Infinite Stratos: Truth Be Told
A/N: New chapter again! The new manga of Infinite Stratos hasn't updated for a long time! What the hell! I really like it the only problem is it doesn't update fast enough! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Forgive the rant I'm just really frustrated. Anyway I've been searching for some good animes with really intense battle scenes; I need the inspiration for the coming battles. Code Geass is the one I'm watching right now, I don't really watch the talking scenes I just fast forward to the battles. I'm also planning to create more IS units for this story which will come in to the story in the later arcs.
Once again I received some suggestions of enlarging the harem by adding more girls. Hmmmmmmmmm, that is really not a bad idea but, as I said before if I'm to add more girls then I will have to work double time and also work even harder in balancing the characters. I cannot say a "No" to that suggestion but I can't say a "Yes" either. I still have to deliberate it with my mind.
Starting from this chapter we enter the battle phase. The struggle against the main antagonists of the series will begin. The animes I watched and the books I've read in the past really helped, now I can write smoothly.
That about it for now!
Disclaimer: I don't own Infinite Stratos (except for my OCs), it belongs to Izuru Yumizuru.
Chapter 49:
IS academy, 4:00am.
Houki Shinonono is now wide awake in such an early time. While her roommate Takatsuki is still snoozing, Houki is now awake and getting ready for the day. She already finished taking a bath and is now cooking her breakfast in the kitchen right in her dorm room since the cafeteria doesn't open for a few hours.
"Alright its ready better start eating." Houki turned off the stove, she took her fried rice and the fried chicken she cooked and went to her study table and started eating her very early breakfast.
"Itadakimasu." Houki clasped her hands as thanks for the grace she has today. She then started to eat her breakfast. After eating, Houki washed her dishes and stowed them in the cupboards.
"(Sigh), nothing to do." Houki sat back on her bed and thought of the things that she might do in the meantime. She had the thought of playing with her Hanafuda cards alone or maybe she could read something. But the thought of strolling outside charmed her more.
"I'll just walk around outside then."
Houki took a slightly thicker clothing in her closet and wore it, since she will be walking in the cool breeze of the early morning. After her preparation Houki went out of her room and started her early morning walk.
"Haaaaa… The breeze is really cool." Although it was a little misty, Houki still walked out the dorms and immersed herself at the peaceful ambience and savored the cool touch of the early morning breeze. She walked around the dorms and enjoyed the peaceful scene of the academy when it is still asleep.
(I wonder if Ichika is awake right now.)
Houki suddenly stopped as she thought about the boy she admires. Because of Chifuyu and the other teachers she wasn't able to visit Ichika and see how he's doing.
"Oh? Houki-san."
Houki immediately snapped out of her dazed when she heard her name being called and saw Cecilia looking at her dressed in a pink sweater.
"You too?" Houki walked towards the blonde British teen.
"Houki-san you also go for early morning walks?"
Cecilia asked her Japanese friend.
"No it's just when I have the time, I don't usually engage in this activity."
Houki turned to the side as she answered.
"Well since the two of us are here, why don't we walk together?"
Cecilia extended her invitation to Houki.
"Yeah, it's better than walking alone."
With that Houki and Cecilia walked side by side. The two strolled around the beautiful gardens in the student courtyard while talking about some female-related topics.
"I haven't been able to but my trusted brand in hairspray. Geez without it I don't feel secure with my looks especially when I'm with Ichika-san."
Cecilia complained to Houki about her problems.
"Well you shouldn't be too dependent on those products. I took it as a habit that I style my hair without using any artificial products."
Houki stated her words proudly.
"What kind of method do you use?"
"Well it is mostly having to do wi-"
Houki and Cecilia stopped talking when they met with three familiar faces.
"Laura-san, Charlotte-san and Rin-san?"
Cecilia looked a bit suspicious when they saw each other.
"You two as well? Well I guess it's not just us then."
Rin looked at Cecilia and Houki and just released a sigh.
"Well it is more fun when more people are around."
Charlotte smiled at her four friends.
"Let's go!" Laura took the lead and gave the orders to move on.
"What do you think Ichika is doing right now?"
Charlotte suddenly brought up the topic about Ichika.
"He's fine, just as long as he is in the hands of the instructor no harm can come close to my wife." Laura stated proudly her confidence in Ichika's situation. But the "wife" part still made the girls want to smack a thick phonebook or dictionary at Laura's head.
