CHAPTER 4
Class was at the arena for some practical lessons of the IS. Everyone was lined up in alphabetical order and Raiden was in the front and middle of the entire class.
"For today, we will teach you the basics of IS flight capability and maneuverability." said Chifuyu as she approached the class. She then called out to three of the Personal IS pilots.
"Orimura. Alcott. Hataru."
Cecilia and Raiden immediately summoned there IS and were ready. Some people looked in shock and awe of Raiden's IS, including Houki, especially on the lion helmet that covered half of his face. Cecilia herself was even surprised.
For Ichika however, it took a little longer than usual to summon his IS, partly because he was amazed of Raiden's Personal IS and got distracted by it.
"You idiot. You should be able to call the IS forth without having to use voice command."
"Sorry." flinched Ichika. Chifuyu then turned to the three and said "Now fly!"
Cecilia took off first, followed by Raiden, and then by Ichika who had a little bit of trouble of taking off before he managed to catch up. Cecilia took the lead with Raiden in the middle and Ichika behind him.
"You're too slow." said Chifuyu to Ichika. "Spec-wise, Byakushiki is faster than Lion Heart and Blue Tears combined."
"But…" said Ichika. "I'm supposed to imagine a pyramid in front of me, aren't I?" Ichika then slumped a little and sighed. "I don't really get it."
"Of course you don't get it." said Raiden. "Not everyone understands it for the first time they read of it."
"Imagining is nothing more than imagining, no matter the case." said Cecilia as Ichika looked up and caught up with the other two. "It's more constructive for you to work on finding a method that works for you."
"Well said, Cecil." said Raiden, prompting to girl to be flattered by the name.
"Firstly, I don't have a good handle on flying." Ichika said. "How is this thing floating in the air to begin with?" Ichika looked at his left claw.
"Think of it as piloting an aircraft, An-chan." said Raiden. "Stick some wings and a powerful engine along with the right thrust and you got either a bird, a plane, or an IS flying in the skies."
"Hey Raiden." asked Ichika.
"What?" asked Raiden as he flew over to his side.
"Why have you been calling me An-chan lately?" asked a curious Ichika.
"You're one year younger than me. Its only proper that I call you that. Besides, adults and teenagers are just grown-up kids anyway. At least, that's what my Mentor told me."
Ichika could only be confused yet shrugged it off as dumb as he is.
"Um, if you would like, I can give you lectures after school's out." said Cecilia causing Ichika to look at her in confusion. "At that time, we can-"
"Orimura. Alcott. Hataru." called Chifuyu on the comm. "Do a dive followed by a rapid stop."
"Copy." said Raiden.
"I'll go ahead." said Cecilia as she dove to the ground before stopping completely with just inches off the ground.
"Meet you at the ground." said Raiden as he flew a little higher up before plummeting back down. Some people thought he was going a bit too fast but, with the right timing, he pulled to a complete stop.
However, Raiden was totally unaware that Ichika was coming down fast. Way too fast, as he immediately crashed into Raiden who had turn around too late to see Ichika crash into him and the two boys ended up in a crater.
Once the smoke and dust had cleared, Ichika was on top of Raiden, the two boys still in there IS, and groaning in pain. Chifuyu, Houki, and Maya arrived at the crater's edge to check on them before Houki and Maya blushed at the sight.
Raiden grabbed Ichika by the arms and pushed him off to the left. Deactivating his IS and sitting up albeit in pain to his chest, Raiden said "An-chan! Where the hell are you aiming yourself at?!"
Ichika deactivated his IS and, with a face of fear yet covering it up with closing his eyes and smile, said, "Uhh…sorry?" Raiden could only give a sigh of annoyance as he held his chest while trying to sit up.
Chifuyu yelled from above. "Orimura, were you trying to make a hole in the ground?"
Ichika couldn't find the words to respond and merely apologized "Sorry."
"Ichika, I thought I taught you better than that." said Houki. She was then pushed out of the way by a desperate Cecilia who jumped down into the crater.
"Ichika-san, are you alright?" asked Cecilia as she went over to Ichika. Ichika, startled, answered "Y-Yeah. I'm fine."
Cecilia then turned to Raiden and asked "Aniki? What about you?"
"I've had worse." said Raiden as he tried to stand up before he collapses to one knee. "Wait. Aniki?"
