Openings song. Afraid to shoot strangers from Sabaton.
Hey guys, I am sorry that I took a long time with taking a long time uploading more of my fics but for me, the last months were pretty intense. I had to spend more time at my mom's place and I was busy with other works as well.
The good news is that I bought a laptop not that long ago and I'll write whenever I find the time to get more on paper. Sorry, things just got in the way.
And why I waited for so long was also simple to explain. I wanted to make three major updates, one for each of my most important stories. So that could give you guys an idea why I took so long.
But anyway, I have written out some ideas and others are worked out. And like I said, whenever I find the time to open my laptop, I'll be sure to work.
Oh, something funny. I have been playing the Division for 837 hours in a window that took most of my screen. Only, I found out 6/12/2017 how I could get a full screen. Alt and Enter. I laughed like a complete maniac. A good thing that no one was at home. Anyway, last updates are fricking awesome. If I had no one who would fuck my fingers up, I'd be playing right now but hey, I had the daily events.
I've been multitasking recently and things are working just fine. My laptop is a real big help. And if anyone is complaining about how I spend my free time, they can stuff that in their ass. I'm also thinking about mixing a few things with each other in the first six episodes after I'm done with this one. So please forgive but this will be a breather and the next one as well.
Mattheus and Ichika were sitting in the male bath. After the last beat down, none of the male population were bothering them again. So the two Infinite Stratos pilots had some better time. At the least, they were having no problem finding a toilet they could use.
It was late at the least, but for them, it was better like this. They wouldn't be bothered by girls who would jump in the bath.
"Ichika-kun." Mattheus removed the washing cloth to see eight girls who had jumped in the bath and were now joining the guys.
Hair colors, going from brown to blue and everything in between were now in the bath as well. Mattheus could see further on to see Natasha sitting on his lap. She smiled and looked at her boyfriend.
"Hey." She said in a soft soothing voice. "Hey, yourself. Eh, you girls do realize this is the bath of the boys, right?"
Ichika didn't look that bothered. While the girls and he had been starting to date (this is set after my other story, the Graduated Student and the Irish Street Punk) they kept quiet about that.
Must have something to do with the fact that all of them had been transported to this world and Mattheus and Ichika becoming a part of Amaterasu. But for now, they were having their time with Ichika.
Houki and Cecilia had both his arms covered, Rin was washing his hair and Charlotte and Laura had chosen his legs to sit on.
"Good thing that Joel is sleeping. He wouldn't like this." Natasha commented on the young boy. Mattheus nodded. "Tell me about it. But anyway, Natasha, why did you girls decide to come here? Did you even have permission?"
The woman smiled and moved herself to sit on Mattheus lap. The fact he had a raging boner stuffed underwater made it even more fun. The wonderful friction Mattheus experienced and the hot water made him slowly lose his head.
"Well, we asked Orimura-sensei and she gave us the okay. So I don't think it's a problem." Mattheus red face could be from the fact that the bombshell was naked or the fact he and Ichika had been long enough in the water.
"And you didn't think we would have a problem with this?" She kissed her boyfriend to shut him up. "Do I hear complaining?" Mattheus pondered about that for a second and shook his head.
"Nope, just making a statement." The two suddenly tensed up to see a group of boys getting in the bath. They were the same idiots that Mattheus and Ichika had beat up their first time. The six boys looked with fury and loath to Ichika. More to Mattheus but in their eyes, Ichika was the luckier bastard. The obvious leader gritted his teeth.
"So it's not enough that you are in the same group as that dickhead Kizuna but now, you bring your own girls in here. We're going to beat the snot out of you." Mattheus sighed but before he could act, seven furies were unleashed.
"The difference between Ichika and Mattheus is that they have the manners to treat us in a right way. Something your kind clearly even couldn't dream of doing." Houki said to the boys before the fury of the girls was unleashed.
Ichika and Mattheus would feel sorry for the boys but they were happy they weren't at the receiving end of the beat down. After the girls were done wiping their asses clean, the guys looked at them. Maybe this wasn't so bad but hey, what do they say?
Don't send a woman to do a man's job. Mattheus glared and Ichika cracked his knuckles. Time to rock and roll.
The Infinite Stratos pilots left the place with a bunch of wounded guys in their wake. "Hey, girls. Why did you take our bath?" Mattheus asked and the girl sighed. Supposedly, first years weren't allowed to have their own bathrooms so they had to use a communal bath. For the pilots who grew up in single bathrooms, this was beyond embarrassing.
Sure, they might have seen each other and the guys naked multiple times (don't ask how that worked out) but others were still a point you didn't want that. So they came over to visit the boy's bathroom after finding out when Mattheus and Ichika would come over. And if a bunch of now nearly beaten to the death guys didn't disturb them, they would still be in the bath.
"Well, Captain Reiri has set out the bath only for Kizuna. Because he has to stay in the girl's area, he isn't allowed in the bath. So right now, he's using it. We found it a nice idea to visit you guys." Mattheus quirked an eyebrow at his girlfriend.
"I take it was your shamelessness that persuaded you girls to join in this idea." The girls nodded with a blush. Mattheus and Ichika looked at each other but grinned eventually.
"Well, that was something fun. Maybe we should do it more." Before they could continue, they heard a shock going over the buildings in the school.
"I bet half my allowance that Kizuna is involved in that one," Ichika said. He was pretty damn sure about that. So what happened with our loved Eros pilot / incredible lucky bastard?
Kizuna could finally use the woman's bath after getting the permission of his sister. While it was a students dormitory, it was closer to a luxury hotel. Given that who his teammates were and what the whole school did, this was pretty weird to see.
