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.

7. Mounting Tension

A/n

Here be Chapter 7, sorry this one took longer than those before, but this will be the way going forward. With school now in full swing for me, the time I get for writing has gone down. Anyway, here is the continuation of where the cliffhanger left off in the last chapter.

Chapter 7: Mounting Tension

-Sai's pov-

It wasn't even five seconds after I opened the door, that the feeling of at least a dozen pairs of hands grabbing onto the clothes Matt had lent me registered. I'm thankful to have a friend like him in my times of need, would rather not waltz in with me being in just my pilot outfit. I can see bad things happening if were I to do such a thing, plus, it would be kind of embarrassing in a way for me. Yet, back to me being pulled inside the dorm building, there was a lot of force with the combined pairs of hands pulling me. I was blinded for a moment while my eyes adjusted to the difference in lighting from outside the dorm and inside. Even as my eyes adjusted, voices assaulted my ears, the noise that I was trying to process, parts were familiar, and others were less so. If I'm not mistaken, all my female classmates were piled on me and embracing me, some of them were crying I think. My brain registered the sensation of me being embraced and the all too familiar horrible sickening feeling that I get with another hugging me washed over me, I'm in my own personal HELL!

Now, one might ask why might this situation be my own personal hell, especially, where many other males would think they've died and gone to paradise? That answer and reason for that, because none of those males who would love to be in this position, had ever been at the mercy of the perverted molesting bunny and/or the life-sized sisterly porcelain doll when either of them or both feel the need to cuddle! And such a need and urge came often with those two women when they saw me… I still wonder how I survived what they did and still be as sane as I am! Heck, it wouldn't be entirely surprising if I have some form of PTSD because of the things those two women did to me, but I can't say.

Speaking of the present, having this number of girls on me didn't affect me as much as their hugging me did, tightly I might add. This feeling reminded me far too much of the previously mentioned cuddle sessions with the bunny or the doll alone and I wasn't liking it at all! Those memories are nightmares to me and I can't get them to go away for all that long. So, the coping mechanism I developed came into effect and like some form of magic, I somehow miraculously got out from under the pile of girls smothering me. I then, seemingly appeared on the left side of the dorm common room, don't ask me how I can do that, I still don't understand the how, just that I can, and it has saved me from many a dire situation. Without hesitation, I dove into hiding behind one of the sofas.

It was a testament to just how good I got slipping away from those who like to hug me, I'd a lot of practice with the metal eared bunny and the life-like doll, and if I can escape those two, then I can pretty much escape anyone! My breathing was bordering on hyperventilating with the current situation that I was in even though I was trying to calm down. "You're not looking so good at the moment Sai," said an adult feminine voice that I knew all too well.

I certainly thought my heart was going to burst through my chest, not letting my ribcage, muscles, and skin stopping its exit or slowing it down. Spinning around and shifting into a stance to defend myself out of habit while I kept in a crouch, and I saw Chifuyu. I managed to regain a little of my normally calm demeanor though I was still shaky while glaring at her. "Being smothered by this many girls, it reminds me far too much of being forced into cuddle sessions with the two you oh so often helped me escape from Chifuyu. Do you seriously think I would enjoy this kind of thing after what the dumb rabbit and the blonde marionette did to me? Their eccentric qualities are no excuse for their actions I suffer for," I hissed.

The worried voices of girls came to my ears and lines asking where I had gone, that made the calm I had to evaporate, and I began to shiver as images of being smothered again flashed in my mind along with horrible memories. It would be what would likely happen if I don't do something quick! Looking back to Chifuyu with an expression of serious worry plain as day, that shifted to me making a plea to her. "Chifuyu please, don't tell them I'm over here! I'm asking this as your adopted brother, don't toss me to those female wolves! They'll tear me apart and I'm happier living," I said fast and desperately.

Chifuyu smiled at my entreaty, which didn't reassure me in the slightest, it more terrified me more than anything, "My my Sai, you're so fortunate to have this many girls worrying about you, and you asking me for help," she asked with an amused tone.

I watched her glance towards girls who were looking for me and my face paled, "You-you wouldn't dare Chifuyu," I said in a shaky voice. "That's something that the lecherous hasenpfeffer would do to me for entertainment purposes. You wouldn't sink to her level, would you," I whispered, stuttering as I said the line as I was hiding, my voice could give me away if it's too loud.

My 'big sister' figure, which under most of the majority of circumstances, I would respect, simply smirked at me. My face went from being pale to all the blood draining from my face in seconds realizing the truth. Yes, at this moment, Chifuyu would sink to the bunny's level and help my classmates find me rather than assist me, her adopted brother. She was going to get me back for the times I talked back and did what I know was toeing the line during class and in the dorm! I gulped really hard and shook my head frantically at Chifuyu in the vain hope that she would listen, but no, payback is a bi**h! "Ladies, Sai is over here," called Chifuyu.

Tensing up yet managing to glare hard at Chifuyu, "I'll get you back for this Chifuyu, mark my words! The white gloves come off and I get to behave how I used to," I growled in the form of a threat at her. Then, I bolted down the hallway that started six feet from my hiding spot and sprinted as hard as I could.

However, six feet was enough of a distance for some of the girls to see me. As if this was the hunting of the fox, like is still sometimes done in Great Britain, they bayed the alarm as any hunting hound would after catching the scent of the fox. And so, the chase began, with the part of the fox unwillingly filled by myself and my classmates playing the parts of the hound and hunter. I'm very glad I had dinner before coming back to the academy! It's providing fuel to keep away from those pursuing me! Although, I believe it would have been better if I had just stayed at the house tonight, yet it's too late for that now.

Not even a full minute passed, and I lost count of the turns I made down however many hallways of the dorm I ran down, and yet, the girls were still able to keep finding me each time I would think I had lost them! They're working as a team, and I have just myself, does anyone else not see this as unfair! It took me a full fifteen minutes for me to find and use an escape route… thank goodness for windows, they're life and virtue savers! Throwing open the window and diving out, then close the window quickly, but quietly before dropping to the ground. I listened for my classmates that had been closing in on me passing by the window I was hiding directly under outside. I had been holding my breath and exhaled it when the sound of my classmates faded.

The only way I could see this situation ending for the night was to make it to my room. I don't doubt my classmates have come to the same conclusion, as there is a lock on the door to keep them out. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they have placed guards at the door to prevent me from getting through the door and locking them out. My peers were dead set on catching me tonight… for what purposes, I can't say for most of them at the moment. However, there may be a way to get to my room WITHOUT entering by the door, that being the balcony. If I can get to it, then I can enter the room without using the door. Granted, Houki had insisted on keeping it locked, but as much as I respect my roommate, my wellbeing is more important than following rules in my view. So, I can unlock the balcony doors from the outside as I had placed a spare key covertly without her knowing it. It may be wrong of me, but I was prepared for the time that I would need to escape my female peers and so, I did what I thought was necessary!

The challenge will be getting up to a third-floor balcony without being caught by my pursuers. Climbing the outside wall is a tad too risky for my liking, and there are no trees to the balcony I'm aiming for, hence the difficulty for me, though there was a way. Normally, were I to use my IS without permission, I would get into serious trouble. There's a detection system that alerts the faculty of the use of an IS whenever one is used and so if I use my machine, that's like announcing myself breaking the rules here and now. I wouldn't doubt Chifuyu is counting on that system to prevent me from using my unit. What Chifuyu doesn't know is I have Corinthos and it can hack through systems better and faster than any other hacker, other than maybe the bunny, the doll and myself when I'm put to it.

I outright told her that I now would only follow the rules if "I" saw reason to going forward, that had come when I said, "The white gloves come off and I get to behave how I used to". The way that I had behaved while living with the Bunny and the Doll was much different than how I do now. Rules meant crap to the three creators of Infinite Stratos, if one's goal could be achieved quicker by breaking rules, then rules be damned was the motto of the bunny, the doll and me back then. But my time away from those two had gotten me to shape up somewhat, I don't instantly consider breaking the rules so blatantly anymore as it can be seen as a dismissal of personal integrity. However, in this, Chifuyu hadn't helped me so, for my virtue, I will resort to what I did back with the bunny and doll!

Deploying my IS's head interface as one-piece partial deployment doesn't register on the detection system as long as it's not a weapon, I gave a command. "Corinthos, I need you to hack into the IS detection system and make it so they can't see or know that the unit has deployed at all," I stated.

"That is against the rules of the academy," Corinthos stated.

"I don't give a crap about that anymore! Circumstances have changed, meaning that the acceptable actions are different. Now do it," I returned in slight desperation.

"Understood, standby," was the reply.

I waited, keeping quiet so I gave no more opportunity to my classmates to find me and resume smothering me and piling on top of me. Not saying that many of the girls in my class and the first year don't have bodies developing nicely for their age thus far and I've been forced to notice this as some of the girls are beginning to literally throw themselves at me in various ways. If not for the long-term effects of the cuddle sessions of perverted rabbit and the cuddle happy doll, it wouldn't be as bad. Nevertheless, those two women did things to traumatize me probably for life and I can't help that now. So, because of that and spending time with those a sizable amount older than me, I'm not very good at dealing with girls my age doing what they were. They don't take no for an answer with them wanting to do things their hormones are telling them to.

"Detection system alterations complete," Corinthos told me.

Crawling out from under the window and disappearing into the darkness of the night, I made my way around the building to the east side that the balcony I was going to use was on. I counted from the left side to the seventh balcony, which was the one to my room, I did the calculation earlier in case of a situation like this. It pays to be prepared and I'm glad I took the time to prepare an escape plan, just in case the need arose… like if, or rather when one or more of the girls dragged me off somewhere and jump my bones. It was the worst-case scenario, but those are the ones you want to prepare for the most and a lesson I've learned well!

I summoned my unit and flew up to the balcony and landed, then deactivated my IS. I went over to a particular brick, pulled it out and took out the key I hid behind it. I unlocked the door and then returned the key and slotted the brick back into place. Quietly entering the room, I snuck to the door and checked to make sure it was locked and after seeing that it was, I relaxed slightly. I listened for a minute to see if I had been right in my guess of guards on the door and if my ears weren't deceiving me, there were indeed two or more girls guarding the door as I had predicted.

