Chapter 2


"Mm." Charlotte slowly opened her eyes as she looked up at Issei sleeping and recalled what had happened last night.

"Charlotte, why are you crying?" Issei asked worriedly. His earlier thoughts about Charlotte's breasts and body had all but burned away when he saw her tears.

"I-I lied to you about who I am and why I'm here, so why aren't you mad at me?" Charlotte sobbed softly. Issei watched as Charlotte began to shed more tears before he wiped them away and pecked her forehead.

"Why would I be mad at someone forced into a position by their father?" Issei said, widening Charlotte's eyes before she let out a harsh sob and pulled the young man into a tight hug. As Charlotte bawled her eyes out, Issei merely did nothing but hug her back and whisper sweet nothings into her ear. 'I'm glad my mom taught me how to comfort a woman.' Issei said to himself gratefully.

After a while of crying, Charlotte finally managed to calm down with a peaceful smile as Issei gently washed her back. "Are you feeling better now, Charlotte? If not, we could cuddle tonight if that will help." Issei said softly, making Charlotte's smile widen. "I... I would like that, Issei." Charlotte said happily.

Charlotte blushed at Issei's sleeping face before looking at her wristwatch to see it was four in the morning. She tried to go back to sleep but struggled because of the last night before she put her ear to Issei's chest and listened to the sound of his beating heart.

"It sounds so soothing, like a lullaby," Charlotte said as she smiled to herself while listening to the heartbeat of the man next to her until feeling Issei's arms wrap around her waist even tighter, which made the Frenchwoman blush at this side of her roommate before smiling at him for what he had done for her.

'What did I do to deserve a roommate like you, Issei?' Charlotte asked herself as she decided to give him a chaste kiss on the lips before snuggling into his chest once more, listening to the soothing sound of Issei's heart and enjoying the feel of her lips on her own.

On the other hand, Issei was still asleep, but a small smile appeared as he was glad to have a wonderful person like Charlotte as his roommate. A small part of him wanted to tell Chifuyu about Charlotte's real identity, but then again, if the school were to learn that Charlotte was a girl, then it'll cause a scandal that'll harm the school, so he decided to keep it to himself.

It would be their little secret, which made the morning a bit awkward as he woke up an hour later.

"Mm?" Issei grumbled as he looked down at Charlotte's sleeping face before kissing her forehead. He saw their position and how others would see this as a man holding their wife, which made him blush as he could also feel Charlotte's incredible bust before slowly leaving her arms and replacing him with a pillow.

Issei then headed to the bathroom as he went to do his business before taking some workout clothes and putting them on. It was a simple red workout short-sleeved shirt and shorts with black running shoes. Ever since his training with Natasha to better understand his ability, the woman had drilled into Issei that exercise was a crucial factor in being an IS pilot. She made him wake up at five and go through a rigorous workout.

Eventually, he left the room and a note for Charlotte should she wake up.

"It's hard to imagine this place is far from the mainland," Issei said as he went out for his morning jog. It was a good warmup that Natasha encouraged him to do since it was an excellent way for his blood to get pumping before the actual workout began.

Issei was grateful for Natasha teaching him all she knew, so he decided to keep his routine, which is why he kept doing his workout; even after his training with Natasha, it was a great experience that helped him get more muscle and strength training.

He wasn't expecting anyone to be out at this time since he figured the girls at the school weren't into morning workouts until he saw a girl run towards him in a workout uniform as well.

"Hm? Hyoduou-san, is that you? I didn't know you liked to jog in the morning?" Kiyoka Aikawa, first year and in the same class as Issei, said Issei was surprised to see someone else out this early before he greeted her.

"Oh hey. Your Kiyoka, right? Nice to see you again. What're you doing out here in the morning?" Issei asked as Kiyoka giggled in response.

"I should be asking you the same thing. I always go for a morning jog on the weekends since we don't have classes."

"Ah. That makes sense. Are you on the track team or any sports?"

"Oh, I'm on the Handball Team. I love being able to watch sports and jog since it helps me stay fit and healthy. Are you jogging too? If you want some help, I can give you some pointers." Kiyoka said before getting into a crouching position on the ground. She then looked at Issei with a challenging smirk.

"Or we could race?"

Issei was surprised by the girl's boldness before smiling at the idea of having a running partner.

"Alright, you got a deal, Kiyoka. Just don't cry when you lose." Issei said as the girl laughed in response before they started to run across the field, unbeknownst to their spectator.

"Hm. Issei seems to be fitting in well. I'll have to ask Natasha about the training that she put him through. Perhaps he can help out during PE," Chifuyu said as she drank some of her morning coffee before seeing Issei pass Kiyoka for a while until Kiyoka sprinted to get ahead of him. It became a battle of wills as the two tried to get ahead.

"Heh. Reminds me back when I was in school." Chifuyu said as she had a nostalgic look on her face as she recalled memories of her simple life as a high school girl, her little brother, Tabane, and her sister, and not having to become an IS pilot.

