-1700 HRS. Hawthorne Airport, Los Angeles, California, Day 29-

The three entered the plane that Natasha arranged for them, saying their goodbyes to the officers that helped them before leaving.

An hour later, Ichika and Charlotte looked at Alex, sitting alone as he looked at the window, completely silent during the flight. He had a sling that supported his arm. Ichika tries to approach him, only to be stopped by Charlotte, shaking her head as she grabbed him by the shoulder.

The two decided to leave him alone for now until they return to the academy.


-2100 HRS. Dormitories, IS Academy-

The three walked along the familiar halls of the Academy dormitories. The silence meant that everyone is either studying or asleep. Alex stops at the front door of his room.

"See you tomorrow." He said, letting go of his bag to unlock the door. The two did nothing but stare at him.

Alex looks back at them, raising an eyebrow. "What? I got this. Now get some shut eye." He assured.

Ichika finally had the courage to speak. "But… Can you at least go to the infirmary to have your wounds treated?" He asked.

Alex growled. "Like hell I need it. Now get some sleep." He said as he clenched his arm. He picks up his bags and enters his room but he softly closes his door and locks it.

Ichika looked at another door, just a few feet from Alex's room. "Well… There's my room… See you tomorrow, Charl." He said as he carried his bags.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Ichika." Charlotte said. As she was the only one left in the hallway, she looked at Alex's door to find a small opening. A faint sound of scissors cutting and pained grunting was heard.

Charlotte peeped in without him noticing, only to see him removing the bandage to reveal the wound. She saw him inject his arm with a small dose of morphine on the wound to relieve the pain. She backed away from the door as she saw Alex himself treating his wounds.


-2105 HRS. Charlotte and Laura's room-

Charlotte entered the room, only to see Laura sleeping in her cat pajamas. She smiled as she sees the mere sight of a tuckered out Laura. She placed her bags near her bed and grabs a bath towel. A quick shower and change of clothes, she goes to bed and prepares for tomorrow. As she lies down on her bed, she couldn't help but think of Alex.

"Alex… What ever happened to you?"


-0900 HRS. Room 1-1, Day 30-

As the next morning comes, the room was filled with their classmates. Rin, Cecilia and Houki walked towards Ichika and Charlotte as they enter the room.

"Ichika, are you okay?" Cecilia asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ichika assured.

"Could you be any slower?" Rin exclaimed.

"I've told you hundreds of times before, you should never let your guard down, Ichika." Houki reprimanded.

"I'm sorry for making you guys worry." Ichika said, chuckling nervously.

"What happened to Alex? We haven't seen him yet. Is he okay as well?" Cecilia asked as she looks behind the two, mentioning his absence.

"He's having his wounds treated again. He got shot real bad." Charlotte answered.

Cecilia gasped as she heard. "Oh dear… But he'll make it, right?" She asked as she covered her mouth.

"Yeah, he'll make it… but… I don't know. He was really mad when he saw us back there. I'm worried." Charlotte said with a worried look on her, having some knowledge about Alex's past.

"Huh… I'd never thought you'd worry about another boy." Rin said with a small smirk on her face.

"R-Rin, What are you saying?! Of course I'd be worried! It's because of us, he got shot!" Charlotte stammered as she defended, trying to hide the red shade on her face.

"Why are you blushing then?" Houki asked.

"N-nothing!" Charlotte stammered as she shook her head.

The sound of the door sliding open was heard, with Alex at the doorway. Having the usual stoic expression, he looked as if he didn't sleep for a few days, sporting a thin stubble and there was a glimpse of the bandage exposed under his sleeve. The silver-gray chevron had a little bit of blood in it.

"I'm back… What did I miss?" He asked everyone.

"Alex!" Everyone exclaimed. Almost all of his classmates rushed towards the recovering officer.

"Alex-kun, are you all right?!"

"Oh my! They messed you real bad, did they?!"

"You poor thing… Please let us take care of you!"

Alex sighed as a handful of girls wanted to take care of him. "All right, girls. Stop fussing. I've been shot several times before, so this isn't new for me." He assured, but that didn't stop the girls wanting to take care of him.

Ichika looked at Alex. He seemed calm but inside he was distraught. "Hey… Thanks for taking us in. I'm sorry if I made things on edge." Ichika apologized.

"Don't mention it. It's the least I could do." Alex assured him without looking. He covers his distraught emotions with a small shrug. "Were you comfortable during your stay?" He asked.

"Yeah… It was nice at your place. North Hollywood. Who knew." Ichika said, nodding hesitantly.

"I know it looks simple and it's not much, but there are a lot of good folks up at my neighborhood. They have a huge amount of respect to us." Alex said before he sets his eyes at Charlotte. "How about you? Enjoyed the stay?" He asked.

"Y-yes… It was comfortable." She stammered as she looked away.

"Uncle Doug was the one who covered me with a blanket, didn't he?" Alex asked, not knowing that it was Charlotte that covered him.

"Um… No, your cousin was the one who covered you! That's it!" She said as she laughed nervously.

Alex raised an eyebrow as he sees Charlotte acting weird. "…okay…" He said.