Even so, in the conversations that he was having more with Mattheus and Ichika, if you want quality stuff, you go private or you go look for it yourself if you got the know-how. Lavathenian (Mattheus Infinite Stratos was made by Joel himself with only materials he would see as acceptable.)
Ichika and Mattheus both reaffirmed the idea that the luxury stuff that Kizuna saw was the same with them back at the ISA.
His floor was still a knock above the normal standards but still. Kizuna still didn't like the idea of spending too much time in an estrogen solo environment. You could trust him or Ichika on their word. Living with only women within a three-kilometer radius is the most horrible thing that could happen to you if you didn't have guys to hang out with.
The reason that the higher ups let Kizuna stay there was to start what some would call illicit sexual relationships. For a playboy or ladies man, that was just serving dinner.
For a socially awkward pre male teenager as Kizuna, it wasn't that much fun. Sure, the guy was aware of the beauties that Amaterasu was and how lucky he was. But in the conversations that Kizuna had with Mattheus and Ichika, it made him distant.
While his teammates were differently reacting to his changing spot (after he got his own powers after doing the Climax Hybrid with Aine), the bigger part of the student body still saw him as pervert or lucky piece of shit.
Plus that, going to the male bath, even with Ichika and Mattheus as escorts, that was a suicide mission.
Kizuna was already happy that the males got the message.
Mess with our friend and you'll answer to us.
Ichika, being the good senior, explained in how he could work this out. And Mattheus who went through the great road of dramas and headaches (that was high school), he also helped them out. In the end, Kizuna had his orders.
Still, the thought he had when he knew what he had to do and the lengths some made, Kizuna knew this. 'They are insane.'
Eventually, he ended up in the bath. Like the male bath, Kizuna saw a perfectly recreated hot spring. What he didn't expect was the sight that was very nice and something most would jack off to. Or jump that being.
The back of a girl. A very beautiful girl. In a completely defenseless state, there was a pretty figure. In short, nice.
Longer, she had black hair with hips that went out to slender and well-proportioned legs. What she lacked in the chest, she made up for the ass.
'Not good.' Kizuna knew one thing. GTFO. If someone saw him, Himekawa would kill him and he'd be labeled a perv. Both things he rather didn't face.
He had two cm to go before the girl turned around. Well, that was Himekawa. Great. This was just perfect.
She was soaking with water, making her make look even sexier. The girl was flushed, looking at Kizuna with her eyes going up.
There were enough thoughts going through his heads. Things that were going from.
'Why is she here?'
'I thought I had this place for myself'
'Well, think about the Devil' Unaware of the quote, Kizuna decided to calm down the girl.
"Hey Himekawa. Before you ask."
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" If the scream wasn't hear at the end of Ataraxia, you had to be a vast sleeper or really fucking deaf.
"What? Why are you here? Pervert, molester, Eros Overlord."
Kizuna panicked as the girl went to sit back in the bath.
"That is my line. Why are you here?"
Steam came from the body but if that was because the hot spring or by rage, well, it could be a mix. Great, Ichika warned Kizuna about this situation. This wasn't going to end in a really bad way. Great, just fucking great.
"This is the woman's bath. Why I am here is simple."
"Okay but still. Just hear me out."
Kizuna forget the one thing that Ichika told him. Woman that mad wouldn't listen to reason.
"So you came to peep on me. Shameless."
"Hey, calm down. I'm no fan of violence."
"Neros!"
Her machine was built around her but she forgot a little thing. While this was made for close quarters, it's the main weapon was single blade hung up from the hips, better known as Vibrant Sharp Katana Sword, close to that of a classical katana. Much like Houki's Akatsubaki or Ichika's Byakushiki, this HHG was based all around close range attacks.
It could slash almost anything on impact but due to the moving particles, generated by the sword, the touch was even harder and made the blade much more terrific. That was kinda necessary to make sure to defeat the Magic Weapons.
Although, she had one powerful weapon, Hayuru forgot one little thing. She had no suit that she could wear.
In his early days, Kizuna thought that the machine was equipped with the suit but Himekawa lacked that. Making her even more erotic.
The door opened and a third person entered. "Aine?"
Red eyes, silver hair. Chidorigafuchi Aine.
"What is going on?" She asked in a pretty innocent tone of voice. "What is the thing you can't tell this situation?"
Aine was just more surprised by Himekawa's rage. "Even if you told me that I have to see, I can't figure it out." With a glare to Kizuna, she hoped for a better answer. "Can someone explain this?"
"Well, that is a litt."
Himekawa jumped in, her temper gone. "This perverted man was sneaking in the bath I was using. He's a perv, molester." Aine further knitted her eyebrow and tilted her head again. "If you ask me, I think Hayuru is the bigger pervert."
The sheer ridiculousness of this situation would make with a sort of humor smirk and some just wish that Kizuna would kick those two and start raping them. But this wasn't a hentai.
Himekawa looked down on her appearance. She found the towel was torn to pieces and she could see herself in the mirror.
With her Heart Hybrid Gear equipped, her own body was naked. Indeed, pretty juicy situation. "A female pervert," Aine said. While the HHG didn't cover too much, the missing suit made it even more erotic. "KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Don't look at me." Kizuna turned around making his way out until he was stopped by the appearance from Himekawa.
By covering her but, her breasts become exposed and by backing off, causing the most delight full of giggling. "Hey, Kizuna. Us that we they called naked dancing?" Aine asked the man.
