Authors note: a weird chapter, as it kind of jumps between event a bit over a period of time. Hopefully its not too weird and I hope ya like it. We're getting close to ichika's IS, so look ford to it.
"You look tired," Houki commented as she and Ichika left their room and headed to the classroom.
"I am," Ichika admitted with a yawn as he rubbed his eyes.
"If you came back at a decent time and didn't stay up you wouldn't be," Houki stated with a shake of her head.
Ichika simple grunted in response knowing she was mostly right. Kinoen had ended up studying on the rooftop until the sun went down, and when he got back to the room he began studying as well to make sure he had held the information Kinoen had read. He had now read and studied over two thirds of the first IS textbook, so he was almost caught up, but he had been awake till almost three in the morning and the lack of sleep was not being nice to him in the least.
Late nights made mornings suck.
The rest of the walk to the classroom was simple with neither of them saying anything, but as they entered Ichika noticed a few girls grouped around ones desk with music coming out of it.
Very familiar music.
"Oh, did the Trio put out a new song?" He asked as he walked over with a slight smile, recognizing the videos music and recalling how painful it had been to do all the work in under three days for it.
One girl had looked apprehensive when she noticed him walking over, but that disappeared in an instant as Ichika had spoken, a smile covering her face. "Yeah, they came out with one last night. You watch them too?"
"He's a guy, of course he watches them," one of the girls said with a smirk. "So, who's your favorite Orimura?"
"I enjoy Kinoen's swordplay videos," Ichika said, inwardly laughing at the absurdity of the conversation from his point of view.
"Um, what are you talking about?" Houki asked as she came over, while Ichika noticed out the corner of his eye that Cecilia was already at her seat and now paying attention to the conversation while trying, and failing, to look inconspicuous.
"You know of the Trio, right?" one of the girls, named Honne Nohotoke if Ichika recalled correctly, asked Houki in a lazy fashion.
"No, I, do not use the internet often," Houki admitted simply as she looked at the screen on Honne's desk where she could see three outrageous looking women dancing a bit while singing a very heavy song that, according to the video's title, was called Camellia feat. kradness — Rip It Off (Now) Rip It Off. " that, is an odd name. They are an idol group then?"
"More than idols," another girl, named Kiyoka Aikawa, said in disbelief as she pulled out her phone and opened up a YouTube channel. "They're a trio of girls who do music covers of old songs, as well as a whole bunch of other things as well. Their known for how strange and unearthly they each look, and there's even talk that they could be supernatural in origin because some people claim to have seen them leaping across buildings in Kyoto!"
"That sounds absurd," Houki stated as she crossed her arms.
"It does doesn't it?" Ichika asked with a smirk. "The three of them go by odd Alias's and no one knows their real identities, so that adds to their mystique."
"Yeah, they are all so cool!" Honne said in a bouncy tone as he pointed a sleeve at the video. "My favorite is Ignis, she's the one in red! She always seems very direct, and she does a whole bunch of videos about firearms and machinery in addition to the music videos!"
"I see. I assume she used the internet for the firearm videos?" Houki asked expectantly.
"No, she takes apart real firearms," Honne stated.
" . . Isn't that illegal? Normal people cannot own firearms here in japan.
"Yeah it's a little strange, huh?" Ichika commented.
Houki just looked at the video as it began to wind down. "Which one is the one you mentioned?"
"Kinoen?" Aikawa spoke up quickly stealing Ichika's thunder as she pointed to the blonde. "That one with the black and gold hair. Kinoen does Swordplay videos on a whole bunch of kinds of swords. She and Ignis also do Gaming videos sometimes too in addition to the music all three of them do."
"Okay, who is that last one?" Houki asked as she pointed at the third girl, who was wearing some kind of black full length dress that somehow made her body look featureless, as if she had no curves whatsoever. Her hair was deep black and absurdly long, easily reaching her ankles, and even her face looked kind of hard to distinguish.
"That's Schadenfreude," Ichika spoke up. "Her name is German and means something like enjoying others misfortune," he said with a snicker. "She does makeup and clothing tutorials as well a wide variety of other videos alongside the music they do."
"Yeah, she's real cool as she helps people enjoy their own style and will even do videos helping people who ask questions!" Honne said with a smile, making Ichika think maybe there was a relation to those videos and the fact that Honne's sleeves were so long they covered her hands by a drastic degree.
"The three of them are also well known for their sort of strange political stances," Ichika spoke up suddenly, causing Houki to look at him.
"What do you mean?"
"They advocate equality between men and women," Aikawa spoke up, slightly nervously. "They also speak out against women who abuse men, and have made it rather clear on a few occasions that they rather dislike the status quo caused by the IS."
"Ha, sounds like they are fools who do not understand that they, like all women, are the superior breed!" Cecilia said from her seat.
"That isn't right!" Honne exclaimed much to Ichika's surprise. "They make it very clear why they think as such and give very smart reasoning's. They have an entire three hour video of doing nothing but debating that and it is really good! My social studies class last year in middle school even had that video shown to the class by the teacher."
"That just sounds like proof this entire country is backwards," Cecilia said with a proud look on her face.
Houki turned to her, but stopped when Ichika put a hand up in her way. "Don't, arguing with arrogance never goes well."
"But she-"
"Orimura is right," Aikawa said in a whisper as she poked Houki in the side with a smile. "Besides, look around."
Houki did. Cecilia was smugly smiling to herself, and obliviously did not see that many of the others that had entered the class and her words were looking at her with clearly upset looks, or trying to ignore her presence. Easily three quarters of their class were Japanese and skid not like her belittling their country, and those that were from others countries clearly had different thoughts to hers.
Ichika smiled. "As I said, arrogance doesn't help someone.
"So it seems," Houki said with a nod.
"Um, Orimura, I'm sorry," Aikawa suddenly said quietly.
"For?"
