Mortal Reminder

by lazyfrogofjustice

Ichika Orimura has finally come to a point where his choices and questions take him to another step on his journey in life. However, as his noble cause for those he loves reaches to a standstill, the mystery of the only male pilot in the world deepens when an adversary enters the fray, reminding each and every person dear to him how fickle and short life is.

2. II Lighting the Match

II. Lighting the Match

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3:08 AM, Germany…

"Busy?" Clarissa Harfouch asked as she looked over one of the prime technicians and pilots within the Schwarzer Hase line up. The young woman known in the base as simply as Hale then looked up to her superior officer who was curious at what she was doing.

"Oh, it's you lieutenant. I'm sorry that I didn't notice you." Hale said as she tried to hurriedly salute her, only for her superior to wave it off. It was almost morning soon, and Hale's shift was due in a few hours. While adapted to her work much like the others who shared her time, she still had a tired stupor that radiated out of her and her eyes were baggy as her superior looked at her.

"It's fine Hale… I'm not due in a few hours too. So being informal is alright for the moment."

"Thank you ma'am."

Clarissa was not her in formal base-appropriate attire at that very moment as well. Seeing that she just woke up and was walking around the base surveying everyone who had their shifts on during that time. Hale's workspace which was one of the last she was walking into was also the least active one.

Funding and other resources funneled into this base was more or less stable, yet they never functioned as a formal one either. Being that training, development, and other functions of the organization was simply just to improve and train the best IS pilots of Germany into combat-ready and experienced personnel.

War was not an event that was expected to happen anytime soon, so for the most part the base was regulated on Anti-Terrorist operations, training simulations, and most of as a supplemental standby force should the German Government heed for their help.

This was the reason why the base was a lot more relaxed than other military installations.

Add the fact that it was deep in Germany, the only people foolish enough to attack it are those who have a death wish fighting against the entirety of the German Elite and the army itself. Whom will respond almost instantaneously the very moment something happens.

It was full-proof safety system done on a set of alarms that can be triggered on a variety of settings. There was also the point that the base was able to rapidly deploy its IS units given how well-trained those who were operating the installation were in fast-combat scenarios. All in all, the point was is that their territory was mostly secure from outside harm and it made the inhabitants of the installation arguably more lax than usual.

"What are you busy with soldier?" Clarissa asked as she saw the various things the young woman was working on with her holo-unit computer. Most of it was from what she understood were system check-ups and updates on the software for the entire base's mainframe. The other portion, was something she could discern to be a software upgrade for an IS unit.

"Oh, the usual ma'am. I just want to finish it all up before my shift ends."

Clarissa moved closer to see what else the young woman was doing as Hale began to feel nervous.

"Ma'am? Is there something wrong?"

Hale stopped her configuration as the woman tapped on the side project she was doing with her usual workload. The software upgrade for the Third Gen units they now had. Clarissa opened it within the holo-unit and scrolled down as she scanned the update at a moderate pace.

"Hmm… this upgrade isn't official isn't it? The codes and enhancements shown aren't up to par with the official data nodes put into our IS cores."

Hale suddenly felt more nervous as the woman looked at her. The few lights within the control room they were now in made her a lot more intimidating.

"For what use is this unofficial patch for?" she added as she looked at Hale directly.

"I-It's for easing the flight modules within the units. The rigid structure given to the AI for the IS cores we have is making it harder for our pilots to redirect their flight patterns at an instant. While the last patch did update and improve upon it slightly, it wasn't still able to make direct and instant changes to the flight capabilities of each IS unit we have."

Clarissa tilted her head in question.

"Relieve me of the complex techno-babble and explain it to me in more… clearer terms soldier."

"Of course… in simple terms, since our units were outfitted with the old and secret Valkyrie Trace Programs before, it severely limited the ability of our IS cores to discern the flight patterns made by our own pilots. Making maneuverability an issue."

"So you wish to compensate that problem… with this unofficial patch you've created?"

"Yes…" Hale said with a nervous tone.

"Hmm… this all seems good and all, but I don't think the maneuverability in flight is the real issue with our units. The recent test flights of the last upgrade to our Third Gens is a testament to that. Even our prized Laura Bodewig is still able to pilot her personal IS without issues in flight and stability. Plus, removing that feature from our IS units to avoid suspicions was already fixed."

"I-I know that ma'am b-but-

Clarissa raised her hand to stop her and pointed at the software update the young woman was creating. Hale then saw her superior having to raise an eyebrow at certain parameters and input within that patch. Especially one line within the code that Clarissa pointed at.

"Mind telling me what that is?"

Hale sighed in defeat, but much to her surprise instead of being scolded at, her superior simply giggled at her effort.

"Ma'am?"

"Don't mind me soldier… I'm just very amused at what you're doing." Clarissa said as she continued to laugh. Hale then suddenly felt a bit ashamed only for Clarissa to slap her on the back at what felt like a compliment rather than an insult.

"Tell me truthfully… based on what I'm seeing with this input, at least as to what I understand; you're only trying to create this software upgrade to compensate the weakness of one certain pilot within the base… right?" Clarissa said with a smug grin as Hale blushed heavily knowing that her superior got her perfectly with what she was doing.

"Y-Yes."

"I knew it. Only one soldier in the base has slight problems with her skills in flight. Although she's good at combat training, her flight skills are subpar compared to the others within this installation."

"Y-yes ma'am that's why I was hoping to-

"Her name is Sophia right? The shy girl, the one who surprised everyone because of her marksman skills the very first day she got here." Clarissa said as she recalled the short blonde-haired wonder that rightfully earned her place within the base. She was the most recent addition to her command as well and even she was surprised to see how good of a shooter the girl was.

"Y-yes ma'am… I was hoping to make these changes on… Sophia's unit." Hale said with slight embarrassment. Not even looking directly at Clarissa who was more or less very much enlightened and amused at the sudden turn of the conversation.

With a soft giggle the woman placed a hand on her shoulder.

"As much as I applaud your effort in trying, I don't really know if it's alright to place such changes on one specific unit, let alone a unit that isn't a personal IS. You'll be hard posed to get approval to directly add those changes on the whole line of IS units we have in the base, no matter how small it is."

"I-I took that in mind ma'am… which is why I was going to ask you to help me once I was finished."

Clarissa smirked as she thought about it.

"Ah… well it's good that I was able to see it early then. As promising as these changes are, it'll take a while from the higher ups to approve it, much less even take a look at it." Clarissa said with honesty laced in her words.

"I know… I just wanted to maybe help her somewhat ma'am."

"I see…" Clarissa said as she looked into Hale's eyes. Even studying the expression on her face. An expression that she knew fairly well. Something that she always saw in those beloved Japanese manga she always read on her down time.

And since that same thing was now on the features of her comrade, she wouldn't mind trying to help. They all did in fact help with Laura's efforts overseas but to their comrades within the base, that was a rarity if not something that did not occur yet at all.

Maybe this was the first, and Clarissa was a bit intrigued with it.

With those things in mind, she looked around and saw another chair within the control room. She walked to it and brought it over next to Hale.

"Um… what are you doing ma'am?" Hale asked.

"Isn't it obvious soldier? I need something to sit on so we can talk further." Clarissa said with a smile as Hale felt awkward. She knew that Clarissa was not exactly the most typical of army officers, but she did have a reputation of being mean when needed be.

Having her close to her even in a good mood was not something she preferred as well.

"Now… explain to me what your relationship is to Ms. Sophia, and before you say anything, I prefer you to be honest with me. No lies, no sidesteps with your words… just clear honesty with me. You got that?"

Hale knew not to reject so she simply sighed heavily and nodded.

"And don't make any excuses using your workload as a defense. I know for sure that you have ample enough time to finish them all…" Clarissa said as she stretched her arms with a yawn. "And besides, you have to humor me, by your lieutenant's orders you and I are going to talk."

"B-But ma'am… didn't you say that you were off duty before your shift starts?" Hale said.

Clarissa, waving it off simply smirked.

"Forget I said that… point being I'm bored so for the moment we'll talk as an alternative. Sound good?" As she said this, Hale moaned in agreement. Hearing the confirmation, the blue-haired woman smiled and moved her seat closer to her. To Hale this looked a bit embarrassing, considering that the woman was like a schoolgirl listening in on gossip.

"Alright… tell me about Sophia."

"T-Tell you what ma'am?"

"Everything. What your relationship is with her and generally what you think about her."

Hale suddenly tensed and went red.

"Ma'am, isn't that an inappropriate discussion? Primarily that of someone's private life?"

Clarissa raised an eyebrow along with a frown.

"But ma'am, we're not civilians so to speak. I feel like things like that are supposed to be tabled in favor of more important things within our line of work."

"I thought I told you to be honest with me? 'No excuses'… does that ring a bell to you?"

Hale, who knew she was not going to win with Clarissa simply blushed heavily and looked at her holo unit. Clarissa smiled and turned the device off.

"Come on… level with me. It's just the two of us, I can even promise you that nothing said within this room shall spread with the others outside. I just want you to be honest and clear to me."

"A-Alright…"

"Good, then let's start again… shall we?"

