"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Flashback Speech"

/Speech over communication tech/

Infinite Stratos: The Iron-Blooded Devil

Chapter 4: All My Classmates are Female

He stood at attention like a soldier before the class and spoke clearly and confidently.

"My name is Ichika Orimura, nice to meet you all."

Houki gave a small smile, happy that Ichika was in her class. All was quiet for a moment before chaos.

"It's the male student!"

"He's in our class!"

"Homeroom just keeps getting better and better!"

Ichika was stunned at the girls' outbursts.

"What's with them? It's like they never saw a boy before," he said befuddled. Chifuyu whispered in his ear.

"It's because they have very limited interaction with males. A lot of boys and girls get put in separate schools from a young age."

"That doesn't exactly sound like a good idea in the long run." Ichika remembered that a number of the Tekkadan guys didn't know how to interact with girls due to limited contact, leading to some awkward moments. 'I think Akihiro had it the worst.'

Chifuyu silently agreed.

"Quiet down!" she ordered.

Within an instant, everyone went silent. Chifuyu then told the boy to take the seat at the front of the class, which happened to be smack dab in the center. Class had officially began shortly after that but Ichika was having some issues. The first was that he could feel everyone's eyes on him, staring like he was some kind of exotic animal. He was even sure one was trying to glare holes in his head for some reason. All this gawking was really making him uncomfortable.

'Fighting that mobile armor again is starting to look much more appealing than this.'

The second was everything Ms. Yamada was saying about the IS; it all just sounded like gibberish. Angle this… stance that… whatever maneuver… active thing; the hell does all this even mean?! He was sure they were making all this up as they go.

"Are there any questions before we continue?" Ms. Yamada asked the class.

Everyone remained silent to that. She then noticed the younger Orimura sibling appeared to be struggling a little.

"Do you have any questions, Orimura?"

"Well…"

"If you do, don't be afraid to ask."

"To be honest, Ms. Yamada…" Ichika began.

"Yes?" she asked with a cheerful smile.

"I don't understand any of it," he said dejectedly.

"Not any of it? Did anyone else have trouble on what we covered so far?" the green-haired woman asked the rest of the class, not a one replied.

"Did you read the reference manual before you started school?" Chifuyu asked the boy.

"You mean that big one?"

"Yes, the one that said 'required reading."

"Well, I'm not quite done with it yet."

"Make sure you finish it and memorize it within a week."

Chifuyu couldn't exactly blame him for having some trouble, an Infinite Stratos was VERY different from a mobile suit; the latter of which he had far more experience with. Not to mention that he only recently (and barely) caught up in the academics department. Though she had feeling that he was going to shine in the practical portions of this class. Much to his relief, recess was called soon after. However, that relief was short-lived as just as it was called; Ichika was then swarmed by his new classmates bombarding him with questions.

"What kind of IS do you pilot? I've never seen one like that." Honne Nohotoke, or Nohohon as her friends call her, was first.

"It's a special type called a Gundam Frame."

"Gundam…Frame?"

"What's your IS named?" Yuzu Tanimoto asked this time.

"Um, Barbatos Lupus Rex"

"Who made it?" Sayuka Yorutake got in Ichika's face.

"A small group called Teiwaz" that one wasn't exactly a lie, it was more of untruth.

The idea was that it was a cover story for the Gundam; that it was made by a small unknown group. Ichika provided details about Teiwaz and its subsidiaries while Tabane created shell companies using that information, even making a digital recreation of McMurdo Barriston for a portrait. This way, Ichika could provide an explanation that wouldn't get him sent to the looney bin or if someone got curious and went searching for them. The girls continued to bombard him with questions ranging from where he's been to if he's in any relationships.

"Ichika, can we talk?"

It was Houki to the rescue, much to his relief.

"Sure"

The other girls let out groans of disappointment as the two left the room.


(School Roof)

"Thanks for the save," he sighed as he leaned against the railing.

"Sure, though I'm surprised you're having so much trouble. I'm a little disappointed," Houki said with a soft scolding tone.

"Cut me some slack, a mobile suit doesn't work the same as an IS. Not to mention we had to prioritize survival over studying in Tekkadan so I only just barely caught up with everything for school."

Houki sighed, she had to give him that one.

"You didn't seem to have any issue with your IS when you dropped into the arena yesterday."

