Infinite Stratos: Truth Be Told
A/N: Under big stress because of hectic schedule in school but still managed to pull off this chapter. Still having doubts in changing the rating so I'm going to ask everyone if I should or not or not this time. Looking forward to Infinite Stratos season 2 so much. Thanks for the reviews everyone.
Disclaimer: I don't own Infinite Stratos, it belongs to Izuru Yumizuru.
Chapter 10:
"Well? How are you Natasha?"
[My body still hurts; it may take a while for me to recover fully.]
"What about Iris?"
[She still hasn't woken up.]
"But she's okay right?"
[Yeah, she just need time to recover.]
"Natasha, do you think that they will allow you to pilot her again?"
[The [Gospel], I don't know.]
"America has no other IS that's ready to be deployed. The [Gospel] is the only choice they have left since [Fang Quake] has been badly battered by the enemy IS."
[I think they're still afraid that the [Gospel] will run wild again.]
Chifuyu called Natasha when she took a break from filing the documents on the faculty room. She stepped out of the room for a while to get a breather and took a can of beer with her.
[Chifuyu I also heard what happened to your little brother, is he alright now?]
Chifuyu flinched a little when the topic went to his little brother.
"How did you know?"
Chifuyu became a bit serious.
[When one of the chatter mouths here accidentally spilled it to me.]
Natasha said with a little laugh on her voice.
Chifuyu just sighed knowingly.
"He's alright now."
Chifuyu sounded grim.
[Really? then why do I get the feeling that your words meant the opposite.]
Natasha wryly said.
"….."
Chifuyu guiltily closed her eyes as she momentarily became quiet.
[Sorry that I asked, it isn't my place.]
Natasha apologetically said.
"It's alright Natasha; well I guess I need to get back to filing now, there's still a ton of paperwork to be done. Rest well."
[Good luck on working.]
The call ended. Chifuyu just drank the entire can in one go.
(Damn it! Once I remember it, I couldn't forget.)
Chifuyu crushed the can in frustration. Those cursed memories of her childhood were one of her precious and also her most hated memories. Those were precious to her because Ichika was in it but she also hated it because it constantly reminds her of her dark self and her clan.
(Why can't I just forget!)
Chifuyu cursed in her mind.
Out of her frustration her eyes wandered to the they are some clouds present some stars still persist through the cloudy cover, this made her evoke some other memories of her past. Unconsciously, Chifuyu started reminiscence some of the lighter recollections of her and Ichika in the past, when the two of them would look on the distant heavenly bodies together.
(Flash Back)
"Chifuyu-nee look the stars, they're so beautiful!"
A four year old Ichika happily frolicked through a windy plain in the middle of a cloudless night.
"Yeah….."
Chifuyu who was right behind her jovial little brother, replied with an indifferent expression.
"They're just as beautiful as Chifuyu-nee!"
Chifuyu's cold reaction was suddenly broken by his little brother's innocent praise.
"Stop saying things you don't mean."
The flustered teenager sheepishly turned away to hide her embarrassed expression.
"But I do mean it! Chifuyu-nee is the most beautiful woman in the entire world and I'm not ashamed to tell everyone that!"
Ichika didn't back down and probably won't if he felt Chifuyu still doesn't believe him.
"(Sigh)"
Chifuyu knew he wouldn't stop, so she just sighed in defeat.
"Chifuyu-nee you have to believe me! I'm telling the truth!"
The little Ichika voiced his determination with teary eyes.
"Ichika…"
Chifuyu may be proficient in combat, adept in handling weapons and a master of handling her emotions but those skills weren't able to help Chifuyu contain a blush that filled her face.
"…..."
Ichika looked at his big sister with undeterred will to stand by his declaration.
"Alright already."
Chifuyu kneeled in front of her little brother and affectionately ruffled his hair. She looked at her little brother's innocent azure eyes, this time she didn't hold herself back and she allowed her long imprisoned humanity to surface and take the form of a small but earnest smile.
"See! I'm right, Chifuyu-nee is beautiful!"
Chifuyu didn't reply but her elated expression was etched on her face.
"Your power may not be that scary but it is formidable."
Chifuyu said with a lot of softness on her voice as she enveloped her little brother in an embrace.
(Flash Back End)
Chifuyu couldn't help but smile when she remembered that pleasing memory.
(He was really reckless in the past and that trait didn't leave him till now.)
Chifuyu smiled as she thought of Ichika. Chifuyu continued to look at the night sky as she relished those very pleasant memories.
(FLASH)
Chifuyu was suddenly snapped out of her daze as her senses sharpened all of a sudden.
