Disclaimer: I do not know anything by IS: Infinite Stratos, and other referenced merchandise/items in the fanfiction. However, original characters all belong to me, Grayjedi-Productions...

A thanks to Dunov who is the first person to review this fanfiction! Please, I want to hear some feedback... PLEASE!( =D)

1330 Hours- IS Academy- Training Grounds- April 4, 2022

(Main theme is Heaven's Divide from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker...Trust me, it'll make more sense as the fanfiction continues)

"Orimura! What the hell are you doing? Perform the descent dive." commanded an irritated Chifuyu.

"Wha?...Sorry, got it." Ichika nose dove his IS towards the ground...and continued...and continued until he impacted with the ground.

"Ichika/Orimura!" yelled Houki, and Maya running towards the impact cloud. Chifuyu and Kenneth only briskly walked towards it.

As the dust cloud started to clear, Ichika was slammed head first into the ground, his IS dissipating. As he stumbled to get to his feet, he continuously rubbed the top of his head.

"Damn, that hurt a lot..." he mumbled.

Chifuyu only glared towards him, keeping her indifferent demeanor. "Idiot. Were you trying to make a hole in the ground?"

"Sorry..."

"You're embarrassing Ichika!" huffed Houki. "What have I been training you in the past..." Before Houki could finish, Cecilia bumped past Houki, sliding down the crater.

"Ichika-san! Are you hurt?" said Cecilia, almost leaning on Ichika.

"Yeah...I'm fine."

Cecilia gave a sigh of relief. "That's great! But I think I should escort you to the infirmary, just in case..."

Houki slid down the crater, joining the two. "What the hell does he need that for? His IS protected him from the crash."

Maya looked at Kenneth for awhile. "Aren't you Ichika's friend as well? Aren't you going to help him?"

Kenneth waved his hand. "I'm quite fine with this view. He looks fine to me."

Chifuyu cupped her face at Kenneth comment. Didn't expect the SI to sent a pervert...

Cecelia and Houki continued their argument.

"Isn't it common sense to worry for others safety?"

"Says you, wolf in sleeps clothing." The two's faces started inching towards each, piecing into each other's eyes, hot with anger.

1814 Hours- IS Academy- Cafeteria

"Congrats Ichika!" the girls squealed.

Confetti poppers and streamers exploded in magnificent array, scattering about the cafeteria. A marble white cake stood at the main table, slices already taken out of it. It's only been a full day since Ichika and Cecilia battle for the title of Class of 1-1 Representative. Cecilia won, but only by technicality, Ichika accidentally drained his own shields before he could strike down Cecilia with his Barrier Void Attack.

Ichika looked rather confused towards Kenny. "So why was I chosen? I lost the match..."

Cecilia stood up, tossing part of her hair aside. "That's because I resigned. Though you lost, I thought it would only be natural. You being the class rep would bring a lot of publicity, and I looked back at how childish I was...It's only natural!"

Kenneth, looking rather bored, took out a small red carton. "Hey, I wouldn't say no to this, it's a good opportunity!" Opening the carton, he withdrew a small white stick, dragging it to his mouth.

"Uhhh, the Academy doesn't allow smoking, especially indoors." said one girl.

"Oh what? This?" Kenneth pointed at the stick. "No, it's not a cigarette, just a candy stick! Here try one!" Kenneth promptly put the stick in his mouth as he handed around stick to the girl. She took a bite out of it.

"It tastes just like strawberries!" She started break parts of the stick, and gave it to her friends.

"I want one!"

"Me too!"

Kenneth waved his hands, still playing around with his candy stick like a cigar. "Girls, please! This is Ichika's day!" Kenneth wrapped his arm around Ichika's shoulder. "Haha! He should enjoy his new position as Class 1-1 Representative! A toast to Ichika!"

More like a funeral if you ask me.. Though Ichika, brushing off Kenneth's arm.

"You're getting more popular each day Ichika" said Houki, sipping on a juice box.

"You think so?" asked Ichika

"Humph." A flash of light suddenly illuminated the room.

"Sorry for the flash everybody!" said a girl with an old fashion camera. "I'm Mayuzumi Kaoruko, vice-president of the News Paper Club. Can I have a statement from you?" She pointed at Ichika, with a recorder in her hand.

"Uuhhh...Sure, I guess."

"So what do you think about becoming the new Class Representative of 1-1?"

"Huh, I'll do my best."

Kaoruko looked slightly displeased. "What? Nothing awesome like 'Don't get too close to me, or you'll get hurt'?"

Kenneth saw Ichika's face contort to disbelief, but then again, who wouldn't?