There was a pause as Clarissa waited for Hale to say anything. Hale eventually gave in and spoke.

"M-Me and Sophia are close. W-We have been ever since we started talking to each other…" she said with a shy demeanor. A stark contrast to the avid and serious soldier Clarissa would always see when she was on duty with the others.

"And?"

"W-Well… I was already helping her trying to train that weakness of hers and even though she has been doing quite well, there is still room for further improvement. G-Giving her this was supposed to help her in a way, while also being a gift… from me."

"Ohh… interesting."

Hale who was as red as a tomato reflexively tapped on her desk lightly as Clarissa smiled.

"So it was going to be a surprise? Correct?"

"Y-Yes…"

The woman then giggled and leaned closer.

"If it's that special then why are you so shy and embarrassed over it?"

Hale suddenly looked wide-eyed and was having trouble trying to reply to that question. Before she could however, Clarissa simply placed a hand on top of hers in a comforting motion.

"Military personnel we may be Hale, but never forget that we are still human. Behind that tough exterior of each and every person within the base lies a human heart. Strong as we all may be we still have limits. We have emotions. We feel anger, fear, joy, and even sadness. That's what makes us all special. That's what makes us… human."

Clarissa then leans on her chair as she smiles to herself. Hale continues to listen as her superior continues to talk.

"Look, I respect what's between you both wholeheartedly. Your privacy is your own treasure, I get that. But what I'm trying to say right now is… that you don't have to feel ashamed about it. You don't have to feel embarrassed telling me about it. Instead, you should be proud of it. Be happy that someone makes you happy. Life is short after all, but spending moments where your own desires and happiness is fulfilled is what makes it all worthwhile."

Hale suddenly felt better as she took those words into her heart.

"T-Thank you… ma'am."

"Be proud of it soldier. Because if our very own Laura Bodewig feels the same with someone she finds happiness with, then you too have the right to keep it."

Hale nodded as she felt herself relax. Even Clarissa felt good with where their conversation was heading. The quiet space of the control room with the night sky outside provided a very comfortable atmosphere…

"Now that its settled, why don't we talk a little bit more about yo-

Suddenly, Clarissa stopped abruptly when she and Hale saw the perimeter sensor of the base now beeping rapidly in alarm. Without warning nor even time to react the small object detected by their sensors reached its target.

CLANG!

Then as it made contact, the entire base went dark. An electric shock was fed into the systems. Killing everything as it spread within seconds. The power was shut down instantly and the two personnel within the control room stood up in surprise to it.

Everything went dark.

Clarissa took off her eyepatch and surveyed her surroundings.

"What's going on?" Hale said as her voice was the only thing that came out within the heavy silence around them. Clarissa then put a hand on her shoulder, as something was very wrong about it all.

"Get the emergency power back up and get communications running…" she commanded as Hale nodded quickly, she then ran towards the switch within the control room to activate the back-up power, but before she could do so…

An explosion nearby was heard. Coupled with screams and gunfire.

The inferno rose up into the air where they both could see from the windows as it illuminated the entire room with an orange glow. Bathing everything in a sinister-looking color. Terror and alertness filled Clarissa's face as she saw it unfold.

"T-That was near the barracks..." Hale said as she then panicked.

A rumble beneath the ground was felt as the earth shook. Multiple other explosions were set off as the starry sky was now filled with the deadly color of the inferno as it rose above in tall smokes. Gunfire of every kind was now heard everywhere.

Screams of those within the base were now much more vocal.

The entire reality of the situation turned into a nightmare as Clarissa and Hale felt fear now seeping into their spines. The very air around them beginning to turn into something that of a warzone.

Hale who was now very much worried about her comrades in arms within the base wished to bolt off and help them, but was stopped when Clarissa held out her arm towards her.

"Ma'am?" Hale said as her heart raced.

BOOM!

In a quick flash the wall to their right exploded on contact. Dust and debris flew into the air like a frenzy as gunfire was shot into the room.

Clarissa then pushed Hale to the ground to find cover from the nearest desk as what sounded like an automated 30 mm seven barrel Gatling-gun roared around them firing high velocity rounds as it tore through the hardware and various other objects within the room.

The roaring sound continued as whatever blew the hole within the room continued to fire at all directions within its vicinity. Clarissa held Hale's mouth and shielded them while they hid from the attacker. Being that she had a personal IS, allowed her to soak up some of the damage that ricocheted on their position. But even she knew that it wouldn't last indefinitely.

With that said, she waited for the opportune moment to strike.

She looked at Hale and whispered to her what needed to be done.

As the attacker continued to rain his barrage upon the room, Clarissa suddenly shot up from their hiding place inches away from where the gun was about to hit them and partially deployed her IS unit to cover both her arms as well to access her plasma blades. She then lunged as fast as she can as the bullets were now aimed at her.

Before they could fire however, Hale jumped from the side and fired the standard-issue stun gun and its high-voltage electric darts straight at the target, immobilizing and stopping its ability to fire. The shock was in synchronization with Clarissa's engage as she sliced the target's torso in half, making it fall to the ground. The steel being cut as easily like butter through a hot knife as Clarissa saw what they just destroyed.

It wasn't a manned unit, nor was it an IS to begin with.

Hale caught up to her and saw that the entire machine was a bipedal looking walker that was at least seven feet tall and had four long-barreled Gatling-Guns that were smoking from all the rounds it discharged. The machine had minimal armor but it did so much damage that it crippled and destroyed the entirety of the control room within seconds with its barrage.

Clarissa looked over the destroyed unit and saw and wondered what it was and who exactly was attacking them as the chaos still continued outside.

"Ma'am? Orders?" Hale asked as she looked visibly worried.

Clarissa snapped back to reality as she looked at her subordinate. A plan forming into her mind as quick as she can muster.

"Get communications up and if you do tell everyone to evacuate. Save everyone they can and use the Exit Directive we all trained for. While you're at it, get the signal out that the base has been breached."

Hale nodded as another explosion erupted near them. Gunfire worsening as Clarissa's fears were confirmed. This was not just one organized strike designed to get something like what those Phantom Task raids were in those reports…

This was simply an attack meant to eradicate them all.

"GO! I'm entrusting that to you!" Clarissa reiterated as Hale unfroze and nodded as she started to run off. Halfway there towards the exit, something came out of the opening at the wall yet again.

Two different hulking machines came out.

Hale turned at their direction just in time as one of them aimed at a gun at her.

"WAIT!" Clarissa screamed as she fully deployed her IS within the room and rushed towards Hale's position and the armament was fired. Clarissa grabbed on to Hale as the shot fired at them exploded on contact inches away from the floor near them both.

A concussive energy wave blasted them both back as the impact hit Clarissa's shields. The blast was so strong that it blew them away off the nearest wall and forced them outside of the building. Stone and masonry gave way as they were blown out. Clarissa landed on the ground as dirt scattered everywhere but thankfully she still held on to Hale within her arms.

Hale groaned in dizziness at what just transpired as Clarissa started to see what was going on outside. Multiple machines that looked the same with some variants were gunning down everyone they saw outside. The chaos was everywhere as fire and smoke along with sounds of screams filled the air.

The attackers, these machines…

Were relentless and without mercy.

She could still see survivors within the fight as multiple IS units buzzed in the air around them. Yet the voracity and speed of the attack made them all feel that it was endless. As those machines kept coming. Their numbers never dwindling as far as they both can see.

Then Clarissa saw that a few other unmanned machines within the fields near them now began to target them. Within a quick reflex, she armed her Railgun cannon and fired at their direction. The cannon fired as it blew apart the three attackers with ease.

"Are you okay?" Clarissa said out aloud as she saw Hale nodding.

Clarissa then saw that there was a medium-sized metal shard now stuck on her leg. Blood was coming out of it as she saw the expression on Hale's face. She was hiding the pain clearly but she was good enough to stand and fight still.

"Lieutenant!" Hale screamed as the two other machines that were pursuing them from the inside now appeared behind them. Hale, despite her injury rolled away as Clarissa extended her plasma blades yet again and charged straight on. The IS unit, Schwarzer Zweig boosting its thrusters as she soared forward.

The woman then rammed her Blades into the hull of the closest target and released her six guided energy daggers to constrain the other one. She then noticed that the armor of the enemy was thick enough to make her blade stuck, but thankfully she threw the constrained machine towards the one she stuck a blade with.

With enough force, the two large machines crashed into each other as Clarissa boosted her engines back to a safe distance and pushed the two off as the two units destroyed each other.

As she began to safely go back to Hale's position, something abruptly grabbed her midway, it then tugged at her with such strength that her entire IS unit, despite its powerful engine drives was brought down by its strength utterly without strain as she crashed to the ground head-first into the dirt.

While the entirety of her IS unit was still intact with most of its shields still high enough to sustain damage as well as having adequate power levels to sustain a drawn out fight, she was still worried as the attack was getting worse and worse. With no apparent sign of stopping.

She did not see where the attacker was that pulled her down but she was not going to let herself be open to attack either.

She shook the dirt off of her and saw her comrades from the far distance being shot down. While they were breaking apart the unmanned drones left and right with their IS units they were still overwhelmed as they all kept coming in numbers Clarissa could not count with how chaotic everything was. She also saw some of the stragglers doing their best with their own guns and equipment.