(Something's not right here.)
Chifuyu quickly changed her expression to a serious one as a haunting feeling slowly crept up on her spine. She gazed at the night sky, it was calm, it had nothing peculiar to it, but she suddenly had a feeling something was out there was watching.
(WHOOOSH)
The wind suddenly blew. The clouds then completely covered the sky. Then the wind stopped. There was silence, total silence.
(ZIWWWWWWWW)
The power in the academy died down.
(The power has been cut off and the emergency backup power didn't activate.)
It's now dark and total silent in the academy but Chifuyu didn't leave her spot. She remained still and heightened her senses. The feeling didn't vanish instead it intensified like it was coming closer, closer, closer, closer….
And then….
(PIWWWWWWWW)
The lights suddenly burst to life, the power has returned.
(It's gone…..)
Chifuyu still wore a very serious expression. The feeling disappeared the same time the power returned but now Chifuyu was sure that it wasn't a "feeling", it was a presence.
"…."
Chifuyu loosened up and went back to the faculty room.
"Miss Orimura! What happened? It became dark all of a sudden and then-"
"It was nothing Maya, a simple power problem."
Maya who was awakened all of a sudden by the sudden death of the lights, suddenly rose from her stupor and asked Chifuyu what happened. But instead of being answered she was quieted down by Chifuyu's stare.
(Peaceful times are becoming scarce today.)
Chifuyu pondered about what she felt earlier with a very serious face.
(Scene Change)
"Ichika, are you awake?"
7:00am, Charlotte was knocking on Ichika's door.
"Ichika! He sure is a ….."
Charlotte started imagining some things that involve Ichika.
(Charlotte's Delusions)
"Ichika, you sure slept in. Well you were so energetic last night. Ufufufufufufu!"
In Charlotte's delusion, she and Ichika were in their honeymoon. She and Ichika were still lying down on their bed. Charlotte was wearing nothing but only their blanket draping over her body, Ichika was the same as he slept peacefully wearing nothing since the two made one hell of a…(you get the idea).
"Hey, Ichika."
Charlotte seductively whispered as she poked Ichika's cheek.
"Hmmm…..what is it Charl?"
Ichika slowly opened his eyes.
"Do you want breakfast?"
Charlotte blushed as she playfully pinched Ichika cheek.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
Ichika pulled her close.
"What are you doing? I can't make breakfast if you don't let me go."
Charlotte blushed when she felt Ichika's body pressed against her.
"What are you talking about? I'm having my breakfast."
Ichika narrowed his eyes and made a predacious smile.
"Huh? Ichika w-wait we just had-Ah!"
(Delusion end)
"Ichika! Stop! We just did it last night….."
Charlotte was blushing a storm as she lingered on her illusion, but she didn't notice that Laura was listening to her fantasies.
(W-W-What….she's fantasizing about my wife…..)
Laura couldn't only put on a confused face as she watched Charlotte grinning like an idiot while blushing so red.
"Ichika stop that! I'll go crazy if you do that!"
Charlotte didn't guard her daydreaming as Laura had enough of hearing about it.
"CHARLOTTE!"
"HUEH!"
"I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS BEHIND MY BACK!"
Laura voiced her displeasure on Charlotte's day dreaming.
"Wait! It's not what you think! You're just mistaken!"
"MISTAKEN! HOW CAN I BE MISTAKEN WHEN I HEARD YOU CLEARLY!"
Charlotte tried to reason with Laura, but the latter doesn't seem to be listening.
Meanwhile inside Ichika's room.
"Hmmm…..what's the commotion outside?"
Ichika sluggishly stood from his slumber. But something held him back.
"Uhmmmm…let's sleep some more."
Madoka pulled down her brother. Ichika who was still drowsy didn't notice the bad position they're in, so he nonchalantly lied back down.
"So noisy so early in the morning."
Madoka hugged Ichika even tighter. Ichika also returned a hug not knowing the life-threatening position his in right now. But his consciousness started to return and the countdown starts until he notices his current situation.
(3)
(2)
(1)
"Wha! Madoka! What are you still doing here?"
Ichika flew off his bed in utter shock.
Madoka who was still drowsy lazily covered herself with her blanket.
"Ichika, you're so noisy."
Madoka grumbled at Ichika.
"I thought you already returned to your room!"
"I'm too tired to talk, wake me up later."
Madoka dozed off again.
"Hey I'm telling you to…"
Ichika suddenly noticed the voices outside. They seem familiar, they sound like…..
(CHARLOTTE AND LAURA!)
