Ah yes, another chapter that brings up the big ol' mystery.
Disclaimer: I do not own Infinite Stratos.
When Kana keeps appearing out of nowhere, Thomas becomes suspicious of her! He decides to begin a one-man investigation in the hopes of getting to the bottom of things, but only one thing stands in his way.
Everything.
Chifuyu's hot on Thomas's heels, trying to stop Thomas from trying to find the truth. Alex keeps trying to prevent his son from leaving the island. The Representative Candidates are all trying to distract Thomas. Ichika's seemingly the only one trying to help Thomas figure out just what really is going on around them.
And even worse, Phantom Task seems to take notice of Thomas's efforts. Autumn and M resurface once again, subtly working behind the shadows to draw Thomas out of the safety of the IS Academy.
Even stranger, Phantom Task offers to answer all of Thomas's questions.
Will Thomas be able to find where his loyalties lie?
Saturday evening...
Ichika knew something was wrong the moment Thomas returned to the dorm room.
He didn't say anything, his face was somber, he was deep in thought, and he had the correct hint of suspicion about about him that implied he was currently wary of everything and everyone.
All-in-all, It seemed totally normal.
Thomas sat down at the desk, and let out a very long sigh.
"What happened to you?" Inquired Ichika.
"Remember Kana, from the Summer Festival?"
"Yeah? What about her?" Ichika made a grin, "Lemme guess, you two met again, and she wants a date?"
"Exactly!" Snapped Thomas.
Ichika was dumbstruck.
"Really?!"
"And that's why I'm acting this way."
"You...don't like her?"
"No..." Said Thomas, "It's just..."
"What?"
"This is the second time we've met by 'coincidence.'"
"You make it sound like it's not."
"Normally, I would've just played it off as small world, but...She keeps going on about the chances of us meeting."
"So?"
"I want to think it's totally normal, but...Her continued repetition compels me to think otherwise. I could accurately recall 5 times she said it was by pure chance we met up again...And..."
"And what?"
"It's also pretty telling that Kana's the one who found me. We first met when me, Charlotte, and Laura were on the train to the mainland. Ever since any trip ever since, I haven't Kana whatsoever, or Kana appears from behind."
"So...She's stalking you?"
"I hope that's the size of it."
"Sheesh...First abduction attempt, now this. Maybe you've just got the cute face that attracts kleptomaniacs."
"Yeah...Let's hope that's just what this is."
Thomas sat down at the desk, scribbling designs and brooding.
He only prayed he was wrong.
But there was only one way to know.
Next Saturday evening...
"It's official," Stated Thomas, "Kana's stalking me."
"What happened this time?" Pried Ichika.
"I played a hunch," Recalled Thomas, "This time, I just stood in the middle of the mall. And, just like every other time, Kana tapped my shoulder from behind, and yet again brought up the odds."
"Just like-" Started Ichika.
"-The last two times." Finished Thomas.
"So, what now? Call the cops?"
"No."
"Why...?"
"Because I want to know something before I write Kana off. Although..."
"What?"
"...We can't get the others involved. This goes no further than you and me."
"Why?!"
"This gets to the girls and shit'll hit the fan hard enough to break it. And...I don't think I trust Chifuyu right now..."
"How can you say that?!" Ichika was shocked.
"Remember when we first met back up here? Chifuyu and dad lied about why we were separated."
"So?! What's that got to do with this?!"
"Think about it." Suggested Thomas, "What else could Chifuyu and dad not be telling us?"
"You've got issues man," Concluded Ichika, "But I'm with you on this, I guess."
"Good to know."
"So, what're you thinking? Normal or dangerous?"
"Don't know yet. I don't have anything that links Kana to anything other than that 'mommy issues' business. And even that's a little dubious as of right now..."
"But there's no way she'd talk, so how're we gonna get info?"
"We'll figure that out by next weekend, we got homework and everything right now."
"Oh yeah. That paper..."
"Exactly."
The boys quickly abandoned their investigation for the sake of schoolwork. Chifuyu would have their heads if they missed assignments, and it was a weekend she decided to leave them extra work.
Over the week, the boys brainstormed ways they'd confront Kana.
Currently, Thomas was losing to a quick match against Nana.
"Quit getting distracted!" Nana whined like a child.
"Then get my attention!" He returned.
Nana opened fire upon Thomas, as he quickly skated around the arena.
