A year ago since I published this fic. Damn times goes fast. And the Division servers are horrible. It's been a while since I wrote a real chapter. Sorry about that.
I am near my fourth year. You can see this as my celebration like the chapter on the eight.
Btw, Marius15 on DeviantArt had done a pic that I requested from him. I think you guys will like it. Also, check out Oslight. He did some great commissions for me in the last six months.
I also posted a Sekirei fic. Brave new world. It's a commission so if you have something you'd like me to write out, let me know.
Kerlongsj had figured it out later on and he found out that Nayuta had gone completely missing. He expanded multiple men that were on non-active duty and told them to go looking for Nayuta. The search party was even higher. Of course, he would keep this a secret for the woman he loved.
Neither Chifuyu or Reiri would be happy to find out that Nayuta went off the grid. If they found out, he'd been in for a hell. And that was something he'd like to avoid.
Kerlongsj himself didn't know Nayuta but he remembered Ryuuin words. His destiny was ultimately linked with Chifuyu's and Reiri's. How he wished that man was around.
Tabane and Nayuta were both geniuses, no question about that. But geniality and wisdom are two very different things. Ryuuin was a genius yes but he was also wise. Better than others he had ever seen before. But even so Kerlongsj knew that this would not go well.
The world would put their faith in two young boys who both could use a machine that was meant for women. Like they were some kind of anime male dumbass protagonists who would save the world but ignored the tons of girls around them.
But he knew that wouldn't happen. Being around guys made men less dense. At least, that's what he thought.
He humored the thoughts. Growing up with a sister avoided Kerlongsj to take the icky stage that most young men would have had. In his case, he had only gotten sexually attracted way later on. And that was with those two. But for now he would wait and look over the women he loved and the dangers that would come.
He'd be there from the shadows.
In the Infinite Ataraxia Academy.
Mattheus sat with Joel in his lap as he, Ichika and Kizuna were surrounded by the girls. Ichika was sitting in front and could feel the stares boring in his back. One girl in particular was staring at him. She was blond, not like Mattheus mix but more lighter blond. It was in drills and she had blue eyes.
Her figure was pretty voluptuous but not like Houki's. Speaking about Houki, she had been looking at him sympathetically. She was also not used to the stares but during the week, she was about the only woman that would come close to the boys. Of course for Ichika. She hadn't forgotten the words.
If she wanted to settle for Ichika, she had to be fast. Well, she had told him and he had replied. He was hesitant to pursue a relationship with her, they had been close when they were alone. They didn't really chase after one another but even so, they had been around for that. Mattheus and Kizuna hadn't picked it up and neither of them really minded that sort of thing.
They were now in class and luckily for them, the week that they had before shit would hit the fan, made it so that the class wasn't staring intently at Ichika or Kizuna or even Mattheus for that matter. They had the introduction scene done and they were now just making it through.
Joel looked over the things here, noticing there was a lot of the HHG in this. While that wasn't abnormal, he hadn't like it as it wasn't something they were really used to. But even so, the class went by without too many issues. The group gathered around Ichika. Using the desk of another guy, Mattheus sat with the group.
"Well, that was something." Mattheus said as he felt his brain being fried. He still tried to catch up with it.
"You tell me," Kizuna said. Even with the small head start those two had, they found it extremely difficult.
"Chifuyu-nee didn't hold back." Ichika answered and Joel looked at him with a mixture of anger and amusement.
"Didn't hold back. Ichika, I don't know how to break it to you but she kinda went overboard. Fucking Christ, what the fuck does this woman think we are? Superhumans." Mattheus wacked his head on the response.
"Language. We're not at home and we're around others. If you are just with me, I don't mind your mouth. And it wasn't going too far. Otherwise, I would have allowed it." The three looked at Joel, holding in their laughs. They were shocked this boy knew that many foul words. Mattheus had said they didn't have to mind his mouth.
They did and they found it amusing. The group just sat in silence without saying much of a word. What broke the silence was the face of Reiri.
"Kizuna."
"Nee-chan" The Eros pilot grumbled as he was the bane of his personal life.
"I am headmaster Reiri here. I have seen that you haven't made any progress with the HHG girls of Amaterasu." Kizuna couldn't help but blush and feel embarrassed when his sister told him that.
"Yeah, it's kinda hard of doing that sort of thing. Especially on commando." He bit back and his sister sighed.
"I will help you with that but come over to my office immediately. You're excused for this class." Kizuna sighed as there was no helping it. The screen closed and he stood up.
"I'll see you guys later." Ichika sighed.
"She's never easy, Reiri-san."
