A/N: 1/2 of chapters that I am releasing, what I can tell you guys is that I do not know how long I will be uploading my next chapter after 216 and 217, but I know for damn sure I am uploading in some time, I just need to kick start that X factor I am missing in my mind.

To do this I may have to go another month, two months not uploading because I need to be able to be in a clear headspace where I can give my all.

As much as I hate to admit it I can't think straight when it comes to TBTR, this is no fault of my own, I've let myself go quite a bit in terms of being lazy, not being productive, not doing things that make me happy.

Discord in Bio or add me at Kano #3425.


Chapter 216: Unanswered Questions

A worried Sylvia currently walking back and forth inside her hotel room in Osaka.

She has been feeling uneasy during her brief time in Osaka, she has complied with her family's demand to go to the party in Osaka together with Daniel which led to one thing to another. She met with someone she deeply care about who coincidentally also attend the same party, it was unexpected and surprising for her because she was slightly being kept in the dark.

Nonetheless, Sylvia is currently wandering back and forth with her phone stuck on her ear and her expression keeps on changing while she talked on her phone.

There is a large window with a balcony On Sylvia's left side which shows the beautiful view of many buildings near her hotel, or now that after Sylvia properly experience her stay it could be called a penthouse rather than a hotel. The walls in her room are sleek white with a large king-sized bed next to her, a television next to the wall, and a few expensive paintings and few products hosted on the walls, with the large table inside her room.

Sylvia currently wearing an expensive black leather coat and a white suit with a pencil skirt underneath, she also wears a pair of shades on her forehead as she let her hair down

"So he was captured? Let me guess did he try to go after Ichika Orimura again?" Sylvia rolled her eyes.

["From the reports, he was beaten in combat by someone who is very agile and much stronger than him, which is all we know about the target that has caused any harm to Daniel."]

Sylvia almost releases laughter as she found the news very obvious

"I'm not too sure that Ichika would want to fight Daniel now since he is already significantly stronger than Daniel, so highly doubt it was him."

["Me too, that ship has sailed."]

Sylvia knew Daniel most likely tried to find Ichika, it was a very daniel thing to do.

However, Sylvia dares to bet all the chips she has on the fact that Ichika was not the one that has fought her cousin, from all the news reports she has read about the attack in Osaka, she knows Ichika would be too busy to deal with Daniel. And now it left more questions for her, the question that Daniel has to answer her sometime in the near future.

Regardless of that matter on her mind, she resumes the conversation at hand.

"Well, how is he doing? Has he woken up yet?"

["Not yet, though we believe he will wake up sooner or later, whoever his opponent was they has done a good amount of damage on him, but I think it was probably for the good of my son."]

Daniel father reply to Sylvia, Daniel father who was known as the silver skeleton

"I see... Well please let me know when he has recovered so I- wait, did you just say that it was for Daniel's good? What do you mean?" Sylvia turns to look at the window and stare toward the building beside her hotel

["We are not sure, Daniel was sent on a mission to retrieve a few important pieces from the outskirts of Kyoto, originally he was supposed to retrieve it and return as quickly as he can before he create any unavoidable incident. Apparently after he returned he seems to be different than his usual self."]

"I assume this information was given by one of his friends?"

["No, I was being told from my personal reports, I did not receive any words from them, originally we didn't think too much about it during that time but after we found Daniel unconscious and beaten in Osaka, we realize that something up with him."]

"Yes, now that when I think about it he was pretty unusual, I mean Daniel suddenly turn aggressive when he talked with my student." Sylvia's is sitting on the edge of her bed while her eyes narrow

["Your student? Who is she? What is her name?"]

Daniel father quickly assume that Sylvia was talking about a female student because she has worked with IS academy before

"It's a he and I think you has met him already some time ago, he is the only male IS pilot Ichika Orimura."

["I vaguely remember my son has called him his 'rival', I assume they have some history, and if we going back to the point you have mentioned earlier, you said they were fine with each other yes?"]

"Yes, that is correct?" Sylvia responds in confusion.

["Perhaps this was the works of someone else? Daniel would never attack someone that he fine with."]

"If that the case then I would suggest for you to get him to the doctor to test him for every problem that could cause Daniel to behave strangely, however once you have identified the cause I want you to keep it under wraps"

["That matter has already being worked on, also I would like you to ask Ichika Orimura whether if he notice anything strange about Daniels 'erratic' behavior."]

"Of course, I will ask him, after I return to the IS academy."

["Alright, I will leave it to you, currently I have a very important meeting I have to attend, please report back to me once you have talked to Mr Orimura."]

After she close the call and turn off her phone screen, Sylvia is mumbling to herself as she deeply thought about everything that has transpired, the situation developed way too fast for her liking and it didn't make sense, she think about the matter that she herself knows that they have stumbled into something, Daniel is someone who is not aggressive and he maintains his neutrality.

As his cousin, she has been assigned to attend the party with him to keep an eye on him and also to introduce herself to some of the wealthy and powerful people.