"Ok, how about a hand shake picture from Cecilia and Ichika, symbolizing the change of Class Reps?"

Cecilia's face lit up. "Really? Oo...ok"

Ichika grabbed Cecilia's hand. Cecilia started blushing, trying to get closer to Ichika's body.

"Ok! Smile...Say Cheese!" Just before the flash went off, all the girls, including Houki, sprang up, joining in the picture. Kenneth stayed in his seat, still chewing on his candy stick.

"What? You...Why is everybody in the picture?" complained Cecilia.

"Well, we can't let you have a head-start, now can we?" teased a girl.

2230 Hours-IS Academy- Hallway

Kenneth and Cecilia walked down the hall, Kenneth being the punching bag to Cecilia's rants. Although it was been a few days, Kenneth and Cecelia have been talking, being with each other, and understanding their situations and personal problems. Despite Kenneth stoic appearance with people, once Cecelia got to know him, he truly was a nice person... and hurting. But he never brought up why he was like that.

"Why? Why did everybody have to jump in?" she continued.

Kenneth stretched his arms above his head. "Well, what did you expect? Ichika and I are the only guys in the Academy. Of course they're gonna try to get a date with him. Hell, I'm getting anonymous love letters tapped to my door!"

"You seem to be handling this well..."

"Meh, I come and go as I please. But hint me this Cecilia. Do you love Ichika?"

Cecilia froze in her tracks. "Wh...why do you ask?"

"I can see it in your eyes. It's pretty obvious, even if I wasn't an infiltration agent."

Cecilia grabbed her arms, nervously. "Well...yeah...Can...can you help me get his heart?"

"Hey, I may be his friend and know how he acts and stuff, but I'm not going to do that."

Cecelia frown, continuing walking. "What? Why not?"

"For one, it's fun watching you girls fight over him. I could make this a sit-com, and get some money from it."

Cecilia slapped Kenneth's face. "Well, I guess that wasn't uncalled for." Kenneth winced, rubbing the slap print on his face.

"Jerk..."

Kenneth started walking again. "But the second reason is the real reason. It would be unfair."

"How unfair?" Cecilia trailing behind Kenneth.

Kenneth seemed to gaze out, reflecting. "There are a lot of girls in this Academy trying their best to get Ichika's attention. You saw it from Houki's eyes, she wants him too, despite her 'tsundere attitude'. Asking me to help you would be giving an unfair advantage for the rest of the girls."

"I didn't think of you as a 'fair games' type of man." Cecilia said, crossing her arms.

Kenneth shrugged. "My life and missions maybe about trickery but that doesn't control who I am." A soft red light bled through Kenneth's uniform, emitting a soft beep.

"What's that?"

"Oh nothing, here's your room."

"Alright, good night."

0200 Hours-IS Academy-Room 1026, Kenneth's room.

"...And that's what I got Captain. Nothing really in development, but Ichika's IS does have a resemblance of the 'White Knight'." Kenneth said to a small laptop screen.

Kenneth's room was pitch black, aside from the military laptop communicator screen. It was complete silent in the Academy.

"You know, this reminds me a lot of an old TV show I watched in college...'Friends' I believe the title..." said Captain Brian, the instructor of the Scion Initiates.

Over the last year, Kenneth and the Captain have been developing a father/son relationship. Ever since the Incident, it was Captain Brian who constantly monitored him, besides the Three. "

But that's besides the point, how you feelin'?" he continued.

Kenneth was taken back from the Captain Brian's familiarity tone. "I guess I'm better..." he stuttered.

Brian's face stressed face loosened a bit. "Aren't you supposed to get a roommate soon?"

Kenneth shrugged, as Brian sighed. "Fair enough." Brian continued.

"That's all to report sir."

"Good man... And Buyuu, have your arm recharged, you know the consequences."

"Yes sir!" And the computer screen shuts down.

Kenneth removed some wires behind the bed, and attached them to his synthetic arm. As all the wires attached, his arm started to glow a pale red color. Kenneth knew what the Captain was talking about. As a Scion Initiate with the implantation, most soldier's bodies can't handle the extreme restructuring of their bodies, so the synthetics act as a crutch before the body can fully recover. In most cases, it meant lack of energy, or sleep. But for Kenneth's case, it was his heart that started to fail. A rare case... said one of the Three.

Only a few more months. He thought.

April 5, 2022-IS Academy- Room 1-1- 0654 Hours.

"Hey Ichika! The Inter-Class Tournament is coming up! If you win, the entire class gets free food!" said one of the girls surrounding Ichika's desk.

"That's sounds abit indulgent if you ask me." nudged Kenneth.