But even then, they were all overwhelmed.

The night shined bright with flames and smoke as Clarissa felt the weight of the attack inside of her. The relentless expanse of a few minutes since it started felt like forever in her mind.

And her men…

Those who served under her command were now in danger.

All of them now close to death's door.

"Lieutenant!" she then heard Hale rushing towards her with a visible limp as she held tried to help her up. The shard on her leg gone as Clarissa saw that she managed to bind the wound with some remnants of her uniform.

"I-I can't get comms up. Something's jamming everyone's connections." Hale said as Clarissa saw the worry and fear in her voice. Blood and dust on her features as they both slowly felt the inevitability of their situation.

"W-We need orders ma'am! Something!" Hale said again in desperation as Clarissa snapped.

Damn be these attackers. While she could still breathe and fight, she will never let them kill anymore of her comrades. She looked at Hale and regained her focus once more.

"Muster anyone you can find, pilots or otherwise and get them out! I'll try to hold them off as long as I can."

"But what about you?!" Hale argued as Clarissa looked at her.

Clarissa smiled as she winked at Hale.

"Just follow the order soldier! I'll do the rest." She shouted as she was about to go into battle.

Only to stop when the machines that were coming close froze mid-action.

Clarissa and Hale thought of it as a ploy, but immediately noticed that the gunfire died down and the only sounds within the air was that of the entire base burning and the scorching to the ground. Tall smokes were going up the sky, as Clarissa and Hale wondered what exactly happened.

If the attackers delayed this assault further, she knew that reinforcements would arrive soon.

Yet as they all stopped, the machines suddenly dispersed. Their armaments recoiling and going offline. As the mass of unmanned drones parted ways in front of them, within the end of that path stood a person.

Clarissa zoomed in to see who it was, but she could not recognize the face the person had.

What he knew from what she saw was that it was a man.

Wearing unconventional-looking clothes. As well as armor parts that seemed to be placed on some areas of his body. With that visual cue, she thought that the man had an IS.

But that was impossible…

The only male that could pilot one was Chifuyu Orimura's brother.

What made the whole mysterious person all the more terrifying was, is that he was holding up a body within one of his arms.

And Clarissa and Hale could clearly see that based on the uniform and look of the limped body, that the woman was one of their comrades.

"No" Hale whispered.

Clarissa gritted her teeth as the body fell to the ground. What really held up their comrade was a blade that pierced directly into her heart that was recoiled and she fell to the ground as a result.

Blood started to flood from the body as the man wiped his blade.

His entire form stood above them both from the distance as his helmet that concealed his face tilted in response to Clarissa's expression.

In anger, the woman stood her ground. The railgun priming up as she aimed at the mystery man.

"Who are you?!" Clarissa angrily shouted.

The man did not reply as he suddenly grabbed the limp woman on the ground and with almost no strain threw her near them. The body tumbled down towards them as Hale hurriedly caught up to her. As blood continued to pool from her wound, Hale flipped the woman over…

Only to her shock to see Sophia...

Eyes dilated and her body cold.

Clarissa who also saw it had her heart sink into despair as she watched Hale suddenly shaking slightly with tears going down her cheeks.

Clarissa then angrily primed the railgun and was about to fire it as she looked at the man who was still calmly standing at the distance. Not even caring for what she was about to do.

"I SAID WHO ARE YOU DAMN IT!" she screamed.

"My name is of no concern to you. Much less you of all people." He finally replied. His voice deep and heavy out of that helmet as it reverberated to them even in the distance.

Clarissa who wasn't going to be fazed simply ignited her weapons as the railgun charged to full.

Ready to blast what she discerned to be the leader of the attack.

"W-What do you want?!" Hale suddenly said in anger as she stood up. Ready to die.

The man then turned to her and saw the tears on her face.

"Simple… To destroy the poor imitations." The man said as Clarissa fired her weapon.

The powerful burst off her main powered armament that was charged to full blasted away at the target. Bathing it in pure electricity and energy that would have disintegrated an unarmored enemy and even put the shields of an IS to almost nothing within one hit of a fully-charged salvo.

One of the aces within her unit's weaponry.

Smoke covered the place where her weapon had hit. Sighing in relief, the two were then met with another surprise. A shadow loomed over the smoke…

And a voice coming out of it.

"Like I said… poor imitations."

END OF PROLOGUE

---

9:11 AM…

"Why did you plan to kill her?"

"The answer is simple, dear sister. To destroy the poor imitations."

Chifuyu slammed the table within the control room of the academy. Her anger boiling up the surface after interrogating the subject within one of their cells. The woman, who had riled up her senses just by talking to her managed to get under her skin.

Especially with what she revealed to them.

And what it meant for Chifuyu and her brother.

Within the rage the woman now had inside of her, Ai looked at her subordinates who were inside the control room with them and subtly told them to leave with a simple stare. The teachers and some of the school staff never needed to be told as everyone except the two of them left the room in silence. Ai then looked at Chifuyu as she fumed with heavy breaths in between her rage.

"That… was interesting." Ai said as she moved the cup of coffee off the table that Chifuyu slammed her fist into. Some of it had spilled off of the cup but the SAT agent did not mind in the slightest. Given she understood what level of frustration and anger the infamous Chifuyu Orimura was in right now.

"She's one of you then…" Ai said after sipping the cup's contents and placing it back to the table. Which now had a minor dent on it given how naturally strong the Brunhilde was. Chifuyu tried to breathe in to calm herself as she tried to refocus what the woman just told her.

She was never in the mood to talk much less say anything with anyone, but given the circumstance they were now in and how dire the situation had become, she had no choice but to calm herself and cooperate with those that can help.

With a heavy sigh, she looked at Ai who was waiting for a response.

"I-It appears so. I can't directly confirm it. Much less see if that's the case. But you can already tell can't you? She knows so much about me. Everything. Down to the very last detail." Chifuyu openly admitted. Ai who heard the entire conversation within the control room simply nodded in agreement.

"As much as I don't trust her words either… I think there's merit in them. Given that she also knows about your brother… and whatever the hell happened that caused you two to run away from everything."

Chifuyu looked at Ai who was rather intrigued at what the woman told Chifuyu about her and Ichika's past. The entire reason why she took him and left. The entire reason she wanted to get away from that life and start anew with her brother growing into a normal person.

The entire reason she wanted that facet of their lives a secret.

The one thing she desired to erase from existence.

"I know… as much as I scorn that part of my life entirely… she was right about it. Every goddamn detail of it and I'm sick of being reminded about it all over again."

"Can we trust her other claims? The others… she seems to call them at a plural tense."

Chifuyu's expression darkened.

"What do you think?" Chifuyu said.

Ai then looked at the monitors where their subject was sitting in her chair. Very much pleased with her position, with no hint of ever feeling scared nor intimidated by both their presence and even Chifuyu's.

"I don't know either. If she's lying, she's doing a damn good job at hiding it. Even so… if we're going to take her up with those claims of hers. It means that the entire story of you trying to make sure the Program that created you and your brother remains a secret is nothing short but a failure."

Chifuyu glared at her but Ai knew that she was still correct to assume it.

"I'm guessing since you didn't reply means I'm right." Ai challenged.

"I didn't say anything…"

Ai moved closer towards Chifuyu and leaned right next to the wall she was standing near at.

"Look ma'am. I understand your frustrations. In fact, this is bigger than both of us now. I don't want to believe a lick of sense this woman claims to be truth since we don't know and can't really confirm if they are indeed reliable. Yet… we can't just let go of the fact that if she's telling the truth, then we are all in a bigger pile of shit than initially thought."

Chifuyu pursed her lips and sighed once more.

"I know that." She muttered.

"Now… before we return to that part of the interrogation. I need you to help me discern what she meant with the other bits of information she gave us. The part that really matters for what's coming." Ai pleaded as Chifuyu looked at the monitors yet again.

"The raid. The attack on Phantom Task. I don't think it was meant to directly attack the organization itself." Chifuyu said as she thought about what the woman said.

"She never even explicitly says that they did it to provoke them. Nor did she admit that she was part of that attack. What she only told us is that it was part of a series of operations meant to rid the 'false imitations'. If anything, that already tells us the answer of what happened on that night you discovered the girl." Chifuyu added as she recalled how the woman smiled at her.

"So Madoka… she was the target."

Chifuyu narrowed her eyes as she looked at the monitor. Recalling exactly what the woman said to her. Word for word.

"I believe so."

"So she knows of the other programs… the ones that tried to make life. The perfect human." Ai said as she looked at Chifuyu whose back was facing her.

"Like you and your brother." Ai added as Chifuyu nodded slowly at those words in agreement.

"If this confirms my theory… then I think the girl isn't the only one who's going to be targeted."

Ai recalled what Chifuyu said about the other programs that she helped multiple governments in the world to abolish and shut down. The girl was part of those renegade programs that tried to recreate the project that created her, albeit the result was a total clone.

An inferior specimen.

