Infinite Stratos: Hidden Trump

by Blackshadow999

My life was going the way I wanted, then the Bunny called me, to get her kicks by messing with my life again! Now, I'm going to the IS Academy, all my classmates are my age and females... This'll be some of the hardest challenge I've faced! That Rabbit will pay for making my life HELL and that's a promise I'll KEEP! No Ichika in this story. OC main.

1. Unexpected and Unwanted Changes

A/n

I have gone through and done revisions. Sai is a tad different, will swear somewhat now and more detail in the story in general. He is also 16 instead of 15, still in the same age range of first year high school students would be. Timeline with this story has been expanded a bit more for the events that will come later. I do not own any of the Infinite Stratos Characters or anything else in the series. The fictional characters are mine and if they resemble someone else it is a fluke.

Chapter 1: Unexpected and Unwanted Changes.

-Sai's pov-

Hello one and all, my name is Sai Taichi, I'm a teenager of sixteen as of last September, the seventeenth to be precise. As it's now the start of January, I've been sixteen for closing in on four months and for my age, standing at five feet and four inches or so, knowing that I still have a bit more time to gain height before I stop growing. My figure overall is lean yet fit and has been that way ever since I took a serious interest in martial arts… the workouts keep me in shape and give me a great physique as a result.

The hair I have is a thick mop of black, grows in many straight spikes like follicles that go out and away from the center of my head in no particular pattern. Most of the spikes had an average length of five inches with those in my bangs and seven and a half in the back. There is also a bit of a wave to the right for my hair overall, it's natural as far as I've seen. Plus, there's a part of my hair that goes down between my eyes, though it doesn't impede my vision in any way. Moving onto my eyes is a dark reddish color with a tint of brown in them and where some people can be unsettled by the color, I just ignore the reaction. My facial features were streamlined, with high cheekbones and a small nose. So yeah, it can be said that I've good looks by what most say.

That being said, I'm confident that I'm unlike any normal sixteen-year-old you've met before. People expect a teenager my age would be getting ready for the first year starting the second semester of high school. Granted, I would be on the older end of the age range of my peers since my birthday falls past the cutoff date for school attendance. However, for the record, those who think that are wrong, I'm not a freshman, nor am I around my peers who are the same age as me.

How can that be the case a number of people might ask? That would be because technically, I've already graduated from high school and have no intention of returning to the place anytime in the near future. High school wasn't the fondest time of my life for me so, I've no real desire to return it. Yes, I'm aware with me being sixteen, most would say I'm too young to have already graduated from the high school level of education.

My answer to them is they can shut their mouths and quit their whining and bugging the rest of us. I served my time in that public prison, AND I have the diploma to prove it! So, feel free to gape at my high school diploma, then pucker up and smooch my rear before accepting that I'm telling the facts and leave me be. I do what I see fit, when I want and how I want and have the smarts to back up my way of doing things. My intelligence is the reason I was able to complete high school by the time I was eleven years old. Yep, you heard right, I completed the required public level of education not too long after I began my journey through puberty!

If I sum up what I'm saying in a nutshell, can be said that I'm a really smart kid and it's true. I certainly had a laugh at the expressions of the Doctors that gave me tests to find out my IQ. If life was a cartoon, then jaws would have gone through the floor with most of them, since my IQ is high, to put it mildly. But, in all seriousness, I still wish to see how far I can go with my intelligence and that's my drive. And that brings me to my current activities my life is made up of, right now I'm going to college as a sophomore and loving it! It's interesting when everyone around you is more than five years older or more in age than you and most are taller, but you get used to it after a while.

My school of choice is Cornell University which is in Ithaca in the state of New York. I chose this college as it specializes in and is famous for its degree programs that relate to my interests and dream. That dream involves, what I consider a life's work that's still unfinished and so is what I work on in my spare time when I'm not in school. But I'll get to describing the project in a moment. …Trying to not get ahead of myself in my story too much, now where was I… oh yes, I'm currently a sophomore. After I finish two more generals along with other classes I was taking this coming semester, I'll be a junior with the number of credits I'll have under my belt. So, things were going according to the plans I'd made for myself, would doubt that anyone would have a problem with life going the way you want it to.

And yet, like irony seems to enjoy proving time and time again, it's when everything is going so good and well for you, when 'someone' or 'something' makes things take a turn… usually for the worse. That's how Murphy's Law goes, and with the relationship I have with Murphy, he comes by when I want him the least! In the instance I'm referring to, Murphy visited in the form of a phone call from someone I'd developed a strong dislike for and so, don't want to talk to on a good day. They get me into situations that are either just plain nerve gratingly painful, or are just plain evil and wrong to do to someone, it sucks either way, I tell you! But perhaps it would be easier if I just tell you about how the chain of events happened. This all started with around three weeks before the start of the spring semester for me.

*ring ring*

*ring ring*

I picked up the phone and answer it, didn't look at the caller ID as I was concentrating on looking over my list of supplies that I would need for school with the coming semester. "Hello, this is Sai, if you need something," I began.

I never finished my greeting, ask who was calling or what they wanted since I was interrupted by a cursed feminine voice, "SAI-TAN!"

Instantly, I held the phone at arm's length as to if it was an extremely poisonous snake! The voice gave away who it was on the other end of the call… and I loathe its owner so damn much! And I'm freaking ticked at her, and with good reason that anyone else would agree with if they knew what she had put me through! That reason is almost every time the woman has come into my life, things go careening downhill out of control. I'll admit that the knack and a habit that she has for making my life hell whenever she finds me is nothing short of astounding. Or it would be if it wasn't for the problems she causes me and others with what she does and forces onto others!

Case and point, the last time I'd to, unfortunately, talk to her a little more than year and a half ago. It ended out with me getting into a really bad chain of events that had quickly turned into a 'hell in a handbasket' kind of situation by the finish. I'd gotten close to ending out in prison for life and that was the simple piece of it, there was so much more to the story. The incident was the most recent item on the list of grievances I've with this woman. Honestly, I want nothing to do with her not talking to her, not have her saying that she wants to liven things up for me or having anything to do with her at all!

That had been my motto and last statement to her, yet still, this woman manages to somehow find me, after the effort, I make to get away from her?! The temptation to hang up the phone and pretend that the call had never happened was strong, but I knew better. She was far too persistent, more so than the enjoyment that the Devil would have with the job of torturing souls or as it said to be. No, the woman would just keep calling until she said what she wanted. However, I saw no reason to be nice about this, especially with what she had sent my way the last time!

I felt a low growl escape me before I spoke, "If you're hoping for a 'hello, it's nice to hear from you,' then think f**king again you damn metal eared bunny! I've been made forcefully aware that you suffer from short term memory loss of a magnitude that it's a miracle that you remember anyone else's name, let alone your own. You've proven such to me to leave little if any doubt of it over the years. However, you have a f**king lot of nerves calling me as I haven't forgotten what you chucked me into the last time you called! So again, should you be hoping for a nice greeting, there's no way in hell it's happening, not even if Hell were to freeze over! You're not even in good enough standing that I would allow you to kiss my ass!" I took a moment to take a few breaths to calm down, then I continued, "Honestly, with the sh*t pulled and dumped in my lap the last time you popped into my life dead bunny hopping, I should hunt you down and give you a serious whipping followed by a spanking! Since you conveniently disappeared at the time the consequences were being handed down for what YOU did, not me!"

I paused to give emphasis to what I was about to say, "Now, listen and listen good you stupid Rabbit! I haven't the faintest clue how the hell you managed to obtain my number, neither do I really care. So, allow me to make it clear once and for all, with eight simple words that even you should be able to comprehend, NO, DON'T and LEAVE ME THE FREAKING ALONE! DON'T use me as a way for you to get your kicks damn it! Stop using me to entertain yourself and go away AND stay the hell out of my life Hasenpfeffer," I managed to say in a marginally controlled tone of voice, but it took a lot of effort on my part.

"Aww, now don't be that way Sai-tan! I'm not calling to ask anything of you. Nope, I'm here to help you and make your life even better," replied the bunny in a cheerful tone.

Of course, she doesn't hear the 'no' or the 'don't' or anything else I've said, she never does! This… woman… irks… me… so damn MUCH! I was forced to take a moment and a couple of inhales and exhales to keep myself from blowing up and lose it completely. Tabane Shinonono… the bunny or other variations of the Oryctolagus Cuniculus or the rabbit as it's more commonly known as, the terms that I tend to use for her. Most of the time, I refer to her as the metal eared bunny and Hasenpfeffer, rather than using her name.

This particular woman which I have the unfortunate fate of meeting and getting to know from a young age. The word 'eccentric', doesn't describe her enough in my opinion. She's weird and oftentimes, freaky… hell, I could accuse her of molestation and have enough evidence to back it up my claims to where I could convict her and win the case! The bunny will come into my life uninvited and make it miserable to end out being a living hell. Hey, don't judge me when I say this for it's true and I have the examples to prove it. The worst thing to this however, the hasenpfeffer is ignorant of the consequences of her actions!

Originally, I'd thought it's an act, but from the experience I've with her, it's no act but how she really is… an airheaded genius. Let's just say, with the things she's done to me, it just feels like she ruins my life for the sheer fun she feels doing it. The example I bring up for my defense, the last 'teeny tiny' favor she asked of me, nearly got me sentenced with… a punishment that I didn't earn or want at any time during my lifetime, that should've been faced by HER! She hasn't given me any reasons as to why she did it or why does she do this type of thing to me?! I just want to be left alone, is that too much to ask?

"Really, here to help me stupid bunny? I don't recall asking for help from you, in fact, I believe I told you specifically to not help me many times already! And if you've forgotten, the last time you came to me, I agreed to do you the favor you wanted IF you agreed and YOU even promised that you would leave me alone if I cleaned up the mess you came to me to help settle. YET, here you are calling me breaking your promise and going against your word, not leaving me alone like you stated you would! Don't even get me started on what your 'favor' brought into my lap to deal with… it was a huge mess which I was then forced to clean up," I ranted.

I then paused, calmed down a bit and let out a sigh, "Have you have any idea, what I had to go through because of what you pulled? Why didn't you throw me under a freaking triple-decker bus?! It would have been nicer of you, including having you at the wheel with your foot glued down. Not that it matters really, I'm preparing to start my next semester of school for goodness sakes!" Then, my voice became cold along with being serious, "So, shove that selfish attitude you have most if not all the time up your a**, keep your word for once in your life and get out of mine and stay out for a while, or preferably for good rabbit! I don't have the time or patience to deal with sh*t from you," I snapped back at the metal eared bunny with barely contained anger.

"Don't say that Sai-tan. And what I'm talking about has to do with school," she said to me.

My thoughts came to a halt as she has nothing to do with school and she better not mess with it! My life is my business and not someone else's entertainment, "NO Rabbit, don't you dare damn it! I've already arranged and planned school for myself. DO NOT," I snarled but it was no use.

"You'll be going to the IS Academy this year! Isn't that great Sai-tan! Such a wonderful opportunity for you," the bunny exclaimed in a happy tone.

She's doing it again! I HATE THIS WOMAN! No Sai, you don't have to listen to this demonic rabbit that's set on ruining the plans that you made. Be a man, stand firm and tell her precisely where to shove her opinion! "No, you damn bunny, now clean out your ears and listen for once. I will not be going to the IS Academy this semester or this year, end of discussion! You will not interfere in my life, or so help me you'll regret it and I'll personally guarantee that no matter the cost! I have my schooling arranged and planned, you won't do sh*t to mess with it," I growled, before calming down slightly and continuing. "Besides, the IS Academy in Japan is at the high school level of education as well as being an all-girls school in essence. I'm beyond that level of education and have no intention of returning to that prison known as high school, especially with the ratio of girls to guys."

