I started this right after finishing the last chapter, I want to wrap up World Purge ASAP so I can write a Christmas Special Chapter and New Year Special, so here's to hoping I manage to make it work!
Disclaimer: I do not own American Idiot.
After narrowly surviving reckless stunts upon returning to the IS Academy, Ichika and Elias perform a cyber-dive into the VR World in the hopes of rescuing the other Representative Candidates from the clutches of World Purge!
But are they immune to World Purge's power?
Will they be able to resist temptations of their own hearts' desire?
And what of Thomas? Will he finally be able to discover the answers of his long-held questions about his mother?
Thomas rushed after the white-haired woman.
He didn't even know why he was chasing her.
Under normal circumstances, Thomas would've pursued the woman because she was in the house he lived in. He didn't know her, and it was very suspicious that a random woman would be in a house she didn't have any reason to be in.
But that wasn't why Thomas was chasing her.
He'd seen that woman several times before, but they were still strangers to each other. Much to Thomas's confusion. That woman seemed so familiar to him, as if he'd knew her from somewhere.
But where?
The woman was running rather quickly, which seemed obvious since she probably broke into a house and Thomas had caught her.
Perhaps the situation was exactly as it seemed.
But why did Thomas feel so distracted about it? Why did he feel as though there was a deeper meaning?
If Thomas had actually checked the text message he received, he wouldn't be chasing this mystery woman down the street.
But that didn't matter.
Thomas wanted answers.
He'd do anything to get them.
And his definition of "Anything" was growing and growing...
The boy didn't understand it then, but he'd soon come to realize that he'd lose sight of what he deemed important in life. All that talk of friends and family would soon be put to the test by his own volition.
He just didn't know it yet.
Ichika and Elias gawked as they took their first steps into cyberspace.
"Such...Infinity..." Elias muttered.
Ichika was speechless.
"Focus!" Said Kanzashi.
"Oh, right!" Ichika remembered.
"What are we to do with all these doors?" Said Elias, gesturing to the doors in front of them.
There were 6 doors, each of them daring the boys to enter.
"Go in them, everyone else should be on the other side." Said Kanzashi.
Ichika and Elias turned to each other once more.
"Let's work our way down to the middle, I guess."
Ichika went to the furthest left door, and Elias went for the furthest right.
With one last to each other, they nodded.
The boys entered the doors.
Whatever awaited them on the other side...
...They chose not to fear it.
Ichika positioned himself over Lingyin.
Lingyin's heart was aflutter.
Were they really about to do it?
Had they done it before?
Lingyin tried to think, but no such recollection came to mind.
She wasn't really for what came after it!
"I-Ichika," Pleaded Lingyin, "Please..."
"You're so cute..." Ichika whispered.
Ichika unbuttoned Lingyin's uniform and bra. The girl panicked, they were moving far too fast for her liking, and she wasn't ready! She had to assert herself before Ichika went too far!
Lingyin crossed her arms over her chest.
"Wait-?!"
Suddenly, Ichika grabbed her wrists and removed her arms from her chest, restraining her hands against the bed as her bra and uniform came further undone, exposing Lingyin's modest chest for Ichika to witness.
"Oh yeah..." Ichika savored the sight, "Sweet."
Ichika's hands let go of Lingyin's wrists, and moved closer and closer to her panties.
However, instead of removing them, Ichika's hands went back up, running against Lingyin's thigh and reaching up her skirt.
"W-Wait!" Lingyin cried, "I-I'm not ready!"
But Lingyin's mind had succumbed.
"Ichika..." She whispered one last time before closing her eyes.
She couldn't fight back.
After all, this was what she wanted.
At last...
Ichika threw open the door to the room with a loud crash, only to find...
...Ichika getting pervy with Lingyin?!
That didn't make sense!
He was Ichika! So who was this guy touching Lingyin?!
"HEY!" Snapped Ichika, "What d'you think you're doing to Lingyin, bastard?!"
Lingyin opened her eyes to find to Ichikas locking eyes with each other.
What was going on?! Where did this new Ichika come from?!
Wait...
What was with his clothes? Why were they so...Familiar?
"He's wearing an IS Pilot Uniform?!" Realized Lingyin, "But...That means...That means the Ichika in front of me...He's a fake! This isn't real! This is...My ideal Ichika...And my ideal world? It's all just fake! Ichika's way too dumb to do this sort of stuff with me!"
