Got some things left and should have started this a while ago. But hey, better late than never. Maybe a bit of a note. Outside in Belgium, we're getting a spring heat wave. Degrees go near thirty and before you wonder, I'm talking Celsius. So things get a bit hot and I have the stuff to get used to. That aside, school is nearly over. Just a couple of weeks and I'm free. Things are looking decent and while Easter wasn't productive, I needed the hours on my computer.

I guess more will come later on but for now, I'm going to start.

After the night passed, Kizuna saw that his companion Silvia Silkcut had left the room. In his head, things were going into overdrive. His sister had told him that she was one of the most likely candidates to get a Heart Hybrid Gear meaning he had to perform that on her.

Yeah, he was not comfortable with that. With Hayuru, Yurishia and Aine, neither but at least, they were his age. Doing a perverted act with a girl that was thirteen. God, that just screamed lolicon. In his head, he wondered about that stuff.

He knew that Mattheus and Joel were close but he didn't imagine that Mattheus was a shotacon despite the closeness the two had. There were certain acts Kizuna had questions about. It was not normal that Joel would sit in Mattheus back or that they shared a hug.

It was more because of the view. While even in the States or the Anglo-Saxon world, the actions would be frowned upon, in his own home, it was not uncommon. People had questions yes but never met disapproval after they learned that Mattheus was pretty much Joel guardian. Still, Kizuna could not really fault the actions Mattheus did.

His were twenty times more perverted than the older man.

But Kizuna had bigger worries, namely their enemy. The woman and that machine from last night was stronger than everything he had ever seen. He sighed. How were they supposed to against that? After his shower and dressing, he walked outside and tried to get his mind on the matter. At the end, he saw Ichika training with the girls of the Infinite Stratos.

Blocking Houki, he dodged the bullets coming from Charlotte. The other girls were waiting for their turn. Mattheus on the other hand was talking to Joel. It might have been easier if the two boys had everyone else in the skies to help them out.

Kizuna was a bit jealous. Mattheus and Ichika had their own weapons to rely on. Still, his two male companions were slowly getting used to trust him. Kizuna had a decent soldier like mindset and that was useful to have around on the field. At that point, the Eros pilot realized he had to make a solid bond between those guys as well.

Sure, they couldn't do a Heart Hybrid but they were also on the field and were the only ones who did have to rely on that.

Ichika was now busy avoiding the bullets that Mattheus was firing at him. It didn't take long before Ichika closed the gap. Mattheus then switched to his handgun and as a reply, Ichika deployed his shotgun. At that point, Kizuna decided to join them. Staying out the training area, he waved at the Infinite Stratos girls who glared at him. Joel was sitting with the laptop making notes on Ichika and Mattheus.

Ichika looked at Kizuna who put his hand up to stop Mattheus. The two waved back at Kizuna. He joined the two and while both reeked, it didn't really bother Kizuna. When you are surrounded by estrogen all the time, having testosterone is a nice change of pace.

"Kizuna, morning." Ichika greeted his friend. "Ichika, Mattheus, yo."

"Sups." Mattheus answered back. "What're you doing here?" Kizuna looked a bit puzzled at that question but decided to counter it. "Guys, sorry that I ask but where'd you learn to fight?" Ichika and Mattheus looked at each other.

Both had a different road to their style. Ichika learned from his sister and Houki's dojo when he was a kid. Later on, that bit of training was transferred to his Infinite Stratos so he could cope with the new intense training. During middle school, he had no time to train.

Mattheus on the other hand was more self-taught and he would later receive training from former soldiers in regards of using his guns. "Long story and FYI, you're not high enough on our trust list to tell you that. The only reason they were chosen as your extra help was cause their weapons were decent enough for that. Now, why did you ask that?"

Joel joined in the conversation and Kizuna turned to him as answering. Like everyone else, they had to earn Joel's respect. Still, the way Joel talked was really rude.

"It's pretty weird how different you are compared to Silvia despite you both coming from the UK." The girls heard the last few parts and their eyes had bulged out. No one, even Cecilia, had the guts to call Joel English.

Kizuna then learned the very hard way as Joel released his spanner and hit Kizuna's fist with that same spanner. Luckily for the Eros pilot, Mattheus had acted fast enough to get Joel before he would carry out more damage on the pilot.