I meant for that to be the end of this conversation, but no that dang demonic rabbit had other ideas. "If you don't go, then I'll post pictures and videos of you with Alice and me all over the internet… Oh, you were so cute back then! I'm going to have to watch one of the videos after this, such happy times!"

The feeling of horror and rage at what the metal eared bunny had just threatened she would do should I not agree to what she wanted, surged up in me. The only pictures that involved the bunny and the other woman named Alice Masta or the doll as I call her, were pictures and yes, even videos, which I never wanted to be seen by anyone or to see the light of day! The things that those two did to me… and then for them to record evidence of their actions… it's just plain evil and wrong! In fact, I thought I destroyed all the copies, both physical and digital of those pictures and videos of those times. I was sure of it in fact, but apparently, the woman somehow hid some from me when I was cleaning them out. The damn bunny still does things dirty and unfair!

My control over my emotions was starting to slip fast, I needed to finish this up quick or this would get ugly! I began to breathe steadily in and out to keep myself to lose control of my emotions completely, "Were this anyone but you bunny, I would say that you're bluffing yet, I know you're not bi**h… for the record and your knowledge, I hate you so much. You're so selfish that I doubt you would or have ever care about what others think or feel about you even your own family wherever they are these days! I would bet their glad they don't see you, I wish you would do the same for me. But nooo, it's always full f**king steam ahead with you regardless of how it makes things harder for others, and you don't freaking give a crap at all," I said in a measured tone before ending the call.

I took a moment to set my cell phone down and make sure the door was closed and locked. Then my fist slammed into the desk in the room, "DAMN IT! THAT METAL EARED BI**H IS A DAMN PAIN IN MY ASS," I screamed in fury at the turn of events.

I sunk into the chair at the desk in my room after that, spent from having to deal with the hasenpfeffer. Originally, the arrangements that I'd managed to make for myself this school year, there was time put aside for me to work on my project that was my life's work, my custom IS unit. Yet, at the same time, I still take the general courses that would give me the credits to be a junior by the end of this coming semester. It had been an ideal arrangement for me with having a balance of classes I need and want, yet still have time set aside for my life's work, my IS unit, which I didn't have last semester.

I'd been dancing with pride and joy with the accomplishment and the work that had gone into making it so for me, not so much now. I was cursing with fervor with the bunny's interference with her blackmailing me. All the work I'd spent planning and arranging things was to go down the drain with me being forced to change my plans and I didn't want to do so. I'd been looking forward to getting more time to work on my IS with my friends who helped me with the design and building of it. In fact, now that I take the time to think about it, that's probably what the damn hasenpfeffer wants from me to see my work and is the reason is blackmailing me with the crap she is.

The change in my academic plans due to my situation from outside interference spelled out the rest of the day and the few that followed. I swallowed my pride and I went begging to my professors for their understanding and patience for the 'unexpected' change. Most of the professors and the university administration were willing to work with me as I'm one of their 'star students' and had built a good reputation for being a hard worker and doing what I say I will… if not more. What hurt worse was that I had to toss away my honesty and integrity because of the Bunny's actions.

When I had gone to the administration office to drop the extra courses that I had intended to take to be a junior by the end of the coming semester, it wasn't a happy time for me at all! I felt dread at the possibility of having to drop most if not all my college classes haunted me. Through the process of determining what I had to do to get up and go to Japan for at least six months, I found that things wouldn't be as bad as I feared. My mood went up a bit when I found out after doing some research that the IS Academy had the tech that would enable me to attend lectures and not actually be physically present at them. So, I wouldn't be forced to completely give up my college studies completely. I would still be able to take four of the courses for my degree and that's better than nothing.

If I'd been forced to give up my education to go back to the place I couldn't get through and out of fast enough, then I would have done what I needed to get my unit working and then hunt that rabbit down! I would still be intently planning how I would hunt down the woman responsible to make her regret ever thinking about messing with me with the utmost relish and care! The end result of that could be a high possibility of a third world war starting with the path of destruction I would be carving to get a shot at the bi**h! It would be the last straw if I had to give up my studies and work on my unit. Still, that's not to say I'm not going to be planning my revenge against the woman doing so carefully so that I wouldn't fail! Mark my words, she will pay for this in some way that will make her feel the anger and pain that I do now.

With things arranged in the way I didn't choose or like, the next three weeks passed by quicker than I wanted. Being forced to say farewells to those I'd been looking forward to spending time with this semester, and those weren't pleasant. Even with the three years that I've been doing the college level of education, time is taken to deal with the damn bunny's sh*t, I had made friends here. Some of the 'goodbyes' and 'see you laters' were tearful ones, one of them I thought I might just get the life squeezed out of me, or at least have my spine dislocated.

Anyways, that's why I find myself sitting in a jet aircraft in business class seating, which most would like the comfort, but it didn't help my mood. While flying towards Japan and the IS Academy, I sulked and brooded while I planned my vengeance I would deliver to the Hasenpfeffer the whole way! My dislike of being forced into a situation and circumstances that I didn't choose to be is immense and it fueled my desire to get back at the woman that put me in this upcoming crapshoot.

I mean, if I were just destroyed her lab it wouldn't change anything with her, so it didn't have any real value in delivering the well-earned vengeance the Bunny has coming! Heck, she would just move to or build another place for herself and think nothing of it, probably laugh it off. That's the last thing I want her to do with what I'll do to her. No, I fully intended to hit her in a way that would hurt her on a more personal level… maybe, if I could find out where she stored those videos she had? The part in my favor, I know someone that might have an idea as to where the rabbit would hide them. We'll see when I can get ahold of the sisterly doll since if I offer her something she wants, then she'll help me against the hasenpfeffer without an issue or hesitation.

Still, to be blackmailed into this sh*t by a woman that once believed it or not had been a friend to me, it just made all of this, my life can just suck when she comes into it! However, if it were simply being forced to do something random, then it wouldn't be as horrible as it will no doubt be for me. It's the circumstances that come with what I was being unceremoniously thrown into, and the more I considered what I would be in for, the less I liked it. Quite literally, I'd a front-row seat for the sh*t about to hit the fan and I'm not looking forward to watching the crap fly everywhere!

Anyways when I got to Japan the process of going through customs and security in the airport was pretty routine. I kept my passport and other credentials current just in case I need to use them and go outside the United States for whatever reason. The drawback of this, however, came with a phone call I received from an acquaintance of mine informing me that my personal IS unit wouldn't have anywhere near as easy or as simple of a time getting here. It's turning out it's going to be a nightmare according to the one calling me who is doing the shipping.

You see, for transporting my IS here, I'd gone to the private company that I normally did for shipping things since I knew and trust the one who runs it. It has caused the least amount of issues in the past, so I was under the assumption that it would be the same in this instance. Yet, the US government, who I've assisted a few times before now was having a beef with me since I haven't told them what it is I'm shipping. Were I to tell them that it was my IS and go into any details about it that they would insist they need, it wouldn't end well. There's a good chance that the government won't let my unit to leave the country and that would complicate things for me. They had asked far too many questions after the so-called qualification exam they put on which I didn't answer. Plus, as my 'friend' is of Russian nationality and the US isn't on the best of terms with Russia… that could also play a part in this.

An addition to my growing list of woes that were being shoved and thrown onto my back. The list was made up of pros and cons in conflict, and with more cons than pros, so the cons were winning. The school itself is where I believe crap really would really start spraying in all directions from the fan I referred to earlier. For me to have to go back to high school was bringing back bad memories from those earlier years of my life. The first con I see, who wants to go back to a place that was a prison for them? Then to add to that, those who attend were all female minus me as the one and only guy in the whole school all years and likely staff too. Some might see this as a huge pro rather than a con being in this all-girls school staff included from what I've found out. Hell, some guys that were fellow students back at the university were jealous of me when I told them what I get to deal with during this semester. They haven't a f**king, damn clue what trouble and problems such will be for me… before taking into account the fairly good looks I have.

Nonetheless, before I elaborate, let me state for the record, I have nothing against females or anything. I've actually gone out on a number of dates, but those were with college-aged women, not high school-aged teenagers that I'm the same age as. I'll admit that my difficulties come from the lack of time that I've spent with my same-aged peer group, but that's how my life has gone. Now, back to my 'peers' that I would be joining soon.

The next con of this, the girls I'm about to be thrown among are hormonally influenced females that range of being in the middle of puberty or are pretty much done with it. And with me being the only readily available male, I can't really be the only one that sees a serious issue and potential problems with this. I would hope the adult staff can also see the possibilities of trouble I'll be thrust into without much say and the threat to my virtue it presents. I despise flirting in most of its forms, due to the actions of a certain perverted bunny and the sisterly doll having fun at my expense did to my mind in the end.

Well, after leaving Tokyo airport I used the train to make my way with the stuff to the academy. When I arrived, it took the time to find someone and ask for directions to the academy's head office. I say when you have issues, the first attempt to help yourself should be made to those who could change things. Upon getting there, I met with the headmistress of the place, I spent the next hour and a half explaining my standing academic dilemma I was put in now.

I may be here against my free will though it doesn't appear so, that doesn't mean I can't make this at least a bit better circumstances to work with. I didn't mention that I was being blackmailed or by whom as that would require me to explain things I really don't want to. Thank God, the one in charge of running this school listened and was more than happy to accommodate my requests, making things marginally easier for me. Plus, as I was working on a college-level of education right now, she said I would be excused from having to do the basic high school courses a second time.

I didn't even have to show my high school diploma to prove that I had already done the high school environment since I do with some people. All I had to attend were the classes that dealt with the subject of Infinite Stratos or IS. And as I already knew all about them, even though that's not common knowledge and who says no to an easy A class?!

However, my opinion changed somewhat when I was shown the uniform that I would be required to wear during the school day, it was con number three. Even I can understand the white dress shirt, even if I don't like it… but, this uniform has much to be improved upon as it screams a piece of trash, or it does so to me. Hell, I think it should be burned, but I doubt I'll get the permission to do that and I don't want to deal with the consequences that would come if I just had a bonfire with this uniform.

It consisted of a kind of blazer that was to be worn over the dress shirt and yes, I would have to wear a necktie. The blazer had two triangle creases folded down to expose the tie for the world to see. So, there was really no way I could hide whether I'm wearing a tie or not… great. The blazer had long sleeves and had a built or woven-in belt around the waist and was white like the dress shirt. The pants were white dress style pants like the rest of this set of clothing that I would be forced upon me. In all honesty, I'll look like an idiotic butler or servant in this uniform and that's not an image I want to promote. I like most people try to avoid humiliating myself whenever the possibility comes around, it's not as easy as it sounds. Then, the female gender has a low enough opinion of males as it is without me dressing in something that adds to that view.

With all the preliminary stuff settled… some of it begrudgingly, you can cue the sarcasm to start now. You would think that starting high school for the second time would be something to be happy about, wouldn't you? I would get to relive the golden years of my life as some might say, feel what it is to be young again they say! Whoever they are and say such things can take that malarkey and cram it up their ass! It would be a pleasure and a joy to assist them in doing so, free of any charge from me. High school for me was golden in only one way and that's when it ended! When you're smarter than all the other students and both you and your peers know it, the opportunity for bullying rose against me. That pretty much spelled out what high school was for me, public target number one for four straight years.

