Disclaimer

Infinite Stratos is owned by Izuru Yumizuru

Fallout: New Vegas is owned by Bethesda

Hideyoshi stifled a yawn as he made his way to class. The 'tea party' lasted longer than expected, but it was good to see his parents having fun.

…

…

He stopped, and it took him a few seconds before he started walking again. Where had that come from? Tabane was his mother, yes, but he didn't really see Chifuyu all that often… Perhaps that was it? Chifuyu was the 'father', the one who was always at work. He supposed it made sense that he would mentally assign the only other adult he had contact with to that role, a sign of his adaptation…

…Or maybe he should stop watching the anime Tabane suggested.

When he got to his classroom, he saw a girl with pigtails standing next to the door, her eyes closed and a smile on her face. It looked like the face Cecilia made last night.

"Hello. Are you a new student?"

She jolted in shock, her eyes flying open.

"Uh, Hideyoshi?" He looked towards Ichika, "Who are you talking to?"

"He's talking to me," the girl moved past him, "Class 2's representative and China's Representative Contender, Rin Huang!"

"No way," Ichika stood, "Rin, is that really you?"

"That's right, and I've come to declare war!"

Hideyoshi was starting to wonder if the I.S. was having some sort of detrimental effect on people's minds.

After a quick explanation from Ichika, the three of them were having lunch. Although, 'Rin' seemed to be acting like he wasn't here. That was fine, he wouldn't beget two childhood friends their reunion. Though, he was starting to wonder about the dress code here. It didn't go into much detail, but he noticed a few girls here and there with modified outfits. Maybe he should do something? A badge or a patch of some so-

Cecilia and his aunt slammed their hands on the table. What followed was whirl of emotions that he felt… uncomfortable with. It really seemed the girls were being hostile for no reason.

"Excuse me?" All eyes turned to him, "I'm not entirely sure why you're all upset-"

"This girl is acting much too friendly with Ichika!" Cecilia exclaimed.

"I, I don't understand, how is she being too friendly?"

"Of course you don't understand." His aunt sighed, "Listen, you two are too dense to get it, so just butt out!"

The lunch bell rang before they could continue, and as everyone began heading to class Hideyoshi lagged behind a bit. His aunt… had a point. He really didn't understand people, did he? His only real social interaction was with his mother and Chifuyu.

'And as much as I love Tabane, she's hardly average… Perhaps, I should speak to more people?'

Cecilia took down notes, stealing glances every so often at the two boys of the Academy. It felt as though Fate was mocking her, putting what she desired so close yet so far away, and tossing yet another rival in her way. Still, she was never one to shy away from adversity, especially when the prizes were so very worth it. The break bell rang, and she got up to-

"Excuse me, Miss Alcott?"

She blinked in surprise as Hideyoshi approached, "Oh, yes, Hideyoshi?"

"Is it alright if I speak with you in your room later tonight?"

The others began whispering as she screamed inside, "O-of course! Will 5:30 do?"

"That is fine, thank you."

The day couldn't pass fast enough for her then. Her roommate was out for the day, thankfully, and she had more than enough time to prepare. A few tasteful scented candles, her best bathrobe to cover up her best unmentionables, and all that was left was to wait.

'5:25. Only a few more minutes until-'

Knock-Knock-Knock

"Come in~!" She called out, trying to keep herself from sounding too eager. Hideyoshi entered, and he looked around for a moment before bowing.

"Thank you for seeing me, Ms. Alcott."

"Oh please, Cecilia is just fine. Now," she patted the space beside her on her bed, "don't be shy. Come, and we'll get started."

"Oh, no thank you. This will only take a few moments."

"Er, what?"

"I've decided to try and converse with more people. I realize that I lack some social skills, but I hope to rectify that."

"You... only wanted to talk?"

"Correct."

Cecilia's mood seemed to shift then, but she still helped him in his request. It was… slow going, at first. He had to explain that he'd never really spoke to anyone bar Chifuyu and Tabane, and recently, Ichika. Still, he came away with a few interesting suggestions. He should talk to Cecilia more… and his aunt. His aunt didn't seem as though she would be speaking to him anytime soon, but-

Rin ran past him, his aunt following shortly after. He blinked, and when he got to his room he saw a confused with a red handprint on his face.

Ichika's explanation involving sweet-amd-sour pork did not clarify much.