While shouting profanities, even Mattheus began to blush from, he struggled against the boy. Twelve years but that kid could put up a bigger fight than most grown up.

"Okay, Joel. That's enough." of course, for a livid punk, that was not enough. Joel's roots in the IRA made him really touchy on that subject. Kizuna felt like his fact was knocked out his skull.

"That was fucking stupid." Ichika said to him. Ironic given that he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Mattheus grinned and looked over to the girls. Looks like the training was over. "We're going to look around the float. See you around, Mattheus, Ichika." After the girls joined in for their kiss, they headed for the showers.

Good thing they had so much free time right now. Mattheus knew they weren't looking at Kizuna in a better way. Something major, like really major had to happen before that stunt would turn around. Kizuna didn't have to look up to notice the glares. "That hurt." He said while he looked at Joel.

"Why did you do that?"

Joel was let go from Mattheus as he lunged to Kizuna. Good thing. He dropped the spanner. Bad thing. He nearly ripped the collar from the shirt.

"Never, in the holy fucking name of mother Jesus, you're calling me English. You got that?! I'm Irish. Don't you ever fucking forget that, you hapless, perverted piece of Japanese dogshit." He let Kizuna go and walked to Mattheus.

The older man just shrugged on him. "You heard the boy. Better keep that in mind for next time." Kizuna sat up and looked over to the weapons. "Again, Kizuna. Why'd you come here?"

"Well, I was just curious. You guys are really good fighters compared to me." Mattheus shook his head. They were somewhere but nowhere good. They had some experience yes but not against those machines.

"Agreed, we're decent but we're not that good. Anyway, you'd come here for a reason. We're training here and you got no weapons nor anything to give us any worry? So why'd come here?" Mattheus and Ichika had agreed that training against those girls was a better way to train. It did beat fighting against those replica's.

It brought it them better in the fight compared to other ways. With the fights they had and that would come, they were better prepared. Joel had been looking them up and worked ways out to train with the means he had. Which, all shits and giggles considered wasn't that good. But if those girls were brought up to speed, the sooner they were in the air. Which would be better for Joel as well.

Kizuna understood how the two thought. They became part of Amaterasu but they would rather stick with the Infinite Stratos girls as they knew what they could do. Besides that, they were a part of his crew or squad as some would prefer. Meaning they were soldiers under his command. He needed a bond of trust between them somehow. From what he saw, those two acted as what some would describe as bash brothers.

It would also explain how the two would refer to each other as bro. Mattheus and Ichika got that Kizuna wanted them to trust as well but it wasn't that easy.

They had been through a lot and had secrets they wouldn't tell. Kizuna had to earn their trust first and that came with a solid bond. He got an idea how they'd ease up around him. "I know you guys are training here. I came her with the request." Both males waited for him to continue.

"Eros doesn't have any weapons. So I was wondering…"

"If you could try out our weapons for training." Ichika answered before Kizuna could speak more. "Sure, we got some time left over but you better get to learn our weapons first and how we are using them."

Ichika showed him Yukihira, the energy sword. "This is Yukihira. It's famous in the Infinite Stratos world due to it's One Off ability. I normally use it as my sword in normal fights like Himekawa does but I can also use it as one hit kill. When I donate my shield points to it, it's easy for me to take targets out. It's a high risk, high reward challenge that I have been using ever since I got my unit. It's for me an easy build but with the shotgun." Showing off Blastergun, "I have an easier time extending my reach. But this is supplementary to my style. I don't know if you can use the On Off ability."

Ichika looked at Joel who shook his head. From all four, he was the most knowledgeable about the Infinite Stratos. "No, I mean. Ichika, no one of us can use your sword in the one hit kill way. A sword for the tool as fighting, yeah but not the On Off. At least, I have never went there." Ichika crossed his arms. "Why not?"

"First of all. It takes too much of a pain of realtering the energy lines and the person getting the sword has to get used to it. And it eats shield points as boost so it's a double edge that is not worth it. Your Infinite Stratos is built around that shit. The only person who'd have a decent handle is Mattheus and his unit is already lower on points." Mattheus nodded on that. He had sacrificed speed on strength.