"Same about Chifuyu-san." The two gave each other a fist bump and Mattheus gave one as well. When he left the room, Ichika sighed. "I feel for him."
"Ditto. I mean, we're in a bad spot but for him, it's even worse." Houki held her mouth as she knew that couldn't be changed.
"In any case, I just wonder about what made this happen." The kendo maiden spoke up and Mattheus felt a question mark over his head.
"What do you mean?"
"The discovery of Kizuna-san's ability and the discovery of the first male Infinite Stratos pilots. Is it just me or did that happen way too fast?" Mattheus hadn't thought about it, although his case was different from Ichika.
He wanted to speak up until they heard a voice with haughtiness in it.
"May I have a moment." Houki flinched and Joel felt Mattheus' hand on his shoulder. They looked in a girl that like Houki or actually like most of the girls was a bombshell.
She had long, light blond hair with was in curls and she had white skin much like Mattheus. She had blue eyes and the sense of superiority nearly radiated from her.
While it was true that in today's society, women were seen as higher, it was discouraged to abuse men. At least openly. Every male with resentment for females was a male, ready to become a supporter of the Hackers.
There had been enough bloodshed of protesters when males stood up and where HHG and IS fought back. By the third time it happened, the males were armed and received support from Hackers which had resulted that not only males lost their lives.
Kerlongsj might only rule over a few countries but his influence was widespread.
But looked like not all women got that memo.
"Yes." Ichika asked as he looked back at her. He wasn't really used to dealing with women like her. Then again, none of the guys were. Mattheus held his mouth and Joel stood back.
"Well, then I suppose we should meet. My name is Cecilia Alcott and I'm the representative candidate from the UK." Ichika turned to Mattheus who shrugged.
"Same like you, Mattheus."
"Yup." The older guy said. "What do you want from us?" Mattheus asked as he hoped that the cakehole would just shut up and move away.
"Well, I'm here with a request. I am one of the elite pilots who have received a Personal Unit and I can't even stand the idea of being in a task force of HHG, let alone, led by a male. I would like to ask you that you would stand in to make sure that we don't have to face that shame."
If they had difficulties talking to her, it melted like the snow before the sun. Mattheus due to his upbringing in a free country and Ichika because he wouldn't let anyone talk Kizuna down. Luckily for the younger male, Mattheus acted first.
"What is the big deal? We're not in charge of that, I hope . We're all pawns in this. Kizuna hadn't asked for this. Besides, a HHG is a lot more powerful than an IS so in any case, we're not going to be able to change that."
Cecilia looked like she was going to have a stroke. She would do them all a big favor if she took herself out by an aneurysm and Houki was included in that.
She didn't have a Personal Unit but even she felt that Cecilia was pushing it. Ichika was the first to reply now that Cecila was cut off guard by Mattheus.
"Mattheus is right. We can't change that. We'll just have to wait and see. Besides, what else are we supposed to do? You want to be leader? Good luck with that."
"I can't believe that the men of this island are so uncivilized." Mattheus grit his teeth.
"I'm not from Japan. I'm Belgian. And speaking about island. The UK is also an island and it's the country that invented both the machines so how you wanna change that? You only got in this place as you got that fucked up machine."
Cecilia boiled with fury but both males stood their ground. Desperately, she looked to Houki.
"You're a woman as well. Are you going to let those apes speak to me like that?" Oh, so now, Houki was acknowledged as Cecilia blatantly ignored her before. The two boys looked at Houki hopeful as she would choose their side and not Cecilia's.
"I don't care. Both Ichika and Mattheus are right. Kizuna didn't choose this. But I am not going to let you badmouth my friends. Apologize. Now." Houki spoke with a finality and in the books of two young men, she rose a few steps.
Cecilia glared at her but she resigned herself to it.
"Very well, I am sorry." Cecilia moved away and the group looked at her. "Well, she was something. What was her problem?" Joel asked.
"She acted as most females do. In this place, men are seen as servants and women are in power." Houki said as she looked at the two.
"But I don't condone such behavior." Mattheus nodded at her. "And you shouldn't. I am not used to women speaking to me like that."
"You're not? Right. Forgot you came from Belgium. It's like the old days there." Mattheus nodded on that as he was happy that there were laws who prevented it.
Chifuyu walked back in and it looked like Kizuna wouldn't drop in soon.
"So Hida is out for now and we got something else. We need to choose a class representative that will stand in for our class."
'Something like a class leader? Looks like schools aren't that different overseas. But call it how you want, it is a major pain in the ass.' Mattheus thought as he avoided that sort of thing.