Cecilia then turned back to Ichika and said "I'm glad to hear you're unhurt. Oh, but you should visit the infirmary just in case. If you would like, I'll take you-"
"That isn't necessary." said Houki as she draped one of Raiden's arms over herself for him to stand up. "His IS protected him from the fall anyway."
"Oh, Shinonono-san. It's only natural to worry about others." said Cecilia.
"I can't believe that's coming from you, you thieving cat." said Houki.
"It's better than a fox wearing a demon's mask." retorted Cecilia, making the two girls stare closely at each other.
"Why can't these two get along at all?" asked Ichika to himself. Raiden could only sigh and shake his head as he watched the two girls get ready for a fight while being supported by Houki.
"Congratulations, Orimura-kun! Cheers!"
Pops from the party poppers were heard all over the mess hall as they all went off and confetti covered much of the floor. Behind Ichika was a sign that said CONGRATULATIONS in big letters. While Ichika found it flattering and nice, that was not his only concern. Because now he had to deal with a familiar blonde girl who was sitting next to him.
"Orimura-kun." called one of the classmates who was wearing glasses and had a camera. "My name is Kaoruko Mayuzumi. The Newspaper Club would like to hear of your opinion regarding the duel. Would you mind answering a few questions for us?"
Ichika stuttered "S-Sure. If you think it will help you."
"Okay, first question. What are your thoughts on being the representative of our class?"
"Well… I'll do my best."
"Huh? Oh, c'mon! Give us something awesome - like, like 'don't get too close to me, or you'll get hurt' or something like that!"
"Well uh…" Ichika drifted off and was at a loss of words. Already, too many questions roamed in his head about the current situation.
"What about having Cecilia say a few words?"
"I don't really like giving interviews, but I suppose I must." said the British girl.
Though she's grumbling, she doesn't look bothered... and she's already standing over there, ready to go!
"Ahem. First, I, Cecilia Alcott, the former class representative, will make a statement. It was…"
"Ahh, if this is going to take a while, just forget it. How about I just take a photo."
"You…you… What will you print if you don't hear my eloquent statement?"
"It's no problem; I'll just make up some content. For instance, let's assume that you like Orimura-kun."
"Wha, wha, what...?"
Cecilia's face went from normal to blushing bright red in about .001 seconds. Now she's definitely angry. Ichika better find some cover before Mount Cecilia erupts.
"What's this nonsense you're spouting?"
"Seriously! Your secret love for Orimura-kun? That would be a great scoop!"
"Well, what's wrong with just taking my statement?"
Um... what did I do wrong? Cecilia why are you glaring at me? Stop that! It's scary.
"Ba-Basically, you…"
"Okay okay, forget it. Both of you, please stand together! I'm going to take your picture."
"What?"
Cecilia sounded rather surprised, but she also seemed delighted.
"Yeah! Everyone's interested in your personal ISs! So, let me take a photo of both of you. Um… maybe you should shake hands or something, too!"
"Oh, is that… that so...?" For some reason, Cecilia's starting to fidget and keeps peeking at Ichika.
"Excuse me, but you'll give me a copy of the photo, right?" Cecilia asked.
"Oh, sure, I can do that."
"Then let me go change my clothes first…"
"No way, that'll take too much time! C'mon, hurry up and stand together."
Mayuzumi–senpai grabbed Cecilia's hand and pulled her next to him, and then made them hold hands. What a hard-nosed senpai.
She snapped the picture with her digital camera. Unfortunately…
"Why is everyone squeezing into MY picture!?" yelled a pouty Cecilia.
"Don't think you are getting ahead of us, Cecilia." said one girl.
"Huh? Where's Houki?" asked Ichika. "Moreover, where's Raiden?
Raiden was at the dojo meditating on his knees with a katana lying at his side and tatami mats rolled up surrounded him. As he meditated, he quietly hears footsteps approach him from behind, as if someone is watching him. The footsteps and aura were all too familiar to him as he knew who it was as she came here to train in Kendo. Houki came and saw Raiden and decided to watch while trying not to interrupt him. Too many questions about this boy were still swirling within her head about who he was really. From what she knew from Ichika during their training, it was seldom.
This boy...How come I am constantly watching him? Why does he interest me so much? It's like he diverts my attention away from Ichika whenever I see him.
