A/N: It's been a while but I'm back lol, some minor things have changed since I last wrote my proper chapter, ideas have changed, the way I write has changed a little due to a break in all. Things are still going through changes so chapters will be produced quicker and slower throughout this year it's hard to call but I will always be writing in some shape or form.

Life is a crazy man and I do apologize if sometimes I have to go a while for a chapter but like every 19 year old in the world, I'm trying to sort my life out lol. This story may take a while to finish but these things are happening so don't worry. I'll be here for a while lol.

Anyway enjoy the chapter lol

Original story by Imherepresent.

Chapter 218: Tidal Change.

8:31 AM, Paris, France.

Her brief conversation with her friend Emelia has left a small smile on her face. They have beentalking for few minutes after she has been woken up from her slumber and find Emelia in her room about to wake her up, she catch up with the younger girl and they talked about various different things that the two could talk openly. Although their conversation was not long in the slightest, it has left a smile onCharlotte face as she gain more and more resolveto face the day head-on.

The sun beaming down on the large mansion where the group currently stay, because the long and desolate hallways are empty and have no curtains to block out the light, Charlotte could feel the sun shine beaming on her face as she make her way down the hallway in her pajamas.

The day is as bright and sunny as the pajamas that she wears. It has the light pink color with panda faces spread across the pajamas.

It has been few days since the passing of her father, the gnawing feeling left in her stomach was still there and it won't going away anytime soon, Charlotte herself know that the heavy feeling on her heart and that she would feel it for a long time. But Charlotte want to remain positive, the gentle reminder that her friends has been there for her has made her want to repay their kindness by showing them her true strength.

What is her true strength? The ability to recognize the errors and the burdens that she has been left with.

Speaking of her strength, Charlotte know that she has to quickly get back to training as she has spent more than few days relaxing and resting and not training in the slightest. It left her feeling... energetic?

"Enough of this... I better go brush my teeth and get today started." Charlotte messes with her hair and let it fall over her right shoulder.

'Should I go shower or do I work out first?'

Charlotte places her hands on her hips as she wonderwhat should she do first.

"Charlotte?"

She has options for starting the day; Charlotte has used to showeringfirst then working out or working out and showering shortly after. Being experienced in doing either, she hasn't made up her mind just yet.

"Hmmmm..."

Charlotte pressdown on the buttons of the top button on her button-up pajamas and beginning to unbutton her shirt as she walkover to the hangers.

There are numerous different outfits for her to choose for the day and on her right is the bathroom that has the wall in sleek white color, Charlotte was attracted to its shines and it makes the expensive yet beautiful room become more attractive to her.

"Charlotte?"

Charlotte's mind is still at war because she still couldn't make her mind about her decisions andultimately she come to a standstill.

Unknown to the French girl, there is a figure looming over her as he/she move to place a gentle hand on her shoulder, while Charlotte keep looking and searching through the different attires she could wear today.

The hand of the person behind her got closer and closer...

Until...

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Charlotte quickly jumparound to face whoever has touched her shoulder as she facereality.

With her heart rate accelerate a little bit Charlotte took few moments to breathe while she lookup and down at the familiar face she has known since become a student of IS academy. She knows his face and figure from anywhere.

"You okay?" A gentle hand remainsfirm on her shoulder as she look up to him.

"I-I'm fine, I-I was in a deep thought and I didn't hear you come into my room... Speaking of which... You know it's bad to enter a woman's room whenever you feel like it right!?" Charlotte narrowher eyes at him and change her expression to a rather stern look that was all too familiar for Ichika.

Charlotte couldn't help but to be concerned at Ichika's unawareness of how it could be if he enter someone else room without permission.

"Sorry! I did knock multiple times but you neve- Oh my god..." Ichika's expression quickly change from an apologetic to a surprised expression, Charlotte is currently unaware for the reason behind it.

Ichika remain as still as a statue.

"? What's wrong?" Charlotte gets a little closer, her eyebrow-raising in response.

'What the hell is happening all of a sudden and why won't he look at me...? Do I have something on my face?'

Charlotte lean forward and Ichika turned his sight elsewhere as he try to avoid the sight and the thought of the very thing that made him blush, something that has he run through his head like a tape for multiple times.

"U-U-Um Charlotte? Your breasts!"

