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.

5. Friends

A/n

I think I mentioned before that this story has loosely followed the story of Infinite Stratos to an extent, well this chapter does not do that. In other words, this chapter is where the story starts to shy away from the story from the anime, manga and lite novels. But fear not, that doesn't mean that the fun and hilarity ends for the protagonist! There's still going to be much of that, along with action and all the other stuff that makes reading fiction enjoyable! I only own my characters and musing, nothing else. Enough from me, on with the story!

Chapter 5: Friends

-Sai's pov-

I jerked awake at hearing a rumbling… a pause and then another rumbling again, I've always been a fairly light sleeper. I blame the Bunny for that, she snuck around at night, so I didn't sleep deeply because she could do things if I had. So, rumbling… or whatever was causing the noise was loud enough to wake me up without much of a problem. Glancing around to locate the source of the rumbling noise and finding that it was coming from my bedside table, particularly from my cell phone. As I was laying on my stomach with my right arm was under me, I rolled over and swung my left arm around to reach the side table. I missed grabbing the phone twice before I glanced over to see where my hand was. Once I had picked up the buzzing rectangle, I looked at the screen. The display informed me that I had a text message just before I saw that is was twelve freaking thirty in the morning I grumbled.

My mind began wandering with who could be texting me at this ungodly hour of the morning that most, if not all were sleeping. I can only think of two viable reasons, one they don't know I'm in Japan and not at Cornell at Ithaca, the time difference being the eastern standard time zone compared to where I was now, in the Tokyo time zone, there's a fourteen-hour difference. Or someone is playing a dangerous game of pranking me and I don't take kindly to that!

Looking over to the second bed in the dorm room, I saw the form that was my roommate Houki and judging by her breathing, she was sound asleep. She's a heavy sleeper when she drops off, or so I've found out. Deciding to just look at the message and make a decision on what to do about the sender afterward. I unlocked my phone and looked at who was texting me… it took me a moment to realize that the text was from Matt. Reading his message and my brain becoming more active as I read it a second and third time. Matt's text was the answer to my cry for help I made to him hours ago, it had just come quicker than I had expected.

According to the text, the other four in my circle of friends had agreed to come here in answer to my call. I couldn't say what could get me out of bed faster as of late, the second I was out of bed, I was over to the desk and turning on my computer terminal. I started looking into the things I would need to provide Matt and the gang to travel here, namely plane tickets. After finding said plane tickets, which weren't cheap in the slightest, especially for five people who would be flying from New York City to Tokyo, Japan. Although I was buying on extremely short notice, so that's the high price one pays to get tickets for five, but it would be worth it! I almost emailed the tickets and flight info to Matt, but good judgment asserted itself and sent the data to Cassidy and Luther as they are the more responsible ones of our group. I turned off the terminal and went back to bed, in a much better mood with the knowledge that I would be seeing the gang this weekend.

Thursday passed by much the same as most weekdays had thus far here at the IS academy. Eat breakfast while being stared at off and on by most of the girls, which was followed by going to morning classes. Then came lunch, afterward came my college lectures and school work; simple you would think? If it wasn't for the girls flirting or gossip about flirting with me and act like I can't hear or notice them, it would be simple and clear sailing. Still, I stick to the proverb as follows, "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference" and so again it is in this.

I did stop by the head's office, as I would need to make arrangements for my friends to use the IT system like I do while they're here. Thankfully, they have some of the same classes as I did, and we would need only two different rooms at the same time and there were three transmission rooms here. The headmistress had no problems with my request and gave permission when I had explained why my friends were going to be here to help me with my unit and that they're college students like I am. The head even gave me full permission to leave the campus on Friday. The other thing that I did before turning in at the end of Thursday, informed Chifuyu that I would be gone Friday after class and might not get back before curfew, which she didn't have a problem.

Friday passed slower than the day previous, I think more because I was waiting for the evening to come when the gang would arrive and provide me with a modicum of peace. And as is the adage, when you're anticipating sometime with excitement, the passage of time feels slower, even if it isn't in reality. Keeping my spirits up with effort through the day, I trudged through the last school day of the week. The minute that lectures were over, I had raced back to my room and grabbed a travel bag. I had prepared said bag the night before with things to keep myself busy during travel time and was all but running to the front gate. Once off-campus of the IS academy, I headed over to the train station and caught a ride to Tokyo.

And that's how I ended out being out on this Friday night and no, I'm not doing anything wrong. There is the policy that students are to live on the campus in the dorms helps keeps the female students and 'myself', out of trouble as well as for the adults to be able to keep eyes on us, it is one that I understand. I'm not so happy with that method of application of the said policy, as it puts my virtue at risk, though I get no say in the matter. The upside to how the policy, is there is a way to get permission to leave the school grounds for a time, namely the weekends. For me that offers an opportunity to escape the girls that might drag me off or just won't give me a moment of peace. Hence, right now I'm in Tokyo at this time and that's for two reasons; to get time without being surrounded by only females and the other reason I'll get to in a moment.

Leaving the campus had required me obtaining permission from a member of the administrative staff and informing one's dorm manager. I had asked for permission yesterday to leave the academy grounds, specifically the headmistress. Of course, Chifuyu was one of the two first-year dorm managers and is in charge of the dorm I'm in. So, I had taken the time to inform her that I would be out after class on Friday and she was cool with me being gone. If anything, I think she understood that I needed time away from the other students, in short, she had noticed what I had been having to deal with. The second reason as for me to leave the campus, to meet up with some people I'm expecting to arrive soon enough. Failing to mention that said people were good and close friends from where I had originally planned to go this year was not unintentional, I saw no reason to say that detail with anyone other than the head of the school.

You see, when I had made my request to Matt on Wednesday evening from my perspective, Tuesday morning for him back around New York, which was to ask everyone else in the circle of friends. I had outright begged Matt to ask for the others to come and help me here in Japan, even if it was only for a short period of time. I'll accept any help from those who are willing to offer without an ulterior motive. None of the girls would fall into that category that I have seen, and I don't know if any would in future. My reason I told Matt, may have been the need to work on my unit was piling up and with… my fellow peers and their actions that involved or included me was absorbing any spare time I had after college lectures and homework. Even if I attempt to refuse and say no to the girls when they come and asking me to spend time with them or 'play' with them. They won't take no for an answer from me since they had a tendency not to listen to me. My real reason was that I wanted to get time with those I'm more accustom to being around rather than girls who are stressing me.

Yet, I still did need help on working with my IS unit, more so with the class league matches coming up. I was getting downright desperate, only having a partially functioning machine… that's a detriment for me in a competition! It has always been hard for me admitting that I require the assistance of others. I like to think that I don't need the help of others all the time, that I can do things for myself. But, I'm man enough to say, I need help when I know I do.

Anyways, my friends at Cornell are the only ones right now that I trust working on my machine or even have the knowhow to do the work that I hadn't been able to do repairs, finishing up parts and systems of my unit. Plus, I want to see friends that I was forced to leave three weeks ago to come here to Japan specifically this place. This school, where I've been floundering among thousands of girls pulling me in multiple directions. Nevertheless, at the current moment, I was in a good mood, it started the same night that I had called Matt.

And that's why I'm here at the Tokyo International Airport, after taking the two-hour train ride from Shinkrai the town that the IS academy is in. Spent the train ride doing some catching up on my nanotech schoolwork, I've been falling behind in a bit due to difficulties with time management and all that's included with it. Once in Tokyo, there's just the fifteen-minute walk from the station to the airport. To say I was excited didn't say what I was feeling, I could barely contain myself! And why shouldn't I be excited?! In less than an hour, I would be seeing all my friends from Cornell and these last three weeks here had shown just how much I've enjoyed and liked being around them over the last two years. I've missed all five of them terribly while being here with huge numbers of girls who have been flirting with me and becoming bolder with the time that's passing!

Getting through security took me a little bit of time, but in the defense of the security personnel, they were being overworked and understaffed. The lines of people that were going to fly to other destinations in the world were sizable and didn't seem to shrink at all, no matter how many people went through. I got in the line that was just for those who were waiting for people arriving and that line was moving faster than the passenger lines. Once I was through the scanning devices and grabbing my bag, I went off to search for the gate that the flight that brought my friends here.

My attention was caught by the screen displays that were positioned above the walkways in the airport. They displayed flight arrivals and departures times and found the number that was the flight my friends were on and saw it still displayed, 'On Time'. As it was currently 6:40 pm here, the flight I was waiting for was due to land at 6:45 pm; and then, all that was left would be to wait for the plane to be unloaded. Lastly, the gang and I would need to retrieve their luggage… having dinner as well at some point while we're here. I was getting hungry, so hope that dinner will be soon, maybe looking for something here at the airport while I wait for them would be a good idea. Ended out deciding to do some scoping out for possible food places as I waited, my stomach was rumbling and making itself heard could've something to do with my choice. Doing some research… I looked at a map of the airport and to see where the six of us could do dinner. I had found some possible places when I heard the announcement that made my evening!

"Flight number 2216, from Los Angeles, now arriving."

YES, that's their plane, they're here at last! The sensible company that won't make me fear for my virtue, self-control, and sanity on close to an hourly basis during the day! Making my way through the crowds I'll admit, I got a tad more aggressive than I should have been, pushing people aside. But damn it, I wanted to see the rest of the gang ASA Damn P! So, with lots of groups of people both big and small in my way and I want to get to the gate! So, sue me for pushing through the people walking and standing around the airport, I wasn't really rude about going through the crowds, I tried my best to nice, didn't succeed with everyone.

It took me a little less than ten minutes to reach the gate that the plane I was waiting for was at and saw that the Boeing 747 jet had taxied to its place and the off-ramp had just been extended to the plane for the passengers to leave the plane. I watched the first few people started exiting the aircraft; it felt like there was a clock spring being wound tighter and tighter in my chest with the anticipation that I was feeling right now. That winding spring cinched much tighter as I spotted a head of three-inch straight brown hair that I knew very well; the face and the rest of the body that followed only went to confirm who it was. My friend Mathew Oscar was currently wearing a blue shirt under his brown natural leather jacket and a pair of jeans with his ranching cowboy style boots on his feet. Matt saw me, I dropped my bag and rushed forward towards him smiling broadly as I called his name, "Matt!"