"True that. If you're wondering why," He pulled out Chasseur rifle and put the rifle on his shoulder. "That's cause unlike other units, Lavathenian is more aimed for hard hitting, fast attacks. That's how I use my unit." Throwing the rifle to Kizuna, the boy took it over.

"Lavathenian got a couple of weapons and even more that I can download with twenty six weapon slots of which now seven are used but my go to favorite is Chasseur rifle. French for Hunter, this weapon besides Ichika's Yukihira is the only hit kill weapon that exists on the Infinite Stratos market. Joel, you knew more about this weapon." Joel sighed and began to speak. He designed the weapon after all.

"Shooting a customized anti material round, this rifle is based around WW2 era bolt action, converted in the Twenty First Century weapon technology. There's no reloading as the bullets are supplemented in the system of his unit. Due to the heavy kick of the round, the weapon is bolt action. It also lacks a scope given that delays the reactivity. Mattheus got a pistol shooting a smaller round compared to the rifle. The difference is that the recoil is way below what the big one can do. It has an incredibly good accuracy and hit targets even beyond three kilometer. The only downside is that Mattheus has to manually cycle the round. This is done to preserve ammo and it stops Mattheus from getting a sore shoulder. I will let you know you gotta watch your ass when you handle this weapon. This thing kicks like a mule."

Joel had been pondering about getting more weapons. 'Maybe a few extras would not hurt to have. White Death is really good but he gotta have me on board to get the gun to work. And I should look up ways to deal with his guns on the arms. They're obsolescent and they take in too much. Maybe when things are settling down.'

"So you wanna practice?" Ichika asked. Kizuna was not sure which weapon would be best suited for him.

After hearing the favorite weapons, he decided to go for the sword. "Can you help me out, Ichika? Sorry, Mattheus but I think I'll have a better handle on the sword than your rifle." Mattheus waved the comments away.

"Don't you worry, I get your point."

Kizuna held on to Yukihira. While Ichika Byakushiki helped to carry the giant sword. It was a close range unit but it was clear how it was build up. Blastergun as fire weapon was merely to compliment the short range of the unit. Mattheus was a more all-round unit with a big boost on long range. Unlike Ichika, he could do other ranges but Lavathenian was the most deadly from longer distances.

Kizuna now understood on how those two would team up. They were aggressive in their fights yes but they used a defensive attack. They would be brutal in their assault on their foes but their basic tactics was a buddy system. Both boys looked to Kizuna who had a linearly look on his face. He wasn't really used to this.

Ichika had his kendo and kenjutsu training to rely on and Mattheus self-taught with improved training in the Metal Claw, made it easier for him to use a rifle but that was something that Kizuna did not have.

Following the instructions from Ichika, Kizuna showed some promise but it looked like he had a long, long way to go before he was at any sort of level. Mattheus saw the display on how Kizuna and Ichika and he wasn't too eager to give up his precious rifle to a guy who wasn't used to a fight.

His rifle wasn't modeled after a modern high weapon but relegated to a WW2 era. Sure, it used modern materials and was an Infinite Stratos weapon but unlike the BlueStar of Cecilia, chasseur was more a cross between a Mauser, Mosin Nagant or a Karabiner 98K. Mattheus respected that era of weapons but Chasseur was in all regards a prototype of a weapon.

Joel had send it for usage and testing but still hadn't tuned up with a more modern design of the weapon. Joel in that regard was a man.

He couldn't multitask. Not that Mattheus considered that a problem. Joel had difficulty focusing on often too many ideas that would flood his head. Mattheus had a hard time getting him to focus on one idea at the time. First Chasseur, after Joel, worked on the White Death. Now, in most instances, the rifle did what Mattheus wanted it did. Although, Mattheus was forced to wear gloves or his fingers and his hands would be covered in wounds.

While using such an ancient thing, it helped Mattheus to improve accurate shots and spare his shoulder. Having an Infinite Stratos, the bullets and the huge reoil. So having a fire rate of one bullet per second, it saved Mattheus' shoulder from being torn apart. It also was a reason why Ichika and he were assigned as support for Amaterasu.