"It's only class 1 and 4 that have personal ISs, so we should win for sure!"

"That information is outdated." boomed a voice.

Everybody shifted their attention to door. There stood a short young girl, with long brunette hair, tied in two side pony tales.

"Rin...Is that you?" asked Ichika.

"Nice to see you again Ichika. I am Lingyin Huang, the Chinese Cadet Representative. And I here to declare war on Class 1-1!"

Kenneth forced his left eye to shift grey, as a small scanner came into his view.

Lingyin Huang, Cadet Representative of China

IS: Shenlong, CQB... Specialization: Ryuhow, high impact cannon.

"Who is this? Why does Ichika act so familiar with her?" said Cecilia under her breathe.

"Rin..." Ichika started. "Why are you trying to act so cool? It doesn't suit you!"

"What do you mean by tha..." a fist bopped her on the head.

"Oww...What's the problem with..." Rin said, as she turned around, only to see Chifuyu.

"Chifuyu-san..."

"It's Orimura-sensei. Now get to class, you're becoming a bother."

1215 Hours- IS Academy- Cafeteria

Ichika sat down in a round table booth, with Houki, Kenneth, Cecilia, and Rin.

"It's nice to see that you still like ramen." Ichika started off.

"I heard that you piloted an IS. How'd that happen?"

"How, I'm never sure, but..." Kenneth quietly pressed a few buttons on his synthetic arm, recording Ichika's story...

One explanation later...

"...And a few things happened after that, and here I am now." concluded Ichika.

"Sounds abit of an adventure if you ask me." said Rin, mouth full of ramen. "And what about you?" (pointing at Kenneth).

"Just an experimented soldier of the USA, that's all." Briefly said Kenneth, as he closed down the recording software.

"He doesn't like talking that much does he?" asked Rin to Ichika.

"That's about true..." trailed Ichika.

Cecilia and Houki stood up, slamming their hands on the table.

"I demand an explanation of this!" said Houki.

"Yeah! Are you...g-g-going out with her?" accused Cecilia.

Rin started waving her hands wildly, like trying to calm a fire. "No, no, no! It's not like that!"

"That's right. She was...is my second childhood friend. Houki, after you left, she was my friend during high school."

"Ah, I see..." Houki and Cecilia said in unison.

Kenneth saw sparks between their the three girls eyes ignite. This is starting to look like a harem everyday...

"Well, if that's the case, I guess it doesn't matter, I've known Ichika for long time, eating dinner together and whatnot." said Houki.

"Oh really? After you left, Ichika always went to my house for dinner."

"WHAT?" Cecilia and Houki's scream hurt Ichika and Kenneth's ears.

"What's the meaning of this Ichika?" demanded Houki, Cecilia nodding her head in agreement.

"Well, that's sort of right. I always ate at the restaurant that Rin's parents owned." The girls started to calm down, seeing that the two weren't "dating".

"So Ichika, after school, I could teach you how to pilot an IS...If you want." continued Rin.

Houki and Cecilia stood up in Rin's face. "Sorry, but he's training with me after school." they both said, grabbing Ichika's shoulders.

"I see..." Rin stood up, gathering her ramen bowl. "Save some time for me afterwards, Ichika!" With that, she left.

1409 Hours-IS Academy-Room 1-1

What the hell? More competition? Though Houki and Cecilia.

Wait, I have the greatest advantage out of any of them... I share the room with Ichika! devilishly thought Houki.

"I must get a date with Ichika soon..." thought aloud Cecilia, under her breathe.

"Alcott! Shinonono! What's the answer?" asked Maya.

Houki and Cecilia snapped to attention. "I...uhhh..." *Snap!* Chifuyu bopped both of them on the head. "Idiots. It near the end of school, but pay attention!"

Ichika looked at both of them, "Are you two ok?"

"Like it isn't your fault in the first place..." they mumbled.

What did I do?

1914 Hours-IS Academy-Stadium Training Grounds

"How did you get a hold of the Uchigane?" said Cecilia at Houki.

In the calm sunset of the day, Houki, Ichika and Kenneth were deployed in their armor, waiting to start up abit of training. Houki materialized a katana-like sword from the IS.

"I simply asked." shot Houki. "Ready Ichika?"

Ichika readied his sword. "Ready."

"Hey wait a second! Ichika will be training with me!" Cecilia summoned her IS as well.

"Oi! A two v. one hardly seems fair at this point!" pointed out Kenneth, who happily decided to join the three. Wielding at short katana, and a hachiwara, Kenneth took his stance.

"Fine, a two v two then." smiled Cecelia.

2131 Hours-IS Academy-Stadium Training Grounds

Ichika leaned against a wall, barely able to stand up.