As she look back, during their short interaction at the party Daniel seemed to be slightly annoyed for no reason, or if there is a reason for the bad mood he didn't bother to tell her before. She wonders whether or not it was worth investigating her cousin's behavior personally and should she try to ask daniel's friends for some answer since perhaps they know something off about Daniel.

'Hmmm, perhaps I should depend on uncle to find some answers while I'm asking Ichika…wait who am I kidding? Although uncle is someone with pretty high standing, I think he would probably try to talk to Daniel himself.'

Sylvia crosses her legs and look over to the window.

"Speaking of Ichika, I wonder where did he go? There were no signs of him or the other girls, the situation now is so different from back then, it has become complicated and fast that I didn't even get a chance to chat with him..." Sylvia looks at the skyscraper opposite her hotel building and then she looks at the vehicles in the city street below her.

Sylvia swallows her own saliva

'Why did they attack the Tachibana clan and the Dunois family? Now that I think about it, it didn't make sense. The [Phantom Task] would never spare their targets; they would not attack these powerful families with this kind of empty and worthless attacks.'

(Scene Change)

The smell of the freshly brewed tea is lingering in the air, the nice aroma is infecting anyone nearby, causing them to drool for the taste of the warm liquid, the same liquid which the three women who surrounded by powerful auras currently enjoyed as they shared the drinks into their own teacup while they sit around the glass table which has been replaced often countless times due to several incidents

Each of the mature and busty ladies was wearing their own kimono in their own preferred colors, yellow-colored kimono, green-colored kimono, and flowery purple kimono

Just a few days ago the first part of their plan has come to fruition, the smirk on her face Izanami has told the whole story as she looks to the sky above, while she in deep thought her clone Nobume and some of her servants standing near her to tend her needs, Of course, they not only tend for her but also Minazuki and Shizuka.

"Someone is giddy, was everything about 'that thing' go well?" Minazuki raises her eyebrow as she inquires about her older sister.

Izanami takes a sip of her tea as she stares at her sister, her eyes are pulsating with a deep red color before she put her teacup down and put a wicked grin on her face

"I'm not thinking about "that thing", it was about something else, but I don't expect it will work so well it is about something I did not expect to work so well."

"Oh?"

Shizuka rests her head on the table, she doesn't care to hear anything that didn't interest her. Instead, she closed her eyes and dozed off while imagining herself, Izanagi and Ichika resting together while enjoying each other company, a smile drowsy smile appearing on her face while she rests.

On the other hand, Minazuki was rather interested in what Izanami said

"I have cleared some loose ends and I make sure anyone that targets Ichika suffers, like that trash that keeps pestering my boy." Izanami lifts as a signal for a refill; her attendants quickly come and refill her teacup

"So you have killed those things?" Minazuki tone sound amused

"No it was something much better, it was the one that will bring those ants to their knees while they go insane, ufufufu!"

"I forgot how evil you are, nee-san."

A devilish grin appears on Minazuki face as she wishes she was the one that did it herself, her nephew enemy has been on their radar for some time, however, Izanami hasn't allowed anyone to harm them yet, it gives her some pleasure after hearing some changes

The Orimura clan matriarch is surrounded by a blood-red aura that surrounds her like a thick coat, as she is currently in a good mood the suffocating aura is completely docile under her control, the thought of her son no longer having thorn on his side has brought great satisfaction for Izanami

Izanami is smiling, just by thinking of her beloved son has created a smile on her face smiled

"So everything has fallen in place for you? Or has it fallen in place for him?" Minazuki ask her sister as she tilts her head while her sister is still thinking about her nephew

"..."

Izanami ignores her sister's question as she remains in deep thought.

'Oh Izanagi, I wish you could see that everything has gone as I planned, soon our soon will flourish without anyone getting on his way.'

Her husband figure has appeared in her mind once or twice, her twisted mind has shown her husband figure looking at her with pride as she brings her son return home, back to their arms. Though as much she wants to feel the warm embrace of her husband and delicate word from her son's mouth calling her 'mom', she knows there is something that has to be done, something that is way more than necessary.

For now, she bit her tongue and resists her desire for getting her son back.

Every single plan she has created ever since the collapse was dedicated for her son, to get him to return to the Orimura clan, back to her arms no matter what. She knew that eventually, he would return since it was an inevitable conclusion but it also made her heart hurt due to the amount of time her son has to be away from her and how hard her effort would be needed. After the Chi-Tsuki that has happened two months ago, her son has learned about her existence and he knows his mother is out there somewhere waiting for him.

The fact that her son realizes that she exists at the very least has made her happy.

"Nee-san?"

Everything has fallen to the right place, all events that she has planned. From seeing Ichika for the first time after many years and to be able to hold him in her arms while he was still unaware of her identity, and to creating a harsh plan while leaving the prodigy out of the picture while Chisaya ignored her order and leaving, all of those events has happened according to her plan, Izanami has predicted that one or two of the prodigies would eventually be going to ignore her order and leave. Although she was slightly disappointed that Chigusa didn't join Chisaya to leave.