"That's because Barbatos is really just an IS in name only. It's still a mobile suit and operates the same as it always has; albeit in a much more confined cockpit," he said the last part under his breath.

"Oh, I see."

"I don't suppose I could ask you to tutor me, could I?" he asked sheepishly, hands held up in a pleading way.

"M-Me… tutor?" she stuttered out.

"Well, yeah."

Houki was silent as she played with her hair.

"I… guess I could," she said shyly with a hidden smile.

The bell rang, signaling the end of break, prompting the two to return to class. As it was Saturday, classes resumed until 1 before it all ended. *** Since the school had its own custodial staff, it wasn't required for the students to clean up either. Houki left to attend Kendo club, leaving Ichika left in class.

"Before you go, could I bother you for a little errand?" Ms. Yamada asked, catching his attention.

"Could you take today's assignments to Ms. Alcott and Ms. Huang? They're still in the infirmary from yesterday."

"Sure, I don't mind," Ichika said as he took the papers.


With some directions from Ms. Yamada, Ichika found the infirmary with little issue. Now to finally meet this Alcott and Huang; why did that last one sound familiar to him?

"Hello? I've come to bring the schoolwork for today," he said as soon as the door opened.

"Ichika?!" a girl's voice exclaimed.

The boy in question caught sight of a blond wrapped in bandages and…

"Rin?" that's where knew that name from; Lingyin "Rin" Huang.

"You two know each other?" the blond girl asked.

"We used to go to the same elementary school when we were kids," Ichika explained.

"That's besides the point, I thought you were dead!" the Chinese girl shouted.

"Dead?!" the blond shouted in shock.

"I've been getting that a lot lately," he said with a sweatdrop.

"So if you were alive, where the hell have you been?" Lingyin or 'Rin' asked.

"I'd tell you but I doubt you'd believe me."

Rin growled at his answer, feeling he was dodging her question.

"Okay, clearly I'm missing something here. Let's start over," the blond interjected, "Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Ichika Orimura and I'm the one who got that other girl off your backs yesterday."

"While I appreciate the gesture, I could have won that if allowed to finish," The blond said haughtily.

"Not from where I was standing," Ichika muttered.

"How dare you, do you not realize who I am?" she asked indignantly.

"No"

"I am the great Cecilia Alcott, elite pilot of the 3rd generation IS: Blue Tears and Representative Contender of England!"

Ichika stared quietly for roughly two seconds before tilting his head in confusion.

"Who?"

Cecilia balked in shock while Rin snickered at her reaction. Suddenly, the room trembled as if an earthquake had started. Alas, it was no earthquake but a stampede; a stampede of about 30 girls to be exact, swarming into the infirmary.

"Orimura, trouble!" one girl shouted.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Stand aside!" a rather boisterous voice suddenly demanded.

The group of girls parted like the Red Sea to allow a group of faculty members, including the principal and Chifuyu and officials flanked by students all wearing an armband. The girl in the lead as well as an older woman right behind her caught everyone's attention.

"Uh oh, it's Izumi Kobayashi from class 1-4."

"And her mother, too."

"This can't be good."

The older of the two Kobayashi stepped forward and gave Ichika the once over with her eyes.

"So, you're the famous Ichika Orimura?" she stated yet her tone and posture gave off the impression that she was speaking to someone beneath her and couldn't stomach it.

"And you are?" he asked.

"Mieko Kobayashi, chairwoman of Infinite Stratos Regulatory Committee."

"And what brings you here?"

"It's come to attention that you have been accepted as a student here at the prestigious IS Academy."

"…And?" he was failing to see the point or what her deal was.

"You are aware that this academy is for girls only, right?"

Right then and there Ichika realized what this was about and that this Kobayashi woman was one of those types that had cropped in recent years; Chifuyu had warned him beforehand.

"No it isn't."

Everyone in earshot gasped as the school's lone male told off one of the most politically powerful people in the world. It was at this time that Houki had just arrived outside the infirmary as she watched the scene unfold.

"It's for IS pilots and all IS pilots up until now have been female. Nowhere does it say in the school regulations boys are not allowed."

"Oh is that so?" she sneered.

"Actually, he's right," the principal interrupted, "There's no rule that says he can't be here."

Mieko gave the man a rather scalding glare for daring to stand in her way. Chifuyu then chimed in.