"Laura-san, we really should correct that erroneous perception of yours."
Cecilia looked at Laura wryly.
"Why? He is my wife so it is natural that I call him as such."
The girls just wanted to throw a tsukkomi at Laura right now.
"You really should stop that, you sound like your emasculating him with that title." Houki began to scold Laura for her persistence in calling Ichika that feminine moniker.
"Come on you guys we're disturbing the peaceful atmosphere, we should tone it down for a bit." Charlotte quickly came and dispelled the arguing.
"Everyone, did you get any news about the latest happening here in the academy?"
Rin brought a more serious topic after the quarreling was quelled.
"Nothing. From the talks that I've heard the faculty is keeping a close lid on things and that the information flow in the academy is being suppressed."
Cecilia whispered the words just for the sake of safety.
"By the teachers?" Houki threw in her query.
"Yes, but also maybe the higher ups are involved too."
Cecilia made a serious face as she answered.
"You mean like the Japanese government?"
Charlotte joined the serious discussion.
"Cecilia must be referring to the International IS authority."
Laura spoke as she crossed her arms.
"Geez, all this tension is making me nervous."
Charlotte had a worried expression and it didn't seem that Charlotte was the only one feeling this way, Houki, Laura, Cecilia and Rin are also very concerned about this. All this events, the attacks that encroached upon them really made the five girls very worried. Especially the recent attack by those unnatural IS-like things. Those attackers eerily reminded them of the flaming IS.
"What if another attack happens again?"
Cecilia made a very disconcerting statement.
"Hey stop being a pessimist Cecilia, it's not helping." Rin immediately responded to Cecilia.
"I'm sorry it's just that I'm really concerned about all this."
Cecilia started to mumbled her words as she slowly turned away.
"Hey, all of us are worried about this but I think it won't help if we worry about it too much."
Charlotte once again stepped in to ease the rising tension.
"Why don't we just talk about Ichika?" Laura spoke out her suggestion that seemed to get the full attention of the girls.
"W-Well what about Ichika that you want to talk about?"
Houki slightly blushed when she spoke. She still can't help but feel a little embarrassed when the topic would go at Ichika's direction.
"Oh! I almost forgot! Did any of you see the evening news last night?"
Rin suddenly brought up about the news she watched last night.
"What is it about?"
Cecilia curiously asked the energetic Chinese girl.
"Well from your face you probably didn't watch but it was a news about Ichika." At the mention of Ichika, the four sprung to life and totally forgot about the worries they had.
"W-What about him?"
Houki leaned close to Rin as she questioned her.
"Tell us!"
Laura also drew close and fervently asked Rin.
"Rin-san don't keep us hanging."
Cecilia also peered close to Rin.
"C-Calm down you guys, anyway a group of famous American directors and producers talked about making a joint movie project and they wanted Ichika to be a part of it or to be more precise the male lead."
Houki, Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura widened their eyes at the revelation by Rin.
"R-Really but how?"
Houki queried Rin again.
"Apparently this started on the time where Ichika visited the city, you know on the time where he attempted to lock lips with some woman." Rin grumbled the last part with a sour face. Houki, Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura internally growled when they remembered that debacle.
"They saw Ichika during his tour in the city especially when he danced in the arcade; those directors said that he would make a good actor because of his natural affinity that they called "the factor"." Rin raised both her hands and gestured the quotations signs.
"Or maybe they just want some attention and they set their sights on Ichika because he is the biggest magnet for the attention of the media and the people." Houki frowned a little when she spoke.
"Who are those producers Rin?"
Charlotte asked the names of those producers that want Ichika.
"Well I can't remember the others but I think I saw Jonathan Spielberg, Johnny Mace and Mike Mason."
Rin tried to remember the names of the producers but she only remembered three.
"Spielberg, Mace and Mason! They are the bigshots in the romance and fantasy films! I really loved the "Don't say goodbye" of Mason the ending really made me cry."
Charlotte exclaimed in a glee.
"Oh! Charlotte-san is also a fan of that film just like me. "Don't say goodbye" really did have a heartbreaking ending that later twisted to a good ending where the boy and the girl ended up with each other after years of being apart but I'm a bit more attached to Spielberg's romantic spy films. His works often remind me of the James Bond films that my father used to watch." Cecilia activated her ojou-sama mode again when the topic ventured to her favored territory.
