Hello, everyone! One Half here! Today's a nice Friday, and it seems like a good time for an update for my story! This is a purely social/world-building chapter, which is very important for the future of the story. Take your time reading it.

A spoiler warning: even though a lot of things have been changed, this chapter still contains spoilers for Volumes 11 and 12 of an original LN.

Now, for the reviewers:

Darkkon27: Are you sure you don't want to read an original LN first? It's disappointing in many regards, but still…

Imperial-samaB: Thanks, see you soon again!

codywhite162: Many thanks, here's an update!

Draaxe12: That we'll see somewhere about the Volume 11

Dredgon: As it was said – since this type of interaction does require a Second-Shifted I.S. – that phenomenon hasn't been researched at all. But, hypothetically, if the teachers (or whomever) will be outright telling to the students that their bond with an I.S. may take a form of a double dildo, the number of girls wishing to become an I.S. pilot may significantly drop down...

Guest: Yes, we have and we will xD

meryfcuckery: No, Ichika won't be involved with other women beside the declared pairing + Astarte. And don't get things too literally, Natasha, for example, wasn;t involved with anyone as her I.S. didn't perform a second shift properly.

Now, let's proceed, and please, don't complain about clichés – they're not mine, as, again, this chapter contains spoilers.

Chapter XXXII – Resurrection

…

November 24th, Friday, 10:58 P.M.

"Damn… I've got too carried away…" Ichika complied (apparently, to himself). "Ugh…" He moaned somewhat painfully, stretching his back and limbs. "I think I also need a metallic spine…" He shook his head, though, that was a joke (probably).

The thing is – after he's gotten done with his duties in the academy at Thursday, Ichika went straight to the 'secret sanctuary' of his, and began working with his I.S. frame, continuing to examine her systems. And he got so carried away that he didn't even notice how much time has actually passed. He's been working for almost 27 hours straight, only making some short breaks… "Astarte, couldn't you warn me?" He addressed his A.C. assistant.

'M… my apologizes, Adonai…' She apologized humbly, 'I didn't notice myself…'

Since Ichika didn't give her a direct order – she wasn't paying attention to how much time has actually passed since they've started working. No matter how alive she seems in her own I.S. core's world – but in a physical world she has no body, as such – she can't get tired. "Don't apologize, it was just a joke – there is none of your fault in that," Ichika commanded her. "You've had your own order to carry out, and you did very well," He added as he made several steps forth. While Ichika was busy, looking through the tens of thousands of formulas and millions of variables (literally), Astarte was controlling almost a hundred of those bumblebee-like drones, which can materialize objects using the digital construction method. Battle Goddess's own reactor was powering up those drones now, by the way. Ichika has simply sent a blueprint to Astarte, and she used the drones to replicate a required part in the real world, with a perfect precision.

"If anything – I'm the one, who should be apologizing, for asking you to do things, which an I.S. definitely isn't obliged to do," He waved his arm around.

'Adonai, what are you saying?!' She exclaimed in reply, 'That's my greatest honor to be able to assist you in an any way I can!'

"Yeah, yeah," Ichika waved her off – he's heard such proclamations a hundred times already. "Well, not that I'm just exploiting you for free – I'm paying you with my body, after all, even though with a virtual one," He added, teasing his cyberworld-girlfriend.

'Adonai!' She exclaimed in embarrassment (just like a real girl would've…) 'I'm not… that…' She didn't find it in herself to say what she just wanted to say, because it would've been a foolish and obvious lie – of course she wanted Ichika to visit her world again, and again, and again… and not to just visit, but to once again do what they were doing a couple of nights ago.

Ichika ignored her needless attempts to justify herself as he approached the operating table. The metallic component, at which Astarte was working, was lying there. "Excellent," He nodded to himself and swept his fingers over the metallic part. Emanating a sheaf of the bluish square particles, it disappeared from the table and reappeared on the rack, at the chamber's wall, near the three other, same-kind-looking parts. By the way, all those parts seemed like an I.S. frame's parts…

Lights in the chamber got turned off and Ichika headed straight home, but not before he has thrown the last, somewhat accusing, sight at the blue-haired girl, which was floating inside of a glassy cistern, filled with the glowing, greenish liquid, 'What a laborious girl you are…'

Since calling the car at this time of the day (night) would've been quite an impractical decision, Ichika used the partial deployment of his I.S. to quickly get home. He couldn't use a full deployment as in that state the Battle Goddess Astarte is too noticeable due to a vast amount of a glowing Fold-Out Armor, and Ichika couldn't use his I.S. without a real reason, as he would've been setting a bad example.

'Adonai,' Astarte addressed her pilot just when Ichika entered his and Chifuyu's house, 'The new frame you're working on, that is an engagement gift for a woman you've chosen as an official spouse for yourself?'

"Yes," Ichika replied, as he couldn't understand why's she asking, since she perfectly knows that already.

'But where from you're going to get a core for the new frame?' She wondered.

"Ah, it's good that you've asked," Ichika smiled for some reason. "Tomorrow, we're going to continue our today's work, but at Sunday… prepare your voice," Ichika's wicked smile became wider, "There is a certain secret research center, the employees of which are definitely overworking themselves. They definitely need to listen to your calming song and take a good nap…" Ichika's voice became serious, "I really didn't want to rob any Japanese facilities for now, but since that new I.S. will be piloted by a member of Sarashiki, especially since she's a current head of the clan, this plan will work just nicely. It's time to save and re-awake another little sister of yours," He announced.

"As you wish!" Astarte reported – she was always prepared to execute an any order from her master.

The last weekend has passed relatively normally. Ichika has 'visited' a secret R&D facility, and managed to acquire an inert I.S. core, and copy their research databases. Though, sadly, he didn't find anything interested in those databases. But still – he got the I.S. core he needed in the first place.

As for the facility that Ichika raided – that was an Ōjōmoku (奥静目) Technological Institute – officially they were studying the effects of a prolonged I.S. piloting on the pilot's body. To maintain that façade, they were even given a real I.S. core – № 003. That core actually was inert for almost seven years – being one of the first cores, given to the humanity, that one has 'participated' in the countless experiments. No wonder that one of them has finally ended up in a major failure, with several people dying and all like that, and the core went into a slumber. Of course, no one admitted that the core went into a slumber, only a selected few now knows that the core is inert. The experiment was entirely different, but an outcome was almost the same as with the US Navy's 'Pearl Tear' project. Well, around the globe, there are about a dozen of dormant/inert I.S. cores, so that situation wasn't really unique.

Returning to the Ōjōmoku Technological Institute case – they were given an inert I.S. core, though they weren't trying to actually study or reawake it. As it was said – they only needed the core to maintain a façade, and giving them an inert core (under the pretense that it is actually an active core) was just a much smaller price to pay, in comparison with an actually active I.S. core, which could be really used for an I.S. development, or for a national defense. The real task that the Ōjōmoku Technological Institute is performing – they're operating a 'Seeker IV' equipment. That is a hardware-software complex, the main task of which is to watch and intercept the information flows all around the globe. Then all the gathered information is being screened and analyzed here. The Ōjōmoku Technological Institute owners, are, of course, somewhat interested in the I.S.-related tech and other stuff, but the main target of the Ōjōmoku Technological Institute is the information, regarding current and potential enemies of Japan, the Phantom Task, in particular.

As such, it shouldn't be surprising that the Ōjōmoku Technological Institute is backed by, and, in some sense, belongs to clan Sarashiki. This is why Ichika was acting around those guys with discretion – they are the enemies of his enemies, after all. He just put all of those guys to sleep, entered the facility, took the core (whilst Astarte did copy their databases, without interfering with the Institute network's activity), and left. Ichika even bothered to prepare a fake I.S. core as a replacement – that was a very high-quality fake, and since those guys actually doesn't study anything regarding that core – it will take years for them to notice that it is a counterfeit one.

At the evening of the same day, Ichika actually got a pleasant surprise – Chufuyu has come home. Was that due to her lust finally outweighing her sense of responsibility, of she really got a bit of free time – that wasn't matter – what was matter is that half of that night Ichika and Chifuyu were drowning in depravity and lust.

The Monday and Tuesday were completely unremarkable, but now, at the Wednesday's morning, an important event has happened. The revitalization of Tatenashi's tissues and organs has been completed – there were no longer need for her to stay inside of a cistern with a nanodrones-filled liquid. As such, about an hour ago, as he made sure that her organism can sustain its vital functions without machines' assistance, Ichika relocated her to the I.S. Academy's sickbay. Physiologically she's almost recovered, and here it will be easier for her to recover mentally, for instance, because Tatenashi's friends and her dear little sister will finally be able to visit her.

November 29th, Wednesday, 8:02 A.M.

Tatenashi's consciousness was still in slumber. It was quiet and warm in here, wherever she is, and she just wanted to stay like that. Though, it wasn't completely silent in here, she actually could hear some quiet voices coming from somewhere nearby.

"How's she doing?" A female's voice asked.

"She should wake up in about ten or so minutes," A male's voice replied.

