Please read: As of 9/10/2020, all existing chapters have been rewritten into a revised/slight reimagining of the established story. I highly suggest you read this fanfiction from chapter one if you have already started reading before the aforementioned date. Thank you for reading this story and I appreciate your support.

One Week Later

Ichika had received a dorm number, academy uniforms, and a plethora of textbooks in the uneventful week that passed as his enrollment finally went through. But now the day of reckoning had come. His first day of school since his primary years.

To his right stood a short woman with similarly short green hair.

"I am pleased to announce a new addition to our class. Everybody meet Ichika Orimura, a transfer student from America!" Maya Yamada, the green haired teacher, exclaimed.

"A b-boy!?"

"Hey, he's kinda cute don't you think?"

"Shh, not so loud dummy!"

Chifuyu slammed her clipboard against the wall, immediately silencing the whispers that floated across the classroom. "Quiet down, the transfer student has not finished their introduction."

Ichika's eyes zipped back forth across the classroom, lingering slightly on Laura who was seated in the back left corner. It seemed his identity hadn't been leaked to the general public yet. Every girl save one had a shocked expression painted on their face.

"My name is Ichika Orimura. I have been living in the United States of America for the last six years and as of now will attend the IS Academy for further IS training. It is nice to meet you all," Ichika stated, going for a traditional greeting.

"Is that all Orimura?" Maya asked.

Ichika nodded.

"W-Well class, please give a warm welcome to our new student. I believe there is a seat available for you by Miss Bodewig."

"Yes instructor."

"O-Oh, please just call me Miss Yamada!" Maya stuttered.

"Yes Miss Yamada," Ichika corrected himself before making his way to the aforementioned seat. His skin crawled as every pair of eyes in the classroom followed him. All the attention set off alarm bells in his head. FOXHOUND was like one big bubble of familiar faces who all treated each other like co-workers. After a few professional introductions, meeting new people had been non-existent for the last few years.

Ichika quietly sighed in relief as he took a seat at his desk. It was quite a modern set up with the desk's surface being one big computer screen. Nothing like what he had when he was still a trainee.

"Well now that introductions are out of the way, let's begin our lesson on IS components!"

The first ten minutes made Ichika frown in worry. The next ten only cemented his concern. Topics were explained on a rudimentary level with no substance. It wasn't anything like he was taught. None of the content was new, there was absolutely nothing to learn. But he supposed he should have expected this.

If there was one thing he had to be thankful for, it was sitting in the back of the classroom with Laura. Anyone who wanted to sneak a peek at the boy had to turn around, something that his sister immediately took notice of and swiftly reprimanded. It was a small mercy.

As the lesson dragged on, Ichika tuned most of it out, only paying enough attention to give a satisfactory answer if he was called on. He avoided watching the digital clock on his desk, time only seemed to pass slower if he did.

An eternity later and the lunch bell finally rang over the intercom. Ichika couldn't muster any happiness however, his body was stiff and he felt braindead. Was this what school was like after primary school? Maybe getting kidnapped by Phantom Task wasn't so bad after all.

He was startled from his thoughts as two hands slammed down on his desk. Ichika took notice of the hard calluses on said hands.

"I-Ichika what are you doing here! I heard… I heard you were kidnapped!" The girl shouted.

Ichika looked up to see a girl with long brown hair tied into a slightly messy ponytail. Did he know her? It would have been more than six years ago…

Houki Shinonono, that's who this was. This was Tabane Shinonono's sister and the one he had been close friends with years ago. He felt slightly guilty about not recognizing her. Even though she had grown quite a bit, she still looked like how he remembered her.

"It's been a long time Houki. I guess out of anybody you deserve the truth huh…"

Ichika took a breath as if he was recalling bad memories. "See, I got kidnapped by these terrorists. However before they could make off with me I was rescued by American special forces who were following them. I was in danger here in Japan so I stayed in America where I learned I could pilot IS. One thing kind of led to another and I guess I'm here now."