For now, Izanami keeps her appearance as the matriarch and she made a mental note to punish Chisaya for disobeying her, though she wants the prodigies to lash put against her.

"Hello? Nee-san?"

It was a secret test, to see which prodigies could stand up for themselves and to see who can be the leader among them, and Chisaya was the first among them to openly disobey her.

With the impending [Lunacy Rage] that would happen not far away for the prodigies, it was an important matter for Izanami and her sisters to find which one among the prodigies that have the leadership qualities that needed of the future of the Orimura clan, she has no doubt that all of them would be able to carry the clan future together with her son but she knows that for [Lunacy Rage] the prodigies would require more than just power

Due to Shiori's request not to teach the prodigies [Lunacy Rage], she decided to use another method.

The means that soon will be figured by the prodigies in time.

"Nee-san?"

"Yes?"

Izanamileavese her thought and turn her head toward her sister while raising her eyebrow, curiosity in her eyes as she looks at Minazuki and a fully awakened Shizuka staring at her with concern.

Shizuka and Minazuki were slightly surprised by Izanami spacing out and it causing them to consistently call her name while she looking to the sky while deep in thought

"Finally, you were spaced out for around two minutes? I have called you multiple times..." Minazuki let out a sigh

"What were you thinking about, nee-san?" Shizuka looking at Izanami with her Sleepy eyes

"[Lunacy Rage]."

"...Why would you think that?"

"I have called our parents to assist us to teach the prodigies [Lunacy Rage]." Izanami reaches for her teacup and lift it to her lips

"..."

"..."

"After the prodigies have finished their [Chi Tsuki] phase, I had talked with Shiori and she said something that made me realize something, the prodigies are not as corrupt as us yet."

"so you were saying that there is no better way to make the prodigies more corrupt than involving Father and mother?" Minazuki could understand her older sister line of thought

"I thought we finally have freed ourselves from them." Shizuka release a tired sigh

"Haven't they said that they no longer want to get involved with the new generation matter anymore? I didn't remember much of what they have said." Minazuki only remembered that her parents has left the clan as they leave for their journey

"That is Correct."

Izanami give her sisters a short reply

"Well, we will not question your decision, nee-san."

"Of course."

Shizuka and Minazuki look at each other with small smiles on their faces as they agree with Izanami's decision looked, and then they turn their head around and once again look at izanami while she does the same thing. Izanami already knows that her sisters would never be going to question her motives, and they already know what she has planned for the near future.

As they are satisfied after hearing Izanami's answers, Shizuka and Minazuki refrain from asking any more questions as they start taking light sips of their tea and enjoying the day.

(Scene Change)

As Tatsuya Orimura keep walking every tree he has passed appears to be more ominous and wavering

"Your step is really quick huh?"

Miyuki Orimura seems to be walking out from the shadows of the trees that stood around them, each of the trees stands tall above the married couple, each step they take is enough to shake the leaves above the branch from the tree around them

Tatsuya bangs covering his dark red eyes as his wife run and looks over him from his front as she tries to catch a good glimpse at her husband's face, Miyuki lovingly brushes his cheek using her delicate and soft fingers. Her warm smile briefly warmed Tatsuya's cold heart for a few moments, before he regain his composure and keep his cool despite his wife's charm. His expression is not change in the slightest as the two of them stop walking and stand under the beaming sunlight on their hot day out

"Have you grown bored of exploring? Shall we do something else? Or…." Miyuki spoke while blushing when she said the last bit

"No."

"What should we do now?"

"I don't know."

"Are you sure you don't want to explore those old ruins? They may contain some interesting information..."

"No."

"...Do you want to have sex?"

"No."

Miyuki releases a sigh after hearing her husband answer.

"Then why are we heading back in the direction of our home? Forgive me for asking but weren't you the one that want to exploring the rural parts today?"

Miyuki persistently keep on pursuing answer from her husband

"I just feel like it."

Tatsuya gently walk past his wife, he keep on walking forward while his eyes was set on his way home, his mind turn blank as he no longer think anything

"MUUU!"

Miyuki follows her husband as she cutely pout with a confused expression on her face.

"..."

"Are you sure there wasn't something else? Or perhaps did you hiding something from me again?"

Tatsuya turn toward his wife for few moments, his heartless and dull gaze are locked on his wife eyes which cause her to be infatuated with him again, he could see the love from his wife eyes as she stare him back, her jaw slightly slacking while her cheeks turn into deep shade of red. Tatsuya seems frustrated about what love was, it was something he wanted to understand ever since he was a young child

Nowadays his mother shows him love and so did Miyuki which cause him to become even more confused

'I don't understand... what is love?'

Everyone from "outside" beside his mother and his wife had given him nothing more than simple respect which he rarely returned, they didn't go further from that or give him the same type of love that he used to receive from Miyuki and Shihana

Even the sexual acts give him more questions about love rather than answers, he and his wife Miyuki have sex many times, they have done it so much that he already knows every inch of his wife's body, from her firm ass to her perky breast.