Not caring in the slightest what others around thought of me, I embraced Matt like we were brothers. He had dropped his carry-on bag that had been on his shoulder and hugged me back, "Howdy there Sai, great to see ya! Hasn't been the same with ya here, ah gotta tell ya friend. Roomin with Luther without ya… it's mighty quiet, like nights back on the range around the ranch. He doesn't talk much unless prompted to, but ya already know all about that wouldn'tcha Sai," Matt said to me.

I even have to admit that I've missed his country drawl! We separated after a bit, both of us smiling. For me this was the second genuine smile that I have had this week, the first was when I had read Matt's text saying that everyone agreed to come… it's sad I know, but true nonetheless. "Welcome to Japan Matt, how was the trip," I inquired.

Matt chuckled a little, "It's nice now that we're here, but the flight to get here was longer than a full day of drivin cattle around the valley. Either that or ah feel like ah've done a mighty long day's hard work around the range that's as hard as drivin. We headed out Wednesday before the rooster crows to say that's time to be out of bed and… what day is it now around these parts," asked Matt.

"It's Friday, evening to be exact, 6:45 pm Tokyo Standard Time. So, around a twenty-four-hour trip from Newark Liberty International Airport in New York City to get here to Tokyo, accounting for the time zone change of course if I'm not mistaken," I finished the sentence and answer the question that my friend had asked.

"And then don't forget the four-hour drive from Cornell's campus before getting to the airport. So, technically we headed out at midnight Wednesday," came a female voice.

Both Matt and I glanced back to the doorway to the boarding ramp which the voice had come from. Catching sight of a long dirty blonde-haired woman that was just stepping out of the boarding hallway. My friend Cassidy Mets was sporting a maroon long sleeve blouse under her grey sweater along with jeans and sneakers. I held in the snicker that was in my throat, "Isn't that pretty much considered a road trip Cassidy." Then what she had said sunk in, "Wait a second, then who was the driver of the car the five of you took to the Newark Airport, don't tell me that it was him," I said this pointing to Matt.

Matt burst out laughing at my question, to which Cassidy rolled her eyes, but I caught a small smile on her face. She strode over to where I was standing by Matt and she hugged me which I returned, "You look like you're doing okay here in Japan. With the challenges you're currently dealing with though it's good to spend time with your peers your own age Sai. I would assume you're supervised as you and your peers have hormones run high and rampant even if you have yours reined in. And to answer your question, who else do you think that those of us that think ahead would let get behind the wheel of a car, a rental no less, it was Luther of course." Cassidy turned her head to look at Matt who was still giggling at my question pointing a thumb at him, "You really think any of us would let this giggling country boy get behind the wheel with us in a car?"

"Haha ha hang on there one cotton pickin minute Cassy, that's bwa ha ha ha, not nice ta say girl," gasped out Matt, however, with him giggling as he was saying that, made it hard to take what he said seriously. Cassidy just shook her head and walked over to Mathew and began to berate him, but then, she was the serious and responsible one in the circle along with Luther. I watched the two and felt joy swelling in me at the beginnings of what had become normal for me over the last year and almost a half.

"SAI!" cried an energetic high female voice.

Oh boy, INCOMING! I wasn't able to turn in the direction that the voice that had called my name, but I don't need to do so to know what I'm about to experience. Still, even when you know what's coming, it doesn't always prepare you for the magnitude to come. In this case, seconds after hearing the cry, the force of the impact that collided with me was hard to take as it was pretty much spread to my whole body from one side.

Through the impact, I couldn't mistake the feeling of a pair of arms encircling my neck, though the voice was the unmistakable identifier of whom it was clinging to me. However, the most noticeable thing… well, was the sensation of soft pillow-like masses pushing against me, as I had just enough time to turn towards the line of impact. Stumbling a good five feet to counteract the power with which I was hit, before regaining my bearings. I managed to keep upright, it was a near thing, but I still kept on my feet even with me being heavier on one side. I took in a breath finding it was still possible and with this event, that wasn't something that I could take for granted.

I felt the nuzzling motion and the giggling from in front of me before my head was pulled down into something soft. "Iss good do see yu Giha." I said. I had been trying to say 'it's good to see you Jia'. However, my voice had come out as muffled gibberish… thanks to my head being pushed into Jia's cleavage.

"Oh Sai, I missed so much," cried my Chinese friend Jia Xuan as she 'hugged' me.

With my brain registering the forward pull into my friend's chest, I was able to tell that whatever Jia was wearing was red and had a silky feeling to it. Jia was likely wearing a Chinese style cheongsam that wet of her knees with a slit in one of the sides, she likes that style of clothing and wears the style often. Back to the embrace, the Chinese woman had me in and how she was squeezing herself to me, with my face was being engulfed by Jia's bosoms… yes, this is the reason I knew what Jia's boobs felt like. Jia Xuan has pressed, pulled and buried my head and face into her cleavage many times since we met and got to know each other. And she was doing so once again pressing my face into her chest or pressing her chest into my face, take your pick of which way you say it.

"When you left, it was so hard with you weren't around. You have always helped me with the subjects that I don't understand. I missed you so much Sai," sobbed my Chinese friend happily as she continued to hug me with her entire body.

Jia sobbing didn't put me off, my feet leaving the floor and my body swinging from side to side, mirroring Jia's movements worried me. But then, I had quite some time ago become used to how open Jia Xuan is by showing that she likes someone and giving them affection along with showing her feelings. So, this 'hug' of hers she was giving me isn't a surprise no, she didn't do this every day back at Cornell University. However, she did give me a hardy squeeze often enough for this not to be strange. Jia has loads of energy and I've learned to just let her do what she will, since there is nothing I can do about it, as long as she doesn't crush anything, it's fine.

Normally, I have problems with people hugging me and with the majority of them, I get a sickening feeling from the gesture, yet Jia is one that doesn't give me the sick feeling. Plus, what guy wouldn't appreciate just being hugged by an attractive young woman, and with her assets pressing against you. Even I can't deny that it feels nice, but I know that Jia doesn't see our relationship as a romantic one and unlikely will in future. Yet, as Jia began embrace me tighter, it started getting harder to breathe. Attempting to gain space to breathe, I pushed against Jia however, I was unsuccessful.

"Quoi! Jia, let him go! You are going to crush and hurt him, so let him go I say," said a French-accented feminine voice, alternating between the French and English languages.

The pressure that had been stealing my ability to breath went away and Jia then stood next to me instead of glopping me to her. I collapsed to my hands and knees taking in large deep breaths to recover from the trouble I had breathing in Jia's embrace. That's before I glanced up to see red hair, I knew belonged to the French woman I knew as Olivia Beaumont, she still looking out for me when Jia is around me, bless her for that! She was wearing a sheath style dress that was a violet color and had an open cardigan style sweater over the dress with dark brown knee-length boots to complete her outfit. When I got my breath back, I smiled at her, "Hello Olivia, it's nice to see you. How have you been doing," I asked Olivia in good French.

Olivia, seeing I was okay, came over to me and grabbed either side of my face with her hands. She brought me up to a standing position and kissed me on my right cheek and then my left cheek… it's her way of greeting 'a friend' as she tells me, but I haven't seen her do that to anyone else. Not that I see this action as a bad thing, I have often heard French greet others with a simple kiss to the cheek, so I'll go with that. Yet with Olivia, I don't know, she and I are good friends, but it could be more. "Bonjour Sai, I'm doing good, how have you been doing while here in Japan," asked Olivia.

It took me a moment to process what she had said took me a moment, after all, I've been speaking in Japanese for the last three weeks and English before that as my main language, so switching languages takes some time for me as it's a shift in my brain. I thought about how to reply for, Olivia and I, when we talked to each other on a friendly basis and not on an academic, we often spoke in French. "I've had better days, but I'm going to learn how to deal with the way things worked out for me. However, I must say that being surrounded by the many girls that I am at the Academy, it does not make it easy to cope," I answered her.

Olivia laughed softly and smiled a little wider, "I would doubt it does, still very good my friend!"

I smiled at Olivia's comment on how my life was going. "It would seem that you have kept yourself from being dragged away by girls your own age, that's good. However, judging by you being stressed and exhausted to an extent, you're still being harried by them a fair amount." I turned to see the speaker was none other than the last, but certainly not least of the gang, Luther Smith. He is kind of hard to miss with the height he has… more so in Japan, Japanese average height is under six feet, so Luther towers over the locals. Currently wearing a white dress shirt with a black vest over it and a black bowtie; along with a black pair of Dockers.

"Good to see you too Luther, stoic as ever I see. Out of curiosity, are you dressed up that much for a reason," I asked coolly.

Receiving a shrug and shake to the negative, I was turning to the others. Luther was quiet and comes off as reserved, though that's not the way he really is, that's not the point at the moment. He tended to dress to a higher and nicer standard than those around him as his current appearance proves. It makes him look kind of like a host or waiter of some sort. As I was facing the others, Luther spoke up again, "Hmm, did you know there's something written on your back Sai."

Turning back around to Luther, studying him, for there are times like this I can't tell if he's being serious or trying to get me to laugh. But hey, I'll bite for the hell of it, if this is a joke, then I could use a laugh right now, "Oh yeah? What does it say?"

Luther had the straightest face a person could have, "It says, 'I'm a broken chick magnet that can't be turned off. Girls catch me if you can."

I couldn't help myself, I burst out laughing at the joke and its delivery from Luther. Like I said before, the man can crack me up with one well-timed line! And what he said was so true, as with how the girls at the academy would throw themselves at me, figuratively speaking… who knows how long it will be before it starts being literal?! Everyone else joined in on the round of laughter.

Once we had managed to calm down and pull ourselves together, we discussed what to do for dinner, which we agreed upon a genuine Japanese restaurant. As we ate, we also caught up with what had been going on for all of us since last we were around one another. It was when Cassidy asked about the house I had rented for them while they stayed here in Japan, that we got on to the point of needing to catch the train back to town before they stopped running for the night.

We headed to the baggage claim and got everyone's luggage, before going to the train station and we were able to catch the last train bound to the town with the IS academy. The ride back, there were few on the train itself; I mean, the six of us had one of the cars to ourselves. Our conversation revolved around classes and current events at Cornell, which I loved doing. Once the gang and I got to the right stop, it was a ten-minute walk from the station to the place I had managed to rent. That with the plane tickets… I would rather not say how much that had cost me in dollar amount. I could afford it, with some of the things I have done over the years for those in the American government… I've been paid money for over half the favors I do.

