This was gonna be the last chapter in 2019! I've done this story for almost half a year, and it's still going! I do't know how to feel about that. But one thing I wish I could do better was do things ON TIME. Either way, hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Infinite Stratos.
It's the last day of the year! Everyone celebrates as they prepare to count down the final seconds of the year. But for Ichika, Thomas, and Elias, the boys come together to think of some way to commemorate their unspoken union with each other.
With their bonds tested through good and bad, how will the boys end the year?
"Awright!" Cheered Maya.
Everyone in the IS Academy was busy running about, preparing things to celebrate the end of their current year, and the coming of the new year. Since it was winter break, staff and students had the chance to run to the mainland and purchase items for celebration.
All that is, save Ichika, Thomas, and Elias.
The three boys had been through a great deal over the course of the year.
Since it was New Year's, the boys wanted to do something to commemorate their union in the IS Academy.
But one problem remained.
What was the best way to do that?
That was the question the boys were trying to answer.
They'd come so far, but still has so much farther to go.
And yet...
"Thomas!" Shouted Ichika, "Get out of bed already!"
Thomas grumbled as he rolled away from Ichika.
"It's way past time to get up! You're missing breakfast!"
Thomas began to mutter something too low for Ichika to hear.
"If you don't get up now," Ichika declared, "I'll get Chifuyu-Nee to get you out of bed!"
Thomas fell out of bed and stood up straight.
Ichika chuckled as Thomas gave him a glare. The boy yawned as he slowly got out of bed. He was either still groggy, or grouchy for some reason he didn't feel comfortable in sharing again.
"C'mon!" Said Ichika, "We need to get ready for New Year's."
"Mm." Grunted Thomas as he went to get dressed.
The boys had barely made it in time for breakfast.
What they found was all their friends ogling as they watched Elias and Cecelia fail miserably at getting around their anxiety with each other. With their every move around each other, Elias and Cecelia found themselves blushing and fumbling their every word.
"Lady-I mean, C-Cecelia," Stuttered Elias, "Would you m-mind to sit next to each other?"
"Y-Yes," Cecelia answered, "Wait, I-I mean, yes I would, not-Oh dear..."
Charlotte smiled happily as she watched the pair.
"They're so cute together~!" She cooed, "I wish Ichika and I could be as close..."
This earned her glares from Houki and Lingyin.
Thomas began to drink a milk carton from a straw, completely ignoring the situation. Ichika completely forgot the situation and simply gave everyone a warm greeting with his usual behavior.
"Welp!" Said Ichika, "It's the day of New Year's Eve! Anyone have any ideas for celebration?"
"No," Stuttered Kanzashi, "Not particularly..."
"Well," Said Houki, "I don't really have any plans...Looks like I'll just have to spend New Year's Eve with you, Ichika."
"Hey!" Snapped Lingyin, "You aren't gonna be doing anything without me!"
Houki and Lingyin locked eyes.
"Stay out of my way..." Thought Houki.
"Don't even!" Thought Lingyin.
"Ichika," Said Laura, "I suppose ve should celebrate zhe New Year vith an anniversary, jah?"
"I'm not your freaking bride!" Ichika whined.
Thomas grunted and shrugged, not listening to anyone.
"Morning everyone!" Cheered Nana.
Lingyin and Nana made eye contact with each other for a mere moment, and promptly looked away from each other.
"I know!" Said Ichika, "We should all try going to the arcade together!"
Thomas grunted and shrugged.
Everyone else began to converse over Ichika's proposition.
It wasn't long before they were all bound for the mainland, watching Elias and Cecelia hopelessly fail at flirting with each other the whole train ride.
They weren't bored at all.
The group marveled as they reached the mall at the mainland.
Although, they wouldn't have all day to find something to have fun with, as it was New Year's Eve. Stores would close quite early on that day, and they wouldn't be open at all tomorrow, as everyone would still be rocked from New Year's.
But they had the entire day to mess around.
Currently, Ichika was overseeing Houki, Laura, Charlotte, and Lingyin at a crane game at the arcade. Thomas and Nana were teaming up at a shooting game, which ended up turning into a competition to get the highest rank. Elias and Cecelia were simply standing next to each other as they did their best to try and interact.