These were good questions with a good reason indeed. Over the past few weeks, Houki had been spying more and more on Raiden. She couldn't even wonder why. Every time she saw Raiden chat away with some girls, she felt a tinge of jealously.
Jealousy? But why that? Her heart had been set to Ichika, yet every time she sees Raiden, it conflicts with her. The aura that surrounds him, the long hair that is blown into the wind, the blindfold that covers his eyes, his ability to walk and see things without being hindered, his interactions with Chifuyu. Just what was it about this boy that drew her attention to him?
It mattered little however as Houki saw Raiden stand up as he decides to take out his katana blade that he laid on the side and unsheathes it before dropping the saya. Houki saw him grip the blade tightly with two hands and with tatami rolls surrounding him, Raiden pulls the blade back before turning it and makes the cut, slicing the all tatami mats clean and scattering them all over the dojo. After contemplating, he gently sheathes his katana and merely sits back onto his knees meditating.
As Houki watches, she notices that the cuts Raiden made had emotion behind it, a dark reaction that concerned her somewhat. The destroyed tatamis, though they were sliced to perfection, were sliced in a way that left something dark in them. She picked one up near her feet and noticed that the cuts were made with a purpose, one that filled her heart with fear, if not a little bit of concern for the boy.
Sliced to perfection without any fault. And yet, they evoke something. Swordsmanship is the mirror that reflects one's inner self. So why do I feel only…revenge?
"What do you want of me, Shinonono-sama?" asked Raiden. This caught Houki in a surprise as she gasped of her name being called.
"Um uh…" Houki couldn't help but stutter and step back, only for her foot to get caught on the edge of the platform. She gasped and fell back before she felt being caught. She opened her eyes and looked to see Raiden above her, catching her and holding her up.
The two stayed this way for a moment and a blush came across Houki's face. Raiden, caught wind of his situation, brought Houki back up to her own two feet, letting her go and asked,
"You alright?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine. Thank you." Said Houki. "I-I just…I was just wondering if the dojo was free for me to practice Kendo but I found you in here instead so I…"
"If you were here to practice Kendo, shouldn't you have your shinai and uniform with you?" interrupted Raiden with a question, which made Houki gawk a little.
"Oh? Well, uh, silly me. Ehheh. I'll go get it then." She then fled the dojo in a hurry, leaving Raiden only confused.
"What was that all about?"
Houki was running, yet the moment when Raiden saved her from falling couldn't escape her mind. She tried to shake it off but it just wouldn't go away, and every time she think of Ichika, only Raiden popped up.
Why? Why do I feel so heart-throbbing around him? What is going on with me?
Raiden, Ichika, and Houki walked alongside each other to their classroom. Houki couldn't help but just glare from time to time at the blind boy. She is still trying to figure out how someone like him with a blindfold is able to walk or even see. Then again, as a samurai of the Bushido, there have been warriors who were blind and always trained their sense of hearing, at least in the history books or in the stories.
As the three walked to the classroom, Ichika spotted someone with a green car by the building.
"Raiden, do you know that woman out there?"
"Hi!" said the woman as she gave a wave.
Raiden gave a look for a brief moment before denying "Nope."
He continued to walk over to the stair entrance.
"Hey, Raiden!" cried the woman as she then gave a mocking kiss to the wind.
"She's calling you out, though..." said Ichika with a sheepish smile. Raiden stops walking midway and clicks his tongue.
That damn woman. What the hell is she thinking?
Raiden turns to Ichika and says "An-chan, take Houki with you and go on without me. If I'm late, cover for me."
Ichika gives a perplexed look before he acknowledges "Huh? S-Sure..." Ichika and Houki walk on yet the pony-tailed girl couldn't help but feel a little ticked off about the woman. She was wondering why Raiden would be going to meet her yet pushed the thought aside and joined Ichika to their classroom.
Raiden walks out to the woman who was leaning on her green corvette. She was a typical American with blonde hair and blue eyes yet she spoke fluent Japanese. She was dressed in a formal dress for work with a white buttoned up shirt and a black jacket coupled with black heels and black miniskirt. Around her neck was a necklace with teal gemstones.
"Hey. Enjoying your student life here?" asked the woman.
"More or less." answered Raiden. "How the hell did you get here anyway? This place is prohibited to the public."
"As an agent and caretaker, I got clearance to get into this place."