"Heh. I feel like an old lady reliving her childhood. Time flies when you're having fun or are busy with work." Chifuyu said as she looked at her reflection in her drink before going back to watching Issei and Kiyoka race each other until they ended their race at the school's entrance, with Kiyoka and Issei tying for first as they panted a bit from their race.

"W-What's wrong Kiyoka? A little worn out?" Issei asked with a smirk as Kiyoka chuckled a response.

"Y-You wish, Issei. Your pretty tired yourself." Kiyoka said as the two continued to catch their breath before they headed to the school gym and began a workout competition with push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and other activities for another hour.

The two of them were tired as their muscles ached, but they were both stubborn as they pushed each other past their limits.

Kiyoka had more experience in speed and stamina, but Issei could power through with his strength and endurance, which is why the two were testing each other's limits in the final round.

An Ice Bath.


"What's wrong Kiyoka? Too cold for you?" Issei asked. Kiyoka was shivering but maintained her cool as she looked at Issei with a mocking smile.

"H-Hah! I can walk around in just normal clothes for the winter. I don't need some jacket to keep me warm." Kiyoka said as she could feel her muscles scream at her to get out of the bath, but her pride as an athlete stopped her Issei was calm on the surface but knew he could stay on for so long.

"Oh yeah? I was trained to withstand the cold in negative temperatures. Got to thank North America for that." Issei said as they continued their stare down to psyche each other out until the cold got to them. As they both got out at the same time, which meant they were tied. Again.

"D-D-Damn. S-So much for your training, h-h-huh?" Kiyoka said as she shivered like a penguin, while Issei was also shivering but less than Kiyoka.

"O-Oh yeah? What happened to little miss? 'I can deal with the cold?' Issei asked as the two headed into the bathhouse and began warming up in the bathtubs; unfortunately, since they didn't accommodate a male IS pilot, they sat next to each other as they cleaned up from their workout.

Issei and Kiyoka were silent for a couple of minutes until Issei broke the ice.

"Your good, Kiyoka. I honestly haven't had someone push me like that in working out. My friend back home never really did workout as much as I did, but he always went on a jog with me when he woke up early." Issei said as he recalled his friends back home. Ichika had introduced him to Ran and Dan, and surprisingly, Issei hit it off with Ran since the girl was a spitfire and a bit of a tomboy, but Issei admired that about her. Ichika and Dan were amazed how Issei could not only help Ran control her rage and such but helped her release her energy into a sport to use it all: Swimming.

Kiyoka smiled at this as she recalled not having many friends trained with her, so having someone with her was excellent.

"Heh. Your not so bad yourself." Kiyoka said as he got up from the bath and headed to the changing room. Issei stayed a bit longer to give Kiyoka time to change before heading out of the tub and went to get changed as well as Kiyoka finished getting dressed.

"This was nice. We should do this some more. Why not come to my club and check it out?" Kiyoka offered as Issei thought about taking it; he smiled and accepted it before Kiyoka left Issei alone as he changed into his regular clean clothes.

"Hope Charles is okay," Issei said as he looked at the wall clock and saw it was 6:30 in the morning.

"Hopefully, he's up. I can't imagine staying in so long, and we did go to bed around ten last night." Issei said as he left the changing room, headed to his room, and knocked on the door a few times.

Issei didn't hear anything as he just thought he was still asleep before unlocking the door and saw that the lights were still off, but unfortunately, Issei didn't seem to hear the bathroom open as he closed the apartment door.

"Hm? Is that you, Issei?" Charlotte asked. Issei froze in fear as he turned around to see that Charlotte was in her regular school attire.

'Oh, thank you, God! I was worried I was going to die.' Issei said as he let out a sigh of relief before Charlotte asked.

"Are you okay, Issei?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I was just shocked to see you were up. I didn't think you were a morning person, so I tried to be quiet." Issei said as Charlotte was touched by his kindness before hugging him as she blushed.

"Thank you, Issei," Charlotte said as she then decided to tickle him, which made the two fall to the floor just as the door was slammed open by a happy Houki.

"Hey, Issei! I'm here to…" Houki said before pausing to see their questionable position.

"What the hell is this?!"


A few minutes later...

"It's just the second day of the new year," Chifuyu said as she grumbled in her office, hoping to have a relaxing morning with her coffee before looking at a flustered Houki and an embarrassed Charlotte and Issei.

"Now look, I understand that you live under the same roof, but that does not mean you two can show off so much PDA," Chifuyu said as she drank her coffee as Issei tried to save the two of them.

"Charles was just tickling me to mess with me. Nothing happened!" Issei shouted as Houki tried to get her image out of her mind while Charlotte was looking flustered while poking her fingers together.