"No more. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The blades of her HHG were launched, destroying the bath.
Around the same time, the girls of the Infinite Stratos heard the destruction and wondered about something. Was this all the same for Ichika back at their home?
After the crazy night, Hayuru and Kizuna were asked to come the principals office. A lecture from Reiri would be at its place if only that she was largely responsible for the destruction.
"I am sorry that I destroyed the bath but this is his fault. I do not allow a boy to use the bath." Hayuru cried out towards the woman. "Kizuna is living in the girl's dormitory. He has the right to sue that bath as much as you do. How can you say that you aren't seeing that?"
If someone knew Hayuru for a few hours, one can imagine her reply. "That's preposterous. So a male can enter the woman bath?"
Kizuna added his two cents to it. "No, I just made a reservation for that bath yesterday!" He didn't want to be branded as a pervert so he asked his older sister to use the bath. "Reservation?"
With his given track record, one naïve kid would be suspicious so Hayuru asked for more. "You didn't know?" Kizuna asked.
The two turned to Reiri. "Right, I didn't tell Himekawa about it. I made sure you two would be in the bath at the same time. I was hoping it would do something for your mood. I am disappointed to see it didn't work out."
"So you are responsible for this, neechan?" Kizuna cried out. He was receiving enough headaches already, this wasn't something to call in earlier.
"I misjudged you, commander. You cannot be serious."
Reiri was calm with her responsible answer but cool might be another factor. "I should be the one to ask what you are thinking. I should have just ordered you to have a Heart Hybrid with Kizuna. Just when are you planning to carry that out?"
"That's impossible. That sort of order is invalid. I can't accept such a shameless act." Even if she was standing for the person who runs the place, Hayuru called Reiri out for her actions.
"Don't say something so selfish."
"Sel….. Selfish."
Himekawa's fights became tightened and her shoulders shook.
"Kizuna, what is Himekawa's Hybrid count?" Taking out his smartphone, he looked her up. "28%, that's close to low." It was close to a yellow zone that was reached by 25%. The red zone was when 10% was reached. With 5%, it was impossible to easily use the unit.
If her unit reached lower energy levels in a fight, it would be extremely dangerous. Not only for her but for everyone on that board.
"Listen Himekawa. The usage of your unit is affecting your life. I can't order you to think about this on a whim. But you, Kizuna. You should get your act together as well."
Hayuru had her answer ready. "I don't something as shameless as Heart Hybrid. Our count is naturally recovered. Why can't I just wait?"
"How long do you think that will take?" Reiri asked. "Or in fact, how much has it recovered since the last two weeks after the last fight?"
She played Reiri straight in her hands. "3%" 3% was a low shot compared to the instant reload that was the Heart Hybrid Act.
"What are you going to do if we are in attack right now? Just rely on your comrades? Both Aine and Yurishia have carried out the Heart Hybrid. Taking care of yourself and your weapons is also important in the life you guys have."
Hayuru turned away and walked out the office.
Kizuna knew the answers for what would happen if they reached zero. A person would die when they reached zero. It was something his sister told him as soon he was sent out in this place. The night before they came across the ISA.
"Anyway, Kizuna."
His attention snapped to his sister. "Send in the next two visitors I have." Kizuna nodded but was surprised to see Mattheus and Ichika sitting in the place.
"Hey guys." He greeted his two only male friends. "Yo, Kizuna."
Mattheus and Ichika veered up and gave him a fist bump. "We saw Himekawa passing by. What's her deal?"
"You don't really want to know," he said to them. Both Ichika and Mattheus were not thinking bad of Kizuna of his embarrassing mission. But they were happy to be around him in the first place.
"We'll take your word for it," Ichika answered. Like his counterpart, if something happened, he didn't want to talk about it. In fact, the young Knight was in the same situation as the young Eros Overlord as some started to call him.
The harem plan, how absurd it might sound, was an idea of Mattheus to keep a horrible factor out of Ichika's life and to keep seven spoiled girls happy. It was in its early stages but last night bonding helped out. Also because both guys were now twenty-four seven locked at Amaterasu, every free time they had was taken into consideration.
But both guys also liked spending with Kizuna. Mattheus grinned and looked at Ichika.
"Come on. I can't imagine Reiri being scarier than Chifuyu."
"Don't count on it, Mattheus. Anyway, good luck, guys." Kizuna passed the two, making his way to the class.
"Hey, Kizuna." The Eros pilot turned to the Hunter. "I make my own luck." Kizuna prepped himself for the rumors that were going to spread around the school. This was going to be such a major pain. The stares at him from the other students made him wish that Mattheus and Ichika were around.
"Hey, Himekawa-san, is it true that you two were together in the bath last night?"
"Even if you are a public moral committee member? That's great!?"
"Isn't it erotic if you could wash each other? Well, he's a boy?"
"Were you two together in his room?"
"Wouldn't they do it in Himekawa-san's room? They could shower with each other in the morning."
The rumor mill in this school exceeded their own. Well, in their own school, Ichika and Mattheus had only girls but even so, it was too much. Kizuna saw the piercing glares and resentment from the boys that came his way. Just great, just fucking great.
Suddenly, the glares died down as two persons made their way through the hall. Boys who were looking to Kizuna in a wrong way were facing the barrel of a modified 1911A1 or a double barreled sawn off shotgun.
Mattheus and Ichika got in his classroom. "You got nothing better to do?" A pissed off twenty one year old asked them. Kizuna wanted to speak up.
"Those are rumors. We weren't doing anything like what you all say." Still, the glances of the girls were at Kizuna. "Well, you are Eros."