"Foreign element detected in World Purge. Error."
"Rogue elements must be removed..."
Suddenly, the fake Ichika's eyes turned golden.
"Preparing to neutralize foreign element." He chanted monotonously, taking up a fighting stance.
Suddenly, Lingyin felt the feedback surging through her mind as the world around her fell apart. She'd become self-aware, and World Purge wasn't able to take the strain of Lingyin's realization. Sadly, Lingyin's autonomy was beginning to turn back on her as she felt the world around her come to pieces.
Ichika panicked.
Lingyin wouldn't be able to handle that stress for very long.
The very notion of an entire digital world crumbling apart and the damage dealt to the brain was far more than Ichika wanted to think about.
The fake Ichika rushed in to attack.
But Ichika was far faster.
In the IS Academy's VR World, speed was not limited by the body. A person's speed was determined by the speed their mind moved.
Ichika could feel this sensation of being unencumbered, and quickly struck.
His foe rushed in with an overhead.
Ichika met the punch with his own, his arm suddenly curling around his opponent's arm with unforeseen flexibility. The fake Ichika fired away with a barrage of punches, but to no avail.
For Ichika, it was like time had slowed to a standstill.
Whereas he began to block with his full technique, he found he could move so fast while relaxing.
Ichika had dropped his guard, and simply played with his slothful opponent ever so casually, parrying punches without a care to the wind.
He could hear Lingyin crying in pain, and quickly concluded to finish his little display.
The fake Ichika came in with a right hook.
Ichika countered by ducking, and smashing the fake Ichika in the jaw with a left overhand.
This sent the fake Ichika flying. The artificial boy digitized and vanished as the world around Lingyin and Ichika turned white.
In the blink of an eye, Lingyin and Ichika found themselves back in cyberspace.
Lingyin kept her eyes shut as she nursed her head.
"Hey," Ichika cooed, "It's okay now. I'm here. You don't have to worry anymore..."
"Ichika-?!" Lingyin realized she was...Exposed.
Lingyin screamed as she covered herself.
"You pervert!"
"Hey! It wasn't me! I didn't do anything!"
"...Put them back on for me."
"Huh?"
"I said put my clothes back on me!"
Ichika yelped in realization.
"You're the one who stripped me, take responsibility!"
"Like I said, it wasn't me!"
Lingyin looked ready to break down and cry like a child, utterly humiliated that the real Ichika was gawking at her while she was exposed. It was all so wonderful, with her ideal Ichika being bold enough to do this to her.
But the wet-noodle Ichika really was simply wasn't capable of doing such things.
Ichika caved in as Lingyin gave him the adorable puppy-dog begging face.
"A-Alright, fine..." Ichika grumbled as he prepared to put dress Lingyin.
The first thing to do...
...Was pull up Lingyin's panties.
"I-I'll have to pull up your underwear, okay?" Ichika said.
Ichika looked away, his face flushed red with the steamy situation. Lingyin closed her eyes as she felt Ichika's hands begin to pull up her panties. However, a quick glance revealed that Ichika was unable to see what he was doing.
"What the hell?!" Cried Lingyin.
"I'm trying not to look, gimme a break!" Ichika defended.
Lingyin thought of a solution.
"So you just need to look without too much skin, right?"
Lingyin began to pull up her skirt, stopping short of her private parts. Ichika looked down as he began to pull Lingyin's underwear up her legs. He did his best to remain calm in the face of such a situation.
"This is Lingyin," He thought, "My classmate at the IS Academy, childhood friend, and she won't try to kick the crap out of me if I mess up this time, right?"
Ichika could feel that the underwear refused to go any further, and knew his task was finished.
Suddenly Kanzashi popped up on a holo-screen, startling both Lingyin and Ichika.
"That's enough for now," Scoffed Kanzashi, "Lingyin, return for now. We need to assess if the attack affected you in any way."
"Uh...Right!" Lingyin said, "Thanks, Ichika...For waking me up..."
Lingyin dematerialized as she returned to the real world.
"Where are you, Thomas? You should be here by now..." Ichika muttered.
Thomas hadn't responded to Ichika's text, meaning he was either not answering by choice, or he was unable to check his phone.
Whatever the case, Ichika had to press on without Thomas.
It wasn't that Ichika feared the worst for Thomas...
...But rather, Ichika didn't feel safe without his friend by his side.
