Opening song: J Stallin - Fuk That Ft. Too $hort
Time: 1:46PM – Rooftop
Charlotte and Ichika had lunch on a sunny cloudy afternoon. Everything else looked peaceful at IS Academy: classmates talking about IS or plans over the weekend, teachers relaxing in the lounge room.
"Here, Bon Appetit, Ichika!" Charlotte handed him a bento box, and he happily ate it.
"It's delicious!" he told Charlotte. "I think you're really good at making Japanese food."
Charlotte smiled at his positive comment, happy she made a fine lunch.
"Really? Glad to hear that, Ichika."
"This one taste good too, the batter's nice and crispy."
While Ichika munched his food, Rin stopped by to show her lunch.
"Aha! There you are, Ichika," said Rin. "Here, please try some of my Chinese stir fry bell pepper steak." Her lunch box contained fresh goodies as Ichika ate a sample.
Ichika said, "Wow! That is awesome!" The steak and bell peppers were mouth watering that exploded his taste buds. Rin laughed in delight before she mean mugged at Charlotte, clearly competing their attention to be tag team partners with Ichika. Oblivious from their affection, Ichika smiled.
"You two will be great wives someday," said Ichika. "You're both such awesome cooks."
Charlotte and Rin gasped happily that Ichika enjoyed homemade lunch, showing him more food.
"Here, Ichika, have a taste of my omelet now!"
"Here, have some tea!" Though it made Ichika slightly confused of their generosity.
"Wait a minute, why is it that you're both being so nice to me today?"
"Well, that's because—"
"Hey, we're always nice to you, right?" Ichika said nothing, waiting for them to ask more.
"Tell me, when you're fighting, which kind of partner would you normally prefer to fight alongside?" That was a good question because Ichika thought for a moment to answer it honestly.
"Let me see, I still need to brush up my sniping skills, so it would be nice if my partner can cover me there."
Charlotte and Rin nodded, believing every word Ichika would say to pick them.
"But in the end, I guess it's all about working in harmony, and just being compatible."
"Compatible?" Charlotte and Rin said in unison, getting closer to Ichika.
"Well, what do you want?" said Ichika, smiling at their faces.
"Ahh! Well, I think…that my ideal partner would be someone who helped me out when I get cornered, someone who would be willing to put everything on the line for me." Rin playfully shrugged her shoulders while her cheeks slightly blushed at his crush. Charlotte took her time to bring her best answer.
"I agree with her…I like those qualities, and also! I want a person to be responsive to my needs." Ichika understood their answers that they mean it to be their tag team partners, given the fact he is popular among classmates.
"Well, everyone has their type I guess, but I have a question, where is Liu?" Oddly enough, Liu did not hang around with anyone today; no one had a clue where he went.
Time: 2:40PM - Hallway
Liu was on his way to take a nap at Rin's dorm, but when he opened the door, Tatenashi appeared in his bed. He was not pleased of her appearance.
"Ugh, what are you doing in my dorm?" Liu cupped his forehead, clearly unhappy with people in his dorm, but if Rin was there, she would kick them out like houseflies.
"Oh relax! I had a nap earlier ago. You know it's good for your skin." Small vein popped his forehead close to the edge of kicking her out.
"Please get the fuck out of my bed." If it wasn't bad enough for people to break in, sleeping in his bed would mean getting their ass kicked. Tatenashi playfully got off his bed as she walked towards him.
"Loosen up for once! I'm sure you're aware of the tag team tournament, do you have a partner?" Liu shook his head in silence to not say another word that might make him mad.
"I'll be your martial arts trainer because it appears your close combat needs a lot to polish up." Tatenashi winked at Liu, and felt offended he thought Tatenashi called him weak. Before Liu could talk back, Tatenashi jabbed his chin.
"Now there, you're thinking why she said that? You need to catch up like I did to Ichika, so hold your horses!" Liu didn't know Tatenashi once trained Ichika in shape to boost his skills. He's not aware she will do the same to him, and Tatenashi laughed while they walk to the dojo.
She set the alarm clock to three minutes. "Whoever lasts three minutes without getting knocked on the ground wins."
Tatenashi changed her school uniform into her keikogi, appalled when Liu saw her slightly nude body. Normally, Liu should have looked away when girls change their clothes, he was not extremely shy around nude or immodestly dressed girls because he has no interest picking girls up.
