Chapter 13: Like a cursed blade
November 24, 2001 Takeru POV
Shake, shake, shake, shake… a certain someone is gently nudging and shaking me from my slumber.
"Takeru chan, wake up" a certain ball of energy try to forcefully drag my warm blanket away.
" 5 more minutes"
"Takeru chan, wake up. You are going to be late for Marimo sensei morning class"
Shake, shake, shake….
"I said 5 more minutes"
"…"
"Uguh…" my body was twisted and bent in a V-shape as a certain object dig into my gut.
Darn it, I think I just saw my great grandparents waving at me over the river of Styx for several seconds... What the hell was that? I weakly open my eyes only to see a red hair girl grins energetically with her elbow digging through my stomach. At the corner of my eyes, a silver hair girl is silently grabbing my blanket.
"Sumika, are you crazy? Is that brain inside your skull rotten? What the hell did you do that for? Ah, good morning Kasumi chan"
"Good morning Takeru san"
"Wait, why did you only greet Kasumi chan? What about me?" Sumika is obviously mad. She grabs my collar and shakes furiously.
"I was closed to reunite with my great ancestors thank to you. What kind of wakeup call was that?" I angrily bark while slapping her hands and remove them from my collar.
"Uhehe, that's because you were such a lazy and sleepy head. We have been calling you for 20 minutes. You didn't have a slight intention of waking up" Sumika grinned
"Shut up, you are annoying…" I grumbled and then came to a stop when Kasumi handed me my change of clothes "Thank you Kasumi, you are such a good girl" I patted her head while praising her. "…unlike a certain idiot"
"…" Kasumi slightly blushed by my praised.
"Who are you calling idiot?" Sumika pressured.
"In this room, there is only one. If you don't even know who is it then maybe your brain must really be rotten"
"The one who call another idiot is an idiot himself, idiot" Sumika inflated her mouth like a balloon and pouted.
"Using that unoriginal argument make you obviously an idiot. Can't you think of a better line to refute it, idiot?" I chopped her head without a slightest hesitation.
"Ouch. How dare you! Apologize to Yuuko sensei, I'm the world most amazing quantum computer. I will become stupid if you keep hitting my head like this." Sumika complained with some tears in her eyes.
"Forget about that. There is no amount of hit could make you more stupid than you already are. And don't bring sensei into this. She is not gonna help you, idiot"
"uuuuu"
"What? Can't think of anything else to rebut?" I continued mocking the red hair girl. I have known her since I was but a kid. A big idiot like her could never think of anything to counter my argument. Hahaha, it feels good to able to call someone else an idiot and make them gone muted without able to argue anything. In the previous loops, it's always me who experienced this kind of treatment from Yuuko sensei countless of time. Sumika, you should have your share in this since you are a bigger idiot than I am.
"uuuuuu"
"What a joke! Your so call the world most amazing quantum computer is nothing but a giant idiot. To think that…uguh" my consciousness fades as my vision blurred almost immediately before I could finish my sentence.
Unable to withstand the verbal harassment, Sumika gave me her usual Drill milky punch and cut the conversation right away. "Takeru chan, you big idiot"
(PX)
Sumika is one heck of a racket. My usual peaceful morning was destroyed completely as long as she existed. I can't comprehend where on the earth she gets those energy come from. She was always such a ball of energy. However, it is still a teensy problem compare to the one I'm currently stuck on. I had totally forgotten about this major problem since I repeat this loop… What the hell do I suppose to do with these two now?
"Follow the plan and do what you're supposed to do for once."
"…I did"
"Aren't these problems happening because you didn't?"
"…Plans don't work on the ground are meaningless"
Class Rep and Ayamine were strangely agreeable since the beginning of this loop. I hardly remember they had any confliction like the last loop until now. Only now, I had finally realized it was just a hallucination after all.
Marimo chan had issued mock battle simulation since this morning. Team A consisted of Meiya, Tama, Mikoto and Marimo chan with Meiya is the team leader. Team B consisted of class rep, Ayamine and me with class rep as our team leader.
A whole morning was spent with our side totally at losing side. Our team's TFSs became a collection of colourful decorations. Every single Fubuki in our team were splattered with paint from head to toes. My Shiranui was only slightly better in this regard.
Class Rep is a first rate excellent plan maker. Her plan was concise but effective. However, the only problem with her now is that she is still too inflexible to the flow of the battle. The unbalance in our team was greatly expanded with Ayamine existence in the team. Ayamine was always one of the best in our team when it came to snap decision making. Her thinking style and combat style is vastly flexible compare to Class rep. if she judged a situation was unfavourable if we still follow the plan. Then, she would just throw the plans out of the window and do whatever she deems fitted.
Hence, these two are like polar opposite of each other. It renders cooperation between these two are almost impossible at the moment. Worse, our opposing team is well-balanced. Tama is excelling in long range. Mikoto is an ingenious mid-range supporter. Meiya excelled in CQC and Marimo chan is a jack of all trades to make it worse. Long range, short range and mid-range, she can change her position right according to the situation required. She wasn't an elite from the Fuji Instructional Corp for nothing. Even with a Gekishin, she is still a tough opponent to take down.
"Will you two give it a rest already? We will resume the mock battle after this. We have to think up something or else we can't stand a chance." Even I felt ticking off from watching these two arguing. The difficulty of the mock battle has increased tremendously after Yuuko sensei made Marimo chan joined the opposing team. As if it wasn't bad enough, we must also deal with internal fighting.
"We will continue the mock battle after this. We do not have the luxury for venting your anger on each other." With the pre-installation of the XM3, I can't cheat this mock battle like the last loop. And definitely, the 5 days sleep-over solution can not deployed with Sumika and Kasumi always come to wake me up every morning. Undoubtedly, there will be a bloodbath in my room and a KIA report in Yuuko sensei office if that was the case.