I made my way to the desk and sitting down, a sigh of frustration escaping me due to my current problems and because this had been a long non-fun day! The need for getting notes on the lectures I missed and catch up on college schoolwork came to mind and didn't help my mood. Then, I wasn't in the right state of mind to do schoolwork and I knew it so, rising from the desk, I flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. I hadn't been lying long when the sound of a key turning in the lock of the door alerted me that someone was about to come in. Instantly, I made a split-second decision and rolled off the bed and into the gap between the wall of the bathroom and my bed, then moved under the bed. The door opened and then closed, the even footfalls echoed as whoever came in the room came into the bedroom area. I slowed and quieted my breathing pattern to further my effort to conceal myself and listened hard.

-Houki's pov-

As the girls in the dorm kept hunting for Sai, I became more worried and what could happen to him was he caught. Sai had made it clear that he isn't one that likes lots of attention from others, girls especially. I didn't join them, nor did Lingyin by what I saw though Cecilia did. I headed back towards my room, only to find girls standing outside of the door. So, I guess this means that enough of the girls knew which room Sai was assigned to. When I approached the two girls who weren't in Class One didn't move, to which I sighed, "Could you move please, I would like to get into my room," I said.

"Your room? This is supposed to be the room of Taichi, so we don't buy it," one of the two girls said.

I was trying to think of a way to get these two girls to understand that the room they were guarding was indeed the one I was assigned to. "Houki-chan," called a voice.

We all turned to see Honne Nohotoke, she was in a room two doors down from the room Sai and I share. I bowed in greeting, "Good evening Honne," I said.

The girl came up to me and was looking from me to the other two girls, "Houki-chan, why are you standing outside your room?"

"Well, these two girls don't believe that room 1025 is the one I'm supposed to be in Honne. Why that is, I don't know myself," I replied.

With Honne vouching for me and after a few minutes, I was allowed to pass and open the door to my room. The girls did look inside the room from the door, but I wouldn't let them inside to search for Sai. The chase was ridiculous and so I wouldn't let it go farther than it already had by letting the room be searched thoroughly. I closed the door and locked it, not blaming Sai for running away from these girls that are after him like he did. Honestly, I was feeling sorry for Sai as girls chasing him had been getting worse lately. Yet he had somehow been dealing with it and keeping it quiet from the staff which was surprising with how it was becoming a kind of contest between the girls.

I glanced around the room, and couldn't help but voice my thoughts, "I wonder how Sai will get here tonight or if he will go elsewhere instead. I hope he hasn't been caught by anyone yet, the search for him is getting out of hand. The way those two girls won't let me close to the door was stupid, if not for Honne, then I might have had to have gone to Miss Orimura."

I heard the sound of a heavy exhale, "No Houki, none of them caught me before I got here though it was closer than I liked. But then, I did use a route that they weren't expecting which is why I wasn't caught, and I don't intend to let them have their way," said the voice of Sai tiredly.

Looking in the direction that Sai's voice had come from and saw him crawling out from the gap between his bed and the wall. He was getting to his feet as the relief I felt seeing that Sai was okay washed over me. An urge came to me and I couldn't stop myself and I rushed forward embracing Sai. I was so glad that Sai was okay after everything that had happened today between the class league match and the unknown IS appearing. The arena had locked down tight, chaos and panic had been rampant while Sai and Lingyin had been fighting the odd IS had caused a lot of stress. Then, Sai had charged after the unknown IS and contact had been lost shortly after the chase began. Nothing had been heard about Sai until the message came by Chifuyu telling us that Sai was on his way back to the dorm after talking with the academy administration.

Everyone here had been going nuts since hearing that, I'd heard all sorts of things that girls had in mind to do to welcome Sai back. None of what I'd heard sounded like anything that Sai would be interested in or like participating in. It brought to mind what Sai had said about girls here not caring about what he thought or wanted and were more intent to fulfill their own wishes. So, to know that Sai was here and safe was such a relief to me at least. Yet, Sai stiffened at my hug, "Houki you mind letting go," he let out a grunt, "I've had more" he released a gasp, "than enough hugging for tonight," he got out as what felt like tremors were going through him.

I released the hold I had on Sai blushing as I pulled back, "Sorry I," I started saying.

Sai fell back to his bed and he was clearly convulsing, and it didn't look to be happening by choice. I waited for whatever was happening to Sai to pass, also taking the time to try and get my flushed cheeks to go away. In my heart, it had felt good to hug Sai which with him being a boy was somewhat different for me, it had been better than I would have thought it could be. The feelings I was experiencing around Sai were still confusing and I was trying to figure them out, but they didn't feel bad or anything. The warmth that came to my heart whenever I was with him was really nice and getting to be more so. And I couldn't help but wish to be closer and hugging was one of those actions that allowed me to be like that with him.

Plus, it wasn't just the warm feeling that came when I was around Sai, there was more that came with it. I found myself smiling more when I was around Sai, and just, in general, feel more content than I have for a long while. Granted, frowns came when other girls were vying for Sai's attention even though I tried to not let those show. The irritation and admittedly jealousy had been registering loud and clear to me and I hadn't mistaken them. When I looked back at Sai, I also saw his face show expressions of anger, disgust and serious frustration going across it in what appeared to be in random order. Still, once Sai calmed down from what was happening to him, he looked over at me as I continued staring at him. "What," Sai asked.

I shuffled uncomfortably, "Are you really okay, I mean, with all that happened today, that weird IS and everyone chasing you," I trailed off.

Sai gave me a soft smile, "Yes, I'm fine," he said laying back on his bed.

Sai answered so little when asked questions, and where I understand wanting not to broadcast some facts, but still, there were many unanswered questions. Him being a college student, that I comprehend wishing to keep to yourself, more so after he explained a bit more. I could just imagine some of the first years badgering him more than they do already with problems with their homework were they to find out he is much smarter than most here. That and they would use it as an excuse to spend time with him and that could go badly with some. Plus, Sai manages his time better than most others I've seen, he somehow keeps up in schoolwork and deals with the girls around him demanding attention from him.

However, the reaction he had to be hugged is yet another unsaid story that begged the question of what could have started that. When Sai had been 'hugged' by the other girls in the dorm, he had somehow disappeared before reappearing on the opposite side of the large common room. It had been like a magic trick and I had been watching, he had literally appeared to vanish from sight. If it hadn't been for Professor Orimura, then I doubt many would have found him for a while, which is saying something. Then, when I had embraced him, tremors and convulsions had gone through him and the only cause that I could think of was the contact.

Yet, such a reaction would I think to require some kind of event or multiple traumatic experiences to develop. He might not say anything to help explain this, but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask for more information. So, I cleared my throat and Sai raised my head looking at me again, "You seem to have a problem of others hugging you, why is that," I asked evenly.

A stark involuntary shiver ran through Sai's entire body at my inquiry which said the subject was one he had issues with. A variety of expressions flashed across Sai's face; disgust, anger, dislike being some of the recognizable ones I saw. Sai refocused on me, then seemed to be thinking hopefully to answer my question. After a bit, Sai finally spoke, "Um, in the past, I experienced things that make the feeling of being hugged or embraced by others feel for a lack of a better term horrible. I really don't want to talk about it in detail, I try to forget what causes this even when I really can't," he answered.

So, as I suspect, the reaction is due to events that Sai went through in the past. But that makes me wonder what could have possibly been done to him to result in him reacting to hugging as he does. "But what or who did this to you," I inquired.

Sai once again flinched visibly at being asked, specifically when I asked who was responsible for his problem with hugging. "Uh I can't say," he said quickly.

Why isn't Sai saying anything?! Avoiding problems doesn't help, if someone has done such horrible things to him, then he should talk about it and move on and forward. "Why would you protect someone that would cause this" I replied.

My question unlike the last one, got Sai to frown angrily, "I'm not defending the f-freaking perverted bunny. That's the last thing I would think of doing with what she's done to me. If anything, then I'm protecting myself," he mumbled.

None of what Sai muttered made sense at all to me for it told of nothing of who did this to Sai at all other than a reference to them. So then, who is this 'perverted bunny' that Sai refers to with clear and heavy dislike? It sounded like whoever they were that they had done a great deal to Sai, and if so, they should be ashamed of themselves! I kept looking at Sai, but gained a confused look, "Perverted bunny? What are you talking about Sai," I questioned.

Sai snapped back to full attention, "Nothing! Not a single thing! Please just drop the subject for the time being!"

His quick retort was worrisome to me, but he didn't seem to want to get further into this, so I left it alone for now. As the night drew to its close, Sai and I prepared ourselves for bed. That being said, when a knock came at the door, Sai and I looked at each other before Sai cautiously approached the door and opened it. I got up from my bed to see who could be at the door at this hour as I expected the two girls who had been guarding the door would have gone to their rooms. So, when we saw that our sub-homeroom teacher Miss Yamada standing there, it was a surprise.

"Miss Yamada, this is an unexpected visit," Sai greeted calmly, "to what do Houki and I owe your visitation at this time of night?"

Miss Yamada smiled, "Well, Mr. Taichi, it's moving day," she answered in a happy tone.

Moving day? What does she mean? Moving for which one of us, and why? Sai and I may not have gotten off to the best of starts, but we'd come to a good understanding since then and neither of us had an issue with how things were now. Also, that would give a different girl a chance to do something to Sai and that worried me.

"Would you please clarify what you mean by moving day Miss Yamada," Sai asked evenly.

I moved to be next to Sai and I nodded as I wanted to know what Miss Yamada was talking about. "There have been better arrangements made for the both of you, isn't that wonderful," replied the older woman.

What's wrong with how things are right now? I was going to say just that, but Sai spoke up before I could. "What do these new arrangements entail Miss Yamada," he asked in a completely serious tone.

"Well, Mr. Taichi, Miss Shinonono will be transferring to a different room. After all, it isn't a wise idea to having two young adults of the opposite gender sharing a room for too long. You're both are maturing young adults, so you shouldn't be given the temptations to make serious mistakes at your age," lectured our sub-homeroom teacher.

Wait, me transferring to a different room? Then another girl would be assigned to this room with Sai, and that wouldn't change what Miss Yamada brought up anyways! Did someone go behind everyone else back to get this arrangement to occur? Yet, who could have enough influence to get this to happen in the middle of the semester? I can't think of any in the first year, and who in any of the other years would do this? There are so many questions and no facts that could answer any of them.