STRIKE ONE!

"Eh?"

Charlotte back off, lookdown and she quickly realize what the current issue at hand is.

Her flat and smooth stomach is visible as an eye candy for the person she considers as both her friend and the man she dearly love. Her ample breasts stuck out like a sore thumb as Ichika could see half of both her breasts. Not only is that but her red lacy panties strap lines from her pants visible to his eye.

Charlotte quickly coverher chest area with her left hand and the bottom half with her right hand.

"S-S-Sorry!" Charlotte blushes as she apologizes.

"N-No! Please don't apologize! You are completely right! I shouldn't have just entered a-anyway!" Ichika tries to put all the blame on himself.

"UUUUUUUUUUUU!"

Charlotte flop to the ground In embarrassment, unable to stand any longer and unaware of what should she do from here on out, the embarrassment she got due to the the man she love seeing her body have sent her mind all over the place.

"H-Hey..." Ichika almost turn around.

"Why does it have to be now of all times... he saw my breasts and knows the color my underwear ..." Charlotte speaks her mind out loud for Ichika to hear.

"D-D-Don't worry! It's not like I haven't seen what boobs look like b-before!" Ichika tries to comfort Charlotte.

STRIKE TWO!

...

...

"Oh?" Although it was short, the aura he feelsfrom Charlotte has changeddrastically.

Ichika's eyes widen as he wonder ifhe has dug a hole for himself, the aura from his dear friend had considerably changed and he could feel the glare she gives him which unlike anything he ever feel before.

"Huh... You've been looking at the othergirls'breasts then? You know what that means right?" Charlotte standing up, no longer caresto cover herself as her eyes turn hollow.

Ichika couldn't help but feel that he has landed on a huge landmine.

"W-W-Well..." Ichika struggle to speak as Charlotte pull him forward by his shirt.

"Well, what? Are you hiding something?"

"N-No! I had to look away because if I-I-I had gotten a better view I would have been..." Ichika doesn't know how to say to Charlotte that the sight of her glorious body had made him somewhat…..Excited.

"Would have been what?" Ichika couldn't help but feel like he is being interrogated.

"E-Excited? Your body is... nice to look at?" Ichika know that he is not good for giving compliments.

Charlotte remaincompletely still for few moments as she allow her mind to process what Ichika has just said and she completely forgot the part that he had mentioned about seeing other girls' bodies before.

"Charlotte?"

Ichika watched as her mouth openslightly as an attempt to speak.

"..."

"Charlotte?"

The french maiden remain silent as she stare at Ichika with a blank expression.

Seconds passed by which for Ichika has felt like a long time.

"UUUUUU..."

Charlotte quickly collapseonce more, however because Ichika is so close to her, he able to catch her by her waist.

'Ahhhhhhhhhh... he said he gets excited with my body...'

Charlotte is in a state of happiness and bliss at the thought of Ichika find her body attractive, it made her glad and proud that she has put so much work to keep herin shape as the man she lovehasacknowledged everything about her.

The blonde girl remains in Ichika's arms as she coversher face and blush like a maniac. Ichika who also blushing and surprised by the beet red Charlotte, hold her in his arms without knowing what should he do as he lookat her.

"C-Charlotte?"

Ichika regret for walking into Charlotte's room, the boy wish he has gotten one of the girls to do it instead or let Charlotte to come down at her own pace. She was already up so he wishhe could let her do her own thing. Ichika mentally tortured himself while scratching the side of his cheek. His expression is as composed as he could be while his inner feelings and thoughts are going into overdrive.

Ichika notice that his body is heating a little. His cheeks felt warm and turning red with the inside of his mouth become dryer.

"Y-Yes..?"

"I-I...I..." Ichika tries to splutter out the words he wantto say to no avail.

"I-Ichika... This i-is embarrassing..." Ichika let out a steady breath and nod at her as he let her go. Charlotte does the same as she stands with her own two feet once more.

"T-This is embarrassing for me to..." Ichika lower his head slightly as he triesto avoid direct eye contact.

"Ahem!"

"!"

"!"

The shocked Ichika and the blushing Charlotte turn their sight around to the doorway with surprised expressions as they are caught off guard by someone that has been watching them. Her light blue shoulder-length hair stood out like a sore thumb. Her Chesire cat-like grin on her face as she looks like she has caught something interesting in the headlights.

