Episode 9 - Ocean's Eleven
Time: 11:00 AM, July 5, 2033
Location: Kanucha Resort, Nago, Okinawa
(BGM Start: Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth - New Beginning)
"Wow!"
"The sand is so white!"
"Look, there's a bunch of vacant lounge chairs!"
Kanucha Resort was a vast place, with multiple inns that had their own distinct room styles and decor. The resort had an entire golf course, a tennis center, multiple indoor and outdoor pools, a chapel, numerous restaurants, a bar, convenience stores, a hot spring, and plenty more.
"It's eleven o'clock now, everyone!" Maya called out to the mass of 80-something 1st years from her position at the entrance of the beach. "I know you're all itching to do something active after being stuck sitting for almost 6 hours straight from the flight and the bus ride here, but don't forget to limber up first, okay? Otherwise, you're free to do whatever you want until evening!"
"Yay!" There was a collective cheer from the crowd, the obvious excitement in their voices positively vibrating the air as many of them began to run to the water.
"Ah, but remember to go to your Class Representatives by dinnertime, okay? They'll lead you to your class' booked restaurant!"
"Yes, ma'am~!"
Ichika looked up and down the beach in slight awe and wonder, a giddy feeling quickly rising up as he curled his toes to feel the warm sand. He wore a simple dark blue pair of swim trunks, and still had the Closed form of the Byakushiki around his right wrist.
"Holy crap, this is a nice beach." He muttered, excitement growing from within.
"It is, isn't it?"
The male IS pilot looked over his shoulder and smiled.
"Done with your talk with the management, Sahaku-san?"
Ephraim huffed with a small smirk, a parasol, a cooler, and a couple of towels in his arms. "I had to make sure that they had their security tight. I wouldn't want to personally deal with some skeevy idiot who thought that it was fine to peep or perv on our batchmates, that'll cut some of my well-deserved vacation time."
The Gold Frame pilot's swimwear was a simple pair of black board shorts that had a sunrise design on one of its legs and a fully unbuttoned white linen short-sleeved shirt.
His attire exposed lots of his scarring, and though most of the girls have seen glimpses of it around the dorm, now, in its bare splendor, they could see just how damaged he was. Faded, but ever present, burns were clear on his lower abdomen, around his limbs, and around his neck. A rough circle of Lichtenberg figures was obvious around his ankles, and for many of the girls, this was the first time they had seen such a thing.
"And I hope nothing of the sort happens," Cecilia added as she popped up from behind the taller blonde and clung to his right arm, sending discreet glares at the girls ogling her crush. Despite the sight of such scars on him, it merely added another desirable layer to the blonde's identity among the student body. "I wish to enjoy this moment of leisure without any interruptions."
She was wearing the swimsuit he picked out for her, the blue bikini with floral patterns paired with a sarong tied around her waist. A sunhat was on her head, alongside a pair of aviators that shaded her eyes and a stylish pair of black gladiator sandals.
The Neo-Type inwardly facepalmed at her words, keeping his smiling mask for a bit longer.
'And now you just jinxed it.'
"I just can't believe that there's a whole golf course here." Ichika turned to them and placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head in slight disbelief. "A golf course and a beach…that's something you don't see every day."
"It's what makes Kanucha unique, I guess." The tall blonde answered him with a shrug as he looked around for a suitable spot to place the towels and umbrella. "Anyway, if you're planning on using the jacuzzi on the balcony tonight, I suggest you don't."
"What? Why?"
"'Cause we're going to the onsen, Normie-mura." His lips curling into a cheeky smirk, both blondes began to walk away, with Cecilia giving him a wave before she went back to possessively clinging to Ephraim's arm.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not a normie!" Ichika called out before sighing with a smirk. "Good grief, and to think he's my roommate for this trip…"
Both he and Ephraim had been given one of the more luxurious rooms with a beach view from the balcony, which also had a jacuzzi. Perks of being friends with the technical owner of the whole resort, the IS pilot guessed.
"Sounds like someone's excited to soak in the hot spring."
Turning his head, Ichika waved at the approaching pair. "Hey Davion, Sarashiki-san. What'll you two be doing?"
The Astray's mechanic looked back at the resort complex behind them. "We'll go for a swim at one of the pools. There are too many people here."
Clad in only a pair of gray and red swim trunks, the brunette's torso was exposed for all to see. Firm muscles stretched and relaxed with each breath, and with the sun beating down on them, sweat occasionally left a glistening trail down from his pecs to his abs. He was the very epitome of a 'beach body', and it reflected in just how many girls ogled at him.
Ichika still envied his friend's musculature, but he was getting there! He wasn't as scrawny as he was at the start of the school year. He even had some abs now!
"Yeah, I understand that." The younger teen looked up and down the beach again, easily pointing out that the majority of the people there were from the IS Academy. The tourists who were there were mostly keeping to themselves, and those interacting with the girls were closely watched by the teachers. "But you're gonna miss out on Nohotoke-san's volleyball game over there."
Pointing over to where the volleyball nets were further down the beach, Davion and Kanzashi spotted the onesie-wearing girl tossing a volleyball up and down.
…Wait.
"Why is she wearing a onesie?" The bluenette pointed out, shelving her veiled annoyance towards the Byakushiki pilot in favor of bewilderment. "How is she not melting?"
The Japanese Representative Candidate was wearing an orange swim dress with hibiscus patterns in white, matching the same flower on her sunhat, and a pair of white sandals that protected her feet from any hazards. The iridescent pearl on her necklace, the Strike Uchigane, seemed to shimmer and glow in the summer sun, bringing an aura of mystique to her.
"That's a question I ask myself with how much she wears the thing." Ichika sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Anyway, don't let me keep you two. I'm gonna stay here for a bit more and take in the fresh ocean air."
"Well, if you're planning to go swimming, don't forget to stretch." Davion grinned at him as he flexed his bicep, doing the exact opposite of what he said without even knowing it. "I'll see you around then, dude. Come on, 'zashi, let's find a good sunbathing spot."
The younger teen waved at them as they walked away and then at Ryo and Charlotte, the former sharing a quick fist bump with the mechanic as they walked past each other.
"'Sup!" He greeted the green-eyed pilot.
"Yo." Ryo greeted back with an easy-going attitude, his expression mixed with hints of excitement and calmness. "I'm assuming you're gonna be enjoying the ocean breeze as much as I am?"
The courier was wearing a blue long-sleeved rash guard, with the underarms and sides colored gray, and similarly colored swim shorts. A snorkel mask rested on his head, which clued the brown-eyed boy on what his friend wanted to do.
"You bet!" Ichika met his smile with his own grin. "You two going swimming?"
"Yep!" Charlotte waved her own snorkel mask excitedly. "I haven't been to a beach in ages!"
The Frenchwoman wore an orange plaid-patterned bikini with a burnt orange hazard-stripe miniskirt. The Closed form of the Rafale-Revive II was around her neck as always, the accessory further complimenting her ensemble.
Chuckling to himself, he waved the two off as they began marching towards the sea.