I caught a glimpse of Sai looking irritated at what had been stated by Miss Yamada before he made his face flat. He sighed and rubbed his temples, "Miss Yamada, not that I don't agree with you on the subject of a guy and girl sharing a room provides worrisome temptations as I do. However, speaking as the only male here at the academy, I'm not given the luxury of choice in my roommate being female. That is literally all there is for me with roommates so I'm left to make do with that point. That in mind, out of all the females I'm around lately, Houki is more trustworthy than others in this dorm building when it comes to self-control. I would rather not have to test others as I feel some wouldn't control themselves," he started.

My cheeks flushed again, but more than they had before for it was one of the best compliments I've received from Sai. Granted, being around Sai brings strange feeling to me, but I don't let them get the better of me. Yet our sub homeroom teacher shook her head, "I'm afraid to be that as it may, this cannot go on the way it is. For the time being Mr. Taichi, you will not have a roommate," interrupted Miss Yamada firmly.

With what Miss Yamada said I froze, it changed the line of thought I was having. Sai having his own room would clearly work out for him more than anything though I don't like the idea. I looked over at Sai, who was thinking and saying nothing. He glanced over at me, and I frowned painfully as I didn't want to change rooms. "Sorry Houki, but Miss Yamada does have a valid point in this. You're free to visit of course, but even beyond high school level of education, a guy and gal sharing a room before they're married is highly discouraged, to put it mildly," he said evenly yet nicely.

I gained a downcast expression at Sai's statement, he turned to Miss Yamada, "If you could just give Houki her new room number, I'll help her get there," he stated.

After Miss Yamada left and Sai shut the door, I was left down at the prospect of having to leave this room and no longer being Sai's roommate anymore. Sai came over to me, "You need or want help packing," he inquired.

I couldn't answer Sai, I was still reeling as he sat down on his bed, "Look Houki, this doesn't have anything to do with or against you personally I assure you. I've found you to be a very nice and a good person in the time we've been roommates. However, try for a moment to see this wearing my shoes," Sai posed.

Sai then got into depicting a scenario that he'd been in since coming here. Apparently, Sai hadn't really spent a lot of time around his own age group until coming to the academy. He was used to being around those who were normally five or more years older than you which fits college-age at this time. That point explained why Sai acted differently than everyone else around him as he matured sooner than his peers being around those older than him. So, for him to be thrown into the environment that the IS Academy has was very foreign to him. He then described how he felt that all the girls, regardless of their year, chased after him and flirted with him. Sai even suggested that some girls were wanting to "have a go at him" and "jump his bone", which was stupid. Although, I did get a blush at that idea being mentioned for I understood what he was talking about.

"You have amazing self-control Houki, I'll be the first to admit that and it's to your credit. Yet, can you say with absolute honesty that you haven't had a single thought about us doing intimate activities that are done with someone you have deep affections for, such as things married couples do in bed," Sai asked.

My voice wouldn't respond as I wanted it to at all, for truthfully, I have had thought of being in intimate situations with Sai before now. Such was embarrassing, yet somehow, they didn't feel wrong like they probably should, it was one of the points that contributed to the confusion. Maybe it was also that something within me wanted Sai and me to have that kind of relationship, I don't know.

"Houki, look at me," Sai said getting my attention as I raised my head and our eyes met. "Don't be ashamed that such thoughts have gone through your mind, it's natural that it would happen. It's a part of growing up and going through puberty, your hormones are doing what they were designed to do, and that's why what Miss Yamada said is valid. At our age, it's better to not even have the circumstances that provide the temptation, it's so that we don't have the opportunity to make a choice like that which has such long-lasting consequences. Even I have to concede that we're too young to have good judgment yet," he stated to me.

In my mind, I know that Sai is right in what he was saying. With this time of life, so much is changing for all of us, but still, does that mean that what I've been feeling around Sai is nothing more than hormones having their way. But I… I don't want to believe that is all there is to this. Sai is different than any guy I've been around before, and he doesn't just shy away after I snap at him. No one has done that since Ichika, and I don't want to lose that a second time. These feelings I have are not simply hormones at work, of that I'm sure! "But I really like you! It's not just hormones at work Sai, I'm sure of that, so is that so wrong," I confessed loudly yet firmly.

Sai stared at me for a moment, but said nothing to my admittance, then he smiled, rose up and came over to me. He hugged me softly, "No, you feeling that way about me isn't wrong Houki, but I know with certainty that I'm not ready to begin a serious, lifetime lasting relationship with anyone just yet and I would doubt that you are either. That's the difference, at this age it's hard to see beyond the simple points of relationship and see the long-lasting consequences of it. We're still friends, never said anything to the contrary, that's how it needs to stay for the time being," he replied.

I'm glad to be friends, but… that's not enough still, I wish to be more than 'just friends' with Sai. So, I wrapped my arms around Sai and pressed my lips to his in a kiss to which Sai stiffened, but didn't pull away. The kiss was short only lasting a few seconds, and now that I think of it, the kiss was my first and it did not happen the way I would have thought, but that's okay. We separated after a bit, and I began to pack my things. Sai did offer to help me, but I kindly refused him. Once I had my things, Sai told me the room I was to be transferred to, I bowed and thanked him for putting up with me, then left for my new room.

-Sai's pov-

I stared at the door for a few minutes, then put a hand to my lips with a feeling of complete shock and I don't feel that often. Houki had kissed me, right out of the blue, I hadn't seen that coming at all, so it had blindsided me. I'm not a complete stranger to kissing, I've done it with other girls before, but Houki kissing me had felt different than what had occurred before. I don't exactly know what to think in this, genius though I am, social and relationship stuff isn't my forte even if I better at it than the bunny and the doll… combined even. The kiss had felt kind of nice somehow, and I can't explain the reason it did.

I shook my head to clear it from such thoughts, sighing due to the attempt I had just made to be nice and soften the blow of Houki not being my roommate and her response. I've said it before and I'll say it again, girls are strange creatures that I may never understand. Closing the door and locking it, I decided to take a shower before winding down and turning in for the night. It's not like I can do schoolwork or things like that right now, my head is too full of jumbled thoughts that need to be sorted out. Although it is nice to have the privacy of my own room as it a sanctuary from the girls that badger me often during the day, I could do my homework in peace going forward, that was one good thing going for me.

After the shower, I sat down at the desk and was looking through the original data from the IS core as it would help me clear my mind. Doing work and development on an IS, whatever the part always helps me relax, it's just how it goes for me. What I found in the data was honestly, intriguing for the doll had indeed made a machine that could easily run without a pilot. And when I say run, I mean seamlessly which isn't simple at all and she had done so to the point that even I hadn't considered it could be unmanned until Corinthos informed me of the missing vital signs. The work involved to accomplish that alone is huge and I had to admit begrudging respect for that achievement. I looked at some of the unfamiliar data that was intriguing to me since I do respect some of the work of my fellow IS inventors even if I don't like their personalities individually.

I was concentrating on the information when the second knock on the door of the night came and drew my attention. Looking up at the door, I wondered to myself who it was this time. I switched off the terminal screen before getting up, more for the reason if it should it be Chifuyu at the door, then she wouldn't see what I was looking at. It wouldn't be a good thing for her to see differing IS core data than the school will have, and she would see it somehow. If such was found out, it would be rather incriminating evidence against me and I would like to avoid adding problems as much as possible. I approached the door and opening the door a crack, and seeing that it was Houki, I swung the door open the rest of the way. "Hey Houki, did you forget something," I asked.

It had been around an hour since she had 'moved out' of the room, so why would she have come back? Either she forgot something or it's me she's here to see and if it's the latter, then I'm curious as to why. I'm leaning toward the second possibility with the faint blush that was developing on Houki's face. "Well, I was thinking, the individual tournament is coming up in a bit under a month," Houki began.

Ah yes, the individual tournament, when pretty much all the students' skills are tested in matches against one another. I'll need another Saturday, preferably more than one at Asake IS R&D to do tuning before that, wonder if Cassidy could arrange that with her brother. But I'm getting distracted from Houki talking to me, that's rude of me. I refocused my attention back onto the girl at… my goodness, 'my door' now, that's going to take a little getting used to. "Yes, the tournament is coming up within a month. You brought this up because," I asked leaving the question open for her to answer.

Houki took a deep breath and then looked me straight in the eye. I suddenly get a feeling of foreboding and it doesn't feel nice. Trouble is brewing, I feel it, "If I win the tournament, then… then you HAVE TO DATE ME," said Houki and the last four words were bellowed.

I blinked a few times processing what she said for it was the second blindsiding of the night for me. I couldn't miss the slamming of a door down the hall somewhere, and so the feeling of an impending storm of problems grows. I returned my attention fully to Houki, who was still waiting for an answer. If a date is what she wants, then she should just ask, It's so much easier and much less emotionally taxing to be upfront about things I say. Houki was breathing hard, yet she was staring at me waiting for my response. "You know Houki if you want a date with me that much, asking me directly is easier for both of us and a lot less taxing on you I would think. As for an answer to your request, I see no problem with that, it would likely be on a Sunday. I do hope that's not a problem for you," I calmly replied.

Houki had an expression of shock on her face, "Wait what?"

I gazed at her steadily and repeated my answer, "I believe I said sure, I'll take you on a date regardless of the results of the tournament. It will probably be on a Sunday and I hope that works for you," I told her.

Houki was nodding her head, a smile on her face as she did. She then headed back towards I assume her new room, in a much brighter mood. I watched her go and for a moment, I swear I had just been seeing things, and very odd and out of place things at that. I leaned out of my room and watch Houki for a moment to ascertain if what I thought I had seen had been a trick of the light or fact for it could have been. To my surprise and astonishment, Houki was skipping down the hallway like I had been indeed seeing, I didn't know she had it in her… interesting. The things you think you'll never see, yet do at the most unexpected times, they never cease to amaze me.

Things settled back into a routine again and a week went by since Houki had switched rooms and I was left with my own room. In that period, nothing had come from Houki asking me out on a date, yet I'm sure there had been girls listening in on that conversation. I would have expected rumors and gossip to arise the day afterward. However, it was the Thursday of the following week of what had gone down in the class league matches, so, around ten days had passed in total since that event. The day began like it usually did for me, wake up at 6 am, go on a morning jog and then get ready for the day. I had stopped by the house where my friends were staying to spend some time comparing notes and schoolwork as I do time to time I was still able to get back by a little after seven in the morning. Breakfast was… a subtle affair as it had been for the same amount of time, the girls from the dorm had calm themselves down thank goodness and so they didn't assault me. Then came the first morning class of IS knowhow and that's when this day became less normal.