"Something wrong," Said Chifuyu, "Scott's distracted."
"How can you tell?"
"I spent a good chunk of his life raising the kid, I know when something is very wrong."
"Oh...What do you think is distracting him?"
"Who knows? Could be anything going on in that idiot's head."
Thomas was trying to multitask by fighting Nana and thinking at the same time. He should've remembered that multitasking was very impossible, even for him. He was brought back to reality when he crashed headfirst into the wall.
Nana laughed.
Thomas gave up thinking.
He was so going to beat the crap out of Nana.
Thomas suddenly went on the attack, even more furiously than before.
Moving quickly, he closed the gap between them, and unleashed a fluid melee combo. Nana quickly found herself overwhelmed, not being as experienced as Thomas piloting an IS Unit.
Thomas was also being unfair.
He was utilizing his Unit's thrusters to add extra oomph to his blows. He was unleashing devastating kicks, with a few punches thrown into the mix to keep Nana guessing. The girl simply couldn't keep up, despite her Unit's heavyweight features.
Nana threw a right hook, only to have Thomas counter back shoving it with both of his wrists and returning to thrashing Nana as though she'd done nothing.
Nana pulled back, trying to take Thomas with ranged attacks.
However, it seemed that Thomas was expecting such.
Nana opened up with her Barrage Cannons, trying to keep Thomas back with a blitz. However, Thomas beat her to the punch as he fired missiles at her, quickly disorienting her, and leaving her helpless.
Thomas rushed through the smoke of the missile explosions, and rammed Nana head-on.
Nana fell to the ground, and the match was over.
"Aw..."
"Well," Consoled Thomas, "You tried."
"No fair!"
"You have the bigger rig, let's call it even."
"Hmph!" Pouted Nana.
Later that night...
Thomas was taking a midnight stroll, further exploring theories on Kana.
No-one else was around.
At least, no-one else should've been.
He heard rustling in the bushes not too far ahead.
He'd been on edge ever since he and Ichika started. Normally, he'd play it off as another student, trying to ogle at him. However, this wasn't a time he felt safe in doing so, seeing as many dangerous people made their way onto the Academy grounds before.
He deployed the Primary Shift's left arm, PDW in hand.
Moving quietly, he crept towards the bushes...
...Suddenly exposing them, but finding nothing.
"25 chance to the left, 25 chance to the right, 50 to the back." He thought.
He spun around without warning, the barrel of his PDW almost touching his stalker's head.
The stalker was none other than...
...Chifuyu?!
Chifuyu seemed unfazed. Currently, she wore a cloak around her that stretched down to her thighs, her legs were covered with leather boots that stretched up to her hips, like chaps.
Thomas lowered his weapon, and recalled the arm.
"Scared the nightlights outta me, Miss Orimura."
"Oh? Sorry about that. What's your reason for a walk in the park, then?"
"Just...Thinking. About a lot of things really...It's all so muddy."
Thomas turned his back.
"Anyway, I gotta ask you a question..." He continued.
"Do tell." Said the woman, raising her fist behind Thomas.
She swung down, attempting to strike him in the pressure point and knock him out...
...Only to have Thomas catch her by her wrist without skipping a beat.
"...Did 'Squall' put you up to it, M?"
"What the-?!" M yelped in surprise.
Thomas suddenly spun around, his fist mere inches from M's head. Thomas suddenly deployed his Revive's arm, shooting M right off her feet!
The Quantum Conversion of an IS Unit only repelled objects as the Unit was deployed. Being able to time such deployment correctly would allow a pilot to add extra oomph to their attacks outside of the IS Unit.
"Oh come on!" Sneered Thomas, "Any idiot worth their salt would know Chifuyu never apologizes for hitting anyone on campus!"
"Damn you...But how'd you know it was me?!"
"The vocal mannerisms, the legs, and-most telling-the lips and jaw line. Y'see, you may look like her, but you certainly sound a lot different."
"Dammit..."
"So answer me already!" Ordered Thomas, "Who's Squall? Why exactly is she after me?!"
M smirked.
Thomas tipped his hand too far.
He flinched.
"You really don't know, do you?" She chuckled, "I thought you'd have figured out how we're keeping tabs on you...I'm amazed you actually managed to give me a hard time when we met. You honestly look even cuter when you off your game~! I guess I can see now why the others like you~!"