"This is truly…"
Taking another deep breath of the fresh ocean air, he raised his fists into the air in jubilation.
"The best!"
Sproing!
And then was promptly hit in the back of the head with an errant volleyball.
"Come on, Ichika!" Rin cheered as she skipped over to his fallen form. She wore an orange crop top-like bikini top and tomboyish swim shorts. "Let's go play some volleyball!"
Ichika could only reply with a groan underneath the sand.
Resting under the shade of her parasol, Cecilia tied her hair up into a high ponytail as she shifted her position. Untying her top, she laid down on her towel and sent a flirtatious look over her shoulder at Ephraim.
"If you please, Ephraim~?"
With a quiet, pleased, hum, the scarred blonde lathered his palms with the suntan oil she had brought with her. "Of course, my lady~"
However, the moment he put his hands on her back, she let out a short gasp.
"O-Oh, that's a bit chilly still…" The noblewoman shivered as he slowly began to rub the oil. Pleased sighs escaped her every now and again as he unintentionally began massaging her. "My, I didn't expect a massage…"
Ephraim chuckled as he worked her shoulders. "Sorry, I noticed the knots and tenseness of your muscles. You've been studying at your computer desk, I'm assuming?"
Cecilia nodded as she rested her head on her crossed arms. "To the point of falling asleep, yes…"
The older blonde hummed once more as he lightly pressed on the groove of her back. "Well, you can relax as much as you can now. Unfortunately for me, I can't." He chuckled as he slowly lathered the remaining oil on his hands up and down her sides. "Any bad happenings that occur can have the resort be blamed and by proxy, to me as well. Sahaku Clan's Heir and all."
The Brit shuddered at his touch, a low moan escaping her lips as her toes curled. "You don't have to shoulder that burden…"
"But I do." Ephraim sighed as he began working down, his hands briefly kneading her rear as they moved to the back of her thighs. "Lath and I aren't on the best terms. She was obligated to name me Heir. So, as a sort of reassurance of her trust in me, I'm going to take the position seriously so that she wouldn't have a proper reason to hate me."
"M-Mhmm…" Cecilia bit her lip as she buried her face into the towel in an effort to hide her rosy cheeks. "I know that sentiment well…Having to prove oneself…"
They fell into a comfortable silence after that, though the blonde girl was trying her best to muffle her gasps and breathy moans when he began lathering her inner thighs. His fingers seemed to find the right spots to press and hold, bringing about plenty of toe-curling sensations that traveled up her spine.
"Alright, that's the back done." The purple-eyed blonde nodded as he sat on his heels, a small, playful smirk on his lips. "Would you like me to do the front too~?"
As much as the noblewoman would like it, doing such a thing in public was utterly improper. The twisting sensation in her stomach slowly started to dissipate as she shook her head. "I…It's alright, I'll do it to myself in a bit."
"Wow, I kinda want a massage myself~"
The two blondes turned their heads to see Honne looking down at them with a sly smile. Still clad in her onesie. Mayuri and Shinobu shared similar smiles, their cheeks flushed as they flanked their friend. It seemed as if they finished their volleyball game early. "Is there a chance that we can get one too?"
Ephraim merely snorted and raised his hands, shaking his head. "No can do, I'm afraid. I can already feel the glares piercing into my back like daggers."
To prove his point, he looked over his shoulder and spotted a fair few of the 1st years that still didn't like him muttering and whispering as they frowned in his direction.
The girls looked over and saw what he was getting at. Cecilia frowned as she tied up her bikini top, pushing herself off the towel and sitting up. "Well, now that's just rude of them."
Wiping the oil on his hands with a paper towel he pulled from a pocket of his shirt, the scarred blonde shifted his position so that he was sitting down properly, a hand resting on the sand behind to prop him up. "I'm used to it, but it's better to not let further libel of myself 'molesting' you or anything of the like spread in the cesspool that is Tweeter."
"Aw…" Honne deflated. "I understand, but still…a massage on the beach would have been so nice."
"There's a spa somewhere in the resort." Opening the nearby cooler, Ephraim pulled out a can of soda. "They do aromatherapy massages, I can put in a word to let you guys experience it for free."
"Really?!" The three girls' eyes sparkled as they leaned down towards him excitedly.
"Er, yeah." He leaned back to distance himself from their faces. "Just tell me when you wanna go, I'll talk to the managers about it."
Mayuri raised a fist in triumph as she did a short leap. "Yes! You're the best, Sahaku-san!"
"Don't mention it. Seriously." Cracking open the can, he took a long sip of the cold drink as the three walked away with excited chatters. "I'd rather not get this newfound power into my head..."
Tittering, Cecilia poked his cheek. "Then let me be your spotter. I've got my fair share of blunders regarding arrogance. I won't let you fall into the same pit you pulled me out of." She finished her words with a fond smile, one that fully reached her eyes.
'…Beautiful…'
His lips curled into a reciprocating grin as he lightly brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek. "How poetic of you, my dear~"
The noblewoman's face erupted into a blush as she rested her head against his arm, lovingly sighing. "But no less true~"
"Of course." He closed his eyes and simply let himself relax, taking a sip from his can every now and again. "You're a lady of your word, and I find that beautiful..."
Cecilia giggled, ignoring how her heart was just about ready to break out of her chest with how fast it was beating.
"Flatterer…"
"Two of those tropical soda pops, please. One PhD. Pepper with its base and another with orange fizz."
"Coming right up!"
Davion took the chance to turn around on the bench, leaning back on the counter as he observed the Beachside Pool. Since the beach was currently occupied by the students of the IS Academy, the other tourists had gone to the pools or other recreational activities to spend their time in.
Families and couples chatted as they sat in the lounge chairs, some sunbathing while others simply closed their eyes and rested with the cool sea breeze blowing by. Children were running this way and that, jumping into the pool excitedly or playing around with pool noodles and floaties.
It was…peaceful if a bit chaotic.
He closed his eyes, letting out a melancholic sigh.
'Shame that this peace will be broken in the following days…'
"Here you go, two tropical soda pops!"
Before continuing down that line of thought, his drinks were ready. Turning around, he spotted the two glasses, one that had a lemon wedge on the edge while the other had an orange slice resting at the bottom. The tropical soda pops were a kid-friendly 'cocktail,' which were little more than fruity sodas, a perfectly fine drink during a hot summer day.
Sliding a few 100-yen coins to the employee, he nodded his thanks and took his drinks. Turning back around, he got off the bench and began to walk to where he and Kanzashi had settled.
But…
"Hey hey, you're Japan's Representative Candidate, right?"
"He sure is, man! Ain't it cool that she's here?"
"Please leave me alone…"
Kanzashi was being accosted by two older teens, probably around his age, who looked like they were foreigners, or perhaps Hāfu. They were tanned, with one having artificially blonde hair while the other…
Wait.
Tanned and blonde…
'OH HELL NO!'
Cooling his expression from absolutemurdermode— from annoyance to a strained smile, he approached the group. The bluenette looked past them and then at him with a brief look of relief, her clenched fists relaxing as her lips curled into a smug grin.