Although, it would be wrong of me to complain about everything being all bad and horrible for there are a few pros in this. I'm going to be surrounded by girls and get experience around people my age and that's something I need to do even if I don't like the idea that much. Even if, I may have no interest in an intimate relationship right now, I wouldn't say no to some new friends for company, especially since the friends I had were an ocean away and the largest at that, plus, a fully continental distance too. With the academy being as well-known as it is, a sizable portion of the students are from different places around the world. That's how it was at Cornell and I found the idea very nice as I've come to like the idea.

That's the basic list of pros and cons that make up the issues I have as much of the other problems I haven't mentioned fall under those I have said. I would say that my biggest beef will be lots and lots of girls demanding my attention for most, if not all hours of the day. I'm not interested in having a harem and foresee far too many issues with such a thing. Yet I'm being forced to be in a position to have a huge one unwillingly! Or there's the other end of the spectrum, being treated as less than human or as a pet, and as I don't like listening to others telling me what I should and shouldn't do, I don't see that going nicely.

Are peace and quiet really too much to ask from the people around me? This is yet another reason I detest the bunny, she never ever wants to give me peace and quiet! No, she thinks it's hilarious to blackmail me for her own idea of entertainment.

It was on Monday of the following week that the truth of my position fully sunk in with no help on my part. To think I thought college life that I would be facing would have the difficulty of the classes I'd be taking this semester along with the sheer population of the university. This situation is worse in a completely different way now that I was facing the ratio of gender and the lack of an age gap between them and me. Yet, I'm still smarter than most if not all of the students… and likely the staff too at the academy. Finding my homeroom was fairly simple as I'd used the remainder of the week that I had before the semester started to get the layout of the school and the city down enough that I could get around without getting lost. I had stayed in one of the visitor's rooms the academy had as they were arranging a room for me in the dorms.

I didn't get to keep the said room, nope, I would be staying in one of the two first-year dorms. Not looking forward to the experience… I'll have to plan accordingly for my safety and sanity. Anyway, this school was large, no denying that but the university campus is bigger, so it wasn't too much of a change. The funny thing is I have yet to see anything resembling a map of the place. The University had a map mostly for new students but still had a map.

When I arrived at my homeroom things took a turn south, I seriously thought about turning around and leaving this place right this minute to open the rabbit season early. I'd hunt the metal eared bunny down and rip her down some sizable notches, then go on from there until she FULLY understands the consequences of screwing with me!

However, I contained myself and went to the one open seat, which was the one in the front row no less. It took me a few seconds to take in the feel of the room that was filled with thirty girls, who were all currently staring at me with a variety of expressions. To be stared at isn't new for me with being five years younger or more than those you study with since I started public school, it is a guarantee to receive attention. Yet, that had faded at Cornell as the students got use to the one young teen that was studying with them. To have to be back in this experience with the magnitude of the attention I was receiving and the metaphorical spotlight I was under now felt horrid!

I didn't respond to the attention as it would only increase the attention, I silently waited for class to start. My lack of reaction didn't stop the staring from my peers from continuing, yet I kept ignoring them. But while I didn't pay heed to the females around me, I couldn't help but think of how much I still hate to be the center of attention like this. Being younger had always given me the label to be forced on center stage. The stares that I could feel on me from all the girls certainly did make this harder for me to wave it off like normal.

Granted, I can understand the fascination of a new student and everything, more so since I'm a male in an all-girls academy and I don't fault them for it. And yet, why does it seem that I'm doomed to feel like I'm at risk of being assaulted or smother in the near future by girls? A shiver ran through me as my senses sharpened with the attention, I was receiving kicked my self-preservation instincts up a number of notches! The expressions of the girls I did see, didn't encourage me on what prospects I had for peace and quiet.

That horrible bunny had better prepare herself for my wrath, I vow and swear that it'll come, and she'll rule the day she thought blackmailing me would be entertaining! I exhaled slowly, "Why couldn't I just have… been left alone," I muttered while keeping my breathing even, trying to calm down and not tear out of this room and do what I was burning to do.

To outside observers, it may look like I'm nervous, but that's not the case at all. I'm going back and forth between frustration and the wish to strangle the one responsible for this crap and keeping my cool and calm demeanor to save face. My right eye began to twitch a little as the stress from this whole situation began to press down on me, a coping mechanism that I resort to when I'm under heavy stress. Yet, I managed to keep in control of my emotions to show I was mature, "This is going to be one of the longest semesters I've done in a while. It brings back bad memories of the horrible days back in the public schooling system, I thought I had been liberated from it for good," I said quietly to myself.

Why does my life have to be so complicated? Can't I have a normal, non-world altering life? My solace currently, were the scenarios that were playing through my head about what I'm going to do to that metal eared bunny when I track down where her hole is! The atmosphere didn't really change when the teacher, or at least I assume that the woman was the teacher, walking into the room and stopped at the desk at the front of the room.

The woman looked to be in her late teens to maybe her early twenties, she had a height of five feet and almost an inch by my estimation. Her hair was kind of loud, because of all colors, it was green and went down to her neck. Interestingly, her eyes were the same color as her hair and I could clearly see that even though her silver-rimmed glasses. She was wearing a yellow dress with black sleeve frills and black frill at the bottom of the skirt portion of the dress. The dress dipped down in an oval shape in the middle of her upper chest area? …My God how can a young adult have that kind of size rack?! *Ahem* My apologies, continuing on, she had a pink shirt cover her chest area so that she was decent. This woman also was wearing knee-length boots as was seen as she walked into the room.

"Congratulations for making it to this school I'm your first-year sub-homeroom teacher, Miss Maya Yamada," she said in a cheerful tone, clearly trying to dispel the tense feeling in the room.

Does she want us to stand, bow and say hello or something? I don't know what's traditional here in Japan even with the Japanese heritage I get from my mom and the studies I've done. The other question I have, why won't these girls stop staring at me?! I'm not that interesting, I just want to be left alone. But by the way these girls were acting, you would think that they've never seen a guy properly before now. I kept my calm air about me, even if I didn't completely feel calm and collected right now. The sub-homeroom teacher was obviously nervous as well from the atmosphere of the room as the slight stammering she let out implied. "Um, starting today you are all now students of the IS Academy. As you know, this is a boarding school, students are together during and after school hours, so I hope you get along and help each other making the next three years enjoyable," continued Miss Yamada nervously.

So, the expectation is that I will go through six semesters or three years of having to deal with this and other sh*t? Not if I have any say whatsoever about it will I endure such torture, I'll find a way out before that comes to past. This may not be as bad as what the bunny threw me into the last time but, it isn't a whole lot better just different. Actually, now that I think about it, the basic difference between the past event and this one is this has a light at the end of this, the other had lifelong problems attached, which took effort to rid myself of. I'll make her pay for this, I'll find a way to make you experience the emotions I feel right this moment, so she better be saying her prayers and doing her last rites.

The overall problem is staying at this boarding school for girls just screams misunderstanding and wrongfully being blamed for things I didn't do. I don't think that I don't see a huge plus of having girls around, I'm not gay by any means! But there are limits to how much one male can handle at a time, and yes, I know that there'll be those that would disagree, but they're ignorant of what the experience is like firsthand. Then with females in these numbers goes beyond reasonable limits and toes the border of insane in this place. That's my opinion, and that's what matters since I'm the one in this situation right now.

Then the other big point in this, these girls having raging hormones with the age they are right now as do I somewhat, I more used to dealing with those who have decent self-control. My experience comes from having gone out with some female colleagues at the university and the outings were enjoyable. In fact, the ladies say I'm quite the gentleman and I take as a compliment. But the picture of me getting mobbed at some point of being here doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Should I be forced to endure an extended period of time, let's just say I wouldn't look forward to such sheer torture. My inclination to cause global chaos before I accept this situation to get out of this will raise the longer I'm here. And rest assured, I can cause that level and amount of chaos, I learned from the two women that cause crap and chaos for kicks.

Miss Yamada continued still in a nervous manner, "Now, moving on to self-introductions um, let's go by numerical order on the class roll."

I was still in my internal struggle attempting to think of things that could assist me in this circumstance or rather how to get out of this, yet I was having little success. It may or may not help my situation to ask the teacher anyway, they're not always going to be around if I need a bailout. Well then, it is once again up to me to make certain of my own continuing survival like it has been for years now. My usual coping should assist me, I have a gift for predicting others' actions and planning ahead, those would serve me well.

"Hello, Sai Taichi," called Miss Yamada.

The sound of the teacher, Miss Yamada, snapped me back to my senses and I responded without thinking, "Yeah, I'm here."

Looking up and seeing Miss Yamada was right in front of my desk and leaning over it putting her. Is she trying to get my libido to wake up or something with her rack about a foot from my face? Her hands were also pressed together like she was praying or something, meaning she could be having issues with the atmosphere like I was. I jerked back a bit in response wondering if teach had heard of personal space. As a gentleman, I wish she wasn't so close for I'm getting a view that's admittedly amazing, but dangerous as it could mess with my mind. The green-haired woman spoke again, "I do apologize for being so loud just then, but we started with the A's and now gotten all the way to the T's, so would you mind introducing yourself now, pretty please."

Hmm, can't say I have ever had a teacher quite like this one that I can recall. I exhaled heavily before I gave my reply, "You really don't need to be so apologetic ma'am," I said. I rose to my feet smoothly for females or not as I would do well to give a good first impression, "The name is Sai Taichi ladies, it's nice to meet you all."

Instantly felt the stares of the girl return with more force than before, I looked left and right, all the girls looked like they had some sort of gleam in their eyes. What is this, some kind of school comedy?! It felt demeaning to be gazed at like this, I couldn't tell if they were going to mug me or kill me or both. In my mind, the thought came, 'Okay… awkward, perhaps I should say something more or they may think I'm really depressed or something stupid like that. I just hope I don't end up regretting this.' I took a deep breath and gulped again, and all the girls paid even closer attention to me. "May we have… fun learning together," I said.

*Bam* the girls hit either their desks or the floor. 'Apparently, that line wasn't received well. Great,' was my thought in my brain. Like I said before I don't do very well around my same-aged peers any longer, mostly as I don't spend time around them unless I'm forced to. The next thing I knew, my instincts developed from martial arts I took up blared at me to move and so I did. A fist made contact with my desk and would've hit my head had I not moved, proof that taking up martial arts was a wise decision. The question of the moment is, who is out to hit me and why? I look up to see the culprit whose fist had damage my desk, only to see another woman, one that I knew and hadn't seen in around three years. "Oh, hey Chifuyu, it's been a while since our paths intersected, hasn't it," was the only thing I could come up with to say.

Chifuyu Orimura, a woman I had known since I was an older kid before my teenage years. A tall woman that stood at a little over five foot four, with long black hair, which splits into parts so that her face isn't obscured at all. Currently, she was wearing a black business suit coat over a white dress shirt, along with the matching black skirt that goes midway down to her knees. Chifuyu had a green tie and by the sound of it, was in high heels, which could be very dangerous with this woman! She can turn almost anything into a weapon and yes, I've seen her do it with objects that you wouldn't think could be dangerous! I'll never look at a wooden stirring spoon the same ever again because of what this woman did with one! Chifuyu still appeared to carry herself in an almost regal manner you would expect from someone of high-born status.

