Overall, I don't really like how I did with this chapter, but I guess in terms of my writing quality, it's well enough. Content wise, egh, I don't feel very good about it. Probably since I was in a rush to get to the next chapter, which I liked much, much more. Oh well, I guess you guys can tell me how much you liked it or how much it bombed. And it's fairly short, too DX
Well, as usual, REVIEW REPLY TIME, GOOOOOOO!
TrustyChester: Hahaha, true that. Make your own door! :D Thanks for reviewing!
DGKSilver: You have no idea how close I came to dying from laughter when I read this comic. Let me just say that it's scary how Actual!Yuki plays Helios!Yuki so well… considering that Actual!Yuki is the one who wrote this story out and is probably as devious as me. You'll see how things play out. Thanks for reading!
lemonlover95: Thanks! I hope you enjoy today's chapter!
Kerlongsj Evert Orlejov: Yeah, we had fun all coming up with the armaments Helios would eventually use, though Unknown Variable was always on the list, but had different names. It actually used to be called Unrelenting Force, but it was eventually renamed. Houki and Rin's reactions were fun as well, since it was already established they had no romantic interest in Lione… and thus as old friends, wouldn't hesitate teasing the crap out of him, but would like for them to get together XD I hope you like today's chapter, and thank you for reading!
Deni: Ha, glad I rewrote the fight scene, then. Lione's "berserker" self is part adrenaline, part realizing that there's a possibility that he could hurt Yuki by extension of him getting maimed/killed. In reference, think back to Chapter One, where Lione nearly throws himself off the bridge and thusly, nearly brought Yuki to do the same. He wants to avoid that again if possible, so when he realizes that there's a chance of his injury hurting Yuki as well, he goes into "Must avoid hurting her" mode which seems like a berserker. As for Lione's dad… hmhmhmhm, I love knowing the story ahead of time. With Ichika, well, just read the chapter. Thanks for reviewing!
Alright, I believe that's everyone! Again, sorry if today's kind of a boring chapter, it's really just… sort of that bridge that needed to be crossed to get to the chapter after this one.
=Helios=
-Volume 2: High Noon-
Chapter 6: Brother From Another Mother
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"It's funny. Every crook I meet wants to tell me how much I'm just like them."
Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist
=(==)=
"Would the last one out kindly turn off the lights?"
Herbert S Watson
"So, how is it over there?"
"Shhhh." I say, going for… HAHA, GET WRECKED! GREGOR… SAMSOOOOOON!
"Guh!" Ichika cries out as I finish him off. "Dan, don't talk during fighting games! It's distracting!"
"That's what you get for not being MLG pro. Get good, and all that." I say with an unnatural cocky smile, flashing a thumbs up at Chifuyu's younger brother, while at the same time removing my headphones. "Man, these things are really great for blotting out most noise."
Anyways, Ichika and Dan. Two old friends I used to run with, especially once Rin came into the picture. Didn't get to keep in contact for well… the same reasons that I dropped out of contact with Rin.
"So, what were you asking?" I ask, stretching my arms.
"How is it over there?"
"Well, it's not all sunshine and rainbows with girls in hula skirts if that's what you're thinking." I answer as I take a swig of green tea. "Seriously, the academic aspect is kicking my ass. Thank God Houki's able to help me. That, and fortunately Rin's no longer hostile once I explained why I suddenly left and actually assisting me in training now."
…Helios, is it just me, or has the mood suddenly turned sour?
"I detect some hostility in this room. Switching to standby mode." Helios says. Oh yeah, I'm allowed to bring him out of the Academy seeing that I need some way to defend myself. Damn IS purists—
Wait.
Ohhhh, I see.
"Oh my God, don't tell me. Hold on, hold on. Ichika… yooou like Houki and Dan, you glared at me once I mentioned Rin, so thusly—"
"Lione, you and me, one and one, Filia against Double."
"No man, fuck you." I immediately launch back at the male Gotanda sibling. "Dude, you're crazy at Double. You gotta practice like, two hours a day or some shit for that. Either way, you all just confirmed what I was thinking. Goddamn, y'all gotta spit out your feelings or something."
"Yeah, like you should with Miss 'Believe in me, Yuki'."
"Oh buzz off. Don't worry, don't worry, I'm not in there to steal your girls or whatever. Don't even bother denying it, I can tell. It's obvious.
"Still though, I find it kinda surprising your sis isn't in here." I comment as Ichika changes his character to Ms. Fortune to go up against Dan's Painwheel. "What, she on a date or something?"
"Whoa, is that an affair I hear? Wow Li—"
Dan freezes in place from the glare I give him. Don't you even fucking dare.
I put on a small grin and speak with absolute calm. "No, I'm just curious about my friends. After all, your sis used to run with us all the time, despite the fact she was a year younger. From what I remember, she didn't hang around with others in her year as much."
"A-ah… y-yeah. She found a guy in her year. They've become really fast friends. I wouldn't call it a date, but really only because they haven't formally gone out yet."
"You talk with the kid already? Have the whole 'big brother' talk? Didn't scare him off, did you?" I give a laugh as Dan rolls his eyes while still kicking Ichika's ass, hopefully relieving the tension.