"My turn!" Cheered Lingyin, quickly going up to the crane game controls, and pulling Ichika over to right next to her.
The other girls glared down her back as Lingyin did her best to focus on the crane game.
"Almost...Got it..." Lingyin muttered.
She and Ichika held their breath as Lingyin angled the crane down to the decimal.
"There!"
Lingyin slammed down the button.
The crane dropped...
...And the claw hit its mark.
The crane closed around a stuffed animal, and lifted Lingyin's prize out of the heap.
It was none other than a big, fluffy cat.
But they weren't out of the woods yet.
They still had to get the cat out of the machine.
The crane jerked, shaking the claw and cat violently as it moved to the drop off. Everyone, despite being cross with Lingyin, couldn't help but hold their breath as the crane shook the cat back and forth, upping the suspense.
The cat began to slip a little.
"Ooh..." Ichika grunted.
The cat shook a bit further out of the claw.
Lingyin inhaled sharply.
It was barely hanging by threads at that point, and everyone watched too eagerly to think of anything else.
The claw stopped right over the deposit, and snapped open.
The cat fell in, and everyone sighed with relief.
Lingyin reached in and picked up the cat, realizing it was as big as her head.
"Now," Said Laura, "It ish my turn."
Laura grabbed the controls, and began the crane game.
"How do I play zhis game?"
She didn't know what she wanted to grab with the crane, and quickly found herself in trouble. What would she want? What did she find appealing to take? Laura's heart began to race as she thought deeper and deeper needlessly.
Charlotte rested a hand on Laura's shoulder, startling and reassuring the smaller girl.
"You can do this." Charlotte looked into the arcade machine, and pointed, "Look! Try going for that, right there!"
Laura got a glimpse of what Charlotte pointed to, and nodded.
Laura grasped the controls once again, and began to move the crane.
Everyone stared intently as Laura angled the crane over her prize.
"Now!"
Laura slammed the button, and the claw dropped...
...Coming back up with none other than a stuffed bunny.
The bunny had a white fur belly, and black fur everywhere else.
"That's adorable!" Said Ichika.
The bunny slipped out of the claw and fell back into the pile of stuffed animals, much to everyone's shock.
Laura held a blank face.
"I vill go. AGAIN!"
Ichika put in another set of coins, and Laura tried again.
She failed two more times.
"VHY?!" Laura screamed in anger.
"Well," Ichika explained, "These types of games are rigged this way, so the players would spend more money and generate more revenue...Man, this might eat through my wallet..."
Laura's face quivered a little, as though she was holding back a childish tantrum.
"But we can't give up!" Ichika quickly said, pulling out a coin pouch.
He then went up to the machine.
"Allow me."
Laura stepped aside.
She'd never seen Ichika so needlessly determined, almost as though he was a raging fire.
Ichika put in more coins, and made an attempt to get the bunny.
The bunny fell out of the claw again.
"Dang!"
The second time, Ichika completely missed the bunny.
"I can do this..."
Ichika tried again and again.
Faster and faster, he was running out of coins he could use.
But it that bunny...It was simply impossible! How could this one, singular bunny be giving everyone so much hassle?! It should've been in Laura's arms by now, not falling back into the pile over and over!
There were only enough coins left for one last try.
Ichika closed his eyes, and breathed.
"I didn't wanna do this..." He said.
The girls all held their breath.
"...But we've got no other choice!"
Suddenly, Ichika deployed the Byakushiki's headgear.
After World Purge, Ichika had gotten modifications to the Byakushiki, turning it into the Full-Package Byakushiki. One of these was a Combat Visor, which provided support with Ichika in combat. Specifically, the Combat Visor excelled with targeting, and guidance.
A snow-white Combat Visor snapped shut over Ichika's face.
"I've got you now!"
Ichika grabbed the controls, locking the Visor onto the bunny.
The crane moved, and once more, snatched the bunny. The claw came up, and everyone watched as the claw shook back and forth with the bunny in-hand. Never before had something so trivial become so intense before the girls.
The bunny fell into the deposit, and Ichika picked up the stuffed animal, giving it to Laura.
He was breathing heavily, as though he'd underwent an exhausting physical activity.
Laura blushed, and gave the bunny a tight hug in joy.