Ichika turned back to the doors.
"One down," Ichika mumbled to himself, "And a whole mess to go."
The water in the bathtub began to spill out onto the floor, along with rose petals.
Cecelia sat in Elias's lap and he caressed her.
She could feel Elias's chest against her back. The soft yet toned texture of his muscles rubbed against her back in just the right way, as though she was being enveloped in a big, muscly blanket.
The sensation was simply too great for Cecelia to resist.
Elias's hands had finally reach her chest, the moment Cecelia had been anticipating for so long.
Elias cupped Cecelia's breasts, which were barely obscured by the bathwater.
"Say," Observed Elias, "It appears you've grown here too~!"
Cecelia began to moan as Elias toyed with her body.
"It would seem I'll have to take new measurements for yet another pair of unmentionables for you..." Elias shamed sensually.
"I'm sorry..." Cecelia whined, ashamed of herself for giving Elias such a task.
"Don't seem so hateful of that," Whispered Elias, "In my personal preference..."
Suddenly, Elias's hands firmly clamped down upon Cecelia's bosom.
"...I'd like that you'd go up another cup size!"
Cecelia squealed as her heart skipped a beat, startled by Elias's bold move.
Suddenly, the door to the bath burst opened...
...Revealing none other than Elias, gawking.
"You there!" He declared, "How dare you?!"
Cecelia snapped out of her haze.
The Elias that had just entered was wearing an...IS Pilot uniform?! But how?! That was something that she'd only seen in her dreams...How could an object from her fantasy really exist? Let alone be adorned by Elias?
Unless...Her dreams were real.
But that couldn't be! It just couldn't!
If they were real, then that would mean the world around her, were everything was so perfect...
...Was all a lie.
It finally dawned Cecelia.
She'd been indulging a lie this whole time!
This Elias who'd catered to her every whim, the Elias who'd always assure her that what see was seeing was indeed what she believed, was a complete fake! It was obvious Elias did indeed love Cecelia, but the real Elias would never be so dominating, he was far too frightened of crossing the line to act superior.
Cecelia felt so ashamed, now that her true desires were laid bare for Elias to condemn.
"Curses!" Snapped the fake Elias, hopping out of the bath.
"Have at you!" Elias rushed in.
However, the fake Elias quickly took down the real Elias with an elbow right to the face. Elias stumbled back, and found that his foe snatched his wrist with one hand, and began to pummel him with the other.
Elias stumbled back as he reeled from the assault.
He needed to get creative.
The boy backed towards the rack with a basket full of Cecelia's clothes.
"Pah! Look at you, you muddy-meddled coward!" Taunted the impostor, "You should understand you've no chance! In this realm...I am invincible!"
Elias looked to his surroundings.
He had a basket full of clothes, and a pole with a towel hook.
The fake Elias leapt into the air, coming down upon his foe with an assault from above.
However, Elias was far craftier.
The boy snatched the clothing, and threw it into the fake Elias's face. The clothes completely threw the faker off his game, as he was now unable to see anything.
"Gah?! He snatched up clothes while I was unable to evade?!" Cried the fake.
The artificial Elias then landed as he removed the clothes covering his head.
Elias swiped the towel pole, and rushed his adversary.
"Let me demonstrate a little trick, courtesy of one Thomas Scott!" Declared Elias as he went in for the attack.
The faker, unable to counter Elias's weapon, was doomed.
"When one is unable to use their fists to settle a bout," Recited Elias, "A blunt object will do quite nicely!"
Elias fired away as he whacked his doppelganger in his joints. The boy crippled his foe with a blow to the knees, and two strikes to the arms. Elias finished his combo-attack by putting his twin in a headlock with the pole and spinning. Elias threw his opponent, and finished him with a powerful blow to the chin.
"This is for treating Lady Cecelia like an object, you man-whore! I apologize for swearing!" Elias announced.
Cecelia watched Elias in that single moment.
The moment after he'd just finished his foe, but before he'd relaxed. That single moment in time froze for Cecelia to witness in awe. She'd never seen Elias act so fierce before. The sight was simply a wonder for Cecelia to behold.
The world around them went white, and they were back in cyberspace.
Cecelia then realized...
...She was naked and Elias was actually gawking at her.
Cecelia covered herself as she yelped. Elias looked away, feverishly blushing with embarrassment.
"Y-You..." Cecelia muttered.