There was some explanation of what it was and Ichika had sighed as Chifuyu had warned him about it. She shot a look of apology to him that was missed by the rest when the class erupted.
"Sensei, I recommend Orimura-kun!"
Ichika saw that coming from miles away. He sighed as he looked to the class. What he didn't know was that the interaction and warning, didn't come from his big sister herself but from someone who told her that acting aloof wasn't a great way to get back around Ichika.
"I completely agree." A second voice said.
"Maybe Adjzof-kun is a good choice as well." Mattheus stiffened as he knew this would happen.
"I suppose we can let it down to a vote. As you two are nominated, you aren't allowed to vote. Ichika and Mattheus sighed as they heard that.
A bang came from a desk and annoyed, Ichika and Mattheus turned to the predictable perpetrator of that bang. They weren't alone. While Cecilia had some of the class ideas on males, there were those that weren't happy with how the Brit acted.
"This outcome is totally unacceptable! The class representative should be chosen on skill, and having a male as our class representative is disgraceful! Do you expect me, Cecilia Alcott, to endure this embarrassment for a whole year? It is bad enough that I have to be under the command of a pervert but to think that the leader of this class should be one male. I do not want to join a circus by allowing a male to lead us in this."
"Pity, you'd make an excellent clown."
The voice of that was Joel who sat with the sassiest smile on his face. The timing of the joke was so good to make the entire class erupt. Ichika laid under the desk, catching his breath. Mattheus wasn't much better as he laughed so hard his lungs bled. He still kept Joel in his lap.
Houki was more composed but even so, she couldn't stop laughing. She stayed in her desk. There were others who lost it completely. Like the blond girl who had blue eyes, she wasn't stopping with laughing.
Even the more stoic ones like that silver haired or that black haired braided girl were laughing.
Maya hid her face in the book, giggling like mad and even Chifuyu chuckled a few bits.
The receiver of the joke was less than pleased as she shot murderous glares at Joel. He sat there with a savage grin. She had wanted to act but found that Mattheus shook his head. He hoped she got the message. Lay a finger on Joel and you have me to deal with. Not that it stopped Cecilia as she took offence to it as she deployed four drones and launched them at Joel.
Mattheus was good enough in his head to take out his handgun and he shot the drones down. Chifuyu composed herself and she sighed as she looked over to Joel.
'No wonder that Kerlongsj is like that. They're really something, the men from Belgium.' She had never seen men in a way and like many women, she saw men as nothing more than servants. Both she and Reiri changed their views when they met Kerlongsj. He wasn't alpha male as that would be a big turn off.
Kerlongsj was omega. At least, in private. When he was leading, he was alpha.
But back to the situation in class.
"Alcott, sit down. You left yourself open. Pearce, for the excellent joke, you're off the hook." Cecilia looked aghast to the explanation that Chifuyu offered.
"Sensei, you can't be serious. How can you expect me to take this humiliation? I demand compensation for the humiliation that this, this ape, has done to me." The temperature dropped when she spoke those words and Joel was no longer smiling.
"This ape had done to you. I hate to break it to you but you have done plenty to me and mine. So shut up. Besides, what the hell were you thinking? Those drones are killing machines. If Mattheus hadn't taken them out, what the hell would have happened to me?" Cecilia glared at him and when she wanted to act, a pam came on the desk.
"Enough. Adjzof, because you're responsible for this boy, I want you to give Alcott compensation."
"You mean a fight, huh? Fine by me. I'll make sure that she got the memo." Chifuyu wanted to speak up as a knock on the door cut her off.
"Sorry I'm late, sensei." Kizuna walked back in and he looked at the situation.
"What did I miss?" He asked his teacher. As he grew up with Reiri, he was pretty used to strong women in his life. "Nothing much, Hida. You missed a good joke but you're in time. I know from Principal Hida you'd be late. So you're off the hook." Kizuna took his seat and shared a look with Ichika which made it clear.
'I'll tell you later.' But Cecilia had ignored Kizuna and walked over to Mattheus. Her eyes were on thunder and Mattheus kept his arm wrapped around Joel. A matter of protection.
It would be the question for who.
"What memo? In my regards, you're a male. You're weak. So I should give you the chance to bail out. If you don't want the humiliation that is rightfully mine to dish out to you." Ichika and Kizuna chuckled when they heard that.
Both of them knew better. Cecilia glared at them as he walked over to them. "I can offer you a handicap as well. You two are also males and weak."
Kizuna ignored her and looked over to Ichika who had his eyes set on her. Both of them had grown up with the idea that women were superior to men. But they had seen the exact opposite.
