Chapter 9: IS Academy All-Out War!
"The Academy Presidential Tournament will be held next month. The pair that wins will take over as Student Council President and Vice President. Please check the board now to find your partner!"
"Eh? We don't get to choose Sensei?" A girl cried.
Hah, if we did, all it would lead to is Ichika's funeral – cause of death: ripped limb from limb by rapid females. This works out well for me since…well…I don't exactly have any one to ask if we could choose. Why you say? Isn't it obvious enough? My best friends are members of the Ichika Harem. If that wasn't enough to explain, just listen for a second. Whispers of "Fly-boy" and "Valle Di Loser", and now "Lord of the Perverts", "Groper", and "Enemy of all Women" can be heard everywhere. Bandages have even become a staple of my appearance as Charlotte and Laura have tended to my face more times than you could count on an abacus. Being Ichika's friend just makes it all worse – it's a "harasser" and "harassed" duo relationship.
Students quickly rush to the board to get a look at who they were paired with. I can see sparks fly like a fireworks festival between the members of the harem. Oh how nice it must be to be you, Ichika.
"These pairings are so unfair!"
"How are we supposed to compete against this?"
What are you whining about now?
Team 1: Shinonono Houki and Sarashiki Kanazashi
Team 23: Orimura Ichika and Charlotte Dunois
Team 14: Huang Lingyin and Cecilia Alcott
Team 13: Alto Valle Di Corode and Laura Bodewig
Seems Charlotte drew the lucky straw this time. Already I can see the girls bickering with each other over these placements.
"This must be a mistake! I am clearly the most suitable partner for Ichika-san!"
I think you'd destroy Ichika's brain with your explanations, Cecilia. Forget about competing in the tournament, he'd be dead once you started going on about your "ever so brilliant strategy".
"No! He should be my partner! After all I've known him for the longest so we'll have the best team work!"
Frankly Rin, your standard of "team work" and "harmony" is worse than an orchestra for the musically incapable.
"I'm his childhood friend and the pilot of a 4th generation IS; Ichika should be with me!"
I've learnt a new word in recent days – it's called "overpowered". I think you need a lesson on it, Houki.
"Hands off my bride."
Can't you calm your raging hormones, girls?
(I'm more concerned of YOUR lack of raging hormones, partner.)
Do NOT start, Beel. I'm in no mood for your perversion. It's your fault that I've become known as some lecherous monster. What will they nickname me next because of your sick habits, huh? "Oppai-king"? "Crotch Sniffer"? "Mach Molester"?
(That doesn't sound too bad to me, partner. At least you get to indulge a little cause of me. HEHEHEHEEH)
If only I could, I would've dropped a piano on you. What's worse, listening to the perverted garbage that comes out of your mouth or the time when you always disobeyed me?
(I have a better question, partner. What's worse, being called a perv or the fact that you're still a virgin in an all-girls boarding school? HEHEHEHEHEHE!)
Shut. Up.
"SENSEI, THESE PAIRINGS MUST CHANGE!" The four girls screamed together.
Hey, I STILL have sensitive ears you know? That range of noise is way past the safe decibel value for me. Have you no consideration?
"Calm down."
"SHUT UP, ALTO."
I'm going to go deaf because of you all. You better pay for my hospital bill when that happens.
"Now, now, let's not fight over this…"
The forever celibate peace maker, I think that attitude is the root of the problem, Ichika. Can't you just pick one already?
(Why don't YOU pick one and jump on her already, partner.)
Oh, please, do forgive me for not being some rabid sex beast, Beel.
"FINE THEN! Let's settle this NOW!" Rin screams.
Watch your volume and pitch little missy; you're going to shatter glass like that.
"Fine with me."
"I wouldn't have it any other way! Hmph!"
What mastery of the snobbish look; I must applaud you, Cecilia.
"Whoever wins this tournament gets Ichika, GOT IT?"
You're supposed to love him, not treat him as the tournament trophy, Rin.
It's suddenly hot in here…Wait, flames? You must be joking…
"Wait a minute…"
"STAY OUT OF THIS, ICHIKA!"