"For joining in on voting for you to be the class rep. I was only thinking about how it'd be nice for our looks I guess, not what it would like be for you."
"Its fine, nothing to be done about it now," Ichika said with a shrug just before the door to the classroom opened up and Yamada sensei came in.
"Alright everyone, please take your seats and we can begin!" she said as she stood at the front of the room. "Oh and Orimura, Shinonono, please speak to me after class."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Your room transfer has been readied and you can move to your new room!" Yamada said after class to Houki as she and Ichika stood before her in the now empty classroom.
"Oh, that's good," Houki said, sounding a bit halfhearted in her words as she nodded to Yamada Sensei. "What room?"
"You are just down the hall, see?" Yamada said as she handed Houki a new room key. "It should make moving pretty simple for you."
"I see. I, thought this would take longer," Houki said as she took the keycard.
"Yes, we had been preparing a new room that was unused, but one of the girls from class D had to drop out due to family issues, so it opened up her room for another occupant. You."
"Oh, okay. Then I will begin packing my stuff right now," Houki declared before she tuned to walk away.
"I'll help you out then," Ichika said as he turned to follow.
"Actually Orimura, I need to speak to you still," Yamada spoke up.
Ichika turned to her, then looked back at Houki to see him being looked at and smiled. "I'll catch up and help when I get there." Houki nodded and left the room, leaving Ichika alone with Yamada sensei. "What do you need, sensei?"
"I would like to ask if you know why Orimura Sensei is acting strange," Yamada asked.
Ichika let out a sigh of annoyance. He should have seen this coming really. During the day his sister had seemed very disconnected, speaking with little of her usual authority in her voice. She also seemed unable to look in his general direction which, being at the front center of the class, made her always be looking at one side or the other. It had noticeably confused a few of his classmates, and it seemed the Teacher's aide had noticed as well. "I may have an idea," Ichika answered honestly. After all, if his sister was acting the way she was it was very likely due to what he had said to her the day before.
And he did not regret it at all.
"Then can you tell me please?" Yamada requested hopefully.
"No I cannot," Ichika said before he noticed the shocked look on Yamada Sensei's face and relented. "I cannot tell you because it is a family issue that my sister needs to deal with."
"I am sorry, but I do not think that is the case," Yamada said, her expression becoming slightly more serious. "Orimura sensei clearly has been shaken by something, and if you are responsible, or know why, I will have to ask again as it may quickly start affecting the class's learning."
"It's a personal problem-"
"That is effecting Orimura's ability to teach, so it must be addressed," Yamada sensei interrupted seriously as she looked at Ichika expectantly. Not down on him like he expected, no, it was like she was expecting him to be able to fix the problem in an instant or something.
Probably because he was his sisters brother.
Ichika vocally growled a bit in annoyance, something that caused Yamada to go wide eyed and lean back slightly. It pissed him off. People having expectations of him just because of who his sister was, and acting like there could be nothing wrong between them. "Fine, you want to know what is going on? Ask my sister directly; ask her why she keeps secrets from family she doesn't care about!"
"Orimura, I don't think you should lie like that," Yamada said in clear concern. "I am sure Orimura sensei cares about you and-"
"Do not act like you understand us!" Ichika snapped as he took a step forward and slammed a hand to the desk, causing Yamada to jump in surprise. "Do not act like you understand what I have gone through. And do not ask about this again. I have said all I am going to. If my sister continues to be like how she was today, that is her problem, and it doesn't affect me. Just like nothing she has done these past years has ever affected me."
Yamada seemed struck senseless as she sat there with her mouth hanging agape, providing Ichika the perfect chance to turn and walk out of the classroom.
Yamada Sensei did not call out to him to stop him, and being free he walked right back to his room.
And upon entering it found it utterly empty of Houki's things expect for her shinai which was lying on the desk.
"Hey skewer, did Houki leave this here intentionally?" Ichika asked out loud as he walked over and picked up the shinai.
"She did. She was muttering about a match in the morning when she placed it there," Skewered scorpion answered as it plodded across the bed to the end.
Ichika let out a short chuckle as he put the shinai down. "She's figuring that I didn't see what her new room number was, and hoping I'd bring her shinai to her in the morning for her kendo club."
"I assume that is because she wishes to challenge you, yes?"
"Probably," Ichika confirmed as he put his bag on the desk and began pulling out his books. "Anything else of note happen?"
"No, no one else entered the room or anything," Skewered scorpion said helpfully.
"Good. Last thing I need is someone sneaking in and looking through my stuff."
"So, will you be fighting her?"
Ichika sat down and looked at the textbook before him, considering the idea. There really were only a couple reasons not to give Houki a spar in kendo. Even if he hadn't touched kendo specifically in years he was definitely not out of practice. The real difficulty would be resisting the urge to mix in anything that wasn't kendo. On the other hand, there were a couple reasons not to. If Cecilia caught wind she could potentially try to see his skills herself, though it seemed unlikely with how she acted so far. The other reason would be one of attention. He already was covered in it, and appearing randomly at the kendo club and participating even once would garner lots of attention from the more physically inclined girls. It had happened before after all. "I'm not sure honestly," Ichika finally said as he looked at the book and then scowled at where he had left off. The entire section about the IS's PIC, or Passive inertia control. "Ugh, this is mostly physics stuff."
"Shall I lock the door?" Skewer asked helpfully, expecting Ichika's incoming train of thought.
" . . . . . Please do," Ichika said with a defeated sigh as he looked to the side and watched Skewed carrion plod across the carpet to the door and then, much to the dismay of ever physicist in existence, began climbing up the smooth and sheer wooden door. It was plush animal with no way to grip anything, yet that didn't seem to stop it as it reached the lock, turned it, and then simply fell off the door.
"It's locked now!"