Ichika on the other hand was now teaching. While the one off ability did not work on Kizuna, he could use the sword for pure fighting. Due to the larger build of the Infinite Stratos, Kizuna had a hard time getting used to the machine. Ichika on the other hand had no real problem with the weapon. Mattheus looked at Ichika who took his role as a teacher really serious.

Although, he enjoyed it. There was nothing more fun than to teach others a thing you loved doing. Mattheus had that with Joel when he thought the boy how to play video games and alter the roles were reversed when Mattheus was introduced using a gun.

Before he received Chasseur, he had an model AK and SPAS. While crude, they were decent weapons in their own right but they couldn't live up to the Fire power of the White Death or the easier use that Chasseur who was more powerful and better suited for Lavathenian fast hitting style. Mattheus pondered if he should dump the weapons or he should ask Joel to replace them.

Like in most other things, boring is often better because it's more practical. He still didn't know why Joel had created a special caliber for the rifle and where the special rounds were smaller, they would often make up with the faster fire rate. Speaking about his weapons, he had some slots open and he could use a few more toys to play with.

Chasseur could be a little smoother as well and the 1911A1 design of his pistol had shown its age. Maybe he could make a FNX-45 as usage. His musing was broken when he head Ichika and Kizuna shouting.

"Mattheus, yo. Can you get here?" Smiling, he joined the two.

"Yes." He asked, he knew that Joel was now busy on his laptop. Oh, Joel. Never content, always looking for ways to improve. Progress was an important thing but at some points, you had to say "Fuck it." And roll with it. Mattheus looked to Kizuna.

"Could you spare with me? If you're okay with it." Mattheus summoned Goedendag and nodded with a ten watt grin on his face. "Sure."

That said grin did not calm Kizuna down and he was right. Twenty two seconds later, Kizuna fell on the ground.

"Ow." Mattheus turned his spear around. "You're too soft." He said in an even, calm voice.

"I'm not you teammate in a fight. I'm your enemy. Remember that." Kizuna got up and took Yukihira back on. "Noted. Bring it on."

The whole morning, the three boys were sparring while Joel recorded the fights and made notes on how things could work out. Deciding that he had enough data, he enjoyed the rest of the matches. While Kizuna did not stop, Mattheus and Ichika switched every so often. In that way, Kizuna could learn how to use the weapons like Hunter Knife, Chasseur Pistol or the AK.

Sometimes, they would have a spare of they trained Kizuna how to use guns. He had to admit this was fun. At least, he experienced it like that. The Eros Pilot enjoyed the rougher but friendlier treatment instead of being a guy who got to keep a girl hot and bothered.

In the end, it was noon when the three were done. The sun was rising and they had gotten some spectators. When Mattheus heard what the wet dreams of some girls were, he flipped them off and left. He gave the signal to Kizuna and Ichika they had to quit.

He didn't take crap from anybody, a rule that still applied here. His rebellious, flippant nature against any sort of authority that had to earn its respect, was something that would never leave him as long he would live.

Chifuyu had some leash on him and he wouldn't always cause some trouble but he wouldn't take her bullshit. Her absurdly high standards were just something he would look at it and he would not even say yes to it.

The reason he chose to respect and follow Kerlongsj was because he respected Mattheus wishes and because he liked the free spirited man. Another part was because Kerlongsj was a Western Guy. His values were different from what the Japanese said that was acceptable.

Now, Mattheus was sitting in the changing room. It was fun. Drinking a local drink, he didn't really like it but it was decent enough to drink. The rest of the guys also wore towels or easy to wear clothes, most people had when they had taken a shower.

"So what do you think, Kizuna?" The Eros pilot sat over him, dressed in a loosely worn uniform. The jacket was still off his body. Mattheus only wore a trouser and a sleeveless shirt.

"I think you guys are really strong."

"Thanks." Ichika answered when he took another bench. "But you should see those girls. It's not abnormal they were trying to kill me and it was just recent that I started to use my own machine." Kizuna's mouth dropped.

"They used their machines and go after me, yes. I will let you know that the amount of times they tried to kill me has been so many that I stopped counting." Mattheus snickered on the choice of words. Seems like Cecilia had an influence on him.