"Alright," Said Ichika, "Who's next?"
It appeared that Ichika had forgotten he'd used up all of his coins.
The boy reached into his pocket to discover that his wallet was completely drained of coins. Ichika blushed in embarrassment as he knew the girls wouldn't be happy with him wasting so much effort for Laura.
"W-Well...I..." Ichika chuckled.
The girls all began to look jealous of Lingyin and Laura, and glared Ichika down.
Ichika knew the beat-down would commence if he didn't think of something.
"Think fast!"
Ichika narrowly caught a wallet flying at his head. Ichika flinched, realizing it was Thomas's wallet.
"You owe me!" Thomas called without turning away from the arcade machine.
"Thanks!"
Not very long after, Charlotte had received a stuffed bear, and Houki won a stuffed unicorn. And so, the 4 girls found themselves quite happy and satisfied with Ichika's gifts to them.
The group moved on, and Elias and Cecelia went up to the crane game.
"Would you...Like to?" Said Elias, blushing.
"Y-Yes," Cecelia stuttered, "Yes I would."
Elias and Cecelia tried their luck.
Cecelia finally felt bold enough to try and flirt with Elias a little.
"T-Then again," Cecelia fumbled her words, "The teddy bear you gave to me on m-my birthday is simply...Without compare!"
"Ah..." Said Elias, "I-I see."
"There's nothing wrong that!" Cecelia cried, thinking Elias was disappointed in some way.
"Um..."
"Ah..."
Both Cecelia and Elias were hopelessly in love, and unable to get anything done around each other. They'd gone too far with each other, too quickly, and unable to cope their new circumstances.
Thankfully, Thomas wasn't snapping away with photos this time.
Elias sighed.
This new situation was some sort of an improvement, at least.
"ICHIKA!" Cried Thomas, gawking down an aisle in the arcade.
"What?! What's wrong?!" Ichika called, running over.
Ichika stopped in his tracks, and gawked alongside Thomas.
"Guys?" Said Nana, walking over, "What's going on-OH MY GOD!"
Nana fell in with Thomas and Ichika as they stared in shock and awe.
Lingyin came as well, and was enthralled alongside the other 3.
It was then that everyone else came over, thoroughly intrigued by what had ensnared the 4 so easily. However, they'd reached the group, rounded the corner, and were simply further befuddled.
"I...Don't get it." Said Elias.
"Is that one of those quaint little jet-piloting arcade games?" Inquired Cecelia.
"Nope." Said Ichika, "This...This is so much better."
The group was staring at none other than two capsule-like arcade games.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day..." Thomas's voice trembled, as though he was about to cry.
"So...Vhat are zhey?" Inquired Laura.
"These're machines for Gundam Kizuna." Explained Nana, "They're called pods, like cockpits of a Mobile Suit in Gundam. I heard it makes you feel like you're actually in a Mobile Suit...Oh! I've long-awaited the day I could lay my eyeballs on such ART!"
"Art?!" Cried Laura, Elias, Cecelia, Houki, and Charlotte.
"Ichika?" Thomas said.
"Thomas." Ichika replied.
The boys clapped hands, and marched over to the arcade machines.
"In the end..." Thomas started.
"...It has to be this way." Finished Ichika.
The boys raced into the game pods, swiped smart cards, inserted money, and prepared to play.
Everyone else was stuck watching the boys' activity from outside the capsules.
Thomas quickly joined the Earth Federation, selecting a Ground-Type Gundam.
Ichika joined the Principality of Zeon, choosing a Gelgoog.
The boys eased their nerves as the timer to their match started.
"So," Inquired Elias, "How exactly does this all work?"
"In Gundam Kizuna," Explained Lingyin, "Players go head-to-head as MS Pilots, and I think Ichika and Tommy both played this game sometime before, which explains why Thomas has a Ground-Type."
"Ground-Type?" Inquired Laura.
"Ground-Type Gundams can't fly, unlike many Mobile Suits," Added Nana, "However, I'm actually interested why Thomas went with a Ground-Type over anything else he's unlocked in the game."
"Interesting..." Said Cecelia, "Is the any other differences?"
