Ch. 47 Ocean's Eleven!
A woman typed with a virtual keyboard over her lap. Her outfit was a long, blue dress with a white apron. Her upper half was a sailor shirt having puffed sleeves around her upper arm and a frill undershirt with a bowtie. One noticeable characteristic about her had to be the robotic rabbit ears on top of her head. Floating in front of her were two digital screens containing specs on her current IS projects. On the right, there was a bulky, yellow suit with gray metallic hands and rounded wheels attached to the back of its lower shins. The other was a much smaller model with fewer techs, but more sleek with separate parts rather than representing a complete unit.
[Akita Nitaka Bushi]
The cellphone rang. Her bunny ears perked up.
"…I know that ringtone!" She squealed. The woman reached the smartphone suspended above her confided chair. She answered the call. "Hi Hi! Haidy Hoe! This is Tabane Shinonono: everyone's favorite superstar!" The person on the receiving end wasn't too thrilled to hear her introduction. She was ready to hang up. "No, no! Don't, please! Don't hang up on me, Houki!"
"…Hey, sis…" Houki calmed down.
"Hey to you too, little sis! Yeah, yeah, I already know what you're calling about. You want one, don't you? Your own personal unit?" Houki listened. "Of course I have one ready." Tabane looked beyond her shoulder. "It's over spec with high-end capabilities. It'll stand toe-to-toe with the Byaku! This IS unit is known as…" A spotlight shot down from above. It revealed a crimson suit with wings sharpened to a point and dark arms and legs for a menacing appeal. "…Akatsubaki!"
Morning
A blazing sunrise pierced through the blinds into the dorm. Two male pilots shared the room; one being farthest from the window, and the other just getting hit by the sun's rays.
*Yaa-aa-aaaaaawn~*
The roommate lazily awoke. He stretched his hand by the cupboard and grabbed his cellphone. He checked the time.
[7:23 A.M.]
"…Five more minutes…" He shifted to the other side and closed his eyes. Something moved his left leg. "…?" The man opened his eyes and saw a right leg intertwining with his left. "…Don't tell me." He slowly sat up. He pulled the covers to see the young girl with the eye-patch. "…Oralé." Rai scratched his head. He took the translator next to the cellphone and adjusted it over his neck. He lightly shook her shoulder. "Laura. Hey, wake up." She stirred.
"…Hmm~?" Laura wiped her eyes before she could realize what was happening. "Hang on, is it morning, already?"
"Looks like it." The blanket around Laura fell off. So far, the only thing she had on was a gun holster attached to her right thigh. "Aye whe!" Rai turned away. "Where's your clothes?!"
"But I have always heard that there aren't supposed to be any secrets in a healthy marriage," Laura leaned in to him. "You haven't forgotten I made you my bride."
"Okay, for the last time, let me point out the problems with that." Rai raised his hand. "One: you're supposed to be the bride. Guys are the husband, last I checked."
"Well, in Japan, you call someone you like 'my bride' or 'one's bride,' do you not?"
"…You're talking to a Mexican here." He raised two fingers. "Two: Do you realize the age gap between us?" Laura examined Rai's face carefully. She noticed the fuzzy hair growing around his chin and upper lip.
"It doesn't appear to be a problem. It is only a difference in four years. Age is nothing more than a record of one's yearly progression."
…How did she…? "…Okay, but there's one more, little thing I forgot to mention. I CAN GO TO JAIL JUST SITTING NEXT TO YOU!" Laura latched around Rai's arm. She pulled tightly while keeping her legs pressed down on his torso. The force felt as though his arm would rip off.
"You need to spend much more time practicing your hand-to-hand combat~!" Her face blushed.
"You didn't hear a word I said!" Rai tried to keep his arm intact.
"If you would like to polish your wrestling skills…" She turned away in embarrassment. "I offer myself to be your training partner for this." Ichika rose from his bed to the sound of them struggling.
"Geez, what's with all the noise?" He asked. He turned and saw Rai getting his arm pulled by Laura. "What the!?"
"Great timing!" Rai uttered. "Give me a hand here!"
Knock-knock!
"Are you in there, Ichika?" Houki shouted beyond the door. "It's time to start our morning drills!"
Creek!
Houki came through the door. Her outfit consisted of the usual kimono with a white robe and blue lower-wear. She held her training sword over her left shoulder as she entered the room. "It may be Sunday, but that's no reason to slack off…" As soon as she marched in, the first thing she saw was Rai's arm being tugged by Laura in her birthday suit. Ichika stood by the bed unsure of what to do. Houki's reaction was a combination of shock, confusion, and enticement. They all turned to her.
"Such indecency," Laura cried out. "Barging into a married couple's bedroom!" The sword slid through her fingers.
"W-W-W-W-What!?" She stuttered.
"Let go of me, woman!" cried Rai. The fumes of anger and rage exhausted specifically from her hair. Houki reached for her training sword.
"W-Wait, Houki!" Ichika tried reasoning with her. "It's not what you think!" She raised her sword.
"You…DIE!"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
"…Pika?" Jolt stared at his partner. He watched Rai inspect the vehicle's engine from the breaker fluid to the anti-freeze. Yami studied him as he performed the tuning. Kurumu waited impatiently by the passenger's side door.
"Are you done yet?" Kurumu complained.
"Gimme a minute," Rai answered. He wiped away the sweat on his forehead. Yami noticed the bruises across his face.
"…Did you have a rough morning…?" Yami asked.
"…You could say that." He looked over the engine for the last time. Jolt jumped from the vehicle into Yami's arms.
Bam!
Rai slammed the hood down. "It's good to go...I think."
"About time!" Kurumu sighed. She took the right-backside of the vehicle. Yami went over to the left side behind the driver. Rai viewed them through the back-side window.
"…No shotgun?"
"Nice try, but I'm not falling for that again." The night of the storm replayed in Kurumu's head. Yami nodded in agreement.
"Alright, fair enough." Rai opened the driver's door.
"Hey, Rai!" A student called to him. He looked over the roof and saw Ichika with Charlotte.
"Hey, guys," He waved back. "What's up?"
"Nothing, really," replied Charlotte. She observed his taxi. It was clean and well-waxed. "Is this your vehicle, Raimundo?"
"Yep, she's a keeper! We're heading into town right now. The beach trip's later today, so I'm getting some last minute things." Charlotte saw the girls sitting in the back seat.
"…Would it be alright if we joined you?" Yami and Kurumu stared through the side windows. Kurumu pouted impatiently as Yami listened to Rai's decision.
"Sure, why not?"
"Awesome!" Ichika agreed. He took the passenger seat. Charlotte sat beside Kurumu near the right window. Rai took his seat as the driver. He locked the buckle and adjusted his mirrors.
"Seatbelts, everyone!" He started the engine.
Chuga-Chuga-Chuga-VRRRRRRRRMM!
Rai shifted the gear into drive. He turned the wheel and drove on the concrete path.
"So, you guys were going shopping, too?" Kurumu asked.
"Well, Ichika insisted I come along," Charlotte mentioned.
"Yeah, I needed to go into town and get some trunks for myself," Ichika explained. "But, then I thought I'd invite Charles along since she might not have a girl's swimsuit!"
"That makes sense…" Rai shrugged. Charlotte soon realized how this was in no way a chance of becoming a date. Rai glanced through the rear-view mirror. "…Everything alright back there?"
"Men who carelessly toy with young girls' affections ought to be kicked by a horse and die!" Her tone grew fierce.
"That's…understandable." He agreed on terms. Kurumu shook her head while Yami stared out the window. Charlotte curiously noticed the marks on his face.
"What happened to you, Raimundo?"