"What do we have here~?" Tatenashi Sarashiki step forward few measly steps and place both of her hands around Ichika's neck.

"Hey!"

Charlotte's jealousy starts to grow more and more for each passing second.

"I want some of this action to you know?" Tatenashi wink at Charlotte.

"Get off him!"

"Katana! What are you doing?!"

"Hey! Play nice Ichika-kun!"

(Scene Change)

06:41AM, Japan.

Her head felt like spinning.

The ceiling above her has a chess-like pattern, a dark brown color in one small box, and orange color in the other box next to it. In the delirious mind of Sakuya Tachibana, she watches on as her tired worn out eyes see something happening that was not there. Sakuya knows even in her worst state, she knows the room she currently sleeping in like the back of her thumb, she could describe it down to every little detail.

Her mind hasn't caught up with her yet as she stareaimlessly at the ceiling, waiting for all of the spinning of the ceiling to stop and for her senses to kick back into place.

"Ugh..."

Her heavy eyes turnto one of the lanterns which hanging in the air on each side of the room and in her field of view. They are not being lightup and the room is enclosingin the darkness except for a small gap of light coming from the room entrance.

'The lanterns aren't on... Where is this light...Coming...From?'

The matriarch of the Tachibana clan doesn't dare to move yet, her mind workagainst her even if she doesn't wantto; her body hasn't joined her mindto the land of living yet.

The older woman could feel everything. The feeling of the soft quilt placeover her body as her right hand tightly grasping the fabric. The rough texture of straw floor in her room. It was the very same feeling she has been felt since she still a kid and it was something that she has gotten useto so much.

Her body remains numb as she thought drearily.

Sakuya keep on thinking... Her mind tries to comprehend how she could arrive in her bedroom without her knowledge.

Perhaps she was brought in to her room by her family members?

'Why can't I remember anything? What's happened? Who's the one that bring me to my room?'

Her mind was as cloudy as the sky outside her home, the colorful blue skies clouded by the grey clouds that covering the sun. Her hands move under the silky covers as she feels her body.

"Good..."

Sakuya touch the hems of her Kimono and feel her clothing is still intact.

Her tired mind begins to slightly wake up as she sits up from the comfort of her sleeping position. Rubbing her tired eyes, Sakuya let her sleepy mind go blank as she adjust to sitting position and in the throes of completely waking up.

Her body felt stiff and yet rejuvenated...

"!"

It feels like a surge of energy that almost spread throughout her nimble body. Sakuya couldn't help but to feel free from the very chamber that has held her down in the past.

Her dreamy eyes look towards the scarred palm of her worn down hands she which she has used for many years. Scars on each of her hand and blisters from her training which she has gotten from holding wooden sword for practices. Like many others, Sakuya has dedicated herself to training and making sure she is at her peak condition at all costs.

After all, she doesn't know when she would face a dangerous enemy... Like them.

For a long time she has been one of the many families that opposed the threat of the infamous Orimura clan. Since she was young girl Sakuya has feared and hate the Orimura clan with passion, especially since they were the very family who introduce Izanagi Orimura to the world and at the same time has take him from it.

Or so she thought Sakuya get up to her feet.

For a very long time, she has thought that Izanagi has passed away and it left a big hole in her heart alongside her comrades in arms that she has known since childhood.

'The scar...'

Everything begins to change with the emergence of the heir of Orimura clan.

The arrival of Ichika Orimura as a public figure has begun to become widely know far after he becomesthe student of IS academy. Sakuya has taken the liberty of doing a thorough investigation for the teenager's background. As if she has expected his origins were relatively unknown but even so...

Sakuya know things are going to change again. Not that she particularly mindof course, her own obsession for Izanagi's son has become her interest over few years ago.

And then during a battle not long ago she has found the fact that the man she loved is still alive.

Their last meeting was bittersweet.

But now?

It was like she has been chasing the old ghost from her past and she has finally caught up with them and confront them head on without an ounce of fear. It was as if Izanagi was a titan and resurging one last time for his own reasons that were unknown to her.

"It's healed..."

Sakuya stares in amazement as she looks ather own self in the mirror; the very scar on her shoulder was healed.