"What?"
"You saw it, didn't you?!"
"See wha-?!"
"Don't deny it! You saw it! My naked body, my fantasy..."
Cecelia looked as though she was ready to break down and cry deeply.
"...You saw how weak I am...I'll never...Get married now..."
"What?"
"I should just die of embarrassment..." Cecelia whimpered.
Elias could tell Cecelia was quite fragile at the moment, and he'd have to defuse the situation before she lost it. However, what was a boy supposed to say at a time like this? Elias had no clue how to talk to a girl in this situation.
Maria's words echoed in Elias's mind.
"Why," She said, "It's as simple as talking to boys, Master."
Elias gulped.
He'd have to try and make Cecelia confident again.
But being blunt wouldn't work, he'd have to be far more perceptive to Cecelia's feminine side instead.
"It was...Beautiful."
Cecelia gasped as she heard the words from Elias's lips.
"I was entranced by your...Feminine wiles..." Elias was saying the first thing that came to mind.
And somehow, it was actually working.
"Your body..." Elias continued, "It's so beautiful, like that of a sixteenth-century painting. If I were an artist, I'd aspire to create a masterpiece that's half as beautiful as you, because nothing can hope to match your beauty."
The words began to flow a bit easier for Elias as he went along.
"Yours is a beauty that's beyond the real world."
Cecelia swooned and squealed with delight as she heard Elias's praises.
"You lovely boy!" She said, "You know how to make a girl's head spin~!"
With that, Cecelia vanished, and returned to the real world.
Elias slumped and sighed.
"I...I did it." He muttered to himself, "I actually went and said such things to her directly...But what was happening in that...Thing?"
Kanzashi popped up.
"Well," Kanzashi theorized, "I'd suspect that whatever's attacking them is doing so by showing everyone their heart's desires. Creating an ideal world, where everything is perfect...Well, there's nothing that can really fight satisfaction like that. The reason they haven't shaken it off is because nobody would want to leave their dreams."
"The ultimate weakness..." Muttered Elias, "A person's content with life's offer."
Elias turned to look back to the remaining doors.
"We have to hurry," Said Elias, "There's no telling what'll happen if everyone's left to rot away in their fantasy forever..."
Elias walked up, and entered another door.
Ichika had finally stopped doting on Laura.
Instead, he was now going to play with her instead.
"Vell zhen," He snickered, "Since you're already vearing an apron, und ve're in zhe kitchen, vhy don't you and I...Get cooking?"
Ichika grinned evilly as he cracked a horse whip.
"Und now..." He giggled.
Ichika came closer, and used the horse whip to move the lace of Laura's apron. Ichika did so to get a clear view of Laura's behind, further humiliating the German girl as though she were nothing more than a mere toy for Ichika to play with to his heart's content.
Laura tensed as she could feel the tip of the horse whip run slowly against her hide.
Thankfully for her, Ichika wasn't about to actually whip her, but tease her relentlessly.
"S-Stop!" Pleaded Laura, "Dumkomphf! Stop zhat right now!"
Ichika chuckled as Laura remembered she wasn't allowed to resist.
Her will was so easily broken by Ichika's advance, she didn't want to resist anyway.
Ichika then pulled Laura in for a hug, and spooned her as the couple stood in the kitchen.
"I know vhat I vant to cash my IOU in on now..." He whispered, "How about ve spend zhe entire day making love?"
Ichika blew softly into Laura's ear, causing the girl's heart to race faster than ever before.
"I...I..."
Laura couldn't take much more, and fainted.
Ichika licked his lips as he prepared to take full advantage.
Suddenly, a boot kicked open and broke a cupboard door, revealing none other than Ichika boxed inside.
"Okay okay," Ichika said as he popped out of the cupboard, "What. The. Actual. Fuck?!"
The fake Ichika placed Laura to the side as he traded blows with Ichika.
Ichika swiped a frying pan from the oven, and used it to parry his duplicate's horse whip. Ichika twirled the frying pan in his hand like a Jedi with a lightsaber. His newfound ability to do nearly anything was growing more and more intoxicating.
The fake Ichika drew back the horse whip...
...Only to have Ichika parry, and deliver a beheading sweep to the neck as a counter.
With that, Ichika brought Laura to cyberspace.
Laura was still out cold, dizzy from her Ichika making her heart race.