"Tell that to Ayamine, she didn't follow the plan at all"
"…too slow, incompetence plans"
"God, you two are just…" I felt like giving up. Even with my previous experience as a squad leader, get these two into co-operation is rather a tedious job. Sighed inwardly, I dispiritedly looked at the two girls who butting head at each other. These two continuing fought each other like dog and cat. Haaaah, I wish Hayase was here and teach me what to do. If it was her, I am sure she will find a way somehow.
"What did you say?" the two girls stopped their quarreling and glared at me.
What the…? They were just fighting each other a moment ago. What's with this strange harmony? I could feel blood lust and killing intent directing at me. Did I say something wrong? "I said… God, you two are…"
"No, after that" once again, the two girls spoke in unison
I don't really know whether they get along or not… I don't think I said anything would invoke such hostility from them. "You two must hear it wrongly; I don't think I had spoken anything else after that"
"What was that about Hayase?"
"What do you want to learn from her?"
Damn. Did I speak that part out loud? "Ahaha…" I sweat profusely and retreat from the killing intent exude from the girls "Just thinking… it would be better if I should ask Hayase for some advices… to improve our teamwork" I can't believe what just escaped my own mouth. That was probably the craziest thing I ever said.
"What?" the girls once again groaned in unison and threw me a glare that could kill a bear.
Marimo POV
Anyone has set their eyes on how Shirogane piloting a TSF will probably have a same opinion. He is extremely gifted. Marimo was convinced that the boy simply has a natural aptitude to be an Eishi far greater than anyone else. She knew in theory that there is nothing a human can do that a TSF can't. However, it is easier to say than done. Human being can't even fully control their body at will, let alone a giant inorganic weapon like a TSF.
But, ShiroganeTakeru is different. Nobody could imagine how surreal a TSF can be until they watch the boy piloting his TSF. Until witnessing Takeru's piloting technique with her eyes, Marimo didn't think a TSF could able to perform such kind of bizarre movements. From Marimo's perspective, the TSF was not just merely a weapon or a machine to the boy; it was more likely an extension of his own body.
Those movements were simply too eye catching to any Eishis. Anyone has ever piloting a TSF would be captivated by how natural Shirogane moving his TSF. It was more than decades since TSF was introduced into the world military, but Marimo doubted the existence of another Eishis who could envision and produce movements like those of Shirogane. On another hand, anyone work in the mechanic department would simply shred a tear or two the moment they saw those bizarre movements. Marimo could easily imagine the work load of the mechanic department to modify and maintain Shirogane's TSF and making it keep up with the boy's surreal piloting technique.
Reckless they may appear to be, but nobody could argue the results produced from those acrobatic movements. In the first mock battle, Takeru exceeded Marimo's expectation by a huge margin. He single-handedly took out the opposing team in lesser than 15 minutes without waiting for any supporting from his team mates. It was completely a one-side battle and a landslide victory. Even putting into account that the Type 94-Shiranui combat capabilities may be undoubtedly outdo that of the Type 97-Fubuki, they won't amount anything if the Eishi is incapable of pulling out that advantage. That's why Marimo was exceedingly shocked.
Taking her childhood friend's order and Takeru's ability to consideration, Marimo joined the mock battle to reduce the handicap for Meiya's team. With the advantage of number and Marimo experience, they were able to put the boy dominating streak to a stop and win the next battles. However, that was when Marimo realized how good Takeru can be. Watching from the sideline and experience from the first person perspective is completely different. Marimo had fought side by side and against Eishis who reach the pinnacle of piloting a TSF, but she has never find someone as towering as Shirogane Takeru. In a TSF, the boy is completely dominance.
"Speaking of devil" Marimo mumbled as she saw everyone of the squad 207 line up in the hangar. The guy she mentioned dejectedly walked into the room while scratching his head. Nobody will believe those bizarre achievements could come from such a guy. Compare to the towering aura he exude when piloting a TSF, the boy looks rather clumsy and docile. Furthermore, his new hair style makes him look like a model than an Eishi.
"Salute" Chiruzu ordered her squad mates.
"Get into your personal TSF. We will begin the next mock battle shortly after this. Sakaki, Ayamine, Shirogane, the three of you better fix your attitude and work harder on your teamwork"
"Yes, Ma'am"
Takeru POV
"I will be fine against Mikoto and Meiya. With Marimo chan, I will somehow manage it. Two of you be quick with Tama then come and help me"
"…if I remember to" Ayamine snarled coldly through her transmitter.
"Why don't you ask your idolized Lt. Hayase to do that?" Chiruzu growled
The hell…are they on same page for once?"…Ahahaha, I guess we will be fine"
"Stop laughing" the girls agitatedly growled in harmony
I performed a boost jump and made my Shiranui a decoy immediately the moment I spot Mikoto's TSF.
"Two o'clock Mikoto spotted. I will run a decoy. 01, 04 back me up."
"Copy that"
The opposing team formation still remains unchanged. Mikoto and Meiya do recon and decoy. Marimo chan either stay at the heart of the formation protecting Tama or supporting Meiya and Mikoto. Tama remain hidden in her sniping position until she got a clear shot at a member of our team.
"Meiya spotted, 60 meters behind Mikoto"
"Why are they revealing themselves so soon?" Chiruzu groaned
"Must be Meiya's plan. I will pretend to take the bait and follow their lead."
Jumping out of my hiding position, I leaped toward Mikoto with my Shiranui. As if she was able to read my mind, Mikoto release a hail of bullets with impeccable timing.
"You won't able to hit me like that Mikoto"
I forcefully execute a crouch dash the moment my Shiranui touch the ground. Evading Mikoto barrage of bullets, my Shiranui plunge toward her Fubuki like an arrow.
"Shirogane, 4 o'clock" Ayamine alerted
Immediately, I cancelled the dash and leap backward. A melee halberd sliced through the place where I was a second ago. Without checking the IFF on my radar, I knew instantly it was no one else but Meiya. Other than her, nobody in the squad could performed such a deadly cut. Her supreme skill with niginata is slowly showing in her TSF control technique.