I was glad that I had already done the shopping for the basic necessities because it took thirty minutes for everyone to settle into the place… there were some disagreements about who got which room. You see, this place is a four-bedroom, two and a half baths with two-floor house. I was able to rent it, but it had to be for six months, which the gang won't be staying for that long… wish they were. However, I see this as a place of retreat for me if things go bad at the academy.

So, the basic layout of the house, the first floor had nine rooms, the front door comes into the foyer. On the right of the foyer was a study like room, to the left of the foyer, was the living room, straight ahead of the foyer is the kitchen. The dining room is left of the kitchen and to the right was an open area that led to a great room for talking and spending time with others. In the open area was a breakfast space for the inhabitance to have well, breakfast. Across from than was the laundry room and a half a bathroom. On the right side of the house was a garage housing. The living and sleeping quarters were all on the second floor, the master bedroom, which was the largest of the bedrooms, was on the left side and with the master bath took of the furthest left third of the second floor. The second bedroom was directly across the stairway that's in the foyer. The third and fourth are on the right third of the second floor and between them is the other full bathroom.

Back to the disagreement, the ending result of it was that Cassidy and Olivia took the master bedroom, Luther got the center one, Matt took the room in the corner next to Luther and that left Jia the front corner bedroom. When everyone was settled in, we gathered in the great room and I laid out what the current status of my IS was and what needed to be done, then what I would like to be done. Our discussion went on so long that by the time any of us checked the time, it was nearly 10 pm, too late for me to make it back to the academy as it would be locked up for curfew. So, I just stayed at the house and roomed with Matt, it's not like I'm not used to sharing a place with him, done it for almost two years up till a little over a month ago.

I woke up the next morning, looking at a ceiling that I didn't recognize and after a full minute of comprehending what I was seeing. I realized that I was in the house I happen to be renting, with my circle of friends. Confirmed that fact when I heard muttering from my right and when I looked over in that direction saw Matt. Still mutters in his sleep I see, for some reason, it's funny how that doesn't wake me with me being such a light sleeper. I got up and headed downstairs, glancing at the clock as I went, which showed it was 7 am, headed for the kitchen. I wasn't all that surprised to see that I was the only one in the house up at this time. In the breakfast area, was Cassidy, sitting at the lower table that Japanese houses have, in the floor level seat. Olivia was looking through the cabinets and refrigerator, seeing what I'd gotten in the food and supply department.

We greeted each other, before Olivia and I started to prepare food for breakfast. Olivia cut fruits and mixed them in a bowl for a fruit salad, while I was putting bread in to toast. Once the food was ready, we brought it to the table and so, the three of us had breakfast together. Following the meal, Cassidy made a call to someone saying before she did that she might have an idea of a place we could use for working on my unit. I certainly won't complain if she can get somewhere to work on my unit, it would help tremendously.

If we don't have a different place, then the only place left is the IS academy and I'd prefer to not work there. Mostly, for the simple fact of being able to get much work done due to the interruptions from my peers wanting me to spend time playing and doing activities with them instead of doing what I need to. Especially true as it's Saturday today, a free day for us to do what we want or most see it that way. That's the standing dilemma I face here in Japan, have little free time and what amount I do have, is stolen from me by others. I don't get free uninterrupted time to do actual work with flirting girls wanting to have my attention.

Once Cassidy hung up with whoever she was talking to, she turned to me, "Sai, I managed to get permission for us to work at the AIS R&D facility that's a little more than an hour's drive from here."

If I was in a cartoon, my jaw would have hit the floor at hearing what Cassidy had managed to do. But as this is reality, my mouth hung open since I was speechless for a moment. When I found use of my voice I had to ask what came to my mind, "Cassidy, you're talking about the Asake Infinite Stratos Research and Development facility, the most advanced research facility in Japan if not one of the most advanced in the world, that's the place you're referring to, right?"

"Yes, that's the place." Said Cassidy nodding, "Not what you want to work with?"

Cassidy had a tone of mirth and sarcasm, "Are you kidding?! That's like asking an explosion enthusiast if they want a small explosive over a large one, the answer is Hell No! I'm more amazed that you got that kind of place to use! How much time can we use it for and will there be people on hand to help out," I replied.

Cassidy smiled at my reply, "Well, we'll see, you should go gather the equipment that you need then Luther and Jia will pick you up and your unit in," She looked down at her watch, "around an hour."

Nodding at what my friend said while smiling, I wasted no more time, grabbed my travel bag, hugged Cassidy in thanks before I ran out the door. I sprinted to the station and grabbed a ride on the monorail, I went back to the IS academy. There were supplies that I would need for the job the gang and I would be doing today! The first stop on my quick trip to this place was the IS bay to make my unit ready to be moved, though I probably could've done without such actions. Corinthos will respond to any member of my circle of friends, but better to be safe than sorry. It took me twenty minutes to do what I needed. That put me at about forty minutes in total since I headed out leaving me with twenty or so minutes left until Luther and Jia would arrive to pick up my machine and myself. From there we would head off to the place Cassidy managed to get the use of.

Still, I haven't a clue how she was able to get permission to use one of the most advanced development centers for ISs in Japan, yet I won't question her in that. She'd been a world champion so, I wouldn't doubt she has connections in interesting places. The same could be said of me, I know people that most wouldn't guess in their wildest dreams. But that's beside the point right now.

Anyways, I met no one either on the way or in the dorm building, to which I was thankful at the moment. It's not that I detest girls, females my age or teenage girls, it's nothing like that of the sort. My issue is the girls here smothering me, knowingly and unknowingly… whenever they get the chance. I would just like a break to breathe and not have to deal with newly sexually aware females throwing themselves at me. Is that too much to ask for even part of a day? I don't think so!

I got to the room that Houki and I share, finding that my roommate was out, yet another bonus, Lady Luck is with me! Something tells me that Houki would either interrogate me in the form of a reprimand or just demand to know where I'd been last night with some kind of object in hand. Houki isn't a bad person, I've been noticing that as we had been getting to know one another, she's just getting a tad possessive of me lately… actually, more than just a tad, but anyways. I quickly changed and grabbed an extra set of clothes, shoved them into my travel bag and flew out of the room heading back to the entrance to the IS academy.

Admittedly, with the speed I was going and not paying the proper attention that I should've, I was busy thinking ahead to what fun and good times there were going to be. I mean, the opportunities to see and work with the equipment I haven't gotten access to since… being around the two women who can really be considered my full intellectual equals. So… silly me, I didn't see a girl coming out from around a corner as I was briskly making my way to the front gate.

Needless to say, there was a collision and both the girl and I fell to the ground, my head hitting with enough force to get me to see some stars. I had ended out on the bottom while the female's head pressing into the crook of my neck and the rest of her was on top of me. It took me a couple of seconds to clear the stars and start to become aware of my surroundings again. Noting the girl who was now laying on top of me, a few things were instantly clear once my head was able to focus once more. First and foremost, the female laying on me was well-endowed when it came to cleavage. I'll be the first to openly confirm that there are teens here that are developing more than others, but this one was towards the top of the spectrum with bust size. Certainly, I couldn't miss the feeling of her chest pressing into me, kind of reminds me of Jia's. Second, there was a faint smell of cherry blossoms in the air now and I swear the scent was familiar. Looking down, I found myself viewing dark purple hair… oh my, this just got a lot more awkward!

The one on top of me started to stir, "Um, not that this isn't a flattering position, but uh, how long do you intend to lay on me Houki," I asked with a bit of a nervous tone, trying to keep a professional air.

To speak on my behalf, I ain't used to being THIS close to Houki for we hadn't done anything to have such occur. It's a personal policy that I get to know a woman before I start being anywhere near this close. The head that the purple was attached to, shot up to my eye level. So, that got my roommate staring at me, her dark blue eyes gazing into my dark reddish-brown eyes. Her face was like five inches from mine and she had a deepening blush coming on. We stayed like this for about a minute before Houki's face began to draw closer… No, I don't think so! I don't do that at the current stage! I slammed the door on my libido that was doing what it does to convince me to do things that I find immature at this time. Those were my thoughts until two other voices were heard. "Wh-What is going on here?! Miss Shinonono remove yourself from Sai this instant!" shouted the voice of Cecilia Alcott.

"If I knew that was what was going to happen, I would have been in front." I heard Rin say out loud.

Oh boy, the trio of girls that have been giving me more grief than others, find me when I'm very close to leaving for the day without issue. Going with past experience, this is only the beginning of the fun for today, especially if Jia appears. Don't get me wrong, Jia is an awesome friend, the girl can have you smiling like a kid does on Christmas Day in a minute or less, no matter how depressed or mad you can be! The thing is with the way she expresses how she feels and the lengths she goes to… well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time there could be a misunderstanding with others. I felt my right eye began to twitch in annoyance to the developing situation.

Houki gained a visible blush and got off me and scooted back three feet all within five seconds, it's kind of comical to see this in my opinion. My roommate then, after calming down a bit, glared at me and my mirth evaporated, "And where were you last night?! You never showed up at dinner and never came back to the room," demanded Houki.

Well, so much for the hope to avoid getting asked where I was last night. I saw no reason to lie about what I'd been doing since I've nothing to hide. "Well, I don't doubt you three know it's the start of the weekend if not, news flash it's the weekend. So, I went off academy grounds to see some friends I know. I got caught up catching up with them and lost track of time and ended out staying at their place for the night," was the calm reply I gave as I stood up.

By this time Rin and Cecilia had closed the distance between where they had been and where Houki and I were. "Friends? I did not know you had any here in Japan," said Cecilia.

Geeze, Cecilia makes it sound like I don't have a life outside the academy, or one that she should know everything about unless I choose not to inform her of. "Well, they're visiting as it happens and so I went to see them," I answered nicely as I picked up my bag with my stuff in it including my terminal, thank goodness it's durable. Cassidy and I did make this piece of equipment to take a beating and keep on ticking and running.

"Sai," called an all too familiar highly energetic voice.