The very scar that has weakened her and preventsto be at her best condition has gone... it feels like a huge load has been lifted from her shoulders, the burdens she was forced to carry for many years which caused by her battle with one of the Orimura sisters. Or to be specific her battle with Shizuka Orimura

The very scar that has been dealt withis a representation of her past and the acknowledgment of the ghosts she often thought. The matter of the scar being gone was something she laughed at before.

But now? What does it represent?

A new era...?

Or perhaps..

It is something that she hasn't understood yetAnd Regardless of that, Sakuya doesn't know what kind of future that her current path leads to.

"Okaa-sama!"

Sakuya slightly turn her head and look towards the door that led to outside, her youngest twin daughter Sayuri sitting on a wheelchair in front of the door with a smile on her face as she look at her. The mother feels relieved to see her daughter in one piece, especially since what has happened with her elder daughter and her friends. She herself had seen glimpses of the battle that rained down on her own territory as she watched her elder daughter fight alongside her friends.

She was glad that her daughter has made some good friends, especially with the son of the man she dearly loved. She roots for Sakura's love with that boy as she herself did not get to see her own love come to light.

"I'm glad to see you alright." Although her words were short, Sakuya mean it with good intentions.

"You too, Okaa-sama." Sakuya watch as Sayuri smile at her.

Her last few days' memories slowly returned to Sakuya in few minutes, she remembers watching her older daughter interact with Ichika Orimura and the other students inside an underground base where Tabane Shinonono resides alongside Shiori Orimura.

After seeing such chaotic battle she hasn't had much time to check on her younger daughter and the nearby clan members. Nonetheless she is glad that things have settled down in a relative normal state.

Or so she hopes anyway.

"How many days has it been since the attack?" Sakuya release a breath before she made up her mind.

"A few days now, everything has happened so fast when that rabbit woman passesa message about you that you are in good hands and receiving 'care' while we were left waiting..." Sayuri trails behind her as Sakuya walk out her bedroom and enter the next room.

"I assume, during the time I have gone that everything has gotten back into place? No uproar? No violence in our clan?" Sakuya turn her head towards the side and head for the exit.

"Arara it is exactly as you would expect! Okaa-sama, Ufufu!~"Sayuri answer her mother question as she put her left hand over her mouth while giggling

Outside Sakuya's main quarter is a lovely pond in the middle of the building with many prosperous signs of life. Around it is a small garden adorned with a tree and some flowers and the pathway that led into various direction of Tachibana Clan home.

The mother dislikes the way her daughter gigglesas she told her about the Clan situation.

"Well, nonetheless the procedures will have to be put in place to stop another attack like this from happening again, alongside introduction of few other ideas."

"Other ideas, Okaa-sama?"

Sakuya swiftly nod as she open the wooden door and let it slide on her side.

"Many years ago way before I was born, our descendant named Makato Tachibanahas said 'An one-man army is possible if you know how to use the ghosts and fears of your enemies against them.', For a long time our Clan were thought that she was meant to use the enemy's past against them, until we discoversome document which describe her for using her own enemies weapons against them."

"Ara..." Sakuya could sense the curiosity burning from Sayuri

"I'll tell you more about it on another time."

Sakuya turn her eyes and mind elsewhere as she prepared to return back to work, the duties of the Matriach of Tachibana clan are getting closer on Sakuya's list of priorities.

She has been inactive for quite some time and now she yearn to once more take full control. She knows that Sayuri and the other family members would look after the clan when she's inactive...

Regardless of that, she still wishes to take back her position.

(Scene Change)

2:17PM, Kyoto, Pāji (Abandoned Home of the 24th Patriarch.)

"What even is this place? It's giving me the creeps..." A familiar blue-haired woman step forward alongside with the other women.

"An old training ground used by Orimura's up to the twenty fourth-generation, such as your infamous great grandfather and his brothers who were in a short time was slaughtered by your grandfather." ShizukaOrimura pushes open the doorway which led to the training ground which surrounded by many old and rusted swords lay to rest.

"Okay... so why are we even here in the first place? Training? Or perhaps do you have an ulterior motive behind all of this?" Saya ask as she walks through the door with her hands on her hips.

Shizuka close her eyes and wishthat her nieces and daughters would be quiet.

"An emergency meeting, you can call it." Shizuka walk past the dojo as the floor creaked.

"Emergency meeting?"