Ichika fears what they will do if they see Madoka here.
(No calm down Ichika, I just have to convince Madoka to leave before the others arrive.)
Ichika tried to wake up Madoka but the latter just became stubborn and resisted her brother's pleas.
Meanwhile, outside Ichika's room. Charlotte and Laura are still quarrelling. Houki, Rin and Cecilia arrived and saw the commotion caused by Charlotte and Laura.
"What are you two doing?"
Cecilia said while looking in an exasperated manner on both Laura and Charlotte.
"N-Nothing much."
Charlotte nervously said.
"Don't ignore me Charlotte you can't just-mmmphhhhh!"
"Laura I'm sorry already so please shut up."
Charlotte covered Laura's mouth. Houki, Rin and Cecilia just sweat dropped at the scene.
"Hey why are you two here anyway?"
Rin asked the two girls.
"Well we were planning to wake Ichika."
Charlotte said in a nearly disappointed manner.
"The same as us huh."
Rin dropped her head in slight displeasure.
"Anyway let's wake him up already."
Houki knocked on Ichika's door, she soon reached for the door knob and it opened.
"That guy his always so careless."
"Hey Houki-san it's rude to barge in someone's room without permission."
Cecilia stopped Houki from entering.
"It's no problem I'm his childhood friend."
Houki confidently said while wearing her usual serious face.
"I'm his childhood friend too! So I can enter as well."
Rin swung open Ichika's door but was stopped by Laura.
"Ichika's my wife so I get to enter first."
Laura said with no doubts or hesitations on her words.
"Everyone, please quiet down it is still early in the morning."
Charlotte tried to stop the quarrelling girls but her voice was devoured by the angry retorting of her friends.
Inside the room, Ichika noticed that his friends are complete outside.
(If they see this then I'm as good as dead!)
Ichika panicked as he thought of some ways to make Madoka leave.
(SLAM)
The door was slammed open, good thing the girls are still arguing on the door and didn't enter right away.
(No other choice!)
Ichika lifted Madoka up while covering her mouth and stuffed her in his closet; Ichika did it so fast that Madoka didn't have any chance to react.
"Ichika! Get up already!"
Houki and the girls barged in and saw Ichika pressing himself against his closet.
"Um, hey everyone! How're you doing?"
Ichika nervously said as he tried to hide his nervousness.
"What am I doing? (Sigh), anyway hurry up and get dressed Ichika we have practicals today."
Houki said while placing one hand on her hip, she did a wonderful impersonation of Cecilia's attitude.
"Oh yeah! Totally forgot about that then I better get dressed then."
Ichika was still hesitant to leave the closet since his fears converged on Madoka revealing herself all of a sudden.
"Why are you pressing yourself on your closet?"
Charlotte asked the Ichika.
"Ah well I'm doing some exercises."
"Oh! That's good my wife really knows the importance of good health."
Laura bought Ichika's excuse.
Before Ichika left the closet alone, he first made a very, very, very silent conversation with Madoka who by the way was stuffed in the closet with Ichika's clothes.
(Just stay here until they leave.)
(What's the big idea stuffing me here in the closet?)
(They'll kill me if they see you.)
(That's what you get for being a womanizer!)
(What does that mean? Anyway just stay here and don't reveal yourself to anyone!)
(Alright already!)
After their whispering, Ichika separated himself from his closet and let out a big sigh.
"Is your exercise that tiring Ichika-san?"
Cecilia worriedly said.
"Yeah well it's for the body anyway so it's alright. Ahahahahahahahaha!"
Ichika was finally able to relax because none of his friends suspected a thing.
"Well get dressed already, do you want to help you?"
Rin offered with a smile but she was immediately stopped by the girls.
"Ichika can get dressed by himself he's not a baby anymore!"
Houki angrily spoke.
"Rin-san stop this none sense at once!"
The girls started quarreling again; Ichika just sighed and noticed that he sweated a lot just because of being nervous so he took off his clothes without paying any attention to the girls.
"…."
"…."
"…."
"…."
"…."
The five stopped their quarreling when they noticed Ichika took off his shirt. They saw him without shirt in the beach before but the atmosphere today is a bit different than the beach so they felt a little bit embarrassed and a bit excited when they saw his well-kept body.
"Um, I can't really get dressed if all of you are staring at me like that."
Ichika said with a little hint of embarrassment on his voice.
"""""Just hurry up!"""""
The girls were quickly snapped out of their daze and hurriedly stormed out of Ichika's room.
"What's with them all of a sudden?"
Ichika was a bit confused of their reaction.