"Sorry," Smirked Thomas, "But tell Squall I only see her as a friend."
M would've asked, but Thomas was already on the attack.
He deployed a PDW, and fired away at M's feet.
M leapt away, only to quickly lose sight of Thomas.
"Crap...He must've learned how to do the Rapid Switch already..."
She deployed Optical Drones to search for Thomas.
M blinked...
...Only to realize Thomas was standing directly behind her.
She quickly tried to catch him in a crossfire attack with her drones, but found that Thomas quickly evaded.
Each time she saw him evading, M learned just a bit more about Thomas.
It almost seemed as though his body itself was moving on its own, without command from his waking mind. It was strange, since no natural human being should be able to do two things that require focus at once.
As things were now, Thomas would most likely subdue her.
Squall would get mad for finding out M had snuck out to go and strike out on her own, but that was something M could live with. However, when M thought more about it, she felt a very unpleasant chill in her spine at the thought of Squall being disappointed in her.
She'd have to pull back and try another time to snatch Thomas.
M grit her teeth in anger.
"Knew I should've gone after Ichika first..." She muttered under her breath.
She pulled in her Drones to fire one big blast at Thomas.
Thomas jumped back to evade.
M quickly fully-deployed the Silent Zephyrs and flew away while Thomas wasn't looking.
Thomas saw her flying into the night sky, but chose not to pursue.
He'd make too big of a ruckus trying to get answers. The last thing he needed was to make a scene, and lose any hope of trying to get answers. Chifuyu would catch onto his little project,
Thomas simply marched right back to the dorms.
Just before he went inside, he turned around to watch as M vanished into the nightly horizon.
As he walked down the hallway, he wiped the sweat from his face.
"Something you want to talk about, Scott? You're drenched in your own sweat."
Thomas turned around to find Chifuyu standing behind him.
She was in a formal, business attire. She had an aura that screamed blood-lust, the look in her eyes was cruel, judgmental and uncaring, the expression on her face implied that she would take ultimate pleasure more than to watch Thomas writhe in pure agony.
No doubt about it, it was definitely Chifuyu.
"I...was jogging."
"Then why pause?"
"I've had a lot on my mind for a while now, Ma'am."
"I see...Would it happen to have anything to do with something I should be concerned about?"
Thomas looked away, and remained silent.
Chifuyu closed her eyes and sighed.
She was going to regret doing this, but Thomas needed to know that she cared.
"Look, I know I scare you and all...But you're like a little brother alongside Ichika to me. And...I know something is wrong, especially after that abduction attempt. So, I just want you to know..."
She rested her hand on his shoulder.
"...You can be honest and trust me, really."
Thomas's brow furrowed.
"Why does everyone keep thinking that I'm still recovering from the Cinderella thing?" He complained.
Chifuyu flinched.
"I mean, seriously!" He ranted, "I'm past that! It was just a pair of oddballs not taking a hint that I'm not for sale, right? It doesn't mean anything to me. Seriously, it's over, and whoever those people were are most likely never going to show their mugs again!"
Chifuyu was stunned.
Normally, Thomas would've assaulted her with questions. However, unlike before, it seemed as though Thomas couldn't be bothered to care, let alone reflect upon Phantom Task's attempt to kidnap him.
Did he really not know about Phantom Task?
Although Chifuyu would jump for joy knowing Thomas was oblivious, it was very concerning that Thomas didn't already know. Ichika was informed by Tatenashi about Phantom Task, but Chifuyu also instructed her to tell Thomas as well.
She was hesitant to do so, since she admitted this would only fuel Thomas's curiosity.
However...
Chifuyu caught on.
Thomas was lying to her, obviously.
Thomas obviously knew there was more going on behind his back than he would ever admit. Something happened to him before he came inside. However, it was easily clear that Thomas wasn't ready to talk yet.
She'd sort him out in time.
"Well, when you're ready to open up, come see me privately, and we can talk."
She moved on.
Thomas went to his room.
He said nothing to Ichika, and simply went to sleep.
At least, he tried to.
His head was too deep in thought to drift off.
Saturday...
Thomas and Ichika left for the mainland.
They'd worked out their plan.
Thomas would confront Kana, and Ichika would be watching them incognito.
Ichika was currently watching Thomas from a parlor table. He wore a dark green hoodie, running shoes, and black cargo pants. He looked inconspicuous enough. He followed Thomas's crash-course on how to blend with the public.