I do applaud your perfect unison but what kind of logic do you have? How can you tell a person to stay out of something which concerns his future?
PAK! PAK! PAK! PAK!
There it goes. The ultimate weapon of punishment strikes again – Orimura-sensei 1 and the girls 0.
"Stop disturbing my class – to your seats."
"Yes…"
The day proved to be rather uneventful from then on. It's hard to say it's anything special if the "flying eye sparks" continue on throughout the whole day. It's like they could've set our food on fire this lunch break with the sheer intensity of their stares.
What I'm more interested in is the current student council president and vice president. Inevitably, they would be the final opponent after the tournament was cleared and it definitely wasn't going to be easy. Rumors of how strong she is are no laughing matter. Couple that with her status as Russia's Representative Cadet and…I got my work cut out for me. Not to mention that…
Flash back
"Alto, we have to win."
"Isn't that obvious?"
My silver haired friend's hand clamps down on my shirt harder than an industrial vice. Hey, you're going to rip my clothes at this rate.
"I don't think you understand. I have to win no matter what."
"If we don't?"
That sound…is that laughter? That sounds even worse than Beel. What kind of malicious spirit has possessed you?
"Do you like your futon, Alto?"
"Not really."
Laura, as much as I love you as a friend, that look in your eyes is starting to creep me out. Huh? Something just flashed behind her…That shape…What are you doing with a combat knife, Laura? Put that down!
"If we don't win I'll make you sleep in that futon forever. Do you understand?"
End flashback
So, if I don't win not only do I continue to get ridiculed by the whole school but I also get assassinated in my sleep by one of my best friends. Oh my life is just spiffing isn't it? That's why I'm, once again, spending all my time in the arena. Do I get a frequent visitor's card for this?
"Hurry up, Alto. Let's get started."
As you command, Laura. Ready, Beel?
(When you are, partner.)
"Let's go."
Change POV
Once again from her window, the teacher looks upon her two students – her expression still blank. Her colleague, too, watches the action as it unfolds.
Alto turned into a red blur as he accelerated right up to Mach 4, soon achieving Mach 5. The Italian pilot charged forward with his rapiers, ready to strike at any time. Laura stood unwavering even as the demonic bolt surged towards her. Calmly, she observed - analyzed. However, before she could initiate her strategy, Alto pulled straight up, letting out a powerful barrage from his PANDORA cannons at the same time. The crimson beams soon dissipated as a rainbow colored energy was emitted from Laura's hand – the AIC. Smoke gathered, clouding her vision. Laura opted to use the Hyper-sensors and other tools at her disposal to find her prey.
Suddenly, she heard a savage hum from behind her. Alto had closed in using the smoke. It seems he exploited the AIC's focus on blocking frontal attacks.
(He has a talent for strategy.) The silver haired girl thinks.
However, with her great experience and own commendable prowess, it would not be so easy to hit her. Extending her grappling cables, Laura attempted to ensnare Alto in a web – finishing him off once rendered immobile.
The purple cables flew at a blazing speed but each was deftly evaded by the Italian pilot. Though he lacked the inch perfect precision of his idol and teacher, he managed to slip past each cable with finesse. Closing in, Alto pulled back his rapier – readying for a strike.
(Not so fast.)
Laura knew him too well. Telegraphing attacks like this wasn't Alto's style. A feint, that's what it was. The real attack came from his left hand, aiming at the center of her heart. Though most would say Alto's accuracy and tendency to target vital points are excellent attributes to have, it was also another weakness. Laura knew all too well, he would strike at a vital area. With her own blade she offset his attack ever so slightly – parrying it with a deft motion of her hand and readied a counter attack. However, Alto activated his waist cannons and fired a potent shot to Laura's abdomen.
(What power…)
She couldn't help but be amazed at how much shield energy that single blast had taken out. Another hit would assure her defeat. As she stumbled back, Alto had already disappeared from her line of vision. Her sensors detected an attack from behind. Dodging it by a hair's breadth, Laura managed to avoid another blast from the PANDORA Salvo. As she back-flipped out of the way, Alto appeared under her, both rapiers and shoulder cannons ready.