"Jesus. Sound like you had a rough time." Ichika shrugged on that. "Meh, it went down but for now, we don't see each other that often. And I think you're in a spot way worse than I have ever been." Kizuna nodded. He was thanking God that unlike the girls, Mattheus and Ichika took the whole idea of this idiotic but lucky, he would never deny that, as a fact that happened and rolled with it.

If they didn't stick out for Kizuna, the question would be who did. Being the only male in a group of a group of girls ain't no fun thing. Estrogen around you looked like fun but you could never get pressure from your kettle.

Mattheus grinned on that. He didn't mind. It was better that like Ichika, Kizuna would have those girls for him. Those guys were also a notch above the whole thing compared to the idiots that he and Ichika had to beat regularly. "In any case, thank you guys for the training." Joel joined them. Using his two arms as a lift, he lifted himself on Mattheus' lap.

"You definitely have a fuck long of work to do. Same for you guys btw. I looked up your machines and while good, I can make improvements." Mattheus messed with Joel's hair. It was not a real head pat but more a ruffle of it, making a huge mess of the half long hair. Joel was leaning in the feeling of having Mattheus hand over his hair, messing with it.

Kizuna still felt a bit sorry about the fact that he called Joel English. "Eh, Pearce, I…" Joel put up his hand, signaling Kizuna to stop.

"Call me Joel. I'm not a person to go with my first name? What's on your mind, Kiz?" Rude but this was a boy who grew up without any sort of values who were actually learned at Mattheus place. Kizuna found it amazing and shocking at the same time on how different Joel was from Silvia. Also on how relaxed Joel was right now in Mattheus lap. It was weird but from the few days that Mattheus and Ichika were at the place, they thought Kizuna to just roll with it.

"Joel. I wanted to say I'm sorry about my choice of words. My bad." Kizuna said at the boy. At the action, Joel just shrugged while his face didn't betray anything. "No worries. Sorry myself I latched out. But for me, it's a real sensitive subject if you'd call me English. I'm Irish. Besides, I think it's the same thing if someone does something that sets you off. We all go there sometime."

Surprised at Joel's consideration, Kizuna's mouth dropped. "You're a pretty smart kid for your ag. But I'm sorry to ask. If you aren't a pilot, why do you have some much knowledge about this?" The three boys smirked on the question. They had never told Kizuna what Joel really was.

"Oh, I'm an engineer and weapons designer for Mattheus. The shotgun and Hunters Knife from Ichika were our gifts for his birthday. And before you aid one more word. I ain't no genius despite Mattheus calling me that. I'm just good at what I'm doing. The best actually."

Like calling Joel English, he couldn't stand for the word of being called a genius save off Mattheus who never meant that word. It was more because Mattheus was always amazed by the things Joel could do. Joel didn't like the name of genius. He saw what happened with those who saw themselves as a genius. Tabane and from what he could pick up of Nayuta, weren't really humans anymore.

And that was rich from the best friend of the Hellboy.

Besides, his weapons weren't the greatest things. They used the same principle of older, already existing guns. Hell, most guns used on the Infinite Stratos had their routes or functionality dating back on the principles of John Browning or other gun designers in the twentieth century.

In eyes of weapon design, John Browning was more important than Tabane Shinonono as his designs were used on the machines. Ergo, didn't Browning exist, you wouldn't have your fancy guns.

"Wow. I find that hard to believe. But that's amazing." Joel gave a grin as Mattheus had resumed of messing with the hair. Mattheus eyes were not even focusing on the action while he was talking with the guys. It was more an automatism that he had gotten used to.

"Thanks." Kizuna sat back with his head looking up. "It's better than my own thing. I mean. I have to perform lewd stuff on those girls. Eros can copy it when I have had a Climax Hybrid. God, who the hell made those titles?"

It was a strangely comfortable talk with other guys without any sort of judgment. And being the environment where testosterone was reigning supreme to estrogen was another nice part. Being only around women, no matter how beautiful, willing and enjoyable they were, weighed on a guy. At some point, a guy needs to hang out around other guys.

It was nothing more than that. Being a lion who had his pride was a good thing but perhaps there was a reason why so many lions teamed up with their brothers, half brothers or other males they grew up with.