"So you're having practicals today."
Madoka opened the closet and came out wearing one of Ichika's blue shirt.
"Uh, anyway what are you going to do?"
"I'll just stay here maybe, I'll return to my room tonight."
Madoka said as she jumped on Ichika's bed and lazed around.
"(Sigh), just behave alright. You're already in a lot of trouble from sneaking out of your quarters."
Ichika just went on and prepared himself and hurriedly left so he wouldn't be late and get hit by his beloved sister.
"There he goes again."
Madoka took one of the pillows and hugged it tightly.
(Scene Change)
"Everyone get in line!"
Chifuyu's commanding voice roared throughout the stadium.
At an instant, the students lined up quickly, not wanting to anger Chifuyu.
"Today we will be conducting practical training for the students and tuning for the personal IS users. Today we will be joined by the technicians of the maintenance section; they will be responsible for the tuning for the machines especially in the case of the personal IS users. So get forming already! The personal IS users gather here on me. Those who will pilot training IS will be supervised by Miss Yamada, Miss Sakakibara, Miss Franchee and Miss Tachibana."
The students quickly went to their respective instructors and the practicals started.
"Where's Orimura?"
Chifuyu asked with an obviously irritated face.
"Ummm, we already check up on him and he said he's already on his way."
Houki said with a little hint of fear on her voice.
"Ah! There he is!"
Charlotte exclaimed as her expression suddenly changed from a scared to a happy one.
Ichika was running hurriedly towards the personal IS group.
"Ha…ha…ha, sorry I'm late."
Ichika was catching his breath as he ran from the dorms to the stadium.
"Just get in line Orimura."
Chifuyu said while still wearing her mad face.
"Yes, Orimura-sensei."
Ichika got in line with his friends not wanting to invoke the wrath of his sister.
"Now we will start the practicals, all of you deploy your IS now."
At Chifuyu's command the personal IS users deployed their mechanical partners.
Cecilia flicked her hair back on her left ear, the earring glowed brightly and [Blue Tears] appeared. Rin held out her hand and her bracelet blazed and her IS [Shen Long] appears. Charlotte concentrated and her necklace sparked and an orange IS appeared, [Raphael-Revive]. Laura's leg band gave out a momentary glow then her black IS appeared, [SchwarzerRegen]. Houki closed her eyes and focused, soon the two bells on her wrist rang and her [Akatsubaki] materialized. Kanzashi held out her hand and the crystal ring on her middle finger flickered and in a split second [Uchigane Nishiki] appeared.
"As expected of Representative Candidates."
Ichika looked at his friends with admiration. Ichika concentrated as well and summoned his IS [Byakushiki]. But….
(WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH)
A sudden wave erupted from Ichika as he deployed [Byakushiki].
"Ichika why is it taking you so long to…."
Houki felt something surge out of Ichika, she coudn't explain it but the feeling emanating from him was so strong and so soothing that it filled her senses.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
Cecilia, Rin, Charl, Laura and Kanzashi couldn't help but also stare at Ichika when they felt the same presence, a very soothing presence.
Soon dust started to ripple away from Ichika like it was being blown away by an unearthly breeze.
(GIWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW)
With a very quick flash of light, [Byakushiki] emerged.
"Well that took longer than I expected."
Ichika confusingly said.
"Ichika, has something changed on [Byakushiki]?"
Charlotte hovered closer to Ichika as she looked at his IS.
"What are talking about Charl?"
Ichika looked at his own IS.
"I just felt like something changed."
Charlotte looked at [Byakushiki].
"Yeah, me too."
Rin also moved closer.
"Well I don't notice any change physically but I'm positive too that something changed."
Cecilia looked suspiciously at Ichika IS.
"What do you guys mean? [Byakushiki] hasn't been modified or anything."
"Well, it may just be our imagination."
Rin crossed her arms and just gave up trying to figure out what changed in Ichika's IS.
"We have wasted enough time chatting now everyone line up!"
Chifuyu commanded and the personal IS users obeyed wordlessly.
"First off, your units will be first analyzed and checked by the maintenance staff, then you will engage in a single or pair mock battles which will be decided later. Now, commence with the tuning!"
"YES MAM!"
Chifuyu commanded and the students couldn't help but reply like soldiers.
And so the practicals begun, the personal IS users were separate from the users of the training IS. The personal IS users occupied the sixth arena and training IS users went to the fourth arena. In the situation of the personal IS users, their IS was first being analyzed and tuned by the maintenance staff who are also students.
"Honne?"
"Hey Orimu!"