"Spielberg's "Rune Wars" is my favorite because it had an amazing plot add to that the funny love story between the male lead and his heroine." Rin also joined the feverish discussion about movies.
"…."
"…."
Only Houki and Laura are lost in this discussion, the two had very little exposure to those things and are at a loss as to what the three are talking about.
"Does Houki-san and Luara-san not watch movies?"
Cecilia noticed the confused faces of Houki and Laura.
"Well I have seen the "Don't say goodbye" once when my aunt brought it home but I really didn't pay much attention to it."
Houki said in a bit embarrassed voice.
"I haven't seen any of those since I'm in the military base the only thing I've watched is the anime films that Clarissa lent me."
Laura said with a slightly disappointed face.
"Well I suggest you should watch those films even just once, it is good life experience for you two."
Rin smiled at the two.
"You two should watch it; it is really worth the time."
Charlotte also smiled at Houki and Laura.
"Well if they make a joint movie, it would be the movie of the century since all the brilliant minds in the movie industry in America are involved in it. Also with Ichika-san as the male lead, it would certainly boom to the public." Cecilia said while looking up to the skies like she is praying.
"I'd watch it if it is ever made."
Rin joined Cecilia in the land of the delirious.
"My wife would certainly do well if he ever entered the glamor world."
Laura nodded as she expressed her complete confidence for Ichika.
"I'm really excited too." Though she is really not a movie watcher, Houki also expressed her excitement. But these girls failed to notice a critical point in this notion and the first one to notice that point is Charlotte.
"But wait; if Ichika is the male lead then he should have a leading lady which would be a superstar from America. If that happens then….."
Charlotte's mind started to create some fantasies, Houki, Cecilia, Charlotte and Laura also entered their imagination zone.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte and Laura stayed silent for a while as they let their imaginations run wild and after a minute…
"NO! NO WAY! THERE IS NO WAY THAT IS HAPPENING!"
Houki roared in rage.
"I retract my former statement those idiotic directors are absurd if they paired Ichika-san with someone else!"
Cecilia started to complain.
"I'll destroy the set if that happens!"
Rin also expressed her complete disagreement.
"It wouldn't be a problem if it is with me."
Charlotte mumbled her words.
"NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO PAIR UP WITH MY BRIDE OTHER THAN ME!"
Laura stomped the ground in anger.
These girls probably imagined something really far-fetched.
The loud screams and complaints of the five were heard by two bluenettes who are also taking a walk under the early morning sky. The two bluenettes are none other than Tatenashi Sarashiki and Kanzashi Sarashiki.
"Nee-san…"
Kanzashi turned to his sister with a knowing look. Tatenashi looked back at her with a wry smile.
"Those five never learn do they? This is maybe the reason why they are always being smacked on the head by Orimura-sensei."
Tatenashi sighed as she heard the shouts and complaints are getting stronger, they must be going the right way.
"No surprise there."
Tatenashi and Kanzashi peered from the bushes and saw the five arguing at each other.
"What could they be arguing about?"
Kanzashi looked at Tatenashi.
"I think I have an idea what it is."
Tatenashi stepped out of the bush and proceeded to silence the five with her fan by hitting them on their heads.
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
"OW!"
Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte and Laura were hit by something hard on their heads.
"What's the big-" Houki wanted to snap at whoever smacked them on the head but she stopped when she saw that is was Tatenashi.
"Tatenashi-san…"
Charlotte looked at Tatenashi who is now holding her fan to her mouth.
"W-What are you doing here?" Laura threw her question at Tatenashi while hiding at Charlotte's back at the same time like a frightened little kid.
"Well me and Kanzashi heard the five of you yelling so we decided to checkup who the obnoxious persons were and saw you five squabbling with each other." At the mention of her name, Kanzashi stepped out of the bushes and revealed herself to the girls.
"Your voices were pretty loud." Kanzashi looked at the five while suppressing a snicker.
"Anyway why are the five of you arguing? Is it about Ichika-kun again?" Tatenashi directed her teasing smile at the five and judging from the flushing faces of Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte and Laura, Tatenashi was spot on.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
The five didn't make anymore sound as a sign of admittance.
"Well I guess this onee-san is right and also something tells me that the topic of your squabble is about the joint plan of the American directors to make a movie with Ichika-kun as the male lead. Am I right?" Tatenashi once again made an accurate summarization of the situation. And once again the five just turned to the side in embarrassment.