"Yeah, "Yeah, he might really do it. He is Eros after all."
"Rather, it's strange if he didn't actually do it. It's Eros after all."
Kizuna groaned. "Can I borrow your gun for a sec?" He asked Mattheus who just raised an eyebrow. "No can do, amigo. The only thing you can do is toughen it out."
"Hida-kun, could you please leave?" He looked to Himekawa whose glare was scaring Mattheus even for a bit. "You won't be believed even if you tell the truth." That was cruel. Kizuna groaned and felt the hands of Ichika on his shoulder. "Believe me, I went through the same, bro. And I will say here and now. You have a lot worse." The bell rang so his guardian angels sighed.
"Sorry, we've gotta attend our own class. We'll see you around. Oh and a warning." Ichika spoke up. "If anyone of you, try just anything funny on this guy. We'll find out and we won't go easy." He said while Mattheus pulled up his hoodie.
They left to their own room as they saw a blond girls with blue eyes made her way to Kizuna. Her body was topnotch and her breasts were huge. They got close to Houki who was already impressive.
"God fucking damnit."
"Got that right, Ichika." Mattheus answered on the young man. "I really pity that guy." Ichika spoke up when they walked side by side.
"Mattheus, I wonder what would happen if you weren't around in the first semester when we were at school?" The Hunter shuddered.
"I think you would be a lot more hurt." Ichika pondered about that for a second and nodded on the remark. Matheus was right at that part. "This is really stupid."
The two entered the room where Houki, Rin, Cecilia, Charlotte, Laura, Kanzashi and even Tatenashi were. Given the lack of rooming, the best fighters which was nailed down to fifteen 'normal' students and the ones with a personal unit.
"Out there for Hida, again?" Laura asked. While the girls understood that Ichika and Mattheus, they weren't a hair better than the other ones to say that Kizuna was an utter pervert who deserved to be punished.
"Is that wrong we stick out for our squad mate?" Ichika asked when he sat down. Mattheus took his seat and pulled Joel in his lap. The younger boy just found it all oh so funny on how Ichika and Mattheus protected their own friend.
"He is a pervert," Houki answered while Ichika sighed on that. "Houki, he didn't ask for this." Ichika tried to reason with them. They had gotten no problem with Ichika doing perverted stuff to them, last night just proved that they were actually bigger pervs then him and they were okay with a lot, but Kizuna was still touchy.
"No but you don't have to protect him for being what he is." Cecilia said in a way that reminded them all who they were and how she perceived men. Ichika and Mattheus were about the only ones she'd ever consider equals.
"Kizuna is a perv," Charlotte said while Ichika groaned. "Girls, he didn't ask for this, yes. He and I, well, we are pretty much thrown into the same thing. And we are going to work with him."
"He is still a pervert." Tatenashi said while she hid her cat like smile after a fan.
"If we compare him to you girls, you girls are way more perverted than he is or did you all forget the world purge?" Joel said making them think at the event and the awkward moments that has given them.
"Joel, didn't we agree that we never would talk about that again?" Rin asked him but the boy just shrugged on that. Mattheus had a huge problem hiding his smile. Oh, the collective insanity of their usual life. May that never changes.
Meanwhile, Kizuna was throw in his seat, looking to a very angry Yurishia. This was not good. Was this was Ichika had described as hateful aura?
"Kizuna, I heard that you two were in the bath last night? Could you please explain and give me all the details?" She asked him and the poor boy was scared beyond everything else.
"Please, calm down, Yurishia. You must have misunderstood." The girl made a relieved face and went to sit behind Kizuna. Like the words has given her a cheerful smile, she was taking out a pen.
"We just met at the dressing room." That caused Yurishia to break her pen. "Hmm, really?"
Kizuna was now really scared. The sweat was dripping down his face, this was like dealing with a bomb that could explode when he did anything wrong and he was closest to the blast radius.
"Then, how could it be, that you by chance met each other in the dressing room of the public bath, I wonder if you can teach me" Oh shit.
She took out another pen and her smile got back. Was this what Ichika called their jealousy mode? She did know that Kizuna was forced to do lecherous stuff to the other girls in their squad as well, right? So why did she was so angry?
He would get killed if things go awry right? And while Ichika and Mattheus made the threat they'd go after anyone who would hurt him, he wondered if they would help him out against Yurishia.
"The commander didn't tell Hayuru of the time when Kizuna was going to use the public bath. And then, Hayuru who came home late bumped into Kizuna there."
Great, Aine, he really needed that line. She didn't look at her blond teammate but Aine didn't realize that she has buried a bigger hole for him.
"Well, you are good informed."
"I was present at the time." Aine answered in a neutral tone. Okay, did this girl not learn how to read the mood? At all. Didn't she?"
"Hee….. then, Aine, you are not bothered? That was a naked appeal you know? You are not thinking that Kizuna might be tempted?" Did these girls really not learn or know anything about boys? Okay, Kizuna was a male awkward guy but this wasn't good.
"Not particularly. That thing yesterday was simply an accident. It was just Hayuru dancing naked on her own accord." Yurishia looked at Aine in doubt but what else than her own words were the things she could take?
"You aren't bothered by that at all or did you have another reason for being so well composed?"
"Kizuna said that he will take responsibility." The second pen was broken and Yurishia was really angry again.
"Kizuna, could you explain what she meant with what she right now." The raised eyebrows and cold eye glint that were in inverse proportion with the smile on the lips were capturing Kizuna. This wasn't good.
