Opening song: Nas - Strong Will Continue Ft. Damian Marley
Time: 1:01AM – Phantom Task Hideout
Inside the factory, a Hong Kong IS dealer of rugged appearance 20 years of age inspected a row of unknown IS shrouded by a dim light above the ceiling. The straw fedora hat covered his unkempt dark brown hair. The man's black eyes are almost half-closed in a look that can be interpreted as distaste. His attire was an orange Hawaiian short sleeve shirt, blazers, and white sneakers.
His vacation clothing does not give away innocence; he was wanted for IS dealing that violated the Alaska Treaty, and arms trafficking from Japan, Hong Kong, and China. He looked at his Rolex watch, tapping his foot impatiently waiting for someone to come.
"I don't have all day! Where the hell are you, Three Dragons?" said the man in frustration.
"Danny Hui, I'm right here." Three Dragons casually walked towards him, but he did not take it kindly.
"Ahem, you'll address me properly first."
Three Dragons sighed. "Big Tiger, I'm right here."
Big Tiger acknowledged the proper formality, pulling out a Cuban cigar, and smoked. Three Dragons had a distaste of cigarettes, wiping the nicotine smoke away from his face.
"I got what you asked for, what do you want me to do with them?"
Three Dragons glanced at the IS, then at Big Tiger. "Send them to my friends at the offshore island, they appear to be…ready for combat."
"I don't know what you just said, but all right then. Don't forget the other side of our agreement."
Three Dragons tilted Big Tiger's fedora hat sideways. "Win or lose won't matter, as long as you deliver them. My friend, this is for you." He took out a yellow and blue box filled with mooncake. "One of the finest made in China."
Big Tiger adjusted his hat as he thought Three Dragons didn't take him seriously, snatching a mooncake.
"You've got to shitting me, I came all the way from Hong Kong to meet your clown ass, and this is what I…" Big Tiger didn't pay attention ripping the mooncake in half, revealed a stack of Hong Kong dollars. He felt the money in his palm, holding it gently like a test tube before he counted the paper bills.
"I'll give it to you for creativity. If I'm correct, it's worth at least 1,427,000 HKD in this box."
"That's right. Remember, whether if they are killed or not, that doesn't concern me because once you send them away, I'm not here!" said Three Dragons, shrugging.
"Like I give a fuck about you, the money is all I care." Big Tiger was fixated on the money, not paying attention to the fine print Three Dragons laid out. Once the negotiation is sealed off, contacts will be cut off to keep it a low profile.
"Here's a voice recognition device to activate the IS. You can use them anytime, but watch where your money goes, you'll need it."
Three Dragons coyly hinted that the latter would be in trouble – specifically Big Tiger is solely responsible for his actions, not Three Dragons. Big Tiger has a habitual spending on expensive clothing and jewelry. Three Dragons chose him because Big Tiger will do anything as long as he's paid, and his lifestyle will catch the attention of police. Big Tiger returned to his white Toyota Vellfire, and his chauffeur drove off. Three Dragons ate a mooncake, looking at the fading minivan before he walked away.
Time: 8:35AM – Assembly
Kanzashi did not have a good night sleep. She cried all night, couldn't stop thinking Tatenashi planned this out to help her finish Uchigane Nishiki. Kanzashi believed she accomplished her goal, and dreaming of Ichika made her more depressed, especially he was an accomplice to Tatenashi.
Today marks the day for the tag team tournament; classmates huddled as Tatenashi step forward to initiate the opening ceremony.
"Hello everyone! Today's the day of the IS tag team tournament spectacular! I want to see all of the participants out there…"
While Tatenashi talked throughout the way, Ichika searched everywhere for Kanzashi that didn't appear in class.
"She's not here either…where are you?" Ichika ran room-to-room, corner after corner, still no sign of Kanzashi. She hid in a corner, severely depressed from the incident.
I bet my unit's data came in handy, right? In her mind state, Kanzashi was in an ominous void of space. Tatenashi suddenly appeared from behind in a behemoth size.
You don't have to do anything at all, Kanzashi because I'll handle everything for you.
