Truth Be Told: Untold Short Stories

A/N: New chapter again! I was thinking of updating Recollections or the Lemon Fic but since there is already a written chapter for this one which I forget for two months, I have no choice. XD

Don't have that much to say today aside the fact that I took a break from answering PM's. There were like so many of them in my inbox and most of them were asking for some complete information about things in TbT.

Guys, sorry if I can't quickly answer some PMs. I swear I'll restart answering again two days from now; there are just so many of them. Also I may start another poll soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own Infinite Stratos (except my plot and OC's), it belongs to Izuru Yumizuru.

Short Story #2: Madoka's Strange New Year (Part 3)

After a brief meeting with the Shinonono sisters, Ichika and Madoka continued with their errand.

It should've been a long talk between the four of them but due to Madoka and Tabane's incompatibility, Houki, with a really reluctant expression, was forced to drag her sister away to resume on their own errand which was to prepare for their own New Year with their parents that visited from Hokuriku.

Right now, Ichika and Madoka who are walking near the coast. Ichika told Madoka that they can walk home because he wanted to spend more time with her, with their studies and all; the two barely had any chances to spend time together. So the situation turned to this, the brother and the little sister walking alone with a good atmosphere around them.

Madoka however was stuck in a loop, for a while now she walked like a robot and a face of bewildered cat. She knows that this is a perfect time to score some points with her brother and along the way asks more questions about their family, unfortunately she spent valuable minutes acting like a busted robot.

"What's the matter Madoka? This is the first time I saw like this. Usually you're a very happy and outgoing girl. You are popular in the IS academy, especially in your year level."

"Aha! IS academy! See I knew it, with the Infinite Stratos Academy still in existence I know I'm not crazy!" Madoka shouted like a crazy person.

"Ahahahaha… What Infinite Stratos Academy are you talking about? It's Infinite Saint Academy, it's the most prestigious school in the world where only all the exceptional youth in the world gather."

"Eh? It's not Infinite Stratos Academy but that is the meaning of the IS academy!? What the heck happened!? I knew it; you are all just trying to punk me! Altering everything that I know into something else, that is so low! What did I even do to deserve this!?"

Madoka kept on the hysterical behavior, thinking that all this is some elaborate and sick joke to mess with her.

Madoka's screaming had roused the attention of people around her and Ichika, giving everyone the idea that what's happening between them is a lover's spat. So in response to this Ichika reached over and grabbed Madoka's cheek and pulled it to the side.

"Owwwwwwwwww! Yuw gwoing tho wip my sheek! (You're going to rip my cheek!)" Madoka struggled as Ichika's pull on her cheek got too stronger that she feels her skin was about to come off.

"Calm down will you Madoka. No one is trying to punk you. Honestly this must be the side effects of you spending too much time in the game called the Infinite Stratos." Ichika chuckles then releasing the cheek of Madoka.

"Eh? Game? Infinite Stratos?"

Madoka had a ton of question marks floating above her head.

"It's that super popular game that the world is addicting to right now. Strangely the characters seem to resemble our family and friends."

Madoka's eyes just widened and her mouth gaped open.

"A game? Eh? Wait what?" Madoka paled and then suddenly fell on her back.

Luckily Ichika was fast enough to catch her before she hit the concrete.

"See, you barely had any sleep. Come on, I'll carry you home."

"Eh?"

Before any objection could be made, Madoka suddenly found herself being in a piggyback ride on her brother. In front of all the people walking along, she is in this closeness with her dear brother Ichika. The situation actually took most of Madoka's curiosity about her current situation instead her focus was sucked into enjoying their closeness.

"Try and calm down until we arrived in the house."

"O-Okay… whatever you say… but you won't mind if I ask some questions right?"

"Sure, so long as you keep calm whenever I answer. You did overreact to my answers several times in the past now." Ichika smiled.

"Okay… so first question… can you describe what am I like in this place?"

"Hm? What are you like in this place?"

"J-Just answer the question!" Madoka tightened her arms around her brother's neck but surprised that Ichika didn't seem to feel it at all.

There Madoka began to feel something different from her brother, something she found very familiar.

(Is this [Junsuina Reiki]?)

Madoka knew what she felt, there was no mistaking it her brother emitted his aura.

"What's the matter?"

"Ichika… did you use [Junsuina Reiki]?"

"Huh? I'm sorry… I partially lost control of it. It happens every now and then since I'm growing after all."

"So you mean we are still the Orimura clan. The most powerful force in the world that killed countless souls!"

"Oh… so you found out. I hoped it would come to this… now I have to kill you."

Madoka paled when she saw the terrifying shift in her brother's expression. It seems that the kindness he possess all went down the drain and replaced with nothing but pure evil.

"… Ehe, got you didn't I?"

"Fueh!?"

Realizing she got tricked, Madoka immediately reacts by tightening her arms even more, essentially choking her brother.