Speak of friends, I'd wondered when she would show up. I tensed up, preparing for the imminent impact. Jia didn't disappoint, she crashed and clung to me like she normally does when she does her form of saying hello. The embrace wasn't like the one I got at the airport last night, Jia didn't leap at me at least. Her feet were on the ground, but I still felt the pressure of her arms wrapping tightly around me pulling me down and into her chest. "Sai, you meanie! Cassidy said that you left this morning before I got up so that I could hug you," pouted Jia with a fair amount of cuteness in her voice.

Jia's clutching rapidly increased making breathing more difficult forcing me to gasp for air. The woman doesn't know her own strength, but I certainly have learned it's not something you take lightly! I tried to tell her sorry and for her to ease up on the hug, yet all that came out was unintelligible mumbles that were fairly muffled. Within half a minute, I was struggling hard, though Jia didn't really notice. It's not like she ignores what she's doing, more like she doesn't notice the full effects of her actions.

"Jia, if you expect an answer, then you have to let him breathe. You're hugging Sai so tight that you're cutting down his air supply. Please contain yourself," came the voice of Luther.

My friend's hold loosened, and I gasped sweet oxygen back into my lungs! However, Jia still kept a hold on me, just switched it to hug me from behind so that I couldn't collapse to the ground. "Thanks Luther, you're a lifesaver! And Jia, I left early this morning to get things ready as arrangements have already been made for a workspace today," I replied.

"I see you're attracting trouble as usual Taichi," said an adult female voice.

Looked behind Luther and saw Chifuyu, wonder what she's doing here. "Not trying to Miss Orimura, just have the talent for it I guess. You know how it goes," was my answer to her.

"Sai," barked the three girls that were my age.

The magnitude of the twitching of my right eye got a drastic increased at the shout of the three girls. Turning to face the three girls that have shown that they have a possible genuine interest in me, and again, I wondered if the interest they had was that of an owner of a pet! Their expressions didn't bode well for me and I think they have very much misunderstood what they have witnessed just now. "Yes ladies," I inquired keeping my cool though it was hard.

Houki stepped forward first, "What is all this?! And who are these two and what is your relationship with her," all the demand had been shouted, and the last question was made with Houki jabbing a finger at Jia standing directly behind me.

Even though Jia was behind me, the picture of Jia tilting her head to the side with a confused look on her face was clear in my mind. I knew the Chinese woman well enough to know what her reaction in this instance would be. Jia wouldn't understand why these three peers of mine were making the demands that they were, she hasn't given evidence that she comprehends when someone believes they should know everything about another. Jia was more of the mind that if something was important, then she would be told about it. She can be great when you have something you want to tell another on a subject, yet not want to say every detail of the subject.

My attention was shifted back to the present situation when Cecilia stepped forward, having an expression of anger and her hands balled into fists. "Yes, what is the mean of this Sai?! You owe us an explanation," added Cecilia in a bellow.

The tolerance which I'd been exercising for the last week due to being treated like I was owned by some of those here was wearing thin! I'm independent and will use my freedom as I see fit regardless of what others think! Plus, what choices I make and activities I do are the business of those they involved and myself, no one else. For reasons that I haven't been able to fathom, girls here either feel the need to 'own' me like a pet or toy that they can do what they want to or with, or they want lots of attention from me to do whatever they fancy. I'm not a pet or toy to be won or owned by anyone or any organization. One person doing that to me irks me greatly, and that woman makes my life hell! I don't need others adding to it!

Rin unexpectedly had lost the expression she had just been wearing and it had softened, "Um, I'm just curious what's going on right now, if you wouldn't mind telling Sai."

After the trio had asked for an explanation in the various forms they did, to know what's going on. I was required to put forth a lot of effort not to lose my temper and blow my lid off! In all honesty, Rin was the only one out of these three that I felt the slightest inkling to answer. She hadn't shouted or bellowed like the other two did and had implied there was a choice for me to refuse to answer. The other two hadn't given me that option in the slightest and apparently thought I was under some sort of obligation to do what they say.

Jia swayed from side to side still holding me in her arms, "Iya Sai, why are these girls mad at you? Did you do something to them," she asked.

I sighed at the question from Jia, "Oh no, it's nothing like that Jia. I can't say for sure, but I'm led to assume they're miffed at me for not saying anything about the gang. Although, none ever took the time to ask me nor showed interest until now that I had friends or did things outside the academy. They will probably be less pleased when they learn more about what is planned for today," I replied tiredly.

Pausing and then turning to give my answer to the girls, "As for you three, Houki, Cecilia and Rin, technically speaking, I own none of you an explanation. However, as I'm a nice person, I'll give you one. That said, please listen since I would rather not have to repeat myself." I gestured to both Luther and Jia and continued, "These two young adults here are friends of mine from back in the US. The guy by Professor Orimura is named Luther Smith and this woman behind me with her arms around my neck would be Jia Xuan. She and I are friends plus, she's been teaching me martial arts off and on over the last year. That should answer the questions stated satisfactorily."

After giving my explanation, I turned to Luther, "I assume that my unit is loaded up and we're good to go then," I asked.

Luther nodded, and Jia got excited at hearing that we were ready to go meet up with the others, "Yay, let's go meet up with the others," said Jia happily.

As I said, Jia could have you smiling with ease, felt a smile work its way onto my face, "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go! There's work to be done," I said, my mood improvement seen the excitement in my voice.

With everything ready, all there was left was for the three of us to pile into the truck and head over to the development facility. My mind had shifted to thinking ahead towards the fun work that would happen today with glee. But, before that could happen, conflict reared its ugly head and forced my thoughts back to the previous issue once more. "Hold it! where do you think you're going," barked Houki starting forward.

My mood dropped for these girls will drive me up the walls! No, calm down, it isn't worth losing it over this. Their view of men is the result of females being able to use the IS for the last eight years and men being unable to. It isn't their fault they see males in such a demeaning way, show maturity and patience. I was about to answer and set the record straight by telling these girls it wasn't their business what I do unless I chose for it to be by telling them, but never got the chance to. Cecilia moved ahead of Houki and got right in front of my face and made sure I was looking at her, "He is going nowhere, that is where Miss Shinonono! Not until he fully explains what is going on," stated Cecilia firmly.

My mood was deteriorating at an increasing rate, it's approaching the level of what it's like to tolerate the damn rabbit's antics! This is why I don't want to be here at the IS academy among other reasons! The major reason I want to go and get the rabbit back so badly for thrusting me into this form of Purgatory!

To prove my case in this predicament, allow me to put some of the things I learned in the law class I took last year. The defense would present to the judge and jury on behalf of the defendant, exhibit A Cecilia Alcott, stating or telling the defendant in the form of a command, an expectation to be given to a servant, slave or pet. The command is that I, the defendant will go nowhere until I tell her what I'm doing to her satisfaction. With no intention nor logical reasoning to do such a thing. And even if I did, it's unlikely she would let me leave were I to tell her the truth anyway.

Off the record, the temptation to dish out the dumb blonde jokes that I knew aplenty has come to my mind many times since meeting this blonde. However, I contained myself as a gentleman should. Most others here don't have self-restraint or at least haven't shown any.

Then your honor and members of the jury, we have exhibit B Houki Shinonono, who is at this time being like her bi**h of an older sister by getting possessive of me. Granted, she isn't as bad as her sister thank God! With the time I spent attempting to escape that eccentric woman the world knows as the genius that invented the IS wasn't small. At present, I still devoting time to the task since the damn bunny just won't leave me alone! Back to Houki, just her asking where I was going after I told her that Luther and Jia were friends of mine is very telling. That shows she doesn't trust me all that much if she does at all. I haven't given her a reason to doubt me or distrust me that I can think of.

The final point in from the defense, none of these girls at any point after meeting me, think about what I wish in any given situation they are involved in. It's always been what I should be doing for them or how I should be rather than accepting me as I am. Only Rin hasn't acted as she owns me like a pet or something similar and that's the reason I was even considering answering her! And it's because she knew me and been around Ichika and me before now so had gotten acquainted. That's all from the defense, in this case, your Honor and members of the Jury.

Anyways, my face changed into a straight and emotionless expression as I prepared to lay down the line I'd been avoiding stating directly, "Okay, listen and listen well girls, you leave me little other option but to say what I'm about to." I took a breath in, "Let me make one thing perfectly and undeniably clear to you since none of you seem to understand or realize the particular point about me that I've been trying to get across without just saying it outright to be nice. I'm not, I repeat, I am not owned by or subservient to any of the girls here or anyone at all period! Not any of you, nor any of the girls in Class One and certainly not any ladies in the first-year or any other year for that matter. I'm an independent and free agent, which can choose how I spend my time and whom I spend it with and not have to consult or ask anyone about it. That means that none of you need or are entitled to know of my activities unless I choose to make them known to you."

I paused to take another breath, before I said the part that irked me with this trio in particular, "Now, answer me this ladies, have any one of you, once taken the time to think about what I wanted, felt or thought about what you girls do or planned to do with me or even consider asking me? No, you like the rest here are too focused on keeping my attention and consuming my time without thinking about what I think at all. Hell, none of you have even taken the time to even get to know much about me, only listened to the ridiculous gossip that others invent. So, you girls have absolutely no right to tell me what to do or know what I'm doing if I see a reason not to tell you. I'm an equal, a male that can match females in using an IS, not a pet or prize to be won in some sort of contest any of you make. I expect to be treated as an equal human being, not as some kind of property that one owns!"

Once I finished, I turned towards the front gate, "Not that I owe you three an explanation, but so that you know, I'm leaving the grounds for the sake of my sanity and peace of mind today. As much to get time away from all the girls that openly flirt with me and treat me as if I'm less than a free-willed person. I'm just too nice and gentlemanly for my own good to just tell you to leave me alone and go away. Then, I need to work on my IS unit and today is the only day I can before the class league matches next week. Thanks to you three and the rest of our classmates and peers demanding and taking up any spare time I have during the week for paying attention to all of you, I haven't been able to work on my IS. I'll be spending time with friends and doing work on my unit without interruption from others elsewhere. If you can't accept that, then tough luck, it's not my problem to deal with."

There was silence, "I see no problem with you leaving as you have already gotten permission," was what came from Chifuyu.