"Alright," Ichika murmured before invoking his bracelet and turning into Kinoen. "It's no fun and I've only got an hour or so until dinner, but let's get this studying done!"
"Need anything else?"
"Hmmm, maybe a hairpin," Kinoen muttered as she then caught one that skewered threw at her out of her bag and used it to keep her bangs out of the way. "thank you, oh and skewer."
"Yes?"
"Wake me up in the morning so I can go and fight Houki!"
"Understood."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Dammit I wish Kinoen was a bit more thoughtful to my normal self," Ichika grumbled bleary eyed as he walked across the Academy to the martial arts club areas where the kendo club was supposed to be with Houki's shinai in hand.
Having told Skewer to do so it had woke him up early in the morning, and really, the bonuses did out way the problems it could cause.
"It's just I am sure I will be gawked at," Ichika said with a heavy sigh. " At least I'm through the whole first IS book that every needed to study to get into this place in the first place. Now I just need to catch up."
"Oh you caught up already?"
Ichika turned to see a pair of eyes bare inches away from his and recoiled away in surprise. " Wah, who . . . Nohotoke?"
Honne smiled. "Yep, it's me!"
"How did you sneak up on me?" Ichika asked in surprise. After all, from over a year of fighting Kampfers his senses were very keen and it was difficult for most people to sneak up on him. "No, wait, that's not right, why are you out this early?" Ichika then changed his question as he noticed Honne was wearing what appeared be a full body Fox pajamas complete with a hood and little fox ears.
"I fell asleep in the engineering bay last night with my sister, so I needed to go back to my room for a shower before breakfast!" Honne replied energetically before she looked at the Shinai and tilted her head. "You practice Kendo?"
"Not for many years now. Houki does, and she left it in my room last night after she moved rooms," Ichika explained simply before something Honne said suddenly clinked in his head. "You said you fell asleep in a maintenance bay?"
"Yep, me and my sister were doing some work!"
" . . I, thought that the schools IS were maintained by professionals?"
"Yep, but also by those of us here to learn how to build and maintain the IS!" Honne said enthusiastically, before smiling. "Orimu, you didn't realize some of us were here not to be pilots, did you?"
"err, not really. I've been a bit focused and. . What did you call me?"
"Orimu!" Honne declared happily, the ears on her pajamas twitching in a way that was normally impossible. "It's hard with your sister having the same name, so I made up a nickname for you! You like it?"
"Um I don't know," Ichika said uncertainly as he continued to walk, noting that Honne was now following beside him. "So, you are here to learn to build IS then?"
"Yep, me and my sister!" Honne said happily. " She specializes in dismantling and taking IS apart and is faster than anyone I've seen!"
"She's a second year then?"
"Third, and she's on the student council too!" Honne exclaimed, clearly proud of her sister.
"She sounds like quiet the achiever. What are you trying to focus on then?"
"Oh, the opposite of my sister, building and modifications!" Honne said before smiling. "Say, can I modify your IS Orimu?"
"Um, I don't have an IS," Ichika said simply as he could see the kendo dojo just ahead.
"Yes you do Orimu," hone said with a smile before suddenly blinking and tilting her head. "Wait, you don't know?"
Ichika just stopped walking and looked at Honne, making it clear that he had never heard anything of the like.
"Oh, uh, I don't think I was supposed to mention it yet then," Honne said as she scratched her nose with a sleeve in thought before shrugging noncommittally. "Oh well, no helping it. You are getting a Personal IS because you're the only guy who can use the IS!"
Ichika stared at Honne for a second, letting the implications of what she said begin to sink in. A personal Is, as in one that he himself actually owned and was the sole user of. He didn't know anything else about them, if the makers still got data or anything like that, but the implications of it were staggering. "Okay, I have two questions."
"Okay!"
"How do you know this?"
"I overheard some of the mechanics I learn under talking about it. They were saying it was one that used to be a prototype model that was discarded due to an issue, but that the issue was recently fixed and it was decided you would get it once some modifications were done to it!"
Ichika wanted to ask more, but truly did not know how to ask the questions in reference to an IS prototype, so held his tongue and asked his other question instead. "Do you know when I was supposed to be told this, or when it is supposed to arrive?"
"Uh, I don't know when you were going to be told, but I heard them saying it was supposed to arrive on Sunday,
"So, the day before my duel with Cecilia," Ichika muttered, not saying that he had already told his sister he was forfeiting the duel. Of course nothing about that had been said in class, so he had assumed she was planning some way to circumvent his intentions.
Getting him a personal IS seemed like the kind of thing she would do to make him not forfeit too, because if he had a Personal IS just as Cecilia did, it would make it harder to argue he had no chance and that the duel was unfair in some way. It still was, but it did pose a problem.
"Yeah, I guess so," Honne said kind of blankly before smiling and suddenly leaping forward arms in the air, draping herself over Ichika's side.
"Ah, hey, what are you-"
"So, do you want me to keep track of your IS when it gets here?"
"You were serious about that?" Ichika asked as he deftly slipped Honne off his arm and deposited her on the ground like a cat. Honne nodded rapidly. "Wouldn't the makers send someone along to something like that?"
"Nope, not here at the academy and Personal IS are odd because some get them looked over by groups while others have separate maintenance people. It all depends on what kind of contract they have to keep possession of it," Honne explained in an animated fashion that almost hid the fact that she was clearly very knowledgeable and intelligent.
Almost.
"So, a personal IS may be used by one person, but still might not be there's then?" Ichika asked finding the information Honne had alluded to very interesting and complicated.
"Yep, it all depends on the contract I think, though I don't deal with those much myself," Honne admitted as a vibrating sound came from a pocket somewhere on her pajamas. "Awwww I need to get going, talk later Orimu!" Honne then declared as she bounded off.