Yurishia was the top fighter of the [Masters]. The Masters were the Amaterasu of the USA. She had a great track record so far and Kizuna had the idea she could kill him right here and now.
How would he ever get out of this mess? "Well, it's just. Aine is just messing around." Not his best thing. "Yoo, you guys, get to your seat?"
Sakisaka-sensei entered the classroom, in her usual red jersey.
"Then we are starting class, on what again?"
Okay, this wasn't the greatest teacher but at least, he got his ass saved. Ignoring the dark clouds from two girls, he got on the class.
Thereupon, the content of the geography class was displayed on the monitor. This was the present time geography, namely Megafloat Japan's geography and structure etc., this class was teaching the fundamental knowledge. Regarding the world's state of affairs and the other countries' megafloats too, if they obtained new information, that information would be reflected in the teaching material immediately.
"Ah, yes. Geography? Right. Though, the world map nowadays isn't really useful nowadays." Unbeknownst to Kizuna, the Infinite Stratos pilots got the same thing. Mattheus wondered on how his own guys would have been here.
Okay, they had the HHG pilots. Would the IS pilots be the same, should the same shit hit the fan back home? Or would his own guys stand up? It would really show off the Hackers. It wasn't the first time he wished his boss would be here.
But back to their lessons. Japan's Megafloat had a long and slender shape, it was vaguely imaged like Japan's archipelago. In reality, each region's float was linked in a row that was the same as their position in old Japan.
And then, even among the lined up each country's float, the ones with conspicuous size were Russia, and then America. If it was just size then Russia won, but what was amazing from America was that America's east coast and west coast had one Megafloat each.
The Megafloat looked like it might be even twice the size of Japan's, furthermore there were two of those.
Kizuna was staring absentmindedly at the form of Megafloat West USA. It looked like a streamlined enormous submarine.
"The one that Japan is likely to meet across might be West USA I think―, they are supposedly in the Pacific Ocean. Their float is attached with a submerging function, it seems that it can move underwater like a submarine you know―, I don't know for sure though."
It was a lenient lessons like they most had. The second year first class he was in was top in the line regarding combat. Didn't mean that fighting was the only thing that passed their way.
Modern Japanese, classical literature, history and geography, general education were all turned in data, making only Sakisaka Saki the only teacher. It took a lot of Chifuyu and Maya who were acting as their own teacher.
Besides that Rin, Tatenashi and Kanzashi joining their class, not that much changed.
Of course, they employed full-time lecturers regarding the curriculum with high specialization like art or music. However, the number of teachers were few in contrast with the number of students. Because of that, the teachers didn't participate in student management or civic guidance outside the class at all. Therefore, independent control management of students was necessary.
The public morals committee that Himekawa belonged to was also one of those, in order to protect the public morals and order of Ataraxia, they were working day and night.
Kizuna took a glance to Himekawa. She looked tired and beaten like hell. He recalled what his older sister told him.
(When do you plan on getting a Heart Hybrid with Kizuna?)
What she got left wasn't that much. Meeting an enemy like what Yurishia had when they met the Infinite Stratos Pilots, that could be really dangerous. He had to step in. One way or another.
But because she didn't trust him, he had to obtain that trust. And he could think of some way. But he could use some advice. And he knew where he should look on that.
'Look, the Eros Overlord.'
'I heard he was in the bath with one of the girls.'
'He's so bold.'
'A real beast.'
Great, seemed like the Infinite Stratos pilots were gossips as well. He passed down at the class and knocked at the door. "Sorry, are Orimura and Adjzof around?" The looks weren't much better for his class but luckily, Mattheus and Ichika looked at their leading squadmate.
"Yo Kizuna. Still in one piece." Ichika asked while ignoring the stares of the girls. Kizuna looked up to see Mattheus sitting with Joel in his lap. One of the arms was around the chair, hanging down while the other was on the boy's head.
Kizuna didn't really question that. Mattheus was almost never seen without Joel so Kizuna guessed that the two had some link.
"I was lucky enough." Kizuna answered Ichika's question. "Sorry but can I speak to you two for a bit?" Mattheus stood up and somehow, Joel found his way to the neck, letting the legs being draped over the shoulders and the boys body was over the older man's head. Ichika followed suit.
"I said you two." Kizuna protested as the Knight and Hunter left the classroom. "Don't worry, Kizuna. Everything I say is okay for Joel." Not wanting to argue with them, he decided to let it slide.
Kizuna leant at the windows and Ichika joined him. Mattheus stood on the opposite side and the Eros pilot explained his issues. "Sounds like you hit a major shitstorm." Ichika said and patted the man's shoulder.
"Ichika, tell me. How do you manage them?"
A raised eyebrow was enough for Kizuna to tell more. "I mean. You and those seven girls. How did that work out?" Ichika got a hit of realization. Frankly, he didn't know about the girls until Mattheus just plainly explained to him that those girls were in love with him. Then at the end of the Kyoto disaster (their name of the failed attack from Phantom Task on the ISA in Kyoto), shit hit the fan in a major way, making Mattheus responsible for an idea.
"Let me just say that a lot happened and I mean a lot." Ichika answered. "And it all ain't sunshine and rainbows. A lot of not funny stuff happened at my place. And sorry, Kizuna but you aren't close enough to let me tell you what happened."
Kizuna looked a bit surprised. "I'll take your word for it. But still, any tips on how I handle Himekawa?" Mattheus pondered about the ideas. "You want to win her trust by helping her out. That's not that bad of an idea but let me tell you that you don't have to go too far. I mean, help her out yes but don't make too big of a deal of it." Kizuna nodded. "Yeah, thank you guys."