Setting my muzzle aflame, I rained bullets at Meiya's Fubuki forcing her to distance herself while leaping toward Mikoto once again. Reacting to my reckless dash, Mikoto retreated and shot a barrage at my Shiranui in full auto-mode.
"This is 01, 00 hasn't spotted yet" Chiruzu's voice boomed through my head set "06, retreated immediately. They are luring you in"
00? Marimo chan must set up an ambush somewhere with Tama in the direction Mikoto retreating. "No, we will use their plan against them. Ayamine, you move behind 05 and wait for my signal. Class rep, continue searching for Tama. You will pin her down when she revealed her sniping position"
"Shirogane, don't change the plan. Are you out of your mind? You will be full of holes the moment instructor Jinguuji and Mitsurugi corner you. Yoroi and Tamase will nail you down in no time" Chiruzu shouted
"That's when Ayamine come in. She will open an escape part for me by attacking at Meiya. Trust me. Just aiming for Tama, once I am out of the encircle, we will take out Tama first"
"You are just unreasonable"
"…reckless"
"Complain after this, miss this chance and we are sitting ducks"
"Do whatever you want" Chiruzu sighed
"Roger that"
I instantly resumed chasing Mikoto's Fubuki with the confirmation of my team mates. Mikoto acting was really obvious; she even slowed down a bit a moment ago to let me catch up with her. Even a kid could tell that she is luring me into a trap. On another hand, Meiya's TSF once again disappeared on my radar. Jeez, she can be troublesome at this rate. She could be unexpectedly a huge obstacle with her close quarter combat skills.
Continue to evading Mikoto's volley of paintball, my Shiranui pursued the Fubuki in a safe distance. Until class rep and Ayamine get into their position, I can't do anything reckless.
Then, my radar alerted the present of a new combatant. Turning my camera at the direction where the radar indicated, a Gekishin is running in the same direction of my Shiranui in a parallel road.
Is it a feint? I wondered. Marimo would not appear so early like this if she want to ambush me. Then, I must already am in Tama's sniping range. The trap, as expected must be somewhere around here. Damn, Ayamine still hasn't arrive at the agree position yet.
Beep beep beep!
Crap! A lock-on from 5 o'clock direction. Meiya has come out of her hiding place as well. Damn, until Ayamine is in her position, I can't jump into their trap yet. Pulling my control stick instantaneously and slamming my foot on the thruster lever, my Shiranui performed an aerial inverted boost jump, dodging a barrage of paintballs in a nick of time.
Beep beep beep!
I immediately do a sideway turnover to evade Mikoto's line of firing. Damn, talking about perfect timing. She almost caught me for a moment. Just like Ayamine, she read and adapted to the flow of battle really fast.
"Shirogane, 7 o'clock" Chiruzu's voice roared on my head set.
A Gekishin is running along the wall and slashing its melee halberd at my Shiranui in an impossible manner. I can't believe a first generation Gekishin could perform such a cut-corner Albright turn in that kind of speed.
Compelling my Shiranui to a low crouch dash, I barely avoid the slash by a paper thin. Battou! Quickly drew out my melee blade with the Shiranui remained free arm; I immediately fended off Meiya's incoming slash and made a small horizontal spin to meet her Fubuki expose back.
I might not need Ayamine support at this rate. Ramming my Shiranui and push the exposed Fubuki toward Marimo's Gekishin, I threw my assault rifles and hold the melee halberd in two hands and slash downward at the two staggering TSFs.
Suddenly, my fingers feel itchy. A tinge of chill ran down my spine. Slamming my foot violently at the thruster pedal, I compelled my steed to a forcefully inverted boost jump while its slash meets empty air.
Whoosh
A 120mm bullet soared through the place where I was standing a moment ago. That was too close! My heart beats so hard like a drum thanks to that shot. Thanks to my bestial instinct or perhaps extraordinary luck, I barely dodged that bullet in a nick of time. My palms are sweating copiously while cold sweat dripping down from my forehead. Tama was really merciless back there. If I jumped back another half a second slower, that bullet would surely repaint my Shiranui's cockpit area with a new colour.
"Tamase spotted at P11, currently engaging" Chiruzu reported as the atmosphere once again filled with gun firing noise.
"Copy that. 04 hold back 05 and 00 for me" I spoke hastily while recovering my assault rifle and moving to class rep's position.
The moment Marimo's Gekishin switched to her rifle and aimed at my Shiranui, Ayamine appeared from her hiding place and release a volley of paintballs. Marimo and Meiya were forced to dispersed to dodge the volley. Taking full advantage of that opening and ignoring Mikoto firing, I compelled my trusted Shiranui to a boost jump and head toward where class rep fighting.
"01, pin Tama down, I will take care of her" I call out to class rep the moment Tama's Fubuki come into my sight.
"06, copy that"
Chiruzu's Fubuki roared into action. Its thruster flared brightly while it plunging toward Tama likes a blue bullet. Rain of paintballs assaulted Tama's Fubuki and forced it to evade sideways while losing its balance.
"02 in range, moving to engage" Grabbing the chance create by class rep, I dashed toward Tama's Fubuki in my Shiranui.
Realize she was cornered; Tama staggeredly leaped backward and immediately rained bullet at the blue Shiranui. However, her bullets only met empty air as the Shiranui agilely plunge itself lower to avoid the firing line. Her screen suddenly went red and turned off instantaneously after the Shiranui momently disappeared from the screen. It was too fast for her tracking reticule to keep up with.
"Direct hit to Tamase's power supply. Fatal damage sustained" 1st Lt. Elena's voice judged the damage.
"Nice support, class rep"
"Save it for later, let's move to support 04."