"Understood," A woman said. "Alright, I need to go and prepare for the lessons, stay with her for now, will you?"

"Of course," A man agreed and there could be heard a sound of someone, wearing high heels, walking away.

Tatenashi has recognized both of those voices – those were Orimura siblings talking – Orimura Chifuyu-sensei and her younger brother (and, apparently, Tatenashi's fiancé) – Orimura Ichika. And just as she's recognized Ichika's voice – she remembered something else – a dream she had while she was sleeping… or, rather, a horrible nightmare. She saw herself, disassembled to spare parts, inside of an aliens' laboratory, and an alien-in-charge in there, for some reason, seemed just like Ichika…

'That's it!' She decided, 'No more alien movies!' She wasn't a nerd or something, but she liked the western sci-fi series, like the 'Star Gate' or a 'Battlestar Galactica', and now, apparently, it backfired at her.

A bed, on which Tatenashi was lying, slightly creaked – apparently, someone heavy just sat on her bed, right beside her.

"You're so cute when not spouting nonsense," Ichika's voice noted as Tatenashi felt that he gently swept his fingers over her forehead. That felt nice, but also embarrassing, as the girl's cardiac rhythm started to increase, and her consciousness has begun to slowly clear up.

"Ugh! So bright!" A girl moaned somewhat painfully as she covered her eyes from the bright light when her vision has started to restore, though, in fact, she wasn't feeling any pain in her eyes.

"Your ocular implants are probably in the night vision mode right now, switch them to normal mode. Use your imagination to control them, in the same manner you're controlling an I.S.," Ichika advised.

"Okay… I'll try…" Tatenashi replied as she shook her head slightly… and in the next moment, she froze as if petrified.

The dumb show lasted for about minute. "Hey, are you alright in there?" Ichika asked as he snapped his fingers in front of Tatenashi's face several times. "How are the implants? Can you control them? I've tested them before the installation, so they're fine, just try to use your imagination," He told her again – he actually wanted to know if the implants he's installed are functioning properly.

However, when Tatenashi has turned her head slightly, Ichika realized that a problem lies not in her new implants' functioning. Even though her new eyes were artificial, Ichika easily recognized the plea in her sight. But he couldn't tell her what she wanted to hear, as well as he didn't want to – instead, he told her a pure and cruel truth (just as it usually is, in the most cases). "No, my dear, that wasn't a dream," Ichika smiled sarcastically, "You should be grown up enough by now to know that reality can be much more cruel than the most terrifying dreams…"

While Ichika was talking, Tatenashi's arms were involuntarily touching her neck, as if checking it – now, as Ichika confirmed that it wasn't just a nightmare, she just couldn't throw out of her mind an image of her own beheaded body, which was lying on the operation table. "And, I'd like to note, that this is the reality you've brought upon yourself," Ichika added. "So, tell me, do the ocular implants function properly?" He asked again.

Tatenashi nodded slowly. Even though she was totally freaked-out, somehow, she managed to switch her new 'eyes' to a normal mode, though, she was still seeing the world not as it was before (literally).

"Excellent," Ichika congratulated himself, "With this, I'm declaring a Tatenashi 2.0 project as a success."

In reply, the girl only looked at him with the dumb sight – she totally couldn't understand what is going on.

"Okay, listen to me here," Ichika spoke out as he sat a bit closer to Tatenashi. His tone has changed slightly – apparently, he decided to take mercy on her and stop speaking in riddles. "Ten days ago, engaging of a group of unknown terrorists, due to your foolish and needless attempt to capture the enemies alive, you've been mortally wounded. Your skull was fractured at three places. Your atlas and axis (the first and second cervical vertebrae) have gotten almost disjointed. Your eyeballs were destroyed and your ears were heavily damaged. You should've died, plain and simple. However, thanks to your abnormal durability, you've survived that blast and its consequences. Still, when I've found and recovered your body – you were an inch away from the grave. The rest you should be able to remember from your 'dream'," Ichika displayed the quotation marks with his fingers. And even though his words were cruel, Ichika gently pulled Tatenashi's head to himself, until her face got buried into his chest. A girl didn't try to resist. In a few moments, expectedly, she started to cry, but, well, making the women cry was one of Ichika's specialties.

"So, did you now realize that simple truth about yourself?" Ichika asked softly, stroking the girl's hair.

She leaned back, and looked straight into his face. Her own cute face was already tear-stained – her new eyes were artificial but her lacrimal glands remained intact. "Ichi... *sniff* …ka… I… I… I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" She cried out her true, sincere wish as she buried her face in Ichika's chest and began to sob, as her cute small palms clenched to his shoulders. Right now, she was pouring out (literally, in form of tears) all of her fears and grievances, which she was accumulating for years, probably since the moment she assumed the name Tatenashi, when she was only about twelve years old. All those emotions, perfectly hidden behind that 'mysterious lady' façade, now were flowing like a waterfall… right on Ichika's shirt.

"…good grief," He sighed. "Was it really necessary to actually die, to realize such a simple thing…" Ichika shook his head as he put his palms on the girl's hair, softly caressing her head.

November 29th, Wednesday, 9:03 A.M.

'Ah, women are so troublesome creatures…' Ichika was thinking, 'I could've spent this time to make a new I.S. for you, you know?' Though, he kept these thoughts to himself.

In the end, Tatenashi was sobbing for more than forty minutes. As she finally leaned off from Ichika, her face was tear-stained, and Ichika's shirt was soaking wet. "By the way, just so you'd know – this is my favorite shirt," Ichika noted with his eyes narrowed, "I'll add this to your already enormous debt…"

A girl just smiled weakly – she realized that Ichika's actually tries to cheer her up, in his own, specific way.

"You again have brought a girl to tears?" A reproaching voice sounded from the doorframe. That was Chifuyu again – she, apparently, left the rest of a Home Room Session to Maya and came to check on Tatenashi again.

"That's what I'm doing best, you know," Ichika joked (?) in reply. Tatenashi, who was still holding to Ichika's shoulders, has urgently unclenched her palms and hid her hands behind her back, as she flushed slightly. Ichika politely didn't mention that, actually, Chifuyu was standing there for about seven minutes already, waiting for Tatenashi to stop crying.

"Orimura-sensei!" Tatenashi exclaimed guiltily, "I'm… I'm very sorry for all the troubles I've caused… well, for everyone…" She bowed as low as she could, as she was sitting on the bed, in sincere apologize.

"I'm just glad to see you getting better," Chifuyu replied as she slightly shook her head. She didn't tell something like 'It was my fault in the first place – to send you all alone against the squad of real soldiers', because it would've only led to an endless cycle of the mutual apologizes. Instead, she addressed her brother, "What's with the ears piercing?" Obviously, Tatenashi couldn't have visited a piercing studio whilst she was in coma, so it definitely was Ichika's doing.

"That's the additional antennas, to ensure the acoustic implants' proper functioning," Ichika explained casually. The fact was – now Tatenashi's ears seemed as if she's a truest glamorous girl. She had the 15 pieces of metal 'installed' into each of her ear (with a full symmetry between both) – 'lobe piercing' (x2), upper lobe piercing, orbital conch piercing, snug piercing, helix piercing (x3, all three rings were connected between themselves with four chains), industrial piercing, forward helix piercing, rook piercing, daith piercing, inner conch piercing, tragus piercing and an anti-tragus piercing. All metallic elements – rings, half-rings, a barbell, or studs – each was containing one or two drop-shaped elements, and no jewelry at all – only a pure metal.

Before Chifuyu mentioned that – Tatenashi actually didn't notice anything, but now, she was touching her own ears in shock. Not that she had something against bemetalled women, but she herself never had even a standard lobe piercing – and now this?!

"This is a special terbium-dysprosium-palladium-gold alloy, so no need to worry about magnets or tomographs," Ichika noted, even though he perfectly knew that right now her worries are not about magnets at all. "Don't try to remove them, even during the bath time. If you lose even one – the entire antenna pattern will go to hell, not to mention that the each one of those micro-antennas has a price of a car. They have a self-cleaning function using the built-in ultrasonic emitters," He warned, "So keep your agile little fingers off of those."

"And like how I'm going to explain that to the others?!" Tatenashi asked with some panicky notes in her voice, which was quite uncharacteristic for her. Apparently, her physical recovery is going miles ahead of her psychological one – it'll take some time for Tatenashi to restore her mental balance.

"Try telling them that it's none of their busyness, for example," Ichika snorted. Tatenashi looked at him resentfully, Chifuyu just facepalmed. And of course, Ichika himself was well-aware that a girls' societies don't work like that, especially an all-girls, half-closed society like the I.S. Academy. Even something as trivial as a new swimsuit will become a topic for discussion, but here we're talking about not a common student, but about a student council president, who suddenly got about half a ton of metal in her ears.

'You could tell them the truth – that you're a fool who almost got herself killed and now you need all that metal to continue to live normally…' – that Ichika didn't say aloud.