Mattheus offered a fist and Kizuna bumped it. Ichika did the same and Kizuna looked happy to him. "If I get problems again, can I come talk to you guys again?"
The two boys offered him a grin. "Sure thing. We're squad mates, if you got a problem, just come see us." Ichika said and Kizuna ran away.
"That was a nice thing to do, Ichika," Joel said to the Knight. The boy sighed on that. "Hey, if you two never helped me out, I don't want to know what would have happened to me. So in this, I can help him out."
"And learn some tricks along the way?" Mattheus asked with a teasing grin. "What kind of tricks?" Ichika asked while Mattheus and Joel both facepalmed. He got the message. "Hold on, you're talking about that kind of stuff."
Mattheus shrugged on that and the girls looked at them with murderous expressions. The two looked at each other. "Fight or flight?" Mattheus asked while he deployed Chasseur rifle and twisted it around. Ichika looked at him and to their hallway. "Fight."
Mattheus saw Natasha standing with a serene smile. "Oh shit." Those guys would go down but at least, they'd go down swinging.
Kizuna found Himekawa at the student guidance room after Kizuna's conversation with Mattheus and Ichika.
Hayuru asked a bit suspicious. "You want to help at the public morals committee?"
"Yeah." A lucky thing that no one else besides the girl was around. Himekawa still didn't trust it. "I don't know what you are thinking, but do you understand your own standing? No one will consent to you entering the supervising side." She asked him but had a hard time waiting for an answer.
"That's the reason why I want to help you out. I am forced to do erotic stuff but that's not because I really want to. I want to prove that." A bit desperate but given his position, it was swim or sink.
"Right now, nearly everyone thinks I am a pervert and thanks to my sister's show, I can't fault them for that. But I am doing this on a mission. If I help you out, I won't feel guilty about having a Heart Hybrid even if that's with you, Himekawa, you won't feel inferior towards the others right?"
She was a bit surprised by that. "So you're doing this for me?"
"Look, I don't do it all because I'm a fan of it but I get the fact. You're embarrassed because of me. That's why I wanna help you out."
She didn't trust him but thought about it.
"Very well." Kizuna had a hard time believing that. "Really?!"
"Yes. But with this, I can see what kind of person you are by this work." Kizuna nodded.
"I understand. Please take care of me."
"Yes, me too. Please take care of me."
She showed a gentle smile and Kizuna found that face lovely. Like her Tsundere, harsh approach wasn't even there. The two went on and walked by. Somewhere, Hayuru found it nice with Kizuna. At least, it wasn't as lonely as usual. Hell, she found it enjoyable walking around with Kizuna by her side.
But that didn't mean that work would be easy
The first case was a bunch of guys who were using a telescope that was equipped with a recording function. They had a nice view of girls changing in their classroom. Kizuna looked up and saw the maker of the device.
Last week, he heard that someone made a video of girls changing. By the looks of it, it wasn't done by camera.
"You bastards. Last week video…"
Of course, they'd deny that but wouldn't that make them suspicious. "You're wrong! We have nothing to do with that!"
"Yeah, yeah. Are you making false accusations?" Kizuna knew he had no grounds to say that but letting this guys of the chain would be too soft.
"Well, we will understand soon enough if it's investigated. Don't be so worried if you guys really didn't do it." Himekawa tilted her head and looked at him.
"Hida-kun, what do you mean?"
Kizuna turned to her. "Aah, actually on the net last week, there was a popular topic about the peeking video of Ataraxia female students. Perhaps that video was taken using this telescope, that's what I'm talking about."
As a girl, she was a bit shocked but her shocked look turned to a glare towards the peeping toms. "What a shocking thing to do in this emergency time. Tomorrow, show your faces in the student guidance room! I will pursue your other crime thoroughly."
Somehow, those guys were relaxed by that and Kizuna didn't like the looks of that at all. "Himekawa, can we confiscate those guys their room and all electronic devices?"
He hit a jackpot as those three guys froze up. "I think we can do that but why should we?"
"If we let those guys wait, they're going to delete every piece of evidence."
"Cut it out! You don't know anything about compassion!" Kizuna had to hand it to her. She was one scary girl.
"I have no compassion with guys like you who are a bunch of peeping toms!" Kizuna looked at those three. They went down.
At least, that went pretty easily. Their next task would be a lot more problematic. They found a bunch of guys disturbing porn magazines, photo collections and illustrations albums and hentai manga. Being the eternal prude, Hayuru's face went red.
"Shameless. This is violating school regulations. They are all confiscated, further punishment will also be decided in the student guidance room!"
But like hell those guys would just let it live down. "Damn it."
"Take the good and run." Of the six guys, one made his way out and the rest covered his escape. Kizuna asked them to get out of the way but Hayuru wouldn't wait.
She took the hand of one of the guys and threw him away like he was a piece of paper. The back of her opponent hit the ground and Kizuna could only look in awe. She was really something.
"Hida-kun, we're going after him."
"Roger." The moment they went out the corridor, something fast passed their eyes. "HHG?" The male student was wearing armor and in his hands, the bag that he took away.
"That's not a HHG but a Technical Gear." Turned out that while HHG was limited, they couldn't install one in everyone so that's where the Technical Gear came in.
You could call it a crude replica from the HHG but it did its job of training but in terms of power, even a Mass Produced Infinite Stratos was a lot better.
"Using that for a bunch of porn books. Really?" Kizuna wondered. Okay, he was the last person to say that with his unit.