Alto swung his blades in a scissoring motion, however, the wideness of his movement made it easy for Laura to parry them once again. Despite this, a small smirk remained on Alto's face. Red energy had already formed in a large mass within the cannons. With a forceful swing, she flung his arms away and blocked the Salvo with her AIC shield. Smoke once again engulfed her field of vision.
(If I can't see then…)
Closing her eyes, she focused on her ears. She listened. As soon as the loud hum reached her ears, she fired her cannon.
(Behind!)
BOOM!
Alto Shield Energy: 0, DEFEATED
"Corode-san has improved a great deal! That was wonderful!"
Despite her colleague's praise for the young pilot, Chifuyu did not move an inch. Her lips still curved downward even after watching the intense match.
"He's still not good enough."
"Why would you say that, Orimura-sensei?"
The former world champion walks off – a strange glint can be seen in the depths of her eyes.
"Where are you going, Sensei?"
"To train Corode."
The green haired teacher's expression flips from one of curiosity to one of concern.
"Isn't that unfair to the other students?"
"Life's not fair."
(If Corode improves, it will force the others to do the same.)
Alto's POV
Defeated again? My record's going to look horrible at this rate – forget that, it already does.
(Lighten up, partner. Sit back, relax, act all hurt and maybe she'll tend to your wounds with a nice chunk of service.)
I will leave you alone despite you're utterly sick comment just now.
"You're forgetting something."
I turn my head to her and tilt it slightly. Forgetting something? What?
"You've got good ears, Alto. You tell me."
Ears…sound…oh, wait, don't tell me…
"Yes, the sound your reactors make gives away your location."
"Good observation, Bodewig."
That voice…why is Sensei here again?
(Well aren't you a lucky boy, eh partner? Your favorite hottie's come just for you!)
We just got beaten AGAIN; can't you say anything more helpful, Beel?
"Even if you're unmatched in speed, if an opponent has something to find you with, you won't last long at this rate."
There's no way to silence the reactors, are you saying I can't win even now? However, Sensei's words are true. As long as the opponent takes notice of the sound, they could possibly predict my trajectory and execute a counter attack.
"Do you know what you need most, Corode?"
I can only shake my head. There are many things I could need at this point. The list of things I could possibly need to improve on would probably reach the floor if I had it in my hands.
"Be better at everything?"
"You're not quite that pathetic, Corode."
"It's quite simple, Alto."
What are you two on about? Though I'm grateful for Sensei's words, I really don't know what they mean.
"Your logic and strategy are highly refined, Alto. But that's all there is to it."
Thanks for the compliment, my dear friend. But, what's wrong with that? Refined strategy, tactics and logic will boost the raw power Beel already has.
"She means you're one dimensional, Corode."
Sensei walks up to me, her usual frown curving slightly into a faint smile. Something sounds like a timpani drum…
(Aww, my partner's in love. AHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHA THUMP THUMP THUMP GOES YOUR HEART!)
I AM NOT. Do I need to spell it out for you, Beel? This doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything at all.
(My sensors tell me otherwise, smart guy. Nothing to be ashamed of, you know.)
The day I take advice from you is most likely the day I've gone insane.
"Be more complex with your strategy and tactics. Stop being so stiff, Corode. Refinement can also make you predictable and limit you."
I don't see that many problems with my strategies; and, what's wrong with refinement? Isn't what we're aiming for? Don't tell me you're just going to say "go crazy". What's that smile on your face for, Laura?
"I think you probably know by now. Go crazy."
…I must be dreaming – or some girl must've assassinated me for groping them by accident. You, of all people, are telling me to "go crazy"? How does that even work towards winning? Am I supposed to fire my cannons like a little boy going trigger happy on his local shooting game? Am I supposed to swing my swords like some deranged mad man? Do I look like John Rambo to you?
PAK!
I think my brain just got split in half….
"Don't start thinking useless thoughts. It's much more complex than that."
Sensei…I really don't see anything complex about this.
"Can you make an unpredictable strategy that appears to be crazy and random in the eyes of your opponent, but is actually intricate and complex?"
I…don't know…
"Don't worry about it and just follow my instructions."
Starting from that moment, the real hell began.