Glancing from Chifuyu, then back at the three girls seeing they were in a state of shock from what I said to them. I'd wanted to avoid having to lay down the facts of the law, but I was left with little choice, so I might as well leave them for now and move on to other things. I motioned to Luther to lead the way to the truck they had so that we could leave. Jia was still holding onto me as we headed to the front gate. When we reached it, I saw a small-sized moving truck that my unit was loaded in I would guess. Luther took the driver seat and Jia sat between myself and Luther and off we went.

After we drove an hour south, we arrived at the gate of the Asake IS R&D facility. I've heard of this place and have even seen a couple of pictures of it. Yet, I've never been here, and it was a lot bigger than I thought it was when you're talking about the area that the place takes up. I mean, this is one of the places that those who do IS development like myself dream about working at, yet only the best and brightest ever work here. At the gate, one of the guards came up and looked the three of us over, asked Luther a question and after answering, nodded to us. The gate opened, and the guard waved us through.

We went to one of the larger buildings, Luther seemed to know where he was going, so I didn't say anything. Luther parked the truck outside the building and the three of us got out. Out of the building, came a group of people, which included the other three friends of mine and they were accompanied by scientists in the classic white lab coats. One of the said scientists was speaking to Cassidy and by the way that the two were acting around each other, they knew one another.

"Sai, ya made it like a cowboy does to a rodeo," Matt called out.

I laughed a bit, "Yeah, though I had some difficulty leaving the academy, some girls that weren't very interested in letting me go."

Matt let out a whoop, "Certainly some mighty fine luck ya have with the ladies my friend!"

When we met the group, the man that Cassidy was talking to stared at me for twenty seconds, looking me over from head to toe. "So, this is the young genius friend that goes to Cornell University with you that you've kept mentioning, is he," the man asked.

I glanced over to Cassidy with a, 'what have you said about me to others' expression before she faced the man, "Yes, this is Sai Taichi, Arnold," answered Cassidy before she turned to us and continued. "Everyone, this is Arnold Mets, my older brother. He's one of the managers here at AIS R&D and the one on duty."

Wow, I would've never guessed Cassidy's brother wouldn't just work in Japan, but also in one of the most advanced research complexes. Heck, she never told any of us she had an older brother that I know of. Oh well, not any of our business, the resemblance between Cassidy and her brother Arnold was there, but Cassidy looks more like her mother and her brother takes more after their father. Yes, I've met their parents, nice people, it happened when Cassidy and I went on the date during my first Homecoming at Cornell. That had been interesting as well as amusing experience. I mean, I had been fourteen at the time and I doubt her parents had thought their daughter was going to Homecoming with someone my age or that we were in the same year.

Anyways, unloading my unit took about fifteen minutes and after it was taken off the truck, it was taken inside the building we were parked in front of. As my unit was taken in and being brought to the work floor, the gang and the group of scientists headed inside the building as well, which turned out to be a practical development laboratory and testing facility. So, it had all the best, latest and greatest tools on hand to work with, it was quite something to take in.

When I had, I saw that the workers that had unloaded my IS got it to the work floor just below the room that we were in, which I believe is the control center. While I brought out my terminal and hooked it up to the network of the facility, more than half the scientific minded people here were looking at my IS as Corinthos unfolded the unit from its standby mode to be ready for me to mount. By the gasps and mutterings, I do believe that my custom-built IS unit was impressing those here. As I hooked into the network here, was amazed at the speed this network had! The academy couldn't compare… of course, this place needs a network like this for R&D.

But still, this is something I haven't gotten to work with since being around the bunny and the doll… Of course, we built and customized a ridiculous system, looking back, expect it had to cost a ludicrous amount of money. Yet, those two women didn't care about cost as they could get as much money as they wanted. Morals were a rather different subject with those two women or rather one they tended to ignore. As such, it made legally questionable or just outright illegal acts easier for them to do. I can't deny that the hasenpfeffer could hack pretty much any system in the world including financial institutions, not cleanly, but she still can. The porcelain lifelike doll can manipulate information of any kind in any way, no matter how classified it is or if it's not supposed to exist. She could make others believe what she fashioned, so those two working together… what they could get away with was scary! I had quickly learned to just not ask where things came from or how they were obtained with those two… It's better that way, less incrimination for me.

Once everything was set up all turned to me, which kind of got me a tad nervous. Now, I don't get stage fright however, to be in front of this many brilliant minded people and all of them looking to me for instruction… it's a bit unnerving. I didn't let that stop me, I took a deep breath and, in a fashion, gave a short presentation of my unit's design and basic specs. Thus far I've only shown to the gang and got to do that with holographic 3D rendering to show what I was talking about. The presentation lasted for almost fifteen minutes, and by the time I was done, there were a number of the scientists in the room that had their jaws open in awe and shock at what I'd shown and told them. It was obvious that I'd impressed the majority of the people here and then some. In fact, Cassidy's brother Arnold walked up to me and once again looked me over. "I see my sister wasn't kidding when she said you're more than just smart, but quite the genius. May I ask how you know so much about the IS?"

Oh crap! That's a question I'm very much not fond of hearing and even less answering truthfully! I can't just say, I'm one of the three inventors and creators of the concept and idea that became the Infinite Stratos. There would be repercussions that I didn't want from telling the truth about this inquiry. I smiled half-heartedly, "Oh um, I've always had a fascination with ISs and have just learned things I know as I've tested and tried stuff throughout the years," I answered evenly.

Arnold nodded at my reply and didn't inquire further. I was grateful for that as it's a subject that wouldn't be a good idea to get into for me as it would restrict me in many ways! It took ten minutes to go through the plan along with listing the tasks that needed to be done, including things I would like to have done. First, the stabilizers needed to either be fixed or replaced, then there was just stuff here and there which could be better than they are now. And with the requirements put on the table, we got to work. With the scientists here helping us in our endeavor, as the phrase goes, 'many hands make light work' and there was a good number of tasks to get done.

Luther's expertise was being put into fixing the stabilizer issue since his architectural engineering knowledge would have the best chance to help, was hoping he could fix them. If that wasn't possible, then replacing them would be a time-consuming task. Luther was the one that had helped Matt and me in their construction and installation originally, so he should be able to do what's needed. He along with other scientists began doing tests on the stabilizers to understand the extent of the damage. As the stabilizers are customized like most of the rest of my IS unit, should they need replacing, then they would need to be built to the same specs. It's possible that they might have stabilizer units here that can be modified and altered to work close to the same as mine do themselves.

With the planned modifications that were in store for the machine, there would need to be some changes to the restraint system. The fight with Cecilia had made some things clear to me that I hadn't known about before. I needed more flexibility and yet still would prefer to not fall out in the middle of a fight, that would hurt to hit the ground with the speeds that I fly at and the distances that I go upward in. And when I'd gone supersonic, felt particular places pulled that I would rather not have pulled if I can help it. So hence, the reason they need adjustment in the restraint system. I also want the ability to move more freely, yet I still require the restraints to hold me in well enough to do the job they were designed to do. May have to add more to the framework down around the legs and around the arms, specifically when I go supersonic speeds or faster, we'll see.

The next collection of things would have to do with overall performance. Even though I'd only had to use my beam rifles for a few shots, the firing angle and targeting had been off a bit. Then the supersonic flight and the following impact taught me a valuable lesson. The DCC interface shouldn't be used until it gets serious work done on it! I don't want to spend more time in the infirmary due to a bad consequence coming down on me. Also wing positioning and just some other stuff in general. Originally, I'd planned out six months of work before trying operational testing, so I have to speed things up a lot! However, would like to have a few more options at my disposal in future skirmishes so that I wouldn't have to rely on systems that aren't fully tested and ready.

For the weapons and offensive options, I turn to Olivia who knows far more than me in ballistics and weapon design. Hell, we built the beam rifles together from scratch, she corrected the problems in the design that I didn't have any idea about when I had been drawing the blueprints. So, Olivia looked over the rifles and did some fine-tuning on them. Plus, she enabled a feature that wasn't available during my first match, combining both rifles to extend the effective range and increase power output. If theory holds true, then the range is doubled, which would be neat and handy, but the output would be increased to an unsafe degree to be used. And when I say an unsafe degree, I mean enough to pierce the arena shield barrier and still have more than enough for me to keep going with the match I would be in. If my combined rifle can do that in theory to the shield barricade in the arena, not a pleasant sight to imagine how much more damage could do to an IS shield. The energy shield itself wasn't designed to take power like that, never designed it to be able to take that kind of a beating! Hell, back at that time, I doubt the hasenpfeffer, the doll or I, thought a weapon could put out that kind of energy output! Nevertheless, better in my opinion to have the option to use if something unexpected comes up, you never know what could happen.

The other part that Olivia was going to work on here was a weapon that I unequipped pre-match with Cecilia. Those weapons, as there are two of them, are railguns. These aren't to be mistaken for an impact/shock cannon as many observers will say they are the same. If anything, those cannons are attempts to design and build working railguns and none have succeeded in building real railguns as none fit the qualities that railguns are held to. Where impact cannons compress the air in the nearby area and then send it out a confined barrel at high speed at their opponent; the railgun uses electromagnetic energy in the form of two adjacent rails that use magnetism to manipulate kinetic force to launch ammunition at speeds that conventional weapons can't achieve. Even missiles launching systems have an extremely hard time getting close to the launching speed of a true railgun or rail cannon, most can't come close.

Jia meanwhile, who's normally energetic and cheerful was unusually serious. She was set to working on the prototype shield that my unit as we've been designed, which I deactivated for the class match. I may have come up with the theory for the shield system, but it was Jia that thought up the method of how my theory could be done with practical application. The methodology of the RECPOL field is that one field blocks while the other two are regenerating and standby for use. The fields switching is determined by the blocking field's integrity based on damage taken. Right now, the system even if it's sound in principle, isn't completely reliable and so needs tuning and tweaking to get the shield to function as I conceived it would. The goal, to have multiple shields that worked together synchronized and took less energy to do so than the standard energy shield that the IS has. The shield was still a work in progress and wasn't ready for real application just yet. But I look forward to the day that it is ready for deployment!

Of course, with all the adjustments and alterations that were being done, there were modifications that would be needed to the control system of the unit itself. The one I trust with doing alterations with the programming of my machine and doing anything that could affect Corinthos is Cassidy. Getting machines to do exactly what you might want them to, Cassidy is simply incredible! Yes, she's a techie and geek with system programming, though she doesn't look the part according to most. I see absolutely nothing wrong with her being a techie, geek or both, it just proves that those kinds of people can be very attractive, so brains and good looks can go together.