I sat in my seat, front and center, minding my own business as I do when I began to hear the before class gossip. Now, most of the time, I wouldn't really listen and take much of it, if any of what I heard seriously. Girls are, after all, creatures of gossip, they seem to be unable to live without gossiping with one another. However, today well, let me just give you the rumor that irked me so much on hearing it. I learned of this troublesome rumor in the overheard conversation as follows:

"Hey, have you heard the latest rumor," asked a classmate.

"You mean about that weird IS that is now somewhere in the school and is being dissected by members of the upper class," said another female voice.

Once again, amazed at how the majority of the gossip that girls do, is utterly pointless and is in reality, a small truth that's blown so far out of proportion, it's almost unrecognizable to what it was before. It's simply incredible, and I've seen and heard the idea in its various forms to understand what I have stated about gossip, is completely true, some would disagree with this view, but they can shut up! I did kind of wondered what type of rumors would fly around with that machine and the trouble it caused. Technically, I believe some of the staff, including Chifuyu and Miss Yamada, have been examining it somewhere in the academy. Just amazed that it took this long for rumors to sprout up. I could help them, but I won't as I'm in my view, returning the favor that Alice did for me a year and a half ago by bailing me out of what the bunny threw me into.

"No, not that one. The one of what you can win if you come out on top in the Individual Tournament" replied the first classmate.

"I didn't think that there was a prize for the winner," commented the second voice with excitement.

I paid a bit closer attention with hearing that as I wasn't aware that there was supposed to be a prize for the winner. It makes a bit sense as it's to serve as motivation for best performance from the participation. Although can't remember Chifuyu saying anything about such things, I would think that she would have said something as to how well the students do from her class reflects on how her teaching sunk in.

"Well, it's more unofficial prize between the first years apparently, but the rumor is, the winner of the Tournament, gets to date Taichi exclusively," said the first voice.

WAIT WHAAAAT?! I've said no such thing to anyone in my entire life! I'm no prized to be won, I thought I had gotten this point across! Yet apparently, here I am being portrayed as a prize once again, and it irks me so damn much! Nevertheless, the question as to who started this rumor comes to the forefront of my mind. I was well aware of the source of this rumor, every piece of gossip starts from a piece of truth, that's an absolute when it comes to rumor and gossip. The piece of truth for this gossip was Houki asking me for a date the night she switched room, but how that event, turned into this I can only guess.

"Wait, is that true," exclaimed the second girl.

NO, it most certainly isn't! I won't be shoved into such a thing, even when a girl here will do so, I'm a human being and will be treated as one! These girls will comprehend, understand and accept the fact that I'm a human being. Or I'll leave, hunt down that freaking pain of a rabbit and make her life hell, consequences be damned to HELL!

"Yes, the source is trustworthy," said the first classmate

Well, I would love to talk to this source, to know what they had said and set this straight! Plus, I'm curious as to what this source gave as the truth, to result in this rumor.

"And does Taichi know about this," asked the second girl.

I kept facing forward, but I was shaking a small margin while in my seat, struggling to contain the frustration of being treated as a prize to be won. Now that I know about this unspoken agreement among the girls, the answer is undeniably and flatly NO. They're going to ask me properly or there is no possibility of dating happening between me and anyone else. I'll be treated as an equal and no less than that, period! Even if they ask for a date with me, it will be on a case by case basis for the answer, I won't be used by girls to make themselves look better.

"I think so, supposedly he agreed to the idea," answered the first classmate of mine.

I was just about to shoot out of my chair and correct the girls, but what stopped me was that I knew reacting like that wouldn't do much. Yet, the others in the classroom wouldn't have any clue that I wasn't finding the rumors and gossip that they were discussing. It was then I heard the voices of three of my classmates, which I had gotten to know; Honne, Yuzu and Sayuka.

"Honne, you must have said something, that's the only way this kind of rumor started," said Yuzu.

Honne's voice came next, "No, that can't be the reason for all the talk."

So, they are the source of this, I stood up from my seat and strode over to the three girls, "Excuse me ladies, could we step outside the classroom and have a word, please," I said in a controlled voice, but with a tone that left no room for argument.

The girls looked a bit scared of me and my request, yet they nodded, and I gestured towards the door. They filed out the door and I followed them; once outside the classroom, I focused on them. "Okay ladies, which one of you talked about Houki asking me for an outing to start this rumor growing," I asked them.

"Umm well," Yuzu stammered.

They were looking between one another, looking nervous, then the realization hit me, they had been the ones listening to Houki asking me on a date should she win the tournament and had slammed the door! That was the piece of truth that this subject of gossip was based upon. However now, instead of Houki getting a date because she asked me, the rumor blew that out of proportion to become, the winner of the tournament gets to exclusively date me… And I have agreed to do so!

"Girls, you perhaps have yet to realize, that you mention in some form, Houki asking to go on a date and winning of the tournament have nothing to do with anyone but Houki and myself. Yet, with you combining both things into one and telling others, that's how this rumor started! It has spiraled out of control and there will be a disappointment for someone. You've heard the results of what you told others has turned into, have you not ladies," I asked them flatly.

The three girls hung their heads in shame, I sighed since I didn't want to be mean to them, "Please take this as a lesson that you shouldn't just say things that you hear, so this doesn't happen again anytime soon please," I said in a slightly tired tone.

The girls bowed to me, "We're sorry, please forgive us!" all three said at the same time.

Waving a hand in dismissal, "Yes, you're forgiven, just think about what affect the things you say will have, that's all I'll ask" the girls nodding as I turned and reentering the classroom with the three girls following me shortly afterward.

Class started not too long after all of us taking our seats, Miss Yamada told us that the Class league matches were canceled and that the Individual Tournament would be how our skills would be judged. It was our sub-homeroom teacher's next announcement that caught me off guard, "Also, we have a new student joining our class today," she said.

My head which had been making its way slowly down towards the desk went back up at hearing that. Another transfer student?! That's the second one in the last month and somehow, I think me being here is part of the reason that this is happening. "You can come in now," called Miss Yamada.

Through the door walked in the assumed transfer student and she strode to the spot next to the teacher's lectern and she bowed. "Bonjour, my name is Charlotte Dunois, it is very nice to meet you all," she said in a clear French accent.

The teenage girl stood at about five feet and a bit more, maybe half an inch on top of that when it came to height. She had harvest gold blonde hair, it was darker than Alice's golden blonde hair. Her hair went down to her waist and was tied in a ponytail by a red ribbon at the level of her neck. Had to say that her hair did frame her face quite nicely and even made it look kind of cute, it brought attention to her chocolate brown eyes. Miss Dunois was wearing the standard academy uniform, though it was in my opinion, a tad shorter range on the skirt, some girls here have little if any modesty. It's either that or they're showing off, likely for me and trying to tempt me I can't decide which with some.

I hope that this girl doesn't attempt to cling to me like many of them do, it would be nice to have just one person here to talk to as one would a friend or colleague. Not having to worry about her clinging or assaulting my person or fighting with other girls over you like three girls I know do whenever they're around me would be a welcome change. It would be nice for there to be someone that I can talk to who will actually pay attention to what I'm saying rather than what they are imagining in their heads that involves me.

The morning kept moving though I would personally say more crawling forward. The next event to note came during practical training, which is the second class on any given morning of the week. But, the weirder thing though, this event didn't even involve me being a part of it. It started similar to the time that I was put on the spot to do a demonstration along with Cecilia. This time, however, we were having combined practice with Class Two. So, Chifuyu picked Cecilia for Class One and Rin for Class Two to do the job, to which both girls didn't look happy about doing.

The two girls were grumbling as they moved forward to do the demonstration, that's until Chifuyu walked pass them, stopped for a moment, said something to them quietly so that the rest of us didn't hear what was spoken before continuing forward. Right after Chifuyu said whatever she had, the two girls changed and began to show off a bit by saying that since they had personal ISs they were of a higher caliber. The big of a change was odd, and for it to be this fast. It makes me suspicious of what Chifuyu whispered to them to get the girls' attitude to do such a one-eighty like this. Charlotte Dunois came up beside me, she was wearing a dark blue-grey one-piece pilot suit with orange edge lining with an equally orange crest-like pendant on a thin chain around her neck. "What did Professor Orimura say to them I wonder, what do you think Taichi," she asked.

I turned to face my newest classmate Charlotte Dunois and shrugged, "Okay first, call me Sai, not Taichi please, I don't much like formalities. Second, I haven't the faintest clue what Professor Orimura said to them. However, I know enough to believe both Cecilia and Rin are probably setting themselves up to be taught a bit of a harsh lesson. Our teacher does have a talent for doing so and she does enjoy doing it for those who flaunt egos and purine their pride," I answered.

"What do you mean by that," inquired Houki and upon spinning around I found her standing in front of me.

I stumbled a few steps back since my former roommate currently was invading my personal space bubble. This also brought back to mind what she did before leaving my room though I dismissed the memory. "Um well, let's just say that I've known Miss Orimura for long enough to know when she calls someone out, there's a reason. And with her, it tends to be a non-good one, especially when the callout is in front of a crowd," I said and then mumble the rest of what I was thinking. "Plus, Chifuyu has always enjoyed ripping down egos, cackling while she does the ripping. In fact, the bigger the ego, the more she loves blowing it to hell, a little too much in my opinion, but then I can't say I don't understand the interest and the enjoyment."

"Get out of the way! Please and thank you!" cried an older female voice that was a decent distance away.

Upon hearing a scream that grew in volume, I looked up, scanned the sky and saw a green spec getting bigger every passing second. I did a partial deployment that involved just my arms, but nothing else, I moved over to a particular spot which I calculated would be the best and waited. The feminine scream kept getting louder, I held out my arms expectantly, ready to receive. Seconds later, I caught a green blur and collapsed to the ground with extra weight, the weight was of a woman now in my arms and of all people was my sub-homeroom teacher Miss Yamada. My sub-homeroom teacher was in the same type of pilot suit as the girls were and to my surprise, the suit indeed seemed to be made of spandex, the same material that swimwear is normally made of.