"Copy that"
Running side by side with class rep's Fubuki, I rushed to the position where Ayamine's marker indicated the last 10 seconds ago. The delay in signal as one of the condition in this mock battle can be really annoying sometime. The markers on my radar isn't displayed at real time, they were somewhat delay at random interval from 15 seconds to 25 seconds. It could really hammer our teamwork with the false sense of position.
"04, report your situation" Chiruzu shouted
"…retreating to L09. Currently engaging 03 and 02, 00 is closing in."
"Retreat toward K06 instead, we will perform a pincer over there. 06, you will cut off 00 from the formation at K01"
"Copy that"
Boost jumped toward the designed ambush point, my Shiranui held an assault rifle in one hand and a melee halberd in another.
"This is 06, I'm in my position"
"Copy that, 04, where are you?"
"K03, arriving K06 in 9 seconds"
Meiya and Mikoto are still chasing after Ayamine closely and passed by my position unknowingly. But, I still have yet to spot Marimo chan anywhere. Where could she be? Ayamine report that she was closing in, so she must be around here somewhere.
Beep beep beep!
I yanked my control stick violently and make a mad dash the moment my radar detect a lock-on. What the heck! Where was it coming from? Rain of bullets continuingly chased after my Shiranui. A Gekishin agilely leaped out of a shadowy building from my back.
Beep beep beep!
Another lock on at 2 o'clock. I leaped sideway and abruptly make a right turn at the nearest intersection to avoid the bullets. What the hell was that? Was our plan backfire?
"06 retreat, they are coming for you" Chiruzu shouted
"Damn, the plan backfired. They intended to take out me first. 04, turn back. I need your support"
"Copy that"
Either Meiya or Marimo must have read through class rep's plan. Now the hunter becomes the hunted. Marimo's Gekishin sticked close to my Shiranui like shadow. It really amazing that she could continuously perform bunch of Albright turns whenever I turned at corners. I expected to drop her behind with the acceleration advantage of my Shiranui. However, with those Albright turns, the Gekishin acceleration and speed hasn't dropped one bit whenever it pass through a corner. It is really astonishing to see a Gekishin to keep up with a Shiranui in a chase like this. The cruise speed advantage of the Shiranui was denied as well due to the terrain. Worse, Marimo chan's aim is really accurate and fast. I have to change my direction continuously to evade her bullets.
"06, retreat to M03. I will cover you from there"
"Copy that"
Beep beep beep!
Forcefully, my Shiranui did a boost jump and dodge a barrage of bullet in a nick of time. Meiya's IFF appeared on the radar. Damn, this is one heck of an elaborate trap. The more I distance from the trackers, the more frequent I meet them. With Marimo chan chasing and gunning directly at my back and Meiya running side by side with me in a parallel road, I feel like a trapped rat.
"This is 04, 03 is heading toward you 06"
What the…? Why are they all gunning at me? Am I that popular?
"01 help 04 to take out Mikoto. I will handle 00 and 02"
"Copy that"
After abruptly making a sharp turn at the nearest intersection, I compel my trusted steed come to a sudden brake while turning 180 degree and wait for the in coming Gekishin. Probably reacted to the sudden change in her radar, Marimo forced her Gekishin to a sudden stopped as well before it reached the intersection. She is probably wondering whether this is a trap or rather a faulty in the IFF signal.
It didn't matter. If she doesn't come for me, then I will come to her.
A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye and Albright turn for… Albright turn. After building up momentum in a low crouch dash and follow by a horizontal boost jump, the jump unit flares up brightly as my Shiranui is running horizontally on ruined buildings toward the intersection. Without waiting for the lock-on system to work, I immediately release a volley the moment my Shiranui leaped out of the intersection. If Marimo was surprised by my recklessness, she did well in hiding it. Evading sideway, she instantly retaliated fiercely with a barrage of 36mm bullets.
Abusing the jump unit even further, I put the Shiranui into a frontal flip the moment it touched the ground. The distance between Marimo's Gekishin and my Shiranui instantly reduced tremendously with that front flip. Immediately follow with a volley at Marimo's Gekishin, my shots hit her assault rifle squarely.
Without delay, Marimo threw away her damaged rifle while brandishing her melee halberd and charged at my Shiranui. Cancelling the flip, I forced my trusted Shiranui to a horizontal boost jump to avoid the charge. Raised the assault rifle at the Gekishin's uncovered back the moment it bypass my Shiranui, I pulled the trigger unhesitatingly. However, follow my instinct; I violently stomped on the thruster pedal. A melee halberd swung down and knocked the assault rifle out of my Shiranui's hand.
Crap. When did she get this close? I felt cold sweat dripping down from my forehead. If I was any slower, it would be I who got hacked… not the rifle.
I don't know how did I was able to sense that incoming attack of Meiya or Tama just now. Whether it is due to my sharpen senses as a side effect of the blindfold experiment with Kasumi or a stroke of fluke, it was really mysterious that I actually could avoid them all. Even putting my uncanny intuition during piloting a TSF into account, I don't think I would able to dodge those attacks that easily in the last loop.
The radar's alarm immediately brought me back from dreamland. No time to ponder about that. Marimo charged her Gekishin toward my direction like a rhino while Meiya performed vertical boost jump and aimed her rifle at me.
Stomped the ground aggressively, my trusted steed leaped into the air avoiding the Gekishin's slash while crashing into a building with its right leg. Then using the ruined wall as a floor, I propelled toward Meiya in my Shiranui. Barely avoid her line of firing; I swung down the gigantic blade at Meiya's rifle holding arm.
The Fubuki reflexively made a swift spin and manage to dodge my slash, leaving its damaged rifle behind. Follow by a fluid movement, the Fubuki hold its melee halberd in two hand and swing mightily at my Shiranui. Barely has any room to dodge the swift attack coming from Meiya's Fubuki, I raised my own blade to defend against her attack. The produced force compels both the airborne Fubuki and my Shiranui stumble on the ground.