"I think someone must have messed up at enlisting." They chased after the guy but no way, they could catch up with just running.
"We're going to lose him at this rate. We are also going-!" Kizuna knew what she was talking about.
"Neros!" Her body shined red and when that was gone, her own unit appeared.
Igniting her thrusters, causing gale to blow in the corridor. The unique sound of ejected particles roared and Himekawa's body flew until the end of the corridor in a flash. Kizuna cursed on it. 'Should I equip mine too?'
Due to her activation, the students turned their attention to them. They even came from out their classrooms. He hated that word. Shouting that word. Here? Among all those people.
'No way.' He knew that it would cause more shame to him. The school wouldn't stop talking about him. He had to help her. Point.
"Eros!"
Like Hayuru, his body was wrapped in an energy, pink and his armor appeared. He rushed out and after her. He wasn't that strong so he could be defeated easily. "Himekawa? Where are you?"
Even his unit had some features and he could chat with the others due to their floating windows. They were also working on a chatting function with the HHG pilots and the two males that recently joined them.
"Right now I'm in the first year's building. I'm not mistaken in coming here, but I lost him. I'm chasing him through the south path, so Hida-kun, can you search from the opposite path?"
"Roger."
He went into the corridor again and he followed them. The students weren't used to see an HHG around in this close proximity. So Kizuna had a hard time avoiding them. He had to shift between low and high and it seemed to work until he saw a door opening right after he was flying lower.
A female student came out the history room and she was carrying a retro map. He had to fly low and barely avoided her.
Due the wind pressure, their skirts flew up but he had better things to do than watch them. He was trying his hardest to keep up with it and then he saw it. A wall came up and by speeding through it, he could get a little faster.
And he caught a glimpse of the Technical Gear. "Himekawa! I got him. I'm in the third years building right at the connecting path. I'm going to drive him to the second year building.
At the end of the path was coincidentally the classroom of Kizuna and the others, the second year first group. From the window at the corridor, the situation inside was visible. If he didn't quickly decelerate, he would crash into the classroom at this rate.
However, the Technical Gear didn't show any sign of decelerating.
'You have got to be kidding me?' That asshole crashed into the window and flew right through the classroom.
He had escaped Kizuna. "Shit. I'm going to leave. I'm not staying here. I got my freedom." But a short freedom it would be as suddenly, he was shot out of the air by a blue energy bullet. Before he could act, bullets and daggers flipped over him.
"Houki-chan, Rin-chan." A confident voice spoke up. "Roger."
"I got him." The two girls crashed in the guy and threw him down. The Technical Gear couldn't keep up and was thrown down by the girls. They smiled and Tatenashi looked to Hayuru. "Thanks you allowed us to help."
"I would have done it myself but that guy was too much of a wildcard for me to take alone." The girls looked in disdain to the guy and Kizuna looked in awe of the group of Infinite Stratos girls. While those girls lacked the power, Aine, Yurishia, and Hayuru had, they worked way better in a group. From his destroyed classroom, he looked at the girls.
"Incredible."
"Got that right." He looked at Ichika and Mattheus. "Those girls really have helped out." Mattheus shrugged. "They'll still have something to do and with this, once they help you guys out, they're not going to be strangers." Joel walked to them. "Kizuna, you go and catch up with Himekawa. Mattheus, I'm going to need your help."
Rumors spread fast around this place and when Mattheus read what the newspaper were going to write, he wasn't going to let those sumbitches of gossipers destroy Kizuna's reputation even more.
Hayuru looked at him.
"Good job, Hida-kun." The boy nodded. "Thanks but I'm going to become the talk of this school again." He answered. The girls of the Infinite Stratos decided their job was done and walked out. They waved to Ichika who mouthed them he was going to do some stuff.
"That's mean. But if you're keeping this up. Someday, it will be recognized and forgiven." Kizuna didn't catch all of that. She was smiling and looked sad at the same time.
"Himekawa?" He asked. "It's nothing. Even so, with your help, I don't think they aren't going to call you a pervert."
No one was going to say anything because for some reason, the Newspaper club was completely destroyed by bullets and an energy sword. The mystery remained unsolved but one could say that the school gossip mills was torn down by an energy sword and large caliber bullets.
As for the last case, Kizuna and Hayuru found something really funny. Or erotic. It depended on how you looked at it.
They saw a guy from the second year and a girl from a first year. They were really tightly embracing each other and using a math as bed. The buttons of their uniforms were unbuttoned and they had taken their underwear off.
If you knew Hayuru for a bit, one might tell the reaction on that. "Oh, come on. Do our students really need to keep causing acts like these?
"So, son of a bitch! Why have we gotten found out?" The guy looked angry and more upset that he couldn't get on with it.
"Se, senpai, I told you already that this is risky." The girl said but both decided to change but they started to make an argument.
While she was still blushing, she told the two what was going on. "You two are clearly in violation of Ataraxia high school student council regulation paragraph five, [Illicit sexual relationship is forbidden inside the school]. You cannot make any excuse after getting caught red-handed like this."
"Isn't this fine, just overlook this! Even you guys are doing the same thing right?"
Himekawa's face became stiff the guy said that.
"What do you mean?"
"You guys are doing erotic things however you like while cracking down on us like this, that's just unfair! Something like that is too sly!" The guy said back. In that logic, you couldn't really argue with that kind of tale.
"I am not."
"Yo, shut up." Before Hayuru, Kizuna stood and he glared at the male. "Hi, Hida-kun?"