"Eek! You perv...hold on, why didn't you react?" Tatenashi curiously tilted her head at Liu's near-permanent scowl that nullified any pervertedness with no over-exaggeration. "I don't see your keikogi or your karategi, need a spare one?" Liu shook his head, removing his suit and tie, leaving his gray tank top on. His very refined physique with dark colorful tattoos covered his biceps, back, and pectoral muscles.
"This will do just enough." Liu wrapped his hands in gauze tape to protect his tendons and muscles.
"Nice tattoos, where did you get them?" Tatenashi teased his inks that describe his personality.
"A secret." Tiles of floor switched from hardwood into foam mats. They bow, and Tatenashi formed Kokutsu dachi. Liu used orthodox stance, and threw a left cross as Tatenashi leaned back. He answered with a double jab, right hook, and left straight, which she blocked effortlessly. Tatenashi threw a right cross, Liu elbow blocked just in time, and threw an uppercut; she sidestepped to palm strike his jaw.
"I see your approach to direct attacks, very different when I trained Ichika." She made a bet to Ichika that he must knock her down once. She won easily, but this one was more serious that involves fists to do the talking. Tatenashi mischievously grinned at Liu's appearance that resembled a rugged street fighter. They traded blows, but Tatenashi had the upper hand that landed more direct hits. Undeterred, Liu deflected the body blow, but she saw an opening to hip throw.
"Come now, you can't throw in the towel." He leaped back up to regain his composure. Liu did his best to defend, but Tatenashi broke through Liu's inadequate defense, and struck every opportunity with ease. Frustrated of not landing a single hit, Liu jump front kick, followed up a spin back kick. His left foot made contact on her forearm that slightly pushed her back. She casually brushed her forearms and chuckled.
"Getting more ballsy, aren't you? I'll show you as the Student Council President, I'm the best of the IS Academy." Tatenashi evaded Liu's left straight to grab his wrist, struck his bicep that rendered his left arm. He threw another straight, but she elbowed his chest, and landed her finishing blow, the overhand punch. The top-down trajectory, combined with the twisting hips knocked out Liu. The winner was clear; Tatenashi won, Liu lost. That didn't matter because Liu gave his best, but Tatenashi was better.
"You lasted one minute, twelve seconds." She showed the time results while he winced the pain on his cheekbone. Back then, Liu use any means to win a fight. If Liu had a weapon, the odds might be in his hands, but the chances are, he would lose control to restrain himself. Or worse, provoke Tatenashi to inflict major injuries.
"As I said before, I'll sharpen your fighting skills, come with me." She held her fan 'strength' to get her point across. Tatenashi displayed projection screens of fighting stances, offensive, defensive tactics, and evasive maneuvers.
"Martial arts is not to be ignored, even when piloting an IS unit. Your strength is top par, but you lack the basics, and you need to know them first." Liu followed each slides slowly, but not fast to mimic them correctly. Tatenashi nodded, crossing her arms and leaning back against the wall. After she observed his usual stance and profound use of strength, Tatenashi showed him a new stance.
"Boxing must be your preferred style, try the Hitman stance." Liu hanged his left wrist near the waist while his right fist was closely drawn to the chest. Liu flickered jab with a jerking motion, added momentum to rebound to the left, and snapped back to his body to fire again. He followed with a liver blow as his signature move. Tatenashi guided Liu Kyokushin to add his fighting style, and he combined them together to his arsenal.
Time: 3:23 PM - Stadium
"I notice you're too dependent on your firearms," said Tatenashi. "deploy Sockdolager right now." Liu activated Sockdolager with his Venom rested by his side.
"Imagine in a fight where you took out a group of foes, but you're all out of ammunition, what do you do next?" Tatenashi questioned Liu in a scenario situation. Of course, Liu would already know the answer, but it might not be the right one.
"Switch to my secondary weapon."
"ALL out of ammunition," Tatenashi repeated. "Of course, you'll be a sitting duck, but even an empty gun is still useful. Attach a bayonet onto Venom." Tatenashi revealed a practice dummy with bullseye targets pinpointed all over.
"Your foe is about to kill you, now attack!" Tatenashi commanded, and Liu swung his Venom upward, downward, forward, sideways at the target. The bayonet slashed, hacked the targets while Tatenashi watched his performance, and noticed his swings were wide.