"And as we are on the subject of school regulations, I'm sure you'll recall one in particular: all students of the IS Academy are under its exclusive control and no nation, organization or other group can interfere with their attendance. Not even you."

The chairwoman almost growled but then shifted into a scheming smirk.

"I think I know the perfect way to settle this. Since he never took a proper entrance exam, a special exhibition match shall be held. If he wins, then his attendance here shall continue unchallenged."

"Why? You have no grounds to challenge my attendance here to begin with," Ichika rebuked.

"Do I?" her grin widened, "Has anyone ever seen you pilot an IS? How do we know that it's not someone else in there and you're just taking the credit? The way your machine is designed, assuming it really is yours, it would be easy to fake your so-called ability to pilot."

'So that's her game. Even if I do say Chifuyu has, she'd counter that as my sister, she'd be part of this little conspiracy she's imagining. Alright, I'll play along just to make her eat her words.'

"You wanna see if I can? Fine by me," Ichika said nonchalantly.

"And I shall be his opponent," Mieko's spawn cut in, sporting a grin similar to her mother's.

"How much of a handicap will there be?"

"Oh, asking for a favor already?" Izumi asked mockingly.

"No, I wanna know how much of a handicap I should give you."

Many of the students began to laugh loudly at that, a few officials chuckled.

"I miss the joke or something?"

"Orimura, are you serious?" one girl said between laughs

"Yeah, men used to be stronger than women but that was before the IS was invented," another chuckled out.

"People say that if a war broke out between men and women, it wouldn't last three days," a third added.

'Wow! When Chifuyu said that the 'women-only glitch' had gone to their heads, she wasn't kidding,' Ichika thought to himself in exasperation.

That Mieko woman's laugh was the loudest and most grating on his ears.

"If he's that confidant, then let's raise the stakes: if he loses; then not only will he be expelled, his IS will be confiscated."

The girls stopped laughing at that condition. The room temperature seemed to have dropped a few degrees; she just crossed a line.

"Orimura, you can't agree to-"one of the girls from earlier tried to say.

"Fine," the younger Orimura cut the girl off, anger laced his voice.

"Very well. The match shall be held tomorrow," the woman smirked as if she already won.

"And don't forget to bring a long wooden box," Ichika added.

"Why?" the chairwoman asked.

"Because you're gonna need something to bury her in," he answered, pointing at the woman's daughter.


(Room 1025)

Ichika and Houki were readying themselves for bed after a rather eventful day. Despite the lone boy in the room being completely calm, his childhood friend couldn't help but worry.

"Ichika, why did you agree to that?" she asked, to which he immediately caught to what she was referring to.

"Have some faith, Houki," he tried to assure her.

"But if you lose, your IS will be taken away. And you'll be… you'll be…" Ichika gently placed his hands on her shoulders in soothing way.

"I'm not going anywhere and neither is Barbatos."

"But Kobayashi is a representative contender for Japan and she's known for pulling underhanded tricks, everyone in the academy knows that. How can you be so sure?"

Ichika's features hardened in a way that may have very well made his own sister flinch.

"Because I'm gonna show them what happens when you mess with a member of Tekkadan."

With those words, Houki felt that Kobayashi had made a big mistake; she just didn't know how much.


(Next day)

The first male IS pilot was going to have his first fight. And his opponent was gonna be the leading representative contender for Japan. With expulsion and his IS on the line, it shouldn't have been a surprise that this was of major interest to students, faculty and government officials. While most of the more notable officials couldn't be there in person on such short notice, they were instead given a live feed of the battle to come. It also shouldn't be a surprise that a betting pool had been opened on the fight with a heavy majority betting against Ichika.

Speaking of whom, said boy was in the launch bay control room, now clad in the gray shirt and cargo pants he arrived in two days prior. While it hugged his body snuggly; a lot of students and faculty agreed it was far more modest than the swimwear-like flight suits the girls wore up until this point. Ichika paid it no mind as he was focused on the monitor displaying his opponent, her name beneath her picture: Kobayashi.

"I thought the format was one on one," Ichika stated with some confusion and hint of indignation.

The reason for his confusion being that Kobayashi had brought along not one, not two but five of her underlings from the hall monitor guild and every single one of them shared a cocky smirk.

Sato was in an Uchigane and armed with a single katana.

Toyama was in a Rafale Revive and armed with an axe and assault rifle.