"Let's just say it was a terrible way to start off the day," informed Ichika.
"Mr. Casanova had his spouse in bed this morning~," a sly grin appeared on Kurumu's face. Charlotte's face grew red.
"…How ecchi," Yami noted. The gang felt the rugged bumps as Rai drove over the grass.
"I keep telling you," Rai explained, "she snuck into my bed when I was sleeping."
"Pikapika…" Jolt looked at the path ahead.
"Um, Rai…" Ichika warned him.
"I thought you were supposed to be a married couple?" Kurumu retorted. "Isn't that why you both moved in together?"
"I didn't agree to anything yet!" Rai proclaimed. "Ichika and I were the ones who moved in because we're the only guys left."
"Guys…!" Ichika repeated. The view of the ocean grew larger as the land began to disappear.
"I'm just saying I'm not ready for that kind of commitment!" The taxi reached the edged of the island.
"You're not?" Charlotte asked.
"GUYS!" Ichika shouted.
"What!?" Rai responded.
VVVRRRRRRRRRRMM!
The taxi drove its way over the cliff. "...Oh…" Everyone felt the force push against them in their seats.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Charlotte screamed.
"…Are you done yet?" Yami asked.
"I'm on it." Rai pressed the red button. In a matter of seconds, the taxi had transformed into its airship-mode. The back-bumper equipped its four-barrel rockets and its exterior remodeled into a more sharper casing. Rai pulled back on the lever and dove up before crashing into the ocean. Ichika and Charles gripped their seats with fear of nearly falling to their death. "Okay, so where were we?"
"How did that happen?!" Ichika panicked.
"Come on, you saw how she got me locked in that hold."
"Not that! How are we flying in a car?!"
"What—this? It's like your machines, but you know, without the weapons or complicated functions."
"Is it really that simple?" Charlotte asked trying to catch her breath. Rai first pointed to the lever.
"…Up and down." He pointed to the gear shift. "Drive, park, or reverse." He grasped the steering wheel. "Left and right." He pointed to the floor near his feet. "Right pedal: go. Left pedal: stop." The drive went smoothly as Rai followed the monorail straight to the mainland. After a short while, the group reached their destination. Rai turned the wheel and slowly descended on the street below. He inched closer to the sidewalk until the taxi dropped between a mini-van and an electric car. Everyone exited the car with what balance they had left. Rai held his keys out and activated the alarm.
Beep—Beep!
"Remember where we parked," said Rai.
"Pi?" Jolt looked down the streets in both directions.
"…We're the only cab for miles…" Yami pointed out.
"Kinda makes it easier for us," Kurumu inserted. Charlotte stomped ahead in a fit.
"Hey, wait!" Rai caught up with her. The two met at the top of the escalators. "What's wrong, Charlotte?" She stopped in her tracks. Her frustration lowered after hearing Rai call her name. "Listen, if it's Ichika, try not to let it get to you. We all know he's slow at times, but—"
"Here…" Charlotte turned around. "I…I will forgive you if you just hold my hand."
"What did I…?" Rai closed his mouth before he said the wrong thing. "…alright." The others followed behind.
"So, that's it," Ichika realized. "It would be bad if we got separated in an unfamiliar location." He offered his hand. "Why don't we try it?"
"Pass…" Yami walked ahead. Ichika turned to Kurumu.
"…In your dreams," she replied. She took off toward the lower level. Ichika scratched his head.
"Did I miss something?" He asked himself. The small mouse jumped on his shoulder and patted him.
"Pikapika…" He consulted the dense boy. From around the corner, there were two female students spying on Ichika behind a vending machine. Their eyes were void of perception; only on the other girls.
"…Uh-oh," Rin noticed.
"Are they…" Cecilia smiled vacantly.
"They're…holding…" The girls watched as Rai and Charlotte walked along with her hands together.
"Holding hands…" Rin was becoming more traumatized as her dream of a relationship was being experienced by someone other than herself.
"I thought…I was experiencing a waking nightmare…but if you see it…" Rin's right arm summoned her IS in a partial-deployment. "…THEN IT'S TIME TO KILL 'EM!" Her heated jealousy raged.
"A-ha," Laura interrupted Rin's fury. "You have strange pastimes." Cecilia and Rin turned to see their German rival appear.
"Laura!" cried Cecilia. Rin raised her metallic fist.
"You do not need to be so guarded, because it is no longer my intent to harm any of you."
"And you expect us to believe that?!" Cecilia wasn't going to fall for any of her tricks.
"I see…" Laura saw Rai and the others going into the shopping district. She headed in their direction.
"Hey!" Rin stepped in front of her. "Just you wait a minute!"
"Just what exactly are your intentions?" Cecilia demanded.
"It should be obvious," explained Laura. "I plan on joining them. Nothing more." The girls blushed.
"Don't you know that you should always spy on a new enemy before confronting them openly?" Rin informed the rookie.
"That is correct!" Cecilia added. "Surveillance is an art-form! First, we must follow them closely, and then we can determine the exact nature of their objectives!" Rin nodded.
"I see…" Laura analyzed their assumptions. "…You have a point." They followed after the group.
Once they reached the 1st floor, the mall was now an eccentric place full of lights and exotic detail everywhere. The marble floor reflected the light panning from the ceiling. It was painted like the blue sky. Columns stretched from the ground up. The awnings had flat rails and floral patterns along the balcony. People walked around and browsed the shops across the mall. Rai and his team gathered at the majestic water fountain with three goddesses kneeling to the stream above them. He turned to everyone.
"Okay!" Rai declared. "We all need to meet back here at around ten, so you have about an hour and a half to look around before we head back. Any questions?"
"...What are we allowed to buy?" Yami asked.
"Pretty much anything you need for the beach. I'll cover for you guys today, so only buy the..."
ZOOM!
Ichika, Yami and Jolt looked around to see the two girls disappear. "...essentials." Kurumu and Charlotte quickly took off toward the nearest clothing department. "Well guys, see ya in a bit." Ichika nodded. He took Jolt with him down the corridor to the west hall. As Rai went in search for some supplies, he felt a hand clasp his. "Hmm?"
"..." Yami held on tight. "…Follow me." She tugged him into the Stacy's clothing store. The place was littered with sales and discounts from the buttoned shirts to the worn-out jeans hanging on the rack.
"What are you looking for, Yami?" Rai asked.
"...Swimwear." She looked around each aisle until she came into the woman's lingerie section. There were many styles of underwear on display. Some simple as a bra and thong while others were more complex like a dominating corset. Rai examined the other wear. He saw rows of bikinis lined on the wall.
"Hey, how about these?" When he turned around, he saw Yami holding a black and white one-piece over her figure. It covered everything except the hands, feet, and head.
"…Is this right?" Yami asked. Rai sweated.
"Not what I had in mind…." He grinned cowardly. "…but, I think this will work better." Yami looked at the simple design.
"…Agreed." She turned towards the swimsuits on the next aisle. "Please be ready onceI find more necessities." Yami walked away. Rai looked across to the other sections of the department.
Two shoppers were doing some summer shopping of their own. One of them was a guy with drooping, red hair and a large sash around his forehead. He wore his favorite white tee with a black buttoned shirt over. His blue jeans and black sneakers rustled while he walked. But, he wasn't too thrilled at becoming his little sister's pack mule. He held two bags on his left arm while he dragged along the other two bags in his right hand. The young girl ahead of him had almost the same apparel as the guy. She had the red hair and purple sash, except for the white blouse with straps on her shoulders and the shorts up to her thighs.
"Hold on tight, bro," she ordered. "If you decide drop any of those, it's your head!"