"Plenty," Said Nana, "The Gelgoog has a Beam Rifle, and a Beam Naginata, and a shield. However, the Ground-Type Gundam has a bigger arsenal, including a Rocket Launcher, Beam Saber, Machine Guns, and Beam Rifle.
3...
Ichika exhaled.
2...
Thomas put both hands on the controls.
1...
"Ichika, ikimasu!"
"Thomas, ikimasu!"
Thomas and Ichika had entered Jubaro (Jungle Area), and prepared to engage each other.
Ichika skated across the ground, the Gelgoog's Beam Naginata in-hand.
The Jubaro Jungle Area was thick with trees and plants, making it very easy for one to hide if they wanted to. Part of the reason Thomas agreed to use this map was to help even out his inability to fly.
It was only a matter of time.
Ichika was smiling, undaunted by the environment. Sure, Thomas may have held an advantage, but he was still out of his league. Gelgoog Mobile Suits came armed with less weaponry than a Ground-Type. However, Ichika's Gelgoog had a height and melee advantage over a Ground-Type Gundam.
However, Thomas's Ground-Type held a devastating arsenal advantage, armed with far more weapons than a Gelgoog. If Ichika didn't take him seriously, Thomas would utterly crush Ichika without even having to move.
Suddenly, Thomas's Gundam launched out of the jungle, and swung his Beam Saber at Ichika.
Ichika brought up his Shield to narrowly block the oncoming attack.
"Gotcha!" Said Thomas.
"Really?" Said Ichika, brushing off the Beam Saber and pulling out the Beam Naginata.
The boys traded blows, connecting beams with flashes of light each time. Eventually, Ichika twirled the Beam Naginata as he pulled back. Thomas quickly gave chase, rushing in once more to run Ichika's Gelgoog through with the Beam Saber.
Suddenly, the Gelgoog's hand began to spin, and in moments, the Beam Naginata had become a deadly disc.
The sudden move caught Thomas off-guard, and the Beam Saber went right into the Beam Naginata's path, causing the Beam Saber to fly out of the Ground-Type Gundam's hand and deactivate.
Ichika swung the Beam Naginata at Thomas, aiming to chop his head off.
Thomas quickly ignited the Ground-Type Gundam's thrusters, regaining balance before Ichika could cut him down.
"I thought you said it was a Ground-Type Gungam!" Cried Elias, thoroughly confused.
"It's 'Gundam,'" Corrected Lingyin, "And even though the Ground-Type Gundam can't actually fly, it still has thrusters for mobility."
"Ah...I see..." Observed Cecelia, "So, is the reason it can't fly is because of that heavy backpack?"
"Correct!" Said Nana, "And, since the Gelgoog's a non-Gundam MS, Ichika's at an even bigger disadvantage due to stats."
"What sets a Gundam apart from the rest? Is it made of better materials?"
"It's not just what a Gundam's made of," Chuckled Lingyin, "It's the pilot that drives it."
Thomas quickly got out of Ichika's melee range, and pulled out the Ground-Type Gundam's Machine Gun, firing away at Ichika's Gelgoog as he retreated further and further back to think of a new strategy.
"You're not getting away now!" Ichika declared, rushing at Thomas with his Beam Naginata.
Thomas quickly countered with the Gundam's Shield, brushing away each swing Ichika made.
Suddenly, Thomas brushed a downward slash, and spun around the Gelgoog as it sunk the Beam Naginata into the ground.
"Huh?! He got behind me?!" Ichika grunted.
Thomas suddenly pulled out the Gundam's Hyper Bazooka, and sent the Gelgoog to the jungle floor with a single shot.
The Gelgoog crashed, and was still for a few moments.
"He's got the opening!" Said Elias, "Why won't Thomas take it?"
"It's game rules, dude," Lingyin explained, "When an MS is knocked down in Gundam: Kinzuna, it gets up automatically, and grants invincibility for a few seconds to let the player rejoin the fight."
"I see..."
Thomas had used the time the Gelgoog had been knocked down to start running. He needed a new strategy if he was going to take Ichika down, and the fact that Ichika could fly was the biggest problem.
Ichika quickly pursued Thomas, skating across the ground with the Gelgoog's thrusters. Thomas quickly sped up, igniting the Gundam's thrusters as he ran. The boys each only had so much fuel before their Mobile Suits' thrusters overheated and went into cooldown. Since Ichika had used his thrusters earlier than Thomas, he'd be put into cooldown sooner.