However, it seemed that someone already figured them out.
"What a coincidence." Said Chifuyu.
"Hm? Oh, Chifuyu! What're you doing here?!" Ichika asked, trying to remain calm.
"I could ask you and Thomas the same thing." She returned.
"Um...Well..."
"Could I talk with you in private?"
"But-!"
"This is urgent."
Ichika flinched when he saw a nervous and pleading look on Chifuyu's face.
"Please, Ichika."
Ichika was taken aback. Chifuyu would never have such a look on her. She begging Ichika to follow her in all but name. Although something seemed off. Not just with this whole setup, but with Chifuyu as well.
He just couldn't figure out what, however.
"O-Okay then..." Ichika said, looking at Thomas as he got up and left.
Chifuyu smiled.
There was a sinister glint in her eyes, but Ichika didn't notice.
Chifuyu guided Ichika behind the parlor, to an alleyway.
Ichika looked behind to make sure they were in private.
"Okay, so why'd-?!"
Without warning, "Chifuyu" decked Ichika on the pressure point with a mighty pistol whip, knocking him out cold instantly.
"And for the record? The name's Madoka." M whispered to Ichika's unconscious body.
It'd been a few minutes, Thomas was getting suspicious.
Did Kana know what he was trying to do?
Thomas looked around for Ichika. However, Ichika was nowhere in sight. That was a seriously alarming problem. Thomas could spot any one individual from quite far. He also stayed within such a proximity that Ichika and Thomas could spot each other.
No doubt, Kana-or worse-someone else knew about their plan.
His worst fears were confirmed in moments.
A woman rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Kana?"
Thomas looked behind him...
...Only to find Autumn with a sultry look on her face.
"So," She cooed, "What's my favorite baby boy up to these days?"
"Mind telling me what happened to Ichika?
"The Orimura brat? Don't worry, M's taking good care of him. No harm will come to him as long as you stay calm."
Thomas remained silent.
This had just turned into a very dangerous situation.
"And just to let you know," Cautioned Autumn, "Phantom Task already fixed up the Arachnae, so not only will your brat-friend die, but I could kill everyone in this mall just to make sure."
Thomas was beginning to sweat a little.
"You were standing up for a while, we should go get you somewhere to sit~!"
Autumn ushered Thomas to a nearby bench, and they sat side-by-side. She'd firmly pressed Thomas to sit down at the bench, keeping her hand on his shoulder as a means of insurance.
"I'm being rude by teasing you," Apologized Autumn, "I'm sure everything's so messy in that cute, big brain of yours."
"I guess..."
"Remember before? When I was trying to get you out of the IS Academy?"
"Mhm..."
"I wasn't lying about what I said. If you come with us, then We'll do everything we can to make sure all you questions are answered."
"How about an introductory package then?"
"Oh...I see you're showing a lot more interest than last time~!"
Thomas faced away from Autumn in shame.
Autumn took notice.
"So...How's the family-Oh...Sorry." Her voice dropped, to oddly non-patronizing tone.
Thomas was not only facing away from Autumn out of shame, but to make sure nobody took interest in the pair as they talked.
The last thing he needed was outside interference.
"I'm going to just tell you now," Admitted Autumn, "Kana's my adopted daughter."
The news struck like a bomb.
Kana was Autumn's daughter? It'd explain the girl's habit of somehow always being able to locate Thomas anywhere, anytime.
It also stood to reason that Thomas meeting Kana on the train in the summer wasn't a coincidence. Did she really have a sibling in the IS Academy? Or was that just a lie Kana made to have an excuse for meeting Thomas?
"Does...Kana have a sibling in the IS Academy?" Thomas asked.
"Actually, yes. She does. I can't say who, but the answer isn't going to be easy for you..."
"What does Squall want with me?"
"You hold a special place in her heart. She wants to bring you into the family."
"But why?"
"I can't just give away everything for free, can I? If you want to know that, you'll come with me. But don't worry, when you do-"
"-If I do."
"It's a matter of when." Corrected Autumn, "One way or another, you will be ours."
Thomas spotted something.
It was Houki.
And she was headed right for them.
"Hey, Thomas!" She called, "I heard you and Ichika were hanging out and wanted to-huh? Who's that?"
Houki noticed Autumn.