Laura sent him a sideways glance. She knew he was lying through his teeth.

"I see, that's good then. I was so worried when I got the news that you had been kidnapped," Houki said with a sigh of relief.

Their conversation unfortunately did not go unnoticed by the rest of the class.

"What's the deal, does Shinonono know Ichika or something?"

"She sure is bold, going right up to him like that."

Ichika twitched, he was again the center of attention now that class had ended. It was only a matter of time until some girl became emboldened enough to talk to him. He didn't want to be rude, but if he had trouble connecting with his sister, he doubted they would be any different. Admittedly, his social skills had taken a hit in the six years of isolation from the normal world. He needed a way out.

"Hey Laura, would you mind showing me around the school?" Ichika asked the silver haired girl with a pleading look.

Laura tisked. "I suppose so Orimura, let's go."

"W-Wait Ichika, you don't want Bodewig to show you around, trust me. Though, I guess I could show you around since you're new and all," Houki interjected.

"What did you just say Shinonono?" Laura growled, her eye narrowing.

"I just think I'm more qualified since you yourself transferred here recently. Also it's widely known that you're not really a… people person," Houki retorted.

"I'm qualified for more things than you can imagine Shinonono. Orimura and I have been acquaintances for the past week. You are merely someone he once knew years ago, you're practically strangers," Laura rebuked, rising from her seat.

"Sorry Houki, but I did ask Laura. I'm sure we'll be able to catch up some other time," Ichika placated with an apologetic look.

"W-Wha-"

Ichika and Laura exited into the hallway, leaving behind a shocked classroom of girls.

The German girl led Ichika through the academy halls at a brisk pace. "I'm only doing this to return the favour for the food you have cooked."

"No, it's alright. I've already memorized the academy's layout from the maps. I just wanted to get out of that classroom. Are classes always so dull? Most of what Miss Yamada teaches can be implied from the basic information in our textbooks," Ichika remarked, easily matching Laura's pace.

"You get used to it," Laura simply stated.

"I get the feeling you're not very liked," Ichika said, changing the subject.

Laura gave Ichika an irritated look. "Of Course I'm not. Those children and I live in different worlds, I have no use for their social machinations. However there are a few individuals at this academy to watch out for."

"Like who?"

"Cecillia Alcott, she's in the same class as us and is the representative candidate for Great Britain. That pompous blonde has a strong IS but she herself is an amatuer."

Ichika nodded, filing away the information in his head.

"Then there is that Japanese girl you were talking to, Houki Shinonono. You probably know this, but she is the sister of Tabane Shinonono."

"The mother of all IS and the most wanted woman on this planet," Ichika stated.

"Yes, the younger sister may be the key to Tabane Shinonono. However she is granted asylum here at the academy and thus safe from any international interests," Laura intoned.

"There is also Charlotte Dunois. She is the IS representative candidate for France and a… capable pilot. She is a cheery girl, going out of her way to try and befriend me despite me rejecting her. The girl has asked me about my Schwarzer Regen too many times. I am almost certain she is a spy to collect data for the failing Dunois family."

"The Dunois have an agent in the academy? That's interesting," Ichika remarked.

"Indeed, they even gave her a personal IS. It's much more efficient that their mass produced models. However, it is still third rate French garbage that can't hold a candle to my Schwarzer Regen," Laura stated proudly.

Ichika pursed his lips. Tabane Shinonono's sister, the British representative candidate, a Dunois spy, and Laura herself. Why did he have to be placed in a class that already had the academy's attention.

"What about the pilot of that blue IS. From the warehouse, who was she?" Ichika asked quietly.

Laura frowned. "All I know is that she is Russia's representative and the student council president. She is… dangerous."

Ichika thought back to the warehouse skirmish. Her IS had some sort of water manipulation ability. How water could create clones of herself and a shield capable of stopping IS grade bullets was beyond him. Must be nanomachines or something.