Now, I respect Chifuyu Orimura for a couple of reasons, the major one was she very often saved me from the clutches of the hasenpfeffer and the porcelain life-sized doll. The metal eared bunny may be known to the world as the genius that created the IS, but that's not completely true. The doll did a share of the work as did I yet, the life-size doll nor I wanted or took the credit of the achievement, so the dumb bunny got all the credit for creating Infinite Stratos. Well, when those two girls met me, they took a real shine to me… and I mean a REAL shine. There were times that I seriously thought they would smother me to death, it had been that bad! Thanks to Chifuyu, I was saved from such terrible things and also, I got to know her younger brother who was my age, but that's a hard subject between us… more so after his death. In fact, it had been at his funeral that Chifuyu and I had last seen each other and that was three years ago.

Back to the present, the expression of Chifuyu Orimura's face didn't spell good things for me at all. Chifuyu, upon missing me, lashed out at me again and I caught her punch with both hands. Admittedly, I think the monster of a woman has somehow gotten stronger than she was the last time we were in the same room. I would be interested, but at this time my standing doesn't allow me to take this lightly. I got my answer in the form of Chifuyu's other fist connecting with my midsection.

All the air left my body and I sunk to the chair at my desk breathing with effort. My gaze met the older woman's glare and I matched hers so that Chifuyu would know that I would fight back if she kept going. "Nice to," I started grunting before I continued, "see you too Chifuyu." I paused again and was breathing a bit harder under the strain I was taking with holding Chifuyu back, "see you still like saying hello in the way you do," I managed to gasp out a greeting before Chifuyu backed up a bit and gave me her infamous cold glare.

"You will call me Miss Orimura at school, Mr. Taichi" was Chifuyu reply to me, I simply nodded for now.

"Oh, you're back, does that mean that the meeting is over already," asked Miss Yamada.

"That's right Miss Yamada, I'm sorry about having to make you welcome my class for me," Chifuyu said in a much nicer tone.

Well would you look at this, to the other teacher, my 'older sister' Chifuyu is nice and well-mannered in her interaction. Yet with me, a friend and even one she considered family, Chifuyu hits me and takes on the part of a strict adult. The woman should know that I don't like being around strict adults, I tend to ignore them nowadays. If this is somehow what the bunny wanted, then the list of grievances grows ever longer, and I'll force her to pick up and pay this tab she's collecting! Actually no, Chifuyu feels like I do when it comes to the metal eared bunny, she wouldn't help her knowingly anymore. Although I've got to say, I never would have expected Chifuyu Orimura of all people to get a teaching job, it's not her normal style. I wonder what it was to get her to take this job?

Chifuyu spun to face the class, "Alright class, I'm your homeroom teacher Miss Chifuyu Orimura, it's my job to train you well enough to stand on your feet in one year."

Hmm, these circumstances keep getting better and better the longer I'm forced to be at this academy. I went from things being arranged and ordered for college life to cursed high school level education again. Then in essence, I get IS-use training done by one that could make a tough American drill sergeant retire due to embarrassment of being outdone. There are other things I'll be dealing with, but that is to be worked through later. I suppose there will be some interesting scenes to see throughout this experience, who knows? I try to see the positive things that I get even when I'm screwed over by the bunny, and it isn't as easy as many would think.

The girls in the class, which was pretty much all excluding myself and one other girl that kind of reminded me of someone just can't put my finger on who though. Then there was also, one other in the classroom that reacted differently from the others, the girl had long blonde hair with curls at the ends and blue eyes. The rest of the females in the room screamed, in I would guess excitement. They obviously didn't know what Chifuyu could be like if you got her mad or she was serious. I've seen that a couple of times and that was more than enough to know if you're the one who caused Chifuyu to be mad… run run as fast as you can!

"Oh, it's lady Chifuyu, that's really lady Chifuyu," said one girl.

"The one who inspired me to come to this school from Kita Kyushu! I'd die for you!" said another.

Chifuyu just sighed, "It's amazing how many nut jobs come to this school every year. Do they put all the loonies in my class on purpose," commented Chifuyu.

She is certainly not alone in wondering about the behavior of the girls, I'm curious about that and how you can tolerate this on a frequent basis. She never would have before that I knew of, Chifuyu wasn't one to take crap unless she felt like it and that was very rare. The girls upon hearing Chifuyu just screamed some more, I rolled my eyes in response.

"Lady Chifuyu, scold us more! Cuss us out," said a girl.

"Train us so we don't misbehave," another girl said.

Once again, I say girls can be weird in general, it just seems worse in their teenage years. I shook my head at the stupid actions of 'my classmates' and sighed. I again felt the pain of missing my friends and those I'm used to studying with around for the last two years, and I doubt it will be the last time I do so. Honestly, the girls really need to have a freaking reality check among other things to help them improve. The person they're idolizing isn't like they think she is and I know that well. Not to say Chifuyu isn't nice from time to time, but when she snaps, you run for the hills and go beyond them!

So thus far, I get a teacher that will make her students work for their grade, not anything new to me as I've had some professors like that, so it'll be fine. Second, my 'peers' are the classic picture of 'giggling high school girls' and so have little self-restraint or have shown respect of any kind as of yet. And people ask why I'm not fond of spending time around my same-age peers, I would say what I'm seeing is a justification. I couldn't stop myself from uttering a line, "This'll be a long semester as I figured it would be, it'll at least be non-dull to have Chifuyu as a teacher," I commented, mostly to myself.

Chifuyu turned to face me flexing her hand together, a very bad sign that caused me to stiffen a bit and get my guard up. Clearly, Chifuyu had heard my remark and didn't like what I had said or how I'd said it either. "So, have the instruction regarding addressing your instructor not taken root yet Taichi," she demanded.

Is that what she's so irked about? Since when have the two of us being on such professional and formal terms? I let out a heavy exhale at the inquiry before answering, "Oh, I heard your instructions, I just choose to not follow them Chifuyu, there is a difference. Plus, it's not like formality has ever been a huge thing between us." I would have said more, but Chifuyu's right hand came at me and I once again grabbed it to prevent it from doing harm to me. "You're stronger than before," I grunted, "I like, means more of a challenge," I whispered so that only Chifuyu would hear me.

"That's Miss Orimura right," said Chifuyu in the threatening tone she used when she was getting a point across.

The force from her hand doubled and I buckled a bit under her strength though I still held my ground. Maybe this won't be as bad as I originally thought it would be, doesn't mean I don't fully intend to beat the bunny good. "Sure, Miss Orimura," I grunted out.

Still, I didn't back down to Chifuyu at all making sure she knew I wouldn't be a pushover, never had been and never will be. Chifuyu backed off and headed back to the teacher lecturn at the front of the room, while the girls gasped, "What? You mean that Taichi knows lady Chifuyu on a friendly basis," asked one.

"I wonder if that has something to do with the fact that he is the only male in the world who can control an IS," said another.

That's a question that I don't intend to answer for anyone as I've had enough interrogation done to me by various agencies of the US government to last me a lifetime! All because the metal eared bi**h set me up to take the fall for the crap she pulled the last time she forced her way into my life. Like I implied earlier, she screws me bad when she comes around and the last time she popped up into my life was no different other than magnitude.

"That's enough," called Chifuyu, her way of getting order hasn't changed I see.

Everyone went quiet at that and listened to Chifuyu and she went on, "Your syllabus for the next six months begins with memorizing all data concerning the IS. After that practical training, where you'll have two weeks to master the basic maneuvers. So, have you got that? Even if you don't; say yes ma'am."

The girls answer her of course by saying, "Yes Ma'am."

As I thought and expected when I looked into this, this class will be an easy A for me. I know more than is written in the manual, heck, I actually wrote a bit of it as well under an alias of course. Miss Yamada then went on and started the lesson, "Now, as I'm sure you're all aware, IS actually stands for Infinite Stratos. It's a multi-form suit originally developed in Japan," began Miss Yamada.

I believe that most kids know what IS means though technically, it wasn't exactly developed in Japan as history says it was. The bunny, doll and I did the work on an island to the south of the Japanese mainland that's still in Japanese territory but isn't "owned" by the country itself. The location of the island has been hidden by we three of the Infinite Stratos's creators, and the bunny, doll and I went a great amount of trouble to make sure others wouldn't find us. So, to save face with the general public as well as the government having to admit that they don't know the real location, it's just said that the IS was developed in Japan.

"It was believed to be first conceived almost eight years ago and was presented seven years ago. It was originally designed to be used in outer space, however, those ideas are currently on hold," our sub-homeroom teacher continued.

Yeah, outer space application was what I wanted to go along with, but I kind of got outvoted by the stupid rabbit and the sisterly doll. They said there were far more interesting uses for it and well, yeah, that was the end of that particular discussion. They never called me a dumb kid or anything like that, but my opinion didn't always get heard as much as I wanted.

Our teacher kept going, "Due to the Alaska Treaty, the IS is also prohibited from being used by the military. Therefore, it's used solely for competitions and sporting events, and our IS Academy is the only educational institution in the world established with the objective of training IS pilots."

It's a good thing that the Alaska Treaty was written up and instated, I wouldn't want to see the development war that the IS would've gone through. Let's just say it would be far worse than the competition that goes on with companies that do IS development. And I neither confirm nor deny that I may have had an influence in the treaty being made and it might have been my way of getting back at the bunny and doll for not listening on the direction of the application of the IS could go. But that's not the point nor is it something any others know so isn't really up for discussion. Although I don't think that the competitions are much better or different from a 'war', really the only difference is that there are more set rules with the competition than you would have with military development and application.

"Students from all around the world come to this school where young people from a multitude of different countries get to live, work and study side by side every day as they hone and perfect their piloting skills. So, starting today let's all get along and study hard over the next three years," finished Miss Yamada.

Although I have no intention of doing this for three years or more, and if I get my way, I'll be out of here before the end of the semester. It will depend how hard the rabbit will make finding her and me punishing her. I won't let her escape the punishment she's earned, and she knows I don't that, that doesn't stop her from trying to get out of it. We'll see how things playout for the time being as I'm stuck for now.

"Yes Ma'am," said the girls in the class collectively.

An easy 'A' class and I do so love those, let's me catch up on other things, and as I have class work for other classes that are for the college degree I'm working for, I'll need the time. Perhaps this won't be as horrible as I originally thought it was going to be when I was first forced into this, but I say that lightly for the moment. There will need to be work on my part and routines set along with time managed being a big thing.

When the first class had come to its end, boring as hell if you ask me, but then most easy A classes have a tendency to be. My mood didn't change much at any point in the class or after it really. The only real complaint I could make was the trouble I was having not falling asleep and not just doing something else that would occupy my time. That's not taking into account the point, there were still some girls that were staring at me rather than paying attention to the lesson and I felt them doing so.

It's not fair that none of the girls get called out or given a glare for looking at me rather than paying attention to Miss Yamada. Yet, Chifuyu's eyes were on me the majority of the class time thereby singling me out. And the girls' stares made me wonder how long it will be before some of these girls try to drag me off and not come back from the one who dragged me off and having lost some things that I would rather not lose with how things are going.

As I wasn't deaf, I could clearly hear the girls and what they'd been saying about me everywhere. "Look that's him, he is the only guy in the world that can use an IS," said a female voice.

It took effort to not turn around and tell or rather snap at them to mind their own damn business, but I resisted. Being one of the two secret test pilots for the Infinite Stratos as well as one of the three creators has never been easy and revealing such a fact would be a serious mistake. It would ruin the 'normal' life I have worked hard for… well, as normal as it gets for me. I saw in my peripheral vision that there are girls plastered to the glass windows between the classroom and the hallway and all were staring at yours truly. It took me effort not to flinch and recoil from all the attention I was receiving.

This is also one of the reasons I don't go into the subject of IS outside of class at the university. Questions are asked that I would rather not answer, so can't I get some slack cut for me in this. I ask do I have to be the subject of everyone's discussion?