But, but I…can do this!
Tatenashi giggled. No, you should just remain incompetent. Her giant hands slowly formed around Kanzashi.
I won't! NOOOOOO! Tatenashi laughed maniacally, as she covered her entirely.
Back in the present time, Kanzashi sulked. "There's no way…I can beat her…there's no way…"
Kanzashi got up to walk somewhere else. "But I have to go, I have to."
"Therefore, with the hope that this experience will be a worthwhile one, I would like to declare this tournament officially open!" Tatenashi concluded the opening speech as Ichika ran all might to find Kanzashi. No matter how hard he looked everywhere, Kanzashi still won't appear, hiding in another corner, silently crying.
The holographic projection revealed a tournament bracket:
Daryl Casey & Forte Sapphire
Ichika Orimura & Kanzashi Sarashiki vs. Houki Shinonono & Liu King-Sang
Charlotte Dunois & Laura Bodewig vs. Cecilia Alcott & Lingyin Huang
Houki glee happily she got to face Ichika Orimura, her longtime childhood that refused to be her tag team partner. Liu grinned he has the opportunity to fight Ichika, given that Tatenashi trained him to be strong. Houki and Liu give dap for their bloodthirsty moment to get Ichika. While they're happy to face their friends turned foes, Ichika grew agitated searching for Kanzashi.
"Kanzashi! Where are you?" Ichika cried out. "Could she have gone down to the pit by herself?"
Time: 8:50AM – Central, Hong Kong
After flying back to his hometown, Big Tiger went to many high-end jewelry shops to fill his luxurious needs. Right off the bat, Big Tiger spent most of his money on a herringbone gold chain, 18kt Cuban link necklace, and two gold Cuban bracelets. Big Tiger felt like a boss with his expensive jewelries, topped off with a Randolph Aviator shades worth 23,000 HKD. Big Tiger was at a café, eating a curry tendon beef brisket and drank lemon-iced tea to cool off the hot weather. He pulled out his voice recognition device to activate the IS. "Naam ji boon sik (Invisible Target.)"
Time: 8:51AM – Hallway
Ichika looked around until Boom! An explosion rocked the hallway Ichika almost lost balance.
"Now what?" Multiple 'Emergency Warning' signs flooded the hallway as sirens blared the system.
Maya cried out to Chifuyu. "Agh! Miss Orimura, we're under attack!" Screens projected some unknown several IS on the Stadium.
"What are those?"
"They look like the same unknown unmanned IS we encountered before. No way, those are advanced version!"
"How many?"
"Five, ma'am. They appear at each arena's pit, and now they're attacking the students with personal IS units who are standing by."
Chifuyu gritted her teeth. "Damn it, this is way too fast. Instructors, evacuate the students, all combat capable instructors prepare to deploy!"
"Understood!"
"You're pretty bold, Big Tiger, but…don't underestimate us."
Chifuyu had a case on Big Tiger for quite a while ever since he created a ruckus in her hometown. She picked up the last frequency of the voice recognition device on the monitor that traced back to Big Tiger's location. Chifuyu had connections with the police force as she turned on another interface.
"This is Chifuyu Orimura to Hong Kong Police Force, be on a lookout for Danny 'Big Tiger' Hui. Wanted fugitive has activated unmanned units with unregistered cores, last seen at a café on Ice House Street."
In Hong Kong, police officers scrambled as they gear up to search for the wanted suspect, alerting local officers on duty. "Officers in the nearby area, wanted fugitive Big Tiger was seen walking into the crowd, approach with caution."
Five Unmanned IS attacked Rin and Liu, both struggled to put up a fight against the new foe. Cecilia jumped in to cover fire, but it dodged every shots, and fired consecutive lasers. They were seemingly caught in the explosion as Laura and Charlotte also had a hard time against its sheer strength.
At the arena pit, Kanzashi appeared frightened as the unmanned IS slowly raised its right hand to strike. Ichika crashed from the ceiling to push the IS back to defend her.
"Kanzashi! You okay?"
Kanzashi had no time to say thanks when the IS charged up lasers. "Orimura!"