"Excuse me." He rumbled in English, catching the attention of the two teens. "I would prefer it if you left my girl alone."
Kanzashi's cheeks flushed at his words but she kept her vindicated look at the two as they turned…
…and paled.
Davion's gray eyes were flecked with crimson as he showed his teeth, idly tilting his head left and right with audible cracks and pops.
The two teens glanced at each other as the girl walked past them, wrapping her arms around the bicep of the 5'10" mass of muscle whose very presence caused him to tower over them. Raising their hands placatingly, they slowly backed away before turning around and leaving.
The bluenette nearly jumped out of her skin when the mechanic growled, not unlike an animal. Caressing his bicep to calm him down, she took her orange tropical soda pop and placed her smaller hand on his. Squeezing his hand, she pulled him along to his lounge chair.
"C'mon, Davion-kun, they're gone now…" Kanzashi whispered as she sat down on her lounge chair, trying to ease the Astray pilot from his currently volatile state. "They didn't do anything untoward, and if they did, I would have handled them."
Her ruby eyes looked into his gray-crimson, trying to get her message through.
She wasn't some delicate doll that needed protecting. She wouldn't be an IS pilot otherwise. Sure, the bluenette appreciated his actions, but sometimes they made her feel like she couldn't defend herself.
The brawler closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Opening them again, Kanzashi noticed that they were missing that odd crimson glint. She had witnessed it a couple of times already, and as the saying goes, 'Once An Accident, Twice A Coincidence, Three Times A Pattern.'
Just what was causing that effect on his eyes?
She would admit it was very cool to see. It was like when one of the main characters had a power-up or something in her anime.
…Perhaps Davion had one? Personally, she thought that that would be really cool.
'But then again, eye-glow powerups always came at a personal cost.'
Kanzashi eyed the jagged scar that ran up his right pectoral to his collarbone. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the slight dip in his skin, spreading her fingers out and looking up at him. "Where did you get this..?"
"...The same way where I get most of my wounds." The mechanic hummed as he looked to the side, feigning being alert for any other annoyance. "Tinkering and experimenting. Not every endeavor I start ends with an intact device. Sometimes, the volatile energies I somehow managed to combine finally react in a more…explosive manner."
He was being vague, and the bluenette knew this.
There were still a great many mysteries behind that friendly smile of his. There were still many mysteries surrounding the Astray pilots in general.
But, even then, she trusted Davion. They spent a whole year together as friends. They had each others' backs during model kit sales, covering the other when one was short on cash. He had defended her from that mugger, getting a cut from the pocket knife in the process.
He didn't mind that she lied to him about who she was that whole year.
"Well," She wouldn't mind if he kept being vague for a little bit longer. As long as he tells her the truth soon, as she did to him, she would allow him to take his time. "Be more careful next time, okay? I don't want you to get seriously hurt."
Davion looked back at her and smiled. The same smile that reached his eyes, that curled their edges, and the same one that wormed its way into her heart.
"Don't worry, I'm tougher than others. But, I'll be more careful as you say, Kanzashi."
The bluenette blushed once more but gave him a brilliant smile back.
'...I really am in love with this big lug…'
(BGM End: Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth - New Beginning)
He was… floating.
Weightless. His limbs slack.
He was then… sinking?
Below? Up? Directionless.
And yet, he was unmoving, calm, tranquil.
Peace in stillness.
Eternity and nothingness.
Embrace it.
Plop…
And his eyes opened to infinity.
A great expanse with distant twinkling stars. He reached out…
Plop…
..?
An object, so close yet so far. Spherical, orb-like, bouncing on the unfathomable surface…
What was it..?
A hand wrapped around his.
Green eyes met purple.
And thus… Infinite was replaced with finite.
Charlotte thumbed over her shoulder to the surface before swimming up, beckoning him to follow.
Ryo did so without delay, breaking the surface of the water just a second after her. As he took a deep inhale of air, his hearing sharpened from its previously dulled state.
"That was impressive! You were under there for more than five minutes, and you don't even look winded!" The Frenchwoman commended.
The courier cleared his throat as he noted where they were now. They weren't too far from the water boundary of the resort, indicated by the brightly colored buoys not too far ahead of them. "That long, huh? I guess that might have worried you a bit."
Charlotte huffed as she pushed her snorkel mask up. "A little bit. You weren't moving for a while." She noted how her swimming companion was seemingly staring into the distance and traced how he looked into the horizon with an almost longing gaze. "Hey… Are you oka-"
"Ichika, I'll race you to the buoy over there!"
They turned their heads to see Rin waving at Ichika, both of whom were several meters away from the aforementioned buoy. They had finished their volleyball game early in favor of the Chinese girl wanting to swim.
"Loser treats the winner to some shaved ice!" The younger teen taunted before taking a deep breath and dove down under the surface.
"Hey, wait, that's too sudden!" Ichika protested as he executed a front crawl to chase after her. "You didn't even count down!"
Charlotte giggled as she watched. "Looks like they're having fun."
SPLASH!
"M-My leg!"
'Aaaand fun just went over the horizon.'
Alarmed, they whirled around in the water to see the twin-tailed girl's hand wave frantically. Utilizing his enhanced hearing, Ryo could hear her desperate inhales as she tried to stay above the surface.
"My leg cramped up!"
"Rin!" Ichika yelled as he dove beneath the surface.
FWEEEEP!
The green-eyed teen looked over his shoulder at the shrill whistle and saw a couple of the active lifeguards running towards the beach, with one of them heading over to a nearby jetski that had a rescue sled attached behind it.
Splash!
Turning his head, he just barely saw blonde hair dive down into the water. Fixing his mask back into his eyes, he followed forth, utilizing a fair bit of his strength to propel himself through the water via a fish kick swimming technique.
Darting through the water, he passed by a determined Charlotte, whose eyes widened at the unnaturally fast swimming figure.
An unusual but highly effective swimming form allowed him to close the distance in almost no time.
As Rin weakly reached out to the surface, the last of her air bubbles coming out of her mouth as she sank, a hand wrapped around her own and began to pull her back up. Through the waterlogged and darkening vision, she could see…
White hair..?
'Laura?!' Was the simultaneous thought of both Ryo and Ichika. Something had passed by them just as the two were within arms reach of the twin-tailed girl, only for said thing to reveal itself to be a very determined Laura Bodewig. The albino was just a few more meters away from the surface, and the two boys followed her close behind, with Ryo looking behind him to see if Charlotte was there.
… Which she wasn't.
A brief pang of worry went through his mind, and he whirled around, looking for any sign of the blonde underwater. The rumbling of a motor above him signaled the approach of the jetski he saw earlier, causing him to look up. Through displaced water, he could see the silhouette of the watercraft and Rin being lifted onto the rescue sled by both Laura and the lifeguards. Ichika got on the sled, ensuring not to let Rin slide off, or that was what the courier assumed.
He shot up towards the surface with a powerful kick, breaking through with a small gasp and a question on his lips.
"Over here, Ryo!"