Ichika watched as Laura's face softened, sleeping peacefully.
He chuckled.
"She's totally looking like Sleeping Beauty right now..." Ichika whispered.
The boy turned back to the remaining doors.
"Which one should I choose next?"
Ichika laughed like a dominating villain.
Charlotte began to undo the straps of her maid outfit, and let the clothing drop. Her maid outfit lay at her feet as she adjusted to the chill of the master bedroom. Ichika grinned, watching eagerly as he eyed Charlotte's half-naked body.
Charlotte wore nothing more than lingerie, pink underwear, stockings, and arm warmers.
"M-Monsieur..." She said, "You're staring too much..."
"Hm?" Ichika taunted sensually, drawing a saber and approaching Charlotte.
Charlotte made a muffled gasp as she realized Ichika was now pointing the tip of the saber to her. Was Ichika angry with her in some way? Whatever the case, Charlotte's heart quivered with fear as she felt the cold tip of the metal blade tap her sternum.
However, instead of plunging the weapon into Charlotte, Ichika began to raise the saber higher.
With a flick of the wrist, Ichika had cut Charlotte's bra in two!
Charlotte yelped in surprise, dropping into a squat as she covered her exposed chest in humiliation.
Ichika laughed, asserting his superiority.
Charlotte was happy, however.
This was something she'd longed for. Since Ichika was so dominating over Charlotte, she would have nothing to fear. With Ichika as her husband and master, she wouldn't need to think or do anything for herself, as she could confide in Ichika.
She submitted completely.
"No!" Cried Kanzashi, "We're losing Charlotte! Elias! Hurry!"
"Stop right there!" Elias declared, jumping into the master bedroom's window, shattering it with a loud crash. Elias held a rapier in his hand, and placed himself between Charlotte and Ichika.
"Sacre bleu!" Ichika gasped.
Elias quickly jumped at Ichika, hacking away until Ichika fell to the ground, immobile.
"Oh mon Dieu!" Screamed Charlotte in horror, "What have you done?!"
"Charlotte!" Said Elias, turning around to look the girl in the eyes, "You have to wake up!"
"You...You killed monsieur!"
"I didn't!" Elias explained, "He's not real!"
"You monster!"
"Charlotte-oh, to Hell with it!"
Elias placed his left hand on Charlotte's shoulder, and delivered a powerful slap across the girl's face.
"Wake up, you ninny!" Elias shouted as he shook Charlotte back and forth.
Charlotte blinked as she registered Elias's slap.
Why did this...Murderer keep calling her by name? Did she know him? Why did he seem so familiar?
Wait! Could it be?
"E..." Charlotte tried to remember, "...Elias?"
"Aha! So you do remember me! You asked me to help oversee IS shipping that time, remember? When Thomas had that fight with Miss Orimura, and Ichika and Thomas couldn't deploy their Units?"
"I...Remember...What happened?"
Elias tried to explain the situation to Charlotte. However, behind Elias's back, Ichika began to rise from the ground silently. His eyes opened, revealing they'd turned golden, now that World Purge's illusion had shattered.
"-But more importantly," Said Elias, "We need to get you-Wait."
Suddenly, Elias turned around to find Ichika trying to bring his saber down upon Elias.
Elias moved far quicker, and began to poke and prod Ichika like a pin cushion. Just before Ichika fell back, Elias ran him through and pulled Ichika back up, and returned to jabbing away at Ichika.
Elias finished the job with his biggest slash, and turned around as he paused for effect.
The world turned white, and Charlotte found herself back in cyberspace.
Charlotte then realized that Elias had seen her almost naked.
"Y-You lecherous pervert!" Charlotte cried in dismay as she rushed Elias.
Elias turned to face Charlotte, onto to be met with Charlotte poking him right in the eyes with her fingers.
"OH GOD!" Elias cried, falling onto the ground as he writhed in agony, "MY EYES!"
Ichika turned around to find Elias fumbling about on the ground.
"Guys? What's goin-Charlotte?! What's with the getup?!" Ichika cried as he averted his eyes.
"Wha?! But you were the one who made me put this on! Come to think of it, you also made me take it off..."
"That wasn't me!"
"I...I can't deal with you perverts right now!" Charlotte cried as she returned to the real world.
Elias could feel his eyes finally stop hurting, and sighed.
"Only two doors left." Ichika groaned.