"I didn't mind the position we were in. I liked it." Charlotte said as Issei was shocked while Maya blushed at the idea Houki was also blushing at the image in her mind. Chifuyu, on the other hand, had a bit of a bloody nose as she wiped it off her face.

"…This'll be your first warning. I'm too tired to deal with this shit so early in the morning, and I don't get paid enough for this. So get ready for the exhibition match and keep the PDA to a moderate level, or you'll both be doing laps around the school." Chifuyu said as the teens left the principal's office while Brunhilde looked at Maya with a bloody nose as she bowed to Chifuyu.

"Excuse me, Orimura, but I need a cold shower," Maya said as she left the room with Chifuyu groaning as she recalled the image Houki took of them as evidence.

"I swear this is just like when people thought Tabane and I were in a relationship in high school," Chifuyu said as she recalled how she and the annoying rabbit ended up as the most prominent gossip topic due to certain things they did together.

"I can only imagine how those two boys will behave now that the girls will get wind of this," Chifuyu said as she looked to see no one was around before pulling out a flask.

"It's events like this that make me drink," Chifuyu said as she took a drink from her flask before sighing in relief as she got back to work while the alcohol ceased the fantasies in her mind.

"What the hell were you even doing in our dorm room? And how did you even get in?" Issei asked as Houki looked away for a moment before replying.

"W-Well, Orimura-sensei told me to ensure you got your IS fitted since you didn't yesterday. So she thought I should come and pick you up so I can help in sword training. The key is only temporary since Chifuyu allowed me access to your room only for today, but if I had known you and Charles were...busy, then it's okay." Houki said as she blushed while recalling the image very well.

"Okay, I'll let it slide, but next time, just knock," Issei said as Houki nodded in reply the trio headed to the maintenance area, where a couple of students were also working on the IS units before someone walked over to them.

"Excuse me, but would you happen to be Issei Hyoudou?" A voice asked as Issei turned around to see a beautiful blue-haired beauty.

The girl before him had blue hair and dark red eyes, and her hair was inward and slightly longer than most girls. Her body wasn't voluptuous like Charlottes or Houki's, but it was still beautiful. Her IS Academy uniform consisted of the typical white and red blouse, but it seemed to be modified with two triangular hairpins on both sides of her head, yellow leggings with larger hairpins on the sides of her skirt, and knee-long black boots. She also wears glasses that show she is very intellectual in her work.

"Ah, yes. That's me. Uh..."

"Oh! Sorry. My name is Kanzashi. Kanzashi Sarashiki." Kanzashi said as Issei was in awe as he heard the name before grabbing her had s much to her shock.

"No way! Kanzashi Sarashiki? The genius from the Sarashiki family? It's such an honor to meet you!" Issei said as Kanzashi was shocked by this before replying.

"W-What? You must have me confused with my sister Tatenashi. Most people say she's the genius and better sister." Kanzashi said as Issei just shook his head in response.

"Oh, please. Sure, Tatenashi Sarashiki is the heiress of the Sarashiki family. Still, I don't care about your status or title because all that matters to me is who the person is, and truthfully, I respect you more than that flamboyant sister of yours." Issei said much to Kanzashi's surprise since she was always used to having others come to see her just so they could meet her sister, but hearing someone admire her work instead of her sister made Kanzashi's day.

"Plus, I happen to know of you in the gaming circuit. Isn't that right, Aquarius?" Issei asked as Kanzashi was shocked that someone knew her online gamer identity since she was a fan of anime and online games, so when she rose in the gaming world ranks, she went under the name Aquarius, Queen of the Seas.

"Wait. You wouldn't happen to be Ddraig, the Crimson Juggernaut right?" Kanzashi asked as Issei smiled in response.

"The one and only," Issei said as Kanzashi was in awe of her gamer idol since the game known as Ddriag was legendary for being a powerful Juggernaut that excelled in all skills of his class and rose to become one of the Top Five Best Players in Japan.

"I never thought I'd meet you again, Ddraig, after you told me you were going to high school," Kanzashi said as she was so happy to see her idol before Issei placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair a bit, much to Charlotte's jealous expression and Houki's shocked reaction as Kanzashi seemed to like the touch of affection.

"Well, to be honest, I wasn't exactly honest since I didn't know how to explain that a guy was able to control an IS, get special training to learn how to use the said unit, go to an all-female school, and wonder how I was going to get through this," Issei said as Kanzashi giggled in response before smiling at him as she then led him to the fitting area for new IS users.

"Well, I'm still happy I got to see you face to face instead of a screen." Kanzashi said as she had teamed up with him many times online and saw his face and could tell he was a good person but was sad that she never got to meet him face to face IRL, given their schedules and Kanzashi not wanting Issei to see her with Tatenashi around since she feared that her 'perfect sister' would take Issei away from her.

Issei smiled in response, glad to see that Kanzashi was doing well, before entering the repair bay where the massive IS stood before him.