Nohotoke Honne and other familiar faces in the maintenance staff were in-charged of Ichika's IS tuning.
"""Hey Mr. Orimura!"""
Kyouko and Fee who helped him and Kanzashi during the tag-team match was also present. And lastly…
"Hey Orimura! We're here to help!"
Mayuzumi Kaoruko, the second year ace arrived.
Ichika looked around his friends and saw that they have two to three helpers from the maintenance branch, but he got four and Ichika was relieved that they were all familiar to him.
"Well, I'll be in your care."
Ichika said with a smile on his face, his fours helpers also did the same.
"….."
"….."
"….."
"….."
"….."
"….."
Ichika suddenly felt glares piercing his back; he briefly turned around and saw his friends giving him spicy glares.
(What could they angry about now?)
Ichika could only wander why his friends were so angry.
Soon everyone has started their work and they proceeded to the preparation room of the arena, when they arrived they already had designated spot where they will work and all the necessary tools were already laid out in advance.
"Nohohon-san why aren't you with the others?"
Ichika asked while looking a bit confused.
"I'm with the maintenance team so my place is here."
Honne smiled at Ichika in a slightly drowsy manner.
"Well Orimura-kun let's start with the tuning."
Kaoruko raised her fist in enthusiasm, Fee, Kyouko and Honne followed and their work started.
First the team started fixing the main problem that [Byakushiki] has, its energy consumption. Kaoruko and Kyouko opened up eight LCD monitors and started their work, Honne and Fee worked with the values of [Byakushiki] together with Ichika.
"Hey Ichika-kun, did you tweak the values of [Byakushiki]?"
"Uh, no I didn't."
Honne suddenly lost her drowsiness once she saw the changes in Ichika's machine.
"Ichika-kun, did you also fix your energy consumption settings?"
Kaoruko also became astonished at the changes on [Byakushiki]'s energy settings. The energy efficiency of [Byakushiki] has increased by 19%.
"Hey the output of the thrusters also increased by a lot."
Kyouko also exclaimed when she saw the projected output of [Byakushiki]'s thrusters.
Ichika also became puzzled by the improvements which he knew nothing about.
"Let's check the weapons."
The Fee opened four monitors and checked the weapons of [Byakushiki].
"The Particle cannon seemed to have been modified, its firepower increased."
"Was that the only changes in the weapons?"
"Yeah, that's about it."
Fee, Honne, Kyouko and Kaoruko stared at the monitors.
"Ichika-kun are you sure you didn't tweak your IS?"
"No I didn't since I'm not very good in tuning the IS that much."
Kaoruko asked Ichika and Ichika could only returned a confused answer.
"So I guess the work that we'll do is to further increase the energy efficiency and adjust any inadequate settings."
Kaoruko said as she focused back on the monitors and started her work. Fee and Kyouko also went to their tasks while Honne went to Ichika and taught him how to optimize the core.
From afar, the six girls, namely Houki, Rin, Cecilia, Charlotte, Laura and Kanzashi stared with varying reactions at Ichika who was getting close with Honne and his other helpers.
(What is he doing? He's not tuning his IS…he's flirting with those girls!)
Houki said as she was clearly infuriated by what she is seeing.
(Ichika-san doesn't have the sense of dedication. He's flirting with other girls instead of working.)
Cecilia doesn't notice that one of the maintenance staff was asking her something because she was very busy on her mental complaining on Ichika's actions.
(That idiot.)
Rin's yandere side was revived as she materialized her [Souten Gagetsu] and will throw it at Ichika if not for Chifuyu's presence.
(Ichika….muuuuuuu….)
Charlotte pouted when she saw Ichika getting close with other girls.
(My wife is getting too close with other women. I find this unacceptable, he already has me!)
Laura flared her rage as she was stopping herself from lunging at Ichika.
(Ichika sure is famous…)
Kanzashi just stared with longing eyes at Ichika.
Ichika on the other hand started feeling the stares that are being aimed at him.
(Is it just my imagination or am I really being stared at?)
Ichika could only sweat drop as the stares never went away.
"Orimu! Why are you spacing out?"
Honne pinched Ichika's cheek and turned his attention back to the holographic monitors.
"Sorry about that."
Ichika just turned back his attention to the monitors and listened to Honne's elaborate instructions.
"Hey Orimu do you know what this is?"
"Uh what's that?"
"I was hoping that you could tell me."
Honne noticed a new system in [Byakushiki]'s OS, but it can't be opened no matter how hard Honne tries to.
"Zuu-san look at this!"