"No matter how you look at it…" The man emphasized. "You're buyin' way too much." The girl turned to her (believed-to-be) useless brother.
"The last summer of middle school is special! Pool-use swimsuit! Beach-use swimsuit! 'It's on!' swimsuit! 'Ultra-It's on!' swimsuit! 'Mega-Ultra-It's on!' swimsuit!" She named off every available and racy swimsuit in existence. "You need each kind to use as the situation calls for!"
"What kind of situations are those?" Ichika asked.
"Pikachu?" Jolt wondered. He held a small, red box in his stubby hands. The girl turned around.
"...Kyaaaaaaaaa!" She panicked.
"Hey, buddy," the guy greeted them. "You two doing some shopping?"
"Pika..." Jolt handed the box to Ichika to put in his pocket.
"You could say that." The two looked at the shopping bags the brother was carrying. "That's quite a load you got there. Are all those bags full of swimsuits?"
"Yeah." The girl blushed as her brother continued embarrassing her. "The runt here said she was gonna show them all off to you—"
KICK!
The girl launched her brother with a back-kick into the wall behind.
"What was that?"
"What was what?" She answered. The brother remained on the ground.
"Man that hurt!" He rubbed his head.
STOMP!
A foot planted on his face.
STOMP!
Another on his chest. He passed out.
"Come on!" Kurumu ushered Rai. She pulled him by his arm through the mall.
"Wait!" Rai reasoned with her. "Will you slow down!?" They both made it into the store with purses lined against the window and shirts scattered on mannequins.
"I'm gonna need..." Kurumu swept through the aisles until all the racks were picked clean. "This! This! This! Definitely this! Ooh and especially this! These are on sale!" A student peeked out from behind the entrance to the department.
BAM!
Kurumu dropped the clothes in front of the clerk. The pile almost stretched to the ceiling. "I'll be taking all of these!"
"All that?!" Rai panicked. "Just for the beach?"
"Of course not! This is just for something to wear back home." Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "After all of this, we'll buy some stuff for the winter, and then the summer beach trip, and some dresses for when spring comes around..." Rai picked a few pieces from the pile and placed it forward. There was only a towel, sunglasses, and a sun hat.
"…We'll just take these."
"Hey!" The clothes tumbled on top of Kurumu.
BOOM!
KA-CHINK!
[SALE!]
"Thank you." Rai turned to Kurumu who was now buried alive. "...Make sure you put those back."
*Snatch!*
A hand grabbed onto Rai.
"Raimundo!" Charlotte tugged. "Come over here!" They immediately made off where bathing suits were displayed around every nook and cranny of the department. She hauled Rai into the changing booth behind a white curtain. They left their shoes outside the stall.
"Okay..." Rai caught his breath. "Let me guess, you can't find one, right?"
"Well…" Charlotte shifted her gaze back and forth. "I wanted to know if the swimsuit I chose looks good."
"…That's it?" Rai chuckled. "If you wanted to show me, I can wait while you change."
"Shhhh!" Charlotte slightly drew back the curtain. She witnessed Yami and Kurumu searching through the store.
"Where is he?" Kurumu questioned the blond.
"…He's probably looking for trunks," Yami replied. It wasn't long before they ran into the other three snooping around.
"Where could they have disappeared to?" Rin questioned her temporary ally.
"Surely, they can't have noticed us following them!" Cecilia elaborated. Laura went to search the other side. It was then that Rin and Cecilia coincidentally ran into Yami and Kurumu. "By any chance, have you seen Ichika around here?"
"Nope," Kurumu answered. "Did you happen to see where Rai went with his credit card?"
"Nuhh uh," Rin replied. Laura inspected the other suits clouding the walls. She heard a customer talking with one of the employees.
"Oh," the employee informed her, "and here's this year's featured swimsuit. It's called the chest-and-gather model."
"…These are all swimsuits?" Laura asked herself. "I never had any idea so many different types existed." Two other girls were talking with each other from across the room.
"It's so hard to choose, isn't it?" The first girl asked.
"Yeah," the other agreed. "If you don't wear one that suits you exactly, your man will turn on you like that!"
"And even after everything else is perfect, if your swimsuit is bad, then that's the kiss of death for sure!"
BANG!
A shot fired off in Laura's mind. Charles peeked around watching everyone scatter.
If someone spots us, they'll surely get in the way! She thought. Rai glanced over her head.
"…They're all here." Rai noticed. "Damn, I can't leave now."
"Y-Yes, that's right!" Charlotte closed the curtain. "You just stay in here, and I will get changed quickly!" Charlotte unbuttoned her jacket and revealed her white undershirt. Without the jacket, it looked as though she wasn't wearing a skirt or pants.
"Whoa!" Rai turned around.
I made all this happen, but now what am I supposed to do?! Charlotte rattled with her clothes.
I-Is she coming on to me?! Rai assumed. She wants to show me her suit, but…
"AAAGH!" Charlotte removed her necktie. I'm doing it! Rai could hear her shirt being removed.
This is getting out of hand. If I talk with her, maybe it won't be as awkward. "Hey, Charlotte!"
"W-What is it?"
"Uh, it's, um, a-about your name." Charlotte removed her undergarments.
"You mean about calling me Charlotte?"
"Yeah, you know, since you told everyone that you're a girl, they're gonna call you Charlotte now, right?"
"Now that you mention it, this is true…" She slipped on her new swimsuit.
"So, how about we give you a new nickname? Something simple and catchy like…Shar?"
"Shar…" Charlotte smiled. "Yeah, I think it's a great name!"
"Good, good." Rai nodded.
Shar…Shar! That must mean…I'm special to him, n'est-ce pas? Charlotte finished putting on the final piece. "Okay, I'm done." Rai slowly turned around. The minute he gazed at her, stars and flashing bulbs danced around Charlotte's apparel. Her new swimsuit was an orange bikini top with a black, lower rim running below her bust. The simple bikini bottom was black, but was covered by a see-through leopard skirt around her hips. Rai's eyes widened from her stunning beauty.
…How does she do that?
"…Does it look strange?" Charlotte finally asked.
"No, no!" Rai nodded in assurance. "It looks great, honest!" She was embarrassed by his approval.
"Okay, then I'll get this one."
"Um, excuse me, Miss!" The employer tried stopping the teacher. Rai and Charlotte froze in silence. They heard footsteps approaching the changing booths. The shadow below the curtain stopped. They slowly lowered their heads.
"…Wait a second," Chifuyu looked down.
…THE SHOES! The two forgot.
WHISH!
Chifuyu pulled back the drape. Standing behind her was Ms. Yamada and the sales associate. They stared back at the two.
"KYAAA!" Charlotte cried.
"KYAAA!" The saleswoman cried.
"O-O-Ortega and Dunois changing together!?" Ms. Yamada flustered.
"What are you two doing…?" Chifuyu asked.
"…Shopping?" Rai answered. The students exited the stall and were forced to kneel on the floor.
"Now, listen up!" Ms. Yamada lectured. "Even though the two of you are classmates, certain lines have to be drawn! Boys and girls must not enter changing rooms together! I understand what you're feeling with the beach excursion coming up, but you have to keep a firm reign on your emotions and hormones!" From behind the sales rack, Kurumu and Yami watched Rai and Charlotte receive their punishment.
"Yikes," Kurumu grimaced. "Kinda sucks, don't you think?"
"…It seems that way," Yami rebutted.
"Oh well, time for us to go," Kurumu tiptoed away from the scene and tailed it back to the car.
"Hey, guys!" Ichika approached. "What's going on?"
"Pikachu?" Jolt looked over at what the commotion was.
...
Laura made a private collect-call back to Germany. The person on the other side answered.