" . . . that girl is nothing but pure energy. Ran would adore her," Ichika muttered after a few seconds of being completely still, he could tell something was strange about her, he just couldn't put his finger on what. Aside from being the personification of energy and happiness, while simultaneously being extremely casual and right on the edge of lazy. Somehow in addition to turning out to be a mechanical student.
Ichika groaned at the revelation as he resumed heading to the kendo dojo. Just how many in his class were there not to be pilots then? Was it just ,pilots and mechanics, or were their other focuses for the students he hadn't even realized existed too?
It wasn't like he had been given a guided tour or any real explanations in the first place. He had just been told you're going and given not even a weeks' notice.
"I'll just ask Houki after a quick spar maybe," Ichika said as he took in a deep breath and slowly let it out before walking toward the dojo. "Let's do this."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ichika rolled his shoulders around as he came out of the bathroom in his room from having a shower, a huge grin plastering his face. Having the duel with Houki was a great way to get his mind off things and give him some morning exercise and now he felt better. He had lost the first match, won the second and tied the third against Houki, but considering he hadn't touched Kendo in years, and had to actively hold back and resist falling into his usual style, he figured he did really good.
And considering the looks of shock and the words of surprise at how he handled Houki's strikes it was clear she was known to be a strong practitioner.
"Hey boss, were you fighting a Kampfer earlier today?" Skewer asked as Ichika walked around and grabbed a clean uniform.
"No, why? Did you sense one?"
"I believe I sense a few fighting, but they were too far to tell numbers or types. I am sorry."
"It's fine. I wasn't fighting Kampfer, though knowing there is at least one other Red Kampfer around is useful," Ichika said before sighing. "I just wish my bracelet would react to allies, and not just enemy presences."
"That ability was removed years ago due to potential allies killing each other by accident a few too many times," Skewer said as it crossed the floor and climbed up into the desk beside Ichika's bag.
"I can see that happening, so easily," Ichika deadpanned as he began changing into his uniform. "Say, would an IS change its shape or form if I transformed while equipping one?"
"I do not know. But I can pass on the question to the moderators in case that worries you."
"Please do. We know there are at least two other Kampfer here in the academy, and I will need to know that if I'm being given a personal IS."
"You're getting your own? When were you told?" Skewer asked curiously.
"A little birdy told me," Ichika said as he pulled his shirt on and then began putting on h=the uniforms jacket only to scowl. "Though she dresses like a lazy fox. . . . Could be an otter too with how lazy yet playful she is."
"Sounds like you are meeting a number of interesting people," Skewer commented as Ichika sat down on his bed and began slipping his shoes on.
"Yeah. The IS academy takes in all the crazies it seems."
"Not unusual. Oh, just so you are aware though, I have confirmed that people already slated to join the academy, or already here, cannot become kampfers," Skewer suddenly unveiled.
Ichika stopped for a moment and nodded. "Meaning anyone who is a Kampfer here was one before they came here, or found out they were accepted."
"That is correct."
"Well Shit. Tina mentioned having allies, so that means a minimum of two Blues, with at least a few weeks experience, possibly more," Ichika paused to look at his phone. "Dammit, I have to get going or I'll be late to class. Damn shower was too nice."
"Well good luck in your class's boss!"
"Yeah, I'll be back later," Ichika said as he grabbed his bag and left the room, making sure to lock it on his way out. No one could see skewered scorpion unless they were a Kampfer, but he wasn't about to take any chances.
On his way to the classroom Ichika notice two things. He wasn't being stared at as much, and that a number of girls were staring at eachother. The reason why became clear when he passed a couple who were taking about the Trio video, and how Kinoen was supposedly at the IS academy.
"Makes it easier to do things when I'm not being chased around by the girls every break time," Ichika mumbled to himself as he arrived at the classroom and entered, seeing Honne and Aikawa staring at a screen. "Morning Orimura," Aikawa said with a smile as she tapped her screen to bring it up. "Hey, did you hear?"
"About the bit at the end of the Trio video on Kinoen being here? Yes, I have," Ichika said as he sat down and noticed that Houki was not at the classroom yet. Probably still having a shower from after her kendo and their match.
"It's so cool! I wonder who she really is?" Honne said as she looked around comically with a wave of her sleeves. "There's no way anyone could hide that hair without magic, so it has to be makeup, right?"
"Yes it,-" Aikawa began to say as Houki burst into the room right before she was followed by Yamada, and then Chifuyu.
Who looked far better than he had the day before.
Which was worrisome with the way she ever so slightly glanced in Ichika's direction.
"Alright you lot, settle down!" Chifuyu called out, causing every to get to their seats and be silent in mere seconds. "hmm, good. There are a few things to speak of before we start today's classes. "There has been a report of students fighting on academy grounds, if you see anyone engaging in fights not in an IS in the designated arena's, report it immediately. Understood?"
The entire class answered positively, in various ways, before quieting down again.
"Good. Secondly, Ichika."
Ichika flinched ever so slightly as he looked at his sister in the eyes. Her eyes were fierce and strong, not sullen and sad like they had been the day before. Had he told Yamada Sensei too much? Had she helped his sister through what he had told her, or had she found some way to deal with it herself? Either way the way she was looking at him made him nervous. " Yes?"
"You should begin practicing with the IS practice units after classes end if you have not already been doing so. The school is acquiring you a Personal IS for your use, but it will take time to make it operational and be sent here."
The entire class began gossiping about the fact of him being given a personal IS while Ichika inwardly scowled. It appeared that Honne had been correct in what she had heard, but now that he knew a little bit about personal IS from what she had said; he knew that just saying ok was not the best option. Especially since from the way his sister was looking at him it was clear she was likely responsible for the fact and was using it as a way to stop him from dropping out of the fight. "Orimura Sensei, I have a few question on that," Ichika spoke up in the same disconnected and unfamiliar tone he had taken to speaking to his sister.
The class seemed to find it a bit uncomfortable, and his sister's eyes twitched slightly. "And they are?"