"Hmmm..."

"Are you okay?"

His beloved wife looking at him in concern

Tatsuya's eyes made a direct contact with her own, he staring directly to her soul to find the answer of the question he want to know ever since he was a child, what Is love?, what could make a person fall in love with another? All of his questions seem simple to other but was very complicated to tatsuya

He know that he never truly understand what the emotions and feelings were when he still a child due to his bad upbringing and loveless childhood, even as he rise to adulthood, instead he was learning as years passes by

It seems he still learning about his life lessons, and these lessons still have to continue for many years

"If you keep staring at me like that, you could make me pregnant again!" Miyuki look away and covering her face while blushing deeply

Tatsuya blankly stare at his wife without any reaction, due to his mind going quiet he doesn't know how to respond to his wife, a small part of him want to understand what she feel but the bigger part choose to quickly ignore her words. Every time Miyuki look at him he can see on her eyes, the ever growing love that pouring out from her whenever they speak with each other or every intimate things she always suggested for him, everything she did for him has marked his heart as the proof of the existence of love

Tatsuya notice the passion inside his wife heart is the same infatuation which his daughters have for his son, years before Izanagi take over the clan leadership; he has keep on watching about the emotion called love

His children have showed him that love was 'Wild and free' like his own words which he said to his wife long time ago

"I don't understand..."

"ara ara, I was just joking about me getting pregnant by your stare! I don't even think that is possible fufu!"

"… I'm not talking about that."

Tatsuya dismissed the nonsense jokes from his wife, he walk forward right in front of her toward their temporary home that they have used in these last few weeks, as they were adventuring across the world they have been able to enjoy some private time alone in their own private lodge, somewhere undetected from anyone

"Oh? Then what were you talking about my love?"

MIiyuki smile as she wrap her hand around her husband arm and follow him close as they walk while linking their arms, Miyuki enjoy his company while tatsuya tolerate their closeness

"Love."

Miyuki eyes are lit up in surprise as she get caught off guard by her husband answer, as he bring the topic about love

"Love huh? I never thought that you would like to discuss about love, I thought you disliked to converse about love, what exactly make you changes your mind? Do you finally realize how madly in love you are with me?" after saying the last bit Miyuki put her free hand on her cheek as she blush

Tatsuya briefly look over at his wife and he notice the love once again appear in her eyes, it become more obvious this time

"I want to discover what the meaning of love is."

"Oh!"

Miyuki eyes almost fall from their socket as she hear her husband word, about him wanting to learn about love, he has avoided the conversation topic about love and he has been ignoring the emotion that he had build inside him ever since he still a child, he only channeling the emotions that he felt during their sexual intercourse, whenever he demand her. On the contrary, of course miyuki want to have sex more frequently with her husband but she always wait her husband to be ready and she know she could never force herself on her husband, she want him to enjoy the pleasure together

To know about her husband willingness to learned and he trying to understand love made Miyuki smile brightly, she knew Tatsuya has been struggling to understand the feeling that he has been denied by their clan and she has been waiting until he ready and willing

Miyuki just wonder does the road of understanding was just the beginning?

Claaaaasp!

"On the way to understand the meaning of love, I will be with you with every step."

Miyuki hold both her husband hands as she excitedly standing in front of him while looking at him, their face are close with each other and tatsuya can see the faint red tinge on her cheeks

"I see."

With all things considered, tatsuya know that there is no better way to learn Love from someone who was in love and has give him Love all this time

"How do you want to start?"

Miyuki excitedly asking her questions while simultaneously pushing her body forward, closing her distance with her husband to the point that her perky breast almost touching his chest and patiently waiting her husband answer

"I don't know."

Tatsuya replied in monotone, his eyebrow twitching as he slightly annoyed by his wife antics as she push her back, Miyuki comply and stare at him

After tatsuya speak about 'love' his wife has been intrigued to see his later reactions and what he want to say, however unfortunately for her, tatsuya has nothing much to say about that matter since for him he still need to learn the meaning about Love

As His wife, miyuki is the perfect candidate for him to learn from

"…How about you teach me about love?"

"Eh?"

Tatsuya has already foreseen about how his wife would react, he has imagined the scenario many times before he even speak about this matter, on the other hand Miyuki titled her head sideways and think to herself

"Hmm, haven't we tried teaching you about this matter a while ago?"

Tatsuya slowly nod his head while his eyes remain cold, he brushes his bang from his face and directly stare to his wife eyes with his bright red eyes

"No, what you have done was showing me what love was rather than teaching me its meaning, I need to be taught about love in a same way like the teachers teach their students." Tatsuya scowl while he walk past miyuki and past over the fence with marked with Kanji "Ori" on the wooden plank on the fence left side, which mark the house as theirs

"Yes, I was rather busy with those ants and have my plans going through motions; I didn't have time to pay attention on something else."

Miyuki release a soft sigh, she quickly walk beside her husband and take his arm again as she glimpse their cabin which hidden deep in the woods

"If only you had spared just few moments to understand about Love a long time ago, your world would have changed like mine, back then when I realize the meaning of love my world has change..." Miyuki stop talking during mid sentence as she let go of her husband arm

"?"