However, back to the work, Cassidy was doing, the amount of programming and the complexity of the coding that it took for this machine isn't a small thing for me or my female friend! To put it as simple as I can, Cassidy and I had pretty much written our own variation of the programing language which is based on the one that the bunny, the doll and myself had come up with for the IS originally. It's mostly so that Corinthos could act as the controller for my unit and run things more efficiently. What the majority of people I've met seem to have a difficult time understanding other than the sheer complexity of the system that I built into my unit, is Corinthos, even if it's a part of it.

As the true system controller other than myself when I'm piloting, Corinthos can run the unit without me telling it what to do. The purpose was to have the performance overall of my unit be the best it can be and Corinthos does that well. With how I designed Corinthos, I based it off of two different ideas, one being a human brain and the other was the assist system in the Black Knight. So, Corinthos processed information in much the same manner as the human brain does, though a great deal faster. Yet, from the other system that I used as a basis for Corinthos's foundation provided a series of logical calculation algorithms combined with set rules that it doesn't break unless I specifically were to tell it to.

But, that had only been how it had started, the signs of a developing change began showing themselves about a year ago. The first had been it asking simple, child-like questions, though in a non-child-like way admittedly. The intrigue and curiosity that had come out, had been unexpected and had led to the realization of the developing abilities for Corinthos to learn and shortly after that self-modify, sort of like humans can. The idea has continued and grown the more time that has passed, could be the first signs and makings of, dare I say, an Artificial Intelligence. But even if that's the case, I'll be keeping that view to myself for the time being. It hasn't shown signs of being self-aware, Corinthos is able to full think and make decisions on itself but give that time and I wouldn't doubt it would.

Anyways, the point of the things that Cassidy was doing, was helping Corinthos handle the number of adjustments happening and still run things smoothly. One part of the system I know will need tuning and alteration is the energy distribution throughout all the systems. Unfortunately, that kind of task takes time and patience to do, which is in short supply. The last time Cassidy and I did such things, it'd taken a few days to get it all the components of the unit and control system synced between one another, hoping it doesn't take that long!

In the end, the stabilizers were pronounced unfixable and would require replacing as I feared they would. That meant that I had to design and build new ones, though having others who know what they're doing would be helpful in hurrying the process along. Yet, I was given a nice surprise when I was informed that there were parts for stabilizers here and I could them to construct new components for my IS. Heck, the scientist here offered me experimental units they had built here. I wasn't against that idea as modifying advanced experimental models is quicker than building some from scratch. It was more astonishing that the scientists let me have them as they were being developed for late third-generation ISs and even for fourth-generation machines whenever their development began, that kind of bothered me. Arnold told me that it was hoped that seeing what I did would help in their development and application. Normally, I wouldn't like other people that I didn't completely trust, see my work really at all. However, with time as limited as it was for me, I took it as a price to get the job done and accepted the offer.

After a little more than four hours of solid work, with staggered lunch breaks for all of us working, my unit was back in working order. Moreover, it was working at a creditable standard and that's what counted more than the machine just working in my view! I mounted my IS and activated it to make sure there weren't blatant things we missed. The startup that Corinthos did silently I might add, impressed a number of the scientists. From the speed of a full system start with thorough full system checks for most IS units would take a few minutes each system individually. Corinthos was doing all the systems in a little less than ninety seconds. Let me tell you, having a fully equipped lab with the best computer terminals to give out readings from my unit is awesome!

Nonetheless, even with downright accurate information… there's something missing in this to make sure things are working right. Something that machines just can't give you. Turning to Cassidy who was using equipment to gather information for the scientists to judge the status of the systems of my machine, I spoke up. "Hey Cassidy, you up to doing me a favor?"

My friend stopped what she was doing and looked at me, "And what's this favor you had in mind?"

I smiled, "Face me in a match with an IS."

Cassidy stared at me and asked, "For what purpose?"

"A full operations test, you are the best pilot that I can think of to help with that," I answered.

"That can be arranged," both Cassidy and I turned and saw Arnold approaching us.

"You have an IS here that Cassidy can use then?" the question came from me in an excited tone of voice, before I could stop myself.

Arnold nodded. And so, with the agreement made, Cassidy went off to get fitted and the IS adjusted to work the best for her, while everyone else was doing the final checks to make sure my IS was working the best it could. The funny thing is, I could hear the scientists here making bets about who would win and how long the match would last. I would guess Arnold has talked about his younger sister and her escapades as a member of the US team until two years ago. I'll admit it, I know that Cassidy is good! She was a world champion after all, so I expect her to be and that's what makes it all the more exciting for me. The match against Cecilia had been rather disappointing, a joke really. There had been no challenge at all for me. Her pride made her act the way that made the match so boring! Yet, in the match that was about to occur, it would be one most challenging fights I have ever been in! I can't see a better way to test Corinthos, the IS or myself to the fullest than in this way!

I was shortly escorted to the IS testing arena and put on the catapult. Shooting out to the arena and looking around and locking onto my opponent. Cassidy was fitted with an IS design that I've never seen, but as this is an R&D lab, you should expect a unit that's in development. And for the scientist get the service of a world champion even if former, for testing an IS… It's understandable that they would be excited.

The IS itself, had white as its base color. The front of the legs looked like it had a large two right triangles put together on their long sides. The back of that section was fitted to the leg of the pilot's lower leg and the whole thing made up the upper leg down to below the mid-shin. At the top of it were diamond-shaped plates on both sides of the leg, where I think were thrusters, but can't say for sure. The foot of the IS had the frame of the normal boot a person would wear, just bigger; but it had a spike on the front of the foot and a long blade fin coming out of the back of the foot on both sides of the heel.

The left arm was unremarkable white armored like forearm with dark blue clawed hands. The right arm, on the other hand, was a different story. There was an oval shield-shaped piece of metal that sat over the pilot's arm, and there was a blue crystal over the palm. Possibly meaning that like my unit, the IS can put out an energy field to block incoming shots with using less power than taking the shot to the energy shield directly. Under that, the clawed hand was red instead of blue as its left counterpart.

The shoulder apparatuses worried me a bit, they had the same shape as one of my single-wing bits set in a circular frame. If I were to give a guess with spotting a small opening at the pointed end of the wing-like objects, they were actually beam or projectile cannons… I'm hoping projectile as they tend to be easier to dodge than beams. Then there was the booster section I saw some of behind Cassidy. It was decently sized, and it was aerodynamically streamlined, in fact, this whole unit appeared aerodynamic. And then who knows what weapons this IS has that aren't built into the IS frame.

For the pilot Cassidy, a white restraint piece clung onto my friend's upper body encased her breasts and upper chest. The shoulders were covered with square-shaped pads. There was also metal encasing her hips but left space exposed between that and where Cassidy's legs slot into the leg controls. Cassidy herself was wearing what looked like a sport's bra with short sleeves attached to it, very similar to my top piece of clothing I'm wearing right now. … and from what I could see, her bottom clothing was almost the same to mine. The real difference, Cassidy's are blue and mine are black.

I smiled at my friend after taking in observations of the unit Cassidy was in, "I've got to say, nice looking IS you've been fitted with Cassidy." I said.

Cassidy giggled a little, "You sound excited about this match." Replied Cassidy.

Let out a bark of laughter, "Words can't say how right you are. The last 'match' I participated in, I was almost bored silly from the start. The girl was so arrogant that she didn't take me seriously at all. It was a joke really and ended out with her going out for my blood and I had to stop her with blunt force by hitting her with a supersonic impact. So, I'm expecting you'll give me a much better match than that, so I can have a chance to get the grey matter to have a real workout."

"I know that you'll be doing the best you can and with Corinthos helping you, so I'll be taking you seriously, that's for sure." Said Cassidy.

"Get ready!" sounded the voice of Arnold Mets, signaling the match was about to begin.

Both Cassidy and I settled into our fighting stances. The countdown started to the match's start, "3… 2… 1… Begin!"

The second the match began, I shot to the left. Yet, out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Cassidy was holding a rifle in her right hand. The rifle was three feet in length and was like a metal bar, much like a two by four. The rifle was a bit taller on the back end, there was also a targeting scope just behind the middle of the gun. The gun itself was grey in color and was clearly a beam based ammunition weapon.

The rifle fired three shots. To counter, I performed some amazing acrobatics in order to avoid the incoming threats… I'd no idea I could do these movements before now! Yes, I'm no amateur when it comes to piloting an IS, but this fight was really putting my brain to work! The first shot came and martial arts instincts along with intuition came as the first shot of adrenaline hit my system. Bending to the right almost ninety degrees and shifting both my left-wing sets so that the energy bolt pass by me and my unit harmlessly.

The second bolt approached a short distance behind the first, and I shifted my body to be horizontal and six inches lower with my face points up towards the sky. Watched as the second energy bolt flies over me, close enough that I felt the heat radiating from the shot as it passed inches in front of my face. Honestly, was like I was doing the limbo or something like that with how I was evading. Shot number three was a little farther behind the first two, but not by much. My response was to flip backward to still be horizontal, yet now my back was to the sky and my front was toward the ground below. The bolt shot over me and I kept going in my circular motion until I was facing forward and upright.

My gaze was back on Cassidy and I saw that she had fired another bolt from her rifle, in the time I had dodged the first three shots. However, the attack had already closed half the distance between Cassidy and myself. It was in line to strike me around my torso, and so I couldn't evade the bolt. Reacted by raising my right arm and positioning it in front of my chest, the red gem-shaped section over the top of my palm and wrist glowing, creating a faint blue-colored light barrier in the form of a tower shield-shaped. The incoming bolt hit the light shield and came to a halt in its path until it dissipated. Once the shot was dealt with, the light shield vanished and the emitter over my wrist and palm ceased glowing.

Granted, I was fully aware that this match would be much more challenging than ones before. This would be one of the greatest and hardest fights I've ever been in… and I'm loving every moment of this! But also, I wasn't an idiot to believe that I could win this without a great deal of effort and I would pretty much lose this match.