"Uncle? Cousin?" The others asked in unison.

"It's a long story…" Charlotte answered. The door opens again to see Tatenashi tackles Alex playfully.

"Alex-kuuuun~! Are you all right?!" She asked as she gave Alex a hug from behind, her arms rubbed his wounds as she wraps them around his chest.

"Ow! Hello to you too, Tatenashi! Now will you get off me?!" Alex exclaimed as he felt Tatenashi's arm brush his wound.

"Awww why?! We missed our police officer! You know we wanted you to come back unharmed!" Tatenashi exclaimed.

"All of you are concerned, I know… I understand." He said.

"How are you feeling now?" Houki asked.

"I'm fine. Doc said that the bullet didn't go further to the waist after it pierced my arm. The bleeding stopped for now at least. I'll live." Alex answered as he looks at the bandage. Rin and Cecilia shuddered as they clenched their arms. The looks on their faces tell that they were worried because he was wounded.

"What? Look, I'm 22 years old! I've been serving for quite a while! It's not new for me to get shot at, all right?!" Alex exclaimed.

"Ehhh?!" The rest of were surprised by Alex's age.

"Oh come on, don't act like you don't know!" He exclaimed, filling the room with laughter from the girls.

Charlotte looked at the two guys—their units weren't on their wrists.

"Ichika… Alex…"


-Pilot scanning facility, 2 hours ago-

Ichika and Alex were being scanned for any abnormalities occurring in their bodies. The results were obtained only for a minute or two after the scanning process was done.

"Anything on the two's results?" Chifuyu asked.

"On Orimura-kun's case, there's nothing wrong on his body, but I'm detecting some abnormal quantum effects on Byakushiki. Despite his distance, the explosion still reached him." Maya said as she analyzes Ichika's results.

"Orimura-kun, can you deploy your Yukihira?" She requested. Ichika's sword didn't materialize.

"Not good. What about Fields?" Chifuyu asked.

"Alex-kun… if you can, do the same." She suggested. Alex tries to materialize a handgun, but as it fails, he cringes, clenching his wound.

"Damn it… Why won't it deploy?!" He snarled.

"Fields, that's enough." Chifuyu said.

"They couldn't deploy their IS units, but Alex's case is worse. Besides his arm, I'm detecting off-the-chart readings around the head portion." Maya said.

"Alex, do you experience any migraines, nausea, or anything of the sort?" She asked.

"Yeah, sometimes. The last time I had a migraine was a few weeks ago. I had to take four painkillers to make it stop." Alex answered.

"What's the cause?" Chifuyu asked.

"I couldn't tell without further tests." Maya answered.

Chifuyu sighed as the fact that the two male pilots are unable to deploy their units. "Fields, Orimura. Hand over your units." She instructed. The two pilots clenched their grip on their units, hesitating as they were told to hand over their units.

"But… What if there's another attack?" Ichika asked, unsure and having doubts.

"That's why I want you to hand it over. What would you do if you get to where you're unable to deploy Byakushiki itself? You're better off not to rely on incomplete power. Or… do you feel scared without Byakushiki?" Chifuyu asked. Ichika went silent for a moment.

"I'm not afraid, Chifuyu-nee." He assured as he hands over Byakushiki, Alex still has his grip on his unit.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Ichika might be right. Mind that the enemy that we're facing can be very unpredictable. God knows how and when they will attack." Alex supported.

Chifuyu raised her eyebrows. "Huh. I never thought I would hear doubts from you, Fields." She remarked. "Are you afraid as well?" She asked.

"I'm not the one that should be cared about. I can defend myself even without my IS. But the idea of everyone being in danger? No… Fuck no! Like hell I'm gonna let that happen!" Alex exclaimed, defending.

"So you're still willing to protect Ichika and his friends, even if it means putting your life on the line?" Chifuyu asked. He kept silent for a few moments.

"I've lived long enough, Orimura-sensei…And I'd rather die than see my friends suffer." Alex answered.

Charlotte looked at him as she shook her head, having the expression on her face that she doesn't want Alex to push himself to the point that it might kill him. Chifuyu noticed this and responded by promptly hitting him on the head with a clipboard.

"I appreciate your determination to protect my brother and his friends, but don't treat yourself like an expendable. You have a lot to go through at your age, so don't you tell me that." She reprimanded. Alex lowered his head.

"Now, the only problem is that what if the girls found out?" She asked.

"I know that they're going to panic, but for security reasons, we should at least inform the representatives." Maya added.

Chifuyu sighed. "This is giving me a headache…"

"Please don't let them know! I'll protect Alex and Ichika!" Charlotte pleaded suddenly, making everyone's eyes turn to her.

Alex was surprised, shaking his head. "No… No, Charlotte… I don't want you to—"

"Please, Alex! I want to help!" She pleaded as she gets on his face.

Alex paused for a moment to understand her reasons. He sighed as he agreed. "All right. But on one condition. I want you to focus more on Ichika's safety." He instructed. She agreed but she will keep an eye on him from time to time as well.