Tatsuya notice that Miyuki is looking to the ground while holding her left arm with her right hand

"What is it?"

Tatsuya asking Miyuki with his usual cold tone as he walk toward his wife, he cross his hands into his kimono sleeves as he come closer to his wife

" I remember that time a long time ago, the night when father had said that the island where you have been imprisoned has sink, and the whole clan believed that you have died… only for you to appear while during our father and our uncles were discussing about the future"

The former patriarch remember what Miyuki has told him for hundreds times

"I am aware."

"I remembered that I were looking outside the window at night before that chaos happens…. I have felt the sense of longing, wanting to be together with you. That indescribable feeling that I have felt that could never be explained to anyone. Everyone ignore everything that I have said while they tried to force me to marry other disgusting men in the clan, it was during that night when you returned that I realized, that indescribable feeling that I have felt was not longing, but it was love, that feeling has been love all along, My love"

Tatsuya's hold his breath while almost making a slightly surprised expression on his face

"I see..."

Miyuki walk forward and place her left hand on her husband cheek as she rubs it lovingly. Eventually she cup his face making Tatsuya to look at her and locking their eyes with each other

"It seems like those days, the days that we spend for talking about our days have ended, we still have one more thing to do, my love"

Miyuki kiss the left cheek of tatsuya

"..."

Tatsuya's eyes goes wide for less than a second, but still long enough for miyuki to realize it

"Let me help you understand what love is!"

Miyuki walk past him with a beaming smile as Tatsuya could only watch, although his expression doesn't change in the slightest, his heart however has been beating quicker than usual, and Tatsuya notice it

'Is this Love?'

Tatsuya put his hand on his chest and checking the patterns of his beating heart, he feel his heart beating quicker

Tatsuya doesn't show any particular reaction after feeling his heart beating except looking at his wife and seeing the beautiful kimono she has worn since early morning, his eyes follows her every move and analyzing her

He slightly shakes his head and quickly follow his wife inside their home

...

...

"Ikkun..."

Ichika is staring at a holographic screen in the middle of Tabane's base, there is an image of earth rotated three hundred and sixty degrees on the screen

His hands are inside his pockets, his eyes blinking every once a while he himself not moving in the slightest.

He doesn't make any sound either

Ichika currently wearing slightly dirty attire which was caused by the earlier combat, his aunt shiori is preparing his new clothes, currently anxiousness spread through his entire body as he waiting for arrival of the morning

"Ikkun?"

Ichika feel a soft hand on his left shoulder.

Ichika turned his head to his left side and he sees familiar rabbit woman staring at him in concern

Ichika put an earnest smile on his face as he trying to ease tabane concerns, he could see her concern for him as she look at his eyes, Ichika realize that the current him could discover some subtle hints from girl far more easily than before. And contrary to his previous self he now could think before act and not as impulsive as he was before be it during training or combat

Ichika knows that there is still too much to learn about his [Reiki], however after he learned that charlotte's father has been killed few hours ago he has decided to put other matters beside him. Currently he is focusing on one specific thing which is to meet his friends in france as soon as possible

In his mind Ichika imagine himself consoling Charlotte

"Tabane."

Ichika places his right hand over Tabane's hand on his left shoulder

For a few moments they look at each other and soaking themselves in each other presence

"I'm surprised you are already awake, if she's here I am sure that she would tell you to return back to your bed by now. I suppose you shouldn't have come here on your own accord Ikkun?" Tabane devilishly smile as she imagined herself punishing Ichika for disobeying.

Ichika know who exactly Tabane was talking about, previously when he converse with his aunt, She has suggested that he and the others to get some rest for the day

Of course at first Ichika wasn't sure to get some rest as his mind was worried about charlotte and he want to go to france to console her as soon as he can but after few convincing from his aunt…

He complied.

"Yes, she did tell me to get some rest but I come here because I want to and of course I cannot fall asleep during in this situation." Ichika watch the holographic image of rotating earth in front of him

"So, you can't sleep because one of your harem members in trouble huh? ~ If I went through similar trouble, you would do the same thing for me right Ikkun? ~" Tabane's shows a charming and yet creepy smile to ichika's spine

Ichika isn't sure why tabane use the word 'harem' but he has no other choice but to sigh

"First things first, im not sure about you used the word harem and I think it was an incorrect word to use and secondly of course I will come and visit you without hesitation if that things happen to you too..."

Ichika doesn't has a very active imagination and he doesn't want to imagine the horrifying scene but he know what kind crazy behavior Tabane do and has done, and personally he doesn't want to see Her cry

He could imagine Tabane actually locking herself in her room for days

That kind of scene is actually something that he could imagine. He could see tabane would do exactly that

In a sense Tabane was like an angel as she could let her mind and heart to heal from any traumatic problems

However on another side, she could be like a devil as she could allow her body to suffer some bad treatments like not eating, sleeping or cleaning herself

"Thank you Ikkun..."