"Nah. Besides, Ran would kill me if I did. T-though, dude… that glare ahaha…"
"If anyone ever suggests that… well, really the only thing that prevented me from punching you was that you're a pal. I know you were only joking. But if anyone else were to suggest that, even as a joke, I would not hesitate."
"Yeah, I bet. Woo, that was pretty scary actually." Dan says, breathing out a sigh of relief while at the same time, still keeping focused on the game.
"Haha, sorry about that. I just get really pissed, you know? Someone suggesting that after… ahh…"
"I know she's watching! I know she's waiting! I know she's—"
"SH-SHUT UUUUP!" I yell, realizing my face is blazing red right now. I… I still can't believe I said those words… b-but they just felt so natural at the time… and now I'll neeeever get to live it down.
"You know, I heard that Shin Mazinger Z – Rise of Greater Z-Prime used that line in one of their latest episodes."
"Oh ffffff…"
"You're not going to live this one down." Ichika laughs as he gets destroyed again, since he kinda sucks as Skullgirls.
"I kinda figured that one out already… I just didn't know it was that bad. Like, you know that it's going to be up on Wikipedia that the goddamn line came from me." I mutter, sinking my head. "Oh God… I mean, I'm proud, you know, to have said it because it's true but… doesn't change that it's really embarrassing when you think about it."
"Ah, I'm sure it'll blow over soon." Dan shrugs. "So hey, have you heard the news? Apparently there's been a second male discovered. Not sure if it's real or just a hoax, but if it's true, there'll be another guy attending."
Huh. Well, that's nice.
"I guess I'll find out if there's a transfer soon." I say, putting a finger to my chin.
Before we can star the next round, we hear a clear DING! resound through the room. Hm?
"Oh, it seems it's done." Ichika says first, immediately standing up and going downstairs. I guess he was baking something?
When we get to the kitchen, Ichika puts on a light grey apron and oven mitts before moving to the oven. Lasagna? Seems pretty uncharacteristic of Ichika.
"I thought you might like something other than Japanese cooking." Ichika explains with a smile, putting the tray on top of some cork circles on the counter. "They have other styles at the Academy, but I guess you probably don't each those very much."
"Not really."
"But yeah, I thought I'd cook you some."
"I guess it fits the house husband theme you have going…" I mutter as Ichika starts setting the table for the three of us.
"House… husband?"
"Ichika, go stand in front of a mirror. And do you have makeup on?"
"I don't understand what you're on about." Ichika says, waving a spatula at me.
I give a glance to Dan, who only rolls his eyes. "He's just in denial, Lione. That, and we all know Houki can't cook."
"Heh. Either way, looks good. Thanks for thinking about me when making it, Ichika." I say, patting him on the back.
Ha, I suppose Ichika's always been like this. He's mellowed out since we were kids though. Back then, we were real ruffians, getting into a scrape or two. Mainly over when they'd make fun of Rin or something to make her cry. We were sort of her knights, but Dan was in charge. Ichika threw a pretty good punch though.
Though, about that new kid… heh if it's true, I wonder what kinda guy he'll be—
"Hello, my name is Dunoa Charles, and it's a pleasure to meet you." A short haired blonde person says while dressed in the male uniform, bowing to us.
BullSHIT THAT IS A DUDE!
"Pilot Irivasel…"
Helios?
"While this may be disappointing… that is in fact, a male standing in front of us. I can tell by… thermal scans of a certain area."
Somewhere, thousands of miles away, the personification of all masculinity in the world screams in pain and denial. The being in front of me sparkles! That simply cannot be a dude!
"Pilot Irivasel, I understand you have a very solid idea of what masculinity should be, but you can't deny that the person in front of us here is in fact, a male."
I still can't believe that's a dude…
"Awwwwww!" Half the class shrieks, making me wince from the sheer volume. "Dunoa-kun, Dunoa-kun—!"
Their various questions and requests cascade over each other, making a never ending cacophony. However, Charles only laughs calmly, shooting them a disarming smile that makes everyone calm down. Wow, kid's got some skill, I suppose. Either way, at least I have someone to draw all the attention off me.
"Irivasel." Chifuyu snaps, making me look up. "You're the class representative. Show him around."
"Understood," I say half-bored, standing up. "Alright, let's go. There's quite a lot to cover."
As soon as we're out the door and far enough down the hall, I start talking. "So, they're pretty excited, huh? It's not every day a guy ends up coming to IS Academy. You'll be dealing with them quite a bit, so hey, we're in this hell together?"
With that, I raise my left fist. Charles' stare fixates on it. He tilts his head, clearly confused. "Ah… do I shake your fist or…?"
What.
No, seriously. What.
"E-even I find this hard to believe… I am an artificial intelligence construct and even I know what the social ritual known as a "brofist" is."
"Dunoa-san."
"Y-y-yes?!"
"Raise your right fist."
"A-and…?"
"Now you bump it with my left."
As he moves his, I move mine, slightly bumping our fists. "Now that is called a brofist. Well, it's a fist bump, but when it's between two guys, it's called a brofist."
"I see…!"
"Uh, you didn't get out very often, huh?"
"Ah, I was always studying or practicing my piloting skills." He says with a dignified wave of his hand. "They're very helpful, after all."
"Haha, you can probably teach me a thing or two. I uh, do kinda suck at piloting."
"Oh? But you seem to be very excellent from what videos I have seen. You handled fighting your last opponent very well."