"This is just ridiculous...Why is everyone always so naughty in their fantasies?" Complained Elias, "Why couldn't we have something easy to deal with? Like a completely normal situation?"
"I don't know...But I'm getting worried. Thomas should be here..."
"Perhaps he feels we can do this ourselves..."
"I'm not so sure..." Ichika said.
"Right," Elias concluded, "I'll take the left door, you can get the right door."
Suddenly, a large chest landed right next to the boys with a massive thud.
"I'm sending you some special weapons and gear," Said Kanzashi, "Houki's version of Ichika is no doubt the strongest of all."
"Right..." Muttered Ichika, rummaging through the chest.
"Be on your guard," Cautioned Kanzashi, "Nana's also still in there, and she might have a very dangerous version of Thomas in there along with her."
"I'll do what I can." Said Elias.
"Kendo armor?!" Ichika blurted out.
"I'm going ahead, good luck!" Said Elias, as he dashed into the left door.
Thomas straddled Nana's legs and held her up as they continuously made out.
Nana had steered Thomas until he fell back on the bed.
"You've fallen for my trap~!" She giggled.
"Oh?" Thomas sneered, rolling over Nana to counterattack.
"How?!" Cried Nana, "I had you!"
"That's 'cause I let you have me!" Teased Thomas, "And now..."
Thomas's face became sensual as his hypnotic gaze met Nana's eyes, entrancing her completely.
But Thomas's hypnosis was short-lived.
Without warning, Elias kicked in the door to Nana's room!
"What the shit?!" Cried Nana.
Thomas quickly got up and faced Elias.
"Really?" Challenged Thomas, "I'll just crush you right now."
Thomas eyes turned golden.
"I won't let you hold Nana in this illusion any longer!" Elias declared, "No matter what, reality always prevails!"
Elias rushed in.
The boy threw a punch, trying to quickly take Thomas down before he could react. However, in the blink of an eye, Thomas caught the punch with one hand, and snatched Elias's wrist with the other.
Thomas threw Elias across the room, hitting the wall.
Elias got back up, and tried again.
This time, Thomas didn't block, but ducked under Elias's punch. Thomas stood up, and then clotheslined Elias from behind. Elias got up once more, furiously trying to finish Thomas. But each time, Thomas countered as though this was second nature to him.
This was impossible!
How was Elias supposed to beat Thomas? The person who taught Elias he knew?
The only thing that would work was if Elias somehow did something that Thomas would never expect.
Nana had no clue what was going on.
But Elias looked so familiar...And the strange, skimpy clothing he was wearing reminded her of something. But what was it?
Wait...
Elias Dansforth, from the IS Academy?! But what was he doing here?
The more Nana began to think about it, she realized just how fabricated the world around her was. Thomas was never approved by her parents, and they never got engaged. As much as Nana wanted it to happen, she knew that it would a long time before her dream would come true.
Elias did his best, but was unable to find an opening he could exploit.
Thomas taught Elias everything, and he knew Elias what would do before Elias did.
Thomas was coming at Elias with a right hook.
It was then that Elias saw his opening.
Thomas had hitched his shoulder as he threw the right hook.
Elias duck, and countered.
Before Thomas could go through with the hook, Elias snatched Thomas by the arm with his own, and jumped. Little did Elias understand at the time, but what he did next was a jujitsu technique he'd seen Thomas perform.
Elias curled up, and flipped Thomas, laying him out instantly.
Nana and Elias went back into cyberspace.
"Is everything alright, Nana?" Said Elias.
"Yeah..." Sighed Nana, "It's just...Is it wrong that I was enjoying it? Living with Thomas?"
"Not wrong at all," Consoled Elias, "I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas himself wanted the very same."
"You think so?"
"I know it."
"...Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
"Later."
Nana vanished.
Elias sat down, and waited for Ichika.
Houki sat and swooned as Ichika defeated her over and over again.
She'd fallen for the only person who had been able to defeat her in kendo.
This was like something from a fantasy.
"Y'know..." She said to Ichika, "I-I wouldn't..."
"Hm?" Ichika said.
"I wouldn't mind if you decide to marry into the Shinonono family, since you're living here and all...That way, the two of us would..."
"I'd love to!" Ichika said happily.
"Really?!" Gawked Houki, not expecting the result she received.
"Hold on!" Declared a new voice.