"Go get your IS, you're in this now!" Ichika yelled.
Kanzashi activated Uchigane Nishiki, but couldn't find the courage to fight until she saw Ichika losing the fight. She gained determination to fight as she charged towards the IS with her naginata, and they pushed it back.
In the sky, Houki traded blows with another IS that appeared equally matched.
"I need some help, Liu!" Houki shouted on her interface.
"I'm tied up with another one, oh sh—!" Static wiped out the connection, and Houki full of righteous anger fought back even harder. Tatenashi stabbed the IS with her Heavy Lancer to send it towards the ground.
The IS managed to move from being pinned from the lance. "Ugh, this thing's really hard. Houki! Activate the rear armor, then give me a push."
Houki powered her boosters to support Tatenashi as they pinned down the unmanned IS against the shield barrier.
The IS grabbed the blade, showing resistance, much to the bewilderment of Houki and Tatenashi.
"What's the plan?"
"We're going to break through that unmanned IS unit's armor."
"But how?!"
Tatenashi stated the obvious without a clear answer. "We're just going to do it!" She showed her serious side while firing the 4-barrel gatling guns, battering the enemy IS in all directions.
"You ain't see nothing yet! I still have a few tricks up sleeve!" Tatenashi drew water on Heavy Lance for the finale, but that left her upper body vulnerable as the IS slashed her left rib cage.
Leaving no other options left, Tatenashi had to do a risky move, knowing well it'll cost their lives. "Houki! Now, switch all your settings to defense, or it'll suck you in!"
"But, you just…"
"I'm immortal, didn't you know that?"
At first, Houki refused, but reluctantly accepted after seeing Tatenashi struggling to attack. Tatenashi drew all the power at its highest peak as bright light beamed.
"Take this…Mysterious Lady's maximum firepower!"
"No! Don't do it!" Houki pleaded at Tatenashi.
"Now, this will teach you, ENGAGEEEEEE!"
Boom! A huge fireball exploded half of the Stadium, seemingly consumed Houki and Tatenashi in the process. Ichika didn't want to assume the worst as he tried to pick up a signal from them, but no connection.
He got distracted from the commotion until the IS attacked. Kanzashi pushed Ichika out of the way to block the offense.
"Watch out! I'll handle this! " said Kanzashi full of determination.
"Kanzashi?" Ichika wondered how she became serious, not reserved, but Kanzashi wasted no time about her change of characteristics.
"Orimura, go check the condition of the gate over there!" Ichika complied as she and the IS face off one-on-one.
"Back! You're not getting pass me, you bitch!"
Chifuyu and Maya witnessed multiple enemy IS attacking in different directions.
"I'm detecting some type of unknown energy emerging from the enemy IS unit's arms, and now we're experiencing problem with shield barrier deployment. Absolute defense has been nullified!"
"That must be an anti Infinite Stratos IS. Well played, Big Tiger, well played."
Big Tiger activated another code should the IS fail to destroy its targets. "Duet ming gam (Life without principle.)"
Big Tiger walked towards the crowd, eyeballing to make sure he was not being followed, or so he thought. If he made the code less public, perhaps Big Tiger could escape. An undercover officer tailed Big Tiger as he informed the others on his hidden mic.
"Ngaan kau ji bo dui yut, dai lo foo boon bing duet ming gam, jun bei juk na keoi.
(Eyeball to Unit 1, Big Tiger called in life without principle, get ready to arrest him."
"Ming baak. (Understood) Standby until he appears in our sight." The officer said. While nearby officers take in position, the undercover officer trailed Big Tiger.
The IS fired automatic lasers as Kanzashi avoided the onslaught. She called in Ichika, but her interface showed an injured Tatenashi laying on the crumbled mess surrounded by small flames. Her eyes widened, mouth opened in shock that Tatenashi, her dear older sister failed to move from her suicidal attack. Kanzashi rarely talked to her, but seeing her in a bad condition broke her emotions.
"No…NOOOOOO!" Kanzashi yelled, attacking the IS head on. Blinded by rage and vengeance, Kanzashi assaulted the IS furiously. "How dare you…how dare you! My SISTER…NOOOOOO!"