"Then everything's settled. Fields, hand in your IS unit and have your injuries checked to the infirmary." Chifuyu instructed. Alex hands in his unit and exits. He stopped at the doorway.

"Orimura-sensei… were these two just… following orders?" He asked without looking.

"What made you ask that? Is it about the operation in Los Angeles?" Chifuyu was intrigued by his question.

"Were they just following orders or not?" He turned his head to her as he asks again.

"Yes, but only Dunois was supposed to be there, yet Ichika volunteered to assist her." She answered.

He sighed at the thought of Ichika volunteering. "That's all I need to know." He said as he left the room.


-Present time-

"Charlotte? Hey, are you still there?" Alex asked her as he waves his hand in front of her.

"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'm here." She said as she snapped out of her trance. The two looked at Laura as she shows a magazine about striped panties to Ichika.

"Man… Laura can be pretty weird sometimes." He muttered, making Charlotte chuckle.

Laura noticed the two. "Charlotte, Fields! Help me pick a good design for my wife!" She instructed.

Alex scoffed as he backs off. "Whoa... Not in a million years, Laura."

"But Fields, I'm sure you too have a liking for striped panties! I'm surprised that you're modest as my wife!" Laura exclaimed, making Alex gag at his own spit.

"That's not how it works…" Alex wheezed. "Where do you get all these, Laura? I thought that you only needed to be nice and simple to get attention." He added.

"You really shouldn't talk about this kind of stuff to guys." Charlotte added. She stopped as she felt something disappear on her person.

"I'm sorry, but I have to go!" She said as she rushed outside, leaving everyone confused. A few moments later, Alex breaks the silence.

"So… Anything happened?"


-0930 HRS. Dormitories-

Alex drops off a few of his things back at his dormitory. As he exits, he sees Ichika and Charlotte at the hallway. Ichika lied down back-first, and Charlotte was sitting on the floor, with her IS partially active.

"Hey! What's with all the ruckus over there?!" Alex called their attention. Charlotte yelped and gets up on her feet as he approaches them.

"What are you still doing here?" She stammered.

"I should say that to the two of you. You know the consequences when you're late for Chifuyu's class! 20 laps on the damn track!" He exclaimed.

"I know! We we're just rushing to class!" Charlotte exclaimed. He approached Ichika, who was still lying.

"Ichika? Hey! Wake up, you're gonna miss your sister's class!" Alex calls, only to no response. He lightly slaps him in the face several times. "Dude, if you can hear us, make a sound." He said.

Ichika made a soft gurgling sound as he comes back to his senses. "Yep, he's fine." Alex sighed.

"Look, whatever you two doing, it's none of my business." He said as he looked at the two. As he looked at Charlotte, she yelped and placed her hands on her skirt.

"I-it's nothing, really!" She said as she kept stammering.

"All right then, you two. Let's get to Chifuyu's class. If I'm gonna run, then I'd rather run without a cast." He said, making the two agree.


-1300 HRS. Cafeteria-

Alex sat with Ichika and the girls, except Charlotte, who wasn't with them. He opened the paper bag to reveal two lunch boxes. "Here." He said as he gave the other one to Ichika.

"Alex, what's this?" Ichika asked.

"It's pork katsudon." Alex answered.

"I know, but what's all this about?" Ichika asked. Alex sighed in frustration as Ichika gets dense.

"Late birthday treat. Hello, anybody in there? Didn't Charlotte told you that I'm gonna treat you lunch when I get back?" Alex reminded as he promptly knocks on Ichika's forehead. The girls raised an eyebrow or two.

"It's not much. At least I still got the strength to cook some chow. It's the thought that counts." He added. He looked at his own lunch box to show a meager amount of mashed potatoes and buffalo chicken strips.

"Oh. Y-you don't have to do that. I mean… What about you?" Ichika stammered.

"Ichika's right, Alex. It's not okay to stay hungry in your condition." Houki warned.

"Who said that I'll stay hungry? Just chow down, guys." Alex said. Everyone hesitated but ate.

"Hey, haven't you noticed Charlotte acting kinda weird lately?" He asked everyone after swallowing a mouthful of his food.

"You wouldn't believe what just happened a few hours ago." Rin answered.

"Okay, do tell." Alex said as he went all ears.

"Oh, it's not much. We were just playing volleyball at the rooftop. When Rin passed the ball to her, she suddenly held down her skirt." Cecilia narrated.

"Now that you mentioned it, she acted embarrassed when she sat down on her seat during class. Didn't any of us notice that she's been acting weird since morning?" Ichika added, only to receive painful pinches from Houki and Laura. Alex sighed as he calmed them down.

"Laura, you're her roommate, right? Didn't you notice any of this?" Alex asked as he points to Laura.

Laura shook her head. "No, not recently. Why so concerned?" She asked, making everyone turn their eyes to him.

Alex paused for a moment. "What?! What's wrong with that?! After all, we're friends, right?! Of course I'd be concerned!" He exclaimed as he stammered.

"All right, no need to burn a fuse." Laura said as she calmed him down. Alex sighed and apologized, having guilt in his voice. "What's up with you anyway? Why do you act so guilty and you want to patch things up with her?" She asked.