Tabane remove her hand from ichika's shoulder as she wraps her arms around him. Tabane place her head on the right side of Ichika's shoulder

On the Holographic screen in front of him, Ichika could see several countries that were shown on the screen such as United Kingdom, Spain, and France and so on. Each of the countries are still filled with countless lives. And for in some countries in the different parts of the world, the time zones for those countries are completely different with other countries. As he looking at the screen Ichika wonder what is the current time in france

For Ichika and the rest of people of Japan 4 AM is pretty late, Ichika knew the time zones between Japan and france were only around 5-7 hour difference.

"Tabane, Do you know when my aunt scheduled time for me and the others to leave for france?"

"Actually the scheduled time was in a few hours from now, approximate Three hours from now but since Ikkun already wake up those few hours will arrive slowly!" Tabane answers ichika question while giggling as she closed her eyes and enjoying the close contact between her and ichika

"You know, you look cute even without wearing those rabbit ears... you should remove that once in a while."

"Eh?"

"Hm?" apparently Ichika didn't think much when he said his earlier compliments

"T-Thank y-you Ikkun."

Tabane slightly blushing as she looking down to avoid Ichika eyes which looking at her, while she feel her heart pounding

"No problem, you look different from the usual looks that I already used to see, I like your current looks but I also like to see your usual looks with those bunny ears too. It was a very 'Tabane' like for me."

"O-Oh..."

"Anyway, what are you currently doing? I completely forget to ask that..." Ichika feel stupid for not asking earlier

"O-Oh, that's right! I was planning to sleep next beside you in your room but you were nowhere to be found so I did an 'Ikkun hunt!', then there was a a big surprise when I found Ikkun staring at this screen!"

"Well I was already awoke an hour ago and since I can't fall sleep again so-Wait, you want to did WHAT?!"

"No, Nothin much~ I just want to sleep with Ikkun and measure the 'thing' that I love~!"

"Ichika?"

"Woah woah wait, I can't just let you measure it!"

"Waaaaaah!? Why not Ikkun? I have already seen it during in its best form!"

"Ichika!"

"That's not the point!"

"Come On Ikkun! Pleeeeeeeeeeease….I'll do anything~"

"Ichika!"

Without any warning, the young man has been jolted awake from his sleep as his eyeballs almost bulging out from his eyes, Ichika is unable to hide his surprise as multiple young and beautiful girls are standing around him in concern

Houki put her arm on his right shoulder while Rin staring at him in concern alongside Aila, Laura, Shinobu, Madoka and Sakura. Their eyes keep on staring at his now awaken form as ichika stared the girls back, he look at the girls one by one as he still half awake. As he tries to properly awake his mind still remember the memory of his last encounter with tabane before he left the base with the girls earlier this morning

During their way to the France by the plane, its seems ichika has involuntarily fallen asleep, tiredness is his greatest enemy as unlike himself the other girls are completely awake

"H-Hey girls..."

Ichika wryly smile as the surrounding become silent

"..."

"..."

"..."

The girls are briefly glancing at each other for few seconds before they look back at him, from Ichika's perspective they are analyzing him. The seventeen years old boy doesn't know how does he break the awkward silence.

He is literally trapped in the corner of the plane

Ichika looks outside the plane and he could see that the plane has landed on the ground. There is a long runway that stretched for miles with tall hills alongside countless trees.

"Ichika, you seem tired" Houki looks at him in worry

"Honestly, you should look after yourself better!" rin seems pouting as she put both her hands on her waist

"Senpai, you need to get more sleep..." sakura put her right hand on her chest in concern as she softens her feature

"Ichika-dono, sleep is very important; there are bags under your eyes and it a sign of tiredness..." Shinobu shoot her words in rapid-fire as she clench both her hands in front of her big breast while her eyes spinning

"Wife! How about you get some rest first? And then we can visit the others later!" laura loudly exclaimed

"...rest" Aila softly speak in concern despite not showing any expression on her face

"Ichika-nii how much sleep did you get last night?" for once madoka openly worrying for ichika

Ichika releases a sigh, he realize that he's in a pinch when even his little sister has a say for his sleep deprivation, he touches the bottom of his eyes and he realize he got eye bags, he wonder if they look noticeable as he slowly drag his finger across the soft surface

'Oh boy...'

When ichika want to make excuses for the ladies in front of him, his mind suddenly turn blank, literally nothing come to his mind for him to make excuses

Ichika slightly rub the back of his head and lightly stretches his body, the young man realize that his leg feel numb because he has fallen asleep in uncomfortable position, which is kind of annoy him because he has an urge to stand and take a walk around

"Hey, girls? Can you please move back a little? I need to stand..." Ichika said with a slight frown

Without any words houki and sakura take few big steps backward as they are the one that standing nearest to chika while the other girls also slightly take back step

After the girls moved, ichika use his arm chair to lift himself, his feet feels slightly odd as he take a few minor steps to regain his bearing, it's has been quite some time since he sleep in horrible position and feeling stiff like he just did

"Hmmmm..."