"First, what kind of contracts or obligations come with it from the company providing it, and do I get a say in them?" Ichika said, causing much of the class, including Yamada sensei to look at him in shock and surprise. His sister simply raised an eyebrow, a tell that she was surprised, and also likely a bit impressed. "Also, if it is a personal IS do I get any sort of say in its armaments or build?" Ichika continued, shocking many in the class before he finished. "Also, if it becomes my personal property, what rules and regulations must be followed in my use of it, and in who maintains it for me? Am I allowed to choose?"
"You, how can you even say such things!" Cecilia suddenly shrieked as she abruptly stood up from her chair and marched right up to Ichika's desk, glaring down ay him. "Having a personal IS is a proud and powerful thing that you should be thanking our teacher for, not making it sound like you are being cajoled into a contract against your wishes!"
Ichika slowly turned his head to look at Cecilia, his eyes hard and cold as he spoke. "Do you have obligation to the ones who made your IS? Even if they are just to send back data?"
"Of course that is part of the point of having an IS!"
"Do you know what data is being sent to them?"
"Ah, well, combat data of course."
"Who's combat data, the IS's, or yours?" Ichika said, causing a few students to begin muttering. "Is the data of you using the IS, or of its performance itself? If you stop giving them useful combat data do you lose your IS? If they made a better version of your IS from your data, could they not use it to remove you from an equation?"
"Ichika!" Chifuyu suddenly said very loudly and sternly, causing many in the room to jump in surprise. "Enough trying to scare your classmates. Yamada will go over your questions with you after class. Is that understood?"
"Yes, I understand," Ichika said with a smile.
"Good. Alcott, back to your seat. Class is now starting,"
Cecilia simply nodded as she moved back to her seat, looking slightly shaken and making Ichika want to chuckle. As much as potentially going over a contract could be boring, it was much better than being roped into something he had no initial interest in doing.
Like being a Kampfer.
Sure he enjoyed it, but if he had been given a choice in the first place he would have declined without a second of thought. Regularly fighting for his life for a situation that he had no knowledge of was no good, and was probably why the moderators didn't give people a choice in the first place after all.
Hopefully the days classes went by fast enough to not drag the life out of him before he ended up speaking with Yamada sensei about his questions.
Xxxxxxx
As soon as classes for the day were over most of the class left and Ichika went up to Yamada sensei as he had been told to, thinking she could answer his questions.
"Well, to be honest your questions are a bit more than most students figure to even think about," Yamada sensei said as Ichika came up to her. "That is not to say they are bad, they aren't, but . . ."
"So am I going to get the answers then or no?" Ichika asked in annoyance.
"Yes, you will, but I'll need to bring you to someone who can answer your questions," Yamada said before she pulled out her phone and smiled. "Oh, they got here earlier than I expected. Shall we go meet them?"
"Fine," Ichika said with a sigh, feeling like he was maybe being given the runaround on his questions. As he followed Yamada sensei out of the room he caught sight of Honne in the hall who gave him a goofy smile and a thumbs up. Or at least he figured it was a thumbs up. It was so hard to tell with her hands covered so completely by her sleeves.
Yamada led him down the halls and to the academies office wing, but instead of bringing him to Chifuyu's office, as he kind of expected her to considering her questions the day before, he found himself brought right up to the door to none other than the headmistresses own office.
"Headmistress, I have arrived with mister Orimura," Yamada said as she tapped her knuckle to the glass of the doorway.
"Thank you Maya, please send him in," Came the headmistress's voice from within.
"Well you heard her," Yamada said with a smile. The headmistress will be able to answer your questions," Yamada aid as she stepped away from the door.
Ichika said nothing as he stepped forward open eth door and entered the office, the door closing behind him automatically. He had met the headmistress on the first day he was at the academy, but she still seemed to be rather strange to him.
She looked the consummate professional. Short black hair framing her face, a simple but clearly formal office uniform and light makeup. Her office however showed things differently as there were no posters, accolades or trophies anywhere in sight. Her desk had a monitor and keyboard on it but, unlike when he first saw the room, there was not piles of papers. There were a number of bookshelves with books on them around the walls, a couple of filing cabinets, and a small cabinet on the wall behind her made of dark oak wood.
What was truly odd was that an older man in a grey suit was standing to the side calmly at ease.
"Mister Orimura," the headmistress opened with a smile as she crossed her hand on the desk in front of her. "I knew I would see you in my office again at some point, but I admit I had not expected it to be for this reason."
"You expected I would be here for being in trouble?" Ichika offered at a guess.
"I did yes. Not from you doing anything explicitly wrong, but from it being reported that you did of course. Some of the faculty are very heavy into the whole IS equals female supremacy situation, so I expected it would come up at some point," the headmistress explained with a soft smile that was oddly pleased. "I am actually quite happy you are here for the reason you are."
Ichika narrowed his gaze on reflex. "Why?"
"Because it means you are more intelligent than your school records showed you to be. And while your sister had told me of you when she bent rules to have you here, her information was out of date," the headmistress said as she leaned forward in her chair. "I may be running a school mister Orimura, but what I respect most is the ability to do beyond what people expect. I like having my expectation shown up and proven wrong. Something you have done a few times already from what I have heard."
"So my sister is the reason I am here then," Ichika found himself saying.
"Yes, but it is not my place to tell you her reasoning," the headmistress said as she leaned back. "That is also not why you are here. You have questions about the fact that you have been told that you are to receive a personal IS."
"Yes. Orimura Sensei said as much during class," Ichika said, noticing that the man to the side raised his brows in surprise to how he referenced his sister. "She said the school was responsible for it."
"Technically, but the situation is a bit more, strange then that," the headmistress said as she gestured to the man. "This is Akira Kukouko, From Kuromochi Machinery development, the company that is offering the IS in question to be your personal IS."