Morikawa was in an Uchigane armed with twin katana.

Shinju was in a Rafale Revive armed with a grenade launcher and shotgun.

Date was in a Rafale Revive armed with only a sniper rifle.

Kobayashi was in her personal IS, the Amaterasu; a white and gold 3rd generation prototype IS with a sun motif. She was armed with a sword and mirror like shield while missiles adorned a sun ring behind her back.

Oh, how he was going to enjoy serving them each an entire humble pie. Chifuyu then walked up beside him as he kept his gaze on the screen.

"Normally, it is. Kobayashi has a habit of stacking the odds in her favor."

"So I've been told. And they just let her get away with it?"

"Her mother is the chairwoman of the ISRC, she'd get away with murder, if she hasn't already."

"Makes no difference to me; they didn't bring enough anyway."

Ichika then exited the control room for the launch bay. Ms. Yamada then turned to Chifuyu.

"Ma'am, don't you think he's being a little overconfident?" Maya asked worriedly. A sentiment shared by a few of the students in the room.

The elder Orimura said nothing, while half of her did agree he was acting a little full of himself; the other argued that he kind of earned the right to after everything he's been through. She watched him join Houki down in the launch bay and hold out his arm. There on his wrist was a white band similar to the ones Atra made for her, Mikazuki and Kudelia save for the fact that the metal ring holding it together was twice as big and bore the Tekkadan symbol.

"Let's go, Barbatos!"

A flash of light enveloped Ichika and faded as quickly as it came. Now clad in the armor of the Gundam Frame, its appearance made Houki step back in awe. This was the first time seeing it up close. Its form had a very beast-like, almost demonic, air about it; yet the design of the armor gave it a sort-of knightly quality as well. Inside, Ichika winced a little after feeling the Alaya-Vijnana kick in. He glanced at the screen before him, showing what the eye cameras saw.

"Begin retinal projection."

With that, it now shifted to his eyes being linked to the machine's; the Gundam's eyes were now his eyes.

Up in the control room, data on Barbatos came in as it synced with the academy computers. Then its status filled the screen along with his opponents':

[Kobayashi: 700, Toyama: 450, Sato: 400, Morikawa: 400, Date: 450, Shinju: 450, Orimura: 1500]

The green-haired assistant teacher was stunned at the unprecedented amount of shields the young boy's machine possessed; she felt he was gonna need every last one of them in this fight.

/The time to use the arena is limited, the match will begin when you launch. The match will end when one side's shield count hits zero/ Chifuyu said over the bay's intercom.

He walked over to the catapult, feeling as if he was on the Isaribi again.

"Ichika…," Houki said, her eyes firm as she locked with the green eyes of the shrunken mobile suit, " …be careful."

"I will. Just have faith," he replied. Houki could almost feel the reassuring smile on his lips.

/All IS pilots, the match will begin shortly/

He crouched down to brace himself as the barriers came up for launch.

"Ichika Orimura, Gundam Barbatos, taking off!"

Houki couldn't help biting her lip in anxiety as Ichika rocketed off down the bay. She then went to join everyone else in the control room.


Within the student council office, the council president, Tatenashi Sarashiki watched the proceeding at her desk along with her younger sister Kanzashi. The latter of which glared at the screen. This girl on the screen only got to where she is because of her mother bribing and blackmailing her way to the top. Kanzashi and several government officials knew she was the superior pilot yet every time she tried take the top spot from Izumi, the little snake would pull something dirty, be it sabotage or getting ganged up on, and somehow always got away with it. How she wished someone would knock her off her high horse.

"Typical. Kobayashi stacks it in her favor and makes it a six on one," Kanzashi said disdainfully.

"And she brought 3rd years to boot. I kinda feel sorry for the guy," sighed Tatenashi as she laid her cheek against her fist holding her closed fan.


(Infirmary)

"This certainly does not bode well for Orimura," Charlotte remarked.

She had come to check on Cecilia and Rin while almost of the entire school was watching the fight. Said two girls were no exception as they had the TV on to the interschool channel. It seemed the fight was already over before it even started to them.

"No but I suppose it's what he gets for running his mouth," the blond English girl said with finality.


"Now you shall see what a true elite can do," Kobayashi said proudly.

"Let me know when they get here."

"Big talk for someone on his own."

"Speaking of which, I thought this was gonna be one on one."