"DIIIEEE!" Kanzashi slashed overhead, but the IS swiped her naginata away. However, Kanzashi caught the IS, fired two large cannons repeatedly to drag it down. She prepared for an execution shot, cannons charging up dose of energy.
"THIS ENDS NOW!" The shot exploded similar to Tatenashi's suicidial attack, but Kanzashi survived that blew the IS arms away. The explosion also revealed a core, as she draws up her cannons. What appears to be victory when suddenly, her weapon power depleted, much to her dismay.
Behind her, another IS threw the unconscious Ichika at Kanzashi. Out of hope and energy, Kanzashi tried to call Ichika, but no avail. "Ichika! Ichika!"
Scattered parts of the remaining IS attached itself to the surviving IS as it walked towards the hopeless Kanzashi, throwing Ichika away, and raised its right arm to stab her.
This is it I just…can't do it. I'm not…good enough. Ichika, I'm sorry I couldn't help you I'm so useless. I'm sorry that I was ever born. In the real world, there are no heroes that don't exist.
Out of nowhere, Tatenashi sacrificed Kanzashi by taking a stab wound on her back, and collapsed.
"No…SSSIIISSS!" Deep within her subconscious, Kanzashi called out Tatenashi.
"Big sister! Big sister!"
"Hehe! How long has it been since you called me that?"
"I thought you were…how did you…big sister…impossible!"
"No it isn't."
"Yes it is! Because in this world, there are no heroes!"
"No there aren't," said Ichika. "There's no perfect invincible hero. The heroes from our fantasies, they never get to laugh, and they don't get to cry either."
Ichika smiled at Kanzashi to give her some encouragement. "But I'm human, so I cry, and I laugh. I lose sometimes too, but I don't give up, and if the choice means losing my friends, then I'll fight!"
"But aren't you, aren't you afraid to die?"
"Of course I am, but if I run away, how can I be able to live with myself?"
Kanzashi fell to her knees sobbing Ichika wasn't afraid to die because she was too afraid to stand up for herself. "Then I'm just…I'm just…I'm just a coward!"
"But who cares? Doesn't matter if you're weak or dirty or have no courage, you're still human!" said Tatenashi, smiling.
"But big sis, I wanted to be…"
"It's all right, my dear Kanzashi, no one's perfect! The trick is accepting your weaknesses, and then you can beat them because…"
"I'm just human?"
Tatenashi smiled. "That's right! And besides, you're my sister, and I'm proud of you!"
In the present time, Kanzashi was encouraged to fight on thanks to Ichika and Tatenashi.
"I'll finish this for you, big sister," said Kanzashi.
Tatenashi handed her an encore crystal. "This is a good luck charm, use it when you really need it. Good luck, freshman."
Somehow, Houki appeared okay, fighting the combined IS that attacked stabbed Tatenashi.
"Ichika, Liu, status report, answer me!"
"I'm good!" said Liu, firing at the IS, denting some damage. "Fortissimo kicks ass!"
Ichika woke up, seeing Houki on her interface as he slowly got up. "Houki?"
"Can you use your Reiraku Byakuya?" His weapons power ran out of juice, which meant he couldn't use Byakushiki's One Off Ability.
"I'm out of power."
"Then I'll have to use my Kenran Buto, but I'll have to buy some time!" Nearly caught by the explosion again, Houki hurried towards Ichika as Kanzashi distracted the IS. They grabbed hands as her Kenran Buto glowed gold energy, smiling on to fight for round two against the IS.
"Uchigane Nishiki, manual guidance system activate, ready warhead missiles one through forty-eight, setting trajectories to manual control, lend me your power!" She fired warhead missiles at the IS, avoiding the chasing projectiles, but a few landed a strike. However, it's still standing, firing lasers in response as Houki blocked the attack.
"Akatsubaki, I'm counting on you, let's show what we can do!" A blaster crossbow formed on her arms, extending fold-out armor, not before leaving an instructions manual, which she has no time to read.