"Is that so? What did you come here for?"
"Cold as always, huh?" The woman gets off of her car and walks over to the blind boy. "I came to check to see how you were managing your ordinary student life at an ordinary school." She then walks a few feet back while flicking her hair to the wind.
"No problems so far. If there were a problem, it be you coming to see me like this."
"I did prepare an ironclad past for you when you entered."
"I don't want to tell too many lies though. Colors and lies both get black as you add more and more."
"Don't you mean they turn red?"
"Add enough red, it'll turn black soon enough."
"All the more reason you should behave yourself properly. You don't want to suffer a 'tragic' death, don't you?"
"All the more reason why I wish you wouldn't spring surprises on me like this."
"Fine, I get it." The woman sighs before walking back to her car. "I'll leave for today."
Raiden gives a confused look and asks, "Hey, what's going on? Did you really only come here to check up on me? "
"That's why I came, is it not? If it were about work, I would've called you on your phone in advance." The woman was about to get into her car before she comes to a realization of something with a gasp. "Oh, I just remembered! When you came here, you cross the prefectural border on foot, right? And after I got you a train ticket for that matter! "
"I don't like trains or cars. You know that. Plus, the Academy had a safe tram system."
"What kind of an idiot walks 200 kilometers to the tram station because of that? You even wound up in police custody for it! Do you have any idea that I had to receive an earful from my superiors?" Raiden gives off that annoyed look which the woman catches. "Hey, stop staring at me like, 'This woman's a pain in the ass!'"
"How did you even know what I was thinking? Are you psychic or something?"
"You'll make me cry!"
"No, I do think that was wrong of me. Sorry, Miri."
"So long as you get it! I'll be in touch with you later, okay?" Miri gets in her car.
"Yeah." Raiden then watches Miri in her green corvette start her car and take off before turning around and driving the other way.
Miriam Walker, a.k.a. Miri. CIA intelligence officer woman who's nothing more than a pain in the ass, as she herself would describe.
Raiden then looks to the classroom window where his homeroom was.
Now then...how do I explain this to An-chan and the others?
As soon as Raiden entered the building, he was walking to his homeroom before he was confronted outside the door by Cecilia along with some of the girls.
"Hey, who was that woman out there?" She asked in a demanding voice.
Raiden looked and saw a lot of the girls with the same question. Some of them bore scowls with their hands brought up to their chests in fists, but most of them were curious. Even Houki couldn't help but glare at the blind boy outside of the classroom.
"That was my boss and my guarantor at my job." Raiden simply answered.
"Aniki? You're working? What sort of job is it?" asked a perplexed Cecilia.
"Yeah. It would be hard to explain in a few words. For now, just call it 'dirty work.' I go in and take care of the 'garbage' and crawl in a lot of places to 'clean up.'" Raiden said nonchalantly, confusing some of the girls. "That woman is part of my job, though her role is to give out orders. She doesn't like to get her hands dirty."
"So...you're not in a relationship with that woman?" asked one of the girls to which Raiden annoying answered.
"No. If anything, she's a pain in the ass." said Raiden, thinking about how annoying Miriam can be sometimes yet also recounted his days of being under her care, along with another.
"Hey did you hear?" asked one of the girls from class to her friends. "Apparently, there's been a class rep switch in Class 2."
"A transfer student? At a time like this?" asked Ichika.
"I heard she is also from China." said another girl.
"Hmph. I wonder if they are getting reinforcements to counter me." said Cecilia.
"Is she even that strong?" asked Ichika.
"Only Class 1 and Class 4 have students with personal units, so I'm sure it's nothing special." answered another girl.
"Your information is out of date." Spoke another voice from the entrance to the class. The figure was a small, female, Chinese girl with twin tail hair that was held up by two ribbons.
"The new class representative of Class 2 has a personal unit." She stated proudly. "You're not going to win the match so easily!"
Ichika stood up as he recognized a familiar face. "Rin. Is that you?"
"That's right! National representative of China, Huang Lingyin! I'm here to declare my challenge to you guys!" She then pointed her finger towards everyone as they questioned her motives and identity.
"Wh-Who is she, acting so close to Ichika-san?" asked Cecilia.
"Rin, why are you trying to act so cool? That's so not like you." said Ichika.
Rin's face immediately blushed in embarrassment and said,
"H-How dare you!"
