"...all a trick! A great fraudulent performance really, all paid for by some guy wanting to be famous! No, what we all deserve is to see the real pilot of Camelot who performed so amazingly, not a posing fu-!"

"And that's all well and good, Miss Cherry, but conjectures and theories are nothing without real, tangible proof. Now joining us as well is Martha Felix, a journalist in the IS industry noted for being amongst the most well-informed of her colleagues in the latest news. Nice to meet you Martha, and welcome to the show."

"Thank you Robby, it's good to be here as well."

"Right then! Martha, anything new for us regarding Camelot's Valiant Vanguard? And can you answer the burning question simmering in everyone's minds: is Arthur Bennett, renowned child genius and rising star of Camelot Arms, really the pilot of the rapidly climbing IS R&D company?"

"Well, easy question that, Robby. Evidence from the IS Exhibition authorities in charge of ensuring fair-play are just a day from being released buuut... well, they won't mind me saying the results."

"C'mon Martha, lay it on us!"

"Yeah, expose to the world the lies of that Arthu-"

"Arhur Bennett is indeed the pilot of Vanguard Valiant. No tricks, no remote piloting, no secret pilot, just the first ever male pilot of an Infinite Stratos demonstrating to the committee staff. I got permission to use a recording for this."

"W-What? Th-That can't be! Only women can-!"

"Alright, let's see it. Hey Jones, please put the recording up!"


"...reporting an increased number of interested parties and individuals investing in Camelot Arms, our sources saying many are confident in the company."

"And why is that Alexa? What is fueling their confidence?"

"The fact that Camelot Arms is almost ready to begin production and distribution of their Vanguard Valiant line, and their first IS's defining feature of both men and women able to pilot them."

"Truly? Astonishing! That might just be the greatest breakthrough in IS technology yet since the equalisers!"

"Yes indeed, that's why...


"...only women can pilot an IS! The frames, the technology, the position belongs to us! After so long being below men in position for everything, it's only recently that women finally obtained a clear superiority over them in something so important-!"

"So basically what you're saying is that, now that women are in the superior position equality-wise, it's us the men's turn to be lesser? What happened to all that "gender equality" thing that you used to talk on and on about before?"

"Don't twist my words!"

"How is giving women priority in the military over men gender equality then? I mean, basic biology gives clear evidence why for certain jobs men are better suited for them than women. Just look at the physical requirements for special forces groups like SAS, Seal teams and Spetsnaz."

"Those jobs won't matter once IS frames begin to enter mass production, redefining modern warfare so that normal infantry and special forces will be obsolete."

"Uhuh. Right. So you have a solution for the bottleneck issue that is the IS Cores being produce only by the elusive genius Tabane Shinonono?"

"...Uh..."


"Lo' Arthur!" The arm of one I know so closely wrapped around my own as I watched the news on one of the TV displays of a store, making me glance over to see her smiling face. She was dressed casually for our outing in a loose-fitting white buttoned dress that went past her knees, a short red leather jacket worn over her torso that's left open and comfortable walking shoes for her feet. "Found you!"

"Hah, you did." I returned her smile and let her pull me by the sleeve of my fleece lined dark blue denim jacket away from the store and somewhere else in the street we're on. I was dressed in casual clothes as well, a grey shirt beneath my jacket with the logo of some brand on it, slim black jeans for my legs and a pair of Vans slip-on shoes. "So where are we going?"

"Somewhere else more fun than the boring shows you were engrossed in." She glanced at me so I can see her roll her eyes before looking forward again. "And what's with the wig? Don't tell me you're scared of the public now."

"No, no." I denied, brushing off some strands of blonde that came down to my eyes. "I just wanted to look just like my older sister for our day out together."

"Hmph!" She'd slowed her pace so that we could walk side by side together, and that let me see her amusement at my bit of humour. "Try all you want brother, you'll never have locks as golden and graceful as mine."

"So you say, but I still have father's height!" I puffed my chest out and gave her a smug look, preening at her glare of annoyance. That lasted until a branch of a small tree brushed over my face, leaving me sputtering from almost eating leaves and Claire giggling at my sudden misfortune. Just as planned, can't have her mood brought down by mine.

Even as we walked together in one of the more busy shopping streets of London, browsing the shops and wares on display to the delight of my sister I hid my worries from her. No sense in ruining the positive air between us with my uncertainties and fears. Best to just live in the moment and have fun spending time with a dear sibling I haven't seen in months. So in that spirit I stopped in front of a shop and pointed at the item on display.

"That one would suit you very well." I spoke with confidence, Claire walking up beside me and peering at the item in interest.