The next day was Sunday, and Ichika had gone to visit another friend while he experimented. Nothing major, working on medicines, chems, nutrient pastes, etc. He knew it would be difficult introducing the products under just the Shinonono name, but-

There was a knock at the door, and he opened it to the girl who wanted to interview him.

"Hi there! I don't know if you remember me-"

"You wished to interview me, before I was buried beneath the girl's… requests."

She smiled, "Right! Well, I was wondering if we could continue our interview."

He shrugged, "I see no reason not to." He stepped aside, and after she entered he moved to the materials on his desk.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No, no, nothing that requires major attention." He lifted a beaker of blue paste, giving it a once-over before spooning some out onto a pot of dirt.

"So, tell me about yourself. Likes, dislikes, hobbies, dreams, ooh, what are your parents like?"

He held a lighter to the paste, "Well, my hobbies involve experiments across the sciences, gardening, and cooking, I dislike most insects, and my mother is… most likely the nicest person you will ever meet."

"Oh? What about your father?"

"Tabane adopted me. I do not remember my birth parents, either." The paste began to bubble, but after a moment it went flat. He heard a scribbling noise, and assumed she was taking notes.

"…If you don't mind me asking, what was life like before you were adopted?"

He hummed, and searched for his green paste, "I do not mind you asking, but I am choosing not to answer. My past is that: mine, and in the past."

She made a noise, "Well then, what about your I.S.? What's the story behind its name?"

"'Zeitgeist: the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time'." He found the paste and placed a small amount on the blue, "Anachronism is what defined the wasteland. Revolvers and throwing spears one moment, laser and plasma weaponry the next. She is a blend of past, present, and future technologies."

The scribbling stopped, then started again, "'She'?"

"Yes. The A.I. in my I.S. is fully realized, and it chose to be female."

"Interesting… I'm sorry, but what exactly are you doing?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm trying to out a new soil nutrient. In theory, it should make the plants glow." He used his lighter on the pastes, and after a moment a small jalapeno plant grew. It looked… normal. He plucked one of the peppers and cut it open, revealing its blue insides. He cupped his hand around it, and he saw a faint blue glow, "Well, not a failure per se."

The interview was fairly mundane from there. She left after a few minutes, his experiments finishing shortly after.

'…Well, what do I do know?' He looked around the room, 'I sup-'

Knock-Knock-Knock

He opened the door to see his aunt and Cecilia, "Hello. How may I help you two?" He stepped aside, and the two entered.

"Is Ichika dear not around?" Cecilia took a seat on said boy's bed.

"He went to visit a friend."

"'Friend'!?" The girls shouted at once.

"Yes, I believe his name was Dan." They sighed in relief, and he continued, "What do you need him for?"

"I merely wished to see if he wanted to spend the day." Cecilia smiled, and he looked to his aunt, who blushed.

"I-I just had some questions for him."

"Well, I could call him if you wish."

"No, no, I understand that boys need to speak with other boys. Speaking of, why are you here?" Cecilia tilted her head.

"I was performing a few experiments, had an interview with someone from the newspaper club, and… well, now I'm trying to decide what I should do next. Perhaps you two would like to have some tea?"

"Oh, that would be delightful!"

His aunt sighed, "Well, I'm already here."

After quickly preparing their drinks, he found himself realizing something.

"…you each have long hair." He saw their confusion, "Each of Ichika's friends seems to have long hair."

"Hmm, maybe he prefers long hair?" Cecilia said absently, but after a moment the girls seemed to have a realization, "Hideyoshi, dear, what does Ichika say about us?"

"Pardon?"

"Does he talk about us a lot!?" His aunt was suddenly close to him, as was Cecilia.

"We, talk an average amount?" They kept staring at him, "We usually talk about you, Aunt Houki."

Cecilia crossed her arms as they leaned back, Houki smiling, "He talks about me?"

"I usually ask him about you."

"…What."

"I ask him what you like and dislike."

"Why in the world would you need to know that?"

"I… want to talk to you. I want to know my aunt more."

She looked uncomfortable, and after a moment she made her way towards the door, "I have something to do…"

The door closed, and silence took over. Hideyoshi tapped his fingers against his cup.

"…Cecilia?"

"Ah, yes?"

"Is Blue Tears male or female?"

The day came and went, and Ichika seemed happy that he'd taken the time to speak to the girls. He'd chosen not to watch Ichika's match, and was sitting on their room's balcony, thinking.

'…Does… does she hate me? I don't think I've done anything, but she-'

BOOM

He looked to the arena, and the plume of smoke rising from it…