"Allow me to introduce your own personal IS unit. Third Generation Unit: The Crimson Dragon. The name was chosen by Tabane herself." Kanzashi said that Issei was in awe of the IS Core within the Inactive IS.

"The IS core in this one is special since it seems to have not allowed anyone other than Tabane and myself to touch it. I think it's because it was waiting for you." As Issei walked towards the IS unit, Kanzashi said before the core shined as it zapped Issei.

"Ouch!"

"Are you okay?" Kanzashi asked as she inspected his hand before the core shined more before speaking.

[DNA Confirmed. User Identified as Issei Hyoudou. Registration is complete. Now preparing for fitting.] The IS said as Issei's suit seemed to register to the IS as the inactive IS opened up and awaited its Pilot.

Issei and Kanzashi looked at each other with concern before Issei headed into the suit and let it connect to his body.

"Alright, now what?" Issei asked as the IS suit began to alter its form.

[Pilot has now entered the IS. The Fitting Process can now begin.] The IS said the suit started to shine brightly as the core began to transform, as the suit became a blood-red crimson with green gems on its chest, claws, legs, and wings.

The claws on his hands were that of a dragon, as the armor on top of them was large but light as a feather. The wings on the back appeared to be a futuristic dragon design, while a robotic tail appeared on the bottom. The armor protected his body from the neck, and a helmet formed on his head. The helmet took on the form as if it was a crimson king's crown.

[IS Fitting and Transformation have been completed. It is a pleasure to be working with you, Issei Hyoudou.] The core said Issei was surprised as he looked at his reflection and saw his form.

(Consider the Illegal Move Triaina and the Cardinal Crimson Promotion for references. Now throw that onto an IS. The IS focuses on speed, strength, defense, close combat, and long-range attacks. Its weakness is its energy usage when fighting with weapons, especially since the shield would be an energy hog. The dragon wings from Issei's Balance Breaker with thrusters would help with speed, the arms of the Draconic Rook would help with strength, and the arm cannons from Welsh Blaster Bishop.)

"Woah. This feels amazing. A Training IS is one thing, but this feels different simultaneously." Issei said as he looked at the armor he was wearing before Kanzashi looked at her handheld screen and smiled at the results.

"Everything seems to be working and ready to be used," Kanzashi said as Issei tested the armor using his arms and legs like before in training IS.

"Mind if I take the dragon for some flight training?" Issei asked as Kanzashi allowed it before Issei thanked her as he let the wings flap and took off into the air. Instead of the thrusters, which a normal IS uses in battle, the Crimson Dragon is one of the only two IS units with wings that usually allow the Pilot to fly. They were given thrusters for a speed boost but also used a lot of energy.

Issei loved the feeling of flight as he got a feel for flying thanks to the IS but using wings instead of thrusters made Issei feel like he was riding an actual dragon.

"Wow. I almost forgot the feelings you get when flying. It feels...invigorating. To be free." Issei said as the IS spoke to him.

[I'm glad you are enjoying the ride. Care to test out the weapons?] The Crimson Dragon asked as Issei nodded in reply.

"Hell yeah. Let's see what you got."

[With pleasure.]

Issei began to feel a weapon appear in his hands. As he looked to see, it was a beam sword of sorts, and he admired its form.

"Sweet sword," Issei said as he did a few test swings with it before Houki walked out in a Training IS.

"Hey, Issei! Mind coming down so we can spar?" Houki asked as Issei didn't mind, so the IS flew toward the kendo girl.

Houki stood in a training IS unit, while Charlotte appeared to be in her own IS.

"Allow me to introduce my personal IS Second Generation-Rafael-Revive Custom II," Charlotte said as Issei whistled in surprise at the many weapons on her Is before Houki walked over to Issei and had her sword ready.

"Alright then. Shall we get started, Issei?" Houki asked as Issei nodded and readied his beam sword before the two charged at each other.

Houki had the advantage of having more experience in Kendo but needed help moving into the IS unit. In comparison, Issei had more experience in using a sword in an IS than outside of it, even though he was given training when learning how to use weapons in battle, so they were evenly matched against each other.

Issei could use the thrusters to slam into Houki and disarm the Kendo girl as he pointed the sword at her.

"I win," Issei said as Houki was helped up by his hand.

"Not bad. But trying to last in the arena with the Silver Demon will not be easy. The longest anyone's lasted against her was five minutes, which was Chifuyu Orimura herself." Houki said as Issei already knew this, but hearing it from the sister of Tabane was essential since, while Houki may not know as much of the IS as the creator, she still had knowledge that allowed her to get through the basics of IS operations.

"Okay then. Let's keep going!" Issei said before a blade flew into the arena. The edge made Houki lose her sword in her hands again before the trio heard a tsking sound from the arena's entrance.

"You need to be more careful, Shinono. You could've lost your arm." The voice said as the trio turned to see Chifuyu Orimura herself walking towards the trio.