"What has happened for an 'emergency meeting' to be called?"

Chigusa and Chiasa impose themselves on the conversation with questions to their green-haired aunt as they were led to a place without their knowledge. Shizuka remained calm and composed as she open a wooden door on her left. The floorboards below her sound like they could snap any minute from now.

Shizuka and the sisters kept that in mind due to how old the training ground and their home were.

The green-haired matriarch ignore the prodigy's cries for answers and walk to the feral and rotten room where a skeleton wearing a kimono was laid on the ground with a sword impaled into its chest, it was clearly from when the person had been alive.

A figure that they are familiar with is looming over the skeleton turn her sight towards the prodigies and Shizuka.

"You are late."

Her eerie voice spoken in demanding tone as her fearsome eyes glow for few seconds.

"Sorry."

"My apologies."

"I am sorry."

"Sorry?"

Some of the prodigies speak out apologies while the rest and Shizuka remain silent. They are unwilling to apologize but instead they are focused on finding out why they were brought to another abandoned home ground of the past Orimura. Especially Chiasa who seem keen on the idea to explore as she take everything in, from the broken windows to the books and bookshelves loitered on the floor.

Izanam is tanding up and loom tall with her devilish aura surrounded her entire body which makes herself look entirely like a beast as she turn her focus to the prodigies and Shizuka.

"Rest assured there is a perfectly good reason that all of you have been brought here by Shizuka today." Izanami look at each of the prodigies for a brief moment one at a time.

"Indeed." Shizuka also speak out as she walks over to her sister.

"I wish for each of you to suggest something valuable for the creation of an upcoming present. Your little brother's birthday is coming up soon and for his eighteenth birthday I would like to give him something very special." Izanami explain.

This realization has caused the prodigies to think deeply for a while.

"If it is something you would like to give for him then I would suggest that you are the one that come up with it, after all it will be more valuable to Ichika if the gift given to him is the one that you created," Chigusa speak with a serious tone as she look over her mother.

For once Izanami is silent as she realizesthat her daughter for some degree is right. She knows too well her value in her son's heart and something valuable that she create by herself would bring much joy to herself and her son. His eighteenth birthday is enough to make her feel old and yet it doesn't bother herin the slightest.

Unknowingly a small smile creeping on her face.

"Very well then, I assume that the rest of you have your own ideas for Ichika's birthday? After all, it's approaching much quicker than I imagined." Izanami sit on the old and rusty chair behind her in middle of the room.

"Cooking."

"A portrait of me and Ichika loving each other..."

"A special sword that has a small glass container full of my blood so we are never be apart."

"I want to give him the old photo book we created together..."

"I want to be able to make everything Ichika desires come true..."

"Make him clothes that will suit him."

Each of the prodigies give out their ideas on what their presents for Ichika's birthday would be like. It gives Izanami a foundation of what would her present would be as she deeply thinks. Not just her but Shizuka also thinking about what she could do for her nephew birthday present. She yearns for more knowledge of what Ichika like these days, an idea occurs to her which is by asking her younger sister Shiori.

"I would need to ask your aunt Shiori's advice for any further information about this. All the power in the world and I still can't find a way to buy some time to see what my son is interested in." Izanami standing up and made up her mind on what she would do next.

"Perhaps it's also necessary to visit Chifuyu?" Shizuka turn to her older sister who also does the same to her.

Before Izanami could get her words out, Misaki decide to speak.

"When I was spending time with Ichika just before Chi-Tsuki happened, during a swimming pool trip I read one of those... magazines or whatever the piece of trash is called about 'the way to a boy's heart is through delicious food." Misaki bring up the topic of food.

The matriarchs give it a few seconds thought before they and the prodigies turn to Misaki.

"Are you suggesting we should cook something delicious for Ichika?" Izanami ask the question that on everyone's mind.

"Ichika is a growing boy and having delicious foods given to him by his family will go a long way. So yes." Misaki doesn't understand why she is so willing to share her cooking idea with her family.

She wonders whether or not it has something to do with Ichika.

'He always makes me... act up in ways I would never do around anyone else, even now. Ichika...'

Izanami does like the idea the more she thinksabout it. The precious image of her cooking food for her son and seeing the image of him enjoying the food she made is enough to bring a satisfied smile at the end of her imagination.