"So let's call it a day!" said Cecilia, cheerfully.

Kenneth left a 15 minutes in, realizing that the girls only paid attention to him if deemed necessary. He started off with his own training, leaving towards the USA Super Carrier George Washington at the Yokosuka Naval Base.

"Do you girls...Want me killed?" Ichika bared said, still panting from the exercise.

"Ha! You just lack the discipline." grunted Houki.

Yeah, sure. You're the one who isn't being double-teamed...

"I'll be showering back at the dorm, see you there." said Houki, walking away.

"Yup, see you tomorrow Ichika!" said Cecilia.

2134 Hours-IS Academy-Men's locker room

"Ichika! I brought you a sports drink!" Rin said, handing the bottle to Ichika.

Ichika chugged it down. "That was much needed..." he said, polishing the bottle off.

"So where did Kenny go?"

Ichika shrugged his shoulders. "He left a long time ago. He's probably back at the dorm by now."

"So we are finally alone..." said Rin, fumbling with her thumbs. "Did you feel lonely after I left?"

"Yeah...losing friends over the years does make one lonely."

Rin frowned a little. "Not like that. But you must have alot of things to talk about after a year right?"

"Oh, that reminds me. Did you tell your high school friends that you're returned? They'll be so happy to hear the news!"

"Not that either!" nearly yelled Rin. "But..."

"Well I better start heading back to the dorm, Houki must have finished her shower by now."

Rin started trying to get up in Ichika's face, despite her small size. "Wait what? What's your relationship with her?"

Ichika looked confused. "What do you mean? She's my childhood friend...and you're my second childhood friend."

"What does showering and 'childhood friend' have in common?" Rin started to become angry.

"Oh that, well I'm sharing a dorm room with her."

Rin seemed to calm down. "I see..."

April 6, 2022-IS Academy-Stadium Battlegrounds-1430 Hours.

"First match next week is Orimura Ichika versus Huang Lingyin." said Kenneth.

Ichika and Kenneth stopped at the board, looking at the different opponents. Everybody was already wearing their combat jumpsuits for IS deployment; Kenneth in his SI battledress. Houki and Cecilia patiently waited on them near the center.

"Strange how fate is isn't it?" asked Kenneth to Ichika.

Ichika closed his eyes, looking at the floor. "You're not making it better, especially with last night."

"Well, what happened?"

"Rin tried to get Houki to move out the dorm room, so she can move in. The two got into an argument."

"Ah, so that's what the screaming was about."

"Shut up..." Ichika was already in a foul mood. Pissing him off tend to make him "hot-blooded."

Stepping away the girls finally started speaking. "Well it'll soon be time where the Battlegrounds will be closed for the Tournament setup, so we'll waste no time."

"Perhaps I can help." said a familiar voice behind them.

"Rin! What are you doing here? I thought you were avoiding me." said Ichika.

"Now why would I want to do that?" she said, with a devilish smile, hands on her hips.

"What the hell are you doing here? You're Ichika's opponent!" pointed Houki and Cecilia.

"What? I can't say 'hi' to an old friend?"

"That's awfully suspicious if you ask me!" exclaimed Cecilia.

"Ichika," Rin said, ignoring the others, "just apologize already."

"About what?" Ichika started to look defensive.

"The Promise!"

"Yeah? What about the Promise? I remembered it correctly!"

Rin wildly shook her head. "There's a meaning behind that you moron!"

"Meaning? What meaning?"

"Huh, fine. The winner of our match forces the loser to do whatever she says."

"Ho-ho! A bit cocky aren't we?"

"You better start practicing your sorries!"

"And why would I? If I win, then you tell me about this 'meaning' of yours!"

"Lame-Ass!"

"Flat-chested!" Kenneth's eyes widened, Oh GOD, Ichika, you never say that to a girl!

Rin lunged at Ichika, arm in half deployment. Ichika barely jumped back in time, leaving Rin punching the ground where he only stood. A large crack in the ground broke the ground where Rin's IS arm impacted.

"Now you've done it...I'LL BEAT YOU TO A BLOODY PULP!" she said, half-crying and screaming. She walked away, anger radiating from her body.

April 13, 2022- 1327 Hours-IS Academy-Stadium Hanger "The Pit"

"Her IS is Shenlong, a melee type." said the onboard tactical computer.

"It's a different battle Ichika." said Cecilia, pointing out the obvious.

"If you fight like you practice, you'll come out on top." encouraged Houki.

"Good luck out there, and watch out for her dual scimitars." warned Kenneth.

"Thanks everybody...Let's go!" Ichika blasted his way out of the hanger...