"Haha, that's mainly because I had Helios." I lift up my right hand. "If it wasn't for him and his capabilities, I'd really be getting my ass kicked. Oh, right. Uh, I'd really be getting wrecked out there. I'm apparently supposed to watch my mouth, so uh sorry if I drop an occasional swear."
"Oh, I see. Well, it would certainly make you a much more professional man." He comments, but in a rather polite way. "Ah, shall we finish our tour?"
"Hm? Oh yeah, we were supposed to be doing that. Let's boogey."
"Um, boogey? I understand you might wish to, but I believe dancing should be done later…"
…Charles, you have much to learn. Helios, what's our schedule looking like for the next week?
"Our next examinations are not for three weeks. However, it is still Wednesday."
Oh yeah, we're going on a pop culture marathon.
"Charles, if I can call you that, just roll with me and you'll figure things out as I go."
"Y-yes! U-um, where are we going to roll to?" He says, adopting something like a martial arts stance, preparing for a front roll.
"…Just follow me."
Charles, understandably of course, has no idea what pop culture is, but is a great study partner.
Oh yeah, he's a he. I confirmed this when walking in on him in the shower because he's really used to living alone. I am definitely not jealous of his endowment nor cursing my Asian blood as we speak or anything.
Houki took being kicked out quite well, but that's not stopping her from breaking into… ah shit, still not getting a break from morning swordplay.
Well, I guess I did ask for it. Heh, I'd like to take a break every now and then, though.
Either way, I hope he's ready for this episode of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.
"Kamina died for our sins."
Damn straight.
Cue to about twenty minutes later, with Charles having a few tears rolling down his face.
"Kamina-sama…" he whispers, fists held close to his chests. "…Lione-sama, thank you for showing me this masterpiece."
"It's not even close to over."
His mouth hits the floor… if it could, anyways.
"Are you ready for the next episode?"
"GHARKACKP!"
That odd noise is what comes out of both my and Charles' mouth with Chifuyu smashes us both in the head with a textbook.
Note to self, save marathons for Saturdays, not Wednesday nights. Er, well… I suppose any night that's not a weekend. We were fine staying up most of Wednesday night, but things started to drag out and well…
…being behind in sleep for almost a week or something like that doesn't help being in Chifuyu's class, to say the least.
But it was still worth it. We're almost there at finishing Macross, and then after that I've gotta show Charles things like Pulp Fiction, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and pretty much every amazing movie pre-IS era.
Also, he's never seen Star Wars! Or at least, the original trilogy or hell, even any of the first like, good ones. By good ones, I mean the ones that were created pre-IS era, back before we had just pure female casts that were pretty much the old ones remade but pandering purely for IS supremacists and all that.
Just… how could you keep a kid in the modern era so sheltered like that? That should be a crime against humanity or something.
Charles, despite the pain, flashes me a thumbs up before standing up and apologizing to Chifuyu. I shrug it off and just say I'll pay more attention.
This morning is a practical lesson after the lesson. Well, I guess I'll be able to see Charles in action. He does have a custom IS, or so I heard.
Hm… maybe I can start calling him Char. I should show him Gundam next, actually. Maybe he'll take to it if I choose that way.
"First, we'll be watching a battle that involves close range and shooting."
Helios, prepare for combat. Don't come out yet, but just get all critical systems for combat running and ready.
"Understood, Pilot Irivasel."
Today's lesson also combines our class and Class 2, so Rin's out here.
"I'd like to have a real battle so…" Chifuyu scans over the classes. "Huang. Alcott. Deploy and prepare."
Oh. Well, okay then. Helios, you can stand by for now.
"Understood."
The two of them deploy and lock eyes with each other.
"Heh." Rin grins with a certain confidence. "I might not be able to match up in speed, but I've still got some tricks up my sleeve."
"Fufu, like I'll even let you get within range."
"Idiots. Your opponent will be—"
"Pilot Irivasel, incoming movement!"
"AHHHHHH! PL-PLEASE GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Helios, Sever Chains!
"Chain Severing Systems, Timaeus and Critias, Active!"
The thrusters on my legs and the subsequent armor form before the human eye can even catch up and explode with energy, sending me into a backflip. I touch down on the ground in a tripod landing, the rest of Helios forming up around me as I get into boxing stance, Unbreaking Hand materializing.
Heh, I can really only do that first part since I've been practicing with Partial Deployment. Good to know we've got that skill roughly down.
"Indeed. Good work, Pilot Irivasel."
"Even though she might not always act or look like it, Yamada-sensei was a former representative candidate." Chifuyu explains as my green haired teacher adjusts her glasses with both hands before taking out her rifle. "So then girls, let's start."
"A two-against-one?" Alcott asks while I deactivate Helios. I also don't like that very subtle grin Chifuyu has.
Rin is silent before looking at me. Helios, private frequency message.
"Set."
My message is a simple one: "Don't underestimate her."
The reply is even more blunt: "Obviously".
"Hmph. We'll see if you keep saying those words after this match. Rise up to twenty meters and begin."
Charles, under Chifuyu's command, tells us that Yamada-sensei is using the Raphael Revive from the enterprise that his father owns. What's nice about it is that it's extremely modular—that is to say, unlike most IS units which are strangled by their Equalizers and the equipment that comes with such, Dunoa Corporations can easily outfit their IS for multiple situations.