"That does sound like a good idea... What do you think, dear sister?" Izanami turn to the tired green-haired sister of hers.

"I don't mind, although what would we cook for him?" Shizuka rub her tired eyes.

"A mixture." Misaki shortly reply.

"Okay, we understand that you want us to cook a mixture but exactly what type of mixture?" Chigusa glare at her pink-haired sister.

"Out there, there is a common practice to celebrate one's birthday by baking a homemade cake for the birthday person and alongside the cake there are also several side dishes served for the birthday person and his guests for the birthday celebration." Misaki push her glasses up and cracked her knuckles.

"So we would split into teams and prep the dishes beforehand?" Chisaya confusedly place her hands on her hips.

"Yes." Misaki reply shortly.

"There are a couple of problems that we have forgotten." Saya let out a sigh.

"?"

"?"

"?"

Saya notice that she receives some looks from her sisters and the curious expression from her aunts.

"Ichika is on the outside, if we want to celebrate his birthday with him then firstly we would need to find a fitting place to host his birthday party and to stop those insects he calls 'friends'." Saya narrow her eyes. Saya's aunt Shizuka could see her niece's point.

"While his upcoming birthday is of the most importance, don't forget as his sisters his birthday is not only meant as a celebration day with my son." The gleam in Izanami's eyes made the prodigies become even more confused.

"Are you scheming something?" Chigusa narrow her eyes in a devious manner.

"Indeed. What I will say is things will get certainly become more interesting from here... ufufufu!" Izanami let out a wicked laugh as Shizuka tiredly stares her older sister.

"You may want to ask aunt Shioriopinion for all of this. Especially with the fact that Ichika has yet to figure out who his mother really is." Chiasa push her glasses up and hold her left arm with her right hand.

"The talks about what will happen next are already underway." Izanami feels that she was quickly becoming bored.

"Oh?"

Chisaya smile as she put her hands on her hips.

"Ichika is becoming more mature and much stronger in a quick paceand it's only a matter of time until he becomes the man we all expected him to be." Izanami imagine her son's future and become excited.

"I think you have it wrong...mother." Chigusa cross her arms and challenge Izanami.

The room fell silent as the mother and daughter (Izanami and Chigusa) has a stare-off contest with each other, the tension zapping off between them like a broken fuse.

"How so?" Izanami steadying her voice as she tries to remain calm.

"My dear little brother is already the man we want him to be. Yes, he is a little rough around the edges and still need a lot to work but I believe he already has become the man we all expected him to be. You just haven't seen it for yourself yet." As much as Izanami want to argue with her daughter's point. She knaw she is partially correct.

Izanami briefly close her eyes before getting up to her feet.

"Perhaps you are right."

It's unlike Izanami to admit her daughter is right and it has causedseveral shocked expressions to appear on the prodigies face. Although she doesn't show it, Shizuka is also shocked. Before the girls realize it Izanami has leaned on the doorway.

"This conversation is closed for now, I am growing quite bored and I need to attend few meetings with those insects..." Izanami has her back turned the whole time as she speaks.

"Have those in our bloodline been causing problems again?" Yuuko asking the matriarch.

"You can say that." Izanami shortly disappear after she has spoken her last words.

Before the prodigies realize it Izanami Orimura aura has disappeared and it leave the daughters in slight disarray while Shizuka remain nearby, the younger sister tiredly smiled as she feel Izanami's presence quickly getting further and further away without their daughters knowledge. Shizuka wonder whether or not she should join her sister in whatever activity she is doing.

Now that she think about it...

Shizuka has no idea what her older sister up to, she has sleepily zoned out when she has been talking.

(Scene Change)

3:35PM, Tokyo City Center.

The city is beaming with life.

Everywhere you look, you could see passersby wandering back and forth to their destinations without care in the world. Some stop by local stores and do the things they need to do while they're in the city center. Not only that with the sun shines brightly on the city residents, numerous couples and children roam the streets as they passby.

A familiar figure and face roam the streets with her friends as she draw attentions to herself and her friends.

Luckily for the girls, they have worn suitable disguises as they walkwithout care in the world, although some citizens has taken notice of their attires and appearances.

"She looks familiar..."

"She is certainly a beauty alright, I wonder if she has a boyfriend?"

"Dude she would never date someone like you."