"Ok, enough with the techno math already! Those arms are mine!" Houki fired twin energy arrows that struck the IS arms into pieces. Ichika slashed the remaining arms, and Kanzashi fired more warhead missiles at the armless IS. Multiple explosions gulfed the IS, but once the smoke clears, it still won't go down. However, the encore crystal stabbed the core, and Tatenashi snapped her finger, and the crystal exploded before the IS engulfed into crystal.
The remaining IS were destroyed thanks to the combined efforts of Laura, Charlotte, Cecilia, Rin, and Liu. The fight was over, they high five at each other for the job well done. Tatenashi and Ichika were proud at Kanzashi's new profound confidence.
Time: 5:50PM - Infimary
Kanzashi waited for Tatenashi to wake up in a hospital bed. Tatenashi survived with some injuries, but Kanzashi was glad she was still breathing.
"Big sister!"
"Oh, Kanzashi, oww!"
Tatenashi tried to get up, but the stab wound on her back made her lay down.
"Try not to move," said Kanzashi. "You could reopen your wounds."
Tears bubbled up on Kanzashi's eyelids again when Tatenashi finally repair their relationships.
"I wonder how many years has it been since the last time we talked like this?" Tatenashi stared at her little sister as she thought back of her actions on Ichika.
"I guess I owe this opportunity to Ichika, why did I ask him to do this? Did I want to cling to him and rely on his kindness?"
"Big sister, is something wrong? Your face is turning red."
"Oh! It must be the sunset."
"Uh huh, is that what it is?"
Kanzashi lost a train of thoughts as she tried to hide her emotions. Seeing Tatenashi wrapped in bandages and the incident made her emotions released as tears bubbled up her eyelids.
"Sis? I'm...I'm sorry about everything, and I mean...I'm such a bad sister..."
Kanzashi was on the verge of crying until Tatenashi wiped her tears away. "That's not true. Actually, you're my dear little sister, and you're growing up to be so strong!"
"I...I...big sister...big sister...!" Kanzashi couldn't finish her sentence, and cried onto Tatenashi of how grateful she was that they rekindled their relationships. Tatenashi smiled on as Kanzashi finally released her feelings.
Maya and Chifuyu brought in the remaining unmanned IS units to the lab for further examination.
"They turned out to be advanced unmanned units with unregistered cores," said Maya. "We only manage to get two of them."
"Inform the government that they all have been destroyed."
Maya was stunned to hear Chifuyu's bold action to hide the cores. "But ma'am, if we do something like this, the whole school could be in jeopardy!"
"Don't worry! Have you forgotten who you're talking to? I think I can protect this school, and as a matter of fact, I bet my life on it."
Big Tiger sweated profusely at the unmanned IS destroyed from the hands of IS Academy. "I don't believe this! A bunch of kids thwarted the IS?! Now I can't get my hands on the bonuses!"
Unaware police officers were ready to pounce on him, Big Tiger turned around, and punched a person behind him in frustration. He did not realized the man he assaulted was an undercover officer. Big Tiger's stupidity allowed the undercover officer to trail him without being noticed. He revealed his badge, and karma was truly a bitch.
"Heung gong ging chaat, mai yuk! (Hong Kong Police Force, don't move!)"
"Gui sau tau gong! (Hands up and surrender!)" The police officers ordered Big Tiger to have his hands up as they pointed their batons and Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolvers. People involved in the standoff ran away to not get hurt. The officer grabbed Big Tiger's arms, and laid him on the hood of the police car. While he patted down to make sure no weapons were found on him, Big Tiger struggled to resist, but it was futile with officers all over him.
"Nei hai dou luen gong mat ye? Ngoh gong, mai yuk! (What the hell are you doing? I said, don't move!)"
Big Tiger cannot afford to go to jail for a harsh sentence the judge might give. His adrenaline increased, as he looked left, right, and struggled to break free from the grasp of the officer. He headbutted him, elbowed his stomach, and slammed him against the police car, running off.
"Ting dai! Dai lo foo hai paai bou! (Stop! Big Tiger is running!)" Dozens of police offcers chase Big Tiger, as he aggressively pushed people aside.