Without wasting a single second, Marimo's Gekishin launched at me like a bullet with its blade stabbing at me like a spear. Yanked the control stick wildly, I forced my Shiranui to stand up hastily and deflected the attack sideway. Still, the impact of the attack makes my Shiranui stumble slightly. Meiya immediately joined Marimo's attack. The Fubuki's jump unit flared up brightly as it plunged straight at my staggering Shiranui.
Leaping backward and meet the Fubuki's vertical cut with a horizontal defence, my Shiranui once again stumbled into the ground due to the impact. The moment my Shiranui crashed to the ground, Marimo's Gekishin once again launched at me with its brandishing melee halberd.
"Shirogane's left jump unit damaged, auxiliary energy output drop to 40%" 1st Lt. Elena calmly judged.
Darn, if I don't get into offensive soon, I will be out of commission in no time with these chains of attack. I can't continue to stay passively like this forever. However, these two make a really good combination with their perfect timing; I barely have any room or time to recover from the impact of their continuous attacks.
I hastily forced my Shiranui to rise up with its worn out jump unit and prepared to brace for the impact.
Then something that no one expected to happen, happened. In a nick of time, the staggering Shiranui miraculously sidestepped the slash and the charge of the Gekishin like putting a thread through a needle. Following the previous phenomenal manoeuvre , the Shiranui used its free hand to grab the arm of the bypassing Gekishin and pulled it into a tiny semi-circular motion.
An enormous clamour shook the battlefield unceremoniously. Sand and debris erupted into the sky as the Gekishin heavily thudded to the ground on its back. After that, dust and rubbles rained down on the steel giant and create all sorts of cling-clang sounds. Then, a dreadful silence heavily descended on the battlefield. A gale of wind blew by and lifted the veil of dust away, leaving a metallic giant lying squarely on the ground and a Shiranui with its melee halberd held high.
Nobody could imagine such a miniature motion could force a colossal first generation TSF on a full charge to overturn, spin in the air and crash to the ground on its back. Everyone was standing petrified at the shocking scenario before them. The dreadful silence continued to last for several seconds until a desperate voice rung through an open channel.
"Marimo chan, Marimo chan, are you ok?"
However, only the sound of silence answers him. "Marimo chan, answer me. Are you all right? Answer me Marimo chan." The boy cried out for his mentor like a lost child calling his mother. "Marimo chan, 1st Lt. Elena, please stop the mock battle. We need to send Marimo chan to the medical ward quickly"
Abruptly, a weak voice replied through the open channel "How many time…how many time I … have to tell you to… stop calling me Marimo chan?"
"Marimo chan, you are okay?"
"Geez,…you really don't have any intention…to fix it. Continue the exercise like usual"
"Marimo chan, are you really okay?" the boy anxiously asked
"Stop nagging at me. Are you my mother? Continue the exercise. This is an order" Marimo irritably growled.
"…Yes ma'am"
"Sergeant Jinguuji's power supply damaged. Main sensory unit damaged. Upper auxiliary power supply damaged. Left and right lower joints damage. Fatal damage sustained."
That was one heck of an impact. Takeru shuddered after listening to Lt. Elena's announcement. The damage is worse than Takeru could even think of. Not even an explosive shell from a 120mm clip could cause that much damage. He is really worried about Marimo's condition.
"Inattentiveness can be your worst enemy Takeru" Meiya's voice transmitted through an encrypted channel.
"Meiya…"
"Instructor said she is fine. You will only cause her more worry if you do not obey her order."
Takeru think for a moment. If he wouldn't obey Marimo's command and continue to worry about her, he will only hurt her pride as an Instructor. If he want to check her condition, it has to be after the mock battle end "Thank you Meiya, let's resume our fight"
"Well said Takeru" Meiya replied as her Fubuki entered a combat stance.
What the hell is Ayamine and class rep doing? Even with the XM3 installed on Mikoto's Fubuki. It wouldn't take that long to finish her off.
"Direct hit on Yoroi's cockpit. Lower legs direct hit. Right arm direct hit. Fatal damage sustained"
"Direct hit on Sakaki's upper left shoulder. Left arm immovable" Lt. Elena announced.
They could do it if they want to, huh…
"You are too fast"
"You are just too slow"
"At least watch for the timing, I was trying to immobilize her"
"It would be too late. Disarming her first…is the first priority"
What the…can't really tell whether they are getting along or not. Was that a fluke? Even so, how did they get Mikoto with that kind of squabble?
"This is 06, engaging with 02." I reported through my head set and ready my Shiranui for the combat.
Meiya's Fubuki remained still, holding its melee halberd with two hands in an offensive stance. Reacting to Meiya's fighting spirit, my Shiranui acted like a mirror reflection of the Fubuki, using the same combat stance. It may be weird to Meiya, but I am at ease the most whenever I used this stance in combat. After all, my combat skills are all adopted from many people. But mostly, they come from Meiya and Ayamine. It was a coincident that both Meiya and I favour this stance over many others. It is not just simply a stance to meet the opponent but also a mean to calm and focus ourselves. No matter how good I am compare to Meiya in piloting a TSF, I can't afford to be over confident. Firstly, her skill with the niginata is superior to mine, I won't able to last a minutes if we fought each other using a katana. Besides, it's rather an insult to her honour if I ever let her defeat me in a stupid manner. Lastly, whenever we assume this stance in our battle, the fight only last in an instance. Whoever makes a single mistake will definitely lose the match.
A gust of wind blew through the space between us like a signal. Meiya's Fubuki and my own Shiranui instantly charged head straight at each other.
The blue Fubuki performed an unexpected stab from it charging position at my cockpit. I stomped hard on the thuster pedal while hitting the brake. That combination induced my steed to a horizontal slide toward Meiya's Fubuki. Barely escape the unforseen stab, my Shiranui slipped through Meiya's defence. Before Meiya's Fubuki able to cancel its momentum, I rammed my Shiranui toward the Fubuki's expose side. As the Fubuki staggered forward due to the impact, I swiftly slashed the melee halberd at the blue Fubuki unprotected back and cleaved through the primary power supply source.