"Hey Laura, let's go to the cafeteria, it is lunch time after all," Ichika offered.

Laura's stomach rumbled, making the girl blush slightly. "I suppose that is a satisfactory course of action."

Ichika blinked, coming to a realization. "Hey Laura?"

"Hm?"

"Are we friends?"

Laura paused, looking back to Ichika in surprise. After a few moments of hesitation, she crossed her arms. "I have my mission Ichika, I do not need friends. Thus my answer is nein, we are not friends."

Ichika shrugged in acceptance. "I suppose we could be allies then. It certainly feels that way to me atleast."

"Allies… yes I suppose that would be acceptable. I will carry out my mission and you will carry out whatever yours is. Though we shall cooperate for mutual benefit," Laura stated, continuing her march to the cafeteria.

Thus, Ichika gained an ally in a most unexpected place.

Ichika bit into a simple country ham sandwich. Simple bread, cheeze, ham, and a little mayonnaise. He much preferred the humble lunch food. Some of the meals the academy was serving were just ridiculous. Style over substance seemed a staple at the IS Academy.

Laura sat opposite him, a potato salad and bratwurst on her plate. The relative silence the two ate in was not reciprocated by the rest of the cafeteria.

"Look, it's Ichika Orimura, Lady Chifuyu's little brother."

"Why is he eating with Bodewig of all people?"

"Do you think he's single?"

As Ichika feared, a girl confidently approached their table. Giving her a once over, Ichika recalled that she was in the same class as him. She wore a custom tailored outfit that looked more like a dress than a uniform, a stark contrast to Laura's which looked more like an old fashioned German officer's uniform.

She struck a dignified pose in front of Ichika and ran a hand through her long blonde hair. It was only then did Ichika notice two particular blue earrings she wore. A personal IS maybe? Wait a minute, was this the Cecillia Alcott Laura had informed him of?

"Greeting Ichika Orimura. I see that you already have company, but I must ask for a moment of your time," the girl stated.

Ichika sent a glance to Laura who shrugged disinterestedly before returning to her sausage. "I suppose that is alright, may I have your name?"

"You do not know who I am? Preposterous, I am Cecillia Alcott, the representative candidate for Great Britain! As a representative candidate, I am one of the few elite pilots in the entire world. This is signified in my very own personal IS," Cecilia ranted, tilting her head in a way to show off her earrings.

Ichika hummed, so the earrings were her IS in its closed form. "Sorry, in America I was raised in a sheltered environment. I never really knew about any… celebrities. But it's nice to meet you Cecillia Alcott, my name is Ichika Orimura as you already know."

Ichika could practically feel the narcissism radiating from the girl. He decided to layer a little extra faux politeness in his speech as to avoid a verbal spat. The last thing he wanted was a drawn out argument on his first day.

"You should be proud to represent such a nation. Great Britain has been one of our closest allies since the Big War," Ichika added.

Cecellia nodded. "Indeed, it is only natural for world superpowers that share such close cultural ties to stand together."

Laura's scoff went unnoticed by Cecillia.

"On to the matter at hand however, I have come to share some of my great generosity with you, what a lucky boy you are. I, Cecilia Alcott, am most willing to share my elite knowledge with the new student. I may even extend the offer of private lessons if you ask politely," Cecilia offered with a confident smile.

"Thank you for the offer Miss Alcott, but I think I will decline," Ichika answered

"Wha-, I'll have you know I defeated an instructor during the entrance exam, which means I am an elite among the elite. Why in god's name would you turn down an offer to learn under the wing of someone as noble as myself?" Cecilia demanded, stamping her foot.

Ichika mentally sighed. "I see, defeating an instructor is quite an impressive feat. Though I still must turn down your generous offer, I simply don't think your teaching style will be compatible with me."