Houki and Ichika turned to see a figure in all-white kendo armor, directly contrasting Ichika's black kendo gear. Houki didn't know why, but the mysterious person sounded familiar, and exuded a nostalgic aura.
"U-Um..." Said the newcomer, "I'm here to challenge this dojo!"
"What?"
"I...I heard I'm-I mean, Ichika Orimura is here, and wish to challenge him to single combat!"
Houki had no idea what was going on, but laughed at the idea that this nobody who just popped out of the woodwork was so arrogant to believe he could stand toe-to-toe with Ichika in kendo.
"Really now?" Houki smirked, amused.
Ichika and the mystery man took their sides, and began.
Ichika whacked the opponent right on the head with his Shinai, and the boy fell to the floor right away.
"One point!" Called Houki.
The boy got up.
Little did Houki know that both Ichika in the black kendo gear, and the boy in the white kendo gear were the same person.
The real Ichika shook off the blow to the head.
"Crap!" He thought, "I didn't even see him move! No wonder Kanzashi said he was the strongest version! This guy's on a totally different level! I may be faster in this VR, but that doesn't matter if he can move faster than I can think!"
"Once more!" The real Ichika called.
The boys dueled round after round. And every single time, the end result was the same. Houki's Ichika kept delivering a single strike to one of Ichika's joints or vital areas, dropping him like a sandbag.
But, time after time, Ichika kept getting back up.
No matter how hard, he wouldn't falter.
Houki was in danger, and he had to win to save her.
But there was a single problem.
No matter the technique, no matter what Ichika tried, his artificial clone seemed to anticipate and counter his every move at the speed of light. As much control and technique Ichika used, his foe always have a better one lined up to knock him down.
Whack! Ichika had been struck in the leg.
Ichika dropped onto one knee, gasping for air and a moment's rest.
"Dammit!" He snapped.
Houki studied the boy in white kendo gear.
His determination was simply admirable, despite how miserable his skills were. No matter how badly he was beaten, he always got back up to challenge Ichika once more. But he was so pathetic, it was tragic to watch.
Why did he bother getting back up? Ichika would just knock him down again.
But why did that seem so eerily familiar?
She knew that stubbornness, almost as if he was physically unable to back down. This newcomer's piss-poor kendo performance was also strangely familiar as well.
Ichika panted as he stared down his foe.
This simply wasn't working.
None of his kendo techniques would work!
However...
He couldn't back down.
Ichika stood up straight, mirroring his impostor's stance.
It was then that Houki saw it.
Both boys were the exact same height, and their kendo gear made it seem as though they were Yin and Yang. Sunlight leaking in from the door of the dojo began to sparkle over the mystery boy.
Houki could see his red eyes.
It couldn't be...This strange challenger seemed so familiar, and seemed a bit like Ichika for some reason. However, Ichika never lost, and wouldn't need the determination to get back up since he never fell.
Unless...
"Again!"
The boy's voice was what finally made Houki see.
Underneath all the kendo armor, underneath the helmet and mask he wore...
...Ichika was right in front of her all along.
The boys charged.
But unlike the many times where Ichika was knocked down faster than he could see, Ichika anticipated and countered his foe's attack.
Whack!
Houki's perfect Ichika, who was undefeated, had finally found his match.
The faux Ichika fell to the floor, and did not get up.
It was finally clear to Houki which Ichika was real.
Not the Ichika she'd dreamed of, who was omnipotent and beat anyone he crossed blades with. But rather, the Ichika who wasn't what she dreamed of. The difference was that the real Ichika, no matter how badly the beating, always found a way to get back up, dispel the fear, and carry on.
Houki had finally become aware, and woke up.
Ichika realized he was back in cyberspace, and sighed.
"Holy cow," He said, "That one hurt."
"Ichika?"
Ichika turned around to find Elias.
"Looks like that's the last of it."
"Let's get going-?!"
Suddenly, two more doors appeared in front of the boys.
"What's this?"
"I dunno..."
The doors opened, a white light flashing through.
"That's weird-?!"
Suddenly, the boys began to hear strange sounds.
The doors became hypnotic, as if they were begging to boys to go through.
"Ichika!" Called Houki's voice, "Come on! This way!"
"Elias!" Called Cecelia, "Please hurry!"
Ichika and Elias looked to each other, and began to march towards the doors.
the boys went their separate ways, and the doors snapped shut behind them.
"World Purge, re-initialized."