"Direct hit on Mitsurugi's primary power supply. Fatal damage sustained. Scenario complete. Everyone, return to your starting point and await auto-walk command" Lt. Elena announced the end of the mock battle.
Marimo POV
Marimo is currently in the hospital ward of Yokohama base. Sitting on a sickbed with a white bandage wrapping around her head, she is waiting for the nurse to announce her medical examination. So far, she didn't feel any indication of severe impact which may stop her from attending her job.
"Aside from the small cut on the head, you may suffer slight concussion damage. However, you will be fine after a short rest. I'll prescribe you some painkiller just in case. Okay?"
"…Thank you very much"
"Uhuhu, don't worry. It is nothing much. It was my duty to begin with" The green hair nurse chuckled softly while slightly pushing her glasses.
"Thank you"
"As I said, don't worry. That aside, I must say that I am really jealous of you Sergeant Jinguuji" the green hair nurse smiling lips suddenly change into that of a mischievous grin.
"…excuse me?" Marimo confusedly asked the green hair nurse while looking blankly at the gathering nurses who obviously interested in the conversation.
"Yes, anyone of us would die to have a man like that" a short raven hair nurse spoke excitedly while looking at Marimo with eyes of a Chihuahua.
Marimo's face instantly went beet red as the result. It's not that she forgot about it. It's more like she forced herself pretending to forget the earlier incident.
"Ara, you are blushing. How cute!" a curly hair nurse giggled
"I…I am not" Marimo faltered as she tried to deny the nurse's claim. Recalling the earlier racket causing by Shirogane Takeru, Marimo's face turned crimson as a result.
The moment the mock battle ended, realized that her Gekishin lower joints were damaged to the point that it can't stand up, Marimo got out of her TSF through the cockpit's hatch after reporting the condition of her Gekishin. Shirogane Takeru ran to her side like a possessed man. Even her sight was somewhat fuzzy; Marimo could clearly note the boy's face was visibly paled while looking at her.
Then, he transferred her to his Shiranui's cockpit in the midst of confusion. Ignoring her questions and struggle, the boy piloted the TSF back to the base's hangar in a brief moment. Like a possessed man, the boy repeatedly mumble the same sentence over and over again "You will be fine Marimo chan."
Only added to Marimo's dismay, the instant the blue Shiranui landed outside of the Yokohama hangar; carrying Marimo in his arms, Takeru hurriedly ran straight to the hospital ward. Struggle the boy's clutch due to her embarrassment, Marimo call out to the boy to put her down. Obvious to his surrounding, the boy still ran toward his goal while holding Marimo even tighter in his arms. "You will be fine Marimo chan" the boy repeated the same line once again.
Marimo then ceased her struggling when she saw a crimson colour liquid drop down on the boy's Exo suit. That was when Marimo realized it was her blood that seeping out and dropping on the boy's chest. Even so, Marimo can't exactly comprehend how such a small cut like this could make the boy panic so much. This is the same guy who excelled in every military subjects and a cool head to boost, he could easily apply a decent first aid with his medical knowledge. Yet, he was panic and behaved like a possessed man instead. Was it related to one of his past trauma or was it simply his natural reaction when he hurt a person close to him? Marimo has no idea. She quietly stayed in the boy arms and gazed at his face.
"Teheehe. Wasn't that a legendary 'princess carry'?" the raven hair nurse spoke excitedly and brought Marimo back to an embarrassing reality. "He was so hot and dreamy like a real prince."
"…" Marimo was so embarrassed that she couldn't let out a single word.
"He was so sweet and dashing. I always thought guy like that only existed in novel and Hollywood. Uhuhu" a pink hair nurse joined the conversation. Then she mimicked the boy's voice and repeat what he said. "Please help Marimo chan... Don't worry Marimo chan, you will be fine." The pink hair girl then drooled dangerously while her eyes are beaming with an eerie light. "He even calls you chan. How sweet can he be?"
"…" Marimo was mortified and retreated from the dangerous aura the pink head exuded.
"I am willing to die to have a chance dating such a guy" the green hair nurse sighed outwardly and adjusted her glasses.
"Sergeant Jinguuji, was he a cadet under your care?" the curly hair nurse asked. Immediately, the rest of the nurse brought their face close to Marimo waiting for an answer.
Resigned to the silent pressure, Marimo nervously nodded her head.
"Kyaaa" the nurses squealed excitedly in harmony "No way, such a relationship…"
"No, please don't misunderstand. It's nothing like…" Marimo waved her hands franticly to gesture her denial. Before she could finish, the room door was forcefully open.
"Marimo chan, are you okay?" a boy jumped into the room and asked
"…" everyone was stunned by his sincere yet crazy action. Then the nurses burst into small giggle. "And you still deny it Jinguuji san?"
"It's nothing like that" Marimo stammered while waving her hand frantically.
"Is she going to be okay? The boy worriedly looked at the nurses and asked
"Don't worry. She only suffered slight concussion damage. With a short rest, she will be fine" the green hair nurse answered.
"Thank goodness…" the boy sighed out in relief. "If something bad happened to Marimo chan, I don't know what…" wiping the tears welled up in his eyes, the boy carelessly spoke.
"Kyaaa" the nurses squealed hysterically once again.
"Like I said, it's a misunderstanding" Marimo frenetically tried to dispel the pink atmosphere in the hospital ward.
"You don't have to deny it. You will sadden your knight in shining amour greatly" the curly hair nurse winked at Marimo and grinned mischievously.
"Like I said…"
"There is no point to feel embarrassed about it. We will cheer for you" the green hair nurse patted Marimo shoulder and kindly spoke with a smile on her lips.