"A pleasure to meet you, please just Call me Akira," the man said with a respectful bow as he held out a business card to Ichika.
"So, you are here to answer my questions then?" Ichika asked as he took the card and pocketed it.
"Yes, Mister Orimura, that is correct," Akira said he squatted down and picked up a briefcase. "May I headmistress?"
"Yes, of course, I cleaned the desk after all," she replied with a smirk.
Akira nodded and walked around Ichika to the other side of the desk where he placed and opened up the briefcase revealing a number of documents and files, as well a hologram projector that began showing a gray, and slightly pointing looking IS. "This is the IS our company is offering to you. The Byakushiki. It is an experimental Prototype platform originally built to test the possibilities of alternative armor types and the utilization of a One off ability without the need for a second shift like all other IS require. It is, in essence, a prototype for the passivity of fourth generation infinite Stratos, a 3.5 generation if you will."
"You realize that gives me even less reason to believe it doesn't have strings attached right?" Ichika said incredulously. "Aren't most companies still fiddling with the third generation IS?"
"Yes, I understand, but please, let me finish explaining," Akira asked, and when Ichika nodded he smiled. "Thank you. To continue. It is a conceptual prototype at its base, but is highly advanced. However early on in its testing there was a serious flaw in its design discovered that inhibited its ability to properly act as a stable platform for testing the intended technologies out on it. It was sitting in the corner of lab untouched for a while until just under a week ago when it was discovered that Tabane shinonono herself was found in the lab before it. She then claimed she had fixed the design flaws, and added her own upgrades to the prototype before disappearing in a flash of light."
"So Tabane did something to it, and I'm guessing you people could not figure out what she did?" Ichika asked.
"No, we do know what she did, it is just not known how she did it," Akira explained with a sigh. "There is also the issue that she incorporated some form of prototype technology of her own design into it that we are currently unable to fully understand."
"Meaning . . Your company can't call it entirely your own machine anymore then?" Ichika guessed.
"Yes. The fact that Tabane herself did something to it a serious problem from a corporate and multinational point of view as Tabane shininono has made it very clear on multiple occasions that she is not picking sides with any country, even her own home country," Akira said as he tapped a button on the briefcase, causing the hologram to expands and show a sword beside the machine. "Simply put, if other companies outside of japan discovered the situation it would cause an international incident that could cripple our company, and every IS related company in japan"
"So, giving it to me is a way to save face then, right?"
"In part, yes," Akira said as he took in a deep breath and let it out as if to prepare himself. "We cannot keep it out of sight forever as we have already had one security leak, so when your sister made it known she was looking for a personal IS for you; we saw an answer to our issues. By giving the Byakushiki to you we can make it appear as if we simply offered Tabane a gift to give to you, the brother of her well known friend. This both protects our own company, and many others in japan, while also making out company look good on the international stage.
"So it is a political move in the end," Ichika concluded with a light sigh. "What kind of strings are attached to it if I accept it?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, that had not as of yet been decided," Akira admitted with a smirk. "Our company was going to go with the usual, and often considered normally expected strings, as you call them, but when we were called this morning and told of what your questions were our board of directors decided that you clearly more similar to your sister in the matter of knowing what you were doing, and so I was sent to iron out such details in person. To put it simply, we can now decide upon what sort of details would be involved with you being given the Byakushiki."
Ichika looked at Akira for a moment before smiling. "Okay, I think I understand. Then, what is it that your company wants, first off?"
"Kuromochi machinery development would be satisfied with a simple copy of technical combat data from the machine itself, and any accumulated data in regards to its one off ability when it manifests."
"You don't know what it is?"
"We have expectations, but for a personal IS to manifest a one off, well it's complicated. Most IS can only manifest such a thing in its second shift, a hard to reach point of understanding between pilot and machine. The Byakushiki is designed so that it should be able to manifest such a thing in its sword in the first shift, but until it actually passes it default upshifted state we cannot know for sure."
Ichika looked at the hologram for a second before looking back at Akira. "Is the sword the only weapon it has?"
"Yes. To focus the machines intelligence to manifest the one-off, all of the machines equalizer points, you could call them hard points if such a term is easier for you, have been allocated to the machines main weapon the Yukihira type 2. It has no other weapon, but it was believed that having a one off in its first shift form would balance out the potential lack of versatility."
"So it has one weapon and that's it . . . if I accept it, who is the owner of it?" Ichika asked carefully.
"Due to the international ramifications of our company having any sort of control over it, if you accept the Byakushiki it will be yours in all meanings of the words. We would only be able to own what data you agree to pass on."
"What about maintenance and modification of it?" Ichika asked causing both Akira and the headmistress to look at him in surprise.
"Well, maintenance would fall initially to the Academy, but once you were out of the academy, you would need to agree to a maintenance contract with some company or individual of appropriate skill," Akira responded professionally. "As to the potential of modifications, as the equalizer points are all taken up any form of modification would be difficult as we found it impossible to remove what Tabane had done to the weapon. However, as the potential owner, the act, and result of such things, would fall solely on your shoulders."
"I see," Ichika said as he looked at the briefcase and the veritable book thick stack of papers that were strapped down. "I assume that is the paperwork depending on what sort of contract and agreements are made?"
"Yes, there are more than would be needed, as we had to prepare for all possibilities."
"Okay . . . you realize this feels way too good to be true, right?" Ichika stated seriously.
"It is," the headmistress spoke up with a grin. "If their company was not in such a dire situation in regards to it, and if your sister had not been the one to make the request, I doubt it would have gone through in any way. Many companies would have been interested in giving you an IS I wager, but it would have taken much longer and they would want to retain as much control and information as possible specifically because of who you are, and because you are man."
"Yes but such a thing it truly not possible with the Byakushiki due to Tabane's involvement," Akira said with a sigh. "And I will not lie, many think that she did this on purpose as she was seen doing this the very day that you were discovered to be able to pilot the IS."