"I can understand why you are so concerned about this, is it because of Ichika possibly being paired up with some gorgeous American actress." Tatenashi started to enjoy to faces of the five. Kanzashi on the other hand just sighed at the sight of her big sister undergoing her teasing mode again.
"STOP IT ALREADY!" Houki couldn't take the teasing anymore and screamed with tearful eyes.
"Sorry, sorry, I just can't help it. Ahahahaha!" The girls just hung their heads when they noticed that they fell to Tatenashi's teasing again. "But that's alright; I have a good news regarding that." Tatenashi opened her fan and revealed the words written on it "Hope is here".
"In the late news last night, they said that they might also pick other students in the in the IS academy to be a part of the film, including the leading lady." Tatenashi made a devilish smile.
(DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOON)
Houki, Cecilia, Rin, Charlotte and Laura even Kanzashi suddenly were frozen by the revelation.
(A chance to be paired up with Ichika. Could I follow my dinner date with Ichika with a movie where the two of us are paired together?)
Houki mused with a serious face, as if preparing herself for a big fight.
(The leading lady of Ichika-san, his princess, his girlfriend, his wife, ohohohohohohoho!)
Cecilia's mind drooped to the land of the delirious once again.
(I'll have to start practicing then!)
Rin mentally fist pumped, as her fighting spirit burned wild.
(Ichika's official pair. If I become that, the two of us would be recognized as an item and, and, and….)
Charlotte's maiden heart started flutter at the possibility of being matched with his prince charming.
(This is most certainly a husband job. I will make sure that I play that part well.)
Laura thought for sure that she would be the one chosen as Ichika heroine.
Meanwhile the two bluenettes had varying reactions as they watched the three girls ruminate seriously.
(PFFFFFFFT! This is too good to stop!)
Tatenashi snickered in her mind as she enjoyed the assorted expressions of the five.
(Nee-san this is taking it too far.)
Kanzashi looked at her big sister and sighed.
(…)
A short while of silence surfaced when the seven girls spent their time pondering.
"Nee-san you really should stop this." Kanzashi finally broke the silence.
Tatenashi looked at her little sister with a slightly curious expression before she spoke.
"If you're thinking that I'm making this up then you're wrong my cute little imouto." Tatenashi took out her android phone from her phone and played the recorded news about that planned joint movie project.
"You really weren't joking." Kanzashi said as she finally believed his big sister. But the five froze again, just minutes ago they were already pumped for becoming Ichika's leading lady even though it was still just a possibility but now that they have seen and heard the actual proof, they are now even more motivated.
"Ichika is my wife! All should back away now!" Laura roared as she shamelessly declared her claim over the clueless Ichika.
The four didn't let it slide and made quick comebacks.
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT!? HOW CAN YOU STAKE YOUR CLAIM AT ICHIKA WHEN YOU ARE NOT EVEN THAT CLOSE! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CHILDHOOD FRIEND CARD!" Rin started to shout her words at Laura.
"THE CHILDHOOD FRIEND CARD IS ALREADY MINE! SO STOP TRYING TO USE IT!" Houki retorted at Rin.
Cecilia took advantage of the chaotic situation of the squabbling and threw in her contention.
"You girls must understand that a leading lady's role is very delicate and unique and must be portrayed with impeccable grace and poise which a noble like me possesses innately. So it would be better to have me as that leading heroine of Ichika-san." Cecilia's ojou-sama mode exceeded hundred percent with matching glitters and sparkles on her background. Houki, Rin, Charlotte and Laura looked at the confident Cecilia with blank stares.
"In what universe did you get that notion?" Rin made a sharp retort to Cecilia's self-praising words.
"Ofcourse since I am a noble from a great lineage, it would only be natural if I play the role of Ichika's behalf." Cecilia spoke without any hesitation.
"Cecilia that's cheating! If that's the case then I can be Ichika's leading lady too." Charlotte joined in on the squabble.
As the five started to argue with each other once again, Tatenashi just snickered in the sidelines as she watched. Kanzashi just hung her head at the disordered situation.
"Anyway, let's stop fighting each other. Let's just go to Ichika and tell him about the news I'm sure he'll be thrilled or troubled by it."
Tatenashi dismissed the quarrel of the girls.
"Wait visit Ichika at this time? But won't it be a bother to him not to mention there is Orimura-sensei there too."