For example, their rifle-helmet-shield combination might be made for a mid-range fighter. Now for most IS users, especially for personal IS pilots, this combination would be locked in with their Equalizers or something like that. With Dunoa equipment, these can all be recalibrated and changed for a sniping set up. While it means they don't have a specialty, it means they can adapt to almost any situation.
The battle doesn't really go… well for Rin or Alcott. Yamada-sensei's shots are pinpointed by nothing more than instinct to force them together before… and there's the finishing blow.
…Hm. I wonder…
"Pilot Irivasel, facing her would be far outside our league. Defeating Alcott and Rin is one thing, but remember they don't have nearly the amount of experience Yamada-sensei does."
I know, but… I just would like to see how far I've come. What's the fastest way than to go up against someone who completely outstrips me? Even getting in one hit on someone with that skill level… it would mean we've already made a massive leap.
"I suppose."
"Alright, now that the show's over, everyone split up among the personal IS users. By seating arrangement, so it's easier."
There's some disappointment, but also some elated gasps of happiness. Sheesh…
Hm, our unit is a standard Raphael Revive, with a marking on the back that says A2.
Of course, that leaves Houki as the first one in line for my group.
"It's a little high." She notes, looking up. "Someone forgot to leave it bent down."
"Do you think you can climb it or do you need some help?" I ask, preparing to summon Helios.
"Just give me a boost upwards." Houki says, slightly stepping back. I get the cue and kneel down, readying my hands. Houki then moves forward and uses my hands as a stepping stool, where I launch her up. She perfectly lands on top, starting to initialize the IS which is mainly the goal for now.
"Well, I'd tell you to get out since I know your skill with an IS, but so that way it's fair for everyone, try taking a few steps forward and then breaking into a run." I say evenly.
Let us create tomorrow with these hands.
With that line, I take a short hop into the air and then land back down in full Helios gear. Houki does as expected, seeing that she regularly kicked my ass back when I was first training. Ha… I still have all these other girls to get through, though…
Soon enough, the lunch bell rings. Charles and I go get changed in a separate locker room before heading out to meet up with everyone else. Thank God the school actually realized that it might be a bad idea to have us changing in the same area.
"Ah, Lione-sama."
"I thought I told you to drop that honorific."
Unfortunately, with me being a pop culture teacher, mentor, and example to Charles, he's started referring to me with that damn honorific. I've told him the past two days to drop it, but he just won't.
"Then, Lione-sensei."
Oh good God, why?
"You don't need to address me with an honorific."
"B-but you're a brilliant teacher!"
Helios, what's my blood pressure?
"Pilot Irivasel, I believe your blood pressure is the least of your concerns right now."
With the stress right now, that's not going to be the case for much longer.
"What… are you teaching him?" A new—oh no, Houki heard that.
I give a death glare to Houki, especially for the extremely suggestive way of asking that question. And that slight blush tint on your cheeks isn't helping either! Oh shit, don't tell me…
"Pilot Irivasel, assuming that Houki has a closet fetish for yaoi is… not entirely out of the question."
…I'm getting the shinai later.
"Okay, screw it, just use 'sama' if you want to—Oh, uh, hold on. I gotta take this." I say as my phone buzzes, taking it out as we start walking. Oh, Yuki? What could she be calling about at this time? It's night time over there, she should be sleeping. "Hey Yuki, what's going on?"
"H-hi, Lione! I know you're probably very busy right now, but I wanted to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"I… I started taking up the sword as well!"
I almost drop the phone from my hands. "W-what?"
"A-are you sad?!"
"N-no, of course not! That's a pleasant surprise, you just caught me off guard, that's all, honest! I'm really happy you chose to do so."
"Ehehehe."
"Uh, who's teaching you?"
"Ken's teaching me."
"Ah, I see."
"B-but, he said he's also teaching me from everything he's seen from you as well!"
"Oh, that's pretty neat."
"A-ahahaha… um, Lione?"
"Yeah?"
"W-when you come and visit… c-could you please teach me?"
"W-what are you saying?! Of course I would! You don't have to worry about asking me about it."
"I… I'll look forward to it, then!"
The two of us start talking a bit after that. Turns out as soon as Yuki committed to taking up the sword, Ken (and Melanie) immediately decided that she better tell me, as it was the only proper thing to do. Thus, Yuki walked straight into teasing bait.
Ha… Well, I guess I can't be upset.
"I'll look forward to when I can teach you as well."
"O-of course!"
Before I can even respond, Yuki ends the phone call, but I swear I heard laughter that sounded like Melanie's for a split second there. Sheesh, she's serious about this and you guys are teasing her…
Hmm… teaching Yuki…
"I-is that good enough?!"
"Let's try again. Once more, with feeling. You have to really understand your blade."
"Hii… hiiiyah!"
"That's better!"
"Hehehe… Um… Lione, can I try holding your sword?"
"Um… well, I guess so. I'm a little picky about who gets to wield the Irivasel blade, but I think it's okay since I trust you."
"It's… heavy."
"A blade is meant to take a life. That weight is the price of a life."
"Lione's sword is so big too…"
"Pilot Irivasel… Pilot Irivasel…"
HWABWHA—what?!
"Pilot Irivasel, you should really get going to lunch."
R-right.