"You idiot! You freaking idiot! Super Idiot!"

"Okay I get! I'm sorry, please stop we are causing a scene here already."

It looked like banter between siblings to the eyes of spectators, but Madoka on the other hand really was choking Ichika. Her arms are filled with enough strength that it may even break a neck of a person but to Ichika it was almost nothing since he isn't even showing signs that he is having trouble breathing. Madoka was sure that this isn't the world she grew up in but she would be an idiot to think that everyone here in normal.

"Why suddenly so quiet? Don't tell me you're mad at me?"

"No… It's just that… No matter, just answer my question earlier and also start walking again. There are a lot of people looking at us."

"Okay."

Ichika resumed walking while carrying Madoka on his back.

This time both were finally out of the coast and now back in the city where more people saw both of them having their "sibling moment".

"So you mean to say that I'm an honor student in the Infinite Saint Academy. A model student for the first years, multi-talented, a campus crush and in the cusp of creating a pop idol group in the academy."

"Yup, that's all you. Though there are more things that I would like to tell you, like how you hate being hit on by boys, your adoration for our big sisters, your constant habit of sleeping almost naked, your addiction in putting out the lights in your room while you play games… Mfffh…"

Madoka suddenly covered her brother's mouth, unable to bear what she has been hearing about herself here.

"That's enough… I've heard enough…"

"Really? I thought you'd like to hear more."

"No, you're just planning to embarrass me by revealing my habits."

Ichika chuckles suddenly.

"W-What so funny now?"

"Nothing, just finding it pleasing that we are finally together. You, me, our big sisters, our parents, aunts and the rest of the family. They'll all be here tonight."

"Wait, what do you mean the rest of the family."

"Our aunts and uncles. Don't tell me you forgot about them already? It has only been a month since their last visit."

"W-Well…"

Madoka stuttered, knowing that their supposed to be dead relatives are coming to visit, adding more to the confusion on the girl's mind.

"More than that, our grandparents and great grandmother will be there too."

(HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!)

Madoka's head just released smoke what followed is her collapsing on her brother's back.

"Madoka?"

"Sorry but just wake me up when we arrive home… I need some time to gather thoughts before I meet our family."

"Sure, you can rely on me."

After a while, Ichika and Madoka finally arrived back in their house…

"Ichikaaaaaaaaaaaa and Madokaaaaaaaaa!"

"Grandma Miyuki!"

"Ehhhhhhhhhhh!?"

Ichika and Madoka were greeted by a heavenly beauty the moment they both entered the gate, it was their grandmother, Miyuki Orimura.

"Where were you two earlier? Out shopping?"

Miyuki lovingly cooed at her two grandchildren while pushing their faces on her bountiful cleavage.

"Stop it Miyuki. Behave yourself."

"Oh, Tatsuya, okay I will behave. It's just I'm excited to see my grandchildren again."

With the intervention of Tatsuya, their supposedly old grandfather who looked no older than a man in his 20's, both were released from the overly loving hug of their grandmother Miyuki who's also supposed to be old but also looks like a woman in her 20's.

(This is them… Orimura Tatsuya and Orimura Miyuki… I can't believe that I'm actually standing before them…)

"Hey, granddad and grandma, it's been a while."

In contrast to Madoka's frozen state, Ichika casually approached the two towering figures in front of them.

"You've grown up Ichika. I bet you already have a girlfriend now?"

"No, not now. I haven't officially asked any of my sisters to be my girlfriend."

"Oh? You're at the age now Ichika, I was convinced that you would have all your sisters as your girlfriends now."

Listening to the conversation between Ichika and Miyuki jumbled Madoka's thoughts.

(I thought we were all normal now yet the incest is still so strong with us!)

Madoka screamed in her thoughts; however her internal struggle was disrupted by a light knock on the head.

"Oi, Madoka why did you and Ichika take so long to get here?"

"Eh? M-Mother?"

Madoka turned to her side and saw her mother, Izanami Orimura, in casual clothes and on top of that wearing an apron.

"Ichika you can talk with your grandparents in the living room, you haven't seen them in a while right? While you Madoka, you'll come with me. You'll assist me with cooking along with your big sisters, Chifuyu and Chigusa."

"Cooking?"

"Yes, you help me with cooking every day. Did you forget?"

Madoka was at a loss for words.

The most docile interaction she would have with her mother is when she is ignored by the latter that alone gives Madoka a great deal of relief than having to face her mother's violent wrath. But now she received a gentle look and even a smile from her mother and to top it all off, she was asked to help.

"You want me to help?"

"Yes of course… you did say wanted to help me with the chores at home am I right? Do you still want to?"

Not knowing that she had tears in her eyes and also not being aware that her face was making a smile, Madoka's body threw itself towards Izanami.

"Y-Yes please!"

Madoka didn't wasn't aware why she suddenly did what she did but it can only be interpret as her wanting to feel her mother's affection.