The others however, as much as Ai could scrounge up with what little clearance was given to her, she knew that some other countries were interested down to the research of the project that made Chifuyu Orimura and her brother. Along with a few others, others that Ai knew was written off the books for a reason. As morbid as the thought was, a lot of countries invested in genetic and bio-weapon research by trying to create the best mankind can muster to further its evolution.

The best of them was the one that made the woman she was now interacting with.

And because of that, those who wanted it for themselves tried desperately to imitate it. As best they can. The most notable example was the super-soldier program Germany invested almost a decade ago. Only a few sparse individuals survived. One of them here in the academy…

The other seemingly vanished, though reports a certain Tabane Shinonono say that the other is with her. Despite that knowledge however, if the theory of Chifuyu was correct then it meant that…

The very group or organization the woman in the cell was with, is now hunting down the 'imitations' as they called them one by one. Meaning that every single one of them was now in danger.

Yet…

Why was Madoka spared?

What was their ulterior motive? What was their end goal in accomplishing all of that?

Unless…

"Ma'am… uh, we have a call from headquarters. It says it's urgent." A technician from outside the room suddenly said as both Ai and Chifuyu got knocked out of their respective thoughts. Excusing herself to take the call, Ai left Chifuyu for a moment as the woman stared into the monitors. Leaving Chifuyu inside the room alone to gather her thoughts.

A memory came into her mind as she faced that woman within the room.

"I already made sure that part of my past was buried. Yet you're here."

"I can't say much about that dear sister. I am aware that you tried. Humbly. Even to go so far as to eliminate those who didn't comply. The blood on your hands… caused by your sacrifice to erase that part of you that made who you are… where you came from."

"That was never a part of me. What I became after… who I was to my brother. Everything, was better than what you call as home."

"Yet a part of you is still itching to return to your roots. I mean, look around you… tell me what we both see as to what this place is."

"An academy. A school." Chifuyu reiterates.

The woman laughs.

"What I see is the complete opposite. A military academy. Training cadets to use weapons of mass destruction. A failure in design to subjugate adolescents to become soldiers should war happen. This? This is all formality. A way for the countries around the world to measure their worth through demonstrations of war. It may not look violent, but the thought is still there."

"A peaceful sign of correlation between nations is not an ulterior motive to prove who's strongest." Chifuyu argued, though a part of her was beginning to question the idea as well. For she knew how much politics, arguments, and the utter realities of the IS's existence was in the real world.

So much so that when Tabane first introduced it, it caused a ripple effect that made everyone to clamor the technology, culminating in an arms race that ended the very existence of the program that created her. The very same technology was the largest reason why funding, research, and other operations in terms of bio-engineering and development were scrapped in favor of the much more reliable and easy-to-create machines that made super soldiers without having the need to create them from scratch.

A fundamental reason why Chifuyu managed to gain favor in shutting down those research programs. As most of the world leaders and head figures in science and technology deemed those things a redundancy in the world where anyone can be better than themselves through the IS. Sure, it favored the female part of the human race, but it was still a large cog that moved the world today.

"Have you heard of the Olympics dear sister?" the woman asked.

Chifuyu gave a glance to accentuate how stupid the question seemed. However, the woman simply laughed at her expression.

"Oh come on… I'm not trying to make you laugh. Given that it looks impossible as it seems… Though do follow my train of thought. The fact is, if you know your history it's that Greece was never a unified country in the days of its prime. They were separated in various provinces. City states as they called them, and while they were all united by one belief in the gods that they shared… they were never really friendly with each other. Wars would always break out between borders, cities, and even villages."

The woman leaned closer.

"The Olympics as forgotten as it is now because of the Mondo Grosso, was a symbol of something more back in those days. A way for the city states to give out their champions in various forms of competition. Most of which are in fact a precursor or better yet a slightly less violent version of things used in actual war. Sports as it would seem at the surface level… yet they are symbols. Tools of war even."

Chifuyu did not reply.

"They mention peace. Sure. It's less violent and was never going to be an invitation of war towards other city states. Yet the thought still remains. A military application used in a non-aggressive means via competition. Sound familiar?"

Chifuyu looked at the woman as she smiled.

"I will not discount the creation of the IS. It was simply something we cannot stop. For progress and development of civilization always has roots in war. The IS is yet another example of it and once again we are now in arm's race to prove who has the better weapons. You call it a peaceful means of sport. I call it an underlying competition to prove who's the strongest. I mean… the only reason no war of any matter exists is because this technology is volatile correct? Stopping nukes? Preventing any conventional weapon from being relevant? The possibilities are endless for destruction. The loss of life at a large scale that could maybe trump the worst humanity has to offer on conflict."

"I don't really disagree with what you said…" Chifuyu admitted with a frown. Knowing full well the dangers of an IS unit if applied in military means.

"See? I can understand not risking war but what is the point of further developing weapons at this scale if the tipping point doesn't explode soon." The woman said with a sarcastic laugh.

"And what about you?" Chifuyu suddenly asks.

"What about me?"

"What is the reason why you were created? To fulfill the same purpose? To incite war?"

The woman shrugged.

"I can't answer that question… yet. Although, the reason I am here is simply to bring the anomaly home and if able… maybe you as well sister."

Chifuyu angrily slammed her hand on the table between them.

"We are not family. Don't ever forget that."

"And he is not your family as well… don't ever forget that." The woman challenged.

"I am not a tool of war! I never was. I was meant for something else. I thought you knew that, given how much you know about me."

The woman waved her off.

"Oh sure… I know that detail extremely well. But your purpose was not just to be the mother of the new generation. You were to be more than that. Why do you think you were created this way? Strong, fast, perfect? Is it not for something other than peaceful means?"

Chifuyu was about to reply until the woman cut her off with a wave.

"At least… that's what they first thought. Perfect as you could have been dear sister. You were never equal to the Anomaly."

"My brother has a name and he was deemed a failure. An error in the system."

"True. But have you asked yourself as to why he was deemed that way? Why… he was so special to begin with? With all these talents? Along with the ability to pilot the one weapon on Earth to which males cannot access?"

Chifuyu's face darkened. With a swallow of unease, she pressed further.

"What is your goal here? You said your 'siblings' have already taken care of the others."

"Oh, I can't really disclose much. But do know that the girl you found… the one in this facility right now. She's part of the first phase. The beginning of a much larger canvass."

Chifuyu felt the weight of those words…

That was the bulk of the conversation that made her riled up. How much so that was laced underneath the meaning of her words. How much it implied of what she did not know of the program that birthed her from nothing.

Chifuyu looked at her hand and recalled the words that ended their conversation. That of being destroying the poor imitations. She knew what that meant. Yet what was to happen after, what she implied in her words…

It all the more made her concerned and worried for both of them.

Her thoughts were then interrupted once more when the door to the room was open. Ai came in with a concerned face full of worry and fear. Chifuyu wondered why until she said what the call was.

With a chill crawling up her spine, the woman now realized what was happening…

And what role Madoka was playing in the grand scheme of things to come.

"Where's Ichika?" Chifuyu worriedly said.

---

9:28 AM, Room 1025…

When Madoka first agreed with him about doing something she was comfortable of doing, Ichika expected something more… in line with what little he knew about her. Truth be told, he never expected anything at all, but given the small amount of information and little interaction between them, he thought that Madoka was more or less inclined to something violent. Maybe even something to do with weapons, fighting, or even something like tooling and taking apart mechanical objects.

He never really thought that the one thing that made her comfortable with…

Was something as mundane as cooking.

"Hand me the garlic cloves." She said as her expression and focus was solely on the fried rice she was trying to make with his stove. Her hair was tied at the back almost like Chifuyu's and she was wearing an apron while at it. Ichika stood by her side helping her what she was doing all the way.

This was new to him to be honest. While she was never totally that serious with what she was doing, the sense that this felt all the more normal to her was refreshing. She felt free for that very moment. No stress, nothing too hard to think or worry about, and best of all she felt comfortable.

She felt comfortable doing the one thing she would always hide from other people.

If things would have been normal, or if things never changed the way they were now, she knew that she would never at all show Ichika or anyone this side of hers. The goal of her old purpose was to prove her strength, and this as much as she secretly liked doing it, felt counter intuitive to that.

Nevertheless, she was here right now and given that she accepted his proposal of doing something she wanted to kill some time away from everything, she was inclined to share this side of hers. As a mutual bond of trust was already forming between them. Making the process of her easing towards him all the more easier.

While Ichika did in fact take in account that she was still repulsive to say anything, at the very least having her feel better and comfortable around him would help with the eventual trust and bond they would form. Besides that, he knew that she needed time to heal. To heal whatever pain caused her this much distress and sadness over herself.

To make her regain the hope inside of her that was lost.

He already did that for Charlotte back then, and since this person is more or less closer to him in sort of a familial way (probably even by blood as well), he would gladly make sure that she regains that part of her that was lost…

And hopefully, maybe grow enough to change and be part of his life like Chifuyu.

Despite what she told him a while ago, them being unrelated or not of the same family never mattered to him. What did matter was for her to find her way back to herself.

The mission would come later. They had time.

And with that time, he wished to have a meaningful relationship with her. While also, maybe even finding out of the history he does not know about himself. While he did respect and wanted to wait for Chifuyu's explanation about their past, he still wanted to know it on her point of view specifically.