"Really? How many HHG pilots have you defeated? How many Infinite Stratos pilots? Because let me tell you one thing. The strongest person on the planet isn't a female but a man. At least, you can classify him as a male." Ichika sat and the class was again erupting in laughter.
"Orimura-kun, you're so funny."
"Yeah, everyone knows that females are stronger."
Mattheus voiced reason. "Kerlongsj Orlejov, right?" The class fell quiet as the dreaded name was spoken.
The girls had of course heard of the leader of the Hackers. The most dangerous man on the planet. And they had now known that Mattheus hailed from the land where men were still king.
"Bullseye. But how you do know about Kerlongsj Orlejov? I mean. He's a pretty well known guy but how can you be so sure? There's no telling what is truth and what is legend."
Ichika looked over to Kizuna and after that to his sister. She gave him a nod. Of course, Ichika didn't know of the relationship that she had with the Hacker Devil but she knew that Ichika had his own relationship with Kerlongsj.
"Because you girls might remember the Second Mondo Grosso Championship? Let's just say that during those days, I have seen him. And I have seen the things he did. So Alcott-san, how many HHG pilots have you defeated? Fifteen? At the same time. Cause that's what he pulled off. So the strongest person on the planet is Kerlongsj Orlejov and he is a male."
Kizuna was relieved that not the entire story was revealed as he knew he wouldn't like that. But he had been there as well and saw what Kerlongsj did.
Cecilia looked at him in fury and Ichika sat there calmly. "So Alcott-san, ready to swallow your words? Because I can tell that in honesty. So who is the one who is going to fight you?"
"Ichika, how about this? I'll give her a fight and the one who gets victorious out that, is the one who's facing you. Sounds fair, teach?" He asked to Chifuyu who smiled at him.
"I can't say that I dislike the idea. So very well. You have permission. But now, sit down. Adjzof, I need to speak to you later on. Understood?"
"Ok. I'll stick around." The class went by as Cecilia shot glares at the males who were ignoring it. Chifuyu looked at Ichika who got a grateful smile. Ever since that day, she had learned that she rather have Ichika growing up and the example he followed, well, he could get worse.
After the class was over, Houki stood next to the two boys who shot a look at Mattheus who just waved at them to walk on. They left and Chifuyu walked over to him. Joel made no mentions of moving from Mattheus.
"I said, I wanted to talk to you." Mattheus shrugged as his hand moved over Joel's head. "Joel can be around. I don't think it's a big deal."
Chifuyu sighed as she heard it. "Adjzof, I know that, well, you're a bit of a special case. You're in your twenties and still, you're in my class that is for fifteen to seventeen year old so you need to watch over that."
"Listen teach. You know I haven't asked to come here but for all matters, I was pretty much guided here. So we can't change that. I gotta follow class and listen to you. What is the thing that's bothering you?"
"I hope you show me the proper respect as I do not condone the casualness you address me." In a matter of seconds, Mattheus had stood up and with his 180 cm's, he towered over Chifuyu. Not difficult for him as she was only 165 cm.
"I hate to break it you but you're what? Four years older then me. I can't take that serious. And besides, I grew up in a very different environment than you. And like you said, I'm in twenties. We're pretty much the same if you look at age. You can't expect me to behave the same way as the others do."
Chifuyu sighed as Mattheus spoke the truth. "You are right about that. Still, I want you not to act all out on that. And something, you spoke about Kerlongsj Orlejov? What do you know about him?" Mattheus shrugged on that.
He took a heavy breath. For some reason, Chifuyu wasn't one where the name Kerlongsj Orlejov struck fear in her.
It wasn't like the name of He who must not be named or some other Harry Potter bullshit. You spoke his name and that was end of story. Kerlongsj was a guy who lead the Hackers. What else could you say about him?
The student opened his mouth. "It's a public secret at my place that Kerlongsj and his Hackers run Belgium. That's something we all know. During the massacre, ten years ago, he took over. I was ten at the time. Didn't care much about it. Kerlongsj runs Belgium and no one complains. Taxes went up and people got a lot in return. He shaped Belgium up, what else to say? There's no real government. Sure, in name but everyone knows the Hackers run it. Even so, things went for the better. They're not dictators and sure, you can dig and tell what you want. It's not like China, you're not censored for saying the truth. When you tell lies or make up stories, then you're shut down."
"You said something about a massacre? What was that?" Maya had become white as a sheet.
"I was talking about the massacre of the Belgian Government. Ten years ago when the HHG and IS popped up, the Hackers were already in place in Belgium and other countries. There was another leader, I think his name was Azalof. That man was assassinated by the Belgian government who thought that by taking him out, the Hackers would die out. Signed their own death warrant by doing that. Kerlongsj was fifteen at the time. He found out who ordered the hit and well, the rest is history."