"Also I detected some unusual brain activity. Were you perhaps day dreaming? You seemed very out of it."
Definitely not.
"…You were day dreaming about teaching Yuki in the sunset."
I was not!
"Your vehement denial is not helping…"
Whatever! I'm going to lunch.
"Charles, let's go. I still can't believe you haven't ever eaten a sloppy joe… Anyways, we need to make up for lost time."
Later at said lunch, Charles is inspecting his sloppy joe from every angle as if it's some rare specimen he's never seen before. I mean, he's seen potato wedges before, which they serve here with the sloppy joe, but apparently it's just… too much for him.
Also, he's never apparently heard of mixing drinks or at least, soda. I mean, there's a huge soda fountain (explaining to Charles that it was not legitimately a fountain of soda as in like a mall fountain was an episode in and of itself) and then when I put multiple drinks in the same glass, it apparently shocked Charles. You've seen mixed martinis but not sodas? Geez…
Seriously though, just how sheltered is this kid?
"You have eaten a hamburger, right?"
"I have."
"You eat it the same way." I tell him, holding up mine. "You can't tilt it too much and grabbing it in the wrong place will cause the sloppy joe to sort of fall apart."
"T-truly you are a master…!"
…Helios, is he being legit about this?
"Pilot Irivasel… with microexpression analysis, this is not faking. All of his microexpressions match up to legitimate surprise and shock and in this case, respect."
…Wow.
I start eating, Charles trying to mimic my motions. Unfortunately, he grabs it in the wrong area and also pushes too hard, making the insides leak out. Fortunately for him, he's eating above the tray and thusly it doesn't get all over his clothes.
"Aw…"
"You'll get the hang of it." I say with a shrug. "It's not like I was perfect the first time I ever ate a sloppy joe. You at least didn't make a huge of a mess as me."
"I would have liked to finish it whole, though." He somewhat pouts before taking a sip of his tea, which is an odd thing to pair with sloppy joe if you ask me. "Oh, you said something about introducing me to someone as we walked here?"
"Oh yeah, I need to introduce you to my pals back home." I lean back in my chair and look up at the ceiling. "…I think it'd be good for them to meet you, now that we've known each other for a while. Besides, you're a pretty nice person so I think they'd take a shine to you right away."
Helios
Charles' first question when he got back to the dorm room a good thirty minutes after Lione due to him fending off some rather aggressive seniors was why he was currently hugging a body pillow with a purple haired girl on it in front of his computer.
"D…. do you like it?"
"Y-yeah." Lione admitted with a blush before realizing the door was open. "O-oh hey, Charles! Come over here, I need to introduce you."
Charles saw first and foremost, the purple haired girl that was currently on said pillow. "Is this… Miss Celladon?"
"Yes, that's Yuki." Lione confirmed. "Behind her is her sister, Melanie. To the left side of the screen is Roy and the last guy is Ken."
"May I ask why you have that pillow…? I heard that hugging pillows were very popular in Japan, but I'd never have imagined that you would have let one be created of your girlfriend, Lione-sama."
"G-g-girlfriend?! Hawawawa…!" The purple haired girl on the screen huffed, her cheeks instantly flaming red.
"S-she's not my girlfriend, Charles. She's just um…"
"His wiiiiiife!" The other girl on the screen cheered.
"Oh, I had no idea. Congratulations, Lione-sama. Though I would have taken you as one who would be proud to wearing his wedding band. However, I'll keep this secret from the others, as it would no doubt crush many a hearts. I suppose your consideration for others is what has kept this secret for so long."
"Melanie that's not funny!"
"But your blushing face is!"
"H-he's not my husband! Melanie's just joking around!" Yuki adds on, violently shaking her head. "A-are you okay now, Lione?"
"Oh, about the event a few days ago? Yeah, I'm okay. I… I probably could've been better though. I'll become stronger and better so you don't ever have to worry about me."
While the others normally would've made a joke or tried to tease him, everyone could read the mood that Lione was stone-cold serious when he said this. Even the figure who was standing outside his door knew that that sentence was uttered like an absolute truth.
It was here that Charles realized that he thought he had it bad. Just a tool of his father, meant to spy on Irivasel who he had been told was cold and ruthless and while he displayed those characteristics in battle, the person sitting right in front of him—Lione-sama, holding a body pillow of a girl he obviously cared for halfway across the world—could not be the same person he was told.
He had been given and read Irivasel's file, obviously, having been sent to watch him. Charles could feel the sudden urge to apologize rise up as he watched Miss Celladon and his Lione-sama talk back and forth, also noticing that Miss Celladon was latching onto a body pillow of Lione-sama. While he was sheltered, he had ead some books about lovers who were separated across many things, perhaps in displacement for his father who was never there, such as time, distance, and even death. It was there he realized that while the both of them denied it, it was plain as day that Lione-sama and Miss Celladon were head over heels in love. No matter how much they denied that fact, it was simply true.
Charles knew he had always been holding onto an illusion, hoping that perhaps his father would truly, truly care for him and maybe close the distance that had erupted between them. But there was no point wishing for an illusionary dream. Here in front of him though, were two lovers that couldn't close the distance and would have no hope of doing so for the next three years.
"Ah… Lione-sama, could you answer my question from before?"