How might I know this? Well, it wasn't my intention at all for it to happen, mind you it just sort of ended out this way. Um, you see… when I caught Maya Yamada to prevent her from falling on her rear and maybe hurting herself as any gentleman would, I had to tighten my hold and, somehow my right hand shifted on to something soft and squishy. While in my grip, I accidentally squeezed whatever I held on to, in response I heard a moan very close at… hand. Please, don't tell me, I'm holding onto *gulp* what I think I am!

Glancing down and seeing to my slight horror and embarrassment and admittedly astonishment, my right hand was holding onto my sub-homeroom teacher's right boob. Okay, in complete honesty, the feeling was amazing, even if I was slightly sickened by the feeling of the contact that the woman had on me. Oh, how do some put it? I got to cup a feel, I think is how the phrase goes. The feeling of my fingers sinking into the flesh Maya Yamada's voluptuous right breast well, let's just say that this will provide lots of material for the occasional wet dream I do have! Seriously, I didn't think a woman's rack could be this size in real life, without implants or alterations of some sort! Not going to comment on the bunny or the doll as I wouldn't be surprised at all if they did something to have the size they do. But back to what I was feeling, as far as I know, Miss Yamada hasn't had anything like that. So, the breast that I was feeling was 'all natruàl'! This tangent isn't helping me, I need to think of something else quick!

Her IS! YES! Miss Yamada was in a standard Raphael Revivie model IS, which was green overall in color, box or cubic shaped legs and streamline arms. There were two shields for the shoulder apparatus and below that were shoulder pads connected to the back brace. The unit had two lower back wings that connected to the back-brace frame and there was hip armor that was a part of the restraint system of the IS.

Miss Yamada shook her head and looked around and when she stopped, staring at my face. I believe she realized the position she was currently in. Upon reflex, my hands squeezed as they tried to clench, which made me realize my right hand hadn't moved from where it had been. The result was my right-hand squeezed Miss Yamada's breast once again. She moaned at my unintended action, her other response was both of her hands went to her… pink cheeks?! "*Moan* Oh my, this is kind of troubling. And with you squeezing where you are, it feels really good, and also somehow flattering at the same time," she said in a shy voice. "Not that I would say no if you're interested."

Did she just give me permission to… WHOA! HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, NO NO AND NO! The first thing for me to do, remove my hand from where it is! I opened my hand and removed it from its position and retracted it to my sub-homeroom teacher side, it was a mechanical movement. Oh boy, to think I can make women close to my age swoon over me, such frightening power I have, no? I mean, she's only a few years older than me, my friends are older than Miss Yamada for goodness sakes. I think she's like eighteen or somewhere around there, can't be completely sure, but that's where I would say my sub-homeroom teacher's age is. Granted, I have gone out with women that are years older than me, but Miss Yamada is my teacher, not a female of interest. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for my hand to land there, nor to squeeze, and I deeply apologize! And as flattering the offer for an outing with you is Miss Yamada, I'll have to respectfully decline for the moment. We're teacher and student, academy honor code and everything, you know," I answered her and moved her forward in my arms towards the ground.

She got to her feet and I got up onto my feet as well, not a few seconds after doing so, I saw two blue beams shoot past in front of my face not more than half a foot away. Reacting on reflex and annoyance, there was a flash seen and in my right IS arm appeared my beam rifle ready for use. I spun around to my left and aimed my rifle at Cecilia who had used her weapon bit to shoot close to me. "Cecilia, you fire a weapon at me is an unwise decision for I will shoot back," I said flatly and matter of fact tone of voice.

"SAI," yelled a voice that sounded a great deal like Rin's.

Glancing in the direction that the shout had come from, I saw Rin combining her scimitars and then she chucked the large blades at me. Okay, I understand that with what had just occurred, the trio specifically wouldn't be happy, but it was an accident and misunderstanding! That's not grounds for them to do something that has the potential to kill me! I began moving and settling my rifle into a firing position when a heavy gun going off sounded from behind. Rin's blades took two direct hits veering off their path and going to the ground and missing me. Looking behind me and seeing my sub-homeroom teacher hunkered down on the ground and had a mid-range sniper rifle that she had just used to take care of the incoming scimitars.

"Thanks for the assist Miss Yamada," I said to her to show my gratitude.

"Oh, it was my pleasure Taichi," replied Miss Yamada with a smile.

Chifuyu got back our attention and said that Cecilia and Rin would be facing off against Miss Yamada so, it will be two against one. As I thought, Chifuyu is teaching a lesson, this time to Cecilia and Rin. Although, let's not forget the other motive my sister has in this, beating down these two girls' egos and arrogance. It makes me kind of feel a little sorry for them as they're about to be embarrassed in front of two classes no less. To make this matter worse, not that it was needed, the girls questioned Chifuyu on the fairness of this mock battle, to which Chifuyu told them, in essence, they would lose. Neither of the two ladies took that answer well and so began the match. The skirmish lasted a little over a minute, even in that short period, two things became clear. The first point of note was that Rin and Cecilia don't understand what it means to work as a team or work together with another at all. Second, our teachers here weren't novices at piloting an IS. I knew that but, now the girls in Class One and Two have proof of the concept.

"Let this be a lesson to you all, your teachers know what they are talking about," remarked Chifuyu, with a bit of a smug grin.

I got to say, Chifuyu has always liked to break arrogant people of their pride, that clearly that hasn't changed in the slightest since last I was around her. Anyways, for the rest of the class period, we were told to divide ourselves into groups, with those of us that had personal machines as the group leaders. Those group leaders would help the rest of the group to get the training IS to move so that they can get experience and improve. Well, the second I heard the setup for the rest of the class, I knew this wasn't going to be fun for me at all! Nope, I was going to be a 'drag through this by force kicking and screaming internally, why? I'm the lone guy and I'm a group leader by default as I have my own machine, you do the math. Being as popular as I am here with everyone, it just sucks royally all the more lately!

"All right, now get yourselves into groups," barked Chifuyu.

Once Chifuyu had said that I found myself surrounded by classmates and girls from both classes, just as I had predicted would happen with me being a group leader. Hell, pretty much all the girls here were crowding around me! I wouldn't stay silent, I would be heard! "Ladies, as flattering as it seems for you all to want to be in a group with me, I'm sorry to say that's not possible with these numbers," I said.

I would've said more, something along the lines of going to other groups, but didn't get the chance as the girls all began chattering away. Did the girls listen to me, do they ever listen to me?! No, my attempted comment to get them to go to other groups ended out with them fawning over me instead. The numbers of females surged forward and began to press against me and drown me, some embraced me like I was some kind of plush animal while others were squealing. And I wasn't enjoying the attention, plus, my usual response to hugging kicked in and I started shaking a bit, not that any of the girls took notice.

"LADIES, BACK OFF! You all can't be in a group with Taichi. Now divide yourselves evenly or Miss Yamada and I will assign you into groups and you will have no choice in the matter," bellowed Chifuyu.

Thank you, about time you stepped in Chifuyu and helped me out! The action is very much appreciated as then they won't argue with the results! The girls shuffled to the different group leaders, that took five minutes and so I find myself surrounded by fifteen girls. Well, I might as well get this started so that I can be done with it sooner rather than later. "Okay, then girls, who is first to mount and take a turn on trying out the training IS," I asked the group at large.

"It's me, it's me," called a high feminine voice that had a slight drawl.

I turned to face the owner of the voice and saw it was one of my classmates that I didn't know her name but was aware of as she was one of the girls that had been getting bolder. She had a height of four-foot ten-inches and was fit, likely due to some sort of exercise. The classmate, had orchid colored hair that was short, coming down to the bottom of her face and framed her face including her brown eyes. She was wearing the standard academy pilot suit, which in my view still looks like one-piece swimsuits for females. The outfit accented her bust, which was by my estimation, is between a size B to a C.

"My name is Kiyoka Aikawa. My interests are handball and jogging. It's nice to meet you and I'll be in your care," she greeted me bowing with one hand stretched out towards me.

Okay, too freaking much damn information! This is going to be a very long day, "Um, well then, come and let's get you mounted in the unit," I said, accepting this tedious task and just doing what I had to so that I can be done with it.

Miss Aikawa, when she got mounted, which took a little while, she used the next ten minutes to get the IS to move, jerkily so, but nonetheless, she got it to move and that's progress. When her turn was done, she had slid down from the IS, I noted that the IS was still deployed, just in standby mode, so whoever was next would have difficulty getting to the cockpit of the machine. It was a rookie mistake and I expected at least one of the girls to do it, which means that I'll be doing extra work. I sighed, "Okay then, who's next," I asked everyone in the group.

"That would be me," I turned to the owner of the voice and saw it was Houki. She was looking up to the cockpit of the IS, "But there is a problem, as I cannot get to the cockpit with the IS like this," she said.

I nodded in agreement, "Yeah, I figured this would happen at least once today. It is a common mistake in the beginning," I answered, thinking for a moment on how to solve this dilemma. The only way I could think of was to get Houki to the cockpit, that would require me to carry her and I can see the protests and demands for the same treatment from the other girls in the group. Well, I might as well get this over and done with…

Activating my unit in a flash I then approached Houki, she looked at me with apprehension, "What do you plan to do," she asked me.

I stared at her for a moment, "Well, as you need to mount the IS, I'll be lifting you up and bringing you to the level of the cockpit," I said, thinking it was obvious.

Houki had an expression of trepidation, "And just how do you intend to do that," she snapped back at me.

Really? Doubtless, she knows what I'll be doing, you would think she would be happy about this thus far, but no, she questions my motives instead. I moved over and bent down, holding out my arms to her, "Carrying you up to the cockpit sounds about right, would you prefer a ladder perhaps," I inquired.

"Excuse me," shouted Houki in surprise.

The girl backed up from me slightly before I exhaled heavily, moved forward and scooped her up and carried her bridal style and spun around to face the training IS. I gave her a smile to humor her and perhaps get her to calm down to make things easier, "You're excused Houki. Now then, hold on and I'll get you up to the cockpit," I returned.

Houki looked up at me blushing slightly and then she hid her face with the front restraint of my IS, likely so that no one else could see her blush. She can be really cute sometimes, anyways I made my way over to the training IS. I shifted Houki in my arms and got her safely onto the IS and she began mounting, and then she started talking at the same time, "Hey Sai, do you have any plans for lunch?"