"How do the people from Belgium took that?"
"Belgium was fucked up. I mean. I was lucky but in a lot of other cases, Orimura-sensei, Belgium was going down. Like so many other Western Countries. The Hackers kept us afloat and many people were happy with them. The hit caused the public opinion to drop to an all time low. Kerlongsj took over and he said that he wasn't interested in running the place. The Council took over. I mean. Life ain't perfect. It will never be but in all honesty, the Hackers make things work."
"Didn't Belgium receive cores?" Chifuyu knew a lot of his home from the Hackers from Kerlongsj but politics wasn't something she talked about with him. She wasn't interested in that.
"They did but well, mine isn't one from them. The Hackers didn't do anything with it. Even so, they made the count. We couldn't afford to compete with the neighboring countries so the Hackers were the cheapest alternative."
"Weren't there protests?"
"We're Belgians. We only protest when we really are pushed to the limit. And even so, we're old fashioned. As long limits weren't pushed too far, we didn't care. Kerlongsj acted and well, life continued on."
"What do you think about him?"
"He does a job and doesn't get compensation. He doesn't like what he is and what he does. As long Kerlongsj Orlejov doesn't go after me and mine, I don't give a care. Anything else?"
Chifuyu understood that it was enough for him now.
"Yes. Keep your temper on a limit. You're not at home. I'll see you tomorrow."
Mattheus nodded as he took his laptop. He looked over to Joel who nodded and the two walked away.
"You think we can trust him?" Maya asked and Chifuyu had no real idea about him. Kerlongsj hadn't known of Mattheus but from what she could see, Mattheus wasn't that bad. He wasn't against Kerlongsj or for him. He just went by him and that was what he wanted. He wanted to live and not give a fuck.
And to stay alive, not pissing off Kerlongsj Orlejov was the best thing to do.
Chifuyu was now done. "I think so. In any case, we will have to wait." Maya didn't know of the story that she and Reiri had with Kerlongsj. There were very few people and all involved wanted to keep that way.
Mattheus ended up at his room. Not wanting to change, he dropped his bag off. It was too early to get dinner and the shower ran so it meant that Ichika was taking a shower. In that case, Mattheus opened his laptop case as he went over the notes.
"You wanna catch up?" Joel asked and Mattheus nodded.
"Can't do squat now else Joel. We have to wait for dinner and best keep it logged."
"Fine. Do you mind if I nap? I am still not used to it." The younger boy asked when he yawned. The days here were long and Joel needed his sleep. Mattheus knew how taxing school could be and how much Joel needed his rest.
"Go ahead. I'll wake you for dinner?" The older guy asked and Joel raised a thumb as he fell asleep on the bed. Mattheus worked on his computer when he heard Ichika coming in and more than once, he was happy that Ichika was considerate.
"Looks like our first day is over."
"At least, our first school day. We have been here for a week. So for now, we have class and what else that brought with us?" Ichika nodded and he sat down.
"I'm still trying to catch up. I mean. You and I are the first male Pilots and we got this."
"Pawns, Ichika. Pawns are what we are. Not great. But hey, we got your sis watching over us. Btw, your sis. She is a good pilot?" Ichika would look affronted but he kept it down.
"Chifuyu-nee was the first Brunhilde. She had won the first Mondo Grosso Championship. She would have won the second one if she hadn't forfeit." Ichika wanted to talk but Mattheus cut him off before he could continue.
"You can stop. I hate to talk about that sort of thing. I can figure it out. Besides, let's get dinner when I have my shower."
For guys, a shower would take ten minutes max and Mattheus was even faster as he was out in ten minutes. They caught up with Houki and Kizuna and sat down talking about the day and passing it by. At this point, besides food and rest, nothing else was wanted and needed.
And this is where I end. Next chapter will have the fight with Cecilia and the boys. I didn't want to make Kizuna leader as he got enough to worry about. Next chapter will also be about Kizuna and his not growing relationship with the three Heart Hybrid Gear girls.
In the original source material, they are semi-forced but in this, there's no immediate threat. For next chapter, I'll deal with that. I'm still trying to focus the chapter tone but so far, I am stuck and I'd like to think things over.
When I wrote this, I was there is nearly a year between this fic and my other HHG fic. Funny. I am looking over the characters and it is getting somewhere but for now, school was less on owning me and later on, things will work out.
And I can't wait till February is over. When that is done, things get a slower pace.
See you guys on Thursday.
Saluut.