"Too predictable! Stop overextending your arms like you're giving a free hug," Tatenashi shouted. "Bring them closer to your body to protect them, try again!" Liu obeyed, but Tatenashi corrected his mistakes every time he straightened his arms. No matter how many times Liu repeated the techniques, Tatenashi made him do it again, despite his revised form. She was not kidding her harsh training made Ichika stronger, he was in a crash course.
"Again!" Tatenashi barked every minute to the point Liu found himself unable to approve her until he finally perfected the strikes.
"The shoulder stock can also be used like a club. Use your CQC knife, and the techniques you learned earlier." Liu used the buttstock to strike the dummy, same process as the bayonet. He moved on to the knife, and hand-to-hand combat to understand the concept of close combat. Again, Tatenashi made him do it repeatedly until she was fully satisfied, much to the annoyance of Liu. He did not realize the repetitive moves helped him build muscle memory. The target was still standing from its multiple beatings, and Liu struck vertical, sideways, and thrust its body and head. Liu removed his bayonet, and the dummy head rolled over.
"Is that good enough?" said Liu, pointing the decapitated dummy riddled with stab marks. "I did what you told me to do."
Tatenashi examined the torn target dummy. The targets were barely recognizable from the hacks and slash.
"You'll have to buy me a new one, show me what you got!" Tatenashi materialized Mysterious Lady and thrust her Heavy Rain. Liu parried the blow by holding his Venom horizontally. Liu parried left, slash, and follow-up butt stroke to the head. Tatenashi and Liu clashed blades as they faced off against each other. Liu bayonet charge as Tatenashi deflected upward, but he countered with a smash following vertical butt stroke. He downward cut to the head, but Tatenashi disarmed his bayonet, and pointed the blade against his throat.
Tatenashi and Liu withdrew their IS unit to call it a day before she held a fan that read 'bravo.'
Time: 3:57PM – Room 1-1
Ichika was tasked to have Kanzashi, Tatenashi's little sister to be his tag team partner. The reason behind it was the developers created Byakushiki, and abandoned Kanzashi's personal IS. Tatenashi built her own from scratch, and Kanzashi was determined to do the same thing. However, she alienated herself that made Tatenashi guilty she went through the strenuous process.
Laura wanted Ichika to be her tag team partner; not knowing the fact Ichika will most likely have a different response. "I have been waiting for you, I assume you have prepared to have me as your tag team partner."
Ichika hesitated to answer, knowing the fact he will make Laura sad, or angry that might cost his life.
"Well actually…I-"
"This is the tournament entry form," Laura had the paper on her hand. "You will put your signature on it now."
Ichika sighed, not holding back to reveal the hard-hitting truth. "Sorry, Laura, but I already decided who I'm teaming up with."
The final saying caught Cecilia, Liu, and Houki, turned around at Ichika, and Laura, shocked he didn't pick her.
"You are my bride and you team up with someone else?!"
Laura partial deployed her IS to correct Ichika's answer, or rather physically. "This response is totally unacceptable!" She charged at Ichika, and ducked in time as Chifuyu grabbed her arm, and threw her back.
"The only time I want to smell flesh as if it's a Korean BBQ!"
Laura landed on her feet, still determined to snatch Ichika as her tag team partner, one way or the other. "Ugh, this matter is just between me and my bride!"
Chifuyu may tolerate minor nonsense, but this one took the cake. "I've had it to hear of this marriage crap, and besides, why would anyone wanted an idiot with no manners as their sister-in-law?"
Chifuyu's tough most of the time towards Ichika, but she deeply loves and cares for him. It was proven because Laura's fantasy of marrying Ichika, and having Chifuyu as her sister-in-law was something she would never accept. The insult was too strong for Laura so bad she fell in shock, and curled up in a ball, dejectedly murmuring. "My mentor hates me, my mentor hates me, my mentor hates me…"
The classmates were surprised, but Liu burst out laughing at the roast Chifuyu laid on Laura.
"Quiet, Liu! Orimura, would you take Bodewig back to her desk, please? Class has been delayed long enough."
Liu held his breath to contain his laughter, but when Ichika dragged Laura to her desk, he laughed again until Chifuyu smacked his head with a clipboard.