He turned his head to see her floating alongside the sled, having mistaken her as a lifeguard from below.
"We'll need to administer CPR when we get to the beach." The lifeguard instructed as she gripped the handles of the jet ski. "Can you three kids make it back, or will I need to do another pass?"
"We'll make it back." Laura told her in a firm tone, glancing to where Ichika was turning Rin's head to the side so any water she still had in her mouth or nose would drain out. "Hurry to the beach!"
"No need to tell me twice." The older woman muttered as she twisted the throttle. "Hang on to her, kid! The ride'll be a bit bumpy!"
With a sharp turn and a big wake, the lifeguard jet ski sped back towards the beach, with Ichika holding on to both Rin and the handles on the rescue sled they were on.
The two Europeans and one Japanese looked at each other before trailing after the watercraft. Questions as to where and how exactly Laura was there would come later. The safety of their friend came first.
And so, when they came ashore, the three of them immediately ran towards where the lifeguards were resuscitating Rin. A female lifeguard performed mouth-to-mouth and then CPR, while her compatriots respectfully asked the other 1st years to give them some space.
Ryo could see Ephraim speaking into his phone with a worried furrow to his brows not too far, the blonde placing a hand on Ichika, who was pacing around him in an aggrieved manner. Cecilia stood beside him, at a loss on what to do.
Focusing on his hearing, he began deciphering what he was saying through the speaker and briskly walked towards the gathered crowd.
"...about Camp Schwab? Inform those Americans that we have a casualty, and she's an IS Pilot!... Sorry, sorry. I shouldn't yell at you, Lath, but please, arrange for them to have immediate treatment for her."
"Sahaku-san, can't the ambulance hurry up?!" The blonde's temporary roommate demanded.
"I'm TRYING, Orimura!" Ephraim roared, the sheer anger in the tone almost causing the younger teen to take a step back, with Cecilia visibly jumping in fright. "Arranging a military CASEVAC isn't as easy as calling 119-! Wait." And just as quickly, his expression cooled as he turned towards the resort. "We have a clinic here? Mikhail Coast, a physician? He's on his way, thank the Lords below…"
"She's up!" One of the lifeguards called out as Ryo arrived, peering over the heads of the shorter girls.
Rin was hacking her lungs out, saltwater and spit darkening the white sand beside her as she regained consciousness. Ichika immediately broke off from Ephraim to kneel next to the twin-tailed girl, looking over her form with great worry.
"Rin, are you okay?!" The question was echoed by a busty blonde girl, an American wearing an eye-catching blue bikini. The brown-eyed boy looked up at her as she kneeled on the opposite side of the Chinese girl. Ryo recognized her as Rin's roommate, one Tina Hamilton from the USA.
"Please, give her some space! We don't want any further complications. The doctor is coming over, so we'll need to move her to the gurney at the Lifeguard Station."
The others could only watch all of this with furrowed brows.
Soon enough, when Rin was transferred to the station and placed on a gurney, a young gray-haired man came walking down the path from the resort. He wore a doctor's coat and carried a large first-aid kit with him that he didn't seem to have any problems swinging around.
"Ah shit, I recognize him." Ephriam muttered audibly enough for Ryo to hear, the rest of their friend group having gathered following Rin's near-death experience, save for Davion, Kanzashi, and Houki, the last of which having been not seen on the beach. "No wonder the damn name clicked something in my head."
"Who's he?" Ichika asked, watching as his childhood friend was wheeled away to a waiting private ambulance with the same worried frown he had been wearing since they got back on the beach. "Not that I don't doubt his profession but…"
"You want to know if Rin will be fine." Ryo nodded beside the younger boy, both still somewhat damp from the swim.
"Yeah…"
"Doctor Mikhail Coast." Ephraim started, gaining their attention as he spoke. "A physician of great skill though of little renown. He's under the payroll of the Sahaku Clan and demands little, curiously. From what little Lath told me earlier, he's an odd fellow. Apparently, he's quite pessimistic, untrusting, and indifferent, according to her. Attributes that are grossly misplaced in someone in the medical field..."
"And you say he's a doctor?" Charlotte saw fit to ask, frowning at the private ambulance as it began to drive away to another part of the resort. "Now I'm even more worried for Mademoiselle Huang…"
"I'm willing to put my trust in him." The taller purple-eyed blonde huffed as he opened a new can of soda "After all, Lath told me that he was the one that did surgery on my gunshot wound all those weeks ago. Quick and clean, she called it."
"Where exactly is this clinic?" Cecilia spoke up, a light sheen over her skin indicating that she had also applied suntan oil on her front side. "I wish to visit her if that's possible."
"In the main building, where we all checked in."
At the familiar voice, they all turned around.
"Mentor!" Laura saluted as Chifuyu and Maya walked up to them, the latter looking absolutely distressed at the recent happenings.
The green-haired teacher was wearing a modest pale yellow bikini, having seemingly discarded the white zip-up jacket she wore earlier.
The older Orimura, however, wore a rather eye-catching set. All black with an almost lingerie-esque look to it, complete with a side-tie bikini bottom and bridal-style garter belt.
Ephraim stared.
"Orimura-sensei, Yamada-sensei." The rest of the group acknowledged their teachers.
"I'm so sorry for not being here!" Maya bowed deeply. "There were some complications regarding room arrangements on account of VIPs, but we've sorted them out now."
"Yamada-sensei, there's no need to apologize." Chifuyu sighed as she placed her hands on her hips. "There were lifeguards. The students were in safe hands." Her gaze moved to the albino, who stiffened at the attention. "Good work, Laura. You saved your classmate's life."
"O-Oh," The short German's cheeks pinked at the praise, her feet shuffling against the sand in embarrassment. "I did what was right to do."
With everyone's attention on her, they finally noticed her swimsuit. It was a fairly modest one-piece, with long sleeves with red cuffs and yellow sides. The Closed Form of the Schwarzer Regen was strapped to her right thigh, matching the coloration of her chosen swimwear.
"Thanks for that, by the way." Ichika grinned at her. "You came outta nowhere and snatched her, way faster than what Ryo and I could have done."
The courier gave her a quick head pat, a small grin on his lips. "Well done."
Charlotte nodded with a smile. "I must say, I thought you were a no-show and that I would have dragged you out of your room. I'm just glad that I was wrong, and you were there at the right place at the right time."
Laura blushed at all the praise, not too used with all the kindness, especially after the events of weeks prior. She was giddy, of course, to be given this much positive attention.
That and she got another head pat from one of her brothers!
"Well, I'm glad that you're all playing nice now." The elder Orimura nodded as Maya went to talk to the lifeguards about what happened. "Let's get rid of all this doom and gloom, shall we?" Her hand suddenly darted out, and her pointer and middle finger rested underneath Ephraim's chin, who had been staring throughout the whole conversation.
"Close your mouth, idiot." She huffed, pushing said mouth close.
This snapped the scarred blonde out from his entranced state, with him shaking his head and turning away to hide the reddening cheeks. "Lords below, grant me strength…"
Ryo and Cecilia frowned, though for different reasons each and towards different people.