"We are doing that because of the mission! We are not doing that just because of our desire! Besides, Himekawa still hasn't done anything like this. Are you guys thinking at all, just how much Himekawa who has hard-headed feelings is worrying about this, huh!?"
The hard look caused the couple to shut up and for some reason, it had captured Hayuru as well. When she had come to her senses, she looked the identity of the students up.
"I'll report this case. A verdict will come later from the school. But until then, please take your classes as usual." The ending of the school day was (conveniently) carried out by the bell. "That's it for today. Come on, let's go home, Hida-kun."
The day came to an end like the activity of the public morals committee.
Kizuna and Hayuru had returned to the student guidance room and made themselves ready to get back home. It had gotten dark and no students were behind at the school. It had a weird feeling, being at school when the sound had died out. Like unnatural.
"Himekawa. You always stay behind at school until this late?" Kizuna asked.
"Yes. You're not going to believe it but the student just keep on causing problems."
Kizuna began to understood from this day that as long there were students remaining in school, there would be some fellows that were causing some kind of trouble. In that case, even when at this time when it was time to go home, such things were not impossible.
They walked side by side from the stairs.
"There's a good thing to this you know?" On his puzzled face, Hayuru continued. "The school at night, the quietness calms me down." Kizuna looked at her.
"I'd think a lot of people would find it scary. But Himekawa is fine with that?"
"Yes. Because, isn't it beautiful?"
Himekawa stopped at the stairs' landing.
Kizuna didn't notice that and went down a few steps before turning back.
Behind Himekawa, there was a large window of the stairs' landing.
The radiant light of the moon shined in from the window, making Himekawa's contour shine beautifully.
When Himekawa looked up to the sky, her long black hair spread gently.
As though princess Kaguya had come from the moon. Such words suddenly floated in his mind.
"Yeah, it's beautiful."
"Right? The light of the stars and the moon are"
"No, I mean Himekawa is"
"Ha!?"
Himekawa's face became red as she was embarrassed by his words.
"Wha, what, what are you fooling around for, enough with the joke, le, let's go home quickly"
Himekawa that tried to go down the stairs panickily missed her step.
"Kyaaa?"
Himekawa's body floated on the air as if she was thrown.
"Hime!"
Kizuna immediately spread his two hands and caught her body.
He hugged the falling body of Himekawa right from the front. His balance crumbled, but he was only staggered for two, three stairs before he somehow held his ground.
"Hida-kun?"
"Himekawa." Suddenly, Kizuna got a shock from having this beautiful girl in his arms. She was slender, in a way that it felt unreliable. A difference from Aine and Yurishia. She was soft, so cute. "Eto. Hida-kun."
Her doll like face was really close to her and that skin was dyed in a pink light. Inside those eyes, he could see red particles of light. "What the?"
From her body, red energy came out.
"Hida-kun, what is this?"
Her body wasn't the only that lit up. Kizuna had the same small particles lit up.
"Heart Hybrid?'
"Eh?"
At that instant, light came out. Did they really have a Heart Hybrid? This wasn't really erotic right?
"I think we had a Heart Hybrid. How did that?"
"Release me."
The voice was so soft and so whispered, Kizuna didn't even hear it. "Sorry." He now realized she was in a hug. "Sorry, Himekawa. It happened all so quick and I."
"Don't worry. I had your help so."
Her face was red and her eyes looked down. It was still weird that she clutched to his clothes after she let him go. "I'm sorry, that you had to have to touch the body of me. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable." What was she blathering about?
"No, I don't understand. I didn't find it uncomfortable or anything like that."
"But I am not like Aine-san or Yurishia-san, I don't have their style." Her fingers fidgeted around and she looked really cute. Right. Aine made fun of her and she took this serious.
"Regardless of your style, I think it's impolite but I'm still going to. There's nothing wrong with your style."
"Don't lie. Boys like girls with large breast, right? Mine are small?"
Her fingers were at his uniform and she clutched his collar. That began to hurt. "Why are you comparing yourself to those girls in Miss Universe class. Your breasts aren't small. In fact, they're charming in their own right."
Her hands stopped.
"Really?"
"Really. Wait, where's my phone?" He checked his dial and found Himekawa's Hybrid Count. "38%. Himekawa, you've recovered by 10%. We did it."
"10%. That's a lot. I had only 3% after two weeks." In that moment, Kizuna had covered the portion of six weeks but he couldn't change that they had Heart Hybrid. In that moment, her chest was throbbing in a painful way. But she felt at peace as well.
It might not be bad.
"Himekawa, is there something wrong?" She shook her head. "Come on, let's go home." The two walked out.
'Maybe, it might be not that bad.'
For the persons who are wondering how Mattheus looks, Oslight has been so kind to draw him. Check his Deviant Art out.
This was written next to the chapter with some extra additions. Sorry, I was planning the mission on Guam but this got the better of me. Things didn't go like canon but because the Infinite Stratos girls are (only) getting a major fighting role in the second season (after Volume 4), I have decided to let them play in from time to time. It was also written next to the original novel which can be found at Baka Tsuki and some lines might come from that one.
I'm going to use that novel a lot, especially in the events I haven't thought out. For me, I have ideas after the Tokyo Arc and what else but the first three are going to be a bit of a hassle.
If anyone of you guys wants to help out as beta, I'm still looking around. So far, I'm also going to rewatch the series. I am sorry this isn't the ten thousand words I was hoping for but you guys might be comforted that the next chapter will be faster done. Damn, this has been too long. Sorry, too much stuff just caught up. One more chapter to go and I am done for now. And with two days to go, I can work this out.
Saluut.