"Please listen to me"
PX
Few members of the Valkyries are sitting in the PX and chatting after their exercise.
"It is really unbelievable" Suzumiya Haruka gasped.
Shaking her head tiredly, Isumi said "I came to the hospital ward to visit Instructor earlier. The nurse told me it is nothing to be worry about, Instructor only suffered light concussion. She was released from the hospital a few hours after the check up"
"This is Instructor Jinguuji that we are talking about right?" Haruka asked with a doubtful look on her face.
"Earlier, I came to the hangar to tweak a few things in my Shiranui. I heard the mechanics complained on how Instructor's Gekishin totally become a wreck. They said despite it was a mock battle, the damage dealt to that Gekishin is worse than being hit by a real cannon shell" Kashiwagi Haruko said
"That Shirogane Takeru is surely one heck of an Eishi" Munakata Misae joined the conversation while sipping her olong tea.
Haruka frantically tried to close the mouth of her friend hearing a familiar guy name. "Misae san…"
"Don't worry, Haruka san. 1st Lt. Hayase is not here. We could talk freely about that" Kashiwagi nonchalantly spoke.
"How true…" Haruka sighed out
"Where is Hayase? I haven't seen her after the exercise end" Isumi curiously asked.
"She is in the simulator room with Akane" Haruka replied
"It has been a whole month, hasn't it? I can't believe that she would still wait for that guy" Isumi shook her head and spoke in amazement.
"I didn't expect 1st Lt. Hayase would be as much as a romanticist as Misae san" Kazama Touko widened her eyes in utter surprise.
"Toukooooo, don't sell me out like that" Munakata groaned at her best friend. Then she jokingly said "But, I find it really astonishing that Hayase of all the people I know I fall for such a docile looking guy. I thought she would definitely go out with a gorilla"
"Ahaha. Misae, do not let Mitsuki hear that. The last person told her that exact same line end up in hospital for months" Haruka chuckled weakly and warned.
"I see" Munakata was slightly shaken by Haruka's chuckle. She couldn't comprehend how Haruka was able to speak such dreadful thing with a sunflower smile on the face like that.
"Wait a second Munakata. You saw that Shirogane guy?" Isumi asked
"Yeah, 2 days ago, when I was updating the data on my Shiranui in the hangar, I saw Professor Kouzuki having a heated discussion with a strange guy. I asked a mechanic nearby out of curiosity the identity of the guy. It turned out to be the famed genius Eishi rookie in rumour as well as the co-inventor of the XM3." Munakata shrugged her shoulder and replied.
"I see. So the rumour turned out to be true…. If he could even take out Instructor Jinguuji like that with such little piloting hours, that guy is truly a frightening Eishi." Isumi nodded and started sipping her favourite juice.
"I can see why Hayase san was so infatuated with him." Kashiwagi closed her eyes and wisely nodded her head.
"I don't think she has fought with him in a TSF yet. Remember? She kept waiting for him a month ago" Haruka softly reasoned
"Maybe, it is something to do with her inhuman instinct. You know? Maybe she grew obsessed with him by detecting his fighting strength aura" Kashiwagi asked jokingly
"I would say she fall for his look" Munakata cut in
"Eh? Now I think about it. I only heard how amazing he was in piloting a TSF. I have yet to hear what does he look like?" Haruka spoke excitedly
"Well, you could say he is a dashing young man. Long hair, looking fit, kind of docile and naïve" Munakata chuckled slightly while describing the mentioned guy.
"Wow, sound like he would be popular with girls just like captain Isumi and 1st Lt. Munakata" Kashiwagi giggled
"Pfft. What are you talking about Kashiwagi?" Isumi almost choked on her juice. She immediately asked.
"Eh? Am I wrong? Captain and 1st Lieutenant received a lot of love letters and confessions before getting commission, right?" Kashiwagi unfazed by the reaction of her captain, she coolly cooed.
"…" Isumi sweated comically just by recalling those memories.
"By the way, there is a rumour that Shirogane was into older woman. Was it true?" Kashiwagi continued the gossip.
"Ahaha…" Isumi and Haruka laughed nervously hearing the question from Kashiwagi. They did suspect that rumour. Recalling their beloved instructor's reaction when the duo visited her and asked for a favour, they believe there are some true in the rumour.
"I see. So he is going out with professor Kouzuki?" Munakata nonchalantly asked. "From what I saw in the hangar 2 days ago, they appeared to be really close"
"…" Haruka scratched her cheek nervously thinking of the possibility,
"This is Professor Kouzuki that we are talking about. There is noway she would easily fall for a guy like that. He probably involved in one of Professor's research" Isumi regained her composure and coolly replied.
"So 1st Lt. Hayase still has a chance" Kashiwagi excitedly spoke in a half joking tone
"…" both Isumi and Haruka kept silent. A sentence 'Not quite sure' was clearly written on their face.
"I am not so sure about that" Munakata said in a serious manner.
"Eh?" the gathering members of the Valkyries focus their attention on Munakata.
"This is Professor Kouzuki that we are talking about"
"So?" Isumi asked confusedly, having no idea where her friend is heading toward.
"After all, there is no one as eccentric as her."
"Misae, just spill it out already." Haruka pestered
"Okay, they are definitely doing that" Munakata confidently declared.
"That?" the girls muttered in harmony
"Creating superhuman soldiers"
"Ha…? What are you talking about?"
"Ara, can't you all see? She is undoubtedly the world smartest genius. This Shirogane is also another genius and a kind of super genius Eishi that never appear in the world history. It is only natural that they would think about baby making to create superhuman soldiers who would be as smart as the professor and as strong as the father."
"Oh my…" Kashiwagi feigning surprised and put her hand to cover her widely open mouth.
"Pffttt" the other girls feebly choked as food and water entered their lungs due to the severity of Munakata's joke
Takeru POV
Sitting in his own room, Takeru watched the replays of the morning mock battles. There was something just exceedingly strange about it. Hitting the replay button once again, Takeru watched his own movements carefully on the screen.