"Oh, right. Well um… I have this because I… I asked Yuki to make one for me since she has… one of me… and…"
"It's soooo cute! Isn't it? Isn't it, Charles—if I can call you that—isn't it?!"
"Hahaha, it is rather amusing, Miss Melanie. But… the circumstances that led to such a thing are truly tragic. Lione-sama… I truly wish you the best and I pray that nothing more separates you and Miss Celladon."
"Charles? Where is this coming from?"
"I… I realized several things. I would much rather prefer to talk in private."
"I see."
Helios
After Ken finished explaining (in secret to me) that Yuki was much more assertive now and the other day apparently leapt to my defense against a bunch of girls badmouthing me without so much as even a stammer, Charles gave me his story.
First off, it made me remember there are people in this world that really deserve a boot to the head, Charles' father being one of them.
Second, I felt a resonance with my dad… and how he just left…
Third, it revealed why the kid was so sheltered.
I'm guessing that they kept him away from anything that might let us keep a common bond in order to distance us.
"That would be a logical conclusion."
"P-please forgive me, Lione-sama!"
I catch his arm and yank him up. "Oh no, I can't have you bowing to me. I don't let people bow to me, Charles. That would make me no better than some of the others in this world. But… you know, I'd like to say that I don't trust you, but I can't bring myself to. You're a good person at heart."
"Thank you… Lione-sama…" he says, starting to stream tears.
"Hey, no crying until the end." I reply, offering him a tissue. "…Though I know how it feels, too. It gets lonely, right?"
"Yes... for a while, I was scared about if you ever found out. I felt… I felt like I had really found a friend for the first time. Someone who was there because they wanted to be there. I was afraid if you found out that you'd leave me behind…"
"Hey, I'm a Returner of Hope. Our motto goes along the lines of not caring who you are, we'll return hope to you. I still can't believe they told you I eat instant noodles dry though. What kind of indicator is that for coldness?"
"Hehehe, I did think that was an odd case."
"Alright, well, now we both know the truth about each other. That's enough to be friends now, isn't it? Friends?"
Charles looked to see me raising my fist.
And with a smile on his face, Charles brofisted.
"Ahh, there is something I've been meaning to ask. I ah, read your file, Lione-sama, and was curious about a decision you might have to make."
I raise an eyebrow. "What kind of decision?"
"Um, I've heard that you are very attached to your father, but… what if Miss Celladon and your father were on the line, who would you pick?"
I almost drop the glass in my hand from that question.
…It's not one I've ever given serious thought.
Mainly because…
…behind all that masking of being the son of my father is just… loneliness. And a lot of questions, most of all just "Why?"
"Um… I-I'm sorry, Lione-sama, but that wasn't something I should've asked, was it?"
"What? No, no. It's a perfectly understandable question and why you'd ask that is reasonable. I've just… never really thought about it too much."
"Ah…"
"Huh. I don't think I'd know how to answer that, though."
Charles puts a finger to his chin. "I think I know a way."
"Oh, really?"
"Um, first Lione-sama, I apologize. Second, please lock yourself in the bathroom for about two minutes."
I wonder what he's going to do, but I doubt it's anything actually harmful.
Two minutes pass by quickly and when I exit the bathroom, it's suddenly cold—No.
"I-I'm going to drop them!" Charles announces from the balcony, where Yuki's pillow and the Irivasel blade are dangling off. "A-a-and you have to pick one, Lione-sama!"
A-are you serious?! Dammit, I couldn't even activate Helios with breaking the walls or something until I clear the ledge…!
"T-three… Two… O-one…!"
There isn't hesitation in my heart as I leap for—
"Irivasel."
"…Katsugari-sensei."
"The tournament was cancelled, so if you're up to the task, it is time to begin training."
Thirty minutes later, I find Katsugari-sensei in the arena where I fought Cecilia, holding only what appears to be something similar to the Irivasel blade but made for an IS and still dressed in her usual teaching outfit.
"Deploy your unit."
"His name is Helios." I growl.
Let us create tomorrow with these hands.
The white light erupts from my being before dissipating and Unknown Variable immediately appears in my hands.
"I need to get a gauge for your abilities and how many techniques you have learned." She says, getting into a combat stance. "Come."
"…I will not strike until—"
"Do not worry about me! Worry about yourself!"
I block the flying strike that would normally bisect a person. Helios, let's go!
"Activating Combat Mode!"
Our blades fly back and forth. Even without an IS, she's a formidable opponent.
Sparks fly and the swords become nothing but mere blurs as I push the extents of my limits to their absolute edge. Even so… I have to stay determined…!
"Too slow."
The hell?!
Even if I saw just one slice, one that I know I blocked from the impact, Helios registers three more hits from a multitude of angles?! What the hell?!
"Is this the extent of what your father taught you? How shameful."
"Shut up…!"
The next attack looks exactly like the one before. I anticipate the hits, trying to see where her sword is going—
—But am completely left in the dust as I fall for the feint only a moment too late, with Katsguari-sensei behind me as she slashes my back six times before I can block and turn around. What the hell… what the hell am I fighting…?!
"Pathetic."
"Gr…!"
Katsugari-sensei continues on. Technique after technique that I don't know, rendering whatever defenses I have absolutely futile. At most I can make out when she'll be able to transition into something I do know, but then she doesn't, resulting me taking more hits.