"You really think so?" She asked, studying the item I pointed out, it being a white fedora with a red ribbon serving as its band wrapped around it. Looking at me with a smile next she then dragged me with her into the shop, coming back out later with the newly purchased hat on her head and one for my own in opposite colours which she insisted I get. Claire's hat was a perfect match with her outfit just as I thought, while mine stood out a bit but still fits in with mine. My sister had a spring in her steps as we moved out, clearly happy at her purchases for us. "Hm, hm! We're matching now!"

"Think we should've gotten hats for mother and father too?" I asked her as we walked away from the store, for prudence's sake. My older sister shook her head, tapping a finger on her chin while replying.

"No need, mother has enough hats to fill a whole closet. As for father... well, I can't recall him ever wearing one..." Hmmm... yeah, don't remember seeing father wear a hat as well. I have an excellent memory, a trait which helped me greatly in my experiments and social life. Never forgetting a special occasion is so convenient for keeping my close ones happy. So in response to her answer I just nodded then pulled Claire by her shoulder against my side, pointing towards a particular store.

"Alright then, my turn." Claire looked to the store I was taking us to and her eyes widened, stiffening slightly in my hold. "My amazing older sister deserves a special gift for doing so well in the exhibition."

"B-But that's too much!" She cried in protest, meanwhile her gaze remained laser focused on the jewellery store's display pieces and her gait increased in speed. With her next words though she became downcast, slowing her speed and gazing downwards. "You did so much better than me..." Oh no, can't have her sad on our special sibling outing.

"I'll let you in on a secret." I leaned down till our heads were a bare few inches away, my voices lowering to a whisper. "A part of my performance was thanks to several pilot-assist programs to help me fly and fight better. Also, my IS frame was just plain better than everything else in that stadium."

She turned to me with a gasp and sent me the most baffled look there was. "No way. Arthur, you flew in there like a seasoned pilot! That can't be true."

We've separated at that point, still heading towards the jewellery store but our pace has slowed as we focused on our talk. On my part I raised my arms palms up and shrugged in a "what can you do" gesture. "It's true. I didn't have as much time as you to dedicate to pilot training when I had to draw the design, make prototypes, test them over and over again and then actually build the IS frame before I could seriously train. Besides,"

There I stopped walking and placed a hand on her shoulder, making Claire stop in place as well while I levelled my most honest look of sincerity at her. "If I were to pilot a regular IS frame design you would outskill me easily, no lies. You've been training for years now to pilot an IS frame. Me? Barely half a year, and that's with skilled teachers mind you, and I still need pilot-assist programs to not cock up."

My dear sister thankfully believed me, looking relieved and more happy again. A much better look to the downcast one from earlier. Her surprised look morphed into one of gratefulness and she nodded to me with a small upturn of her lips. I returned her smile with my own and gave her shoulder a comforting pat, before pulling her gently with me towards the store. "Come on then sister, let's get you a shiny trinket you can show off to your friends."

"Right!" We walked into the store, and I enjoyed her cheerful expression as she looked around the various displays in the shop. This shopping street we're on has some of the more high-end brand stores, and this one jewellery place prides itself in selling high-quality genuine goods. It took a while but we walked out of the store with a bag full of new gold and gem ornaments for Claire, my sister happily admiring a new ring she wore on her index finger, an oval cut aquamarine gem on a thin band of gold. I was assigned to carry her bag, as was my duty as her younger brother and a man. She moved her hand here and there, admiring her new ring from different angles before moving her digit to be pointing at me, a lopsided smile on her face.

"Alright, it's my turn! The next store we're going to iiissss... there!" She spun her finger around until she stopped at a fast food place, a McDunalds it looks like. "It's lunch time so it's time to eat."

"You can't wait to eat something greasy after a long diet of healthy and nutritional foods for athletes, hmm?" I reckoned with a smirk, to which she responded with a huff and proceeded to drag me over by my hand.

Haha, it's so nice to be with Claire again.


"So, the young Arthur Bennett has indeed cracked the code of that damnable rabbit woman's Cores?"

"Yes, your highness. As he had promised."

"And you were so convinced he was but another fraud my dear butler. A young lad grown too big for his britches fuelled by above average smarts."

"I have been proven wrong, your highness."

"Ah, it's alright John. We're only human after all, we can't help but make mistakes."

"As you say, your highness."

A boyish chuckle filled the room as a royal reflected on his plans, so changed by an unexpected yet very pleasant surprise.

"Heheh.. Well, my dearest sister won't be so pleased as I am with the recent developments."

"It will greatly hamper her bid for your position, your highness."

"Well, you know how she is. Ever the ambitious one... John, schedule a date for me to meet with Arthur for me please. It would do well for me to befriend one such as him who will greatly benefit the realm."

"It will be done, your highness."