The rest laughed, though Ichika sent a lingering look at the older teen.
"Watch out!"
The whistling of something sailing through the air caused everyone to turn and quickly spot the incoming projectile.
It was a volleyball, and the mere sight of it caused the Byakushiki pilot to pale. Raising his arms, he sought to defend himself when-
Sproing!
-his sister's hand caught it without effort.
Tossing the ball up and down, she looked at the Neo-Types and then at her brother for a moment before smiling.
Ephraim had mixed feelings about that smile.
"Well, guess we're playing volleyball."
When Davion and Kanzashi returned to the beach, they saw that most of the students were gathered around the volleyball play area. They were cheering and whistling, probably over a match.
A quick scan of the beach yielded the mechanic no sign of his friends, so he could only assume that whatever this match was, they were probably at the center of it.
"Go Orimura-sensei!"
"You can do this, Orimura-san!"
"Kick their asses, mentor!"
"Go for it, Ryo!"
"You better win, Sir Sahaku!"
Sharing a look with the bluenette, they approached the crowd. Many of the girls parted when they saw his muscled form, shamelessly ogling him as he passed. Kanzashi possessively wrapped an arm around his, glaring at them ineffectively.
Sproing!
"Ack!"
"Dodge, you idiot!"
(BGM Start: Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan OST - Showdown)
When they finally got a clear sight of the court, they spotted Ichika on his back with a reddened forehead. Chifuyu was frowning as she turned and fixed a glare at Ryo, who couldn't help but return with a flat stare as he motioned toward his partner.
"He could dodge railgun rounds. How the hell can he not dodge volleyballs?" Ephraim complained with a shake of his head, waving the hand that served the ball lazily. "Ah well, I guess we can count this as impromptu training whenever he gets hit."
"You just enjoy hitting him." Both his superior and partner countered.
"Eh." He didn't even bother to counter the accusation.
"Hey, that's foul!" One of the girls in the crowd called out. "And immature too! You specifically aimed for him without holding back!"
"Hmph, if Orimura-sensei wants me to coddle Ichika by holding back, then fine." The scarred blonde sent a challenging grin at his superior. "Besides… this is just a game, ain't it?"
"We usually don't aim for heads in this game, dumbass!"
The teacher narrowed her eyes and bent down to grab the ball. "Fine then, you competitive moron. Let's play." Looking at her younger brother, she nudged his side before tossing the ball to the other court. "C'mon, get up. They're serving again, and for god's sake, dodge."
Ryo sighed and caught the ball. "I did not sign up for this."
"Just do your thing, GARcher boy." Ephraim snarked, cracking his neck as Ichika got back on his feet.
"Just so you know, I won't be taking any responsibility afterward." The courier responded as he took a step back behind the line. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to be holding back."
Tossing the ball up high, he leapt a second after. Green eyes narrowed as the world slowed down, the verdant orbs trying to find an open corridor for him to hit the ball through.
Chifuyu's side of their court was pretty much air-tight, what with her getting serious after his partner's stupid provocation. Her brother, however…
"Hmph!" Completing his jump serve with a powerful strike, the ball rocketed towards the opposing court. So powerful was the strike, in fact, that it produced a shockwave that blew hair and sand back. Those in the proverbial front row seats got an impromptu sand bath, causing many to complain.
Ichika gaped at the incoming projectile, looking more and more like a railgun shell than a volleyball. His legs tensed, preparing to leap to the side, but stopped when Chifuyu interposed herself between him and the ball.
Clasping her hands together, she blocked the ball with her forearms. When the nigh-unstoppable object met an immovable wall, it created another shockwave, though thankfully, this one did not kick up as much sand as the first.
"Ichika!" She growled as the ball went up into the air, almost sliding out of the court because of the sheer force that the ball had made. "Set!"
"R-Right!" Her younger brother responded, positioning himself underneath the ball and then tossing it back up with both hands.
"Tch!" Running in and jumping up high, the teacher spotted little openings in their opponent's guards. She knew her assistant's capabilities when it came to dodging and deflecting, but they were typically against linear attacks. So…
Smash!
She hit the ball in a specific angle, the spin causing it to weave left and right uncontrollably.
-Lightning formed a mitsudomoe in his mind-
However, that was moot in the face of the Gold Frame pilot's abilities.
A white bolt!
Purple eyes positively sparking, they followed the trajectory of the ball, his mind already running several scenarios and possible landing points. Settling on the highest probable result, based on all the current data, he launched himself to the side, an arm already extending to block in a certain angle.
"As if!"
Sproing!
And so the ball went up again, stabilizing its spin.
"Nice pass!" Ryo grunted as he leapt up, once more delivering a shockwave-inducing spike.
A guaranteed kill.
The ball whizzed by Ichika's ear, the boy dodging to the side a millisecond later, and impacting a small area within their court. It dug into the sand, kicking up more of the rough and coarse material.
"One point for Team Astray!" The referee for the match, one Haku Emiya, cheered from the sidelines. She wore an orange and white striped halter ring bikini top and a similarly patterned side-tie bikini bottom. "And don't try to break the volleyball, damn it! That's my dad's!" She then warned them irritably, waving her arms about.
"You buzzed his ear on purpose." Ephraim noted, giving a thumbs up to the redhead idly.
"No, he just dodged too slow." The courier argued, preparing for the inevitable counterattack by their teacher. And judging by how Ichika was looking, like he was now recalling something, it seemed like the impromptu reminder of his lessons worked.
"Now focus."
"What the hell is happening?"
The mechanic and the bluenette looked behind them to see a confused Houki watching the event unfold before her. She wore a plain white shirt over what looked like her gray bikini, or what Davion assumed was gray since her bikini bottom was of that color.
"Oh, Shinonono-san." Kanzashi greeted her with slight surprise. "Where have you been?"
The ponytailed girl blushed as she rubbed her bicep. "Asleep. I conked out the moment I touched the bed after six hours of doing nothing on the plane."
"Can't really fault you. Sitting down and doing nothing tends to tire someone." Davion nodded as Ryo blocked a spike from Ichika, setting it up for his partner, who followed up by executing his own spike, which was then blocked by Chifuyu in turn. "I even took a short nap earlier on a lounge chair, thankfully, I put on sunscreen, or I'd have a wicked sunburn…"
"Mm." Houki huffed as she crossed her arms, watching the game play out. "How long have they been going at it? The court looks trashed."
"They only just started, apparently." Both engineering-savvy students deadpanned.
Sproing!
"That's one point for Team Orimura!"
"Shit."
"Damn it, Ryo!"
The ponytailed girl looked at the two of them in slight bewilderment.
"...Huh?"
(BGM End: Emiya-san Chi no Kyou no Gohan OST - Showdown)
Time: 8:00 PM, July 5, 2033
Location: Kanucha Resort, Nago, Okinawa
'Gotta admit, this place is really nice…' Ichika thought as the clear night sky greeted him when he opened his eyes. The resort was far enough from Nago City to not be hindered by its light pollution, and thus had a stunning view of all the stars. 'It's nice to get away from the big city once and a while…'
"So, how was Huang-san?"