Steel flies everywhere, with hits registering constantly. She allows me no quarter, though as an Irivasel, it would have been an insult for her to go at anything less than full capacity. But there goes any sort of pride I have left as a fighter…!
By the time twenty minutes goes by, she's already reduced me to eighty five percent shields just like that.
Dammit, I just keep on getting hit…! She's utilizing my blind spots and going for where the armor just barely cuts off my vision…!
…Helios, sorry about this.
"Pilot Irivasel?!"
In order to dodge the next slice, I push off the ground and deactivate Helios in midair. Everything save for the arm units and Unknown Variable vanish as I hit the ground, bending my knees before shooting off again.
This feels much more natural!
For the first time in thirty minutes of combat, I force Katsugari-sensei to take a step back.
There's so much less area for me to get hit with, so I can focus more on just my sword skills. Sorry Helios, but I'm just not yet accustomed to fighting with you entirely for this sort of thing!
"…I understand."
Amidst the sparks flying between us, I launch a defiant glare at Katsugari-sensei before going for the same style of cut she started this battle with.
"You know, I didn't expect you to dodge that attack by discarding your unit."
"I didn't discard Helios. And stop referring to him as a unit, his name is Helios!"
The force behind my next strike staggers her, allowing me to chain a leg sweep. She barely dodges it, but I managed to clip the end of her foot, keeping her off balance as I launch yet another flurry.
I won't let you imply that I'd toss him away! Helios is a good friend of mine and daring to use that sort of word… I won't let you get away with it! I don't care who you are!
"Oh, you're fighting with a lot more spirit in that strike."
"HAAAAA!"
I lock eyes and blades with her, my gaze blazing with unstoppable hatred.
"I won't let you say those things." I growl in the lowest voice I can muster, starting to get the upper hand in the lock. "I won't let you say that I, the last of the Irivasels, would ever abandon anyone!"
Both of us immediately loosen up, realizing what I just said.
…A slip of the tongue, huh?
"The last?"
"…Dad hasn't come back in so long I might as well be the last." I say, attempting to cover up my tracks as I hang my head low, but I'm fairly sure that both of us here know the truth of that statement.
…Like I said before, underneath it all was just loneliness.
Nothing like being away from everyone that you put that façade in front of to make you confront the truth, huh? Every day, in front of The Returners of Hope, acting like I was the heir to the Irivasel line, the loud and proud fighter of justice… there was no one ever around to question nit. But here am I… faced with someone who would know the truth… who knows exactly where all the holes are in my mask and where to punch it to put even more cracks…
…maybe part of it was that, actually. But when you went straight to the heart of it all, I was just lonely. When people came to me such as my friends now because I radiated like a lantern that refused to go out, I kept it up. Except for Yuki, because she…because she is someone I feel that connection with. That I can really bond with and want to be near. The person who fills that void I've always had in my heart. She knows… knows more than anyone, the pain of my façade. Slowly but surely, we've been working so that way both she and I can one day be our true selves. She'll always have that special place within my heart…
Which is why last night I…!
My thoughts are interrupted by an almost slice to the throat. "…It wouldn't do to be distracted on the battlefield."
"Right."
However, we stop after five minutes, neither of us having the heart to continue on after I dropped that line.
"Remember, Irivasel. The Infinite Stratos is made to kill. It is a war machine. You fought like a spar today, but you should fight as if to kill."
"Excuse you," I snarl, holding up Helios' gauntlet. "That's the physical unit. The AI is not made to kill. Isn't that right, Helios?"
"Yes, it is. While the Infinite Stratos is in fact, regarded now as a war machine, that is the physical unit. I would heartily like to assert that I am not made to kill. I am here to facilitate communications."
"You heard it from him." I say, turning around. "…Thank you, Katsugari-sensei. I hope you have a feel for where my skills are."
"I'll begin teaching you further tomorrow."
"Very well. Have a good evening."
Helios
Helios sat quietly as Pilot Irivasel studied for next assessment he would have before dinner, still somewhat disappointed about today.
For anything related to combat, Helios wanted to be someone Pilot Irivasel could depend on. There were already multiple instances when he had been called on outside IS Academy due to some rather shady scientists or other organizations that wanted to capture Pilot Irivasel in order to study him, where Helios had leapt straight to his defense without Lione even having to call for him.
While it had resulted in much paperwork, it was at least better than his friend being captured or worse.
Today, Pilot Irivasel had decided not to use him. But not only that, Lione had done better without him.
That fiercesome argument roared through his mind again. Power versus bonds. Even if Helios had a bond with him, he didn't have the power necessary to guide his friend to victory.
Byakushiki had always said power came first. And today, Helios didn't have that power. Lione had all the power, relying purely on his swordsmanwhip.
Perhaps Pilot Irivasel simply didn't trust him enough?
No, no… that wasn't it. Pilot Irivasel trusted him for everything that he couldn't do himself. Watching his back when wandering the mainland, being his backup in combat… and today he was just a setback. He wasn't optimized for swordplay and First Shift hadn't been any help in that regard.
Pilot Irivasel got up at around 1808 hours to go to dinner, which was about average per Helios' calculations. However, he seemed hurried, more so than usual, completely disregarding the rather heavy atmosphere that pervaded in the cafeteria.
"Pilot Irivasel, I do not mean to be rude, but please do take care of the mood."