Rushed backward to make some distance from Cassidy, to hopefully create more margin for error with the use of her rifle. That gun had fairly high output, not as much as Cecilia's British sniper rifle had, but more than average. I hadn't made a lot of distance when I observed that on the diamond pieces on the outside of the legs on Cassidy's IS open and out of the faintly seen tubes on the sections that had popped out, came missiles. Hidden weapons on this IS unit… now we're talking! This is how a match should be, guessing what your opponent will do until the end. The grey matter will get a very healthy and involved workout, this is going to be fun! I took out my beam rifles, with active targeting going to work, locking onto the incoming missiles in the targeting field so that I know where they are always as they get closer was very much appreciated. My rifles up, I started shooting the projectiles, rendering them inert in relation to me.

Blasting the last of the missiles that had been shot at me, I was about to turn my attention fully back to my opponent when I felt a hard impact. I was forced to come to a stop after being hit, for the impact shook me and Corinthos registered a direct impact had been taken by the energy shield. I spun around to see a little smoke coming from Cassidy's rifle, which was pointed at me. … Firing missiles at me to serve as a distraction for her to line up a shot with her rifle, and successfully as well. Suppose I should expect no less from one who's a league above me, simple tricks aren't going to work.

Cassidy then sped forward towards me, rapidly eliminating the distance between us. I tried to evade out of the way, but my opponent-adjusted her path and made contact with me. And when I say "made contact", I'm saying Cassidy hitting me like a linebacker would a quarterback in the sport of football! Needless to say, I was sent rocketing towards the ground, yet just before kissing that said ground, I managed to stabilize my unit and pull out of the nosedive I'd been put in.

Now, I was racing along the ground as if I was on ice skates and I was speed skating! I pulled a one-eighty grabbing my beam rifles and bringing them to point at Cassidy and started squeezing the triggers each time she came into my targeting sites. As I was having my shoot out with my friend, the voice of Corinthos spoke, "Final format settings, in progress, standby."

An energy bolt shot passed me, apparently my current evasion strategy needs to change as Cassidy is getting closer to hitting me that she was before. I'll really need to keep on my toes in this match, finally, someone that will make things challenging! I began to do weaving motions and then switching to more a zig-zagging pattern and alternating between the two methods. The moving was working to an extent as I was able to dodge the majority of the incoming bolts, there were a few that did hit me. For those that did find their mark of me, I pulled off staggering recoveries and kept on my feet and not face planting at all.

Okay, enough of me shoved in the position of a fox that's being shot at the hunter's leisure, I launched myself into the air with a decent amount of thrust. As I made my ascent upward, I twisted my body around a hundred eighty degrees and saw with satisfaction that Cassidy was right in front of where my raised rifle barrels were aiming. Without further hesitation, I squeezed both triggers and made my first undeniable hit on my opponent in the match! Cassidy moved backward a little, clearly surprised at pulling the stunt I had, she wasn't mad just surprised.

While Cassidy was recovering, I checked my unit's vital readings. Things were working fine, though as Corinthos was doing the final adjustments as we speak, the performance wasn't at the top shape yet. My energy shield, unlike in the match with Alcott, showed a significant difference since, in the fight with Cecilia, my energy level hadn't really changed other than power that was routed to the thrusters. Now that wasn't the case, my current shield level sat at three hundred ninety. I'd taken some shots so, I expected my energy to have gone down an amount. After all, Cassidy is at the level of a world champion, which is a league above what I'm used to dealing with.

"Format settings complete," said Corinthos.

I blasted off upward at a slightly better speed than I'd pulled off previously in this match. Sensors informed me that Cassidy was following after me just after I'd shot off. A plan popped into my mind, it was kind of risky and if Cassidy suspected it, then it would likely fail, but worth a try. I climbed higher and higher until I reached fifteen hundred feet or so above the arena. At that point I shut off all my thrusters, those that got me here and those that would keep me flying in the air. Rising another ten feet from my momentum I got from climbing before gravity began to drag me downward, I fell still facing upward towards the sky above me. As I was experiencing free-fall, I must admit the feeling felt like the first time I flew, liberating beyond what words can ever express!

Caught sight for a brief moment, of Cassidy as I zoomed passed her in my fall. Glancing back, I saw Cassidy diving after me, focused on me along with bringing her rifle out again and beginning to take aim. Well… now or never then! From the back of my hips, I swung forward two metal barrels folded against what looked like elongated rifle butts. Once both pieces came to sit on either side of my hips, the barrel and butt unfolded and whipped upward in opposite directions to become complete guns. Now, with two four-foot guns sitting on my hips, I observed Cassidy's eyes went wide as she took in the two guns I had pointing at her. I smiled and called, "Special delivery!"

The booming sound of a massive electrical discharge, catching a flash and then a fraction of a second later, hearing the explosion of the projectiles that I'd shot hit Cassidy. The gun barrels were putting out a little bit of heated smoke, giving the visible evidence that both guns had fired.

I watched as Cassidy was sent flying to the other side of the arena due to the shockwave from the explosion. She smacked into the ground once and bounce back up into the air. I ignited my wing thrusters and Flying over to the opposite side of the arena and landed lightly on the ground, keeping a respectable distance from my friend. Cassidy came down and hit the ground a second time before she recovered and had feet solidly on the ground, skidding to a stop. There were no weapons were pointed at me as Cassidy rose to her full height. Likewise, I gave the same curtsey and pointed none of mine at her.

"Must say, I wasn't expecting those guns to be usable already. You and Olivia had outdone yourselves," commented Cassidy.

I chuckled, "Thanks, Olivia and I are mighty proud of these railguns, even if they're experimental still."

"I can see why. I've been hit by a few different variations of impact and shock cannons before, but those two guns of yours are quite something else. Where some say that impact cannons are the same as railguns however, with what you and Olivia have made, I would disagree. Impact and shock cannons may have an invisible barrel true, but with the barrel exit velocity your guns have, they make up for the lack of invisible barrel. There's no time to counter or even evade the incoming projectiles, they're just too fast. With impact and shock cannons, there's a one to a three-second window to avoid the shot, but with your railgun, there's less than a second before they hit. Very Impressive," said Cassidy.

Smiling in my silent thanks, I shifted into a fighting stance, "Nice as this conversation is, we're in the middle of a match. Shall we continue where we left off then," I asked.

Cassidy's answer was to get a serious look on her face and nodding. Seconds later, both Cassidy and I raced toward one another, resuming the match. From Cassidy, came a flash and after that flash, my friend and opponent in this fight was now holding two swords. Her swords were six feet in total length from the end of the hilts to the sharp, pointed tip of the sword itself and the blade itself was six inches wide. The hilts took up a foot and a half of the six-foot length, the end three inches of the hilt was white, then the rest split into two parts; the center cylindrical handle, and the curved guard. The center handle was black and simple where the guard appeared more like industrial cabling, yes that's the picture that came to mind.

The transition between the hilt and the blade was a tad different than what people think of with a blade or sword. It was made up of three pieces, the first was the blue connection piece that the center handle and the guard slotted into and it appeared as what a European knight sword section of hilt above the handgrip itself, yet it had only the left-wing protrusion and not the other. The piece above that was a clamp or reinforcement for the blade, it went along four on the blade and had two places that it attached, those being just above center at the base of the blade and four inches ahead of that. The third and final part that made up the transition between hilt and blade, was what looked like an emitter like the ones that were on my saber bases. It was attached on right below the reinforcer for the blade on top.

The blade which was four and a half feet long, was different in the respect of the only sharp part of it, was the last six inches where the blade curves upward to the point. The top side is flat and blunt; it will hurt like heck like it would if you were hit hard with a steel pipe, but it won't cut through much if anything. The other side was much the same except, the was a three and three-quarters section of the blade that was flat like its opposite side but was in a good three inches in from where the edge of the blade should be, leaving an open area in the blade. Suspiciously, it just happens to be where the emitter forward of the hilt was set and there was another emitter towards the top of the blade. Coincidence? I think not!

The distance separating us closed ever more rapidly, I grabbed my beam saber hilts from the back of my waist and gripped them tightly, activating the sabers as I flew forward. From the saber bases came solid tubes of light-colored a light green burst forth, the blades made up of multiple lasers manipulated to appear and work together as one and form a cutting laser that can cut metal like a knife through butter.

The force with which Cassidy and I met was awesome, so great that clouds of dirt and dust were billowing up around us. Both of us were pressing forward hard against one another, trying to get the other to be pushed back. Cassidy's swords parallel to each other as she was pushing them down towards me in the motion of striking both my shoulders. My sabers were set in an X formation to block the incoming swords. Oh, remember that open space in Cassidy's swords, yeah, I now know why it's like that. The reason is, that space is used for a beam that served the same purpose as my beam sabers do, cutting.

After thirty seconds of trying to make each other back down and off, we both shot back from the clash. Spotting that the shoulder apparatus that Cassidy had swung up and as I suspected, proved they were cannons, energy beams no less. I managed to get my left arm up and blocked the first beam with my second light shield, even if it forced me back a bit. The second beam was a different story, that one nailed my energy shield directly, sucking down energy as it blocked damage to me. Glancing at my shield energy display, I noted that I was now down to two hundred ninety out of the eight hundred I started with. Know I should have only started with six-hundred, but I need what advantage I can get in this battle!

I brought out my beam rifles again and fired shots at Cassidy, attempting to hit her or at the very least to back off and give me space to work with. No such luck for me, Cassidy dodged… and made it look easy… this isn't going well for me. Yet I won't give up! It ain't over until the fat lady sings and she's still warming up!

Cassidy swooped in low and kicked up a dirt cloud and messed up my vision and I lost sight of her. I searched around quickly, knowing the longer it took to find Cassidy the more time she had to set up to nail me to the wall hard. Next thing I know I was hit by two beams and force forward twenty-feet. An alert sounded from Corinthos, informing me that my shield energy had fallen worryingly low. Seeing the number one hundred thirty flash once, only served to reinforce the point to me that I getting my butt handed to me on a platter now. Yet to spot Cassidy and knew I was in trouble!

I took a heavy impact from the right side, caught a glimpse of Cassidy before I went sailing into the ground and brought to an abrupt halt. A second alert sounded, say my shield energy had fallen into the red along with the number one hundred was seen out of the corner of my vision. I was struggling to get up but was forced back down to the ground by Cassidy striking me with one of her combat blades. The point of the blade was pressing against my shield and making the energy level drop at an alarming rate! Don't tell me that the point of the blade is designed to work like a damn shield pierce, I'm screwed!