"Well, you did offer a handicap so we took you up on it. Don't tell me you're having second thoughts after trying to sound tough."

She and her sycophants began to laugh mockingly.

"Far from it but you didn't bring enough."

That little comment got them to stop as a light began to build in Barbatos' manipulator and with a flash of light, it had formed into the ultra-large mace. His opponents and the audience regarded weapon with wide eyes.

(A/N: At this point, I'd recommend starting your favorite fight/beatdown music; I personally suggest 'When My Devil Rises' by Man With A Mission.)

"That thing's almost as big as he is!"

"Compensating much?"

"He can't be serious."

"Cocky little… I'll teach him his place!"

The last one came from Toyama as she charged at the white mech. Ichika ignited his thrusters and flew forward to meet the girl at the half way mark. He flipped the mace into a backhanded grip and launched it like a javelin right at Toyama.

"What kind of idiot throws their weapon?" she asked incredulously.

She swung her axe upward to deflect the incoming projectile into the air. She was about to mock him for that stunt except…

"Where'd he go?!"

He was nowhere to be seen. Above, Ichika grasped his thrown weapon and hit the thrusters; combining it with gravity, he brought the heavy weapon down on Toyama hard. She barely had a chance to look up before getting hit with the business end of the large mace; the resulting blow kicked up a dust cloud, blocking them from sight.

"Toyama!" Morikawa shrieked before charging in.

She was too worked up to notice Ichika rushing in beneath her from out of the dust cloud, thrusting his mace towards her torso, until it was too late. The pronged ends smashed into her with enough force to lift her off her feet on the weapon's end. Ichika hit the pile bunker's trigger, sending Morikawa flying onto the downed form of Toyama.

"Son of a bitch!" Sato roared as she came flying in fast with her sword.

Within barely a second, the Barbatos leaned back out of the weapon's path with an inch to spare; shocking the girl at his reaction speed. A short burst fired from his thrusters to continue his spin as he switched out the mace for the smoothbore gun and fire a round point blank into Sato's back, sending her flying. Before she had a chance to right herself, Ichika landed back on his feet, launched the tail blade, hooking Sato at the leg before dragging her across the field and slamming her into the growing pile of beaten opponents.

"That thing's got a tail?!" Date exclaimed.

Shinju growled and fired her grenade launcher at the Gundam Frame, kicking up dust. A flash of white out of her peripheral vision was the only warning she got before she turned and found the Barbatos on her with the sword mace at the ready. This was all time allowed for her to register before she was batted away into the pile. Ichika paid it little mind as he blasted towards the pale faced Date.

"S-Stay away from me!" Date screamed as she open fired at the white mech.

Barbatos zigzagged between the shots as the panicking girl fired wildly. Ichika focused on the position of the gun's next shot and raised his sword mace. The girl fired again and hit the weapon. She felt some relief and triumph at seemingly having landed a blow to this boy only for it to be dashed when he spun into the hit and brought his sword mace down hard; knocking her out of the match and out cold. Ichika straightened up as he turned his head to Kobayashi, Barbatos' green eyes flashed a menacing glow.

"And then there was one," he said softly.


The arena had practically gone silent as had militaries and corporations across the globe watching this match. Nearly every single jaw hanged open and every single eye widened.


(Infirmary)

"Holy…" Rin began.

"…shit" and Cecilia finished.

Charlotte remained silent.


(In the control room)

"Ms. Orimura… am I hallucinating or did… did he just…?" a bug-eyed Maya stammered out.

"Yeah, he did," Chifuyu responded with a prideful smirk.


Even the great unflappable Tatenashi dropped her trademark fan in shock.

"He took down 5 third-years like they were nothing."

"And they didn't even touch him," Kanzashi muttered, eying the shield counter on the screen.

Kobayashi: 700, Toyama: 0, Sato: 0, Morikawa: 0, Date: 0, Shinju: 0, Orimura: 1500


"Yikes," Houki said under her breath.

"Now you see how he got that nickname," Chifuyu remarked quietly.

"Nickname?" Houki asked in confusion.

"He didn't tell you? He picked up a nickname he shared with another while he was in that place."

Houki figured she didn't want to let slip anything that sounded crazy while around others. Still, Ichika never mentioned a nickname he got.

"The Devil of Tekkadan,' from what you've seen here and on the files, you can see how he got it."