"You've just thought about something very rude, have you?" Chifuyu asked with her eyes narrowed – apparently, she has 'heard' her brother's thought again. Ichika just ignored that input. "Haah…" Chifuyu sighed. Actually, she wanted to ask a few questions from Tatenashi, but, apparently, the poor girl has a lot on her mind right now. And Chifuyu has had no intentions to castigate Tatenashi for that situation with the 'unnamed' squad – she already got her load of punishment, obviously. "Alright, I need to go," Chifuyu said as she spun around on her heels, "Sarashiki-san, get better. And colonel, give her a mirror already," She added, as she has fully switched to the 'teacher' mode, and left the medbay.

"A mirror?" Tatenashi asked gingerly… "Is there… something else… wrong with me…"

"There is nothing 'wrong' with you," Ichika snorted as he stood up from the bed and walked to the closet nearby. "With your appearance, I mean," He clarified, picking up a twelve-inch mirror. "Don't listen to some boring people. If anything, I actually do like girls with piercing, consider it one of my fetishes," He admitted as if it's nothing special as he gave the mirror to the girl.

Tatenashi looked at Ichika ambiguously, but now she had more pressing concerns than discussing his tastes. She took the mirror and began to examine herself. Of course, the first things she did look at, were her ears. She was examining that intensive, 'glamorous' new piercing of hers for about two minutes, but then just sighed – apparently, there's nothing she can do about that. "But what's with my hair?" She inquired – they've become quite a bit longer – now they were reaching her shoulderblades.

"A side effect of a special nanogel I've applied to your skull," Ichika explained, "It was needed to revitalize the skull tissues, which I had to remove temporary." Tatenashi shuddered as she remembered the image of her own bare skull lying on the operation table. "I've trimmed your eyebrows but decided to leave your hair like that – consider that my whim – I prefer longer hair. And don't worry, your pubic hair wasn't affected," He added, and that remark immediately displaced the previous thought from Tatenashi's head.

"Ichika!" She screamed with an unusually hi-pitched voice as her cheeks immediately flushed.

"What?" Ichika asked skeptically. "You were lying on my operating table for about seventeen hours, without your head, so the time for getting embarrassed has long passed, don't you think?"

Tears again started to swell in the girl's eyes. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry, don't cry," Ichika quickly sat near the girl on her bed and gently wiped off her tears with his own handkerchief – he definitely went overboard with that mocking just now.

"Ichika," She addressed him as she suddenly grabbed his arm that was holding a handkerchief. "Are you really wish to marry me?" She asked very seriously.

"What's a foolish question is this?" Ichika frowned, "You think that is a joking matter?"

"Please answer!" She demanded somewhat desperately, staring straight to his eyes as her grip on his arm became much tighter.

"Haah…" Ichika sighed. "Of course I'm serious about marrying you, so stop insulting me by asking such a weird questions," He replied flatly.

Her grip on Ichika's arm eased a bit as tears once again has welled in her eyes, though, this time it was for a completely different reason. Ichika again wiped away her tears, "Seriously, what a troublesome girl you are. Do you really think that someone, as prudent as me, would've simply spent half a billion dollars' worth of equipment to heal and increase the survivability of some random girl?"

"This… *whimp* …trait of yours… *whimp* …doesn't make you look better…" She mumbled through tears, unable to hold back her joyful emotions.

"Apparently, it does, in your eyes, at least," Ichika teased his fiancée, "You're very strange girl, after all."

A girl just smiled, as she tried to stop crying. "If you're serious… then call me by my real name…" She requested, "…you're already know it, right?"

"As you wish, lady Katana Sarashiki," Ichika agreed, it was about time to start doing it, actually.

A girl's heart skipped a beat as she heard her name, her real name, being called by a man she loves. Besides, she really liked the sound of that, 'Lady Katana Sarashiki.' "Say it again," She demanded.

"Beautiful Katana Sarashiki," Ichika complied.

"Again!" She asked. Women fall in love through their ears, after all.

"My cute Katana-chan," Ichika said gently as he softly embraced her and pulled to himself. A girl realized what he wants to do and tried to resist, but that attempt was so weak that Ichika has recognized it as a 'green light', and in the next moment their lips met in a tender kiss. Though, despite her weak attempt to resist, Katana actually has acted quite daring for the first kiss (for her it really was the first one), as she swept her tongue over Ichika's lips, and when their lips parted, she had a satisfied smile on her face. Ichika, of course, decided to not ruin her mood, by telling her that he already has kissed about half a dozen of women before her.

"This is one of the things I like about you," Ichika commented on his (now official) girlfriend's face expression, "Be it bold or happy, mischievous or sad – your smile is always natural and sincere."

"Ichika!" A girl exclaimed as her cheeks immediately blushed, "Making such surprise attacks is so mean!" Ichika's sudden compliment made her happy but also very embarrassed.

"I know, but they also make you blush, and when blushing, you're becoming even more cute," He noted casually.

"Geez, stop it!" She tried to (girlishly) hit Ichika, but instead she got caught, as well as she got her second kiss being gently stolen from her. Her face now was beet-red and her heart was beating wildly. But Ichika hasn't done yet with making her blush.

"Sorry, we'll stop here for now – the current time and place don't fit an atmosphere I'd like to have for our first sex," He 'announced'.

Katana desperately looked towards the nearest window.

"Don't even think of that – we're just at the third floor – with your new, reinforced body, you'll only get a few bruises if you throw yourself into that window, but you'll cause a damage to academy's property, for which you'll have to pay," Ichika said in one breath. "Besides, let alone that I've put a huge pile of money into your revival, dying before having your first sex is very sad, you know? As well as it sad to die without having your second time, and a millionth time as well…" He added.

"A millionth time?!" Katana screamed as she almost jumped, "You're presuming we'll be having sex for seventy times per day?!"

"Huh?" Ichika looked at his fiancée as he seemed pleasantly surprised. "You're actually quite good with the mathematics, when it comes to sex," He noted. [She used a formula 1 000 000/(365x40(years)) with a round-up]

"I'm good with the math in principle!" She screeched, "Stop it already!" She grabbed the mirror that she has put away earlier and looked at her own face. It seemed very red (and very happy). "Geez, I'm as red as a tomato because of you…huh?!" But suddenly, her embarrassed and happy smile was gone in an instant as she noticed something very weird, "Wait, what's with my eyes?!" She again seemed shocked.

"So, you've finally noticed?" Ichika asked, unable to suppress his sarcasm completely. He actually was sure that it'll be the first thing she'll notice as soon as she'll get a mirror, but she did notice only now, being focused on her ears and hair before now. Was it due to a difference in their values? For Ichika – his eyes were his most precious organs…

The thing that got Katana startled so much was her eyes color – they were not of a color of the setting sun anymore, now they were of a so-called Cyan Moonstone color.

"What did you expect?" Ichika inquired. "Those are the advanced ocular implants, and an experimental prototype, by the way." These pair implants actually were one of the additional trophies he acquired during his raid of the US Navy facility located at the Midway atoll. That's really ironic, isn't it? Ichika used the US Navy's property to replace the girl's eyes, destroyed by the US Navy's raiding party…

"There are no 'ocular implants' store department, like a women's swimsuits department, where you can choose a form and color for your liking. Those are not the irises, actually – those are micro-lenses arrays, and they have this color due to the sapphire coating," Ichika explained the gist of the situation.

"…how I'm going to explain all of that…?" Katana has looked at Ichika somewhat desperately. Girls are very curious being to begin with, and Sarashiki Tatenashi isn't a regular student – she's a student council president – a charismatic person with a lot of friends – she can't just wave them all off, saying that it's none of their busyness. And she has underwent a rather drastic change in appearance, and of course – if she'll just say that she suddenly felt like becoming a gyaru – no one will believe her.

"I think you just have to tell them the truth – not everything, of course, but a part of it. For example, don't tell them about the ocular implants – just say that it is an artificial cornea. As for your acoustic implants – just say that it is a common hearing-aid, and it looks like a piercing for decorative purposes. What I really mean is that you shouldn't try to hide the gist of the situation itself – you've been injured in battle and now you need some tech to continue live normally," Ichika expressed his opinion.

Katana looked at him with a lot of uncertainty in her new, moonstone-cyan-colored eyes.

"Haah…" Ichika sighed as he rolled his eyes. "Yes, all of your friends are going to feel guilty because you've suffered, defending the academy in general, and them, in particular. But seriously, you have to stop treating them like the kindergarten children, both you and Chifuyu, by the way. These girls are too sheltered here – and then they're graduating and losing 15vs1 battle. This is an I.S. Academy, not a dancing school – all of the local students are elite representatives of their countries, and the future soldiers. And soldiers are risking their lives. To learn how to deal with the stress and to endure pain the academy's students must get stressed and feel pain – do we like it or not – that's a simple fact," Ichika concluded his monologue.

Katana didn't find what to reply on that – Ichika's definitely not wrong, but… but she's Tatenashi, after all, no matter what she herself thinks about that fact – it's her duty to protect others… "I'll… I'll think about it…" She replied uncertainly.