Charlotte said meekly.
"It's alright Charlotte the instructor wouldn't mind us visiting."
Laura said as if she was really sure that they won't walk into another scolding and head-smacking.
"I'm quite doubtful of that, because the last time we listened to you we ended up walked around the academy 10 times while we were in a [Uchigane] without [PIC].
Rin shivered when she remembered that hellish punishment.
"Don't worry Miss Orimura is probably not there anymore. The head of the IS authority just arrived a while ago and they are probably getting ready for the meeting." Tatenashi closed her fan as she told the girls.
"Then we should go there so that we can guard him while he is asleep."
Houki vehemently declared her intention.
"Let's go then!"
Tatenashi ushered the girls to the IS academy hospital. The girls walked on but they noticed that the mist seemed to thickening.
"What is with this mist, it was thin just minutes ago."
Rin waved her hand to do away with the mist in her path.
"Careful now Rin-san you might get lost." Cecilia teased her Chinese friend with a smug smile on her face.
"Oh so Miss England is used to misty weather huh?" Rin retorted in a mocking way at Cecilia.
"Ofcourse England has this weather and I'm used to it." Cecilia placed a finger in her hand looking really happy.
"That may also be the reason why Cecilia-chan's cooking is bad because the mist obscure her sight when cooking." Tatenashi added a tease into conversation which resulted to Cecilia immediately standing up to defend her cooking.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Cecilia raised her voice a little as she tried to clarify what is in her cooking that she is always being excluded in any activity where cooking is involved.
"I don't know…"
Houki turned to the side as she suppressed her snicker.
"HONESTLY TELL ME!"
Cecilia raised her voice in confusion, the girls just laughed at the moment.
Under the early morning sky, seven girls enjoyed the peaceful moment or to be more precise the last moments of peace they have left.
(Scene Change)
Chifuyu woke up from her painfully short sleep. After drinking her 13th can of beer she finally was able to take a nap….. for about 15 minutes before waking up again.
"Uhhmmmm…." Chifuyu began get up from seat and checked the time on the wall clock right on top of the door. It was 4:34am, still pretty early but Chifuyu found herself not in the mood to sleep anymore, in fact she never felt sleepy in the first place; the little nap she had earlier wasn't really even a nap but just merely dozing off for a short while.
Chifuyu walked to Ichika's side and looked at her slumbering little brother. Ichika had a slightly trouble face in his sleep, Chifuyu could tell that he is being bothered by something. It could be the topic of their family that Ichika asked her last night which she didn't answer. Chifuyu can't help but be on guard whenever Ichika and her would talk alone, he would often bring up the topic about their past that would first start with Madoka then leading to the forbidden parts of their past.
"Uhhhh…" Ichika groaned as he slowly opened his left eye that wasn't bandaged. Chifuyu quickly helped as he tried to sit up.
"You really shouldn't try to force yourself Ichika." Chifuyu sat back on her chair as she watched her little brother still trying to wake himself up.
"Is it morning Chifuyu-nee?" Ichika slowly turned to Chifuyu. Ichika still had a tired look on his face when he spoke to his big sister, the aftereffects of [Hakuren] didn't wear off completely.
"Yeah you sleepyhead." Chifuyu reached over and affectionately ruffled his hair. Though Chifuyu said her words with a stern face, Ichika can still sense the softness hidden behind it and also the worry.
"….."
Ichika looked at the table beside his bed and saw numerous empty cans of beer, then and there he knew that his sister pulled out an all-nighter just to watch over him while he rested through the night. Knowing this Ichika couldn't help but feel useless again for causing his big sister trouble.
"Don't make that face when you just woke up." Chifuyu flicked Ichika forehead to wake him up from his depressed state. Chifuyu hated it to see Ichika making a face full of worry and anxiety, so she would always try to cheer him up in her own way whenever the gets sad.
"Chifuyu-nee always takes care of me, I always cause you trouble… sorry." Ichika mumbled as he grabbed his blanket tightly almost ripping it when he taught of how useless he is. He is very disappoint that even though he has gained new powers he still is a deadweight to his big sister and always causes problems and make her worry.
"…" Chifuyu noticed his growing dejection. She sighed at how easy he lets depression get to him lately. Chifuyu leaned close once again and this time she gently pulled his face closer to hers, close enough that their foreheads meet.