"I heard that he operated an IS during his entrance exam," said one.

Please no, don't bring up that fiasco to the table of gossip damn it! You see, before I left the good old US of A, I'd been required to go through an 'entrance exam' by government officials as more a formality. It was so that I could come to this academy with the United States' backing and that would get them to not bug me as much. With the exam… if you can call it that, it was short at least. I felt sorry and a tad guilty for the woman that had been my proctor, I really do. Seriously, I didn't mean to beat her as efficiently as I did, I just am fairly good at fighting, martial arts have done wonders for me. Anyway, I was sitting in my seat trying to ignore what the girls were saying, not an easy task let me tell you. It's understandable that girls talk about everything, seen it at the university, 'Do the girls have to talk about me when I'm in the room as if I am not here,' I thought.

"Yeah, it was big international news," said another girl.

'Yeah don't remind me of the damn press, they haven't left me in peace, until I talked to the campus security and members of the administration and they were escorted off the campus!' Having been on news was horrible in itself, it would make me late for things and then I would have to apologize for that. Reporters and journalist showing up day and night to ask questions I had no intention to answer. I had to get a restraining order for one or two of them to get them to go away! I had to say though, the paparazzi I'd given a left hook followed by a right uppercut, felt fairly satisfying… I got the guy to leave me alone and that's what I wanted! Now I have to deal with this, why is the Bunny doing this to me? If she wants to see my project, then she'll be patient and wait until I'm f**king good and ready … that woman irks me so!

"So, he did come to this school after all," said yet another girl.

Not by my free will and choice, rest assured! If I wasn't being threatened by something extremely embarrassing by one of the select few who actually has material to do such low and wrong things, then I would be at Cornell University studying far more interesting things. This is more of a reminder of what I faced back in high school, stressful and very boring.

"You should go talk to him," a fourth girl suggested.

No thanks at the moment, let those teenage hormones settle down and then I might consider it. The answer is still probably going to be no, but I'll think about it at least a little. "Maybe I should," said the third voice.

"Wait a minute! Are you trying to get ahead of us," said the second voice.

Teenage girls are weird creatures and I don't think I'll ever understand though I tend not to put forth the effort to do so often and this is getting stupid! Not only do I detest gossip and am the subject of it in this instance, now things are heading in a direction that I become less gentlemanly with. I'm not some kind of playboy and have no intention to be one in the future, I have no interest. Hell, I would bet that the females here don't see me as an equal… Maybe not even have the same standing as a human being and that irks me.

Unfortunately, I've met some women that see males as less than human and treat them as such… haven't been around many of them, but still. 'Well then, when you want something done, then do it yourself, as the phrase goes,' I decided. Putting my supplies and books into my bag then stood up in order to leave the room and disappear from the notice of these girls. I don't have any reason nor interest in staying in the classroom where the girls gossip about me and talk about how they intend to flirt with me loud enough for me to hear. It's time to make myself scares for a while so that I can get some peace of mind and relax a little bit. Earlier, I had managed to find some potential spots that I could have some privacy during my exploration of the school. Yet, as I headed towards the door, I was stopped by one of my classmates coming up to me standing in my path.

The girl's height was approximately five-foot-three give or take less than an inch either way. She had long hair that was colored a dark purple that had a tint of brown and it went down past her waist. Currently, it was tied into a ponytail with a green ribbon and her hair seemed to naturally split into two separate tails. My gaze halted for a moment on her chest and can anyone really blame me? This 'classmate' of mine was well-endowed when it came to her bust, especially for our age, I would estimate the size to be around a healthy D. Actually, I'm leaning more towards an E honestly, she certainly wasn't small, let's just leave it at that.

The clothing this girl was sporting was the standard academy's uniform. It was made up of a white top blazer similar to what I'm required or forced to wear, and it had embroidery that was red. However, upon a second look, the blazer was more like a trench coat since it stops at the mid-thigh with a black inch thick stripe at the bottom. The sleeves' cuffs, beginning at the wrists were red and have three-inch slits on the outsides. Then, there was a 'belt' or whatever you want to call it, which sat at the waist. She was wearing thigh-high socks and mid-calf length boots. To top this all off, the dress shirt she had under the coat had a blue ribbon tied around the neck instead of a tie like I'm forced to wear but serves the same purpose. However, the most notable feature right now would be her dark blue eyes, which were staring at me.

I've no idea why this classmate is approaching me, never met her before… Yet, there's somehow an element of familiarity with this female. I can't place the feeling of slight déjà vu I was getting as I'm one-hundred percent certain that I've never met the girl before. Still, to be nice and to break the ice with a greeting and see what she wants. "Hello Miss is there something you wanted," I asked.

-Houki's pov-

From the moment I had first seen this guy here, I could tell there was something about the guy from other guys that I've been around. I couldn't place what it was exactly that differentiated him, but I could see several of the subtle signs and wished to know more. He was polite yet I could see he wasn't liking the attention he was getting from everyone else. The flirting that some of the girls were doing certainly wasn't being received well by Sai Taichi, he more ignored the actions. So, I figured that the best way to get more information about the guy was to be upfront and talk to him.

That in mind, I approached him after class ended, seeing that he was putting things into his bag. With the speed he was putting things away, I would guess he wants to leave the room or rather get away from attention, which I could understand myself. Whenever someone hears my last name, they always ask about my sister Tabane and what I knew about her which had become annoying.

Anyway, Sai Tachi was taller than most in the class by a couple of centimeters on average. He looked lean yet fit, which he likely kept through some form of excersice what it may be. His thick mop of black hair looked to naturally grow in many straight spikes like follicles that go out and away from the center of his head in no particular pattern. However, the hair that made up his bangs did not cover his eyes instead framing his facial features. My attention was held for a moment by his dark-redish eyes which did have a slight tint of brown in the coloration. It was different than the eye color of others I've seen and it seemed natural which was kind of odd. The rest of his face was handsome I do admit but wouldn't say out loud.

Taichi's uniform was similar to what we girls wore, same color scheme overall. The top was close to the same of the standard girl's uniform with blazer and dress shirt yet a tie instead of a ribbon. Of course, he had pants and not a skirt, but the coloration was pretty much identical to the skirts the rest of the students were required to wear. Although I would say that Taichi's uniform was very well-kept, not a single wrinkle that I could spot. For a guy to have such a well-kept appearance was different from expectation most have, including myself.

And as I approached him, his gaze came to be on me and he stared with an expression of trying to think of something. Yet after a moment, he spoke, "Hello Miss is there something you wanted," he greeted.

I took a breath, "Can we talk for a minute," I asked.

Sai Taichi blinked at my question, and then seemed to think about the request. After half a minute, he nodded and gestured for me to lead the way out of the classroom to have our talk. I led the way to the roof in the hopes to have some private conversation without our peers listening in as that wouldn't help. Nevertheless, when we had gotten to the roof, my mind was drawing a blank on what to ask or say and such didn't happen often to me. The air became full of an awkward silence, which he broke first, "So, I still haven't gotten your name, Miss, care to inform me," he posed.

"Umm," I uttered attempting to say more but my tongue wasn't working right.

"As you probably heard, my name is Sai Taichi, and you would be," he stated leaving the question open for me to supply my name.

I've never had problems talking to another like this before, what's wrong with me?! All I managed to do was look at his face before sighing and looking away which was embarrassing. But, after a moment, I reined in whatever was going on in my head and focused on introducing myself, "My name is," I hesitated, "Houki Shinonono."

There was a bit of a reaction to hearing my name, or really my last name which I was kind of used to though he was different than others'. I don't know why Mr. Taichi would react differently, I mean yes, my older sister Tabane is famous but other than that, I couldn't guess why he reacted as he did. "Uh, I'm sorry, did you say Shinonono? Like as in possibly being related to Tabane Shinonono, that scientist who created Infinite Stratos," he inquired in a flat tone.

He had also said my sister's name in such a way that denoted clear negative feelings with it and with whom it belonged to. Could Sai Taichi possibly have met Tabane before now? But why would they even cross paths, they have nothing in common that I can figure. However, I can understand not being happy with Tabane for one reason or another. It's because of her so many things went wrong for me and I don't even see her anymore after she introduced the IS. I merely nodded to the question, to which Sai sighed, "My condolences for having her as a sister, it's got to be rough," he said apologetically.

My head shot up at hearing that it made me all the more curious if Taichi could know my sister not just by reputation. "Wait, so then do you know my sister Tabane," I demanded.

Sai Taichi didn't answer immediately which made me suspicious of the possible relation between him and Tabane. Yet, after a minute, he spoke, "We have had a select few encounters so, I know of your sister to an extent," he said evenly.

What is that even supposed to mean, that sounded more like evasion than anything else. But I have things that I want to say to Tabane, and this Sai Taichi could possibly know where she is. "Do you know where she is," I demanded from him.

Taichi folded his arms after a moment, "Nope, can't say that I know where your sister is," he answered, but muttered more under his breath which I didn't understand.

My conduct with him has not been all that good, so I should at least try to make a good impression with him. So, I bowed to Taichi before I spoke again, "My apologies, please let me introduce myself again. My name is Houki Shinonono, I look forward to being able to study alongside you."

He mirrored my action, "The same to you Miss Shinonono, but please, I prefer to just be called Sai," he said amicably.

Well, if he prefers to be referred to by his first name, then I think that he should do the same with me. "Well, just call me Houki then," I replied.

Sai stared for a bit, "If you want then Houki," was his reply.

I felt a smile come to my face at being called by my first name though I don't fully understand why Sai saying my name fills me with warmth. Looking at Sai, he is handsome even if a bit rugged here and there, but they seemed to complement one another. He was appeared fit, whether it was through exercise or something else, I can't say. I thought about saying more, perhaps get to know him more if I can, but again, my mouth didn't work as it should. Then the bell rang then for the late morning class, "Well, the school bell is a-calling." Sai said nonchalantly.

He turned and started towards the door, and I quickly fell in behind him. I hope I can become friendlier with Sai, it would be nice to have a friend as I don't have very many here.

-Sai's pov-

The second class of the morning was pretty much a continuation of the previous one, being lectured on the basics of the IS. I was forced to put forth effort not to fall asleep as the lesson dragged on, and it wasn't anything against Miss Yamada. The subject matter was just so boring to me for I know it already beyond back to front and this review is beyond tedious! "Okay does anyone have any question so far," asked Miss Yamada as she paused in giving the lesson.

'Oh, teacher, teacher, I have one! Why am I being tortured with sheer boredom? Is it cool with you if I take a snooze until lunch? I won't disturb the class, I promise.' Those were my thoughts in response to the question, but I kept them to myself as I knew it would be for the best. I know that I should curtail those kinds of thoughts for my well-being, yet that's what I think of the material thus far. I'm just smart enough not to say what I feel out loud with Chifuyu here, there would be consequences to pay if I say stuff like that. And as much as I love a good workout, still have two lectures this afternoon to attend so, I shall contain myself.

Everything Miss Yamada has said was information that I knew like the back of my hand and then some. I mean, I'm one of the three who designed and built Infinite Stratos after all, so I would hope I knew the basics of it. Heck, at the university, I'm working with advanced theories for ISs, some of which are still not all that close to being ready for application. So, the basics of the IS is remedial review and are extremely boring to me and I think sleeping would do better for me or doing other schoolwork would also be more fruitful.