Izumi Kobayashi trembled where she stood. Whatever confidence and bravado she had was gone after watching her underlings get swatted like flies by this boy in the blink of an eye.

"H-he's a monster."

Her opponent then started to slowly approach, like a predator stalking their prey. It certainly didn't help that the IS's silhouette, glowing eyes and tail made him appear all the more demonic; causing her to unconsciously back pedal in fright.

"Ho-How are you this strong?!"

"Lot of push-ups, lot of sit-ups and plenty of juice."

The smug tone in his voice instantly changed her terror into impotent anger.

"Oh, you think you're being cute?"

"Cute? I'm adorable."

That set her off as she charged with her sword. She managed to fire off a missile to which Ichika shot it out of the air with his wrist gun, destroying it and blocking their view of each other. Kobayashi came barreling out of the smoke with the sword in a stabbing thrust. Barbatos' tail blade came around and deflected the attack, leaving her open for Ichika to bat her away with the sword mace. She slid a few feet before managing to stop herself; allowing her to take a glance at her shield counter.

700 – 231

'I lost over half my shields with just one hit?! No IS has that kind of power!'

She glared back at the armored boy; though she couldn't see his face, she could feel the mocking smile on his lips.

"You…do you know who I am?"

"Oh I know and frankly, I don't give a damn."

Her anger boiled over at his flippant comment.

"I am Izumi Kobayashi, Japan's representative contender! You and everyone in this academy are beneath me! I am a goddess compared to a filthy rat like you! I will not be bullied like a—ack!"

That rat comment struck a sensitive nerve in Ichika, hence why during the girl's rant, he grabbed her by the leg and slammed her into the ground once! Twice! THRICE! A moment to give a short breather then slamming her a fourth time before throwing her to the ground.

"Puny goddess," he snorted before walking away.

The only sounds in the arena that could be heard were Barbatos' footsteps and Kobayashi whimpering in pain.**


"That was a little brutal," Houki grimaced along with Chifuyu.

"Maybe but she shouldn't have said that. He spent years being called a 'rat' so I guess he'd take it personally."


/The match has concluded. Winner: Ichika Orimura./

It took a moment for everyone to register that Ichika had faced six opponents… by himself… and won… in record time. When it did finally dawn on them many erupted into cheers.

The medic rushed out into the field with stretchers along with Chifuyu to observe the damage her little brother had caused. She'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy watching him knock these brats down a few pegs. She approached one of the groups, the one tending to a now awake Date as Ichika walked over as well.

"Date, you okay?" she asked the girl.

"I'll have the linguini with clams," she slurred out.

"Ooh, think I hit her a little too hard," Ichika winced behind his helmet.

"Better dial it back from now on," she said as she cast a glance to the Gundam Frame.

"Hey, I asked if they wanted a handicap. And they said the six-on-one was the handicap," Ichika shrugged as he walked off.

Up in the stands, Laura Bodewig locked her lone visible eye on the white machine as she replayed the whole fight in her mind. He wasted no movement, struck hard and fast then moved to the next one, capitalized on even the smallest of his enemy's mistakes and even when he was mocking them, he never once let his guard down. Just like she would do. The German girl initially thought she wouldn't have the chance to fight the younger Orimura when she heard that he was going to be fighting Kobayashi and her little goons. However, they underestimated him and took advantage of that… like a soldier… like Chifuyu. The silver haired girl had felt a little more respect for the boy and perhaps some excitement for when she faced him.

"Well Ichika Orimura, you may prove to be a challenge worthy of my time after all."

(Break)

** I really didn't know how to end this fight so I took a page out of the Avengers. I know everyone's seen that part a million times but it's still funny.

*** Some Japanese schools have a six day week with Saturday being a half-day.

(Break)

Omake – Alternative reactions

Silence had filled the Infirmary as Cecilia, Rin and Charlotte had just seen the Barbatos brutally take down the last of Kobayashi's cronies. Charlotte was the first to find her voice.

"I am both… frightened… and aroused."

Lingyin and Cecilia could only nod in agreement.

(Scene break)

Laura was silent and wide eyed at how Chifuyu's younger brother had eliminated the fodder in short order. Her thoughts had gone to… a rather strange place as her gaze was locked on the Barbatos:

'Suddenly life has new meaning to me'

'There's beauty up above and things we never take notice of'

'You wake up suddenly you're in love'