However, he'd also be the first one to move after cooldown.
Both of the boys knew this.
Suddenly, Thomas spun around.
Ichika gasped.
As of right then, Ichika was staring down the barrel of the Ground-Type Gundam's Missile Launcher.
"OH SHI-!"
The Gelgoog tanked a barrage of three missiles to the face, and was once again knocked down.
Thomas grinned, taking a vital pause to wipe the sweat from his face.
In a battle like this, each combatant needed to choose moments to slow down very sparingly. With how quickly one could be destroyed, it was moments, at most, where they could stop to breath.
Ichika got back up, and quickly took advantage.
Thomas didn't have his hands on the controls, and only put them back on too late.
Ichika quickly closed the distance, and hacked away at the defenseless Gundam, unleashing a killer combo that Thomas couldn't break out of. Thomas was sent crashing to the ground, blindsided by his misfortune.
"Damn...I got careless." Grunted Thomas.
Ichika circled around to behind Thomas, meaning he'd be in the Gundam's blind spot when it got up.
Thomas got up, and quickly spun counter-clockwise, raising the Gundam's Shield as the invincibility wore off. He narrowly blocked Ichika bringing the Beam Naginata down upon him. Thomas quickly let Ichika's momentum carry him past the Gundam to put space between them.
Outside, Everyone watched as Ichika and Thomas moved inside the pods, acting as though the game they were playing was real. It was as though they were watching something from the actual Gundam franchise.
The boys looked ridiculous, making vocal shouts and grunts as though no-one was watching.
The time was winding down, and the boys still hadn't done anything that would end the game with a victory in their favor.
Ichika flew around Thomas to attack him from behind.
Thomas roared as he spun clockwise, both his Mobile Suit and physical body.
Thomas brought up the Gundam's Beam Rifle.
Ichika brought up the Gelgoog's Beam Rifle.
They fired, their shots connecting and negating each other.
Ichika rushed in with the Beam Naginata, attempting to take Thomas down before he could react. However, Thomas jammed his foot on the left pedal of the pod, and rocketed up into the air before Ichika reached him.
Thomas landed, and spun around to face Ichika once more.
Ichika rushed in with the Beam Naginata in one hand, and his Shield in the other.
Thomas rushed in, pulling out another Beam Saber, and raising the Gundam's Shield.
But just before the boys could attack...
...The time ran out.
"Match Finish!" The screen popped up.
Ichika and Thomas both gave a groan in disappointment.
Their battle ended as a draw.
The boys exited the pods.
After a while, it was nearing closing time for the mall.
Everyone quickly purchased last-minute items for a New Year's Eve celebration.
The group all began to make their way back to the train to the IS Academy, energetically conversing about their day at the mall. Laura remained silent as she cuddled the bunny Ichika had won for her. Lingyin yawned as they sat down in the train car.
Thankfully, they had the whole train car to themselves.
Elias and Cecelia sat next to each other, blushing silently as they did their best to maintain composure.
Nana took advantage of the moment, and took a nap as she rested her head on Thomas's shoulder. Thomas blushed, but felt quite calm with the situation. Ichika also seized the moment, snapping photos of the two couples, as there were unable to stop him.
"That was epic!" Cheered Lingyin.
"I vas very entertained," Said Laura, "Vatching my bride as a Mobile Suit Pilot is far better zhan vatching him as an IS Pilot."
"Hey! I'm doing my best!" Whined Ichika.
Suddenly, Ichika looked as though he'd realized something.
"Say," The boy asked, "What happened to Kanzashi?"
Ichika then pulled out his phone and began to text Kanzashi, inquiring her whereabouts. It was then the group discovered Kanzashi slept in, and decided to spend the day watching anime alone, her favorite pastime.
"Well," Said Thomas, "Hard to believe it's been another year already."
"I know, right?" Said Ichika, "It feels like we've known each other since forever, but when I stop and really think back...We only only did this whole shtick for about a few months. It's just...Wow."
"C-Can..." Elias stuttered, doing his best to work through his anxiety, "Can I-I simply say...That...It's been an honor?"