"Anyway, since we're at it already, let me explain the rest of your body's modifications," Ichika decided to change topic. Katana gulped – she got a bad feeling about all of this.

November 29th, Wednesday, 11:21 A.M.

Explaining everything about Tatenashi 2.0 took quite some time, and at the end of it, Katana was shocked… again. She now was like a character from some cyberpunk universe… "Don't be like that – very soon you'll feel and realize all the benefits of those implants. They're small, subtle, and the state-of-the-art-level, technology-wise. You're still a real, living girl, who become even more gorgeous than before," Ichika said softly as he gently stroked Katana's hair.

"Mmm…" She looked at him resentfully, though she seemed very cute even when pouting. What she could reply to those words? They were like a sweetest poison, slowly seeping into her heart, making her desire to belong to him ever stronger. And she already is totally head over heels for him. Orimura Ichika always gets what he wants. And now Katana has become his… and she's thankful for it.

Ichika admitted that not all the modifications he made were essential. There were some tiny things he made just to satisfy his own tastes. As it was said – Ichika has a fetish for bemetalled girls, so, without asking for Katana's opinion, he made two punctures in her tongue, one in her internasal septum, one per each nipple and one for her clitoris cape… Since he used the digital deconstruction method – the piercing holes were already formed and healed. This is why she didn't even notice that initially, despite she actually had two holes in her tongue.

Actually, since the I.S. Academy is a multi-cultural facility, piercing there isn't prohibited, but Ichika didn't ask his girlfriend to wear it in school – in contrary, he want her to wear it only for him. This is why he made punctures only in the places that are usually not on display – such a set of piercing is considered a quite intimate, wearing those in school could damage Katana's image of an exemplary student and a student council president. As such, she can wear an additional jewelry in her intimate places when she and Ichika are together, but other students will not notice anything even if Katana will have to use a public shower room, together with other girls.

When Ichika did explain all of that to her – her emotions were quite hard to describe. Not only he pierced her without even asking for her opinion, he, apparently, was 'working' with her most intimate places directly. But in the end, his sweet poisonous words have calmed her down. That, and Ichika's promise to remove all of that if she really won't like it – thanks to digital reconstruction, all of those holes could be easily removed without even the tiniest scars left.

"Humph!" She snorted, "I'm still angry at you!" Though, she was enjoying him gently caressing her hair.

"Yes, yes, I'm very sorry," He lied to her, before looking at his wristwatch. "Okay, the morning lessons will end soon, and Kanzashi-chan should come to visit you in a few minutes. I'd like to let the two of you to speak tête-à-tête, as I have to get back to my work – I have to make a new I.S. for you, after all," Ichika noted casually.

"WHAT?!" Katana turned around so abruptly that she almost bumped her head against Ichika's chin, he avoided being hit only thanks to his eyes' foreseeing capability.

"Hey, careful!" Ichika warned her, "Your head is virtually a battering ram now, you'll cripple someone like that!"

"Um… sorry…" She apologized, "NO, WAIT! What's with that thing about a new I.S. for me?!" She asked as she clenched to Ichika's shoulders. Because of a huge volume of information, being brought down upon her, she didn't notice that earlier, but now, thanks to a phrase, casually dropped by Ichika, she's realized one thing – she no longer senses her connection with the Renia Nui.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you," Ichika remembered (and that wasn't a lie – he really forgot). "You're no longer her registered pilot, I gave her back to Russians. But don't you worry, you're still a full-fledged representative, and even more, they've actually agreed to double your payment, because you're a pilot with your own I.S. now! However, the fees for the contract violation also got increased quite a lot, so don't think of anything foolish – the 'Alaska Treaty' gives to an employer country a quite solid set of rights, regarding the I.S. pilots, who have accepted their citizenship," Ichika warned.

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait!" Katana protested. "Why I… you… them… had to…" She shook her head to set her thoughts straight, "Why I've got a need for a new I.S in the first place?! Why couldn't I just continue piloting Renia Nui?!"

'Because you've died,' That was what Ichika wanted to reply, but that would've been an unnecessary lie and a foolish joke at best – the real reason lies much deeper. "Because the two of you absolutely didn't fit each other – simple as that," Ichika replied.

Katana was staring at her boyfriend with an expression on her face clearly displaying that she has no idea what he's talking about.

"Okay, listen to me carefully, now," Ichika said seriously as he sat a bit closer to the girl, demonstrating that he's about to say something very important to her. "The relationship between an Infinite Stratos and her pilot is a complex thing, you just couldn't learn about it yourself, exactly because you and your I.S. didn't fit one another. The I.S. core are the soul and the brain of an I.S. machine, whilst I.S. frame is the body. And brain knows its body, knows what it was made for, knows what it is capable off. And of course, Renia Nui was completely certain that you're using her in an absolutely wrong way, and, I have to admit – I'm in full agreement with her, regarding that question."

It's really a complex thing. For example, Natasha Fairs and her previous I.S., the Silver Gospel, have started to actively communicate even before the gospel forced herself into a Second Shift. On the other hand, Katana and the Renia Nui weren't communicating at all, due to complete lack of a mutual understanding.

Ichika continued, "Renia Nui is a highly specialized unit, that, expectedly, requires a special tactic. Locate the enemies (terrorists), using the advanced sensors. Stealthy approach them, hiding with water veils and using decoys for distraction. Subtly prepare a trap, using the explosive mist. And then swiftly finish them off, using the most powerful attack, in combination with an already prepared trap, without letting them to raise their defenses (and/or harm the hostages). The enemies must realize that they've been attacked only after their demise. This is how one should use the Renia Nui."

"You, on the other hand…" Ichika looked at his girlfriend, and that gaze made her feel herself guiltily, for some reason, "You couldn't start a single fight, without addressing the enemy with the speech, first. And then you were always fighting head-on, not being able to shut up for at least a second. From Renia Nui's point of view what you were doing was an outright mockery at her." Ichika gently flicked Katana's nose, "Don't get me wrong – you are who you are, and I love you just as you are – probably the two of us really is the type of the opposites that attract each other. But… that wasn't the case with you and Renia Nui – you two were the opposites of completely different natures – like the nails and the pillows – there was nothing in common between the two of you, at all."

"Just take my word for it – I do know that I.S.-es usually are the girls with the character and a strong will," He noted. "Of course, you need a Second-Shifted machine to be able to properly communicate with your I.S., so you didn't get a chance to learn that yourself… Oh, by the way, about that," He remembered something. "Before giving her back to Russians, I've copied the Renia Nui's data logs – it will be useful for your new I.S. frame. However, right now I did mention it because, while examining the logs, I've realized that she actually has gathered enough data to perform a Second Shift. She was ready for it right after the Kyoto's incident," He informed.

"Really?!" Katana asked in a slight shock, and with a poorly hidden resent on her face, which is understandable – if only she had a Second-Shifted machine – she, most likely, wouldn't have been wounded so gravely back then.

"Really," Ichika confirmed. "A fight against Arachne during the school festival, the Cannonball Fast incident, the unmanned I.S.-es attack, and finally, the Kyoto's turmoil – all of those were real battles, the 'life-and-death battles', if you're feeling dramatic. Those are much more effective, data-gathering-wise, than the common mock battles between students. Besides, Renia Nui actually has recorded quite a lot of data when your claustrophobia has kicked in, as the highly-stressful situations are quite useful to test the pilot's reactions… but don't worry, I'm not going to force you to stay sealed in the coffin for two hours per day just to get some data," Ichika assured his girlfriend.

"So you actually did think about something like that!?" Katana exclaimed as she crawled slightly away from Ichika.

"I'm usually thinking about a lot of things, calm down," Ichika snorted. "I may be a sadist, but, when it comes to the good girls, I only hurt them in a way they like."

"Ichika!" A girl moaned in anguish.

"Alright, alright," He rolled his eyes. "So, back to Second-Shift topic. Four intense and stressful battles, regular trainings, and, finally, your abnormal, S-level I.S. aptitude – it shouldn't be so surprising that all of that has borne fruits. But the Renia Nui was holding back, because, if she'd performed a second shift, you two would've been proclaimed a very promising 'team', and she would've been forced to endure your scoffing at herself (i.e. your completely incompatible fighting style) for many years. That's the gist of it," Ichika concluded.

Also, Ichika didn't tell this to his girlfriend, but the Renia Nui actually could have saved her pilot, performing a Second Shift when Tatenashi got wounded, in a similar manner to when Naamah/Astarte performed a third shift to help Ichika recover after the nuclear blast. But the Renia Nui has chosen a different way.

"Katana, don't think of Renia Nui as of a bad girl," Ichika addressed the girl in front of him. "In the end, you're still alive thanks to her. When you've finally got yourself killed (almost), she found the way to send a message for me, despite the powerful signal jamming, and summoned me to the academy. Even though she disliked you, Renia Nui has saved your life, as a parting gift of sort," Ichika added (now it was unnecessary to explain that Renia Nui has used Battle Goddess as a medium – Katana already got too much information to stomach in one go).