"Uhmm!" Ichika blushed when he noticed how close he is to his sister's face. The close proximity between the two made the poor sixteen year old very conscious of the closeness.
"Ichika, you know what makes me more worried? Is when I see you like this. I don't want to see you wallowing over and falling into depression just because you encountered a lot of problems. Face them with head held up high Ichika." Chifuyu smiled when she spoke to her little brother, she showed a very rare face as she comforted her little brother.
"I-I understand Chifuyu-nee, sorry."
Ichika hurriedly removed the depressed mask on his face and made a smile. Chifuyu also smiled when she saw that flame of her brother back on, she slowly backed away from their intimate position and returned to her place.
"Chifuyu-nee since I'm awake now maybe you can get some sleep, you still have a long meeting ahead of you right? You should rest before so that you won't appear tired in the meeting." Ichika expressed his worry for his big sister who he knew never slept just to look after him.
"Don't worry about me, a sleepless night can't impede me from doing my duties, after all I am the Brunhilde." Chifuyu smirked at her brother. Ichika widened his eyes at first but later smiled at his big sister.
"That's right; I know that Chifuyu-nee is the strongest." Ichika praised his sister with a big and honestly smile, powerful enough to rattle the composure of the Brunhilde and make her blush slightly.
(FLICK)
Chifuyu flicked her little brother's forehead again and affectionately smiled at him.
(ZZZZZZZZZZWWWWW)
The door opened behind the two siblings who are sharing a moment and the unexpected visitors entered, these visitors are Natasha Fairs the US representative who is currently a teacher here, Natalia Sheperd the new head of the medical operations of the academy, Iris Calling who is also a US representative and also an instructor here, Maya Yamada a young teacher in the academy and also a former representative candidate and Satella Montgomery Hansenberg the head of the International IS authority.
"What is happening?" Natasha whispered Satella with a slightly uncomfortable face. Satella just grinned when she saw the smiling faces of the two siblings. Iris and Natalia were pretty surprised to see how close the two really are since this was their first time to see the "lovey dovey" siblings in action. Maya just sighed and smiled as she is used to seeing this contact from the two despite the fact that she saw this for a only few times. Maya knew that this was a natural thing for the two.
"Well, well, well, having moments early in the morning?" Satella smiled as she waked to the two.
Chifuyu wasn't really surprised at their sudden arrival; Chifuyu already felt their presence ever since they were in the hallway.
"You're pretty early Satella." Chifuyu turned to the head of the International IS authority.
"Well ofcourse I'm here for a very important meeting after all, so I should be here early." Satella smiled but she later shifted her gaze to the curious Ichika. "Ichika-san, we haven't seen each other for a long time." Satella smiled cutely at the sixteen year old.
"Y-Yeah, so nice to see you Satella-san." Ichika also smiled back but a little embarrassed. The others couldn't help but notice how easy Ichika is to be manipulated by older women.
Natasha frowned a little when she saw the reaction of Ichika when he talked to Satella. Natasha didn't know why but she felt her chest twist up a little.
(Am I jealous? No there is no way that's possible.)
Natasha denied the possibility in her mind.
"Ufufufufufufufu….."
Natasha heard a mocking giggle and wasn't surprised to see her cousin Natalia looking at her teasingly.
"….."
Natasha just glared at her cousin. But she later shelved her irritation for now and turned her attention to Ichika.
"So are you alright now?" Natasha smiled at Ichika.
"I-I am okay, I feel a lot better now."
Ichika smiled at Natasha as he answered her.
"Really Ichika-san I'm starting to think that you really love the hospital because you've been going in and out of here since the last time." Satella teased the boy for his frequent entries to the academy hospital.
"I guess that is a good thing too. I will get to see him a lot if that happens." Natalia walked to the opposite of Ichika's bed and smiled at the boy as she leaned close.
"That's a pretty weird wish, so you're saying that he should get injured everyday so that you can see him. Why don't you just visit him?" Iris suggested to Natalia.
"I'm not saying that Ichika should get hurt on a daily basis but if he ever should, I will make sure he gets better." Natalia said the last part seductively as he slowly turned to Ichika and looked at him in the same way. Ichika couldn't help but blush especially when Natalia crossed her arms under her hefty chest, he sight of those beautiful boobs being squeezed by her hands aroused the sixteen year old's manly instinct. Natasha's eyes twitched, Maya blushed a little when she saw the attempted seduction, Iris just sighed, Satella just snickered and Chifuyu grew impatient and reached for Ichika's cheek and pinched him hard.