"What's wrong Ichika?"

Houki crosses her arms and raises her eyebrows at her childhood friend.

"I feel really stiff, not just that but I has sleep in awkward position."

Ichika hold his calf as he rub his leg, trying to make his leg feel comfortable for walking again, after few seconds he feel more awake and his legs also feel better though his leg muscle fatigue still there

"Well if y-"

FSSSSSSSH!

Before Rin could finish her words, she is quickly interrupted by the sound of the door being opened, the noise from the plane door is loud enough to gain the group attention, as they look at the door they know they could leave the plane and reunited with their other friends. Ichika wonders whether the door was being opened automatically or manually and whether there is someone that waiting for the group outside

To appease His curiosity, ichika slightly bend down his tired leg and glance outside through the window and he sees nobody outside.

Ichika slowly back down and look at the girls

"Well….girls, do any of you know the way to Charlotte's Home?"

(Scene Change)

Mizuha Jiorocho currently is in a deep thought.

She pressing her pen against one page in her journal as she fluidly writes without even stopping to think about the topic she currently writes as her eyes keep on moving between each letter she has written

Mizuha currently is inside her own office at the 6th floor of Tokyo government center, two floors above the floor that in over two month ago has hosted the interview with Ichika orimura, Mizuha has been seriously looking about his information before and now she become even more curious about him. She feels that she has been missing something obvious about that young man

On her left side there is a single piece of paper that contain ichika orimura answers for the questions she has asked him before

She remembers the day on previous two month as if it was yesterday. They has pretty much gotten some basic information from the interview, and both Mizuha and her partner decide to give the boy a break

It seems that decision was a mistake, until this day she still has many questions she want to ask to the boy

If talking about Ichika orimura, there are still some question marks left about him. Like his family and some people around him, the perfect example is his older sister Chifuyu Orimura. Every time mizuha saw chifuyu in the news she become furious because for some reason Chifuyu bear resemblances with one of the girls that have caused her suffering several years ago

The suffering has stopped eventually and those girls has caused some chaos before they dissapear

"It seems like you are busy."

A familiar figure appears in her room doorway carrying a steaming cup

"I'm just comparing my notes."

Mizuha gives a simple and vague reply before returning her attention back to writing

Jio laugh slightly as he walk to the empty chair in front of Mizuha, he places the cup for mizuha on the table and sit down on the chair

"Notes huh? What kind of notes?" Jio become curious

"I was writing a few things about Ichika Orimura, whether or not he was involved in the Attack on the Tachibana clan." Mizuha stop writing and put her pen down

"Did you consider him being a driving force for that Attack...?"

"No, from the source I have in Osaka, it seems Orimura Ichika was in the location purely by chance. He happened to be in there because they have mentioned that he and some IS academy students were attending a gala with some influential families before he being involved in the battle."

"I have heard about that case, there are some rumors that said the Dunois family in France got attacked too"

"I know about that, I have another information source in France that has gathering some information and investigating that matter. However the Attacks on the tachibana clan are my main focus."

"Well, when the case is involving the only male IS pilot, you often pushing the majority to the sideline" Jio shake his head lightly as he laugh

"That is not what I am talking about." Mizuha shake her head

"It's not?"

"I'm just comparing the notes about the incident two month ago, the one when ichika orimura disappear from this building, I using some information from incident two month ago, the incident before that and this latest incident." Mizuha push her chair back and opening a drawer beside her

"Do you found something?" Jio releases a sigh as he wonders who ichika really is

"Not really, actually I have compiled the list of the notes which if you like you can take a look, but I will tell you this fact, he was involved during inter youth incident, he has disappeared during the red moon in the sky, and now in this latest attack, he also involved." Mizuha said her thoughts as she briefly look at the morning sky outside the window.

"I am actually pretty confused, what are you trying to say?" Jio confusedly looks at mizuha

"Perhaps these attacks are happened with Ichika orimura as the source. As you know there is some dangerous people that targeting him, they will do anything to get him, ruining the events which he attends, causing some problem to him, where he would overcome them….it was as if they were testing him."

"..."

After hearing Mizuha's words Jio start to think about those matters that she just said. She has said few good points and it seems they won't get any satisfactory result in short time

"This is my personal opinion but I believe that I have seen enough proofs and facts from all of these cases. I think whoever caused these problems, they were doing it for Ichika orimura and its looks like they know him too well..."

Mizuha's widening eyes as there is something clicked in her mind as if she has just put together a puzzle

'Orimura Ichika, are you related to the Itsuka's? if I just know you were, all of these would make sense...'

Mizuha release a breath and push the documents that she has put together to Jio who briefly looking the document

"These attackers know about Ichika orimura huh? Oh boy..." Jio put a palm on his face

"Read the file and give me your opinion about it, this is purely a speculation and I expect for you to keep it just between us…..understand?" Mizuha's starred dagger to Jio

"Y-Yes M'am!"