Nevertheless, my boredom comes from the work I did with designing and inventing the Infinite Stratos. I have a very good memory, so I haven't forgotten what occurred during the two years of working on Infinite Stratos. I got to watch and discuss at times the Hyper Sensor with the doll as she did a major portion of the designing of that system. I admit the bunny could probably out do me in knowledge of the Passive Inertia Control. However, on the energy shield neither the doll or the bunny knew the ins and outs as I do. I was the one who came up with the principles of how they work and design doing a lot of fine tuning on the prototypes. Honestly, I could be doing college classwork and use my time more effectively or planning what work I could do on my unit as it's still not completely done yet were it here. But noooo, I get to sit in this seat and listen to information that I could teach better than the teacher at the front of the class.

It's not Miss Yamada's fault, I don't doubt she's doing the best she can, and I don't blame her for it. Still, this situation is frustrating, I could nap and not miss a thing in fact, I would be doing just that if it weren't for a certain black-haired sharp-eyed hawk watching all of us in the class from the back corner of the room. With Chifuyu watching, there would be no napping or snoozing for me and I say crap and damn it, it's so not fair. Don't mistake this for fear of Chifuyu for it's not, it's me not have to have a full out fight with her right now and then still have to attend a two-hour lecture and then an hour and a half lecture following afterward. Were I to have a fight with her, I would be too drained to do well in classes this afternoon. So yeah, my life just sucks right now mostly since I have so little control or say in it later when I normally have the opposite.

"Do you have any questions Mr. Taichi," asked Miss Yamada.

Being addressed brought me out of my thoughts and I looked up to see Miss Yamada standing in front of my desk. My sub-homeroom teacher seemed like a nice young lady and everything, I can't deny that. She even cares about her students enough to ask specific ones if they understand the material. That's saying something as I believe she's only a couple of years older than us, her students. This just makes it all that much harder to tell her the truth of what I think of her lesson, "Not a one ma'am. I understand the subject matter completely," I replied evenly.

In cases like this, it's best to just be nice and not say what you really think, that's the motto I'll go with. "Well if you do have any question just ask me okay, I am your teacher after all," the green-haired woman returned smiling at me.

The lady is nice and everything, but I'm not the kind that needs help most of the time and when I do, it depends if I think I need it. Anyway, I thought that was the end of that yet, how wrong I was, "Taichi," came the all too familiar bark.

Shifting my glance over to Miss Orimura I gave my answer, "Yes, Miss Orimura?"

I enunciated the name and title that proceeded it as Chifuyu had been so insistent that I not call her by name. The way I said it wasn't probably the best way to do so for it showed a lack of respect and Chifuyu gets ticked about that, it sets her off pretty quick. The cold glare I received served to prove me right in my assumption, but I needed something to keep me awake. But methinks I'm about to do something I'm going to face consequences for, past experience says so. That's usually a good judge of what could happen with my 'big sister'. "As you seem to understand the class material so well, then you wouldn't mind answering a question," posed Chifuyu.

Chifuyu is well-aware that I know more about the IS than anyone in this room, if not this school. I worked on the IS after all… so, she's daring me to be an idiot and humiliate myself in front of the class then? That's something I do make an effort to avoid and so, why is she setting me up? One would think she'd be nicer to me as her 'adoptive little brother' but no, not really I get attention from her I don't want. Chifuyu is all about not showing favoritism to anyone, yet this doesn't feel like equal treatment to me though. Well then, better to not delay this so, bring it on! I turned to face Chifuyu, "Go right head Miss Orimura, fire away with asking your question," I replied calmly.

The room was so silent you could have heard a pin drop clearly and this silence didn't help me feel much if any comfort at this time, quite the opposite actually. My said Professor started walking towards me, I don't like her advancing towards me. Her punches and other kinds of hits always hurt bad and she has a habit of aiming for my head. I don't want to find out just how much stronger she is than last time, so when will the fun ever stop for me?

"Taichi, name the four components to an IS, and their basic functions," stated Chifuyu.

That's it? And here I thought it would be a hard question, but then, there aren't many 'hard' questions for me when it comes to the subject of the IS. "As you wish, Miss Orimura." I cleared my throat before I began my answer, "The first component to an IS is the core, or as it's also referred to as the black box as no one knows how it actually makes an IS able to function, other than the creator. But the core is what makes the unit work as it does with the pilot. Second component is the energy barrier or shield, which protects the pilot's life and will stay active as long as it has power. Third, the mandatory unlock, which comes into play when an IS reaches a heavy level of damage and then the mandatory unlock deactivates the IS unit, therefore protecting the pilot from harm. And fourth is the Preset, which is the standard equipment set that an IS unit has. Is that enough ma'am or would you like more detail or perhaps I answered incorrectly," I answered as if I was quoting a textbook.

The next moment I felt something hit my head and a sharp pain spread from where an object hit the back of my head. Ow, that one hurt! I'd answered the question as she stated it, so why did Chifuyu chuck her teacher's binder at me?! And what did she have lining that binder anyway, freaking steel sheets?! What kind of woman who is supposed to be a teacher would throw a possibly dangerous object at one of her own students?! I was rubbing my throbbing head with both hands before I glared back at Chifuyu, "Is this part of a new reward system for answering questions correctly ma'am? For if it is, then it doesn't inspire motivation to answer questions right Professor Orimura," I kept the spite out of my voice as I said this.

"No, that was being tempted to nod off during class," said Chifuyu.

How did she… shrewd as ever I see, that's Chifuyu for you and I suppose I should give credit where it is due. Okay, point taken, no snoozing in class, "Yeah, I got it, no napping during class, yes ma'am," I mumbled in return still rubbing my head.

And so, the boredom that was the class continued as it had a few minutes ago, "Well then, let's continue with class. Please turn to page twelve in your textbooks," said Miss Yamada.

Like I said before, it's going to be a long semester and it will cause MANY headaches for me to have to endure! The class continued after I was made to look like a fool in front of my classmates, other than that, it was mostly uneventful. And to say the morning was turning into one of the more grueling ones I've had in quite a while would be an understatement. To tell the truth, I didn't think that the first day of the school year here would be this harsh. Still, towards the end of class, there was downtime before the lunch break, so I took out my textbook for my math course. I began looking over the introduction and table of contents as the math course is the subject for my second lecture this afternoon. I wanted to distract my mind from the current situation I was consigned to, so giving it a preview of the challenges I would be giving it would hopefully relieving the elevated stress levels that had been growing in me.

Plus, it's a habit of being proactive for me with schoolwork to look over a textbook at the beginning. I sat in my seat fiddling with my pencil absentmindedly for the study time there was still left until lunchtime comes and thank God for the meal break! Doing school like this is going to be a challenge, but I'll be up for it somehow.

"May I have a moment," asked a female voice.

My attention shifted from studying my textbook to glancing up and over to who had just spoken to me. I found myself looking at the long blond-haired girl in my class which I had noticed before when the girls had been screaming over Chifuyu. She stood at a little over five feet by an inch or so. The girl's hair was long and was a solid blonde color which is rather rare here in Japan. Her hairstyle was unlike any other that I'd seen before, straight and long with weird curls that were like metal springs at the ends. It makes me wonder if that's natural or if she takes the time to style her hair that way, I don't know why you would but to each their own. On her forehead was a blue headband that acted as a parting tool for the left and right sides of her hair. Her bust was impossible to miss with her size. I'd thought Houki's bust was hard to imagine being natural at our age range, this blonde's chest was bigger somehow! Hell, makes you wonder where she got the genes for getting that size of chest, more out of just casual scientific interest from my standpoint.

The girl's uniform was a bit of a variation for the normal girl's uniform. Like Houki, it had the same white medium length trench-like coat with the embroidery that was red. The coat had more increased space in the chest area for her bust I would assume than Houki's. The skirt portion was longer than the other girls' uniforms as it went down to her knees, and there was some kind of black lace that was visible from a bit beyond the skirt itself. The young lady had tights or pantyhose that went beyond the bottom of her skirt rather than the thigh high socks that most of the other girls had. The blonde also had the blue ribbon tied around her neck. And her voice had a bit of an accent too, likely a foreigner, British if I were to guess. She held herself in a posture that denoted high-class society and extensive training in manners and other things that come with those with high standing… great.

"Well Miss that depends, if it doesn't cut into the lunch break that starts soon, then sure, you can have a moment," I answered curtly yet evenly to be polite.

The look on the girl's face didn't bode well for me as it showed that my reply to her request was being taken as an insult. Something tells me that this 'conversation' will cut into lunch and will make it shorter than average today. The afternoon's first lecture is going to be a hard one as it's Quantum Physics. I love the subject, but it's a challenging one due to the work it requires to keep up and pass the class.

"What sort of response is that?! You should be honored that I bothered speaking to you in the first place Sai Taichi. Don't you think you should behave more appropriately," she shot back at me.

You have got to be kidding me, please, please Lord, say it ain't so, she isn't one of those types of people, is she? Please don't let her be the arrogant and aristocratic noble type, I've never gotten along with them and some of them I've gotten close to fighting them. Perhaps it's the past that gives me the hindsight to tell me that women for whatever it is about me like to try to control and dominate me. I'm not the kind of individual to let others do so though that doesn't stop them from trying. Well, might as well begin by getting her name and get this over with, the sooner the better.

I gazed at the British girl shifting to an expressionless face, "Look Miss, it's my first day here. Why anyone would expect me to know the names of anyone here without meeting them, I haven't the faintest clue and it's unfair as can be. So, why not start with giving your name, show some good appropriate manners that I bet you have been taught, and then see if chiding is warranted," I said frankly.

The expression of shock and horror was somewhat amusing to see on this blonde's face, I can't argue against that without lying through my teeth. "You do not know who I am? I am Cecilia Alcott, England's representative contender. The one who scored highest on the," she began and then started rambling.

Yep, pegged her correctly indeed and am not pleased I did so as it meant that I was in for a time I don't want to have. Clearly, she likes to hear herself talk and expects others to feel the same about her talking. The phrase that comes to mind is, "Tooting their own horn". Granted, with men not being able to pilot ISs, then it can be supposed that some women might start to have a streak of pride. However, from where I'm observing, this is more the hormones running rampant with this girl. Her being from England explains the accent and a Representative Contender to boot, just adds to the pride and ego. I interrupted her hoping to curb the length of her ranting, "Don't take this as rude," I lowered my voice to a mutter, "Though I don't doubt you will somehow." I raised my voice back to normal volume, "But do you have a point that doesn't somehow say how great you supposedly are compared to others Miss Alcott? If you don't, then I'm not interested in hearing your discourse and would rather go and eat lunch."

"Of course there is a point you simpleton. And as it is the responsibility of nobles to answer queries from the lower classes," she continued, almost like I hadn't interrupted her.

Miss Alcott kept going on in her rambling explanation that was as I'd asked her not to do saying how she's so great. You would think that this girl doesn't know what humility is even if it slapped her in the face. This girl's pride is from what I could tell was inbred and taught to her as she grew up, and the result of such is that it's miles long by her blustering. From the way she acted to the way she talked, it felt like she was flaunting that she was better than others. It was annoying and getting more so the longer I was forced to listen. Clearing my throat loudly before I again interrupted and cut in over her, "Apparently, you missed the last bit of what I said. Is there anything that you have to say that DOESN'T inflate your pride and ego? If not, then would you please keep it to yourself," I asked trying to make it sound nice, but there was an underlying tone of annoyance was present.

There was dead silence in the room at my question. Miss Alcott was shaking at my question, "This is unbelievable! I can only hope that every Japanese man is not this utterly devoid of knowledge. I mean it's nothing more than common sense that you listen, honestly," said Miss Alcott in rather a disparaging tone.