"Hm? What is it, Helios?" came Pilot Irivasel's thoughts, almost like a dialogue. "Oh, I see."
"Um… Rin, why's everyone so quiet?"
"Someone threw themselves off the cliffsides today." She whispered. "There's a place on campus where people tend to do that and rumor has it there's always one every semester or so. I'm guessing that since it's the first years here, the shock of a rumor like that being true is pretty jarring."
"…I see."
"You're taking this rather well."
"I… well, I just know about that sort of thing. A personal sort of matter, so I won't say anything more."
"Ah…"
"Well, I uh, have to get back to work, actually. If you'll excuse me."
With that, Pilot Irivasel stood up, clearly upset he couldn't have shared his discovery without being rude. Even with his boldness, he would not trample on the respect that the dead deserved.
Of course, Helios discovered that work was really not so much schoolwork, but a separate research and shot in the dark.
"Pilot Irivasel," Helios spoke, activating behind Pilot Irivasel. "May I ask what you are working on?"
"Oh, man you almost gave me a scare. You don't usually take action on your own, let alone activate separately like that. That's still pretty cool though, how you can just like, walk around and all that. Anyways, I'm working on a theory. Um, well you know how Infinite Stratos units can only sync with women?"
"Yes, I am well aware."
"Well, everyone's trying to prove why using hard sciences and all that. Probably because it's difficult to replicate a psychological study. So… I came up with a small theory here called Personality Sync theory. Every IS unit has its own personality. So what if… synchronization came from two separate personalities linking up? You and I are well, fairly similar in personality, correct?"
"Hmm… yes, I would assert that."
"Exactly. You said I have a slightly better than average sync rating, right? Yet, when I tried to activate other units, there were times I could hardly interface with them. I don't have any concrete evidence, but I do hear the third years say that they work better with certain units. Ahh… oh yeah, there was that one senior we ran into today, right?"
"Oh, yes. Mayuzoni-san. Brown hair, blue eyes."
"Mhm. She asked about our sync and when I asked her in return, she mentioned that she wonders if the units were swapped or something. She usually uses the unit labelled by the school 'A2'. However…"
"We were utilizing unit A2 today."
"Exactly."
"Hm. I'm sure someone's thought of it, but I don't think any sizeable research about it has taken place."
"Yes, well… I'd rather not think about it when I just came up with it. I should sleep on it, I suppose. That's the best way to process when ideas are shit or not."
With that, Pilot Irivasel took a shower and went off to bed, hugging his Yuki body pillow.
Helios began getting to work, starting to construct a new design for himself. He was extremely versatile and was much more modular and adaptive than any other IS unit out there. He could probably tweak some settings to create a "Swordsman" setting for himself.
After all, Helios was not your average IS unit. He didn't play by the rules of IS units, simply because he wasn't originally meant to be one. In addition, he did have the first prototype of Fold Out Armor. Combining all of this…. he wasn't created with the same limitations as most IS Units.
It was time to push the envelope on his capabilities…
So yeah, you can tell why I didn't like this chapter. It really just like, was set up for the next chapter. Hell, we didn't like RPing it since this was that really slow middle segment. That, and everyone's throats were getting rekt from all the various people we were voicing at this point.
But, I guess it's all right. It's not so much the chapter's bad, but rather that it just "wasn't good" for me. At least I got to have some fun with the characters.
As usual, chapter summary!
House event with Ichika and Dan, pretty much unchanged from the novel except with the throwaway joke about Lione having an "affair". Of course, remember that Lione's not so much pissed about his romantic affections, but more of the fact affair carries the connotation of betrayal, so Lione gets hella pissy about the very concept of him betraying Yuki.
Charles gets introduced, and yes, he was in fact, a dude. Lione confirms it later on. Standard events… and theeeen the Charles and Lione scene reveal.
When writing, I felt the passage of time was rushed. It doesn't feel like a week or two went by that would cause Charles to open up to Lione, even though Lione says in his narration that about two weeks have gone by, which is why Charles finally opened up to Lione and at the same time, why Lione introduced Charles. Lione is pretty protective of his friends, so he'd want for Charles to pass his standards before finally showing them.
In the same vein, it's only because Charles has finally seen enough of Lione and realized he's someone he likesand wants to be around, with Lione constantly proving to be pretty non-judgmental, that Charles decides to tell the truth and be honest with himself. It lines up with Lione's mask starting to crumble, as we see with the talk with Charles and his thoughts along that. Because Lione meets someone he can resonate with, it starts chipping away at his own mask.
Which of course, leads to the scene I thought was the real turning point of this chapter: The decision between the blade and the pillow. It might seem cheesy and ridiculous, but it's very evident that it's an important decision. Of course, you don't know what Lione grabbed. Hehheh. But as you can see, Lione's mask is breaking. The whole "proud son of the Irivasel line" thing is starting to fade away, revealing the truth of who he is underneath all that.
As for the dinner scene, well, that was just haphazardly thrown in there for some foreshadowing and set up. Egh. But yeah, probably not my best work in writing up, but this is just that glue that holds together the previous chapter and the next one.
Anyways, let me know what you guys think. Next chapter though, I swear, will be a lot hella more fun because those events I had a lot more fun writing, plus the ball finally gets rolling on stuff. Well, seeya guys next chapter!