I was taken aback at the random question but took a moment to think, not coming up with anything, I shook my head slowly. "Not that I can think of, as long as I'm done before one-o-clock to get to my first-afternoon class, I'm free," I replied.

Houki's face lit up with happiness, "Good good, then perhaps we could have lunch together," posed Houki in the form of a question that sounded like she was making a plea.

"Um, sure, don't see why not," I replied. Why Houki was sounding kind of nervous about asking me to have lunch with her, is confusing me a little. If Houki didn't take away that I would prefer to be asked things upfront when she asked me to date her and my following comment/advice, then I'm not sure what it will take to get her to understand.

So, in my opinion, the class was double the length of time than it was supposed to be, at least it seemed that way. It could be because the numbers of girls I was teaching somehow multiplied and changed! In other words, the girls skirted around Chifuyu's instructions and managed to slip into my group, as others switched out, it was like an unspoken agreement between them. I know for a fact, that I saw all the members of Class One throughout the class period, they were just, as I said switching places so that I ended out teaching more than my fair share and it irked me a bit.

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel, lunchtime comes after practical training! You see when Houki had moved out and I had taken the time to fully explore the dorm room in detail without putting myself in danger of any sort; I had found out, by accident that there's actually a 'kitchen' piece in the dorm that was never mentioned to me. The funny thing was, in the 'bathroom opposite of the sink, there's a handle I've never noticed before now. When I had pulled out and slid to the right, to my surprise, a stove/oven and microwave set up along with a moderately sized refrigerator had been tucked away, who knew?

Anyways, this morning, I had stopped by a convenient store on my jog and got the essentials for the next few days, it was like doing weighted jogging on the way back! With the food I bought, I made a simple lunch for myself; as much to practice my cooking skills, marginal as they are, they're better than nothing. I started learning when I was younger, the life-like doll could make basic stuff; Like toast and sandwiches. The metal eared bunny well, with her skills, somehow, she can manage to burn boiling water, don't ask me how she does that, I don't know! The results are just horrible to observe, that's all I can say with any surety. She wasn't allowed in the kitchen back when it was her, the doll and myself for obvious reasons, the woman can pretty much burn anything she tries to cook!

Back to lunch, as Houki had asked if she could have lunch with me and I had agreed, we had decided on a spot that was by a pond and had trees around it after class. It was nice and peaceful and that was a place I had passed it during some of my morning jaunts and it had caught my eye. Houki went ahead of me and surprisingly, Cecilia and Rin had disappeared off to somewhere, not that I'm complaining about the rest bit I get from them. I changed from my pilot suit and collected my school bag and exited the locker room and was met by Charlotte Dunois the transfer student and my newest classmate.

-Charlotte's pov-

This place is so strange and different from what I am used to back in France. I tried to ask for help, but with me being as nervous as I was, I'd switched back to speaking my native language of French. I attempted to switch back to Japanese, but I was having trouble doing so. Other girls around me were giving me confused expressions, and I was left to wonder what I could do to solve this problem. I was beginning to panic a bit as I didn't know my way around here, nor did I know anyone at this academy yet. "Uh, are you alright Miss Dunois? If you calm down, then maybe I could help you," said a male voice in French.

I turned to the voice's owner, and I found the young man Sai Taichi standing there. Could he be the one that had spoken, yet the words had been in French, not Japanese, so how could that be? I looked at him in marginal disbelief, "Do you understand me, and can you speak French," I asked.

He nodded, "Yes, yes indeed I can Miss Dunois talk in the French language and with fair confidence. Now, what seems to be worrying you, I would like to help if I'm able."

At last, someone that can understand me! I smiled slightly, "Well, I do not know anyone here yet and I am lost. I was going to the cafeteria to get food for lunch, but I do not know where to go," I replied, trailing off.

If this was the Sai Taichi that I had been told about, he wasn't anything like I had imagined. The facts I had been told were not that telling, he was supposed to be smart and had his own IS and that was about it. There were many rumors about him, one of which was that he possibly could be attending a college, but that had not been confirmed. With his IS, there had been nothing about it other than two reports about two fights he had used it in against two classmates. What had been seen had both scared and impressed those who had viewed the match. Still, there was no data on the unit itself and that was one of the things I was to retrieve while I was here.

Taichi put a finger to his chin, "Well, how about joining me for lunch, I remember the feeling of being here and not knowing anyone. So, what do you saying Miss Dunois," he asked kindly.

He was inviting me to have lunch with him, can he really be so nice? "You… you really do not mind me coming along," Miss Dunois asked with a little shock.

He shook his head, "Of course not," he replied.

I followed him as he led the way to wherever he was going, yet curiosity got the better of me as we traveled. "You seem to be pretty fluent in French, but you do not appear to be from France. So, if you would not mind, why did you learn French," I asked.

Taichi smiled at the question, "As it happens, I have a friend that is from France herself and so, to talk to her I took the time to learn her native language."

I was surprised that Sai Taichi would know someone from France, he was supposed to be an American by what I understand. He then went into some detail of his before-mentioned friend whose name was Olivia Beaumont according to him. The last name was somewhat common in France, so I didn't know if I knew this Olivia that he spoke of. In fact, Taichi appeared to enjoy talking about this friend of his, which I wouldn't expect from what I'd seen.

Our conversation came to an end when we did reach the place by a pond. There was a girl there with purple hair, and when she looked at me, she scowled a little. "What is this," she asked what sounded like a controlled tone.

Taichi stepped forward, "Well Houki, as I was exiting the locker room, I noticed Miss Dunois here and she appeared lost and was asking for help though none could understand her as she was speaking French. Being the gentleman that I am, I assisted her and thankfully, I happen to know how to speak French. In the end, I thought that it would be nice to invite her to lunch and get to know her a little better. Is there a problem with that," he asked.

This 'Houki' as Taichi called her, sighed and shook her head mumbling that it was fine that I would be joining them. We sat down under one of the larger trees by the pond nonetheless, two other girls showed up a short while later, one with blonde hair and the other brown-haired. It was not too long after they arrived that the feel of the air became very uncomfortable! I wasn't fully aware of what the… feelings between the three other girls were about, but they seemed to have to do with Sai Taichi. I looked over at the boy, "Um, are you sure that it is okay for me to be here," I managed to say in decent Japanese.

He glanced at the trio of girls and watched them for a moment, not looking very happy with them as he did so. Then he turned back to me, "Oh don't worry, this is normal with these three, you are not the cause of this. It's more me that's the root of this and I didn't do a dang thing for this to start. You'll get used to this in time, just ignore it," he returned.

They are arguing over him and this is normal? That's unexpected, I mean, Sai Taichi is nice and well-mannered, that much is true, so I can see some of the attraction. But it was obvious that he wasn't fond of these actions by how he responded to them. Taichi turned to the three other females, none of them appearing to even notice we were here anymore. "Listen up ladies," he snapped. The other girls spun around and faced Taichi, "If the three of you intend to stay here, then the three of you will learn to get along or at least tolerate one another. Or else I'll start sending you away one by one. This covert fighting you're having between each other will no longer happen in my view or presence. You can have at one another while I'm not around for all I care, just not in front of me!"

The dark air lifted for the most part after Taichi said that, then he sat down under a tree next to the pond. The rest of us sat around him, I was just glancing around at everyone here feeling a tad out of place. I didn't have a lunch box like everyone else did even if Taichi did invite me to join in. Yet, I admit that I was surprised when I got a view of his lunch box for it looked well prepared, for Taichi's lunch box included spaghetti, a salad, and some mixed fruit. He started eating but quickly realized that the rest of us were staring silently at him. He looked up, "There a reason that you girls are staring at me," Taichi questioned.

When none of the other girls spoke up, I decided to do so, "I think that we are just impressed that you would be able to cook like this," I commented.

-Sai's pov-

I looked over to Charlotte with a fork in my right hand about to scoop up food, "First, like I seem to say to everyone here, just call me Sai, not Taichi. I get that more than enough from the teachers here and I can't say that I like it, it feels weird to me. Second, you really think I'm that good of a cook? I've just picked up the skill and have been practicing since I was young," I replied, not seeing my cooking skills were a big deal.

"Oh my, you must have dutiful parents," said Cecilia.

That one line hit me like a ton of bricks as the subject of my parents was an extremely sore one for me. The feeling of anger and rage washed over me at Cecilia's comment, a reminder of the one that had abused and then abandoned me. And yet, the man that was supposed to be my 'father' was the only 'parent' I've ever known. Then he had given me the scars on my back before he up and left, which itched at the mentioning of parents. My mother was dead and gone before I could remember, it happened before I turned four.

After that man had left me to survive on my own and went who knows where I met both the bunny and the doll. In short, the reason I knew how to cook was after I met and had pretty much been taken in by metal eared bunny and the life-sized doll, it was the way to keep healthy! The useless bunny couldn't cook at all, that's no joke! The porcelain doll could do enough with food that we could eat, but it just wouldn't do for the long term and I knew it. Hence, my interest in learning and so found information and taught myself how to cook through experimentation.

I forced myself to calm down and not let any of what I felt from that one comment outwardly, and then I responded. "No, I taught myself how to cook and just have practiced for a time." Wishing to change the subject and get off the one I didn't want to get into, "So then, what have you ladies make for lunch for yourselves?"

As I glanced over at the boxed lunches opening with a critical eye, I saw a variety of different foods. Cecilia had a picnic basket of sandwiches that, from what I could see, had vegetables and various meats between the pieces of the bread, several sandwiches in fact. You know, I suddenly get the image of a bear with a tie and hat saying to another smaller bear with a bowtie, "Hey Boo Boo, let's go get us a Pic-a-nic basket!" before they would rush by and stealing Cecilia's basket, that's actually very humorous to picture!

In Rin's box of food, was a rendition of sweet and sour pork I believe. Jia had made me the stuff before and it was tasty, but Jia's cooking is on a completely different level, so I can't compare another person's skills to hers. But then, sweet and sour pork is a Chinese dish originally after all, so it would fit that she could know the art of making the recipe. Finally, in the box Houki brought with her, there was a couple of things in it, first was the half the box of white rice to eat with all the other food. The second was the meat which I would assume is chicken, but it could be another type of meat and besides that was some folded fried eggs.