As Ichika has finished his tale, Katana/Tatenashi had quite a difficult face expression. To be honest – she had no idea that she's actually causes so much troubles to her Московский Густой Туман/Mysterious Lady/Renia Nui machine. She could be a mischievous and prankish girl, who likes to mock her enemies, but of course she never wanted to intentionally torment her own I.S.

"Hey, c'mon, chin up, it's all in the past now," Ichika tried to cheer up his girlfriend, "Divorce is an unpleasant thing, but it also a chance for a something good in the future. When I've returned her to Russians, I've given them a detailed explanation about the personality that her new pilot should have, and I'm quite certain that they've taken my words seriously. That girl (Renia Nui) should be fine. As for your new I.S. – I'm making it specifically for you – the two of you will make a great team, I'm sure," He assured Katana.

"Thank you," A girl smiled thankfully. And she was about to lean forward, requesting another kiss, but she lingered for a bit, and that appeared to be quite fortunate, because…

"Onee-chan!" Right at that moment, another blue-haired girl has barged into the sickbay.

"Kanzashi!?" Katana exclaimed as she was encased into a loving sisterly embrace before she could even realize what's happening. Ichika politely stepped away to let the two sisters have some space.

"Onee-chan! Onee-chan!" Kanzashi repeated several times, embracing her onee-chan, she was really happy to see her elder sister alive and relatively well. Even before they've reconciled, despite her inferiority complex, Kanzashi never wished harm to Katana.

Kanzashi held her sister in a tight embrace for about a minute, and then she leaned back and began to examine her. She immediately noticed her acoustic antennas and a completely different eyes color. Well, since Katana was her sister, Ichika informed Kanzashi that, due to an unorthodoxly treatment, her sister's appearance's going to change, slightly but permanently.

"Onee-chan… how could you? Why… can't you take care… of yourself?..." Kanzashi firmly clenched to her sister's shoulders. "Why you… always tends to… sacrifice yourself?" She inquired as tears welled beneath her glasses, which Kanzashi quickly took off.

"I'm sorry, Kanzashi," Katana apologized sincerely as it was her turn to embrace her sister, "I'm very, very sorry. I was a complete, out-and-out fool," She admitted, "I swear, such a thing won't happen again!"

The next ten minutes Katana spent, trying to calm down her younger sister.

Only after she had one foot in the coffin, Katana "Tatenashi" Sarashiki realized not only how much she herself doesn't want to die, she also realized that her life isn't only hers. She has a cute little sister, her parents, her friends – a lot of people who need her, and whose lives will be ruined if she'll be gone. For instance, if she would've died, Kanzashi would have had to become Tatenashi – this is what she wanted? Of course not. Unlike her late uncle (her mother's brother and the previous 'Tatenashi'), Katana got a chance to realize this truth: being 'Tatenashi' doesn't mean 'protect everyone with your life', it does mean 'protect everyone AND your life'! And for that chance she must be thankful to Orimura Ichika…

Apparently, the thoughts about Ichika got reflected on Katana's face, literally. "Onee-chan… your face… is red… Something's wrong…?" Kanzashi asked worriedly.

"Huh!? No, I'm fine! I'm absolutely fine!" Katana panicked slightly – she wasn't ready to reveal her relationships with Ichika (partly because she wasn't yet aware that Kanzashi's feelings towards Ichika were mostly gone). "I've just got worried about… how our parents are doing, yes!" She came with a hastily (and poorly) fabricated excuse. Though, Kanzashi believed her, apparently.

"Yes… otō-sama and okā-sama… were very worried. Please… call them… as soon as possible…" Kanzashi said.

In the meantime, standing in the room's corner, Ichika was thinking about leaving these two sisters alone, but, as two girls have mentioned their parents, he remembered something. "By the way," He addressed both sisters, "Sorry to interrupt, but you've just reminded me about something, regarding the both of you, I think."

Two girls have looked at him questioningly. "A strange thing happened to me a week ago, last Wednesday," He recalled. "At the very end of a working day, a strange woman has barged into my office. She introduced herself as you 'from fifteen years in the future'," Ichika looked at an elder one of two sisters, "And demanded that I'd tell her where her 'current self' is being treated…" And no, that wasn't Ichika's wicked imagination – such a thing really has happened.

Two girls have looked at Ichika in shock. And no, they actually did understand what he is talking about, and that was the worst part. Kanzashi somehow appeared near the sickbay's door, and she did it so fast that it seemed as if she's just teleported there.

"Kanzashi-chan? Are you leaving already? Your sister has just recovered after a serious injury…" Ichika noted, feigning ignorance, regarding Kanzashi's actions.

"I'm sorry… but while onee-chan is recovering… I'm helping to run… the student council… I have to take care… of something… I'll visit you again later…" Kanzashi apologized.

"No, Kanzashi-chan, wait!" Katana desperately called for her younger sister, "We're the blood siblings, so you must share that shame with me!"

"I'm sorry… onee-chan… I'm not sure that… I can endure… such a shame…" Kanzashi apologized again (from the other side of the door), and was gone like the wind.

"Hey, don't be like that," Ichika said with a wicked smile as she grabbed the collar of Katana's patient gown, thus preventing her attempt to crawl down and hide beneath the bed. "It was actually somewhat amusing. Since it was an end of the day, me and that 'future you' took a walk from the academy to the city. I must admit that I was impressed – she's definitely about 40, but looks only about 30 years old, almost without a makeup. And, just like the 'current you', she's also an adept in attracting troubles…"

"Ichika, I'm begging you, STOP IT!" Katana was literally begging Ichika on her knees, "I don't want to hear that!"

Of course that 'strange woman' was Katana (and Kanzashi's) mother. Both girls immediately realized that, just with Ichika's initial, vague description. That woman had a… peculiarity of sort – each time when she would get in a situation with too many unknow variables, when things are tending to get out of control – she was starting to act strangely. For example, when her beloved daughter was declared MIA at first, and later it was revealed that she's being treated in some secret facility, she came to Ichika (who, according to Kanzashi, has organized the treatment) to ask about her daughter, but, for some reason, she introduced herself not as Katana's mother, but Katana herself, from the future. Forget about the fact that she somehow got into the academy – she's Sarashiki, after all, but Katana was shuddering in horror just thinking what her mother could tell to Ichika, pretending to be Katana's future self…

"Alright, alright, calm down," Ichika chuckled as he gently flicked Katana's nose. "Well, actually, I was intending to leave you to Kanzashi-chan, but since she's so 'busy'…"

"…I'll remember that to her…" Katana mumbled resentfully, as her younger sister has left her alone at such a 'crucial' moment.

"…and since the two of us alone here, let's discus one really important thing," Ichika suggested.

"Huh?" Katana's eyes widened in surprise. They've already been talking about her new implants and her new I.S., but those things were actually unimportant in his eyes!? Then what he wants to talk about now?!

"I know that you already got quite a lot of information to stomach, but since you'll be staying here at least until Saturday, you'll have some time to think," He noted. "And, at first, I have to apologize," Ichika pronounced, and that did startle Katana even more – his apologizes seem sincere, and that quite a rare thing by itself. "When I was explaining you about your new implants – I've told you that you do need the all of them… but that wasn't the truth. In fact, there is a completely useless one, instilled right here," Ichika softly touched the girl's forehead.

"That one is needed for the information control," He explained. "There are things you should know, but, at the same time, those are the things that shouldn't be told to anyone else, even to your closest relatives. And, even though we're a couple now, I'm still unable to trust your judgement – I cannot trust your ability to clearly distinct – what you can tell to the others, and what you can't, under no circumstances. And for that, I'm sincerely apologize," Ichika concluded.

Katana wanted to say something like 'I understand', but she couldn't say so, because she actually couldn't understand – what's this all about? What's so important that she even got partly deprived of a free will?

"Don't worry, that implant won't electrocute you and won't cause you a severe pain, nothing like that," Ichika assured her. "That's an intellectual and a subtle system – it will just make you to temporary 'forget' what you wanted to say, if you'll try to say something that should be left untold. Do you still follow?" He inquired.

Katana nodded uncertainly. No, she still couldn't agree to Ichika's method, she just nodded in sign that she understood the device's functioning principle.

"Don't be like that, I'm pretty sure you'll understand why here is so much of a conspiracy," Ichika said explicitly casually, trying to defuse the situation a little. "After all, that's regarding my and Chifuyu's origin," He added… and the situation has quickly become even more tense.

Is there actually something unusual? Even the clan Sarashiki didn't discover anything really interesting about those two. There was nothing really important in Chifuyu's biography, at least before she's become a Japan's representative and has won the first Mondo Grosso. And there was nothing really remarkable about Ichika, before it appeared that he, a male, can pilot an I.S. Just two kids, abandoned by their dishonorable and irresponsible parents, who both have died several years later, and both were cremated… or that is actually not quite like it seems?