Ichika turned away from gazing at the stars to the curious eyes of his roommate. Though the steam may have hampered his vision somewhat, there was no missing the sharp royal purples of the scarred blonde.
The onsen was a welcome surprise to many of the students, clearly not expecting such a luxury in an island so far south. It was open-air and had different pools for men and women, with traditional bamboo walls separating them. There were only a few men in the spring, a mere handful which included the boys.
"Well, you were right about that doctor." The Byakushiki pilot sighed as he leaned back against the warm stones. "His attitude was…bearable, but he did good work. He said that Rin would be at a 100% in a few days, provided that she doesn't try to swim."
"That's good." Ephraim sighed as he looked around, his gaze lingering on a snow-haired man that had his back to them. "Did he say that she needed to be transferred to a hospital?"
"Nope. Apparently, he just told her that all she needed to do was to 'not mess up' and get some time in the hot springs."
"That's…not what a doctor should say." Ryo piped up as he opened an eye lazily, his head resting on the edge of the spring, his arms limp on his sides submerged in the spring water.
"As Ephraim said earlier, he is an odd guy."
"Man, I didn't know that Rin almost drowned," Davion muttered audibly, cupping water and letting it flow down his arms. "Kanzashi and I must have been in the middle of our nap when that happened…"
"All that matters now is that she's safe and whole." Ryo sighed. "And according to Ichika, she'll be up on her feet in a few days."
The blonde sent a veiled look at the courier but refrained from speaking. There was a comfortable silence between the boys and the men's hot spring in general, broken only by the wind rustling the surrounding tree's canopies.
…
"So…how's working under my sister, Sahaku-san?"
Ephraim glanced at Ichika with half-lid eyes and a raised brow. "It's…the usual. I organize the papers, shred those that she wouldn't want to read, spar, cook for her, give her drinks when she demands them, a shoulder massage every once and a while…"
"Whipped." Ryo coughed to the side.
"Shut up." The blonde hissed, his cheeks flushing lightly. "It's pretty much the same thing you do with Kaichou."
"Except anything past shredding papers." Green eyes flickered slightly open as the courier idly shifted his head to the side to peer at his fellow pilot. "You can replace those with 'messing with me' or 'trying to get a rise,' and we'd still be far from similar."
"Don't you get tired?" The Byakushiki pilot asked, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, I always see you and Nee-chan sparring whenever I pass by the dojo."
"It does, but it's the good kind of tired." The older teen clarified. "Like finishing a workout. Sure, I've gotten injured while sparring with her, but you know I heal fast." Purple eyes seemed to dimly glow as the blonde looked over his shoulder at the older patrons. "We all do."
"Oh…right."
"What brought this on, Ichika?" Davion asked, having largely been comfortable with listening.
"Ah, well…Sahaku-san earlier was…"
"Ogling your sister." Ryo once again interjected, a wry grin on his lips as the blonde's cheeks visibly turned red.
"Really? Come on, man…" He rolled his eyes at his fellow Astray pilot. "Not cool."
"Yeah. That." Ichika sighed as he crossed his arms, a finger tapping his bicep as he narrowed his eyes. "Look, my sister's old enough to live her life but as her brother-"
"Oh, Lords below, are we seriously having this talk, Orimura?" Ephraim sighed, cupping his face in both embarrassment and annoyance.
Creak…
They all turned their heads towards the wall, with the blonde Neo-Type narrowing his eyes and focusing his hearing-
"As her brother, I think I have the right to want to know what your intentions are with her." But the younger Orimura continued speaking, a stern look on his face as he stared at the Gold Frame's pilot.
"Seriously?" The purple-eyed teen looked at him with slight surprise and incredulity. "You're really gonna give me the shovel talk here and now of all places? Why not back at our own room in complete privacy?"
Ichika grimaced, his expression faltering for a moment before he shook his head. "No. I need to know." He pointed at the scarred pilot with an accusatory look. "You ogled my sister earlier with such intensity. I thought she would have burnt up then and there!"
"To be fair, you were staring pretty hard." Ryo quipped, the wry grin having eased into a neutral line.
"Ryo, stop taking his side and butt out of this."
"I'm not taking anyone's side." Raising his hands out of the water, the courier shrugged. "If I actually took a picture of you at that moment, even you would be surprised with how you looked."
'And so that you could actually see how ridiculous this chase is and stop leading Cecilia on.' Was unsaid by the swordsman. His friend may have agreed that he would date her over the summer, but the way he seemed to wait on the teacher's every whim was…
Annoying as hell to watch.
"So?" The Byakushiki pilot pressed, his brows furrowed. "I'm waiting."
The blonde frowned as his expression turned annoyed, and he looked at Davion for help, which the muscled mechanic only shrugged in response.
He didn't want, nor was even, a part of this conversation. Whoever his friend dated was his own business, so as long as it didn't affect Kanzashi.
"For fuck's sake, man." Ephraim hissed, baring his teeth for a few seconds before giving a frustrated sigh. He wouldn't run away from this. He was better than that. "Whatever. It's obvious that I want to date your sister."
Creak…
Once more, the suspicious noise caused the blonde to look back at the Wall with narrowed eyes.
"And..?"
"Wha– What else do you want me to say, man?" The purple-eyed teen snarked, irritated by the sudden break of his concentration to listen in on the noise.
Off to the side, Ryo gave an annoyed sigh. "He's being careful about his sister. I'm sure you could understand that."
"Well, I wouldn't be this annoyed if he just approached me about it in the privacy of our room!"
"Alright, alright!" Ichika raised his voice to stop the growing argument. "I get it. We'll continue this talk later in our room, okay? Sorry." He sighed, sinking up to his neck in the water. "I was just…I was just really worried about Nee-chan. She's all I got left and…well, I don't want her to be taken away or something."
That sobered the conversation, and Ephraim's irritated expression cooled into one of indifference, yet there was a hint of empathy in his eyes.
"I…" The blonde started before he also sighed, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Look, Ichika," The use of his first name was not lost on the younger Orimura. "Just because…I mean…She's…"
Watching the typically eloquent Astray pilot fumble with his words was a first for the IS pilot.
'I guess he's really tongue-tied when it comes to Nee-chan…'
"I want to date her. That much is clear between the two of us." Ephraim reiterated, glancing at the wall and the other men who were halfway between listening and leaving them alone. "She's beautiful, tough as nails, can kick my ass, looks absolutely stunning in a dress, has a bombshell body, checks so many of my boxes, and can kick my ass."
"You said 'kick my ass' twice." Davion noted with a dry look at the scarred teen.
"Sure, she may lack in…manners at times." The blonde ignored the mechanic's words, his purple eyes looking up into the night sky wistfully. "She's very blunt, does not hesitate to get physical in her punishments, drinks all of my liquor which forces me to restock it every week, doesn't have an organized office half the time, gets very touchy when she's drunk, and a whole lot of other things that I could say, but nobody's perfect."
