was a representative contender and he was forced to defeat all the other first years with a personal unit. There was no other way someone can paint a target on their back than this.
"Dude," Ichika walked up behind him as he sat down in front of his locker. "You are seriously strong."
"T-Thanks, but," Koutaro sighed. "Sorry, I didn't mean for everyone to find out like that. I was hoping to keep it a secret for awhile."
"That you're a representative contender?" Ichika asked. "Why? That's amazing dude. And you won the JMG three years in a row. Even Chifuyu didn't do that."
Koutaro remembered back to the three championship Junior Mondo Grossos. They were definitely some of the hardest trials of his life. Those girls were definitely not anything to mess up, especially the Mysterious Lady. Koutaro never knew just how to handle something so fluid and powerful. Getsuga was a medium to short range oriented IS, but the Mysterious Lady was practically a fighter at all ranges. He could have used the other IS, but he knew that that would have ended badly for everyone. It was a championship competitive match, not a life or death situation.
"Alright well," Ichika stretched. "I'll be in our room. You still remember what room number right?"
Koutaro nodded. "See ya later."
He was left by himself with his thoughts. Koutaro balled his fists and clutched at his angel pendant. He remembered that letter that was sent to his house, telling him to become the number one ranked IS pilot in the world, or else he'd never see her again. At first it seemed impossible, but then his eye…it started to work like never before.
He heard something clank to his right. He looked over to see Lia. She was changed into her school uniform and had a concerned look on her face. "Lia? What's up?"
"Y-Yes, I was wondering if…if you'd like to get something to eat. It's been a few years and we haven't had some time to ourselves so…" She was flustered and played with her fingers.
Koutaro stood up and walked over, ruffling her hair. "Yeah, I'd love to." He smiled.
"T-T-Then hurry up and get changed, I'll wait for you outside the locker room." She turned and walked away.
After all these years, she really hadn't changed as much as he thought. Koutaro quickly changed and had one last look at his ring. It was a two piece metal ring, while one was a metal piece that covered practically the whole length of his ring finger, there was a chain attached to a second smaller circular, more orthodox ring on his index. This was the Getsuga's concealed form.
As he walked to the exit, he still couldn't believe the fortune he had, or rather misfortune. The Getsuga was a third generation IS built with the core of the third IS ever created by Tabane Shinonono, core number 003. It really wasn't just a simple show off piece or a a relic in a museum, Getsuga was a fully prepared, battle ready unit, and in the hands of an experienced pilot, it was practically unbeatable. But then Koutaro remembered he had another weapon up his sleeve…Core Number 002.
Koutaro looked up to see a girl standing by the door. She had short, teal blue hair and blood red eyes. She was carrying a fan but had her arms crossed and grinned as she saw him.
"So you're the infamous Yatogami-Kun," She walked closer and examined him. "You really do look like a foreigner."
"Me? Have you seen yourself lately, miss blue hair and red eyes." Koutaro asked sarcastically.
The girl laughed. "And you have a sense of humor as well. I'm starting to like you more and more, Yatogami-Kun."
"Um…sorry, who are you?"
"Aw how mean! You don't even remember me even after beating me in the Junior Mondo Grosso last year." The girl pouted.
The Junior Mondo Grosso last year…if he remembered correctly that was when he fought the Mysterious Lady…it's pilot's name was..
"T-Tatenashi Sarashki?"
Tatenashi smacked Koutaro on the forehead with her fan. "Correct. I never would have expected you to come to the Academy, Yatogami-Kun. You already seemed like the most experienced pilot I've ever met. How strange."
"Y-Yeah, it wasn't really my decision either," Koutaro sighed. "Sorry, did you want something? I was supposed to meet up with someone."
"Oh no, I just wanted to say hi." She stepped aside for him. "I'll be seeing you around, Yatogami-Kun."
She waved as Koutaro left the locker room. What a strange girl, even during their match last year she seemed to be testing him more than actually fighting him. He wondered if that was just her personality or if she was hiding something. Whatever the case, she was definitely an oddball that he should probably avoid.
"Kouta!"
Lia was waiting for him a few feet from the locker room. They walked to the cafeteria and grabbed some food before getting their own table. They caught up on everything that happened since Lia left for London. She became a representative contender and got her own IS from her father's company, transferred here to collect data but ended up really enjoying the school.
"What about you Kouta? How's your mom? I sure miss her cooking," Lia chewed on her sandwich.
Koutaro set his fork down. He felt as though he was going into uncharted territory, but this was Lia, someone he can trust.
"The thing is," Koutaro said. "mom disappeared four years ago. I left for school one day, came home and she was just gone. No note, no nothing. Her stuff was still in the house so it wasn't like it was planned. The police looked all over and spent months looking, but eventually they gave up."