"So then, you girls interested in sharing and trying some of each other's lunches," I asked nonchalantly.

And so, that's we did, the first food I tried was one of the sandwiches from Cecilia's basket and took a bite. As I chewed, the first wave of taste hit my brain, I ceased chewing… I've no idea how, but Cecilia is only one step above the bunny. In short, Cecilia can cook and make stuff that isn't edible, but is recognizable and looks decent; the useless bunny just burned and disfigured things to be inedible and unrecognizable. I swallowed hard, and grabbed my drink and began chugging. Once I had drunk a little more than half the thirty-two-ounce container of liquid I took a deep breath to steady myself. Cecilia was looking at me expectantly, probably to have my opinion on her food. Now, that I tasted it, I can understand why England can win the world's worse cuisine award as many times as they have. I cleared my throat, "Cecilia, have you tasted these sandwiches yourself? The key to improving one's cooking is to try things out, to see what works and what doesn't," I said flatly in the attempt to be nice.

Whatever I put in my mouth next, I need actual food going down my throat, my stomach isn't pleased with the crap I'd just given it. Houki offered some of what she had made, and it looked okay, so I accepted. The chicken and rice were good and mercifully calmed my stomach from the unpleasant stirring that those bits of sandwich I had sent down. I commented that it had tasted nice and that Houki just needed to keep practicing and it could only get better. I so, regretted the comment as it served to have the trio get even pushier than they normally are! These girls are going to drive me nuts at some point! Hearing a chuckle, I looked to the source, and saw it was Charlotte, "You wish to tell me what you find so funny Charlotte," I asked.

"You are quite popular, aren't you," she replied.

I sighed at the truth Charlotte had stated, "You have no idea, it isn't all it's cracked up to be," I muttered.

That event ended fair even if not in the way I liked. Then Friday came around, and I'm left to wonder if anything could top recent events. Well, it didn't take very long for me to get my answer and be proved woefully wrong. Things can always get more complicated and fast given the opportunity. The first class of the morning, it always seems to be where things have a tendency to get problematic, today was no exception. Once Miss Yamada had quieted the class down and had our attention, she made an announcement to us all, "Listen up everyone, we have yet another new transfer student," she said with an upbeat tone in her voice.

Again?! Another one, a day after the last girl joining the class?! Please, someone, say they see this as odd and weird as I see it is. Miss Yamada spoke again, "You can come in now."

Into the room walked the assumed 'transfer student', and to say that she stood out and was different would be an understatement. Her height was four foot ten, but that wasn't what drew one's attention. The first feature of note, her hair, it was waist length and was silver platinum in color. Granted, some of the girls here have some unique colors for their hair and I swear some have to die their hair. Back to the new girl, she had paler skin than most of the girls at the academy, though not as white as the doll's porcelain skin. The teenager's right eye was a deep red, almost the color of blood and an eyepatch over her left eye, which made an interesting impression for a girl of fifteen.

Her uniform was also a far cry from the norm of the academy, it was the same color scheme, but the style just screamed 'I don't know a thing about fashion, and so only know how to wear a uniform'. The top half of her uniform was like the other girls, but she was wearing a tie instead of a ribbon. The bottom half, she had pants that puffed out around the knees and she was wearing military combat boots. All and all, it wasn't just this girl's hair color, physical appearance or her clothes that was different, her air of absolute confidence was what made me curious. The girl came to a stop at the teaching lectern, snapped to attention much like a trained soldier would do to their commanding officer and said nothing.

"Miss Bodewig, introduce yourself," said Chifuyu.

"Ja vole, mentor," was the reply from the new girl, then turning to the class at large she spoke, "Mine name is Laura Bodewig," she said in a pronounced German accent.

She was silent after saying her name, not that I couldn't understand being to the point and not saying more than needed, but it's rare with girls. Miss Bodewig clearly knew Chifuyu, with calling her 'mentor'. Perhaps they met during that time that Chifuyu was in Germany, who knows? Chifuyu doesn't talk about that time really and I don't ask as a way of showing respect to her.

Miss Yamada began to get a tad nervous with the silence from Miss Bodewig, "Is that all you wanted to say Miss Bodewig," asked Miss Yamada.

"Ja, ma'am," answered Miss Bodewig and then she caught sight of me.

The second she gazed at me, her expression turned into one of frustration and hatred. She made her way over to me, I've no idea what to expect from her, so I did nothing. When she came to stand in front of my desk, she raised her right hand and brought it down across my cheek. It stung a bit, but I more wished to know was why this girl that I've never met just slapped me. Speaking of physical hits in whichever form or style it takes if I have earned a hit, I'll take it. However, if I haven't earned the hit, then I won't let someone do that just because they feel like it or have some other dumb reason they have! I turned my head slowly, but steadily back to glare at Miss Bodewig with a face that was devoid of expression. I learned how to such an idea very well from the sisterly doll herself and I wouldn't doubt I would be making her proud right now. "Why might I ask did you just slap me Miss Bodewig," I asked coldly making each word clear and pronounced.

"I do not approve. I will never approve that one like you is close to the caliber required to be an IS pilot," she stated to me, looking at me with a look of disgust.

There is no way that I'm going to take this damn sh*t without a fitting and proper response! Bodewig raised her hand again to slap me, but I caught it and held it firmly to prevent her from drawing back. I wasn't actually looking at her directly, but that didn't matter at the moment, "Well technically Miss Bodewig, it isn't up to you to approve of me or not. Should you have a problem with my attendance, feel free to take your complaints to the headmistress. She'll tell you in some way to deal with it, and for your information and understanding, I am an equal, not an inferior. I can pilot the Infinite Stratos machine just as much as anyone else here can." I locked my gaze on Bodewig and continued, no longer being nice at all, "As a matter of fact, you can bet you're ass that I'm pretty damn good at it," I said still keeping the cold tone I had before even when I use words considered foul and inappropriate.

There were gasps from some of my classmates as I had said words that aren't common around here, or at least as common as in the US. In my answer to Bodewig and she tried to draw her hand away, yet I clenched down stopping her. "If you don't believe me, then wait till the upcoming tournament in a few weeks, I'll damn well prove it so that no one can say sh*t to the contrary about what I can do."

We were glaring daggers at one another, the only question left to be answered is who would strike first and start the fight between the two of us. That's before a bark I knew all too well sounded and made me realize that I could be in trouble. "Taichi! Let Bodewig go and watch what comes from your mouth in the classroom, or I'll personally teach you how unwise that it is when you don't! Bodewig, stand down and keep your opinions of others to yourself," barked Chifuyu.

I did as I was told to and let go of Bodewig's wrist and leaned back in my seat becoming silent. I really wasn't interested to have Chifuyu wash out my mouth to her satisfaction. I have bad memories from the last time she washed my mouth out and don't want to repeat it. Bodewig took her seat and kept glaring at me throughout the class, and yes, I felt her doing so. Well, I say let her glare and fume, I'll show her when the tournament comes in a few weeks. When class ended, I slipped out of the classroom and managed to avoid the silver-headed girl somehow for the rest of the day, I didn't want to give myself the temptation to teach her a lesson that her view of me was dead wrong. Chifuyu would punish me for taking such actions, whether it was my fault or not.

When at long last Saturday arrived, I had plans for this day… big plans! Some of my peers were getting bold to the point that there was a serious risk to my safety when adults weren't around, and the other girls my age were getting to be more assertive as time goes on. So, I see the need to prepare defenses and tactics to combat this rising threat! That'll be done in two different stages; the first was to fortify my room against those who would assault it and try to gain entry. The second, planning and set escape routes for when I get into trouble and preparing the last place of security.

The first task is to enlist the help from my friends with the most urgent job to be done that I couldn't afford to delay on. It required some remodeling in my room, not anything against the rules of the academy or the dorm, still things I believe necessary and would justify as the need arose. Last night, I took measurements of a couple of places; the door frame, the kitchen space specifically space the refrigerator was in and one corner of the room by the balcony and the bathroom. Those were two out of the three priorities, reinforcing the door and installing locks, improve the signal for my computer terminal, improving food storage should I come under siege and I would like to do some stuff with the bathroom. The way the girls were getting around me, I needed to pretty much treat this as if I was going to war, for in a way, it may end out to be given time. Only time will tell how things will develop.

Luckily, I happened to bump into the student council president, Tatenashi Sarashiki. That meeting had been something else, that's for sure. The second-year girl that was interestingly the student council president had a height of one-hundred-sixty centimeters. Tatenashi had short light blue hair, a rarity along with her dark red eyes. Her figure was voluptuous with slender thighs. Her IS Academy uniform consists of the typical white and red blouse that is shorter compared to others, with a yellow tie and a light-yellow overcoat around it along with red leggings. She had a blue fan with her at the time and the kanji that indicates preparation.

When I talked to her and told her what was developing for me, she at least listened to me. After she giggled for a couple of minutes at my situation, she gave me permission to do the alterations I had in mind and for my colleagues to give me a hand. Although, she did say that I owed her a favor that she would collect later, which worried me somewhat. The point is that I have permission from the Student Council President to do what I plan, and that was akin to have the permission of one of the faculty here at the academy.

So, the morning was spent going out and purchasing the parts and supplies that would be needed to do the jobs I had. Stores such as the hardware store, or what is akin to it here in Japan, went to two of those; computer store for parts and one other pace which I shouldn't name as I could get into some trouble. Not the risqué type of place, the kind of store that sells stuff they shouldn't, much like a black market… the policy of the place was don't ask where the stuff being sold comes from and the seller won't ask what you'll be using the purchased items for. I'll leave it at that as I'm fine with the mentality. Thankfully, Luther had the wisdom to rent a truck for the tasks of the day. And so, we went to the different stores and when we had the stuff for the improvements, the gang and I realized that it was lunchtime and so we went out to eat. Afterward, we headed back to the academy dorm; the girls carried the lighter cables and us guys hauled the rest up the three floors to my room.

It took a good portion of the afternoon to do the work on the main entry doorway, I mean; it was a major problem to solve for me. To make this door strong enough to keep out those I don't wish to intrude or gain entrance without permission! Matt, Luther and I were quick to take out the standard piece of crap that's a hollow and kind of flimsy door that the dorm was equipped with. Such a door couldn't keep out determined girls, that much was obvious to me. We put in a much more durable and well-built door as its replacement, was made out of solid ebony wood. I've no clue as to why the story we got it from had one door made of the hardwood in stock, but hopefully, it would be worth the price and keep females from breaking the door and entering without being invited by me. If they do, then they're buying a new one of equal quality and durability or better!