Honne called out to Kaoruko who was busy with her work.
"What is it Honne can't you see that I'm working here."
"Just come here for a sec."
Kaoruko had no choice but to stand up and comply seeing as Honne wouldn't stop if she didn't.
"What is that, a new system?"
Kaoruko exclaimed loudly when she saw the mysterious system present in [Byakushiki]'s OS. Kaoruko typed on the holographic keyboard to try and open it up and they only got the message….
[Restricted. Access denied.]
"What is this?"
Kaoruko became frustrated when she tried to open the mysterious system but failed many times.
"What is the fuss over here?"
Fee and Kyouko also joined the discussion.
"This."
Kaoruko pointed at the system on [Byakushiki]'s OS.
"Could that be a virus?"
Fee also took a peek at the holographic screen of [Byakushiki]'s OS, the mysterious system was preventing anyone from doing any alterations to the IS via the OS, changing the values, optimizing the core and other tuning work. Kaoruko tried opening some systems of [Byakushiki] but the unknown system blocked off her attempt.
"We can't do anything unless this unknown system is present."
Kaoruko tried removing the unknown system, but after many failed attempts she gave up.
"Ahhhh! I give up!"
"Then let me try."
Kaoruko paved way for Fee who tried her best to try and crack the system but also failed like Kaoruko.
"Can you let me try?"
The four girls stared at Ichika with a lot of surprise in their eyes.
"Do you know how to?"
Kyouko looked at Ichika with a bit of interest in her eyes.
"Well I can use your help."
Ichika just scratched his head while wearing a smile.
"Well it is his IS, so it may obey him unlike it did to us."
Honne agreed as she leaned closer on Ichika.
Soon Ichika was the one typing on the holographic keyboard with the aid of his four helpers. Bit by bit Ichika was actually able to bypass the unknown system and was able to access [Byakushiki]'s OS.
"Well I guess Honne's right, it did obey Ichika."
Kaoruko was a bit amazed as Ichika got what they taught with just a few repetitions, he is now working on the values of [Byakushiki].
"Hey the values changed as well!"
Fee pointed out at the set of data on the holographic screen.
"Ichika-kun are you sure you didn't do anything?"
"No I swear I didn't even touch the OS of [Byakushiki]."
Kaoruko looked suspiciously at Ichika.
"Well any way let's go back to our work and let Ichika-kun finish his work here, so Fee, Kyouko and Honne go to tuning the energy usage and the weapons system."
Kaoruko commanded the three, but they don't seem that they will obey her.
"Why are you the one left with Orimu and beside I was here first!"
Honne complained but still putting on her drowsy face.
"Zuu-san that's right give us our chance too."
Kyouko and Fee complained at the decision.
"Well I haven't spent time with him too so I figure this would be a good time to do so."
Kaoruko argued with the other three, meanwhile Ichika just sweat dropped at the scene and just went back to tuning [Byakushiki].
After a short while of arguing, the four stopped their dispute upon who would help Ichika when Chifuyu directed her gaze at them. In the end, Honne was still the one who will help Ichika with the tuning. Kaoruko, Fee and Kyouko returned to their own tasks.
"You sure learn fast Orimu."
Honne was impressed with Ichika fast-learning capabilities.
"Ah, well thank you."
Ichika became a bit embarrassed when he was complimented all of a sudden. Ichika continued to input a lot of data on the OS; with the help of Honne he was able to make some progress with the tuning. But suddenly Ichika suddenly felt a very pleasant and familiar presence. He started noticing the his surroundings started becoming hazy and then…..
"Ichika…"
"Huh?"
Ichika suddenly looked up and saw a little girl with white hair and wearing a white one-piece dress standing in front of him.
"UWAH!"
Ichika was so shocked that he fell down on his back; he felt the floor it was a bit sandy for a concrete floor he looked around and saw that he saw in a beach.
"Hey wait I'm supposed to be in the prep room tuning my IS, then why am I…."
Ichika sat up and tried to make sense of what is happening. He looked around his surroundings; it was a misty shore and for some reason this place was very familiar to him.
"Did you forget again?"
The little girl suddenly appeared right in front of Ichika, looking at his eyes with great longing.
"Uh….."
(I've seen her somewhere before.)
Ichika stared at the girl for a while until he finally realized who the girl is.
"Setsura!"
Setsura smiled happily when Ichika spoke her name.
"You kept your promise, you never forgot us."
Setsura tenderly smiled as she blushed a bit.
"Wow it's been a while since I last saw you and…"
Ichika looked around as he searched for someone.
"You mean Byakushiki."