Rin immediately got hit in the head from behind as Chifuyu walked in from behind. Holding her head in pain, she looked back and found herself to be in terror.
"What are you even doing here? Get back to your classroom. It's about to start soon."
"Chi-Chifuyu-san…"
"Call me Orimura-sensei. Now get out of here." Chifuyu walked in followed by Raiden, who paid no attention to the short girl and merely walked past her. Rin was a little bit ticked off but not because of his ignorance. She then turned back to Ichika before leaving, saying,
"I'll be back later, so don't run away, Ichika!"
During lunch break, Ichika, Rin, and Raiden were sitting at one table eating their meal with Houki and Cecilia at another table on the other side, giving off glares and angry remarks. Rin was still slightly ticked off at the sight of Raiden but she kept her thoughts about him to herself.
"I didn't expect you to come here, Rin. It's been quite a while." said Ichika.
"Well, long story short, I got tested to be an IS pilot and sent here as a representative candidate." Rin said.
"And since when did you become a representative candidate?" asked Ichika.
"That's my line. You were in the news! I heard you moved an IS by accident. What happened?"
"Well, a lot of things happened since then…A lot of things." Ichika laughed as he rubbed his head sheepishly. Raiden could only smile that. At least Ichika was being honest, but still dense on everything, not just girls.
"I never thought I'd end up enrolled at a place like this, either."
Rin then asked "Tell me everything."
Ichika began, "A high school entrance exam I took was held at a multipurpose room. Then I got lost. I asked for directions from the staff, but they didn't make sense. I kept wandering around, then…"
"And then you stumbled upon a room with an inactive IS and, curious of it, activated it with a simple touch which was then noticed by the authorities in charge, bringing you here." finished up Raiden as he took a drink of his sake, which no one knew what it was.
Ichika was slightly shocked while Rin merely gave an offensive look.
This guy…If he is blind, why is he even here? And what is his friendship with Ichika?!
Ichika then sheepishly asked, "Y-Yeah. How did you know, Raiden?"
"Happened to me before." explained Raiden. "Except I was secretly taken in for a 'simple test,' which was to activate an IS upon a simple touch. Sure enough, it did."
Two pairs of hands then slammed onto the table which startled Ichika and Rin except for Raiden, who merely caught his small bottle of sake as it lost its balance on the table.
"Ichika, what is your relationship with her?!" asked Houki.
"Yes, you two seem to be getting along too well! Are you even d-d-d-dating?!" said Cecilia.
Rin panicked a little saying "N-N-No, we're nothing like…"
Ichika then explained "She's right. We're just childhood friends."
For Houki, she kept a nonchalant smile and accepted this yet underneath it, Raiden could tell that she had another person in her path for love. As for Cecilia, she went on about her usual pride speech but Rin simply ignored it, which made Cecilia pretty mad.
A huge stare arose from the three girls and Ichika could only flinch. As for Raiden, who was silent the entire time, was about to leave, he leaned towards Ichika's ear as to say something for advice to calm the storm.
"An-chan, defuse them!" whispered Raiden.
"Are you telling me to die?!" whispered a scared Ichika.
"People don't die that easily." whispered back Raiden with Ichika groaning in reluctance.
Raiden then walked out of the canteen and went straight back to his dorm room while hearing Ichika get pommeled by the girls. Some of the students decided to follow him before he opened the door to his dorm. It was then that he said to himself,
An-chan, from now on do not give in so easily to provocation.
As soon as Raiden closed the door and hung his jacket up, he then smelled something afoul in the air. As he approached the bedroom, he looked to see Tatenashi approach him with something in her hand.
"Ara. Came back here to take a nap all by yourself?" asked Tatenashi.
"I just need a break from the commotion." said Raiden.
"Before you do, you care to share a drink with me?" Tatenashi then holds up what appears to be a keg of sake.
To Raiden's regret, he gave a sigh. He had hidden the sake in a safe place, hoping no one looks for it when they examine the room. Little did he expect for Tatenashi to look for it.
"So you found it?" asked Raiden. Tatenashi tilts her head in a cute and playful confusion. "I'm afraid it's a little too early for that."
Tatenashi then says while tracing her fingers across Raiden, "For a 2nd male IS pilot, you sure are humble in such a large school full of girls." She then gets very close to Raiden.
"Hey!" said Raiden.