"It can't hurt a man to dream!"

Ichiko, one of the four girls that gainlot of attention from the males around them is rolling her eyes.

'Dreaming is exactly what you should be doing. Especially considering that I wouldn't just date anyone I know. Especially considering I'm...'

Ichiko stop herself short and refuse to think about that. The last thing the poor girl wants to think about is that she was someone else's clone on a trip to the city center while her original self has a home nearby. Ichika Orimura the real one. While she is merely a clone.

Or so that is what she thought for how the people would look at her.

The seventeen-year-old girl in appearance did often have some thoughts about what would the others think about her being a clone. Being the clone of one of the most famous and influential people in the world wasn't something she could outright tell.

She let out a brief sigh of disappointment.

"What's wrong? You seem glummer than usual Ichiko." The raised eyebrow of her friend Kitana is all it took to raise her head.

"It seems there's no way I can hide it from you. The idea of being a clone of someone else is becoming... annoying at very least." Ichiko let out another sigh as she navigates her eyes around the shopping district.

Valhalla and Mayu briefly look back before resuming their chat while Kitana and Ichiko continue what they're doing.

"I know how you feel, remember that I'm like in the same boat as you? I have memories of something that didn't happen to me but more than anything I choose to look at it as a blessing." Kitana briefly smiles as Ichiko look over her with curious expression.

"How you do it?" Ichiko ask Kitana.

There is a cafe just up the street from their location, a table is conveniently become free as a group of teenagers around their age left and walk in their direction. The clones walk forward quickly as they don't want the table being taken up.

"I would say it's a practice but it is not. You just have to remember who you are now and who you were are two different people." Kitana's smile grows as they got closer to the café.

'A nice leisure cup of tea sounds good right now. Perhaps some ramen before we head into the other directions too.'

The group of ladies move past the fence and walk to the seated area where many people sitting on their tables, some are having lunch and the others are drinking coffee or tea as their afternoon treat.

Valhalla and Mayu spots the table toward the back and led the other two to it.

Kitana and Ichiko sit with their backs against the wall while Valhalla and Mayu sit on the wooden chairs that lead near the pathway into the shop a few meters from them. Unlike the other two, Ichiko and Kitana sit on a rough yet cobble surface.

"I have to say it is the perfect day out today, the sun is gorgeous and everything just feels right." Valhalla lightly giggles.

"You act as if we have been out for a while?" Mayu ask rhetorically.

"We have been in the city longer than you would expect Mayu, we have to get here after all. Using public transportation and such." Ichiko quip at Mayu.

"I did suggest we use other means to come here..." Mayu let out a sigh and wave for the waitress to come over.

"No, when we are out here we are normal girls so we need to act like it if we want to be like them." Kitana raise her eyebrows before plopping down the pamphlet.

"Hello, what would you like to order from us today?"

Kitana, Ichiko, and Valhalla become surprised by the sudden arrival of the waitress as they stare blankly at her for a few seconds.

"I'll have a coffee with two extra sugars please." Mayu remain calm and give her order.

"Mhmm..." The waitress writes down her order.

"I- Well... A tea with one teaspoon of sugar and add a little bit of milk please." Ichiko give her order without putting too much thought.

"I'll have what she is having with something called 'The Almighty Sandwich meal' that you have on this." Valhalla point towards Mayu and give the pamphlet to the waitress who quickly write it down.

"A coffee too please." Kitana keep her order small.

The waitress finishes the writing and tore the piece of paper at the top as it separate it from the small booklet.

"Got it. I will be back shortly with the cost and the waiting time."

The waitress begins to walk away from their table with their order in her hand as she head inside the shop. This left the clones to sit in silence for few seconds before any of them could say a word.

"A sandwich...?" Kitana tilt her head in confusion.

"Yes?" Valhalla briefly nods.

"I thought on the train you said that you weren't very hungry and you only wanted to get a coffee?" Kitana push her more for answers.

"Ummmm I got a little hungry?" Valhalla wryly giggles as she shrinks in her seat.

"Kitana, Valhalla is not the one you should worry about when Mayu was ordering coffee added with two extra teaspoons of sugar," Ichiko smirk as she Mayu who scratch the back of her head in the spotlight.

"I like coffee?" Mayuis unsure what to say.