Given how much serious and painful it was to her to briefly even say as much as anything about their past. It made him curious and best of all, more determined to learn about their origin. Given that he knew no family outside of Chifuyu nor even any others outside the two of them when he was young.

The mystery deepening for him as he thought about it all.

The key now lay within the girl beside him, as well as his chance to expand that prior belief that he had nothing besides Chifuyu.

"You got the noodles done?" Madoka asked as she looked at him. Taking him out of his current thoughts as Madoka looked at his face in an awkward expression.

"R-Right… yeah. I have." He said as he hurriedly looked after the boiling pot. Opening it as he stirred and smelled the aromatic flavor of the more than tasteful concoction the girl had made through simple ingredients within his refrigerator. With a sip he took some of the contents within a spoon and tasted it. A mix of flavors attacked his mouth relentlessly, albeit in a good way as the good natured saltiness was relished within the various amounts of spice she added. It tasted good, and he had to admit that while Cecilia had indeed improved in cooking, the amount of balance and mastery Madoka had over this simple noodle recipe took the cake for him.

It amazed him so much that Madoka stared with a small smirk on her face as he froze within that spot next to him. She then shook her head and elbowed him to get back his focus.

"Bad?"

"B-Bad? You kidding? That tasted wonderful! You went above and beyond with this." He said with an enthusiastic compliment as Madoka giggled softly while looking away.

"Don't flatter me too much. I'm not the best with this stuff. I only do this when I have nothing to do, and even then…" she looks at Ichika who's waiting for her answer and blushes slightly in embarrassment. "… even then t-this is the first time I've let anyone see me do things like this." She then looked away as she stirred the fried rice she was cooking.

"Why?" he then asked as he blinked.

Madoka frowned. Ichika saw it, the twitch on her face indicating that it was one of those parts of her past that she was still not comfortable yet to say nor share to him. He did not want to push that boundary yet with her so he nodded subtly and smiled.

He had to be considerate with the feelings of the people around him now. Mostly his friends within this school. It also applied to her most of all.

"Anyway… This is really good. You should try some." He said as he scooped a handful of the soup from the noodles that was still boiling. Madoka looked at him with a raised brow in question to that act.

"W-what?" Madoka said, with a curled up face full of awkward tension.

"Come on… you made it, might as well try it." He said with a bit of positivity, pushing her to do it.

"Are you… serious right now?"

"What's wrong?"

Madoka pointed at what he was doing.

"It just feels… wrong. Like you're acting like we're a couple." She suggested with a frown as she turned off the stove. The rice steaming from the dish as Ichika laughed slightly.

"Y-Yeah… I wouldn't really think of it that way. Just think of it as friends feeding each other?" he asked in an awkward manner. Madoka slightly smirking at his stupidity at the situation.

"Friends don't feed each other. That's like the complete opposite of that." She said, but without warning she grabbed the spoon on his hand quickly and tasted the dish. She tilted her head in acceptance, thinking of it as a success so far and returned to her previous focus, the fried rice.

Ichika, who was speechless merely smiled internally after. At the very least she didn't feel angry. As awkward as he seemed in that interaction.

"Now come over here bonehead… I need your help to place this into something encouraging to eat in…" she looked around the room and looked at Ichika again. "Do you have plates that we can use? A container so we can maybe place this stuff in?"

"I got just the thing I think." He replied as he lowered himself down on where he stood and opened a drawer underneath where the stove was. Out of it, he took out a few ceramic plates and one bowl that he passed to her slowly and carefully. Madoka did so according to it and after placing the last of the dinnerware they were to use, she took some of the utensils and a few chopsticks that were thankfully visible near the kitchenette within his room.

While at it, Ichika watched as she carefully arranged and placed the numerous dishes they made together. Well, it was mostly her for the most part but Ichika digressed. Her skill and the amount of perfection she had for this craft astounded him. Given that he was now slowly but surely knowing so much about her in the span of the few hours they spent together.

He kind of liked it.

"Hey… can I ask you a question?" he asked as Madoka returned to the chopping board. Mincing some other more ingredients as she looked at Ichika. Her skill with the knife unparalleled as well.

"Yeah?"

"How'd you get so good at this? Cooking I mean?"

Madoka slowed down the action she was doing and pursed her lips. She looked at Ichika who was waiting for her reply and sighed. Ichika who felt like he pushed his boundaries once more tried to apologize, only for Madoka to raise a hand to stop him.

"I-It's a hobby of mine. Back when… back when I was younger than what I am now." She admitted as she continued to mince. Ichika moving closer to hear her story as she tried recall her past.

"I was never raised by conventional means. I think you know that already… right?" she said though she continued to talk even though he was going to reply back. The memories coming back to her. Bitter, but not totally something she has dealt with before.

"In simpler terms, I had a rough childhood. If you can call it a childhood anyway. People who figuratively raised me desired only one thing…" she then faced him. "To be a weapon. To be a developed version of the prime specimen that failed to live the standards set by their creator."

"I don't foll-

Madoka then bitterly looked away as Ichika felt concerned and worried.

"Do you remember what I told you earlier… about us not being family?" she said, almost a whisper. She then stopped chopping as she placed the knife beside the chopping board. Thinking about it. Ichika wordless as he stepped closer. Putting a hand on top of hers to comfort her.

Madoka did not move as she bit her lip and continued.

"The reason why I look like Chifuyu Orimura… is because, I was made to be exactly like her. A clone. An imitation that was supposed to be what Chifuyu wasn't capable of in the end." Madoka finally faced him and looked him in the eye.

"To be a killer."

Ichika who was surprised with the confession could only open his mouth slightly in response to it. Madoka then looked away and looked directly at her hands. Her eyes darting on the contours and some scars that decorated her palm. The knife close to her almost tempting her to do something.

But, his hand was still on hers, and she felt obligated to continue.

"Cooking was the only thing that felt normal to me. Because out of all the assholes that raised me, there was one person that tried to do something normal with me. To teach me of something completely unrelated with all the things meant to be taught to me. At first… I felt like it was stupid, but the more time passed, this little hobby… became the only thing that kept me sane. The only thing that kept me from being more of a monster than I already am." She then squeezed her other hand and bitterly smiled. "These hands, already tainted with so much blood always keep me up at night… I don't blame myself for all of those deaths I caused. The suffering… I never minded it. I only justified it through means that I alone can understand, to prove myself to be the better version. The better Chifuyu Orimura."

"Hey… we don't need to continue if-

Madoka then squeezed his hand.

"Now… it all doesn't matter. My purpose. The sole reason I existed. It's all a joke. I was always going to be the inferior one. The mistake that should never have existed at all."

Suddenly, she smiles at him even though her emotions were all over the place.

"Here I am though. Telling my life story to the person that I hated most in my life, and I'm showing him the one thing that is left within my soul. The one good thing that I always regarded as maybe the best thing about me." She said as she took off her hand from him and resumed her work.

Ichika who had heard it all could not simply believe it at first, but given how much weight those words she gave out from her own mind and soul made him realize that it was true. All of it. He then felt bad about her, the reality of her situation and how it stacked well enough to why she existed at all, and why she was here.

As well as the main reason why she was antagonistic towards him back then.

Despite that, he was still determined to help her. He vowed to, and even with the truth spilled to him about her origins, he would still help her to the very end. No matter where it went to exactly.

"I bet you're asking yourself why you're still trying to help me right?" she asked.

"No… I wasn't thinking about that. The opposite actually."

"Hmm… persistent. I don't know how to think of that, but I guess you are a bonehead." She sarcastically replied as she finished up on her work and intricately placed her minced ingredients upon the rice. Making the aroma, flavor, and scent all the more appealing.

"Look, I know you told me that we aren't family. But to me… that isn't true."

"Why so?" she challenged.

"Well, even if you are what you say you are… you're still my sister. You and Chifuyu share the same blood, looks, even personality and I wouldn't care less about you even if you are a clone of her. What I care about is the person I'm talking to right now… you. You are your own person. This hobby of yours is a proof of that, and despite what you say about you losing your purpose, I don't think that's the case… "

"What do you mean?"

"I think… the reason you never found the real purpose in your life, is because you wanted to be better than Chifuyu. Not even thinking what you could be instead."

Madoka stopped for a moment and thought about it.

"You're your own person… Madoka, and despite what the world tells you about who you are, it is up entirely on you to decide who you want to be. Don't think about anybody's opinions, not mine, not Chifuyu's, nor even those who raised you. You were meant to be someone other than the purpose given to you. You're a person and never think that you're absolutely anything other than that."

"R-Really?" she asked, flustered at his kind and warm smile.

"Yeah…"

Madoka smiled back as they both giggled at each other.

Madoka then laughed hysterically as Ichika smiled.

"Damn… you're really something huh? Sweet talking me on believing your bullshit." She sarcastically said, and then she elbowed him. "B-But thank you. I-I guess I needed that."

"You're welcome… sis." He muttered as Madoka puffed and smirked at him.

She sighed as she made the final adjustments to their meal. It was going to be lunch soon anyway and as early as it was, they both felt it was appropriate given the mood between them.