" I will add that the school, and your sister, are giving Kuromochi a small funding and data contract to help smooth this over as well, in case you still thought it was all too simple and clean," the headmistress added with a grin.
"I did. And still do," Ichika admitted as he looked at the hologram and thought over what had been stated thus far. "So, if I accept it, I gain full ownership and all the responsibility that comes with that, and kuromochi wishes to have access to technical data and one off ability combat data as well. How does such data get acquired?"
"The technicians can set up such a thing so that when an IS is in standby mode it automatically sends data to those that it is to be sent to," Akira said as he looked at Ichika and smiled slightly. "Data can be looked over before it is sent as well, or sent at specific times."
"Okay. What if, if," Ichika stressed. "I wanted no data sent?"
"Then, Kuromochi would be rather upset, but ultimately could not do anything about it aside from hold a grudge. The ramifications of not giving it away at this point are too dangerous to the company, and many companies of japan, to push back at this time admittedly.
"Okay. One last question. What, exactly, did Tabane add to it?"
Akira nodded and tapped a button, causing the hologram to shift to just the sword. "The Yukihira type 2 is what we focused all of the equalizer point to in the hopes of creating a potent attack focused one-off ability. Tabane added some kind of armor segments onto the blade that has subtly changed its shape. From what we can tell, they are supposed to shift their shape to change the usability or capability of what they are connected to. How they do this we do not know however as in testing we were unable to activate this, folding armor of hers, and as such believe that it requires a proper first shift and likely the one off ability itself."
Ichika looked at the hologram for a moment as he considered his options. If he refused, it would mean he could easily get out of the duel with Cecilia like he wanted to. But from the sound of it, the international and political outcry from the machine could cripple companies in Japan. Technically it was not his problem, but it could come back to him in some way and it was his home country that could get screwed over, on the other hand, having a personal IS was extremely tempting, and being equipped with only a sword was not really a negative to him. He knew so many different ways to use a sword it would likely be very effective for him. Of course if he did accept it, it would make it much harder to get out of fighting Cecilia and could add to the previous problem of his bracelet trying to activate while piloting it.
"Dammit," Ichika grumbled after a few minutes of silence, causing Akira to cock an eyebrow at him. "Alright, I'll accept in the following points. As you said, it would be my sole property alongside everything that entails. Two, kuromochi will receive combat data I gather from planned and official academy events for the first half year, including data on the one off ability when it manifests, sent after any such event that would create such data. Also all data is to be considered private and is to only be utilized by your company for research and development purposes. Third, I would like the IS here at the academy ASAP so that I can get used to how it moves and find a mechanic for it if the need arises. Does that sound fair to you?"
"Well, the entre situation isn't fair to begin with," Akira started with a dry chuckle. "However, that is actually better thought out, and much more than Kuromochi expected to receive from the dreaded Brynhildyr's brother. Your trying to keep a positive relationship I wager, yes?"
Ichika nodded. "It's clear your company would not be doing this if you had other options, so even if I am selfish in some of what I want, there's no reason I still can't help your company out in return."
"A very mature way to look at it, I admit I am impressed," Akira said with a pleased nod. "
"Well, when you're fighting for your life all the time you learn quickly," Ichika said before suddenly realizing that he had said to much. Far too much.
"Fighting for your life?" the headmistress said in clear curiosity, though her face showed worry as well. "Explain."
Ichika let out a sigh of faked resignation, knowing this would be a good place to speak of his sister. "Well, I basically had to live on my own for the last few years. My sister left for Germany, and since then I hadn't seen her more than maybe three times a year. I had to learn how to care of myself, even if I had friends with good families that actually cared."
"Wait, hold up for a moment," Akira said as he rubbed his temple. "You mean to say that after the events of the Mondo Grosso when you were kidnapped; your sister went to Germany and simply left you alone in your home?"
"While that does sound horrible, and will be something I may have to bring up to your sister in the future, you look no worse for wear physically, and it does answer a few questions about an argument I heard the two of you had a couple days ago," the headmistress mused before shaking her head. "I suppose it doesn't matter for now. There is much paperwork that all three of us must attend to before we can be finished here."
"Yes, there is I suppose," Akira said as he pulled out the wad of papers and began flipping through them and slipping certain ones out to place on the desk. "Mister Orimura, while I cannot guarantee the Byakushiki arrive before Sunday, I can say that Kuromochi will agree to the rest without issue to protect our own company and others of japan."
"Okay, why not before Sunday?" Ichika asked as he watched Akira slip more papers and add them to the pile.
"The lab is doing last minute modifications and rebuilds to it, as when Tabane was discovered, she had partially taken the Byakushiki itself apart to add her modifications and fix the design flaw."
"Ah, I see. Can I still hope it will arrive sooner?" Ichika asked.
"I will see what the people at the lab can do, but it will be here at the academy mid-day on Sunday for sure if not earlier," Akira said as he pulled one last sheet out and placed it on the pile on the desk. "These are the premade sheets that will require the least amount of modification or none at all. Shall we begin?"
"Yes we should," the headmistress said as she looked to Ichika and grinned. "I hope you are ready, this will take a long time, and your wrists are likely to be sore by the end of it."
"Oh joy," Ichika deadpanned, knowing this was going to be a log and boring process. He was probably going to miss dinner.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After nearly three hours Ichika found himself slowly walking out of the headmistresses office with the paperwork and other related things all dealt with. He would soon be the owner of an IS, and while it would make it difficult to opt out of dueling Cecilia, the possible bonuses to having an IS of his own far outweighed that. As the only guy who could pilot an IS he could easily see some of the more morally bankrupt companies or organizations around the world trying to catch him, and having another way to protect himself aside from his abilities as a Kampfer would be extremely helpful.