"But with two extra teaspoons of sugar? Wouldn't you say... that is a bit much?" Ichiko start to laugh alongside Valhalla and Kitana.

"I... really like coffee?" Mayushow an embarrassed smile.

"Just like? If you aren't careful you will become a caffeine junkie who relies on her coffee." Ichikoteases Mayu before letting out a snort.

"Isn't she already that?" Valhalla tease Mayu before turning to her friends who all let out giggles.

"I'm not! I just like the refreshing taste of coffee so I try to have as much of it as I possibly can throughthe day. It does not make me a caffeine junkie!" Mayu let out a groan and sighing before she closeher eyes.

"But you just admitted to being a caffeine junkie?" Ichiko raise her eyebrows.

"A caffeine junkie is someone who drinks a lot of coffee as possible whenever they can." Kitana struggling to hold back her laugh.

"I agree with this two." Valhalla crosses her legs.

Mayu blink her eyes repeatedly as she try to see what they are talking about. It made no sense to her, she just admitto like coffee and want to drink it whenever she could? How she become a caffeine junkie? What she was missing that the others could clearly see?

'This is one of those rare times when I wish I have telepathy so I can see what the hell they mean.'

(Scene Change)

12:03 PM, IS Academy, Newspaper Club Room.

"What I am about to tell you will be shocking..." Mayuzumi said before she brings Honne closer to herself shortly after.

"Oh?"

Honne lightly smile as her mind racked around every possibility for what Mayuzumi have to say. Perhaps she had a big scoop that she could take a look? Maybe it is some drama between some girls in the academy? There are endless possibilities to consider as she keeps on thinking about it.

"Our dear Ichika's length has been revealed~" Mayuzumi grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"..." Honne instantly become shocked as her eyes widen.

"Now I know you are shocked just like everyone else will be after I release this article but it is true! I have gotten confirmation from someone who knows Ichika better than anyone else." Mayuzumi return over to her table and pick up the article.

"And who would that be?" Honne is wearing her usual sleazy yet sleepy expression.

"Oh someone that is very close to Ichika, in fact they are so close that would send the other girls to a raging fit." Mayuzumi has noticed the several girls jealous tendency around Ichika and Chifuyu.

In fact, she could write a whole fanfiction on their love for Ichika if she wants to. Regardless she shuffles through several pieces of paper and tries to put them in order from back to front so Honne could have distinct read while she is here.

Once she's done she hands the papers to Honne.

"Now, I have been mauling over and over about the title for the article on the newspaper and I haven't reached the conclusion yet but this title is only temporary one." Mayuzumi pick her mug that filled with coffee and take a light sip.

"Have you thought about holding off the release of this paper before you get the confirmation from the person mentioned in this article?" Honne slyly smirk and point Ichika's name on the article's title.

"And exactly how would I do that? Ichika Orimura isn't around at the moment and I trust my source." Mayuzumi cross her arms and smiled.

"Well I have been around Orimu for quite sometimes now and he is well aware of the girls and I highly doubt that any girls or women has seen his... rod and knows about its length." Honne grin and fold the newspaper after she finishes reading what she needs.

"Are you saying that this news source I gotten from was lying?"

"Like I said, Orimu is well aware of the women charm and I highly doubt that any of the girls have seen his length like this title suggests."

"So you're telling me that with numerous amounts of girls around him that none of them have seen his thing?" Mayuzumi give Honne disbelief looks.

"I can't say that for sure but Orimu isn't that kind of guy," said Honne.

"I see..." Mayuzumi narrow her eyes as she thinking.

"What's wrong? You look like you are in deep thought about something?" Honne place the newspaper article back on the table.

"Since we do not know the exact answer, as a member of the newspaper club it is my duty to get down and dirty to find the information unknown to the others yet." Mayuzumi take a big sip of her coffee as she made up her mind.

"Oh..."

Honne watch Mayuzumi put her cup on the table and turn her attention to the door.

Like a saying, "if you can't beat them then join them" and Honne knows that there is no way she could get Mayuzumi to stop her investigation. Not just that but actually Honne also curious about the thing they have been talking about.

I guess it's about that time again...

Thank for you reading Chapter 218 of Truth Be Told Resurgence and I would greatly appreciate it if you could leave a review.

It took a while but I'm writing again.

-Kano