"Orimura-sensei? What are you doing here?" Houki asked as Chifuyu picked up her sword and pointed it toward Issei.

"Know that Valerie isn't going to be an easy opponent. She's the only IS student here who requests that battles be normal combat and IS battle. She has the skills to fight with and without an IS unit. I've seen her in Germany, and trust me when I say she's a dangerous foe. And that is why I'm going to help your train." Chifuyu said as Issei was surprised by this before Issei accepted it.

"Alright. I'm honored, Orimura-sensei." Issei said as Chifuyu smirked in response before preparing her sword.

"Alright then. Shinono will be helping you fight with an IS sword, I'll assist you with non-IS combat, and Dunois will assist with your long-range weaponry." Chifuyu said as the trio agreed to this before Houki began to clash with Issei.

The two sparred for another hour and learned much from each other. Houki improved by using a sword in an IS suit, while Issei gained more swordsmanship skills.

Houki was now trying to land a hit on Issei's suit. Still, he's been pretty handy when dodging the strikes Houki attempts to land on him until Houki took a page from Issei's playbook and used the thrusters to slam into Issei as she tried to surprise him.

Issei thought this would happen, so he planted his feet as the claws dug into the ground. Houki slammed into Issei, and the two were locked in place as Houki continued to pour more power into her attack to break the lock while Issei focused on using his tail and feet to stay in place before Houki's thrusters began to lose more control which gave him the opportunity as he was able to break the lock and push Houki back as she IS was unable to use the thrusters anymore.

"Not bad, but that was a risky moment right there," Chifuyu said as she looked at Houki.

"Shinono. You did an excellent job using your skills in Kendo to have an edge in the sparring match, but you were not used to being inside of an IS; however, as the battles progressed, you slowly got better, and I admired that. The last trick you did was a risky move since it was obvious you wanted to try and land a powerful blow to Hyoudou. Risky but effective since Issei can only last so long due to his tail and claws keeping him in place. All in all, I give you a B plus." Chifuyu said as Houki was touched by her compliments but took the criticism seriously as this was perfect for her to improve.

"Now, as for you, Hyoudou," Chifuyu said as she walked towards him as Issei deactivated his IS unit. "Your experience in using an IS and using a weapon in the suit was able to help you give you an advantage in strength and to land good hits in Shinono. However, your lack of experience in swordsmanship gave you a slight disadvantage in the sparring match. Focus on learning how to fight outside of an IS first to strengthen your skills in an IS."

"Understood, Orimura-sensei," Issei said as he saluted her before the Crimson Dragon spoke to him.

[Honestly, you did very well using your energy sword but be prepared since Chifuyu Orimura won't be an easy opponent outside of an IS. I'll record her movements to help you train without the IS.] The Crimson Dragon said as Issei was given a standard blade as Chifuyu readied herself, which made Issei nervous since he didn't have much experience as those Natasha, who was more skilled in guns and IS weaponry.

Chifuyu stood away from Issei as Issei readied himself and thought as if he was wielding his sword in the IS unit before a timer was sounded.

...And in that moment...Issei Hyoudou knew pain.

"Ugh...Did someone get the number of that truck that just ran me over?" Issei asked as he was given a lap pillow, courtesy of Charlotte while enjoying the ice pack on his forehead.

"Well, you did much better than I expected. You have the power to assist you, but given your skills, I'd say that you're a rookie. I suggest you also practice swordsmanship when you go to work out." Chifuyu said as Issei couldn't nod in reply, so he gave her a shaky thumbs up.

Chifuyu then left the arena as Charlotte looked down at Issei's head and rubbed his head lightly before asking.

"Are you sure you wish to continue your training for the day? We can start tomorrow if you still need to heal." Charlotte suggested as Issei waved off her concern.

"No, No. I'm going to continue, but I can use some help." Issei said as Charlotte giggled a bit as she helped him with the Partial summoning. Issei summoned his IS unit once more before the AI spoke to him.

[You don't have rifles like the French girl, but you do have shoulder and arm cannons and a special weapon that'll be useful.] The Crimson Dragon said as Issei nodded in reply as he looked at his arm cannons before he struggled with standing up.

"Ugh..." Issei struggled to stand up properly as Charlotte approached him and put her arms under his.

"It's okay, Issei. Let me help you." Charlotte said in her male voice, which made Issei blush a bit. The Frenchwoman smiled at this as she smirked at his response.

"Oh, is something wrong, Issei?" Charlotte asked as she pressed close to Issei's back while Issei's aim shook a bit due to their position and how it probably looked to others.

"When aiming your gun, you must position yourself to take the recoil and keep a steady aim. Like this." Charlotte said as she got behind Issei and helped him with his aim while Houki looked at the two of them as Charlotte also put a hand on Issei's waist.

'H-Holy Kami! I think I've just opened a forbidden door.' Houki said as she then saw the two boys in different positions as the training continued with the training.