"Ugh, please don't call me like that. I beg you." She asked.

"Alright…"

"Also, Ichika?"

"Yeah?"

"T-Thanks for doing this with me."

Ichika warmly smiled as he helped her move two chairs for them to use together. They then sat close to each other as she gave him his plate as well as the utensils he needed to use. As they settled down Ichika stared at her and it made her wonder as to why.

"I gotta admit something. You have one overall distinction that separates you from Chifuyu entirely." He said.

"Uh? What is it then?"

"Chifuyu is never good at housework nor cooking, I think that's something only unique to you."

With the way of how he played with that sentence, Madoka laughed.

"I'm serious!" he said.

"Shut up bonehead, you've already made me flustered so many times today. Just let us eat for a moment in silence alright? You can sweet talk me again about it later." She said as he laughed a bit too. Ichika smiled as they ate together, and much to his surprise one of the meals she admitted to be her favorite was rice balls. Which was his favorite dish as well.

They then played it off as something light to talk about as they shared stories with each other. The mood lighting up into an atmosphere that Ichika never felt before with anyone other than Chifuyu…

A sense of familial bond with a girl that he could call his sister.

To Madoka, there was still more that needed to be said about her deep inside. Yet the boy managed to make her feel like herself. Like she belonged to something. Like she finally had something to be proud with. It was not much, but she liked it.

While she was not totally inclined to believe his words from earlier, at the very least she felt comfortable that he was by her side at that very moment.

Maybe… just maybe she could indeed find what he was suggesting.

Her own purpose.

As happy as the two were at that current moment, there were eyes that watched them from afar as they interacted. The eyes of a certain blue-haired girl who felt suspicious…

And a little jealous given how cordial the two were now starting to be with each other.

Tatenashi Sarashiki sighed as she watched from a tower near the dorms. Her IS zooming in with both surveillance and audio from the room itself. She sat by the edge as air flowed between her. Her guard duties making her wish that she was there in a way with Ichika…

She was going to ponder on those thoughts further until a notification of a certain Chifuyu Orimura was calling to her. She accepted the call as the woman's worried voice came through…

Bringing news that could spell ill will with Ichika's current status.

---

9:36 AM… Student Council's Office.

"Kanzashi… can you tell us where Ichika is?" Charlotte said as she looked at the spectacled blue-haired girl whom with the other officers, as well as candidates and students that held a personal IS within the academy were gathered inside the office where the Student Council resided. Classes were now suspended for the whole day, as the alert level was raised the moment Ms. Yamada was called upon by Ms. Orimura given the situation at hand. The other teachers were also gone save for a few that monitored and guarded the school grounds.

This was also the reason why the candidates and those with Personal IS units were called on to in this room. Given that they were the ones who had experience and more time with an IS unit, they would be called upon to fight or defend the school should something happen. This also stretched to those with Class Representative positions in each class of all the students in consecutive years within the school. As everyone for some reason was being deployed in a manner close to the term 'all hands on deck'.

As for what reason entirely, those students present in the room of the Student Council was unsure of. The teachers for some reason were secretive about it, and even those who had access and close terms with the faculty were not given any information whatsoever. Any information that was told to them was minimal at best, and at worst, nothing at all.

"I-I don't really know where he is. Not even my sister is saying anything." Kanzashi replied as Charlotte and a few others namely Cecilia, Houki, Laura, and even Rin who was now present wondered about Ichika much the same as Kanzashi was.

The room became a bit cramped given how much people were inside, but the girls were all in the corner where Kanzashi's desk was and they all watched the empty but now occupied places where Tatenashi and Ichika used to work when they were present in this room.

"Ms. Yamada hasn't told us anything either. They're just saying Ichika is in a special mission or something." Houki said as she crossed her arms upon her chest. She too was worried with all the secrecy involved.

"The Student Council President has been said to have a similar dealing as well and she along with Ichika have been missing this entire morning." Laura said.

Cecilia and Rin who were listening in suddenly felt a scenario blossom within their heads.

And it was not to their liking.

"HEY! Wait a minute, if those two are nowhere to be seen… then-

"T-They could be together at this very instant!" Cecilia finished what Rin had started saying as everyone began to think of it as well. A few murmurs and an angry atmosphere began to form around them all until Charlotte and Kanzashi who were a little bit level-headed managed to calm them down.

"There, there girls… I'm sure the two aren't doing what you think they are at this current moment." Charlotte said as a few looks were thrown at her.

"I do believe so. Given the serious situation everyone seems to be in right now, I doubt my sister would put that first rather than the task given to her." Kanzashi said to back up.

Houki still managed to puff up in slight disagreement to that, but the logic was sound.

"Given that it's Sarashiki we're talking about here; I still don't trust that the two aren't doing anything besides the mission set for them." Houki muttered to herself.

"Anyway… that aside, what do you think is happening? Why the sudden change of everything within the span of a few hours?" Houki then asked the others who were just as clueless as themselves.

"Mentor Orimura isn't this secretive when it comes to occasions like this. She always trusts us especially in missions that need our assistance." Laura said as the others agreed on it.

"Do you think something really bad has happened? I mean, if the situation is as complicated as it can be, then why has nobody outside of the faculty been told about it? Usually they would have given us orders by now to deploy." Rin said.

"Even so, it's still suspicious giving those two secret tasks that we don't know about. They aren't even informing us about it at all. That makes it all the more problematic… well at least to me!" Cecilia complained, her voice loud enough that a few looks were thrown at her by the other occupants of the room. She did not relent however, hoping to give across her point of how deathly worried she was of Ichika.

"We're all worried Cecilia. This is Ichika we're talking about." Rin said while the others tried to calm down the British Girl.

"Then why the hell are we not doing anything about it? Come on! Let's try finding Ms. Orimura this instant! We can maybe ask her what the bloody damn well is happening too." Cecilia argued as Laura and Houki thought of the same.

"But this is Ms. Orimura we're talking about… even if we do defy orders and try to find them I don't think it would be the best solution at all." Kanzashi replied.

"She's right. Ms. Orimura never does anything at random. Every decision she makes has a reason, and I do agree that maybe there is a large risk given the fact that they are making this matter a secret. It could be something that could endanger whatever operation is happening and us trying to butt in could cause that operation to derail in the worst way possible." Charlotte added.

"Can we at least say for certain that this operation is in theory only within school grounds? I mean, we haven't heard from Ms. Yamada that the two are off-campus." Houki said.

"Yes, I do believe Ms. Yamada has not told us about the specifics of the two's disappearance. She only said that it was something important, and that something really troubling was putting the faculty into a stir." Cecilia added.

"Could it be related to Ichika then?" Laura suggested.

Suddenly a dark cloud of thoughts seemed to have fallen under them all. Given that there were so many times, instances, even actual encounters with Ichika that resulted in more or less him being the target. However, as much as they worried about him, they knew that if Tatenashi was involved, he would be more or less okay.

"He'll be fine… right?" Rin said with a worried smile.

"He always pulls through in the end to be honest. I don't know why that idiot has so many surprises up his belt that for some convenient reason, he still manages to pull through regardless." Houki said as she reminisced the so many times Ichika had survived so many close calls.

Some of them, close enough that put his life in jeopardy.

Yet he still made it in one piece.

The thought made them sigh.

"He really has grown on us quite well… right?" Kanzashi shyly asked.

"If you ask me, it's more than that…" Charlotte said as everyone looked at her.

"What do you mean?" Cecilia asked.

"Look at us, the reason we are all here, why we are all friends, is because of Ichika."

There was a small silence when Charlotte said that, but they all smiled afterwards.

"We owe a lot to him… don't we?" Houki said as she smiled at the others. Recalling her childhood with Ichika. The days when it was just the two of them. Their moments, their smiles, together. All of it. She always remembered and even when they were apart, he too as well still remained the light in her heart.

"Yes… even at our most selfish of moments, he was there. A shoulder to lean on." Cecilia said. She then recalled their first meeting, how he changed her view over him. How she changed herself to make him see the side of her that really mattered. Cecilia Alcott had changed so much in the span of time she spent with Ichika, and for the better for it.

"An accepting and forgiving person…" Rin added. In some days, Rin would always wonder what it was that went inside that brain of his. How close they were back when they shared classes together. How much time they spent together and talked and left life flow by in bliss. While she always hoped for something else, she always saw Ichika as someone that would never leave her. Both as a friend and as a person.

"A loyal and passionate fellow…" Laura added. It was no secret to Laura how much of a pain she was the moment she enrolled and encountered the boy in this school. How little she thought of him the very first moment they saw each other. However, even with that said, he never gave up in trying to befriend her. Even when she was mean, innocent, and completely oblivious of how a girl acted with her age, he remained there. Waiting, and always took her hand in the moment of crisis, and Laura knew that it was his heart that swayed her. Not his bravery, but his heart.

"A person you can count on even in the most darkest of times…" Charlotte said as she recalled the very first time he found about her secret. How he encouraged her to be something more than what her father planned for her. To be the person that she was actually. No hiding, no lies, just to be Charlotte Dunois, with no one being able say anything less. It was a wonder being with him, how much their relationship deepened. How much closeness they shared as his tender heart completely enraptured her making her realize that the mistakes brought on her arrival here was all the more worth it, just because she met him.