"Clarrisa," Laura called her. "I need your help. We have an emergency situation!"
"Captain Laura Bodewig," Clarrisa replied. The entire facility was made up of young girls with black military uniforms and eye-patches over their left eye. Clarissa, being the one in charge, wore her general suit with a cut skirt and thick, black boots. As a representation of rank, she was the only one with a black barrette. "Are you experiencing a problem?"
["Ja, it's regarding that Raimundo Ortega I mentioned to you before."]
"Ah, the Mexican American. This is the man for whom you have affections?"
"Ya vol. He is the same one you kindly informed me I should refer to as 'my bride'! It so happens that all the students from the IS academy are about to take a trip to the beach. I am unclear as to what basis for selection is when it comes to the correct swim attire. Therefore, I am requesting proper instruction."
"Of course, the Black Hare Corps is here to assist you in this matter. Incidentally, what are you currently equipped with?"
["I have a single, school-issued swimsuit."] Clarissa's eye opened with distaste.
["WHAT FOOLISHNESS IS THIS!?"] Laura pulled the phone away as she started screaming. ["The IS Academy uses old-style school swimsuits! While I normally approve of tradition, but in that suit…"]
"That suit…" Laura sweated.
"NO NAUGHTY BITS WILL SHOW!" The other cadets awed their general's great passion.
"That's the XO of the Black Hare Corps for you!" One cadet addressed.
"Her love of Japanese manga and anime isn't just for show!" Another inputted.
["So, what do I do now?"] Laura requested.
"Heh," Clarissa grinned. "I have a trick up my sleeve…" As their mission began, their flag swayed above the secret base of operations. Nothing was more intimidating than a bunny wearing an eye-patch and bandolier while hopping with an AK-47. This was…SchwarzerHase.
Beachside
"It's eleven o' clock right now, everybody!" Ms. Yamada shouted. "You're free to do what you want until sunset. Just make sure to get back to the guest house in time for dinner. You got that?"
"OKAY!" All the students shouted. The sun was shining and the beach was completely occupied with nothing but high school girls in their favorite bikinis. The shore stretched down from one portion of town to the hillside with a large rock standing out of the water. Everyone went to either rest on the coast or splash around in the water. Rai, Ichika, Charles, Kurumu, Jolt, and Yami brought along their stuff for the trip. Rai, in his red swim trunks, had a towel and foldable chair underneath his right arm. Kurumu, in a stunning black swimsuit and round sun hat, had a beach bag with lotions, towels, and aloe slinging over her left shoulder. Yami, wearing a frilled, black bikini top and bottom, had Jolt on her head as she carried two sets of towels in each arm. Her hair held the large umbrella like a sword on her back. Ichika had his blue trunks with Charlotte in her special bikini she bought at the mall. Rai laid their things in the sand.
"Whew," he sighed in relief. "This is a nice spot." The others followed his example. Kurumu looked around the sight.
"Now this is what I call a vacation!" She shouted. Ichika looked across the coast.
"It really is amazing!" He added.
"Pika Pika!" Jolt raised his fist in cheer. Yami simply observed the vast water that ran for miles without end. Charlotte witnessed the ocean along with them.
"It truly is a nice view!" She complimented. Kurumu dropped her things and ran for the water.
"Last one in's a rotten egg!" She made a large jump.
"Not so fast!"
Thump!
Kurumu's face planted into the sand.
"Now what!?" Kurumu replied with a dirt pile on her head.
"We must make sure to perform proper stretching before we go in."
"Seriously?" The girls lined up and began their routine stretch drills. They pulled each arm over their head, then twice across their chest. The boys decided to join in as well. It didn't take long for the other girls to stop by in their suits. The only one out of place was Honne who, unexpectedly, had on a large yellow outfit with a yellow tail sticking out from behind. With the ears on her head, she seemed like a legitimate fox girl.
"Say, guys," Honne wagged her tail, "Do you want to play volleyball with us? It will be fun!"
"Yeah!" Shizune offered with the ball in her hand. "Volleyball's awesome!"
"Sure," Ichika agreed. "Sounds fun…"
Slam!
Rin quickly scuttled up Ichika's back and took her seat.
"Wow!" She looked at the vast water. Her normal two-piece swimsuit was orange that helped retain her slender figure. "I'm up so high! I can see really far!" Ichika kept his balance as Rin shifted her weight around his shoulders.
"What do you think you're doing!?" He shouted. "Do you think your some kind of cat?"
"Hey, that looks like fun!" Honne praised. "I want to do it too!"
"It's my turn next!" Shizune called out. Charlotte noticed a student and walked over to her.
"I'm not an observation deck!" Ichika struggled to remove Rin. From the back approached Cecilia in her bathing suit: a blue top with a towel wrapped around her waist. She carried with her an umbrella and a large sack of beach essentials. "Get off me!"
"What the devil is going on here?" She protested.
"Can't you tell by looking?" Rin replied. "He's my lookout tower!"
"Ichika..." Her right eye twitched. "Surely you can't have already forgotten the promise you made to me on the BUS!?"
JAB!
She pierced the sand with the umbrella pole. The parasol opened and the towel rolled under the shade. Everyone watched as Cecilia untied her bikini top and settled on her front. She placed the coconut oil next to her bare back. "Now, Ichika...please get on with it." Rin jumped off her watch tower.
"What exactly is he supposed to be getting on?" Rin demanded.
"As you can plainly see, I'm having him rub the sun-tan oil on my skin. It simply wouldn't do for a gentleman to renege on a promise he's made to a lady now, would it?" Ichika had just remembered.
"Alright," he gave in. "I guess I don't have a choice." Ichika applied the oil on his hands until they dripped brown slime. "…Ack." Her exposed back made it hard to choose the right place to touch her. He reached for her lower back.
"Kya!" She yelped. "Ichika, please warm your hands a little before you rub it on."
"I'm sorry, but it's my first time doing this, you know." Ichika rubbed the cream.
"You mean I'm going to be your first time?" Cecilia blushed. "In that case, I suppose it's to be expected."
"...Said the hungry spider to the fly," Rin quoted. The others stared at Ichika's situation.
"…That reminds me," Rai spoke out. He dug through Kurumu's bag and pulled out a bottle of sunblock. "Make sure to put this on before you go in the water." He tossed it to Jolt.
"Pika…?" He sniffed the top.
"Like I need some cream to keep my skin healthy and pure~," Kurumu boasted. She stood proud as her pink flesh glittered from the sunbeam. "Nothing can ruin this figure."
"We'll see how pure it is after you get sunburned." Everyone looked down to Jolt. He smeared the lotion on his arms and nose cavity. He used his tail to apply the rest on his back.
"Pika!" He charged for the water in nothing but blue goggles and a small tube. Yami was next.
"Raimundo!" Charlotte called out. "You have to see this!" Rai turned around.
"See what?"
*Dooooooong*
The first thing he saw was a body wrapped in gauzes completely shielding the body. However, the eye-patch and pig tails managed to break through. "…Laura?" Kurumu finished applying the sunblock.
"Okay, I'm done. Happy now?" She witnessed Laura in her bandages. "…What's with the beach mummy?"
"Come on, now," Charlotte offered. She gently rocked Laura's body. "You can show Rai your new suit. It will be alright."
"Nein!" answered Laura. "I will decide whether or not it is alright."
"But Laura, you have already changed. So now, you have to show him your new swimsuit."
"No, wait! I'm still not ready!" Yami approached. "First, I must prepare myself for this!"
"...Is Laura trapped inside…?" She asked.
"Looks that way," Rai replied.
"…Understood." Yami summoned blades from her hair.