Common sense is it? This British Blonde Cecilia Alcott knows what that is and/or has any? I haven't seen any yet, so I've my doubts about it. Nonetheless, her comment struck me close to home, I may live in America, but Japan is the land that I feel a kinship and have a heritage with so, I feel it is still my homeland! It's time to set the record straight and put this blonde in her place! "Listen up Miss Alcott, first of all, I'm an American and proud of it. Second, Japan is a wonderful place, clearly, you haven't taken the time to experience the culture with the way you blatantly criticize it. Third, I have Japanese heritage so don't dis this country, that's unless you're prepared to receive the same treatment to your own country, Miss British Blonde," I said with a tone that implied a dare to her.

The female teenager took umbrage to my reply, "You wouldn't dare," she growled.

I smirked a bit at the reply, "Try me if you want and see."

For a second, it looked like she would take me up on my challenge, and I was kind of hoping she would, I needed to rid myself of stress and it would a way to do so. But she took deep breaths and calmed down, "An American you are indeed, it certainly fits one rude as you. I, who am a representative of the United Kingdom am one of the chosen elite selected by their countries to represent them as IS pilots. And you are," She started retorting to me.

Oh ho, she sets herself up for potshots? Excellent, I'm going to start enjoying this a bit now. This is why I'm rarely around others that are the same age as me, rarely do I play nicely with them for very long before I start treating them like children. Admittedly, I find amusement in teasing others that have egos and are arrogant, I probably get it from Chifuyu as she loves putting such in their proper place. Plus, I've learned how to do vocal battling fairly well learning the skill from college-aged people I'm around. The skills that I learned in the debate class I took will be put to use here and now! "The representative contender for the United States of America Missy," I stated as fact to make sure she didn't misunderstand what I said.

Blondie paused for a moment at my statement, "That maybe, but you are still a male and so, being a representative does not matter. I am one of the elite, it is a true miracle and your good fortune to get to be in the same homeroom with someone like me. Oh, what an incredibly lucky boy you are. Did that get through that thick skull of yours, hmm?"

Really? Even though we've technically of equal rank because I'm a guy I'm less than her. I kept the sigh in that was threatening to escape me at her ranting and stroking of her own ego. This is irking me in many different ways with how female IS pilots treat the male population of the world, not all females, but enough of them to make it apparent. The way she says miracle and good fortune, it would be better to rephrase it as 'tragedy and misfortune to be in the same Homeroom as her and that I'm truly an unlucky boy'. I have had more than my fill by this and decided it was time I stopped being polite and get down to business. Now, the best way to get her to go away and leave me alone, agree with her and not really pay attention. "Sure, if you say so, I guess I'm lucky in a way," I said the line in a dismissive tone.

I just need to get her to go away, this is a waste of time and I could be eating lunch by now as the bell had already rung for the end of class and the start of lunch break. I've no interest in this 'talk' anymore, it's no longer worth humoring her and being nice any more in my opinion. "Wait, are you making fun of me now," Miss Alcott asked in slight irritation.

Well, it seems I underestimated her, Blondie is a bit smarter than she looks. It kind of distorts my picture of a dumb blonde, I bet she'll restore it soon enough. "As I believe you just said, I'm lucky to have you talking to me. Now, this conversation is done, so leave me alone. I'm going to go get lunch thank you."

I tried to make the final word clear, but alas, it isn't to be. "No, this conversation is far from done," she stated to me, raising her voice.

I managed to hold in the groan that almost came out of me, it was with difficulty but I still did it. The girl had moved to be in front of my desired path to the door of the classroom, blocking me from exiting. This long ago ceased being a conversation, it's now ranting from Cecilia Alcott along with a session of insulting me. Miss Alcott continued in her tirade, "First of all, you are going to tell me how you managed to enter this school? Some nobody, from the United States, comes here thinking that they can just sit and do nothing. I heard that you're the only male who can control an IS, but you've been such a terrible disappointment!"

Ah ha, and so she restores the picture of a dumb blonde. If only I could say that I didn't even plan or want to come to this academy in the first place. I'm being blackmailed into being here by a woman who doesn't care about what happens to others due to her actions. As for being a nobody, the things I know about the IS, governments can only dream about knowing! Since the bunny nor doll won't tell them any details about the IS core, I see no reason to do so either. She accuses me of sitting and doing nothing, yet I'll be doing IS classwork and college work daily for this semester. I shouldn't have to justify myself in this, and a disappointment am I? Alcott is a first-year in high school, I'm considered a second year, almost a third year in college by my credit count. Yet, we're approximately the same age, the facts speak for themselves very well.

I interlocked my fingers, then rested my elbows on the desk and put my chin on my fingers. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before I replied, "Since I'm a gentleman, Miss Alcott, I'll ignore your blatant insult aimed at me. I'll say this for you though, how unladylike of you to insult another and look down upon them like you are me. I would have expected that you would've been taught better manners if you're the noble you claim you are," I commented in an emotionless tone.

My reply clearly hit home, but Miss Alcott merely paused for a moment, then she continued, "In any case, since I am so remarkable, I can still find it in my heart to be considerate towards people such as yourself. So, if you do have questions, I wouldn't mind answering them for you if you were to plead with tears in your eyes." I let out a yawn in a fashion that couldn't be missed as Blondie rambled as she stopped and glared at me for the gesture before she kept going. "After all, I did defeat an instructor during the entrance exam, which means I am an elite among the elites."

I bit back the question of her having a heart for she doesn't show any signs that she had one at all. Surprising that Blondie knows what compassion is and means by the way she talks to others. Then for her claim of defeating an instructor, she needs to not boast as she does, like she's so much more special than everyone else. I did the same and in a little over ten seconds too, which I bet she took much longer. I stared at Miss Alcott with a tired expression, "You done yet? Listening to you go on about how supposedly great and special you boast about is extremely nerve grating and waring my patience. It'll probably put me to sleep given a little time more effectively than having to sit through an elementary school class. Your claim to defeating an instructor is nice and all, whoopty freaking-doo for you Blondie. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back and then shush would you?"

Alcott was letting out something between a hiss and a growl whereas, I paused and dug a finger into my ear to wind up the blonde just a little more and went on. "So, out of curiosity, how did you do it? You bore them into letting you win perhaps like you're attempting to do with me to get your way? That won't work with me, I'll just end up ignoring you as a habit going forward, it tends to work most of the time. So, don't be high and mighty just because you happen to accomplish something that doesn't occur often." I looked the girl right in the eyes and then told her what would, no doubt make her dislike me more. "For your information, I beat the exam instructor that I'd as an opponent and in less than a minute. That being said, kindly dismount that high horse that your pride and ego have been providing you and accept that you're not as exceptional as you picture yourself to be. Or else I'll knock it out from under you and you can crash down instead."

I hope that will shush the Alcott so that I can go get lunch, I'm getting really hungry and I've lectures this afternoon damn it! "Wait, what," she stuttered.

The female teenager moved again to prevent me from leaving as I wished to. NO! What's with this blonde girl?! Why won't she leave me alone?! I kept my expressionless face though I felt frustration growing within me, "Yes, you heard right, I won against an instructor, now for the last time, move! Class ended already, I want to go have lunch and you are preventing me from doing so," I stated firmly.

This conversation is getting old and grating and I want no more part of it. This girl can keep rambling for all I care. I won't be around to have to listen to her do so! "But … but I heard that I was the only one," commented Miss Alcott.

I uttered a grumble of serious frustration at the continuing obstacle blocking my path to food! "Look, I've been more than generous with this talk that you requested and have given you much more than a moment Miss Alcott. I bid you a good day and will be taking my leave," I said and then moved the blonde aside and made my way out of the classroom.

I managed to get to the cafeteria, grabbed some lunch and found a booth that was empty somehow. Although, the solitude didn't last long, for it was spoiled, not by who I had escaped from. No, instead of Cecilia Alcott, it was Houki Shinonono who I have much less issue with along with other girls. Also during lunch, a member of the student council came up to the table and gave me a key card, likely for me to be able to use one of the pieces of equipment here for school I would specifically need for this semester. Houki did give me a weird look when the student council member delivered the keycard, but she didn't ask me about it. There was a room here that could generate images and transmit them to a different location somewhere else in the world. For me specifically, the room will allow me to attend my lectures while I'm here in Japan.

Finally, when four thirty came, my second and last lecture of the day ended. The first had been quantum physics, I knew and liked the professor as a friend had introduced them to me. That had happened last year when I had needed a second opinion for a project. The other lecture was my math course which is Advanced Calculus and Intro to Mathmatical Theory which is a prerequisite for another class I'll be taking later. I'll have two lectures every afternoon, just different subjects alternating days and for today. That's the best way I could schedule things to be able to still take my college courses and do what the stupid bunny had forced me into.

Perhaps it's early, but I headed back to the cafeteria and saw that the afternoon classes the girls in the school have weren't done yet, so I'd the whole room to myself! Peace and quiet, even if for a brief moment, that's something I'll take when I can get it. After loading a tray with dinner, I chose a booth to sit at, taking the time to enjoy the quiet and peace I was getting to the fullest. As I ate, I was going over the notes that I'd taken in my physics lecture, a habit I developed during my first year in college, reviewing class notes especially for the more work involved ones.

It was when the sound of multitudes of voices came to my ears, I looked up to the door, I observed the female students beginning to pour into the room. I didn't let them affect me, I simply returned to reviewing my notes. While I reviewed, I started to mentally plan out a schedule for the evenings to in which I could effectively do homework for my college courses done. It was based on what kind of work I estimate would be needed from my first two classes, along with manage everything I would need to do. There may have to change plans after tomorrow's classes, will have to wait and see.

Once I finish dinner, I discreetly left the cafeteria so that I wasn't noticed by the girls, I'm rather good and skilled at not being noticed when I don't want to be, lots of practice. The current task for me was to find my room that I was assigned in the dorm I'll be in for the next six months. I pulled out the note I was given earlier today by Miss Yamada and looked at it, on that said note was the room number for the dorm I've been assigned to stay in for this semester.

The next upcoming event I'll be facing comes from the fact that rooms here aren't designed for single-occupant use, but two occupants per room. With me being 'the singular male' at the academy, logic then dictates that I can only have a female roommate. Then, knowing that both my roommate and I are fifteen or sixteen-year-old teenagers with active hormones… it worries me greatly with whom I could have as a roommate. I've seen some girls here that I wouldn't wish to share living quarters with for I would worry that they would do far more than is proper. While I may pride myself on having control over my libido… weak as it is, even I have a limit to how much I can ignore it. Plus, I see no reason to allow a girl to trap me, drag me into the sack and jump my bones whenever her hormones go out of control putting her into the mood. To me, it's not a question of if she can restrain herself, but rather how long it'll be before she makes a move on me with us being in the same room without being supervised!

Once I got down a few hallways in the main first-year dorm building, I spotted the door with the number I was looking for, room 1025. I stood in front of the door for a moment, giving a quiet prayer, "Please God, let me finally have something go nicely for me, no girls attempting to flirt, or get away with more with me if they can as they have the majority of the day." I sighed, "Well, time for the moment of truth is here," I whispered to myself.