Thomas just remembered: Houki never actually saw Autumn, and Thomas didn't tell her about Reiko Makigami either.
"Is she a friend?" Hesitantly asked Houki.
Houki was in street clothes. She'd gotten word that Thomas and Ichika went to the mainland that day to unwind and have a guys' day out. Naturally, since none of the other girls had found out yet, she wanted to get some time in with Ichika. Sure, such an act would violate the sanctity of a guy-group activity, but she knew that both of the boys wouldn't mind.
At least, she thought so.
So far, Ichika was nowhere to be seen, and Thomas was profusely sweating as he sat next to an older woman.
"Yeah...She's...A friend." Thomas said hesitantly.
"Oh! You have another friend? How cute." Autumn said as she locked eyes with Houki.
"Let him go. Now." Houki ordered calmly, ready to deploy the Akatsubaki at the drop of a dime.
"Is something the matter? I'm just trying to talk with Tommy here."
"I said-"
"It's fine!" Thomas interjected.
Houki flinched, and looked at Thomas with a confused face.
"There's no problem here, Houki. I'm just...spending time with my stepmother...Yeah! And...I really don't want anyone to get in the way of me and my stepmother trying to have some quality bonding time."
Houki knew that Thomas was making a terrible lie.
But she also knew that this was most likely a very fragile situation.
She'd just have to trust him.
"Well, I shouldn't keep you anymore." Said Autumn, "After all, you've got a lot on your plate right now."
Autumn stood up, and walked off.
"Have a good time, sweetie~!"
As soon as Thomas lost sight of Autumn, he exhaled.
"Where's Ichika?" Questioned Houki.
Thomas checked the GPS App on his phone.
"He's over there." Thomas answered, pointing to the alleyway behind the parlor.
"C'mon, we get Ichika, and then you two tell me exactly what happened."
Mall Security came on the scene at Houki's request. Chifuyu and several Instructors from the IS Academy quickly arrived on the scene the moment Houki and Ichika mentioned the three of them were IS Academy students.
Everyone showered Thomas with compliments and consolations for the whole ordeal. They praised him for keeping calm and doing everything he could to keep the situation from escalating, and tried to comfort him for being put through such danger.
They'd reported the incident to the police, but Autumn and M had vanished without so much as a trace.
Thomas withheld information.
Not that anyone could figure that out.
He only told them about how M held Ichika as insurance to make Thomas comply with Autumn.
He didn't tell anyone of Phantom Task's supposed connection to the IS Academy. He also didn't tell them anything about the conversation he had with Autumn.
It was personal. And Thomas wanted to keep it that way.
The moment the group returned to the Academy, Chifuyu bopped Ichika and Thomas on the head extra harder than normal.
"What the hell were you thinking you two?!" She snapped, "If it wasn't for Shinonono's intervention, that little spat could've ended any number of ways, including the both of you getting killed!"
Thomas would've objected, but held his tongue once again.
Chifuyu knew very well something was going on when the boys told her their plan for the day.
"Orimura, Shinonono, you're dismissed." Said Chifuyu, "Scott, I want to talk to you in private."
The two went back to join the other students, Chifuyu ushered Thomas into another room.
"What's this about, Thomas?" Said Chifuyu, "I don't know for sure, but I feel like you had something to do this whole situation."
"Not all of it. I have this stalker, and she..."
Should he come clean and tell her everything? Perhaps.
Would he come clean and tell her everything?
No.
Not yet.
"I was trying to lure her out, so me and Ichika could have evidence, but I didn't know that Autumn-person was going to show up."
"I see...Do you have the stalker's name?"
"Her name's Naka."
Thomas purposely scrambled her name.
"So, your verdict?"
"Naka's just a run-of-the-mill stalker. She's irrelevant."
"Alright then."
Chifuyu sighed.
"Promise me you'll never pull a stunt like this again. You could've gotten hurt. What would your father think?"
What would his dad think? It wasn't clear whether Thomas's mom was dead or alive, so what would she think?
Chifuyu's lack of referencing her mother was in itself a big, stinking trigger for Thomas. It was infuriating to the boy. Sure, dad and Chifuyu's consolation about his mother was one thing, but whitewashing her from his life entirely just sent him over the edge.
"Yeah?" Thomas snarled, "What would my mother think? You're the expert, so tell me?"
"Excuse me?"