"Well," Answered Thomas, "We're not saying goodbye or anything, so try saying something else."
Elias smiled, and chuckled quietly.
In those few short months Elias had met Ichika and Thomas, the boys had been through so much it felt as though they'd been friends for an eternity. Those two boys had changed Elias's whole life, teaching him to stand on his own and live life without regrets. Even though there were things taken from him he could never get back, things that nobody would understand, he'd learned to finally move on.
It was about halfway through their first year at the IS Academy.
But...
Elias began to think forward.
What would happen after their third year, when they all graduated and went out into the world? Would they really be able to stick together, even after they were free to roam the Earth? What was to become of them when they moved on?
Elias couldn't find an answer.
But what he knew for sure, was that he could rest easy, knowing that Ichika and Thomas would be there to help him carry the baggage that rested upon his shoulders for so long. No matter what the future held, they'd face it together for at least a little longer.
The English boy felt that no matter what, there was nothing the boys couldn't overcome.
He'd soon learn how wrong he was.
Cecelia calmed down a little, and began to reflect.
At first, she'd been a snobbish, stuck-up girl that let the power of her IS Unit get to her head. When Ichika rolled in, she remembered Elias. However, she wanted to bury the past, thinking it simply wasn't meant to be. She wanted to forget Elias, and tried to keep putting Ichika in his place. Then, Thomas came about, and quickly threw a curveball at Cecelia.
She was so young in the ways of romance. She wanted to try and maintain her heading with Ichika, and was able to do so for a while. But at long last, Elias had suddenly reappeared before her.
She was scared.
They didn't have much of a connection prior to their separation, and yet Elias chased her like a loyal puppy. Thinking about how she abandoned him so readily at his most vulnerable would leave an impression upon Elias. She tried to chase him away, so that he'd move on and she wouldn't be afraid of him anymore. And yet, despite all the wrong she'd done by him, he never moved on.
He simply kept coming back to her, and kept his heading no matter what shook him.
Everyone had come so far, and they still had much longer to go.
And they'd be able to share the fun along the way.
The group returned to the Academy, and set up a party in the cafeteria
Chifuyu had an entire bottle of alcohol in hand.
Laura had become very concerned, as she'd never seen Chifuyu drink before. Maya was simply making sure Chifuyu moderated her intake. Alex sat across from Chifuyu, ready to challenge her to drinking at the drop of a hat.
Everyone else was forced to drink apple cider as an alternative.
Thomas chuckled, and zoned out.
So much of his life had changed. Instead of living the quiet life of some boy in the States, he'd become the boy with quite the enigma on his hands. He'd been through a great deal of struggle the entire year, and yet it felt that no time at all had passed between then and now.
Vanity was his bane, as he still didn't want what he had now to change.
Although, he still understood he needed to grow, and so that he'd finally achieve his dreams. So, why did it hurt, being in the same room as everything was going on around him? It wasn't deafeningly noisy, his ears didn't hurt.
But rather, the strange pain came from within his chest.
From his heart.
Thomas stood up, and silently left the room.
For once, he felt relaxed that no-one noticed his departure.
The sky went dark as night came around.
It was nearing midnight.
The final night of that year...
...And the beginning to the first day of the next.
Ichika stopped, and began to look around the room.
Everyone mingled, with Alex and Chifuyu egging each other on with a drinking contest, to Elias and Cecelia sitting side-by-side as they did their best to keep composed. Charlotte was victimizing Laura as she turned the German girl into a walking New Year's decoration. Everyone was horsing around as they watched Houki try to fit in. It simply warmed his heart to watch everyone getting along so well.
It was perfect.
Ichika remembered World Purge.
But comparing his ideal world to the one unfolding around him...
...He'd choose this one in a heartbeat.
The real world was a place that didn't revolve around him. He had to work hard to get what he wanted in life, and even harder to be mindful of those around him in the process. It was a taxing undertaking, but one that Ichika would never abandon.
However...
Ichika noticed something was missing, again.
He knew exactly how to fix that.
The boy walked out of the room, and found Thomas standing outside the building, gazing up to the moon.
Thomas was off in his own world.
"You've been doing that a lot recently," Commented Ichika, "Stargazing, I mean."