"I'll start from the beginning," Ichika began his tale. "Ever heard about a 'Unit 731'? Well, as a new head of Sarashiki, of course you've heard – one of the most shameful pages in our nation's history. And whilst the remnants of the unit, captured by the Soviet forces, were trialed, those captured by the Americans weren't just spared – they actually continued their work, here, in Japan. Though, around the middle of 1970s, the focus of those researches got switched towards the 'improved humans' program. Well, in short, both me and Chifuyu are the result of that program," Ichika spread his arms.

"WHAT?!" Katana screamed as she fell from her bed on the floor.

"Good grief, be careful," Ichika sighed as he came closer, picked the girl up, and put her back on the bed, "You want to get back to that cistern with the nano-liquid?"

"I'm okay!" She exclaimed, much louder than needed, "What about that 'artificial humans' thing?!"

"Stop screaming!" Ichika ordered as he forcefully covered her mouth with his palm, "This is exactly why I had to resort to the use of that implant!"

"Bubu buuubu…" A girl mumbled through Ichika's palm (she meant 'I'm sorry'), feeling herself embarrassed, due to her uncontrollable outburst. Apparently, she's still quite far from Orimura siblings' level of a stress tolerance.

"Be patient, I'll explain this to the end," Ichika noted as he removed his arm from the girl's face. "Unfortunately, the 'improved' and/or 'artificial' humans aren't so rare these days – take Laura, for example. The two of us aren't really that different, our 'program' was just a bit more successful, probably because the Japan and USA have invested more money…"

"Anyway," Ichika continued, "When she was about nine years old, Chifuyu was considered a first success of the program. However, since that was about seven years prior to invention of an I.S., our 'creators' decided that they need a male version of the 'prototype' (i.e. Chifuyu), because, in the end, they wanted a supersoldier. What an irony, don't you think? Who could have thought back then that, just in a few years, the entire world will be all about women…?" Ichika snorted. "Since we're going to get married, I just thought that you should know that," He added. "By the way, all of my improved genes are dominant, so, if the two of us will have a daughter, she'll inherit both yours and mine (i.e. Chifuyu's) traits – just imagine what an earth-shattering beauty she may become…"

"Ichika!" Tatenashi exclaimed somewhat aguishly, "I've told you that these surprise attack of yours are mean!" Now her thoughts were in a complete mess…

"Okay, okay, calm down," Ichika gently stroked her hair, "We'll speak about the family and genes another time, right now I've started this conversation not to brag about my genes, and not even to inform you about my true origin – this is an interesting story, but it doesn't really change something, our marriage-wise." At least Ichika was thinking like that. "Right now, the important task is to warn you – there is another one. The entity, who's currently piloting the I.S. Nosferatu, a Phantom Task agent, codenamed 'M', also known as Orimura Madoka, and who, conditionally, may be considered my twin sister…"

This time, since he was sitting next to her, Ichika was able to catch his girlfriend's body, thus preventing her from falling from the bed, and to close her mouth, thus preventing her from screaming. "Okay, seriously, control yourself," Ichika looked at the girl reproachingly. "And spare me your philosophy," He added, "Listen to what I have to say to the end, and then I'll answer your questions, alright?"

Katana did nod slowly, meaning that she's agreed to Ichika's condition, and he's moved his palm away from her mouth, though he was still holding her waist with another hand… her slim, water-snake-like waist…

"Let's start with my own origin," Ichika began his tale. "As you know, men only have one X-chromosome. And since those pseudo-scientists wanted a man, they took the prototype's genetic material, and, essentially, have split it in half." He was intentionally using the word 'prototype' to refer to his elder sister, as he didn't want her name being associated with those experiments. "Of the two X-chromosomes they've chosen the 'better one', and had a fully engineered Y-chromosome attached to it. In that way – they've created me."

Of course, Ichika's explanation was greatly simplified – molecular genetics is a bit more complex thing than just splitting a loaf of bread in half, but it was still good to explain the gist of the situation. Also, he wasn't sure about which criteria those 'scientists' have used to determine – which of two X-chromosomes is better. However, looking at what Madoka has beneath her I.S. suit, especially around the chest area (where she has almost nothing), and comparing it to the 16 years old Chifuyu from his memory, Ichika had to admit that Madoka is the worse part of his elder sister… And he of course isn't going to tell that part to his girlfriend in front of him.

"However," Ichika continued, "For some reason, those people didn't just get rid of the remaining genetic material. Apparently, they've started a side experiment, and I'm not sure – for which outcome they've hoped for. Simply speaking, they've just duplicated the remaining X-chromosome, getting a full X-X 'set'. "After a while…" Actually, Ichika was mostly speculating now "…the side experiment was moved to another facility, whilst my 'makers' have fully focused on me. That experiment lasted for three years."

"In the meantime, the 'prototype' was continuing to 'participate' in another experiment – she was living a normal life (as much as it was possible) in the society – apparently, those people did want to see how the artificial human will socialize. But, at some point, something went wrong. I've never asked what they've wanted from her, but the prototype refused to comply. Those fools didn't notice that the prototype has turned into Orimura Chifuyu. And poor bastards couldn't do anything about that – not only because Chifuyu wasn't a simple girl herself, but also because, at that time, she was already acquainted with another 'complex' girl…" Ichika smiled a little.

"Wait, you mean…?!" Katana gasped.

"Yes, Shinonono Tabane," Ichika confirmed. "A girl, who will turn the entire world upside down, at an age of fifteen… but that's another story. So," He got back on topic, "The two twelve years old girls have given a good trashing to Chifuyu's 'curators', and those imbeciles not only got what was coming for them. Chifuyu wanted those experiments to stop for good. Tabane-san has agreed. Thus, while they were interrogating those people, the two of them have learned about another experiment – about me. And, to make the long story short – the facility was destroyed, the criminals have finally gotten what they've deserved, and me and Chifuyu have started to live together. This is why I think that she an me – we are the truest siblings, in the sincerest meaning of that word," Ichika concluded.

"Sounds nice, right?" He asked casually, "Just like a story with the happy end… but, sadly, it wasn't the end," Ichika spread his arms helplessly. "I'm not really sure when and how Chifuyu has learned about yet another experiment," He admitted. That was a very displeasing topic for Chifuyu, so Ichika never bothered her with it – who cares how exactly she's learned? Maybe that happened during her work for the Bundeswehr – it doesn't really matter.

"At the time when Chifuyu and Tabane have destroyed the facility, where I've been kept – none of the three of us have had any idea about yet another entity, who was 'participating' in the experiment, using Chifuyu's genes. I've learned about that girl's very existence only about two and a half years ago, and by a pure accident," Ichika explained.

At that time, he made a mistake – he actually asked Chifuyu about what she knows, regarding their 'another relative'. Ichika will never forget that day – he'll never forget Chifuyu's face, twisted by the sense of guilt and deep regrets. Exactly after that day he decided to not bother his precious elder sister with that stuff, ever again.

"When she finally reappeared, herself, the so-called 'Orimura' Madoka did so as an agent of my sworn enemies – a member of a group, which humiliated me and threatened my life, a group that deprived my sister of her deserved victory. Without asking a single question, without learning the real circumstances, that imbecilic girl has declared both Chifuyu and me the traitors, who have abandoned her, and she has dedicated her life to taking revenge. This is why I see her only as an enemy, and a subject for an unconditional termination," He concluded. After what happened in Kyoto, Ichika decided that Madoka is too dangerous to attempt to capture her, in any form – she should be gone from this world.

As she's heard Ichika's tale to the end – Katana was terrified. Not by something in particular – but by all this situation as a whole – she's just realized that this world is much more complex (and more evil) than she thought, even though she never thought that it is a simple thing.

"Listen," Ichika sat even closer to Katana as he placed both of his arms on her shoulders. Apparently, he finally came to the gist of what he wanted to say. "I've told you that story not to make you feel dramatic or something – I just want you to understand one thing – do not underestimate that girl!" He even raised his voice. "If you'll met her in battle – prioritize the self-defense and forget about being heroic!"

Katana wasn't startled. "I understand," She replied with as much resolve as she could muster, as she placed her small palms on Ichika's elbows. Obviously that situation is not something to trifle with. Even if she's a somewhat distorted copy, Madoka is still a copy of Orimura Chifuyu – the Brunhild, the world's strongest person.

"I see," Ichika nodded. Apparently, Katana's expression did convince him that she took the situation seriously. "I may be cruel and merciless person, but I'm like that by choice – my own choice. I firmly believe that this world only deserves cruelty and pain… yet, I'm still open to discussion – feel free to prove me being wrong," Ichika chuckled. "But that girl – she's aggressive and narrow-minded because she's incomplete – she doesn't have a choice, and we do not have, either, regarding what to do about her – this madness must end," He shrugged helplessly.

"Oh, and one more thing," He added, with a more casual voice. "About Tabane. I do not know how she learned about Madoka, but I do know why she's made an I.S. for her. As you've already learned on Houki's example – Tabane's handcrafted I.S.-es are capable of changing the pilot's genes. I bet she's trying to fix Madoka's flaw that causes her aggressiveness, and not only that – she wants some data from that experiment. This is why Tabane did make an I.S. for that entity – you shouldn't consider that foolish 'Alice' an ally of the Phantom Task. Tabane-san is an arrogant, selfish bitch, whose egoism is comparable to mine," Ichika snorted. "Shinonono Tabane never does charity – she doesn't give a damn about the Phantom Task – she's only allied with herself," He added. "Now, as I've promised – I'll answer your questions," Ichika addressed his girlfriend.