Cecilia looked taken aback. "You think my capacity to instruct is lacking? Absolutely absurd! I, Cecilia Alcott, have had the pleasure of gracefully defeating my enemies on the battlefield through practical training back in England. Pray tell transfer student, what would you know of the battlefield and its infinite glories?"

"What would I know?"

"You people truly are heartless."

"To think a child would have the capacity for such evil. You Americans disgust me."

"It… hurts."

"...Why?"

Ichika gave Cecillia a flat smile. "I suppose I wouldn't know much. But I wouldn't imagine the battlefield is a very glorious place."

Cecilia huffed. "I suppose it comes with experience. You got my hopes up with your sophisticated manners, but in the end you're just a commoner."

"Honestly, I already have a good grasp on the material we're learning in class and Laura here has already agreed to train me," gesturing to Laura who looked up from her meal with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes… that is what we mutually agreed upon," Laura stated stoically. "It is probably for the best as I AM the best pilot in our class."

Cecilia's rebuke was cut off by Laura's single eyed glare.

"Do not forget yourself Alcott. I destroyed you and your precious IS once, I will always be capable of doing it again."

The blonde grimaced for a single moment before morphing her face into an aloof mask. "Fine, have it your way Bodewig. I, Cecilia Alcott, am generous enough to bestow upon you my expertise should you reconsider Ichika Orimura."

With that, Cecilia retreated, no longer feeling as self righteous. Ichika and Laura watched the blonde as she disappeared into the crowded cafeteria.

"How the mighty have fallen," Laura spat.

"Who are you referring to?" Ichika questioned.

"Britain of course. Once a mighty empire reduced to a puny island too enraptured by their past to look to the future."

Ichika frowned. "I was serious when I spoke highly of Britain. Steeped in tradition they may be, they are our greatest allies within NATO. Guaranteed, they aren't as strong as they historically were, but they are still a formidable nation."

"The schwarzer Hase could take London before those tea drinkers could even begin to mobilize," Laura muttered under her breath.

Ichika sighed. "Think of them like a sleeping lion. There was a time when they were the world's peacekeepers and I don't think the sun has set on them just yet."

"An old lion then. One with its teeth fallen out and its claws dulled," Laura retorted.

"Believe what you want Laura, my opinion on the British remains," Ichika stated with a shrug.

"And what of Cecillia Alcott, do you extend that opinion to her?" Laura questioned.

"I'm unsure to be honest. Just by talking with her I can tell she's been handed everything she's ever wanted in life. She's naturally beautiful and was probably born talented. It's obvious her ego is inflated. However pride is one of the easier traits to temper when it comes to making a good pilot," Ichika replied, thinking back to Monika who was a bundle of pride and talent.

"Naturally beautiful you say? Is that your honest evaluation of her or have you been seduced by her enormous chest?" Laura scoffed.

Ichika sighed in exasperation. He couldn't tell if what the silver haired girl said was a joke or a legitimate question. Knowing Laura however, it was probably the latter.

That Night

He and Laura had gone their separate ways after the latter half of classes had ended. As expected, the afternoon classes were just as uninteresting as the morning's. The only stand out thing that happened was the class going outside to witness how a proper dive was performed.

Ichika refused to volunteer. He could count the number of people who weren't comrades or dead that had seen Fukurō on one hand. It instinctively felt wrong to let a class full of girls ogle his IS and its capabilities, especially with the Dunois spy amongst them.

That was something he'd been feeling ever since he got captured. It just felt wrong to be here. It was boring, uneventful, and it felt excessively comfortable. This wasn't who he was raised to be.

Did he begin to love killing so much as to miss it? No, he didn't think so. As the instructor once said, it was their solemn duty. Yes, it was a job that was his, a job he had been groomed for. It was a job that you just couldn't quit. He just hoped his comrades were working fine in his absence.

There was a silver lining though. Laura Bodewig was like a beacon of familiarity, something he silently appreciated. In most situations she thought like him and vice versa. They thought like soldiers.