"A friend…" Kanzashi finished as they all smiled. To Kanzashi, it was never easy. Given her very little self-esteem and low view upon herself, she already had a lot of problems both in social terms and familial relations with her sister. She always viewed Ichika as someone that she did not hate directly, but someone she did not tolerate as much as well. But it all changed the moment he became her hero. The moment where she realized how much of an impact the boy had on her life. After that, she always thanked faith for having him there to meet her. For his presence became the beacon of hope she always yearned for in life.

The girls felt a bit less worried given what was happening with that small reminiscing of the times they shared with Ichika, and how it all led to them all here. As friends.

Close friends.

Thankful that they were together, regardless of all the jealousy and competition between them.

…

They continued to talk after that until everyone was silenced within the room when sounds of someone screaming outside of the door and in the halls flooded inside. Wondering what it was, the door suddenly blew open from its hinges. Revealing a certain Tabane Shinonono who looked distressed.

"Ma'am you aren't allowed to be here, please refrain from-

"Oh shut your damn mouth! I demand to see my sister and you will not stop me from doing so!" Tabane said as a few members of the faculty staff within the school tried to restrain the woman. However, what caught everyone's attention was that Tabane (especially those who knew her best) never appeared so…

Distressed and in worry.

Her bunny-ear contraption upon her head was losing one of its ears. The other not even functioning. Her dress, as colorful and clean as it always was, is now unkempt and dirty in some areas. She was also holding a variety of tools and the moment she saw Houki, she finally smiled in delight.

"MY HOUKI-POKI! I found you!" she happily screamed as all eyes went to Houki Shinonono who was all the more surprised and shocked to see her here.

"T-Tabane?" Houki said

Despite her cheery exclamation in seeing her sister, what no one realized within that room nor even Houki herself, is that Tabane was in a dire crisis.

And she was not there in a peaceful manner.

Rather…. The direct opposite of it.

---

9:53 AM, Dormitory Halls…

"How long have they been in there?" Chifuyu said as she walked as fast as she can with Ms. Yamada by her side and Tatenashi trailing them as they headed to Ichika's room. Tatenashi who was alarmed yet still confused at the situation responded back in haste.

"T-They've been in there for more than an hour actually…"

"Have they moved to any other place besides the ones you pointed out?" Chifuyu asked.

"No ma'am. I've kept a close eye on them this whole time."

"Good. Lesser things to worry about then." Chifuyu blankly said as they continued walking. Her pace beginning to go faster and faster as Tatenashi was still unaware of the bigger details as to what was happening exactly.

"Spill it." Chifuyu said.

"Ma'am?"

"You have a question to ask, right? Say it, might as well answer since I'm going to need you if something bad happens." The woman adamantly said as they both stopped and looked at Tatenashi.

Tatenashi was a bit scared to say anything, but the way Chifuyu said those words made her aware that the situation, whatever it was, is worsening.

"You want to know what's happening… is that correct?" Chifuyu said, beating her to it. Tatenashi nodded as Chifuyu steeled her gaze.

"The girl with Orimura at this current moment, is not what she seems given what we've just discovered." Chifuyu admitted as Tatenashi's fears were realized.

"What do you mean? Is Ichika in danger?" Tatenashi asked in fear. Chifuyu looked unsure as well as Ms. Yamada who was wordless as the conversation started.

"We can't say for certain yet. But given what just transpired with the amount of evidence and info we've gathered, there is something of concern with that girl in question that we need to confirm. In addition to that, I believe that we are treading unforeseen ground and things could go south really fast."

"So the girl, is she working for Phantom Task? Is that why we have her in the cells earlier?"

"No. I don't think that's the case. The way things are and the timeline of events me and a fellow SAT agent have looked into, we think this is something different. Something worse."

Tatenashi blinked at those words. Not seemingly able to believe at first that there was something worse than Phantom Task out there. However, given that circumstances and the secrecy of all of this, as well as the fact that Chifuyu told her herself, it meant that it had weight.

"Sarashiki, I want you to level with me. This talk of ours, what we're about to do, strictly remains confidential. Do you understand? I want you to forego your ties being Russia's representative for the moment and make sure that this does not leak out to the others. The situation is complex and critical to the safety of all of those present, both yours and this school. Do you understand?" Chifuyu stressed as Tatenashi within a short of window of time tried to decide mentally if she needed to agree or not.

But given that it was her job as Student Council President, it was her responsibility to safeguard those who attended the school, along with all the matters and secrets that it possessed. Best of all, she wanted Ichika safe. She nods with slight hesitance as Chifuyu nodded back.

"Good. The girl, as you've noticed… looks just like me."

"Y-Yes ma'am. I have noticed that." Tatenashi replied.

"Given that you have been close to Ichika this entire time much like the other girls, I do acknowledge that you find it odd as to why it's only me… and him as a family."

Tatenashi tilted her head slightly and admitted inwardly that she did find it odd. Then she thought about that girl Ichika was with right now and what Chifuyu just said to her about their similarities.

"Is the girl your sister?"

"No… she is me. A clone."

Before Tatenashi could reel in the shock towards the revelation, Chifuyu continued.

"The reason these series of operations are so secretive in nature is that it concerns me. Or in a broader case, it concerns both mine and Ichika's origin. Something has regretfully come up, and that girl is part of that."

"Part of what?"

"Part of a list of targets that we can't confirm to be active nor alive at this current moment. The biggest mystery out of all of this, the cause of suspicion is pointed at her directly. Given that she was thought to be a survivor of an attack, yet even though she was the target, she left unscathed. Alive."

Tatenashi then thought of what it all meant. Her eyes widened in shock.

"We need answers, and she could be the key to all of this…"

Chifuyu then looked at Tatenashi eye to eye.

"Or… she could be part of a greater scheme that involves Ichika."

…

9:57 AM, Room 1025…

Madoka felt nervous. She looked out the windows as Ichika was finishing up in cleaning the dishes and utensils they used in the small lunch they procured together moments ago. Ichika was humming to a tune while rinsing a plate. He stole glances at Madoka who was sitting by the bedside where the windows were. She looked at the shoreline and the entire border of the campus out of it in silence.

While she felt safe within this room, unbeknownst to Ichika, she felt a bit scared about something that only she knew deep inside. It was dangerous being here. It was dangerous being close to him.

Yet the idiot was genuine with his promises.

Genuine in trying to help her in any way he can.

And now, given the short but sweet time they spent together…

She was having second thoughts. Second thoughts of what to do.

Second thoughts if she was able to do what was required of her.

Fear and torment invaded her completely, the experience of the previous night. All of it came back to her in a shade that birthed a dark cloud in her emotions.

While she did think about what Ichika told her prior about finding what her real reason was in life, she was still unsure deep down if it really mattered that much to her in knowing what it was.

Thinking all of it aside gave her a headache. Shaking her head to rid of those thoughts, she looked at the window yet again, and slowly but surely stealing a glance at Ichika. With a heartfelt sigh, she determined that she still had time.

Time with him to spare…

"Something wrong?" Ichika suddenly said, taking her out of her repertoire of thoughts. She blushed for a second and smiled a bit. Making him smile back to her.

"N-Nothing… it's just nothing. D-Don't mind me."

Ichika chuckled and nodded as he was about to finish up. He could maybe join her where she sat. Maybe talk a bit more. He then placed the last of the plates to dry near the sink and wiped his hands. That's when a knock was heard on the door.

Narrowing his eyes and expecting it to be Tatenashi, he opened the door slowly. Only to see his sister standing there. With a serious look on her face. One that he knew fairly well, and by that moment he suddenly realized there was something serious going on. As Chifuyu's face was as adamant and hard as it could be.

"Step aside." She said as she pushed the door open before he could protest. Ichika was pushed back as Chifuyu stepped into the room. Madoka suddenly stood up in fear as she saw the older woman standing there.

"C-Chifuyu? Is there something wron-

Ichika was stopped when Ms. Yamada also entered, followed by Tatenashi who had a concerned face and quickly held his hand and moved him back. Ichika didn't understand what was happening at that current moment until Chifuyu walked closer towards the girl…

She then grabbed her neck in a swift motion and threw her into the wall. Madoka who was not prepared to react that fast crashed hard on her back as she fell to the floor, breaking the small wooden table in between both beds within the room.

The sudden shift in atmosphere made Ichika surprised and shocked.

"HEY! What's happening?! Chifuyu, why did you-

"STAY BACK! I don't want you to be part of this!" Chifuyu said as she pointed at him with an angry face. She then looked at Madoka who coughed from the remains of the broken table where she landed on. Some pieces of the sharp wood managed to wound her arm as she looked at Chifuyu on fear. Her grip on her neck and subsequent throw was felt hard as she cowered under Chifuyu's shadow.

"I want you to be honest with me. Completely. You say something I don't like nor something unnecessary, I'll make sure to finish what they weren't capable of doing to you last night." She threatened as Ichika broke free from Tatenashi's grip in outrage.

"CHIFUYU! What the hell are you doing?"