"I've been doing everything I can to be patient until you and dad tell me about mom, but I can't take it any longer! You've both been hiding secrets that I need to know and it's getting me pissed off!"
"We can't-"
"You can't? Or won't? Phantom Task's out to recruit me, and I don't know why! On top of that, it really doesn't seem like I have a much better arrangement here! You're lying to me, dad's lying to me, I can't trust a thing either of you say anymore!"
"How could you say that?!"
"What? Gonna tell my mom? Go ahead! See if I care! It's not like she's gonna care, she hasn't taken an interest in me before, so what's it matter now? Besides, you're not my real big sister, so what're you getting your panties in a bunch about?!"
Chifuyu was taken aback.
She grit her teeth, clenched her fists, and turned away in anger.
Thomas's expression softened.
He went too far.
Way too far.
"Chifuyu, I-"
"Leave." Snapped Chifuyu.
"But-"
"LEAVE!" She roared.
Thomas wasted no time in exiting, and leaving Chifuyu to her own devices.
As soon as she couldn't hear Thomas's footsteps anymore, her expression mellowed from anger to woe.
Tears began to swell.
"This was bound to happen eventually," She thought to herself, "He's right, we should've told him something..."
"Just how much longer can we keep Thomas?" She muttered, "We can't just tell him now, not in a position like this."
The awful question lingered in Chifuyu's mind.
It was only a matter of time before Thomas took things into his own hands.
Only a matter of time before Thomas decided to leave.
Did she really have the right to force him to stay in the IS Academy?
"Everything alright, Good Thomas?" Inquired Elias.
The boys returned in time for dinner, and met up with everyone else.
"Hm? Oh, yeah..."
"Alright," Lingyin butted in, "What happened this time?"
"Chi-Miss Orimura and I had...a bit of a falling out."
"What happened?!" Cried Ichika.
"I'd...I'd rather not talk about it."
"Oh..."
Thomas got up, and began to leave.
"I need some time to myself."
Some time later...
Ichika began to head back to his room.
With any luck, Thomas was there.
If not, then he'd never be found.
He was walking from the cafeteria to the dorm building, it was nighttime, and he was treading a stretch of a walkway where anything could happen.
And happen, something did.
Ichika heard the clacking of boots behind him.
He whipped around, already on edge from earlier today.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
M stepped out into the light of the lampposts lining the walkway.
"Chi...Chifuyu?!"
"Remember me? From the mall?"
"Wait..."
Ichika was connecting dots just as quickly as Thomas did about this woman.
"You're the Silent Zephyrs pilot, right?"
M seemed disappointed.
"Is that just the world's worst kept secret or something? Scott I can get, but how'd you figure it out?" She muttered.
"It's in your voice!" Admitted Ichika, "You have a more blank and sinister tone than Chifuyu does!"
She locked eyes with Ichika.
"So, what's your real name?" He demanded.
"My name? Oh yeah, I clocked you before that. My name is..."
Her next words sent a chill down Ichika's spine.
"...Madoka Orimura."
"Huh?! Chifuyu never told me about another sibling-"
"I wonder why." Madoka retorted, "But, for my own identity..."
Madoka pulled a gun from under her clothes.
"...I'll take your life."
Ichika didn't realize the full weight of "Madoka's" actions.
She made a sinister smile as she pulled the gun's hammer back.
Madoka pulled the trigger, and fired.
To be continued!
A/N: I really didn't know just what kind of note I wanted to end things on, so I decided to end the chapter by tying back into the canon anime storyline. I hope that works!
Since I have to deal with school, updates will come a lot slower than they did in the summer. Not that the summer updates were any fast themselves. But not to worry, it'll be a long time before I abandon this story!
At last, I've revealed more about Kana's backstory! However, it was also revealed this chapter Phantom Task has a connection in the IS Academy! Who could it possibly be? And why?
But how will everything turn out in the end? Not even I have a clue!
Next time: Back to Basics.
With Thomas and Chifuyu's falling out, chaos ensues!
Charlotte, Ichika, and Thomas take on a nighttime guard duty to protect IS Shipments. However, their job goes awry, and Thomas and Ichika are left unable to deploy their Units!
With serious trouble already about, Thomas must find a way to keep the problem from getting worse, and patch things up with Chifuyu.
But it's quite obvious to the boy that doing such a task is easier said than done...
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