The moment he dodged both Tama's bullet and Meiya's attack from a blind angle was replayed over and over again. Something was just wrong about them; however, Takeru can't tell what it is. Try to recall the event in his mind, Takeru did his best to make them as realistic as possible.
Dodging Marimo's unexpected Albright turn attack with a low dash, and immediately performed a Battou, quickly draw out the Type 74 TB blade to fend off Meiya's attack from the side. Those movements were just so surreal. They are neither resembled one of Takeru's original movements or those of Hayase. The elements of recklessness and madden weren't there. If they were his original movement, they would contain a lot of reckless high speed movements. If they were belonged to Hayase, they would never look as refined as that. But rather induced terror into the mind of people watching them with berserker like movements. Those polished moves slightly resemble one of the moves that Takeru copied from Meiya and Tsukuyomi's Mugen Kidou sword style. But, it definitely wasn't Mugen Kidou either. Then where did they come from? Takeru wondered.
In a small horizontal spin, he slipped through Meiya's defence phenomenally. Then as if he matched with the moment when Tama pulled her trigger, he forcefully made an inverted boost jump to avoid the 120mm bullet. That kind of reaction required to dodge Tama's bullet was unearthly. Tama was titled the Far East best sharp shooter for a very good reason. In many of the earlier loops, Takeru could vividly Tama used a Trans-Horizontal 1200mm Rifle to shoot down a high-speed re-entry HSST from above 500 kilometres away. Takeru came up with a temporary absurd explanation that he was too used to Tama timing that he was able to somehow sense that attack. But then, the way he easily slipped through Meiya's defence was outrageously impossible. Skilfully deflected the impact of the clashing swords sideway, made a small spin to negate Meiya's momentum and entered her undefended zone so naturally. Takeru's movements became even deadlier and more polished. They were so strange yet feel so natural to Takeru. He can't come up with any word to describe it. It was as if even his memory failed to recall the moves, his body perfectly remembered.
Then the moment the blue Shiranui miraculously slipped through the perfect charge of the Gekishin was replayed. Takeru shivered as he recalled that one particular Jijutsu like movement when he effortlessly spun the charging Gekishin into the ground. That was one dangerous play. Takeru sweated cold sweat profusely remembered the damage it did to Marimo's Gekishin. It looked totally harmless at first since it didn't involve using any kind of weapons to attack the opposing TSF's cockpit. And there weren't even a single dent on the first generation amour. However, even an idiot like Takeru could easily work out why it dealt so much damage to the Gekishin.
According to Newton's law of motion states: F=mv2, it is understandable why Marimo was injured even with the G force absorption ability of the Exo suit and why the Gekishin suffered so much damage. Unlike the third generation Shiranui, the first generation Gekishin was designed in mind with heavily amour with a tank like frame. The total mass of the Gekishin is several times of a Shiranui. Combined with the charging speed of the Gekishin and the centrifugal force when Takeru forced it overturned, the G force induced was colossal. The force may not affect the sturdy frame of the Gekishin, but it easily damaged the more delicate portions. Let alone the flesh and blood human pilot inside the TSF. It was close to a miracle that Marimo was somehow escape with slight injury.
A chill ran down Takeru's spine as he recalled the whole manoeuvre. He was totally different from his usual self. Normally, his usual state of mind would always burn like an inferno in a combat, whereas he was completely devoid of emotions during that stunt. Like a cold slab of metal, a killing machine, he acted without a slightest hesitation. Twisted the Shiranui sideway to avoid the slanted slash of the Gekishin, and then using the already exhausted jump unit to a tiny horizontal boost to match the Gekishin's charging movement while evading the collision and finally use the free hand of the Shiranui to twirl the amour like TSF to the ground. It happened only in an instance when Takeru's head turn blank. The moment Takeru vehemently jolted back into reality, he barely prevented himself from following the combo, using his held high melee halberd to stab through the cockpit area of the fallen metallic giant.
Takeru realized there was something changing inside of him. He didn't know why he was able to do that so naturally or what happened to him. Where did those moves come from? How did he adopt those moves? Even racking his brain to pieces, Takeru still has no clue.
The Jijutsu technique he used slightly resembled one of Ayamine space tornado. But it definitely wasn't. The angle wass just wrong and the move itself is clearly too sharp and fluid. The way he abused the exhausted thruster to avoid the impact was slightly resemble his original moving pattern. However, that was the only detail Takeru able to draw out from watching the video. The way he skilfully sidestepped the slash in the last moment and spun the Gekishin on a full charge to the ground was exceedingly phenomenal. Nobody he known has that fighting style. It is too refined to be Hayase, too reckless to be Tsukuyomi, too sturdy to be Ayamine and too emotionless to be Meiya.
Unlike Hayase's style, the way he dodge the collision with minimal movement was nothing alike. Compare to Tsukuyomi's style, the way he abused the worn out thruster to dodge the charge made a distinguishing different. Forcing the Shiranui to match the timing of the Gekishin was unlikely to be Ayamine's style. Lastly, Meiya's attack contained emotion. Takeru could vaguely read Meiya's emotion from her attack. Anger, calm, terror,… He could somewhat feel the emotion in each and every time Meiya swing her blade. However, he could feel none from watching his own attack. As if staring at death itself, completely devoid of emotions like an empty shell, the way Takeru moved was completely like a killing machine. Disregard for his own safety, disregard about the status of the opposing enemies, he would simply strike down anything come to him like an epitome of death.
Staring blankly at his own hands, Takeru furrowed his brows at the memory of the morning mock battle. It was as if the more he moved in a TSF, the frequent those killing machine movements will subconsciously resurface. As much opposing to the joy he find out when he adopted Hayase's style into his, Takeru is utterly mortified at the newly discovered hideous monster lurking inside him.