"I won't repeat myself again, be quiet!" Chifuyu had a penchant to use a textbook or her clipboard to smack anyone if they annoy her, even a tiny bit.
Time: 5:45PM – Women's Locker Room
Houki and Cecilia changed their clothes after a training session with Ichika. So far, he has improved to match their skills, and they are after him.
I beat Ichika again today! I said that he was going to pick me as his tag team partner. Houki thought happily that he did not pick Laura, clearly she want him right away. If he asks nicely, I guess I can consider it.
On the opposite side, Cecilia also had her mindset on Ichika. Ichika said he already decided whom he was going to pair up with! So he must have meant me, right? Finally, I will get to be with Ichika!
Cecilia and Houki had their happy thoughts about Ichika as their ticket way out.
"Looks like our British contender is in a good mood today."
"Oh hi, Houki!"
"So how's it going?"
"Not too bad, and how are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm awesome!" Houki may have been friendly, but in her malicious mind, she was ready to drop the bomb on Cecilia. That Cecilia, I can't wait to see the look on her face when she hears that Ichika's teaming up with me!
"I'm very pleased to hear that." On the other hand, Cecilia had a nasty plot to ruin Houki. Poor dear sweet Houki, she has no idea that Ichika's going to pick me!
They parted ways, but in their minds, Ichika was their concern. And she takes the prize!
Time: 5:52 PM – Room 1-4
The classmates of 1-4 were amazed when Ichika stepped foot into their classroom. They wanted to chat with him, but he didn't come here to hang out.
"Is Sarashiki here?" Ichika questioned the classmates; they backed off that shows Kanzashi in her desk, working on her IS. She took a sip of her carton drink as Ichika walked towards her.
"Uh, hi, nice to meet you! My name's Ichika Orimura."
Kanzashi stopped typing, and she responded in an unfriendly manner. "I know that."
"You do?" Ichika did not expect a rude awakening from Kanzashi, for someone that's solely independent.
"What do you want?"
"About that, I-I want you to be my partner for the upcoming tag team tournament."
Kanzashi coldly stared at Ichika, reminisce of Liu when he didn't act kindly to him. "I don't think so."
Ichika didn't stop there to reveal the light on her dark heart. "Ah don't say that, please…"
Kanzashi stood up, clenching her right fist as if she was asking for a beat down. "In all honesty, I'm within my rights to punch you now." She looked down on her choice. "But then, it's just not worth…the effort."
Ichika couldn't believe the cold, unfriendly tone Kanzashi rejected his proposal to be his tag team partner. Kanzashi held a grudge that the developers abandoned her personal IS, and focused on Byakushiki instead. The everlasting burn won't stop because she could not forgive Ichika. In return, Kanzashi built her IS from Uchigane with her modifications.
Time: 6:30PM - Maintenance Room
Kanzashi worked furiously on her IS, still no progress has been made. It's still not good enough, this just won't do.
She leaned back on her seat, thinking how Tatenashi built her IS by herself. To prove herself worthy, Kanzashi followed her footstep. An error message popped on her screen.
"If it weren't for his damn Byakushiki, I would have caught up to her." She grabbed her head in despair, nearly about to cry. As she left to watch anime, Ichika appeared. Kanzashi was disgusted by his arrival, and walked away.
"Hey, about that upcoming tag team tournament, I still need a partner!" Ichika followed her in every step. "Come on, Kanzashi!"
"Stop calling me by my first name."
"Sarashiki?"
"And don't call me by my last name either." Ichika disregarded Kanzashi's blunt response of not having a partner, but he persisted.
"All righty then, you, girl over there!" This didn't help Ichika out, all it did was made Kanzashi even more ticked off.
"What are you doing?"
"Look, you just told me not to call you by your name."
"I rather be called by my name than have you address me that way."
"Well then, Kanzashi it is!" It did not get him off the hook, testing Kanzashi's patience was not a smart move.
"What made you to pair up with me anyway?"
Ichika thought back, remembered not to mention Tatenashi because it would make the situation worse. "Because I want to see your personal IS!"
The last straw ended, and mentioning personal IS, especially in front of Kanzashi broke her temper. She raised her right hand like a pimp, and slapped Ichika. Shocked by her actions, she stormed off, leaving Ichika in lost of words.