While Kizuna nor Ichika would even think about the action of sharing those girls, it was more the fact they could relate to the point you could call it a coalition. Everyone had their own but when shit would come down, they fought as one.

It was perhaps a good thing that Mattheus and Joel had torn down the rumor mill. After the journalism club collided with the girls from the newspaper club from the ISA, Mattheus made a few more visits and for some reason, the computer crashed down more often than not

Mayuzumi Kaoruko had joined forces with them but often enough, it was blocked by Mattheus. He didn't like gossips. It did little for moral.

Found that Joel had been impossible to even have questions from. He had 45 arguments to make sure his lips wouldn't be opened. He could not be bribed. Mattheus loathed gossip. It did jack shit for improvements. Rumors weren't a reason to fuck with someone. The four guys had been sitting in a comfortable, reasonable and well filled silence.

No one had jack shit to say and when guys had nothing else to say, they didn't speak. Big difference when women had nothing to say. Unfortunately, a message popped up, relegating an end to the times they had.

"Kizuna." Reiri had appeared on a screen and her tone let know that she wasn't really happy with what Kizuna was doing right now. "Neechan." The Eros pilot said a bit surprised. "What have you been doing since this morning?" The elder woman asked him and they all guessed she wanted an answer immediately.

"I have been training with Ichika, Mattheus and let not forget Joel." The boy beamed on the recognition he got. "Training?" Kizuna, your job as main important one is to give those girls Heart Hybrid and go beyond that. Building out your relation with those girls is far more important than training with those idiots. I do not like the idea you're trying something different."

She heard a snort from Joel. "I'd think you're wrong on several aspects. Having some form of battle experience is never lost, especially with front line soldiers. You were talking about building out relationships, right. While Kizuna doesn't have to bring a climax to Ichika or Mattheus, those two men are fighting under his command. By training with them, Kizuna is learning what Ichika and Mattheus do and how they're differing from Aine, Yurishia or Hayuru. He needs to learn that aspect as Ichika and Mattheus combine their already heavy attacks. Kizuna also needs to get familiar with the different weapons that both men are packing. So this training actually has more purposes for Kizuna to grow instead of just learning how to set girls off."

Ichika, long gotten used to Joel's antics and actually expecting a rude word but not complaining about the logical explanation found it always nice to see how the punk acting like that. Mattheus on the other hand was pleasantly surprised by the breaking down of Reiri in polite but just terms instead of just flipping her off.

While it was rude and flippant in Japanese terms, for the Hunter, this was his and Joel's ideas of a civil conduct. Mattheus grinned as the young boy nestled back in the large frame of him. Reiri had a hard time getting used to this sort of treatment.

This was new but she could compose herself. "Kizuna, I need to see you here in in the labs. Get here asap." The screen closed and Kizuna sighed but he stood up. He began to understand the term brothers Ichika and Mattheus used. Those guys had a close, friendly relationship due having to rely on each other all the time.

It wasn't normal due to the age gap and cultural differences but both learned to accept that from the other. And slowly, he felt hat he'd become a part of this little group.

Pulling out his fist, the IS pilots looked confused. "Don't leave me hanging." The two understood that phrase well enough and Ichika gave him a fist bump first and after that, Mattheus gave a second one. Joel was third and with that, the boy left.

Ichika stood up and went his own way after saying goodbye to Joel and Mattheus. "I'm off as well. gonna see where those girls went and hang out." There was a glint in his eyes.

"No, we join in." Joel said but Mattheus shook his head. "Better leave them be Joel. How about we look for Natasha and hang with her the entire day?" Joel nodded. He enjoyed hanging out with those two. It was always fun.

Caught up with my notebook. Right on time as my school year is over. This chapter is shorter than compared to the one in December but the reason why is because I'm intending to write more. Next week will be a bit more quiet and my pc needs his checkup. That's going to cost a pretty penny. I have begun a few new things and I'm going to write a bit more.

The Division and Ubisoft really intend to make me fail my classes next year. But I'm passed for this year, I'm gonna work in the summer and I have Graspop next week. Looks like this is gonna be a quiet summer holidays.

Not that I mind. Working is good and I hope I can write if my body will allow it.

Saluut.