SLICE! SLICE! SLICE! SLICE!
The bandages flew off, and Laura's swimsuit was revealed. Her lower half had a frilly lace around her waist and two bowties were knotted on each side of her hips. Her Bikini top matched her laced bottom; there was a knot in the middle between her cups and the thread latched around her neck. She still kept the gun holster on her right thigh. She was too shy to look at them.
"L-Laugh if you must…" Laura offered.
"It's perfectly fine!" Charles complimented.
"Didn't think you could pull it off," Kurumu nodded. "Not bad, girl." Yami slowly approached Laura.
"…We match," she flattered her.
"Well, Rai?" Kurumu nudged at him. "Say something to her! She's your husband~!" Rai cocked an eyebrow.
"…Well, jokes aside," Rai smiled. "I think you look pretty cute." Laura's face blushed brightly.
"O-Oh, you think I am cute?" She started playing with her fingers. "That is the first time I have been called that…"
PUNCH!
Cecilia punched Ichika in the face. The breeze rustled by Rai and the others. Laura didn't even notice him fly by.
SPLASH!
He landed face-first into the water. "I thank you very much for your input and it is greatly appreciated."
"Orimura!" Shizune called out to Ichika floating on his front. "You promised to play beach volleyball with us!"
"Pika?" Jolt poked at Ichika's head in the water.
"Now there's a game I can get into!" Kurumu stretched her arms.
"…It sounds fun…" Yami replied.
"We better get the teams ready." Rai looked around the beach for other players. He noticed a particular girl by herself.
Splash…Splash…Splash…
The girl held her phone as she waited for her sister to call. She had on her white bikini, but was covered by a grey sweater. She stared back down at the contact name.
[Tabane Shinonono]
At the match…their teamwork dispatched Laura so easily. I wasn't able to do a thing. …No…It wasn't just that time. Ever since that strange IS arrived at the academy…I wanted to fight alongside Ichika. …But I couldn't do anything…That's why I…
"Hey!" Rai waved to her. She turned to the man popping out behind the rocks. "It's Houki, right?"
"Ortega…!" Houki noticed him.
"So, you've been back here?"
"…Yeah." She slid the phone into her jacket.
"We're gonna start a volleyball game. Feel like being our spiker?"
...So, he acts like a clown to me too… "…I'll pass."
"You sure?" Houki didn't respond. She stared back at the ocean. "…Something wrong?"
"It's nothing." She felt annoyed. "Just go."
"…" Rai scratched his head.
"Raimundo!" Kurumu shouted to him. "You coming or what?"
"Don't worry so much about me, okay?" Houki assured. She stood from her spot and started walking along the shoreline.
"If you change your mind, we'll be waiting!" He called to her. He rushed back to the girls.
"Now let's play some beach volleyball!" Shizune cheered.
"It's a battle against Ortega and Orimu!" added Honne. "Zap! Bang! Pow!"
"Here!" Takatsuki tossed the ball. "Catch!" Rai caught it. He glanced around the beach.
"Alright," he declared. "We're making it a three-on-three match!" With teams decided, everyone helped set up the volleyball arena.
Team A: Kurumu – Shizune - Honne
Team B: Rai – Charlotte – Laura
The crowd of girls circled around the arena cheering for their favorite team.
"Do your best, Kurumu!"
"You too, Dunois!"
"Hey, Rai!" Kurumu called to him. "How does it feel having a beach full of girls watch you lose?"
"I pictured them to be older…" Rai replied. "…and with beer." Shizune readied her serve.
"They call me the Summer Devil of July!" She boasted. "Behold my power! HYA!"
POW!
She launched it to the left corner.
"I got it!" Charlotte assured. She dove at it.
PLOP!
The ball lobbed into the air.
"Atta girl!" Rai praised. He jumped for a spike.
POW!
The ball went flying at Honne. She panicked as to how to counterattack.
"Wawawawawa!" She stretched her arm out and closed her eyes.
Plop!
The ball bounced back into the air. "Hey, I did it!" Kurumu ran in for a supreme spike.
"Don't blink!" She slapped the ball while flying.
BAM!
The ball shot down in Laura's direction.
"…Cute…" Laura fantasized. "…I can't believe he called me cute…"
"Laura!" Rai shouted. "Look alive!"
DOOSH!
The ball made contact to her face. She fell on her back.
"You okay?" Rai asked.
"Can you speak?" Charlotte examined.
"C…Cute…" Laura repeated while smiling. "He said…I'm cute…" She grinned in her unconscious state.
"Are you still embarrassed about that?" Rai checked on her.
"Are you alright, Laura?" He asked. Laura noticed Rai approaching and flustered.
"KYAAAA!" She immediately got up and ran into the ocean.
SPLASH!
She disappeared.
"…Well, she's out."
"Should we go after her?" Ichika intervened.
"Oh, I think we should leave her alone," Charlotte suggested. One of the teachers came in with her yellow swimsuit.
"Oooo, who brought the volleyball?" Ms. Yamada smiled. "That looks like fun!"
"Would you like to play with us, teacher?"
"Sure!" She turned to her superior approaching from behind. "Want to give the kids a shot, Ms. Orimura?" Chifuyu displayed her velvet black bikini. She wore a garter over her left thigh and a pair of sunglasses that danged on her bikini top. Her long hair expanded as it was unkempt and loose. The girls were all excited as to see their teacher look amazing.
"Ms. Orimura looks like a model!" Honne praised her.
"She's so cool!" Shizune added. "Here, Teacher, please substitute for me!"
"Sounds alright," Chifuyu agreed. "What the hell."
"Then, let's do it!" Ms. Yamada cheered. Ichika and Rai couldn't help but stare at the teacher's outfit and her splendid body tone.
"...Wow," Rai blinked.
"Um, guys..." Charlotte asked the boys. "Could it be that Ms. Orimura is your type?"
"What!?" Ichika flustered. "What are you saying!?"
"That is quite the different reaction from when we showed you our swimsuits!"
"...No comment," Rai inserted.
"Sacrebleu, there sure are a lot of rivals." Charlotte pouted. "Now I must compete with Ms. Orimura on top of all that?"
"No kidding," Ichika explained. "Chifuyu is a major, badass volleyball player!"
"Ichika..." She sighed. "You probably got the wrong idea." Yami stood outside the field and raised her hand.
"...Now serving!" She called out.
"Pikachu!" Jolt held the score cards. Chifuyu launched the first hit.
Evening
The day came to a close with the students enjoying their stay at the local inn. It was a traditional Japanese hostel complete with a decorative interior and cultural exterior. With preparations complete, everyone gathered in the dining room wearing the same kimono consisting of a white robe with a purple sash around their waist. Bearing over that was a blue shroud over their robe. The hall was split in half where students ate on the floor kneeling on pillow seats while the others sat on chairs at the table. Kurumu sat beside Rai and Laura at the table as to Yami sitting across from Charlotte with Ichika and Cecilia on the floor. Yami dunked the pink meat into the soy sauce and bit down. Also for tonight's main course: a plate of salmon and sushi on the left, a small pail with vegetables on the right, and smaller dishes like soy sauce, wasabi, rice, and Odon.
"…It's good," she complimented the meal. Jolt chugged down on the cup of green tea. His robe was more suited for his small body.
"Pika!" He cried. Ichika did the same with his food.
"Fresh wasabi's great!" He proclaimed. "It's the real deal!"
"The real deal…?" Charlotte asked. She stared at her plate with the small, green spatter. She took a bite of the whole piece. "…!" She dropped her chopsticks and covered her nose. The intense bitterness flushed out from her mouth and nostrils.