Reaching into my pants pocket and took out the room key, which I'd been given with the note that had the room's number and then, I unlocked the door. I took a couple of tentative steps into the dorm room cautiously, scanning the room and taking it in as I moved forward. The room wasn't small per se, college dorms are bigger, but the one I'd been living in had been designed as an apartment and was meant to be shared with three people, this one is for two. There were two beds on the left side of the room with what appeared to be a pull-out wood separator between them. That's good to have if or rather when the need for privacy arises, there'll be a way to provide that. A large desk with two seats was against the right wall, a workspace to use. Hell yeah, thank you! On either side of the desk, were dressers and space to the side of them between them and the wall, one for me and the other for I would think my roommate. Looking at the opposite side of the room from the door, I saw that on the far side there was a glass door that I think led out to a balcony, a possible escape route should the need arise. All in all, a very nice room I must say, better than I'd expected.

With the layout down, the only thing left to be determined was the identity of my roommate for me. The girl, whoever she was seemed to be missing as I haven't seen her yet. The possible explanation, she's either not here in the room at the moment for some reason, or there could be more to this dorm room than I've already seen, and my new roommate is in a part I don't know about. It was at that point that the sound of running water came to my ears and I turned on the spot upon the sound of a squeak from a handle from behind me in the room I assumed to be the bathroom. Fate, why do you insist on trying to bite me in the ass again! I do believe my roommate has been taking a shower when I entered the room and now is finished, common sense tells me this could get messy or just awkward, I can't say which.

-Houki's pov-

After Kendo had finished, I had returned to the dorm room I'd been assigned. I don't have a roommate yet, but there have been room arrangements still being made. Then there had been two bags brought here sometime this morning, so I will likely have one today. When I had got back to the room, I had headed for the shower as I prefer to clean up after club activities here than in the locker room. It was towards the end of my shower that I heard something, I think the door to the dorm room opening and closing. I guess I just might have a roommate then meeting them after coming out of the shower was not the way I wanted to meet a roommate, but it can't be helped now. I hope that she won't hold it against me. I shut off the shower and exited it, drying my body off a bit, I would deal with my hair later. I wrapped a towel around myself, took a deep breath, "Is someone out there," I asked to see if there was someone in the main dorm room.

There was no answer to my question, but I'm sure that I heard the door open and then close moments ago. I headed for the door from the bathroom to the main living area of the dorm, "Hey, you must be my roommate for the year," I said, opening the bathroom door. "I look forward to having your company this year. Sorry that I'm meeting you like this, but I just got out of the shower," I greeted apologizing for my current appearance. I was turning towards the figure that was in the living area and continued my introduction, "My name is Houki Shino-no-no," my voice caught in my throat as I recognized the figure in front of me.

For a moment, I couldn't comprehend what reason that Sai would be in my room though it couldn't be anyone else. Although Sai was facing away from me right now he spoke, "Yes, I know your name Houki, you did tell me it earlier today after all." Sai paused and took a deep breath, "Now, please for goodness sakes before you think about doing something that's meant to be harmful to me being here in the room, I ask you to take note of some things." I was frozen at realizing that Sai was here but he continued, "First, I'm being the respectful gentleman by not facing you so, I'm not staring, ogling or viewing you with either a towel wrapped around your body or you in your 'birthday suit' like I wouldn't doubt some guys would be doing."

That line reminded me that he was right, I only had a towel wrapped around my body right now even if he wasn't looking. A careless movement could have the towel slip and Sai could possibly see me naked! By instinctual reflex, my left arm moved to shield my chest and hold the towel in place and my right shot down to cover my nethers. I don't know if Sai registered my movements as he kept going, "Number two, I had nothing to do with this arrangement, I was just informed this would be the room I would be assigned to. However, in my defense, no matter what room I'm put in, I would have had a female roommate at this school being the only guy, so do give me a bit of a break please."

Well, I can't exactly argue with the fact that with Sai being the only male that him getting a female roommate is a given. Plus, he was still facing the other way and not gawking of staring at me in the embarrassing position I'm in. "And finally, should you attack me, I will be fighting back to defend myself as I'm not doing anything wrong that can be prevented. That being said, fair warning, I know what I'm doing with hand to hand fighting." Sai took a breath again, "That is my defense, the choice is yours Houki on how you react."

Sai went silent after saying that and I was left to decide how to respond to this situation I was in. I was going between attacking him for entering the room without permission or knocking and finding a way to get to my dresser to get clothes. Yet, what I did was nothing, my cheeks were red, and I was frozen where I was. Sai then side-stepped towards the closer bed and faced the wall the headboard was against, "Houki, now would be a good time for you to get clothes on. You're pretty and everything, but this is just becoming awkward for both of us," he said flatly.

That snapped me from my inaction, and I rushed forward to the dresser that my clothes were in. As I went, the towel I had did slip and I only managed to stop the towel from falling to the floor, but it merely covered my nethers now. I hope that Sai hadn't seen anything, it would be too embarrassing if he had. I got on panties and a bra quicker than I had before and wrapped myself in a yukata holding it tightly shut fearing that my face was tomato red and visible. I took a minute to breathe steadily to calm the rapid beating of my heart and try to cool the heat of my cheeks. Once I had myself calmer, I tied my yukata closed and turned to face Sai, "Okay, I'm dressed now," I said a tad shakily.

Sai turned around slowly and let out a heavy sigh when he saw me clothed before he made his way over to the desk between the dressers and pulled out the chair and sat down. Neither of the two of us said anything for a little while. I think Sai was waiting for me to speak first in this and where I know Sai said that he had nothing to do with the idea of him and me being roommates, but I still wondered. I was of two minds about this, a part of me was truly happy that I could have a chance of getting to know Sai better. The other part of me was worried about sharing the same room with a guy that I really know very little about, who knows what could happen? So, I couldn't help myself in the question I asked, "Did you somehow request this," I asked softly as Sai looked at me.

Sai sighed before he looked away from me, "I believe I said that I had nothing to do with this arrangement Houki, nor do I have any particularly against this arrangement either. Nevertheless, should you have a problem, then I'll seek out the dorm manager and tell her that I'll need to switch rooms, whomever she is," he said simply.

I was kind of shocked at that response for it was the last I expected from Sai, both as a guy and person. Not only had Sai offered to go and changed rooms if I had an issue with share one with him without me saying anything. Sai had also been mannered better than any other that I've been around at the academy and that was saying quite a lot. Then, like before, I had unfamiliar feelings being around Sai, and I didn't know where they came from. I felt warmth in my chest that I couldn't explain and yet, I felt kind of self-conscious at the same time.

Sai gazed at me again, and he gained a look of mild surprise. Upon seeing that, I looked away as I felt that I couldn't look at him directly, not with how my face was heating up. "Um, Houki, do you or do you not have a problem with sharing a room with me," Sai questioned.

A feeling of shyness washed over me which hadn't happened for a long time, and Ichika had been the last. Sai's question, simple as it was for some reason difficult to state the answer vocally. I didn't have a problem with sharing a room with Sai, at least my wish to know more about him overrides any fears I had of what he could do with sharing a room with me. "I," came out of my mouth before my voice cut out. Sai was quiet, as I put forth an effort to put my thoughts into words, "I have no problem w-with sharing a room with you Sai," I stuttered out.

Seeing Sai smile made my heart skip a beat and start racing with its beating rate and my face heated up again. "That's good, it's been a hectic day and I was hoping for it to come to a close in a quiet manner," he said taking a breath. "So, since you're the lady, which bed would you prefer? I'll give you first choice for which you want."

W-w-what?! Is Sai being nice to be for some specific reason? No, he hasn't come off as that kind of person that I've seen. But, since he asked and offered for me to have the first pick with choice in beds, I pointed to the bed closer to the balcony and window. Sai nodded before he went over to the suitcase and duffle bag that had appeared earlier while we had been in class. I grabbed the math book from the core class and went to my bed to get down to homework.

However, I was still keeping an eye on Sai, kind of curious as to what he brought and view his habits of organization. I was surprised honestly with how neat and organized Sai showed he was from how he put his clothes in the dresser and still had room to work with to keeping books and school supplies in a specific space on the desk. He appeared to have a system of his own for the organization which had to have been developed over time. Why he would have developed such I can't say, but that he as a guy has one is different.

The oddest thing that Sai had in his things was some sort of computer, one like I've never seen before. Yet, it did remind me somewhat of some of the stuff that Tabane built when she was younger and still around the home. He set it up at the desk and turned it on and looked to be checking it over though I couldn't seem much clearly from where I was. After he finished doing that, Sai took out a phone and seemed to check something, to which he frowned at whatever he had looked at. He also muttered what kind of sounded like curses of some sort, and that made me think whatever he had read was something he really didn't like.

Still, once Sai had his things the way he wanted, he grabbed clothes and headed for the bathroom. When he came out a little while later, he was in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. I had decided that I would be unable to do any homework tonight, so I put away my school things. "So Houki, as long as we're sharing the same room, I think that it would be a wise idea for us to have some ground rules, wouldn't you agree," Sai spoke up with a bit of a smile.

I turned my head to gaze at him, "Ground rules," was my reply.

That led to a small discussion and establishment of ground rules between the two of us. Sai was reasonable in many to most things that he said that there needed to be rules and definitions for. One of the first subjects we talked about was some of the clear and definite don'ts, such as not changing our clothes in front of each other nor go through the other's clothes without permission and that was unlikely. We also agreed that neither was to go through the other's personal possessions without express permission from the other. The other major point that was brought up was that neither of us would touch or do something to the other that wasn't consensual, the only the exception was to prevent harm or injury. The way he defined things felt almost like it was something one would read on a written agreement or contract which was kind of odd, but I didn't think much more of it.

There were rules that we did have differing views with though, I insisted on shower usage from 7 pm to 8 pm, which would allow me to clean up after club activities. Sai wasn't as happy about the insistence I put forth, more so when I said it was because I didn't like to use the locker room facilities. Sai also said that he would prefer to use the bathroom so that he wouldn't be forced to resort to one of the school bathrooms, which are all designed for girls. The way Sai put it, set off a feeling of anger and irritation at imagining Sai sneaking into bathrooms. I lost my cool and I admit it even when I went for my kendo bokutō and twisted around to strike Sai.

Sai leaped backward off the bed landing on the floor and shifting into a martial arts type stance. The second swing I thought would knock some sense into Sai, but he moved out of the way of the practice sword. Such increased my irritation, and I rushed forward in a lunge aiming for his forehead, not to do permanent damage or injury. Once again, Sai dodge, and continued to do so for a few more swings from me. Then, Sai moved forward and sent a palm into my midsection knocking the wind out of me. The next thing I knew, Sai grabbed my right arm with both hands and ended out flipping me over himself to have me land on my bed. And before I was able to rise up and defend myself or attack, I found Sai pinning me down to my bed. He gazed at me calmly, "I did tell you that I would fight back should you attack me. As it happens, I know a few forms of martial arts, the techniques I just performed proves that" Sai informed me before he let me up from being pinned down.

I felt horrible for my reactions and attack on Sai, even if I lost my temper for a short period, "I'm sorry I," I started.

However, Sai cut me off, "Houki, there is no need for you to apologize. However, in my defense, I'm not a pervert and don't plan to become one anytime in the future. Rest assured of that, such acts with the intent that instigates them sickens me for a couple of reasons that would be better not mentioned."

I blinked at that for I had been under the impression that most guys were the exact opposite of what Sai stated. Clearly, I have a lot to learn and much to still know about Sai though I said nothing in reply to him. Sai walked over to his bed and plopped down onto it, then I settled down into the blankets. He turned off the lights and we settled in to sleep for the night, "Goodnight Houki," he said into the dark.

I smiled, "Goodnight, Sai," I answer.

A/N

Okay, so if you didn't notice by this point Ichika is still not in this story. He's dead and that won't change. So my character, Sai Taichi is the main protagonist. Please write a review and tell me what you think of this story idea.