"Yeah, but…" She shook her head, making her now longer hair to dance in the air, "Can you please answer my questions… a bit later?" She asked somewhat helplessly. Of course, she's got questions to Ichika, and quite a lot, but to properly formulate them, she first has to stomach the gigantic volume of information she has already received today. And she finally realized why Ichika is so strict about information control. Forget about him being an artificially engineered person – that's not so surprising these days – but the fact that his 'sister' is a member of a Phantom Task – without a proper context, such information can cause a huge misunderstanding, and give a few strong arguments to his enemies.

"Of course," Ichika shrugged, "No problem. However, I really have to take my leave now – there are several matters, which require my immediate attention. You really should take your time and think alone," He advised.

"Al… alright," She replied as she dropped her shoulders. Honestly, she wanted Ichika to stay with her a bit longer… well, actually, a lot longer, but she shouldn't be acting so spoiled…

"Hey, don't be like that," Ichika snorted, seeing her cute reaction, "You're well aware that your ass is too good for me to leave you alone for too long."

"Get out!" A girl exclaimed as her cheeks flushed a little.

"Ah, women are so fickle…" Ichika shrugged as he headed towards the door.

"Oh, Ichika, wait!" Katana suddenly called his name.

"Yes?" Ichika turned around as the girl's face became serious again.

"Actually, I… have a question," She said slowly, gathering her thoughts. Ichika just nodded, prompting her to speak. "Can you tell me… you're the only man in the world, capable of piloting an I.S… so… is it because you're Orimura-sensei's… brother?" She inquired, choosing her words carefully, she really didn't want to say a word 'clone'.

"Haaah…" Ichika sighed deeply as he rolled his eyes. That wasn't the reaction that Katana has expected, but this is what she got, because, though in different forms, Ichika has heard that stupid question for many times. "Katana, do I look like a woman to you?" He asked sarcastically, as he again came closer, sat on her bed, and put his arms on her shoulders.

"Listen to me carefully please," Ichika said seriously. "Only the women can pilot an Infinite Stratos," He voiced a well-known fact. "Why? Despite the ten years of research, involving literally the millions of scientists, no one was able to give a clear answer for that question. Even the I.S. creator – Shinonono Tabane. Forget about her remarks like 'it was a small mistake' and the likes – she doesn't know, not for sure, at least. But, all the obvious, and even not-so-obvious reasons were already excluded."

He continued, "Genetical and biological reasons were the first to study and first to be excluded. That's the answer for your question – no. The fact that me and Chifuyu are siblings and are improved humans has nothing to do with the I.S. piloting… well, aside from Chifuyu's S-level I.S. aptitude, which happened purely by chance, by the way (she's born fifteen years prior to the invention of an I.S.) My I.S. aptitude is F-level, i.e., the zero aptitude, like of all the other men in the world."

However, even though he's just answered the Katana's question, he decided to voice a few more facts. "With the current level of technology, a lot of things can be imitated. Physiology, the electrical signals over a human's skin, that I.S. reads, even the brainwave form can be adjusted to imitate a female, using a male pilot. But nothing of that does work. Which means that it has nothing to do with the chromosomes' set (X-X), with the hormonal balance and with the brain structure. Genes and all are important for the I.S. aptitude, but that's not a fundamental reason. I'm afraid that the fundamental reason is something that lies in the plane of metaphysic – something like the fact that women and I.S.-es do have a Yin-type internal energy, and because of that they can understand each other. Of course, if that's the case, it would've been logical to make an I.S. for men, to have a normal Yin-Yang combination… but where's normal and where's Shinonono Tabane?" Ichika asked a rhetorical question. "Anyway, I have to go," Ichika stood up and headed to the door, "You be a good girl and stay put in the medbay."

"Ichika, wait!" Katana exclaimed, "If that is as you've said, then why you can pilot an I.S?!"

"Ah, Katana-chan, if there would've been an easy answer for that question, my case wouldn't have been called a 'phenomenon', don't you think?" Ichika replied casually and left the ward, "Get better."

"Ichika!" Katana shouted, but no one replied – he was already gone. "Argh, you're the worst boyfriend ever!" A girl cursed that secretive, cunning and wicked man, she was madly in love with. "One day I'll learn all of your secrets!" She announced, though, she just took on an immensely difficult challenge.

Of course, that 'the only man in the world, who can pilot an I.S.' phenomenon was the one huge fake and mystification – Ichika was simply wasting time of several research centers and thousands of scientists, feeding them with perfectly fabricated, but nonetheless counterfeit (and useless) data. Of course, Ichika's ability to pilot an I.S. comes down to his realizer. Just as he said to Katana – trying to make a male to pilot an I.S. is similar to an attempt to organize the communication between a deaf and a blind one, without a mediator. However, if you'll link their brains directly, bypassing the human's five senses, they'll perfectly understand each other.

The same was with Ichika's realizer, that is capable to directly link Ichika's mind and the I.S. core, bypassing all the normal I.S. interfaces. However, the realizer is Ichika's deepest secret, about which he won't tell to anyone, not to Katana, despite all the safeguards, like the 'useless' implant, and not even to Chifuyu.

As Ichika left the academy's medical facility, heading back to his secret hangar, he's heard a voice in his head. 'Adonai… was it really wise to say so much to that girl? I know about the implant, but what if she herself…'

"She herself will do what, piloting an I.S., handcrafted by Orimura Ichika?" He asked, interrupting Astarte.

'…Yes, Adonai, I apologize for my foolish question,' She realized her mistake.

"Glad to hear it," Ichika smiled as his eyes flashed with fiery light.

Omake – The I.S. Collection continuation

…

Issue №22

Origin: N/A

Designation: Nisshoku (日食, Solar Eclipse)

Core №: 003 (reports fake number 470)

Registered Pilot: Katana "Tatenashi" Sarashiki

Generation: 4th Gen

Class: Centurion

Manufacturer: Orimura Ichika

Current status: First Shift, Being assembled

Armaments:

Instead of using the Shape-Shifting armament concept, which saves the machine's bus-slots, but may be quite difficult to operate (without a realizer), Ichika came with a more conventionally organized set of armaments. Since he's made this frame by himself, from the scratch, there should be no shortage of the bus-slots.

The Solar Eclipse doesn't use the quark-gluon-plasma-based weaponry and equipment, principle of operation of which Ichika himself still didn't fully understand. Instead, it uses the 3rd generation plasma weaponry (the same type, used by the late Demon Queen's primary weapon – Sitra Ahra). Not being the needlessly sophisticated, the Solar Eclipse's armaments are very efficient, advanced, state-o-the-art devices.

Argellín's Reach – a double-bladed poleaxe. Its head seemed like a falcon spreading its wings, as wings were transiting into the crescent moon-like blades, made of a Fold-Out Armor. A pike-like blade, also made of Fold-Out Armor, is attached to the bottom part of the haft.

Aurélia – The long-range, heavy sniper rifle, that shoots the short bursts of three plasma charges, is equipped with a sophisticated aiming-assistance system, and has a monstrous charges' muzzle velocity of about 1400 m/s.

2 x Sarandél – a pair of 'enveloping' plasma blasters. Has two firing modes. First – the blaster shoots a normal plasma bolt (up to long range). Second – it can shoot an 'enveloping' charge – an electrically overcharged plasma bolt, which eventually will turn into a cloud of plasma, which is not explosive but causes massive electromagnetic interferences around the target area. Though, such a bolt cannot travel for a long distance (short-to-middle range maximum in this mode).

2 x Silvanír – a pair of heavy battle rifles. Two, rapid-fire (about 1200 shots per minute, each one of two), bullpup plasma rifles. Both are equipped with an aim-assisting system (less complex than that of a sniper rifle).

Arùtánu – a rapid-fire missile launcher. Launches the self-guided, supersonic missiles, equipped with a plasma warhead and propelled by a stream plasma ejector. Can shoot up to one missile per 0.8 seconds, six missiles are stored in one cartridge. A cartridge change takes about 5 seconds.

2 x Ryushión – a pair of elbow-mounted, rapid-fire, pulse laser cannons. Kind of a spare armament, provided by Ichika just in case, like if, for some reason, Katana will desperately need a weapon, charges of which have no rest mass. Laser cannons use the energy charges with a frequency modulation of 710 THz.

8 x Reishmaél's Wardens – multi-purpose interceptor drones, each one is equipped with a universal plasma emitter, capable of either shooting bolts of plasma (light machinegun mode), or project a half-spherical defense field (plasma shield mode).

Aerthyr's Veil – a dedicated plasma shield projector, that creates an additional defense field around the Solar Eclipse. Works similarly to the Golden Dawn's thermal shield, but uses the 3rd generation plasma, and doesn't have a flaw that allowed Ichika to overload and fry all of the Golden Dawn reactor's circuits.