"That night in Los Angeles… Maybe I'm the one at fault. It might be that I was so stressed on my duties as a cop, it might have frightened her. I really didn't know that those two would come to my place." He said, mentioning how he acted back in Los Angeles.

Laura sighed. "You're thinking too much, Alex. But if you feel the need to say sorry to her, go ahead. We won't stop you." She said, making everyone nod in agreement.

"Charlotte's a nice person. Even if you're at fault that time, I'm sure she'd understand." Cecilia supported. A moment later, Charlotte entered the cafeteria, having a bowl of ramen noodles and some tea on her tray

"And so the angel comes." Alex muttered as he finished his lunch.

"Hey guys. Can I sit with you?" Charlotte asked.

"Oh, no problem." Houki said as she makes room for her to sit. As she sat down beside her and Alex, she yelped and covered her mouth.

"Something wrong, Charlotte?" Alex asked as he tilts his head.

"Ah, no. It's nothing… The chair just feels cold." She said as a big shade of pinkish-red covered most of her face.

"Um… Okay." He said. "Like I said… Weird." He whispered to Laura. Charlotte ate with them as she acted like it was only a usual day. They turn their attention on Alex as he cringes with his stomach growling, his other hand on the bandage.

"I'm fine." He muttered. Feeling a hint of guilt, Ichika took a chunk of his lunch before turning to Alex.

"Just a bite." He said as he tries to feed him. Alex hesitates out of embarrassment. A hint of jealousy was evident amongst the girls.

"This is your lunch, man. I-I couldn't." He stammered.

Ichika sighed as he hesitates. "You know it wouldn't hurt you to ask for help." He reprimanded.

"Just let someone help you for once, Alex. Ichika's right. Asking for help won't hurt you." Rin added.

"Look, I cooked that as a birthday treat for Ichika. I'm not gonna-" Alex stopped as he cringed again from feeling his stomach growl.

"Ah… Fuck it. Maybe just one bite…" He said as he gives in. Ichika gets closer to feed him.

"Open up." Ichika said.

Alex becomes embarrassed as Ichika tries to make him open his mouth. "Look, can't I just feed myse—AAAH!" He yelped as Laura sharply pinched his hip. Ichika took the chance and fed him.

Alex swallowed a mouthful of food. "Laura Bodewig, that was SO UNCALLED FOR!" He groaned as he looked at Laura.

"What? I didn't do anything. Besides, you talk too much." Laura said, acting innocent.

"Yeah, right… Okay, man. I'm full." He assured, only to look at him with another chunk of pork pointing at him.

"One more bite?" He asked. Before answering, Alex looked around to see most of the students in the cafeteria looking at them with ecstatic faces. Some sighed, some swooned, some of them even wiped the thin stream of blood from their noses. This made him very uncomfortable.

"No, Ichika. That's en—AAAAH!" He yelped as Laura stepped on his foot, making a loud crunching sound.

Ichika and the girls giggled as a defeated look was evident on his face as he chews on another mouthful. The wounds might be painful, but for him, it was nice to see that Ichika the girls have at least a little time to smile and laugh.

"Thanks, guys. I feel better already." He said as he shrugged the feeling off.


-1530 HRS. Hallways-

Alex was on his way to the classroom. As he goes to the stairwell, he sees Charlotte carrying a box upstairs.

"Hey! Need any help there, Charlotte?" Alex called. As she looks back to see him, she blushed deeply.

"A-Alex?!" Charlotte yelped, holding down her skirt as she dropped the box to Alex's chest. He fell flat on his back as he felt the box land on him.

"Aaaah! God, my arm!" Alex grunted, feeling the pain on his wound. A few moments later, he gets back up on his feet and tries to move his arm.

"Come on, Alex… Don't embarrass yourself like this… Just a little more… Ahh! There we go…" He muttered as he carries the box that Charlotte was carrying.

"Alex, you don't have to carry that!" Charlotte stammered as she pleaded.

Alex smiled at her. "It's okay, Charlotte. I could use some work." He said. "This is for the library at the end of the hall, yeah?" He asked the French representative.

"Oui. It is…" Charlotte said. The two walked together to reach the end of the hallway. As they walk, Charlotte looks at his bandaged arm as he carries the stuff for the library. She showed concern for Alex as she stares at the bandages.

"Y'know, you've been acting really funny today." Alex said.

"F-Funny?!" She stammered as she hears him.

"Funny as in… weird, not funny ha-ha." Alex cleared what he said. "As I was saying… You yelp when you sit, you play with the hem on your skirt… Heck, I even caught you staring at me and you didn't even notice." He said. Charlotte looked away as she hides the red tint on her face.

"…I… really don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." Charlotte mumbled as she lowered her head.

"Um… It's cool, I guess. Is there something on your mind?" He asked her.

"It's nothing." Charlotte said before chuckling nervously. Alex looked at her as she showed a faint pink-to-red shade on her cheeks that accompanied with a sad face. The silence was broken a few minutes later.