"H…Hey there." Ichika noticed her antic. "How are you doing, Charlotte?"
"I feel okay…" She answered solemnly. "It was particularly flavorful and delicious…"
"Oh man…" He handed her a cup of tea to drown out the taste. "I thought you knew better than to do something like that."
"BLEEEECCCKKKK!" Rai shouted across the room. Ichika and Charlotte turned in his direction. "I can't seel ry rongue!"
"Are you crazy?" Kurumu asked. "Couldn't you tell that was wasabi?"
"I thought ith waz guacaroi!"
"Then again…" Ichika and Charlotte sweat dropped. He then heard Cecilia fighting in her seat close by. She wiggled to sit on her feet. "Are you feeling alright? If you can't kneel for a long time, you should move to a table instead."
"I'm quite alright!" Cecilia assured. And compared to the effort it took me to secure this place, this is nothing!
"This place?" He overheard her monologue.
"Uh, no! It's nothing at all! Honestly!" She laughed without worry. Meanwhile, Laura looked over to Rai and Kurumu returning to their meal.
"Ms. Kurono?" Kurumu turned to her. Rai gobbled a large piece of fish. "Exactly, what is your relationship with Raimundo Ortega?"
"!?" Rai and Kurumu flinched from her statement. Rai pounded his chest before he could choke on his dinner.
"O-Our relationship!?" Kurumu stuttered. The other girls around them eased in on her response. "Like I'd be with some grease monkey who spends his days fixing junk!"
"…Gee, thanks." Rai said in sarcasm. "…Now that I think about it…" He paused. "…You didn't want anything to do with me when we first met. But now, you're pretty much my partner-in-crime like Jolt. Why did you have a change of heart?" Kurumu panicked while making her claim.
"W-Well, it should be obvious. Do you honestly think I would leave saving the world to you?"
"I see…" Laura analyzed. "Then, you are together merely as comrades to carry out an objective until it is successful."
"Exactly!"
"…In a way, yeah," Rai agreed.
"Saving the world?" A student asked.
"Are you guys, like, superheroes?"
"Is that why Kurumu and Yami can do those cool moves?"
Gossip started spreading.
SLAM!
The door swung open.
"For the love of god!" Chifuyu interrupted. "WHY CAN'T YOU ALL EAT YOUR FOOD IN SILENCE!?" She turned to the boys. "Orimura, Ortega! Quite making such a racket! Calm it down, will ya?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Ichika replied. "Calming it down, pronto!"
"Can do," Rai added. She left the room. The girls let out a sigh of relief.
"Sorry about that, Cecilia." Ichika apologized earnestly. "Looks like you'll have to eat the food yourself." Ichika noticed the pout Cecilia gave him. He came up with an idea. "In exchange, why don't you come by my room later tonight?" Cecilia blushed from his bold idea.
"Come to your room…?" She asked. "Ichika, could you possibly mean…!"
Honne, Shizune, and Kiyoka were moping in their guest room.
"Aww," Shizune mumbled. "Geez, and after we got things ready, we would be able to play with Orimura." Resting on the table were The Game of Life, UNNO, and a deck of playing cards.
"He's sharing a room with Raimundo, isn't he?" Kiyoka asked.
"Yeah, but the teacher is checking on them every few minutes."
"What a disappointment." They sighed. Shizune stared at the desk once more.
"…Didn't we have another game?" On the other side of the room, they noticed Cecilia in a bright mood. She hummed while organizing her robe.
It's a good thing I was prepared for this situation, Cecilia smiled. Just in case… Honne crawled from behind and looked up at Cecilia.
"Oh wow!" She exclaimed with bright eyes. "CC's wearing some naughty undies!" Cecilia became shocked the minute her secret got out. Shizune and Kiyoka readied their hands to confirm with their own fingers.
"Is she?" Shizune asked. "Let's strip her and see it!"
"Peel it off!" Kiyoka agreed. "Peel it all off!" They charged at her. Each girl grabbed a piece of her robe to remove.
Thud!
"Hey!" Cecilia cried. "Stop it! Cut it out!"
Thump!
Her robe came undone.
"Holy cow!" Shizune blinked. "It's French-black lace with no underwire!" Cecilia sat on the floor embarrassed with her robe open.
"Is that what they call provocative underwear?" Kiyoka questioned.
"Yeah, and she pulls it off well, too!"
"OOO LALA~!" All three shouted. "CECILIA IS SO NAUGHTY~!" Cecilia pulled her kimono over.
"I…I am not!" She answered with wide eyes. She turned away. "It's a…merely a young lady's personal preference. THAT'S RIGHT! IT'S A PERSONAL PREFERENCE!"
…
After escaping the girls' clutches, Cecilia limped through the outside halls of the inn.
"That ordeal was simply beastly," she spoke to herself. "But now, finally, I get to see Ichika! So, it's all worth it!" When she made the next corner, six girls were already standing outside the boys' room. They had their ear close to the door. "...What is going on here?"
"Shhhh!" Rin hissed. Kurumu pointed to the door. A paper was taped to the screen.
[Raimundo Ortega]
[Ichika Orimura]
"Come on," Rai advised. "Just a little more!"
"I don't know, Raimundo," Ichika disagreed. "I haven't done this in a while." The girls listened closely as they heard them shuffling.
"Hey, hey! Watch the legs!"
"Okay, okay. How about here?" Yami inched closer toward the screen.
"Yeah, right through there." Laura's face grew red. "Too low! Too low!"
"It should fit though."
"Oh my goodness!" Cecilia flustered. "What in heaven's name is going on in there!?" She paused. Her curiosity got the best of her as she threw her ear towards the door.
"Ow!" Rai mentioned as the pain intensified. "Ow! OW! OWW! OWWW!"
CRACK!
The door snapped. The girls toppled forward and burst into the bedroom. They looked up at the complicated scene.
"…Pika?" Jolt blinked. He held the panel in his hands. Rai and Ichika both stared at the girls while tangled in their game. Rai was bent over like he was ready to perform a low sweep. Ichika was hunched like a turtle with his right hand over Rai's arm and his left hand under Rai's right leg.
"…Uh…" Ichika stared at them.
"See," said Rai. "Told you I could do it."
"I see you have guests…" Chifuyu appeared behind the eavesdroppers.
...
The girls lined up in a row on the floor. From left to right, it went as followed: Cecilia, Kurumu, Houki, Laura, Charlotte, Yami, and Rin. Rai and Jolt sat on the ground with their legs crossed. Ichika and Chifuyu were in their wooden recliners.
"Okay, idiots," Chifuyu crossed her legs. "What was so interesting about two men playing Twisted, hmm?"
"Oh!" Charlotte spoke first. "You two were just playing a game."
"Ja," Laura added. "That's not what we thought at all."
"What did you think we were doing?" Ichika asked. Yami decided to explain.
"It might have been—"
Swish!
All the girls covered her mouth.
"Nope!" Kurumu chuckled weakly. "Nothing!"
"Yes!" Houki added. "We weren't thinking at all!"
"Believe it or not," Chifuyu added. "Raimundo is actually double-jointed."
"He is?" Charlotte said with interest.
"I didn't know that!" added Kurumu.
"Yeah, but it ain't much," explained Rai. "They wanted me to show it off, so we used the game." Rai bent his left wrist until his palm touched his triceps.
"Oh my…!" Cecilia gasped.
"No way!" Houki said with grimace. Rin held in her dinner while Rai twisted his hand 180 degrees.
"Since you're all here, why don't we have some fun?" Chifuyu suggested. "Why not have Rai and Cecilia go a round?"
"I…I'm going first?" Cecilia panicked.