"You should be more assertive in things like this." Tatenashi suggests while tugging Raiden's left arm close to her chest which ends to between her breasts.
"You're drunk already, aren't you?" Raiden asked.
"I wouldn't really call this drunk, more like sober. Tehehe." Tatenashi said as she then pushed Raiden down onto the bed before pinning him down. Their eyes met and Tatenashi licked her lips before she nuzzled herself in Raiden's long hair.
She took a smell of it, which incited her a lot. "Ohh~! This smell. It's like..." Tatenashi takes a few more sniffs "The ocean."
"Well, I'll admit. Sometimes I need my hair to smell nice. It does get in my way on occasion."
"Perhaps we should give you a haircut then." suggested Tatenashi.
"Maybe later." shot down Raiden as the girl pouted. After smelling his hair, Tatenashi began to nip at his ear a little, earning a small grunt from him. Not wanting to be pinned down, Raiden flipped Tatenashi over, earning a Nya~ from her as he began to nuzzle her and purr. Tatenashi only purred back and nuzzle as well, feeling Raiden on top of her before flipping him back over.
To her urge, she slowly grinded on Raiden and took one last sip of the sake before she collapsed on top of him. Raiden instinctively and naturally caressed Tatenashi before she fell asleep. Looks as if the alcohol has made her too relaxed. And Raiden was pinned down hard by the blunnette cat but then again, he has been in worse positions as a child growing up. He then begins to think in deep thought as Tatenashi clings onto him as if he were a hugging pillow, which he hasn't ever experienced beforehand.
This girl…Cute and all, but mysterious. How can I be sure to trust her if she knows of my past? Of all my black sins that I have committed? Can someone like her who is mischievous really be trustworthy?
Well, no use thinking about it now that she is my roommate. Although…
Raiden looks down at the sleeping form of the blunnette cat and, seeing her beauty sleep, couldn't help but smile and he gently nuzzled the top of her head with his. The scent filled his lungs like that of pink roses in an aroma of feministic nature.
He couldn't help but feel attracted to her. And his blood was naturally beginning to boil somewhat.
I wonder what Akane would be thinking of this?
Raiden could only accept the situation at hand before he fell asleep and Tatenashi along with him. Tatenashi could only squeeze him a bit tighter and smile as she laid her head on his heart.
Raiden called out Ichika one morning to the arena. Apparently, the blind boy requested to give Ichika some personal training to which he was given after much persuasion to Chifuyu. Some of the girls in training, including Cecilia and Houki, could only watch from the sidelines as both Ichika and Raiden stand face to face from each other on each side of the arena. Raiden and Ichika were wearing their IS suits but Raiden kept his uniform coat on.
"I'm glad I called you out here." Said Raiden. "I would've thought you forget."
"Since when do I ever?" asked Ichika. "You said you would be training me, right?"
"I did. But the training I will give will be much different than what you have been getting lately." said Raiden as he turns around. "Tell me, An-chan. Have you ever been a fast runner during your elementary school days?"
"Huh?" asked a confused Ichika. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just answer the question, fool." said a sharp Raiden which Ichika tensed up at.
"Uh…no."
"I see. Listen, An-chan. When you're a kid in your elementary days, just being a fast runner makes you popular amongst the girls. But come around middle school, you must learn how to hold your own when it comes to fights."
Suddenly, Raiden throws his trench coat into the air before turning to Ichika.
"Now then, come after me from where you are, boy! Or are you too scared to fight?"
Ichika complied and tried to charge at Raiden but with each time he charged, Raiden simply knocks him back with a punch. Once Ichika was on the ground on his side, Raiden pinned Ichika's right arm with his knee while using his left hand to hold his other arm and his right hand to hold Ichika's head.
"Listen, An-chan. You cannot tell the difference between 'strength' and 'violence' because you believe them to be the same."
"What difference is there?!" asks Ichika as he gets his right arm out of the hold and, with his Judo skills, tries to hook onto Raiden and pin him down but the blind boy holds it back.
"Used correctly…." Raiden lifts Ichika high with a grunt. "Strength becomes your ally!" With this, Raiden slam Ichika onto the ground, making him lose his grip and stunning him for a brief moment. "But used incorrectly…" Raiden pushes Ichika's legs aside and then knees him in the stomach. "Violence becomes your enemy!" Air leaves Ichika's lungs as the pain from Raiden's knee courses throughout his body.