Jio immediately comply to ensure that the wrath of Mizuha won't befall him

Jio immediately picking up the file as fast as he could and scramble to the door, leaving a confused Mizuha alone, she raises her eyebrow after seeing Jio scaredy cat nature, she is half amused and half annoyed at his antics

'Well, the truth is yet to be told...'

Mizuha turn her swivel chair to the windows and see the perfect view of the City below her. The sun light blinding her eyes as hundreds people in the city below her doing their daily routine, leaving Mizuha to think about the stuff that going to come in the future and something that just begin

The mysteries are left in the air...

Her soulless and curious eyes keep on watching the scenery below here while her mind is being perplexed. Where should she do next? where should she go from here?

(Scene Change)

A long blonde haired woman wearing a one piece dress is standing in the middle of a long hallway, beside her is a table with a retro style telephone which she used to communicate with someone else

The hallways are long enough to have multiple doorways which led to different rooms. On the lfet side of the hallway is a large glass window that overlooks a nearby field owned by the Dunois family, that place has been cared by the Dunois Family servants. If there is anybody that walks pass the window and look over to the field they could see several Dunois family workers working

The odd mansion walls add some unique feature of the buildings, several white boxes on the bottom half of the wall are merge with dark shade of red in unique patterns, on the contrary there are some candles that placed few meters apart from each other, though they are not lit because the sun still shines

The sun light is bright enough to light every corner of the mansion

With the exceptions for the room that are closed

"I know honey, my adorable niece needs someone to look after her, currently she is not in the right mind, and she's been depressed ever since her father had been…."

The blonde woman is Claire, she stop talking before she mutters her final words

Unknown to the older woman, there is a familiar figure with clear blue eyes and long light brown hair tied as two braided pigtails which hanging on her front

She has a sad smile on her face as she approach the older woman

" Im sure you understand my point, she is not herself now and she has spent the rest of the night alone in her room, I don't trust her in her current state of mind, so I will be staying for a few nights to take care of her." From the corner of her eyes Claire has noticed the figure of her niece friend. She knows the girl even before she met her face to face for the first time; this young girl is a famous idol and her daughter also idolized this girl.

'Ah, so it is about Charlotte-senpai.'

Emelia Morreti standing still like a statue as she comprehend the topic of Charlotte's aunt phone call

"Of course honey, well I have to go now."

Claire keep on nodding for few seconds, seems understanding what her husband saying from on the other line, at least Emelia could tell that much

The young girl bid her time and waiting for Claire to finish her phone call

"I love you too."

Claire vaguely smile and put the phone down, she closes her eyes while leaning on the table

CLIIIIICK!

The telephone clicked as it placed in its place which end the call between Claire and her husband

"Thank you..." Claire turns her head towards Emelia.

"There is no need to thank me! I didn't do much! Really!" Emelia waves her hands and tried to dismiss Claire's grateful attitude

"You haven't yet, but I know that you and charlotte will be good friends in the near future, well the others girls will too and I'm just glad Charlotte has gotten many great friends." Claire standing up straight and look over the younger girl.

"I...I-"

"Just bear with Charlotte, be patient with her. She can be a hard work at times but she's turning into an amazing woman, as for now you know she's currently being deeply hurt..."

Emelia nod her head while making a sad smile. Claire stares down and lean against the wall

"….I understand."

"Hmm no, you actually don't. Charlotte and her father have a weird relationship. Everyone that has eyes can see their strained relationship, it was strained by everything they been through in the past, however deep down they still care and love each other. More than you or I or even anyone could know."

"If this Charlotte senpai that we are talking about, she will overcome this" Emelia lightly smile

"Of course she will. She always able to overcome stuff like this and become better, her mother also the same during all those years ago….honestly, how much time has passed since then..."

After seeing Charlotte growing up ever since she still a baby, Claire has seen some parts that Charlotte has which also resemble her mother's

"Charlotte senpai's mother huh?"

"Yes... My niece has so many qualities that make me remember her mother, her determination on the stuff she has set her mind in, her smile during her time of happiness, all those things make me remember her mother."

"..."

Clare looks at the Clock which is neatly place at the wall, she is checking the time before she realize something

"Well I would love to talk about her mom and all but I think we need to cut our conversation short Emelia, how about you go get my niece and the others for breakfast? I'll cook something nice for everyone!" Claire brightly Smile

"Ah! You don-"

"Please! I insist! After all you girls are still growing so you need to eat as much as you can!" Claire ruffles Emelia's hair, while Emelia is getting caught off guard by the sudden affection from Charlotte's Aunt. Although she doesn't mind the gesture at all

"O-Ok..."

Claire Brightly smiles and see turn her head and look at the nearby stairs, her mind currently thinking about what she should cook for the girls

'Now... What should I make for these girls ...? I have so many different foods that I can cook but I still struggling to choose ...'

Claire is busy wondering on what she should cook while Emelia blankly look at the older woman, she wonders what happened to the charlotte aunt this early morning

'Well, that is kinda odd...'

After remain frozen in few seconds, Emelia relaxes her body and return to reality