Other Equipment:

"Heart of Illumiél" main reactor (electro-plasma generator)

"Tálindra's Ward" advanced 4th grade hypersensor

4 x Stream Plasma Ejectors (thrusters)

3 x advanced 4th grade PICs

Extensive, maybe even a somewhat redundant use of the Fold-Out Armor (neutron flux-field type).

Max speed: 2600 knots

Max turn rate: 8.5 radian/sec

I.S. Shield characteristics:

Again, Ichika didn't use the technology that he himself does not fully understand yet. So the Solar Eclipse doesn't use a Klein Field renderer, but a more traditional I.S. Barrier. However, the shield uses a quadrature phase-shift keying, instead of a more common amplitude modulation, used by the previous generations' of I.S.-es. As such, it has some very good DARs, and, in combination with the Aerthyr's Veil plasma shield, provides an excellent protection for both the pilot and an I.S. frame itself.

Maximum capacity – 800 points.

Physical DAR – 0.69, Heat DAR – 0.67, Energy DAR – 0.68

One-Off Ability: The Sunless Realm energy-conversion-inhibiting ability. Once per minute, for ten seconds, the Solar Eclipse can deploy a spherical energy inhibitor (with a radius of 600 feet, and a maximum range from the Solar Eclipse of 3000 feet). Inside of the sphere, all the energy conversion types are prohibited. Potential energy cannot transit to kinetic one. Light energy cannot transit to thermal one. Chemical reactions are prohibited. Nuclear reactions are prohibited. All collisions become perfectly elastic. In other words, inside of the sphere, the bullets cannot pierce armor, the lasers cannot burn through objects, plasma bolts cannot explode. All weapons are rendered useless. Virtually, everything inside of the sphere will be completely paralyzed. Of course, the objects protected by an I.S. barrier will be much less affected – the I.S.-issued weapons will be able to continue to operate, but with the reduced efficiency. Other I.S.-es reactors won't shut down, either, though, the power output will be somewhat reduced. I.S. thrusters also will slightly lose in power. But that's not the point. The main point is – all the projectiles inside of the sphere – bullets, shells, missiles, plasma and laser bolts – all of that cannot do any harm to anything. The Sunless Realm is an ultimate defense against everything, perfect for shielding the allied I.S.-es from massive assaults. Its only downside is that The Sunless Realm also prohibits, in particular, all the chemical reactions in humans' bodies, and it's hard to say how that ability is going to affect those not protected by an I.S. barrier.

Since the Solar Eclipse is a fourth-generation unit, the One-Off ability is available at the First Shift stage.

Description: An I.S. frame, built by Orimura Ichika specifically for his girlfriend and fiancée, Katana Sarashiki, to fit her combat style the best way possible. Being a full-fledged 4th generation machine, the Solar Eclipse possesses an entire arsenal of the cutting-edge weaponry, based on 3rd generation plasma technology [refer for chapter 13 for plasma tech generations description]. The Solar Eclipse has a bit lower maximum speed than the Nosferatu and the Battle Goddess, but she surpasses them both in terms of maneuverability. In that regard, she surpasses even the Crimson Camelia, being the most agile I.S. in the world by now.

However, being the Centurion-class unit, the Solar Eclipse's true forte is defense. In some sense, this unit itself is a mockery to Katana's false name 'Tatenashi' (the shieldless, which she dislikes so much in her heart), as the Solar Eclipse has four shielding systems, one of which – The Sunless Realm – is her One-Off ability. Others are the sturdy I.S. barrier, the Aerthyr's Veil plasma shield, and the Reishmaél's Wardens interceptor drones.

In her stand-by mode, the Solar Eclipse takes form of a hand fan, though, not of a simple paper fan, like it was with the Renia Nui, but of an asymmetric one, which looks like a white heron's wing. As much as it was tempting to make her stand-by form into a wedding ring, Ichika refrained from it, because when the Solar Eclipse will undergo a Second Shift, her stand-by form will most likely change, and her pilot, Katana, will be simply left without a wedding ring, which would've been a real disaster.

However, when it comes to her deployed form, it doesn't seem like Ichika really bothered, inventing something new, regarding the Solar Eclipse's appearance. Her bottom part, the 'legs', are seem to be based on Renia Nui's legs design, though they've become longer and slimmer, giving them a more 'feminine' look, if such a description is appliable to an I.S. Her 'heels' and 'knee-pads' are not metallic but made of the Fold-Out Armor. Solar Eclipse also has a 'skirt', similar in form to that of Uchigane units, but hers isn't a bulky, metallic one, but a flowing-looking one, made of pure energy (Fold-Out Armor). Her arms are slimmer and elongated (again, more 'feminine'-looking) version of Renia Nui's arms, with elbow-pads made of Fold-Out Armor. She also has a pair of shoulder-pads, similar in form to that of Uchigane units, but again, not metallic ones but flowing-looking, made of Fold-Out Armor. And finally, she has a pair of angel-like wings, floating behind her back, scapulars, tertials and lesser coverts of which are made of metallic armor, whilst the rest of wings were made of Fold-Out Armor. Metallic parts of the Solar Eclipse are of the silvery-white color, and the Fold-Out Armor has an electric-blue color, the same as Katana's hair.

In other words, even if Ichika didn't really invent anything new, in overall, the Solar Eclipse is a beautiful I.S., fitting the refined and elegant princess of Sarashiki. On a side note, about 68% of the Solar Eclipse's frame is made of Fold-Out armor, in that regard, she only loses to the Battle Goddess, who has about 72% of her frame being made of energy, but the latter has already undergone the Third-Shift. For comparison, the Second-Shifted Nosferatu has this indicator at about 48%, whilst the Crimson Camelia at about 42%, when the Fold-Out Armor is fully extended. In fact, it seems like, in comparison to Ichika, Tabane has much less of an interest towards her own invention (the Fold-Out Armor), which isn't surprising, considering how she sees the future of the I.S.-es since recently.

Thanks to that Ichika acquired all of Renia Nui's exploitation data, the Solar Eclipse does already 'know' her future pilot quite well – she's already in the First-Shift phase, no need to start from the default form. Even more to that – she's already half-a-way towards the Second Shift – as it was mentioned – the Renia Nui has gathered enough data to perform a Second Shift, she just refrained from it, due to her mental incompatibility with her pilot. There was even enough data for Ichika to design a One-Off Ability for Katana and Solar Eclipse. Still, these two will have to gather some additional data on their own, before the Solar Eclipse will be able to properly undergo a Second Shift. Though, it is quite unlikely that there will be some drastic changes when she'll perform a Second Shift – the Solar Eclipse already has almost all that she needs, and all of that was designed specifically to fit her pilot – Katana Sarashiki.

The only thing that the Solar Eclipse is lacking right now is a fully developed personality, thus she may not act as an A.I. assistant for her pilot for now. Everything else have been already tuned and prepared. Maybe the Solar Eclipse's weaponry is somewhat less powerful (even though a more diverse) than late Naamah's armament Sitra Ahra (the bus-slots aren't infinite), but the Solar Eclipse was designed with defensive bias in mind, to begin with. Knowing Katana's habit to fight recklessly and head-on, that foolish girl has to be properly protected. If she and Ichika will be fighting together, her primary tasks will be defense and protection. As for an offense… For that Ichika has the Battle Goddess Astarte and her Ten Commandments.

P.S. As it was said – it's hard to understand how the genius' mind works. Apparently, at some point, Ichika got an idea that, with her cheerful, lively, kind, yet somewhat mischievous and prankish personality, Katana would've been a nice elf (a lunar elf, in particular), if they'd been living in some fantasy world. And he decided to make her an I.S. of an 'elven' thematic, thus the names of the Solar Eclipse's weapons and primary systems…

And that's it for now. Okay people, now everything, regarding the World Purge arc, has been concluded. I still have a bit of a prepared material – if it'll be enough for a full-sized chapter, it will be released soon. If not – I'll take a pause with that story, for a couple of months, probably. Not only I have to update my other story, I'm also have to think about the future content for this one.

Obviously, the most of the Volume 9 of the original light novel will be omitted, as without Ichika being an academy's student, and with the first-year girls slowly but certainly getting over their feelings towards the 'Ihcika that never existed', the most of the events of Volume 9 became senseless. As such, I'll only be implementing the chapter 4 of the volume 9, and then we'll transit to the Volume 10.

However, in the Light Novel, the Volume 10 actually is the original Kyoto Disturbances arc. For those who doesn't know – in the I.S. Anime the Kyoto Disturbances arc has been changed A LOT, and used to replace the CannonBall Fast arc (Volume 6), which is not present in the anime at all. I guess they've really wanted to show the Black Knight in action, as, in the original LN, it only appears in the Volume 10 for the first time.

And since my story already has both the CannonBall Fast arc and the Kyoto Disturbances arc, I have to come up with the something really new, right? Thinking all of that through will take some time, so please, be patient. See you all later, and don't forget to review!