"I said… KEEP HIM BACK!" Chifuyu angrily shouted as she looked at Ichika who was all the more baffled at the violent display. Madoka who was now in tears as Ichika saw forced Tatenashi to deploy her IS unit's weapon to block his path. Ms. Yamada who was also watching deployed one of the active guns within her unit's arsenal and she stood between Ichika and Chifuyu just in case something happens.

Chifuyu refocused back on Madoka who was shaking.

"Answer me. Why did they let you live?"

Madoka looked at Ichika who was scared of what was to happen. Ichika in outrage tried to push the weapon Tatenashi had in front of her as the girl tried to hold him back.

"Ichika! Please! Don't interfere." Tatenashi pleaded as she made him face her. Ichika couldn't believe what was happening, he knew that Madoka was dangerous but why was Chifuyu seemingly attempting to hurt her despite her current condition? In the heat of the moment he foregone his feelings for Tatenashi and successfully pushed her away.

Only for Miss Yamada to hit him in the head with the butt of her weapon.

Ichika fell to the ground where Tatenashi held him down.

"Sorry Orimura. But this is for your own good." Ms. Yamada said, as Tatenashi despite feeling guilty held him down as he was forced to watch was happening.

"ANSWER ME DAMN IT!" Chifuyu said as she once again grabbed Madoka's neck and slammed her into the wall. Choking as Madoka tried to break free.

"CHIFUYU! LET HER GO!" Ichika angrily said as he saw her struggling.

"P-Please… I-I'm not here to hurt him… n-not anymore." Madoka pleaded as she looked at Chifuyu's stone cold and glaring face as her gaze bore into the confines of her mind.

"Then tell me what I need to know. Answer. My damn question." She reiterated.

"CHIFUYU! STOP! SHE'S NOT HERE TO HURT ANYONE!" Ichika screamed as Tatenashi regretfully held him down. Madoka then stared into Ichika's eyes in tears and looked at Chifuyu.

"ANSWER ME!" Chifuyu said again as she tightened her grip on her neck.

"I-I don't want to hurt him. Nor you… p-please. I've already accepted how weak I am compared to you! I-I don't want it anymore… p-pleas-ACK!"

"That's not what I want bitch. Now tell me what I want once more, otherwise I will snap your neck." She threatened as her eyes full of fear looked at Chifuyu who never changed in the slightest.

Ichika watched in horror as his sister who suddenly became violent right in front of his eyes was now going to slowly kill the person he was trying to help. Without him even knowing why exactly.

With the tensions rising within the room, Madoka finally gave in.

"T-they let me live... b-because they wanted me t-to help them." She said with a squeak in her voice as Chifuyu raised her eyebrow.

"Go on." She said, not even bothering to untighten her grasp on her neck.

"I-I didn't want to… I-I swear. I-I just wanted t-to die that night after I-I learned of the truth."

"What truth?"

Madoka gulped in fear as silence permeated within the room.

"T-That I was worthless. M-My existence… is worthless." She admitted.

Chifuyu then slammed her into the wall yet again with force.

"That… is not what I wanted to hear. Try again. Please." She angrily said. Ichika tried to force himself out of Tatenashi's grip until Ms. Yamada put a foot on his hand. While she regretted doing this to her beloved student, she knew the risk coming in here. Even Tatenashi who was more than likely going to be hated by Ichika knew of the risk.

"T-They wanted me to c-convince him." Madoka finally said.

"Convince him what?"

"T-To c-come with them. I-I was here… to try and sway him for them…"

"I thought you didn't want anything to do with this anymore?" Chifuyu stated towards her as she leaned closer.

"T-they forced me to. B-Believe me, I-I wanted to die the way here after those people discovered me. B-But I couldn't. T-They threatened to do something…"

"Do what?!" Chifuyu said as she leaned in.

"T-They threatened to hurt the one person I only cared about… o-one of the people that created me…" she pleaded with tears as she looked at Chifuyu. The pain her face evident and that's when Ichika recalled that Madoka mentioned a person that taught her the hobby she was mostly secretive about. Her cooking, the one act that she mentions that kept her sane. He didn't realize that the same person was also one that Madoka seemed to care about within the small social circle she had growing up.

"What do they want with Ichika? Why did they sent you to sway him?"

"B-Because I-I was the only one who they deemed somewhat probable to convince him. T-the others... they're not clones of you nor are they related to Ichika. T-they are different and they would never have managed to convince him otherwise." Madoka said with a shaky voice.

Chifuyu narrowed her eyes as revelation after revelation came in.

"And?"

"I-I don't know about anything else… t-they only told me what m-my task was. I-I didn't want to be part of it. I swear."

"That's not the problem here. The problem is that so far, in that small contained time you've spent with my brother, you've already got into that stupidly optimistic heart of his. Can't you hear how much he cares for you now? Can't you hear his voice pleading me to try and stop, now knowing full well that the interactions you shared were fake?!"

Ichika and Madoka turned silent. Madoka looking right at him as Ichika felt disheartened. Almost in disbelief as he waited for her response. Him hoping that it was not the case. Madoka then looked at Ichika.

"N-No please… I-Ichika, helped me, I never wanted to do it. I-I never wanted to help them. I didn't trick Ichika into caring for me. Nor to have his sympathy. I-I don't deserve it too. B-But please, I didn't mean to convince him nor do anything of that matter that would b-benefit their cause."

The room went silent as Chifuyu finally let go of her grip on her neck. She then slid down to the floor coughing in pain as Chifuyu sighed heavily.

"Even if I should believe your claims… you've already jeopardized the safety of this school and my brother first and foremost. That makes you unwarranted of my concern entirely." She stated as she gave a nod at both Ms. Yamada and Tatenashi to let go of Ichika.

"Yet… you could still be of use to us." Chifuyu admitted.

"W-what?" Madoka asked.

"Did they tell you anything else of what the plan was going forward? The one in the cells specifically said that you were part of the bigger canvas. I want to know what that means."

Madoka was about to say something until Ms. Yamada got an alert on her phone. She opened it as Chifuyu and the rest within the room watched saw Ms. Yamada suddenly looking concerned.

"What is it?" Chifuyu asked.

Suddenly the lights flickered in the whole room and the entire building shook slightly in a small rumble. It stopped after a few seconds as Chifuyu looked out of the window. Seeing smoke rising from the main campus building, on which the cells that were located under it, originated from.

Horror began to flush in everyone's faces as they all looked out of the window.

"Maya, what was the message?" Chifuyu asked.

"It would seem… Tabane Shinonono has met… with our guest Ms. Orimura."

Chifuyu now felt the situation becoming worse as Tatenashi helped Ichika up.

"C-Chifuyu? What's wrong? W-Who is this guest Ms. Yamada is talking about?" Ichika said.

Madoka and Chifuyu never said anything, as the older woman narrowed her gaze.

The past that she tried so hard to bury away from Ichika…

Was now starting to haunt her back in the worst way possible.

TO BE CONTINUED…

---

NEXT CHAPTER: "PROJECT MOSAICA"

AN: Hi guys! Thanks so much with how warm the reception was in the first chapter! Sorry for the delay of this one as I am currently pre-planning, researching, and plotting out story structures and notes for all three fics that I post in this site. Quality is also something I want for each individual story, so as you can see along with this, I tend to pre-plan everything with notes and bullet points. Chapter 2 also took a while to process given that I wanted to expand the story further from the small chapter that preceded it.

Given the nature of the story's mysteries, I do want to point out that this will be a slow-burn story, with more focus on characters that would hopefully improve the plot further as we go deeper into the mystery of the project that created Chifuyu and Ichika. So if you're looking for a possible ship here... I have to say that you will have to wait. I want whatever endgame couple to have at the end to feel organic and well-deserved for the story to feel great.

While I do like the LNs, as well as the anime... I do find that the mystery, world-building, and other parts of the Infinite Stratos Mythos seemed to be lost in fray once the newer volumes came out, especially the backstory of Project Mosaica, and how that fits into the reason why Ichika is so special in the story. This will hopefully be an alternative to that if you please and I've done all the research and preparation to try and capture the feel of the story while also elevating it with my take. I know it's not perfect, nothing ever is, but I wanted to try regardless.

Hope you enjoyed and see you in the next chapter! Leave a review if possible as well (I like reading them) :)

REVIEW REPLIES:

To AnUbIs: Thanks man! Dialogue for me is a very big thing to accomplish. More than once, I'm not satisfied at my work if the talks and interactions between characters don't feel natural or otherwise. I used to tend to recreate certain scenes over and over again if the wordings and terms don't feel right, thankfully as you said it was and all that effort paid off! Once more, thanks for the warm review.

To AnAceOfSpades: Thank you so much man! I hope to hear from you more and hopefully you enjoy my take on this.

To B123: I've been a fan of this series ever since I fell in love with the characters. So to get them right, I wanted to research and read all possible material before going into this. It was hard I admit. Given the seven drafts of the first chapter's prologue alone. But thankfully it paid off in the end when I got a satisfying start enough and I plowed through it for the rest of it. Also, yes this will explore that part of the mythos that talks about Ichika and Chifuyu's origin. Thanks once again and hope to hear from you more! :)