"And remember to control your breathing Issei," Charlotte whispered in a husky tone in Issei's ear as he was grateful that the helmet hid his embarrassment. Houki, on the other hand, was struggling to close the door she just opened.

'W-What the hell is Charles doing?! He said he's interested in Issei, but this is too much for me!' Houki yelled as she covered her eyes and looked away from the two, but her dirty mind told her to retake a look. She blushed while seeing Charlotte lean into Issei and press her body against his back while grinding her hips on Issei's rear.

'Sweet Kami! He's pressing h-h-his t-t-thing against Issei's ass. D-Does this mean Charles wants to do t-t-that to him?!' Houki asked herself as her face was so red that her brain overheated until she got saved. Issei fired his arm cannons at the targets, and out of the ten targets, he got eight out of ten.

"Oh! Not bad, Issei. Care for me to let go now?" Charlotte asked as she then said she was then let him go before Issei decided to get revenge by pretending to fall on Charlotte.

"Woah!" Charlotte yelled as Houki covered her shocked lips as she looked to see Issei pinning Charlotte to the ground with his hand on Charlotte's waist, as the disguised girl blushed at their position. The two seemed to be in their world as Charlotte blushed at Issei on top of her before she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek which made Houkis mind blow up as she passed out with a massive bloody nose while giggling to herself.

"Hehe. Hehehehe. I've seen the light, and it was beautiful." Houki mumbled to herself as she entered the land of BL.

After that incident, many of the girls in maintenance blushed as Kanzashi's glasses were fogged over as she imagined herself with Issei before Charlotte's male persona joined the picture.

"Excuse me, manager, but I need to leave for a bit," Kanzashi said as she headed to the showers to cool down and hopefully restore her lost blood as she redo her plan to ask Issei on a date.


"Was the kiss essential, Charles?" Issei asked as he was flattered that he got a kiss from a cute girl while he was also embarrassed because others thought it was two boys in the arena.

"Oh, it was nothing serious, Ise, just a simple kiss on the cheek," Charlotte said, looking at Issei's lips before smiling at him. "Unless you wanted my lips elsewhere."

Issei blushed as he never had a real kiss from a girl before since his mother mostly kissed his forehead and his injuries when he was hurt as a kid, but Raynare avoided kissing his lips and refused anything but a kiss on the cheek.

"W-Well, at least let me take you on a date first," Issei mumbled. Charlotte couldn't help but blush as she smiled at the idea of being on a date with Issei before the two made their way back to the dormitory. The two looked at Valerie training in the open as the sunset made her look like a warrior preparing for battle.

The Silver Demon stopped as she looked at the two and smiled at them.

"Oh? Hello, there Dunois." Valerie said as she put away her weapon before greeting Issei. "Issei Hyoudou. I heard you faced the Honored Valkyrie in a battle without an IS unit. I do hope she didn't bruise you too much."

"Too much is an understatement. That woman may not be superhuman, but damn, she's got some muscle." Issei said as Valerie hid her shock as she heard this.

"Oh, you don't know how wrong you are," Valerie muttered as she left the area, wishing Issei luck on his training.

The two said farewell as they continued their walk until Issei heard the AI speak to him.

[Issei. Please don't freak out, but I'm speaking into your mind.]

'H-Huh? How? I thought AI didn't work when the IS is inactive.'

[My mother ensured I could communicate with you; something seemed a bit off about Chifuyus's body.]

'Define off.'

[When the smokescreen covered the area, the two of you could not see each other, so I was shocked to know that she could see you in the smokescreen. Her reflexes, stamina, physical strength, and speed were nothing like that of a normal IS User. When I got a full scan of her body, I found no enhancements or unique technology within her body, but her blood, on the other hand, seemed to be different. It was as if her blood was what made her a superhuman.]

The Crimson Dragon said as Issei pondered this before shaking his head.

'It doesn't matter. What's up with Orimura-sensei is none of my business.' Issei replied before asking the AI. 'Hey, sorry to change the subject, but I want to ask if you have a name besides Crimson Dragon?'

[I do not have one. My mother never gave me a name in hopes you would give me one.]

'Then how about...Ddraig? It goes well with the Crimson Dragon, no?'

[...I approve of the name. I'm grateful, Issei Hyoudou.] The newly named Ddraig said as she was glad to be given a name.

Valerie was walking back to her dorm as she was silent the whole walk back before someone spoke to her.

[You worried about him learning the truth of Chifuyu, right?] The voice asked as Valerie nodded in reply.

'I am Albion. We've both seen what Chifuyu is capable of because of her bloodline. Those Phantom Task fighters are a disgrace to humanity and are becoming more monsters than humans. I pitied her life before, but she could've saved her sister and brother, yet she only decided to save one brother. If that isn't favoritism, I don't know what is.' Valerie said to her AI partner due to her IS having an AI like Issei's own unit.