However that was not enough, he needed something more. Unfortunately, his plan to procure a weapon, preferably a firearm, from the American IS representative candidate Natasha Fairs, had to be scrapped. Unluckily for him, Natasha had recently returned to America.

Luckily though, he had a backup plan, albeit a bit of a risky one.

It was a plan he and Monika had thought up a long time ago out of boredom. The premise was simple, leave secret caches of weapons and supplies around the world in designated locations. In theory, a stranded operative would be able to tap into these caches in an emergency situation. At the time however, it merely sounded like something fun to do in Monika and Ichika's spare time.

They'd taken the idea to Angela who'd dismissed it as a waste of time. There was little down time for FOXHOUND operators and most just kept training between missions.

It was only after a bit of begging and Monika pulling the little sister card did Angela fold. In the end, the two had received permission to go through with their little project on the condition that they would do it in their own time.

After missions, the pair would gather excess munitions and either start a new cache or add to an existing one depending on what country they were deployed too. Despite Angela spreading the word about their pet project, the caches were barely used if at all. Consequently, they're global stockpile had grown to such a degree that Angela had to tell them to stop.

Even though the munitions couldn't be traced back to the organization and the chances of a non operator even finding one was close to zero, the two were forced to stop at Angela's firm 'no'. Monika had been pretty put off but Ichika understood. They must have buried several million dollars worth of equipment. Despite their advanced technology, FOXHOUND did actually have a budget.

Their Japanese stash wasn't near as big as some of their other ones. However it wasn't small either. While Ichika's only Japan deployment had ended up in his current situation, Monika had been in Japanese air space several times before.

He remembered the cache's hiding spot though, he'd committed all of their general locations to memory. Several feet underground on a mountain within the Nagano Prefecture. With his IS, it wasn't that long of a flight.

From an objective standpoint, there was greater risk in possessing military grade weapons at the academy than being without them. However, Ichika was spurred on by personal desire.

Thus Ichika stood atop one of the academy facility's rooftops. It was dark enough now, he was confident he could sneak out. He checked his watch, he had enough time.

"It's been a while Fukurō," Ichika muttered, his IS materializing around him and encompassing him in a familiar embrace.

He liked talking to Fukurō, he was sure she could hear him even though she never responded. If she really wanted to talk to him she could just snatch his consciousness.

Muscle memory guided him as his feathers unfurled as his noise suppression field activated and he blasted off, silent as the night sky itself.

His heart soared as his senses heightened, courtesy of Fukurō's hyper sensor. Feeling the rush as he tore through the chilly air, he activated his newly acquired second shift. Immediately his IS underwent the same transformation as it did at the warehouse.

As his tail feathers materialized, Ichika picked his speed up exponentially. Soon even the sound barrier was shattered, the sonic boom caught within his sound suppression field.

It didn't take long at all to reach his destination, touching down on the side of the mountain.

"Could you pull up the GPS Fukurō," Ichika asked his IS. He and Monika had uploaded the coordinates of all the caches into their IS. It only took a bit of land navigation to figure out where the cache was hidden.

It only took a minute, but Ichika was confident that he stood atop the cache. However there was one complication. No matter where he looked, he just couldn't find a shovel at the IS academy.

"Sorry Fukurō," Ichika muttered, using one of his feathers as a gigantic metal shovel. He was used to getting Fukurō pretty dirty on missions, but that was different. It was almost always for the purpose of killing the enemy, something he was sure Fukurō took pleasure in. He just hoped she wouldn't yell at him the next time he saw her.

He was startled from his thought however as he saw the corner of a tarp he supposed Monika used to make sure none of the munitions got dirty.

Empowered by his IS, Ichika hauled the entire tarp that held the supplies in one giant bundle out of the hole he had dug. Despite its durability, he gently set the tarp down and carefully undid the fascenings, letting the tarp unfurl.