"You must be scared about what happened, huh? I guess I'm to blame for it. After all, you two were my responsibility back there. I'm sorry, Charlotte." He said.

"Y-you don't have to apologize! I understand, and I'm glad I can help you and Ichika!" Charlotte assured.

"But I don't want you to carry out orders like I do, Charlotte. I don't want anyone else to take their responsibilities too far. Just me doing that is already enough." Alex pleaded, trying to calm himself down.

"But…" Feeling a hint of guilt strike her from what Alex said, Charlotte tries to reason with him.

"I'm glad that I took that shot. I just wanted you two to be okay." Alex sighed.

"You're so caring, Alex…" Charlotte muttered as she returned to her sad face.

"What was that?" Alex asked her.

"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all…" Charlotte said, giving off a small smile.


-1345 HRS. Library-

Alex was guided by Charlotte to place the box on the table. As Alex did what Charlotte tells him, he wipes off the sweat on his forehead with his arm.

"There. I'll tell the teacher that you helped me carry this pile of books." Charlotte said.

"All right, then. I'll see you around?" Alex asked her, she nodded.

Alex was about to leave the room, when she remembers something. "Alex, wait!" Charlotte walked towards him.

"Yeah—Wait, Charlotte! Your—" As Alex is about to finish his sentence, Charlotte trips and falls over.

"KYAAAAH!"

"…shoe's untied…" He faintly muttered as he catches Charlotte into his arms. Charlotte regains her senses after the fall.

"Alex, I'm so sorry! Are you all right?" She asked before seeing where she's at. She gasped when she realized that his hands held her arms.

"Yeah, Charlotte. I'm completely… fine…" Alex said as he looks at Charlotte. The officer seemed to be mesmerized by the French representative's beauty.

Charlotte gets up in embarrassment and looks away from him. "I-It was an accident!" She defended.

"Oh, don't worry. It happens—Accidents… that is." Alex stammered, with embarrassment in his voice. The two chuckled nervously before Alex notices her untied shoelace.

"Your shoe's untied, by the way." Alex pointed at her shoes. Charlotte looks at her right foot to see a loose shoelace.

"I got it!" Charlotte assures him. As she kneels to tie her shoe, she suddenly stood up, showing a deep blush as she covered her skirt.

"Can't do it, huh?" Alex asked her as he places his hands on his waist.

Charlotte stammered. "No! It's just that… My knees hurt…" Charlotte said. By the looks of it, she was obviously making an alibi.

"Uh-huh… All right, let me." Alex said as he kneels to tie her shoe. Charlotte placed her hands on her skirt.

"Alex, w-what are you doing?! Stop this, please! Y-you don't have to go this far!" Charlotte pleaded.

"Why are you—Look, I'm not gonna look under your skirt. It's not like you don't have any underwear on or something. Can't you trust me?" Alex assured her. Charlotte's face was already red as she hesitated for a moment then eventually lets Alex tie her shoe.

"I'm sorry for making you do this…" She thought to herself.

"Over and back… left to right… make a loop… All right, it's done." Alex muttered as he finishes tying her shoe. As he stands up, he wipes the dust off his knees and fixes his sleeves.

"Well… See you in class?" He asked.

"Wait…" She called him, making him stop at his tracks. "Just take care of yourself, okay?" She pleaded. Alex paused for a moment then hesitantly nodded. He left the room afterwards.

"It was a lucky guess, right? I'd be ashamed if Ichika ever finds out about this! He might not talk to me anymore! I don't want that to happen!" She thought to herself as she held down her skirt.


-1545 HRS. Hallways-

Alex continued down the hall to get to the next class. The words of concern from the French representative lingered around his mind.

"I'm not that special, and I don't want to put her and everyone else in danger… but besides everything… what am I to her?"

As he goes down to the hall, His phone rang.

"Yes?"

"Just want to tell you that our operations will be transferred to Central HQ." Natasha said.

"At least it's close to home. I'll report there from time to time, Natasha; Transfer orders or not." Alex said. "So, what did the Investigation teams said?" He asked.

"You've got a good start, but Autumn's profile on the data chip that you recovered was not enough, and we barely have information on the other two members." She reported.

"What matters is that we got at least a good trace of Phantom Task's tracks to the crimes." Alex replied. "Did the two know about the mission?" He asked.

Natasha answered. "No, the mission's still on green light. As expected of Ichika Orimura, he's completely oblivious to it. How's your arm?"

"It stings. But it'll patch. I've had worse." He answered.

"…That's good to know. We'll update you if anything happens. For now, you still have the same objective. Keep an eye on the representatives, get any intel from them. Listen, I know that you deemed these kids innocent, but you have to convince the brass." Natasha instructed.

"Understood." Alex nodded as he replied.

"And Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry if I had to drag you back into this." She said, having regret in her voice. Alex went completely silent. By the look on his face, he looked and felt as if he had deep and personal regrets about his decisions. Was it filled with anger? Anguish? Pain?

"Alex? Alex, are you there?" Natasha called. He ended the call and went on his way in trance and in deep thoughts. What did Natasha meant when she "dragged him back?" What made Alex so distraught about it? As his mind goes in deep thoughts, he bumped onto Houki as he walked, making him snap back to his senses.