The concept of 'perfection' was stupid to the Otherworlder. Perfection was stagnation, stagnation was a slow death, a gradual fading into obscurity. What use was there to improve, to overcome your faults when you were already objectively perfect? Where was the challenge? The conflict? The struggle?
A perfect gem becomes dull to look at after a short while, but a gradually polished stone inspires awe and suspense the more it is improved.
So to him, perfection was boring.
"Her faults annoy me, let that be clear. I don't have the patience of a saint, I get angry when she gets drunk while I do her paperwork, but it's that act of pissing me off that grounds her. That reminds me that she's a regular person, another human, like us. Your sister has made, and will make, mistakes." Royal purple stared into awed brown. "What I want to be is part of the safety net that will catch her should she fall. I want to prop her up in a time where she'll waver. I want to be a pillar she can lean against, a beacon she can easily find should she get lost in her path."
…
"You're…really in love with Nee-chan, huh?" Ichika whispered, sitting up straight. There was a newfound sense of respect he had for the blonde. It obviously wasn't easy for him to open up like that.
"I don't know if I'd call it love." Ephraim whispered back, doubt and fear clear in his voice. His expression faltered, letting slip a hint of vulnerability. "It may just be a deep infatuation, or perhaps an overblown crush. I…because…it's not just your sister I have these feelings about."
Ryo's eyes opened briefly as Davion's orbs widened, staring at their friend.
'That's one step forward...' Was the courier's thoughts, both surprised and unsurprised at such a development. 'Well, I'll be…'
"I see…" The Byakushiki pilot hummed, leaning back against the stone and tilting his head back to look at the stars. His lips were set into a neutral frown, a maelstrom of emotions roiling within him as to the blonde's confession.
There was an uneasy silence between the boys that lasted for a minute before it was broken by the sound of the dressing room door sliding open.
…From the other side of the wall.
"Alright, it's Class 1-2's time in the hot spring!" A familiar voice cried out excitedly. "So get out!"
"What the?! Miss Huang, are you sure you should be up and about?!" Cecilia's surprised voice was… a bit too close to the wall, it seemed.
"Yep! Doc said that a trip to the hot springs'll be good for my lungs! Now out!"
"Hey, don't start pulling!" Houki's annoyed voice was easily audible above all the other girls of Class 1-1's complaints. "Why I oughta-!"
Splash!
"Kya!"
"Ladies, please!" Charlotte's voice seemed stressed as she tried to enforce some calm. "There's no need to be so rowdy. This is against the onsen's rules!"
"You are ruining my genuine onsen experience!" Laura's growl was obvious, causing the Neo-Types to shake their heads. "Just when I was about to indulge in some sake!"
"What the fuck." Ephraim muttered as the sounds of people getting out of the spring became audible amidst the chaos. "Why don't we get sake?"
"We never asked, I guess?" Ichika shrugged.
"Shouldn't there be an attendant that will offer it? Unless…" The blonde sent a glare at the resident courier, who he can recall was talking to someone before they entered the onsen.
"Anyway, I think the girls have the right idea," Ryo said as he got out of the hot spring, completely ignoring the purple orbs shining against him. "We've soaked long enough."
"...Aye, you're right." The blonde sighed as he, too, got out. He can drink from the minifridge later. "Wouldn't want to be all wrinkly after this."
"Where are we having dinner again?" Davion asked as he followed after them, stretching his limbs with quiet groans. "Hopefully, it's near."
"Casual Dining Paradis." Ichika answered since he was the Class Representative, getting out last as he rolled his shoulders. "It's just down the road and across the street. We're lucky."
"Nice."
After a long day of excitement, nothing could end the day better than a fulfilling dinner with friends.
Dinner for the IS Academy students was a unique affair, mainly due to each class having a separate location to eat at. This was done to not congest a singular restaurant with 80 plus customers and not inconvenience the other patrons of the resort.
For Class 1-1, they were booked into Casual Dining Paradis, an Italian restaurant that had an outdoor dining area that overlooked the Garden Pool. It was a scenic dinner, with a view of the pool and the Kanucha Bay Tree Illuminations. Hopefully, a thankfully quiet dinner, without any shenanigans from the usual suspects.
Well, aside from Ephraim being well aware of the heated stare of a certain noblewoman as he ate his pasta. Other than that, it was a quiet and wholesome dinner.
And after that, they all retired to their rooms. Some girls scheduled pillow fights or 'girl time' talks in specific rooms that stretched long into the night, but for the boys?
Well...
Time: 10:00 PM, July 5, 2033
Location: Kanucha Resort, Nago, Okinawa
Stepping back into the room after having a short chat with Maya, Ichika was met with the fresh ocean breeze which caused him to shudder. Looking over to the balcony doors, he saw that they were open, and beyond that he could see the telltale form of his roommate leaning against the railings.
The Avian Beachside Cottage was obviously meant for the top-paying clients, what with its scenic view of the beach and luxurious amenities, such as a jacuzzi on the other balcony.
Brows furrowing, he locked the door behind him as he made his way over.
He didn't really know what to feel about the blonde having romantic intentions towards his sister. This was the first time someone had been so frank and real about what they felt toward her. Ephraim obviously didn't have any ulterior motives, from what he could tell from months of knowing him, and he genuinely seemed to want to make her happy.
Hell, he seems to have known some stuff about his sister that even he didn't know!
He had implied that he'd seen her in a dress of all things!
'I haven't seen Nee-chan in a dress…or at least, I don't think I did?'
"So," The Astray pilot's voice was casual, fitting for a conversation, but Ichika could feel that it was somewhat…hollow. "How do you want to continue the talk?"
Stopping a few feet from him, the younger Orimura stared at the back of his roommate's head before he looked past it and out into the moonlit ocean.
"Earlier, you said that she was stunning in a dress…just how far do you know her?"
The blonde's head seemed to tilt up, as if he was gazing up at the sky. "...I first met her last Summer while I was bartending at the InterContinental." His voice was gentle, as if he was remembering something wonderful. "She was wearing this black cocktail dress, so conservative yet it just added to her allure. She was a veritable femme fatale, what with that aura of hers…"
Ichika could remember him talking about how he worked as a bartender at the InterContinental Hotel in Minato City.
'So that's where they first met..?'
"She was using an alias, of course." Ephraim continued, an amused huff leaving his lips as he took something from his mouth, the hand lazily swinging to the side and revealing what was between the fingers.
A white...stick?
Brows shooting up, the younger Orimura made to protest his roommate's casual disregard of the 'no smoking' rule but stopped when he saw that the cigarette was unlit.
"I'm… You probably remember me saying it last Saturday, at the yakiniku place, but despite having an alias, I just knew that it was her." The blonde chuckled lowly as he took a bite of the cigarette with an audible crunch, with the IS pilot realizing that it was a chocolate cigarette. "I'm willing to believe that she was tipped off by our...benefactor about my whereabouts and wanted to keep a close eye for my protection."
"And so she kept on coming to your bar-"
"Cocktail lounge."
"Cocktail lounge, and you two hit it off?"