Ammo cans, magazines of all sizes, several different gun cases, special ammunition, combat knives, field rations, a few ballistic vests, and a few empty duffle bags for transport. Ichika's mouth was slightly agape, he didn't think the stash would be this big. This was a lot more than what Monika had told him she'd stashed.

However one last thing fell out of the tarp. A satellite phone rolled onto the dirt, confusing him. Since when did they stash sat phones? Picking it up, he noticed the battery was long dead. Curious, he transferred some of Fukurō's power into the phone, charging it instantly.

There was a single recorded message to his surprise. Recorded messages were a bit of a taboo in the organization. Ichika selected the message and a wall of black text appeared on the phone's screen.

Hi Ichika, it's Monika. If you're reading this and your not Ichika then don't read this you dirty fuck. I'm not going to use our code names because I really just don't care and it's not like our names are really on the grid. Well, I guess yours is now, but whatever. Anyways, if you're reading this then you came for the Japan cache. Considering you dug it up, there's either some people who you want dead, or you're in some sort of trouble. Though, I guess you might have some other reason, you're weird like that. Either way, if you're in trouble, then contact me using this phone. I don't care if it's disobeying orders, you can count on me. By the way, I packed some extra stuff into the cache after you got captured in case you needed it. Well, I guess that's all Ichika, stay safe and good luck.

P.S, sorry I wasn't strong enough back at the warehouse.

P.P.S, you owe me an apology for that little heroic sacrifice you pulled, you asshole.

Ichika smiled wistfully as his friend's crude words managed to touch his heart. He'd have to thank Monika when he saw her again… and apologize.

He sighed however as he looked back at the cache. As much as he wanted to, he just couldn't bring it all. It all needed to hide in his room after all. Wait a minute, he'd completely forgot about the prospect of a roommate.

Would the academy really assign him with a female roommate? Sure he'd roomed with girls most of his life, but that was FOXHOUND. Things would get much harder if they did assign him a roommate. He wasn't confident enough in his talking skills to get them to cooperate with his blatant smuggling of military arms into the academy. He'd just have to hide the weapons immediately and somehow keep the secret from whoever he was rooming with.

Ichika pushed that to the back of his mind as he began packing. A few gun cases, ammo crates, two ballistic vests, and he clipped three knives to his waist.

This would have to make do, Ichika decided, packing away the rest back into the hole.

It took just a few minutes to recover the hole and cover his tracks. He checked his watch, he could still return by nine. Surely nobody would question him being gone for a measly hour.

His mind raced as he took off once again, two duffle bags tucked on his arm. Could he ask Chifuyu-nee to switch rooms? Maybe a little bribery could do the trick. Or maybe, maybe he could get rid of the girl and make it look like an accident.

No, no, that was a cruel line of thought. But maybe… no.

He pondered his options as he once again zipped through the air at supersonic speeds. In the end however, he supposed he'd have to improvise. It was much easier to plan his actions ahead of time when there was an actual target to neutralize.

Fukurō silently touched down atop the same roof he had first taken off from. Ichika grunted as the IS reverted to its closed form and the weight of the two duffle bags weighed him down. The bags weighed substantially, but he'd carried heavier packs through the deserts of Southern Afghanistan.

He took lesser known routes through the academy campus and after a slightly tiring fifteen minute trek, he'd finally reached the dormitories. Opting to take the staircase instead of the elevator, Ichika made it to the third floor, his room was somewhere around here. He roamed the hallway until he finally reached his desired location, room 1163.

His nerves slightly flared as he laid his hand on the door knob. All he had to do was introduce himself like he did to his class. It wasn't that hard; meeting new people was easy. He'd killed people with a straight face, this should be a piece of cake.

"Good evening, my name is Ichika Orimura. Nice to meet you," Ichika muttered under his breath as he slowly turned the knob.

With a slight creak, the door swung open.

Ichika sighed, exasperation flushing out the nervousness. "I should have expected this."

"Ja, good evening Ichika."