"…Houki? Rin? Cecilia? What are you doing here? I thought you three are back at the classroom." Alex said.

Houki tilted her head and Cecilia and Rin raised an eyebrow. "Alex, what are you talking about? Class ended 15 minutes ago!" Houki cleared.

"Class ended…that fast? God, I must be losing my mind…" Alex sighed as he squeezed the bridge of his nose.

"Are you sure you're okay? Do you want us to take you to the clinic?" Cecilia asked, concerned about his condition.

"Just a headache. A couple of aspirin tablets and it'll be nothing." He answered.

Rin sighed. "You need to rest at least for a while, you know. Anyway, have you seen Charlotte?" She asked.

"Um… yeah. I just helped her with something down at the library, just down that hall. I'll be back at the room just to grab my stuff. Christ, I need a break." He said as he pointed northbound.

"Thanks. See you later then." Houki said. Alex went on his way. "First Charlotte, now Alex is the one acting weird." She muttered.

Meanwhile, Charlotte exits the library, having her tasks finished.

"Until their IS units are back to normal, I have to protect Ichika and Alex at all costs." She said to herself.

"Protect them from what, Charlotte?" Houki, Cecilia and Rin asked in unison, overhearing her.

"G-guys?! What a coincidence to meet with you here! I-I was just moving some books to the library, the teacher asked me! Well, see you later." Charlotte stammered, walking fast as if she's avoiding the three.

"Charlotte…" Houki placed her hand on Charlotte's shoulder.

"About what you said… We want to know more detail…" Cecilia and Rin stepped in. Charlotte chuckled nervously, eventually telling what happened this morning.


-1600 HRS. Room 1-1-

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?!" Houki yelled.

"You shouldn't have hesitated!" Cecilia added.

"Do you realize that you're being targeted?!" Rin said as the three went on Ichika's face, trying to knock some sense into him.

"…Did you guys figure out about Byakushiki?" Ichika asked the three.

"Of course! Why wouldn't be on your face if we didn't know?!" Houki answered.

"You should at least thank Alex for protecting you! He's in the same situation as you are!" Rin added.

"To make matters worse, he was shot in the process!" Cecilia stepped in.

"That's it. I have no choice. I'll protect you." Houki presumed.

"No, it's time for me and Blue Tears to step in!" Cecilia objected.

"Yours is a Long-range sniper type! You can't be Ichika's bodyguard! Just leave it to me and Shenlong!" Rin stepped in.

"What did you just say?!" Cecilia yelled, sparking arguments from the three. As the three argued, Charlotte grabs Ichika's hand.

"Ichika, come with me. Hurry!"


-1605 HRS. Hallways-

The two ran away from the room, escaping the three girls while in a heated argument.

"I'm sorry, Ichika… I really am." Charlotte said as they ran down the hall.

"It's not your fault. You can't help it, but I think they deserve to know." Ichika assumed. As they ran, a blue drone followed them, firing off a short laser beam.

"Hey! We could have been hurt, you know!" Ichika exclaimed as they dodged the projectile.

Cecilia smiled as she chuckled. "Don't worry, Ichika-kun. I lowered its power." She assured.

"Look out!" Charlotte pushed Ichika as she dodged Rin's souten gagetsu.

"Relax, I just tapped it." Rin said as she grabs the blade.

"Tapped?! You just stabbed the wall!" Ichika yelled.

"Step out of the way and let an elite protect him!" Cecilia yelled, charging.

"No way! Let the childhood friend protect him!" Rin exclaimed. As she is about to land a hit, her blade and Cecilia's drones are blocked by Houki's swords, the Amatsuki and the Karaware.

"Let's see who's the real childhood friend here!" Houki dared Rin.

"Fine! You're on! I dare you to hit first!" Rin yelled. As Houki is about to land a hit back on Rin, she was stopped when her arm was sharply grabbed by someone. She looked at her left to see Alex.

"God damn it… over a week away from the Academy, And THIS IS WHAT I FIND!" He grunted as he pushes Houki's arm away.

"Alex, stay out of this!" Cecilia exclaimed.

"You're still injured!" Rin yelled.

"This is our issue! We want to see who gets to protect Ichika!" Houki reasoned.

Alex yelled from her reason. "BULLSHIT! You want to protect Ichika, but what the hell are all of you doing?! Killing each other?! Is that it?!" He asked. The anger was completely evident.

Houki lowered her sword. "Alex… We just want to—"

"Just look at what you're doing! You can't protect Ichika—Not like this!" Alex yelled. Everyone looked at him. "Why do you want to protect him on your own?" He asked the three.

"It's b-because…" Cecilia stammered.

"JUST TELL ME WHY!" He yelled.

The three looked at him in fear. His emotions tell as if he lost some people dear to him.

"You give me one good reason why. One good reason to fight each other to protect Ichika." He said to the three.

Without realizing, Houki, Rin and Cecilia de-materialized their units. The three's reason was the same—It's about their feelings to Ichika. They want to fight each other for his affections.