Everyone that watched was shocked. They didn't think Raiden's training was this brutal and Ichika was merely being a punching bag. Even though it was deemed training, some of them, including Houki and Cecilia, felt that this was too extreme to watch.
"You personally decide whether it's right or wrong. Not using your strength is mighty in another way. It all comes down to intent. Don't just use strength, use your head. Use anything at your disposal!"
With that, Ichika does partial activation with his right hand and in comes swinging Yukihira Nigata 2 which Raiden nearly dodges and backs off by doing a couple backflips.
Ichika, with his IS fully activated, gets up on his feet with a smile of determination but what he doesn't realize is that Raiden had a face of disappointment and anger.
"You idiot!" yelled Raiden as he pointed his finger in irritation. "Don't you dare use your IS! That's a coward's tactic!"
"You're the one to say to use anything I could!" retorted Ichika.
"Did I ever say that would include your IS, you fool?!" With that, Raiden charges in and activates his IS fully and slams Ichika in the head with his leg which he barely blocked with his sword. The kick was so strong that Ichika was sent flying into the stands and crashed into it.
Later that night…
In the infirmary, Ichika was recovering. His head was bandaged up but the injury wasn't too bad. Raiden received somewhat a hearing from Chifuyu about causing collateral damage and of nearly getting Ichika severely injured, to which the blind boy simply shrugged off.
Speaking of Raiden, he came in and, with a pile of books in hand, placed them next to Ichika's table.
"What's this?" asked Ichika.
"Listen." began Raiden. "Guys who can fight are only popular in middle school. Once you're in high school, in this case the IS Academy, brains make you popular."
Ichika sighs. "Again? Do I have to read all this? I'm not much of a book reader though."
"Just read books," said Raiden. "and try out anything that interests you. Whether it is IS related or not, the knowledge within will become your life's wisdom and the nourishment that keeps you alive. If there's any book you want to read but cannot find, tell me. I'll buy it with the money I have. Even if it is manga, that's fine. I'll buy you as much as you want. Read all you like but be sure not to just shelf them and let the dust take over."
Raiden then takes his leave as Ichika stares at the massive mountain of books. Having Raiden's words stick directly into his head, he decides to take one out and begin reading it before Rin entered to see him, hearing about the rough training.
Everyone gathered over to the holographic board to see who was pitted against who in the tournament. Raiden and Ichika arrived and when they see who will go first, they saw two names.
Hataru Raiden vs Lingyin Fan
"Fan Lingyin." said Raiden before he asked "An-chan, that's your friend, Rin, right?"
Ichika nodded "Y-Yeah. I didn't think she would go up against you."
"Neither did I. I can't even believe it for myself." said Raiden sarcastically.
"You better believe it!" said a familiar voice. The boys turned around and saw Rin with her hands at her side and sporting an angry face which was mainly directed towards Ichika.
"I'm actually glad that I get to fight you. Because if there is one thing I don't like about you, it's your blindfold and what you did to Ichika a few days ago." Rin then pointed an accusing finger at Raiden.
Raiden remained silent as Ichika tried to calm Rin down but to no avail. He was about to protest but Raiden held him back with a simple wave of the arm.
"If you really think you can fight while blinded like that, then you best prove it to me! Show me what you are made of, and I'll—"
In that moment, a loud gasp was heard from everyone as Raiden, in quick flash, took out his iron fan and held it near Rin's neck. Had he gone any further, he would hit her pretty badly and possibly killed her.
The atmosphere tensed very tightly as did everyone's breaths. Some covered their eyes or their mouths in shock while others had a look of fear upon their faces, covering them in the process. Rin could not even breath and merely stood frozen at how quick Raiden was. Maybe she underestimated him a little. Then again, she is a stubborn girl who doesn't give up until the end.
Ichika stood shocked. He didn't think his only male friend would go so far as to draw a dangerous weapon and have it so close to his childhood friend's neck. Cecilia could only watch in shock and fear as the big brother figure she had idolized just turned into something she did not expect to see. Houki could only look wide eyed, for at least she now knows that it would be wise not insult someone such as Raiden. Yet she felt as if something within Raiden awoke him to the point of drawing out his iron fan. It made her curious yet also fearful.