[Indeed. I genuinely feel sorry for that poor girl and the pain she endured when Phantom Task turned a kind and gentle girl into a psychotic monster that only desires to kill her older sister and brother for abandoning her. I could never understand Chifuyu's reasons for abandoning her sister and favoring her brother to only leave her for dead.] Albion said as he felt disgusted for the Honored Valkyrie because he saw Chifuyu as a selfish person who only cared for one person, her little brother, and no one else. And her bacon issues make her appear creepy in the AI's eyes.

'I won't deny that Chifuyu isn't exactly perfect, but she's come a long way since she left Phantom Task.'

[That still doesn't change the fact that she was part of Phantom Task and abandoned her sister only for her brother. Even you hated that Chifuyu had only cared about her brother and not her sister. Rejecting her as if she wasn't a natural person makes her even more pathetic.] Albion said as Valerie sighed in response.

'Of doesn't matter Albion. The past is in the past, so we must move on.' Valerie said as Albion scoffed at the idea.

[You can deny it all you want, but eventually, the sins of the past catch up to people who least expect it.] Albion said as Valerie reached her private dorm and entered the bathroom before taking off her clothes and looking at the scars that littered her body.

"Heh. I usually take pride in the scars I get, but I hate some of them since it reminds me of those who suffered either because of the IS or what the power shift has done to them." Valerie said as she recalled a mission back in Germany.

The voice of a broken girl, crying tears of sadness, echoed in her mind as Valerie recalled the first Phantom Task member she killed.

"P-Please...Please kill me...End my existence so I can be reborn and hope to be loved in my next life." The voice said as Valerie looked at the knight in shock before gently taking hold of her hand.

"I promise I'll make it quick," Valerie said as she leveled a pistol to the girl's head before shooting a single round into the victim.

"Thank you..." The girl said as she felt her life slip away as she had finally found freedom, while this saddened Valerie.

"... You're welcome," Valerie whispered to herself as she left the bath and headed to her bed as she placed her head on a pillow.

[Killing will be an experience one cannot forget. I'm here for you, Valerie, until they pay you to pass on.] Albion said as if he were her brother before Valerie tiredly smiled at the bracelet she wore on her wrist until she thanked him.

"Thanks, Albion. Goodnight." Valerie said as she let sleep take its hold on her while Albion glowed a bit as he powered down for the evening.

[Do not worry, partner. I'll protect you from those who wish to hurt you.] Albion said to himself as he knew full well what his partner had gone through. [Know that I only want you to be happy, so I'll ensure you find your happiness someday. After all the pain you endured, you deserve to be satisfied.]

Albion said as he then began to plan on keeping Valerie safe from Phantom Task, and if that organization wanted a massacre, they'll get one.


Unknown Location...

{So this is Issei Hyoudou, who can pilot an IS, correct?} A person cloaked in darkness on a screen asked while looking at the file on Issei Hyoudou, as another operative bowed and nodded in response to the question.

"Yes, sir. The boy will enter an exhibition match with the Silver Demon in six days." The operative said as the shadowy figure smiled at this information.

{Excellent. Oh, and how is the Juggernaut project coming along? Is it finished yet?} The figure asked as the operative pulled up a holographic screen and explained.

"We've made excellent progress in finishing up a few issues that we had to resolve to ensure the Juggernaut wouldn't have any trouble fighting, but it's now primed and ready for the test. All we need is your approval, sir." The operative said as the figure looked at the information before smiling.

{Now we can have some real fun. Send Juggernaut on the day of the exhibition match. Let's see how well the Silver Demon will do against our Juggernaut.}

"And Hyoudou, sir?"

{...Have one of our operatives stalk the boy and gather information on him and his skills with the IS. Tell them to use seduction if they have to. Getting every little bit of information helps.}

"Couldn't we just take the child's parents and-!" The operative suggested before a force picked her up and began to choke her neck as the girl struggled to breathe.

{I don't think I heard you right. Did you suggest that we drag innocent people into this matter?} The figure asked in a calm but angry tone as the girl tried to get more air in her lungs before seeing the room darken.

"N-N-No!" The operative said as the figure dropped her on the floor and watched the foolish girl cough and heave as she tried to fill her lungs with air before bowing to her superior.

"I apologize, sir. I-It was wrong of me to suggest that."

{Good. I'm glad you learned your lesson. Now prepare, Juggernaut. I want it to be ready for its debut.~} The figure said in a cheerful tone as the operative swallowed their spit and nodded as she left the room; before the screen shut off, the figure turned around and sighed as they rubbed their forehead.

"I know they are loyal to our cause, but why must they be such pain when it comes to interrogation?" The figure said as they walked into another room and looked at a picture of Tabane before they threw a knife at it before the blade pierced the photo's head.

"Tabane Shinono. I'll ensure that your 'great legacy' is destroyed and order can be restored. Your great inventions may have been amazing when it was first built, but now they're nothing but weapons of war." They said as they looked at a picture of themselves when they were younger and the person they called brother.