Cassidy thrust the point of her blade down on my shield and I convulsed in response, my energy level fell to seventy. Trying desperately to move and rise to fight back but to no avail. Down came the second thrusting strike with the same effect as before. Corinthos gave another alert, that shield energy fell to critical levels, which I already knew as it was now at forty and still dropping.

Desperate times call for desperate and probably suicidal measures, I attempted to bring out and activate both railguns. However, they weren't able to be deployed as Cassidy was standing such that prevented me from doing so. Crap, the fat lady is about to sing! Cassidy raised her sword once more, holding it there as if for effect, I stared helplessly to do anything about it. She brought it down with a bit more force than the first two strikes hitting my shield.

LA LAAAAAAAAAAA!

And the fat lady sings, for the impact from the stab of the blade point had a kind finality, I could only watch as my shield energy fell and hit zero. I lost granted, I knew that would be the likely outcome, but still, not like this exactly.

After the match, we headed back to the house I had rented, by the time the six of us arrived, I'd gotten over the depressed mood from losing as I did against Cassidy. I'd been well aware that I would most likely lose as Cassidy is at the level of a world champion and I'm not. Still, like any other person, I don't like to lose. However, I was spending time with friends, and not being swamped by girls my own age and that's an awesome thing. It was dinner time when we got to the house, we all pitched into make the meal. I mean, it's hard to go wrong with making spaghetti with six people doing the work, right?

Well, after dinner was polished off, I said my farewells and headed back to the IS academy. I got back before the entrance was closed and locked. Although, it's not like the gate being locked would stop me from getting in. I could just activate my IS and fly over the outer wall. The other students couldn't do that without getting caught, but I can! I have Corinthos hack the detection system of the academy and make my unit be undetectable and so invisible to sensors should I chose to do so. Either that or I could just hack into the IS academy system myself and take control and open the gate, whichever fits my fancy really. I'm not above doing… things considered wrong if I see the need t comes from the days I'd been with the metal-eared bunny and the life-like doll.

-Houki's pov-

I had returned to my room after dinner and had tried to sit down and do homework, but I wasn't able to concentrate. My thoughts were drawn back to the events of earlier that had involved Sai for I couldn't forget the encounter. First, I had 'bumped' into Sai and had landed on top of him with my head landing next to his neck. Thankfully, Sai hadn't been hurt even if he had looked to have been dazed by the fall. And being on top of Sai… if I'm truthful with myself, it had felt nice to be on Sai like I had been and be so close to him. With guys I've always been confrontational, but with Sai it's different, I can't identify exactly why.

In fact, the memory of being so close to Sai, caused my face to heat up for I'd gotten close to kissing him. I had been somehow drawn to trying to do that, my brain had been kind of hazy back at the time. If not for Cecilia, then I just might have kissed Sai… and for some reason, I didn't feel conflict at all with the idea like I have been before. Anyways, I had gotten off of Sai, hoping that he hadn't noticed my cheeks that had been turning red. Then, I'm ashamed of myself when I had given in to the irritation that had flared up in me and snapped at Sai. I mean, he may be my roommate, but when I worried about him, it comes across in a way I don't want it to a portion of the time.

Sai had answered that he had been spending time with friends, which is completely reasonable. But, that reminded me that there was so much about Sai I don't know, mostly since I have not asked him. Still, when the adult woman that Sai later identified as one of his friends had appeared and then hugged Sai, I felt jealous. I don't know, the emotions that had been swimming around in my head had been so confusing lately. Hence, why I feel terrible that I had reacted like Cecilia and had reprimanded Sai for something that was clearly not his fault.

Since becoming roommates, I've learned that Sai is really a nice guy, he listens to me and doesn't get put off by how my feelings come across most of the time. Ichika was the last person that had been like that and I don't want to lose that! So, when I panicked, it had come out as demand and 'anger', all the discipline that I should have after working around a shrine and practicing kendo for so long were wasted. But, Sai's female friend was far prettier than I am, I was being the tomboy that I always fall back into being. I would expect such behavior from Cecilia, her upbringing and arrogance and she had been openly flirting with Sai, not from myself.

Sai's reaction to our behavior was valid and justifiable, after all, he had three girls berating him for little to nothing. He had told us that the two adults were friends of his, though the only place I could figure out that he could have possibly met them, would be at the college he had been going to, which again reminded me how little I know about him. If the situation could have ended there, it wouldn't be so bad, at least, I don't think I would feel as guilty as I do right now.

As Sai had been leaving, I had meant to simply ask where he was going, so that I wouldn't have to worry so much. However, it had come out of me in a bark and in an accusatory tone that made me sound like some sort of controlling mother! Sai's reaction had been… odd, for he didn't show a great deal of emotion, perhaps him showing maturity since I've clearly seen that he has more than a lot of those our age does. What had been going through his head, I haven't the faintest, but what I'd seen had worried me. His vocal response to Cecilia, Rin and I hurt though, "Okay, listen and listen well girls, you leave me little other option but to say what I'm about to. Let me make one thing perfectly and undeniably clear to you since none of you seem to understand the particular point about me that I've been trying to get across without just saying it outright to be nice. I'm not, I repeat, I'm not owned by any of the girls here or anyone at all period! Not any of you three, nor any of the girls in class 1 and certainly not any ladies in the first year or any other year for that matter. I'm an independent and free agent, which can choose how I spend my time and whom I spend it with. That means that none of you need or are entitled to know of my activities unless I choose to make it known to you."

What he had said had effectively silenced the three of us, but Sai hadn't finished, and the second half was the more painful of what he said. "Now, answer me this ladies, have any one of you, once taken the time to think about what I wanted, felt or thought about what you girls do or planned to do with me or even consider asking me?! No, you like the rest are too focused on keeping my attention and consuming my time without thinking about what I think at all. Hell, none of you have even taken the time to even get to know much about me, only listened to the ridiculous gossip that others invent. So, you girls have absolutely no right to tell me what to do or know what I'm doing if I see a reason not to tell you. I'm an equal, a male that can match females in using an IS, not a pet or prize to be won in some sort of contest any of you make. I expect to be treated as an equal human being, not as property!"

Sai had left after saying that he needed to work on his IS unit and the reason he hadn't been able to do so earlier was because of all of us in the first years taking up his time, including the three of us. I know the things that he said were right in multiple ways, it didn't make it easier to swallow. There had been a growing number of girls at the academy even some outside of first-year, and they were flirting with him demanding his time and attention. It's amazing that Sai is taking college courses and keeping up in them and not letting it be known to others, I'm having a hard time keeping up with core classes. Then, I can't deny that I've been treating Sai more like a possession rather than a person I want to be my friend.

I finally gave up on homework for tonight and who knew when Sai would get back. I wanted to apologize to him, but the longer that I waited, the worse the guilt was becoming. Dressing for bed after putting my school things away, I turned off the lights and simply laid on my bed, wishing I didn't do such stupid things. Less than an hour later, the sound of the door opening caught my attention, and I got up and headed for the light switch flipping it on

"I see you have returned," I said, seeing that Sai was the one that had entered the room.

Sai faced me, even as I had a down casted expression on my face, he smiled halfheartedly, "Um yes, I'm back Houki," he said.

There was an awkward silence between us, then I bowed to Sai, "I'm sorry," I exclaimed in apology.

Sai stared at me for a moment, "Sorry about what, Houki," he asked in a neutral tone.

It felt like my heart was slowing down as pain came to me at being asked to be specific and give details with my apology. I took a deep breath, "The things I said earlier." was the answer I gave.

Sai folded his arms and the look on his face said that my answer wouldn't be enough, "The things you said huh? Do you mean demanding where I was last night, when," Sai grabbed a scrap of paper from his desk that I had somehow missed. "I wrote and left a note on the desk, which you didn't find last night or this morning as it was where I placed it. I thought the desk was the easiest place for you to find it, but alas, I was wrong."

I could think of nothing to say to that as I was in the wrong and I couldn't deny that. Still, Sai continued, "Oh, or maybe you're referring to you demanding to know who my friends were, in a bellow no less." My frown of pain deepened as the events of this morning were mentioned. "No wait wait wait, perhaps you're apologizing for treating me like some kind of object or animal that's kept as a pet… something less than an equal?"

He put a finger to my chin before gazing directly at me, "Please Houki, do be specific on what you're saying sorry for, it does help in an apology. For it shows you see the mistake that's been made, instead of just using hollow words to make an excuse. There are people that do that, and it isn't nice when they do," Sai remarked.

I feel like such a horrible person right now! I would have preferred that Sai just hit me or something like that instead of this reprimand, it would be easier. My voice wasn't working, so no words came from me, still, Sai kept his gaze steady on me, "As I believe I said, I'm not owned by anyone." My head fell in shame, "Perhaps you've taken the time to think about the other things I said, about considering how I feel and what I want," he asked.

Please stop Sai, I can't take this anymore! I'm trying to apologize, and yet I'm feeling worse than before! And yet, I didn't want to blow up at Sai, it would do even more damage than I've done already. I heard a sigh before I felt a pair of arms go around me, which brought me out of my depression and got me to look back up. I was shocked to find Sai hugging me for he didn't seem the kind of guy to do this. His gesture was certainly warm, "Look Houki, I don't hate you or anything like that."

My eyes widened at hearing that Sai didn't hate me along with some of the pain I'd been feeling fading away. I stared at him as he continued, "All I'm saying is to look at me as an individual and a human being like you would any other girl here at the academy, I don't think that's too much to ask from you."

I leaned forward against Sai's front for a moment, happy that Sai wasn't going to hold what had happened against me. I was so relieved that tears started coming from my eyes and I held onto Sai. After a minute, Sai released the embrace, and grabbed clothes from his dresser and headed for the bathroom. Just after he closed the door, I felt a smile come to my face believing that I had been forgiven by Sai.

Chapter end!

A/n

And that's where I'll leave off with this chapter. Sai has done some laying down of the line he expects from the girls at the academy. His friends from Cornell are in Japan for the time being and will be able to support him somewhat. Please take the time to write a review and tell me what you think of the story thus far, feel free to criticize me about things you find wrong, ask questions of me, whatever.

Heikki

Glad you like this story and hoped you liked this chapter.