Houki's vision went white as she adjusted to the bright light of the bunker.
"Houki!" Someone cried in relief.
Houki opened her eyes to find Nana, Charlotte, Cecelia, Lingyin, and Laura standing over her.
"What's going on?" Houki said.
"Something attacked us in the VR," Explained Nana, "But it looks like Ichika and Elias pulled us out."
"Oh..."
"But..."
"What's wrong?"
The girls all turned to look at the two boys still within the interface.
"Neither of them have woken up yet."
"What?! We have to go back in to get them!"
"I think not." Said Kanzashi.
"Why not?!"
"Whatever attacked you, it looks like it's now interfering with our ability to communicate with the boys. I think that whatever got you now has the guys."
"Who cares? We gotta help them!"
"But that's just it," Said Kanzashi, "We don't know if you're safe now. If you go back in, you could get caught again, and that'll just make a bigger mess then before!"
"Zhen vhat do ve do?"
Nana pulled out her phone.
"I'm calling Thomas. He might be able to help."
"Where is he?"
"Don't know, don't care." Said Nana, "Whatever he's doing, this is way more important!"
Thomas heard the notification bell on his phone.
The boy kept his eyes on his prey as he pulled out his phone, glancing to check and see what was going on.
Nana was calling him.
"We need you at the IS Academy. Right now." She started.
"Kinda busy."
"There's no time for that!"
"But-!"
"No buts!" Snapped Nana, "Ichika and Elias are getting the Matrix experience, and we need to get back here and help!"
"What?!"
"Would it make you go any faster if I said lives are at risk?"
"Hang on, looks like Ichika sent me a text earlier. I'll get back to you on that."
"Wai-!"
Thomas quickly pulled up Ichika's text message, and almost tripped and fell when he saw Tatenashi bleeding as she writhed on the ground. What the hell was happening at the IS Academy?! The text was dated a good while ago, meaning...
...That Thomas purposely ignored a cry for help.
But the mystery woman was right there!
That very woman had been watching Thomas, but for some unknown reason. Thomas wanted to get answers, and that woman was obviously the only one who'd give him the ones he needed. He was catching up, and he'd finally get her.
But...What about the IS Academy?
Things looked very serious over there. If Thomas were to just abandon them, the situation would deteriorate. Sure, the Representative Candidates were all capable, but seeing as Nana called Thomas, the situation wasn't resolved.
Answers? Or friends?
Normally, Thomas wouldn't hesitate on the matter, and go to save his friends. So why wasn't he going to go help them now?
Thomas shut his eyes as he tried to figure out what he should do.
If he took off for the IS Academy, he'd lost his chance to get answers.
But if he pursued, he risked making that situation at the IS Academy worse.
He friends were in danger.
But there'd be no telling when an opportunity like this would come again.
He could only choose one.
"Damn it..." Thomas growled as he stopped in his tracks.
"Revive!"
Thomas launched into the air, using the deployment to gain elevation for takeoff. Thomas looked back to the fleeing woman one last time, and sighed. Thomas turned to the opposite direction, and flew right for the IS Academy.
He made his choice.
He could only pray it was the right one.
A/N: I'm so sorry! It looks like the Christmas chapter is gonna be a bit late, since I wasn't able to finish World Purge Part 4 and 5 earlier due to schedule issues. But I'll do my best to finish everything before the week is out! It might be a bit jarring since I try to do weekly releases, rather than daily, so I apologize if all this seems rushed.
But anyway, hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Anyway, I'll talk about a new feature that will happen starting January next year.
The new update is that I'm creating a spinoff story for American Idiot! This spin-off story will just be a collection of chapters I wasn't able to put into the main story, and filler chapters for the fun of it. I hope you'll enjoy it!
As everyone's anticipating the debut of the Knight Gunner Remake and the Full-Package Byakushiki, I'm so sorry. Their profiles won't be featured in this chapter, but I promise, I PROMISE, the profiles will be put in World Purge Part 5.
I'm a man of my word, and I'm going to keep it that way.
See you soon!
Next time: World Purge Part 5.
Ichika and Elias have fallen prey to World Purge. Thomas finally responds to the situation, and races against time to save the day! But is Thomas able to fend off his own desires, and finally bring everyone back?
Whatever happens, Thomas's life will never be the same.
Leave a review, they're much appreciated and show that you care!
Happy Holidays, wherever you are in the world!