'To be fair, that does sound like a proper romantic meeting...or at least, that's what Dan would say. I think.'
Ephraim snorted. "No. She was all 'mission-mode'. Tried to pry some information concerning the Astrays since The Professor didn't inform her of anything. But," He chuckled once again, this time with a bit more mirth. "When she did get drunk, then yes, you can say that we hit it off. Though, I doubt she remembers any of it."
Ichika pursed his lips as he crossed his arms. "...Hypothetically, if Chifuyu-nee does accept your courting, what will you do?"
"The fuck kinda question is that?" The sudden crassness from the blonde made him jolt. "It's obvious isn't it? I'll wait on her every whim as best I can. I told you earlier, I want to be a pillar of support for your sister."
"...What of your age gap? You're 19 right?"
"Turning 19."
Nodding, the Byakushiki pilot sighed. "She's 24 and you're turning 19, there's a five year age gap. That's not to mention that Chifuyu-nee is still popular and, I'm not dissing you or anything, but Project: Astray isn't too...popular with the masses."
"The vocal minority, more like. Those females." The blonde snarled, snapping the chocolate cigarette in his lips in half. "But...look," He finally turned his head towards the younger Orimura, spooking him at just how hollow his eyes were.
And then with another blink, they were gone, replaced with the sparking disdain typical of the scarred teen.
'The heck was..?'
"Are you trying to dissuade me from trying to date your sister?" Ephraim continued, a grin growing as he swished the remnants of the chocolate cigarette between his lips. "Because if you are, I'll go after her twice as hard out of sheer spite."
Shaking his head and raising his hands in a placating manner, Ichika frowned slightly. "No no, I'm just trying to look at it objectively, you know? Without bias as best I could, man. She's family, yeah, but..." Brown eyes looked up into veiled purple. "You're my friend. You deserve to be also looked at with fairness."
The blonde gave him a long look before he huffed and turned his head away, crossing his arms as he tilted it up. "...So, what exactly are you trying to say?"
...What was he trying to say?
This was...a first time for the IS pilot, so...
Just what was he doing?
Ichika remained silent, not as a choice but because whenever he opened his mouth, no sound would come out. Ephraim was patient, raising a brow at his sudden muteness for a good few minutes before the younger teen let out a frustrated sigh.
"Look, just..." He ran a hand through his dark hair in irritation at his confusion. "...If you ever are gonna start dating my sister, keep it on the down low, okay? It's going to be awkward as hell for me to talk to you knowing that you've smooched her or something."
"Pfft!" The blonde's lips curled into a grin as he placed a finger before it. "A gentleman won't kiss and tell."
The younger Orimura sent him a withering look.
"Relax, Ichika." Ephraim's grin eased into a rare amused smile, a small upturn of the corner of his lips that was genuine. "I'm not some horny teen that immediately asks for sex when in a relationship. If we ever do go out, I'll take it slow." Then that smile of his turned a bit lecherous, the blonde seeing fit to tease the younger brother. "Or if she'll engage, who knows?"
"Dude, the less I think about the word 'sex' in this conversation's context, the better, okay?"
"Just go to bed, man." The Astray pilot chuckled, eating the last half of his chocolate cigarette with a small grin. "We have a busy day of studying tomorrow."
Rolling his eyes, the Byakushiki pilot turned around and walked back in. "And you?"
"I'll stick around out here for a few more minutes. Our talk has...given me a few insights. Tomorrow..."
Ichika paused, looking over his shoulder at his roommate. The blonde's eyes were looking to the side in a faraway expression, the smile having eased into a somber curl as he looked the most tired Ichika has seen him.
"Tomorrow..?" He asked with a raised brow.
"...Ah, nothing." Ephraim waved off the question, his face turning into its usual regal visage. "I just mixed up the dates. Tomorrow is the 6th and not the 7th. I was planning to give Shinonono-san her gift in person."
Skeptical still but unwilling to press the issue with the volatile blonde, Ichika instead continued his way inside to where his bed was. Crawling into the covers, he crossed his arms behind his head and stared at the dim ceiling.
'Just what will happen tomorrow..?'
AN:
[Rewrite Finish Date: 10/29/23]
Proofread and Edited by: ProjectRyo
Apologies for the somewhat late update, but here's the first half of Episode 9! The second half will come soon, maybe in a week or so.
Sorry if this is another leisure chapter without much mecha fights. The fights will come soon, I promise. I'm finalizing the fight sequence as we speak and hopefully it'll be a satisfying read when it gets uploaded.
Also, I've taken some liberties to change up some of Kanucha's layout in the story, so it's not a direct representation of the place.
TL: "Je suis vraiment désolé." = "I am really sorry."
To the reviews!
KnightOfZaku: It'll be a build up of tension, in the days leading up to July 7, that's for sure. As for Kanzashi and Davion being frisky, his controller made it clear that the mechanic knows his limits and won't push for a drunken romp. He's a right puritan, that one, and I respect his choice... Of course, this story is M-rated, so...smut will be abound when the time comes.
Ah yes, the Biological CPU's with their funky theme...there is a chance that they are in Phantom Task, yes. But they're most likely not gonna show up in the next few chapters, I've got a different crew lined up for the IS Academy Squad (Damn it, I really have to think of a good name for them) to face off against.
Commissar Baphomet: I'm afraid we'll have to stick with Cosmic Era tech in the main story. Bringing in GN Drives into the setting would further complicate whatever science I'm grasping at is left. Though that said, omakes and other such chapters may incorporate the craziness of other series' tech in a Super Robot Wars-worthy mess.
TwilightHakumei: ( ´∀｀ )b
P.B.S.: Logically, someone would definitely try strapping a nuke to an IS whether as a weapon or as a power source. I guess the world has its eyes and ears wide open for any mention of 'nuclear' and 'IS' in the same sentence which will cause the UN to fall on that like a pack of wild dogs. Or maybe Tabane just likes having the nuclear option to herself, as befitting of a mad scientist.
Davion revealing the gamma radiation emitting weapon is going to turn a lot of heads though, that's for sure. And with that comes consequences~!
Thank you for your words, too. I try to keep a consistent schedule but thing such as writers block or ProjectRyo taking his sweet time torturing me with how many times I make a character OOC before he edits it back to proper can often shake things up.
With that, this is a still tired Cipher, signing off!
.
.
.
As he sat alone on the balcony humming a quiet tune, he reminisced about a particular Hydromancer. Gazing at the endless expanse of the horizon, his verdant green orbs reflected the nighttime shimmer of the sky, emotions mixed with content nostalgia, and melancholy.
'Do you know about constellations? Astrologers believe that the patterns of the stars map out the destinies of [...] bearers — past, present, and future. Everything is written in the stars.'
He let his eyes wander to each star that dotted his vision, wondering how she would've interpreted fate now that everything was… different.
If only he could remember their language… then maybe he could find some form of peace and closure with the answers it might reveal to him. With a forlorn sigh, he stopped his tune and stood up, glancing at the stars one last time before finally turning in for the night.
Another day down...