"Yeah!"
Ichika quickly turned to Setsura. Setsura then pointed behind him, Ichika turned around and saw Byakushiki in her white armor.
"…"
Ichika stared at her, the white armored female slowly walked towards Ichika she slowly reached for her helmet and removed it and revealed her face.
"Wha….."
Ichika was left speechless when her saw the true, unconcealed face of Byakushiki.
"Chifuyu-nee….."
Byakushiki removed her helmet and unveiled her true visage, this left Ichika at a loss for words.
"Hmmmm?"
Setsura walked in front of Ichika and leaned close to look at the confused boy. Ichika was still in a daze when he saw the face of his IS; it took him a few more minutes to snap out of his blankness and exclaimed in shock.
"CHIFUYU-NEE! WHY ARE YOU HERE? AND…AND…AND….."
Ichika became panicky when he regained his consciousness.
"This is my image; I take after the form of whatever that is prominent in your mind."
Byakushiki calmly said, while Ichika still couldn't believe what he's seeing. It took him a few more minutes to calm down.
"That was a big shocker."
Ichika mumbled as he sighed with a lot of exhaustion.
"We apologize for the inconvenient time in converging with you it's just what we were about to tell you is very vital."
Byakushiki's face became serious; Setsura also became a bit tense.
"What is it about?"
Ichika became a bit serious.
"Me and Setsura felt something ominous might take place at the academy, we don't know what it is yet but we are sure that it isn't good."
Byakushiki walked towards Ichika and stopped just a step away from him.
(Why did she go this close?)
Ichika became a bit embarrassed when he realized how close they are, also because of Byakushiki accurately resembling his sister made Ichika even more flustered.
"We just want you to be careful and always be vigilant."
Byakushiki said this as she stared right in Ichika's eyes. Ichika just stared at the beautiful eyes of his IS, they're also like Chifuyu's eyes, stern and strong but compassionate and caring. After a few minutes of him staring like an idiot, Ichika straightened up and smiled at Byakushiki.
"Thank you, you and Setsura always look out for me, I feel ashamed when I always rely on both of you."
Ichika's smiled had a sad feeling to it.
"Ichika, feel free to rely on us, it is our purpose to support you."
Setsura's innocent words touched Ichika's heart especially when he saw her cute expression.
"I know how you feel but don't try and do everything by yourself, you always have comrades there to help you."
Byakushiki's eyes softened for a bit when she spoke.
(She really resembles Chifuyu-nee, it's almost like they're twins.)
Ichika gawked at the compassionate face of his IS that greatly look a lot like his sister.
(WHOOOOOOOOSH)
A cold breeze blew from the coast, but it wasn't pleasant like before it was fast and a bit unnerving, like a warning.
"You should go back now."
Byakushiki said as her expression return to a serious one.
"Yeah, you're right in fact I'm tuning you right now."
"Yes, we noticed."
Setsura smiled to diffuse the tense atmosphere.
"Hey, could by any chance that you're guiding me in tuning you?"
Ichika looked at Setsura and Byakushiki, Setsura smiled in admittance.
"(Sigh), well I guess I better go back now."
Ichika smiled, he then looked around the misty surroundings searching for the grass field that he used to get home the first time he was here.
"Are looking for the field?"
Byakushiki leaned close to Ichika and placed both her hands on his cheek.
"Well because I need to go back right?"
Ichika nervously smiled at the intimate position they are in.
"No need."
Byakushiki leaned even closer and planted a light kiss on his lips. Soon the surroundings lit up so bright that everything was swallowed by a white blinding light
"Orimu! Hey wake up!"
"Uh!"
Ichika awakened.
"Hey Orimu!"
Ichika quickly turned around and saw Honne's face right in front his.
"Ah!"
Their foreheads touch since both just realized how close their proximity really was.
"Umm….."
"Uh…"
Honne and Ichika became speechless when they noticed their current situation, but the first ones to react were….
""""""ICHIKA! """"""
Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte, Laura flew into Ichika position using there IS, meanwhile Kanzashi just remained on her position but she was also displeased of Ichika's unconscious actions.
"AH! Wait I can explain!"
Ichika tried to reason with the girls but his pleas didn't reach the girls' ears.
"WE'RE HERE TO WORK NOT TO FLIRT!"
Houki scolded Ichika as she summoned her twin swords.
"Ichika-san how shameless of you trying that sort of act in the middle of so many people!"
Cecilia twitched in anger while holding tightly to her [Starlight MkIII].
"YOU GIGOLO!"
Rin roared in anger while she held unto her [Souten Gagetsu] in its combined form.