"Pursuing wanted fugitive on foot, send backup," said the police officer on his walkie talkie. Big Tiger knocked down a wooden stand that slowed dome some officers, but a few jumped through it. Nearby officers joined in the pursuit to aid their fellow colleagues in need, and closed off some streets to keep the civilians from harm. Big Tiger took ridiculous levels to evade the cops by barging through apartment complexes, leaving the residents shocked. The cops surrounded the apartment to prevent Big Tiger from escaping. Big Tiger took a 20ft jump off the ground that nearly broke his fall. He ran hard enough to hide in a decrepit abandoned house.
Officers didn't give up that easily as they searched every streets and shelters carefully. While he took a breather, someone knocked on the door. Afraid it was the cops on his tail; Big Tiger did not open the door.
"This is not the cops, open up," said a female voice.
"O-okay…" Big Tiger peeped through the door eye, but he got a rude welcoming from a sledgehammer that cracked the door open, knocking him backwards. The door crasher was Kaori in a ghastly Smiley mask as she savagely punched Big Tiger senselessly. He cowered in fear against the stinging punches as it bit through his skin.
Kaori picked up a sledgehammer and smashed Big Tiger's pelvis, smacked him with a vodka bottle, and then rammed the broken bottle into his cheek.
"You're stupid as hell," said Kaori, grabbing a beer bottle, and smacked him in the face. "A crook does not spend his money right after the score."
Big Tiger was in too much pain to speak up, even though he opened his mouth, but words won't come out. Kaori watched him squirming like a battered worm, recollecting his thoughts that crashed down on him. Kaori pulled out a Smith & Wesson Model 500 to shove it against his jaw.
"Woah, woah, woah! Calm down…"
Kaori did not take orders from a gullible IS dealer as she shot him in the left femur. The .500 Magnum punctured his skin and bone, yelping in pain. Again, Kaori shot his right kneecap, twice. With that kind of damage, Big Tiger will not be able to walk again.
"GGAAAAHHHH!" Big Tiger screamed top of his lungs, but Kaori kicked him in the face to shut him up. She dragged the unconscious man to the rooftop as he regained his senses, struggling from her firm hands.
"Please don't! Three Dragons set this up! I swear!"
Big Tiger tried to pin the blame on Three Dragons for a setup, but his actions backfired because it was all of his wrongdoings.
"Sure, Three Dragons will be happy to hear that when there's more money waiting for you down there."
Kaori revealed her lovely face as she snatched his expensive shades and threw him down the pavement. Big Tiger screamed to his doom, and died instantly from skull fracture and fatal brain damage from hitting the concrete pavement. Small puddle of blood flooded as Big Tiger's face remained shocked. Kaori cleaned the shades as she calmly left the scene. While the cops quarantined the murder scene, a police officer informed Chifuyu.
"Miss. Orimura, Big Tiger has been deceased. Coroners said the cause of death appeared to be a suicide."
"A shame he should have been alive to face his charges, but very well then, Orimura out."
Time: 9:35AM - Room 1025
Kanzashi was holding a brown paper bag as she stared at the door of her hero. To show gratitude, Kanzashi made another present for Ichika to show how she feels.
"This is it, I have to let him know, just tell him how I feel."
Kanzashi knocked the door, and Ichika appeared, moderately surprised to see her turned into a new leaf.
"Kanzashi! What's up?"
"Well, um...here, this is for you, Ichika."
Ichika grabbed the content, which was an anime show Kanzashi loved. Kanzashi hoped Ichika liked the gift because she figured out Ichika would share the same interest in anime.
"Hey, I used to watch this all the time! You never knew what you love until you find it, you too, huh?"
Kanzashi nodded that she liked anime as well, but she's trying to tell him she likes Ichika a lot. Kanzashi tried to say something else, but instead, she ran away, hiding in a corner. Kanzashi believed she said, "I like Ichika", but it turns out, she inadvertently said, "I like anime", much to her embarrassment.
A/N: A quick note that I chose Cantonese because it's the primary language in Hong Kong, pardon the sloppy Pinyin.