"That's what I thought."

The whole hall became silent as everyone looked at him. Without a word, he turns around and starts to walk away, only to see Tatenashi helplessly watch them. She stepped aside by the time Alex was close to her.

The last thing they did was to watch Alex walk away.


-1710 HRS. Rooftops-

Ichika and Charlotte were looking at the scenery from above. They were silent since Alex's outburst.

"I feel guilty." Ichika started.

"Yeah… Me too. I never saw Alex this angry." Charlotte said as she nodded.

"But then again… No one did. Well, I might as well go too." He said as he stopped looking at the scene. Charlotte looked at him.

"What? To where?" She asked.

"To get yelled by Chifuyu-nee… Or Alex." He answered as he started to walk away. "This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Byakushiki to begin with. Either that or my carelessness." He added.

"Wait! I should go with you too!" Charlotte pleaded.

"But you've worked hard enough, Charl. For once let me take the blame." Ichika assured. "Thanks for everything today. I'm happy for it." He added as he smiled at her, leaving her speechless.

Charlotte knew a few things that she had concern; Ichika taking the fall for her, Alex's vague past, pushing himself to his limits. She tries to make out the words that she want to speak, but the guilt about having the two boys suffer made her silent. By the time she tries again, Ichika already left.

"What should I do?" She thought to herself.


-1720 HRS. Outside the Faculty room-

Ichika was about to reach and enter the Faculty room, only to be stopped as he heard a heated argument coming from the other side. Ichika tries to see who was arguing, but the windows were covered. He could only see the silhouettes of Chifuyu and Alex in the heated argument.

"For God's sake, Sensei! It wasn't their fault in the first place! They had no other choice!" Alex defended.

Ichika was supposed to take the fall, but it was too late. It seemed like Alex got to it first. The girls found him as he eavesdrops on the argument. "Ichika? What are you doing here?" Houki asked.

"Shh… Chifuyu-nee's arguing with someone." Ichika said, trying not to be heard.

"Is that Alex inside the faculty room?" Seeing Alex's silhouette, Cecilia asked as she heard him arguing with Chifuyu.

"I guess so." He nodded. The girls went closer to the windows to overhear what's happening.

"What is he doing?" Rin asked. The argument that they heard was about what happened since yesterday.

"He's taking the blame." Ichika and Charlotte said in unison.


-Inside the faculty room-

"Because of Orimura and Dunois, you were injured on duty!" Chifuyu yelled as she blames Ichika and Charlotte for Alex having shot.

"Ichika and Charlotte are still alive because of what I did!" Alex exclaimed.

"But what you did almost cost you your life, Fields!" Chifuyu rebutted.

"So what if it costs my life?! If I didn't act fast, Charlotte or Ichika would have been killed! You think it's easy for me to tell it to them if that happens?!" Alex reasoned.

"Why do you insist on taking the fall for their actions?! Not only for the trouble at your home, But because of Dunois, the girls caused the commotion that happened!" Chifuyu exclaimed as she blames Charlotte for telling the girls about their condition.

Alex defended Charlotte's actions. "Charlotte had no other choice! She had to disclose information about our IS units to the representatives! What if the unthinkable happened and they haven't got a lick of what the fuck's going on?! Maya, you said it yourself, right?! At least for the security of it, they had to know!" He exclaimed. Maya hesitantly nodded.

"You don't blame any of them on this incident, do you?" Maya asked.

"I couldn't blame them—Ichika, Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Laura, Charlotte… I couldn't blame all of them. I just couldn't do it…" He answered as he shook his head.

"But despite the effort to stop the commotion, why did you lash out on Shinonono, Alcott and Huang?" She asked, knowing that he lashed out on the three girls.

Alex paused for a few moments as he slumps on his chair to collect his thoughts. "…I had no Idea of what I was doing, Sensei... I just saw them fighting each other to protect him, and then I lost my shit." He answered. Pain and regret was evident in his answer.

"Fields, you don't lose your shit! What the fuck was happening to you when you stopped them?!" She asked.

"Having the very people you swore to protect from danger tear each other in front of you was just… too much to bear. It already happened. Time after time… They would tear each other… I tried to stop it, and look where they ended up—in graves. You think it's easy to watch that? You think it's easy to say to their families that their loved ones are never coming back?" He reasoned.

They went silent as they heard his reason.

"So yeah… Next time I saw my friends tear each other, I LOST MY SHIT! WHAT THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO?!" He exclaimed out of anger.

"…I was just trying to stop it… I didn't mean to lash out on them like that. I just… don't want it to happen again—Not to them… Just not to them…" He kept muttering as if his mind was completely torn.

"Fields? Fields! Alex, snap out of it!" Chifuyu exclaimed as she grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him back and forth.

Alex returned to his senses and took a deep breath. "I'm done talking, Sensei… I need some air." He said as he stood up from his seat.

"Alex..." Chifuyu called, making him stop from opening the door. He turns his head to the two teachers.

"I understand."

Alex went outside and closed the door. As he steps foot in the hallway, he looked around, only to see that it was empty. Ichika and the girls hid themselves from him. As the coast was clear, they stopped hiding.