Thomas looked down.
"Yeah," He muttered, "I guess."
"What's wrong, dude?"
"It's just..." Thomas fumbled for words, unable to convey his feelings, "I thought I'd be overjoyed right now...But...I don't. It all feels off, I don't get it. I want to be happy, I should be happy...If I'm supposed to be enjoying this, opening up my heart..."
He turned to look Ichika in the eye.
"...Then why does my heart hurt so much?"
Ichika flinched. There was simply no way the boy could answer such a personal question. He couldn't understand the question, as he'd never truly gone through such himself before. This was a question for Thomas to answer alone.
"Well..." Ichika did his best to come up with an answer, "I'm not gonna lie: I don't know."
"Oh." Thomas grunted.
"But," Ichika continued, "I think, if you learn to carry this pain of yours long enough, it'll change into something else, something better. The truth is: You have a place here, with everyone. So, come back to us man..."
"But...How do you know?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"About how I feel?"
"What?" Ichika realized, "I meant that it's kinda chilly outside right now, you're gonna get a cold! So come back inside before you get sick! Besides, ti's almost time for the big countdown, hurry up with your stargazing already!"
"Oh..." Thomas realized, "I'll be in soon, go on ahead."
"Yeah..."
Ichika went back inside.
Thomas turned back to the moonlit sky.
So many wonderful things had happened that year.
He'd been given the chance to take his dreams, his friends, and his love back and have it all. He knew he had it better than most, but what everyone seemed to forget is that everyone struggles one way or another.
Thomas had a long, long way to go to finally end his.
Thomas looked higher, and found his eyes looking to the bright, full moon in the sky.
He talked to himself, as he was alone.
But like that mysterious woman said, he was never alone.
"Mom," He spoke, looking to the moon as though he'd deemed it his mother, "Wherever you are, I hope you'll be back soon. I just thought I'd...Say something, I dunno anymore...Well..."
Thomas sighed, trying to find the words to say.
"I...I guess I'd just like to say...Happy New Year. I've made friends, old n' new and all that jazz...Me and Nana are close to...Getting together and that...Um...Dad n' Chifuyu are working here, at the IS Academy-oh yeah, you might not know...But I did it...Your Son did it..."
Thomas felt a warm tear fall from his eye.
"Your Son...Did it...When everyone laughed and said I couldn't...I should be laughing back...But I'd rather wait until everyone can hear me laugh at them, just so they can remember who they made fun of..."
Thomas wiped the tear, and smiled.
"So...Mom, wherever you are in the world...I love you."
Little did Thomas notice at the time, but Chifuyu was snapping a picture from far off, smiling wholesomely.
"Oh yeah," She whispered to herself, "Ellen's definitely gonna love this one."
Chifuyu quickly went back inside the building.
Thomas sighed one last time, and finally turned back to go back inside...
...Where everyone was waiting for him.
"There he is!" Ichika chuckled, welcoming Thomas back.
"Sorry," Said Thomas, "I just needed a moment."
"We all do."
"C'mon!" Called Nana, "It's almost time!"
Chifuyu quickly went to the corner of the room, setting up a camera to take their picture. She taking extra care to place the camera at an angle where it'd get the entire room in the photo.
"One minute!"
Lingyin approached Nana.
"What do you want?" Nana growled.
Lingyin's face twisted a little, but the girl maintained her heading.
"I..." She grumbled, "I just want to say...I'm sorry...About all that crap while Thomas was out...I didn't mean to make you mad, I was just being...Jealous. Thomas is my friend too...I didn't mean anything against you or him...Happy now?"
"I guess I'm at fault too," Said Nana, "I got pissed...Sorry."
"So...We're good?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Great."
The atmosphere between Lingyin and Nana was still very tense. They'd just agreed to forget their little vendetta against each other, but they still had a long way to go before they could call themselves friends.
But they'd walk that long way, eventually.
"Thirty seconds!"
"Get your poppers, everyone!" Called Maya.
Everyone in the room scurried about as they quickly snatched party poppers.
"Well Son," Chuckled Alex, coming up to Thomas, "Here's to another year of insufferable crap!"
"Ha!" Thomas laughed, "You're the insufferable one, old man!"