"Ichika! You can't just go doing that on public!"
Charlotte cutely pouted at Ichika. Ichika thought that Charlotte looked cute if not for the two [Desert Foxes] that she was holding.
"ICHIKA THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! ILLICIT BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED UNLESS IT IS WITH ME!"
Laura said in an enraged manner.
The quarrel lasted for a few minutes until Chifuyu stepped in and pacified the girls with her attendance book and Ichika with her fist. After the combo move that Chifuyu did, the girls went back to their designated places while nursing their heads that were assaulted by a hard attendance book.
"Honestly, children today are so tiring to look after."
Chifuyu just face-palmed and made an expression that looked like she had a headache.
"Orimura."
"Y-YES"
Ichika quickly answered when he heard his sister's voice.
"Stop causing trouble and also stop dozing off during your work."
Chifuyu lectured her younger brother because of his lax attitude.
But Ichika doesn't seem to hear his sister lecturing as he stared at him.
(Chifuyu-nee and Byakushiki really do look alike.)
Ichika stared at his sister in a mystified manner.
"Are you listening to me Orimura?"
Ichika didn't reply as he continued to stare at his sister.
(SMACK)
"Pay attention you slacking student!"
"OW"
Ichika got hit the second time.
"Sorry Orimura-sensei."
Ichika dejectedly lowered his head.
Seeing his brother a bit down Chifuyu softened a little.
"Anyway just go back to work already."
Chifuyu walked away in large strides. Ichika just stared at his sister and couldn't help but feel ashamed as he made his sister mad again.
"Orimu are you alright?"
Honne asked in a worried voice.
"Yeah, let's just go back to work before Chifuyu-nee becomes angry again."
Ichika hurriedly stood up and returned to tuning his IS.
But [Byakushiki]'s warning rang on Ichika's mind.
(What could Byakushiki mean by that?)
Ichika turned grim for a moment when he remembered what his IS told him.
(Scene Change)
Tabane was slumped in her monitors; she's already tired from an all-nighter trying to locate something. Ku-chan just continuously bought food and drinks to her seeing as this genius didn't leave her chair for hours now.
"Tabane-sama, you really should rest right now or else it's you who will be sick this time."
Ku-chan poked at Tabane's shouders.
"Mnnnmmnnm, mnmmnbmbv, mnmvmvbv."
Tabane mumbled.
Ku-chan could just sweat dropped on the situation she's in.
(She in one of her moods.)
Ku-chan thought as she rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, here Tabane-sama."
Ku-chan handed Tabane a plate full of sandwiches. Tabane got a whiff of the food Ku-chan brought and quickly got up and started chowing down on the sandwiches. Soon Tabane finished the plate and just lay back on her chair.
"That was delicious Ku-chan."
Tabane regained her energy as she grabbed the little girl and gave her a bear hug.
"Tabane-sama why are you so fixated on those rogue IS units?"
Tabane suddenly snapped out of her happy attitude and became a bit depressed.
"Do you wanna know what they truly are Ku-chan?"
The little girl nodded as her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Those rogue IS units are our first creations. Me and Shiori combined our AI technology to create those IS units."
Tabane said with a slight smile on her face.
"Are they first generation?"
"No they are Zero Generation IS units, there the older sisters of the first generation IS."
Tabane said with a very serious voice which is a very deep contrast to her usual voice.
"How come….you didn't let the world know about them?"
"It is because the Zero Generation IS are too powerful to be handed to anyone, mainly because of Shiori's AI technology the Zero Generation IS became too powerful and too independent that me and Shiori decided to lock them down."
"But…"
"It's just as you think, we lost control of them and now they're out there."
Tabane's face became grim.
"How many of them are there?"
"Five of them, but so far only one is on the move."
Ku-chan just flinched a little when Tabane's reaction became even grimmer.
"Tabane-sama, if they're independent as you say then what reason could they have to run around in this world."
"They're planning to increase their numbers."
"How?"
"By acquiring cores of IS units that evolved."
"You mean IS units that undergone Second Shift."
Tabane returned to typing as she still has a serious face.
"If that is their objective then the prime target is…."
(BEEP) (BEEP)
(BEEP) (BEEP)
(BEEP) (BEEP)
(BEEP) (BEEP)
A blaring alarm roared as a large holographic screen appeared.
"What is it Tabane-sama?"
Tabane clenched her fists in frustration and fear as the holographic screen showed a unknown figure floating above the IS academy.
"So they made the first strike…."
Tabane, for the first time in her life became very serious.