"Owwwwww!"
Ichika forcefully turned to the side opposite to Natalia when Chifuyu started to forcefully turn his head by pinching his cheek.
"Watch your eyes Ichika." Chifuyu glared at her brother for behaving frivolously though he didn't really mean to.
"My, my Ichika-san really is a natural ladies man." Satella said as she directed an attractive smile at Ichika.
"I'm not a womanizer; I'm not even cut out to be a boyfriend to any girl." Ichika's self-degrading statement made the six women with him laugh out in amusement, much to the boy's confusion. But judging from the situation he is in right now his denial to the title of him being a womanizer doesn't seem to fit, it seemed more like he is trying to deny the obvious. Ichika right now has a colorful set of women around him, he has a super strong bishoujo as a strict yet caring sister, two busty blondes who are really clingy to him, a brunette beauty who is the leader of a powerful organization, a well-endowed but ditzy sub-homeroom teacher, a competitive but beautiful American IS pilot and not to mention the seven students who are contending for his attention.
(ZZZZZZZZZWWWWWWWWW)
The door of Ichika's room opened again and the seven girls namely, Houki Shinonono, Cecilia Alcott, Huang Lin Ying, Charlotte Dunois, Laura Bodewig, Tatenashi Sarashiki and Kanzashi Sarashiki, entered the room.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
The young women looked at the group or older women surrounding Ichika and vice versa. The women just gazed at each other a bit surprised. Ichika was the only one who greeted Houki and the others.
"Oh, Houki and… Wait why are all of you here so early?"
Ichika had a slightly muddled face when she asked his friends.
"Well we wanted to visit you….."
Houki replied in a blank voice.
"Oh I have more proof that Ichika is a womanizer."
Satella was the first one to break the awkward atmosphere with her smile.
"Well students of the IS academy really are early risers." Iris nodded to herself.
"What are all of you doing out so early in the morning?" Chifuyu now was the one that questioned the girls, making the students with exception of Tatenashi flinched in fear.
"Well we came here because we knew that you have a meeting Miss Orimura, with at the meeting there will be no one to look after Ichika so we decided to come here and accompany him." Tatenashi attempted to convince Chifuyu of her point. Chifuyu for a while just looked at them but soon her scowl lessened as she finally saw Tatenashi's point.
"Well if that's the case then all of you can accompany him until 8:55am, at the time your IS units will be checked by the maintenance branch for repairs." Chifuyu finally granted the girls time with Ichika though it was only until 8:55am, the girls didn't complain.
After that, Chifuyu and the other teachers left the room to go to their meeting, leaving Ichika in the care of the students.
"Well another hectic day for our faculty."
Ichika said as he lied back down to his bed.
"What about you Ichika are alright now?"
Houki worriedly asked Ichika. The girls also had really worried faces when they saw the bandaged frame of Ichika, especially his right which Natalia said incurred quite a bit of damage.
"Yeah I'm alright now; in fact I might be able to get out of here by tomorrow."
Ichika smiled at his friends to lessen their worries.
"Your right eye Ichika-san, was it badly damaged?" Cecilia also asked Ichika.
"Well it was before but Natalia-san said that it should be alright now since I already undergone the regenerative treatment." Ichika replied to Cecilia with a healthy smile to help dispel the anxious faces around him.
But while they talked, Kanzashi who was only listening to them noticed something peculiar when her eyes wandered to the window. All she saw outside was a thick mist covering almost everything from sight. But something caught her eye, Kanzashi didn't know if she was hallucinating or not but she saw a something from afar was watching them. It looked humanoid to her but she wasn't sure because it was really far away.
"Uhmm…"
Kanzashi took her glasses and noticed that it has accumulated quite a bit of moisture, probably because of the mist. After wiping it on her skirt she wore them back and looked back at the window.
"….."
She didn't find that strange thing anymore.
"Kanzashi?"
Kanzashi immediately turned to Ichika as she heard her name being called.
"Sorry I dozed off."
Kanzashi shelved what she saw thinking that it was just her eyes being a bit blurry.
(Scene Change)
But, outside the hospital, all around the mist covered IS academy; the facsimiles of the Crystal being the [Crystal Dolls] stalked the misty surroundings waiting for the opportune time to strike.