The pair laughed, and placed one hand over the other's shoulders as they raised their party poppers.
"Twenty seconds!"
Everyone began to raise their poppers, and Chifuyu rushed over to the camera, ready to press the button and take the photo.
"Ten!"
Chifuyu pressed the button, and rushed back over to everyone else.
"Nine!"
Ichika, Thomas, Alex, and Chifuyu all grouped together, and raised their poppers.
"Eight!"
Charlotte quickly placed a popper in Laura's hands and gave a moment's crash-course on how to use it.
"Seven!"
Elias and Cecelia looked to each other, and raised their poppers.
"Six!"
Maya quickly stashed any alcoholic beverages while Alex and Chifuyu weren't looking.
"Five!"
Thomas sighed. He concluded this inexplicable pain in his heart was something good. It proved to him that he was still alive.
"Four!"
Ichika smiled brightly. This was the world he wanted, and was the one he got. He felt so blessed.
"Three!"
The timer on the camera wound down, and everyone prepared for the photo.
"Two!"
Everyone put on a bright smile, and pulled their party poppers.
"One!"
The room exploded with a barrage of noise and confetti.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Everyone began to cheer and yawn, conversing amongst themselves as they pulled out cups, drinks and snacks. Chifuyu and Alex glared Maya down until she pulled the alcohol back out of hiding. Laura nearly passed out after receiving a sudden explosion of confetti to the face from her own popper.
The boys all began to laugh and horse around as they grouped up.
They'd come so far already.
And they'd stick together through a lot more.
And best of all...
...They'd wouldn't be on their own much longer.
A/N: Done! This chapter was going to be released on New Year's Eve, but delays and issues ended up pushing back release to now, sorry for making everyone wait. Stick around and read the notes here, because there's some stuff to be said!
First of all, I'd nerfed the Full-Package Byakushiki a little, and made edits to the Knight Gunner Remake, I'll put the new profiles up on the chapter we first get to see them in action.
Second of all, American Idiot's getting a spin-off!
Since I feel like the current series has gotten long enough to become intimidating to new readers, I decided to write a few new American Idiot spin-offs to encourage people to read! The current confirmed sagas are as follows:
American Idiot: IF. This is a series that focuses mainly on Omake segments and chapters that were unable to make it into the main story, so hope you enjoy some drabble and the like!
American Idiot: Soldiers. Image Orogis has descended upon the Earth, and war has broken out between humanity and the extraterrestrial. The only chance mankind has of repelling the alien invasion is with the world's most powerful weapon: The Infinite Stratos, an exo-suit that can only be operated by women. But out of nowhere, 2 bio-engineered male IS-Pilots arise to save the world, and find their place within it in the process.
American Idiot: Minutemen. The Advent of the Infinite Stratos has heralded a new age of warfare and humanity. What starts as a trend suddenly takes the world by storm, turning society into a full-blown matriarchy! But when a census reveals that mankind is slowly beginning to die out, 5 mysterious IS Pilots rise from the shadows. These are self-proclaimed "male pilots" and everyone's out to get them! But who are they, and what do they want? And what will they do to get what they want?
Soldiers and Minutemen are both AUs, so let me know what you think! Hope you all look forward to reading those stories as much as this one! And with that, it's onto the next chapter!
Oh, before I go:
In this chapter, Ichika and Thomas play Gundam: Kizuna. This is indeed a real arcade game in Japan, and I own no rights to it.
The full and proper name for this arcade game is "Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield," which is an arcade game released in late 2006. The chapter dramatizes actual gameplay, but the game machines, aka "P.O.D.S" are indeed very real.
I hope to finally play the game myself one day.
But until then, let's keep going!
Ichika, Thomas, and Elias are about to expand their horizon next chapter!
Next Time: Sonic Boom!
As Ichika and Elias try to test out their new IS Units, another surprise comes up!
The IS Academy is treated to none other than a 4th Male Pilot!
Meet Tyrone Adamson, an African-American boy from the US. He's very well-versed in Japanese culture, and quite fluent in speaking Japanese! The boys do their best to try and greet Tyrone, and ease him into the IS Academy!
However, a trip to Tyrone's room reveals a dark secret...
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Hope you all have a happy New Year, wherever you are in the world!