Once the hinges and door were switched out for better quality items, then came the installation of the locks meant to serve as additional deterrents, four separate methods in fact! The first was, of course, the doorknob and the lock built-in, which requires a key; but I don't entirely trust that will be enough to protect myself. So, installing more locking mechanisms to bolster my defense of this sanctuary is the way to go! The first addition is a surface mounted deadbolt, and a good quality one too, and as the door was paid for by me, I can do whatever the hell I wish to do to it. Meaning I attached the deadbolt to door with chromium steel inch thick screws… I'll repair or replace the doorframe at the end of the semester if someone manages to rip these bolts out of the wall and frame without an IS equipped and even then I doubt these screws would give way! The deadbolt was of the vertical deadbolt type as I believed that would fulfill the purpose the best and the lock was mounted two inches above the doorknob. The next element of my new defenses and deterrents, was a door chain, also out of steel; however, as Chromium steel isn't cheap, I went with normal steel for the door chain. The chain and its mountings were a little above the surface-mounted deadbolt. The last addition was a thick bolt on the lower half of the door that slid in and out of place and didn't require a key. You can call me paranoid with the lengths I'm going to, in my defense against the girls who would do questionable things should they catch me. I consider this being prepared to the best of my abilities and planning that I can come up with!

The next improvement the gang and I got to, involved the bathroom; not to say the room wasn't up to a creditable standard, but I've ideas to make it better than an average dorm bathroom. For example, the shower can be a much better thing, it was equipped with your run of the mill basic shower head; I tossed that into the cabinet under the sink and put on the duel shower heads connection to the pipe in the wall the previous showerhead had been screwed to. The said water pumping system had a one-foot-long pipe that attaches to the water pipe from in the wall and then splits at the other end into a U pipe. On either side of that U pipe, was six-inch-long fan waterspouts, which put out a good stream combined. I had a feeling I would need this for the long hard days that were bound to come soon enough. With the Kitchen, I took out the refrigerator and put in the biggest I could fit since I needed the increased space for storage if the time should come that I'm holding up in here and under siege.

Finally, the last thing we did was rig up an antenna in the corner opposite of Houki's bed before she moved out. It even had a small dish set up to receive the incoming signal; it should help increase the internet signal I get and that would assist me when it comes to schoolwork. The dish was set right in front of the balcony door, for the reason of having less in the way of the incoming signal being received. After getting the signal booster finished, I hooked it up to my computer terminal and checked the results and was pleased. Thanking my friends for their help, they left and went back to the house.

In the evening, there came a knock at the door… This seems to be becoming a running theme for me lately. I went to the door and unlocked it, which takes a little longer now; and Chifuyu stood there in front of me. "Chifuyu, I wasn't expecting you, what can I do for you this evening," I asked her gesturing her to come into my room.

-Chifuyu's pov-

I had come to Sai's room to question him about the core he had brought back that had been in that unknown IS. The data on had been off, I couldn't place how exactly, other than the core being cleaner than it should be. Heck, you could call it sterile pretty much with all the data on it, Sai had it last and he has the skills to alter core data and not leave any evidence!

Yet, when I stepped into Sai's room, my thoughts came to a halt for there had been changes with this room and what a standard dorm room should look like. The first change was an antenna that was by the balcony and it looked to have been built for heavy signal output. The sight of the door standard to these dorms against the wall, I twisted around and looked at the door to the hallway. The door in place certainly wasn't the same door it had been, it looked to be more solid. Then there were the array of locks that were now in place on the door and the adjacent frame. There were at least four locks, each appearing to be sturdy. I turned back to Sai, "I see you've been busy changing things today. Are you planning for a long term stay in this room in the future Sai," I commented.

Sai shrugged, "Well, as this room can and will serve as a sanctuary and safe haven for me yes, I'm preparing and fortifying this place the best I can. So, I thought I might as well make this room more accommodating for me and long term living in at the same time. Plus, before you say something along the lines of what I'm doing being against the rules, Tatenashi Sarashiki the student council president said it would be fine and to keep the original things I'm switching out, so that it can be put back," he shot back, "So, what brings you here this evening?"

I gazed at the one that I thought of as a little brother before I sighed as I got into why I was here. "The reason that I'm here has to do with the unknown IS during the inter-class league matches," I began.

Sai kept a calm expression looking like he hadn't a care in the world, "Okay, what about that hunk of scrap metal," he asked dismissively.

If he thinks he can get me to wave off that he doesn't know more than he has said, then he's in for trouble. His acting doesn't fool me at all, I gazed coldly at Sai, "After you, as you so aptly put it, made that machine 'into scrap metal', bringing back the core and handing it over, it was examined," I continued.

"Is that so? Find anything interesting from that examination," he asked evenly.

Feinting ignorance won't pass in this Sai, you will give the information that you have been holding back. "Funny you should ask, the IS core is unregistered so, would have little way to identify where it came from. But, the few pieces of data that would say anything of where it had been weren't there. All cores have data that is recorded that would show that, but you would know that Sai better than pretty much anyone else as one of the three inventors of the IS. It was the same as a freshly built core, you wouldn't know how that would be the case, would you Sai," I said getting in his face, so he had to look me in the eye.

I glared at Sai waiting for the response he would give, "Now Chifuyu, why would I," he started.

However, I wasn't going to accept that in any way, so I cut over him, "You had the time and opportunity, you have the skills and knowhow to remove that data and do so in a way that wouldn't be noticed by even the closest examination! The core of that unknown IS is too clean Sai! You are the only one around here that can do that task so well! What I can't figure out is why you would do so," I snapped at him, pinning Sai with my gaze.

Sai attempted to make space between us, but I didn't let that happen, which forced Sai to look at me, "Oh come on Chifuyu, that's circumstantial accusation and those don't hold up in court I assure you. Just because I have the skills, the know-how and the time doesn't mean I did anything to that core. Besides, what difference does the identifying data make, the unit was blown to kingdom come and the core is dissected," he said with finality.

With the damage and risk that machine proved itself to be, both in the open and behind the scenes that would not do as an answer. That only told me that there was information that Sai wasn't saying, and whatever the reason it won't fly. "That's not how things work here Sai Orimura Taichi," I growled.

Sai's face shifted from the calm it had to be irritated and irked with me using his full name, "Now when was the last time you addressed me by my full name which you gave me? Three years at least, in fact, Chifuyu, it's been that long since you took any interest in what has been going on in my life," Sai responded.

The drifting apart that had happened between Sai and me had not been pleasant to see develop. It had started after Ichika's funeral and had just kept growing since then and it was painful to me at realizing just how large the gap was now. Sai continued, "You have no business knowing what I do or why anymore." Sai threw up his arms, "You know what, fine! You want the truth, you're right Chifuyu, I did some data alterations and even removed some data, yet it doesn't matter what I did or why." Sai jabbed a finger at me, "And don't use that we're family to force me to tell you more, you pretty much gave up the right to know what I do years ago, around the same time as Ichika's funeral. Since that event, you haven't so much as called me or wrote me a single letter, so it's none of your business. I see no reason to answer your implied accusation, what information isn't there now doesn't matter as it isn't a threat to anyone here, period," he shot back to me.

That's not for him to decide that or what information is good or dangerous! And it wasn't that I didn't want to contact Sai in the years that have gone by, other things had happened! Anger boiled up in me, and Sai's insistence on being difficult got the better of me. "Is that what you tell yourself with the 'Phantom Report' you had access to so that you can sleep at night," I said coldly in a low voice.

-Sai's pov-

It was like a sharp knife was being shoved into my heart and being twisted. That one-line hurt, for it, had haunted me for the last three years. Since I have asked myself if the file that Chifuyu mentioned and the information that it had contained if the data in it could have made a difference… perhaps saved Ichika from dying. I felt myself begin to shake with contained fury at the accusation that the woman that I once saw as a sister had made. Chifuyu and I had an unspoken agreement not to dwell on what-ifs with the chain of events that led to Ichika's death. Neither to bring up things that placed blame on the other, Ichika wouldn't have wanted us to do that to one another. Yet here she was doing that and it was unfair to use Ichika against me. My head fell slightly so that shadows covered my face, "That's low Chifuyu," I uttered and paused, "really low even for you to use Ichika and accusing me of playing a part in his death, all to get me to tell you what you want."

I stopped, but I wouldn't let this stand as it was, not with how close Ichika and I had been, "I doubt I need to remind you that you knew where Ichika was being held hours before you traveled there and so, you failed to save our brother too. Never have I blamed you for what happened to Ichika Chifuyu. I would've thought you would give me the same courtesy as one who's close as a brother at one time but apparently, I was wrong about that." I paused and took a shuttering breath and continued, "Since you are so insistent Miss Orimura, who do we both know that has the skills to pull off what happened in the IS arena? A stupid uncaring metal eared bunny and an unfeeling blonde porcelain doll both come to my mind! You can do the thinking and figure between those two and which I would be more willing to be nice to, that will serve as your answer!"

After saying that I pointed at the door, "Now, if you please… professor, get out! I've had enough of your accusations of me." I felt tears forming at the corners of my eyes, "Do you really think I don't wish Ichika was still alive Chifuyu? Do you believe I have forgotten him in any way? I miss him as much as you, don't ever forget that! Hell was he still around, he could have even been my roommate right now, but we'll never know, now will we," I finished coldly, holding back the pain that was building in me.

Chifuyu left the room, but it was clear that both of us had said things that were hurtful to the other. Going and locking the door before I returned to the main room and flopped down onto my bed still in a foul mood, with the subject matter of Chifuyu's and my conversation fresh in my mind. I had said things I'm already starting to regret, and it would bug me until I apologize to Chifuyu. Laying down and trying to fall to sleep, yet my mind was still working, and the gears were still turning, so sleep didn't come to me easily and didn't come without tears. The reminder of the loss of Ichika still affects me in a way little else does.

A/n

And that's where I'll leave off with this chapter. This one developed into a longer chapter than I thought it would be during the first stage of writing this, which is my outlining the chapter contents. Please take the time to write a review and say what you think of this story thus far. Peace out until the next chapter.