Lia was wide eyed with shock. "I thought she died, for the longest time I thought she got into an accident and was somewhere all by herself, where no one could find her."
"But?" Lia asked.
"But then I received a letter, four months after she disappeared," Koutaro explained. "Become the top ranked pilot in all of the world, or else…"
"What the…what kind of threat letter is that?" Lia asked.
"I thought it was a prank too, but then…" He reached for his pendant. "My mother received this pendant from her mother, and her mother before her. It's like an heirloom passed down through my family. It came attached to the note, so I knew it wasn't just a prank. Whoever sent this had my mom, she's probably somewhere trapped by herself and scared for her life." He balled his fists. "And after that day, something changed. It was like something awoke in me, a gift that I didn't know I had."
"What do you mean?" Lia asked.
"During the match earlier, against all of you," Koutaro explained. "It wasn't all Getsuga that defeated you, it was me as well."
"Well of course, the IS is only as good as it's pilot."
"Well, no, I didn't mean it like that." Koutaro smiled. "My left eye, it has this ability. Time slows down in my head, and it's like every little piece of information around me is gathered and filed into my brain. I can see so much more than I could normally, think faster, react faster. It's like…I can predict the future."
Lia was quiet. Koutaro always dealt with this whenever he tried to explain himself. They would always laugh at him or write it off as a joke. He was prepared for that with Lia.
"I see," She crossed her arms. "That would explain those inhuman reflexes. I thought something was off because those attacks didn't seem like normal close combat attacks."
Koutaro was speechless.
"But seriously, that Getsuga of yours is really something else," She giggled. "Whatever that teleporting ability is, it's really strong. Even when Charlotte and I figured it out, we still couldn't stop it."
Koutaro felt a tear drip from his eyes and down his cheek. Before he knew it, he had pulled Lia into a warm embrace.
"K-Kouta! What's wrong?"
"Nothing," He squeezed her tighter. "I just missed you, so much."
Lia wrapped her arms around him and smiled. "Yeah, I missed you too Kouta."
One embarrassing moment later, the two decided to go back to their rooms. After Koutaro walked Lia to her's, he walked back to his room. He suspected something was off because as he walked closer, he could hear shouting and screaming from a certain room. He stopped in front of his room, room 1025. A bunch of girls had already stepped out of their room to see what all the commotion was about.
Koutaro opened the door and walked in. He turned the corner to see a…complicated situation. Ichika was on the bed, face up with a silver haired girl, Laura, giving him an arm lock with his right and a blonde girl, Charlotte, pulling on his other. A girl wearing a kimono was on top of him holding a wooden sword and just about to strike him when all their eyes turned to Koutaro.
"K-K-Koutaro!" Ichika pleaded.
"Sorry," He turned around. "Looks like you guys are having fun. I'll just…come back later."
"Koutaro! No! Wait! It's a misunderstanding!" Ichika shouted as Koutaro could hear the slaps of a wooden sword hit his skin.
He stood outside the room, leaning against the walls and staring up at the ceiling. He clutched as his pendant and smiled.
"You'd really like everyone mom, they're all really nice."
…
Tatenashi stood on top of the school building and stared off into the city, just across a small body of water. She folded and unfolded her fan over and over again, trying to think of this situation.
"You're awfully quiet for someone who just saw the face of someone who beat them in an important match last year." Miss Orimura said from behind her.
"Am I? I don't know, he's not someone you can hate, ya'know Miss Orimura?" Tatenashi smiled.
"So what's on your mind, Student Council President?" Miss Orimura joined her on the edge of the school building.
"Oh nothing much," Tatenashi said. "I just thought that this school year is going to be really fun, that's all."
"You've taken an interest in him, haven't you?" Miss Orimura asked. "I can see it all on your face kid."
Tatenashi blushed. "I-I-I have no idea what you mean Miss Orimura."
"I heard about what happened at the match last year," Miss Orimura said. "About one of the contestants attacking you because they were jealous of how far you'd gotten. And about how a certain pilot stepped in the way and saved you just before the attacker could do serious physical damage to you."
"Yeah," Tatenashi smiled. "He's a hero, isn't he?"
"Well I don't know about that one," Miss Orimura turned and began to walk away. "But I'm just happy that someone finally has the hots for someone other than my idiot brother. I'm cheering for you, Tatenashi."
Tatenashi didn't know why that sentence got to her so quickly. She felt like her body went numb every time she thought about him, like her heart was pumping out ten times as much blood and all of it went directly to her head.
"S-Stupid Koutaro."