"Your words are why I took the mantle to ensure this world is saved from the witch and her inventions." They said as they recalled the speech that rang their heart and mind and prepared them for the war.


Flashback many years ago...

"Current Japan is weak! This nation. This world relies too heavily on these tools that brought women a great deal of prestige and power, but it made the men of this nation a pathetic mockery of the past. The men of this generation are spineless and weak. Man fails to rise in this sick society and is willing to bow down without a fight just because a woman has a fancy suit of armor?! The power of nations worldwide doesn't belong to a powerful leader or the heroes of the generations. Instead, it belongs to those damned windup toys made by the cursed Shinonono no Majo(Witch of Shinonono)!"

A man said as he slammed his hands on a table and looked at the world leaders.

"To make a strong nation, strength is needed; however, the current lack of men willing to strive for greatness due to the arrogance of women chokes the spirit out of the nation. Japan is just the start, and soon, the whole world will be unable to advance further into the new stage of an era."

The man said as he looked at the cameras around him.

"These toys that the witch made have done nothing but cause more harm than good since all they do is cause more war, hunger, violence, and death than any other war we've fought. How many lives have been lost due to the witch's toys? How many civilizations have been annihilated due to them? Why must man fear these machines when we have been fighting to bring peace to our world, for all humankind, for centuries now!?"

The man said as many others who watched the broadcast nodded in reply as they agreed with the man's words.

"Even if I die here and now, my words will reach the hearts of men and women everywhere, and soon, they'll show this sick and twisted world that they shall not bow down to it. So I come as a messenger for those who wish to have their voices heard, for those who are sick of this world and wish to restore true order. I ask that you take up your arms. Destroy those witches' toys and bring our world. A world where these machines of war can do no more harm to everyone."

The man said as many people shouted and began to throw insults at him, but their words didn't affect him as he smiled at the sky above him, seeing the sunshine as a pillar of light on him.

"It is done. My words have been heard, and now it's up to them." The man said as he put up no resistance as the security guards dragged him away.

And that was the day Phantom Task was beginning to be born.


"On that day, brother, you inspired me to take up the mantle and to restore this world, so I shall take your words and brand them to my heart and soul." They said as they stepped into the light as their form appeared.

They were an average human, standing at eight feet ta. He had long, white hair bound between orange rods into a ponytail at the back, which faded into an aqua-green color and then blue the further it went and ended in rectangular locks. They also had large, crimson eyes with prominent eyelashes, wearing gold hoop earrings on both ears and horns on the top of his head, which were primarily red but gradually became more flesh-colored toward the base.

Their current outfit was a sleeveless white garment with a diamond-shaped design on both sides and an indigo, wisp-patterned bottom half. He wore a pair of red hakama pants and sandals and a large purple and white nio-da suki behind his back.

They picked up a massive club that was quickly lifted from a stand before they walked towards the Juggernaut standing before them, which made them smile.

"And this is just the beginning, brother. We'll make them fear their weapons and use them to destroy the witch's toys, and once we've eliminated every last one of them, we shall restore order and ensure that the Infinite Stratos can never be used for war purposes again." They said that as the sun began to rise on a new day, the land of Japan would soon learn of the wrath of the Nobunaga Heir.

"And now, on this new day, the Demon King Nobunaga makes his first move," Nobunaga said as he walked towards the Juggernaut and smiled at the news of this becoming public.

"And I can't wait to see all that you've built burn along with this sick world, Shinonono no Majo," Nobunaga said as he was ready to take this nation by storm and show the witch how futile it is to try and stop them.

"And not even the Fallen Valkyrie or that Silver Demon can do anything to stop me."


Scene!

I used Yamato from One Piece to reference Nobunaga, but I thought it would work for the Demon King Nobunaga I planned as the story's antagonist.

Anyway, the harem for this story so far is:

Harem: Charlotte/Charles Dunois, Kanzashi Sarashiki.

Possible Candidates: Laura Bodewig, Kiyoka, Honne, Maya Yamada, Valerie Lunaria, Cecilia Alcott.

Neutral: Houki Shinono, Lingyin Huang, Chifuyu Orimura, Squall, Autumn, Natasha. Tabane Shinono.

Anyway, here is Nobunaga's Bio.

Nobunaga: Born Female but identifies as a male.

IS Unit: N/A

Skills and Likes: Leadership, Weapon Combat, CQC, cooking Japanese Cuisine, trying different weapons. Her brother, Phantom Task, and children.

Dislikes: Arrogant Women, Tabane Shinono, Chifuyu Orimura, and the Infinite Stratos.

Goals: Restoring Order to the World.

Killing Chifuyu Orimura and Tabane Shinono.

Destroying all IS Units.

Finding a husband and wife.

I hope you like the chapter and the comedy in it. Hehe, I'll see you all next time. Ta-Ta!~