"Sure, I'm game," Rai approved. He and Cecilia moved to the polka-dot mat. There were four rows of color tones: red, blue, green, and yellow. There were six of each color; totaling in 24 dots on the mat. They stood in the center waiting for directions. Houki grabbed the panel and spun the needle. It rotated until it stopped.
"…Right foot: green," Houki drilled. They placed their foot on a green dot.
"Well, this is quite simple!" Cecilia assumed.
"Oh, we're just getting started," Ichika noted. Kurumu spun the wheel next.
"…Right hand: yellow!" She announced. They placed their hand on the next dot.
20 minutes later…
The others watched Rai and Cecilia push their limits. They both had their right hand and foot on green, and their left hand and foot on yellow. In order to pull this off, Cecilia had to stand on all fours. Rai, on the other hand, had his arms and legs crossed like he was doing a crabwalk. The catch was having Cecilia's lower half hover above Rai's head. They trembled to keep their positions in check.
"It looks like it's gonna be close," Rin guessed. Laura and Charlotte inspected Rai as he avoided having Cecilia's butt in his face.
"Ready...to... surrender?" Cecilia uttered. Her stance was shaking and her teeth grit to keep her balance.
"I'm still good," Rai assured. When he looked up, his head accidentally lifted the skirt. His eyes widened as he had a close view from behind. "Cecilia...I wouldn't move if I were you."
"Why? What happened!?" Chifuyu walked over and lifted her kimono. "Kyaaa!"
"My, how precocious," Chifuyu acknowledged her choice of lingerie. "These are really too mature for you. Nice shade of black, though."
"M...M…Ma'am, please let go!" Cecilia begged.
"What? Didn't expect your elude fifteen-year-old desires to be expressed to your teacher~?" Cecilia was on the verge of tears.
"I…I…"
THUD!
Rai fell on his back.
"You win…" He declared. "I am bested." Rai rolled back over to Jolt and Ichika.
"Good call," Ichika approved. Rai gave a thumb up.
"I'm just joking, dear," Chifuyu teased. She turned to the boys. "Hey, guys, why don't you buy us some drinks."
"No problem," Rai nodded. He stood and patted Ichika on the back. "Come on, give me a hand."
"Uh, okay." Ichika agreed. The two left the room. The girls cleaned the game and settled in a circle with Chifuyu.
"Okay, girls," She started up. "What's with the dead fish expressions?" The girls looked at one another.
"Well, um…" Houki stuttered.
"You see, ma'am," Charlotte retorted. "This is the first time we have ever spoken to you in this way,"
"Besides you having to cram school work down our throats..." Kurumu added. The rest froze in fear at her daring statement. Chifuyu popped open her beer can.
"…Okay," she replied. "…We're finally getting down to the nitty-gritty, huh?" She grinned. Chifuyu chugged her drink. She sighed at the refreshing taste. "So…what do you girls even see in them?" The girls were taken back. "I mean, my brother has his uses, to be sure. For example, he's good at cleaning, cooking, housekeeping, and he gives fantastic massages. Raimundo seems like a mature person for his age; being able to pick up on skills quickly and isn't afraid to get down and dirty. Any girl would be lucky with one or the other. With that said, my brother comes at a price!"
"He's for sale!?" Cecilia, Rin, and Houki shouted.
"No, you fools." Chifuyu smiled. The girls were disappointed. "Listen, if you're real women, you've got to be willing to do whatever it takes to nuke your rivals. Get with the program, kiddos." She finished her beer. "However…" The girls eased in. "As for Rai, well…" She winked. "You'll have to nab him on your own." Laura and Charlotte nodded. Yami looked down unsure of what to say. Kurumu simply patted Jolt's head.
"Pikachu!"
...
Everyone turned in for the night. Houki travelled through the halls until she stopped to look at the night sky. She leaned beside the support beam while thinking to herself.
"…Shinonono," Yami spoke out. Houki turned to the blonde girl behind her.
"Oh, it's you, Yami…" She greeted her. Yami walked over. They both gazed toward the stars.
"You couldn't sleep…?"
"No…That is…"
"…Is it about your sister?"
"How did you…?" Yami continued staring at the sky while Houki looked at her.
"…I apologize, but I overheard you back at the academy. You talked about receiving your own unit like everyone else." She turned to Houki. "Are you not on good terms with her…?" Houki clenched her fist near her chest.
"…You could say…she has changed a lot. But, I will never understand her…" Houki viewed back at the sky, remembering the days as a young girl. "Ever since she developed the IS, we, her family, were placed under national custody and observation in order to avoid being used by other countries for military purposes. We had to move so many times…we became so distant that we decided to separate…" She frowned. "Because of her, I had to separate from Ichika…and I hated her for that." Houki pressed her hand on the support beam. "…Do you know what it's like? To be separated from everyone you care about?" Yami remained silent.
"…I don't." Houki grinned.
"I thought so…"
"…I have no family." Houki was stunned by her statement. "…I've always voyaged across the galaxy with no one else. I relied on my own instincts and learned nothing more than being a weapon designed to capture its prey." She stared at the small pond glistening in the moonlight. "But…there are those who seem to care more about me, even if they have no purpose in doing so. They've taught me what it's like to be human and to not be afraid of showing emotions." Yami let out a quiet smile. "…There might be others who worry about you whether you know it or not." Houki nodded.
"Yeah…" But…for me, right now…I need strength...
Morning
Rai was the first one awake. He left the bedroom and went down to the dining hall for breakfast. In the outside corridor, he noticed Houki staring down at the ground.
"Houki?" He called. Rai walked up behind her and immediately noticed her attention grabber. Two robot-bunny ears erected out from the dirt. Behind them was a wooden sign.
[Please Pull~!]
"…Are you gonna do it?"
"…" Houki stood up. "Sometimes, it's better just not to know." She walked off toward the dining hall. Rai observed the opportunity. Ichika came by.
"Hey, Rai," He greeted him. "What's going on?"
"...We're about to find out." Rai bent down and grabbed the ears. "One…Two…" He tugged. "Three!"
Ploop!
The ears popped out of the ground.
Thump!
Rai fell on his end. Cecilia and Kurumu walked in on them.
"What exactly are you doing?" Cecilia asked. Rai heard the sound of something falling.
"…Crap."
BOOM!
The impact caused a storm of dirt to fly in every direction.
"The hell was that!?" Kurumu shouted. The clouds cleared revealing a giant-metallic carrot.
"Hahahaha~!" Laughter came from inside the steel vegetable.
PSHHHH!
The carrot split down the middle and opened. Kurumu had her claws ready while Ichika and Cecilia stepped back. A woman stepped out of the smoking pod and gave a double-piece sign to Rai.
"He fell for it, Ikkun!" Tabane giggled. "Yay, yay!"
"Uh," Rai blinked. "…What's up, doc?" Ichika finally recognized the girl with the bunny ears and odd dress.
"It sure has been a long time," he replied. "Hasn't it, Tabane?"
"Long time, no see!" She hopped over to Ichika. "A really long time! So, Ikkun, where did little Houki go?"
"You just missed her," Rai answered.
"That's okay!" Tabane pulled out two dowsing rods in the shape of her bunny ears. "I'll find her soon with this Houki tracking device I just invented! Alright, Ikkun, I'll see ya later!" She went running while waving good-bye to her spectators.
"…That girl is way weird," Kurumu assumed.
"What gave that away?" Rai asked. "The carrot or the rabbit ears?"
"Ichika…" Cecilia interrupted. "Who was that strange person just now?"
"That's Tabane Shinonono." He clarified. "…Houki's big sister."