Charlotte took something from her pocket; it was a couple of his photos during his service days. Having the guilt overwhelm her, she was teary-eyed as she held them to her chest.

"Alex… I'm so sorry for letting you do this!"


-2300 HRS. Room 1027-Alex's room-

Alex slumped on the side of his bed, trying to get a peaceful glimpse of the view to the balcony, but instead of peaceful silence with the moonlight, the screams and gunfire engulf his thoughts as it lingers around.

"Stop… Just stop…"

He grasped his head as the pain flares in his head. His screams of anguish and anger linger around his mind. He breathed deeply as the pain overcame his thoughts and tears flow from his eyes. Minutes later, someone knocked at the door.

The door opened and the lights were on, yet he didn't turn around to see who it was. Moments later, someone's hand held his shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" He asked without looking, wiping his face.

"We wanted to know if you're okay." Charlotte answered.

Alex raised his head as he heard her say "We". He turns around to see Ichika and the girls behind him.

"Never better." He answered. He moved a few inches and offered everyone a seat.

"Are you just gonna stand there?" He asked after giving off a scoff, forcing a smile. Ichika, Laura and Charlotte sat beside him, while Houki, Rin, Cecilia and Tatenashi sat on the other bed. Alex couldn't look at them in the eye as silence filled the room. His eyes started to tear up, making him hide the tears.

"No. Not like this, not in front of them." He thought as he hides his emotions.

"Here." Rin said as she handed him a tissue. His attempt to hide his emotions failed as they saw the tears fall.

Alex wipes the tears off his eyes. "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be acting like this." He said.

"We understand, Alex… We didn't know." Houki said, lowering her head as she apologized.

"We've heard you arguing with Instructor earlier." Laura started to break the silence. Alex was startled back, but tries to calm down. He sighed as they overheard the argument.

"Heard all of that, huh?"

"We didn't know that we were already hurting you from what we were doing… We're sorry. You shouldn't have stood up for our mistakes." Cecilia added.

"No… I'm the one that should apologize. Houki, Rin, Cecilia… I shouldn't have lashed out on you like that. I was afraid that what I've been through before… It might happen to all of you. I just… don't want that to happen." He said. For the first time, Ichika and the girls saw fear in Alex's emotions. His phone rang near the lamp. He picks it up and answers it.

"Yeah?"

"…I'm fine. Never better, in fact."

"Don't worry. I won't be like that. You worry too much."

He ended the call. Cecilia breaks the silence. "Who was that, Alex?" She asked.

"Just a friend of mine from work." Alex answered.

"I guess you've seen ugly things back home, huh?" Ichika asked.

"Ichika, that was completely blunt of you!" Rin exclaimed as she bopped his head, feeling that Ichika may have hurt Alex's feelings.

"No, Rin. It's all right… I guess you can say that, Ichika." He said as he hesitantly nodded. To Ichika, he thinks that Alex seen some harsh times during his days in the force, but for Alex, it was completely and horribly different.

"Listen… Let's just forget what happened this afternoon, okay?" Alex assured. Everyone nodded.

"Rin, you're right. I could use a break. Ichika, can you tell your sister that I'll need to rest for a week? Just to let the bullet wound heal?" He asked.

"Make that two." Rin and Ichika said in unison.

"I'll be better soon. Trust me." He said.

"Ah-ah-ah… Before we leave, smile first, Alex!" Tatenashi stepped in, trying to cheer him up. Alex lets out a small smile.

"Aww… isn't that sweet. Someone even told me that you have the cutest smile." Tatenashi pouted as she shifted her eyes on Charlotte. She looks away as the French representative became flustered.

"Aren't you cute when you're flustered, Charlotte?" Tatenashi exclaimed.

"Kaichou, Stop it!" She yelped out of embarrassment, making everyone laugh. Alex lets out a small chuckle.

"It's all good now, okay?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, everything's okay now." Houki answered.

"All right… Good night, you guys. I'll see all of you some other time." He said before laying down the bed. They left for the night.

"Alex…" Charlotte called him before leaving the room, making him spring up from his bed.

"Yeah, Charlotte?"

She became silent. She turns away while she fidgets. Alex stood up to see what was wrong. He heard her sniffling.

"Charlotte, what's wrong?" He asked her.

"N-nothing…" She whimpered. Alex was completely unconvinced. He gently turns her around towards him to see her wiping her tears.

"Oh God… Damn it, I was right. Horribly right." He thought as her guilt starts to strike him.

"Shh… Charlotte… It's okay. I'm not angry at you." Alex comforted her as he wipes her tears. "Charlotte, look at me." He said, making her look. He held her hands and looked at her in the eye.

"I'm sorry if I scared you. I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to." He apologized. She looked up to him as she wiped her tears. She tries to smile.

"I'm fine now, Alex." She assured.

He was still unconvinced, but somewhat relieved. "Are you sure?"

"Oui… I am. And Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for standing up for me." Charlotte said, smiling as she felt a heavy burden lifted by Alex. He returns the smile.

"It's the least I could do, Charlotte…"