Of course, he still had to figure out a way to avoid becoming the class rep, while not avoiding the duel with Cecilia now as having his own IS would make it extremely hard to back out, but that was a problem for another day.
Not the one where he had just spent three hours reading over legalese and signing his name over a couple hundred times.
"Ugh, I wonder if lawyers get off on paper like that," Ichika muttered as he went down a flight of stair and into a hallway full of windows. "Seriously, why does there need to be so much paperwork. I'm pretty sure half of that was just marking it in triplicate or something similarly dumb. Uh, I'm going to bed as soon as I get back to my room."
Unfortunately it was at that moment that Ichika felt his bracelet began warming up until it was nearly hot enough to burn him, making it very clear there were Blue Kampfer nearby. Instantly becoming tense and ready Ichika began looking around. He was in the academy office building, so there was no one around, and a quick look down out the window found no one in the yards below. Above however on the roof of a building across the courtyard he could see flashes and glints that were clear tells of combat. What was odd how've was that it did not look like a one on one fight, but two people teaming up on another. Who promptly fell down out of sight.
"Well then, we can't have that!" Ichika said to himself as he checked to see that no one else was around, and then quickly looked over the window for its latch. As soon as he found he slid the window open and leapt out, allowing his bracelet to transform him and lead to Kinoen hanging out the window with her feet against the wall.
With an almost spring like power Kinoen blasted off of the wall towards the opposite roof and brandished her blade and swung it up as she neared the edge of the buildings. With the scream of metal on concrete the edge of the building blew apart in a scattering rain of debris that both covered Kinoen's appearance, and staggered and stunned two of the Kampfer on the roof.
Or three, as one of them seemed to have fallen over from being tag teamed on.
"What the hell is, you!"
"Huh, what? Kinoen?!"
Kinoen grinned as she landed and looked at the two standing Kampfer, both who had blue bracelets. one was the girl she had fought before, Tina, who looked rather surprised by her own sudden appearance. The other was a short Japanese girl who was twirling a pair of Tanto that were chained together with about two meters of chain.
What was most interesting to Kinoen however was the potential ally who was lying on the ground almost against the edge of the roof. Her hair was a dull purple with literally glowing pink accents, and she had no noticeable weapon anywhere in sight and looked to be breathing heavily. Her red bracelet was pulsing angrily, making it clear she could probably not keep up her transformation much longer, and the more Kinoen looked at her the more she figured she knew who she was, but couldn't put a finger on it just yet.
"Wait, hold on, the one you mentioned attacking you was Kinoen? Kinoen is a Kampfer?" the chain user exclaimed in shock as she pointed a Tanto at Kinoen while looking at Tina.
"I told you that didn't i?" Tina asked in response.
"No you just said you were fighting an arrogant blonde!"
"Hey, mind not ignoring me?" Kinoen spoke up as he rested her Nodachi on her shoulder and grinned. "I have to say, finding two of you picking on one of my own side is a little annoying."
"Not this time!" Tina exclaimed as she summoned her larger caliber pistol and aimed at Kinoen, taking the shot as soon as she figured she had it.
Kinoen swung her sword down from her shoulder and caught the bullet, shattering it into fragments that embedded to her side in a short cone. Before she could say anything one of the Tanto's sailed through the air toward her head, allowing her to roll out of the way and use a leg to kick the chain that connected the two blades, causing it to lose most of its momentum. Then, using her roll, she grabbed the chain with her free hand and yanked on it, pulling the chain user off her feet and a couple steps toward her in an unbalanced and very comical, fashion.
Landing on her feet after a second roll Kinoen brought her blade up to beside her face in a thrusting stance – "SHRIKE!" -and lunged at the chain user, the tip of her blade aiming straight at the center of her body while the entire blade was covered in a golden aura.
Seeing herself about to get impaled she swung her arms up and stepped back and to the side, causing the blade to slice through her arms and the side of her body just under one breast, but avoiding anything instantly fatal.
"Hmm, not a bad reaction time," Kinoen said with a grin as she jumped backwards and let her blade slip out of the chain users flesh, blood dripping down onto the concrete before she fell to her knees on pain.
"Hey, you okay?!" Tina exclaimed in shock as she fired a couple shots at Kinoen, making her causally take steps back as she swung her blade and batted the bullets out of the air before striking her.
"Do I look okay!?"
"Hey, look. I'm not in the mood for this," Kinoen said with an annoyed and tired sigh. "If you want to bug out I'm okay with that. Just know that now that I know there's another Red around here, teaming up on her is not a smart idea, and I will make at least one of you pay for it in the future."
"um, should we take that offer to bail?" Tina asked uncertainly, causing her ally to snap at her.
"Of course we should! She just completely countered me and nearly took me out in one go! If we were normal people I probably would have bled out already!" the chain user said as she shakily stood up, making it clear that the innate regeneration that all Kampfer had was doing its work.
"Right sorry, was just asking," Tina said as she looked at Kinoen and scowled. "Alright, we're leaving, but this isn't over! We will beat you!"
"Sure, just be careful those dreams of yours don't turn into nightmares," Kinoen replied with an smirk as the two blue Kampfer turned and jumped off the roof of the building and out of sight. After a few seconds Kinoen felt her braclet stop being warm, making it clear that the blue had actually buggered off, allowing her to turn back to her downed and newfound ally. "So, you doing okay there?"
"I, you are . . . Kinoen?" the girl asked in a very weak voice as she struggled to sit up with a smile on her face.
"That is my name looking like this, yeah. You look pretty bad though, sorry I didn't come sooner," Kinoen said as she walked over to her and crouched down in front of her.
"th- thanks," the pinkette said before slumping to the ground and fainting. A second later her transformation was undone, causing both her hair, and her uniform to revert back to their normal color and style.
Kinoen found her mouth hanging open as she looked at the girl before her. " Well shit, I was not expecting this."