On the other side of the island, a waterfall ran down a cliff into the ocean. Standing near the base were the students with personal IS units along with Rai, Kurumu, Yami, and Jolt in IS training spandex. The teacher stood before the students in her work-out outfit.
"As you can see," Chifuyu lectured. "Everyone with a personal unit has been assembled here."
"Um, just a minute, ma'am," Rin intervened. "Houki doesn't have her own unit, does she?"
"And the same can be said for the others, no?" Charlotte added.
"…This is true," Yami agreed.
"Well…" Houki stuttered.
"It's all right," Chifuyu assured. "Allow me to explain everything. You see, the reason they're here is …"
"COWABUNGAAAA!" Her speech was cut short when Tabane started surfing along the side of the rocky hill. With a simple jump, she went flying into the air and descended down on Chifuyu. "CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!" Chifuyu grabbed Tabane by the forehead in one swift motion. "Hello, hello, hello~! I missed you, Chi-chan! Let's hug and confirm our love for each other, right away~!" She struggled to hold on to Chifuyu. The others watched with bizarre stares.
"Shut up, Tabane…" Chifuyu ordered. She continued using her death grip on Tabane's head.
"Using the unforgiving iron claw as always, aren't ya?" Chifuyu released her hold. Tabane quickly dashed behind a small rock to see her sister hiding. "Ta-daa! Hi there!"
"Yes, hello…" Houki replied.
"It's been a while, hasn't it? How many years has it been? I can't believe how much bigger you've gotten, little sister!" Tabane shrewdly inched towards Houki. "Especially your boobies…"
WHACK!
Houki launched her sister away with a training sword to the face.
"I will so hit you!" Houki guaranteed.
"Owie!" Tabane rubbed her head. "Say that afterwards! That's so cruel! She's a real dominatrix, isn't she, Ikkun?"
"Um…well…" Ichika didn't know how to answer.
The longer I stay here, the more I start to question Japanese animation, Rai thought to himself.
"You know, Tabane," Chifuyu conjectured. "You should at least introduce yourself."
"Ugh!" Tabane whined. "That's such a pain!" She stood before the students. She twirled and smiled brightly. "Hi, everybody! I'm Tabane, the genius. Hello! That's all..." Her intro was very brief.
"You're…Tabane…?" Rin asked.
"As in Tabane, the brilliant scientist who invented the IS units?" Charlotte added.
"Thee Tabane Shinonono?" Laura claimed. A twinkle came from Tabane's eye.
"Now, everyone!" She pointed to the sky. "Look up to the heavens!" Everyone watched as three falling objects came crashing down near the group.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three large diamonds landed without the massive impact like before. "Da—Dada—Da—Da—Da—Da—Dum!" With one click of her remote, the diamonds opened up and evaporated. They exposed three separate IS units. "Tabane's newest creations! These ultimate IS units surpass the specs of all present IS in every way, and they're all handmade by me, Tabane!" Rai noticed the other units.
"Are these…?" Rai questioned.
"Well," Chifuyu finally got around to explaining. "It became apparent to me that you have a knack for breaking almost every unit you borrow. So, I thought she might as well have one made so you can break your own for a change." Rai, Kurumu, Yami, and Jolt stared at what could possibly be their personal IS units.
The guards took their posts in front of the chamber. Behind the bolted door was a bedroom with steel flooring and grated walls. The lamps brightened the room from the tabletops near the king-sized cot with white and floral patterns scattered across the sheets. The green, oval window displayed a view of outer space with thousands upon thousands of stars glittering in the black void. The princess stared out the glass into the endless night.
"…Lala-sama…" Peke whispered. Her expression remained melancholy. She gripped her arm in fear.
Clank!
A rattling echoed from the ventilation system.
Clank!
Lala turned to the air duct.
Clank!
"Huh?"
Ka-Clank!
The grate spewed out green vines. The plant continued to grow until the creepers stretched out over her bed.
"H…He…lo…" A voice resonated from the blooming sunflower. "Hello…Onee-sama?" Lala recognized the voice.
"Momo…?"
"Onee-sama! Thank goodness!" A screen appeared in the center of the sunflower. On the other side was Momo and Nana staring back at their older sister.
"Are you okay, Sis?" Nana asked.
"I'm okay," Lala assured.
"Momo-sama," Peke interested, "How did you manage to grow a telekinetic hyper sunflower without your D-dial?"
"I kept some seeds stored away in my dress!" Momo answered.
"We have to get out of here!" Nana exclaimed to the girls. "We can take these guards out with no problem!"
"We can't leave without Papa and Zastin!" Lala rebutted.
"There isn't much we can do right now, Nana-san," Momo reasoned. "As long as that man is disguised as father, no one will go against his order. More importantly, we don't know what he will do to them if we go against him." Peke shivered in fear, but saw down at Lala who was now stuck in a depressed disposition. She gathered her courage.
"Lala-sama!" She announced. "I will bring Yami-san to our aid!"
"Eh?" Lala looked up at her hat. "You will?"
"Leave it to me!"
Flash!
Peke exited from dress-form and floated near the plant. "Momo-sama, we will need to execute a rescue plan. I must return to Earth and find Yami-san at once!"
"...Okay," Momo nodded.
...
The little machine began climbing through the ducts. Peke searched until he came across another vent below her. The view displayed the docking bay with no more than a few soldiers on guard. She removed the grate and slowly levitated over to the nearest space carrier for departure.
Stomp!
A pair of guards marched in Peke's path.
"…" They stared at the little machine.
"…Erm." Peke acted casual. "If you'll excuse me, I must be on my way." The guards didn't move. "This is an order by the assistant to Princess Lala of Deviluke!"
Stomp!
The guards stepped closer to the small robot. "...Please?" The guards exposed their eyes beneath their helmets. Each socket released a glowing red glare at the helpless machine. Peke quivered. One of the guard's arms shot out a massive black pillar. Peke swooped back avoiding the hit.
BAM!
His arm extended outward and impaled the ceiling. "EEEEP!" Peke flew in the opposite direction just before the exit.
Whoosh!
The doors opened to three more guards blocking the way. "This does not bode well!" Peke panicked. She rushed into a dead end. The steel door behind her remained shut. A soldier grabbed Peke by the throat and shoved her against the door. The other arm sheathed itself into a razor pike. "Oh no!" Peke flailed about demanding an escape. Her foot kicked the green button on the wall.
Whoosh!
The door opened. Peke rolled on her back and entered the compact room. She activated the panel inside and closed the door. She tampered with the buttons in the correct sequence.
[-Initiating Emergency Evacuation Release-]
Boom! Boom!
The guards continued bashing against the door. Large dents formed from the outside.
[-Input Galactic Coordinates-]
Peke typed as fast she could.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
[-Access Approved-]
[-Preparing to Disembark-]
The pod released pressure as it separated from the main ship. Peke drifted into the emptiness of space to begin her journey back to earth.
-To Be Continued-
Kiyoka: Gosh, where have you been this whole time!?
Let's just say that February was probably one of the unluckiest months I have ever had.
Honne: Really? What happened to you?
I got sick with that flu going around.
Shizune: They say staying in bed and getting some rest always helps!
Yeah, but I got tonsillitis afterward.
Kiyoka: …But it got better, right?
I got in a car accident...TWICE!
Honne: Did anyone get hurt?
Thankfully, nope.
Shizune: Well, at least everything worked out in the end.
…Before I forget, all rights reserved and characters and material used in this story all belong to their respective owner's. Be sure to comment and review on my progress! (I should really do something like updates...)
Next Chapter: My name is...
Shizune: At least things can't get any worse!
Honne: Yeah, you gotta do your best to the very end!
Did I forget to mention my bank account got hacked?