Eventually, after a moment or two, Raiden relaxed and retracted his iron fan before putting it away until he said these words.
"Arena 6. Two hours from now." Raiden coldly said as he sheathed his iron war fan. He then turned around and before walking out, he coldly said,
"You shall have your 'challenge.'"
Later at the rooftop…
"You're willing to fight her?" asked Cecilia to Raiden, whom the two were on the rooftop of the Academy. Raiden looked out to the school grounds with Cecilia behind him.
"Are you even insane?!" asked Cecilia in fear. "Why would you ever accept a challenge from a representative candidate?"
"The fault is mine." responded Raiden. "I was a coward for having to back down from your challenge. I can't make the same mistake again."
"That's not what I'm talking about. Why do you have to do it?"
"Because I cannot allow my own cowardice to take over. I will fight, even if I get severely injured or killed in the process."
"How could you say such a thing?" asked Cecilia in a small and uneasy voice. Raiden turned around and saw tears start to form from her eyes. "How could you, my big brother, ever say such words? Can you not look from the view of others and how they feel?"
"Cecil…" Cecilia hung her head low.
"I don't want anyone, not my friends, not even you, to be in danger. I don't want to lose you."
"I'm sorry. However, I do not intend to go out there only to be defeated."
"But…" Raiden walks over to Cecilia and pats her head. He then reassures,
"I'll be alright." Cecilia then looks up to her big brother figure. "As long as you are there for me, I'll emerge victorious."
Cecilia began to calm down as Raiden continued to pat her head before ruffling up a little bit of her hair, getting a slight annoyed moan in response from her to which Raiden chuckled at. Then, a question suddenly popped into his mind.
"By the way, Cecil, what's with you calling me 'Aniki'?" Cecilia regained her normal composure and asked in response,
"What's with you calling me 'Cecil'?"
Raiden simply responds "Makes it easier for me to remember you by."
Cecilia gave a "Hmph" remark before she said "Then my reason is that I care for you as a fellow student and friend, and you're older than me. I was wrong to have make judgments on you and now see you as something else after hearing of your past. Plus, having you deny my challenge showed me your humility. You care for me; I care for you. Like siblings."
"Huh." Raiden strangely agreed. He felt that there was more she was hiding yet didn't want to say. Despite the sternness in her eyes, Raiden could feel that there was more, which begged him one question.
Did he and Cecilia meet before in the past?
It was time for the match. For Raiden, this was his first match. Thank goodness all that training with Chifuyu in the after-school sessions paid off. Then again, he also trained on his own, most of the time. Usually, he would train until night before he turned in for the night, to Chifuyu's chagrin at times. Rin was already standing at the arena, waiting for her opponent. Back at the hangar, there stood Ichika, Cecilia, Houki, and Raiden, with the blind boy ready in his IS.
"Yamada-sensei." Raiden asked. "Give me the schematics for Lingyin's IS."
The image of Rin's IS popped up in front of Raiden as Yamada explained its capabilities.
"Her IS is Shenlong. Like your IS, it's a close combat type."
"Except for the fact of the two Shock Cannons mounted on each shoulder. It'll be a hassle for me to fight if she pins me down with those."
"This will be your first fight, Aniki." said a concerned Cecilia. "Are you ready for it?"
Raiden could only smile a little but it was enough to comfort Cecilia as he said, "Relax. I'll be alright. It's time I teach that twerp a lesson anyway."
Ichika said "Be careful out there, Raiden."
"No need for the reassurance." said Raiden. "I just need to keep her scimitar away from me with the gunblade and take out those cannons if possible."
He's already got a strategy in his head. Houki thought to herself. But how will he execute it?
The doors to the arena from the hangar opened and Raiden stepped onto the platform, ready for takeoff. Raiden kneeled a little before he allowed the IS to propel him forward and make him shoot out to the arena. Once out, Rin flew up to his height.
"If you apologize now for what you almost did, I won't hurt you too badly." said Rin.
Raiden could only stay silent as Rin continued her rant. "Just so you know, the Absolute Defense System isn't perfect. With a power that overwhelms the shield, you can hurt the opponent without killing them."
"You're going to talk—or fight, Lingyin." retorted Raiden as he drew out the gunblade.
"Begin match." The announcer spoke over the mic. Rin drew out her scimitar and the two opponents charged at each other and made contact with their weapons, with sparks flying all over.